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☆ Graphene: The world’s strongest material could be used to make clean drinking water
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Often referred to as a “miracle material,” graphene is one million times thinner than a single human hair and stronger than steel. The two-dimensional carbon material, made from single layers of graphite, a material mined from the ground, is extremely lightweight, conductive, and flexible, and has the potential to deliver transformational technologies across industries, from electronics to transportation. Now, researchers at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are exploring another use for graphene: producing drinking water. That’s where graphene comes in: Arafat is working on a graphene-enhanced membrane that could make the process more efficient and cheaper. “Even in small quantities, these graphene materials significantly improve the performance of the membranes in terms of their water production,” he adds.

Persons: ”, Hassan Arafat, Arafat, “, Arafat isn’t, Molymem, Christophe Viseux, RIC2D, James Baker, Baker, You’re, ” Baker Organizations: CNN, Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates, United Arab, Research, Innovation, UK’s University of Manchester, University of Manchester, Bloomberg, Getty, Graphene@Manchester, European Union Locations: UAE, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Abu, Turkish, Emirates

☆ Dubai’s Costly Water World
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Arielle Paul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

At Deep Dive Dubai, the equivalent of six Olympic-size swimming pools of water fills an underwater city shaped like a giant oyster, inspired by the emirate’s pearl-diving heritage. At the foot of the building, the 30-acre Burj Lake and its five dancing fountains use a wastewater reclamation system by Hitachi that reuses the Burj Khalifa’s sewage water to replace fountain water lost each day. The construction of Dubai’s artificial islands also strains the Gulf’s water resources. One study found that the average water temperature around Palm Jumeirah island, designed by HHCP Architects, increased by roughly 13 degrees over 19 years. “Developing close to the water is much more preferred than developing in the desert landscape, and you are increasing the coastline,” Dr. Alawadi said.

Persons: Adrian Smith, Alawadi, Smith Organizations: Dive, Emaar, Hitachi, HHCP Architects Locations: Dive Dubai, Burj, Burj Lake, Persian, Dubai

☆ Cassie’s Suit Against Sean Combs May Cast Her Career in a New Light
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Joe Coscarelli | More About Joe Coscarelli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

A second album was routinely teased in the press — with Combs touting her artistic development: “she’s really cocooned into a butterfly” — but never materialized. “I wanted to go all the way and kind of land in punk,” she said at the time. By 2012, with the release of the single “King of Hearts,” Ventura was still touting a comeback. It would be years before Ventura released music again. According to the singer’s lawsuit, on at least two occasions in 2009 and 2015, Combs beat her after seeing her speak to music managers at parties.

Persons: Combs, “ You’ve, Lil Wayne, Akon, Ventura, Cassie, “, ”, ” Ventura, “ I’m, “ It’s, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Meek, she’s Organizations: MTV, Interscope Records, Bad, Pitchfork

☆ Boeing wins orders worth $52 billion from Emirates at the Dubai Air Show
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Emirates announced an order worth $52 million that includes 90 Boeing 777s at the Dubai Air Show . The orders marked a significant win for Boeing on the first day of the air show. AdvertisementAdvertisementDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long-haul carrier Emirates opened the Dubai Air Show Monday with a $52 billion purchase of Boeing aircraft, showing how aviation has bounced back after the groundings of the coronavirus pandemic, even as Israel's war with Hamas clouds regional security. Emirates, a main economic engine for Dubai amid its booming real estate market, announced record half-year profits of $2.7 billion Thursday. The deal includes 28 Boeing 737-8s and 17 Boeing 737-10s models, as well as the opportunity for another 45 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Persons: —, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Saeed, Stan Deal, — Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries —, Rafael, Khalifa Hifter Organizations: Emirates, Boeing, Dubai Air, Service, United Arab Emirates, Investment Corporation of Dubai, Al, Dubai World, Dubai International Airport, U.S . Air Force, Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, Meets Technology, Russian Helicopters, U.S, Roscosmos, Russian Knights, Associated Press, Libyan National Army, AP, United, Haqqani, Airbus, International Air Transport Association ., . Emirates, Riyadh Air, Turkish Airlines, Anadolu, Lufthansa, MAX, Royal Jordanian, Royal Air Maroc Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Dubai, Sheikh, Emirates, Israel, Ukraine, Iran, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Russian, Afghan, Al, Riyadh, Saudi, Latvia, France

