Month: January 2026

Jan. 23 (UPI) — The United States has completed its exit from the World Health Organization, the Trump administration said, one year since it began the withdrawal process.

“Like many international organizations, the WHO abandoned its core mission and acted repeatedly against the interests of the United States,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a joint statement on Thursday.

“Although the United States was a founding member and the WHO’s largest financial contributor, the organization pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests.”

Trump initiated the process to withdraw the United States from the United Nations’ intergovernmental health body on the first day of his second term in office via executive order.

Under U.S. law, the United States could withdraw from the WHO after a one-year notice. It also requires the United States, the WHO’s largest financial contributor, to fulfill its financial obligations to the organization for the fiscal year in which the notice was given.

Rubio and Kennedy said the WHO has refused to return the American flag that hung outside its headquarters, asserting that the organization has not approved the United States’ withdrawal due to outstanding payments.

The pair neither confirmed nor denied whether the United States was negligent on its bills but said that on its way out, “the WHO tarnished and trashed everything that American has done for it.”

“From our days as its primary founder, primary financial backer and primary champion until now, our final day, the insults to America continue,” they said.

The U.S. engagement with the WHO will be limited to completing the withdrawal and “to safeguard the health and safety of the American people.”

“All U.S. funding for, and staffing of, WHO initiatives has ceased,” they said.

UPI has contacted the WHO for comment.

Trump originally withdrew the United States from the WHO during his first term in office, accusing the organization of allegedly enabling China to cover up the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and its early outbreak of the disease.

President Joe Biden reversed Trump’s decision on his first day in office in January 2021.

Then, on his first day of his second term in the White House, Trump, via executive order, pulled the United States from the WHO, citing its “mishandling” of the pandemic as well as its seeking “unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payment.”

Trump has sought to distance the United States from the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, and more broadly from multilateral institutions and forums and intergovernmental engagement, under his America First international policy.

Earlier this month, the White House announced the U.S. withdrawal from 35 non-U.N. entities and 31 entities under the U.N. umbrella. Rubio said the organizations affected were deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States.”

Critics and Democrats have chastised Trump and his administration for seeking to pull the United States from the greater global community.

Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, called the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO “a shortsighted and misguided abandonment of our global health commitments.”

“Withdrawing from the World Health Organization is scientifically reckless,” Nahass said in a statement. “It fails to acknowledge the fundamental natural history of infectious disease. Global cooperation is not a luxury; it is a biological necessity.”

On the other hand, Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., celebrated the move.

“We stand proud in our commitment to American sovereignty,” he said on X.

Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished multiple structures inside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound in East Jerusalem, a site Israel seized last year. Bulldozers entered the compound under heavy security and razed large buildings that previously housed dozens of UNRWA staff and were reportedly used to store humanitarian aid for the West Bank and Gaza. UNRWA had vacated the premises in early 2025 after Israel ordered the agency to halt operations and leave all its facilities.

UN response and legal claims:
UNRWA strongly condemned the demolitions, calling them an “unprecedented attack” on a UN agency. The organisation said Israeli forces forced out security guards before carrying out the demolition, arguing the action violated international law and the privileges and immunities afforded to United Nations property. UNRWA maintains that the compound remained UN premises despite Israel’s ban on its operations.

Israel’s justification:
Israel rejects UNRWA’s claims of immunity. The Israeli foreign ministry said the compound did not enjoy special legal protection and that its seizure and demolition were conducted in line with Israeli and international law. Israeli authorities have also cited unpaid municipal property taxes of 11 million shekels, arguing the Jerusalem municipality acted only after issuing repeated warnings and following due process.

Political and security context:
The demolition follows Israel’s October 2024 law banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting Israeli officials from engaging with the agency. Israel accuses UNRWA of systemic bias and alleges that some of its staff were members of Hamas and participated in the October 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis. While UNRWA has dismissed or disciplined some staff, it says Israel has not provided evidence for all accusations.

Status of East Jerusalem:
East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory under international law by the United Nations and most countries, while Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its sovereign capital. This legal divergence lies at the heart of the dispute, particularly over whether Israeli authorities have jurisdiction to demolish UN-linked facilities in the area.

Humanitarian implications:
UNRWA operates across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the wider Middle East, providing education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees. Former staff say the demolished buildings were part of the agency’s logistical infrastructure, raising concerns that the action could further disrupt humanitarian operations amid an already severe regional crisis.

Analysis:
The demolition of UNRWA facilities marks a significant escalation in Israel’s confrontation with the UN agency and reflects a broader effort to delegitimise its role in Palestinian affairs. Legally, the move deepens a long-running dispute over the status of UN property in occupied territory and tests the limits of international protections for humanitarian agencies. Politically, it reinforces Israel’s narrative that UNRWA is compromised, while strengthening UN and international criticism that Israel is undermining humanitarian access and international norms. In practical terms, the destruction of aid-related infrastructure risks further weakening relief efforts for Palestinians at a time when humanitarian needs are at historic highs, making the episode as consequential on the ground as it is symbolically charged.

With information from Reuters.

Claudia Winkleman’s theatrical flair and dry commentary has made her an important part of The Traitors since it launched in 2023, with the latest series set to conclude tonight

A man who was at university at the same time as Claudia Winkleman says one thing she tells people “isn’t true”. The Traitors presenter studied art history at the University of Cambridge.

During her time as a student Claudia says she would sleep on the floor after renting a sunbed for £40-a-month. She joked she “curled up like a mushroom” in order to fit the piece of kit into her student digs.

Former BBC 3 controller Stuart Murphy explains that Claudia’s reputation would precede her at Cambridge. Although he dismissed any notion that she wasn’t a “big noise” around the campus.

Speaking in the documentary, Claudia Winkleman: Behind the Fringe, he said: “I was at university the same time as Claudia and people knew of her. She was eccentric, funny, super smart.

“She was one of those people who would turn up to a party and everyone would know she was there because she held court, and then she would leave early. I think a lot of people were really intrigued by Claudia.

“I think her version of events is that she wasn’t a big noise around campus, that is simply not the case.”

Elsewhere Jake Brown, who netted the £94,600 jackpot on The Traitors with co-winner Leanne Quigley recently revealed he was “taken aback” with Claudia’s off-screen behavior.

Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag, he said: “I was taken aback by how normal she is. Claudia’s one of those celebrities who’s even better than she appears on TV.”

His fellow winner Leanne remarked: “Claudia’s the perfect host. She has a big heart and I think she wanted to check in on us, but she had to keep the persona.”

Claudia, 54, has become a popular face on The Traitors since its launch in 2022. Viewers have been left enamored with her theatrical flair and dry commentary.

Former Traitor Paul Gorton, whose dramatic departure paved the way for Harry Clark to win the series in 2024, also praised Claudia. Speaking to Heat, he said: “She’s a full-on stand-up comedian.”

He added: “Like, she is the funniest, driest person and an extraordinary woman. I’m so glad that she is getting her own chat show off the back of it – I still think there’s so much more that people haven’t seen from her.”

Paul, 37, believes Claudia showed her true colours during an encounter at the Royal Albert Hall last year. He recalled: “Claudia came over and said, ‘How are your kids? I love them,’ and you think, ‘Oh you’re invested in me. You’re not just a host and then you disappear.”

Despite The Traitors now attracting millions of viewers per episode, Claudia confesses she never anticipated such tremendous success. Speaking to Grazia magazine, she reflected: “We didn’t foresee this.

“We went to Scotland with the amazing people who make it and a pair of red fingerless gloves and gave it our best shot. I think people like it because the psychology is extraordinary – just watching people work out whether they’re being lied to. The dynamics feel addictive. I’m completely obsessed.”

The Traitors returns at 8.30pm on BBC One tonight (January 23).

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

Alliance Bloomfield 39, Alliance Ted K. Tajima 36

Animo Robinson 72, New Designs University Park 30

Animo Venice 89, Burton 40

Animo Watts 65, New Designs Watts 26

Bert Corona Charter 44, Lakeview Charter 32

Central City Value 76, Animo Bunche 37

Collins Family 48, East College Prep 46

Downtown Magnets 90, Annenberg 23

Hollywood 60, Northridge Academy 58

LA University 94, New West Charter 40

Orthopaedic 49, Aspire Ollin 28

Rise Kohyang 50, Stern 45

San Fernando 59, Panorama 54

Triumph Charter 102, CHAMPS 43

WISH Academy 71, Animo Pat Brown 53

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alpaugh 39, Coast Union 28

Alta Loma 32, Colony 30

Beaumont 45, Redlands 43

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 67, Paraclete 49

Channel Islands 47, Fillmore 42

Chino 90, Ontario 47

Chino Hills 69, Los Osos 67

Colton 57, Rim of the World 32

Compton Early College 49, Pacific Lutheran 47

CSDR 71, Anza Hamilton 25

Don Lugo 65, Chaffey 56

Eisenhower 67, Bloomington 47

Elsinore 89, West Valley 54

Excelsior Charter 84, ACE 36

Geffen Academy 52, New Roads 44

Glendale Adventist 64, Beacon Hill 55

Glenn 39, Edgewood 36

Godinez 70, Garden Grove 43

Highland Hall 43, Lighthouse Christian 21

Holy Martyrs Armenian 66, Buckley 46

Jurupa Hills 58, Grand Terrace 41

La Palma Kennedy 69, Placentia Valencia 63

Mesrobian 82, Southwestern Academy 29

Milken 68, AGBU 62

Montclair 66, Diamond Ranch 59

Nordhoff 46, Carpinteria 40

Ocean View 81, Westminster 36

Palm Desert 66, Shadow Hills 55

Palm Springs 52, Xavier Prep 22

Rancho Cucamonga 66, Upland 37

Rancho Mirage 79, La Quinta 34

Redlands East Valley 71, Citrus Valley 68

Riverside Notre Dame 61, Kaiser 59

San Jacinto Valley Academy 67, SJDLCS 20

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 50, Tustin 41

Santa Clarita Christian 73, Lancaster Baptist 45

Santa Rosa Academy 63, California Military Institute 46

Segerstrom 49, Santa Ana 38

Summit 80, Carter 57

Tahquitz 48, San Jacinto 36

Tarbut V’ Torah 77, Newport Christian 63

Temecula Prep 78, Nuview Bridge 26

Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian 61, Sequoyah School 47

Trinity Classical Academy 72, Desert Christian 61

Vistamar 83, CAMS 25

Weaver 51, Noli Indian 27

INTERSECTIONAL

Georgia-Cumberland Academy 52, Loma Linda Academy 30

San Fernando Valley Academy 80, Summit View 19

San Gabriel Academy 56, Greater Atlanta Adventist (GA) 18

San Gabriel Academy 75, Chisolm Trail Academy (TX) 47

Spencerville Adventist Academy (MD) 49, Loma Linda Academy 43

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Alliance Ted K. Tajima 32, Alliance Bloomfield 22

