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☆ Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger students in French visa limbo as relations sour
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Layli Foroudi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But as relations with some of the West African states turned bitter - prompting France to close its consular services in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger due to security concerns - long-standing cultural ties have also been strained. International law student Tondri Yara stood in front of a French visa centre in the capital Ouagadougou, hoping for some good news. Burkina Faso, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium are all viable alternatives, he said, although switching will likely delay the process. French authorities have assured that students, artists and researchers already in France remain welcome and would be allowed to pursue their activities. There were over 3,100 students from Mali, 2,300 from Burkina and 1,100 from Niger studying in French public institutions in 2021-22, according to data from French agency Campus France that promotes French higher institutions abroad.

Persons: Alphonse Nikiema, Emmanuel Macron, Nikiema, Tondri Yara, Yara, Alphonse, Alfred, Sofia Christensen, Bate Felix, Angus MacSwan Organizations: West, Burkina Faso, Campus, Reuters Newsroom, Thomson Locations: Burkina Faso, France, Mali, Niger, Africa, Russia, China, Burkina, West Africa Sahel, Ouagadougou, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, Campus France, Paris

☆ What Macron means when he says he wants to 'take back control' of French power prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said last week his government would "take back control" of electricity prices by the end of the year, without spelling out what steps he would take. "There is a point that is key for our competitiveness, and we will announce it in October, and that is to take back control of electricity prices," Macron said. "We'll be able to announce in October electricity prices that are in line with our competitiveness," he said, adding this would apply to households and businesses. However, French officials say Germany is undermining a traditional French strength due to fears cheap nuclear electricity could provide French businesses with a competitive advantage over German companies. Under the current system, called marginal pricing, European electricity prices are linked to the most expensive power producing asset.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, We'll, Bruno Le Maire, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Benjamin Mallet, Leigh Thomas, Forrest Crellin, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Mark Potter Organizations: Union, EDF, EU, European Commission, French Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Paris, France, Brussels, Germany, Russia, Europe, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Austria, Spain

☆ Job postings mentioning AI have more than doubled in two years, LinkedIn data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Job postings on LinkedIn that mention either AI or generative AI more than doubled globally between July 2021 and July 2023, according to new data from the jobs and networking platform. "We're seeing demand for AI skills increasingly appear across a wide range of industries and geographies," he said. "The pace at which LinkedIn members added AI skills to their profiles has nearly doubled since the launch of ChatGPT alone," Sabella said. Since early 2016, the amount of people who say they have AI skills has increased ninefold, he added. Building AI skills is important as work environments are changing and expectations and requirements for jobs are shifting, Sabella said.

Persons: Olivier Sabella, Sabella Organizations: EMEA, LATAM, CNBC Locations: Germany, France

☆ Mali in meltdown as militants advance and U.N. withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Edward Mcallister | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] A man walks toward Sankore mosque, also known as the former University of Sankore, in Timbuktu, Mali September 25, 2023. "This conflict is escalating fast," said Ulf Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation. Back in 2012, French forces and the U.N. intervened to halt the advance in Mali. In Mali, fighting began in August between the army and an ethnic Tuareg group called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) around a base vacated by the U.N. "The problem is Mali has too few troops and too little mobility," said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies consultancy.

Persons: Stringer, Sory Touré, jihadists, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Russia's Wagner, Jama'at Nusrat al, Michael Shurkin, Iyad Ag, Shurkin, Mohamed Massaya, Salaha, Aicha Sababou, Edward McAllister, Alexandra Zavis, Edmund Blair Organizations: University of Sankore, REUTERS, U.N, United Nations, Islamic, Reuters Graphics, CMA, Ghali, Transitional Council, Reuters, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Sankore, Timbuktu, Mali, DAKAR, jihadists, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West, Burkina Faso, Niger, Bamako, France, U.S, Sahara, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Al Qaeda, Gao, Dakar

