India gives army ‘operational freedom’ to respond to Kashmir attack
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the military “operational freedom” to respond to a deadly attack in Kashmir that New Delhi has blamed on arch-rival Pakistan, a senior government source told AFP Tuesday.A week after the deadliest attack on civilians in the contested region in years, Modi on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with army and security chiefs, during which he granted “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response to the terror attack”, said the government source, who was not authorised to speak to the media.The development comes as nations around the world, from neighbouring China to the United States, express deep concerns over the nuclear-armed neighbors’ mounting tensions and urge restraint.India’s army on Tuesday also said it had repeatedly traded gunfire with Pakistani troops across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto Kashmir border, a heavily fortified zone of high-altitude Himalayan outposts.Pakistan’s military did not confirm the shooting, but state radio in Islamabad reported on Tuesday it had shot down an Indian drone, calling it a violation of its airspace.It did not say when the incident happened, and there was no comment from New Delhi.India said the “Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control” overnight Monday to Tuesday, the fifth night in a row that fire was exchanged there.The Indian army said its troops had “responded in a measured and effective manner to the provocation”. There were no reports of casualties.- ‘Ends of the Earth’ -Relations have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 men were killed.Islamabad has rejected the charge and both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir and diplomatic barbs, as well as expelled citizens and ordered the main land border crossing shut.Last week, Modi vowed to pursue those who carried out the attack in the tourist hotspot of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, and those who had supported it.”I say to the whole world: India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backer,” he said on Thursday.”We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth”.The bellicose statements have prompted worries of a rapid spiral into military action, with calls from several nations for restraint.The US State Department said top diplomat Marco Rubio would call his Pakistani and Indian counterparts soon to urge them “to not escalate the situation.”UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile held calls Tuesday with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in which he “offered his Good Offices to support de-escalation”, his spokesman said.Sharif’s office later said he had urged Guterres to “counsel India” to exercise restraint, while pledging to defend Pakistan’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force in case of any misadventure by India”.Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.Rebels in the Indian-run area have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men accused of carrying out the Kashmir attack — two Pakistanis and an Indian — who they say are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation.They have announced a two million rupee ($23,500) bounty for information leading to each man’s arrest and carried out sweeping detentions seeking anyone suspected of links to the alleged killers.The worst attack in recent years in Indian-run Kashmir was at Pulwama in 2019, when an insurgent rammed a car packed with explosives into a security forces convoy, killing 40 and wounding 35.Indian fighter jets carried out air strikes on Pakistani territory 12 days later.Iran has already offered to mediate and Saudi Arabia has said Riyadh was trying to “prevent an escalation”.US President Donald Trump downplayed tensions, saying on Friday the dispute will get “figured out, one way or another”.burs-pjm/sco/des/md
Trump celebrates tumultuous 100 days in office
Donald Trump celebrated Tuesday the first 100 days of what is already one of the most radical and far-reaching presidencies in US history, but polls show Americans becoming disenchanted with the economic and political tumult.The 47th president will mark the milestone in trademark style, seeking to rejuvenate his base with a rally in the battleground state of Michigan that swung his way in November as he soundly defeated Kamala Harris.Trump has shaken up the United States like few presidents before him. His billionaire backer Elon Musk has led dramatic cutbacks of the federal workforce, and the president himself has reshaped relations with the world by unveiling sweeping tariffs, berating allies and eliminating much foreign aid.Polls show that the honeymoon period that Americans historically accord presidents at the start of their terms has evaporated for Trump.A poll published Sunday by The Washington Post and ABC News found that only 39 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s performance.The survey showed net disapproval even on what was his most popular issue — his aggressive crackdown on immigration — as controversy swirls over deportations without due process.Trump angrily dismissed the polling, but has been tacitly acknowledging that he must moderate some policies as stock market turmoil takes a toll.Wall Street, down more than six percent since Trump took office, ticked up Tuesday on news he would soften some of the sweeping tariffs impacting automakers.