☆ Japanese scientists want to send a wooden satellite into space
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Murata wondered if he “could build a wooden house on the moon or Mars,” and decided to test the theory — by creating a wooden satellite. Wooden satellites would be better for the planet while still providing the same functionality as their metal counterparts, says Murata. Now, they are working with Japan’s space agency (JAXA) and NASA to send the prototype satellite, called LingoSat, into orbit early next year. Engineers at Kyoto University are building a wooden satellite that will be launched into space in a joint mission with JAXA and NASA. Finnish startup Arctic Astronautics designed the WISA Woodsat, a wooden satellite that was supposed to be launched into space in 2021.

Persons: that’s, Koji Murata, Murata, ”, It’s, Jari Mäkinen, ” Mäkinen, Yarjan Abdul Samad, Samad, Tatsuhito Fujita, Fujita Organizations: CNN, Kyoto University, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, “, JAXA, NASA, Murata, Engineers, Kyoto, NOAA, Astronautics, Khalifa University, United Arab Locations: Japan, East Asia, United Arab Emirates

☆ Saudi Arabia Is Set to Be Sole Bidder for 2034 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Tariq Panja | More About Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

FIFA’s move to speed up the bidding for 2034 surprised many, coming 11 years before the scheduled start of the tournament and a full three years before the 2034 host was supposed to be decided. FIFA also said only bidders from Asia and Oceania, two of soccer’s six regional confederations, could be considered for selection. Saudi Arabia, which had for years been public about its desire to host the World Cup, moved fast to secure the tournament after FIFA set the rules this month. In the face of that support, Australian officials concluded they would have been overmatched if they challenged Saudi Arabia to secure the votes of the majority of FIFA’s 211 federations. Saudi Arabia has signed agreements in the past year with scores of FIFA’s member nations, committing millions of dollars to projects across Asia and lavishing attention on Africa, where it signed an agreement with the regional governing body and sponsored a new tournament.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa Organizations: FIFA, Saudi Locations: Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Australia, Africa, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabian

☆ Egypt’s pyramids host breathtaking new art exhibit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Francesca Perry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In one project, a new pyramid structure emerges in wicker; in another, glass sculptures appear to make the ancient pyramids float on water. Organized by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, the founder and curator of Cairo-based arts firm Art D’Égypte, the event aims to celebrate ancient Egyptian culture through contemporary creativity. “I’ve always been fascinated by the Pyramids of Giza and the entire ancient Egyptian culture — the mysticism around it, the enigmas,” Zeta said. Courtesy CulturVator - Art D'E“Translucent Pyramid” by Saudi artist Rashed Al-Shashai, adds a new, 6m-tall pyramid to the plateau. Conceived as seemingly archaeological fragments of a labyrinth, each one is decorated with perforated motifs taken from historic diagrams of the ancient Egyptian labyrinth.

Persons: Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, D’Égypte, Artur Lescher, ”, Pilar Zeta, I’ve, ” Zeta, Carole A, Sabine Marcelis, ” Marcelis, Stephan Breuer French, Glass, Costas Varotsos, Rashed Al, Sam Shendi, Azza Al Qubaisi, D'E Rashid Al Khalifa, JR, – Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Bahraini, JR Locations: Giza, Egypt, Cairo, Brazil, Mexico, Argentinian, French, Saudi

☆ Our region needs to continue to build bridges, Bahrain's finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOur region needs to continue to build bridges, Bahrain's finance minister saysKhalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain's minister of finance and national economy, discusses what will "underpin a secure, safe region."

