new video loaded: Sense of Relief Spreads Among European Leaders Over De-Escalation of Greenland Crisis
transcript
transcript
Sense of Relief Spreads Among European Leaders Over De-Escalation of Greenland Crisis
Some European leaders on Thursday welcomed President Trump’s announcement calling off tariffs on Europe over Greenland, and expressed optimism that it would eventually result in a victory for Arctic security and NATO unity.
“We’ve been closely coordinating with allies and others over the course of the last few days. What’s now happened is good in the sense that the threat of tariffs has gone, and now we can get on with the job of rolling up our sleeves and answering the question: How do we improve security in the Arctic? — which everybody agrees with.” “This has from the beginning been a security issue, not a sovereignty issue. And that’s why we’re trying to create an off-ramp whereby we can strengthen Arctic security with strong American presence because their worries about Arctic security, I think, are correct.” “I welcome the developments of yesterday and the — first of all, the announcement by President Trump that force would not be used in respect of Greenland. And secondly, that the threat of tariffs on certain E.U. member states were to be lifted.” “We have said from the very beginning that a discussion about our status as a sovereign state, it cannot be discussed, it cannot be changed. We are willing to work together with the U.S., of course, as we have always done about security. But our red lines that are — our also, our Democratic rules cannot be discussed.”
Some European leaders on Thursday welcomed President Trump’s announcement calling off tariffs on Europe over Greenland, and expressed optimism that it would eventually result in a victory for Arctic security and NATO unity.
Modern cities with sleek high-rises, a pristine coastline that attracts tourists, and a state-of-the-art port that juts into the Mediterranean. This is what Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser, says Gaza could become, according to a presentation he gave at an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In his 10-minute speech on Thursday, Kushner claimed it would be possible — if there’s security — to quickly rebuild Gaza’s cities, which are now in ruins after more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas.
“In the Middle East, they build cities like this … in three years,” said Kushner, who helped broker the ceasefire in place since October. “And so stuff like this is very doable, if we make it happen.”
That timeline is at odds with what the United Nations and Palestinians expect will be a very long process to rehabilitate Gaza. Across the territory of roughly 2 million people, former apartment blocks are hills of rubble, unexploded ordnance lurks beneath the wreckage, disease spreads because of sewage-tainted water and city streets look like dirt canyons.
The United Nations Office for Project Services says Gaza has more than 60 million tons of rubble, enough to fill nearly 3,000 container ships. That will take over seven years to clear, they say, and then additional time is needed for demining.
Kushner spoke as Trump and an assortment of world leaders gathered to ratify the charter of the Board of Peace, the body that will oversee the ceasefire and reconstruction process.
Here are key takeaways from the presentation, and some questions raised by it:
Reconstruction hinges on security
Kushner said his reconstruction plan would only work if Gaza has “security” — a big “if.”
It remains uncertain whether Hamas will disarm, and Israeli troops fire upon Palestinians in Gaza on a near-daily basis.
Officials from the militant group say they have the right to resist Israeli occupation. But they have said they would consider “freezing” their weapons as part of a process to achieve Palestinian statehood.
Since the latest ceasefire took effect Oct. 10, Israeli troops have killed at least 470 Palestinians in Gaza, including young children and women, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Israel says it has opened fire in response to violations of the ceasefire, but dozens of civilians have been among the dead.
In the face of these challenges, the Board of Peace has been working with Israel on “de-escalation,” Kushner said, and is turning its attention to the demilitarization of Hamas — a process that would be managed by the U.S.-backed Palestinian committee overseeing Gaza.
It’s far from certain that Hamas will yield to the committee, which goes by the acronym NCAG and is envisioned eventually handing over control of Gaza to a reformed Palestinian Authority. Hamas says it will dissolve the government to make way, but has been vague about what will happen to its forces or weapons. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from the Palestinian Authority.
Another factor that could complicate disarmament: the existence of competing armed groups in Gaza, which Kushner’s presentation said would either be dismantled or “integrated into NCAG.” During the war, Israel has supported armed groups and gangs of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas.
Without security, Kushner said, there would be no way to draw investors to Gaza and or stimulate job growth. The latest joint estimate from the U.N., the European Union and the World Bank is that rebuilding Gaza will cost $70 billion.
Reconstruction would not begin in areas that are not fully disarmed, one of Kushner’s slides said.
Kushner’s plan avoids mention of what Palestinians do in the meantime
When unveiling his plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, Kushner did not say how demining would be handled or where Gaza’s residents would live as their areas are being rebuilt. At the moment, most families are sheltering in a stretch of land that includes parts of Gaza City and most of Gaza’s coastline.
