The White House questioned Tuesday the humanitarian commitment of the influential Episcopal Church after it refused to comply with a federal directive to help resettle white Afrikaners granted refugee status by the Trump administration.Trump ran on an anti-immigrant platform and essentially halted refugee arrivals in the United States after taking office, but made an exception …
United Nations relief chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday called on the UN Security Council to take action “to prevent genocide” in Gaza, delivering a scathing account of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territory.Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, demanded that Israel lift its aid blockade on Gaza, where its offensive has killed tens of thousands and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.”For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?” asked Fletcher. “Will you act — decisively — to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?”He alleged that Israel was “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”Fletcher said UN agencies had “life-saving supplies” ready to deliver at the borders but were denied access by Israel. He also decried Israel’s conditions for allowing aid delivery as “a cynical sideshow.””It makes starvation a bargaining chip,” Fletcher said. “A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement. If any of this still matters, have no part in it.”The Israeli proposal for aid deliveries, the details of which have not been made public, “practically excludes many, including people with disabilities, women, children, the elderly and the wounded,” he said.In a joint statement, five European members of the UN Security Council said that they were “deeply concerned” at the Israeli plan, “which the UN has said would not meet humanitarian principles.””Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or a military tactic,” read the statement by France, Britain, Slovenia, Greece and Denmark.Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected the allegations against his government as “baseless and outrageous accusations.”- ‘Children scream’ -The UN relief chief warned that while the International Court of Justice deliberated over whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constituted genocide, “it will be too late.””We have briefed this Council in great detail on the extensive civilian harm we witness daily: death, injury, destruction, hunger, disease, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, repeated displacement, on a large scale.”We have described the deliberate obstruction of aid operations and the systematic dismantling of Palestinian life, and that which sustains it, in Gaza,” he said.On Tuesday, Israeli strikes on Gaza continued, with rescue officials saying an attack near a hospital in the south of the territory killed at least 28 people.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his military would enter Gaza “with full force” in the coming days, after recommencing operations having broken a ceasefire two months ago. The war began in October 2023 after a Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.Israel launched a withering offensive in response, killing at least 52,908 people — mostly civilians — according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.It has also targeted civilian infrastructure, destroying roads, schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods, alleging that Hamas was using them as cover.”I can tell you from having visited what’s left of Gaza’s medical system that death on this scale has a sound and a smell that does not leave you,” said Fletcher. “As one nurse described it: ‘children scream as we peel burnt fabric from their skin.'”The senior official charged that the UN Security Council was not doing enough to prevent the violence.”For those who will not survive what we fear is coming — in plain sight — it will be no consolation to know that future generations will hold us in this chamber to account,” he said.”But they will. And, if we have not seriously done ‘all we could,’ we should fear that judgment.”
Wall Street stocks mostly rose Tuesday while oil prices advanced, extending a rally as the improved state of US-China trade boosts the economic outlook. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished solidly higher following benign US inflation data while the Dow retreated after weakness in UnitedHealth Group shares.Markets continued to cheer the US-China announcement Monday of a de-escalation of trade tensions. The two countries agreed to significantly lower levies for 90 days while they work to hash out an agreement.The tech-rich Nasdaq led major US indices, winning 1.6 percent.Oil prices also climbed more than two percent as traders pencil in more oil demand.”It seems as if the euphoria that was ignited yesterday or over the weekend has continued into today at least for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq,” said Sam Stovall of CFRA Research.The consumer price index eased to 2.3 percent in April from a year ago, a tick below the 2.4 percent figure recorded in March.Some analysts cautioned that it was still too early to see the implications of US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, some of