[1/5] Bed bugs are seen in a sofa bed, in L'Hay-les-Roses, near Paris, France, September 29, 2023. At the Paris Gare de Lyon train station, travellers said they doubted whether authorities would be able to get on top of the problem. Once I get home, I'll have to wash all my clothes," Laura Mmadi, a sales worker heading to the south of France said. Deputy mayor Gregoire called on insurers to include bedbug cover in house insurance policies, as low-income people rarely had the means to call in pest control firms. Reporting by Antony Paone and Geert De Clercq; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Charles de, Emmanuel Gregoire, Elisabeth Borne, Clement Beaune, I'm, Laura Mmadi, Sophie Ruscica, Anses, bedbugs, Sacha Krief, Gregoire, Antony Paone, Geert De Clercq, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Paris Olympics, Paralympic, Transport, Gare de Lyon, Thomson Locations: L'Hay, Paris, France, Charles de Gaulle, Nice

But in an about turn, Macron announced on Sunday that the ambassador would return to Paris and French troops would leave. Two security sources in Niger said Itte had flown out of the country. Demonstrators hold placards and Niger's flags as they gather outside Niger's embassy in support of the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum in Paris, France, August 5, 2023. Crowds of junta supporters have spent days camping outside a French military base to demand the troops' departure. Some analysts have expressed concern that the withdrawal of French troops from Niger could further hamper Western efforts to stem the violence, which has risen since the coups, and bolster Russian influence in the region.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Sylvain Itte, Mohamed Bazoum, Macron, Itte, Catherine Colonna, Yucouba Abdou, Abdou, Niger Mohamed Bazoum, Stephanie Lecocq, Paris, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Moussa Aksar, Michel Rose, John Irish, Sofia Christensen, Anait, Toby Chopra, Estelle Shirbon, Philippa Fletcher, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Niger, Quai, French, Nigerien, Reuters, REUTERS, France, Thomson Locations: Niger French, NIAMEY, Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, French, N'Djamena, Niger's, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sahel

Not yet this season in what is shaping up for a wild West finish in the American League. That is one more win than the Mariners and Rangers — all three teams have 68 losses. The Astros pretty comfortably won each of the last five AL West titles determined over full 162-game schedules, including by 16 games last season. Texas, already ensured its first winning record since 2016, led the AL West for 148 of the season’s first 149 days through Aug. 26. While only 1-5 against Texas so far, the Mariners have won eight of 10 against the Astros.

Persons: Dusty Baker, we’ve, ” Baker, “, Ty France, ”, Jose Altuve, “ It’s, Bruce Bochy, I’d, Cy Young, Jacob deGrom, hasn't, Max Scherzer, Adolis Garcia, Josh Jung, Julio Rodriguez, Marcus Semien, M's, Scott Servais, you’ve, “ We’ve, Nathaniel Lowe, Janie McCauley, Kristie Rieken, ___ Organizations: Houston Astros, American League, Astros, AL West, Seattle, Mariners, ” Mariners, Houston, Rangers, AL, Kansas City, NL, Arizona, Boston, The Mariners, Texas, Toronto, AP Locations: ARLINGTON , Texas, Texas, Toronto, Baltimore, Kansas, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland

☆ Spain sees Ukraine grain ban by some EU states as illegal, France sees solidarity risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Spain's agriculture minister said on Monday a unilateral ban by any European Union member state on Ukrainian grain imports seemed illegal, while France said European solidarity was at stake. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU eastern European member states. Romania has become the conduit for more than 60% of Ukrainian grain moved by land and its prime minister said on Monday it may also extend the ban if import requests rise. France's agriculture minister Marc Fesneau criticised the moves, saying they called into question European solidarity. "For solidarity there needs to be unity... We must keep hold of the two elements, otherwise the European project is at risk.

Persons: Viacheslav, Spain's Luis Planas Puchades, Marc Fesneau, Fesneau, Luis Planas Puchades, Julia Payne, Sybille de la, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, Rights, Union, European Commission, CAP, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Velykomykhailivka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Black, Moscow, Romania

CNN —One person has died and eight people have been hospitalized after an outbreak of botulism in a restaurant in the French city of Bordeaux, according to a statement from France’s public health body on Wednesday. It is thought that the diners ate sardines in a home-made oil preserve, which was contaminated with botulism bacteria. They all dined at the Tchin Tchin wine bar from September 4 to September 10, Public Health France said. France’s public health agency has warned anyone who visited the restaurant and has shown any symptoms of botulism to immediately seek medical help. CNN has reached out to the Bordeaux prosecutor and Tchin Tchin wine bar for comment.

