Netanyahu to meet Trump in Florida for crucial Gaza talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan.The crucial meeting at Trump’s lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the second phase of their ceasefire.Trump, who said Netanyahu had asked for the talks, is reportedly keen to announce — as soon as January — a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.The two leaders are to meet at 1 pm (1800 GMT), the White House said.Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu would discuss the second phase, which involves making sure that “Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarized.”But Netanyahu will also try to shift the focus onto Iran during his fifth meeting in the United States with Trump this year, amid reports he will push for more US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program.Netanyahu would also bring up the “danger Iran poses not only to the region of the Middle East, but the United States as well,” Bedrosian said before flying out with the Israeli premier.Netanyahu’s visit caps a frantic few days of international diplomacy in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday for talks on ending Russia’s invasion.The Gaza ceasefire in October is one of the major achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, but his administration and regional mediators want to keep up the momentum.Trump’s global envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner hosted senior officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Miami earlier this month.The timing of the Netanyahu meeting is “very significant,” said Gershon Baskin, the co-head of peacebuilding commission the Alliance for Two States, who has taken part in back-channel negotiations with Hamas.”Phase two has to begin,” he told AFP, adding that “I think the Americans realize that it’s late because Hamas has had too much time to re-establish its presence.”  – ‘Going nowhere’ -The first phase of the truce deal saw Hamas release the remaining hostages, both dead and alive, from the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas has returned all but the body of one hostage. Both sides allege frequent ceasefire violations.Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, while Hamas is supposed to lay down its weapons — a major sticking point for the Islamist movement.An interim authority is meanwhile meant to govern the Palestinian territory, and the international stabilization force (ISF) is to be deployed.The Axios news outlet reported on Friday that Trump wanted to convene the first meeting of a new Gaza “Board of Peace” that he will chair at the Davos forum in Switzerland in January.But it said that senior White House officials were growing exasperated with what they viewed as efforts by Netanyahu to stall the peace process.”There are more and more signs that the American administration is getting frustrated with Netanyahu,” said Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at London-based think-tank Chatham House.”The question is what it’s going to do about it,” he added, “because phase two is right now going nowhere.”For his part, Netanyahu is set to focus with Trump on Iran’s nuclear program, which the United States and Israel struck in June but which Israel fears Tehran is rebuilding.Israel is also continuing to strike Hamas targets in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon despite a ceasefire there. Syria will also be on the agenda.Mekelberg said Netanyahu could be attempting to shift attention from Gaza onto Iran as Israel enters an election year.”Everything is connected to staying in power,” he said of the long-time Israeli premier.

Netanyahu to meet Trump in Florida for crucial Gaza talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan.The crucial meeting at Trump’s lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the second phase of their ceasefire.Trump, who said Netanyahu had asked for the talks, is reportedly keen to announce — as soon as January — a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.The two leaders are to meet at 1 pm (1800 GMT), the White House said.Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu would discuss the second phase, which involves making sure that “Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarized.”But Netanyahu will also try to shift the focus onto Iran during his fifth meeting in the United States with Trump this year, amid reports he will push for more US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program.Netanyahu would also bring up the “danger Iran poses not only to the region of the Middle East, but the United States as well,” Bedrosian said before flying out with the Israeli premier.Netanyahu’s visit caps a frantic few days of international diplomacy in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday for talks on ending Russia’s invasion.The Gaza ceasefire in October is one of the major achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, but his administration and regional mediators want to keep up the momentum.Trump’s global envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner hosted senior officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Miami earlier this month.The timing of the Netanyahu meeting is “very significant,” said Gershon Baskin, the co-head of peacebuilding commission the Alliance for Two States, who has taken part in back-channel negotiations with Hamas.”Phase two has to begin,” he told AFP, adding that “I think the Americans realize that it’s late because Hamas has had too much time to re-establish its presence.”  – ‘Going nowhere’ -The first phase of the truce deal saw Hamas release the remaining hostages, both dead and alive, from the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas has returned all but the body of one hostage. Both sides allege frequent ceasefire violations.Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, while Hamas is supposed to lay down its weapons — a major sticking point for the Islamist movement.An interim authority is meanwhile meant to govern the Palestinian territory, and the international stabilization force (ISF) is to be deployed.The Axios news outlet reported on Friday that Trump wanted to convene the first meeting of a new Gaza “Board of Peace” that he will chair at the Davos forum in Switzerland in January.But it said that senior White House officials were growing exasperated with what they viewed as efforts by Netanyahu to stall the peace process.”There are more and more signs that the American administration is getting frustrated with Netanyahu,” said Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at London-based think-tank Chatham House.”The question is what it’s going to do about it,” he added, “because phase two is right now going nowhere.”For his part, Netanyahu is set to focus with Trump on Iran’s nuclear program, which the United States and Israel struck in June but which Israel fears Tehran is rebuilding.Israel is also continuing to strike Hamas targets in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon despite a ceasefire there. Syria will also be on the agenda.Mekelberg said Netanyahu could be attempting to shift attention from Gaza onto Iran as Israel enters an election year.”Everything is connected to staying in power,” he said of the long-time Israeli premier.

