Bill Gates tells Al Jazeera about setbacks slowing efforts to reduce the global child mortality rate, as child deaths are projected to rise for the first time this century.
Published On 7 Dec 2025
Benin government reports successful prevention of coup attempt by armed forces
Benin government says armed forces foil coup attempt
Soldiers claim to have removed President Talon from office
Soldiers in the West African nation of Benin have announced on national TV that they have ousted President Patrice Talon and seized power.
A message from the French embassy in Benin said gunfire had been reported near the residence of the president in the main city of Cotonou.
The soldiers also announced a suspension of the constitution, the closure of all land borders as well as the country’s airspace.
But officials close to the president say he is fine and that the small group of soldiers at the TV station did not have the backing of the regular army.
“The situation is under control. A large part of the army is still loyalist – and we are taking over the situation,” Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari told Reuters news agency.
An unnamed person in the presidency told the AFP news agency: “This is a small group of people who only control the television. The city and the country are completely secure.”
According to the statement read out by the soldiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.
They justified their actions by criticising President Talon’s management of the country.
Talon, 67, is due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, with elections scheduled for April.
A businessman known as the “king of cotton”, he first came to power in an election in 2016. He had promised not to seek a third term and had already named a successor.
The French Embassy has urged its citizens to stay indoors for their safety.
Benin has been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies. It is the continent’s largest cotton producers, but ranks among the world’s poorest countries.
This apparent coup in Benin comes just over a week after Umaro Sissoco Embaló was overthrown as president in nearby Guinea-Bissau.
In recent years, there have been several coups in West Africa, including in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger, heightening fears that the security of the region could worsen.
Benin has seen a rise in jihadist activity in recent years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda spread to the south.
Europe is Facing a Serious Issue, According to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon called out slow bureaucracy in Europe in a warning that a “weak” continent poses a major economic risk to the US.
“Europe has a real problem,” Dimon said Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum. “They do some wonderful things on their safety nets. But they’ve driven business out, they’ve driven investment out, they’ve driven innovation out. It’s kind of coming back.”
While he praised some European leaders who he said were aware of the issues, he cautioned politics is “really hard.”
Dimon, leader of the biggest US bank, has long said that the risk of a fragmented Europe is among the major challenges facing the world. In his letter to shareholders released earlier this year, he said that Europe has “some serious issues to fix.”
On Saturday, he praised the creation of the euro and Europe’s push for peace. But he warned that a reduction in military efforts and challenges trying to reach agreement within the European Union are threatening the continent.
“If they fragment, then you can say that America first will not be around anymore,” Dimon said. “It will hurt us more than anybody else because they are a major ally in every single way, including common values, which are really important.”
He said the US should help.
“We need a long-term strategy to help them become strong,” Dimon said. “A weak Europe is bad for us.”
The administration of President Donald Trump issued a new national security strategy that directed US interests toward the Western Hemisphere and protection of the homeland while dismissing Europe as a continent headed toward “civilizational erasure.”
Read More: Trump’s National Security Strategy Veers Inward in Telling Shift
JPMorgan has been ramping up its push to spur more investments in the national defense sector. In October, the bank announced that it would funnel $1.5 trillion into industries that bolster US economic security and resiliency over the next 10 years — as much as $500 billion more than what it would’ve provided anyway.
Dimon said in the statement that it’s “painfully clear that the United States has allowed itself to become too reliant on unreliable sources of critical minerals, products and manufacturing.”
Investment banker Jay Horine oversees the effort, which Dimon called “100% commercial.” It will focus on four areas: supply chain and advanced manufacturing; defense and aerospace; energy independence and resilience; and frontier and strategic technologies.
The bank will also invest as much as $10 billion of its own capital to help certain companies expand, innovate or accelerate strategic manufacturing.
Separately on Saturday, Dimon praised Trump for finding ways to roll back bureaucracy in the government.
“There is no question that this administration is trying to bring an axe to some of the bureaucracy that held back America,” Dimon said. “That is a good thing and we can do it and still keep the world safe, for safe food and safe banks and all the stuff like that.”