Animo Robinson 41, New Designs University Park 4

Animo Venice 34, Burton 12

Animo Watts 88, New Designs Watts 2

Annenberg 32, Downtown Magnets 12

Aspire Ollin 44, Orthopaedic 9

Central City Value 56, Animo Bunche 16

East College Prep 32, Collins Family 13

New West Charter 40, LA University 21

Northridge Academy 82, VAAS 11

San Fernando 63, Panorama 16

Stern 41, Rise Kohyang 17

Vaughn 34, Fulton 10

SOUTHERN SECTION

Adelanto 67, Granite Hills 14

Alemany 100, Marymount 40

Alpaugh 53, Coast Union 27

Beaumont 54, Redlands 36

Beckman 59, San Clemente 43

Bishop Diego 59, Coastal Christian 47

Bishop Montgomery 63, St. Anthony 48

Buena 49, Santa Barbara 18

Calvary Baptist 67, Bethel Christian 29

CAMS 43, Vistamar 42

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 46, Bishop Conaty-Loretto 8

Cate 56, Santa Barbara Providence 18

Chaffey 52, Don Lugo 40

Chino 68, Ontario 47

Chino Hills 54, Upland 26

Citrus Valley 41, Redlands East Valley 27

Colony 57, Alta Loma 32

Colton 36, Arroyo Valley 31

Corona Centennial 65, Moreno Valley 54

CSDR 64, Anza Hamilton 30

Elsinore 60, West Valley 18

El Toro 49, Mission Viejo 34

Fontana 67, Grand Terrace 35

Foothill Tech 42, Thacher 35

Gardena Serra 74, Ramona Convent 29

Harvard-Westlake 55, Marlborough 36

Highland 40, Littlerock 21

Holy Martyrs Armenian 46, ISLA 28

Jurupa Hills 47, Bloomington 23

Kaiser 41, Rim of the World 15

Knight 61, Palmdale 27

Laguna Beach 45, Capistrano Valley 27

Lakewood St. Joseph 54, St. Monica 45

Lancaster 46, Quartz Hill 41

La Quinta 68, Rancho Mirage 18

Los Alamitos 65, Corona del Mar 33

Marina 45, Fountain Valley 40

Mary Star of the Sea 58, San Gabriel Mission 16

Mater Dei 58, JSerra 48

Milken 45, AGBU 30

Montclair 35, Diamond Ranch 24

Newport Christian 28, Anaheim Discovery 20

New Roads 32, Geffen Academy 15

Notre Dame Academy 50, Flintridge Sacred Heart 27

NOVA Academy 55, First Baptist 9

Oakwood 55, Le Lycée 7

Pilibos 61, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 59

Rosary Academy 58, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 37

Samueli Academy 57, Legacy College Prep 9

San Dimas 52, South Hills 28

San Jacinto 50, Tahquitz 39

San Marcos 62, Oxnard 24

Santa Clarita Christian 61, Lancaster Baptist 44

Santa Margarita 78, Orange Lutheran 73

Shadow Hills 54, Palm Desert 39

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 74, Louisville 49

Sierra Canyon 93, Chaminade 35

South Hills Academy 23, Animo Leadership 15

Southlands Christian 66, Vista Meridian 0

Spring Valley Academy 46, Loma Linda Academy 32

St. Bernard 62, Pomona Catholic 8

St. Bonaventure 85, Santa Clara 12

St. Genevieve 52, Paraclete 38

St. Paul 55, Sacred Heart of LA 44

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 70, St. Mary’s Academy 43

Temecula Prep 66, Nuview Bridge 30

Trabuco Hills 60, Tesoro 57

Trinity Classical Academy 67, Desert Christian 32

Valley Christian Academy 46, Lompoc Cabrillo 38

Victor Valley 45, Barstow 30

Western Christian 49, Webb 8

Xavier Prep 41, Palm Springs 36

Yucaipa 68, Cajon 37

INTERSECTIONAL

Loma Linda Academy 37, Collegedale Academy (TN) 28

Redlands Adventist Academy 51, Pine Hills Adventist 23

The hidden gem village features a medieval castle with ghost tours and a rare herd of wild cattle

Nestled amidst the expansive fields of the Northumberland countryside lies a charming little village with a fascinating history and a storybook castle.

Chillingham has carved out a reputation for itself due to two unique features – its historic castle and its distinctive cattle. The village boasts what is believed to be the UK’s most haunted castle, Chillingham Castle, which traces its roots back to the 12th century as it was fully fortified in 1344.

The renowned estate has remained within the same family lineage since its inception and continues to be private property, attracting visitors keen to experience its alleged hauntings. For those daring enough to venture inside, the Torture Chamber and nocturnal Ghost Tours are bound to leave you with some hair-raising memories.

It’s thought to have had over 100 spirits spotted within its grounds, testament to its rich history.

Documented paranormal activity includes hearing strange voices, footsteps and even sightings of moving objects, so much so that keen ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts choose to spend the night or conduct their own ghost-hunting within the castle.

While it is free to explore the grounds, Chillingham Castle provides travellers with the opportunity to stay in an authentic mediaeval fortress. It offers a selection of courtyard apartments, a stay in the tower and even a night in the old coaching rooms.

Recent guests have raved about their visits on TripAdvisor.

One visitor wrote: “Our stay at Chillingham Castle was absolutely incredible from start to finish. The castle itself is breathtaking, steeped in history, and beautifully preserved, and the ghost tour was a genuine highlight-engaging, atmospheric, and wonderfully done.”

Another guest added: “We stayed at the castle for 2 nights in the dairy apartment, as we were doing a paranormal investigation on the Friday.

“The castle is magnificent. The staff are super friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. It was like stepping back in time. Although the spirits weren’t interacting as much as we’d like, the energy and atmosphere was certainly haunting.”

Alongside Chillingham Castle stands the equally renowned Chillingham Cattle, a wild herd that has roamed the village following centuries of strict inbreeding.

The herd originated when approximately 90 animals were enclosed during the Middle Ages and have continued breeding within these grounds ever since.

As of 2022, the herd is believed to comprise 138 animals, split evenly between males and females. What makes them extraordinary is their completely untouched nature – left to breed, live and die in their natural habitat without human intervention, rendering them exceptionally rare.

The animals are widely regarded as a ‘scientific marvel’, since inbreeding throughout history typically leads to extinction, yet they continue to thrive in the very same grounds of Chillingham Park.

What sets them apart is their behaviour, as it’s entirely natural, providing us with additional insight into the lives of animals that may have preceded them. We can also gain knowledge about the spontaneous behaviours of animals not influenced by humans.

Israel has spent more than two years attacking Gaza in its genocidal war on the Palestinian enclave. It has destroyed the majority of its housing and infrastructure, and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, leaving the rest of Gaza’s population facing a harsh winter with inadequate food, medicine, and shelter.

And yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes committed in Gaza – this week joined US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, established to oversee the reconstruction and governance of Gaza.

It opens up the question of what Netanyahu – and Israel – actually want from the Palestinian territory, and whether they want the territory to rebuild or just want a continuation of the status quo.

Ahead of Netanyahu lies a difficult journey, observers say. With Israeli elections looming later this year, he must appear to the world and the Israeli public as working with US ambitions for Gaza.

But he also needs to maintain his governing coalition, which relies in part on elements, such as his Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who are not just opposed to the reconstruction of Gaza, but also opposed to the ceasefire in a territory that he and his allies – as religious Zionists – regard themselves as divinely entitled to settle upon.

So far, things do not seem to be going entirely Netanyahu’s way. He has failed to delay the transition to the second phase of Trump’s three-phase ceasefire plan, despite Hamas’s refusal to disarm. Similarly, despite his objections, Gaza’s Rafah crossing is due to open in both directions, allowing people in and out of the enclave, next week. Lastly, his protestations against Turkiye and Qatar joining the Board of Peace, and potentially deploying forces to Gaza as part of a proposed International Stabilisation Force, also appear to have been overruled by the US.

Settlement or security

At home, Netanyahu’s cabinet remains divided on Gaza. On Monday, Smotrich not only slammed US proposals as “bad for Israel”, but on Monday, called for the US base in southern Israel responsible for overseeing the ceasefire to be dismantled. Meanwhile, others in the Israeli parliament have primarily focused on the upcoming elections, aiming only to galvanise their political base, regardless of ideology.

Netanyahu continues to insist that Hamas will be disarmed, and the Israeli military is working on razing territory all along the border with Gaza, creating a buffer zone deep into the coastal enclave.

Even if Hamas does not completely lose all its weapons, it has been weakened, and pushing Palestinians further away from the Israeli border allows the Israeli government to project the image of security for its population.

The Israeli public, exhausted after more than two years of war, largely relegates the consequences of Israel’s actions to the back pages of national media.

“The public is deeply divided on Gaza and the Board of Peace,” said American-Israeli political consultant and pollster Dahlia Scheindlin. “Though there’s a minority bloc favouring resettling Gaza, most of Israeli society is splintered. People typically view Gaza with a mixture of fear and a need for security, driven entirely by the events of October 2023. They want Israel to remain in Gaza in some form and don’t trust outsiders to handle it. At the same time, there’s hope that US involvement could achieve what two years of war couldn’t.”