La Chine entame des exercices militaires “majeurs” autour de Taïwan

Pékin a entamé lundi des manoeuvres militaires “majeures” autour de Taïwan, avec des exercices de tir à munitions réelles, dans un contexte tendu notamment par une vente d’armes américaines massive à l’île, qui a déployé sa propre armée en réponse.L’armée chinoise “utilise des destroyers, des frégates, des chasseurs, des bombardiers et des drones” dans le cadre de ces exercices, qui comprennent “des tirs à munitions réelles sur des cibles maritimes au nord et au sud-ouest de Taïwan”, a détaillé son commandement pour la zone dans un communiqué vers 11H40 (03H40 GMT).De son côté, Taïwan a dit déployer les “forces appropriées”, ajoutant que ses troupes avaient “mené un exercice de riposte rapide”.Pékin considère Taïwan comme faisant partie de son territoire et menace de recourir à la force militaire pour s’en emparer.Les tensions dans le détroit ont été ravivées par une vente d’armes massive des Etats-Unis à Taipei mi-décembre, la deuxième depuis le retour au pouvoir de Donald Trump, pour 11,1 milliards de dollars au total, soit le montant le plus important depuis 2001. La Chine a répondu la semaine dernière par des sanctions à 20 entreprises américaines de défense.Cette démonstration de force à grande échelle intervient également après des semaines de dispute diplomatique entre Pékin et Tokyo au sujet de l’île, la Première ministre japonaise Sanae Takaichi ayant laissé entendre en novembre que son pays pourrait intervenir militairement en cas d’attaque contre Taïwan. Une déclaration qui a suscité l’ire de la Chine.- “Sérieux avertissement” -“À partir du 29 décembre, le Commandement des zones orientales de l’APL (armée chinoise) déploie ses troupes de l’Armée de terre, de la Marine, de l’Armée de l’air et de la Force des missiles pour mener des exercices militaires conjoints baptisés +Mission Justice 2025+”, avait expliqué en début de matinée un communiqué du colonel-major Shi Yi, porte-parole du Commandement chinois.Les forces de Pékin se focaliseront sur “les patrouilles de préparation au combat air-mer, la saisie conjointe de la supériorité globale, le blocus de ports et zones clés, ainsi que la dissuasion multidimensionnelle”, a précisé le militaire.Dans un communiqué séparé, une carte montre cinq zones autour de Taïwan où des “tirs à munition réelles vont être organisés” de 08H00 à 18H00 mardi (00H00 à 10H00 GMT).”Pour des raisons de sécurité, il est conseillé à tout navire ou avion non concerné de ne pas pénétrer dans les eaux et l’espace aérien susmentionnés”, est-il précisé.”En réponse au mépris des autorités chinoises pour le droit international et à leur utilisation de l’intimidation militaire pour menacer les pays voisins, Taïwan exprime sa ferme condamnation”, a réagi la porte-parole de la présidence de Taïwan, Karen Kuo.Les garde-côtes de l’île ont, de leur côté, détecté quatre navires de leurs homologues chinois près des eaux au large des côtes nord et est de Taïwan aujourd’hui (lundi)”, ajoutant avoir” immédiatement déployé des navires pour se prépositionner dans les zones concernées en réponse”, et “envoyé des unités de soutien supplémentaires”.Les exercices de cette semaine sont “un sérieux avertissement adressé aux forces séparatistes de +l’indépendance de Taïwan+, et ils constituent une action légitime et nécessaire pour préserver la souveraineté et l’unité nationale de la Chine”, a estimé Shi Yi.Des navires chinois devraient “s’approcher de l’île de Taïwan à très courte distance en provenance de différentes directions”, a-t-il poursuivi.Les précédents exercices impliquant des exercices à tirs réels autour de Taïwan remontaient à avril, des manoeuvres surprises condamnées par Taipei.

