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Hamas Leaders Ordered to Leave Qatar

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Qatar has instructed Hamas leaders to leave the country

Qatar has ordered Hamas leaders to leave the country in response to a US request to stop Qatar’s support for the terrorist organization.

In a series of high-stakes communications, Washington informed Qatar that Hamas’ continued presence in Doha is no longer acceptable in light of the militant group’s rejection of recent ceasefire and hostage exchange proposals, prompting Qatar to deliver a similar message to Hamas leaders about ten days earlier.

A US official emphasized the US stance, telling Reuters that “after rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, its leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner.” We made this clear to Qatar after Hamas’ rejection weeks ago.”

Despite US pressure, three Hamas officials have denied that Qatar formally requested their departure, Reuters reports.

Since 2012, Qatar has sheltered Hamas leaders as part of a deal to encourage negotiations, particularly during times of heavy tension between Hamas and Israel.

In recent months, Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has led many rounds of discussions to end the carnage in Gaza—a goal that has proven elusive since Hamas rejected a previous cease-fire agreement in mid-October.

The Biden administration’s effort for a resolution in Gaza has acquired urgency as Israel’s retaliatory strikes have ravaged the area, killing an estimated 43,000 Palestinians and causing enormous destruction.

Meanwhile, the recent election of Republican Donald Trump as the next US president has reportedly reduced President Biden’s clout in the last weeks of his presidency.

Previous rounds of talks collapsed when Israel imposed new criteria, including a prospective military presence in Gaza, which Hamas interpreted as changing “last-minute goalposts.”

Last year, similar discussions mediated in Doha resulted in a seven-day cease-fire in Gaza, allowing captives to be released and humanitarian aid to be delivered, but hostilities immediately resumed.

Qatar’s long-standing stance as a mediator has come under growing scrutiny from US politicians. Fourteen Republican senators recently wrote to the Department of State, seeking penalties on Hamas officials in Qatar, their extradition, and a demand that Qatar “end its hospitality” to Hamas.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, has defended his country’s hosting of Hamas officials, claiming that their presence promotes crucial diplomatic conversations.

Source: Reuters

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The Observer, The World’s Oldest Sunday Newspaper And A Liberal Staple, Will Be Sold.

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Observer
(AP Photo/Raphael Satter, File)

(VOR News) – Even though journalists had organised a two-day protest earlier this week, the sale of the Observer, which is the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper and a stronghold of liberal principles in Britain’s media landscape, was sanctioned on Friday.

The Observer is still the oldest newspaper in the world.

The Scott Trust, the owner of the Guardian Media Group, which is comprised of the Observer and the Guardian, has made the announcement that the sale to Tortoise Media is anticipated to be finalised within the next few days.

It has been reported that the Scott Trust has made an investment in Tortoise Media. As a result, the Scott Trust has become a significant shareholder in the company and has assumed roles on both the editorial and commercial boards respectively.

Tortoise must invest 25 million pounds (32 million dollars) in the Observer.

In the year 1791, The Observer was established, and in 1993, it became a member of the Guardian Media Group. On the other hand, Tortoise is dedicated to maintaining its Sunday print edition while also expanding its presence on the internet.

The editorial code of the Observer has made a commitment to respect the “liberal values and journalistic standards” of the Scott Trust. This commitment is part of the Observer’s commitment to protecting journalistic freedom and the editorial autonomy of the publication.

In 2019, James Harding, who had previously served as the editor of the London Times and as the chief of news at the BBC, and Matthew Barzun, who had previously served as the United States ambassador to London, established Tortoise publishing.

The readers were given the assurance that “we will make every effort to honour its legacy as a champion of human dignity and to revitalise it as a formidable, progressive voice globally.”

This was a pledge that was made to the readers. Harding argued that the Observer exemplifies “the pinnacle of liberal, pioneering journalism.” He said this on multiple occasions.

Ole Jacob Sunde, who serves as the chairperson of the Scott Trust, stated that the Observer need “a sufficiently funded, long-term ally that upholds editorial independence and liberal values.”

Wednesday and Thursday, Guardian and Observer journalists struck.

In addition to publishing print editions from Monday through Saturday, The Guardian also maintains a significant presence on the internet around the world. There has been a walkout that has been started by journalists from both organisations.

Despite the fact that the Guardian is unquestionably the more prestigious brand, particularly in the realm of digital media, the two newspapers have maintained a strong partnership, sharing resources and operating from the same site in London.

Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of Guardian News & Media, remarked, “I acknowledge the disquiet this period has caused for Observer staff, yet we are assured that we have determined the most advantageous path forward for the title’s journalists, its readership, and the future of both the Observer and the Guardian.”

