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Spanish Football Federation to Pursue Legal Action Against Jennifer Hermoso for Alleged False Statements

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The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced its intention to pursue legal recourse in response to statements made by Jenni Hermoso concerning the federation’s president, Luis Rubiales. This follows a controversial incident where Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory over England. While Hermoso claimed that she did not give consent for the kiss, the RFEF disputes her account and asserts that evidence supports Rubiales’ innocence.

Represented by the players’ union Futpro, Hermoso has stated that she did not attempt to lift President Rubiales during their embrace on the podium. In response, the RFEF has released images of the embrace along with a detailed analysis, asserting that Hermoso did indeed exert force to raise Rubiales off the ground.

The RFEF expressed its intent to initiate legal actions against Hermoso or any party involved in spreading what they deem to be false information. This move comes amidst larger tensions within Spanish football, as 81 female players have declared their refusal to represent Spain’s national team until Rubiales steps down. The controversy has even extended to the men’s team, with Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias also announcing his refusal to play under Rubiales’ leadership.

The RFEF’s decision to pursue legal action follows international criticism of Rubiales’ behavior at the Women’s World Cup final. Rubiales had faced calls for resignation from government ministers, and Fifa had initiated disciplinary proceedings against him. Despite mounting pressure, Rubiales remained defiant and vowed to continue his position as president, asserting that the kiss was consensual and mutual.

The situation has also spurred solidarity among players, as evidenced by wristbands worn during a National Women’s Soccer League game in the United States, which bore the message ‘Contigo Jenni’ (With you Jenni). Prominent players like Alex Morgan have expressed their support for Hermoso and the Spanish players, condemning the alleged assault, misogyny, and failures of the Spanish federation.

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Andrew Tate No Longer Under House Arrest in Romania

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Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been released from house arrest in Romania while awaiting trial for rape and human trafficking charges, along with his brother Tristan. The pair denies the charges and can now move freely in Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov district where they reside. However, they must follow strict conditions, including reporting to the police as ordered and informing them of any address changes. Additionally, they are prohibited from contacting the two Romanian associates accused alongside them, witnesses, alleged victims, or their families. Violating these conditions could result in a return to house arrest or preventative detention, subject to monitoring by a judge for the next 60 days.

The indictment alleges that the Tate brothers, along with two female Romanian associates, formed an organized criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking not only in Romania but also in other countries, including the US and UK. The indictment names seven alleged victims who were reportedly recruited by the Tate brothers under false promises of love and marriage.

Andrew Tate, a British-American former kickboxer, previously faced controversy when he was removed from the British TV show Big Brother in 2016 due to a video suggesting he attacked a woman. He later gained notoriety online, with Twitter temporarily banning him for making controversial statements about sexual assault and women’s responsibility, although he was later reinstated on the platform.

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French Officer Involved in Marseille Riots Admits to Firing Riot Gun while in Custody

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French policeman under investigation for a shooting incident during the Marseille riots a month ago has confessed to firing a rubber bullet at a 22-year-old man’s head. The victim, Hedi, an assistant restaurant manager, suffered severe injuries and disfigurement from the “flash ball.”

The officer has been in custody for weeks, causing controversy among his colleagues. The officer’s lawyer requested his release, but the public prosecutor cited the risk of collusion with colleagues. The incident occurred during nationwide riots that followed the death of a 17-year-old during a police check in Nanterre.

Hedi, a North African immigrant, survived the headshot but sustained serious health issues. Other incidents of rubber bullet use by the French police have also resulted in life-changing injuries and deaths, sparking further debate on their use.

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Biden Stands by Choice to Provide Ukraine with Controversial Cluster Bombs

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US President Joe Biden has defended his controversial decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, acknowledging it as a “very difficult decision” but emphasizing the urgent need for ammunition faced by the Ukrainian forces. While Ukraine’s leader praised the move as timely, criticism has arisen from human rights groups and certain Democrats. A Moscow envoy condemned the decision as cynical. Biden, ahead of a Nato summit, stated that he had consulted with allies regarding the decision.

Cluster bombs are internationally banned by over 120 countries due to their track record of causing civilian casualties. The decision to provide them to Ukraine has raised concerns due to the risk of unexploded bombs causing harm to civilians in the long term. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the risk and explained that the decision was postponed as long as possible. Sullivan asserted that the cluster bombs provided by the US are safer compared to those used by Russia in the conflict, with a lower rate of unexploded bombs.

