Has the oil market grown numb to conflict in the Middle East?
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First Post
31 minutes ago
- First Post
Erdogan eyes Turkey's return to F-35 program under Trump deal
Washington removed Turkey out of the F-35 program in 2019 and placed penalties on Ankara a year later for purchasing a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defence system, but with Trump's return to power, the two Nato allies look eager to resolve the conflict read more President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced optimism that Turkey will be readmitted to the US F-35 project and obtain the stealth fighter fighters in accordance with 'an agreement' with US President Donald Trump. Washington removed Turkey out of the F-35 program in 2019 and placed penalties on Ankara a year later for purchasing a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defence system, but with Trump's return to power, the two Nato allies look eager to resolve the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I believe that Mr. Trump will remain loyal to the agreement we made. I think the F-35s will be delivered to Turkey step-by-step during his term,' Erdogan said while returning from Azerbaijan, the Anadolu state news agency reported Saturday. He gave no further details about the agreement but said the move was 'part of a geo-economic revolution.' 'The F-35 issue is not only a military technology issue for us, but also a strong partnership issue in international platforms such as Nato,' he added. The sanctions on Turkey's defence sector have soured ties between the two allies but last weekend, Washington's envoy to Ankara Tom Barrack said they were likely to be over 'by the year's end'. Trump and Erdogan would instruct their top diplomats to 'figure out the way and end it and Congress will support an intelligent solution', he told Anadolu on Sunday. In March, Erdogan spoke to Trump about the need to finalise a deal to let Turkey buy US F-16 fighter planes and be readmitted to the development programme for F-35 warplanes. And last month, he said he saw an end in sight to the sanctions, saying Turkey had seen them eased under Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Inspired by Greta Thunberg, Sweden invented flight shaming, now it's desperately begging airlines to come back
Sweden Flight Shaming Backfires as Country Drops Air Tax to Revive Economy- Sweden, the birthplace of the 'flight shaming' movement, has now reversed course by scrapping its aviation tax in hopes of reviving a struggling economy. The move, effective from July 1, 2025, marks a sharp departure from Sweden's climate-focused past, where flying was discouraged to reduce carbon emissions. The air tax, which ranged from 76 to 517 kronor (£5.50–£37.40) per passenger, had been in place since 2018, championed by the then centre-left government. But with Sweden's economy shrinking and regional aviation collapsing, the country is now welcoming airlines back—with open arms and tax breaks. The decision has triggered both praise from the aviation industry and disappointment from climate advocates. Why did Sweden scrap its air tax despite its eco-conscious reputation? Sweden's aviation tax was introduced at a time when environmental awareness was peaking. In 2018, the same year the tax was enforced, Greta Thunberg, then 15, launched her first school climate strike outside the Swedish Parliament. This led to a cultural wave known as 'flygskam' or flight shame, where people deliberately avoided flying to reduce their environmental impact. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Photos Captured the Exact Wrong Moment Read More Undo According to a 2019 survey, nearly 25% of Swedes were avoiding flights, up from 17% in the previous year. The impact was significant: Sweden's national airport operator, Swedavia AB, recorded a seven-month decline in passenger numbers in 2019. That year also saw the slowest growth in airline travel in a decade, while train travel through SJ, the national railway, soared to 32 million passengers as more Swedes opted for 'climate-smart' travel. What were the economic consequences of flight shaming in Sweden? Over the next seven years, international flights to and from Sweden dropped by a third. Smaller airports, especially in northern and remote regions, began to suffer. Ryanair completely exited the domestic market in Sweden, and Bromma Airport, near Stockholm, almost shut down due to lack of use. By 2025, only one regional airline, Västfly, was operating from Bromma. Live Events The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and a recession in 2023, followed by a 0.3% GDP contraction between April and July 2024. The new right-wing government, elected in 2022, responded by scrapping the air tax and announcing a £76 million investment into aviation infrastructure. Officials claimed there were 'few reasons to feel flight shame' in today's context. How did airlines respond to Sweden's tax reversal? The response from the aviation industry was swift and supportive. Ryanair reintroduced two aircraft to its Swedish operations and announced ten new routes. EasyJet welcomed the move, saying it would help keep flying affordable. Norwegian Airlines added new routes between Norway and Sweden. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) praised the decision, stating: 'Taxation of air passengers is counterproductive economically and ineffective environmentally.' The government now hopes the boost to the aviation sector will support regional development, increase connectivity, and restore consumer confidence. What does this mean for Europe's green aviation efforts? Sweden's reversal is being closely watched by other European countries that introduced their own versions of flight taxes or bans on short-haul flights: Germany raised domestic flight taxes by 75% in 2020. Belgium has a €10 boarding tax on short flights. The Netherlands imposes a €29.40 tax on every flight, no matter the distance. Denmark, as of January 1, 2025, charges 50DK (£5.73) for intra-Europe flights and up to 410DK (£47.55) for long-haul. France banned short domestic flights where train travel takes less than 2 hours 30 minutes. Spain is considering a similar ban that could cut domestic flight emissions by 10%. Still, critics argue these moves don't go far enough. Environmental group Ecologistas en Acción called Spain's proposal 'purely symbolic,' while others say broader, more enforceable bans are needed to meet global climate goals. Can aviation ever be green without hurting economies? This is the central question Sweden now forces the world to confront. The conflict between climate action and economic recovery is more visible than ever. Justin Francis, co-founder of Responsible Travel, commented: 'Some governments' short-term attitudes to regulating aviation have shifted, but the science hasn't. Aviation is still one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions.' Francis argues that taxing aviation fuel, rather than passengers, could be a more balanced approach. The proceeds, he says, should be directed toward low-emission aviation research and expanding rail networks. But until electric or hydrogen-powered planes become commercially viable, countries may struggle to reduce aviation emissions without disrupting connectivity, tourism, and regional economies. What's next for Sweden and Europe's aviation future? Sweden's U-turn offers a real-world lesson on the challenges of balancing environmental goals with economic pressures. The case will likely influence how other countries adjust or reinforce their aviation policies in the coming years. For now, it's clear that while climate ideals sparked the flight shaming movement, economic realities have the final say. FAQs: Q1: Why did Sweden end its flight shame policy and scrap the air tax? Sweden dropped its flight tax to support its economy and revive regional air travel. Q2: How has Sweden's flight shaming reversal affected airlines and travel? Airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet are expanding again as Sweden lifts the aviation tax.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Rise in coconut prices a continuation of a global phenomenon dating back to 2020
The steep rise in the price of coconut is not a sudden phenomenon but a continuation of what the sector has been experiencing since 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, said a senior official with the Coconut Development Board (CDB). In the wake of the disruption in coconut market, as transportation and logistics got hit during the pandemic, almost everyone turned coconut into copra (dried flesh of the coconut) to extract oil. This did not help and a crash in coconut price ensued in March 2022, a trend which lasted till August 2024. 'Consequently, the production dropped not just in India but across all major coconut producing countries in the equatorial region such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Climate change, drought, and drastic difference in temperature also contributed to the drop in production,' said the official on condition of anonymity. With the drop in prices, negligence crept into the upkeep and maintenance of coconut farming. Measures like applying fertilizers faltered, and this proved an additional blow. Demand for tender coconuts As people turned increasingly health conscious post pandemic, there was a soaring demand for tender coconut from north India. This led to the despatch of truck loads of tender coconuts from coconut producing centres in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to north India. Production further dropped, as farmers were not waiting till coconuts were ripe for harvesting, as tender coconuts were fetching them great prices, thus impacting the availability of coconuts. The proliferation of industrial units dealing in desiccated coconut powder, coconut milk, virgin coconut oil etc and their corresponding increase in exports during the previous fiscal further contributed to the price rise. 'The trend of rising price was noticed since last September. From what can be gauged from the market, coconut availability is returning to normal in places like Tamil Nadu. We expect the prices to stabilise in another two to three months,' said the official. Ironically, now with the price still on the rise, the farmers are left with far fewer coconuts to cash in though.