“However, nearly everyone starts from the same point: Anything is better than going back to war,” Scheindlin said.

“They don’t have a strategy, and everything is chaos,” peace campaigner Gershon Baskin said, referring to Israel’s leaders. “They’re in election mode and only speaking to their base. I went to the Knesset yesterday. It’s like watching lunatics in a house of madness. It’s a disaster.”

For much of the public, Palestinians remain invisible. “They don’t exist. Israel has probably killed more than 100,000, but the majority of Israelis don’t know or care what’s going on the other side of the border. We even dispute there’s a border; it’s just ours,” Baskin said. “We don’t even see it on TV. All they show are old clips on loop. You can find images of Gaza on social media, but you have to go looking for it.

“Most Israelis don’t.”

Divided politics

Many Israeli leaders agree on one thing – that there will not be a Palestinian state.

How to reach that goal, or the details that accompany it and how Gaza fits into it all, are open to interpretation.

Irrespective of the outcome of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire process, Israel will remain alongside a territory, Gaza, against whose population it is accused of genocide. Currently, according to analysts within Israel, there appears to be no plan for the coexistence that geography dictates, only the unspoken suspicion that outside powers, in this case the US, are not really capable of determining how best to achieve it.

Even Israel’s commitment to US plans is open to question, with Netanyahu – when safely outside of Trump and his team’s earshot – framing the ceasefire’s second phase as a “declarative move”, rather than the definite sign of progress described by US envoy Steve Witkoff.

“The genocide hasn’t stopped. It’s continuing; it’s just moved from active to passive,” said Israeli lawmaker Ofer Cassif. “Israel is not bombing Gaza as before, but now it is leaving the people there to freeze and starve. This isn’t happening on its own. This is government policy.”

Numerous analysts, including political economist Shir Hever, questioned Israeli leaders’ capacity for long-term planning.

Decisions, such as the attacks on Iran and Qatar, Hever said, were driven as much by domestic politics as overarching strategy. The Iran attack in June, for instance, coincided with a pending vote of no confidence in the government, while the Qatar strike in September may have been an attempt to refocus public attention away from Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, he told Al Jazeera.

“There is no plan. Long-term planning is not how Israeli governments work,” Hever told Al Jazeera. “Smotrich and others have a long-term plan – they want to settle Gaza and expel Palestinians – but in real politics, there is no plan. Everything is short-term.”

Uncertain future

“I’m more optimistic than I have been for a long time,” Baskin, whose mediation between Israel and the PLO in the ’90s proved pivotal during the Oslo Accords, “There’s a new factor in play that hasn’t been there before: a US president that the Israeli government can’t say no to,” he continued, referring to the US decision to override Israeli objections against moving into phase two before Hamas’s disarmament, the inclusion of Qatar and Turkiye in the Board of Peace and the decision to open the Rafah crossing.

Cassif was less hopeful. “I don’t have any faith in this Board of Peace,” he said, “I think it’s now government policy to keep frustrating and delaying plans to form a stabilisation force; to just let people die while that happens.

“People accuse me of saying these things for politically cynical reasons, but of course, that’s not true,” he said, “I wish I didn’t have to say them at all.”

“It’s painful,” he continued, “And it’s painful to me not just as a humanist and a socialist, but as a Jew.”

South Africa has launched an inquiry into Iran’s participation in joint naval drills with BRICS nations last week, apparently against the orders of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

BRICS is a group of 10 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The acronym BRICS represents the initial letters of the founding members, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The group, formed in 2006, initially focused on trade, but has since expanded its mandate to include security and cultural exchanges.

It concluded a week of joint naval drills in South African waters on January 16. The drills have caused controversy in the country and drawn the ire of the United States.

Although South Africa regularly holds drills with Russia and China, the latest maritime training comes amid heightened tensions between the US and many of the group’s members, particularly Iran, which until last week was grappling with mass protests at home that turned deadly.

Pretoria said the exercise, named Will for Peace 2026, was essential for ensuring maritime safety and international cooperation. The training “brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for … joint maritime safety operations [and] interoperability drills”, a statement from the South African military noted before the exercises.

However, US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has previously accused BRICS of being “anti-American” and has threatened its members with tariffs, has strongly criticised the naval exercises.

Here’s what we know about the exercises and why they were controversial:

What were the drills for?

South Africa hosted the BRICS naval exercise, which included warships from participating countries, on January 9-16.

China led the training, which took place near the southwestern coastal city of Simon’s Town, which is home to a major South African naval base.

Exercises in rescue and maritime strike operations as well as technical exchanges were planned, according to China’s Ministry of National Defense. All BRICS countries were invited.

Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint task force commander, said at the opening ceremony that the operation was not just a military exercise but a statement of intent by BRICS countries to forge closer alliances with each other.

“It is a demonstration of our collective resolve to work together,” Thamaha said. “In an increasingly complex maritime environment, cooperation such as this is not an option. It is essential.”

The purpose, he said, was to “ensure the safety of shipping lanes and maritime economic activities”.

South African Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa told journalists that the drills had been planned before the current tensions between some BRICS members and the US.

While some BRICS countries may face issues with Washington, Holomisa clarified that they “are not our enemies”.

Who participated and how?

China and Iran deployed destroyer warships to South Africa, while Russia and the United Arab Emirates sent corvettes, traditionally the smallest warships.

South Africa, the host country, dispatched a frigate.

Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil joined the exercises as observers.

India, the current chair of the group, chose not to participate and distanced itself from the war games.

“We clarify that the exercise in question was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “It was not a regular or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it. India has not participated in previous such activities.”

Why is South Africa facing US backlash over the drills?

The US is angry that South Africa allowed Iran to participate in the drills at a time when Tehran was accused of launching a violent crackdown on antigovernment protests that had spread across the country.

The protests broke out in late December, when shopkeepers in Tehran closed up their businesses and demonstrated against inflation and the falling value of the rial. These protests swelled into a broader challenge to Iran’s rulers, as thousands of people took to the streets nationwide to demonstrate over a few weeks.

Security forces in some areas cracked down on the crowds, resulting in the deaths of “several thousands”, according to a statement on Saturday by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While activists said thousands of protesters were killed, the Iranian government said this was an exaggeration and claimed police officers and security service members formed a significant chunk of those who were killed.

The Iranian authorities also claimed the US and Israel had armed and funded “terrorists” to inflame the protests. They said agents affiliated with foreign powers, and not state forces, were responsible for the deaths of civilians, including protesters.

The mass uprising is one of the most disruptive the country has witnessed since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been arrested.

Before the BRICS drills, the US warned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that Iran’s participation would reflect badly on his country, according to a report by the Daily Maverick, a South African newspaper.

Ramaphosa subsequently ordered Iran to withdraw from the exercises on January 9, the paper reported.

However, three Iranian vessels that had already been deployed to South Africa continued to participate.

In a statement on January 15, the US embassy in South Africa accused the South African military of defying orders from its own government and said it was “cozying up to Iran”.

“It is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves,” the statement read.

“South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cozying up to Iran.”

South African political analyst Reneva Fourie said Washington was merely fishing for reasons to criticise South Africa for bringing a genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice for its war in Gaza.

“The US is looking for an entry point,” she said.

The US “is facing increased infringement on freedom of expression and association, democracy and human rights as well as increased militarisation. The US should focus on its own dire state instead of meddling in the affairs of others.”

Tensions over the military drills are only the latest point of contention between the US and Iran.

During the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in 2025, Washington sided with Israel, and on June 22, the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran. Initial assessments from US officials noted that all three were severely damaged. Iran retaliated by bombing a military base in Qatar where US troops are positioned, in what was largely seen as a face-saving exercise.

Which other BRICS members have tensions with the US?

Nearly all members of BRICS have problems with the current US government.

Besides the dispute over Iran joining the naval drills, South Africa is also caught up in a battle of narratives with the Trump administration, which alleges, without any evidence, that the country’s minority white population is being subjected to a “genocide“. In 2025, Trump established a refugee programme for white Afrikaners wishing to “flee” to the US.

The US has also condemned South Africa’s decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice in December 2023.

The US currently levies tariffs on South African exports of up to 40 percent as a result.

China has been locked in a tense trade war with the US for more than a year. After slapping each other with tariffs exceeding 100 percent early last year, these were suspended pending trade talks. But China then restricted exports of its rare earth metals, which are required for technology crucial for defence, and Trump again threatened more tariffs before the two sides reached an agreement in late October, under which China agreed to “pause” restrictions on the export of some metals.

Russia is also on Washington’s radar because of its war in Ukraine.

Just three days before the drills began, the US seized a Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic due to its sanctions on both countries.

On January 3, the US military abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from the capital, Caracas. Both now face drugs and weapons charges in a New York federal court. In September, the US had begun a campaign of air strikes on Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean, claiming they were trafficking drugs to the US, but providing no evidence.

India has been hit with 50 percent tariffs on its exports to the US, partly as punishment for continuing to buy Russian oil.

This month, the US withdrew from the India-led International Solar Alliance, although this withdrawal was part of a broader move to pull the US out of several international bodies.

Harsh V Pant, a geopolitical analyst at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation think tank, told Al Jazeera that, for India, keeping out of the naval drills was “about balancing ties with the US”.

Pant added that in India’s opinion, “war games” were never part of the BRICS mandate.

While BRICS was founded as an economic bloc, it has widened its mandate to include security.

What has the response been in South Africa?

Ramaphosa’s government has also faced some backlash over the drills at home.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a former opposition party that is now part of the governing coalition and largely represents the interests of the white minority, blamed Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola for failing to hold the Department of Defence to account.

Lamola is from the African National Congress (ANC) party, which, until 2024, governed South Africa alone.

“By allowing the Department of Defence to proceed unchecked in these military exercises, Minister Lamola has effectively outsourced South Africa’s foreign policy to the whims of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), exposing the country to serious diplomatic and economic risk,” the DA said in a statement two days after the exercises started.

“South Africa is now perceived not as a principled non-aligned state, but as a willing host for military cooperation with authoritarian regimes.”

