Angleterre: de l’élan pour Manchester City, le derby pour Liverpool
La vie sans Erling Haaland, forfait pour plusieurs semaines, a débuté pour Manchester City par un succès sans forcer contre l’avant-dernier Leicester (2-0), mercredi en Premier League, de quoi lancer idéalement la lutte finale pour la qualification en Ligue des champions.Le leader Liverpool s’est lui adjugé le derby contre Everton (1-0) au prix d’un combat disputé à Anfield, et il file plus que jamais vers le titre, cinq ans après le dernier.Le club au maillot rouge conserve un confortable matelas de douze points sur son dauphin Arsenal (2e, 61 pts) à huit journées de la fin. Et le surprenant troisième Nottingham (57 pts) est trop loin pour le menacer.La victoire a été difficile à obtenir mercredi face à des “Toffees” coriaces, engagés jusqu’à la limite, et elle est venue d’un numéro en solo de Diogo Jota dans la surface (57e, 1-0).Le succès dans le derby ne pouvait pas mieux tomber pour les “Reds” d’Arne Slot, assommés avant la trêve internationale par leur élimination en Ligue des champions puis la défaite contre Newcastle en finale de Coupe de la Ligue.- Grealish, fin de disette -Manchester City, lui, avait rejoint la trêve de mars sur un rythme d’escargot en championnat (2 victoires en 6 matches) et il était attendu au tournant pour sa reprise.Le mal classé Leicester avait la tête d’une proie idéale et les Citizens se sont jetés dessus avec gourmandise, en ouvrant le score par Jack Grealish après moins de deux minutes (2e, 1-0).Le premier but de l’ailier anglais depuis seize mois en Premier League a été suivi par celui d’Omar Marmoush (30e, 2-0), installé en pointe de l’attaque à la place habituellement occupée par Haaland.L’absence du géant norvégien ne s’est pas vraiment fait sentir face à une équipe de Leicester en grande peine, battue 14 fois lors de ses 15 dernières sorties en championnat. “Cela nous a aidé de marquer tôt. Nous avons manqué le troisième but, c’est tout. Le reste a été bon”, a résumé l’entraîneur Pep Guardiola auprès de la BBC.Le niveau d’adversité sera en revanche bien plus relevé dimanche à Old Trafford face au voisin ennemi Manchester United.- La surprise Ipswich -En attendant, Manchester City (4e, 51 pts) a fait ce qu’il fallait pour maintenir à distance la meute des poursuivants, à commencer par Newcastle (5e, 50 pts) et Aston Villa (7e, 48 pts).Les “Magpies” et les “Villans” ont en effet aussi gagné mercredi, respectivement contre Brentford (2-1) et Brighton (3-0).La pression est désormais sur les épaules de Chelsea (6e, 49 pts), obligé de battre Tottenham jeudi pour récupérer la quatrième place qu’il détenait avant cette 30e journée.Actuel premier relégable, Ipswich Town (18e, 20 pts) a créé la surprise en s’imposant 2-1 sur la pelouse de Bournemouth (10e, 44 pts), de quoi relancer même timidement son rêve de maintien.La lanterne rouge Southampton (20e, 10 pts) a elle aussi failli faire sensation, mais un but de Crystal Palace dans le temps additionnel (90e+2, 1-1) l’a privée d’une troisième victoire cette saison.Il reste huit journées aux Saints pour faire mieux que les onze points amassés par Derby en 2007/08, le plus faible total jamais enregistré par une équipe depuis que la Premier League est née en 1992.L’espoir de maintien n’existe plus depuis bien longtemps, en revanche. L’écart avec l’actuel premier non-relégable, Wolverhampton (17e, 29 pts), est désormais de dix-neuf points.