Persons: Khalifa Al, Khalifa

☆ Cairo Peace Summit on Gaza conflict: who will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Members of the military stand guard as people take part in a protest in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Old Cairo, Egypt, October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Egypt is planning to host an international conference on Saturday to discuss the escalating war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. The list of attendees expected so far at the Cairo Peace Summit include:Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-SisiPalestinian President Mahmoud AbbasJordanian King AbdullahBahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al KhalifaKuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-SabahItalian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniSpanish Prime Minister Pedro SanchezGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos MitsotakisCypriot President Nikos ChristodoulidesSouth African President Cyril RamaphosaGerman Foreign Minister Annalena BaerbockFrench Foreign Minister Catherine ColonnaJapanese Foreign Minister Yoko KamikawaBritish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James CleverlyNorwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth EideUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio GuterresEuropean Council President Charles MichelEuropean Union foreign policy chief Josep BorrellReporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Abdel Fattah al, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al, Ahmad al, Giorgia, Pedro Sanchez, Kyriakos, Nikos Christodoulides, Cyril Ramaphosa, Annalena Baerbock, Catherine Colonna Japanese, Yoko Kamikawa, Foreign Affairs James, Espen Barth Eide, Antonio, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Edmund Blair, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Cairo Peace, Pedro Sanchez Greek, State, Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide United Nations, Charles Michel European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Old Cairo, Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini, Mahmoud Abbas Jordanian King Abdullah Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Kuwaiti Crown, Sabah Italian, Spanish, Norwegian

☆ Saudi Arabia, UAE leaders meet as Israel-Hamas war threatens to spill over
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi state news agency SPA showed footage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, receiving UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Riyadh's airport. Public meetings between the crown prince and Sheikh Mohammed have been rare in recent years as the close allies competed for investment and regional influence. Sheikh Mohammed attended a summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Riyadh on Friday, Saudi and UAE state media said. Last year, Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Mohammed met when Prince Mohammed visited Abu Dhabi to offer his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE's previous president. Sheikh Mohammed also visited Jeddah last year, and the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November.

Persons: Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed, Prince Mohammed, Abu, Sheikh Khalifa, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Defence, United Arab Emirates, Gulf Cooperation Council, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, GCC, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Israel, East, Riyadh's, Riyadh, UAE, Iran, Gaza, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah

Reuters fact-checking unit has identified numerous cases of social media posts using fake images and information about the Israel-Hamas conflict, and others in which confusion rather than deliberate disinformation appears to have heightened tensions. loading* A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking about Ukraine last year was shared this month with fabricated subtitles warning the U.S. not to interfere in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The sheriff’s office said they were "targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis". Marc Owen Jones, a disinformation expert and professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, said there was often a rise in disinformation during conflicts. Clearly they seem directed at different audiences, but the combined effect is to muddy the waters about the truth in the conflict," he said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, we’ve, Biden, Farida Khan, Al Jazeera, Jazeera, Vladimir Putin, Pink, Gerald Darmanin, Thierry Breton, Rafi Mendelsohn, Abu Obaidah, Tayyip Erdogan, Marc Owen Jones, Hamad, Stephanie Burnett, Stephen Farrell, Hardik, Abdel Fattah Sherif, Neha Mustafi, Jonathan B Mathew, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Andrew Mills, William Maclean, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Al, Hamas, Reuters, Louvre, Facebook, Meta, YouTube, Israel’s Office, State Attorney, Twitter, Palestine, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Hardik Vyas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, AMSTERDAM, LONDON, Israel, ., Al Jazeera, Ukraine, Guatemala, Israeli, New Zealand, kibbutzes, France, In Illinois, London, Middle, Tehran, Turkey, Qatar, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Jerusalem, Doha

