10 injured in renewed clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli
A total of 10 people were injured in gun battles between the rival neighborhoods of Alawite Jabal Mohsen and Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli as sniper fire prevented people from using the Tripoli- Akkar highway, the National News Agency (NNA) reported Saturday.
The NNA said the clashes erupted around midnight Friday and spread to al-Rifa, al-Mankoubeen, al-Shaarani, al-Hara al- Barraniyeh, Souq al-Qamh and Syria Streets in Bab al-Tabbaneh. The Lebanese Army units deployed in the area move to appease the fighting.
A shootout also erupted between young men from Bab al-Tabbaneh and a family in al-Zahriyeh but the army contained the incident and conducted patrols in the area.
The international highway that links Tripoli with the northern district of Akkar also witnessed sniper fire in the areas of Duwwar Abu Ali and al-Mallouleh, the NNA said.
International Students Important Revenue Source in Canada
International students contribute more to the Canadian economy than the value of some of the country’s top aerospace exports, according to official data.
Foreign students spent eight billion U.S. dollars in Canada in 2010, up from 6.5 billion dollars in 2008, said a Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada study released Friday.
Meanwhile, Canada’s exports of helicopters, airplanes and spacecraft totaled 6.9 billion dollars in 2010.
It’s estimated that the international student expenditures translated into nearly a 4.9-billion-dollar contribution to Canada’s gross domestic product, 86,570 jobs and 455 million dollars in government tax revenue, the study said.
Foreign students staying for at least six months in Canada generated most of the revenue (over 6.9 billion dollars) for the Canadian economy.
Overall, there were more than 218,200 long-term international students in Canada in 2010, an increase from 178,000 in 2008.
In Unusual Concert, Madonna Criticizes French Extreme Right
U.S. singer Madonna criticized here this week the anti-immigration positions of the extreme right National Front Party and paid tribute to a France that ”opened its arms to minorities” in the past.
In an emblematic concert at the Olympia Theater in this capital, the pop star recalled that before the civil rights movement in the United States, African American artists were not allowed to perform there, but France welcomed them.
“Black people, different people, minorities felt welcomed in France and people from around the world came here to create,” Madonna said, and recalled the cases of Josephine Baker and Charlie Parker.
Breaking tradition from previous concerts, Madonna spent several minutes discussing the economic meltdown, the crisis in Greece and intolerance.
“People are afraid, and what happens when people get scared? They say, get out, you are the reason. It is your fault,” the singer said in a veiled criticism of the racist and xenophobic FN.
Madonna started her performances last July 14 in the Stade de France, where she screened a video with an editing of images where the leader of the FN, Marine Le Pen, briefly appears with a swastika on her forehead.
After the concert, FN announced its intention to file a suit against the singer for the exhibition of that video.
“I know I have angered a Marine Le Pen. I do not mean to make enemies,” Madonna said, taking advantage of her performance in the legendary Olympia theater to artistically respond to the president of the extreme right wing group.
The U.S. actress and singer is scheduled to offer another concert in France on August 21, in Nice.
Via PL