AFP USA

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine could win back all of its territory from Russia, in an astonishing turnaround on the war after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky.Trump’s suggestion that Kyiv could win, with financial support from EU and NATO, marks an extraordinary shift after months of saying Ukraine would likely have to cede land to its larger neighbor.Zelensky hailed Trump’s comments as a “big shift.”In a further jibe at Moscow, he also called for NATO countries to shoot down any Russian fighter jets violating their airspace, following a series of incidents that have rattled US allies in Eastern Europe.”I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” Trump said in a Truth Social Post after meeting Zelensky at the United Nations.Trump added that on top of being able to take back the country in its original form, Kyiv could “maybe even go further than that!” — although he did not elaborate on what he meant.- ‘BIG economic trouble’ -The US leader’s comments mark the latest in a series of reversals on Ukraine, including a sudden pivot to peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin early this year that stunned allies.Trump had also shown lukewarm support for Ukraine, telling Zelensky during a televised Oval Office bust-up in February that “you don’t have the cards” to beat Russia.But his new shift reflected his growing frustration with Putin since a summit in Alaska on August 15 failed to produce a breakthrough, and was instead followed by increased Russian attacks. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he had counted on a bond with Putin to bring an end to the three-and-a-half-year-old war — but “unfortunately, that relationship didn’t mean anything.”In his post, Trump said he had changed his view on the war “after getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia.””Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump said.He added that Russia was “fighting aimlessly” after more than three years of war and was now a “paper tiger” instead of a serious nuclear force.- ‘Good luck to all!’ -Amid astonishment in Europe about Trump’s sudden shift, there were concerns in some capitals that the US president’s message may not have been quite what it seemed.The references to EU and NATO, combined with his closing comment “Good luck to all!”, led to fears that he may be trying to wash his hands of a conflict that he blames on his predecessor Joe Biden.Trump, who has repeatedly pushed NATO to take more of the burden for supporting Ukraine, insisted Washington would continue to give NATO weapons “to do what they want with them.”Trump’s announcement came shortly after Zelensky briefed him on what he said were Ukraine’s recent military successes against Russia, despite Moscow’s grinding advances in the east of the country.”This post of Trump is a big shift,” Zelensky said in a press conference.Zelensky meanwhile, raised the alarm over Russia’s recent drone intrusions into NATO nations, saying Putin was probing the “weak places” in the alliance’s defenses.Trump said NATO forces would be within their rights to act.”Yes I do,” Trump said when a reporter asked if NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace.Recent incidents include NATO scrambling jets after three Russian fighters on Friday breached Estonian airspace, and Poland saying earlier this month that Russian drones had repeatedly crossed into its territory during an attack on Ukraine.

Wall Street’s bull run showed signs of fatigue Tuesday as major indices retreated from records on drops by Amazon, Nvidia and other tech giants.The pullback followed comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning that cutting interest rates “too aggressively” could stoke inflation, while the central bank boss also emphasized the need to try to prevent the labor market from softening “unnecessarily.”All three major US indices have finished at records the last three days.”Today’s pullback after fresh record highs could reflect market participants giving credence to valuation concerns amid a historic run, particularly in the mega-cap space, though investors have repeatedly shown a willingness to buy dips throughout this rally,” said Briefing.com.The tech-rich Nasdaq led US indices lower, dropping one percent. Nvidia, which rallied on Monday after announcing a $100 billion investment in OpenAI to build infrastructure for next-generation artificial intelligence, retreated on Tuesday, losing 2.8 percent. While “leading tech companies are investing hundreds of billions in generative AI… some investors continue to question if this is money well spent,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.Earlier, London ended the day flat and Paris and Frankfurt added barely half of one percent as investors digested purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data — a closely watched gauge of economic health. The index showed eurozone business activity hit a 16-month high in September, partly driven by solid growth in Germany, while France weighed on performance.Britain’s reading came in below expectations, suggesting the economy is losing momentum, analysts noted, as inflation fears linger.With trade subdued by a holiday in Japan and an approaching typhoon in Hong Kong, Asian markets mostly drifted as Hong Kong and Shanghai both closed lower. Taipei jumped more than one percent, with chip titan TSMC soaring over three percent as it tracked US counterpart Nvidia, which announced a $100-billion investment in OpenAI for next-generation artificial intelligence.Oil prices rose after President Donald Trump called on Europe to completely halt oil imports from the country over the Ukraine war. The US president also threatened sanctions on Russia in a speech that tilted more heavily in support of Ukraine than earlier Trump stances.