Qatari, Egyptian, US leaders invite Israel and Hamas to resume talks

Qatari, Egyptian, US leaders invite Israel and Hamas to resume talks
Palestinians check the damage in the al-Zahra school used as a refuge by displaced Palestinians after it was hit by an Israeli strike, in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 09 August 2024
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Qatari, Egyptian, US leaders invite Israel and Hamas to resume talks

Qatari, Egyptian, US leaders invite Israel and Hamas to resume talks

CAIRO: Qatari, Egyptian and US leaders called on Israel and Hamas to resume urgent talks on Aug. 15 either in Doha or Cairo to bridge all remaining gaps in the proposed Gaza ceasefire agreement and start implementing it without any delay, the three countries said in a joint statement on Thursday.

“It is the time to conclude a ceasefire agreement and release hostages and prisoners,” the statement added. 


LeBron James, at 40, says he could have 5-7 more ‘high-level’ NBA years

LeBron James, at 40, says he could have 5-7 more ‘high-level’ NBA years
Updated 6 min 43 sec ago
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LeBron James, at 40, says he could have 5-7 more ‘high-level’ NBA years

LeBron James, at 40, says he could have 5-7 more ‘high-level’ NBA years
  • The basketball superstar, speaking after a Lakers practice session, also said he plans to finish out his NBA career with the Lakers, and would not make a comeback after leaving the league
  • James, in his record-tying 22nd NBA campaign, is averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game and shooting 49.6 percent from the floor

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, celebrating his 40th birthday Monday, said he could play another five to seven years in the NBA at a high-caliber level — though he conceded he would probably retire before then.

The basketball superstar, speaking after a Lakers practice session, also said he plans to finish out his NBA career with the Lakers, and would not make a comeback after leaving the league — whenever that is.

Asked what might be the deciding factor about when to retire, James declared a lack of competitiveness would not be his reason.

“It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level,” James said. “To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for another five to seven years if I wanted to, but I’m not going to do that.”

James, in his record-tying 22nd NBA campaign, is averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game and shooting 49.6 percent from the floor.

He won a third Olympic gold medal with the US team of NBA stars in Paris this year and, after starting in the NBA as an 18-year-old rookie, now has a 20-year-old son as an NBA teammate.

James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 20-time NBA All-Star and owns the ever-expanding NBA records for most points and games played in a career.

James said he plans to play out his career with the Lakers.

“I think that’s the plan,” James said. “I would love for it to end here. That would be the plan. I came here to play the last stage of my career.

“I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. Hopefully I don’t have to go nowhere before my career is over.”

Once he is gone, James said, there will be no comeback attempts, as was the case with superstar Michael Jordan.

“No, no, no, no, no. But I will miss the hell out of it for sure,” James said. “But no, I won’t walk away and then come back.”

For his career, James is averaging 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals over 1,520 games.


Gulf cooperation council chief affirms support for Syria during visit 

Gulf cooperation council chief affirms support for Syria during visit 
Updated 20 min 24 sec ago
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Gulf cooperation council chief affirms support for Syria during visit 

Gulf cooperation council chief affirms support for Syria during visit 
  • Al-Budaiwi condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory

RIYADH: Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met on Monday with Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the capital Damascus, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Al-Budaiwi said the visit affirms the GCC’s support for Syria’s unity and stability to achieve security, prosperity, and development for the Syrian people. 

The secretary-general, who was accompanied by Kuwait’s FM Abdullah Al-Yahya, said that the Gulf countries have always stressed the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, reject foreign interventions, and combat terrorism and extremism, while respecting religious and cultural diversity in the country.

He condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, calling on Israel to withdraw its forces from occupied Syrian lands. 

Al-Budaiwi stressed that the Golan Heights are Syrian land and rejected any Israeli settlement expansion in the plateau.

He reiterated the need to lift economic sanctions on Syria and provide humanitarian and economic support to the Syrian people to alleviate their suffering and enhance efforts to rebuild the country.

He stressed the importance of supporting national reconciliation, rebuilding the Syrian state, ensuring civilian safety, the decision to dissolve militias and armed factions, and confining weapons to the state’s control.

The GCC “welcomes the UN's call to establish a special mission to support the political transition process in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter to help the Syrian people achieve a Syrian-led political process,” Al-Budaiwi said.


