Category: General

French basketball player Salimata Sylla is desperate to play in official matches with her head cover after being barred from wearing a headscarf in January of this year. Nicknamed “Sila,” a player for the 3rd league team Aubervilliers, began wearing a headscarf three years ago. Born in Paris, Sylla, now 25, started playing basketball 14 years ago with the guidance of her sisters. “My family, my friends, everybody accepts me as I am because I am ‘Sali,'” Sylla said. Earlier on Jan. 8, the young player was barred from participating in official matches. In the city of Escaudain, her coach came to her two minutes before the match began and said: “I am sorry Sali, but you cannot play with your scarf on.” She then talked to the referees, and they told her that “any accessory covering the head is considered inconvenient for the game,” as stated in the regulation of the French Federation of Basketball (FFBB). Creation ‘Ball.Her’ league Sylla then created the “Ball.Her” Women League, and said “I want to build sane courts for everyone. We cannot find ourselves humiliated in the court and out. The Ball.Her Women’s League is here to admit all the girls, without discrimination or inequality, for us to enjoy the basketball we love so much.” Since 2017, the French government and the International Federation of Basketball have allowed players to wear scarves while playing, she added. The FFBB has yet to respond to her questions about the ban. Salimata Sylla said she aspires to return to the FFBB league with her headscarf, adding that the French Handball Federation allows women to play with heads covered.

Source: Anadolu Agency

War in Ukraine cannot be ended with “piecemeal gains,” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said. “30 years after the end of the Cold War, Russia tells the West: ‘Let’s make a new agreement, make a new bargaining, and build a new global security architecture. Let me be in it, (where I) feel safe, let the West, Ukraine, Europe, and NATO be in it, as well’,” Kalin told the Haberturk news channel on Sunday. Without bargaining for such an agreement at the strategic level, Kalin said, he “does not believe that the Ukrainian war can be ended with piecemeal gains (by either side).” “This is the impression I got during my meeting with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he added. When asked “Will Putin take Ukraine city after city?”, Kalin said: “No, he (Putin) said, they have no intention of continuing this war forever. But the major question on the table is what an honorable way out for both sides will be.” About Trkiye’s suggestion, Kalin said: “We have a suggestion. Let me not say ‘plan’ in order not to be misunderstood, there is a perspective — that we are working on in this regard. But I have to say that at the moment, the international atmosphere is in favor of war rather than peace. The great powers want this war to continue.” “You know, they called it a war of attrition at first…We saw that this would not happen, in fact, you know, if Russia had been brought to heel in the first six months with economic sanctions and other things, it would have already been brought to its knees,” he added. Regarding the ongoing war since last February, Kalin said it had a “very serious” economic and military cost, adding that even today, in the Bakhmut region, where conflicts are intense, 100-200 people from both sides are dying. “There is a very bloody war there, unfortunately. The attention of the world has turned to other places, but the war continues there with all its violence. It is not possible to say that Russia has won, and it is not possible to say that Ukraine has won too,” he added.

