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Thursday, January 22, 2026

Why Are Chronically Low-performing Charter Schools Renewed?

The easy answer is greed, profit, and kickbacks. But how are such actions undertaken so frequently?

One of the most fundamental rationales put forward decades ago by charter school advocates for why charter schools should exist is the so-called “accountability-for-results” bargain. The basic “logic” here is that traditional public schools are “unaccountable failing monopolies” controlled by “self-serving unions” and, as such, families deserve “more accountable school options (charter schools) that deliver better results.” And, if a charter school fails to “deliver results” (i.e., high scores on standardized tests produced by corporations), then it should be shut down so that a smarter entrepreneur can open up a more successful charter school. This is why charter school proponents are obsessed with test scores, which are nothing more than a proxy for a family’s socio-economic status.

Given the staggering profits made by non-profit and for-profit charter schools, it should come as no surprise that charter school authorizing entities have frequently renewed contracts for charter schools across the country even when “results” are poor year after year. This is nothing new. The fact that this is done with great regularity and for the flimsiest reasons speaks to the economic and political power wielded by charter school promoters.

Over the past 35 years these forces have usurped significant state power in order to privilege private interests over the public interest. It is not every day that an entity can do an end-run around the law, reason, standards, and public. To operate with impunity against the general interests of society requires considerable state power.

In this connection, the creation of unelected charter school “Review Boards” or “Commissions” in many states is a crucial top-down mechanism to subordinate reason, standards, the law, and the public interest to narrow private interests. The majority of the appointed members of such boards are pro-privatization. They see students as commodities and have no patience for anything that contravenes their interests. At the end of the day, “results” do not matter that much to them because there is too much profit at stake.

It should be noted, however, that the creation of top-down mechanisms such as appointed boards is not always needed for private interests to override standards and the public interest. Oftentimes the political and economic connections charter school owners, operators, and trustees have is enough to supersede reason, standards, contract provisions, and public authority. They can even reverse decisions by elected officials that do not favor them and unduly influence the courts.

An illustrative example of a flawed charter school renewal process is provided in a January 13, 2026 article from the News & ObserverNC renews two low-performing virtual charter schools. See how long and why, from North Carolina. Before proceeding, it is important to appreciate that, while poor academic performance is widespread in brick-and-mortar charter schools, virtual charter schools nationwide are notorious for abysmal academic performance year after year. Online charter schools are well-known for being extra subpar.

The news article starts by openly admitting that, “North Carolina’s original two virtual charter schools will be allowed to stay open for another five years despite being among the lower academic performing schools in the state.” It further clarifies that, “The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board voted 7-3 on Monday to extend the charters for North Carolina Cyber Academy and the North Carolina Virtual Academy through June 2031.” The news article then claims that even though these privately-operated cyber charter schools have “been labelled by the state as continually low-performing since they opened in 2015,” they have supposedly “been popular with families.”

Does this make sense? “Popular” according to whom? What family wants their child in a deregulated virtual charter school that performs poorly year after year? Both schools have historically received a “D” grade and are classified as “continually low-performing.” Are there any thorough surveys or interviews with parents about what they really know and think about these privately-operated online schools? Can “popularity” be considered a compelling reason for renewing the contract of a chronically low-performing charter school, especially when charter school advocates insist that strong academic performance is critical to the operation of a high-quality charter school?

Rita Haire, a North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board member, stated, “We’re renewing two schools for five years that have been continually low performing for all 10 years and have not met growth, except one school for one year, and yet the enrollment is almost 2,500 in one and 4,000…. Do they not understand the quality of education that’s being delivered?”

Another Review Board member, Hilda ParlĂ©r, said, “Looking at these grades, that’s not acceptable.”

The News & Observer also informs us that both privately-operated schools have millions of public dollars saved in “rainy day funds,” a fact that prompted Todd Godbey, another Review Board member, to ask, “Their academic performance isn’t grand…. If they’ve truly got $16 million in the bank, why aren’t they using that to make academic performance better for their students?” Indeed, how can schools perform so poorly for so many years when they have lots of money? So much for accountability-for-results. Ten years of failure. If this were a traditional public school, charter school advocates would be howling their derision from the rooftop.

To add insult to injury it appears that virtual charter schools in North Carolina can only be approved or rejected for a five-year renewal, while brick-and-mortar charter schools may be renewed for 3-10 years or not renewed at all. Such a set-up alters decision-making dynamics for virtual charter schools.

Privatization can only live and expand by negating rights, democracy, reason, transparency, and the public interest, that is, by dragging society backward. In The Privatization of Everything (2021), Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian remind us that privatization “undermines the public’s civil rights and limits access to democratic institutions and policymaking” (p. 116). Private interests simply do not align with the public interest.

If the public had a real say in the affairs of education and society, harmful arrangements would be swiftly blocked. Financial waste, corruption, and profiteering would be reined in as well. Importantly, parents and students would be treated as humans with rights and not as commodities or consumers.

Without democratic renewal, private interests will seize even more state power and exercise greater police powers, resulting in more destruction of all the arrangements required by a modern society. Reject all forms of privatization. Defend public education and the public interest.

Shawgi Tell (PhD) is author of the book Charter School Report Card. He can be reached at stell5@naz.eduRead other articles by Shawgi.