What is the South African government saying now?

South African officials have shifted from initially justifying the drills to distancing themselves from the Iran debacle.

Despite initial statements from officials that the drills would go ahead as planned, Ramaphosa eventually appeared to bow to US pressure and, on January 9, ordered that Iran be excluded, local media reported.

Those instructions do not seem to have been followed by the South African Defence Department or the military, however.

In a statement on January 16, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga’s office said Ramaphosa’s instructions had been “clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and adhered to as such”.

The statement went on to say that the minister had established an inquiry board “to look into the circumstances surrounding the allegations and establish whether the instruction of the President may have been misrepresented and/or ignored as issued to all”.

A report on the investigation is expected on Friday.

This is not the first time South Africa has been criticised for its military relations with Iran.

In August, its military chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, prompted anger from the DA when he embarked on a trip to Tehran and affirmed that South Africa and Iran had “common goals”.

His statement came just weeks after the Iran-Israel war. He was also reportedly critical of Israel while in Tehran.

Some ANC critics called for Maphwanya’s firing, but he has remained in office.

There may still be life in the old dog. So says Phil Collins, after discussing some of the health challenges he has faced and taking a stroll down memory lane through his years with Genesis and as a solo performer.

Yes, he has a 24-hour live-in nurse, he says in a new interview, to make sure he takes his medicines on time. But he also has some things he could see himself working on in the recording studio in the future. He doesn’t seem frail or fragile, not for a 74-year-old.

As they say in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” — and in Collins’ 2016 memoir and on his 2017-2019 tour — he’s not dead yet.

The sit-down chat with Zoe Ball, which will be broadcast to celebrate Collins’ 75th birthday after it concludes a five-episode podcast series about his life and times, isn’t nearly as dire as many headlines would have it. The drummer-singer-producer called managing his health an “ongoing thing.”

“I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” he admits, because “everything that could go wrong with me did go wrong.”

“You know, I mean, I got COVID in hospital, my kidneys started to back up, you know, everything that could, all seemed to sort of converge at the same time. And I had five operations on my knee.”

He says everything just caught up with him at once, and he spent months hospitalized.

The kidney issues might have had something to do with the amount of alcohol he drank, he says. “I’d probably been drinking too much,” but he maintains that he was never drunk and was actually the type to stop drinking as soon as the evening began, rather than the other way around. Collins recently reached two years without a drink — something he was apprised of by his assistant, who marked the occasion by bringing him a “2” balloon.

“Now I’ve got a knee that works and I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.”

As for touring, he says he would “love to do it again.”

When the band was out on tour in recent years, Collins says, they all “enjoyed ourselves every night and, you know, the audience sang along with pretty much everything, especially on the last couple of tours. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. And I sometimes, I feel like, you know, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if’ — and I’m sure I could, certainly, physically I could.

“I just don’t know if I wanna go as far as to launch that boat, you know? ‘Cause once you launch it, it’s difficult to unlaunch it.”

He doesn’t think he could play a few shows in England and be done with it. Then it would be South America and Australia and and and and, he says.

“The things that are ahead for me would be — apart from just being back to being totally mobile and healthy — is sort of maybe [to go into a recording studio] and have a fiddle about and see if there’s more music … you’ve got to start doing it to see if you can do it. Otherwise, you don’t do it. So that is something on my horizon.”

So there you have it, he does see new things on the horizon.

“I’ve got some things that are half-formed or were never finished,” Collins says, “and a couple of things that were finished, which I like, so you know — maybe life in the old dog. Yeah. You’ll see.”

Part five of the “Eras: Phil Collins” podcast series comes out on Jan. 26, and the TV special “Phil Collins: Eras — In Conversation” will be broadcast Jan. 31 on BBC Two at a time still to be determined. Collins turns 75 on Jan. 30.

The BoJ held off on hiking its headline rate on Friday as expected, following signs of panic in Japan’s bond market this week.

Just last month, the Japanese central bank raised its key interest rate to 0.75%, a 30-year high, in a bid to normalise fiscal policy after a long era of near-zero or negative rates.

In its latest update, the BoJ also lifted its GDP growth expectations for 2025 to 0.9% and to 1% for this fiscal year. Both figures represent an increase from the 0.7% forecasted previously.

The decision to hold allows the Japanese economy to digest the December hike but it does not fully address the fear that spooked global markets this week, namely surrounding Japan’s national debt and political instability.

This Tuesday, Japanese bonds suffered a historic rout, with the yield on the 40-year note surpassing the 4% mark for the first time since 2007. The 30-year bond yield also rose almost 30 basis points during the session, to roughly 3.9%, the highest level on record.

The catalyst for the sell-off was Prime Minister Takaichi’s announcement on Monday that snap elections will be held on 8 February, and the pledge to suspend the 8% consumption tax on food for two years, in an attempt to woo voters.

The annual revenue from the tax is roughly ¥5tr (€31.5bn), and with markets already concerned about Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio hovering near 240%, the highest in the developed world, the prospect of an unfunded tax cut has become controversial.

Prime Minister Takaichi also unveiled a spending package of roughly ¥21.5tr (€115bn), further fuelling criticism of fiscal recklessness.

These domestic policy decisions have drawn uncomfortable comparisons to Liz Truss’s disastrous “mini-budget” of unfunded tax cuts in the UK, back in 2022.

Politics vs. Economics

Sanae Takaichi took office in October 2025 becoming Japan’s first female prime minister, following the resignation of her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, after a series of political setbacks.

Takaichi’s party, the ruling right-wing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), lost its majority in the upper house. The long-standing coalition with the centrist party, Komeito, which withdrew over a political funds scandal, collapsed.

Nonetheless, the LDP formed a new coalition with the centre-right Japan Innovation Party (JIP), and under Takaichi’s leadership, it has held a slim majority and enjoyed high approval ratings, particularly among young voters.

The ruling coalition now aims to leverage Prime Minister Takaichi’s popularity in the snap elections to lock in a fresh mandate.

During her speech this Monday, Takaichi proclaimed: “I am putting my position as prime minister on the line. I want the people themselves to decide whether they are willing to entrust Takaichi Sanae with the task of running our nation.”

Takaichi’s opponents merged at the start of this year, forming the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), and are trying to capitalise on voter anger over the cost of living.

The proposed food tax cut was Takaichi’s ace in the hole, a direct transfer to households struggling with inflation. Instead, it has so-far backfired, driving up mortgage rates and corporate borrowing costs via the bonds.

The “Abenomics” ideology, the loose fiscal and monetary policy championed by Takaichi’s mentor, the late Shinzo Abe, supports the narrative that an inflationary spike may be brewing. The CPI rate has already hovered above the central bank’s 2% target for four years.

Even so, volatility seemed to have somewhat subsided on Thursday as government officials talked down the panic, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara insisting the administration is “keeping a close eye” on bond movements.

However, the yield on the 10-year government bond is still at its highest level since 1999, at around 2.25%.

Impact on global markets

Fears of a ballooning deficit, just as the BoJ is tapering its decades-long bond-buying programme, have severe implications for global markets.

For many years, investors worldwide have enjoyed the so-called “yen carry trade”. This is a strategy of borrowing money in Japanese yen, which typically has very low interest rates, to invest in assets denominated in currencies with higher returns, like US dollars.

Investors profit from the difference, or the “spread”, between the low interest they pay on the loan and the high interest they earn on the investment.

Conversely, if the Japanese yen suddenly strengthens or the BoJ raises interest rates, the cost of repaying the loan spikes, often forcing investors to panic-sell their assets to cover their debts.

The rout that Japanese bonds experienced on Tuesday also forced a violent repricing in other markets throughout the following days, causing US Treasury yields to jump.

The US is particularly affected as Japan is the largest foreign holder of their debt, with over $1tr (€850bn) in US Treasuries.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos this Wednesday, US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated: “It’s very difficult to disaggregate the market reaction from what’s going on endogenously in Japan.”

Secretary Bessent also completely dismissed the idea that the “Greenland crisis” was responsible for any volatility in US markets, emphasising that the primary pressure remains the fiscal shift currently unfolding in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Takaichi’s policies involve massive government spending to stimulate economic growth which fans inflationary risks. This could ultimately mean further hikes from the BoJ and more unwinding of the yen carry trade.

“It might be innocent, but I don’t like that,” former Villa defender Joleon Lescott said on TNT Sports.

“Regardless of what it was for, if it was the other way around and the player refused to shake his manager’s hand, there would be uproar, and his mentality and professionalism would be questioned.

“I’m sure it’s more innocent than it looks, but I don’t like the look of it.”

Emery, who has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager, was managing his 100th game in the competition and said he is “dreaming” of a fifth title.