- ‘We’ve done everything’ -He also recently backtracked on threats to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who has warned that Trump’s tariffs would likely reignite inflation.After a 2017-2021 term in which some aides sought to rein him in, Trump has surrounded himself this time with unabashed loyalists — and told reporters he was on track to accomplish all of his second-term goals.”I think either we’ve done everything, or it’s in the process of being done,” Trump said as he prepared to fly to his rally at a community college in Warren, Michigan.In a Q&A with reporters, he was asked about his preference for the next pope, and he joked: “I would like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice.”In the grand entrance hallway of the White House, Trump has removed a portrait of Barack Obama, the United States’ first Black president, to make way for a painting of himself surviving an assassination attempt.He has used threats of cutting off government access and contracts to pressure law firms whose partners once were involved in cases against him, and he has frozen billions of dollars in funding for universities — hotbeds of criticism against the administration.- Stretching limits -Unlike most presidents, Trump has focused more on energizing his base than broadening his appeal — and many supporters are still with him.”He’s amazing. Everybody’s worried about tariffs. We don’t care — look at everything else that’s coming together too,” said Donna Fitzsimons, a 65-year-old merchandise seller at Michigan the rally venue ahead of Trump’s appearance.”People don’t realize it takes time to get where you need to go.”The rival Democratic Party has seized on economic anxieties although it has also struggled in polling.”Trump is to blame for the fact that life is more expensive, it’s harder to retire, and a ‘Trump recession’ is at our doorstep,” the Democratic National Committee said, calling the 100 days a “colossal failure.”Even with Congress narrowly in Republican hands, Trump has tested the limits of presidential power by signing more than 140 executive orders, many of which have faced court scrutiny.He has sought to end birthright citizenship — which is guaranteed by the US Constitution — and Musk has summarily axed billions of dollars appropriated by Congress.Trump has shown signs of impatience. He promised on the campaign trail to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but Russia has rebuffed a broad ceasefire offer.The former reality TV star has claimed the pledge was made “in jest,” although CNN reported that he made it more than 50 times before taking office, and was even at pains to point out that he was being serious.aue-mlm-sct-ft/bgs
En 100 jours, Trump a entraîné l’Amérique et le monde dans son orbite chaotique
Son retour au pouvoir a été un séisme suivi d’incessantes répliques économiques, diplomatiques, politiques: Donald Trump célèbre mardi ses 100 jours auprès de partisans plus fervents que jamais, quand l’Amérique, elle, déchante.”Il fait un super boulot”, applaudit Steve Camber, 60 ans, infirmier à la retraite interrogé par l’AFP pendant qu’il attend que commence un meeting du président républicain à Warren, dans le Michigan, dans la région des Grands Lacs.Les droits de douane “vont être un peu pénibles maintenant mais à l’avenir tout sera américain”, espère Sara Azar, 55 ans, tandis que Shah Mahdi, chauffeur de poids lourd de 40 ans, vante “un homme qui tient parole. Il a dit que la frontière serait sûre, et il l’a fait.””Soit nous avons tout fait, soit nous sommes en train de le faire”, a assuré le président américain en quittant la Maison Blanche pour se rendre à ce rassemblement. Il veut maintenant se concentrer sur le Congrès, pour faire passer “la plus grande loi de l’histoire de notre pays en terme de baisse d’impôts et de dérégulation entre autres choses.”- Trump pape -Le milliardaire de 78 ans, qui depuis le 20 janvier sature l’espace médiatique avec ses annonces agressives, ou absurdes, ou les deux à la fois, a aussi blagué devant les journalistes qu’il “aimerait être pape. Ce serait mon choix numéro un.”Les ministres et élus conservateurs sont au diapason d’un Donald Trump triomphaliste.”Il est le dirigeant américain le plus important du XXIème siècle et c’est un euphémisme”, a par exemple déclaré le patron de la Chambre des représentants, le républicain Mike Johnson. “La première fois, je devais faire deux choses: diriger le pays et survivre, j’avais tous ces escrocs autour de moi”, a dit le président américain aux journalistes de The Atlantic, en référence aux désaffections de ministres et conseillers entre 2017 et 2021.Mais cette fois, du moment où il a levé la main pour prêter serment, le républicain s’est imposé comme seul centre de gravité de la vie publique américaine et il a entraîné la planète dans son orbite chaotique.”Je dirige le pays et le monde”, s’est-il félicité lors du même entretien, en assurant auprès des reporters du mensuel qu’il “passait un très bon moment”.- “Un très bon moment” -Ce n’est pas le cas de tous les Américains, déboussolés par le bras de fer commercial qu’il a engagé avec la Chine et dans une moindre mesure avec le reste du monde.Rien d’étonnant à ce que Donald Trump, dont la carrière politique s’est faite en creusant les divisions, ne connaisse pas l’état de grâce accompagnant généralement les débuts d’un président.Mais les sondages d’opinion s’accordent pour constater une glissade abrupte de sa cote de confiance, nourrie principalement par les doutes sur l’économie.D’après un sondage publié dimanche par le Washington Post et ABC News, 39% des Américains seulement “approuvent” la manière dont Donald Trump mène sa présidence.Il “a promis aux Américains un +nouvel âge d’or” mais au bout de cent jours la seule chose dorée c’est la décoration du Bureau Ovale”, a critiqué dans un communiqué le parti démocrate.