In Kushner’s vision of a future Gaza, there would be new roads and a new airport — the old one was destroyed by Israel more than 20 years ago — plus a new port, and an area along the coastline designated for “tourism” that is currently where most Palestinians live. The plan calls for eight “residential areas” interspersed with parks, agricultural land and sports facilities.
Also highlighted by Kushner were areas for “advanced manufacturing,” “data centers,” and an “industrial complex,” though it is not clear what industries they would support.
Kushner said construction would first focus on building “workforce housing” in Rafah, a southern city that was decimated during the war and is currently controlled by Israeli troops. He said rubble-clearing and demolition were already underway there.
Kushner did not address whether demining would occur. The United Nations says unexploded shells and missiles are everywhere in Gaza, posing a threat to people searching through rubble to find their relatives, belongings, and kindling.
Rights groups say rubble clearance and demining activities have not begun in earnest in the zone where most Palestinians live because Israel has prevented the entry of heavy machinery.
After Rafah will come the reconstruction of Gaza City, Kushner said, or “New Gaza,” as his slide calls it. The new city could be a place where people will “have great employment,” he said.
Will Israel ever agree to this?
Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an international lawyer and expert in conflict resolution, described the board’s initial concept for redeveloping Gaza as “totally unrealistic” and an indication Trump views it from a real estate developer’s perspective, not a peacemaker’s.
A project with so many high-rise buildings would never be acceptable to Israel because each would provide a clear view of its military bases near the border, said Bar-Yaacov, who is an associate fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
What’s more, Kushner’s presentation said the NCAG would eventually hand off oversight of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority after it makes reforms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adamantly opposed any proposal for postwar Gaza that involves the Palestinian Authority. And even in the West Bank, where it governs, the Palestinian Authority is widely unpopular because of corruption and perceived collaboration with Israel.
Israeli social media figure Roi Star was filmed harassing and attacking activists who monitor Israeli settler assaults and activity in the occupied West Bank. Video shows him entering a house and pepper spraying activists during a confrontation.
Still searching for his first win as WBC champion, the 30-year-old comes off back-to-back draws against Abel Ramos and a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao.
But while Barrios has hardly cemented himself as a world-beater at welterweight, the same could be said for Garcia’s position as a genuine title contender.
This was Garcia’s first outing since his majority decision victory over Devin Haney in April 2024, which was later overturned to a no-contest due to ‘King Ry’ testing positive for banned substance ostarine.
But despite his year-long drugs ban, and indeed an unadventurous display against Romero, the American has nonetheless secured a world title opportunity next month.
The WBC mandatory challenger at 147lbs, meanwhile, is Conor Benn, and it seems that Garcia has already identified Benn as an appealing opponent for later this year, insisting that he would be open to entering their potential contest on away soil.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV in a media scrum, Garcia expressed his interest in travelling to the UK after his showdown with Barrios.
“That’s definitely an opportunity I would love to explore. Conor Benn’s got a pretty good fanbase in the UK – I would love to go international with it.
“We’re focused on what we’re focused on, but I would love that [fight].”
Despite exacting his revenge over Chris Eubank Jr in November, Benn has not fought at welterweight since his fourth-round finish against Chris Algieri in 2021. Regardless, he finds himself in the number one spot and will have a close eye on the action between Barrios and Garcia next month.
US PRO BMIhas appointed Todd Horvath as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 26.
In this new role, Horvath will report to BMI CEO Mike O’Neill and oversee the company’s “ongoing efforts to modernize its platforms, identify new sources of revenue and improve the affiliate experience at BMI,” according to an announcement on Thursday (January 22).
Thursday’s press release added that Horvath’s addition to the BMI leadership team will enable O’Neill, who recently extended his contract through 2029, to “continue to focus on the strategic vision of the company”.
Horvath will divide his time between BMI’s Nashville and New York offices.
BMI noted that Horvath has more than 20 years of experience in the international financial services sector, with a “significant focus on integrating transformative technology into organizations, in addition to M&A, innovation and customer service expertise”.
He joins BMI from Equifax, where he served as President of U.S. Information Solutions.
Prior to Equifax, Horvath was the President of Banking Solutions for Fiserv. There, he “successfully led multiple billion-dollar divisions and drove a significant technology transformation, including innovating additional digital banking offerings and creating a more client-centric go-to-market strategy”.
Before that, Horvath spent nearly 15 years at ADP, ultimately overseeing all its international business as President of Multinational Clients.
“Todd’s unique skill set is a perfect complement to our team, and I look forward to his contributions as we continue to drive growth and position BMI for the future.”
