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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIdris Elba ‘dreams big’ with Sierra Leone eco-city plan for Sherbro IslandPublished44 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy David WaddellBBC NewsHollywood actor Idris Elba has a “big dream” for Sierra Leone, the West African nation where his father was born – to regenerate a beautiful island off its coast and turn it into an eco-friendly “smart city”.”Originally we went there thinking how could we bring tourism to the most incredible 19 miles of beachfront,” the British star told the BBC about Sherbro Island.But as the idea was explored, a more innovative plan came into play – to bring in partners and seriously develop the area in a sustainable, eco way. The project now also intends to bring wind-powered renewable electricity for the first time to Sierra Leone.”It’s a dream, you know, but I work in the make-believe business,” says Elba, best known for his roles in Luther, the Wire and for playing Nelson Mandela. The 51-year-old actor wants to make people believe this can happen – and change perspectives.”It’s about being self-reliant, it’s about bringing an economy that feeds itself and has growth potential. I’m very keen to reframe the way Africa is viewed… as an aid model.”This opportunity is completely different.”Elba was brought into the project by his childhood friend Siaka Stevens, the grandson of a former Sierra Leonean president of the same name.The pair grew up together in east London, both have worked as DJs and their paths often cross in the entertainment world. For the last decade, Stevens has been spending more time in Sierra Leone and had initially wanted to establish a boutique hotel there. However he told the BBC his background in luxury hospitality and entertainment made him quickly realise “Sierra Leone wasn’t ready for that level of tourism”.This is what spurred thoughts of developing Sherbro Island and with encouragement from a friend who worked on the Saudi Red Sea enterprise, a tourism megaproject, he approached Elba.Image source, Sherbro Alliance PartnersImage caption, Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens are determined to preserve the beauty of Sherbro IslandTwo years later Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP) was born and in 2019 a deal was struck with the Sierra Leonean government to develop Sherbro, which falls within the home district of current President Julius Maada Bio.”We believe that Sherbro Island City will be an economic engine for our country and neighbours,” the president said at the time.The island had a population of around 30,000 people in 2013, when the latest available data was recorded – and is approximately 600 sq km (230 sq miles). That is a little bigger than the Isle of Man off the UK and about twice the size of Malta.Stevens says development is to begin around the main town of Bonthe, but the whole island is within the scope of the project – “potentially accommodating a population of up to a million people”. However, Elba insisted “the character of the island hopefully will remain intact. It’s a beautiful, green part of the world and we don’t want to disturb that.”The project is to be financed through a public-private partnership, and the island will be designated a special economic zone with a separate legal and economic system from the rest of Sierra Leone.Stevens likens its status to that of Walt Disney World in Florida. In addition to tax incentives, Disney was granted regulation exemptions and significant autonomy over planning. The wind and solar farm, to include five wind turbines, an array of solar panels and battery storage, will be built by Octopus Energy Generation, one of Europe’s largest investors in renewable energy.Stevens says their involvement was secured after Elba and his wife Sabrina met top Octopus officials Greg Jackson and Zoisa North-Bond at a party where they were “super interested” in Sherbro.Octopus said construction was scheduled to begin later this year, though the timing depends on weather conditions. Sierra Leone’s rainy season typically runs from May to November.The company says “onshore wind and solar power are some of the quickest sources of energy we can build” and the windfarm should be complete in a matter of months. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Idris Elba and his Sherbro partner Siaka Stevens (L) have signed a deal with Octopus Energy to build Sierra Leone’s first wind farmThis is an exciting prospect for Sierra Leone, where only 28% of the population currently has access to electricity – and rural areas like Sherbro Island have no mains power.Ms North-Bond, Octopus Energy CEO, told the BBC the company was considering two ways to distribute power across the island. One was a micro-grid. The other was to function as an “energy island”, enabling local business to bring electric vehicles – both cars and motorcycles – to charge up from on-site battery stations and then deliver energy to domestic batteries in people’s homes. Octopus’s work on Sherbro Island was a pilot and would serve as an exercise in data collection and potentially a model for other parts of Sierra Leone or elsewhere on the African continent, Ms North-Bond said.On the wider vision for Sherbro, Stevens told the BBC he wanted it to be an “Afro-dynamic eco-city” to be based on African cultural values, prioritising community, collaboration and respect for nature.It should also be able to adapt to changing social, economic and environmental conditions and be built sustainably – an energy-efficient set-up, resilient to climate change. As the co-ordinator, Sherbro Alliance Partners has not specified a single budget, but investment would be drawn from a wide range of sources and is likely to run to billions of dollars. In