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Fatal snowmobile accident in the north of the Lanaudiere region

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Fatal snowmobile accident in the north of the Lanaudiere region

SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS | A French snowmobiler died Saturday in the Saint-Michel-des-Saints sector, in the Lanaudiere region.

The collision occurred in the evening around 7 p.m. on federated trail number 33, located between Repos Lake and Manawan, said the Sûrete du Quebec.

The victim is a 58-year-old French national. She was evacuated to a hospital center where her death was noted, said Sergeant Claude Denis of the SQ.

According to initial reports, the snowmobiler had lost control of his snowmobiler who had hit a tree head-on.

Snowmobile specialists were requested on-site, said Sergeant Denis.

Guilbeault’s credibility is at stake

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Guilbeault’s credibility is at stake

Steven Guilbeault’s first steps on the federal stage took the form of long Stations of the Cross.

His office overrun by young environmentalists on Friday, judgment on the Trans Mountain pipeline, decision to come to the Teck Frontier mine, not a week goes by without being questioned on the issue of climate change.

Suddenly, like a good soldier, he takes refuge behind ministerial solidarity. “It’s up to my environmental colleague Jonathan Wilkinson to comment. ”

What do you want, Steven Guilbeault is Minister of Heritage.

What environmental influence?

Quebecers’ favorite environmentalist remains a prisoner of his militant past. Wanting to avoid damaging relations with Alberta, we understand Justin Trudeau for having refused his ministry of choice.

Which raises the question: Has Steven Guilbeault been instrumentalized by the Liberal Party to improve his environmental image?

Behind the scenes, we maintain that he has a real influence. He sits on the cabinet committee on economics and the environment, when he speaks, we listen, the Minister of the Environment would not hesitate to seek his advice and support.

So much the better if that’s true.

The real test is fast approaching. The government must decide, by the end of the month, the fate of Teck Frontier’s huge oil sands project in Alberta.

I will not repeat the debate on the pros and cons of the project. Let’s just say it’s clear that Steven Guilbeault is playing on his credibility. If he has been able to negotiate his opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline as a minister, he must now stand behind the decisions of his government.

And in this case, he will not be able to hide behind his role in Heritage to avoid commenting on Ottawa’s decision. Silence on his part would say everything and would forever shake his reputation as a champion of the climate cause. It would be his Waterloo.

The ultimate test in spring

Surviving Teck Frontier is not enough. To free himself from his past and establish his credibility as a federal minister, Steven Guilbeault will have to deliver the goods on the telecommunications and broadcasting reform in the country.

Overhaul of the CRTC, regulation of web giants, the site is as urgent as it is monumental. The exercise is as perilous as it is fundamental to the country’s economy and the fragile ecosystem of its television production.

Politically, it is a minefield. Talk to Melanie Joly. If he succeeds, it will be Austerlitz! Steven Guilbeault will finally be released!

Two Mortar rockets and retaliation by IDF on Gaza Stip

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Two Mortar rockets and retaliation by IDF on Gaza Stip

Israeli fighter jets hit Hamas targets in the particular Gaza Strip early Weekend morning in reaction in order to two rockets fired through Gaza at southern Judio communities a prior weekend not too long ago, based on the Judio military.

The army verified that two rockets were fired from the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave, landing in open terrain and causing no damage.
Based on an Israel Defense Causes statement, a military substance utilized by Hamas was a strike. “This strike will impede the Hamas terror organization’s future abilities, ” said the statement.

Consequently, Israel announced it was suspending the easing of the sanctions on Gaza, including the expansion of its fishing zone.
In recent weeks, Israel’s southern communities have experienced a steep increase of incendiary balloon attacks, sometimes carrying explosives.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip, even those claimed by other armed factions, and often responds by striking terrorist infrastructure. There have been several such exchanges in recent weeks, with no casualties on either side.

From baby miracle to miss personality

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From baby miracle to miss personality

Born with paralysis on the right side of her body, Nia Belanger could neither speak nor walk. The selflessness of her adoptive parents and her strength of character allowed her not only to become a fulfilling teenager but also to overcome the bullying that she was the target of at school. By participating in the Miss Teen Canada personality contest, Nia now aspires to give hope to all young bullies in the country.

