Eruption d’un volcan en Indonésie: 500 personnes évacuées, des milliers refusent

Des milliers d’habitants ont rejeté jeudi un ordre évacuation prononcé par les autorités dans l’est de l’Indonésie, malgré les éruptions à répétition du mont Ibu, estimant être habitués à une telle situation.Seuls environ 500 habitants du village le plus proche du volcan ont été évacués depuis mercredi soir, ont indiqué les autorités locales.Le Mont Ibu, situé sur l’île d’Halmahera, dans la province des Moluques du nord, à l’est du vaste archipel, est entré en éruption mercredi, envoyant une colonne de fumée haute de quatre kilomètres dans le ciel.L’Agence géologique indonésienne a dès lors porté le niveau d’alerte du volcan au seuil le plus élevé de son système qui en compte quatre, ce qui a amené les autorités locales à appeler les 3.000 habitants vivant aux alentours à évacuer.”Jusqu’à présent, un seul village a été évacué, tandis que les habitants des cinq villages restants ont refusé d’évacuer”, a déclaré Irfan Idrus, porte-parole de l’agence locale de gestion des catastrophes.Les 517 personnes évacuées devaient être conduites vers une zone sûre dans deux villages, situés à neuf kilomètres de la zone dangereuse. “Des abris d’évacuation ont été préparés par l’administration locale”, a précisé M. Irfan.Les résidents qui ont choisi de rester ont fait valoir qu’ils étaient habitués aux éruptions du mont Ibu, a-t-il ajouté.”Nous continuerons à coordonner nos efforts avec les responsables locaux et les dirigeants communautaires pour garantir que les habitants des cinq villages soient évacués, car ils se trouvent dans la zone d’exclusion, a encore indiqué M. Irfan.Selon un journaliste de l’AFP sur place, les habitants vaquaient encore à leurs activités quotidiennes dans leurs villages respectifs alors que des camions se préparaient à l’évacuation.- “Habitués aux éruptions” -“Nous sommes habitués aux éruptions du mont Ibu et jusqu’à présent, il n’y a eu aucun impact sur notre village. C’est pourquoi nous ne voulons pas être évacués”, a déclaré Milka Sehe, une habitante du village de Todoke, âgée de 43 ans.Dans le village de Tuguis, Rista Tuyu espère elle que le volcan se calmera bientôt afin que le village puisse reprendre sa vie quotidienne.”Bien sûr, il y a une certaine peur et une certaine inquiétude, mais nous sommes habitués aux éruptions ici”, témoigne la jeune femme de 32 ans.”Mais la plus importante est apparue cette semaine”, précise-t-elle.L’Indonésie, vaste archipel situé le long de la ceinture de feu du Pacifique, connaît une activité sismique et volcanique fréquente.L’activité volcanique du Mont Ibu, sur une île où vivent quelque 700.000 habitants, s’est accélérée depuis juin, après une série de séismes. Le volcan étant entré en éruption neuf fois depuis le début de l’année 2025. Les habitants vivant à proximité et les touristes ont été invités à éviter une zone d’exclusion de cinq à six kilomètres autour du sommet du volcan et à porter des masques en cas de chutes de cendres.En novembre dernier, le mont Lewotobi Laki-Laki, sur l’île touristique de Flores, à environ 800 km de Bali, est entré en éruption plus d’une douzaine de fois en une semaine, faisant neuf morts et 31 blessés et obligeant 11.000 personnes à évacuer.

China to probe US chips over dumping, subsidies

China said Thursday it would launch a probe into US exports of chips used in everything from cars to home appliances over concerns about alleged dumping and subsidies.Washington has expanded its efforts in recent years to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, concerned that these can be used to advance Beijing’s military systems and other tech capabilities.Beijing has accused Washington of protectionism, vowing to defend its interests and urging Washington to halt its “wrong practices”.And on Thursday China’s commerce ministry said domestic firms had accused the US administration of President Joe Biden of having “provided substantial subsidies to the chip sector”.This, they said, gave “US companies an unfair competitive advantage”.”Companies have been exporting related mature-process chip products to China at low prices, harming the legitimate interests of the domestic industry,” a ministry spokesperson said.”The concerns of China’s domestic industry are reasonable, and they have the right to request a trade remedy investigation,” they said.Beijing did not say when the probe would be launched, nor how long it would take.- Chip for tat -But its launch comes a day after the United States unveiled further export controls on advanced computing semiconductors, increasing due diligence requirements for businesses as it seeks to prevent diversion of tech to China despite existing restrictions.The move also followed US officials announcing fresh curbs on AI chip exports, seeking to make it harder for Beijing to access the advanced technology.With the new rules, foundries and packaging companies that want to export certain advanced chips face broader license requirements unless they meet several conditions.The rules also aim to enhance reporting for transactions involving newer customers “who may pose a heightened risk of diversion,” said the US commerce department.Thursday’s probe focuses on US subsidies of “mature” semiconductors, also known as “legacy” chips.While cutting-edge chips are typically used in critical technologies with sensitive military and defence uses, “legacy” chips are used in household items like broadband and medical devices, according to the CSIS think tank.