Bondi Beach Massacre

Keeping the deaths alive

The aftermath of a crime has five objectives — define the crime and its extent, find out who did it, learn the motive, convict the assailant(s), and ascertain a method to prevent similar crimes. The Bondi Beach massacre has been defined and the assailants identified. Similar to other instances when Jews are victims, speculation replaces actuality, and the motive, which is usually a complex mixture of economic, political, psychological, and emotional, is replaced by one word ─ anti-Semitism, and with one objective ─ stifle dissent to Israel’s genocidal policies.

A segment of the public is aware of the exploitation of the killings of Jews to shape minds and favor Israel’s extermination policies, but the exploitation is not sufficiently recognized and not well attended. Israel’s military demolishes those who confront it at its doors; Israel’s worldwide army of dedicated followers demolishes those who confront Israel at external public and government levels. Inciting hatred of the Jewish people and using the expressions of hatred to rationalize Zionist policies and convince others of their necessity is the principal tool in the toolbox of those who advocate Israel above all. In order to subdue the criminal enterprise known as Israel and prevent the genocide portrayed as defense of the Israel state, highest priority should be given to a careful study of the terrifying “hatred” tactic and determine how to combat it. Start with examination of the latest atrocity to Jews and the compounding of atrocity to the victims ─ keeping their deaths alive to satisfy Zionist plans.

The perpetrators of the Bond Beach massacre have been linked to supporters of the notorious ISIS, equal haters of all peoples — Christians, Shi’a, Yazidis, Mandaeans, Zoroastrians, Atheists, Jews, and all non-believers. As heirs to al-Qaeda, ISIS members reflect Osama bin Laden’s’ trenchant views on Israel, expressed in his Letter to the American People, where he explains, “Why are we fighting and opposing you? The answer is very simple: (a) You attacked us in Palestine.” This significant piece of history has been ardently suppressed, disappearing from original Internet sources and only available from those who maintain copies of the original.

Israel has identified itself as the spokesperson for Jewish people and linked world Jewry to its genocide of the Palestinians. Unable to attack the Israel mainland directly, ISIS extremists, who have no relation to or contact with those who endeavor to prevent Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, attacked what it perceived as Israel’s external population.

Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, immediately claimed, “there was an obvious link (ED: Obvious link????) between Bondi and the three hundred thousand people who marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge against the genocide in Gaza.” The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, said his state, “is moving to block mass protests from going ahead in the wake of the Bondi massacre.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with these words, “”You took no action. You let the disease (ED: anti-Semitism) spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today.” A less gracious Anthony Albanese would have responded, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the horrific attack on Jews worldwide, and not only on Bondi Beach, are directly due to your genocidal policies and incorrect efforts of linking all Jews with your apartheid state, which provoke hatred of Jews.”

What happens in Australia and elsewhere deserves mention in the United States, but the happenings should remain in Australia and elsewhere. When Jewish life is involved, the usual course of events is misappropriated. Happenings to Jews all over the word, especially unfortunate occurrences, become everyday reading in America, adding to a recurring list of victimhood, as if the happenings were to neighbors. They remain in the public conscience forever. The Holocaust, which occurred in Europe, by Europeans, and to Europeans, is a daily part of American life. This does not occur for the Armenian genocide, the Rohingya genocide, the Rwanda genocide, and the many other atrocities committed upon ethnicities. Their victimhood barely enters the extensive U.S. media’s attention. How many Americans are aware of the atrocities committed by ISIS against Americans and their religious institutions?

NEW ORLEANS (AP), Jan1, 2025: “Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pickup truck down Bourbon Street, plowing into crowds celebrating New Year’s Day, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others. Police shot and killed Jabbar, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who had proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group on social media.

Homeland Security News Wire:

On Sept. 28, 2025, at least four people were killed and eight others injured during a Sunday service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Just a month earlier, two people died and 21 were injured during a Mass for students at the Catholic Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis….From 2000 to 2024, the dataset records 379 incidents and 487 deaths at religious congregations and religious community centers

American Faith

A report from the Family Research Council found that there have been at least 915 attacks against churches in the United States since 2018. More than 436 hostile acts occurred against churches between January and November 2023, a number more than double the hostilities against churches in 2020 and eight times greater than in 2018. The hostile actions covered in the report included vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related instances, and other deeds.

While researching attacks on religious institutions in the United States, the 2018 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where eleven Jews attending services were fatally shot, constantly appeared. Its prominence bothered me, and more rattling was the date – seven years ago. From the number of times, this atrocity is voiced in the media, my mind kept assuming it happened recently, two or three years ago. Haven’t read anything concerning the 10-year old shootings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., where nine worshippers were shot.

Violations of Jewish life are given prominence over violations of other lives, and, no matter the cause — animosity to Israel or Zionism, severe hatred of Jews, triviality, accident, or misinterpretation — the violation is given a special designation ─ anti-Semitism. The word anti-Semitism daily bombards the senses, carries with it images of pogroms, holocaust, and Jew-hatred, and enters the psyche similar to the word Jihadist, provoking a Pavlovian response that immediately protects the supposed victim and lashes out at the designated accused. Hopefully, times are changing.

