The aces of info | Vladimir Putin, the heroine of chess and leap years

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Usually, birthdays are celebrated with presents, balloons and sometimes confetti. But Friday February 24 was a very sad anniversary date, since it marked the first year of war in Ukraine. Not very happy… However, the cartoonist of The Press, Serge Chapleau, succeeded in highlighting this important day with humour. We’ll tell you how he did it!

A year of gerre…

Yes, already more than 365 days have passed since Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, ordered his army to invade Ukraine. But how can one manage to laugh at such a thing? Hmm… But yes! With dessert, of course!

In Chapleau’s cartoon, the Russian head of state can be seen receiving a celebratory cake in the face. And wham in the teeth! But there is more to analyze. Did you notice the colors of the dessert? Yellow and blue… It’s no coincidence: these are the colors of the Ukrainian flag. With this symbol, Chapleau represents Ukraine, which mocks Russia! At the start of the war, most experts predicted that Russia would achieve victory in just a few days. Its powerful army and its preparation suggested that Ukraine would be no match for it. However, a year later, Ukraine is still standing, and more united than ever!

A classsique that does not moveode no

In his drawing, Chapleau also refers to entartage, an old tradition of throwing a pie in someone’s face to ridicule them. People who practice scaling consider it to be a rather harmless act of protest, as no physical injury is inflicted on the victim. But justice can consider it an assault and some people have already been convicted for throwing a pie in someone’s face.

The very first scaling is said to have occurred in the silent film The battle of the centurya comedy directed by Clyde Bruckman in 1927. In one scene, dozens of people engage in a gigantic battle of pastries in the middle of the street.

Then, at the end of the 1960s, a Belgian actor named Noël Godin would have popularized the practice by himself scaling many public figures against their will. He became so famous that he was nicknamed… the Entarteur!

In Quebec, several well-known personalities have already been tarred, including prime ministers, ministers and mayors.

Based on a cartoon by Serge Chapleau, The Press

The heroine irold schoolhecs

Sara Khadem is Iran’s best chess player. Many people would dream of being in her shoes, but due to the situation in her country, she hasn’t had it easy lately.

As you know, there are a lot of protests and violence right now in Iran. Women and men demonstrate against the government imposing dress laws. Because of her choices, Sara even had to take emergency refuge in another country, otherwise she would have been arrested in Iran. We tell you the story of this brave young woman!

Panic at Kazakhstan

On December 26, Sara participated in a prestigious chess tournament in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. She knows that many people are watching her carefully in her home country. And she chooses not to wear a hijab, the veil that covers the hair that the Iranian government has made compulsory for all women in the country. On the official photos of the tournament, we can see her in rather casual clothes.

Sara’s choice of dress is far from pleasing the Iranian authorities. The latter ask her to apologize, which she refuses to do. The chess player then learns that an arrest warrant has been issued against her and that the police will arrest her as soon as she returns home!

Sara therefore decides to flee and to settle in Spain with her husband and their baby, far from her parents and friends. She says it’s “the hardest decision” of her life.

Why have do that, algold?

The chess player says she made this gesture for two reasons.

First, she wanted to show her support for the protest movement led by Iranian women against the government. Second, she felt hypocritical to wear the veil only for the camera.

Hope for the following

According to Sara, all women in Iran feel “inspired and encouraged” by the movement in their country. More and more Iranian celebrities are also starting to take off their veils as a sign of freedom. For example, in October, an athlete named Elnaz Rekabi wore only a headband during the Asian Climbing Championships in Seoul.

Sara is optimistic for the future of Iran, even if the demonstrations are becoming rarer. She believes that one day everyone will be accepted there, regardless of gender or opinions. But according to her, it will still be necessary to work very hard to get there and many other sacrifices will be necessary.

In the past few days, the Iranian authorities have released several prisoners in the hope of calming the angry population.

Based on an article by Thomas Perroteau, Agence France-Presse

The yearsare bissextiles

We are already in March! But have you ever wondered why the month of February doesn’t always have the same number of days? Melanie explains to you!