Persons: It’s, Clostridium, Thierry Touzet, ” Touzet, ” Organizations: CNN, Public Health, BFMTV Locations: French, Bordeaux, Public Health France, Gironde, France

☆ Niger: French official held by Niger security forces freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —France’s Foreign ministry on Thursday announced the release of Stephane Jullien, a French official who had been held by security forces in Niger. The man, an adviser to French nationals in Niger, had been arrested by Niger security forces on September 8, according to the foreign ministry in Paris. Jullien is an elected official who represents French expatriates and works closely with the country’s embassies and consulates. According to the foreign ministry website, there are 442 such advisers worldwide. Their role is to help French expats with issues relating to work, schools, social security and other issues.

Persons: Reuters —, Stephane Jullien, Paris, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: Reuters, French Locations: Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, French

☆ iPhone 12 emits too much radiation, France says. It rules Apple must take it off the market.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The iPhone 12 will not be sold in France after a government agency said it emits too much radiation. The phone passed a separate test of radiation levels for devices kept in a jacket or in a bag, the agency said. AdvertisementAdvertisementUsers of the iPhone 12 should be able to download an update that prevents radiation exposure from surpassing the limit, Sperrin said. Apple said the iPhone 12 has been certified by multiple international bodies and complies with all applicable regulations and standards for radiation around the world. He said the iPhone 12's radiation levels are "slightly higher" than EU standards but "significantly lower than levels where scientific studies consider there may be consequences for users.

Persons: didn't, Malcolm Sperrin, Sperrin, It's, Apple, Noël, haven't, Ian Scivill Organizations: Apple, Service, Union, Frequency Agency, Royal, France, Radio, World Health, Royal Hallamshire Hospital Locations: France, Wall, Silicon, French, Royal Berkshire

☆ EU Parliament passes bill hiking renewable energy targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The law significantly raises the EU's renewable energy targets, requiring 42.5% of EU energy to be renewable by 2030, replacing a current 32% target for that date. It faced a tough passage through negotiations among EU countries' governments, and only secured support after France won carve-outs for nuclear energy - which is low-carbon, but not renewable. EU countries and lawmakers had negotiated a deal on the renewable energy law in March which was supposed to be final, but was held up by countries seeking greater recognition of nuclear power. A Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday it was aware of the difficulties and was in touch with renewable energy manufacturers to discuss possible solutions. Europe got 22% of its energy from renewable sources in 2021, the latest year for which official EU data are available.

Persons: Pascal Rossignol, Markus Pieper, Pieper, Kate Abnett, Ed Osmond, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, France, European, EU, Thomson Locations: Bevillers, France, Rights BRUSSELS, EU, Brussels, China, Europe

☆ France says controversy over Morocco aid misplaced
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paris and Rabat have had a difficult relationship in recent years notably over the issue of Western Sahara, which Morocco wants France to recognise as Moroccan. "This is a misplaced controversy," Catherine Colonna told BFM television when asked why Morocco had not made an official request to Paris for urgent assistance despite accepting help from Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. "We are ready to help Morocco. Paris has made 5 million euros ($5.4 million) available for non-governmental organisations operating in Morocco, Colonna said. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told France 2 earlier on Monday that Rabat, a "brotherly" nation, had the capabilities to cope alone with the rescue efforts.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, BFM, Colonna, Emmanuel Macron, Morocco's King Mohammed VI, Gerald Darmanin, John Irish, Nicolas Delame, David Holmes Organizations: United, France, Polisario, Western, Observatory, Immigration, Thomson Locations: Morocco, France, Paris, Rabat, Western Sahara, Moroccan, Spain, Britain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, It's, Algeria, Algiers

☆ As Morocco reels from deadly quake, survivors seek aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rescue workers search for survivors in a collapsed house in Moulay Brahim, Al Haouz province, on September 9, 2023, after an earthquake. Many people spent a second night in the open after the 6.8 magnitude quake hit late on Friday. In Moulay Brahim, a village near the epicenter some 40 km (25 miles) south of Marrakech, residents described how they had dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands. "We lost our houses and we lost people also and we are sleeping like two days outside," said 36-year-old Yassin Noumghar, another Moulay Brahim resident. Spain received a formal request from Morocco for assistance and it would be sending search and rescue teams, the Spanish foreign minister said.