- Key figures at around 2050 GMT -New York – Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 46,292.78 (close)New York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.6 percent at 6,656.92 (close)New York – Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 22,573.47 (close)London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,223.32 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 7,872.02 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 23,611.33 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 26,159.12 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,821.83 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1816 from $1.1803 on MondayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3524 from $1.3514Dollar/yen: DOWN at 147.66 yen from 147.72 yenEuro/pound: UP at 87.37 pence from 87.34 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 1.8 percent at $63.41 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.6 percent at $67.63 per barrel

US President Donald Trump blasted the United Nations and Europe on his return to the world body Tuesday, warning that migration is sending Western nations “to hell” and dismissing climate change as a “con job.”In a blistering speech during his first UN General Assembly appearance since his White House comeback, Trump also accused the world body of failing to help him as he tried to broker peace deals including in Gaza and Ukraine.”What is the purpose of the United Nations?” asked Trump in a wide-ranging speech lasting nearly an hour. “It has such tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that.”Trump’s first speech to the UN back in 2018 saw fellow leaders laughing at the Republican, but this time his full-frontal attack on the global organization and US allies was received in near total silence.The 79-year-old’s litany of complaints even extended to a broken escalator and teleprompter at the New York headquarters of the UN.After the speech, he met with Ukraine’s wartime leader Volodymyr Zelensky and caused surprise by announcing a short while later that he now thought Kyiv could regain all its territory invaded by Russia — a complete shift from his previous statements.- ‘Going to hell’ -Trump’s fieriest words of the speech were on migration, as he advised the world to follow his lead on one of the core political messages that drove his two US election victories.Trump lambasted the UN for “funding an assault” on Western nations that he described as an “invasion,” before turning his fire on his supposed allies in Europe.”Your countries are going to hell,” he told European leaders. Trump also criticized the UN for failing to get involved in what he claims are seven wars that he has ended, or in his failed attempts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.”All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter,” he said. “It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”But the US leader later dramatically escalated his rhetoric on Ukraine, saying that NATO nations should shoot down Russian planes violating their territory.And after talks with Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit, he posted on Truth Social that he thinks “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”- ‘Con job’ -On Gaza, a subject that has dominated the UN summit, Trump called recognition of a Palestinian state by US allies including France and Britain a “reward” to Hamas for “horrible atrocities ” in the armed group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday, however, that Trump could only achieve his long-held goal of a Nobel Peace Prize if he stopped the Gaza war.The US president meanwhile took a typically strident stance on climate change too, saying he was “right about everything” as he pushes for oil drilling and the rolling back of green policies.”Climate change — it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” said the billionaire property tycoon. Trump’s second term has opened with a blaze of nationalist policies curbing cooperation with the rest of the world.He has moved to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization and the UN climate pact, severely curtailed US development assistance and wielded sanctions against foreign judges over rulings he sees as violating US sovereignty.Opening the annual summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that aid cuts led by the United States were “wreaking havoc” in the world.After meeting Guterres, Trump appeared to call for a change in leadership, telling reporters: “The UN could be unbelievable with certain people running it.”Trump’s other meetings included his Argentinian counterpart and close ally Javier Milei, with the US president saying he did not believe the struggling South American country needed a bailout. Security was tight for the summit, with New York’s UN district swarming with heavily armed police.The US Secret Service said they had disrupted a plot to potentially disrupt telecommunications around the UN that involved “nation-state threat actors.”

