Le Soudan et les Emirats arabes unis s’affrontent devant la CIJ

Le Soudan et les Emirats arabes unis vont s’affronter jeudi devant la Cour internationale de Justice, Khartoum accusant les Emirats d’avoir enfreint la convention des Nations unies sur le génocide à travers un soutien présumé aux combattants rebelles dans la guerre civile qui ravage le pays.Les EAU estiment que l’affaire est sans fondement et assurent n’être pas impliqués dans cette guerre qui a fait des dizaines de milliers de morts, déplacé des millions de personnes et provoqué une famine dans de vastes régions du nord-est de l’Afrique. Le Soudan souhaite que les juges de la CIJ émettent des ordonnances d’urgence obligeant les Emirats à cesser leur soutien présumé aux paramilitaires majoritairement arabes des Forces de soutien rapide (FSR) qui combattent l’armée soudanaise depuis 2023.Dans sa requête auprès de la Cour, le Soudan affirme que la perpétration de “génocide, meurtres et déplacements forcés” a été rendue possible “par le soutien direct apporté par les Emirats arabes unis à la milice rebelle des FSR”. La requête allègue également que les Emirats “se rendent complices de génocide contre les Massalit (communauté non-arabe, ndlr) en exerçant leur autorité sur la milice rebelle des FSR et en fournissant à cette dernière un soutien financier, politique et militaire massif”.Khartoum a également demandé aux juges d’ordonner aux EAU de procéder à des “réparations complètes”, notamment en indemnisant les victimes de la guerre.Le Soudan accuse les Emirats arabes unis de manquer aux obligations qui leur incombent en vertu de la convention des Nations unies de 1948 sur le génocide, établie à la suite de l’Holocauste.Toutefois, une représentante des Emirats arabes unis a déclaré à l’AFP avant les audiences que ces accusations sont “sans fondement” et représentent “un mauvais usage du temps et de la pratique de la Cour”. “C’est une parodie que les institutions internationales soient ainsi utilisées comme plateformes de désinformation au lieu d’être utilisées pour appliquer la justice sur le terrain”, a-t-elle déclaré. Les EAU nient avoir fourni des armes aux FSR. Les Etats-Unis ont accusé l’armée soudanaise d’attaquer des civils et les FSR de “commettre un génocide” dans la région du Darfour occidental. -Possible incompétence de la CIJ-Selon des experts juridiques, le cas du Soudan pourrait rapidement s’enliser sur des questions de compétence.Lorsque les Emirats ont signé la convention sur le génocide, ils ont émis une “réserve” à l’égard d’une clause-clef permettant aux pays de s’attaquer mutuellement devant la CIJ en cas de litige. Les revendications du Soudan soulèvent des “questions importantes”, a écrit Michael Becker, expert en droit international du Trinity College de Dublin, dans un article publié sur le site spécialisé Opinio Juris. Mais “il est très peu probable que l’une ou l’autre de ces allégations factuelles ou revendications juridiques soient entendues ou tranchée par la CIJ”, a-t-il ajouté. “Etant donné que les Emirats arabes unis ont émis une réserve sur l’article IX lorsqu’ils ont adhéré à la convention sur le génocide en 2005, on peut s’attendre à ce que la CIJ conclue qu’elle n’est pas compétente pour juger ce différend”, a poursuivi M. Becker. Le Soudan a fait valoir dans sa requête que la réserve émise par les Emirats arabes unis était “incompatible” avec l’objectif de la convention sur le génocide, qui met l’accent sur la responsabilité collective mondiale de prévenir ce crime contre l’humanité.Les avocats du Soudan s’adresseront jeudi à la Cour au Palais de la Paix à La Haye à 10H00 (08H00 GMT), tandis que les Emirats arabes unis répondront à 16H00 (14H00 GMT). Les décisions de la CIJ sont définitives et contraignantes, mais la Cour n’a aucun moyen de les faire respecter. Les juges avaient notamment ordonné en 2022 à la Russie de mettre fin à son invasion de l’Ukraine, en vain.