Clinical Swiatek romps as Tsitsipas crashes at United Cup

Clinical Swiatek romps as Tsitsipas crashes at United Cup
Updated 31 December 2024
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Clinical Swiatek romps as Tsitsipas crashes at United Cup

Clinical Swiatek romps as Tsitsipas crashes at United Cup
  • Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since news broke in late November that she served a one-month ban for a doping violation
  • Kazakh world No. 6 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina survived a late wobble before burying Greek hopes with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Maria Sakkari

PERTH: Iga Swiatek romped to an emphatic victory in her season-opening match at the United Cup Monday, but Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed as Kazakhstan upset Greece to make the knockout round of the mixed-team tournament.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since news broke in late November that she served a one-month ban for a doping violation.

But the Pole quickly shook off any nerves in Sydney with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Norway’s Malene Helgo.

“Pleased with everything, honestly. I’m happy for sure with the performance,” said the world No. 2.

“It’s not always easy to play for your country, sometimes the pressure is a bit bigger.

“I feel good, I feel happy, happy I can play tennis overall,” she added. “I’m just going step by step and we’ll see what’s next.”

The 23-year-old tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample in August when she was ranked No. 1.

However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the violation was not intentional and she escaped with a one-month sanction.

While she was in electric form, Greek star Tsitsipas had a day to forget.

He is coming off a mediocre 2024 in which his ranking dropped to its current 11 from a career-high three and was hoping for a confidence-boosting fresh start in Perth.

But he was stunned 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) by 78th-ranked Alexander Shevchenko.

Kazakh world No. 6 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina then survived a late wobble before burying Greek hopes with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Maria Sakkari.

“I’m really happy for the team,” said Rybakina, now working with Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanizevic. “We all tried hard.

“It was a tough match for me today and I’m so happy to be in the quarter-finals.”

Rybakina took the first set and led 5-0 in the second, but the former world No. 3 Sakkari won three games in a row to threaten a comeback.

Rybakina came through on her third match point as Sakkari mis-hit an overhead.

“At 5-0 you have nothing to lose, she played more aggressively and hit some good shots,” said Rybakina.

Shevchenko called his defeat of a sluggish Tsitsipas “one of the best” of his career.

“He was not at his best today. But I played really well and found the moment to win that match,” he said.

“It will definitely go in my record as one of my best wins.”

Defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, defeated China 2-1 in the Perth evening session as both nations reached the quarterfinals.

The Germans finished top in their group and will line up on Wednesday against Kazakhstan. China advanced as the best of the three runners-up in Perth.

Second-ranked Zverev recovered from a bad start to beat Zhang Zhizhen 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 but unfancied Gao Xinyu stunned German Laura Siegemund 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to even the tie.

The German pair combined in mixed doubles to defeat Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

Zverev had his problems in the opening rubber against an inconsistent Zhang, who swept the opening set but disappeared after that.

“I didn’t start off well. I was missing more shots from my backhand side, which is normally the most stable,” said Zverev.

“He was also playing extremely well, so aggressive. He was not letting me into the match or find my rhythm.

“Then I found my rhythm and I’m happy with my performance in the second and third sets.”

In Sydney, Katie Boulter led Britain to victory over Argentina with all three teams in the group, which also includes hosts Australia, still in contention for the knockout rounds.

World No. 24 Boulter downed 100th-ranked Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-3.

Underdog Billy Harris looked on track to seal the tie for Britain when he went a set up against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

But the Argentine rallied for a gutsy 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win to send the tie to a deciding mixed doubles.

Etcheverry fronted up again with Maria Carle to take on Boulter and Charles Broom, with the British pair coming out on top 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.


