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☆ Paris 2024 Olympic medals to feature iron from the Eiffel Tower
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The medals at this year’s Olympics in Paris were not only inspired by the Eiffel Tower — they each contain an original piece of the 19th-century landmark. The design was overseen by French jeweler Chaumet, whose parent company LVMH signed a major sponsorship deal with Paris 2024 last summer. The Paralympics medal, meanwhile, is decorated with a graphical representation of the Eiffel Tower, as if viewed from below. From right: Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee on the Eiffel Tower with French cyclist Marie Patouillet, fencer Sara Balzer and athlete Arnaud Assoumani holding Olympic and Paralympic Games medals. In a statement announcing the designs, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said the decision represented a “coming together” of the two events.

Persons: Chaumet, LVMH, Benoit Tessier Benoit Tessier, Clémentine Massonnat, Schaller, ” Massonnat, Tony Estanguet, Marie Patouillet, Sara Balzer, Arnaud Assoumani, Benoit Tessier, ”, Massonnat, Mathieu Lehanneur’s, Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy Organizations: CNN, Eiffel, Paris, Nike, Paralympic Games, Chaumet’s, Paralympic, Reuters, Olympic, Olympics, Dior Locations: Paris, Athens, French

☆ Night Curfew Imposed in Comoros After President's Re-Election Sparks Protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Abdou MoustoifaMORONI (Reuters) - An overnight curfew has been imposed in the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros after violent protests against President Azali Assoumani's re-election rocked the archipelago, the interior ministry said. Assoumani won a fourth five-year term after the country's electoral body on Tuesday declared him the winner of Sunday's election against five opponents. The interior ministry announced the curfew on Wednesday. He garnered 62.97% of the vote in the latest election, according to the national electoral commission. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged for calm and appealed authorities to practise restraint in the wake of protests.

Persons: Abdou Moustoifa MORONI, Azali Assoumani's, Assoumani, Moroni, Houmed Msaidie, Abdou Moustoifa, Bhargav Acharya, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, The United Nations, Human Rights Locations: Comoros, France, Mayotte

He has sought to boost Brazil's cred with each state visit and speech, one multilateral forum after another. PUSHING FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE — BRAZIL-STYLEDuring Lula’s travels, he has pushed for global governance that gives greater heft to the Global South and advocating diminishing the dollar’s dominance in trade. After the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrest, Lula said he would review Brazil's membership in the court. Some in Washington had initially hoped Lula could be helpful in advancing a shared agenda in Venezuela, Winter said. As they stood embracing, Lula remained seated while applauding a few feet away and nearly out of the camera frame.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's, Brazil —, —, Lula, Bolsonaro, ”, Oliver Stuenkel, Getulio Vargas, Ukraine’s, Vladimir Putin's, “, Brian Winter, Biden, Winter, ” Biden, Jake Sullivan, Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Cuba “, ” Lula, Nicolás Maduro, LULA, Lula isn't, Modi, Thomas Traumann, Azali Assoumani, Assoumani's, Paulo Peres, Said Peres, Eleónore Hughes, Madhani, David Biller Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, —, General, Getulio, Getulio Vargas Foundation, Global, . National, Bolsonaro, Indian, Saudi Crown, Biden, Federal University of Rio, . Security, Associated Press Locations: Brazil, United States, China, Italy, India, Argentina, Angola, Sao Paulo, — BRAZIL, Washington, Western Europe, U.S, York, Americas, New York, Ukraine, New Delhi, Cuba, Havana, Venezuela, ”, Brazilian, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro

The G20 logo is shown ahead of G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The African Union was made a permanent member of the G20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the bloc's summit in New Delhi on Saturday. The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union - the only regional bloc with a full membership. "Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family. Reuters earlier cited the draft declaration admitting the African Union as a permanent member.

Persons: Anushree, Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali Assoumani, Chris Thomas, Jacqueline Wong, Kim Coghill Organizations: G20, REUTERS, African, Indian, European Union, Union, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, African Union, Ukraine

New Delhi CNN —The African Union is to join the the Group of 20 (G20) as a permanent member, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday as he inaugurated a leaders’ summit in New Delhi for the world’s wealthiest nations. In his opening speech, Modi invited the chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, to take his seat at as a permanent member of the grouping as other leaders applauded and looked on. “Today, as the president of G20, India calls upon the world to come together to transform the global trust deficit into one of trust and reliance,” Modi said during his opening remarks. Modi has previously spoken of his intention to include the African Union in the grouping. One of the first things we did during our G20 Presidency was to hold the Voice of the Global South summit, which had enthusiastic participation from Africa.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali, ” Modi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, African Union, “, East, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European, Press Trust of Locations: New Delhi, Ukraine, India, North, West, European Union, African, Press Trust of India, Africa

☆ G20 welcomes African Union as permanent member at Delhi leaders' summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Flags of participating countries are pictured inside the International media center at the venue of the G20 leaders' summit, days ahead of its commencement in New Delhi on September 7, 2023. Money Sharma | Afp | Getty ImagesNEW DELHI — The African Union became the second regional grouping to be admitted to the Group of 20 leading industrialized and developing nations as a full permanent member, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday at the start of the two-day G20 leaders' summit in Delhi. The widely-anticipated move underscores India's wide-ranging agenda to elevate the global multilateral forum's focus on the Global South in its presidency of the G20 this year. The 55-member bloc of African nations joins the European Union as only the second regional organization to become a permanent member of the G20. "It is in the spirit of together with all that India proposed permanent membership for the African Union in the G20."