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Soccer officials in Australia and Indonesia have floated the idea of teaming up in a bid to rival Saudi Arabia for the hosting rights to the men’s World Cup in 2034. The Sydney Morning Herald reported comments Wednesday from Indonesia soccer federation president Erick Thohir about ongoing talks that could also include Malaysia and Singapore in a possible bid. Political Cartoons View All 1206 ImagesThohir is an Indonesian government minister who has ties to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Any opponent to Saudi Arabia in the 2034 World Cup contest has to express official interest by Oct. 31. FIFA has said it will decide which months to play the 2034 World Cup after its members confirm the host at a meeting likely to be held late next year.

Persons: Erick Thohir, Israel, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, ___ Organizations: — Soccer, Sydney Morning Herald, Indonesia, FIFA, Israel, International Olympic Committee, Inter Milan, Italian soccer, Asian Football Confederation, AFC Locations: SYDNEY, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Argentina, Indonesian, Italian, Asia, Oceania, United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, South America, Saudi Arabian, Australian

☆ Seven World Cup stadiums to be used for Asian Cup in Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Hassan Rabea Al Kuwari, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the Local Organising Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, and Abdulaziz Al-Mawlawi, Qatar Tourism Chief Marketing Officer, sit alongside the moderator at a press conference organised by the Local Organising... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreOct 9 (Reuters) - The upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar will be held across nine stadiums, including seven venues that were used for last year's World Cup, the local organising committee said on Monday. The tournament runs from Jan. 12 to Feb. 20. with the opening match and the final to be held at Lusail Stadium – the 88,966-seat venue that hosted the World Cup final. The seven World Cup venues are the Lusail, Al Bayt, Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Ahmad bin Ali, Al Thumama and Education City stadiums. Two other venues, the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium, will also be used. Hosts Qatar are the defending champions, having won the title in 2019 after an impressive unbeaten run.

Persons: Hassan Rabea Al Kuwari, Abdulaziz Al, Hassan Al Kuwari, Al Bayt, Al Janoub, Ahmad bin Ali, Al Thumama, Abdulla, Ashraf Hamed Atta, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Marketing, Communications, Local, AFC Asian, Qatar, Qatar Tourism, Khalifa International, Education City, Thomson Locations: Mawlawi, Qatar, Asia, Jan, Al, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon, Cairo

☆ Saudi Arabia will bid to host 2034 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia announced it will bid to host the 2034 World Cup just minutes after the world soccer's governing body FIFA invited countries from the Asia and Oceania regions to submit bids. "Saudi Arabia’s inaugural FIFA World Cup bid is backed by the country’s growing experience of hosting world-class football events and its ongoing plans to welcome fans across the world to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup." After FIFA said that the 2034 World Cup will be held in the Asia or Oceania region, Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed the decision. "We strongly believe it paves the way for a more equitable opportunity for all confederations to bid for, and host, the prestigious FIFA World Cup - the pinnacle of world men’s football," he said. The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Persons: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Moaz Abd, Osama Khairy, Mohamed Yossry, Rohith Nair, William Maclean Organizations: FIFA, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s, AFC Asian, Asian Football, Saudi Pro League, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Oceania, Saudi, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, United States, Canada, Mexico, Cairo

☆ A Ukrainian sniper called the Ghost of Bakhmut says he's personally killed 113 Russians. He explains how his elite unit hunts the enemy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

An elite Ukrainian sniper unit called the Ghosts of Bakhmut is hunting high-value Russian targets. AdvertisementAdvertisementOn the outskirts of Bakhmut, a deadly team of snipers move stealthily through the forests and fields to take out Russian targets. The Ukrainian sniper's primary weapon is the US-made Barrett M107A1The team of elite snipers take out high-value Russian targets. Insider made contact with Ghost via the Separate Presidential Brigade, which his sniper unit is a part of. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe used to be known as Casper, and said he got the call sign Ghost when Russia invaded the country in February 2022.

