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Inès Mermat

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sits across from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Geopolitics

The Syrian Rapprochement With The Arab World Is Far From Complete

Despite the official "consensus" by Arab League nations to welcome Syria back to the organization after 12 years of suspension, several key countries were opposed on principal — including key questions still open in North Africa.

ALGIERS — Algerian diplomacy may appear strengthened by the Arab League's recent decision to reintegrate Syria. Yet neighboring Morocco conversely finds itself in an uncomfortable position.

After mirroring Saudi Arabia's position on nearly all regional issues, Morocco was caught off guard when the country decided to support Syria's reintegration.

On May 7 in Cairo, foreign ministers of Arab League nations agreed to welcome Syria back to the organization after 12 years of suspension.

This reinstatement will be subject to certain conditions imposed on Syria, including the return of refugees, facilitating the passage of international humanitarian aid across borders and working on preparations to hold elections.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is expected to attend the Arab summit scheduled in Saudi Arabia on May 19.

The decision was made by consensus, meaning it was accepted by all member countries, including those, like Morocco, who vehemently opposed this option just a few weeks ago.

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"Grandpa Vlad" — Wagner Boss Prigozhin Is Now Mocking Putin Directly
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

"Grandpa Vlad" — Wagner Boss Prigozhin Is Now Mocking Putin Directly

Head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin's furious videos have been aimed in the past at Putin's deputies and generals. Now, he's taking aim at the tsar himself.

-OpEd-

What exactly is Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, up to? This question has been on everyone's minds for months, but now he has truly crossed a line.

Prigozhin was already engaged in open conflict with top military brass and even the Russian Defense Minister. However, Tuesday, he launched a direct attack on Vladimir Putin himself, depicting him as a comical "grandfather" in a video meant to ridicule him. He specifically chose to do it on Victory Day, the day of the anniversary of Russia’s triumph over Nazism, just as Putin was preparing to preside over the parade on Red Square.

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In the video, Prigozhin theatrically portrays his ongoing conflict with Russian military authorities. Despite having no military background, the corpulent Prigozhin dresses in military fatigues and a bulletproof vest, with Kalashnikov magazines visibly strapped to his belly.

He narrates receiving a menacing letter from the Russian Ministry of Defense, threatening him with charges of "treason" if he were to withdraw his troops from Bakhmut, the Ukrainian city he has been striving to capture for weeks.

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Image of an unmade hospital bed in a dimly lit hospital room.
Ideas

Assisted Dying, The Ultimate Act Of Self-Care

France's much discussed citizens' convention on assisted dying has just delivered its conclusions, including some proposals the government deems too ambitious. But the freedom to choose one's own death is the ultimate achievement of self-control, says French philosopher Gaspard Koenig.

-OpEd-

PARIS — The citizens' convention on end-of-life issues has spoken in favor of "active assistance in dying" (assisted suicide or euthanasia), in line with recommendations from the National Ethics Committee and most recent surveys of public opinion. But French Health Minister François Braun has expressed reservations, and proposed a simple strengthening of palliative care.

None of this is likely to calm the democratic crisis over this complicated but crucial issue for society. Why gather 200 citizens for four months and mobilize dozens of experts and significant government resources, if the response is immediately to dismiss their ideas?

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Photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 3
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Escalation Spark: How The Kremlin Drone Attack Could Reshape The War In Ukraine

Moscow is accusing Kyiv of trying to assassinate Putin in a drone strike on the Kremlin. It will likely be used as a pretext for Putin to escalate attacks.

-Analysis-

PARIS — It is the most mysterious episode since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine 14 months ago. It's also bound to shape the outcome of the war, at what is already a decisive moment.

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Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Vladimir Putin during a drone attack on the Kremlin. The two drones were destroyed over the historic building complex of Red Square in Moscow. The Russian spokesperson declared that there would be retaliation, and that Russia would decide when and how.

Ukraine has categorically denied any responsibility. Indeed, Kyiv would deny it even if it was behind the operation, especially if it failed. Nevertheless, there are several inconsistencies to the Russian version of events.