Persons: Brahim, Yassin Organizations: . Locations: Moulay Brahim, Al Haouz, Marrakech, Spain, Morocco, France, Turkey

☆ Gabon coup: How France's neo-colonial empire in its former territories is disintegrating
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A torn campaign billboard shows ousted Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba in Libreville on August 31, 2023. AFP/Getty ImagesPropping up ‘democratic dictators’Whilst the international community has condemned the coup in Gabon, it has not attracted the same vehement criticism that last month’s coup in Niger did. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said France was watching the coup d’etat in Gabon “with the utmost attention.”It presents a challenge to France. Large crowds supporting the coup gathered Sunday near the French military base in Niamey, with demonstrators displaying signs demanding French troops withdraw. “The systems of government that former French colonies have, which were imposed by Paris are no longer fit for purpose.

Persons: Leon, Charles de Gaulle, Gaulle, Bongo, jubilation, General Brice Oligui Nguema –, Bongo’s, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, ”, Ali Bongo Ondimba, ’, Oluwole, Elisabeth Borne, Chris Ogunmodede, that’s, Paul Biya, Ogunmodede, ” Ogunmodede, …, ” Ojewale, “, Ndongo Samba Sylla, Emmanuel Macron, Macron Organizations: CNN, Military, Gabonese, Agence France, Presse, Gabon, Getty, Institute of Security Studies, autocrats, Central African, CFA, Banque de France, “, Macron Locations: Gabon, France, Gabon’s, Libreville, AFP, Niger, Gabonese, West, Central Africa, Mali, Senegal, Dakar, ”, Niamey, Paris, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Switzerland, Africa, Russia, Commonwealth, Togo, Macron France, Nigeria, “ Africa

French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire attends the China-France Economic and Financial Dialogue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 29, 2023. He said they had also agreed to bring forward annual price negotiations - initially planned for next year - to September. Le Maire went a step further on Thursday, naming Unilever, Nestle and Pepsi Co as being among the companies which he said were refusing to toe the line on prices. "The large multinationals could do much more," Le Maire said. "No one is willing to say 'I am going to reduce my prices' because the government is saying so," he said.

Persons: Bruno Le Maire, Thomas Peter, Le Maire, Le, Sybille De La, Silvia Aloisi, David Holmes, Frances Kerry Organizations: Finance, France Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Unilever, Nestle, PepsiCo, Federation du Commerce, Pepsi Co, Thomson Locations: China, France, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Paris

☆ Giuliani loses support of billionaires Langone, Cooperman: 'I wouldn't give him a nickel'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Langone contributed $4,600 to Giuliani's 2008 campaign for president, according to FEC records. This executive donated $2,300 to Giuliani's 2008 run for president, according to FEC records. Goodman did not say who is contributing to help Giuliani pay for his legal fees or how much those entities have raised. "I probably will," said Catsimatidis, who owns New York radio station WABC that employs Rudy Giuliani and his son. "I think people should help Rudy Giuliani.

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, Giuliani, Rudy, I'm, Brian France, Ken Langone, Forbes, Langone, Cooperman, It's, Leon Cooperman, Trump, he's, Ted Goodman, Goodman, Joe Biden swiped, Andrew Giuliani, John Catsimatidis, Catsimatidis Organizations: New York City, NASCAR, New, FEC, Trump, Billionaire, Commission, CNBC, titans, Former New York City, Wall Street, Washington D.C, Giuliani, Twitter, Giuliani Defense, New York, WABC, New York Republican Locations: Georgia, Washington , U.S, France, New York, New York City, Russian, York City, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ As France widens weather red alert, grape pickers told to work early
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A general view shows the city of Lyon after sunrise from the Fourviere esplanade as France issued a "red alert" for four southern regions amid a spell of excessively hot weather, especially in the Rhone valley, France, August 22, 2023. The Haute-Savoie region, which includes the French side of the Mont Blanc, is among the 49 departments under an orange alert for high temperatures. France's weather service on Tuesday widened its "red alert", the most serious warning, to include 15 more departments from Wednesday, which will cover large swathes of the southeastern Provence region and some areas to the southwest. HIGHEST ALERT LEVELMeteo France on Monday issued a red alert for four departments around the Rhone valley - Rhone, Drome, Ardeche and Haute-Loire. It has now added the departments of l’Ain, la Loire, l’Isère, la Lozère, le Gard, le Vaucluse, l’Hérault, l’Aveyron, le Tarn, le Tarn et Garonne, l’Aude, le Lot, le Lot et Garonne, la Haute Garonne and le Gers.