Taiwan’s TSMC says first quarter revenue up 42 percent

Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC reported Thursday a better-than-expected revenue for the first quarter on strong demand for AI technology, after tariffs slapped onto major economies by US President Donald Trump caused global uncertainty.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world’s largest contract maker of chips that are used in everything from Apple’s iPhones to Nvidia’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence hardware.TSMC said revenue in the first three months of 2025 rose nearly 42 percent to NT$839.25 billion ($25.5 billion) on-year, beating a forecast of around NT$830.5 billion by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.The company is scheduled to release full first quarter earnings in an online briefing next week.TSMC chairman and chief executive C.C. Wei has said the firm expected “2025 to be another strong growth year” as AI-related demand continues to surge. And its full year revenue was expected to increase “by close to mid-20s percent in US dollar terms,” Wei said at an earnings conference in January.But in light of Trump’s ongoing trade war with China — the world’s second-largest economy — and his threats to slap tariffs on semiconductor imports, Taiwan’s own industry could experience reverberations across the global chip supply chain. Taiwan had sought to avoid Trump’s threatened levies by pledging increased investment in the United States, more purchases of US energy and greater defence spending.Also last month, TSMC said it would invest $100 billion in the United States in what was hailed by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as a “historic moment” for Taiwan-US relations.The planned investment followed Trump’s accusations that Taiwan stole the US chip industry and his threats to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent. In the end, Trump imposed a hefty 32 percent on Taiwanese imports — excluding semiconductor chips — though on Thursday the mercurial Republican abruptly paused the implementation for almost all countries except China for 90 days. TSMC has long faced demands to move more of its production away from Taiwan, with fears that supplies of the critical technology could be disrupted in any conflict with Beijing.China has upped military pressure on Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty over the self-ruled island, where TSMC has its headquarters and the bulk of its fabrication plants.

Japan’s World Expo touts unity, and algae, in turbulent timesThu, 10 Apr 2025 06:50:13 GMT

World Expo opens on Sunday with host Japan aiming to bring humanity together, despite global turmoil and tepid public enthusiasm for the six-month event showcasing innovation as well as Hello Kitty in algae form.A Mars meteorite the size of a sourdough loaf and a beating heart grown from stem cells are among the myriad futuristic …

Japan’s World Expo touts unity, and algae, in turbulent timesThu, 10 Apr 2025 06:50:13 GMT Read More »

Japan’s World Expo touts unity, and algae, in turbulent times

World Expo opens on Sunday with host Japan aiming to bring humanity together, despite global turmoil and tepid public enthusiasm for the six-month event showcasing innovation as well as Hello Kitty in algae form.A Mars meteorite the size of a sourdough loaf and a beating heart grown from stem cells are among the myriad futuristic attractions crammed into a vast waterfront site in Osaka hosting more than 160 countries, regions and organisations.Most pavilions — each more outlandishly designed than the last — are encircled by the world’s largest wooden architectural structure, a towering latticed “Grand Ring” meant as a symbol of unity.But with conflicts raging and US tariffs threatening economic chaos, that goal may be optimistic.”Not for sale” states a yellow and blue sign over Ukraine’s booth — echoing defiant comments from leader Volodymyr Zelensky about the war with Russia, which chose not to mount a display at Expo 2025.Yahel Vilan, head of Israel’s equally compact pavilion, which features a stone from Jerusalem’s ancient Western Wall, told AFP that “we came with a message of peace”.Israel is not at Expo “to deal with politics”, he said. There is also a Palestinian pavilion, but it was not open at a Wednesday press preview. At the imposing US exhibit, absent was any mention of President Donald Trump’s hefty levies on trade partners, most of which he has now paused.Instead, the pavilion focuses on the world’s largest economy’s diverse landscapes, AI tech and space — including a simulated rocket launch where dry-ice blasters appear to ignite above visitors’ heads.- Human washing machine -After enjoying the view and sea breeze atop the Grand Ring’s “skywalk”, visitors can stop by the world’s longest sushi conveyor belt or meet many-eyed Expo 2025 mascot Myaku-Myaku.Among the more bizarre displays are 32 sculptures of Hello Kitty dressed as different types of algae — to symbolise the slimy plant’s many uses — and a “human washing machine” that shows imagery based on the bather’s heart rate.Elsewhere are demonstrations of drone-like flying vehicles, and the tiny artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) shown in public for the first time.”It has an actual pulseByron Russel of Pasona Group, which runs the exhibit, told AFP.Human stem cells were modified to become like “cardiac muscle cells” and “grown into the shape of the heart”, he explained. It will not beat continuously for six months but will be replaced every week or so.Themes of sustainability run through the Expo, including at the bauble-like Swiss pavilion, which aims to have the smallest ecological footprint.But Expos have been criticised for their temporary nature, and after October Osaka’s man-made island will be cleared to make way for a casino resort.According to Japanese media, only 12.5 percent of the Grand Ring will be reused.- Slow ticket sales -Expo is also known as a World’s Fair, and the phenomenon, which brought the Eiffel Tower to Paris, began with London’s 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition and is held every five years.The 2020 edition in Dubai was postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, so Osaka Expo organisers say it will “restore much-needed connections” and “provide the opportunity to create a better tomorrow”.Osaka last hosed the Expo in 1970 when Japan was booming and its technology the envy of the world. It attracted 64 million people, a record until Shanghai in 2010.But 55 years on Japan is less of a trendsetter and opinion polls show low levels of enthusiasm for the Expo among the public.So far 8.7 million advance tickets have been shifted, below the pre-sales target of 14 million.This time around “inflation is causing a lot of anxiety, especially among younger generations”, Yani Karavasilev of the APIR think-tank told AFP.Japan is also experiencing a record tourism boom, meaning accommodation in Osaka — near hotspot Kyoto, and home to the Universal Studios Japan theme park — is often fully booked with prices sky-high.A lack of viral online posts about the Expo is another reason for low excitement levels, according to Karavasilev.”I think as long as sharing on social media picks up, ticket sales will pick up as well,” he said.