which have been rolled back or suspended.But the weaker inflation data put pressure on the dollar, with more traders betting the Federal Reserve will soon cut interest rates.In Europe, London closed barely changed, while Paris and Frankfurt both ticked up 0.3 percent.Asian equities had finished with strong gains, in their catch-up session digesting Wall Street’s jump on Monday, although Hong Kong dropped nearly two percent on profit-taking.On the corporate front, the big focus was on the auto sector after major news out of Japan.Nissan posted an annual net loss of $4.5 billion, confirmed plans to slash 15 percent of its global workforce and warned about the possible impact of US tariffs.The carmaker, whose mooted merger with Honda collapsed this year, is heavily indebted and engaged in an expensive business restructuring plan.For its part, Honda on Tuesday forecast a 70-percent drop in net profit for the 2025-26 financial year.”The impact of tariff policies in various countries on our business has been very significant, and frequent revisions are being made, making it difficult to formulate an outlook,” said Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe.- Key figures at around 2050 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 42,140.43 (close)New York – S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 5,886.55 (close)New York – Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.6 percent at 19,010.08 (close)London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 8,602.92 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 7,873.83 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 23,638.56 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 38,183.26 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.9 percent at 23,108.27 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,374.87 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1189 from $1.1087 on MondayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3304 from $1.3176Dollar/yen: DOWN at 147.47 yen from 148.46 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 84.07 pence from 84.14 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 2.6 percent at $66.63 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.8 percent at $63.67 per barrelburs-jmb/jgc
Republicans geared up Tuesday for a series of crucial votes on Donald Trump’s domestic policy mega-bill, with rows over spending threatening to unravel the US president’s plans for sweeping tax cuts.Three key House committees are slated to finalize and vote on their portions of Trump’s much-touted “big, beautiful” bill, led by a roughly $5 trillion extension of his 2017 tax relief.Republicans are weighing partially covering the cost with deep cuts to the Medicaid health insurance program that benefits more than 70 million low-income people.Before it can get to Trump’s desk, the package must survive votes of the full House and Senate, where Republicans have razor-thin controlling margins.”The bill delivers what Americans voted for — tax policies that put working families first — and kick-starts a new golden era of American prosperity and strength,” said Jason Smith, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which is charged with drafting the tax proposals. The marathon committee debates are expected to continue into the night and even spill into daytime Wednesday ahead of a make-or-break full House vote planned for next week.If any of the committees fall short, the timetable for ushering in Trump’s priorities could be upended.As the Republican billionaire seeks to cement his legacy with lasting legislation, every week is considered crucial ahead of 2026 midterm elections that could see his grip on the levers of power weakened. But the package is threatened by bitter infighting, with conservatives angling for much deeper cuts and moderates worried about threats to health coverage.Republicans plan to slash more than $700 billion from health care alone, which would leave several million people without coverage, according to a nonpartisan estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.-‘Handouts for billionaires’ -Democrats have angrily defended at-risk entitlements and hit out at tax cuts they say are a debt-inflating gift to the rich, funded by the middle class. On the tax front, House Republicans released a nearly 390-page bill Monday detailing where they want to raise revenues to cover Trump’s promised extension of the expiring 2017 tax cuts. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that this portion of the package will mean $3.7 trillion in lost revenue between 2025-2034, when savings in the text are taken into account. The president appears on course to get most of what he wants — including a four-year pause on tax on tips, overtime and interest on loans for American-made cars.There are big tax hikes on the endowments of wealthy colleges such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton, and an aggressive roll-back of Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credits.But Republicans representing districts in high-tax states have rejected as too low a proposed increase in the relief they get in state and local taxes (SALT) from $10,000 to $30,000. Democrats hosted a press event at the US Capitol to decry the proposed cuts ahead of the committee meetings, deploying a mobile billboard criticizing Republicans over the Medicaid proposals.”Let’s be clear: There’s nothing moderate, efficient, or reasonable about Donald Trump and Republicans’ dangerous plans to gut health care and force kids to go hungry so they can fund tax handouts for billionaires,” said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Aida Ross.  Twenty-five activists were arrested outside one of the committee rooms for “illegally demonstrating,” the US Capitol Police told AFP.”It is against the law to protest inside the congressional buildings,” the force said in a statement.Â