After organizers of an Adelaide Writers’ Festival announced it was “removing from its program Randa Abdel-Fattah, a lawyer, academic and writer who has been a fervent critic of Israel,” saying, “her presence was not ‘culturally sensitive’ after a mass shooting that targeted Jewish Australians,” almost 200 writers protested and withdrew from the festival. Soon, half of the festival’s eight-member board, including its chair, resigned. Later, the board cancelled the event and apologized for its decision to disinvite Ms. Abdel-Fattah.

This noteworthy response, numero uno priority for defeating Israel among our midst, is encouraging. Knowing that the movement to dislodge the Zionists from their grips on the cultural, political, and information institutions is growing and is active should encourage mass desertions from events that exclude those who express aversion to Israel and its extermination policies. Extending the desertions to all groups and persons that hint at support for apartheid Israel, so that these groups and persons are sidetracked, left to dwell alone in their fantasies, has rewards. Shunning, effective with Amish communities, can be effective with the worldwide community; why should the inhuman, those who approve tanks rolling over Palestinians lying in their tents and soldiers shooting children in their heads, be allowed to spread inhumanity? This might satisfy the fifth objective that appears after a crime; ascertain the method to prevent similar crimes and enable the Jews who faithfully follow the Ten Commandments to lead the other Jews out of their slavish devotion to the demented Zionists.

All well and good, but Israel’s supporters principal and most effective strategy has been, as explained previously, “have the word anti-Semitism daily bombard the senses, carry with it the images of pogroms, holocaust, and Jew-hatred, and enter the psyche similar to the word Jihadist, provoking a Pavlovian response that immediately protects the supposed victim and lashes out at the designated accused.” Defeating that strategy is essential to defeating genocidal Israel. One effective means is to use a similar strategy.

The Zionists capture contemporary generations by using incidents of “anti-Semitism” from past generations, you know — Captain Dreyfuss, Russian pogroms, False Protocols of the Elders of Zion (ED: Not so sure if it was false.), Holocaust, Leo Frank, etc. The latter person is still being well played and is an example of the manner in which a spurious charge of anti-Semitism is used to advance a cause. A short study reveals a lot.

Although convicted in 1913 by a jury of his peers for murder of a thirteen year old girl, after indictment by a Grand Jury that contained four Jews, Leo Frank has been portrayed as a wrongfully convicted victim of anti-Semitism. Not unique that defendants might be wrongfully convicted, thousands of examples; not unique that prejudice may drive the conviction, thousands of examples. In this case, we have one Jewish person in centuries of U.S. history, who has not been definitely proven to be either innocent or convicted by a prejudiced jury. Compare Frank’s case to hundreds of African Americans, who were proven not guilty and convicted solely by prejudice. Does the case warrant attention the person is still receiving in the year 2025?

We learn of the centuries old Leo Frank trial through the testimony of Leo Frank’s contemporary supporters and not from those who participated in the events of the era, Many legal experts at the trial, and many of those who have read the newspapers and records of the trial, agree with the jury verdict. One person’s well-researched opinion, who concluded Leo Frank was guilty, can be found at Leo Frank Papers, edited by a descendant relation of the murdered Mary Phagan, who, coincidentally, has the same name. It might be true that Frank was unfairly convicted; it is not true that evidence, mostly circumstantial, did not tend to a guilty verdict. Frank was one of the only persons in the factory where Mary Phagan was killed and was in position to commit the crime. It is true that Frank was unjustly lynched by a mob that believed his commuted death sentence was due to bribery. It is not authenticated that hostility to his Jewish religion played any role in the conviction — Jews, as the chosen people, have never been persecuted in the bible thumping South and no credible evidence of hostility to Jews among the jury has been proven.

The manner in which diabolical Zionists use a disputable past to capture each generation is apparent. A 1999 lugubrious opera, Parade, staged 86 years after Frank’s conviction (ED: Why was this event important in 1999?), eerily uses the murder of a young girl, the real victim, to portray the innocence of her convicted murderer. Twenty five years after its premiere, and 112 years after the trial, the play was revived at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Why? To capture the present generation in the contrived world of the anti-Semites who have spanned history and caused Jews continuous pain and sorrow, almost infinitesimal in the fifty states when compared to the afflicted Native Americans, Asiatic, Blacks, Amish, Mennonites, Catholics, Mormons, and gays.

Turn it around, take charge of the brainwashing, and instead of having the word anti-Semite conjure images of brutal gentiles lashing innocent Jews, have it portrayed as a Zionist lashing out at the Semitic Arab. Aren’t Arabs Semites? The image shows and the caption reads, “Anti-Semitic Israelis oppressing the Semitic Palestinians.” Making a mockery of anti-Semitism does not have to be done in a specific manner; stories, articles and press releases can display the anti-Semitic Zionists harming the Semitic Palestinians. New generations will be confused and the word anti-Semite will be diffused. It will lose its meaning and become superfluous.

Attach a group, an institution, or a person to a blasphemous word and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and soon the group, institution, or person will be automatically identified with the blasphemous word. This has been the modus operandi of the Zionists and their followers — terrorist Hamas, terrorist Hezbollah, Nazi Mufti and tens of others, anti-Semite Martin Luther and hundreds of others, self-hating Jew George Soros and tens of others. Demagogues make use of this technique to manipulate audiences, and for the Zionists, it has worked effectively. Why permit them to gain advantage with lies; why not gain advantage with truths?