Nia comes to open the door of the family home in Mirabel. Radiant, she welcomes us and gives us a broad smile. Behind these seemingly simple gestures lie years of medical treatment and persistence. “If my story can help at least one person, it will be a victory for me,” said the 14-year-old.

A baby like no other

When Eric Belanger and Linda Moreau went to look for little Nia in an orphanage in Beijing in China, in 2006, they quickly noticed that something was wrong with the 8-month-old baby. “Her record said she was born healthy, but her right thumb was completely closed and her foot was stiff like that of a ballerina,” recalls her mother.

According to the opinion of a pediatrician consulted there, Nia’s condition could be explained by a nerve stuck in the shoulder or by cerebrovascular arrest (CVA), but more tests were necessary to have it a pure heart. “At the orphanage, we were asked if we wanted to change it for another child. For us, there was no question of abandoning it! ”

Back in Quebec, the couple brought Nia to Montreal’s Shriners Hospital. The diagnosis quickly fell: she had suffered a stroke during pregnancy, paralyzing the right side of her body. “The doctors prepared us for the idea that she was unlikely to ever speak or walk. At the time, we felt terribly helpless, “says his father, who earns his living as a site superintendent.

Constant attention

The Shriners Hospital team gave Nia a series of treatments including physiotherapy, orthopedics, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. She also had wrist and heel tendon surgeries to allow her limbs to grow normally. For her part, Linda decided to put aside her career in the provincial public service to devote herself to her daughter, who then required constant attention.

Slowly, but surely, little Nia thwarted the forecasts. At 2.5 years old, she said her first words. Six months later, she managed to stand up, then move around while hopping.

As soon as she was able to walk, Nia started to receive botox injections in the foot to allow her to have a normal gait. Botox acts as a muscle relaxant, the foot is then put in plaster to give it a 90-degree posture. After eight weeks, the plaster is replaced by an orthosis. The operation is to be repeated after six months.

The treatments also allowed Nia to use her right hand, although it remains less agile and weaker than the left. “In everything I do, I have to work by copy and paste. If I want to take an apple with my right hand, first my left hand has to make the gesture so that the other responds to it, “she explains, using an example.

Isolated

At the age of 7, Nia was able to attend regular school. She quickly found herself confronted by the gaze of her classmates. “The others were judging me because I had trouble running or because I had a different way of catching the ball. At first, it was curiosity, then it became wickedness. We laughed behind my back. ”

In class, things weren’t much better. His stroke had the consequence of greatly restricting his ability to solve abstract problems such as mathematical equations. It only increased his isolation. “No one wanted to work with me. Even the teacher thought that I was not making enough progress, “says the one who learns subjects like mathematics or algebra by memorization rather than by comprehension.

Significant meeting

Nia remained silent about her misfortune until the day when she won tickets to attend a Marie-Mai show and have the chance to meet her idol. She was then 8 years old. “When Marie-Mai sang Differently, I really recognized myself in the lyrics. After the show, I asked her if because of my difference, I could never reach my dreams. Marie-Mai took me in her arms and told me that even if I was going to have to take another path, I was going to realize them. ”

This meeting with the artist gave her the dose of courage that the girl needed to confide in her parents. The fact of Parler took an immense weight off her shoulders. Eric and Linda were able to alert the management, which has taken certain measures to resolve the problem.

Defend those who are speechless

At 11, Nia was approached by Shriners Hospital to talk about her experience in a school bullying awareness campaign. Very grateful for the energies that the hospital team has displayed for her, Nia accepted the invitation.

For three years, Nia offered her testimony in 50 primary schools to 9,000 students. “I talked to them about the importance of taking action. I told them that the bullies were not going to carry out their threats and that they were able to get through this ordeal. Yes, it’s scary, but you have to be brave and go see an adult you trust. ”

Nia’s testimony elicited many positive reactions from both children and teachers. Many young people would thank her or give her a hug. Others, with tears in their eyes, confided that they were the target of bullies. School administrators even said that several cases of intimidation had been reported following the passage of Nia. “It made me grow because I developed more self-confidence. Now I’m comfortable in front of an audience, “said the woman who dreams of radio later.