Haïti: des milliers de manifestants dans les rues de Port-au-Prince contre l’insécurité
Des milliers de manifestants ont envahi mercredi les rues de Port-au-Prince pour dénoncer la montée de l’insécurité, alors que les gangs intensifient leurs attaques contre plusieurs quartiers de la capitale haïtienne. Dès les premières heures de la matinée, les manifestants ont érigé des barricades sur certaines artères, perturbant la circulation.Cette situation a entraîné une paralysie quasi totale des activités dans la capitale, les commerces et les écoles restant fermés par crainte de débordements.Les manifestants se sont dirigés vers les locaux du Conseil présidentiel de transition (CPT) et du Premier ministre , avant d’être dispersés par la police.Ils ont dénoncé l’inaction des autorités, qui ne sont pas parvenues à rétablir la sécurité un an presque jour pour jour après la création du CPT, mis en place après la démission du Premier ministre Ariel Henry.”On n’en peut plus de cette situation d’insécurité dans le pays”, a confié à l’AFP un manifestant qui n’a pas souhaité dévoiler son identité.”C’est inacceptable que l’on continue à perdre des territoires. En réalité, je pense que ces territoires sont livrés aux bandits par les autorités qui ne se montrent pas à la hauteur”, a-t-il dénoncé.Pays le plus pauvre des Amériques, Haïti pâtit depuis longtemps des violences des bandes criminelles, accusées de meurtres, viols, pillages et enlèvements, dans un contexte d’instabilité politique.Le pays a connu un regain de violence depuis mi-février. Les gangs, qui contrôlent environ 85% de Port-au-Prince selon l’ONU, ont multiplié les attaques dans plusieurs quartiers qui échappaient jusque-là à leur contrôle, semant la terreur parmi la population.”Nous exigeons le rétablissement de la sécurité, la libre circulation et le retour de nos enfants à l’école. À bas les bandits! Vive la paix et la sécurité. Si les autorités sont dépassées par les événements, elles doivent partir”, s’est emporté un autre manifestant, également sous couvert d’anonymat.La situation continue à se détériorer en dépit du déploiement partiel de la mission multinationale de sécurité (MMAS) menée par le Kenya pour aider la police haïtienne dépassée. Soutenue par l’ONU, la mission compte désormais environ un millier de policiers de six pays, encore loin des 2.500 attendus.Dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi, des gangs avaient attaqué le commissariat et la prison de Mirebalais, ville située à une cinquantaine de kilomètres de Port-au-Prince, libérant 529 détenus.Cette attaque et une autre sur la ville voisine de Saut d’Eau ont poussé 5.981 personnes à fuir leur foyer, selon l’Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM).
Coupe d’Allemagne: Stuttgart bat Leipzig et rejoint Bielefeld en finale
Le VfB Stuttgart, vainqueur mercredi à domicile du RB Leipzig 3-1 en demi-finale de la Coupe d’Allemagne, rejoint en finale de la Coupe d’Allemagne l’Armina Bielefeld, club de 3e division vainqueur surprise la veille du Bayer Leverkusen, tenant du titre.Devant son public, Stuttgart a rapidement ouvert le score, par l’intermédiaire de Stiller expédiant d’une sublime reprise de volée d’une vingtaine de mètres, sur un renvoi du ballon dans l’axe par un défenseur adverse, le cuir dans la lucarne du but de Vandevoordt (1-0, 5e).L’équipe locale a obtenu une grosse occasion de doubler la mise, lorsqu’à la dixième minute la reprise du bout du pied de Demirovic devant le gardien a été superbement détournée par celui-ci.Le VfB, ensuite dominé, a préservé ce but d’avance jusqu’au repos, malgré plusieurs occasions pour Leipzig dans le dernier quart d’heure de ce premier acte, signées Openda, Xavi Simmons ou Baku.En seconde période, deux minutes après avoir vu sa tête des six mètres détournée en extension par Vandevoordt, Woltemade, d’un plat du pied croisé après un une-deux dans la surface avec Demirovic, a doublé la mise pour Stuttgart (2-0, 57e).Leipzig est revenu rapidement au score grâce à Sesko, parti dans le dos de la défense adverse pour venir tromper de près Nübel, l’ancien gardien de l’AS Monaco (2-1, 62e).Mais Woltemade, encore lui, a douché les espoirs des visiteurs de recoller au score, en reprenant de près un ballon cafouillé sur corner (3-1, 73e). Malgré une ultime reprise sur la transversale de Sesko (86e), les hommes de Sebastian Hoeness ont conservé leurs deux buts d’avance jusqu’au bout. La finale opposera donc le 24 mai au stade Olympique de Berlin le VfB Stuttgart, triple vainqueur du trophée (1954, 58, 97), qui en sera l’archi-favori, au modeste Bielefeld qui a renversé mardi le Bayer Leverkusen (2-1).Méfiance cependant: le sociétaire de 3e division a successivement fait tomber depuis les seizièmes quatre clubs de l’élite: l’Union Berlin, Fribourg, le Werder Brême et le Bayer Leverkusen.Â
Trump unveils sweeping global tariffs