The word Israel does not stand alone. Either of the adjectives genocidal, apartheid or oppressive should always precede the country word, forming a new name for the state without borders. Organizations, such as AIPAC and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) are now “apartheid Israel’s AIPAC” and “apartheid Israel’s ADL.” Individuals who support Israel are, as one example, “Israel above all Miriam Adelson.”

These recommendations to counter the brainwashing performed by Zionists on the entire world might appear rash, simple minded, and disorderly. I’ll be blunt. Nothing has advanced the genocidal Zionist cause as much as creating a Pavlovian response in the innocents who favor Israel. Nothing has been more detrimental to the Palestinian cause than incompletely recognizing the power of this brainwashing and inadequately responding to it. Revelations of the horrific genocide committed upon the Palestinians are meaningful, prominent and widely distributed. Revelations of strategies to halt the genocide are meaningful, not sufficiently prominent, and not widely distributed. The unending and daily toll of the helpless Palestinians tells the story.

Dan Lieberman publishes commentaries on foreign policy, economics, and politics at substack.com.  He is author of the non-fiction books A Third Party Can Succeed in AmericaNot until They Were GoneThink Tanks of DCThe Artistry of a Dog, and a novel: The Victory (under a pen name, David L. McWellan). Read other articles by Dan.



Donald Trump's latest visa ban hits African countries hard
DW

A decision by the US government to suspend visa procedures for numerous countries, including African ones, has come into effect. Experts say it is part of Donald Trump's strategy of portraying immigrants as a threat.

Trump's migration policy has affected numerous African countries, including those considered friendly to the US
Image: Olga Yastremska/Pond5 Images/IMAGO

The US is further tightening its immigration policy, following a decision by Donald Trump's administration to suspend the processing of immigration visas for applicants from 75 nations, a third of which are African.

Some of the affected African countries include Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan. In West Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Togo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal also face US visa restrictions.

The visa ban took effect on January 21, 2026, and applies to individuals seeking to live and work permanently in the US.

With this step, Washington claims to be putting an end to the alleged "abuse of the immigration system by people who want to enrich themselves at the expense of the US."

"President Trump has made it clear that immigrants must be financially independent and not be a financial burden on Americans," Phillip Assis, a spokesman for the State Department and director of the Africa Regional Media Hub in Johannesburg, told DW.

Are only wealthy immigrants welcome?

"The State Department is currently conducting a comprehensive review of all policies, regulations, and guidelines to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not claim social benefits in the United States and do not become dependent on government assistance," Assis said, adding that tourist visas are not affected.

The duration of the suspension is unclear. But according to Assis, nationals of the affected countries can continue to submit their visa applications.

However, during the suspension period, these nationals would not be granted immigration visas.

"Other visas, such as those for tourists, athletes and their families, and media representatives traveling to the United States for the FIFA World Cup, are not affected," he added.

The US will host the World Cup in 2026 with Mexico and Canada. In addition, Los Angeles is set to host the 2028 Olympic Games. The US is promoting the games as moments that can unify humanity.



At the same time, Trump is continuing the policy he began last November of "permanently stopping migration from low-income and middle-income countries.

In December, the US government suspended immigration applications for citizens of 18 countries and imposed entry bans on citizens of seven countries. Some of the affected countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, responded with similar restrictions on US citizens entering their countries.


Nationalism shapes Trump's MAGA movement

"We must not forget that Trump campaigned under the slogan 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) and that nationalism and self-sufficiency are central features of this movement," Fredson Guilengue, a political scientist at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation's South Africa office, said.

He explained that the MAGA movement emphasized protecting US workers and taxpayers. "It's about gaining more support within their own movement, as immigrants are portrayed by the current administration and Trump as a threat to American society," Guilengue told DW.


In December 2025, President Trump signed the 'Trump Gold Card' executive order — a quick path to permanent residence in the US upon payment of $1 million (€920,000).
Image: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Experts see the US migration policy as a setback for long-standing relations between the two continents. "For Senegal, the impact will be severe. Plans to study, work, or reunite families will be blocked. This decision sends the wrong signal and requires a diplomatic response and decisive advocacy," according to Boubacar Seye, president of the non-governmental organization Horizon Sans Frontieres, which advocates for the rights of migrants from its base in Dakar.

"The argument of 'overstaying' [one's visa] is greatly exaggerated," Seye stressed, referring to an alleged concern of the US government regarding immigration. "It punishes an entire population group because of the behavior of a minority [...] This justification is mainly used to tighten restrictive migration policies."

Nevertheless, the US is a country that offers opportunities on many levels, even for people without qualifications, Seye added.

"Visa restrictions are dangerous for all young people, whether from Latin America or even Europe, but especially for us in the Sahel and for the countries affected," Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, former Mauritanian foreign minister and UN ambassador, who now heads the Centre 4S research institute, told DW.

Is Trump targeting the Sahel Alliance?