New challenges

In search of new rewarding activities, Nia decided to participate in the Miss Teen Quebec competition last year. She was among the last five finalists. This competition, which focuses on personality rather than appearance, has allowed him to improve his self-esteem. “I loved the experience. I even met there those who are my best friends today. ”

This year, Nia was able to qualify for the Miss Teen Canada final which will take place on March 7 in Laval. For the duration of her “reign”, the winner of the competition may become the ambassador of a cause of her choice. There is no doubt that, in the event that she wins, she will continue her battle against bullying. “I dream of being able to create my foundation and continue to give lectures in schools to give hope to children who are afraid. I want to become a positive image for them. ”

► Do you have an extraordinary story or story to share too? Write to us at the following address: [email protected]

Corona virus: The Way Forward from a Global Perspective

Habeebullah Oladipo
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Corona virus: The Way Forward from a Global Perspective

Sequel to the first reported cases of acute respiratory syndrome in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China at the end of December 2019, Chinese authorities have identified the main causative agent to be the novel coronavirus.

The Outbreak has rapidly infected thousands of Chinese citizens and spread to a number of other countries. Cases have now been detected in hosts of countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.

The new Strain of the virus which was identified on January 7, 2020, and named 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-cNov) has not been previously identified in humans. It is pertinent to understand that outbreak of the novel viral infections among people are of great public health concern especially when there is little information on its characteristics, mode of transmission, the severity of the resulting infection and curative measures.

The fast-moving infection, which causes pneumonia-like symptoms, has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. It has claimed hundreds of lives and prompted Chinese authorities to quarantine several major cities. Furthermore, Coronaviruses are common, and typically cause mild respiratory conditions, such as a cough or runny nose but Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are more severe and deadly. The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has now surpassed that of the SARS epidemic, which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003.

There were around 8,100 cases of SARS – severe acute respiratory syndrome – reported during the eight-month outbreak. More than 32,000 cases of 2019-not have been recorded with about 800 deaths since the outbreak of the virus and the central Hubei province, China is the worst-affected where thousands of confirmed cases have been recorded which has also seen most of the deaths as a result of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about a further increase in a number of cases. This was based on the fact that the virus is of human-to-human transmission. Therefore, the number of people to have contracted the virus could be far higher, as people with mild symptoms may not have been detected. WHO experts at Imperial College London suggested that there could be as many as 100, 000 cases, with uncertainty putting the margins between 30000 and 200000.

The incubation period of coronavirus remains unknown but sources say it could be between 10 and 14 days. This has contributed hugely to the severity of the disease. The 2019-nCoV seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and then, after a week, leads to shortness of breath. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. It has been reported that most patients who died from the virus had pre-existing conditions.

The 2019-nCov origin has been linked to illegally traded wildlife at the Wuhan city’s seafood market, which sells live animals including bats, rabbits, and marmots. However, the exact source of the outbreak has not been identified. Although scientists have pointed out that the original source of the virus is either bats or snakes.

A growing number of countries have advised their citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to China and many have announced screening measures for passengers arriving from the country. The Chinese authorities have introduced a number of measures to halt the virus spread.

Moreso, travel restrictions have been imposed on a number of cities in Hubei province and people have been mandated to wear face masks in public places.

The Chinese government has closed a number of temples, the Forbidden City and places where social gathering takes place. Also, this move was meant to resolutely contain the momentum of the epidemics and protect lives.

There is currently no specific anti-viral treatment for the new coronavirus, so people with the infection are currently being treated for their symptoms. This has made it more difficult for the vulnerable members of the population- the elderly people or those with existing respiratory or immune problems to protect themselves.

Although, scientists and virologists are working on vaccines but have warned one is unlikely to be available for mass distribution before 2021. The WHO has provided measures to prevent more cases of the outbreak, which include hand and respiratory hygiene as well as safe food practices; avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections; and avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.

Avoiding eating raw or undercooked animal products is also advised. Those with the symptoms of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were also enjoined to practice “cough etiquette”, including maintaining distance, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or the inside of an elbow and washing of hands regularly.