- “Regretter” -“Trump n’a rien fait pour améliorer la vie des familles de la classe moyenne et ces dernières commencent à regretter leur choix”, assure la formation d’opposition, qui souffre d’un profond discrédit selon les enquêtes d’opinion.Le président américain a totalement bouleversé le rôle international de la première puissance mondiale, selon lui pillée sans vergogne par ses alliés, et qui aurait donc tout intérêt à se replier sur une sphère d’influence régionale, étendue si possible au Groenland voire au Canada.Le républicain a déjà signé plus de 140 décrets – dont beaucoup ont été bloqués en justice – pour attaquer ses adversaires politiques, lancer une politique d’expulsions massives d’immigrés en situation irrégulière et démanteler la bureaucratie fédérale avec l’aide de son allié Elon Musk.64% des personnes interrogées dans le sondage Washington Post/ABC News jugent qu’il va “trop loin” dans sa tentative d’étendre les pouvoirs présidentiels.
En 100 jours, Trump a entraîné l’Amérique et le monde dans son orbite chaotique
Son retour au pouvoir a été un séisme suivi d’incessantes répliques économiques, diplomatiques, politiques: Donald Trump célèbre mardi ses 100 jours auprès de partisans plus fervents que jamais, quand l’Amérique, elle, déchante.”Il fait un super boulot”, applaudit Steve Camber, 60 ans, infirmier à la retraite interrogé par l’AFP pendant qu’il attend que commence un meeting du président républicain à Warren, dans le Michigan, dans la région des Grands Lacs.Les droits de douane “vont être un peu pénibles maintenant mais à l’avenir tout sera américain”, espère Sara Azar, 55 ans, tandis que Shah Mahdi, chauffeur de poids lourd de 40 ans, vante “un homme qui tient parole. Il a dit que la frontière serait sûre, et il l’a fait.””Soit nous avons tout fait, soit nous sommes en train de le faire”, a assuré le président américain en quittant la Maison Blanche pour se rendre à ce rassemblement. Il veut maintenant se concentrer sur le Congrès, pour faire passer “la plus grande loi de l’histoire de notre pays en terme de baisse d’impôts et de dérégulation entre autres choses.”- Trump pape -Le milliardaire de 78 ans, qui depuis le 20 janvier sature l’espace médiatique avec ses annonces agressives, ou absurdes, ou les deux à la fois, a aussi blagué devant les journalistes qu’il “aimerait être pape. Ce serait mon choix numéro un.”Les ministres et élus conservateurs sont au diapason d’un Donald Trump triomphaliste.”Il est le dirigeant américain le plus important du XXIème siècle et c’est un euphémisme”, a par exemple déclaré le patron de la Chambre des représentants, le républicain Mike Johnson. “La première fois, je devais faire deux choses: diriger le pays et survivre, j’avais tous ces escrocs autour de moi”, a dit le président américain aux journalistes de The Atlantic, en référence aux désaffections de ministres et conseillers entre 2017 et 2021.Mais cette fois, du moment où il a levé la main pour prêter serment, le républicain s’est imposé comme seul centre de gravité de la vie publique américaine et il a entraîné la planète dans son orbite chaotique.”Je dirige le pays et le monde”, s’est-il félicité lors du même entretien, en assurant auprès des reporters du mensuel qu’il “passait un très bon moment”.- “Un très bon moment” -Ce n’est pas le cas de tous les Américains, déboussolés par le bras de fer commercial qu’il a engagé avec la Chine et dans une moindre mesure avec le reste du monde.Rien d’étonnant à ce que Donald Trump, dont la carrière politique s’est faite en creusant les divisions, ne connaisse pas l’état de grâce accompagnant généralement les débuts d’un président.Mais les sondages d’opinion s’accordent pour constater une glissade abrupte de sa cote de confiance, nourrie principalement par les doutes sur l’économie.D’après un sondage publié dimanche par le Washington Post et ABC News, 39% des Américains seulement “approuvent” la manière dont Donald Trump mène sa présidence.Il “a promis aux Américains un +nouvel âge d’or” mais au bout de cent jours la seule chose dorée c’est la décoration du Bureau Ovale”, a critiqué dans un communiqué le parti démocrate.- “Regretter” -“Trump n’a rien fait pour améliorer la vie des familles de la classe moyenne et ces dernières commencent à regretter leur choix”, assure la formation d’opposition, qui souffre d’un profond discrédit selon les enquêtes d’opinion.Le président américain a totalement bouleversé le rôle international de la première puissance mondiale, selon lui pillée sans vergogne par ses alliés, et qui aurait donc tout intérêt à se replier sur une sphère d’influence régionale, étendue si possible au Groenland voire au Canada.Le républicain a déjà signé plus de 140 décrets – dont beaucoup ont été bloqués en justice – pour attaquer ses adversaires politiques, lancer une politique d’expulsions massives d’immigrés en situation irrégulière et démanteler la bureaucratie fédérale avec l’aide de son allié Elon Musk.64% des personnes interrogées dans le sondage Washington Post/ABC News jugent qu’il va “trop loin” dans sa tentative d’étendre les pouvoirs présidentiels.
