King Charles to stress UK-US cultural, trade ties in New York

A fishing boat glides quietly across the waters of Iraq's southern marshes, sending gentle ripples shimmering over the once-parched wetlands, now revived by long-awaited rains.

Running through almost the entire Huwaizah Marshes, the returning water is dotted with patches of greenery, with buffaloes soaking in it or wandering slowly nearby, grazing on the lush grass.

Overhead, birds of many kinds flutter, their movements mirrored in the still water below, part of the protected biodiversity of these millennia-old Mesopotamian wetlands.

Years of drought, blamed on climate change and upstream dams in neighbouring countries, have ravaged Iraq's marshes -- the reputed home of the biblical Garden of Eden -- nestled between the mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

But a few rainy spells this winter have revived hope among residents and admirers alike.

As he sailed his long wooden boat, wearing his white abaya and keffiyeh, fisherman Kazem Kasid told AFP that "life will return, along with the fish and livestock, and people will feel that their homeland and future have been restored".

He added: "My message to the people living here: this is your land, this is your home... and it will remain so for generations to come."

Iraq's water ministry has said the reservoirs on the Tigris River are almost full, adding that it expects water levels in the Euphrates to rise in the coming days if Syria releases water from its dams.

As a result, the marshlands are experiencing "a relative revival".

Activist Ahmed Saleh Neema said the Huwaizah Marshes have not seen this much water in years, adding that 85 percent of the wetlands are now submerged, though the water depth still needs to rise.

"It is good. It means that the marshes will not dry this summer" when temperatures reach 50C.

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A French teen facing criminal charges in Singapore for a straw licking stunt was granted permission on Wednesday to leave the country for three weeks on pledges to return.

The 18-year-old is accused of posting to social media a video of himself putting the straw he licked back into the dispenser on an orange juice vending machine. 

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien's clip went viral and triggered a backlash that led to his arrest in Singapore, which has a reputation for not tolerating bad behaviour.

The teen's lawyer sought permission from a judge for him to travel to Manila from May 2-25 for an internship, a key requirement for him to graduate.

The judge granted the request after the prosecution posed no objection, but asked that he must remain contactable while overseas and required a SG$5,000 ($3,900) bond.

His next appearance in the Singapore court was also rescheduled from May 22 to May 29.

The teen, who is studying in Singapore and is out on bail, was charged last Friday over the straw stunt.

He uploaded the video on Instagram knowing that it "would or would probably cause annoyance to the public", according to court documents.

The public nuisance offence carries a jail term of up to three months and a fine.

A second charge of committing mischief said Maximilien knew that he was "likely to cause wrongful loss or damage" to iJooz, the company operating the vending machine which had to replace all 500 straws in the dispenser.

The mischief offence carries a punishment of up to two years in jail on conviction and a fine, according to the charge sheet.

Both offences were allegedly committed on March 12.

The Straits Times newspaper said the video "quickly went viral, sparking shock and concern among netizens".

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EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday accused the Kremlin of cutting Russians off from the internet to hide worsening economic conditions in the country as sanctions over the Ukraine war bite.

"With inflation increasing and interest rates skyrocketing, the consequences of Russia's war of choice are also being paid for out of Russian people's pockets," European Commission head von der Leyen told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg.

"So much so that the Kremlin responds... by restricting the internet and free communication."

Von der Leyen said that "Russians feel that they live behind an Iron Curtain again, this time a digital Iron Curtain."

"If history has one lesson, it's that all worlds eventually fall," she said.

Russian authorities have recently stepped up efforts to control internet access in the country, throttling messenger apps Telegram and WhatsApp, tightening restrictions on VPNs (virtual private networks), and imposing blackouts.

The switch-offs, including in the capital Moscow, have caused rare expressions of public discontent after years of the Kremlin clamping down on free speech.

Since sending troops into Ukraine, Russia has hardened its rules against public signs of dissent, outlawing criticism of the Kremlin and the Russian army with strict military censorship laws.

