Author: staff
As the offensive unfolded others agreed with al-Jolani, who has seemingly now dropped his nom de guerre and is using his birth name Ahmed al-Sharaa. They noted how fragile the regime appeared. “The Syrian Arab Army is a hollowed-out shell, far weaker than its ostensible numbers and weapons would indicate,” said former U.S. diplomat Alberto M. Fernandez. “Syria is an economic basket case. Officers supplement their meager salaries by taking bribes for soldiers to take extended leave and work at other jobs back home. Some units seem to have broken and fled after losing their officers.” Nonetheless, al-Jolani’s role in…
Rebel fighters seized Damascus on Sunday, sparking celebrations as crowds chanted anti-Assad slogans. Rebel fighters swept into Syria’s capital Damascus on Sunday, bringing them closer to a stunning victory.After years of a gruelling stalemate, the tide shifted dramatically in just two weeks. On Sunday, the main rebel coalition declared on its Telegram channel that they had seized control of Damascus and that Syrian forces were in retreat.Crowds have gathered to celebrate in the central squares of Damascus, chanting anti-Assad slogans and honking car horns.In Umayyad Square, located in the heart of the Syrian capital, people waved the green flag symbolising…
Not a fan of sliding down snowy slopes? That doesn’t mean you have to miss all the wintry fun. There’s nothing like the Alps in the winter if you love a bit of snow. But if the prospect of strapping a couple of bits of wood to your feet and sliding down a hill doesn’t appeal, don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out on all the fun.All over the Alps, resorts are recognising the demand for non-skier amenities and have really stepped up their game in terms of appeal. If you’d like to experience a snowy mountain holiday without…
This article was originally published in French The 22-year-old French swimmer won four gold medals and a bronze medal in the team event at the Olympic Games. A record unmatched in France. When Léon Marchand dives in, France holds its breath. The 22-year-old French swimmer won four gold medals and a bronze medal in the team events at the Olympic Games. A record unequalled in France.”I haven’t realised how much I’ve done yet. I know what I’ve done in the water, I know what I’ve done in terms of performance. I’ve also got a lot of statistics. There’s no Frenchman who’s…
Nemour’s success in Paris contrasted sharply with the French gymnastics team’s failure, as none of the women’s competitors managed to qualify for the apparatus finals. Dual national gymnast Kaylia Nemour won Algeria’s first Olympic gold in gymnastics — leaving France, for whom she competed for until 2021, to wonder what might have been.A 17-year-old native of Indre-en-Loire, Nemour began competing for Algeria three years ago after a dispute between the French gymnastics federation and her club, Avoine-Beaumont, where she continues to train in western France. The standoff emerged from a debate over how best to handle an injury caused by a…
Teaming up A key part of Kubilius’ job is ensuring that Europe’s defense industry, fragmented among many member countries, is better coordinated. The EU’s new initiative, the €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme, is supposed to help accomplish that. However, EU member countries are squabbling over how much access non-EU companies should have to the cash. Some countries — led by France — want the fund to have a strict Buy European clause, while others, including Poland, the Netherlands and Germany, are open to more flexible eligibility criteria. Kubilius also favors flexibility. “We need to develop our own industry … and…
Police say they interrupted a drug transaction outside a building in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. French prosecutors have detained a member of the Australian field hockey team at the Paris Olympics on allegations of trying to score cocaine.Authorities say police interrupted a drug transaction outside a building in the capital’s 9th arrondissement in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.The case has been taken over by the police anti-drug unit, and the 17-year-old alleged seller has been arrested too.The Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement that no charges had been filed and that it is “continuing to make enquiries…
“To the displaced all over the world, a free Syria awaits you,” the statement added. Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free, the Associated Press reported. The man who read the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state,” according to the report. The head of a Syrian opposition war monitor had said earlier that Assad had left the country for…
The Paris Olympics have triggered major arguments between “ultra fans” in China, leading to the removal of thousands of social media posts and the suspension of hundreds of users. China has had enough of Paris Olympics-related rows and has begun to crack down on what it considers a “negative culture” of defamation and slander.Beijing authorities are lamenting a growth in online battles led by “fan leaders”, who are attacking athletes and other fans, and manipulating comment sections to spark conflict between fan groups.In the latest controversy, a 29-year-old Chinese woman was arrested after allegedly making defamatory posts about athletes and…
Two triathlon athletes from the four-member Portuguese team who swam in the triathlon competition in the River Seine got sick amid concerns about the river’s water quality. Vasco Vilaça and Melanie Santos developed gastrointestinal infections after swimming in the Seine River on 5 August during their triathlon competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.Vilaça’s symptoms are stronger than his female counterpart, according to the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP).”His clinical condition is stable and the COP health team is taking all measures to monitor and provide conservative treatment for the athlete in the Olympic Village,” stated the COP’s statement published on…