Japan’s World Expo touts unity, and algae, in turbulent times

World Expo opens on Sunday with host Japan aiming to bring humanity together, despite global turmoil and tepid public enthusiasm for the six-month event showcasing innovation as well as Hello Kitty in algae form.A Mars meteorite the size of a sourdough loaf and a beating heart grown from stem cells are among the myriad futuristic attractions crammed into a vast waterfront site in Osaka hosting more than 160 countries, regions and organisations.Most pavilions — each more outlandishly designed than the last — are encircled by the world’s largest wooden architectural structure, a towering latticed “Grand Ring” meant as a symbol of unity.But with conflicts raging and US tariffs threatening economic chaos, that goal may be optimistic.”Not for sale” states a yellow and blue sign over Ukraine’s booth — echoing defiant comments from leader Volodymyr Zelensky about the war with Russia, which chose not to mount a display at Expo 2025.Yahel Vilan, head of Israel’s equally compact pavilion, which features a stone from Jerusalem’s ancient Western Wall, told AFP that “we came with a message of peace”.Israel is not at Expo “to deal with politics”, he said. There is also a Palestinian pavilion, but it was not open at a Wednesday press preview. At the imposing US exhibit, absent was any mention of President Donald Trump’s hefty levies on trade partners, most of which he has now paused.Instead, the pavilion focuses on the world’s largest economy’s diverse landscapes, AI tech and space — including a simulated rocket launch where dry-ice blasters appear to ignite above visitors’ heads.- Human washing machine -After enjoying the view and sea breeze atop the Grand Ring’s “skywalk”, visitors can stop by the world’s longest sushi conveyor belt or meet many-eyed Expo 2025 mascot Myaku-Myaku.Among the more bizarre displays are 32 sculptures of Hello Kitty dressed as different types of algae — to symbolise the slimy plant’s many uses — and a “human washing machine” that shows imagery based on the bather’s heart rate.Elsewhere are demonstrations of drone-like flying vehicles, and the tiny artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) shown in public for the first time.”It has an actual pulseByron Russel of Pasona Group, which runs the exhibit, told AFP.Human stem cells were modified to become like “cardiac muscle cells” and “grown into the shape of the heart”, he explained. It will not beat continuously for six months but will be replaced every week or so.Themes of sustainability run through the Expo, including at the bauble-like Swiss pavilion, which aims to have the smallest ecological footprint.But Expos have been criticised for their temporary nature, and after October Osaka’s man-made island will be cleared to make way for a casino resort.According to Japanese media, only 12.5 percent of the Grand Ring will be reused.- Slow ticket sales -Expo is also known as a World’s Fair, and the phenomenon, which brought the Eiffel Tower to Paris, began with London’s 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition and is held every five years.The 2020 edition in Dubai was postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, so Osaka Expo organisers say it will “restore much-needed connections” and “provide the opportunity to create a better tomorrow”.Osaka last hosed the Expo in 1970 when Japan was booming and its technology the envy of the world. It attracted 64 million people, a record until Shanghai in 2010.But 55 years on Japan is less of a trendsetter and opinion polls show low levels of enthusiasm for the Expo among the public.So far 8.7 million advance tickets have been shifted, below the pre-sales target of 14 million.This time around “inflation is causing a lot of anxiety, especially among younger generations”, Yani Karavasilev of the APIR think-tank told AFP.Japan is also experiencing a record tourism boom, meaning accommodation in Osaka — near hotspot Kyoto, and home to the Universal Studios Japan theme park — is often fully booked with prices sky-high.A lack of viral online posts about the Expo is another reason for low excitement levels, according to Karavasilev.”I think as long as sharing on social media picks up, ticket sales will pick up as well,” he said.