Neo-Nazis in Sweden’s capital stage a resurgent march against multiculturalism | Al Jazeera
A neo-Nazi march has been held in Sweden’s capital for the first time in 15 years, bringing together far-right white supremacist groups. Police gave permission for the rally to go ahead, to commemorate the killing of a 17-year-old with extremist ties, that used to be held annually in the early 2000s. Al Jazeera’s Nils Adler was there.
Published On 7 Dec 2025
Tim Leiweke, former Oak View CEO, pardoned by Trump following indictment for alleged bid rigging scheme
US President Donald Trump has pardoned Timothy Leiweke, the former Oak View Group CEO, who was indicted by federal prosecutors for allegedly rigging bids on a University of Texas arena project.
The clemency document was released Tuesday (December 2), resolving criminal charges brought by Trump’s own Justice Department in July against Leiweke, who had served as CEO of the venue development company.
A federal grand jury accused him of “orchestrating a conspiracy” to manipulate the bidding process for what became the $338 million Moody Center arena in Austin.
Leiweke had pleaded not guilty to charges carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The indictment alleged he arranged for rival Legends Hospitality to withdraw from bidding in exchange for subcontracts on the project, leaving Oak View Group as the sole qualified bidder.
In July, Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, said: “As outlined in the indictment, the Defendant rigged a bidding process to benefit his own company and deprived a public university and taxpayers of the benefits of competitive bidding.
According to court documents cited by MBW in July, Leiweke learned in September 2017 that another venue-services company planned to compete for the arena contract. He told colleagues he wanted to “find a way to get [the competitor] some of the business” and “get them to back down.”
By November 2017, Leiweke informed others he was willing to talk to the competitor about not bidding in exchange for subcontracts, but had “no interest in working with them if they intend on putting in a bid,” according to the indictment.
In February of 2018, Leiweke allegedly reached an agreement with the competitor’s CEO, “pursuant to which the competitor agreed that it would stand down and neither submit nor join an independent competing bid for the Arena Project”.
The Moody Center opened in April 2022. Oak View continues to generate revenue from the venue, according to the DOJ.
In connection with the allegations, Oak View agreed to pay $15 million in penalties, while Legends Hospitality paid $1.5 million. A separate non-prosecution agreement between the DOJ and Oak View also detailed a kickback arrangement with a ticketing company, which TicketNews and Billboard identify as Live Nation-owned Ticketmaster.
CNN reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that Leiweke’s legal team included former Representative Trey Gowdy, a Trump ally who lobbied the Justice Department to drop the case or grant him clemency.
Leiweke’s choice of representation was notable given his past criticism of Trump on social media, where he previously described the president as the world’s “single greatest Con man” and praised former Vice President Mike Pence for “standing up and fighting for the Constitution,” CNN reported, citing now-deleted tweets.
Most recently Leiweke spoke of his “profound gratitude” to Trump. In a statement to CNN, he said: “This has been a long and difficult journey for my wife, my daughter, and me. The President has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards.”
David Gerger, Leiweke’s attorney, called the pardon “the right result,” the report said.
“This has been a long and difficult journey for my wife, my daughter, and me. The President has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards.”
Timothy Leiweke, Oak View Group
The pardon marks another unexpected clemency decision by Trump in recent days, following recent pardons for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted on drug-trafficking charges, and Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, who faced bribery allegations.
The clemency came one day after Oak View named Chris Granger as permanent chief executive following Leiweke’s resignation after the charges were filed.
“We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him. OVG has remained steadfastly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients under the leadership of our CEO Chris Granger.”
Oak View Group Spokesperson
Following Trump’s pardon, a spokesperson for Oak View told CNN: “We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him. OVG has remained steadfastly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients under the leadership of our CEO Chris Granger.”
Before co-founding Oak View Group in 2015, Leiweke spent years in sports management. He previously served as president of the Denver Nuggets from 1991 to 1995 and led several other professional sports franchises during his career.
Music Business Worldwide
Peace talks in US conclude as Ukrainian city is struck by ‘massive’ attack
Russia continued its aerial attacks on Ukraine overnight, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “very constructive” phone call with Donald Trump’s negotiating team following three days of talks in Florida.
The mayor of Kremenchuk, a major industrial hub in central Ukraine, said the city was repeatedly struck in a “massive” attack. No deaths have been confirmed so far.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down 77 Ukrainian drones in several locations.