The European Union last week approved a massive loan for Ukraine and imposed a new package of sanctions on Moscow after months of delay.

The new round of economic sanctions is the 20th from the 27-nation bloc since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in 2022.

While Russia's economy has so far largely weathered the economic punishment, EU officials insist that cracks are increasingly beginning to show.

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French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday net profit rose 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8 billion, boosted by higher oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East.

Growth in its oil and gas production in Brazil and Libya allowed the group to offset losses in the Gulf region, which is normally equivalent to 15 percent of its total oil and gas business, the company said in a statement, while also highlighting its "ability to capitalize on rising prices".

The company's oil and gas production rose four percent in the quarter, with the amount of liquefied natural gas transported by sea gaining 12 percent.

The group increased its dividend 5.9 percent to 0.90 euros a share.

TotalEnergies also said it had partially restarted its Satorp refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia in mid-April,  after it had shut the facility following air strikes in early April.

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German sportswear giant Adidas on Wednesday reported strong growth in quarterly profits as sales rose in key markets, but warned of a "very volatile" and highly competitive retail environment.

The maker of Gazelle and Samba trainers said net profit attributable to shareholders came in at 482 million euros ($564 million) between January and March, up 13 percent from a year earlier.

Investors focused on the higher profit, and Adidas shares were up nearly seven percent in Frankfurt trading.

Sales rose 14 percent at constant exchange rates to 6.6 billion euros, helped by especially strong growth in North America and China.

But Adidas, which is facing intense competition from US rival Nike as well as a crop of newer firms, warned the climate remained difficult.

"The general retail environment is currently very volatile and heavily discounted in many markets, especially in lifestyle footwear," CEO Bjorn Gulden said in a statement. 

"We do, of course, hope the environment stabilises and that discounts will normalise, but this is unfortunately not in our control."

Adidas confirmed its outlook for the year, forecasting operating profit of 2.3 billion euros, despite an expected 400-million-euro hit from higher US tariffs and the impact of a stronger euro.

Adidas went through a difficult period after the end of a lucrative partnership with US rapper Kanye West in 2022.  

But Gulden has put the group back on a more stable footing, in particular seeking to promote its classic sneakers.

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A South Korean appeals court increased the sentence of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday to seven years for obstructing justice, up from five years.

A lower court had handed Yoon the initial sentence in January after he was found to have used presidential security agents to block his own arrest.

Both Yoon and the prosecution lodged appeals -- he argued that the arrest warrants against him were based on an "unlawful investigation", while special prosecutors said his punishment should be 10 years given his "egregious" crimes.

"The court sentences the defendant to seven years in prison," a judge at the Seoul High Court said on Wednesday, calling Yoon's actions "highly reprehensible".

"The defendant not only sought to obstruct the lawful execution of warrants by prosecutors and others," he said in his verdict.

"(He) also issued unlawful instructions to public officials of the presidential security service, who are national civil servants, attempting to use them as if they were private guards for his personal protection."

Yoon, who appeared in court wearing a black suit and white shirt, showed little emotion as he listened to the verdict.

The appeals court also upheld his conviction for abuse of power for excluding cabinet members from a meeting to plan the imposition of martial law.

It overturned his acquittal by a lower court of abuse of power for ordering his defence of the martial law declaration to be distributed to foreign media.

And it upheld the lower court's conclusion that Yoon had prepared falsified documents, but had not actually used them.

- Life sentence -

Yoon is also serving a life sentence for the much more serious crime of leading an insurrection, a result of his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

In December that year, he made a shock late-night national televised address, raising the spectre of North Korean influence and "anti-state forces" to declare the suspension of civilian rule.

But martial law lasted only about six hours as lawmakers raced to the assembly building and voted it down in an emergency session.

In subsequent months, Yoon was impeached, removed from power and put on trial over a litany of allegations connected to his proclamation.

He has also appealed against his insurrection conviction, saying he acted "solely for the sake of the nation".

- Legal headaches -

In addition, Yoon faces a separate trial on charges of aiding the enemy over allegations that he sent military drones into North Korea earlier in 2024.