Myanmar pro-military party ‘winning’ junta-run poll first phase: source

Myanmar’s dominant pro-military party is “winning a majority” in the first phase of junta-run elections, a party source told AFP Monday, after democracy watchdogs warned the poll would entrench military rule.The armed forces snatched power in a 2021 coup, but on Sunday opened voting in a phased month-long election they pledge will return power to the people.The massively popular but dissolved party of democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi did not appear on ballots, and she remains jailed since the military putsch which triggered a civil war.Campaigners, Western diplomats and the United Nations’ rights chief have condemned the vote — citing a stark crackdown on dissent and a candidate list stacked with military allies.”The USDP is winning a majority of seats around the country according to different reports,” said a party official in the capital Naypyidaw, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media.Official results have yet to be posted by Myanmar’s Union Election Commission and there are two more phases scheduled for January 11 and 25.The military overturned the results of the last poll in 2020 after Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, trounced the Union Solidarity and Development Party.The military and USDP then alleged massive voter fraud, claims which international monitors say were unfounded.But on Sunday military chief Min Aung Hlaing — who has ruled by diktat for the past five years — said the armed forces could be trusted to hand back power to a civilian-led government.”We guarantee it to be a free and fair election,” he told reporters after casting his vote in Naypyidaw. “It’s organised by the military, we can’t let our name be tarnished.”The military’s coup triggered a civil war as pro-democracy activists formed guerrilla units, fighting alongside ethnic minority armies which have long resisted central rule.Sunday’s election was scheduled to take place in 102 of the country’s 330 townships — the largest of the three rounds of voting.But amid the war, the military has acknowledged that elections cannot happen in almost one in five lower house constituencies.

Monument honoring China’s contribution to Panama Canal torn down

Near the entrance to the Panama Canal, a monument to China’s contributions to the interoceanic waterway was torn down Saturday night by order of local authorities.The move comes as US President Donald Trump has made threats in recent months to retake control of the canal, claiming Beijing has too much influence in its operations.In a surprising move that has been criticized by leaders in Panama and China, the mayor’s office of the locality of Arraijan ordered the demolition of the monument built in 2004 to symbolize friendship between the countries.The mayor’s office said in a statement that the monument, which overlooked the waterway spanning Bridge of the Americas, had structural damage that posed a “risk.” But Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said Sunday that “there is no justification whatsoever for the barbarity committed,” calling it “an unforgivable act of irrationality.”After personally inspecting the demolition, China’s ambassador to Panama Xu Xueyuan said it was a “great pain for bilateral friendship,” noting the insult to 300,000 Chinese-Panamanians.Some members of the Chinese community witnessed the destruction but police prevented them from reaching the lookout to stop it, according to videos published by local media.In a video posted to X, the Chinese embassy called for a “thorough investigation” of the case and to “severely sanction” the “illegal, improper and vandalistic” actions.The US and China are the main users of the 80-kilometer canal, which sees the passage of five percent of global maritime trade.The Panama Canal was under US control from 1914 to 1999, when it was taken over by Panama.Trump has demanded preferential conditions for its use by US vessels.Hong Kong-based Hutchison Holdings operates two ports on the Pacific and the Atlantic, but has agreed to sell them to US-based BlackRock.

Mexique: au moins 13 morts et 98 blessés dans un déraillement

Un train transportant 250 personnes a déraillé dimanche dans l’Etat d’Oaxaca, dans le sud du Mexique, faisant au moins 13 morts et 98 blessés selon les autorités.”La locomotive principale a déraillé”, a annoncé dans un communiqué la Marine mexicaine, qui opère cette ligne ferroviaire, précisant que “139 personnes sont hors de danger, 98 blessées (…) et malheureusement 13 personnes ont perdu la vie”.Formé de deux locomotives et de quatre wagons de passagers, le train était parti de Salina Cruz, sur la côte Pacifique, et devait rallier Coatzacoalcos, dans l’Etat du Veracruz, donnant sur le golfe du Mexique.Ce train est appelé “Corridor interocéanique de l’isthme de Tehuantepec”, reliant la façade atlantique à l’océan Pacifique et transportant généralement marchandises et passagers.La ligne avait été inaugurée en 2023. Il s’agit de l’un des projets d’infrastructures les plus importants du gouvernement de l’ancien président Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), dans le cadre d’une stratégie visant à stimuler le développement économique du sud-est du Mexique.- Enquêtes déclenchées -Sa successeure, Claudia Sheinbaum, a indiqué que les blessés avaient été conduits à l’hôpital.”J’ai donné des instructions pour que le secrétaire à la Marine et le sous-secrétaire aux Droits humains du ministère de l’Intérieur se rendent sur place et s’occupent personnellement des familles”, a-t-elle déclaré.La Marine a indiqué travailler avec les autorités de transport pour “déterminer les causes” de l’accident et rétablir le fonctionnement de la voie ferrée.”Les agents ministériels du parquet fédéral d’Oaxaca, ainsi que les experts et les policiers, coordonnent leurs efforts avec les autorités fédérales et étatiques pour mener les enquêtes nécessaires”, a ajouté de son côté la procureure générale Ernestina Godoy, sur X.Le 20 décembre, sur cette même ligne, un train avait percuté un camion de marchandises qui tentait de franchir le passage à niveau, dans l’Etat du Chiapas (sud), sans faire de victime.