Winning tip: Lake District walks helped me to switch off

I did a circuit of the Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District on a grey, drizzly weekday in October and it quietly rewired my head. I’d been running on always-on mode, and that climb forces you to slow down and breathe properly. From the Coppermines valley up to the ridge, then along the rocky summit and back via Goat’s Water, it’s rugged without being showy. The weather kept the crowds away, and the low cloud made the tarn feel like a secret. I came home muddy, soaked and weirdly calm, and started making space for long walks again.
Brandon Kindell

I binned the car after cycling in Italy

A couple of years ago, after turning 60 and retiring, I invested in a simple but nice bicycle, and participated in a “silver Giro d’Italia”, organised by a cycling club in Milan. I met like-minded people from all over Europe and we followed our own mini tour – starting from Milan’s cathedral down to Pisa, ending with a route along the coast and around the famous tower. We stopped at wonderful trattorias along the way for pasta-fuelled lunches and slept in simple hotels. The experience motivated me to sell my car and use my bike to get around – it’s been a brilliant move. I am fitter and better off. I’ve done a favour to myself and the environment.
Bill

Volunteering raised my horizons

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) ran very popular working holidays doing environmental conservation in the 1980s – hedge-laying, walling, scrub-bashing in the UK and exciting wildlife adventures such as tracking wolves in Slovakia. Volunteers ranged from teenagers to pensioners, some employed and some signing on every week. My first experience was building a footbridge and hanging some farm gates in a remote part of Devon. We slept on the floor of the local village hall, cooked our own meals and had a shower in a sports centre midweek. Teamwork and friendship blossomed over the week and I exceeded my wildest expectations of what could be achieved with largely unskilled honest labour. BTCV changed its name to the Community Volunteers in 2012 and I continue to volunteer with a local group that is a member of TCV’s community network, still getting scratched and sore but revelling in the company and continually amazed by what gets done.
Martin

Seasick captain gave me a North Sea adventure

Crossing the North Sea when I was 16 in 1962, I crewed on a small wooden yacht sailing overnight from Belgium to the Suffolk coast. The wind increased and the waves got higher. The skipper stayed below with severe sea sickness until dawn. The seas got bigger and then I was looking up at them breaking over me while I steered alone by the compass. I tied myself in the open cockpit with two ropes. At last there ahead was the Southwold lighthouse flashing a welcome beam. My adventure had included fear and uncertainty. But learning some tenacity and perseverance was a life-changing experience.
David Innes-Wilkin

Alpine yoga and hikes in Austria

Desperate for an exciting winter break we ended up choosing MoaAlm near Kals am Großglockner in Austria. Beyond MoaAlm’s superb vegan food we discovered authentic Austrian warmth as locals greeted us in their villages. Sophie’s yoga classes transformed our practice, especially sun salutations as dawn light flooded the mountain-view studio. I had one of the best mountain hikes of my life climbing to the snowfields and culminating in views across to the distant Dolomites. For my wife, it was a chance to rediscover her love of skiing with one on one tuition. The holiday was with Weareactive.
Adam

Hospitality and kindness in Florence

The Florentine night sky exploded with noise and colour, as I celebrated the San Giovanni festival in June with hundreds of excited locals. After a bereavement, I booked a three-week Italian language course through Apple Language Courses, opting to stay with a local host family. During that time, I immersed myself in learning the enchanting language, spending my free time admiring Botticellis at the Uffizi, daydreaming by the River Arno with its terracotta reflections, consuming my body weight in gelati and experiencing some sorely needed Florentine hospitality and kindness. I returned from my Italian adventure with my heart soothed and something that money cannot buy … hope.
Alison N

Children’s joy on a road trip in France

Our first road trip as a family ignited a love of France and travel in our sons. A drive to the Loire valley, via an exciting ferry crossing, and a wildflower meadow in which to eat our picnic and stretch our legs. Then there was the wonder of our “tiny” house (a mobile home on a campsite). There was daily swimming, endless seafood and pain au chocolat. We planned and executed it on an absolute shoestring but realising that the smaller parts of travel, which as adults we take for granted, can be awe-inspiring for children was our biggest and most valuable lesson.
Clare

Scandinavia with my daughter

I travelled to Scandinavia with my adult daughter on a backpacking trip and came home changed. In Stockholm the Abba Experience turned singing badly into pure joy. In Gothenburg we slowed down and did some vintage shopping, enjoyed the green spaces and had some long cafe stops, which created space for real conversation. In Copenhagen we walked everywhere – from the lights of Tivoli Gardens to the cool Meat-Packing district, the city rewards curiosity. Travelling with my daughter stripped away old roles and reminded me the best journeys aren’t just defined by where you go, but by who you travel with. Ask someone you love to come with you; it will make your trip unforgettable.
Lindsay Partridge

Serenity in Croatia

My sailing holiday in Croatia was truly serene, with breathtaking scenery at every turn. From crystal-clear waters to dramatic coastlines, every island felt beautiful in its own way. Exploring the islands revealed an incredible diversity of landscapes and atmospheres. The cities of Split and Dubrovnik were especially memorable, rich with history, charm and timeless beauty. Wandering their ancient streets and coastal views made the experience unforgettable and deeply inspiring.
Debra

Backpacking in Colombia taught me to improvise

Sometimes it’s things going wrong that change you most. I went backpacking through Latin America at 26, organised and needing everything to go to plan. In Mocoa, where the Colombian Amazon tangles with the Andes, thick jungle clings to steep green mountains, with monkeys calling from the canopy. I did not speak Spanish, had no phone signal and did not bring enough cash for the bus, but the kindness of strangers got me where I needed to be. I learned you don’t need to plan everything, and I sleep much better for it.
Sarah

Jan. 22 (UPI) — President Donald Trump late Thursday announced he withdrew Canada’s invitation to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace, as relations between the longtime allies continue to deteriorate during his second term.

“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time,” Trump said in a statement posted to his Truth Social media platform.

The note was addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Trump formally launched the Board of Peace initiative earlier Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More than 50 world leaders reportedly received invitations, with about 25 joining the board, though additional countries are expected to follow.

The board was initially conceived to aid in the peace process in Gaza, though questions over whether it has larger ambitions have been raised by the absence of mention of the Palestinian enclave in its charter. Controversy also swirls over those who have been invited to join, including President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Tensions between Trump and Carney spiked during Davos, beginning with Carney giving a 16-minute special address that attracted international attention for emphasizing that the era of a rules-based international order was coming to an end and was being replaced by a world of “great power rivalry” where “the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”

Carney said that Canada was among the first nations to “hear the wake-up call” that the old world was over and began to shift its strategic posture, and called on middle powers to come together, “because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”

Trump, speaking at Davos on Wednesday, hit back at Carney, accusing him of being ungrateful.

“They should be grateful to U.S., Canada. Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said.

“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Carney then responded in a speech on Thursday.

“Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” he said.

“We choose to build a bright future worthy of the ground on which we stand. We choose Canada.”

Trump issued his statement hours later.

Canada and the United States have seen their relationship sour amid the second Trump administration.

Trump’s threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state and his imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods, which ignited a trade war, prompted Carney to foster relations with Europe and other nations while distancing itself from the United States.

Carney has previously said that Trump’s stance toward Ottawa is a “betrayal” and his tariffs a “direct attack” on Canada, and has repeatedly signaled that he will seek to lessen Canada’s dependency on Washington.

Canada had indicated a willingness to join, but said it would not pay the $1 billion Trump is requesting as a fee.

While many so-called middle powers have joined the board, notable U.S. allies and Western nations, including France, Britain and Germany, have either declined to join or are uncommitted.

Israel is no longer concealing its intention to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland, as it now announces this plan more openly than ever before through official rhetoric at the highest levels, said Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in a report issued today.

Through actions on the ground and institutional measures designed to reframe the crime as “voluntary migration”, explained Euro-Med Monitor, Israel has attempted to implement its displacement campaign by exploiting the international community’s near-total silence, which has enabled the continuation of the crime and Israeli impunity despite the unprecedented nature of humanity’s first livestreamed genocide.

“Israel is now attempting to carry out the final phase of its crime, and its original goal: the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine, specifically from the Gaza Strip. For a year and a half, Israel has carried out acts of genocide, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of people, erasing entire cities, dismantling the Strip’s infrastructure, and systematically displacing its population within the enclave. These actions aim to eliminate the Palestinian people as a community and as a collective presence.”

The current plans for forced displacement, said the Geneva-based rights group, are a direct extension of Israel’s long-standing, settler-colonial project, aimed at erasing Palestinian existence and seizing land. What distinguishes this stage, it added, is its unprecedented scale and brutality.

“Israel is targeting over two million people who have endured a full-scale genocide and have been stripped of even the most basic human rights, under coercive, inhumane conditions that make living any sort of a normal life impossible. Israel’s deliberate objective is to pressure Palestinians into leaving by making it their only means of survival.”

Having succeeded in revealing the weak principles of international law, such as protections for civilians based on their perceived racial superiority or lack thereof, Israel is now reshaping the narrative once again.

READ: Gaza reaches WHO’s most critical malnutrition level amid Israeli blockade

“Armed with overwhelming force and emboldened by the international community’s abandonment of legal and moral responsibilities, Israel seeks to portray the mass expulsion of Palestinians as ‘voluntary migration’,” said the group. “This is a blatant attempt to rebrand ethnic cleansing and forced displacement using dishonest language — like ‘humanitarian considerations’ and ‘individual choice’ — and is a direct contradiction of legal facts and the reality on the ground.”

Euro-Med Monitor emphasised that forced displacement is a standalone crime under international law, because it involves the removal of individuals from areas where they legally reside, using force, threats, or other forms of coercion, without valid legal justification.

“Coercion, in the context of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, goes beyond military force. It includes the creation of unbearable conditions that render remaining in one’s home practically impossible or life-threatening.” A coercive environment includes fear of violence, persecution, arrest, intimidation, starvation or other forms of hardship that strip individuals of free will and force them to flee.

“Israel has already committed the crime of forced displacement against Gaza’s population, having driven them into internal displacement without legal grounds and in conditions that violate international legal exceptions, which only permit evacuation temporarily and under imperative military necessity, while ensuring safe areas with minimum standards of human dignity,” said Lima Bustami, Director of Euro-Med Monitor’s Legal Department.

“None of these standards have been met. In fact, Israel has used this widespread and repeated pattern of displacement as a tool of genocide, aimed at destroying and subjecting the population to deadly living conditions.”

Bustami added that although the legal elements of the crime are already fulfilled, Israel is further escalating it to a more lethal level against the Palestinian people, manifesting its settler-colonial vision of expulsion and replacement. “Now it is attempting to market the second phase of forced displacement — beyond Gaza’s borders — as ‘voluntary migration’: a transparent deception that only a complicit international community — one that chooses silence over accountability — would accept.”

Today, the people of the Gaza Strip endure catastrophic conditions that are unprecedented in recent history, said Euro-Med Monitor. “Israel has obliterated all forms of normal life; there is no electricity or infrastructure, and there are no homes, no essential services, no functioning healthcare or education systems, and no clean water services.”

Indeed, the group’s report notes that around 2.3 million Palestinians are confined to less than 34 per cent of the Strip’s 365 square kilometres. Approximately 66 per cent of the territory has been turned into so-called “buffer zones”, or areas that are completely off-limits to Palestinians and/or that have been forcibly depopulated through Israeli bombings and displacement orders. “Most of the population is now living in tattered tents amid the spread of famine, disease and epidemics and an accumulation of waste, conditions symptomatic of the near-complete collapse of the humanitarian system.”

