Latest news with #Sparta
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Who will join my Dunkirk cheese raid and break the blockade?
When I was pregnant with my first son I cast my eye over the long NHS list of verboten foods and my eyes alighted on 'soft cheeses made from unpasteurised milk'. Adding insult to injury, I was also informed that blue cheese was off the menu unless part of a recipe where it was heated to a temperature that killed bacteria. As you might expect of any rational woman with a halfway discerning palate, I muttered: 'I'd rather stick a fork in my eye.' I then looked up the risk posed by listeria infection to healthy women in the UK and found it was very low (currently around 0.23 cases per 100,000 women). I remembered the women of Sparta who laid weedy newborns out at the Apothetae – a cave at the foot of Mount Taygetus – to test their viability in the face of the elements and thought I'm just exposing this kid to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune early. So, I continued to feast on Camembert, Roquefort, Berthaut Epoisses de Bourgogne and delectable gooey goats cheese. I had such bad morning sickness that very few foods weren't immediately disgorged, with the exception of sour dough, full fat dairy products and proper English orchard apples. The pregnant body is a ruthless dictator and knows what it wants to build a vital young human. But thank heavens I'm not pregnant in the summer of 2025, as a full-scale fromage crisis threatens our shores. It seems that an outbreak of bovine lumpy skin disease in France and Italy has led 'overzealous' Defra bureaucrats to impose a temporary ban on importing any unpasteurised cheeses made in the two countries after May 23. This means a sudden scrabble to secure cheese produced before that date or a pasteurised version, which in turn means complex paperwork, in mother tongues, that border officials seem unable to process until the product is spoilt. In turn, this means the UK's finest delis and restaurants are running out of their most delectable, sought-after offerings, although there's zero evidence that there's any threat to human health. Meanwhile, our French cousins can carry on savouring divinely-tasty unpasteurised Brie de Meaux, while yelling at us from Calais: 'Let them eat Cheddar!' I don't think there's been a bigger threat to the rivalrous nations' precarious, on-off entente cordiale since the 2022 World Cup quarter-final match, when France carried the day (and poor Harry Kane missed a penalty). Personally, I can cede a footie match, but deny me my soft cheese and I might turn nasty. But what this sorry tale really illustrates is the stupendous idiocy of the bureaucrats and politicians in charge of our food policies. We have just signed a trade deal with the US that may pave the way for all kinds of intestine-challenging gunk. Yet faced with a mouth-watering slice of Ossau-Iraty that poses no known threat to public health, British administrators are behaving like cheese-denying surrender monkeys.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is paving the way for Mideast security and stability
History, driven by geographical and geopolitical realities, has repeatedly revealed a clear and fundamental pattern: Imbalances of power often lead to conflict and widespread suffering. The Middle East, a region abundant in diversity, rich history, and untapped potential, cannot afford to fall into this trap. Saudi Arabia and other countries, through diplomacy and initiatives, such as Vision 2030, demonstrate how rational thinking, regional cooperation, and the pursuit of peace can provide a framework for stability and security. History offers valuable lessons on the dangers of power imbalances. For instance, the collapse of Sparta in ancient Greece serves as a stark warning. When one player becomes overwhelmingly powerful, it inevitably triggers unified resistance. When Sparta emerged as the hegemonic power in Greece following the Peloponnesian War, many of its allies grew resentful of its heavy-handed policies and began to rebel. This growing dissatisfaction, combined with internal strife, economic stagnation, and rival coalitions, led to Sparta's downfall. The Napoleonic Wars provide another striking example of how the hegemonic ambitions of a single power can unite others against it, leading to widespread conflict and immense costs for all involved. Napoleon Bonaparte sought to establish French hegemony over Europe by conquering and subjugating other nations, thereby disrupting the balance of power on the European continent. In response, a series of coalitions — comprising Britain, Prussia, Austria, Russia and others — formed to counter his ambitions. Although Napoleon's military genius allowed him to dominate much of Europe for years, his aggressive policies and disregard for diplomacy ultimately united his rivals. This unity, however, came at a great cost: the Napoleonic Wars devastated entire regions, drained economies, and caused millions of deaths. After Napoleon's defeat, the Congress of Vienna faced the monumental task of restoring stability. While it succeeded in establishing a new balance of power in 1815, Europe remained deeply scarred. These scars were crucial to bringing stability because there was the fear of the immense costs of war. In other words, peace in Europe was maintained because the Europeans, especially Prussia, were determined to preserve the balance of power out of fear for their own existence. Similarly, the Second World War provides a stark example of the dangers of upsetting regional stability. Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, sought to establish hegemony over Europe, disrupting the balance of power and plunging the world into the deadliest conflict in human history. This destabilization forced even distant powers, such as the US, to intervene, joining forces with the Soviet Union and the UK against Germany at an immense human and economic cost. The war left tens of millions dead and entire regions in ruin, proving again that the unchecked pursuit of power is disastrous for all involved. These historical examples underscore the dangers of allowing a single player to disrupt the balance of power in a system. In the context of the Middle East, it serves as a powerful reminder that rational decision-making, collaboration, and commitment to peace are needed to avoid similar cycles of conflict and destruction. In the Middle East, where tensions unfortunately run deep from time to time, allowing such an imbalance to arise could be catastrophic — not only for the weaker players. If all players in the Middle East prioritize rational decision-making over short-term gains, they will see that true power lies not in hegemonic policies but in collaboration. The region holds immense potential for prosperity if its resources, human capital, and diverse cultures are harnessed and aligned under a unified vision for peace. The end of what US President Donald Trump has labeled the '12-Day War' between Iran and Israel, which concluded 16 days ago, is possibly a flicker of hope for the beginning of a new era of peace and stability. It reminds rational actors in the region of the power of dialogue. The Middle East can draw valuable lessons from history, particularly from Otto von Bismarck, the 19th-century statesman who unified Germany and maintained peace in Europe through pragmatic diplomacy and strategic alliances. Similarly, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reflects a modern approach to fostering security and stability in the region. By prioritizing diplomacy, cooperation, economic integration and innovation over conflict, Saudi Arabia is showing how states can achieve shared prosperity. This framework, as the only significant plan currently in place, can help all players strengthen their economic relationships. It offers a sustainable path forward, where collaboration ensures peace and progress for the entire region.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Champion Lindsey Hunter hired as high school head coach
The post NBA Champion Lindsey Hunter hired as high school head coach appeared first on ClutchPoints. Two-time NBA champion and Jackson State legend Lindsey Hunter has been named the head coach of Sparta High School boy's basketball team in Michigan, per a report by WAPT. The new position is a continuation of a unique basketball journey that started in the SWAC at both Alcorn State and Jackson State, then being drafted into the NBA and etching himself in history. Advertisement He began his basketball career at Alcorn State, where he earned SWAC Freshman of the Year honors in 1989. He then transferred to Jackson State and continued his stellar play for a storied athletic program. While a member of the Tigers basketball team, he averaged 26.7 points per game as a senior, and earned SWAC Player of the Year recognition in 1993. Hunter was used to upset victories before he made it to the NBA, as he led Jackson State to a resounding upset victory over UConn in the NIT tournament. He scored 39 points in the game, ultimately powering Jackson State to a 90-88 victory over the Huskies. Following his time at Jackson State, he was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, in which he played 12 seasons with the team. He was a pivitol part of two championship teams: the Lakers in 2002 alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and the 2004 Pistons team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA history by defeating the star-studded Lakers in a 5-game Finals series. Hunter isn't a stranger to the coaching ranks, as he served as a coach with the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns and ultimately was named interim head coach ofr the Sun in 2012. In 2019, he joined a legacy of former pro players becoming HBCU head coaches, as he accepted a position as the head coach of Mississippi Valley State University. Now, he plans to use his resounding basketball experience to develop high school players into the professionals they desire to be. Related: Former HBCU star leaves University of New Orleans Related: Alabama A&M's Dawn Thornton to appear at Essence Festival
Malay Mail
01-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Hunting the hunters: Perhilitan's elite armed unit takes aim at foreign poachers in Malaysia's protected forests
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — National parks and forest reserves have become prime targets for foreign poachers operating in Malaysia, according to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan). Its director-general, Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, said logging sites and plantations bordering forested areas were also frequently targeted. 'These foreign poachers are after wildlife such as the Malayan tiger, leopard, sun bear, and elephant. 'Based on arrest records and intelligence gathered, most of them are nationals from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar,' he told Harian Metro. He added that there is a possibility these groups are using advanced technology such as drones and digital mapping tools. 'To date, we have not recorded any use of such equipment, but we are monitoring closely in case syndicates begin deploying technology to aid their hunting activities,' he reportedly said. To counter the threat, Perhilitan has set up an elite task force known as the Wildlife Department's Special Tactical Team (Sparta), comprising highly trained and armed personnel. 'These intruders have been found carrying firearms and explosives. The Sparta unit is specially trained to track and apprehend such individuals deep in the jungle. 'Although recently established, the team has undergone extensive tactical training and works closely with other enforcement agencies, including the police and military,' he said. Abdul Kadir added that patrols have been intensified at known hotspots, particularly to tackle illegal hunting activities involving Vietnamese poachers.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran Czech defender Pavel Kaderabek returns to Sparta Prague after 10 years at Hoffenheim
PRAGUE (AP) — Veteran defender Pavel Kaderabek is returning to Sparta Prague after 10 years with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, the Czech club said on Monday. Sparta did not give details about his contract. Advertisement The 33-year-old right back, who can also play in the midfield, came back to his old club after his deal with Hoffenheim expired. Kaderabek moved from Sparta to Hoffenheim in 2015 and played a total of 287 games in all competitions for the German club. In 2022, he retired from the Czech national team due to health reasons after playing 48 internationals. His signing comes less than a month after Danish coach Brian Priske agreed to return to Sparta on a multiple-year contract after a stint at Feyenoord. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