The decision bypasses US law prohibiting the use, production, or transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate exceeding 1%. Earlier in the war, when allegations of Russia’s use of cluster and vacuum bombs surfaced, the US referred to it as a potential war crime. The UN human rights office called for an immediate halt to the use of such munitions in any location. The Russian ambassador to the US criticized Biden’s decision, highlighting the risk of civilians being harmed by failed submunitions for years to come.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the military aid package worth $800 million provided by the US. He stated that it would bring Ukraine closer to victory and democracy over dictatorship. However, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the US Cluster Munition Coalition condemned the decision, citing the grave threat cluster munitions pose to civilian lives even after the conflict ends.

The response from US lawmakers on Capitol Hill has been mixed, with some Democrats considering the decision alarming and a mistake, while others, including Republican leaders, view it as a means to enhance Ukraine’s capability to counter Russian forces more effectively.

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Jerusalem Armenians Uneasy as Contentious Land Transaction Raises Concern

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A procession of Armenian priests, distinguished by their peaked black headdresses and long robes, marches through the stone streets of Jerusalem’s Old City. Accompanied by suited individuals in felt tarboosh hats, carrying ceremonial walking sticks, they make their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for prayers.

While Jerusalem remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the presence of Armenians in the city dates back to the 4th century when Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion. The Armenian community has a significant stake in the city’s most sacred Christian sites and resides in their own quarter, situated in the southwestern corner of the Old City, where approximately 2,000 Armenians reside.

However, the community now finds itself feeling vulnerable due to a controversial real estate transaction involving their own Church leaders. Amidst vehement protests, the Armenian patriarch has gone into hiding, and a disgraced priest, who denies any wrongdoing, has fled to California.

The unfolding situation reveals that approximately 25% of the Armenian Quarter has been sold on a 99-year lease to an enigmatic Jewish Australian businessman for a luxury development. This includes a substantial car parking area, one of the few remaining open spaces within the Old City walls, which has already been taken over by his company. Many Armenians had hoped this land could be used for the construction of affordable housing for young couples within their dwindling community.

Unofficially obtained plans indicate that the sale encompasses an Ottoman-era building housing five Armenian households, a restaurant, shops, and the seminary. Concerns have been raised that this could jeopardize the long-term viability of living within the quarter.

However, the controversy extends beyond the immediate community. The ramifications are seen as far-reaching, as losing this historically significant land, owned for 700 years, would not only impact the daily cultural life of the Armenians but also alter the overall fabric of Jerusalem. Hagop, a community activist, explains that it would disrupt the status quo and the intricate mosaic that defines the city.

During Orthodox Easter celebrations in April, panic gripped the Armenian community as news of the land sale spread. The Armenian Patriarch, Nourhan Manougian, admitted to signing away the land but claimed he had been deceived by a local priest in his employ.

The defrocked priest faced heated scenes as he was expelled from the Armenian Quarter, escorted away under Israeli police protection while residents labeled him a “traitor.” In recent times, Armenians have been participating in weekly protests, joining arms and singing patriotic songs beneath the window of the patriarch, who now remains secluded within his convent. They demand the revocation of the land deal.

Against the backdrop of increasing attacks on Christians in Jerusalem by extremist Jewish groups, some Armenians view this sale as self-inflicted harm to the Christian presence in the city. Arda, an Old City resident, laments the changing character of the city and asserts that religious nationalists are growing bolder due to the prevailing political climate in Israel.

East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War and subsequently occupied and annexed, despite lacking international recognition. Since then, it has remained at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital. Consequently, plots of land in this area are fiercely contested.

Near the Armenian Quarter, at Jaffa Gate, a notable entry point to the Christian Quarter, a reminder of these disputes persists. Two landmark hotels, managed by Palestinians, were covertly sold to foreign companies acting as proxies for a radical Jewish settler group. The Greek Orthodox Church’s lengthy legal battle to annul the deal was unsuccessful, and settlers moved into a portion of one of the hotels last year.

Armenian elders recount that settlers have frequently expressed interest in acquiring land within their quarter to bolster the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem. The proximity of the Armenian Quarter to the Jewish one makes it particularly desirable.

However, a spokesperson for the settler group involved in the Jaffa Gate property purchase claimed ignorance of the Armenian land sale when approached by the BBC.

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