Source: Anadolu Agency

China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have agreed to explore trilateral investment possibilities to revive the ailing Afghan economy. The agreement was reached during the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue held in Islamabad on Saturday, according to a joint statement issued on Monday. China’s top diplomat Qin Gang, his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the dialogue. ‘Underscoring the imperative to generate economic activity within Afghanistan, the ministers stressed the importance of exploring realistic pathways towards the revival of the Afghan economy,’ the statement said. To this end, it added, the ministers agreed to consider further supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan and exploring trilateral investment possibilities aimed at industrialization and job creation. The three sides urged the “relevant countries” to lift their unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return the billions of dollars in assets overseas for the benefit of the Afghan people and create opportunities for economic development and prosperity in Afghanistan. Women rights Taking note of the Afghan interim government’s “repeated assurances” to respect and protect women’s rights and interests, the three sides called on the international community to support the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan and help it improve governance and strengthen the capacity building, so as to effectively protect the basic rights and interests of all segments of the Afghan society, including women and children. The Taliban who surged back to power in August 2021, have been facing criticism for imposing restrictions on women and girls. Last month’s countrywide ban on Afghan women working with the UN further aggravated the criticism. “The three sides reaffirmed their resolve to fully harness Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity,” the statement added, reaffirming commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a multibillion-dollar economic and infrastructural developmental arrangement between Pakistan and China under which Beijing has invested more than $25 billion in the South Asian nation since 2014. After the complete withdrawal of US-led foreign forces from Afghanistan, Islamabad and Beijing appear to have agreed to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan. The Taliban administration has also insisted on stabilizing the war-torn country to become the transit between Central and South Asia. The three sides also stressed that existing projects, including CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South Asia power project), TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline), Trans-Afghan Railways, etc., would enhance regional connectivity as well as ensure economic uplift and prosperity for the peoples of this region. Terrorism The three sides stressed the need to not allow any individual, group, or party, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), etc., to use their territories to harm and threaten regional security and interests or conduct terrorist activities. ‘All three sides underscored the need to refrain from intervening in internal affairs of Afghanistan, and to promote Afghan peace, stability, and reconstruction,’ the statement went on to say. Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks following the re-capture of Kabul by the Taliban. Over the past year, at least 300 people, including security personnel, were killed and 521 got injured in 436 terrorist incidents, according to the army. Some 157 suspected militants were killed, and nearly 1,400 were arrested during more than 8,000 intelligence-based operations in a year. Islamabad and the TTP have held a series of peace talks and cease-fires over the past years to end the lingering militancy but failed to reach a permanent understanding. The Taliban, who brokered an over a month-long cease-fire between the militant network and Pakistan soon after they came back to power, urge the two sides to “resolve their differences through negotiations.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

Carrying a Soviet flag or sporting any other symbol deemed offensive by the authorities could cost Estonians dearly on Victory Day, the local police have warned. Any gatherings that could be interpreted as “supportive of aggression,” which Tallinn says Russia is waging against Ukraine, are also outlawed.

Speaking to the media outlet Postimees on Thursday, Elena Miroshnichenko, a lieutenant colonel of the Police and Border Protection Department in the Pyhja prefecture, said that while people are allowed to lay flowers at graves and WWII memorials on May 9, they should not have on them “any symbols and shouldn’t listen to aggressive music on their cellphones.”

The official reminded the public that any rallies featuring Russian or Soviet flags, or those of Russia’s Donbass republics, are strictly prohibited. Also off limits are any flags or placards emblazoned with the Latin letters Z and V, which have come to symbolize Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine.

Miroshnichenko stressed that the police are not going to “engage in any dialogue with anyone” found in breach of the rules. Violators can expect to be fined to the tune of up to €1,200 euros ($1,345) or even face prison time.

She also revealed that Estonian security forces are closely monitoring activity on social media ahead of Victory Day.

The official advised Estonians to “think what you are sending” before sharing any congratulations.

“The most important [thing] is that there [should be] no aggressive symbols in these messages which support the war,” Miroshnichenko clarified.

Late last month, authorities in another former Soviet republic, Moldova, warned the public against displaying St. George’s ribbons, which have become a symbol of May 9 celebrations in Russia over the past two decades.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that individuals running afoul of the ban will face fines.

The country’s parliament outlawed the ribbon along with the letters ‘Z’ and ‘V’ last year as promoting “Russian aggression.”

Earlier last month, Moldova’s Constitutional Court issued a ruling that some opposition politicians construed as a lifting of the ban. The judges, however, were quick to clarify that this was not the case.

According to the Moldovan media, more than 300 people were fined for wearing the ribbon last year.