Aerial assaults have continued even as efforts to negotiate an end to the war have intensified, including detailed Ukraine-US talks in Miami aimed at drafting a peace settlement acceptable to both sides.
On Saturday, Zelensky said he was “determined” to continue working with the US after speaking to Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at the conclusion of those negotiations.
Zelensky said they had discussed how to ensure that Russia stuck to any potential deal to end the war.
Hours later, Vitaliy Maletsk, the mayor of Kremenchuk, said his city had sustained a “massive combined strike” on its infrastructure. The extent of the damage was unclear as of Sunday morning but the mayor said water, electricity and heat had been cut off for some.
The city, which is roughly halfway between Kyiv and the frontline in the east, has been repeatedly targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The White House has pushed both Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a multi-point plan to end the war but there has been little sign of a breakthrough, despite both sides engaging with the US-led process.
“Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace,” Zelensky said on X.
“We covered many aspects and went through key points that could ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new Russian full scale invasion.”
The Russian strikes in the early hours of Sunday followed a wider attack 24 hours earlier, which drew condemnation from Kyiv’s European allies.
In a social media post, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to Zelensky and offered his “full solidarity”.
“France is determined to work with all partners to secure de-escalation measures and to impose a ceasefire,” Macron added.
Macron, Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are due to hold in-person talks in London on Monday.
Europe has pushed back against early versions of the US-led peace plan and has sought to win support from the White House for its own proposals, including comprehensive security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine, including the possibility of a peacekeeping force.
Sir Keir has led the push for a so-called coalition of the willing, a loose collection of Ukrainian allies who are committed to continuing to underwrite Kyiv’s defence in the event of a ceasefire to deter a second invasion. He has called that proposal “vital” for Ukraine’s long-term security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the idea of such a force saying any troops deployed to Ukraine would be “legitimate targets”.
Also on Saturday, US and Ukrainian negotiators urged Russia to show a “serious commitment to long-term peace”.
The join statement was issued days after Witkoff returned from talks with Putin at the Kremlin which failed to produce a breakthrough.
Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, newly installed as Zelensky’s most senior negotiator, said they had “agreed on the framework of security arrangements” and “discussed necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain a lasting peace”.
Insiders Say NBA’s Growing Cautiousness Diminishes Giannis’ Trade Value
Executives around the league are reportedly cooling on blockbuster trades for stars, and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo may be seeing the effects. On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said the mood in front offices is clear: “not to give up four first-round picks for anybody.” That shift could drastically reduce what it takes to move a superstar.
Why the Market Has Cooled
Teams are wary of losing future flexibility under the NBA’s growing apron restrictions. Windhorst explained that since clubs can no longer reset their rosters easily, even elite players like Giannis no longer command wild trade packages. Teams are now prioritizing salary flexibility and younger contributors over high-cost veterans, no matter their pedigree.
Giannis remains among the league’s best players this season. He’s putting up roughly 28.9–30.6 points, 10–11 rebounds, and about 6 assists per game, depending on the source. But his contract — $54.1 million this season, and rising to $58.5 million in 2026–27, with a $62.8 million player option in 2027–28 — complicates trades for many teams.
Steelers for Giannis? Not So Fast
The idea of four first-round picks exchanged for Giannis no longer holds as much weight in today’s NBA. As one executive told Windhorst, those high-end deals “just aren’t going to happen.”
Sources indicate that even if a trade occurs, Milwaukee would likely seek a mixture of young talent, favorable contracts, and future picks — rather than an all-pick haul.
That said, some teams remain intrigued. Clubs with cap space and long-term visions might still consider offering a mix of players and draft assets. However, no team appears ready to give up four first-rounders unconditionally.
What Happens Next With Giannis?
Right now, the landscape suggests that any potential Giannis trade would involve flexibility, youth, and balanced value rather than stockpiling picks. If the Bucks follow through with trade talks, scouts say the return will likely include at least one player, maybe two, plus several picks — but probably not the kind of offer fans dreamed about when superstars shifted so freely in past seasons.
The conversation around Giannis has cooled from hype to careful calculation. And for now, it seems even the brightest stars must fit within a new, more cautious NBA economy.