addition to the partnership with Octopus, it has signed contracts with a series of specialist partners including:Lloyds will “support economic growth opportunities” and provide expertise on insurance and riskSasaki Associates and Foster & Partners will oversee the overall master plan and landscape architecture. Fosters is renowned for a wide range of global projects including London’s Gherkin, City Hall and Millennium BridgeMIC-HUB, a transport planning company, has been charged with administering efficient transport to and from the island, along with eco-friendly travel on SherbroAnd coastal engineer PRDW is to consider climate change impacts and how sea level variations may impact the island. The success of this project can only be judged with hindsight, but it is a huge undertaking. Some other African projects with a similar ethos are yet to reach their potential. There have been questions about the feasibility of Senegal’s Akon City or the Malaysian Eco-Satellite City in Uganda. But in Sierra Leone, the metric of success goes way beyond the bottom line. Elba seems doubtful about ever turning a profit – but as he said, it is about making it work.”Part of me wants to build that beautiful retirement home for my mum,” he said. “Never in my lifetime would I have thought I could build the foundation for a new smart-city… I’m not qualified for that. But I am qualified to dream big.”Reflecting on his late father, Elba said he would probably think the dream was too big, but he would be proud and have some sound advice: “If you’re going to do it, make sure you do it properly.”You do it good, you do it with all your heart because that’s the best you can do.”You may also be interested in:Idris Elba given Sierra Leone citizenshipSierra Leone’s tourist industry recovering from EbolaAkon’s Wakanda, grazing goats and a crypto dreamRelated TopicsSierra LeoneIdris ElbaBusiness in AfricaEco-tourismAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop Stories’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealPublished1 hour agoEvacuations as Iceland volcano erupts againPublished1 hour agoIreland beat Scotland to retain Six Nations titleAttributionSportPublished6 hours agoFeatures’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealThe Papers: ‘Shapps missile threat’ and ‘Strictly stars summit’The ‘insane’ plan to save the Arctic’s sea-iceShould adult Harry Potter fans ‘grow up and get over it’?Chris Mason: How will Welsh Labour change under Gething?Born on 7 October: Gaza mum’s fight to feed her babyWorkaholics Anonymous: ‘I couldn’t step away from the computer’What we know about Meghan’s regal lifestyle brandRos Atkins on… Why one in five people do not work. 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[ad_1] The actor aims to regenerate an island off Sierra Leone and start the country’s first wind farm.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWho will replace Mitch McConnell as the Senate’s top Republican?Published27 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Phil McCauslandBBC News, New YorkMitch McConnell announced on Wednesday that he intends to step down as the longest-serving Senate Republican leader following November’s general election.For nearly 20 years, Republicans have relied on the effective Kentucky legislator to navigate the passage of conservative priorities.Since he announced the news, Washington has moved quickly to speculate who could replace Mr McConnell, who has skilfully held his fracturing party together in recent times. Those vying to succeed Mr McConnell, 82, face the daunting prospect of appealing to competing wings of the party. The eventual replacement will have to win the support of a majority of Senate Republicans.Here are some potential successors.Senator John Cornyn of TexasImage source, Getty ImagesThe Texas senator became the first lawmaker on Thursday to officially throw his hat in the ring for the position. Mr Cornyn once served in Mr McConnell’s leadership team, and he remains a close confidant of the Kentucky politician. He is widely considered a strong Senate operator thanks to his 22 years of legislative experience.In a statement announcing he was running for Mr McConnell’s position, he pointed to this expertise. “I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader [Mitch] McConnell. I have learned a lot during my time both in and out of Senate leadership,” Mr Cornyn said. “Throughout my time I’ve built a track record of listening to colleagues and seeking consensus, while leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our nation and the conservative cause.”Being outside of leadership could also prove to be a benefit, as he did not participate in the recent deal to pass foreign aid in the Senate. He also was not part of the failed border security negotiations, which proved unpopular with the Republican Conference. And, while Mr Cornyn has taken Mr Trump to task in the past, he endorsed the former president last month. He also never supported any of Mr Trump’s challengers, which saved him from earning the Maga movement’s ire. Senator John Thune of South DakotaImage source, Getty ImagesMr Thune is typically the first mentioned of the “three Johns” who are considered the top candidates to take on Mr McConnell’s leadership position.The South Dakota senator is currently the Republican whip, second-in-command to Mr McConnell, and he is known as an effective fundraiser within his party. He also is seen as a moderating force among Republicans, who have taken a hard turn to the right under the leadership of former President Donald Trump.But Mr Thune’s position in leadership could also undermine his ambition to take on Mr McConnell’s post. Some Senate Republicans, particularly those allied with Mr Trump, have made clear they would like a fresh leader.It is worth noting