One dead, two wounded in shooting at US immigration facility
One person was killed and two were wounded in a shooting at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the US city of Dallas on Wednesday, officials said.The gunman, who opened fire on the ICE field office from the roof of an adjacent building, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, they said.FBI special agent Joe Rothrock told a press conference that the shooting was being investigated as an “act of targeted violence.””Early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were found near the suspected shooter contain messages that are anti-ICE in nature,” Rothrock said.ICE is the government agency chiefly responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump’s controversial campaign pledge to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the United States.FBI Director Kash Patel published a photo on X of five unspent bullets — one of which was marked with the words “ANTI-ICE” — and denounced what he called “despicable, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement.”Rothrock declined to confirm press reports that the three people who were shot were detainees but said “no members of law enforcement were hurt.”The ICE facility which came under attack processes detainees before they are transferred to a long-term detention center, according to US media reports.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance condemned violence directed at ICE.”ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them,” Noem said on X. “It must stop.””The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop,” Vice President JD Vance said on the social media platform.After ICE immigration raids in Los Angeles spurred unrest and protests earlier this year, Trump dispatched the National Guard and US Marines to the California city.Another ICE facility in Texas was the target of an attack in July that left a police officer wounded in the neck.Ten people have been charged for their roles in the attack on the ICE center in the town of Alvarado.According to a criminal complaint, the assailants, dressed in black military-style clothing, shot fireworks at the ICE facility and spray-painted “Traitor” and “ICE Pig” on cars and a guard structure.The Alvarado incident came just days before a man armed with an assault rifle opened fire at a US Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.The 27-year-old man fired dozens of rounds from an assault rifle at the entrance of the Border Patrol annex before being shot dead.Two police officers and a Border Patrol employee were injured.ICE’s role in the Trump crackdown has sparked widespread criticism over the organization’s use of heavily armed, masked agents to conduct raids in public places against suspected illegal migrants.
Stocks torn between AI optimism, Fed rate warning
Stock markets were torn Wednesday between optimism over artificial intelligence and a warning from US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell on interest rates.Wall Street’s main indices rose at the opening bell after finishing the previous day lower, but wobbled in morning trading.Investors have enjoyed a months-long rally for equities that has pushed some markets to record highs, but the run-up took a pause Tuesday amid talk that the gains may have gone too far.But Trade Nation analyst David Morrison characterised Tuesday’s selloff as shallow.”The general feeling is… that any pullback is a buying opportunity,” he said.A key driver of the rally has been expectations that the Fed will continue to cut US interest rates before the end of the year.However, Powell cooled expectations with a warning Tuesday that cutting rates too aggressively risked stoking inflation, while also noting that stocks are “fairly highly valued”.Investors are awaiting the release on Friday of the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index, the Fed’s favoured gauge of US inflation, and key American jobs figures next week.Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare noted Powell’s comments that stock valuations are high were not revelatory given that analysts had been talking about the situation for some time.”Yes, stocks are ‘fairly highly valued’, yet the tale of the tape is that the market thinks ‘maybe not’ given the AI boom, the pivot to lower policy rates, and stimulative tax policies,” he said.”Its hopeful view remains supported by the absence of a disillusioning fundamental catalyst,” he added.Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu’s unveiling of plans to ramp up AI spending by about $53 billion provided a positive catalyst for tech stocks as well as the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets.Alibaba shares surged more than nine percent.”The industry’s development speed far exceeded what we expected, and the industry’s demand for AI infrastructure also far exceeded our anticipation,” Wu told an audience at the firm’s annual developer conference in Hangzhou, China.Trade Nation’s Morrison pointed out that US chipmaker Micron Technology issued positive forward guidance along with strong sales and earnings figures.”The news helped dispel fears over excessive AI spending, and that has fed through to a recovery in the US majors this morning,” he said.Some early gains for US tech giants evaporated in morning trading.Europe’s main stock markets finished the day mixed.Crude prices firmed Wednesday “after (US President) Donald Trump ramped up further pressure on sanctions on Russian oil”, noted Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB.Following calls to do so by Trump, the European Commission also indicated it would propose tariffs on imports of Russian oil, which Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy.The Argentine peso rose sharply on Wednesday after Washington said it is in talks with Argentina for a swap line allowing the country access to billions of dollars.Meanwhile Powell’s comments continued to lend support to the dollar, which had come under pressure from rate-cut expectations.