A man charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course during last year’s presidential campaign was convicted by a federal jury on all counts Tuesday.Ryan Routh, 59, of Hawaii, appeared to try to stab himself in the neck with a pen after the guilty verdict was read in court but was restrained by marshals, US media said.Routh was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom. He did not appear to be injured when he was brought back in a short time later.Routh was convicted of attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and firearms offenses after a 12-day trial during which he represented himself.He faces a possible sentence of life in prison for attempting to kill Trump. Sentencing was set for December 18.Trump congratulated Attorney General Pam Bondi and Justice Department prosecutors for securing the conviction.”This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him,” the US president said in a post on Truth Social.Bondi said the guilty verdict “illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence.””This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our president, but an affront to our very nation itself,” Bondi said in a statement.- ‘I am so sorry I failed you’ -Routh was arrested on September 15, 2024 after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking from bushes on the perimeter of the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing a round.The agent opened fire and Routh, who fled in a vehicle, was arrested shortly after.A loaded AK-style rifle, equipped with a scope and a magazine containing additional rounds of ammunition, was recovered from his hiding place.During the trial, a witness testified that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence that included a handwritten letter which stated: “Dear World. This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I am so sorry I failed you.”Acting as his own lawyer at his trial in Fort Pierce, Florida, Routh made rambling remarks which tried the patience of District Judge Aileen Cannon, who cut short his opening statement.Routh has a fixation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reportedly traveled to Kyiv in an effort to join foreign volunteer units before being rejected due to his age and lack of experience.Trump was also the target of an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, when Thomas Matthew Crooks fired several shots during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. One of them grazed Trump’s right ear.Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine could win back all of its territory from Russia — and even go further — in a major pivot after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky.The astonishing turnaround came shortly after Trump also called for NATO countries to shoot down any Russian jets that violate their airspace. “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” Trump said on his Truth Social network after his talks with Zelensky.Trump also said Russia was “fighting aimlessly” after three years of war, in an apparent change of heart just over a month after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.The US president has previously shown lukewarm support for Zelensky, with whom he had a huge televised Oval Office bust-up in February during which he told the Ukrainian “you don’t have the cards” to win.But in his social media post on Tuesday, Trump dismissed Russia as a “paper tiger,” saying that “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act.””With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not?” Trump wrote.He added that as Russia’s economy gets worse “Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!”- ‘Escalation trap’ -During his meeting at with Zelensky on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Trump said he had “great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It’s pretty amazing actually.”Zelensky thanked Trump for his “personal efforts to stop this war” and echoed Trump’s call for European countries to stop buying Russian oil.And after a series of recent incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones that have rattled Washington’s NATO allies in Europe, Trump said they would be within their rights to act.”Yes I do,” Trump said when a reporter asked if NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace.Trump however deflected questions about whether he believed Russian leader Vladimir Putin was still a reliable negotiating partner despite Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukraine.”I’ll let you know in about a month from now, okay?” Trump said when asked if he still trusted Putin.The 79-year-old Republican has previously, and repeatedly, given deadlines of two weeks to make a decision on whether to take steps including fresh sanctions against Russia.Tensions between Russia and Europe over Ukraine have escalated with the recent spate of aerial violations. NATO scrambled jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters on Friday breached Estonian airspace for some 12 minutes, prompting Estonia to call for a meeting of the UN Security Council and talks with NATO allies.Fellow NATO member Poland said earlier this month that Russian drones had repeatedly violated its airspace during an attack on Ukraine, in what Warsaw called an “act of aggression.”Germany reacted cautiously to Trump’s comments on shooting down Russian planes, highlighting the need to avoid an “escalation trap.””Level-headedness is not cowardice and not fear, but a responsibility towards your own country and towards peace in Europe,” German defence minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday.EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday she discussed Russia’s airspace violations with Trump at the UN, and agreed on the need to cut Moscow’s energy revenues.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he ended seven wars since returning to the White House earlier this year, making the inaccurate claim again during a Tuesday speech at the UN General Assembly.”In a period of just seven months, I have ended seven unendable wars,” Trump said.Below, AFP examines the US president’s mixed record on the conflicts between the seven pairs of countries he named in his UN speech.- Cambodia and Thailand -Five days of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand left dozens dead in July after a territorial dispute boiled over into cross-border combat.A truce began after phone calls from Trump, as well as mediation from Malaysia’s prime minister — chair of the ASEAN regional bloc — and a delegation of Chinese negotiators.Cambodia’s prime minister subsequently said he nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting the US president with “visionary and innovative diplomacy.”- Kosovo and Serbia -Serbia and Kosovo have not signed a final peace treaty, and NATO-led peacekeeping forces have been stationed in the latter area since the end of the 1998-1999 war between ethnic Albanian guerillas and Serbian forces.Kosovo declared independence in 2008 — a move that Belgrade has not recognized.While Trump did not forge a peace between Kosovo and Serbia, his administration did broker an economic normalization agreement between them during his first term.