Hezbollah Now Most Prominent Threat to the US

Manish Rai
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Hezbollah Now Most Prominent Threat to the US

After the killing of Major General Qassem Suleimani, the loudest voice (After Ayatollah Khamenei) threatening the United States came from Hezbollah. Secretary-General of Hezbollah Sheik Hassan Nasrallah in his public speech said the US military in the Middle East would pay the price for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, warning that American soldiers and officers would return home in coffins.

Nasrallah even said responding to the killing was not only Iran’s responsibility but the responsibility of its allies too. It shows that Hezbollah will take its own revenge as well.

Founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, Lebanese group Hezbollah is a critical part of an Iranian so, called Axis of Resistance. Some analysts even believe that it’s an extension of Iranian Revolutionary Guards and they take direct orders from Tehran.

Taking revenge for Suleimani killing is not about pleasing Iran for them its personal loss too. As the primary architect of Iran’s strategic efforts to promote its expansion and undermine U.S. influence, Suleimani was particularly beloved by Hezbollah. One thing is also evident that Hezbollah doesn’t make empty threats. It has killed the highest number of Americans after Al-Qaeda. In October 1983, Hezbollah carried out suicide bombing killing 241 US servicemen that destroyed U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut. That was the biggest terrorist attack on the US before 9/11.

If you see the track record of Hezbollah, they have always retaliated the killings of its leaders and senior cadres. In 1992 Sheikh Abbas Musawi, the then secretary-general of Hezbollah was assassinated by Israelis in an airstrike. Musawi was a revered figure among Hezbollah’s cadres and his death was a major blow to the organization’s morale.

Initially, it appeared that Israel had scored a major achievement in dispatching its Lebanese enemy. But a month after Musawi’s assassination, however, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber attacked the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 people and wounding more than 200. The message was loud and clear that revenge will be taken and they have the capability to attack Israeli interests around the world. After all, in 1992, the then relatively small Hezbollah was able to exact vengeance against Israel for Musawi’s death in South America, far from the Middle East. So now Hezbollah is much stronger it will definitely attack the United States forces and interests spread across the Middle East.

Hezbollah has been preparing for this day for decades, building up the military, terrorist, and cyber capabilities in Lebanon and the Middle East in order to strike back at the United States and anyone else who might threaten Iran.

Iranian missile attack on two Iraqi bases that host U.S. forces were Tehran’s initial, symbolic, and overt response to Suleimani’s death. The full response will unfold in the coming months and years and will definitely feature Hezbollah in a starring role. Iran can’t afford a full-fledge conventional conflict with the United States as it’s bound to lose that. So the best way to bleed the US is through its most potent proxy i.e. Hezbollah as an asymmetric attack by proxy will be covert and can always be denied.

The United States has troops currently staged throughout the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, including in Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. With so many targets to choose from Hezbollah can attack at a place of its choice. Especially in Iraq America still has 5,000 troops and Hezbollah has its Unit 3800, which spearheaded arming and training the Shiite militias that may soon launch a bloody insurgency against American forces.

To counter this potential threat to the security of US forces and interest in the region a comprehensive hybrid strategy is required which includes both defensive and offensive measures.

Defensively US should ensure greater security cover for all its bases in the region even host countries should be requested to provide greater security to US embassies and consulates. Inoffensive strategy focus should be on eroding the military capabilities of Hezbollah by attacking its arms shipment, arms depot, senior operatives.

In addition to this military pressure should be built up in the core territory of Hezbollah which is South Lebanon. So that Hezbollah gets busy defending itself rather than attacking the US. American policymakers should not differentiate between Iran and Hezbollah as they are one entity. The joint strategy should be formulated to curtain Iran and Hezbollah simultaneously.

How Social Media is becoming anti-social?

Hamayun Khan
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How Social Media is becoming anti-social?

Sprint in technological development and transformation of the world into a digitalized hub engenders the need to adapt to the fresh innovations. In today’s date, social media is considered as an advantageous technological source for long a distance communication easing the complex activities of people who have busy working schedules and lacks time to be physically involved in an interaction, therefore social media has turned to be a ubiquitous tool with an inevitable usage, on the other hand, social media has cons in terms of widening gaps among people due to the extreme human attachment and obsession with social media.