Persons: Ghost, —, he's, Bakhmut —, Barrett M107A1, American Barrett M107A1, Barrett, Wagner, Lola, Casper, Casper — Organizations: Service, BBC, Presidential Brigade, Wagner Group Locations: Ukrainian, Bakhmut, US, Burj Khalifa, Dubai, American, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine's Crimean, Canada, Lithuania

☆ The message behind Putin’s Wagner meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In a televised meeting Friday, Putin met with Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and former Wagner commander Andrey Troshev, according to a partial transcript published by the Kremlin. But unpack the language, and Putin’s Friday meeting appeared to put a reassuring gloss on the Russian government’s attempt to bring the mercenary group to heel. “I would like to talk to you about issues of a social nature,” Putin told Troshev, without naming Wagner. Wagner has supported the Libyan National Army for several years, reportedly backing Haftar’s 2019-2020 military campaign against the Tripoli-based government. If Friday’s meeting is any guide, Yevkurov appears to be a point man for future Wagner activity while Troshev takes on a different brief: overseeing Wagner 2.0 for the war in Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, –, Wagner, group’s, Putin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Troshev, Troshev –, ‘, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, “, ” Putin, Troshev, ”, Fatherland ’, ” –, Dmitry Peskov –, Yevkurov, Khalifa Haftar Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Fatherland, Prigozhin’s, “, RIA Novosti, Wagner, Central African, Libyan National Army, Rapid Support Forces Locations: Moscow, Russian, Russia’s Tver, Ukraine, Belarus, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Libyan, Benghazi, Tripoli

☆ China Risks Property Debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Source: China Real Estate Information Corp. (CRIC)The physical size of Country Garden’s real estate portfolio is enormous. The Weight of Debt The ballooning debt crisis could delay the prospect of a recovery of both the property market and the broader Chinese economy, in which real estate is a core pillar. China property sector slump China’s property sales, investment and funds raised by property developers slid in January - August 2023 after a sharp fall in 2022. China's property sector accounts for more than half of global new home sales and home building, according to Nomura. Any contraction in the property sector will affect China’s growth, thus sending ripple effects around the globe as the world’s factory slows.

Persons: Evergrande, homebuyers, Nomura, David Stanway, Jason Lee, –, Moody's, Yawen Chen, Amr Alfiky Organizations: Country, Garden, Estate Information Corp, CIFI Holdings, Sunac, National Bureau of Statistics, China, Investment, REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, Nomura, JPMorgan, Dubai, National Bureau of Economic Research Locations: China, Burj, Burj Khalifa, Sunac China, Kunming, Yunnan province, Beijing, Xuchang, Henan province, United Arab Emirates

☆ Libya’s ‘City of Poets’ Pays a Heavy Price in Floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | More About Raja Abdulrahim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In the days after much of the coastal city of Derna, Libya, was washed away by devastating floods, Mahbuba Khalifa wrote a poem to honor her hometown, known by Libyans as the “city of poets.”I used to carry your great legacy in my conscience and on my shoulders, and I walked with arrogant pride and I had a certain pride that I did not deny. Whoever sees me and sees the radiance of light that I bear as a mark on my features must know — without asking me where I am from — that I am your daughter. For Ms. Khalifa, a Libyan writer and poet, it was the most poignant way to mourn a city with a history as an intellectual and cultural hub — and a long tradition of rebellion against occupation and authoritarian powers.

Persons: Mahbuba Khalifa, ”, Khalifa Locations: Derna, Libya, Libyan

☆ Authorities try to contain anger in aftermath of Libya floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A week after a flood wiped out much of the centre of the city, furious Derna residents demonstrated on the streets and torched the home of the mayor overnight. They accuse the authorities of failing to maintain the dams that protected the city, and failing to evacuate residents before the storm. "Haftar's forces are under pressure to show they have control of the situation, and that they can handle the fallout. A spokesperson for the state-owned Libyan Telecommunications Holding Company, Mohamed Albdairi, told Libya Alahrar television that the communications had gone down in the area because some fiber optic cables had been severed. [1/6]Volunteers carry victims of a powerful storm and heavy rainfall that hit Libya to bury them at a cemetery in Derna, Libya September 19, 2023.