that Mr Thune only endorsed the former president’s candidacy a few days before Mr McConnell’s announcement. Mr Trump also endorsed the South Dakota senator’s Republican primary challenger in 2022.Senator John Barrasso of WyomingImage source, Getty ImagesAs the Republican Conference Chair, Mr Barrasso has an influential position within Senate party leadership – and he also has never crossed Mr Trump.That could prove to be the necessary recipe to earn the support of many of his fellow Republicans if he were to pursue Mr McConnell’s leadership post. Mr Barrasso was the second senator to support Mr Trump’s candidacy ahead of the 2024 primary campaign, and he has backed a slate of candidates who are in lockstep with the former president. He immediately dismissed reporters questions when asked whether he intends to battle for Mr McConnell’s position, saying that he remains focused on the election results in November.Senator Rick Scott of FloridaImage source, Getty ImagesMr Scott angered a number of his Republican colleagues when he mounted a challenge against Mr McConnell 15 months ago. He burned further bridges with them by proposing that several popular federal programmes – such as Medicare and Social Security – be renegotiated every five years. Even Mr Trump, who has been supportive of the Florida politician, has warned Mr Scott to “be careful” about his policy suggestions. While the chances seem low that Mr Scott would run again or win the leadership position, he has maintained that the Senate needs new leadership. That comment was reflected in the statement he shared after Mr McConnell’s announcement.”I have been very clear and have long believed that we need new leadership in the Senate that represents our voters and the issues we were sent here to fight for,” Mr Scott said.The dark horsesWhile the four men are the most likely candidates, Capitol Hill can always surprise political observers. After all, few would have considered Mike Johnson, a little-known Louisiana congressman, as a viable candidate for Speaker of the House.Senator Steve Daines of Montana could be a strong dark horse contender for the job. He currently leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and is leading the party’s efforts to retake the Senate majority. Many Republicans feel bullish about their chances thanks to his efforts, and the party’s electoral success in November could lift Mr Daines’ profile further. Mr Trump has also encouraged the Montana Republican to run for the leadership post, according to a Politico report. Sen Joni Ernst of Iowa, who served as the vice-chair of the Republican conference until January, is considered another potential candidate and a reliable backer of Mr Trump. Related TopicsRepublican PartyMitch McConnellUS politicsMore on this storyMcConnell to step down as Senate Republican leaderPublished1 day agoMitch McConnell: From polio survivor to political titanPublished1 day agoTop StoriesLive. Counting begins after polls close in Rochdale by-electionMore than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished3 hours agoSarah Everard killer should never have been police officer, says inquiryPublished6 hours agoFeaturesAnalysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows2Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’3’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral4TikTok singer Cat Janice dies of cancer, aged 315At least 43 dead in Bangladesh building fire6More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoy7Airport borders not working properly, report found8Sarah killer should not have been in Met – inquiry9MP Julian Knight will face no criminal charges10Horner reiterates denial after alleged messages leakAttributionSport](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/1023B/production/_132770166_0e701cc91152952fe00cff9b038e7b4c302dbe3b.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDemocrats rally around Biden as report raises age concernsPublished1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Democrats who have spent time with Mr Biden have defended him as sharp and focusedBy Sam Cabral & Madeline HalpertBBC News on Capitol Hill & from New YorkDemocrats are defending President Joe Biden after a report on his handling of classified documents raised concerns about his age and mental fitness. Mr Biden will not be charged for keeping classified documents, but the report cast him as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”.Vice-President Kamala Harris slammed the description as “gratuitous, inaccurate and inappropriate”.She also alleged the prosecutor was “clearly politically motivated”.Robert Hur, a Donald Trump appointee who has previously clerked for two well-known conservative judges, was appointed to lead the Biden classified document probe last year.Prosecutor faces political glare after Biden reportHis selection by US Attorney General Merrick Garland that January came as the justice department faced criticism from Republicans over a separate special counsel appointment to investigate Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of top secret files.But Mr Hur’s publicly-released report included a letter from the White House asking that the comments about the president’s memory be revised “in a manner that is within the bounds of your expertise and remit”.Ms Harris, who has previously served as a prosecutor, echoed that criticism at a news conference on Friday.”The way that the president’s demeanour in that report was characterised could not be more wrong on the facts, and clearly politically motivated,” she said.”When it comes to the role and responsibility of a prosecutor in a situation like that, we should expect there would be a higher level of integrity.”Political grenade puts spotlight on Biden’s ageWho is the special counsel in the Biden