An article published by TechAddiction highlights that when a person is very much obsessed with social media and continuously keep updating it, there is a possibility of losing connection with the actual world around, besides, all the time cannot be spent making virtual relationships because a culture that is obsessed with updating Facebook statuses, posting tweets, playing games and messaging social media friends can cause us to become anti-social beings. (Mandys n.d.)

Life in the 21st century is connected more to the technological means

since the need for technology is enormously felt in every aspect of life, therefore people should understand the imperatives of technology, of which Social Media is an integral part plays a vital role in our day to day activities. Social media generates an interception to our real-life interactions with the people present close to us, while virtually getting us connected to those away from us.

“What used to be thought of as narcissistic, vain, and self-centered behavior is now the guiding norm of society,” says Elias Aboujaoude, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University and author of Virtually you: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality. “We are living in an era where humans are putting forth these edited and inflated versions of their lives, this ‘idealized self,’ and then they are, quite literally, falling in love with themselves.”

Due to the extreme social media addiction, we are so busy that we forget to ask ourselves a few questions:

  • Do I talk to the one sitting next to us in a metro?
  • Do I accurately greet the shopkeeper; we purchase goods from?
  • Do I get refreshed, take a bath, or exercise when waking up in the morning?

People nowadays tend to impress others more than themselves, therefore living in the 21st century shapes us being self-obsessed looking for others’ approvals and appreciations more than being patted by own selves and satisfied within our souls. “people crave social affirmation,” says Erin Vogel, Ph.D., a post-doctoral psychiatry fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. She further claims “when everyone around you has a strong social media presence, even if it is fake, it can create major internal anxiety,”

Additionally, social media engenders additional problems such as blackmailing, hacking people’s accounts, or annoying people with abusive messages. an article published on the Debate Org website reveals that Every 7 seconds someone in the world is cyberbullied and most cyberbullying is caused by mid-teens aged 14-17. Young people can cyberbully other youngsters through abusive texts and emails, Harmful messages, Images or videos, detrimental online gossip, And chat. this cyberbullying can cause shame, Guilt, Fear, Loneliness, And depression. Bad videos and gossip can be spread fast through social media and is difficult to delete. 1 in 5 children has experienced cyberbullying however some children do not tell an adult. (Debate Org n.d.)

“When people are constantly spending more and more time on social media, they are disconnecting from real life and are feeling less connected with themselves,” says Shannon Poppito, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.  He further adds “It’s not the real-life multi-dimensional experience of connecting and feeling a sense of belonging.” “As you disconnect more and more from life, you’re going to feel more depressed and directionless,” Dr. Poppito said. “Being involved in social comparison impacts your self-esteem and self-worth.”

By continuously engaging in other people’s lives through social channels, we begin to compare our “behind the scenes” with their “highlight reels” — observing merely filtered glimpses of their world and not the entire actual footage. Therefore, when we compare every aspect of our life, from relationships to body image, we are likely to feel more depressed.

Dr. Poppito suggests limiting the quantity and quality of time spent on social media, as well as trying to go cold turkey for a moment. significantly, Dr. Poppito also recommends investing the time to stay linked with the ‘real world’ and make time for face-to-face interaction with friends and family.

Real-life is dominated by the virtual, people are more concerned about getting likes, comments, and notifications than shaking hands with friends, appreciations, and spending time with their loved ones, therefore it is suggested that we should dedicate most of our life to real and face-to-face interactions, and limit the use of social media up to the extent of fulfilling the required necessities.

Damascus Has All Reasons to Smile

Manish Rai
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Damascus Has All Reasons to Smile

Turkey has launched its operation Peace Spring in Northern Syria aiming to uproot Kurdish forces. As the United States has already abandoned its Kurdish allies which helped them to finish ISIS caliphate and pulling out all the American troops from Syria to facilitate the Turkish operation. Turkey has come very heavily on Kurdish forces by launching airstrikes, heavy artillery bombardment and ground incursion by Turkish troops and allied militias. The scale of the Turkish attack surprised many analysts tracking the Syrian conflict.