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a raft of punishing tariffs targeting countries around the world including some of its closest trading partners, in a move that risks sparking a ruinous trade war. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden against a backdrop of US flags, Trump slapped the most stinging tariffs on China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day.”The dollar fell one percent against the euro and slipped against other major currencies as Trump was speaking.”For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.Trump reserved some of the heaviest blows for what he called the “nations that treat us badly,” including 34 percent on goods from superpower rival China, 20 percent on key ally the European Union and 24 percent on Japan.But the 78-year-old Republican — who held up a chart with a list of levies — said that he was “very kind” and so was only imposing half the amount that those countries taxed US exports.For the rest, Trump said he would impose a “baseline” tariff of 10 percent, including Britain.An audience of cabinet members, as well as workers in hard hats from industries including steel, oil and gas, whooped and cheered as Trump said the tariffs would “make America wealthy again.””This is Liberation Day,” Trump said, adding that it would “forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.”Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent that Trump announced last week are also due to take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) Thursday.- ‘Golden Age’ -Trump has telegraphed the move for weeks, insisting tariffs will keep the United States from being “ripped off” by other countries and spur a new “Golden Age” of American industry.But many experts warn the tariffs risk triggering a recession at home as costs are passed on to US consumers, and a damaging trade war abroad.The world has been on edge ahead of Trump’s announcement.Markets have been volatile as investors hedged their bets, and the announcement came after Wall Street stocks closed.The tariffs will also reinforce fears that Trump is backing even further away from US allies towards a new order based on a vision of American supremacy.US trading partners have vowed swift retribution, while also trying to persuade Trump to reach deals to avoid tariffs in the first place.  Germany warned Wednesday that trade wars hurt “both sides.”The European Union will react to new Trump tariffs “before the end of April,” said a French government spokeswoman.The 27-nation bloc’s initial salvo would counter US actions on steel and aluminum, followed by sector-by-sector measures.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who made intense, said a “trade war is in nobody’s interests.” “We have prepared for all eventualities — and we will rule nothing out,” he told parliament.- Recession fears -Trump has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of experts that they are a cure-all for America’s trade imbalances and economic ills.The billionaire insists the levies will bring a “rebirth” of America’s hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.But critics say US businesses and consumers could bear the burden if importers pass on the cost, adding that the policy could increase risks of a recession.”If this trade war continues through Labor Day (on September 1), the US economy will likely suffer a recession this year,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told AFP.Negotiations are likely to continue though as countries seek to halt the tariffs.Trump has previously been persuaded however to halt tariffs on neighbors Canada and Mexico while trade talks continued.He ordered levies on both on the grounds that they had failed to stop the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States.”I understand that it’s a game of tug-of-war,” truck driver Alejandro Espinoza told AFP as he waited in a queue to cross the Mexican-US border. “But unfortunately, we’re the ones who pay in the end.” burs-dk/sst
Trump unveils sweeping global tariffs
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a raft of punishing tariffs targeting countries around the world including some of its closest trading partners, in a move that risks sparking a ruinous trade war. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden against a backdrop of US flags, Trump slapped the most stinging tariffs on China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day.”The dollar fell one percent against the euro and slipped against other major currencies as Trump was speaking.”For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.Trump reserved some of the heaviest blows for what he called the “nations that treat us badly,” including 34 percent on goods from superpower rival China, 20 percent on key ally the European Union and 24 percent on Japan.But the 78-year-old Republican — who held up a chart with a list of levies — said that he was “very kind” and so was only imposing half the amount that those countries taxed US exports.For the rest, Trump said he would impose a “baseline” tariff of 10 percent, including Britain.An audience of cabinet members, as well as workers in hard hats from industries including steel, oil and gas, whooped and cheered as Trump said the tariffs would “make America wealthy again.””This is Liberation Day,” Trump said, adding that it would “forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.”Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent that Trump announced last week are also due to take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) Thursday.