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Image of people carrying the body of Palestinian teenager Mustafa Amer Sabah in the city of Bethlehem.
Geopolitics

A New Palestinian Martyr, And Israel's "Other" Crisis That Won't Go Away

A Palestinian has died from a hunger strike in an Israeli prison, exacerbating the cycle of violence in the region. Israeli's protesting Benjamin Netanyahu''s right-wing government have little to offer to resolve the eternal crisis of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

-Analysis-

Khader Adnan, a 44-year-old leader of the radical Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad, had been imprisoned in Israel for the 10th time when he began his third hunger strike on February 5, which would prove to be fatal. The resident of Jenin in the West Bank was found unconscious in his cell Tuesday, and declared dead upon arrival at the hospital after 86 days of refusing food and medical care.

Israeli authorities claim that Adnan had refused all assistance, but an Israeli medical NGO asserts that Israel denied a request for hospitalization as his condition deteriorated.

Islamic Jihad immediately declared Adnan a "martyr," though he was accused of "endorsing terrorism," and rocket fire was reported after his death from Gaza , the organization's stronghold. However, the widow of the Palestinian activist addressed the leaders of the jihadist group: "You did nothing to save him while he was alive, so do nothing after his death," she said. "It is my nine sons who will avenge their father in due course."

The ancient "eye-for-an-eye" law of revenge is still holding strong.

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Image of a residential site in Darfur, Sudan, completely destroyed.
Geopolitics

How Fighting In Sudan Could Reignite The Darfur Conflict

Sudan is descending into all-out civil war. This risks upsetting the fragile peace in Darfur, raising the specter of more atrocities and massacres.

-Analysis-

PARIS Ceasefires come and go, providing just a pause amid relentless fighting.

Nothing stops the two forces that have turned Khartoum and parts of Sudan into battlefields: the two generals who are fighting each other — army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemetti — are mortal enemies who swear they will not negotiate.

Foreign nationals have been evacuated, and the civilian population hides or flees when they can to neighboring countries. The United Nations issue warnings of a large-scale humanitarian disaster; Sudan is approaching a "breaking point," according to the UN humanitarian affairs chief.

But Sudan may only be at the beginning of an even greater tragedy. The news from Darfur, the westernmost region of Sudan on the border with Chad, is alarming. Reports indicate renewed fighting between armed groups that rekindle the specter of massacres from the 2000s.

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Photo of Google Street View car
Society

Planes, Trains And E-Scooters: Surveillance State And The End Of Freedom Of Movement

It's impossible to travel incognito on a train, and it's also difficult to walk down the street without running into surveillance cameras. Even when hiking, apps are multiplying. We can't just wander around in anonymity anymore.

-Essay-

PARIS — A few years ago, I provoked the indignation of many readers when I confessed that I enjoyed using e-scooters in town — a subject obviously more explosive in France than pensions, surrogacy and wind energy combined.

Let them be reassured: I've given up, and even boycott them now. For a simple reason: scooter operators now ask me to scan my ID card to unlock my two-wheeled transport. It seems that many town halls have asked for this measure to be implemented in order to fine those who dangerously slalom through traffic.

It doesn't really matter: there's no way I'm handing over my biometric data to a Californian start-up to move 500 meters up the street.

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Image of the art piece called Balloon Dog (a giant red dog made of balloon) in a museum.
Society

Warhol Jackpot! Keep Your Day Job! A French Artist Takes On The "Dirty" Money Question

In a country where money is taboo and culture is sacred, French artist Aurélie Galois navigates the uneasy relationship between following your muse and paying your rent.

-Essay-

PARIS — "And...do you make a living from it?" That's the question I'm often asked when I say I'm a painter, before people even know what I paint. In a country where money matters are taboo, it's strange that artists are asked if they make a living from their art.

My response — "I'm not a painter to make a living; it's my life" — feeds the romantic vision behind this idea, a construction that I endure, like so many others, and which raises questions as intimate as they are enmeshed in society.

