Ukraine, West Bank, doping… The five news stories of the weekend

After long and difficult negotiations, the American House of Representatives adopted a major aid plan for Ukraine on Saturday

Ukraine, West Bank, doping… The five news stories of the weekend

After long and difficult negotiations, the American House of Representatives adopted a major aid plan for Ukraine on Saturday. The text provides 60.8 billion (57 billion euros) to help kyiv in its fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately welcomed assistance that “will save thousands and thousands of lives.”

American elected officials also adopted an aid plan of 26 billion dollars (24 billion euros) to notably strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield. Finally, they voted on a text to stand up to China and help Taiwan, and adopted a measure issuing an ultimatum to TikTok, which provides for the banning of the social network in the United States unless it cuts its links with its parent company ByteDance, and more broadly with China.

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it had killed ten people and arrested eight others during an “anti-terrorist” raid carried out in the Nour Shams camp, near Tulkarem, in the northern West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent announced that fourteen people had been killed. The PA health ministry said 11 people were also injured, including seven by gunfire. Among them, a rescuer was hit by a shot, added the same source in a press release.

On Sunday, two more Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. According to the Israeli army, they attempted to stab and open fire on soldiers.

An investigation by the New York Times and the German channel ARD reveals that twenty-three of the best Chinese swimmers were the subject of a positive doping test in January 2021, a few months before the Tokyo Olympics, where some 'between them then shone.

Although an investigation was carried out by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, followed by a report from Chinada, the national anti-doping agency, no provisional suspension was issued, even though the case was handed down in March 2021.

According to the ARD – which had already revealed the Russian doping scandal at the end of 2014 – and the New York Times, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Swimming Federation accepted the explanations provided by the Chinese authorities, which cite unintentional ingestion, caused by “a contaminated food supply. »

The philosopher Elisabeth Badinter wanted to assure, in a letter published on Sunday by La Tribune, that her husband, the former Minister of Justice Robert Badinter, who died on February 9, would have voted for the text. “I was able to see that my husband’s words were used, not to say exploited, by opponents of any legislative development on this subject,” wrote the philosopher in a letter to the text’s rapporteur, Olivier Falorni.

The work of the special committee, responsible for preparing the examination at first reading in the National Assembly of the bill relating to support for the sick and those at the end of life, must begin on Monday.

The sinking of an overloaded barge caused the death of fifty-eight people on Friday on the M’Poko river in Bangui. Many others are still missing.

The wooden boat, called a whaleboat, was carrying more than 300 people, well beyond its capacity, and was heading to Makolo, a village 45 kilometers from Bangui, to attend the funeral of a village chief. The boat capsized shortly after leaving the pier.

And also…

Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu promises to increase “military pressure” on Hamas “in the coming days.”

Iran. Ali Khamenei hails Iran's 'successes' after attack in Israel.

Six Nations Tournament. The XV of France clears the Welsh obstacle (40-0), and offers itself a final against England.

Champions League. The Lyonnaises overthrow Paris at the end of a spectacular semi-final first leg.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Tadej Pogacar untouchable, Romain Bardet second in the oldest classics.