- Key figures at around 1530 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 46,255.64 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 6,652.62New York – Nasdaq Composite: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 22,562.71London – FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 9,250.43 (close)Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.6 percent at 7,827.45 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.2 percent at 23,666.81 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 45,630.31 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.4 percent at 26,518.65 (close)Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 3,853.64 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1740 from $1.1816 on TuesdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3451 from $1.3524Dollar/yen: UP at 148.75 yen from 147.66 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 87.28 pence from 87.37 penceBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.7 percent at $68.08 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.1 percent at $64.72 per barrelburs-rl/sbk
US comedian Kimmel calls Trump threats ‘anti-American’
TV host Jimmy Kimmel defended free speech when he returned to US screens on Tuesday, calling government pressure on his late-night talk show “anti-American” as critics decried his suspension as an attack on constitutional rights.In his opening monologue, an emotional Kimmel praised the public outrage — which came from both left and right — over his suspension, as President Donald Trump once again threatened to sue ABC, the TV network that carries the show.”A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American,” Kimmel said to wild applause.”Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television.”Kimmel, who frequently skewers Trump and his inner circle, raised the ire of conservatives last week when he said “the MAGA gang” was trying to exploit the college campus murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.On Tuesday he struck a conciliatory note. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, his voice cracking.Kimmel’s suspension last week was praised by Trump and the 79-year-old Republican swiftly attacked ABC for allowing the comedian’s return.”I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative,” he wrote on social media shortly before the show aired.It was not immediately clear what legal grounds Trump might think he has.Previous suits against media firms — including the one against ABC — were largely viewed as meritless, but settled seemingly as a way to appease the president.Chuck Schumer, the senior Democratic senator, called the row “a test of democracy” and said Trump “wants to be king.””Trump seems to have this penchant — anyone he doesn’t agree with, he wants to shut up,” he said Wednesday. “That’s a dagger to the heart of America.”Audience members who had watched the Hollywood taping told AFP that Kimmel had struck the right tone.”He spoke really eloquently and he gave like a lot of love to everyone who’s been hurt,” said Katie Persico, 34.”I felt like I was part of history a little bit for free speech.”- Boycott -The latest bust-up between the Trump administration and critics in the media unfolded last week when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr appeared to threaten the licenses of ABC affiliates broadcasting the show unless they demanded Kimmel’s removal.Two companies that own dozens of those affiliates — Nexstar and Sinclair — then announced they would be removing the show from their schedules, prompting Disney to suspend the show nationwide.Sinclair — which last week demanded Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and make a donation to his right-wing activist group Turning Point USA — said Monday that its affiliates would still not be broadcasting the show when it resumed.On Tuesday, Nexstar followed suit.This meant the show remained off the air in several of the largest US television markets, including Washington DC, New Orleans, Nashville and Seattle.Kimmel’s abrupt disappearance from the airwaves sparked fury in liberal circles, with opponents saying he had been targeted because of his criticism of Trump.Opponents saw it as the latest step in creeping government control of free speech, a right enshrined in the country’s constitution.Some on the political right were also uneasy, including Trump allies such as Senator Ted Cruz and firebrand broadcaster Tucker Carlson.Trump often complains about negative coverage of him, going so far last week as to call it “illegal,” and has sued several media organizations.Disney, which owns ABC, faced backlash after suspending Kimmel. A rash of consumer cancellations followed along with a wave of reproach from creators and Hollywood insiders over what many saw as a spineless response to government bullying.By Monday, Disney had backtracked, saying the suspension had been an effort to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation” but adding it would bring back the show after “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy.”