- ‘Golden Age’ -Trump has telegraphed the move for weeks, insisting tariffs will keep the United States from being “ripped off” by other countries and spur a new “Golden Age” of American industry.But many experts warn the tariffs risk triggering a recession at home as costs are passed on to US consumers, and a damaging trade war abroad.The world has been on edge ahead of Trump’s announcement.Markets have been volatile as investors hedged their bets, and the announcement came after Wall Street stocks closed.The tariffs will also reinforce fears that Trump is backing even further away from US allies towards a new order based on a vision of American supremacy.US trading partners have vowed swift retribution, while also trying to persuade Trump to reach deals to avoid tariffs in the first place.  Germany warned Wednesday that trade wars hurt “both sides.”The European Union will react to new Trump tariffs “before the end of April,” said a French government spokeswoman.The 27-nation bloc’s initial salvo would counter US actions on steel and aluminum, followed by sector-by-sector measures.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who made intense, said a “trade war is in nobody’s interests.” “We have prepared for all eventualities — and we will rule nothing out,” he told parliament.- Recession fears -Trump has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of experts that they are a cure-all for America’s trade imbalances and economic ills.The billionaire insists the levies will bring a “rebirth” of America’s hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.But critics say US businesses and consumers could bear the burden if importers pass on the cost, adding that the policy could increase risks of a recession.”If this trade war continues through Labor Day (on September 1), the US economy will likely suffer a recession this year,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told AFP.Negotiations are likely to continue though as countries seek to halt the tariffs.Trump has previously been persuaded however to halt tariffs on neighbors Canada and Mexico while trade talks continued.He ordered levies on both on the grounds that they had failed to stop the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States.”I understand that it’s a game of tug-of-war,” truck driver Alejandro Espinoza told AFP as he waited in a queue to cross the Mexican-US border. “But unfortunately, we’re the ones who pay in the end.” burs-dk/sst
Trump unveils sweeping global tariffs
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a raft of punishing tariffs targeting countries around the world including some of its closest trading partners, in a move that risks sparking a ruinous trade war. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden against a backdrop of US flags, Trump slapped the most stinging tariffs on China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day.”The dollar fell one percent against the euro and slipped against other major currencies as Trump was speaking.”For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.Trump reserved some of the heaviest blows for what he called the “nations that treat us badly,” including 34 percent on goods from superpower rival China, 20 percent on key ally the European Union and 24 percent on Japan.But the 78-year-old Republican — who held up a chart with a list of levies — said that he was “very kind” and so was only imposing half the amount that those countries taxed US exports.For the rest, Trump said he would impose a “baseline” tariff of 10 percent, including Britain.An audience of cabinet members, as well as workers in hard hats from industries including steel, oil and gas, whooped and cheered as Trump said the tariffs would “make America wealthy again.””This is Liberation Day,” Trump said, adding that it would “forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed.”Sweeping auto tariffs of 25 percent that Trump announced last week are also due to take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) Thursday.- ‘Golden Age’ -Trump has telegraphed the move for weeks, insisting tariffs will keep the United States from being “ripped off” by other countries and spur a new “Golden Age” of American industry.But many experts warn the tariffs risk triggering a recession at home as costs are passed on to US consumers, and a damaging trade war abroad.The world has been on edge ahead of Trump’s announcement.Markets have been volatile as investors hedged their bets, and the announcement came after Wall Street stocks closed.The tariffs will also reinforce fears that Trump is backing even further away from US allies towards a new order based on a vision of American supremacy.US trading partners have vowed swift retribution, while also trying to persuade Trump to reach deals to avoid tariffs in the first place.  Germany warned Wednesday that trade wars hurt “both sides.”The European Union will react to new Trump tariffs “before the end of April,” said a French government spokeswoman.The 27-nation bloc’s initial salvo would counter US actions on steel and aluminum, followed by sector-by-sector measures.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who made intense, said a “trade war is in nobody’s interests.” “We have prepared for all eventualities — and we will rule nothing out,” he told parliament.