Moreover, Israel continues to systematically block the entry of food, medicine and fuel; destroy all remaining means of survival; and obstruct any efforts aimed at reconstruction or restoring even the minimum conditions for a healthy life.

“These conditions in place are not the result of a natural disaster,” the Euro-Med report says pointedly. “They have been deliberately engineered by Israel as a coercive tool to pressure the population into leaving the Gaza Strip. The absence of any genuine, voluntary alternative for Palestinians in the enclave renders this situation a textbook case of forcible transfer, as defined under international law and affirmed by relevant jurisprudence.”

READ: Israel advocate says, ‘I’m OK with as many dead kids as it takes’

According to Bustami, “While population transfers may be permitted in certain humanitarian contexts under international law, any such justification collapses if the humanitarian crisis is the direct consequence of unlawful acts committed by the same party enforcing the transfer. It is impermissible to use forced displacement as a response to a disaster one has created, a principle clearly upheld by international tribunals, particularly the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.”

Framing this imposed reality as a “voluntary” migration and an option not only constitutes a gross distortion of truth, said Euro-Med Monitor, but also undermines the legal foundations of the international system, erodes the principle of accountability, and transforms impunity from a failure of justice into a deliberate mechanism for perpetuating grave crimes and entrenching the outcomes of such crimes.

“Repeated public statements from the highest levels of Israel’s political and security leadership have escalated in intensity over the past year and a half, and expose a clear, coordinated intent to displace the population of the Gaza Strip. In a blatant bid to enforce a demographic transformation serving Israel’s colonial-settler agenda, senior Israeli officials — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — have publicly called for the expulsion of Palestinians from the Strip and for the settlement of Jewish Israelis in their place.”

Netanyahu expressed full support in February 2025 for US President Donald Trump’s plan to resettle Palestinians outside of the Gaza Strip, describing it as “the only viable solution for enabling a different future” for the region. Likewise, Smotrich announced in March that the Israeli government would back the establishment of a new “migration authority” to coordinate what he termed a “massive logistical operation” to remove Palestinians from the Strip.

Ben-Gvir, meanwhile, has openly advocated for the encouragement of “voluntary migration” coupled with calls to resettle Jewish Israelis in the territory.

The human rights organisation referred to the 23 March decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet to establish a dedicated directorate within the Ministry of Defence, to manage what it calls the “voluntary relocation” of the Gaza Strip’s residents to third countries. “This is evidence that this displacement is not a by-product of destruction or political rhetoric, but an official policy,” it noted. “This policy is being implemented through institutional mechanisms, directed from within Israel’s own security apparatus, with full operational powers, executive structures, and strategic goals.”

READ: Israel bombing kills 4-year-old twin girls as they slept in Gaza

Furthermore, current Defence Minister Israel Katz’s statement on the new directorate confirmed that it would “prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing movement, establishing movement routes, checking pedestrians at designated crossings in the Gaza Strip, as well as coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries.”

The true danger of establishing such a directorate, said Euro-Med Monitor, lies not only in its institutionalisation of forced transfer, but in the new legal and political reality it seeks to impose. “It rebrands displacement as an ‘optional’ administrative service while stripping civilians of their ability to make free, informed decisions, therefore cloaking a war crime in a veneer of bureaucratic legitimacy.”

Any departure from the Gaza Strip under current circumstances cannot be considered “voluntary”, it added, but rather constitutes, in legal terms, forcible transfer, which is strictly prohibited under international law. “All individuals compelled to leave the Strip retain their inalienable right to return to their land and property immediately and unconditionally. They also have the full right to seek compensation for all damages and losses incurred as a result of Israeli crimes and rights violations, including the destruction of homes and property, physical and psychological harm, the assault on human dignity, and the denial of livelihood and basic rights.”

Under its obligations as an occupying power responsible for the protection of the civilian population, Israel is prohibited from forcibly transferring Palestinians and bears full legal responsibility to ensure their protection from this crime.

The rules of international law, particularly customary international law and the Geneva Conventions, require all states not to recognise any situation arising from the crime of forcible transfer and to treat it as null and void. States are also obligated to withhold all material, political and diplomatic support that would contribute to the entrenchment of such a situation.

“International responsibility goes beyond mere non-recognition,” said the rights group. “It includes a legal duty for states to take urgent effective steps to halt the crime, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide redress to victims. This includes ensuring the safe, voluntary return of all displaced persons from the Gaza Strip, and providing full reparations for the harm and violations they have suffered. Any failure to act in this regard constitutes a direct breach of international law and complicity that could subject states to legal accountability.”

READ: Israeli air strike hits Gaza children’s hospital

Euro-Med Monitor said that the international community must move beyond deafening silence and abandon paltry rhetorical condemnations, which have come to represent the maximum response it dares to make in the face of the livestreamed genocide unfolding before its eyes. “It must act swiftly and effectively to halt Israel’s ongoing project of mass displacement in the Gaza Strip and prevent it from becoming an entrenched reality. This action must be based on international legal norms, a commitment to justice and accountability, and an honest reckoning with the root structural cause of the crimes: Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1967.”

Endorsing or remaining silent about Israeli plans to forcibly transfer Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip not only exonerates Israel but rewards it for its illegal conduct by granting it gains secured through mass killing, destruction, blockade, and starvation, said the organisation. “This is not just a series of war crimes or crimes against humanity, it embodies the legal definition of genocide, as established by the 1948 Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

All states, individually and collectively, must uphold their legal obligations and take all necessary measures to halt Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip.

This includes taking immediate, effective steps to protect Palestinian civilians and to prevent the implementation of the US-Israeli crime of forcible transfer that is openly threatening the Strip’s population.

“The international community must impose economic, diplomatic, and military sanctions on Israel for its systematic and grave violations of international law. This includes halting arms imports and exports; ending all forms of political, financial and military support; freezing the financial assets of officials involved in crimes against Palestinians; imposing travel bans; and suspending trade privileges and bilateral agreements that offer Israel economic advantages that sustain its capacity to commit further crimes.”

The rights group insisted that states must also hold complicit governments accountable — chief among them the United States — for their role in enabling Israeli crimes through various forms of support, including military and intelligence cooperation, financial aid and political or legal backing.

“The ethnic cleansing and genocide taking place right now in the Gaza Strip would not be possible without Israel’s decades-long unlawful colonial presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This is the root structural cause of the violence, oppression, and destruction in the besieged enclave,” concluded Euro-Med Monitor. “Any meaningful response to the escalating crisis in the Strip must begin with dismantling this colonial reality, recognising the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and securing their freedom and sovereignty over their national territory.

“As Israel and its allies must be compelled to abide by the law, international intervention is the only path to ending the genocide, halting all forms of individual and collective forcible transfer, dismantling the apartheid regime, and establishing a credible framework for justice, accountability, and the preservation of human dignity.”

OPINION: Palestinian voices are throttled by the promotion of foreign agendas

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and Celebrity Traitors champion Alan Carr have been renovating a dilapidated property in Corfu on Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job

Amanda Holden’s husband gets “jealous” of her relationship with Alan Carr as she admits “cutting him out”. Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda has been married to music producer Chris Hughes since 2008.

The happy couple, who share daughters Lexi, 19, and 13-year-old Hollie together, first met in Los Angeles in 2003. The pair struck up a romance a year later and have remained together ever since.

However Amanda, 54, says Chris can sometimes find himself feeling jealous of her friendship with comedian Alan, 49. It comes as the pair have formed a close bond while filming their home renovation and travel series together.

Celebrity Traitors champion Alan even spent New Year’s Eve around Amanda’s house. On the Table Manners podcast, host Lennie Ware asked: “Does Chris get a bit jealous?” To which Amanda replied: “He did mention it a couple of times.”

Alan continued: “There was a funny moment we had last Christmas. We didn’t spend New Year’s Eve together but we did spend that bit in between and we were going through Covent Garden with her family and there was that gorgeous Christmas tree.

“She went, ‘Oh, let’s have a photo’, and she threw the camera at Chris and me and here were like this [poses] with her children. He’s got such a good sense of humour.”

Amanda went on to praise her husband as being the “funniest man alive,” before Alan recalled a humorous anecdote from their new year’s celebrations. He said: “We did a photo at New Year’s Eve where she deliberately cut him out. We’re holding hands and I know.

To which Amanda interjected: “And you could just see Chris’s shoulder in the side of it. I was like, ‘Me and my husband’. Oh, whoops.”

Amanda and Alan have been working closely together in recent years. Their first series, Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job saw the pair buying a property in Sicily for a Euro before renovating and selling it on.

The completed property, situated in the picturesque town of Salemi, was marketed for slightly over £125,000 last year, with sale profits divided between Children in Need and Comic Relief. Subsequent series featured makeovers in northern Tuscany, Italy, and Andalusia, Spain.

Their most recent series has taken the pair to Corfu for Alan and Amanda’s Greek Job. Amanda previously revealed they wanted to visit the area because she enjoys visiting with husband Chris Hughes and their daughters Hollie and Lexi.

She said: “As a country we love it, I holiday there every year, Alan and I have holidayed there. We were fantasizing, saying oh, wouldn’t it be amazing if we could do a show in Greece… we never actually thought it would be a reality!”

Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job will return to BBC One at 7.30pm tonight

When the Lakers and Clippers faced each other at Intuit Dome on Dec. 20, both teams were struggling. After that game, they began to move in opposite directions.

The Lakers were 19-7 before that game and the Clippers stood at 6-21. Since the Clippers’ win that night, they’ve gone 14-3 — and the Lakers are 7-10.

The Lakers continued their tailspin Thursday, falling into a 26-point hole they were unable to climb completely out of in a 112-104 loss to the Clippers, losing for the sixth time in nine games.

Luka Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to extend the Lakers’ modest two-game win streak. LeBron James finished with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Clippers forward John Collins dunks during the first half Thursday against the Lakers.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The Clippers won for the seventh time in eight games behind seven players scoring in double figures.