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Image of a demonstrator holding a Tunisian flag
Economy

Tunisia, Between Arab Spring Nostalgia And An Age-Old Dilemma Of Democracy

The arrest this week of top opposition leaders shows Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed is drifting ever farther away from basic democratic practices. Yet there's no mass uprising, unlike in 2011, perhaps because economic factors are foremost on people's minds.

-Analysis-

TUNIS — When officials in Washington' look at the Tunisian experiment in democracy, it appears to be a distressed ship, listing and heading straight for an iceberg where the invisible part is always far bigger than what's visible. The damage from a collapse of Tunisia can spill over into neighboring countries. The problem, in other words, is not only Tunisian.

Without explicitly saying so, experts and observers present in Washington for the IMF Spring Meetings are convinced that the crew at the helm in Tunisia is rather emotional, without a roadmap, and above all, carrying out projects that often lack basic rationality.

Certainly, it is a harsh judgment, but not for nothing! And for good reason, the democratic model, established since Day One of the birth of the Arab Spring in 2011, confronts Tunisians (expatriates and locals alike) with an uncomfortable and divisive dilemma.

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Image of two men removing mines from the ground in a field.
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine Now Has More Landmines Than Any Other Nation — What Can Be Done?

Ukraine became the country with the most landmines in the world. Kyiv has limited resources, so NGOs are trying to help by training soldiers to identify and destroy the potentially deadly devices even while protecting themselves from new assaults from Russian forces.

VASYLENKOVE — Walking along a rough dirt road in this eastern Ukrainian town, Trevor Kirton slowly makes his way, metal detector in hand. "Watch where you step," warns the volunteer de-miner, a veteran of the British army.

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A hundred meters further on lie the pulverized remains of a Ukrainian truck, destroyed after driving over a Russian anti-tank mine. The occupants of the vehicle died on impact. All that remain are a shredded camouflage jacket and some scattered personal belongings on the side of the road. As Kirton crouches to examine a piece of shrapnel, an explosion is heard in the distance, raising a thick column of black smoke.

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Split photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on their respective visits to the frontline
FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Putin And Zelensky, So Close — And Farther Away Than Ever From Negotiations

The Ukrainian and Russian presidents made separate visits to the frontline recently, in closer physical proximity than anytime since the war began. It was a sign that we should not expect negotiations anytime soon.

-Analysis-

Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin have probably not been literally as close to each other since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. The two presidents made public Tuesday their respective visits to the war's front line.

While it was not a first for Zelensky, it was for Putin. And the event was staged enough to stand out. What is the message of Putin's visit, both in terms of the military situation and recent mentions of negotiations?

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The two sides do not have the same agenda. The Ukrainian president is preparing his spring counteroffensive, announced well in advance to push for Western arms deliveries. Tanks have arrived, along with ex-Soviet planes delivered by Eastern European countries.

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Image of pedestrians walking past the busy traffic at Tom Mboya Street on February 13, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Future

Foreign Cash, Women Founders: How African Tech Is Bouncing Back, Post-COVID

The African tech ecosystem is bouncing back after a slowdown during the pandemic, with local innovation fueled by increasing investment from foreign tech giants.

DAKAR — Despite a tense macroeconomic context, the growth of the African tech ecosystem shows no sign of slowing down.

In 2022, African startups recorded an 8% increase in investor funding compared to the previous year, according to a 2022 report from PartechAfrica Tech Venture Capital. The context remains favorable to the continent, which is attracting many foreign investment funds.

"The current period is one of a flight to quality," says Melvyn Lubega, an investor at French fund Breega, which has recently boosted its investments in Africa.

This resilience has surprised many observers. After the COVID-19 health crisis, the strength of African economies and continued high growth rates surprised some economists, who had expected a catastrophe.

But digital technology is not immune to good news. Despite an international context of investor withdrawal, liquidity scarcity and never-ending inflation, African tech remains in the green and has managed to attract 1,149 unique investors in 2022, an increase of 29% compared to 2021.

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