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Kamila Valieva: Russian figure skater given four-year ban for doping

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Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has received a four-year ban for doping, following an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Valieva had initially been cleared by a Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) investigation, which found no fault on her part for a failed test before the 2022 Winter Olympics, where she won team gold at the age of 15.

The ban, backdated to December 25, 2021, the date of the failed test, includes the disqualification of all competitive results achieved from that date. CAS clarified that the decision on whether to strip Russia of the gold medal would be examined by the relevant sports organizations, not within the scope of the arbitration procedure.

Valieva did not contest the presence of the banned substance, and CAS ruled that she failed to establish, on the balance of probabilities, that the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) was not intentional. The Kremlin criticized the CAS ruling as a “politicized” decision, while the Russian Olympic Committee stated that “in effect war has been declared on Russia.”

WADA emphasized the severity of doping involving minors and called for legal consequences for doctors, coaches, or support personnel providing performance-enhancing substances to minors. The United States is expected to be awarded gold in the team figure skating event in Beijing, with Japan and Canada receiving silver and bronze, respectively.

The controversy surrounding Valieva’s doping case is seen as another chapter in Russia’s doping scandal, with the country’s athletes competing at the Beijing Games under the neutral name of the Russian Olympic Committee. The CAS decision has sparked concerns about the credibility of the Russian anti-doping system, with calls for increased vigilance.

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Resumption of Whale Hunting in Iceland Subject to Stringent Regulations

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Iceland’s government has ended its summer pause on whaling and granted permission for hunting to recommence, subject to stringent new regulations. The sole company engaged in whale hunting, Hvalur, will be affected as the whaling season nears its conclusion. This decision has sparked anger among opponents of whaling.

Svandis Svavarsdottir, the Minister of Fisheries and Foods, acknowledged the majority sentiment of Icelanders who wish to halt whaling. She, however, cited the legal framework established by her predecessor’s earlier license as the basis for her decision. Iceland is now the only nation practicing large-scale whale hunting, performed solely by one company.

Svavarsdottir highlighted that Iceland’s values have evolved over time, suggesting that further discussions on the matter should occur within parliament and society. While Norway and Japan engage in commercial whaling, only Iceland allows the hunting of longer fin whales.

The traditional summer whaling season in Iceland concludes in September due to worsening weather and darkness. Sigursteinn Masson from the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Iceland expressed optimism, believing this could be the final year of whaling due to growing government unity against the practice.

The suspension in June stemmed from a report indicating that the time taken to kill whales exceeded welfare laws. The new regulations now dictate that fin whales can only be hunted within 25 meters of the boat, during daylight hours, without electricity, and with trained personnel using appropriate methods.

Financial returns from whaling have diminished, and the stricter regulations will amplify the costs and challenges of hunting. While polls suggest that 51% of Icelanders oppose whaling, numerous lawmakers may still support it.

The Left-Greens party, to which the food minister belongs, backs a ban, while others see continuing the tradition as a matter of sovereignty. Some groups have even pursued legal action to prevent the resumption of hunting.

There is growing concern that Iceland could face a Hollywood boycott due to the decision to resume whaling. Filmmakers have joined a petition against the practice. Annual quotas allow for the killing of 209 fin whales and 217 smaller minke whales.

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Spain defeats the Netherlands to advance to their inaugural World Cup semi-final

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Spain secured their place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, thanks to a late goal from teenage winger Salma Paralluelo. Mariona Caldentey initially put Spain ahead with an 80th-minute penalty, capitalizing on a handball by Stefanie van der Gragt. However, Van der Gragt redeemed herself by scoring a stoppage-time equalizer. The game headed into extra time, where Paralluelo found the net, securing Spain’s first major semi-final in 26 years.

Despite the Netherlands’ status as runners-up in the 2019 tournament, they were outplayed for much of the match, and Paralluelo’s goal sealed Spain’s victory. Spain will face the winner of the Japan vs. Sweden match in the semi-finals. The match was marked by VAR interventions, including disallowed goals and penalty decisions. Paralluelo’s heroics ultimately stole the spotlight, making her the youngest Spanish scorer in a Women’s World Cup and a rising star in the tournament.

Van der Gragt, who is retiring after the tournament, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, first conceding a penalty and then scoring an equalizer. The Netherlands, missing Danielle van de Donk due to suspension, struggled to find their rhythm and were largely reliant on their goalkeeper. Despite their manager Jonker’s pride in the team’s progress, their journey in this major tournament came to an end with this defeat.

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Paris Robbery: Goalkeeper Donnarumma and Partner Targeted and Assaulted

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Italian and Paris St-Germain goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and his partner faced a terrifying ordeal when they were attacked and robbed at their residence in Paris. According to police sources, several individuals targeted the couple at their flat in the eighth district of the city, where they were subsequently bound. However, they managed to escape to a nearby hotel after the incident.

The hotel staff was alerted, and the couple was taken to the hospital following the traumatic event. The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that an investigation has been launched, focusing on charges of armed robbery by an organized gang and aggravated violence.

While unconfirmed reports suggest that the attackers made away with valuable items such as jewelry, watches, and luxury leather goods worth around €500,000, the footballer sustained only minor injuries, while his partner, Alessia Elefante, remained unharmed, according to sources from Agence France Presse.

