The February 6 earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 in Turkey and Syria require Arab states to address controversial questions about dealing with the government in Damascus and acute humanitarian needs in Syria’s opposition-held northwest. Thus far, the disaster has not resulted in any Arab government changing its fundamental stance on President Bashar al-Assad, whose government has largely been isolated from the rest of the Arab world since 2011, when a largely unarmed uprising against his rule escalated into a full-fledged war. Syria was suspended from the Arab League the same year, with many of its members withdrawing their envoys…
Author: National Tone
As we mark the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, public debates over what to do with frozen Russian assets are raging. There seems to be growing pressure to seize the property and funds of sanctioned Russians and hand them over to Ukraine to help with its reconstruction. Though undoubtedly driven by moral outrage over the unforgivable suffering of the Ukrainian people, such a policy – if implemented without careful consideration – could have serious long-term repercussions. In this context, Slovakia can serve as a cautionary tale. Since 2017, Slovak courts have supported administrative agencies in applying World War…
Just Fontaine, who holds the record for the most goals scored at a single World Cup, has died at the age of 89.Fontaine scored 13 goals in just six matches for France at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden as they finished third.He is joint-fourth on the all-time World Cup goalscorers list alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi.”A star of French football, an outstanding striker, a legendary Reims player,” said his former club Stade de Reims.Another of his former clubs, Paris St-Germain, said: “A thought for Just Fontaine. An icon of French football who has left us.”The French Football Federation (FFF) described…
Mazjoob is the 125th protester killed in weekly protests launched after the October 2021 coup.Sudanese police have admitted a protester was shot and killed by its forces during a demonstration against military rule near the capital on Tuesday. Police said the shooting was an individual action that went against orders and that “necessary legal procedures” had been immediately taken against the policeman involved. “We saw the video that was widely circulated, including the falling of one of the protesters due to the behaviour of one of our police officers, and we confirm here that the police had taken all the…
Long partial to heavy lunchtime platters of meat and rice, Asim al-Shammari has recently turned to lighter fare from a self-described diet restaurant, swayed by Saudi Arabia’s anti-obesity push. Roughly one in five Saudi adults is obese, according to an in-depth study published by the World Bank last year that described the problem as “alarming”. The Global Obesity Observatory places the kingdom at number 17 in its international rankings of obesity prevalence, three slots below the United States and near neighbours Qatar and Kuwait. But the Vision 2030 reform agenda spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman includes goals for…
Maradi, Niger – As butchers chop meat, boys push carts of coconuts and fragrant spices entice passersby in the main market of Maradi, Niger’s second-largest city, many residents agree on one thing: life is more expensive this year than last. A litre of cooking oil that once went for 700 CFA francs ($1.13) now goes for 1,050 CFA ($1.70), says one merchant. Aminu Maman, who sells salt, cowpeas and dried baobab fruit says demand has also drastically reduced for his items. “Almost everything is going up.” Another merchant, Shamsudin Harouna, says that for locally grown staples like maize and sorghum,…
Six countries issue joint statement over clashes around town of Lascanood between Somaliland and local clan forces.Qatar, Somalia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States have expressed concern over fighting around a disputed town in Somalia’s northern breakaway region of Somaliland, where at least 34 people were killed in clashes in early February. Tension has risen between Somaliland and local clan forces in Lascanood since the end of last year, and heavy fighting has broken out around the town, which straddles a key trade route. “The partners expressed concern about the ongoing conflict in and…
United States President Joe Biden’s administration has said it will require companies winning funds from its $52bn semiconductor manufacturing and research programme to share excess profits and explain how they plan to provide employees with affordable childcare. The US Commerce Department on Tuesday released plans to begin accepting applications in late June for a $39bn manufacturing subsidy programme. The funding is part of the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law last August. The law also creates a 25 percent investment tax credit for building chip plants, estimated to be worth $24bn. The CHIPS Act plays…
‘There’s currently more democracy in Mexico than in the United States,’ Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says.Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rebuked a statement from Washington that appeared to criticise an electoral reform law in his country, accusing the United States of meddling in the affairs of its neighbour. Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday the US always interferes “in matters that don’t concern” it. A day earlier, the US State Department weighed in on a law that would cut the budget for Mexico’s independent electoral agency. Thousands had gathered in Mexico City on Sunday to reject the legislation, saying…
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired stalwart defenceman Luke Schenn on Tuesday from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Schenn, 34, had been rumoured to be on the block because his skillset — he’s a rugged, veteran, stay-at-home defenceman who has won two Stanley Cups — is in high demand for teams making a push into the playoffs. Plus, he’s a relative bargain: A pending UFA, Schenn’s cap hit is $850,000 this season. .acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container width: 340px; margin: 0 auto; In 55 games with the Canucks this season, Schenn has three goals…