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Hezbollah Chief Torches 'Futile' Israel Talks, Urges Lebanon Walkout As Rubio Hypes 'Historic Opportunity'

The Israel-Lebanon peace talks which have kicked off at the State Dept. in Washington D.C. on Tuesday are unprecedented and historic, and yet they remain largely symbolic and are unlikely to lead to much in terms of ending the conflict with Hezbollah. That's of course because Hezbollah is not actually represented, only Lebanese government officials - who hold no power or sway over what is the single most well-armed paramilitary group in the country.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday demanded that Lebanon cancel the US-hosted meeting with Israel, reaffirming the Iran-aligned group’s rejection of direct negotiations with its sworn enemy.

via AFP

"We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity… We call for a historic and heroic stance by canceling this negotiating meeting," Qassem stated. He blasted the talks as "futile".

Hezbollah has sent thousands of rockets into Israel, both in support of Hamas during the two-year Gaza war, and more recently as the US war on Iran kicked off.

Israel has in turn obliterated parts of Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley - launching a brutal airstrike campaign, as if to punish the whole country. Earlier in the Gaza war Hezbollah leadership was decimated.

As for the Lebanese government, it first wants to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war via these formal talks with Lebanon itself. The US and Israel in turn are hoping to pressure all of Lebanese society into disarming and dismantling Hezbollah.

For now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the fight against Hezbollah, saying Saturday that "we want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.'

The Lebanon crisis holds the potential to impact the outcome of delicate on and off again peace talks between Tehran and Washington.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently overseeing the talks. Upon welcoming the rival ambassadors Tuesday he declared, "This is a historic opportunity. We understand we're working against decades of history and the complexities that have led us to this unique moment and the opportunity here."

"The hope today is that we can outline a framework upon which a current and lasting peace can be developed," he added. Here's how he framed the situation:

"The Lebanese people are victims of Hezbollah. The Lebanese people are victims of Iranian aggression." Rubio stated. "This is a process, not an event."

🇺🇸🇱🇧 Rubio just did something genuinely historic. Israel and Lebanon face to face in Washington for the first time since 1983, and he's the one who made it happen.

His framing was sharp: "The Lebanese people are victims of Hezbollah. The Lebanese people are victims of Iranian… https://t.co/locPZ5hVdR pic.twitter.com/DslBsOQmJS

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 14, 2026

From Washington and Tel Aviv's eyes, this lasting peace doesn't have Hezbollah in the picture. The US has sought the group's final demise for decades, and the lengthy Syrian proxy war also had this as a key objective, along with the overthrow of Assad, and eventual regime change targeting Tehran - to dismantle the so-called Shia axis.

Tyler Durden Tue, 04/14/2026 - 22:10

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Australia's Qantas To Cut Domestic Flights Amid Fuel Price Surge

Authored by Monica O'Shea via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Australia’s flag carrier Qantas will cut domestic flights and redeploy capacity from the United States towards Europe as fuel prices double.

Qantas Airways ground staff are seen on the tarmac near planes at the domestic terminal of Sydney International Airport in Sydney, Australia on Jan. 14, 2026. David Gray/ AFP via Getty Images

Qantas revealed fuel costs remained turbulent amid the Iran War in an update on its 2026 financial outlook, which noted that jet fuel prices have more than doubled and remain highly volatile.”

“Given the continued volatility in fuel prices and the global economic conditions, the group has reduced domestic capacity in 4Q26 by around 5 percentage points,” Qantas said.

Customers will be notified of which routes will be affected.

Meanwhile, in response to strong demand for European flights, Qantas will also add more options to Paris and Rome.

Qantas said it had fixed price contracts in place for about 90 percent of its crude oil but the airline was still exposed to surging jet fuel prices, which have jumped from about US$20 per barrel in February to as high as US$120.

As a result, the group now expects its fuel bill to cost between $3.1 billion or $3.3 billion.

“We are closely monitoring the situation given the ongoing uncertainty in global fuel supply chains,” Qantas added.

The move comes as other major carriers Air New Zealand, Air India, and Delta Airlines cut back on capacity amid surging jet fuel costs.

Qantas is Australia’s biggest airline founded in 1920 and operates two brands, Qantas and low cost airline Jetstar.

Listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), the airline flies across Australia, North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and to and from South America.

Overall, Qantas said it remains in a “strong financial position” and is progressing its 2027 financial year funding plans, even as it tightens capital spending.

Current FY26 capital expenditure is now expected to come in at or below $4.1 billion, at the lower end of its previous guidance range. Capital expenditure refers to the dollars spent by the company on buying and upgrading long-term assets including planes and buildings.

The company confirmed a $300 million interim dividend will be paid to shareholders on April 15, but its planned $150 million share buyback has not begun due to ongoing volatility.

Net debt is expected to sit at or above the middle of its target range by June 2026 and Qantas will delay its FY27 update.

Meanwhile, Qantas’ largest competition Virgin also faces disruption from the Middle East crisis with its codeshare flights with Qatar Airways suspended.

Virgin delivered a $279 million net profit after tax in its latest financial results (pdf) ahead of expectations despite inflation pressures.

Tyler Durden Tue, 04/14/2026 - 21:45

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