Mike O’Neill
“I’m excited to welcome Todd to BMI as we build upon the many efforts we’ve undertaken over the past three years to create long term value for our affiliates,” said O’Neill.
“Todd’s unique skill set is a perfect complement to our team, and I look forward to his contributions as we continue to drive growth and position BMI for the future.”
“I’m honored to join BMI at a time of great change and opportunity in the industry.”
Todd Horvath
Horvath added: “I’m honored to join BMI at a time of great change and opportunity in the industry.
“I’ve spent a good deal of time getting to know Mike over the past few months, and I am excited by his vision for the company and BMI’s mission on behalf of its songwriters, composers and publishers. I look forward to working with the entire team at BMI to unleash additional opportunities that will continue to position BMI as the leading PRO in the business.”
A South African court has dismissed an appeal by the country’s heritage body to stop the sale and export of various artefacts connected to anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
The 70 personal items include a cell key from Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he was locked up, a pair of Aviator sunglasses and one of his signature floral shirts. They were due to be exported to the US for auction.
The objects belong to his eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela and Christo Brand, a Robben Island warden during Mandela’s incarceration.
In trying to stop their sale, the authorities said they were part of the country’s heritage and were therefore legally protected from export.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) first found out about the potential sale in a British newspaper article from late 2021, claiming that the key would go for more than £1m ($1.35m).
The agency then wrote to the US auction house, Guernsey, that was planning the sale to ask it to suspend the auction and return the assets to South Africa.
Other items in the lot were a copy of the 1996 South African Constitution personally signed by Mandela, one of his charcoal drawings, an ID card, a tennis racquet he used on Robben Island and gifts from world leaders, including one from former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Mandela’s daughter wanted to use the proceeds from the sale to build a memorial garden at the late former resident’s grave in Qunu, in Mthatha, Eastern Cape province.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeal argues that Sahra’s interpretation of what items fell under the National Heritage Resources Act was overly broad.
The ruling also states that whereas Makaziwe and Brand explained in detail why their respective assets were not heritage objects, Sahra made no attempt to explain on what grounds it believed they were.
It is not yet clear whether the authorities will seek other legal avenues to block the sale. The BBC has contacted the sport, arts and culture department for comment.
Makaziwe, Mandela’s only daughter with his first wife, welcomed the Supreme Court’s judgment, blasting the heritage agency for presuming “to know my father’s last wishes better than those who were beside him at the end – his family”.
“Nobody is more invested in ensuring Tata’s [Mandela’s] legacy endures in the way he would want to be remembered than those who carry his name,” she said.
She added that no decision had yet been made on what would happen to the items meant to go on auction.
Some supporters of the government’s position argued that items connected to Mandela should not be sold or exported but instead kept in South Africa for future generations.
Others believe that Mandela’s family should decide what happens to the objects.
Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. He led the African National Congress in its struggle against apartheid – a system of legally enforced racism – and was released from prison in 1990.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with then-President FW de Klerk.
Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994.
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser
extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your
connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
new video loaded: How Anger Erupted as Iranians Buried Protest Victims
transcript
transcript
How Anger Erupted as Iranians Buried Protest Victims
As families buried those killed in Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests, a Tehran cemetery became a flashpoint for dissent. A witness describes what fueled the anger.
This is the voice of Kiarash, speaking from Germany after visiting his family in Iran. He’s describing what he saw at the largest cemetery in the Iranian capital amid a bloody crackdown on antigovernment protests. What began as anger over economic hardship grew into open defiance of the country’s authoritarian clerical rule. As the unrest spread, the government largely cut Iran off from the rest of the world. But some footage has trickled out, exposing the brutality of the regime’s crackdown. Kiarash has asked to be identified only by his first name to protect his family. On the 10th of January, Kiarash attended the burial of a family friend, who he said was killed by a bullet to the neck during the protests. There, he says he saw trucks unloading bodies into warehouses already stacked with corpses. As more bodies arrived, workers dumped them onto the ground, angering the crowd. There are no images of the mishandling of bodies at the cemetery as described by Kiarash. He said guards prevented him and others from filming with their phones, but The New York Times spoke to another person whose relatives saw similar scenes at that cemetery the next day. Around that time, footage began to emerge from a morgue just a mile away, showing devastated families unzipping rows of body bags to find their relatives. Distressed by what he witnessed, Kiarash said he joined protesters that evening, narrowly escaping death when they were met with gunfire. The 44-year-old said what he saw in Iran convinced him of the need for change.
As families buried those killed in Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests, a Tehran cemetery became a flashpoint for dissent. A witness describes what fueled the anger.
By Monika Cvorak, Jon Hazell and Artemis Moshtaghian