Kawhi Leonard had 24 points, giving him a career-best 23 consecutive games with 20 points or more. James Harden had 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and Ivica Zubac had 18 points and 19 rebounds.

The Lakers were down 26 in the third quarter, but trimmed it to 86-72 at the end of the quarter and then to 93-91 in the fourth on a three-pointer by Doncic and by playing defense like it mattered.

The Lakers kept clawing back, getting to within 105-102 on a three-point play by James, but they couldn’t stop the Clippers from closing out.

Even with Deandre Ayton back after missing the second half against Denver on Tuesday because of a left eye injury, the Lakers still lost to the Clippers for the second straight time. Ayton, who wore goggles during the game, had four points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

Leonard had been listed as questionable before the game with left knee contusion. He had missed three games with the injury, but Lakers coach JJ Redick was confident before the game the Clippers star would play.

“We assume everybody’s going to play against the Lakers,” Redick said. “(It’s) backed by statistical data. We talked about this last year.”

And Leonard made his presence felt, drilling a three-pointer to give the Clippers a 72-49 lead in the third, prompting Redick to call a timeout.

Leonard, Harden and Zubac are a big reason why the Clippers have won 14 of their last 17 games.

“It was just being positive with our guys every step of the way,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “I think that bled over to just coming together, understanding that first game against the Lakers (the Clippers won in December) and it was kind of like we could exhale then. Now we can start playing better basketball and we’ve been able to do that.”

Etc.

Austin Reaves, who has missed 14 games with a calf injury, played in some three-on-three “stay-ready” games in practice, Redick said. “He’s looked great,” Redick said. “He’s progressed really well. And the last couple live exposures, he’s looked like Austin. So we’re hopeful he’s back soon.”

Jan. 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Coast Guard did not execute 22.7 billion won ($17.5 million) in project funds by year-end 2025, according to data submitted to the National Assembly, raising questions over whether budget execution and fund allocation were properly managed.

The figures, obtained by opposition People Power Party lawmaker Kim Tae-ho, show the Coast Guard carried over 22.73431 billion won ($17.5 million) in project funds as of Dec. 31, 2025. The projects include spending tied to maintenance depot operations, vessel construction and establishment of Vessel Traffic Service centers.

More than 45 of 56 projects were classified as “contract period not yet expired,” the data showed. The Coast Guard has said payments could not be made because work was not completed. However, some observers said that under annual project structures that can include advance and progress payments, at least part of the funding could have been disbursed by the end of the year.

The Coast Guard rejected the “unpaid” characterization, saying the issue stems from contracts still being in effect rather than overdue payments. It also said the situation differs from cases involving the Defense Ministry where payments were reportedly not made even after completion and invoicing.

Still, the Coast Guard’s explanations appeared inconsistent. In a call with this publication, a Coast Guard spokesperson described a system that includes advance payments and interim payments with execution tied to project progress. The following day, the Coast Guard emphasized a typical “80% advance payment and 20% final payment” structure and said some contracts are paid in full after completion, without clearly addressing whether the 22.7 billion won figure reflected interim payments or final payments.

Asked whether the amount involved interim or final payments, a Coast Guard official said the agency would need to review individual projects, signaling further verification is required.

A political source said even official documents submitted to the National Assembly contain inconsistent descriptions of the execution structure and called for a parliamentary review of the Finance Ministry’s overall fund allocation and execution management.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger, who soon will begin winding down his two-decade tenure leading the company, collected $45.8 million in compensation last year — an 11% bump from the prior year.

In 2024, Iger was paid $41 million in compensation.

Disney released its corporate executive compensation packages Thursday, as the board prepares for its high-wire act of picking a new leader to replace Iger, whose contract ends in December.

“Management succession planning remains a top priority for the board, reflecting its importance to business continuity and long-term shareholder value,” Disney Chairman James Gorman wrote in a letter to shareholders. He noted the board’s succession committee has been evaluating the various candidates and that the full board would soon determine who will become the next CEO.

Four internal candidates have been vying for the job, including the parks boss, Josh D’Amaro, top television and streaming executive Dana Walden, movie studio head Alan Bergman and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

Unlike six years ago when the board made its last CEO switch, Disney’s board tightened up the succession process by establishing a dedicated committee headed by Gorman, the former head of investment bank Morgan Stanley.

The group also includes General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Lululemon Athletica CEO Calvin McDonald and Jeremy Darroch, the former head of Sky broadcasting in Britain. “Each internal candidate is going through a rigorous preparation process, including mentorship from Mr. Iger, external coaching and engagement with all directors,” Disney said in its proxy.

Disney said it will hold a virtual shareholder meeting March 18. Investors will be asked to vote on several shareholder-inspired measures, including proposals on the company’s climate commitments and disability accommodations in its theme parks.

The conservative National Center for Public Policy Research has introduced a proposal that would require Disney to issue a report detailing its return on investment for its climate commitments. The think tank argues that shareholders need more information to judge whether the company’s public promises to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is in their best financial interest.

Disney has encouraged shareholders to vote no on this proposal, saying its approach to environmental sustainability is “grounded in science” and already disclosed publicly. The company said a new report, such as the one urged by the proposal, would fall outside financial disclosure requirements.

Shareholders will also weigh in on a proposal that would push Disney to conduct a third-party assessment of its accessibility and disability inclusion practices.

The proposal, which was submitted by shareholder Erik G. Paul, comes as Disney has received criticism over disability access policies at its theme parks.

Disney urged shareholders to vote no on this measure, saying the company is “committed to the design and implementation of innovative and effective services that accommodate persons with disabilities and already reviews its practices on an ongoing basis.”

The company also said it already provides “detailed” information online and in-person in the parks about its disability access policies, which can include no waiting in standby lines for visitors who require that option, as well as a “broad range” of accommodations.

A new board member — Apple’s former chief operating officer Jeff Williams — is expected to join the board at the March meeting.

Iger’s base salary was $1 million. He received $21 million in stock awards, $14 million in options and a $7.25 million executive bonus.

Disney also paid more than $568,000 for Iger’s personal air travel expenses, as well as $1.8 million in security costs. The company said its CEO is required to use a corporate aircraft for personal travel due to security reasons.

The Burbank media and entertainment company said Iger was rewarded for Disney’s strong theatrical performance in the last year, including billion-dollar blockbusters “Moana 2,” which was released in 2024 but reached that milestone last year due to strong carryover at the box office, as well as the live-action adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch.”

The company also cited Iger’s role in successfully closing Disney’s acquisition of Hulu through contentious arbitration proceedings with Comcast, which Disney said bolstered the streaming platform’s presence globally.

Iger also supervised the launch of the direct-to-consumer ESPN Unlimited app and theme park milestones, including Disneyland’s 70th anniversary and the opening of new attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, which Disney said “aim to better position our parks for the future.”

Succession has become a front-burner issue for the company.

The board said it has provided contract extensions to four of Iger’s top lieutenants “in order to retain our key senior leadership to promote a successful CEO succession process.” Those executives are Chief Financial Officer Hugh F. Johnston, Chief Legal Officer Horacio Gutierrez, Chief People Officer Sonia L. Coleman and Chief Communications Officer Kristina K. Schake.

Johnston received a package valued at $20.2 million; Gutierrez was paid $16.3 million; Coleman received $7.4 million and Schake was awarded $6.2 million in compensation.

After Hatate’s dismissal in the 34th minute, it was a backs-to-the-wall Celtic performance, with Trusty’s back-post tap-in a rare venture into Bologna territory.

Attack after attack was repelled by the Celtic backline as Trusty and Liam Scales stood up to the Bologna onslaught.

The hosts dominated possession, pinned Celtic in their own half and had 63 touches in the Celtic box.

And yet, the stubborn defence was undone frustratingly easily as Dallinga’s header went through Schmeichel from close range and the Denmark veteran was then rooted to the spot as Rowe’s powerful shot flew over his head.

“There will be a feeling of ‘what could have been?’ – and I think Schmeichel could do better for both goals,” former Scotland forward James McFadden said.

“So it will be mixed emotions.”

O’Neill questioned whether Schmeichel was unsighted for Rowe’s leveller, but chose to focus on the efforts of his centre-backs in the valuable draw.

Trusty alone made 17 clearances and three interceptions, marshalling the depleted visitors to great effect.

“Trusty was magnificent, as he has been during my time here,” O’Neill said.

“I couldn’t give him higher praise, he was absolutely magnificent as were the team. Him and Scales have been great as a defensive two in the time I have been here and my expectation of them is quite high.

“Trusty epitomised the spirit of the team tonight. It was colossal and keeps us in the competition for at least one more week.”

Another former Celtic manager also praised the way they battled to a point.

“Brilliant character from the players,” Neil Lennon said. “You can see what it means to them.

“Auston Trusty and Liam Scales were immense. They had to defend so many crosses.

“It’s a massive point.”

Frank “The Stag Man”, who runs a travel agency that specialises in the parties, has often been an advocate for Benidorm in Spain, but now he believes a new destination is making waves

A travel agent claims resorts in Ibiza are set to overtake Benidorm’s title as the “hen and stag do” capital for Brits.

Frank “The Stag Man” has praised the Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea for its nightlife and value for money as a holiday destination. Frank, who runs a travel agency that specialises in the parties, said for years Benidorm on mainland Spain has been the favourite for his clients but that the tide is tipping.

The travel professional, from Tottenham, north London, stressed “the King is coming” — as Ibiza, he believes, is back on the map. The 55-year-old man said: “Times change, as does the world, and for Ibiza it’s become lost over the years… Now, I can make it the number one holiday destination for stag and hen parties once again. And even give Benidorm a run for its money.

“It’s my job to stop Benidorm, as well as Ibiza, from becoming ghost towns. I’ll give the islands another year and then I’ll make my move. Watch this space — the King is coming.”