Challenging the Client
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Phelon & Moore Makes a Comeback with the Retro Brighton-6 Roadster
Looks like Norton wasn’t the only British motorcycle brand to get a new lease of life. Phelon & Moore is making a loud comeback after having been dormant for decades, with a retro-styled roadster called the Brighton-6 Roadster.
Modern classics seem to be all the rage in the motorcycle world of late, and Phelon & Moore seems to be sticking with the same winning formula that has fetched impressive results for the likes of Royal Enfield, Honda, and Triumph.
But before we highlight the new bike, here’s a bit of background on what the company is all about, considering few outside of the UK would have even heard of the brand name. Founded in Yorkshire’s Cleckheaton in 1904, the company was named after the two people who filed an important patent, Joah Carver Phelon and Richard Moore.
And not just any other patent, it was the first real patent where the engine acted as the frame’s down tube, effectively creating one of the first real motorcycle chassis – compared to the conventional powered bicycles of the time.
Phelon & Moore
Phelon & Moore’s best known range of bikes was called Panther. Big, heavy, low-revving single engines up to 600cc capacity sold in large numbers, all owing to their reliability. These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.
Come the 1960s, production ceased for the company owing to the endless onslaught of Japanese motorcycles. The company remained in a coma until 2022, when a consortium of private European and American investors brought it back to life.
As of now, the company’s design and development is handled in Italy, and manufacturing in China – all under European supervision. Very similar to the strategy of Benelli, Moto Morini, FB Mondial, and so on.
Phelon & Moore
Now, let’s have a closer look at the motorcycle that’s spearheading this revival.
The Brighton-6 is a beautiful modern classic powered by a 550cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor that produces 60 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 41 lb.ft (55.5 Nm) of torque at 6,500 rpm. Gearing ratios are all short, in typical roadster fashion. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 113 mph (181 km/h).
Not bad numbers for a sub-600cc motorcycle by any stretch. But what I don’t like about it is how heavy the thing is: 548 lb (249 kg) with a full fuel tank. That’s way too heavy, considering the likes of the Kawasaki Z650RS and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 – with bigger 650cc motors – weigh 412.3 lb and 478 lb, respectively.
The second thing I don’t like isn’t anything about the bike or its hardware. It’s the fact that Phelon & Moore has used AI-generated renders to show the bike in action. No, thanks – I’d rather not have any action images of the motorcycle than see how AI “imagines” it.
Phelon & Moore
Back to the bike, suspension duties are carried by an inverted fork up front, and spring-preload adjustable shock at the rear – both offering 6.7 inches (170 mm) of travel. For braking, you get 320-mm double discs with 4-piston radial calipers at the front and a 260-mm single disc out back, kitted with Bosch 9.1 ABS throughout.
The stunning 5.3-gallon (20-liter) teardrop tank comes painted in either an obsidian black or a rich, deep red colorway with elegant diagonal pinstriping across it. I love the minimal branding and the small, neat touch of the embossed Union Jack symbol on the side.
There’s diamond-shaped stitching on the curved two-up saddle, cut fenders, a neat tail, an old-school round LED headlight, and a 7-inch TFT dash with smartphone pairing. The windshield is adjustable, you get handguards from the factory, and features like Traction Control System and a tire pressure monitoring system all come as standard.
There’s also a scrambler version of the bike with the same name in case you wanted something more rugged. The difference is a change in tire type and the seat height. That’s about it.
Phelon & Moore
The road-oriented rubber on cast-aluminum wheels on the Roadster changes to Panther Adventure tires on tubeless wire-spoke wheels that offer a 70/30 street/dirt ratio on the scrambler. The 17-inch tire size, though, remains the same. Seat height increases to 32.3 inches (820 mm) on the scrambler from the roughly inch lower seat of the roadster.
As for availability, we’re looking at a mid-2026 launch timeline. We expect to see a European rollout initially, but considering how popular these kind of motorcycles are in the USA, I don’t rule out an American launch, too.
Take it with a pinch of salt, though. As for pricing, no details are provided in that department, yet. For now, what matters is that another iconic motorcycle brand has risen again.
Source: Phelon & Moore