Persons: Derna, Khalifa Haftar, Tim Eaton, Mohamed Albdairi, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, Zohra, Antonio Guterres, Abdulmenam, Muammar Gaddafi, Mansour, Peter Graff, Tom Perry, Alexandra Hudson, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Communications, The United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Libyan Telecommunications Holding Company, Engineers, Reuters, Volunteers, REUTERS, World Health Organization, General Assembly, Libyan National Army, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Derna, Benghazi, Libya's, Libya, York, U.N, Islamic State, al Qaeda

☆ East Libya Strongman Keeps Tight Control Over Aid After Floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Ben Hubbard | More About Ben Hubbard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Days after a torrential downpour collapsed two aging dams and unleashed a rushing wall of water that swept parts of the Libyan city of Derna and thousands of its people into the sea, the military strongman who rules the area came for a quick visit. Khalifa Hifter, the 79-year-old renegade commander and longtime C.I.A. asset shook hands with soldiers, took a brief drive through Derna’s muddy streets and flew off in a helicopter. The disaster that struck Derna on Sept. 11 has drawn renewed international attention to Mr. Hifter and his so-called Libyan National Army, a military coalition that controls the eastern half of the divided North African nation with an iron fist. More than a week after the disaster, as rescue efforts shift to the long and costly work of caring for the displaced and helping the city recover, Mr. Hifter’s tight hold over eastern Libya has made it clear that he will be the overall arbiter of the aid operation in the oil-rich country.

Persons: Khalifa Hifter, Derna, Hifter, Hifter’s Organizations: Libyan National Army Locations: Libyan, Derna, Libya

☆ Sudan: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces, a Ukrainian military source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Victoria Butenko Nima Elbagir Gianluca Mezzofiore Tamara Qiblawi Allegra Goodwin Andrew Carey Pallabi Munsi Mahamat Tahir Zene Barbara Arvanitidis Alex Platt Lauren Kent | Victoria Butenko | Nima Elbagir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Covert strikes by Ukraine in Sudan would mark a dramatic and provocative expansion of Kyiv’s theater of war against Moscow. Aside from a string of Ukrainian drone attacks that hit deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine’s ongoing counter-offensive has been focused on the country’s occupied east and south. A high-level Sudanese military source said he had “no knowledge of a Ukrainian operation in Sudan” and did not believe it was true. What appears to be a DJI MAVIC 3 drone can be seen in the videos filming the drone strikes. Six drone strikes targeted pickup trucks driving on Shambat bridge.

Persons: Wagner, Sudan ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo –, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Wim Zwijnenburg, ” Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Hemedti, Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Wagner’s, General Khalifa, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Averyanov, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba Organizations: Chad CNN, CNN, Sudanese, Kyiv, Rapid Support Forces, Ukrainian, Central African, PAX, AK, CAR, PMC Wagner, Reuters Analysts, Kremlin, Agence France, Presse Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, N'Djamena, Chad, Ukrainian, Sudan’s, Russian, Sudan, Moscow, Omdurman, Khartoum, balaclava, British, al, Zurug, Russia, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Ombada, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Latakia, Bangui, “, Syria, Burkina Faso, St . Petersburg, Eritrea

Demonstrators vented their anger at officials, including the speaker of the eastern-based Libyan parliament, Aguila Saleh, outside the Sahaba Mosque. Protesters called for the removal of Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the eastern-based Libyan parliament. Hussam Ahmed/AFP/Getty ImagesA protester comforted their friend who lost his family members in the floods. Hichem Abu Chkiouat, a minister in the eastern Libyan government, said Gaithi had been suspended from his post. Derna, which lies some 300 kilometers (190 miles) east of Benghazi, falls under the control of Haftar and his eastern administration.