probe?Democratic allies on Capitol Hill also told the BBC they believed Mr Hur’s remarks went beyond the scope of the investigation. “I think it was an entirely inappropriate way to approach the remit of the special counsel and the role of the special counsel,” Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said.”It’s unfortunate it wandered into territory that was so inappropriate.”Minnesota’s Tina Smith called Mr Hur’s comments “outrageous” and “despicable”, accusing him of “blatantly politicising” his role as special counsel.Since launching his re-election campaign, Mr Biden has been plagued by concerns about his age and mental capacities.He is 81, just a few years older than the front-runner Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, 77. This report has done little to assuage voters’ concerns. It alleged that Mr Biden could not remember when his son Beau died of cancer or when he served as vice-president during interviews with investigators. But Democrats who spoke to the BBC on Friday said they remain unconcerned about the president’s mental faculties.Summing up his takeaways from the report, Senator Jon Ossoff from Georgia said: “No charges recommended. Unusual commentary straying from what one would typically expect in a focused and substantive report. Ultimately just noise.”The youngest member of the Senate, Mr Ossoff emphasised that he had spent a “substantial amount of time” with the president in recent months. “I’ve found him to be sharp, focused, impressive, formidable and effective,” he said.Mr Ossoff’s colleagues agreed, including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who called the president “thoughtful and experienced” at a Friday news conference. Democrats remain “absolutely confident” in the president, he said. “We want to stick with somebody who understands what this country needs.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Biden responds to special counsel – “I’m elderly and know what the hell I’m doing”But some of his counterparts across the aisle said Mr Hur’s observations had added fuel to the growing perception that Mr Biden is not up to the job of president. “He’s trying to do his best, and his best is beginning to concern me,” North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told the BBC. “I don’t care if you’re 78 or 178, if you’re going to be the leader of the free world, you’ve got to be on your game 100%,” the moderate Republican said. Concerns about Mr Biden’s age are “an enduring problem” for his re-election campaign, Larry Sabato, the director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, told the BBC.Experts have noted that polling suggests Mr Trump does not face as much criticism from voters about his age, despite having similar gaffes as Mr Biden on the campaign trail.In recent months, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have made a series of public errors while publicly speaking, confusing names of world leaders and US politicians on several occasions. But Mr Trump’s bombastic style and “constant offensive posture” may fuel perceptions of him as a more energetic candidate, said Chris Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.Worries about Mr Trump’s age “don’t seem to stick in the same way”, he said. But for Mr Biden, his campaign will have to be focused on addressing the perception that he is not mentally fit for office.”The report adds to the steepness of [Biden’s] efforts to overcome what is undoubtedly a significant hindrance to his campaign,” Mr Borick said. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaBiden classified documents: Special counsel raises questions about the president’s ‘poor memory’Published41 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image source, Getty ImagesBy Matt MurphyBBC News, WashingtonA landmark report from Special Counsel Robert Hur has raised serious questions about President Joe Biden’s memory, allegations the White House has been quick to rebuff. Declining to prosecute Mr Biden for retaining troves of classified documents, Mr Hur – a Republican – said the 81-year-old would likely present himself at trial as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. Elsewhere, the report challenged Mr Biden for retaining reams of classified information, and for storing it improperly and insecurely. The White House has already attacked the report, saying the descriptions of the president’s memory were not “accurate or appropriate” and said that they had no place in a Department of Justice report. Major questions raised about the president’s memoryThe report found that the president’s memory “appeared to have significant limitations”.The quotes are among dozens of examples in the report which raise major questions about Mr Biden’s memory and mental agility. In one passage, the special counsel described extended interview with the ghost writer of Mr Biden’s book, Mark Zwonitzer, where the president appeared to struggle to recall significant events from his time serving as vice-president to Barack Obama. “Mr Biden’s recorded conversations with Zwonitzer from 2017 are often painfully slow, with Mr Biden struggling to remember events and straining at times to read and relay his own notebook entries.” The report then details Mr Biden’s interviews with the special counsels’ office, for which he sat voluntarily, six years later. It describes his memory as having become worse in intervening period. “In his interview with our office, Mr Biden’s memory was worse. He did not remember when he was vice president, forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended (‘if it was 2013 – when did I stop being Vice President?’), and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began (‘in 2009, am I still Vice President’).” Elsewhere, the report says that Mr Biden struggled to remember key events that caused divisions in the early days of the Obama administration. In particular, it suggests that Mr Biden struggled to describe the intricacies of a debate surrounding the surge of troops into Afghanistan in 2009. The then vice-president was opposed to President Obama’s decision to send 30,000 additional US troops into the country to support the government of Hamid Karzai. Instead, Mr Biden wanted to expand special operations missions and drone strikes. “His memory appeared hazy when describing the Afghanistan debate that was once so important to him. Among other things, he mistakenly said he “had a real difference” of opinion with General Karl Eikenberry, when, in fact, Eikenberry was an ally whom Mr Biden cited approvingly in his Thanksgiving memo to President Obama.