Typhon Ragasa : la rupture d’une digue fait au moins 14 morts à Taïwan (nouveau bilan)
Au moins 14 personnes sont mortes après la rupture d’une digue naturelle formée sur une rivière par un glissement de terrain dans l’est de Taïwan, ont annoncé mercredi les autorités de l’île.Le précédent bilan de 17 morts dans le comté de Hualien, à l’est de l’île où a eu lieu la catastrophe, a été revu à la baisse, en raison de décès comptés deux fois. Les autorités locales tentent toujours de confirmer le nombre de personnes portées disparues.”C’était comme l’éruption d’un volcan…. Les eaux boueuses de la crue ont déferlé directement sur le premier étage de ma maison”, a raconté à l’AFP Hsu Cheng-hsiung, 55 ans, un responsable de quartier de Kuang Fu.La rupture, qui s’est produite mardi alors que le super typhon Ragasa frappait l’île, a libéré les eaux d’un lac qui s’était formé dans la partie supérieure de la rivière Mataian, emportant un pont, inondant une ville voisine et piégeant des centaines de personnes.”Le temps est compté” pour les secours, a déclaré la ministre de l’Intérieur Liu Shyh-fang lors d’une conférence de presse.Elle a précisé que le gouvernement taïwanais allait continuer de surveiller le lac, même s’il est prévu que la pluie se calme dans la soirée.Le niveau de l’eau dans le lac a baissé de 75%, a annoncé l’agence semi-officielle Central News Agency, citant le gouvernement.Dans la commune de Kuang Fu, des journalistes de l’AFP ont traversé des rues recouvertes d’une épaisse boue grise après les inondations, constatant que des arbres tombés bloquaient le passage.Des voitures et scooters accidentés gisaient au bord de la route ou étaient empilés les uns sur les autres, et certains portails métalliques et toits de maisons étaient détruits, avec des meubles éparpillés dans les rues.Les habitants ont confié qu’il y avait trop de boue pour nettoyer par eux-mêmes et que davantage d’aide pour le nettoyage était attendue demain.”J’avais très peur… À environ 500 mètres devant moi, le ruisseau s’est soudainement transformé en inondation”, a déclaré Shih Hui-mei, une personne venue volontairement en aide à la communauté.”J’ai entendu la police crier dans la rue a l’aide d’un haut parleur: ‘L’eau arrive, courez!’,” a-t-elle déclaré à l’AFP depuis un abri de fortune.Le premier ministre Cho Jung-tai s’est rendu sur place mercredi, promettant de venir en aide aux sinistrés.Les autorités devront, selon le ministre, enquêter sur la raison pour laquelle “les ordres d’évacuation n’ont pas été exécutés dans la zone affectée”, ce qui a entraîné des pertes humaines.Taïwan fait régulièrement face à des typhons entre juillet et octobre.Le changement climatique augmente toutefois leur intensité, avec de fortes précipitations, des crues soudaines et de puissantes rafales de vent, selon les scientifiques.
Le monde répond à Trump sur le climat, la Chine en tête
Les dirigeants de 120 pays défendront mercredi lors d’un mini-sommet à New York la poursuite de la lutte contre le dérèglement du climat, un jour après la charge de Donald Trump, même si beaucoup sont eux-mêmes encore loin de dépenser assez face à l’effort requis.”C’est la plus grande arnaque jamais menée contre le monde”, a déclaré le président américain mardi à l’ONU. Les prévisions climatiques viennent de “gens stupides qui ont fait dépenser des fortunes à leurs pays”.Mercredi, le Premier ministre chinois Li Qiang sera le premier dirigeant à la tribune pour offrir un contrepoint. Son pays, dont les usines, les centrales, les véhicules et autres activités rejettent près de 30% des gaz à effet de serre de l’humanité, est attendu sur un chiffre crucial: son engagement de réduction des émissions d’ici 2035. Jamais la Chine ne s’est engagée à un chiffre précis à court ou moyen terme. Elle s’est fixé la neutralité carbone d’ici 2060 et promettait jusqu’à présent d’atteindre un pic avant 2030, ce qu’elle semble en voie de réaliser avec cinq ans d’avance grâce à l’essor formidable du solaire et des voitures électriques. La plupart des pays riches ont passé leur pic depuis des décennies mais n’ont pas de plan crédible pour aller jusqu’à zéro dans 25 ans.Les discours s’enchaîneront à partir de 14H00 (18H00 GMT). Des dizaines de pays vulnérables sont au programme, dont l’Etat antillais de Saint-Christophe-et-Niévès.Son Premier ministre, Terrance