Source: Russia Today

Defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday from ninth on the starting grid, beating Red Bull teammate and pole-sitter Sergio Perez. In Round 5 of the 2023 Formula 1 season held at the 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) Miami International Autodrome, Verstappen took the lead with 10 laps remaining to pass Perez. The Dutch-Belgian driver fought to be victorious in the 57-lap race, finishing it in one hour, 27 minutes and 38.241 seconds. Perez was 5.3 seconds behind Verstappen to be the runner-up in Miami. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso came third as he was 26.3 seconds behind the winner. Verstappen is leading the 2023 drivers’ standings with 119 points. Perez has 105 points to keep chasing his teammate. Alonso has 75 points to be third among 20 drivers. In the coming weeks, Formula 1 will travel to Italy as Round 6, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, will be held on May 21.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has appealed for urgent humanitarian aid to Sudan amid the ongoing fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. At least 550 people have been killed and more than 4,900 injured in fighting between the two military rivals since April 15, according to Sudan’s Health Ministry. In a statement, the Jeddah-based grouping said OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha ‘made an urgent appeal to the OIC Member States, financial and humanitarian institutions and international donors to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Sudan.’ Taha called on the donors and partners to ‘focus on the provision of medical supplies and health services to Sudan.’ He also appealed for support for ‘Sudan’s neighboring countries’ efforts in hosting the numerous Sudanese and foreign refugees.’ The OIC also called for ‘the full respect of the humanitarian principles and standards and invited the parties to facilitate the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to those in need in different parts of the country.’ Representatives of the Sudanese army and the RSF held their first face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia on Saturday in an effort to resolve their dispute. A disagreement had been fomenting in recent months between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary force over RSF integration into the armed forces, a key condition of Sudan’s transition agreement with political groups. Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency in a move decried by political forces as a “coup.” Sudan’s transitional period, which started in August 2019 after the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir, had been scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The global supply of natural gas will remain tight this year amid a wide range of uncertainties, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned on Thursday.

For now, the pressure on global gas markets has eased, as there was a reduced need for storage withdrawals in Europe and the US due to the mild winter, the IEA wrote in its latest Gas Market Report.

In the first quarter of the year, spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has served as a replacement for the Russian pipeline gas, fell below the levels seen in the summer of 2021, though they still remain well above their historical averages.

The current situation, however, offers “no guarantee against future volatility,” and measures should still be implemented to mitigate risks, such as adverse weather factors, lower availability of LNG, and a potential further decline in Russian pipeline gas deliveries to the EU, the IEA warned.

Western sanctions on Moscow led to a major gas supply shock in the European and global gas markets last year, causing deliveries of Russian pipeline gas to the EU to drop by 80% over the course of the year.

The bloc has since increased purchases of LNG from the US, which is projected to become the world’s leading LNG exporter this year.

Russia still supplies natural gas to the EU via the gas transit network of Ukraine and through the TurkStream pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine and carries Russian gas to southern Europe.

Hungary, the main importer of Russian gas in the EU, said last month that it has assurances from Moscow that gas shipments via the TurkStream pipeline will continue without disruptions.

Source: Russia Today

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the world is on the edge of geo-economic fragmentation, which she believes could add more “cold water” to already anemic global growth.

Speaking by video-link at the Brussels Economic Forum on Wednesday, Kristalina Georgieva called for cooperation at a time when growth across the globe is extremely weak by historical standards.

“After decades of increasing global integration, there is a growing risk that the world may split into rival economic blocs,” the IMF chief said. “And that’s a scenario that would be bad for everyone, including for people in Europe.”

She warned that growth prospects were increasingly bleak at a time when the global outlook is weak both in the near and medium term. The IMF projects growth to remain around 3% over the next five years, the lowest medium-term forecast in more than three decades.

“And yet, central bankers cannot take their eyes off the ball until stubborn inflation is firmly under control,” Georgieva pointed out. “The required monetary tightening is weighing on growth and exposing some financial vulnerabilities.”

Reviving multilateral cooperation is vital for long-term growth everywhere, according to the official, who warned that trade fragmentation could cost up to 7% to the global economy in the long term.

That’s “roughly equivalent to the combined annual output of Germany and Japan,” she said, adding that some nations could see GDP losses of up to 12% if technological decoupling is added.

“We cannot ignore these costs,” Georgieva stressed.

The IMF boss had previously said that the shocks of the past few years, including the Covid pandemic, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and spike in interest rates after years of loose monetary policy, have been a drag on the global economy.

Source: Russia Today

Peace seems to be such a ubiquitous universal value that the need to secure it is taken for granted – regardless of the divisions that underlie it. Peace at all costs – isn’t this exactly what makes the specter of the Third World War so palpable nowadays? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Pino Cabras, a former member of the Italian parliament and editor of the online portal Megachip.

Source: Russia Today

On this episode of The Cost of Everything, we take a closer look at the cost of the batteries which are powering today’s electric revolution. Is lithium the new gold rush? And why are nations trying to protect their supplies from global conglomerates? Host Christy Ai spoke with Nick Montes about how lithium batteries are the most popular batteries on the market and how much a lithium shortage would impact US plans to have all car sales by 2030 go electric.

Source: Russia Today