It has been announced by Laura Davison, who will soon take over as general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, that union members from both publications will get together later on Friday to discuss the next steps that will be taken.

She stated that the timing of the decision, which was made prior to the conclusion of two days of action that received a lot of support, was particularly unfortunate.

Giao Pacey, a partner at Simkins LLP, a law firm that specialises in media and entertainment, says that the new leadership of the Observer must exercise caution in order to protect the value of the newspaper, which is inextricably linked to the brand that it has created over the course of centuries.

Keeping the company’s legacy, culture, and integrity intact while also securing the resources and support necessary for success in a market that is constantly shifting is something that Pacey believes the leadership team needs to accomplish in order to strike a balance. “Upon completion of the sale, the leadership team must achieve an appropriate equilibrium for the business.”

SOURCE: AP

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French President Macron Shifts Blame for Government Collapse

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Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation from the presidential palace
Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation from the presidential palace

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for the collapse of Michel Barnier’s government, blaming “cynical” and “anti-Republican” opposition politicians.

On Thursday, Mr. Macron, 46, issued a defiant 10-minute televised address in which he denied the possibility of resigning more than two years prior to the conclusion of his tenure. He declared that he would continue to serve his “full mandate” until 2027.

The French president has committed to appointing a new prime minister in the near future and draughting a new budget measure by a new government of the willing early next year.

After losing a vote of no-confidence in his government the previous day, Mr. Barnier, 73, tendered his resignation on Thursday. Consequently, France’s oldest prime minister also became its shortest-serving.

“Until the appointment of a new government, he and his ministers will be responsible for daily business,” according to the Telegraph.

Macron promises solution

Mr. Macron endeavoured to rectify the situation with the French electorate and the opposition during his brief address.

Mr. Macron took full responsibility for his decision to hold snap elections in June and July, which he said had been “misunderstood” and “criticised,” and thanked Mr. Barnier for “rising to the occasion, as so many others have not.”

“I shall never assume the negligence of others, particularly the MPs who have deliberately chosen to undermine France’s budget and government mere days before Christmas.”

On Thursday, Ms. Le Pen stated that the French president’s resignation was not appropriate at this time.

“That can only occur, in my opinion, when a political crisis or an institutional crisis can no longer be resolved through the resignation of the president of the republic,” she stated in an interview with Bloomberg. She noted that this was not the case at the moment.

Rather, the populist opposition figure pledged to “collaborate” with the incoming prime minister and maintained that a budget could be approved within a matter of weeks.

Macron to Blame

However, polls conducted on Thursday indicate that the French are primarily attributing the most severe political crisis to Macron since 1958, when Charles de Gaulle returned from retirement to establish the Fifth Republic and prevent civil war.

An Odaxa Backbone survey revealed that six out of ten individuals now desire Macron’s resignation, while a Toluna Harris Interactive poll indicated that an even greater number, 64 percent, desired his departure.

Mathilde Panot, the chair of the parliamentary faction of the hard-Left France Unbowed (LFI) party, has advocated for “early presidential elections,” stating, “We are now calling on Macron to go.”

According to Mr. Macron, he will not be resigning until 2027, and French law prohibits the holding of new legislative elections until July of the following year.

Simultaneously, there is considerable speculation regarding the individual whom Mr. Macron will select to succeed Mr. Barnier.

He is eager to designate a replacement before dozens of heads of state, including the newly elected US president, Donald Trump, descend on Paris for a ceremony to reopen Notre-Dame on Saturday, according to a variety of sources.

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Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes North Coast of California

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California Earthquake
A tsunami warning was issued but has since been cancelled

The US Geological Survey reports that a significant 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California.

A tsunami warning was initially issued for the beaches of northern California and southern Oregon, affecting around 4.7 million people, but has since been lifted.

The epicentre of the earthquake was located near Ferndale, California, a small settlement in Humboldt County about 260 miles (418 km) north of San Francisco.

At 10:51 a.m. PST, cellphones throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon rang with a “Emergency Alert” message.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre cancelled the tsunami warning shortly before noon local time.

According to the Associated Press, the US Geological Survey said that more than 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning, and more than 1.3 million people lived close enough to the epicentre to feel the earthquake.

Tremors are widespread in the US West Coast, which is where many of the Earth’s tectonic plates meet. However, a strong 7-magnitude earthquake is unusual in the region. Experts estimate that 10 to 15 earthquakes of this size occur globally each year.

A number of severe earthquakes have impacted the area, including a 1994 quake in Northridge, Los Angeles, which killed scores of people and injured thousands more while causing billions of dollars in damage to homes and infrastructure.

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