Michael Drew, déclare à l’AFP qu’il profitera de la tribune pour montrer que le changement climatique est bien une réalité, répondant respectueusement à Donald Trump: les algues qui prolifèrent, les tempêtes qui arrivent plus tôt…”Tout cela est causé par un changement climatique accéléré, qui menace notre pilier économique le plus important: le tourisme”, explique le dirigeant.”Tous les regards sont tournés vers la Chine”, dit à l’AFP Li Shuo, expert au centre de réflexion Asia Society Policy Institute, bien renseigné à Pékin.Lui s’attend à un objectif de réduction conservateur, autour voire en dessous de -10% sur les dix prochaines années. Une trajectoire qui décevra par rapport à l’effort général requis, mais aura le mérite de démontrer l’attachement de Pékin au multilatéralisme climatique.- COP30 difficile -Le secrétaire général Antonio Guterres n’a convié au sommet que les pays prêts à présenter un engagement pour 2035. C’est une obligation de l’accord de Paris de 2015: les pays membres, soit la quasi-totalité de la planète sauf une poignée dont l’Iran, la Libye, le Yémen et bientôt les Etats-Unis, fixent librement leurs objectifs mais doivent les rehausser tous les cinq ans. L’Inde est l’autre grande absente du sommet, avec les Etats-Unis.Même parmi les invités, beaucoup restent de grands producteurs ou consommateurs de pétrole et de charbon, et les engagements s’annoncent peu ambitieux.La plupart des feuilles de route ont du retard, le plus spectaculaire étant celui de l’Union européenne, où France et Allemagne négocient des garanties financières pour la transition de leur industrie.”Il y a un défaut d’ambition de la part des pays qui sont traditionnellement des leaders, et qui deviennent des traînards sur le climat”, a déclaré Ilana Seid, diplomate des îles Palaos qui représente un groupe de petites îles.Ce qui renforce l’attente pour la feuille de route chinoise. Elle permettra de recalculer la trajectoire mondiale avant la conférence de l’ONU en novembre au Brésil (COP30), qui s’annonce difficile.”Les COP ne sont pas des événements isolés. Elles reflètent les tensions géopolitiques”, dit à l’AFP la directrice générale de la COP30, Ana Toni.
Iran will never seek nuclear weapons, president tells UN
Iran’s president repeated Wednesday that his country is not seeking nuclear weapons, after military strikes by Israel and the United States earlier this year, and impending sanctions triggered by European powers.”I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly.”The one disturbing peace and stability in the region is Israel, but Iran is the one that gets punished,” he said.Iran has long contended that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, pointing to an edict by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and US intelligence has not concluded that the country has decided to build a nuclear weapon.But Israel, the United States and European countries have long been skeptical due to the country’s advanced nuclear work, believing it could quickly pursue a bomb if it so decided.Britain, France and Germany have moved to reimpose UN sanctions that had been suspended under a 2015 nuclear deal that was negotiated by the United States and then torn up by US President Donald Trump.The sanctions are set to go into effect on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Tuesday with his European counterparts, leading to no clear headway other than an agreement to keep talking.Pezeshkian accused the Europeans of bad faith, saying that Iran’s lack of cooperation was in response to Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).”They falsely presented themselves as parties of good standing to the agreement, and they disparaged Iran’s sincere efforts as insufficient,” Pezeshkian said.”All of this was in pursuit of nothing less than the destruction of the very JCPOA which they themselves had once held as a foremost achievement.”Standing at the General Assembly rostrum, Pezeshkian showed pictures of people killed in the Israeli military campaign against Iran, which Tehran says killed more than 1,000 people.”Aerial assaults of the Zionist regime and the United States of America against Iran’s cities, homes and infrastructure at the very time we were treading the path of diplomatic negotiations constituted a grave betrayal of diplomacy,” he said.