Persons: Aguila Saleh, Hussam Ahmed, Bensemra, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, Gaithi, ”, “, Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, Khalifa Haftar, Osama Hamad Organizations: CNN, Protesters, Getty, United Nations, Reuters, UN, of National Unity, GNU, Libyan National Army Locations: Libyan, Derna, Sahaba, ”, AFP, Benghazi, Tripoli, Libya

For many Libyans, the collective grief over the more than 11,000 dead has morphed into a rallying cry for national unity in a country blighted by 12 years of conflict and division. The oil-rich country has been divided between rival administrations since 2014, with an internationally recognized government in Tripoli and a rival authority in the east, where Derna is located. "The wound or pain of what happened in Derna hurt all the people from western Libya to southern Libya to eastern Libya,” he said. Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s forces besieged Tripoli in a yearlong failed military campaign to try to capture the capital, killing thousands. The Prime Minister of Libya’s Tripoli government, Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, said he and his ministers were accountable for the dams' maintenance, but not the thousands of deaths caused by the flooding.

Persons: — Zahra, Gerbi wasn't, “, ”, Gerbi, Moammar Gadhafi, Ali Khalifa, Mohamed, Derna, Khalifa Hifter’s, Claudia Gazzini, Ibrahim al, Noura, Sour, Abdul, Hamid Dbeibah, Aguila Saleh, ’ ”, Saleh, ___ Jeffery Organizations: Facebook, NATO, United Nations, Tobruk, Crisis Locations: TRIPOLI, Libya, — Zahra el, Libyan, Derna, Benghazi, Tripoli, Ali, Zawiya, London

A three-storey building standing opposite had been swept 60 metres (200 feet) down the road by the floodwaters, Hasadi said. "The situation is very, very tragic," said Qais, a rescue worker from Tunisia at the seafront who only gave his first name. [1/4]A view shows the destruction, in the aftermath of the floods in Derna, Libya September 16, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-fetori Acquire Licensing Rights"The work is ongoing and is very, very, very complicated," he told Reuters. Libya's continuing political divisions, with rival administrations and parliaments in the east and west, could hamper the aid effort.

Persons: Tarek Faheem al, Hasadi, Qais, Kamal Al, Omran, Storm Daniel, Hayder Al, Muammar Gaddafi, Khalifa Haftar's, Derna, Ayman al, Ahmed Elumami, Omar Abdel, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Helen Popper, Alex Richardson Organizations: Organization for, REUTERS, Reuters, Health Organization, Italy's, United Nations, Libya's National, for Disease, NATO, Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army, Thomson Locations: DERNA, Libya, Derna, Derna's, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Italian, Italy's Embassy, Infrastructure, Razek, Cairo, Geneva

☆ Luis Rubiales: what to expect as court case begins over Jenni Hermoso kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Emma Pinedo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hermoso says that she did not want to be kissed and that she felt "vulnerable and victim of an aggression". After weeks of resisting calls to step down as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rubiales finally quit on Sept. 10. He maintains the Hermoso kiss was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual". SPANISH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGSRubiales appeared before a High Court judge on Friday over a complaint of sexual assault and coercion stemming from the allegedly unsolicited kiss. Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for three months from all football-related activities by world soccer governing body FIFA since Aug. 26.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Kim Hong, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso's, Hermoso, Rubiales, Marta Durantez Gil, Francisco de Jorge, TAD, Queen Letizia, Sofia, Emma Pinedo, Rohith Nair, Andrei Khalip, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA World, Qatar, Khalifa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, REUTERS, Rights, FIFA, Administrative, Sports Council, Spain's women's, Thomson Locations: Japan, Spain, Doha, Qatar, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Hermoso, Bangalore

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