Persons: Cecile Mantovani, Mont, Aurelien Rousseau, Jerome Despey, FNSEA, Marc Fesneau, Dominique Vidalon, Sybille de la, Angus MacSwan, Bernadette Baum, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Agriculture, Thomson Locations: Lyon, France, Rhone, Blanc, Europe's, Haute, Savoie, Mont Blanc, Provence, Drome, Ardeche, Loire, l’Ain, la, l’Isère, le Gard, le Vaucluse, l’Hérault, le, Garonne, l’Aude, la Haute Garonne, le Gers, Languedoc, Burgundy, Meteo France, Toulouse

☆ France issues 'red alert' over heatwave in south
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The logo of Electricite de France (EDF) is seen in front of electrical pylons at the Tricastin nuclear power plant site in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, France, November 21, 2022. The departments targeted by the alert, which allows local authorities to call off events and close public facilities if needed, are the Rhone, Drome, Ardeche and Haute-Loire, Meteo France said. Earlier on Monday, Meteo France had issued an orange alert for half of the country's territory, saying temperatures will reach between 35 and 38 C (95 to 100 F) in most of the affected departments. Temperatures are expected to rise to between 40 and 42 Celsius (104 and 108 F) on Tuesday afternoon in the southern departments of Ardeche, Drome, Vaucluse and Gard, Meteo France said. Some technical issues at the reactor also played a role in delaying the restart to Aug. 25, an EDF spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: Eric Gaillard, Meteo, Forrest Crellin, Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Emelia, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EDF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: France, Saint, Rhone, Drome, Ardeche, Haute, Loire, Meteo France, Vaucluse, Gard

CNN —Over 12,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Tenerife after wildfires tore through the Spanish Canary Island. Police data showed the the number of evacuations surged from the 4,500 reported on Friday. While worsening weather conditions that would “complicate firefighting operations” had initially been expected overnight Sunday, the night had been “quiet, with more favorable weather conditions than expected,” local government said. Improved conditions had seen a return of a “certain normality” in firefighting operations, Tenerife firefighters said on X , formerly known as Twitter. Tenerife firefighters called the emergency operations their “largest deployment in history.” They are being assisted by mainland emergency services and the Spanish military.

Persons: ”, Arturo Rodriguez, Fernando Clavijo, Météo Organizations: CNN, Police, Twitter, Europa Press, CNN’s Locations: Tenerife, Island, La Laguna, La Orotava, Northern Africa, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, France, Météo France

☆ West African nations mull troop contributions for possible Niger intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Boureima Balima | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

West African leaders gather for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Head of States and Government meeting in Abuja, Nigeria August 10, 2023. ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) said all options were on the table and they still hoped for a peaceful resolution to the Niger crisis. Security analysts said an ECOWAS force could take weeks or longer to assemble, potentially leaving room for negotiations. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday promised to supply a battalion of troops to the standby force. The African Union welcomed ECOWAS' decision to activate a regional force and continue to seek a diplomatic solution.

Persons: Abraham Achirga, Mohamed Bazoum, Alassane Ouattara, Sering Modou, Ledgerhood Rennie, Ikemesit Effiong, Hama Moussa, Issa Seydou, Antony Blinken, Bazoum, They’ve, Pap, Ange Aboa, Alberto Dabo, Alphonso Toweh, Diadie, Edward McAllister, Anait Miridzhanian, Nellie Peyton, David Lewis, Ingrid Melander, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Economic Community, West African States, REUTERS, ECOWAS, Economic, West, Ivory, SBM Intelligence, African Union, Military, EU, Rights Watch, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, NIAMEY, Niger, West, Central Africa, West African States, Ivory Coast, Ivorian, Senegal, Sahel, U.S, Niamey, Russia, France, United States, Mali, Burkina Faso, Banjul, Abidjan, Bissau, Monrivia, Diadie Ba, Dakar

