Allowing Iran to charge tolls for transit through the Strait of Hormuz would mark a dangerous and unacceptable precedent, according to the head of the world’s main shipping watchdog. Iran charged vessels for passage through the waterway that handles for about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas flows during the conflict. Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz – which has included tolls –...
Allowing Iran to charge tolls for transit through the Strait of Hormuz would mark a dangerous and unacceptable precedent, according to the head of the world’s main shipping watchdog. Iran charged vessels for passage through the waterway that handles for about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas flows during the conflict. Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz – which has included tolls – was one of Tehran’s conditions for the ceasefire, according to state media. “This is a dangerous precedent,” Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization said in a Bloomberg TV interview. “What we cannot have is this different or parallel approach where another country introduces a different mechanism that is not in line with international practice and we don’t even know if it guarantees the safety of the ships.” On Wednesday, President Trump made conflicting claims about the ceasefire deal, including suggesting a joint US-Iran toll system for ships in Hormuz. For now, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely halted. Dominguez said his agency is working to re-establish the mechanisms that allowed ships to cross Hormuz before the war. Prior to the conflict, vessels generally crossed the waterway using what’s known as an international traffic separation scheme. A group of countries, including the UK, are working on plans to establish that there are no mines in Hormuz in order to confirm that it’s safe to transit, Dominguez said. There hasn’t been any confirmation that there are mines in the waterway so far, he added.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue a written decision by April 28 on whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. However, even if the judges decide to proceed with the trial, observers predict that the proceedings will progress at a “glacial pace”, potentially taking years to reach a ruli...
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue a written decision by April 28 on whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. However, even if the judges decide to proceed with the trial, observers predict that the proceedings will progress at a “glacial pace”, potentially taking years to reach a ruling. Duterte, who governed the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, was surrendered to the ICC in March...
Apple Inc. ’s AirPods Max 2 — the first substantial update to the company’s $549 headphones — don’t represent an upgrade-worthy sequel but should intrigue customers looking to buy the brand’s over-ear offering for the first time. Apple released the first AirPods Max in 2020, hoping to replicate the enormous success of its wireless earbuds in a different style. They had a striking design with alumi...
Apple Inc. ’s AirPods Max 2 — the first substantial update to the company’s $549 headphones — don’t represent an upgrade-worthy sequel but should intrigue customers looking to buy the brand’s over-ear offering for the first time. Apple released the first AirPods Max in 2020, hoping to replicate the enormous success of its wireless earbuds in a different style. They had a striking design with aluminum-clad ear cups, removable fabric ear pads and a mesh headband — as well as a price tag that led to them becoming a status symbol. Apple let half a decade go by with nothing more than a move from Lightning to USB-C, while competitors raced to launch more affordable options. The latest versions from Bose Corp. and Sony Group Corp. include top-notch noise cancellation, while Sonos Inc. has closed in on build quality. The main weaknesses of the first AirPods Max, like its hefty design and ineffective storage case, would have been easy to address, and the stage was set for Apple to deliver a true sequel. Instead, the AirPods Max 2 present little more than a bare-minimum upgrade. They’re powered by the same H2 chip introduced on the AirPods Pro 2, resulting in significantly improved noise cancellation. And they’ve caught up to the AirPods Pro with some new software tricks. But most everything else — including the hardware design, battery life and impractical “smart case” — remains identical all these years later. In some ways, this makes for an easy buying decision: If you own the original AirPods Max, there’s no need to buy the new model. If you don’t have it and you’re in the market for new headphones, take a look at the AirPods Max 2 — as long as you’re entrenched in the Apple ecosystem and willing to pay a premium. Everyone else is better off sticking with less expensive, more comfortable options. Here are my biggest takeaways after a week of testing the AirPods Max 2: Stylish but not always comfortable : After a week of testing, I’ve found the AirPods Max 2 can still be f...