China to probe US chips over dumping, subsidies

China said Thursday it would launch a probe into US exports of chips used in everything from cars to home appliances over concerns about alleged dumping and subsidies.Washington has expanded its efforts in recent years to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, concerned that these can be used to advance Beijing’s military systems and other tech capabilities.Beijing has accused Washington of protectionism, vowing to defend its interests and urging Washington to halt its “wrong practices”.And on Thursday China’s commerce ministry said domestic firms had accused the US administration of President Joe Biden of having “provided substantial subsidies to the chip sector”.This, they said, gave “US companies an unfair competitive advantage”.”Companies have been exporting related mature-process chip products to China at low prices, harming the legitimate interests of the domestic industry,” a ministry spokesperson said.”The concerns of China’s domestic industry are reasonable, and they have the right to request a trade remedy investigation,” they said.Beijing did not say when the probe would be launched, nor how long it would take.- Chip for tat -But its launch comes a day after the United States unveiled further export controls on advanced computing semiconductors, increasing due diligence requirements for businesses as it seeks to prevent diversion of tech to China despite existing restrictions.The move also followed US officials announcing fresh curbs on AI chip exports, seeking to make it harder for Beijing to access the advanced technology.With the new rules, foundries and packaging companies that want to export certain advanced chips face broader license requirements unless they meet several conditions.The rules also aim to enhance reporting for transactions involving newer customers “who may pose a heightened risk of diversion,” said the US commerce department.Thursday’s probe focuses on US subsidies of “mature” semiconductors, also known as “legacy” chips.While cutting-edge chips are typically used in critical technologies with sensitive military and defence uses, “legacy” chips are used in household items like broadband and medical devices, according to the CSIS think tank.

Chinese apps including TikTok hit by privacy complaints in Europe

Online privacy campaigners said Thursday they had filed complaints in several European countries against six Chinese companies including TikTok, accusing them of “unlawfully” sending Europeans’ personal data to China.Prominent Austria-based privacy campaign group NOYB (None of Your Business) said it has lodged six complaints against TikTok, AliExpress, SHEIN, Temu, WeChat and Xiaomi — in its first such action against Chinese companies. The complaints were filed in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands. Noyb has launched several legal cases against US technology giants such as Meta and Google, often prompting action from regulatory authorities over violations of the EU’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).The GDPR aims to make it easier for people to control how companies use their personal information.”Given that China is an authoritarian surveillance state, it is crystal clear that China doesn’t offer the same level of data protection as the EU,” said NOYB data protection lawyer Kleanthi Sardeli.”Transferring Europeans’ personal data is clearly unlawful –- and must be terminated immediately,” Sardeli said according to a statement.According to the privacy group, AliExpress, SHEIN, TikTok and Xiaomi “transfer data to China”, while Temu and WeChat mention transfers to “third countries”.”As none of the companies responded adequately to the complainants’ access requests, we have to assume that this includes China,” the statement added.Noyb believes that “the rise of Chinese apps opens (up) a new front” for EU data protection law.TikTok declined to comment when contacted by AFP.Noyb said it is seeking administrative fines of up to four percent of the companies’ global sales, which could amount to 1.35 billion euros ($1.39 billion) for Temu.The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the GDPR.