- Congo and Rwanda -Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace accord in late June, but intense clashes between Rwandan-backed anti-government M23 fighters and Congolese forces have taken place in the eastern part of the country despite the agreement, which Trump took credit for at the time.The M23 and the Congolese army accused each other in weekend statements of “trampling” on peace efforts or “violating” the accord’s principles.- Pakistan and India -India and Pakistan fought an intense four-day conflict in May that left more than 70 people dead on both sides before Trump announced a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbors.But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in late July that no world leader had pushed his country to stop fighting Pakistan, without specifically naming Trump.The government of Pakistan, however, has said it would recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” during the conflict.- Israel and Iran -Israel launched an unprecedented 12-day air campaign targeting Iranian nuclear sites, scientists and top military brass in June in a bid to end the country’s nuclear program — an effort later joined by Washington’s forces, which carried out strikes on three nuclear sites as well.Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran — which he later accused both countries of violating.He worked to maintain it, seeking to turn around Israeli planes that were in the air, while the Israeli premier’s office said the country had “refrained from further strikes” after a call from Trump.- Egypt and Ethiopia -Tensions between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbor Egypt are heightened over the former country’s inauguration of a massive dam earlier this month.Egypt, dependent on the Nile for 97 percent of its water, has long decried the project, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi calling it an “existential threat” to the country’s water security.During his first term in office, Trump publicly mused that Egypt could bomb the dam — leading Ethiopia to accuse the then US leader of trying to provoke a war.Trump has demanded credit for “keeping peace” between Egypt and Ethiopia, but he has not ended a war between them.- Armenia and Azerbaijan -Armenia and Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other’s territories, and went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in 2023.Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have praised US efforts to settle the conflict, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said he would back Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.- Other conflicts -Trump’s efforts to broker a peace in Gaza have been unsuccessful and he has singularly failed to end the conflict in Ukraine — a war he had boasted he could resolve in a single day once he became president.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he did not believe struggling Argentina needed a bailout, as he backed his counterpart and close ally Javier Milei in a meeting on the sidelines of a UN summit.”We’re gonna help them but I don’t think they need a bailout. He’s doing a fantastic job,” said Trump of his right-wing ally Milei, who describes himself as an “anarcho-capitalist.”The pair also laughed as Trump handed Milei a printout of one of his own posts on his Truth Social network describing the Argentine — famous for posing with chainsaws — as a “truly fantastic and powerful leader.”Trump’s comments came a day after the US Treasury said it stood ready to “do what is needed” to support the South American country’s economy and calm jittery financial markets.Budget-slashing libertarian Milei has been faced with a run on the peso following a provincial election trouncing for his party that was seen as a litmus test for national mid-terms next month.Argentina, which has a track record of economic crises and hyperinflation, is the IMF’s biggest debtor.But as he shook hands with Milei on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump said he was giving Milei his “full endorsement.””He, like us, inherited a mess and what he’s done to fix it is good. … We need to make Argentina great again,” Trump told reporters, echoing his own “Make America Great Again” slogan.The White House said there would be further announcements about Argentina’s financial situation after the meeting.”Thank you very much, President Donald Trump, for your great friendship and this extraordinary gesture,” Milei said on X.Free-marketeer Milei’s election was cheered by investors in 2023 but he has begun to hemorrhage support after two years of biting austerity and a corruption scandal involving his sister.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was also due to meet Milei on Tuesday, said on Monday that “all options for stabilization are on the table” for Argentina.

Stock markets marked time Tuesday as traders monitored key economic indicators, with US inflation data due later this week that could influence Federal Reserve policy.On Wall Street, the Dow stood just in positive territory more than two hours into the session but the tech-heavy Nasdaq was off 0.3 percent and the broader S&P 500 was also marginally into the red.London ended the day flat and Paris and Frankfurt added barely half of one percent as investors digested purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data — a closely watched gauge of economic health. The index showed eurozone business activity hit a 16-month high in September, partly driven by solid growth in Germany, while France weighed on performance.Britain’s reading came in below expectations, suggesting the economy is losing momentum, analysts noted, as inflation fears linger.Gold pushed to another all-time high and the dollar steadied. Oil prices rose around two percent after the OECD on Tuesday raised its forecast for world economic growth this year.Among shares on the move, while a clutch of major tech firms took a breather, consumer health company Kenvue rose around four percent, bouncing back from a record low in the previous session, after medical experts including the World Health Organization refuted US President Donald Trump’s linking of the firm’s popular pain reliever Tylenol to autism. In focus remains Friday’s report on US personal consumption expenditures, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. Markets expect two further interest rate cuts by the Fed by the end of the year as officials aim to shore up the stuttering labour market despite elevated inflation.With US indices looking to build on a start to the week which saw them finish at fresh all-time highs, David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, said that while “leading tech companies are investing hundreds of billions in generative AI… some investors continue to question if this is money well spent”.Yet, “despite this, equities continue to grind higher with little indication that there’s anything on the horizon which could derail the current rally,” he added.With trade subdued by a holiday in Japan and an approaching typhoon in Hong Kong, Asian markets mostly drifted as Hong Kong and Shanghai both closed lower. Taipei jumped more than one percent, with chip titan TSMC soaring over three percent as it tracked US counterpart Nvidia, which announced a $100-billion investment in OpenAI for next-generation artificial intelligence.A rise in tech giants helped lift major Wall Street indices to fresh highs on Monday.However, there are growing worries that the surge may have gone too far and