Japan’s World Expo touts unity, and algae, in turbulent times

World Expo opens on Sunday with host Japan aiming to bring humanity together, despite global turmoil and tepid public enthusiasm for the six-month event showcasing innovation as well as Hello Kitty in algae form.A Mars meteorite the size of a sourdough loaf and a beating heart grown from stem cells are among the myriad futuristic attractions crammed into a vast waterfront site in Osaka hosting more than 160 countries, regions and organisations.Most pavilions — each more outlandishly designed than the last — are encircled by the world’s largest wooden architectural structure, a towering latticed “Grand Ring” meant as a symbol of unity.But with conflicts raging and US tariffs threatening economic chaos, that goal may be optimistic.”Not for sale” states a yellow and blue sign over Ukraine’s booth — echoing defiant comments from leader Volodymyr Zelensky about the war with Russia, which chose not to mount a display at Expo 2025.Yahel Vilan, head of Israel’s equally compact pavilion, which features a stone from Jerusalem’s ancient Western Wall, told AFP that “we came with a message of peace”.Israel is not at Expo “to deal with politics”, he said. There is also a Palestinian pavilion, but it was not open at a Wednesday press preview. At the imposing US exhibit, absent was any mention of President Donald Trump’s hefty levies on trade partners, most of which he has now paused.Instead, the pavilion focuses on the world’s largest economy’s diverse landscapes, AI tech and space — including a simulated rocket launch where dry-ice blasters appear to ignite above visitors’ heads.- Human washing machine -After enjoying the view and sea breeze atop the Grand Ring’s “skywalk”, visitors can stop by the world’s longest sushi conveyor belt or meet many-eyed Expo 2025 mascot Myaku-Myaku.Among the more bizarre displays are 32 sculptures of Hello Kitty dressed as different types of algae — to symbolise the slimy plant’s many uses — and a “human washing machine” that shows imagery based on the bather’s heart rate.Elsewhere are demonstrations of drone-like flying vehicles, and the tiny artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) shown in public for the first time.”It has an actual pulseByron Russel of Pasona Group, which runs the exhibit, told AFP.Human stem cells were modified to become like “cardiac muscle cells” and “grown into the shape of the heart”, he explained. It will not beat continuously for six months but will be replaced every week or so.Themes of sustainability run through the Expo, including at the bauble-like Swiss pavilion, which aims to have the smallest ecological footprint.But Expos have been criticised for their temporary nature, and after October Osaka’s man-made island will be cleared to make way for a casino resort.According to Japanese media, only 12.5 percent of the Grand Ring will be reused.- Slow ticket sales -Expo is also known as a World’s Fair, and the phenomenon, which brought the Eiffel Tower to Paris, began with London’s 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition and is held every five years.The 2020 edition in Dubai was postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, so Osaka Expo organisers say it will “restore much-needed connections” and “provide the opportunity to create a better tomorrow”.Osaka last hosed the Expo in 1970 when Japan was booming and its technology the envy of the world. It attracted 64 million people, a record until Shanghai in 2010.But 55 years on Japan is less of a trendsetter and opinion polls show low levels of enthusiasm for the Expo among the public.So far 8.7 million advance tickets have been shifted, below the pre-sales target of 14 million.This time around “inflation is causing a lot of anxiety, especially among younger generations”, Yani Karavasilev of the APIR think-tank told AFP.Japan is also experiencing a record tourism boom, meaning accommodation in Osaka — near hotspot Kyoto, and home to the Universal Studios Japan theme park — is often fully booked with prices sky-high.A lack of viral online posts about the Expo is another reason for low excitement levels, according to Karavasilev.”I think as long as sharing on social media picks up, ticket sales will pick up as well,” he said.