The US visa regulations appear to be particularly aimed at the countries that make up the Sahel Alliance, according to Ould Abdallah. "This is not good news for the youth of these countries, who are generally not politicized and where there have been no elections to find out who they will or will not vote for," he said.

He added that the policy does not seem sensible for African countries.

Many migrants from West Africa are not welcome to stay permanently in the US under the new Trump immigration policy
Image: Jean-Claude Abalo/DW

Emigration is not about hiding from political difficulties, he explained, "it's more about having more freedom to work, be successful, and compete on a level playing field without being attributed to a religious, tribal, regional or family affiliation."

The Democratic Republic of Congo is also affected by the visa ban. Fred Bauma, executive director of the Ebuteli research institute in Kinshasa, finds this contradictory. "It is not only in [the DR] Congo that we observe this paradox," Bauma said. "There are other countries that are rich in resources and coveted by the United States, but which find themselves excluded from any movement," he told DW.

Bauma cited Angola as an example of a resource-rich nation subject to some US visa restrictions. "It [Angola] is a central part of US strategy in the southern African region due to the Lobito corridor infrastructure project."


He added that such a strategy reinforces the idea that the race for resources is more critical than cooperation with states. "This is obviously a dangerous and unfavorable perspective for countries in the Global South that want to go beyond the simple exchange of goods."

But cultural identity politics also play a role, according to Guilengue. "These restrictions signal a desire to preserve 'American culture' by allowing fewer and fewer people with different identities to come to America and settle there." Guilengue calls this "exclusionary populism."

The result is that people suffer from exclusion. According to him, immigrants do not represent an economic burden. But instead, they contribute to economic growth and society. "It is not true that suspending the 75 countries [from entering the US] will protect the American economy. It could have the opposite effect."

This article was originally written in German.

Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu

Martina Schwikowski Author for the Africa desk
French journalist arrested in Turkey while covering pro-Kurdish protest released

A French journalist who was arrested while covering a protest over a Syrian government offensive targeting Kurdish fighters has been released, though it is not clear whether the charges against him have been dropped.


Issued on: 22/01/2026 - RFI

Raphael Boukandoura, a French journalist who has been living and working in Turkey for nearly a decade, was released Wednesday after he was detained by police while covering a pro-Kurdish demonstration in Istanbul. © Boukandoura family via AFP

"I am on my way home," Raphael Boukandoura, 35, told the AFP news agency in a brief phone call on Wednesday. He was speaking from a taxi bringing him home from the migrant detention centre in Arnavutkoy, near Istanbul airport, where he had been transferred after his arrest on Monday.

His lawyer Emine Ozhasar confirmed he had been freed, adding that they were still waiting to hear details of his release.

Boukandoura, who has been living in Turkey for at least a decade and holds an official press card, was arrested on Monday while he was covering a protest called by pro-Kurdish opposition party DEM for the French daily newspaper LibĂ©ration.

He was arrested along with nine other people when police broke up the protest, and was accused of joining in with the protesters shouting slogans against the Turkish military offensive targeting Kurds in north-eastern Syria.

He denied taking part in the protest, and said he was there as a journalist covering the event.

Turkey's independent media on alert over stance of tech giants

'Hazardous job'

France's foreign ministry had on Tuesday said it hoped Boukandoura, who regularly covers Turkey for French publications, would be "freed as quickly as possible".

The European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor had also said he was following "with concern" the reporter's case, especially the threat of deportation.

"Independent journalism is really a hazardous job in Turkiye for locals and foreigners," he wrote on social media before Boukandoura's release.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had earlier called it "unacceptable" to threaten a French journalist with expulsion for doing his job.

"It is intended to intimidate journalists covering pro-Kurdish protests in Turkey," the group’s Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu told AFP.

(with AFP)

French journalist arrested during Istanbul protest over Syria offensive


A French journalist was one of 10 people arrested in Istanbul late Monday at a protest over a Syrian government offensive targeting Kurdish fighters, the pro-Kurdish DEM party told French news agency AFP.


Issued on: 20/01/2026 - RFI

Protesters gather and show victory signs during a demonstration against the attacks by the Syrian government forces, in Diyarbalir, the main city in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast, on 19 January 2026. AFP - ILYAS AKENGIN

Raphaël Boukandoura, who works for various French publications including Ouest France and Courrier International, was arrested outside DEM's Istanbul headquarters in the Sancaktepe district, it said.

His arrest was also confirmed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who called for him to be freed without delay.

"We call for the immediate release of our colleague who did nothing but his legitimate duty to cover a protest," RSF's Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu told AFP.

"RSF is closely following his case and calls on the authorities to put an end to such arbitrary interference against media professionals," he said.

Ouest France echoed the call for him to be freed "immediately".

Call for protection

The police intervened after a DEM statement was read out calling for "an immediate halt to the attacks" and for the protection of civilians in northeastern Syria, Turkish news reports showed.

Syrian forces began an offensive nearly two weeks ago which pushed Kurdish-led SDF forces out of the northern city of Aleppo, and expanded over the weekend to push deep into territory that has been held by Kurdish forces for over a decade.

People celebrate in Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhood following the collapse of an agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Aleppo, Syria, 10 January 2026. REUTERS - Khalil Ashawi

The move was hailed by Ankara as a legitimate "fight against terror" but triggered angry protests among Turkey's Kurds, who make up a fifth of the country's population of 86 million and who have been deeply unsettled by the violence.