Gaza rescuers said Israeli strikes close to a hospital in the  Palestinian territory killed at least 28 people Tuesday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the military would enter Gaza “with full force” in the coming days.The release of 21-year-old Israeli-American Edan Alexander, who had been in Hamas captivity since their October 2023 attack on Israel, offered a brief pause in the fighting on Monday.But the strikes resumed amid fierce new criticism of Israel’s tactics in the war.Gaza’s civil defence agency said at least 28 people were killed in Israeli strikes Tuesday around the European hospital in Khan Yunis. The Israeli military said it hit a Hamas “command and control centre”.AFPTV footage showed large craters gouged into the ground and cracks in the courtyard outside the hospital. A damaged bus was lodged in one hole. “Everyone inside the hospital — patients and wounded alike — was running in fear, some on crutches, others screaming for their children, while others were being dragged on beds,” Amro Tabash, a local photojournalist, told AFP.Earlier, the military said it had struck Hamas militants inside “a command and control centre” at Nasser Hospital, also in Khan Yunis. Gaza’s health ministry said that strike killed two people. One of the dead was journalist Hassan Aslih, the civil defence said.Israel had accused Aslih of participating in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks.”In the very coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying in a statement released on Tuesday. – ‘Under fire’ -“Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas,” Netanyahu had said in the remarks made late Monday.”There will be no situation where we stop the war. A temporary ceasefire might happen, but we are going all the way.”The Israeli warnings came amid new condemnation of its war tactics.UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called on the UN Security Council to take action “to prevent genocide” in Gaza as he gave a scathing account of Israel’s actions in the  territory.”Will you act — decisively — to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?” he said to UN ambassadors in New York.In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron said that Netanyahu’s actions in blocking aid to Gaza were “shameful”.Late Tuesday, the Israeli military urged civilians in several parts of northern Gaza to evacuate after it intercepted “two projectiles” fired from the territory. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for rocket fire into Israel, which has been rare in recent weeks. Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid a deadlock over how to proceed with a January 19 ceasefire.The Israeli government this month approved plans to expand its offensive, with officials talking of retaining a long-term presence in Gaza. Israel says that its renewed bombardments are aimed at forcing Hamas to free hostages.Netanyahu credited Alexander’s release on Monday to a combination of “our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by (US) President (Donald) Trump.”This has been rejected by Hamas which has revealed it was engaged in direct talks with Washington on a ceasefire in Gaza.Netanyahu thanked Trump for helping in the release and said he would be sending negotiators to Qatar on Tuesday to discuss remaining captives.- ‘Over 50 percent will leave’ -Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to start a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Netanyahu said late Monday that Israel was working to find countries willing to take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.Israeli ministers have seized on a proposal initially floated by Trump for the voluntary departure of Gazans to neighbouring countries such as Jordan or Egypt, which have flatly rejected the proposal.”We’ve set up an administration that will allow them (Gaza residents) to leave but… we need countries willing to take them in. That’s what we’re working on right now.” Netanyahu estimated that “over 50 percent will leave” if given the option.Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.Militants also abducted 251 people, of whom 57 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army.The Israeli offensive in retaliation for the attack has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.
