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Venezuela

Movember Diplomacy: 9 World Leaders Get The Moustache Each One Deserves

Movember Diplomacy: 9 World Leaders Get The Moustache Each One Deserves


Gentlemen, throw away your razors and kiss that soft upper lip good-bye: Movember is here.

Every year since time immemorial (OK, 2004), men the world over stop shaving for the month of November to raise awareness about prostate cancer and other men’s health issues — all while looking positively fabulous.

Here at Worldcrunch HQ, the hairy male members of our team already look ridiculously good. But it’s not always the case for our world leaders, who tend to shy away from facial hair.

Here are a few examples of how good they could look. (We have more, but we’re shaving them for later.)

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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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