Special prosecutors are seeking a 30-year sentence in that case, arguing that Yoon ordered the incursion to provoke a response from Pyongyang that would strengthen his pretext for declaring martial law.

Yoon's legal team have denied the charge, saying he gave "no prior order or subsequent approval" for the operation cited by prosecutors.

Yoon's wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, is also languishing in prison for unrelated corruption crimes.

Initially sentenced in January to 20 months for bribery, her penalty was increased to four years on Tuesday after an appeals court reversed her acquittal for stock price manipulation.

Lawyers for Kim told AFP they would appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.

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Sri Lanka's government took control of the island's cricket board on Wednesday, saying it was a temporary measure designed to pave the way for "structural reforms".

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the country's wealthiest sporting body but has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

World governing body the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka for two months in 2023-2024 citing political interference in the running of the national board.

"All administrative functions of Sri Lanka Cricket will be temporarily brought under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, effective today," the ministry said.

A committee will be appointed shortly "to address the current issues in cricket and implement structural reforms", it added.

Four-time SLC president Shammi Silva resigned on Tuesday, along with his entire committee, after the government intervened.

A government source said former investment banker and opposition politician Eran Wickramaratne will likely be named new head of the board.

AFP has contacted the ICC for comment.

Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India in February–March.

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The EU said on Wednesday Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content -- and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine.

The European Union has in recent months stepped up efforts to protect children online, with several member countries considering social media bans for under-16s.

The EU executive is also exploring a possible bloc-wide age limit on social media after coming under intense pressure to take broader action following Australia's groundbreaking ban on using such platforms for under-16s.

In its latest move to enhance protections for children online, the EU said a probe showed Meta broke digital content rules, and told the US firm to "strengthen" its measures to prevent, detect and remove under-13s on Facebook and Instagram.

Under Meta's own terms and conditions, the minimum age to access the social media platforms is 13.

In its preliminary view, the EU found Meta had ineffective measures to enforce its own restrictions on children using Facebook and Instagram.

"Terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users -- including children," said EU tech tsar Henna Virkkunen.

If the regulator's views on Meta are confirmed, the EU can impose a fine of up to six percent of the company's total worldwide annual turnover.

Meta disagreed with the EU's findings.

"We're clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age," a Meta spokesperson said, adding the company would continue to engage with the EU.

- Ongoing Meta probe -

The EU has vowed to ensure Big Tech gets to grips with the many dangers online for children. In February, it gave the unprecedented warning to China's TikTok to change its "addictive design" or risk heavy fines.

Wednesday's preliminary findings against Meta come after the EU opened an investigation in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an online content law that has been fiercely criticised by the US President Donald Trump's administration.

The DSA is part of reinforced legal weaponry adopted by the EU in recent years to curb what Brussels describes as Big Tech's excesses.

European regulators found children are able to easily create an account by entering a false date of birth, and said Meta had "no effective controls" to check.

The EU also said Meta's tool to report the presence of children on Facebook or Instagram was "difficult to use and not effective, requiring up to seven clicks just to access the reporting form".

Meta also "inadequately" identified the risks of children under 13 accessing the apps, and the potential for exposure to "age-inappropriate experiences".

Brussels added Meta's risk assessment "contradicts large bodies of evidence" from across the EU that indicate around 10 to 12 percent of under-13s access the platforms.

Meta can avoid fines by offering remedies for the breaches.

- 'Addictive' -

The May 2024 probe into Meta is wide-ranging.

EU regulators are still looking into how Meta protects users' physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the "addictive" design of Facebook and Instagram.

Alongside the EU's investigations into online platforms, Brussels this month said an EU-developed age-check app was ready to go and expected to be rolled out in the coming months.

EU officials say the app seeks to replace pop-up banners asking users to click to confirm they are over 18 to access adult content sites.

Last month, the EU said four pornographic platforms including Pornhub were allowing children to access adult content in breach of digital rules.

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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face tough questions from lawmakers about the Iran war on Wednesday during his first testimony to Congress since the start of the conflict.