- Recession fears -Trump has had a long love affair with tariffs, insisting in the face of experts that they are a cure-all for America’s trade imbalances and economic ills.The billionaire insists the levies will bring a “rebirth” of America’s hollowed-out manufacturing capacity, and says companies can avoid tariffs by moving to the United States.But critics say US businesses and consumers could bear the burden if importers pass on the cost, adding that the policy could increase risks of a recession.”If this trade war continues through Labor Day (on September 1), the US economy will likely suffer a recession this year,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told AFP.Negotiations are likely to continue though as countries seek to halt the tariffs.Trump has previously been persuaded however to halt tariffs on neighbors Canada and Mexico while trade talks continued.He ordered levies on both on the grounds that they had failed to stop the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States.”I understand that it’s a game of tug-of-war,” truck driver Alejandro Espinoza told AFP as he waited in a queue to cross the Mexican-US border. “But unfortunately, we’re the ones who pay in the end.” burs-dk/sst
Tesla sales slump as pressure piles on Musk
Tesla’s worldwide sales tumbled in the first quarter, piling further pressure on CEO Elon Musk who faces a growing backlash for his role overseeing US federal spending cuts under President Donald Trump.Musk’s electric vehicle company delivered 336,681 autos globally in the first three months of 2025, a drop of 13 percent, figures showed Wednesday.The quarterly figures were the lowest in nearly three years and lagged analyst expectations, as Tesla pointed to the “loss of several weeks of production” while it ramps up upgrades for its Model Y output.Tesla shares initially fell more than six percent, but they bounced following a news report that Trump will soon scale back Musk’s involvement in his administration.Musk, the world’s richest person, donated more than $270 million to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Trump tasked Musk with leading the “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE, which has slashed the federal workforce and moved to shut down swaths of the US government.DOGE has become a lightning rod over its murky legal standing and questions about Musk’s conflicts of interest and public accountability as an unelected figure driving radical change.Since Trump returned to the White House, Tesla has been targeted for consumer boycotts and vandalism as its chief executive has helped engineer thousands of job cuts across the US government while aggressively attacking Trump critics on the Musk-owned X social media platform.Wedbush’s Dan Ives, a prominent technology analyst and longtime believer in Tesla’s growth potential, called the figures “a disaster on every metric,” according to a note.”It’s a fork in the road moment,” said Ives, who has called for Musk to publicly outline how he is balancing his Tesla commitments with his work for Trump.”The more political he gets… the more the brand suffers, there is no debate. This quarter was an example of the damage Musk is causing Tesla,” he added, calling early 2025 “a moment of truth” for Musk and his car company.Ives and other long-term Tesla bulls have viewed the EV maker as poised for potentially massive growth, viewing Musk as a guru in state-of-the-art autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technology expected to play a growing role for the foreseeable future.- Leaving soon? -Politico reported that Musk will soon retreat from his role with Trump, citing unnamed sources who described frustration within the White House at the Tesla chief’s unpredictability.The article also cited concerns that Musk has become a political liability, noting that a Musk-backed judicial candidate in Wisconsin was soundly defeated by a liberal on Tuesday.Trump himself signaled a potential change, praising Musk as “amazing” late Monday in the Oval Office.”I also think he’s got a big company to run,” Trump added, “and so at some point he’s going to be going back. He wants to.”Trump said he expects Cabinet secretaries to succeed with Musk’s mission, saying of DOGE, “at a certain point, I think it will end.”Politico quoted sources saying Musk would remain an informal advisor.While Tesla’s release Wednesday did not break out Cybertruck deliveries, the figures suggest anemic sales for the vehicle, which Musk has passionately embraced.In March, Tesla announced it was recalling essentially all Cybertrucks because of an exterior panel defect.Tesla also did not specify deliveries by country, but figures from national auto authorities have shown big drops across Europe, where Musk’s association with Trump has sparked criticism.Tesla shareholder Ross Gerber of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, who has previously called for the board to remove Musk as CEO, slammed the figures on X.”These numbers suck,” Gerber posted. “The Cybertruck is basically not selling. The brand is broken and may not be fixable. The board of directors is 100 percent responsible.”Tesla shares finished up 5.3 percent.