Damascus strikes deal with Druze leaders after deadly sectarian clashes
Syria’s Islamist-led government promised Druze leaders Tuesday that it would try those responsible after its security forces clashed with Druze fighters in a Damascus suburb, leaving 14 combatants dead.In a deal reached with representatives from the mainly Druze and Christian suburb of Jaramana, authorities also promised measures to “put an end to incitement to sectarian and regional division”, according to a text seen by AFP.”An agreement has been reached,” said Rabih Mounzer, a member of a civilian coordination group in Jaramana who was among the delegates.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven security personnel and seven Druze fighters were killed in the clashes which erupted on Monday night and continued into Tuesday.They were sparked by the circulation on social media of an audio recording deemed blasphemous and met with condemnation from leaders of the Druze religious minority.The violence follows sectarian massacres last month in the Alawite coastal heartland — the worst bloodshed since Islamist-led forces overthrew longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December.While seeking to present a more moderate image to the world, the new authorities must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists within their ranks.”Heavy clashes erupted in Jaramana after security forces and affiliated gunmen stormed” parts of the suburb, the Britain-based Observatory said.The violence was spurred by “the circulation of an audio recording, attributed to a Druze citizen, containing religious insults”, it added.AFP was unable to confirm the recording’s authenticity.The interior ministry reported “intermittent clashes between groups of gunmen”, saying security forces deployed “to break up the clashes and protect the residents”.The justice ministry said it would “not tolerate any attack on the Prophet” Mohammed but stressed that the courts were the “sole legitimate recourse” and called on residents to “refrain from hate speech”.- ‘Full responsibility’ -An AFP correspondent saw gunmen shooting into the air during the funeral for two security force members killed in the clashes.Jaramana’s Druze religious leadership condemned “the unjustified armed attack” that “targeted innocent civilians and terrorised” residents.”We strongly condemn any insult against” the Prophet Mohammed, the statement said, calling the audio recording an attempt to “sow strife and division”.It said the authorities bore “full responsibility for the incident”.Local residents said the fighting had subsided by morning.Riham Waqqaf, a 33-year-old humanitarian worker, said she was staying home with her husband and children.She expressed worry that Jaramana “might turn into a battlefield… I am afraid of the situation escalating further”.- Alawite massacres -Security forces deployed in Jaramana last month following clashes between security forces and gunmen tasked with protecting the area.At the time, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned the Islamist-led authorities not “to harm the Druze” minority, which is also spread across Lebanon and Israel.Druze leaders rejected the Israeli warning and declared their loyalty to a united Syria.The clashes in Jaramana mark the latest test for the Islamist authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network but have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country.The authorities have been seeking to persuade Western capitals that the jihadist origins of the forces who toppled Assad are confined to the past, and that crippling international sanctions should be lifted.Druze representatives have been negotiating with authorities on an agreement to integrate their armed groups into the new national army.Last month’s violence on the Mediterranean coast saw security forces and allied groups kill more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, according to the Observatory’s figures. The government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the offensive that toppled Assad, accused loyalists to the former leader of sparking the violence by attacking security forces, and has launched an inquiry.burs-lar/nad/kir/ysm