Hegseth's appearance before the House Armed Services Committee -- for a hearing on President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request -- comes with the war still unresolved and the economic fallout from it continuing around the globe.

Lawmakers from both parties have previously expressed dissatisfaction with the information provided in classified briefings on the war, setting up a potentially fiery public hearing in which top US military officer General Dan Caine is also set to testify.

"Finally, Secretary Hegseth will come before the House Armed Services Committee this week. It is time to answer for this war of choice," Representative Maggie Goodlander, a Democratic member of the committee, said in a post on X.

Trump and his administration have yet to publicly provide a plan for winding down the war, which has led Iran to close the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway, sending oil prices skyrocketing.

Washington hit back with a blockade of Iran's ports, and now has three aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East for the first time in more than 20 years.

- 'Misled the public' -

Trump has indefinitely extended what was initially a two-week ceasefire, but negotiations have yet to yield a breakthrough.

House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against Hegseth earlier this month, accusing him of "high crimes and misdemeanors" including waging war on Iran without congressional approval.

More than a dozen Democrats also sent a letter to Hegseth last week demanding a "formal, immediate investigation" into the deaths of six US troops in Kuwait on March 1, saying the Pentagon chief failed to protect American forces and then "misled the public about the circumstances of the attack."

A total of 13 American troops have been killed in the conflict -- six in the Iranian attack in Kuwait, one in another attack in Saudi Arabia, and six in a plane crash in Iraq -- while 400 have been wounded.

In addition to the Iran war, Hegseth may face questions about repeated shakeups of senior Pentagon personnel since Trump returned to office last year.

The Pentagon announced last week that Navy Secretary John Phelan was leaving office "immediately," a move that followed the removal of top US Army officer General Randy George earlier in April.

Lawmakers may also raise Hegseth's conflict with artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, which refused to allow its AI models to be used for mass surveillance of civilians or in fully autonomous lethal military operations.

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King Charles III will use a trip to New York on Wednesday to showcase cultural and economic ties between Britain and the United States at a time when the "special relationship" is under strain.

It is the third day of a four-day state visit, clouded by tensions over the Iran war, that began in Washington with President Donald Trump warmly greeting the monarch and his wife Queen Camilla.

The New York leg will first see the royals take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial to mark 25 years since the terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

"This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world," Charles told the US Congress on Tuesday.

"We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten," he added in a speech that called for unity among Western powers.

After meeting 9/11 first responders and victims' families, Charles, who is passionate about gardening and the environment, will visit an urban sustainable farming project providing mentorship to young people and tackling hunger.

Meanwhile, Camilla will mark the 100th birthday of fictional teddy bear Winnie the Pooh at the New York Public Library, where she is expected to gift a specially made toy of the character Roo.

Later, Charles will mingle with business leaders, including investors and entrepreneurs, at an event highlighting the transatlantic economic ties.

Trump this month threatened to backtrack on a trade agreement with the UK that limits the impact US tariffs, as he criticized Britain's lack of support over the Iran war.

Charles's final engagement will celebrate the work of his youth charity, The King's Trust, at a reception that will also spotlight British and American cultural industries. 

- 'We stand united' -

Security in New York will be tight for the royal visit, which comes just days after an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at a Washington press gala.

The city's leftist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is not expected to meet Charles privately but will join him for the 9/11 ceremony.

British officials will be pleased so far with the pomp-filled US welcome for Charles and Camilla, which has included a 21-gun salute, military jet flypast and a state banquet at the White House.

Trump, taking a jovial tone, has even joked about his Scottish-born mother having a crush on Charles. 

That is in stark contrast to his barbs at Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to join the war against Tehran, which had cast a diplomatic shadow ahead of the royal visit. 

Charles capitalized on his address to Congress -- the first by a British monarch since his mother Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 -- to paper over those tensions.

"Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy," he told lawmakers.

Addressing Congress during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence from Britain, Charles stressed how the two nations' partnership was "born out of dispute, but no less strong for it."

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