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French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with US President-elect Donald Trump as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris as part of ceremonies to mark the reopening of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, in Paris, on Dec. 7, 2024.
The Trump Show, Season II
A senior Ukrainian official said Zelensky and Trump discussed "some key conditions" for ending the war with Russia but gave no details. On his Truth Social account, Trump posted “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”
Then, on Sunday, NBC aired Trump’s first post-election interview, taped earlier at Trump Tower in New York. Speaking to Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” Trump pledged sweeping Day-One actions, from pardoning Jan. 6 rioters to deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. On birthright citizenship? He’d end it. On tariffs? Americans might pay more for goods, but “I can’t guarantee tomorrow.”
On his political enemies? No time for retribution. Instead, he’s focused on “Drill baby drill.” Trump also refused to concede the 2020 election. When asked why he didn’t think Democrats fixed the 2024 vote, he quipped that it was “too big to rig.” Yuuuuge.
Participants make their way past the Notre-Dame Cathedral as they attend the 13th edition of the stand up Nautic Paddle race on the river Seine in Paris, France, December 1, 2024.
Hard Numbers: Notre Dame’s stones gleam after cleaning, Trump threatens yuge tariffs, Iceland gets new gov, Vaccine promises AIDS end
42,000: Workers restoring Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral after the fire that ravaged it five years ago had to clean 42,000 square meters of stone. They used special techniques to minimize damage to the original masonry in the process and the results are stunning: See it for yourself: The medieval cathedral reopens to the public on Dec. 8.
100: President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose 100% tariffs on goods imported from BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as well Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE), should the organization try to issue its own currency or displace the dollar’s place in world trade. It’s an odd threat, as some members – namely Russia and Iran – are already so heavily sanctioned that trade with the US is non-existent, while others – Brazil, Egypt, and the UAE – are major US allies.
15: Iceland’s Social Democrats gained 15 seats in the Althing – one of the world’s oldest parliaments – and will unseat the ruling conservatives after seven years of power following Saturday’s snap election. It’s yet another example of the anti-establishment trend few democracies seem able to escape in this election-studded year.
2: A twice-yearly vaccine against HIV/AIDS has proven 100% effective against contracting the virus, which a UN report for World AIDS Day on Sunday called a “historic crossroads” in the fight to end the epidemic. Generic versions of the drug will be available in 120 low-income countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, but the manufacturer has not approved generic patents for Latin America, which may represent a crucial weak spot in distribution.A couple wounded in a shopping mall hit by a Russian missile strike hold hands in a hospital in Kremenchuk, Ukraine.
Hard Numbers: Russia says “mea culpa”, Saudis stiffs Yemen, Sturgeon floats 2nd vote, Maxwell faces 20 years, Notre Dame goes green
20: In a rare “mea culpa,” Russia claimed responsibility for the missile strike that Kyiv says killed at least 20 people in a Ukrainian shopping mall on Monday. The catch? Moscow says what really happened is that the missile hit a munitions facility that exploded next to the mall.
3 billion: The internationally recognized government of Yemen is still awaiting the arrival of $3 billion in economic support that was recently pledged by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Meanwhile, the Yemeni currency continues to plummet as the war-torn country tries to solidify an April ceasefire.
2: Let’s do it all again! Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has begun the process of holding another referendum on independence from the UK in October 2023. She’s asked the UK Supreme Court to rule on whether the vote can go forward without permission from British Parliament. In a 2014 vote, 55% of Scots opposed independence, but Sturgeon hopes that Brexit and the unpopular Boris Johnson have changed Scottish minds.
20: Former socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for trafficking four teenage girls for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell’s lawyers say they will appeal. Maxwell and Epstein’s connections to many prominent US and European politicians have raised the specter of potential bombshell revelations — but so far none has emerged.
53: Three years after a fire gutted the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, the city government has approved a $53 million makeover that aims to speed the flow of tourists through the iconic building and – checks notes – fight climate change?
Tensions Rise in Northern Ireland: Europe in 60 Seconds
Are tensions rising in Northern Ireland?
Yes they are, but it shouldn't be exaggerated either. But there is no question that the uncertainty generated by Brexit and the entire border issue has ignited some of the feelings of the past and there are small but evident and virulent terrorist groups active. So be careful with this. Peace is always a fragile thing.
Did the fire in Notre Dame reignite the debate about inequalities in France?
Perhaps it did. But I think it even more made clear to the French what unites them. The symbol of Notre Dame, the culture, everything that Notre Dame stands for has, I think, brought the French together and I think that President Macron has been able to capitalize and use the opportunity in a way that makes it more possible for him to achieve his other goals.
Read more on Northern Ireland: https://www.gzeromedia.com/what-were-watching-sudans-generals-and-northern-ireland
Inside Facebook's Crazy 15 Months: Tech in 60 Seconds
What was the craziest thing to happen inside Facebook in the last 15 months?
Funny you should ask, because I just wrote 12,000 words with Fred Vogelstein about all the crazy things that happened at Facebook in the last year and a half. The craziest was the fight with Instagram. A combination of jealousy, resentment, and anger led to a major breakup and the departure of the founders of Instagram in September.
Did Jack Dorsey help or hurt Twitter at TED this week?
I think he hurt it. He gave one of his deeply thoughtful, introspective interviews. We're getting kind of used to them but at this point I think the public reaction was, "OK, enough about feeling deeply about this. Let's change the platform!"
Can 3D point clouds help rebuild Notre Dame?
Yes. One of the good things inside this horrible tragedy is there's been a lot of really sophisticated imagery of what was burned down and now maybe it will be easier to rebuild.
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft Today in Technology.
France Unites Around Notre Dame Fire: World in 60 Seconds
Can President Micron unite France after the Notre Dame fire?
Yeah, I think he does actually have a shot. He's been taking it really hard for the last few months. Big demonstrations on the ground every week - the Yellow Vests. They're going to have to maintain a respectful distance given the level of disaster that they've just experienced and it gives Macron an opportunity to actually unify the country around something constructive in this case. Rebuilding this extraordinary cathedral.
What's the biggest issue at stake in Indonesia's election?
It's infrastructure, it's improving the economy. Joko - Jokowi, is the guy that's building the roads. A month ago, they finally got the first metro, underground metro, to actually start in Jakarta. Anyone who's been there, three hours to get from meeting to meeting. They desperately needed it. He's going to win again and it's gonna be helpful for the economy in the country.
Who's in charge in Sudan right now?
It is a rotating military council. They promised that the opposition can put anyone they want to be prime minister, but watch the military continue to control the country. That is, they're not giving up anytime soon.
Is the honeymoon over for Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president?
No, I wouldn't say it's over, but his popularity is starting to slip and the economy is getting a little soft. Job numbers don't look great right now. And he's having a hard time getting consensus because his party is relatively small and he doesn't want to work the traditional sausage making operations in Brazilian congress, which means that it's going to be a long term for this guy. But it also means that he's going to have to do business the way most Brazilian politicians do. He's not suddenly going to create an authoritarian Brazil = couldn't do it even if he wanted to.
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft Today in Technology.