Sans grand suspense, le Chinois BYD va détrôner Tesla en 2025 sur le tout-électrique

L’expansion rapide de BYD au niveau mondial, conjuguée au contexte réglementaire et politique difficile pour Tesla aux Etats-Unis et ailleurs, vont permettre au constructeur chinois de revendiquer pour la première fois la pole position des ventes de véhicules tout électriques en 2025.Les deux groupes doivent publier prochainement leurs ventes annuelles mais, au vu de leurs dernières publications, BYD a pris une telle avance qu’il paraît quasiment impossible que Tesla ait pu combler l’écart.A fin novembre, le groupe de Shenzhen – qui fabrique aussi des hybrides – avait vendu 2.066.002 véhicules entièrement électriques, devenant le premier à franchir ce seuil. De son côté, Tesla cumulait 1.217.902 véhicules à fin septembre.Le groupe américain a profité au troisième trimestre d’un appel d’air lié à l’arrêt d’un crédit d’impôt aux Etats-Unis, incitant de nombreux acheteurs à anticiper leur acquisition. Ses livraisons mondiales ont bondi de 7% sur un an (497.099 véhicules).Mais les experts ont rapidement pronostiqué une contraction au trimestre suivant.Le consensus des analystes de FactSet ressort à 449.000 au quatrième trimestre (-9,48% sur un an), et à 1,65 million pour 2025 (-7,66%).Une prévision annuelle bien inférieure au niveau réel de BYD au 30 novembre.Le fossé pourrait même être plus large puisque les analystes de Deutsche Bank tablent sur 405.000 véhicules Tesla livrés au quatrième trimestre et ceux d’UBS anticipent 415.000 véhicules. Des prévisions abaissées récemment.Deutsche Bank a mis en avant les ventes plus faibles qu’attendu en Amérique du Nord (-33%), en Europe (-34%) et, dans une moindre mesure, en Chine (-10%).TD Cowen montre davantage d’optimisme (429.000 véhicules) mais le trimestre a été “un peu délicat”, avec l’expiration du crédit d’impôt, ce qui complique les modélisations, relève l’analyste Itay Michaeli, à l’AFP.”Les livraisons de Tesla vont montrer des signes de faiblesse au quatrième trimestre”, a indiqué à l’AFP Dan Ives, directeur chez Wedbush Securities.”Un total de 420.000 (véhicules) devrait être un chiffre suffisant pour illustrer la stabilité de la demande tandis que les marchés sont focalisés sur le lancement de l’autonomie en 2026″, a-t-il poursuivi.- Difficile transition -Les ventes du groupe d’Austin (Texas) ont également pâti d’une lenteur imprévue de la transition électrique, d’une concurrence croissante mais aussi de décisions du président Donald Trump, climatosceptique, depuis son retour à la Maison Blanche en janvier.Sans oublier la proximité d’Elon Musk, patron de Tesla, avec M. Trump, pendant la campagne et après son investiture, qui a terni l’image de la marque et provoqué manifestations, dégradations et appels au boycott. Les ventes ont plongé, et continuent de plonger, en particulier en Europe.Dans le même temps, son principal rival chinois a maintenu sa trajectoire fulgurante même si la rentabilité sur ses terres a souffert de la prudence des consommateurs. Pour cette raison, il s’active à s’ancrer à l’international.BYD “est l’un des pionniers dans l’installation à l’étranger de capacités de production et d’approvisionnement pour véhicules électriques”, a expliqué à l’AFP Jing Yang, directrice pour l’Asie-Pacifique de Fitch Ratings.Et “cette diversification géographique va probablement l’aider à naviguer dans un environnement de plus en plus compliqué en matière de droits de douane”, a-t-elle ajouté.Le président américain a instauré des droits de douane sur les importations du monde entier, avec des niveaux supérieurs pour les produits chinois, pouvant aller jusqu’à près de 150% pour les véhicules électriques (EV).Les concurrents des constructeurs chinois dénoncent régulièrement un secteur hautement subventionné par Pékin, leur permettant d’atténuer leurs prix et de conquérir des parts de marché.Pour M. Michaeli, l’année 2026 pour l’EV sera celle de la conduite autonome (FSD) et l’avenir de Tesla dépendra de sa capacité à effectuer ce virage avec succès.Ses ventes devraient atteindre 1,98 million, estime TD Cowen. Mais le consensus atteint 1,86 million.”S’ils réussissent (le FSD), cela va doper la demande pour leurs véhicules”, souligne M. Michaeli, s’attendant aussi au lancement de nouveaux produits (semi-remorque Semi, une potentielle version SUV du pick-up Cybertruck).Le Cybercab, pour son service de robotaxi en déploiement à Austin, doit entrer en production en avril, et la commercialisation des versions meilleur marché des Model 3 et Y – annoncées début octobre – devrait aussi stimuler les ventes.