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mr Biden disagreed with Mr Obama’s decision to send 30,000 US troops to shore up Hamid Karzai’s governmentElsewhere, Mr Hur’s report also suggests that Mr Biden could not recall when exactly his son, Beau, passed away. “He did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.” The president’s son, a former US army soldier in Iraq and Delaware’s ex-attorney general, died in May 2015, aged 46. Mr Biden has described the event as one of the worst days of his life. While Mr Hur’s report offers these examples as evidence of Mr Biden’s diminished mental faculties, the report has already come under attack from Democrats. Richard Sauber – Mr Biden’s special counsel – condemned the report and urged Mr Hur, who has no medical training, to “revisit [his] descriptions of President Biden’s memory and revise them so that they are stated in a manner that is within the bounds of your expertise and remit”.Mr Sauber also observed that the interviews began the day after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October last year, and that Mr Hur seemed to accept it was reasonable that other witnesses could not recall events which, in some cases, occurred almost 15 years ago. Biden stored classified documents next to a dog bedIn another section of the report, Mr Hur described how investigators who raised Mr Biden’s home in Delaware found scores of classified documents relating to Afghanistan in his cluttered garage. The report said the files were discovered “near a collapsed dog crate, a dog bed, a Zappos box, an empty bucket, a broken lamp wrapped with duct tape, potting soil, and synthetic firewood”.Image source, FBIImage caption, A number of classified files were found in Mr Biden’s cluttered garageBut it noted that “reasonable juror could conclude that this is not where a person intentionally stores what he supposedly considers to be important classified documents, critical to his legacy”. Instead, Mr Hur once again raised questions over Mr Biden’s memory, saying the discovery looked “like a place a person stores classified documents he has forgotten about or is unaware of”. Biden thought Obama was making a major mistake with Afghanistan surgeShortly after coming to office, Mr Obama became convinced that a surge of US forces into Afghanistan was the only way to maintain stability in the country. Mr Biden, as previously stated, was strongly opposed to the policy. The then vice-president viewed himself as “a historic figure” who frequently maintained diaries and records with a view to later writing his legacy. The report says Biden had a strong motive to keep the classified documents about Afghanistan, because he wanted to prove that he was opposed to Mr Obama’s decision to send extra troops there.He “believed President Obama’s 2009 troop surge was a mistake on par with Vietnam”, the report states, adding: “He wanted record to show that he was right about Afghanistan; that his critics were wrong.”Contrast drawn with evasive TrumpMr Hur credits Mr Biden with immediately handing over the documents to investigators after he found them. “Mr Biden turned in classified documents to the National Archives and the Department of Justice, consented to the search of multiple locations including his homes, sat for a voluntary interview. and in other ways cooperated with the investigation.” And he drew a strong distinction with former President Donald Trump, who he says adopted the opposite approach. Mr Trump is facing multiple charges for obstructing efforts to investigate the storage of the files at his Florida home. “Unlike the evidence involving Mr. Biden, the allegations set forth in the indictment of Mr Trump, if proven, would present serious aggravating facts.”Most notably, after being given multiple chances to return classified documents and avoid prosecution, Mr Trump allegedly did the opposite. According to the indictment, he not only refused to return the documents for many months, but he also obstructed justice by enlisting others to destroy evidence and then to lie about it.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Donald trump allegedly kept secret documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office and obstructed government efforts to retrieve themIt was reasonable for Biden to keep some classified diaries Mr Biden has long kept notebooks in which he would write classified information during meetings. The report noted that during his eight years as vice-president, Mr Biden regularly kept notebooks that included details of classified subjects, including the President’s Daily Brief and National Security Council meetings. These notebooks were later removed from the White House and discovered in unlocked drawers and from the basement of his Delaware and Virginia homes. Mr Biden, the report said, was aware the notebooks contained classified information but still read aloud from them to his ghost writer. But the report accepts that given the precedent set by former President Ronald Reagan – who