“Je ne vais pas nationaliser ArcelorMittal parce que ce serait dépenser des milliards d’euros”, a tranché mardi Emmanuel Macron, affirmant toutefois “les yeux dans les yeux” que les sites de Dunkerque (Nord) et Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône) seraient “sauvés”.Le deuxième sidérurgiste mondial, aux prises avec une crise historique de l’acier en Europe, envisage de supprimer environ 600 postes dans sept sites industriels du nord de la France.”La réponse, ça n’est pas nationaliser (mais) avoir des garanties de développement”, a fait valoir le chef de l’Etat lors d’un entretien sur TF1 où il était confronté à la secrétaire générale de la CGT, Sophie Binet. “Il faut mettre en place ce qu’on appelle des clauses de sauvegarde, c’est à dire protéger le marché européen. On a commencé à prendre cette décision sous pression française: la Commission l’a annoncé en février”, a-t-il ajouté.”Nous allons sauver et Dunkerque et Fos, je vous le dis les yeux dans les yeux, pas en nationalisant mais en ayant une politique européenne qui protège notre acier”, a encore soutenu Emmanuel Macron.”Je ne vais pas nationaliser ArcelorMittal parce que ce serait dépenser des milliards d’euros (…) C’est mentir aux gens de leur dire que la nationalisation est le remède”, a-t-il déclaré plus tard.Des salariés d’ArcelorMittal de toute la France ont manifesté mardi en région parisienne pour défendre leurs emplois.Le sort des métallos mobilise dans la classe politique, de la gauche qui réclame, comme la CGT, une nationalisation des hauts fourneaux français, à l’ancien ministre de l’Economie, Bruno Le Maire, qui a estimé qu’il fallait “tout” faire pour sauver ArcelorMittal à Dunkerque, sans exclure une nationalisation “temporaire” et “de dernier recours” si l’entreprise ne remplissait pas ses obligations.”Après (l’entreprise chimique iséroise, ndlr) Vencorex, après tant d’autres, le gouvernement continue d’abandonner nos industries”, a protesté sur X le secrétaire général du Parti socialiste Pierre Jouvet. “La sidérurgie est stratégique. La solution est bien de nationaliser. Et de lutter contre la concurrence déloyale”.Emmanuel Macron a expliqué par ailleurs mardi soir qu’on “ne pourra(it) pas sauver Vencorex en l’état parce qu’on n’a pas de reprise pour la totalité de l’entreprise”. “Nationaliser une entreprise qui n’arrive pas à s’installer sur un marché, ce n’est pas une bonne utilisation de l’argent de nos compatriotes”, a souligné le chef de l’Etat.En avril, les activités de Vencorex ont été reprises très partiellement par son concurrent, le géant chinois Wanhua, le tribunal de commerce de Lyon ayant jugé “irrecevable” un projet de reprise en coopérative par des salariés, qui aurait permis de sauvegarder davantage de postes et de garder ce “fleuron” de la chimie dans le giron français.
“Je ne vais pas nationaliser ArcelorMittal parce que ce serait dépenser des milliards d’euros”, a tranché mardi Emmanuel Macron, affirmant toutefois “les yeux dans les yeux” que les sites de Dunkerque (Nord) et Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône) seraient “sauvés”.Le deuxième sidérurgiste mondial, aux prises avec une crise historique de l’acier en Europe, envisage de supprimer environ 600 postes dans sept sites industriels du nord de la France.”La réponse, ça n’est pas nationaliser (mais) avoir des garanties de développement”, a fait valoir le chef de l’Etat lors d’un entretien sur TF1 où il était confronté à la secrétaire générale de la CGT, Sophie Binet. “Il faut mettre en place ce qu’on appelle des clauses de sauvegarde, c’est à dire protéger le marché européen. On a commencé à prendre cette décision sous pression française: la Commission l’a annoncé en février”, a-t-il ajouté.”Nous allons sauver et Dunkerque et Fos, je vous le dis les yeux dans les yeux, pas en nationalisant mais en ayant une politique européenne qui protège notre acier”, a encore soutenu Emmanuel Macron.”Je ne vais pas nationaliser ArcelorMittal parce que ce serait dépenser des milliards d’euros (…) C’est mentir aux gens de leur dire que la nationalisation est le remède”, a-t-il déclaré plus tard.Des salariés d’ArcelorMittal de toute la France ont manifesté mardi en région parisienne pour défendre leurs emplois.Le sort des métallos mobilise dans la classe politique, de la gauche qui réclame, comme la CGT, une nationalisation des hauts fourneaux français, à l’ancien ministre de l’Economie, Bruno Le Maire, qui a estimé qu’il fallait “tout” faire pour sauver ArcelorMittal à Dunkerque, sans exclure une nationalisation “temporaire” et “de dernier recours” si l’entreprise ne remplissait pas ses obligations.”Après (l’entreprise chimique iséroise, ndlr) Vencorex, après tant d’autres, le gouvernement continue d’abandonner nos industries”, a protesté sur X le secrétaire général du Parti socialiste Pierre Jouvet. “La sidérurgie est stratégique. La solution est bien de nationaliser. Et de lutter contre la concurrence déloyale”.Emmanuel Macron a expliqué par ailleurs mardi soir qu’on “ne pourra(it) pas sauver Vencorex en l’état parce qu’on n’a pas de reprise pour la totalité de l’entreprise”. “Nationaliser une entreprise qui n’arrive pas à s’installer sur un marché, ce n’est pas une bonne utilisation de l’argent de nos compatriotes”, a souligné le chef de l’Etat.En avril, les activités de Vencorex ont été reprises très partiellement par son concurrent, le géant chinois Wanhua, le tribunal de commerce de Lyon ayant jugé “irrecevable” un projet de reprise en coopérative par des salariés, qui aurait permis de sauvegarder davantage de postes et de garder ce “fleuron” de la chimie dans le giron français.