Trump says Ukraine deal closer but no talks breakthrough

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that a deal was closer than ever to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the flashpoint issue of territory after new talks with the warring countries’ leaders.Trump, who had promised a peace deal on day one of his nearly year-old presidency, said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to solve the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.In a pre-New Year’s diplomatic sprint, Trump brought to his Florida estate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described a peace plan as 95 percent complete despite Russia unleashing major new attacks a day before on Kyiv’s residential areas.Much like when Zelensky last met Trump in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke shortly beforehand by telephone with the US leader, who immediately insisted that Moscow was “serious” about peace despite the assault.”I really believe we’re, Mr. President, probably closer than — far closer than — ever before with both parties,” Trump said with Zelensky at his side in the tea room of his Mar-a-Lago estate.”Everybody wants it ended,” Trump said.Zelensky looked on politely, only betraying the slightest look of disbelief as Trump told him that Putin, who ordered the February 2022 invasion that has included major attacks on infrastructure, “wants to see Ukraine succeed.””President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices,” Trump said.Zelensky has been careful not to annoy Trump, mindful of his disastrous White House meeting on February 28 where he pushed back and saw the United States briefly snap off key support.Zelensky also nodded politely as Trump insisted the Ukrainians enjoyed the club’s food but stayed stoic as Trump digressed into familiar grievances about his predecessor Joe Biden.- Call to Europeans -After their talks, Zelensky and Trump spoke jointly by telephone with key European leaders, who have been particularly alarmed about any decisions that would embolden Russia.Zelensky said that he and European leaders could return jointly for talks with Trump in Washington in January.French President Emmanuel Macron also announced a new meeting of Kyiv’s allies in early January in Paris.Trump acknowledged continued disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow on territory. The current plan, revised after weeks of intense US-Ukrainian negotiations, would stop the war at the current frontlines in the eastern Donbas region and set up a demilitarized area, while Russia has long demanded territorial concessions.”It’s unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer. That’s a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved,” Trump said.Trump offered to address the Ukrainian parliament to promote the plan  — an idea, however unlikely, that Zelensky quickly welcomed.Zelensky’s openness to the revised US plan marks Kyiv’s most explicit acknowledgement yet of possible territorial concessions, although Ukrainians would need to vote in a referendum.By contrast, Russia has shown no signs of compromise, as it sees hope in the grinding gains it has made over four years against tough Ukrainian defenses.The Kremlin in its readout of talks between Putin and Trump called on Kyiv to make a “bold and responsible decision” and immediately withdraw troops from Donbas and cast European leaders as the impediment to Trump.Trump and Putin agree that a “temporary ceasefire” would “merely prolong the conflict and risk a renewed escalation on the battlefield,” Kremlin diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov said.He said that Trump and Putin would speak again “promptly” after the Zelensky meeting, although there was no immediate news of a second call.- ’90 percent’ agreed by Ukraine -Trump’s advisors have previously floated the idea of offering NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine, meaning in theory that the alliance’s members would respond militarily if Russia attacks again.Zelensky said that the peace framework laid out by Trump was “90 percent agreed” and that “US-Ukraine security guarantees: 100 percent agreed.”Russia had adamantly rejected any entrance of the former Soviet republic into NATO.