Turkey attacks a covered area of 300km length and 50km depth in which almost all major cities and towns under Kurdish control are hit. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dominated by Kurdish YPG militia responded to Turkey’s military action with artillery attacks and rockets fired into Turkish territory. Moreover, fierce clashes are taking place in Syrian border villages between advancing Turkish forces and Kurdish fighters. What consequences of this military confrontation Kurds and Turkey have to face that only time can tell. But one thing is certain that whatever is the outcome of this confrontation there will be only one beneficiary under all circumstances and that will be Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Let’s have a look at how President Assad will benefit under any situation.

First of all, the most important development is that the United States is withdrawing all its troops from Northern Syria. It’s highly possible that the US will have no ground presence in Syria. This complete US pull-out will remove Russia’s which is the main backer of the Syrian government only military equal from the contest to shape Syria’s future. Moreover, another important ally of Dr. Assad that is Iran going forward doesn’t have to worry about US monitoring its activity and passing on critical information to Israel. Iran can now feel more confident to move its men and material from Iraqi to the Lebanese border.

The Kurds feared that they will lose the autonomy they gained from Damascus during Syria’s civil war, now in its ninth year, and could see Turkey seize much of the territory where the Kurdish population is concentrated. This danger now could prompt the Kurds to negotiate with Assad’s government for some form of protection. Weaken by Turkish attacks Kurds won’t be able to negotiate from a position of strength and Assad can pressurize them to accept many conditions which Kurds rejected outright before.

Another prominent possibility is that Assad forces, backed by Russia, could take advantage of the situation and advance from the south into the Kurdish region. President Assad has vowed to retake every inch of territory from the Kurds and the remaining armed opposition in Syria’s northwest. This will force the Kurds to fight on two fronts at the same time something they are unlikely to survive. Ideally, this is the right time to launch any military campaign against Kurds.

Turkey has stated that one of its goals is to settle Syrian refugees living in Turkish territory in the areas liberated from Syrian Kurdish forces.  As it’s a known fact that the millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey have become a liability for Erdogan, who is now thinking of forcing them back to Syria. If such resettlement takes place, it will lead to a permanent change of Syrian demographics which favors Syrian President Assad’s sectarian ambitions. It will change the ethnic composition of the Kurdish areas and the sectarian composition of many predominantly Sunni Arab towns. So, going forward in future no Kurdish separatist movement can take root in these areas as Kurds will be in minority there.

Syria’s northwest corner, including the Idlib region, is the last major chunk of territory still in the opposition hands after more than eight years of war. That is mainly because of Turkish support to these residual opposition groups. Turkey has several observation posts in Idlib province hence the Syrian government is reluctant to launch a full-fledge ground incursion. But if Turkey gets entangled with Kurds then Turkey has to shift its attention from Idlib to campaign against Kurds. As even Kurds lose the territory to Turks, they can still harass them through the use of guerrilla tactics like hit-and-runs attacks, mines, roadside bombs or perhaps anti-tank missiles in their possession. As a result of this Turks, attention from Idlib will be diverted and this will directly help the Syrian government which is eager to launch ground incursion in this last rebel stronghold.

The next few weeks and months will determine whether Rojava will survive or not. But at this point in time, Damascus has all the reasons to smile. As it’s very much clear that Dr. Bashar Al Asaad will benefit from any possible outcome of this Turkish operation. In the Syrian conflict, President Assad always played his cards well and emerged as the victor. However, this time it is different. He is winning without fighting or even putting any effort. His enemies are going to hand him victory.

How Russia set to reclaim its lost pride under Putin

Shaik Amer Arafath
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How Russia set to reclaim its lost pride under Putin

The United States of America is undoubtedly the colossal superpower of the World since the disintegration of the then Soviet Union in 1991. But the role of the US is gradually diminishing in World politics generally after the 2008 financial crisis and precisely after Trump’s victory in 2016. Russia is thriving its prominent leverage in the geopolitics of the world by coordinating with almost every country and its dreams to reclaim its lost dignity.

US-Russian Relationship

The Russia-US conflict once again went into vitriolic circumstances post-cold war, when the latter led NATO bombed in Yugoslavia (Now Serbia & Montenegro) in 1999 amid the Kosovo war. The relationship further deteriorated when the US imposed huge economic sanctions on Russia after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 because of the strategic warm port – The Sevastopol.

Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war was another issue that irked the US as it was fighting with the deadly ISIS in the historical country. The ties went worse when Guccifer 2.0, DC leaks and Wiki Leaks confirmed that Russia intervened in the US Presidential elections.

Russian Vengeance

Donald Trump is an ardent proponent of anti-globalization theory and his rise to Presidential candidate was based on slogans like ‘Make America great again’ and ‘America first’ that threaten to pull out the US from various international agreements like Trans-Pacific Partnership, NATO, etc.

Russia speculated that the victory of Trump could help them to re-emerge back as a superpower because of the vacuum created by Trump’s outdated assumptions at the global level. Hence, Russia used it’s advance state-of-art cyber warfare team backed by its military intelligence to meddle into the US Presidential elections.
Trump’s Loss

Donald Trump severed US relationships with China and paved the way for a trade war that is going to impact the world economy which is already on a slow run. He imposed many tariffs on products from neighboring countries like Mexico and Canada. Additionally, he withdrew from the historic Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 which could have a huge impact on the environment in the coming decades.

He pulled the US from Iran nuclear deal and imposed economic sanctions on Tehran, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital which could have negative effects in the Middle East region. The recent mistake was that he withdrew US forces from Syria which kept Kurds in limbo and invited an air attack from Turkey. Perceiving his blunders, the US House of Representatives initiated an impeachment request in September 2019.

Putin’s Gain

Russia under Putin is trying to get an impact on global politics. It is encompassing to solve the economic problems in Latin American countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela besides making its strategic presence in the region by participating in peace-time joint military operations. Russia sent out a strong message to the US after it gave asylum to whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013. It became a key player in geopolitics of the Middle East after the region lost its trust and respect for the US which is known for its hypocrisy and backstabbing.

Also, Putin didn’t support America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003. The regime of Assad in Syria was defended because of the Russian presence. Putin also invited Erdogan to have talks on Ankara’s aggression in northern Syria on 22nd October in Sochi.

Russia entered into the Middle East via Syria in 2015 to fight against terrorism and in support of Assad but within a span of 4 years, it loomed as a power broker in the region and sent a signal that if any country wants peace, then turn to Russia. Russia also supported India’s entry into NSG and it also endorses India’s bid to a permanent seat in UNSC. It shares a cordial relationship with China, the arch-rival of the US in the trade relationship.

Russia’s cyberwar is of par excellence as it destroyed Estonia economically. The sharp intelligence and diplomacy of a spy-turned-President Putin are making Russia back on a global track once again but it may take some more time to reclaim its pioneer position.

Tobacco Harm Reduction in Nigeria: From Awareness to Action

Melody Okereke
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Tobacco Harm Reduction in Nigeria: From Awareness to Action

Most countries all over the world have prohibited smoking in public places and the common advice is, “smoking is dangerous to your health… smokers are liable to die young.” However, researches indicate that the majority of deaths due to smoking result from respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia.

Smoking Trends in Nigeria

The trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Nigeria is decreasing. In 2000, the overall prevalence was estimated to be around 7.5% and this decreased to 6% by 2015, with a projection to increase to 5% by 2025. Men’s smoking decreased from 13% to 11% between 2000 and 2015 and is projected to decrease further to 10% by 2025 according to WHO trend data.

Women’s Smoking Data

Women’s smoking prevalence during the same period remained low at 2% in 2000 to 1% in 2015 and is projected to reduce further to under 1% by 2025. In Nigeria, most cities including Lagos have outlawed smoking backed with legislation but poor and inadequate enforcement has been the pitfall. People still smoke in open places in all the nook and crannies of the country exposing the non-smokers and tender ones to secondhand smoke, which has also been linked with cancer of the lung and other ill-health effects.

Smoking Death Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats, killing more than seven million people a year. There are at present one billion smokers globally, with nearly 80 percent of them living in low and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness is at its highest; sadly, Nigeria happens to be a major hotspot for this issue. Indeed, several studies have revealed that smoking tobacco is the most harmful way of using nicotine, with the tars and gasses in cigarette smoke being harmful to health, however, many people find it tough to stop smoking because they find it hard to go without nicotine (nicotine addiction).

Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR)

An in-depth study proposes that making lower-risk products available may support people to adjust from smoking, eventually helping them avoid the risk of smoking. This is known as “tobacco harm reduction”. Tobacco harm reduction (THR) is a public health strategy to lower the health risks to individuals and the wider society associated with using tobacco products. It is an example of the concept of harm reduction, a strategy for dealing with the abuse of other drugs.

Smoking Doesn’t Kill, Tar Does

People smoke for the nicotine but die from the tar. Nicotine can be gotten from a variety of products, which vary in their level of harm and addictiveness, from smoked tobacco (that is cigarettes) at the top end of the harm/addiction spectrum, to medicinal nicotine (that is nicotine replacement therapy products) at the bottom end. A harm reduction approach to tobacco control encourages those smokers that cannot, or not willing to stop smoking, to switch to using nicotine in a less harmful form, and preferably would result in them ultimately quitting nicotine use altogether.

Cancer Substance in Cigarettes

Products that can effectively and acceptably deliver nicotine without smoke have the potential to be less harmful than smoked tobacco. It is quite evident that the ultimate reason why people smoke is because of nicotine but unfortunately, they die from the cancerous substance in the cigarettes, tar.

Quitting is Quite Difficult

The rationale behind Tobacco Harm Reduction is that safer products that do not contain tar should be provided to smokers who cannot quit in order to prevent further unwanted deaths. Tobacco Harm Reduction measures have been focused on reducing or eliminating the use of combustible tobacco by switching to other nicotine products, such as pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapies or electronic cigarettes, Switching to smokeless tobacco products such as Swedish snus and non-combustible tobacco products. Quitting all tobacco products absolutely reduces the risk the most. However, quitting is quite difficult, and even approved smoking cessation methods have a low success rate.

In addition, some smokers may be incapable or unwilling to achieve abstinence. Harm reduction is likely of substantial benefit to these smokers and public health. Providing reduced-harm alternatives to smokers is likely to result in a lower total population risk than pursuing abstinence-only policies. Irrespective of the perceived increase in the knowledge and awareness of the use of other safer products by smokers, the deaths caused by tobacco-related products still seem to be on the rise and it is increasingly alarming.

Surprisingly, this Tobacco Harm Reduction strategy is controversial: supporters of tobacco harm reduction assert that lessening the health risk for the individual user is worthwhile and manifests over the population in fewer tobacco-related illnesses and deaths whereas opponents have argued that some aspects of harm reduction interfere with cessation and abstinence and might increase initiation.

However, surveys carried from 2013 to 2015 in the UK and France suggest that on the contrary, the availability of safer alternatives to smoking is associated with decreased smoking prevalence and increased smoking cessation.

For instance, while 46 percent of deaths due to smoking result from respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia, there is no evidence that using snus (a smokeless tobacco product) increases the risk of these diseases. Nor does snus appear to increase the risk of other smoking-related diseases including heart disease, stroke and a range of cancers. In addition, the public health benefits of snus versus cigarettes are not only much lower, but the role of snus in both reducing initiation of smoking and increasing cessation of smoking is a key element in defeating the actual cause of tobacco-related ill-health caused by the cigarette.

Smoking has become less acceptable over recent years in a number of countries, and it is about time that Nigeria sees the light and dire importance of Tobacco Harm Reduction.

Regulatory policies based on discouraging people from starting to smoke and encouraging them to quit have been and continue to be effective.  While the proportion of adults who smoke is likely to continue declining, widely accepted estimates suggest that in 10 years’ time, as a result of global population growth, there will still be as many or more tobacco consumers globally as there are today.

In the context of tobacco and health, few governments currently support the development of reduced-risk tobacco products. Most governments simply argue for prevention and cessation.

It is important to work towards producing consumer-acceptable, potentially reduced-risk products because there could be further public health gains if tobacco regulatory policies included harm reduction, for the millions of adults globally who will continue to consume tobacco products.

The concept of harm reduction is increasingly being considered in relation to tobacco use and it is a key determinant of the Nigerian Health System. Tobacco harm reduction is all about finding practical ways to minimize the health impact of an inherently risky activity or behavior associated with tobacco use, without seeking to stop it entirely. It is time we shift our focus from awareness to action in Nigeria because it can and will only get better.

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