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CRITICA

Manuel 'El Man' Noriega Dead At 83, Front Page From Panama

Bertrand Hauger

Critica, May 30, 2017

"El Man Dies," reads Tuesday's front page of Panamanian daily Critica, reporting the death of former dictator Manuel Noriega in Panama City at age of 83, with one of his many monikers.

Noriega, who died Monday night, was called MAN for the acronym for Manuel Antonio Noriega, although the New York Times points out in its obituary that the nickname that endured among his detractors was "Pineapple Face," owing to the strongman's pockmarked skin.

Noriega became Panama's military dictator in power in 1983 until he was removed from power after the American invasion ordered by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

As Critica reports, Noriega was extradited to Panama in 2011 after serving more than 20 years in jail in the U.S. and France for drug trafficking and money laundering. He was serving a 60-year prison sentence until a court granted him temporary house arrest earlier this year, for health reasons.

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Economy

Soft Power Or Sportwashing? What's Driving The Mega Saudi Image Makeover Play

Saudi Arabia suddenly now leads the world in golf, continues to attract top European soccer stars, and invests in culture and entertainment... Its "soft power" strategy is changing the kingdom's image through what critics bash as blatant "sportwashing."

Footballer Karim Benzema, in his Real Madrid kit

Karim Benzema during a football match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on June 04, 2023, in Madrid, Spain.

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — A major announcement this week caused quite a stir in the world of professional golf. It wouldn't belong in the politics section were it not for the role played by Saudi Arabia. The three competing world circuits have announced their merger, putting an end to the "civil war" in the world of pro golf.

The Chairman of the new entity is Yassir Al-Rumayan, head of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Add to this the fact that one of the major players in the world of golf is Donald Trump – three of the biggest tournaments are held on golf courses he owns – and it's easy to see what's at stake.

In the same week, we learned that two leading French footballers, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté, were to join Saudi club Al-Ittihad, also owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The amount of the transfer is not known, but it is sure to be substantial. There, they will join other soccer stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.

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