Pakistan, West Indies seek to improve from Test Championship lows

Pakistan and West Indies vowed a strong finish when they meet in the first Test in Multan on Friday despite dragging up the rear of the World Test Championship.Pakistan are currently eighth in the 2023-25 cycle of the WTC, with their rivals in last place far behind finalists Australia and South Africa.Skipper Shan Masood said the two-test series was significant for Pakistan, who finished sixth and seventh in the first two WTC cycles.”This cycle is finishing so this series is significant for us as we want to become a better team by being unbeaten in home conditions,” he told reporters on Thursday.Pakistan ended a winless stretch of 11 home Tests by beating England 2-1 in October and Masood wants his team to keep winning at home despite a 2-0 defeat in South Africa this month.”We won against England so it will be important we keep that momentum against the West Indies,” Masood said.West Indies finished eighth in both previous WTCs and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite wants to end on a positive note this time.”I think this series is very important with two Tests left in this cycle… so we want to start the year strong and that is our focus,” Brathwaite said.He said his players are ready for Pakistan’s spin assault led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who took 39 wickets between them against England.”We have played in spin conditions in Bangladesh and these conditions are similar, so you have to be disciplined and be brave against any bowler,” Brathwaite said.Pakistan deployed industrial fans and patio heaters to dry out the Multan pitch and secure their series win against England after heavy rain.They are ready to use the same tactic again if needed, with the second Test also to be played in Multan from January 25.The tourists had a taste of those conditions in their drawn three-day practice game in Islamabad, where Alick Athanaze hit half centuries in both innings and newcomer Amir Jangoo scored an unbeaten 63.West Indies used a three-prong spin attack of Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican and Gudakesh Motie in that match but will be without pace spearhead Kemar Roach, who is unwell.Wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva was overlooked.- Test split -Title-holders Australia and South Africa will play the championship final at Lord’s in June.However, WTC bottom-dwellers such as Pakistan and West Indies will be wary of reports that leading nations such as India, Australia and England favour a two-tier system of promotion and relegation.That plan could mean lower-ranked teams won’t get to play Tests against top-tier nations.”If there is a two-tier system then it has to be exciting,” said Masood. “There should be relegation and promotion of teams and every team should get more Tests.”We want more and more Test cricket. The setback for most of the countries is that they are playing just four to five Tests a year and this is hurting.”

Electricité: la facture baissera de 15% au 1er février pour la plupart des foyers

La facture d’électricité de la plupart des foyers français, soit plus de 24 millions d’abonnés au tarif réglementé, baissera finalement de 15% au 1er février, une première depuis 2015, a indiqué jeudi la commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE). Cette baisse touchera les quelque 20,4 millions de foyers abonnés au “tarif bleu” d’EDF (60% des 34 millions d’abonnés résidentiels) auxquels s’ajoutent les 4 millions d’abonnés à des offres indexées sur ce tarif, et ce malgré le relèvement d’une taxe gouvernementale et la hausse des coûts d’acheminement et de distribution de l’électricité (Turpe).Pour les 10 millions de particuliers qui ne dépendent pas des tarifs réglementés mais sont abonnés à des offres de marchés, la variation dépendra de leurs fournisseurs, libres de répercuter ou pas ces hausses, en jouant sur leurs marges. La CRE a calculé l’économie pour des foyers aux tarifs réglementés (qui utilisent l’électricité pour cuisson-eau-chaude-chauffage): la baisse s’élèverait à 651 euros par an pour une famille de quatre personnes en maison ; de 389 euros pour un foyer de trois personnes en appartement et de 107 euros pour un deux personnes. “C’est la première baisse depuis 2015”, a souligné Emmanuelle Wargon, présidente de la CRE, le gendarme du secteur de l’énergie, en officialisant le niveau exact de cette baisse jusqu’ici attendue à -14%, après deux années de fortes hausses sur fond de crise énergétique. Le repli des cours de l’électricité sur les marchés de gros, après leur forte augmentation en 2021-2022 sur fond de reprise post-Covid puis surtout de guerre en Ukraine, va permettre “une baisse très substantielle” de “la part énergie” de la facture, a souligné Emmanuelle Wargon. Cela fera plus que compenser les deux hausses appliquées au 1er février.La taxe sur l’électricité, abaissée à son minimum (1 euro par mégawattheure) pendant la crise énergétique, remontera à son niveau initial, relevé de l’inflation, soit 33,70 euros par mégawattheure pour les particuliers contre 22 euros actuellement, actant ainsi la fin du bouclier tarifaire.Le tarif de transport et de distribution, un péage payé par les fournisseurs et répercuté aux consommateurs, augmentera lui de 7,7%.Â