Author: Steven Sahiounie

it really is a sign of our turbulent times that the UK has had more prime ministers in three months than the All Blacks have played England in eight years. Almost as striking is the fact that Britain was firmly in the EU and David Cameron was still in Downing Street when Eddie Jones began his Twickenham tenure. When people question England’s lack of oval-ball consistency it is a clearly relative observation. Amid the political and economic maelstrom, however, some things never change. The All Blacks still despise losing to England and memories of the sides’ last meeting, in the…

Which two teams will reach the final – and who will win? Brazil v France – a repeat of 1998 – looks more than possible, but the outcome will be reversed this time. Nick Ames A South American showdown: Argentina v Brazil, and Brazil to win. Ben Fisher Brazil over Belgium. The Seleção’s embarrassment of attacking riches – headlined by Neymar, Vinícius Jr, Gabriel Martinelli, Rodrygo and Raphinha – will break Europe’s two-decade stranglehold and plant the flag for another Brazilian dynasty. Bryan Armen Graham Brazil v France with Tite’s favourites avenging their country’s defeat in the 1998 final. Andy Hunter Brazil to beat…

It’s getting safer and safer to say that Cristiano Ronaldo’s career at Manchester United is over. The club is reportedly looking to terminate the star striker’s contract in the wake of Ronaldo’s statements about the team and its management in a pre-World Cup interview. Ronaldo, 37, made disparaging remarks about Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag, saying that United had made “zero progress” over the last decade and that he didn’t respect the manager. United said in a statement on Friday that it has “initiated appropriate steps in response to” the interview. According to ESPN FC, United has even asked…

Sadio Mané will officially miss the World Cup for Senegal, the Senegalese federation confirmed Thursday. Heung-Min Son, Raphaël Varane and several other injured stars have been or will be named in their countries’ World Cup squads despite injuries that threatened to keep them out of Qatar. They are, to varying degrees, still questionable for the 2022 tournament, which kicks off Nov. 20, but they will be there. Other prominent players, however, are stuck on an injury list that seems to grow by the day. Argentina lost Giovani Lo Celso, and Mexico lost Jesús “Tecatito” Corona. N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba have long since been ruled out. Reece James joined…

Throughout the 12 years since FIFA president Sepp Blatter dramatically opened a scandalous envelope and introduced the world to Qatar, millions of Westerners have learned plenty about the 2022 World Cup’s controversial host. They have learned about scorching temperatures and migrant worker exploitation. They’ve learned how oil transformed a peninsular desert into a bustling international hub. They’ve learned that Qatari law criminalizes homosexuality and forbids alcohol. They’ve learned how a tiny emirate the size of Connecticut plans to stage the planet’s grandest sporting event. They have learned just about all the basics, except the most basic of all: How to pronounce “Qatar.” They’ve…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On November 13, a blast ripped through Istiklal street, a busy pedestrian area in the Beyoglu neighborhood of Istanbul.  The explosion killed six people and wounded 81 at about 4:30 pm local time. Among the dead were Arzu Ozsoy and her 15-year-old daughter Yagmur Ucar, a nine-year-old girl and her father, and a married couple. All were Turkish citizens. Later, politicians visited the site where a reported 1,200 Turkish flags were displayed along with flower memorials to the victims. On November 15, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 58 of those injured had been discharged…

Screenings for a variety of common cancers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, potentially leading to diagnoses later in the course of the disease when it may be more difficult to treat successfully, U.S. data published on Thursday suggest.In 2020 – the first year of the pandemic – average rates of screening for breast cancer fell by 40%, for cervical cancer by 36%, and for colorectal cancer by 45%, compared to the three previous years, according to an analysis of medical claims data from 306 million adults.Diagnoses of breast, cervical and colorectal cancers dropped by roughly 6% to 7% between…

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians revealed this week he spent four days in a hospital last month after experiencing severe chest pains at his Florida home.Arians, who now serves as the Bucs’ senior football consultant after stepping down in March, told Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com he had a serious health scare the night before the Atlanta Falcons game, which resulted in a diagnosis of myocarditis. “We ate, and I got these pains way up here, like two knives going in. The more I tried to take a breath, the worse it got,” he told the outlet. “I took…

A former foster parent in Florida convicted of recording and sexually abusing the children in his care was sentenced to 170 years in prison on Thursday. The Department of Justice said 48-year-old Justin Dwayne Johnson Sr., of Sanford, Fla., was sentenced to federal prison on four counts of production of child sexual abuse material, one count of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sex abuse material. Child Protection Services began an investigation into Johnson in January 2022 after he allegedly told an acquaintance he was secretly recording his foster children “in the nude.” He also reportedly…

It is the first and greatest American adventure story. A small band of Christian devotees, persecuted in their homeland, sought refuge in a forbidden wilderness across the vast ocean aboard a leaky ship in the autumn of 1620. Against all odds, following near death at sea, amid privation, disease and frightening loss of life, they planted the seeds of a daring new society. Within a few generations their descendants brazenly challenged the world monarchial order with the revolutionary statement that “all men are created equal” and fought to establish the first great constitutional republic. It became a haven for people…