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Peace Talks Falter as New Strikes Shake Ukraine

President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan receives the heads of delegations participating in the UAE hosted trilateral talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine, Director of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kirill Budanov, United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Jared Kushner at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi. US‑mediated negotiations aimed at easing the war in Ukraine ended abruptly without an agreement after Russia launched a series of overnight airstrikes that hit multiple Ukrainian cities and energy facilities. The renewed bombardment intensified pressure on the talks, which had been viewed as a tentative step toward de‑escalation. Diplomats from both sides described the discussions as “constructive but inconclusive,” noting that major sticking points — in...

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Canada Loses Appeal of FIFA Penalty in Olympic Drone Spying Scandal

 


In a significant setback for Canadian soccer, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Canada’s appeal against a six-point deduction imposed by FIFA. This penalty stems from a drone-spying scandal during the Olympic women’s soccer tournament in Paris 2024.

The controversy began when New Zealand lodged a complaint, alleging that Canadian staff used drones to spy on their training sessions before their opening match. Following an investigation, FIFA docked Canada six points and imposed one-year bans on head coach Bev Priestman and officials Joseph Lombardi and Jasmine Mander.

Despite winning both of their games, the point deduction leaves Canada with zero points in the standings. The CAS ruling, delivered just hours before Canada’s crucial match against Colombia, means the team faces an uphill battle to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Soccer argued that the penalty was disproportionate and unfairly punished the athletes, who were not involved in the alleged cheating. However, the CAS upheld FIFA’s decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport.

This ruling has significant implications for Canada’s chances in the tournament and underscores the serious consequences of violating fair play principles in international sports.


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