markets are due a pullback with eyes on a possible government shutdown in Washington.Elsewhere, investors will keep an eye on an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei at the UN General Assembly after the US Treasury pledged to “do what is needed” to support Argentina’s economy, which has faced a plunge in the peso, stocks and bonds. – Key figures at around 1550 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 46,461.99 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,684.53New York – Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 22,723.02 London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,223.32 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 7,872.02 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 23,611.33 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 26,159.12 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,821.83 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1791 from $1.1799 on MondayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3514 from $1.3515Dollar/yen: UP at 147.88 yen from 147.87 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 87.25 pence from 87.30 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $63.76 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0 percent at $67.91 per barrel

US President Donald Trump blasted the United Nations and Europe on his return to the world body Tuesday, warning that Western countries were “going to hell” because of migration and calling climate change a “con job.”In a blistering speech during his first UN General Assembly appearance since his White House comeback, Trump also accused the world body of failing to help him as he tried to broker a series of peace deals including in Gaza and Ukraine.”What is the purpose of the United Nations?” asked Trump in a wide-ranging speech lasting nearly an hour. “It has such tremendous potential but it’s not even coming close to living up to that.”Trump’s first speech to the UN back in 2018 saw fellow leaders laughing at the Republican, but this time his full-frontal attack on the global organization and US allies was received in near total silence.The 79-year-old’s litany of complaints even extended to a broken escalator and teleprompter at the New York headquarters of the UN, which he has repeatedly targeted during both of his presidential terms.”These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter,” he said.- ‘Going to hell’ -Trump began his speech by criticizing the UN for failing to get involved in what he claims are seven wars that he has ended, or in his failed efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza.”All they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter,” he said. “It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve war.”He then called recognition by a slate of Washington’s allies of a Palestinian state a “reward” to Hamas for “horrible atrocities ” in the armed group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.Trump had more harsh words for European allies for failing to stop oil purchases from Russia. He criticized China and India on the same score — but Moscow itself escaped relatively lightly.His strongest language was reserved for blasting migration, one of the core political messages that has driven his two US election victories.Trump lambasted the UN for “funding an assault” on Western nations that he described as an “invasion.””Your countries are going to hell,” he told European leaders.The US president took a typically controversial stance on climate change too, calling it a “hoax” made up by “evil people.” He has pushed for oil drilling and rolled back environmental protections since returning to office.”Climate change — it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” said Trump. – ‘Wreaking havoc’ -Trump boasted of his tough crime policies, including sending troops to Washington and deadly US strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug smuggling boats.”To every terrorist thug smuggling poisonous drugs into the United States of America, please be warned that we will blow you out of existence,” Trump said.Trump’s second term has opened with a blaze of nationalist policies curbing cooperation with the rest of the world.He has moved to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization and the UN climate pact, severely curtailed US development assistance and wielded sanctions against foreign judges over rulings he sees as violating sovereignty.Opening the annual summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that aid cuts led by the United States were “wreaking havoc” in the world.Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meanwhile warned in his speech of “anti-democratic forces” targeting institutions after an alleged coup plot orchestrated by his predecessor, who has won backing from Trump.Trump however said he and Lula shared a brief hug at the UN and had agreed to meet next week.On Ukraine, Trump will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky for the second time since he sat down in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August — a summit that broke Moscow’s isolation in the West but yielded no progress.Ahead of Trump’s speech, the US Secret Service said they had disrupted a plot to potentially disrupt telecommunications around the UN that involved “nation-state threat actors.”

The US Secret Service said Tuesday it had dismantled a network of electronic devices that could have crashed New York’s telecommunications network in an attack ahead of the UN General Assembly.The protective agency did not say who was responsible for the sophisticated material but linked it to “nation-state” actors and “individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.”ABC News quoted a law enforcement source briefed on the investigation as saying officials “believe the plot is connected to the Chinese government.””The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said.In a statement released shortly before President Donald Trump began addressing world leaders at the UN headquarters in New York, the Secret Service said the network of devices was uncovered after threats were made against senior US officials.”In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks,” the agency said.”This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.”Secret Service special agent Matt McCool said the agency was “working towards identifying those responsible and their intent, including whether their plan was to disrupt the UN General Assembly.”McCool said no arrests have been made so far.He said the investigation that led to the seizure of the electronics began this spring in an effort to identify what he called the “fraudulent calls” made to senior US officials.- 300 servers, 100,000 SIM cards -The Secret Service said the devices it seized were located within a 35-mile (56-kilometer) radius of the UN and included 300 computer servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites.”Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network,” it said.”Early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement,” it said.The New York Times said an initial analysis of data on SIM cards has identified ties to “at least one foreign nation” as well as drug cartel members.The newspaper said 80 grams of cocaine and illegal firearms had been found at locations where the electronic devices were found.