also kept notebooks filled with classified information – that it may have been reasonable for Mr Biden to believe that he had a right to hold onto the information. “Many jurors would conclude that, given the Department’s treatment of Mr Reagan, who kept his classified diaries for more than a decade before his death, it would have been plausible for Mr Biden to believe he could properly keep his classified notebooks. Citing relevant sources of likely would not sway such jurors from this conclusion.” Related TopicsRepublican PartyUS election 2024Joe BidenMore on this storyBiden will not be charged over top secret documentsPublished36 minutes agoBiden interviewed over handling of classified filesPublished10 October 2023Top StoriesSpecial counsel raises questions about Biden’s memoryPublished41 minutes agoStarmer defends U-turn on £28bn green spendingPublished4 hours agoKing doing ‘extremely well’ after diagnosis, says Queen. VideoKing doing ‘extremely well’ after diagnosis, says QueenPublished3 hours agoFeaturesWhat does Putin gain from Tucker Carlson interview?’We are surrounded’ – Guarding the Middle East’s most dangerous borderWhat happened to Labour’s £28bn for green projects?North Koreans working in China ‘exploited like slaves’Listen: Starmer faces backlash over scaling back of green plan. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSomalia piracy: Are we witnessing its return off the country’s coast?Published6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Indian NavyImage caption, The Indian Navy posted a photo of its personnel with the captured hijackersBy Wedaeli ChibelushiBBC NewsHijackers are once again targeting ships off Somalia’s coast and a recent spike in attacks has brought back memories from more than a decade ago.That was when armed Somali pirates scoured the waters, forcefully boarding vessels and raking in millions of dollars by demanding ransoms.That died down and all but disappeared once extensive security measures were put in place, but the events from the past few weeks has raised questions about whether a full-scale resurgence of piracy is possible.What attacks have happened recently?According to EUNavfor Atalanta, a European Union naval force responsible for maritime security along East Africa’s coast, at least 14 vessels have been hijacked off the Somali coast since late November.These include two in that month when an Iranian-flagged fishing boat was attacked and then two days later a Liberian-flagged ship, Central Park, was targeted. In both cases the crews were rescued.US forces were involved in the Central Park rescue and later said the attackers were likely Somali and that it was “clearly a piracy-related incident”.Then in December the MV Ruen, a ship carrying a Maltese flag, was hijacked. The attackers are still in control of the vessel and 17 crew members remain stuck on board. This was the first successful hijacking off Somalia in six years, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), an influential non-profit organisation that aims to tackle maritime crime.In January, attacks continued with the Indian navy coming to the aid of the sailors in several cases including three this week. On Friday it said it freed 19 crew members – 11 Iranians and eight Pakistanis – “who had been held captive by the Somali pirates”.What has triggered these hijackings?Attacks on ships off Somalia appear to be opportunistic, with hijackers likely exploiting a security gap, Troels Burchall Henningsen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, told the BBC.International forces began patrolling these waters when piracy surged between 2005 and 2012, but the focus recently moved up into the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi rebel group have been attacking ships, he said.”Militarily speaking, it is such a demanding task to protect against [the Houthis’] missiles and drones. So they’re not able to switch between anti-piracy and encountering drones and missiles,” Dr Henningsen explained.This theory has been echoed by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), a regional body comprised of countries in nearby East African waters, like the Seychelles and Comoros.In a statement last week, the IOC suggested other reasons for the hijacking spike. In the initial wave of attacks over a decade ago, some coastal fisherman turned to piracy after their livelihoods were destroyed by illegal fishing from foreign trawlers.The IOC said current Somali fishery policy has led to another increase in foreign fishing vessels, which may again be pushing coastal Somalis into piracy.For example, it referenced speculation that the Islamist militant Somalia-based al-Shabab group has been encouraging attacks on ships, via an alleged deal where they get a cut of ransom proceeds in exchange for providing the attackers with protection.What do the hijackers want from the ships?Between 2005 and 2012, pirates off the Horn of Africa raked in between $339m (£266m) and $413m (£325) by holding crew members hostage and demanding ransom payments, the World Bank has estimated. Given this history, Samuel Oyewole, a lecturer at Nigeria’s Federal University with an expertise in East African piracy, said that the latest set of hijackers are highly likely to be after ransoms.But at this stage it is not possible to know for sure.”In most cases… the efforts of the multinational naval forces in the region actually disrupted the operations. “So at the end of the day, we may not fully know the intention,” he explained.What has been the reaction to the attacks?The IOC called the situation “worrying” in its statement, going so far as to urge a UN-appointed anti-piracy group to “asap” hold an emergency meeting about the attacks.The IMB called the the MV Ruen – which has been under the control of hijackers since 14 December – a “cause for concern”.IMB Director Michael Howlett told the BBC that “every successful hijacking” has the potential to encourage others to carry out attacks.Although the assaults have caused concern within the commercial shipping industry, that concern is being “overshadowed”, Dr Henningsen said.”They are, of course, most worried about the incidents in the Red Sea because it’s on a much larger scale and potentially much more dangerous.Does this indicate a resurgence of Somali piracy?The IOC said it considers at least six of the recent attacks could be described as acts of piracy. When asked by the BBC how it designated the assaults of the past couple of months, the IMB said “the attacks on merchant ships are classified as piracy”.And on Tuesday EUNavfor Atalanta said the outcome of the seizing of the MV Ruen could determine whether the region will see a “resurgence”. Amid media reports that the ship’s captors are demanding a ransom, EUNavfor Atalanta said the MV Ruen served “as a test to determine if piracy remains a profitable”.”Should piracy prove lucrative in this instance, the conclusion of the monsoon season may herald a resurgence in pirate activities,” it continued.However, Dr Jess Simonds, who specialises in the Horn of Africa’s maritime security at the UK’s University of Chester, argued that the recent hijackings must be treated on a case-by-case basisShe pointed out that according to a UN definition, piracy takes place on the high seas, i.e. waters that are outside any country’s jurisdiction. Half of the recent hijackings recorded by EUNavfor Atalanta have occurred in Somalia’s territorial waters.”What can become quite dangerous is that any attack at sea, because it’s off Somalia, can be considered piracy,” Dr Simonds said.Meanwhile, both Dr Henningsen and Dr Oyewole believe that although international naval forces in the region may be stretched by the Houthi attacks, they are currently still capable of preventing a full-scale return to the piracy of the past.What is being done to combat the assaults?EUNavfor Atalanta said it is “monitoring all suspected cases of piracy” and “together with its maritime security partners deployed in the area and the naval forces of regional countries, remains fully committed to not allowing the resurgence of this threat”.EUNavfor and other forces, for example from India and the US, have successfully foiled many attacks.But, the IOC complained that EUNavfor “currently runs on a single ship by the Spanish navy” and that “except for the Indian navy, naval forces that actively contribute to counter-piracy have been substantially reduced”.Dr Oyewole told the BBC that in seeking to tackle attacks off Somalia, the international community should look to two geopolitical conflicts. He noted that the Houthi rebels say they will stop attacking ships – and therefore drawing naval patrols from off Somalia – once Israel stops its war on Gaza. Secondly, Somalia is currently in a diplomatic row with the self-declared republic of Somaliland and Ethiopia over a controversial port deal, and any escalation may leave it less able to police piracy.”These are issues that the international community have to pay attention to before it gets to a point where it threatens the whole,” Dr Oyewole said.Related TopicsSomaliaMore on this storyHow foreign powers stopped pirates in SomaliaPublished11 December 2018The world’s most dangerous seasPublished19 June 2019Everything you need to know about SomaliaPublished2 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWestern officials in protest over Israel Gaza policyPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, Getty ImagesBy Tom BatemanBBC State Department correspondentMore than 800 serving officials in the US and Europe have signed a statement warning that their own governments’ policies on the Israel-Gaza war could amount to “grave violations of international law”.The “transatlantic statement”, a copy of which was passed to the BBC, says their administrations risk being complicit in “one of the worst human catastrophes of this century” but that their expert advice has been sidelined. It is the latest sign of significant levels of dissent within the governments of some of Israel’s key Western allies.One signatory to the statement, a US government official with more than 25 years’ national security experience, told the BBC of the “continued dismissal” of their concerns.”The voices of those who understand the region and the dynamics were not listened to,” said the official.”What’s really different here is we’re not failing to prevent something, we’re actively complicit. That is fundamentally different from any other situation I can recall,” added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The statement is signed by civil servants from the US, the EU and 11 European countries including the UK, France and Germany. It says Israel has shown “no boundaries” in its military operations in Gaza, “which has resulted in tens of thousands of preventable civilian deaths; and… the deliberate blocking of aid… putting thousands of civilians at risk of starvation and slow death.””There is a plausible risk that our governments’ policies are contributing to grave violations of international law, war crimes and even ethnic cleansing or genocide,” it said.Israelis tell MPs of Hamas sexual violence evidenceInjured, hungry and alone – the Gazan children orphaned by warThe identities of those who signed or endorsed the statement have not been made public and the BBC has not seen a list of names, but understands that nearly half are officials who each have at least a decade of experience in government. One retired US ambassador told the BBC that the coordination by dissenting civil servants in multiple governments was unprecedented.”It’s unique in my experience watching foreign policy in the last 40 years,” said Robert Ford, a former American ambassador to Algeria and Syria. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Biden’s support for Israel has lost him votes among Arab AmericansHe likened it to concerns within the US administration in 2003 over faulty intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq, but said this time many officials with reservations did not want to remain silent. “[Then there were] people who knew better, who knew that intelligence was being cherry-picked, who knew that there wasn’t a plan for the day after, but nobody said anything publicly. And that turned out to be a serious problem,” he said. “The problems with the Gaza war are so serious and the implications are so serious that they feel compelled to go public,” he said. The officials argue the current nature of their governments’ military, political or diplomatic support for Israel “without real conditions or accountability” not only risks further Palestinian deaths, but also endangers the lives of hostages held by Hamas, as well as Israel’s own security and regional stability. “Israel’s military operations have disregarded all important counterterrorism expertise gained since 9/11… the [military] operation has not contributed to Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas and has instead strengthened the appeal of Hamas, Hezbollah and other negative actors”. Why are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza?The officials say they have expressed their professional concerns internally but have been “overruled by political and ideological considerations”. The US State Department, the European Union Commission and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been approached for comment.The statement suggests that while Israel’s military operation has caused unprecedented destruction of lives and property in Gaza, there appears to be no workable strategy to effectively remove Hamas as a threat, nor for a political solution to ensure Israel’s security in the longer term. It calls for the US and European governments to “stop asserting to the public that there is a strategic and defensible rationale behind the Israeli operation”. Israeli officials have consistently rejected such criticism. In response to the new statement, the Israeli embassy in London said it was bound by international law.It added: “Israel continues to act against a genocidal terrorist organisation which commits war crimes as well as crimes against humanity.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that only full military pressure on Hamas will secure the further release of hostages, while the army says it has destroyed significant underground infrastructure used by the group, including command centres, weapons sites and facilities for holding hostages. On Saturday, the Israeli military said: “Throughout [the city of] Khan Yunis, we have eliminated over 2,000 terrorists above and below ground.”Israel has repeatedly rejected claims it deliberately targets civilians, accusing Hamas of hiding in and around civilian infrastructure. Since the start of the war, more than 26,750 Palestinians have been killed and at least 65,000 injured, according to health officials in the Gaza Strip, which has been governed by Hamas and blockaded by Israel and Egypt since 2007. Israeli officials say that 9,000 of those killed were Hamas militants but have not provided evidence for the figure. More than 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas attacks of October 7th, and a further 100 died of their injuries according to Israeli officials. More than 250 people were taken as hostages into Gaza. Image source, Getty ImagesThe US administration has repeatedly said that “far too many Palestinians have been killed” in Gaza, and that Israel has the right to ensure October 7th “can never happen again”. It has recently adopted a tougher line over elements of Israeli policy, including becoming increasingly outspoken over a failure to act against settler violence in the occupied West Bank. On Thursday, President Biden announced the first ever US sanctions against settlers responsible for attacking Palestinians. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has previously attempted to address reservations over US policy within the ranks of the State Department, telling officials in November: “We’re listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages.” The department has a “dissent channel” set up during the Vietnam War to enable diplomats to express disagreements with official US positions without fear of retaliation.In the latest statement, the largest numbers of signatories are understood to be working in EU institutions, the Netherlands and the US. Most of the US government officials who signed are understood to work for the State Department, while others are officials serving at the White House, Homeland Security, Justice and other government departments. The BBC has previously reported on dissent among some UK Foreign Office staff amid wider complaints over a failure to explicitly highlight the spiralling civilian death toll in Gaza. It is understood that “staff counsellors” in the Foreign Office previously collated internal concerns, but that there is currently disquiet at the lack of formal mechanism to register dissent over the Israel-Hamas war. Related TopicsIsrael-Gaza warIsraelPalestinian territoriesUnited StatesWest BankJoe BidenMore on this storyUS sanctions Israeli settlers over West Bank violencePublished13 hours agoIsraelis tell MPs of Hamas sexual violence evidencePublished1 day agoAt least half of Gaza buildings damaged or destroyed, new analysis showsPublished2 days agoIsrael W Bank hospital raid kills three Palestinian fightersPublished2 days agoTop StoriesLive. 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