☆ Altice’s beaten-up debt is only a bet for the bold
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Pamela Barbaglia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Violeta Santos MouraLONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Altice’s debt is a bet for the bold. Patrick Drahi’s telecoms group is sitting on a $60 billion debt burden, and faces rising borrowing costs and a corruption investigation. Drahi will therefore need to sell assets to cut debt, which starts to come due in 2025. Both Altice France and Altice International are trying to sell their data centre businesses, which could raise some 700 million euros, bankers say. Yet Altice France alone has some $19 billion of debt coming due by 2029.

Persons: Patrick Drahi, Violeta Santos Moura, Patrick Drahi’s, Drahi –, Armando Pereira, Altice, Drahi, “, ”, Pereira, Xavier Niel’s, Manuel Magalhaes e Silva, Altice International’s, Alexandre Fonseca, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: French, REUTERS, Violeta Santos Moura LONDON, Reuters, Altice USA, Altice, Bouygues Telecom, Banco Espírito Santo, Public, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Moroccan, Europe, United States, Portugal, Israel, Dominican Republic, Orange, Altice France, Banco Espírito, Portuguese, New York, London

☆ European airlines are adding up to 2 hours to flights to go around Niger after the African nation suddenly closed its airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This means airlines flying between Europe and southern Africa have to detour around the volatile nation. Carriers like British Airways and Air France are impacted, the latter adding up to two hours of flight time. Airlines like Virgin Atlantic Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Airlines are also avoiding Niger. With the closure of Niger's airspace, airlines are now grappling with an even wider section of no-fly territory in north-central Africa. This map shows the African territories that European airlines cannot fly over.

Persons: —, FlightRadar24, they're Organizations: Carriers, British Airways, Air, Morning, Bloomberg, juntas, BCC, KLM, Cape Town, Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Japan Airlines, Finnair Locations: Europe, Africa, Air France, South Africa, Ghana, Niger, Johannesburg, London, Mali, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso's, Ouagadougou, Cape, Entebbe, Uganda, Accra, Lagos, Nigeria, Russia, Helsinki, Tokyo, Germany, France, Libya, Sudan

☆ Niger’s coup leader faces a deadline to cede power. Will military action come next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The leaders of a coup in Niger are digging in their heels as they face a looming deadline from neighbors to give up power or face possible military action. President Bazoum’s election win in 2021 marked a relatively peaceful transfer of power, capping years of military coups following Niger’s independence from France in 1960. ECOWAS has shown a willingness to take action in cases where leaders refuse to relinquish power or when political crises escalate. The US and France consider Niger a critical ally and both countries have military bases in Niger. That kind of sentiment suggests that even if the stated goal is to restore democracy, a military intervention may not be welcomed across the country.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, “, Bazoum’s, Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Security Abdel, Fatau Musah, Oluseyi, ” Adetayo, Jammeh, Nigeriens, Russia, Wagner, ” Ali Sounama Organizations: CNN, Regional, Economic, West African States, Nigerien, The Washington Post, ECOWAS, Local, Political Affairs, Peace, Security Locations: Niger, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, France, Nigeria, Senegal, Bazoum, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, West Africa, Niamey, Nigerien

☆ Calm pervades Niger's capital as deadline to reverse coup expires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Boureima Balima | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view of the streets in the capital Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. REUTERS/Souleymane Ag Anara/File PhotoNIAMEY, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Niger's capital was calm on Sunday, with citizens appearing to pay little heed to the threat of military intervention by West Africa's regional bloc, as its ultimatum for the country's coup leaders to reinstate the president expires. "I am not worried because I know that any military intervention by ECOWAS in Niger would be a loss for this organisation. ECOWAS did not respond to a request for comment on what its next steps would be, or when exactly on Sunday its deadline expires. Support for Niger's coup leaders from fellow juntas in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso could undermine the regional response.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Hadjo Hadjia, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, Alessandra Prentice, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, Defence, Economic, West African, Sunday, Bazoum's, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, NIAMEY, West, Central Africa, Russia, China, Mali, Burkina Faso, France

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