It has also raised questions about the fate of Turkey's peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a bid to draw a line under a four-decade insurgency that cost some 50,000 lives.

Ceasefire negotiations collapse

The PKK on Tuesday said it would "never abandon" Kurds in Syria.

"You should know...whatever the cost, we will never leave you alone.. we as the entire Kurdish people and as the movement, will do whatever is necessary," Murat Karayilan of the PKK was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, negotiations have collapsed between the Syrian president and the chief of the country's Kurdish-led forces, a Kurdish official told AFP on Tuesday, as the army deployed reinforcements to flashpoint areas in the north.

US and EU urge fresh talks between Syria govt, Kurds after deadly clashes

President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, who heads the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were meeting to discuss a ceasefire agreement that included integrating the Kurds' administration into the state.

The agreement had marked a blow for the Kurds' long-held ambitions of preserving the de facto autonomy they had exercised in swathes of northern Syria for over a decade.

Sunday's ceasefire deal included the Kurds' handover of Arab-majority Deir Ezzor and Raqa provinces, which they administered after their US-backed defeat of IS at the height of Syria's civil war.

Sharaa, who is backed by the United States and Turkey, has refused to entertain the idea of decentralisation or federal rule, and insisted the army must deploy across Syria.

(with AFP)
THE GRIFT

Who is joining Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'?

AUTOCRATS,  ARISTOCRATS & AUTHORITARIANS JOIN THE FASCIST INTERNATIONAL


Issued on: 22/01/2026 - FRANCE24

US President Donald Trump has signed the founding charter of “Board of Peace” at Davos. The Board will be indefinitely chaired by Trump, who will have “exclusive authority to create, modify or dissolve subsidiary entities”. Here's who is participating.

Video by: Elitsa GADEVA


About 30 countries expected to join Trump's 'Board of Peace'
Issued on: 22/01/2026 
US President Donald Trump has unveiled his “Board of Peace,” a $1 billion initiative aimed at resolving international conflicts through permanent membership. Initially designed to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, a draft of the board’s charter suggests its mandate could extend beyond the Palestinian territory. France24 Senior reporter James AndrĂ© shares his insights.
Video by: James ANDRE

Trump launches 'Board of Peace' at Davos signing ceremony

US President Donald Trump speaks at a Board of Peace charter announcement during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, 22 January 2026
Copyright Markus Schreiber/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved


By Aleksandar Brezar
Published on 

The board originated in the US president's 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council, but has expanded far beyond its initial mandate.

US President Donald Trump signed the charter to formally launch his "Board of Peace" initiative in Davos on Thursday, calling it a "very exciting day, long in the making".

"We're going to have peace in the world," Trump announced. "And we're all stars."

"Just one year ago the world was actually on fire, a lot of people didn't know it," Trump said in his opening speech. Yet "many good things are happening" and the threats around the world "are really calming down," the US president said.

Flanked by leaders of the board's founding member countries — including Argentinian President Javier Milei and Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán — Trump also praised the work of his administration, "settling eight wars," and added that "a lot of progress" has been made toward ending Russia's all-out war in Ukraine.

He then took a moment to thank the heads of state in attendance. "We are truly honoured by your presence today,” Trump said, stating they were "in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular.”

"In this group I like every single one of them," Trump quipped.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was next to praise the Board of Peace as “a group of leaders that is about action” and credited Trump for bringing it together.

“He’s not limited by some of the things that have happened in the past, and he’s willing to talk to or engage with anyone in the interest of peace,” Rubio said.

Rubio stressed the body’s job “first and foremost” is “making sure that this peace deal in Gaza becomes enduring.” Then, Rubio said, it can look elsewhere.

With details of the board’s operations still unclear, Rubio described it as a work in progress.

“Many others who are going to join, you know, others either are not in town today or they have to go through some procedure internally in their own countries, in their own country, because of constitutional limitations, but others will join,” Rubio said.

'Most prestigious board ever'

Trump has previously described the newly-formed body as potentially the "most prestigious board ever formed."

The project originated in his 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council but has expanded far beyond its initial mandate.

Approximately 35 nations had committed to joining while 60 received invitations, according to Trump administration officials. The president suggested the board could eventually assume UN functions or render the world body obsolete.

"We have a lot of great people that want to join," Trump said during a Wednesday meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, whose country confirmed membership.

Some leaders required parliamentary approval before committing, while uninvited nations were asking to be included, according to Trump.

Trump also defended inviting Russia's Vladimir Putin — who said he was consulting with "strategic partners" over Moscow's involvement — and strongman figures such as Belarus' Aliaksandr Lukashenka, saying he wanted "everybody" who was powerful and could "get the job done".

Several European allies declined participation. Norway, Sweden and France rejected invitations, with French officials expressing concern that the board might replace the UN as the world's main venue for conflict resolution, while affirming support for the Gaza peace plan itself.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said "the time has not yet come to accept the invitation," citing worries the mandate was overly broad and could undermine international order based on the UN Charter, according to STA news agency.

Canada, Ukraine and China had not indicated their positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to join on Wednesday.

