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Luis Rubiales arrested in corruption investigation

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Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), has been detained upon his arrival in Madrid from the Dominican Republic as part of a corruption investigation. It is alleged that Rubiales received illegal commissions during negotiations for the Spanish Super Cup competition to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail term for Rubiales, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Following his arrival, Rubiales was taken into custody by members of the Civil Guard and is now subject to 72 hours of questioning. This action follows a previous search of his home by the police last month, along with simultaneous searches conducted at the football federation headquarters, resulting in several arrests.

In addition to the corruption allegations, Rubiales is also facing a separate trial for sexual assault. This case emerged after an incident where he kissed the player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after the World Cup final, which she and her teammates deemed unwanted and demeaning. Despite denying any misconduct, Rubiales was forced to resign from his position as RFEF president amidst the controversy surrounding the incident.

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Paris Olympics: Row over ‘woke’ map as Paris gears up for games

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The artist behind the official poster for the upcoming Paris Olympics responded to criticism alleging that his artwork neglects French identity and Christianity. Ugo Gattoni, the designer, defended his creation, describing it as a vibrant and celebratory depiction of Paris.

Critics, particularly conservatives, have taken issue with the absence of prominent symbols such as the French tricolour and a cross on the Hôtel des Invalides. Some politicians accused the creators of the poster of attempting to erase France’s history and identity.

Gattoni explained that his intention was to convey a lively and festive atmosphere, rather than making any political statements. He emphasized that the buildings in his artwork were drawn based on his creative vision, without any underlying agenda.

The organizing committee also defended the poster, describing it as a whimsical interpretation of a transformed city-stadium, featuring various sports and landmarks. They stressed that the inclusion of the French flag colors and other national symbols should dispel any politically motivated interpretations.

Meanwhile, the Hôtel des Invalides has become embroiled in another controversy concerning proposals for Saudi Arabia to construct an Olympic village on its grounds. The French Armed Forces Ministry stated that negotiations with Saudi Arabia were ongoing but emphasized that any use of the Invalides site would be subject to strict conditions.

Some politicians, including right-wing MP Nathalie Serre, voiced opposition to the idea, asserting that certain historical sites like the Invalides should not be subject to commercial interests.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

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Putin makes rare foreign trip to Gulf states

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has undertaken a rare foreign trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The discussions are expected to cover topics such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as oil production. Notably, the UAE is hosting the COP28 UN climate summit. Despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to alleged war crimes, including the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

Putin’s visit is seen as part of Russia’s efforts to assert influence and counter isolation attempts by the West. In the UAE, trade and oil are key agenda items, as it is described as Russia’s primary economic partner in the Arab world. Putin also traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussing bilateral cooperation and regional events. The leaders reportedly addressed ways to promote de-escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict and discussed conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan.

Furthermore, Putin is set to meet Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi to discuss the war in Gaza. This trip follows Putin’s limited international travel since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with visits restricted to Russian-occupied Ukraine, Iran, and China.

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Ukrainian Attack Near Crimea Hits Russian Tanker, Claims Russia

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A Russian tanker carrying 11 crew members was hit in a Ukrainian attack in the Black Sea, according to Russian officials. The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, with the vessel’s engine room suffering damage in the overnight strike. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Ukraine has not officially commented, but a Ukrainian security service source indicated that a sea drone was used in the attack.

This is the second consecutive day of such attacks involving naval drones. However, Russia has not acknowledged any damage from the previous day’s attack. The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, from Russia’s Taman peninsula.

The Ukrainian security service source stated that the operation was carried out jointly with the Ukrainian navy and involved the use of a sea drone carrying 450kg of TNT explosive. The targeted tanker was loaded with fuel, making the impact visible from a distance.

Russia’s maritime transport agency confirmed that the tanker, named Sig, had sustained damage in the area of the engine room near the waterline, likely from an attack by a sea drone. However, the ship remained afloat.

Tensions in the region have escalated, with recent clashes and attacks, including the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, further southeast of the Kerch Strait. Both sides seem to be engaging in aggressive actions, leading to concerns about the war spilling beyond its borders.

In response to the escalating situation, Ukraine designated six Russian Black Sea ports as “war risk” areas, signaling a possible preparation for further attacks on Russian territory. Talks on ending the war in Ukraine have also begun in Saudi Arabia, with invitations sent to around 40 countries, excluding Russia. China has agreed to send its special representative for Eurasian affairs to the meeting. The conflict stems from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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Lionel Messi suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks over Saudi Arabia trip

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Lionel Messi, the captain of Paris St-Germain, has been suspended for two weeks by the club for travelling to Saudi Arabia without their permission. This came after the team’s recent loss to Lorient, in which Messi played the entire game. Messi had requested permission to travel for commercial purposes, but the club denied the request. Messi claims that he had initially been granted permission to travel, but that it was later rescinded due to a change in the club’s training schedule. During the two-week suspension, Messi will not be allowed to participate in any training or games with PSG.

In addition to being suspended by PSG for two weeks, Lionel Messi has also been fined by the club. Messi has been serving as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia, which is believed to be the reason for his unauthorized trip to the country. His contract with PSG is set to expire this summer.

Reports from March suggest that Barcelona has been in contact with Messi about the possibility of returning to the Nou Camp. Messi has played 71 games for PSG, scoring 31 goals and contributing 34 assists. He helped the team win the Ligue 1 title last season. Due to his suspension, Messi will miss PSG’s upcoming matches against Troyes and Ajaccio. PSG is currently leading the league by five points with five games left to play, and is aiming to win their ninth league title in 11 seasons.

Lionel Messi has made a decision that indicates the end of his time with Paris St-Germain. While the team has three games left to play after his suspension, PSG’s future plans do not involve Messi, who less than five months ago won the World Cup.

PSG sees their actions as standard employee punishment for someone who left for work during work hours and outside of the approved location. However, this move is also a statement about the team’s future direction, which they plan to center around younger players, as well as their strict approach to discipline. PSG fans no longer want Messi, and it is highly unlikely that his contract will be renewed.

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Turkey to prosecute 20 Saudis over Khashoggi’s murder

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Turkey has filed a chargesheet against at least 20 Saudis over the brutal murder of renowned journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

As per the chargesheet developed by Turkey – which was the first country that identified the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the murder, at least eighteen of those who appear in the chargesheet have direct involvemet in the crime carried out allegedly with the blessings of the Crown Prince inside the Saudi embassy situated in Istanbul, and the rest two faces the charge of instigating the murder.

The chargesheet supports the west’s observation that the Saudi Prince or those close to the prince have a connection with the crime.

Mr. Khashoggi, who was a Saudi by origin, and who was known for his political writings about the Saudi Arabian politics, was a very vocal critic of the Saudi Crown Prince.

The last time he was seen alive was when he entered into the Saudi embassy based in Istanbul to do some paperworks for his marriage. His fiancé was outside the embassy then. She was the one who alerted the Turkey authorities about the missing.


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