It appears that France’s special police unit for armed robbery and burglaries, known as BRB, has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Gianluigi Donnarumma, 24, who moved to Paris two years prior, was scheduled to join the Paris St-Germain squad for their upcoming pre-season friendly match against Le Havre and a tour of Japan and South Korea.

Sadly, this is not the first time PSG footballers have been targeted by criminal gangs, though most previous attacks occurred when the players were not at home. For instance, in March 2021, two men were sentenced to jail for robbing the home of Brazil footballer Marquinhos in Yvelines, to the west of Paris. Marquinhos was away playing during the incident, but his father and two teenage daughters were present in the house, with his father suffering some injuries in the assault. Similarly, the home of Marquinhos’s teammate Angel Di Maria was also burgled on the same day.

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Europe heatwave: Red alerts issued in 15 Italian cities

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Italy is currently experiencing extreme heat, leading to red alerts being issued for 15 cities, including Rome, Florence, and Bologna. This heatwave is part of a larger trend of increasing temperatures and longer heatwaves globally due to global warming.

The European Space Agency (ESA) predicts that Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland may face extreme conditions, with potential record temperatures. Greece has already been experiencing temperatures of 40°C or higher, leading to the closure of tourist attractions like the Acropolis. There are concerns about the increased risk of wildfires in Greece and other areas with high winds.

Central parts of Europe, including Germany and Poland, are also affected by high temperatures. In contrast, the UK is experiencing heavy showers and cooler weather due to the southern shift of the jet stream. The current heatwave in Italy, named Cerberus, is expected to be followed by another heatwave called Charon, pushing temperatures above 40°C.

Heatwaves are also occurring in other parts of the world, including the US, China, North Africa, and Japan. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to global warming have become the new normal, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

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EU To Lift Ban Of Food Imports From Japan Post 2011 Nuclear Accident

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A government spokesperson in Japan has expressed the country’s welcome to the European Union (EU) potentially lifting restrictions on food imports that were imposed after the 2011 nuclear accident caused by an earthquake and tsunami. According to a report in the Nikkei newspaper, the EU is in the final stages of removing all restrictions on Japanese food, although the sources for this information were not disclosed.

The bans on food imports have been in effect since the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami, resulting in multiple meltdowns. The spokesperson, Mr Hirokazu Matsuno, stated during a Tokyo press conference that the Japanese government appreciates the positive steps toward lifting the restrictions. It is hoped that easing the restrictions will contribute to the reconstruction efforts in the areas devastated by the nuclear disaster.

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami tragically claimed the lives of nearly 20,000 people along Japan’s Pacific coast. The meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

This news about the potential lifting of restrictions comes just before the visit of Rafael Mariano Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to Japan. During his visit, Grossi will present the findings of the IAEA’s safety review regarding Japan’s plan to release water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The Japanese government intends to release 1.3 million metric tons of water that has been exposed to radiation inside the damaged power plant after removing most of its radioactive elements.

The water to be released contains traces of tritium, an isotope that is difficult to remove from water and has primarily been used to cool the damaged reactors. The IAEA plans to establish an office at the Fukushima plant during Grossi’s visit, indicating its ongoing involvement and oversight of the situation.

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Poland’s mission to recover valuable artwork stolen by the Nazis

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During the Nazi occupation of Poland in World War Two, numerous valuable artworks were stolen. Among them was Madonna with Child, a 16th-century painting attributed to Alessandro Turchi. Recently, the painting was discovered in Japan and returned to Polish authorities in a ceremony held in Tokyo. This is part of Poland’s ongoing effort to retrieve looted artworks, with Madonna with Child being one of the 600 successfully recovered so far. However, there are still over 66,000 war losses yet to be found. Poland has launched a campaign to seek the return of hundreds of thousands of missing artworks and cultural items, as well as reparations from Germany for the damages caused by the occupying Nazis.

Art experts anticipate that more looted artworks will be uncovered as time passes, especially as heirs attempt to sell these pieces without awareness of their history. Madonna with Child was believed to have been transferred to Germany in 1940 during the Nazi occupation, as the Nazis frequently looted art from Jewish families before their execution. The painting appeared again in the 1990s when it was sold at an auction in New York. However, the sale was halted in January last year after Polish authorities identified the artwork, and it was subsequently agreed upon by the auction house and the owner to be returned to Poland. The official handover ceremony took place in Tokyo.

The return of masterpieces like Madonna with Child helps restore pride in Poland’s art heritage and highlights the significance of Polish collections. Polish art historian Natalia Cetera stated that reclaiming these artworks showcases the country’s focus on remembering its cultural heritage and rebuilding its strength in art. There has been a shift in recent years towards recognizing cultural heritage as a common good. As looted artworks are inherited by the next generation, the unaware heirs may unknowingly sell these pieces, leading to their discovery.

Efforts to locate stolen artworks from Poland involve recording them in international databases and the work of art historians who are researching looted artworks and identifying them. The advancement of technology and online platforms used by auction houses allow for increased visibility and more eyes searching for looted objects. Furthermore, there seems to be a generational shift in attitudes toward stolen masterpieces, with some individuals willingly returning the artworks rather than facing legal issues.

The return of Madonna with Child is a source of pride for Poland, but it remains uncertain whether the passion for retrieving stolen artwork will continue with future generations. The digitization of art collections may impact the interest in physical artworks, as access to digital versions becomes more prevalent. While the successful retrieval of physical artworks is currently important, the advancement of technology might reduce the necessity of physically reclaiming artworks in the future.

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