The UK said it would not sign the treaty at Trump's ceremony over concerns regarding the invitation to Putin, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.

One billion dollar fee

Countries seeking permanent membership face a $1 billion contribution fee, with Trump designated as permanent chairman even after leaving office, according to a copy of the charter obtained by media outlets. Non-paying members would have a three-year mandate.

Trump's peace initiative follows threats of military action against Iran this month during violent government crackdowns on large street protests that killed thousands. The president signalled no new strikes after receiving assurances that Tehran would not execute detained protesters.

Trump argued his aggressive Iran approach, including June strikes on nuclear facilities, proved essential for achieving the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Iran served as Hamas' primary backer, providing hundreds of millions in military aid, weapons, training and financial support over the years.

"If we didn't do that, there was no chance of making peace," Trump said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Davos on Thursday morning with Trump expressing frustration with both Zelenskyy and Putin over their inability to end the nearly four-year w

"I believe they're at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done," Trump said. "And if they don't, they're stupid — that goes for both of them."


Donald Trump’s ‘board of peace’ looks like a privatised UN with one shareholder: the US president


The US president claims to have ended eight wars. 
Steve Travelguide/Alamy Live News


 January 21, 2026 
THE CONVERSATION 

It is hard to believe that Donald Trump has only been back in the White House for a year. His accomplishments are many – but most of them are of questionable durability or benefit, including for the United States.

Even his UN-endorsed 20-point ceasefire and transition plan for Gaza released on September 29 2025 is now in danger of being subsumed in yet another grandiose fantasy of the American president: the so-called “board of peace” to be chaired by Trump.

This group of international dignitaries was originally intended to oversee the work of a more technical committee, comprising technocrats responsible for the day-to-day recovery and rebuilding of Gaza. But the board of peace’s charter makes no mention of Gaza at all.

Instead, its opening sentence declares that “durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed”.

To make this break with such an unseemly past, the board of peace proclaims itself to be “an international organization” to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict” and commits to conducting its operations “in accordance with international law”.

To which the immediate reaction is that unilateralism is increasingly the hallmark of Trump’s second administration. Settling conflicts is the prerogative of the UN. And, over the past year, the US has shown itself to be unconcerned about international law.

Membership of the board is by invitation from the chairman: Donald Trump – who has broad and flexible discretion on how long he will serve for and who will replace him when he does decide to go. Those invited can join for free for three years and buy themselves a permanent seat at the table for US$1 billion (£740 million) – in cash, payable in the first year.

With Trump retaining significant power over the direction of the board and many of its decisions it is not clear what US$1 billion would exactly buy the permanent members of the board – except perhaps a chance to ingratiate themselves with Trump.

There is no question that established institutions have often failed to achieve durable peace. Among such institutions, the UN has been a favourite target for Trump’s criticism and disdain, as evident in a recent directive to cease participating in and funding 31 UN organisations. Among them were the peace-building commission and the peace-building fund, as well as office of the special representative for children in armed conflict.

Is this the end for the United Nations?

The deeper and more tragic irony in this is threefold. First, there is strong evidence that the UN is effective as peace builder, especially after civil war, and that UN peacekeeping does work to keep the peace.

Second, there is no question that the UN does not always succeed in its efforts to achieve peace. But this is as much, if not more often, the fault of its member states.

There’s a long history of UN member states blocking security council resolutions, providing only weak mandates or cutting short the duration of UN missions. They have also obstructed operations on the ground, as is evident in the protracted crisis in Sudan, where the UN endlessly debates human suffering but lacks most of the funds to alleviate it.

Third, even though he is unlikely to ever admit it publicly, Trump by now has surely found out for himself that making peace is neither easy nor straightforward despite his claim to have solved eight conflicts.

And the more so if the “pragmatic judgement” and “commonsense solutions” that the charter to his board of peace subscribe to end up being, as seems likely, little more than a thin disguise for highly transactional deals designed to prioritise profitable returns for an America-first agenda.

The charter of the board of peace says nothing about Gaza.
\Omar Ashtawy apa

Part of the reason why the UN has success as a peacemaker and peacebuilder is the fact that it is still seen as relatively legitimate. This is something that is unlikely to be immediately associated with Trump or his board of peace if it ever takes off.

Such scepticism appears well founded, particularly considering that among the invitees to join the board is the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who is not particularly well known for his love of peace. Even Trump, on rare occasions, admittedly, seems to have come to this realisation. But it did not stop him from inviting Putin to join the board of peace.

What’s in it for Trump?

So, what to make of it all? Is it just another of Trump’s controversial initiatives that he hopes might eventually earn him the Nobel peace prize after all? Is it merely a money-making opportunity for Trump personally, or is it designed for his political and corporate allies, who might benefit from projects implemented by his board of peace? Ultimately, it might be any of these.

The real question needs to be about the consequences for the current system. What Trump is effectively proposing is to set up a corporate version of the UN, controlled and run by him. That he is capable of such a proposal should not come as a shock after 12 months of Trump 2.0.

More surprising is the notion that other political leaders will support it. This is one of the few opportunities they have to stop him in his tracks. It would not be a cost-free response, as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has found when he did not appear sufficiently enthusiastic and Trump threatened the immediate imposition of 200% tariffs on French wine.