Declassified files show UK anger at Chirac over Iraq

Declassified files show UK anger at Chirac over Iraq
Updated 31 December 2024
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Declassified files show UK anger at Chirac over Iraq

Declassified files show UK anger at Chirac over Iraq
  • Blair expressed “sorrow, regret and apology” for mistakes made in planning the conflict, while his influential press chief at the time of the war, Alastair Campbell, said the decision would “weigh heavily on him”

LONDON: Newly-declassified UK government documents published Tuesday reveal the frustrations of then-prime minister Tony Blair and his government with French leader Jaques Chirac for blocking UN-backed military action in Iraq in 2003.
Minutes of an emergency cabinet meeting on March 17, 2003 — a week after Chirac said he would veto any resolution approving military action — showed UK ministers agreed “the French attitude had undermined the mechanism of the UN to enforce the will of the international community.”
“We had tried our utmost” but the French “were not prepared to accept that if President Saddam Hussein of Iraq did not comply with UN obligations, military action should follow,” Blair told the meeting, according to files released by the National Archives.
Britain joined the US-led military action to oust Saddam in 2003, despite fierce opposition across the country, with Blair highlighting allegations that the Iraqi dictator had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction.
The WMD accusations fueled by the administration of then president George W. Bush were later proven to be false.
According to the files, then foreign minister Jack Straw told cabinet “effectively, one member of the UN Security Council had torpedoed the whole process,” and accused Chirac, who died in 2019, of deciding to “open up a strategic divide between France and the UK.”
In a meeting three days later, Straw said Chirac “appeared to be positioning himself ... (to) become leader of one side of the bi-polar world he advocated,” in contrast to a US-dominated world.
By contrast, ministers were told in the March 17 meeting that the Labour government “was motivated by a world view which promoted justice, good governance and pluralism and this set it apart from other governments of the industrialized world.”
The final minute of the meeting read: “Summing up, the prime minister said that the diplomatic process was now at an end; Saddam Hussein would be given an ultimatum to leave Iraq; and the House of Commons would be asked to endorse the use of military action against Iraq to enforce compliance, if necessary.”

The UK joined the US-led invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003, despite around one million people marching in London to protest against military intervention.
The invasion and subsequent war severely dented Blair’s popularity, culminating in the independent Chilcot inquiry, which concluded in 2016 he had deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by the Iraqi regime.
Blair expressed “sorrow, regret and apology” for mistakes made in planning the conflict, while his influential press chief at the time of the war, Alastair Campbell, said the decision would “weigh heavily on him.”. “for the rest of his days.”
Campbell was also caught up in controversy when the BBC reported he had “sexed up” a dossier on Iraq’s military capabilities, claims he has denied.

 


US soldier dies in non-combat incident in Iraq

US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle on a joint base with the Iraqi army, south of Mosul, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2017.
US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle on a joint base with the Iraqi army, south of Mosul, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2017.
Updated 31 December 2024
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US soldier dies in non-combat incident in Iraq

US Army soldiers stand outside their armored vehicle on a joint base with the Iraqi army, south of Mosul, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2017.
  • In September, the US announced an agreement with the Iraqi government to wrap up the American-led coalition’s military mission against the Daesh group in Iraq by 2025

WASHINGTON: A 34-year-old soldier serving with the Indiana National Guard in Iraq has died in a non-combat incident, the Army said Monday.
Capt. Eric Richard Hart, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died Saturday in Iraq, the Army National Guard said in a statement. Hart was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion of Indiana’s 38th Infantry Division in Iraq. His death is under investigation.
While all combat operations have ceased for US forces in Iraq, the US maintains a presence of 2,500 troops to assist the Iraqi military in counter-Daesh operations and training. Those forces have repeatedly come under attack in the 14 months since Hamas attacked Israel, spurring a wider, deadly response from Tel Aviv.
During the last year, Iranian-backed forces have launched one-way attack drones, rockets and missiles at US facilities in Iraq in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
In September, the US announced an agreement with the Iraqi government to wrap up the American-led coalition’s military mission against the Daesh group in Iraq by 2025. US troops have departed some bases that they have long occupied during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.
Washington has had a continuous presence in Iraq since its 2003 invasion. Although all US combat forces left in 2011, thousands of troops returned in 2014 to help the Iraqi government defeat Daesh.
Since the extremist group lost its hold on the territory it once seized, Iraqi officials have periodically called for a withdrawal of coalition forces, particularly in the wake of a US airstrike in January 2020 that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis outside the Baghdad airport.
Before Monday’s announcement, a total of 4,419 troops had died in Iraq since the beginning of the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom military campaign, including 3,482 combat deaths and 937 non-combat deaths, according to the latest Defense Department data. A total of 31,993 troops were wounded in action in Iraq.
The Defense Department’s summary does not include all of the forces who returned from war with wounds that surfaced later, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or toxic exposure.