READ MORE: Benidorm tourist left scrubbing for days after huge mistake in bid to impress as HulkREAD MORE: Ryanair passenger removed from flight after ‘vaping in toilet’ causes two-hour delay

British holidaymakers represent the biggest market for the seaside town of Benidorm, with more than 832,000 of them flocking to the renowned Costa Blanca area in 2023 alone. Tourism exploded there following the decline of the fishing trade in the 1950s.

But tourists have cited crime, such as robberies and muggings, in reasons to deter them from repeat visits, looking for new options instead. One of these is Ibiza, which welcomed more than three million tourists from all countries in 2022, in part for its booming nightlife.

And Frank believes its popularity will continue — after a relative slump prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The travel expert continued: “You can still get cheap prices there too (like Benidorm). The resorts have stopped looking at what people want, focusing only on making money. [I get that] money makes the world go round — and people will pay for quality.

“There’s an increase in robberies and muggings (in Benidorm). If it wasn’t suffering from this massive crime issue, then it’d be doing so much better.”

Frank intends to exploit the boom in Ibiza, but will continue operating his multiple bars, travel agents and restaurants in Benidorm at the same time. These are across the municipality, which is within the province of Alicante, and largely cater to the Brits who holiday there.

Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands in area, but the second-largest by population. It has historically been associated with the electronic dance music club scene, but tourism bosses there have in recent years made efforts to promote family-orientated holidays.

Jan. 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Democratic Party split into competing camps Thursday after party leader Jeong Cheong-rae abruptly proposed a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, drawing praise from some lawmakers and backlash from others who said the move bypassed internal procedure.

Jeong announced the proposal at an emergency news conference at the National Assembly, saying the merger was needed to support President Lee Jae-myung’s administration and win the June 3 local elections.

Chief spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said the party had held prior discussions with the Rebuilding Korea Party and reached an understanding Wednesday afternoon on making the proposal public.

Critics inside the Democratic Party said there was no internal deliberation despite the scale of the decision.

Rep. Jang Cheol-min wrote on Facebook that even members of the party’s supreme council learned of the plan only about 20 minutes before the news conference, saying decisions that determine the party’s future should not be made through surprise announcements.

Rep. Kim Yong-min said the leader should not decide the issue alone. Supreme Council member Han Jun-ho and Rep. Mo Kyung-jong also stressed procedural legitimacy, saying the party should first confirm the will of its members.

Supporters framed the move as a step toward consolidating the progressive bloc. Rep. Park Ji-won said the party must take risks to secure victory, while Rep. Choi Min-hee said she welcomed the proposal as a way to build a stronger progressive force.

Cho Kuk, who leads the Rebuilding Korea Party, said Jeong’s proposal carried significant weight and that his party would gather views through its party affairs committee.

Presidential office spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said the office was monitoring developments as an issue for the National Assembly, adding there had been no prior discussion.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

The U.S. is continuing to build up its military presence in the Middle East ahead of a possible attack on Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln and its Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is now in the Indian Ocean, a U.S. Navy official told The War Zone on Thursday. The CSG was in the South China Sea until U.S. President Donald Trump ordered it moved west. In addition, more cargo jets and aerial refueling tankers have arrived in the region. Trump on Thursday said a large naval presence is heading to the region.

These movements come as Trump has threatened to strike Iran over its brutal treatment of anti-government protesters, which has resulted in thousands of deaths.

“We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

“We have an armada,” Trump added after claiming he “stopped 837 hangings on Thursday…We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.”

Aside from threatening to strike Iran, Trump on Jan. 13 also promised those taking to the streets that help was on its way.

However, he relented after being told the killings would stop and reportedly called off a strike against Iran last week. According to some accounts, Trump does not want to become involved in a protracted battle with Iran while still contemplating regime change. There are lingering concerns in Washington and Jerusalem about not having enough assets in the region to defend against an expected Iranian response, which in part led Israel to urge Trump to hold off any attack. This was also our analysis at the time.

Underlying theme: the admin is seriously thinking about regime change in Iran.

Issue they’re running into is how to make it happen without a protracted campaign. https://t.co/oEqVUq0aUd

— Gregory Brew (@gbrew24) January 22, 2026

The influx of additional assets to the region will give Trump a greater range of potential action, and allow for the ability to defend against an Iranian attack, whether in response to U.S. military actions or not.

“If Iranian leadership perceives that regime collapse is imminent, the expectation within this assessment is that Iran would escalate aggressively across multiple vectors,” the Times of Israel recently suggested in an opinion piece. “This would include attacks on American assets throughout the region, coordinated pressure against allies such as Israel, and actions designed to disrupt global energy flows. In particular, the Strait of Hormuz represents one of Iran’s most consequential pressure points. Energy agencies estimate that roughly 20 million barrels per day—about one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption—transit the strait.”

All this depends on the state of Iran’s command and control at the time of such an operation, as well as many other factors. While the specter of major retaliations in the Strait of Hormuz have persisted for years, it did not come to fruition during the war with Israel in June. Still, operations that seek regime change could change this calculus.

As for U.S. force posture in the region, there remains a large number of unknowns, including the exact composition of U.S. forces that are already there and what role, if any, will be played by Israel and other U.S. allies if Trump moves forward with an attack. We do know that the U.S. already had a limited number of fighter aircraft at several bases throughout the Middle East, as well as three Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers and perhaps a submarine plying its waters, among other capabilities, prior to the protests.

Many additional assets have poured in since then, but it remains unclear at the moment whether the current force can support in terms of a sustained conflict and what will be added in the coming days or even weeks leading up to an operation. At the same time, an operation could begin any time, so the current picture is quite murky. Even a limited decapitation operation aimed at the regime would require a huge number of contingencies.

The Lincoln CSG, which appears to be several days away from arriving in the Arabian Sea, would boost U.S. striking power in the region. Its embarked CVW-9 Carrier Air Wing consists of eight squadrons flying F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, CMV-22B Ospreys and MH-60R/S Sea Hawks. Its escorts, Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay and the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 bring a large number of missile tubes that could be used to strike Iran. These vessels could also be used in the defense of U.S. targets and those of its allies during a reprisal.

So far, there does not appear to have been a major influx of U.S. airpower. Low-resolution satellite imagery observed by The War Zone shows no large deployments to Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean island where U.S. bombers have previously been staged amid rising tensions with Iran. However, online flight trackers are reporting that there have been flights of C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets to the region. These would be needed to move materiel and personnel. As we projected, the U.S. is sending additional Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to the Middle East for increased protection from any Iranian attack, The Wall Street Journal reported.

As we previously mentioned, online flight trackers also noted that F-15E Strike Eagles, accompanied by KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jets, headed east from RAF Lakenheath in England to the Middle East earlier this week.

The presence of Strike Eagles in the region, especially those coming from RAF Lakenheath, is in itself not new. These jets have maintained a steady presence at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan for nearly a decade, and their recent arrival in the Middle East was largely expected due to the current instability and saber-rattling. F-15Es played a key role in defending against multiple Iranian drone and cruise missile barrages on Israel and they are now more capable of that mission than ever. Beyond its offensive capabilities, if Iran were to launch a major attack on Israel and/or U.S. assets in the region, preemptive or in retaliation, the F-15Es would play a key part in defending against those attacks.

While these are significant additions to the standing force posture in the region, more fighter aircraft would be expected for a major operation against Iran. We have not seen evidence of those kinds of movements just yet, although some movements are not identified via open sources.

Beyond tactical combat aircraft in the region, the U.S. can fly bombers there from the continental United States, as was the case when B-2 Spirits attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer last June.

The U.K. is also sending tactical combat jets to the region.

“The Royal Air Force’s joint Typhoon squadron with Qatar, 12 Squadron, has deployed to the Gulf for defensive purposes, noting regional tensions as part of the UK-Qatar Defence Assurance Agreement, demonstrating the strong and enduring defence relationship between the U.K. and Qatar,” the U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD) announced on Thursday.

“12 Squadron has regularly deployed to Qatar to conduct joint training and share experiences which enhance national and regional security,” MoD added. “Recently, the RAF deployed on exercises such as EPIC SKIES and SOARING FALCON – further reinforcing the operational capability between our two nations.”

RAF Typhoon jets have deployed to Qatar in a defensive capacity.

The UK and Qatar have been close defence partners for decades. This deployment builds on that relationship, supporting regional stability and keeping us secure at home and strong abroad. pic.twitter.com/83FkaBPJng

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 22, 2026

Israel too remains at a high state of alert for an attack on or from its arch-enemy.

“It is my assessment that a strike will take place,” a high-ranking Israeli Defense Force (IDF) official told The War Zone. “The key variables – timing, method of execution, and the identity of participating forces, whether U.S. assets, the IDF, or additional coalition elements should they be involved, will be subject to strict and aggressive compartmentalization.”

“Likewise, the final decision to proceed with execution rests with a single individual alone,” the official added, referring to Trump.

As the U.S. and allies flow assets into the region and Israel stands at a heightened state of readiness, Iranian officials are ratcheting up their rhetoric.

On Thursday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned Israel and the United States “to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate.”

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief — a leader dearer than their own lives,” he added, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The IRGC also released a video showing the location of U.S. bases in the region. 

Iranian Revolutionary Guard media released a video warning the United States, showing the locations of U.S. military bases across the Middle East that are within range of Iranian missiles

🇺🇸🇮🇷‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/t2O2dAPWTO

— WW3 Monitor (@WW3_Monitor) January 22, 2026

Khamenei’s government is also claiming it has suppressed the nationwide unrest that began Dec. 28 over rising prices, devalued currency that saw the rial crater now to basically nothing, a devastating drought, and brutal government crackdowns.

“The sedition is over now,” said Mohammad Movahedi, Iran’s prosecutor general, according to the judiciary’s Mizan News agency. “And we must be grateful, as always, to the people who extinguished this sedition by being in the field in a timely manner.”

However, getting verifiable information out of Iran remains incredibly challenging as the regime has cut off internet and phone service, and it is possible that at least some protests are ongoing.

While there is no indication of any imminent fighting, the regional players are increasingly preparing for conflict. This remains a volatile situation we will continue to monitor it closely.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com