But more leaders should consider whether they really want to be Trump’s willing executioners when it comes to the UN and instead imagine, to paraphrase a well-known anti-war slogan, what would happen if Trump “gave a board of peace and no one came?”


Author
Stefan Wolff
Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham
Disclosure statement
Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU's Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.




Trump charges $1 billion for permanent seat on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’, invites Russia’s Putin

A permanent seat on US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" aimed at resolving conflicts will cost countries $1 billion each, according to its charter. Invited world leaders include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.


Issued on: 19/01/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24

President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Friday on January 16, 2026. © Julia Demaree Nikhinson, AP
01:52




US President Donald Trump's government has asked countries to pay $1 billion for a permanent spot on his "Board of Peace" aimed at resolving conflicts, according to its charter, seen Monday by AFP.

The White House has asked various world leaders to sit on the board, chaired by Trump himself, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Member countries – represented on the board by their head of state – would be allowed to join for three years – or longer if they paid more than $1.0 billion within the first year, the charter says.

"Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter's entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman," the board's draft charter says.

Trump tariff policies © FRANCE 24
01:47


"The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter's entry into force."

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, but its charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

The White House said there would be a main board, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern devastated Gaza, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.

"The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict," the charter says.

'Failed institutions'

It appears to take a swipe at international institutions such as the United Nations, saying that the board should have "the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed."

Trump has regularly criticized the United Nations and announced this month that his country will withdraw from 66 global organizations and treaties – roughly half affiliated with the UN.

Membership of the board would be "limited to States invited to participate by the Chairman," according to the draft charter.

Trump would have the power to remove member states from the board, subject to a veto by two-third of members, and choose his replacement should he leave his role as chairman.

The "Board of Peace" began to take shape on Saturday when the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, Argentina and Canada were asked to join.

Trump also named as members Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Israel has objected to the line-up of a "Gaza executive board" to operate under the body, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)


Will Trump's 'board of peace' in Gaza really rival the UN?



Issued on: 20/01/2026 
FRANCE24

Play (05:22 min)



PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, January 20: Donald Trump's "board of peace" in Gaza aims to oversee the peace process between Israel and Hamas, but critics say he intends to create a rival body to the UN. Also, the Italian dailies pay tribute to the "ultimate emperor" of Italian fashion, Valentino, who has died aged 93. The Beckham family's disputes are the focus of the British tabloids. Finally, an Austrian cow proves that the animals are extremely intelligent.

We begin with Donald Trump's so-called board of peace in Gaza. Officially, the board aims to oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as The New York Times reports. Trump sent out letters of invitations last week to "historically close" US allies like Canada and France, but also Russia and Belarus. The charter of the board indicated a desire to get involved in all types of global conflicts, beyond just Gaza. As the Times notes, this is why critics fear the board is set up to rival the UN. So far, only a handful of Trump-allied countries have RSVPd positively.

There is a catch, of course. Countries that agree to join the board can serve for three years, but that can be permanent if they agree to pay $1 billion in cash to the board. The Wall Street Journal calls it Trump’s "One-billion-dollar diplomacy club." The charter doesn't say how these funds will be used and by whom. But of course, Trump would have overriding powers to veto and revoke membership. Despite overseeing Gaza, the board does not have any Palestinian members yet. French President Emmanuel Macron says France doesn't plan to join. This prompted Trump to threaten a 200 percent tax on French champagne and wine. The Guardian's Owen Jones is outraged about the council, which he calls an "appalling neocolonial project". The fact that not a single seat is reserved for a Palestinian, he says, shows that Trump aims to play the role of "Gaza’s emperor."

We move on to a man the Italian dailies are calling an emperor: fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who has passed away in Rome at 93. Valentino was known mononymously and dressed royals, Hollywood stars and first ladies. The tributes are pouring in for a man who defined Italian fashion. La Repubblica calls him the "ultimate emperor." Il Giornale calls him "Saint Valentino" and bids adieu to a "man who defined style." "Red Paradise," La Stampa says, alluding to the colour that defined Valentino and his designs, even becoming known for the Valentino Rosso shade. Il Messagero says "Roma in the world". Valentino set up his fashion house in the Italian capital in 1960.

Next, there's trouble in paradise for the Beckham family, whose family spats are playing out in the British tabloids. Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham, broke his silence on social media about a growing rift within his family. He laid it on thick and fast and has disowned his parents, the Daily Star reports. He accused his parents of being obsessed with the family name and publicity, accused his mother of being too controlling, of disrespecting his wife, of humiliating him during his wedding and of trying to bribe him to sign away the rights to his family name. The tirade is as extraordinary as it is rare these days. "Brooklyn goes nuclear," the Daily Mail says on its front page

Finally, scientists are astounded by a discovery about the intelligence of cows and they can thank Veronika, a beautiful brown cow living peacefully in the Austrian Alps. She recently demonstrated an "impressive and until now undocumented" knack for tool use, the Guardian reports. Veronika was observed using a stick to scratch her back – this tool use was previously only seen in humans and chimpanzees. Researchers discovered that she could also pick up a broom and wield it according to the job at hand. It's proof that cows are much more intelligent than we give them credit for!