Persons: Money Sharma, Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali Assoumani, Lula da Silva, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Germany's, Olaf Scholz, Fumio Kishida, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergey Lavrov, China Premier Li Qiang Organizations: International, Afp, Getty, African Union, Indian, European Union, International Monetary Fund, Global, U.S, Canadian, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Russian, China Premier Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, India, China, —, Japan, Ukraine

[1/2] China's President Xi Jinping takes his seat at the first closed session of the leaders of the BRICS summit meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 26, 2018. China's interactions with African leaders will follow last month's Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin held court with the 17 African heads of state who attended out of the 54 African countries invited. Chen said Xi and African leaders will draw up a blueprint for cooperation to create jobs and improve livelihoods in Africa. It is not clear yet how many heads of state will attend the Aug. 22-24 BRICS summit, but South African officials said more than 70 had been invited. Between 2000 and 2020, Chinese lenders, mostly state-owned banks, agreed to lend $160 billion to African countries, according to Boston University, and Chinese companies have also invested heavily in mining on the continent.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Gianluigi, Chen Xiaodong, Xi, Cyril Ramaphosa, Vladimir Putin, Chen, Macky Sall, Azali Assoumani, Carien du Plessis, Rachel Savage, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Rights, Forum for China Africa Cooperation, Union, Boston University, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights PRETORIA, China, Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, South, Pretoria, St Petersburg, Comoros

☆ Pope urges Russian 'brothers' to restore Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, July 30 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called on Russia to reverse its decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war. "I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea initiative may be resumed and grain may be transported safely," Francis said during his weekly Angelus message. Global wheat prices have spiked since Russia on July 17 quit the pact, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, and began targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River. Addressing crowds in St Peter's Square, the pope urged the faithful to continue praying "for martyred Ukraine, where war is destroying everything, even grain," calling this "a grave insult to God." Russia walked out of the Black Sea deal after saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports had not been met.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Angelus, Vladimir Putin, Azali Assoumani, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Zuppi, Alvise Armellini, Angus MacSwan, Susan Fenton Organizations: CITY, Russian Federation, United, African Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United Nations, Turkey, St Peter's, Moscow, Africa, Kyiv, Washington

☆ African Union chair: Putin's grain offer not enough, Ukraine ceasefire needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 28 (Reuters) - The chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, said on Friday that proposals by Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide grain to Africa were not sufficient, and that a ceasefire in Ukraine was needed. Putin had told the African leaders that Russia was ready to supply Africa with grain, some of it for free, after refusing last week to extend the Black Sea grain initiative, which had permitted Ukraine to export grain safely from its seaports despite the war. That, and Russia's subsequent bombing of Ukrainian grain export facilities and stores, has sent the global price of grain soaring. "The President of Russia demonstrated that he is ready help us in the field of grain supply," Assoumani said. "President Putin has shown us that he is ready to engage in dialogue and find a solution," he added.

Persons: Azali Assoumani, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Assoumani, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kevin Liffey, Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: African Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Africa, Ukraine, Russia, St Petersburg, Kyiv

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Thursday pledged free grain for some African countries and accused the West of “telling lies” about the dormant deal that had allowed Ukrainian food exports, scrambling to shore up support among African leaders and casting his war in Ukraine as part of an increasingly global conflict. Mr. Putin hosted around 20 African leaders for the start of a two-day summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, drawing a significant contingent of officials from across the continent looking to Russia as a source of arms and food. But the gathering attracted fewer than half the number of leaders who attended the summit in 2019, a sign of how the war has tempered support for Moscow even in a region it has assiduously courted. The Russian president began the summit on the defensive, having refused last week to extend a deal that had protected Ukrainian grain exports, pushing up the price of grain around the world. But Mr. Putin has responded with a multipronged charm offensive that underscored how he is seeking to take on the West on multiple fronts, well beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Azali Assoumani, ” Organizations: African Union Locations: Russia, Ukraine, St . Petersburg, Moscow, Russian, Comoros

"We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tonnes of free grain each in the next 3-4 months," Putin told the summit, whose participants applauded. Last year, Russia exported a total of 60 million tonnes of grain, of which 48 million tonnes was wheat, Putin said. He said Western sanctions, imposed in response to Russia's war in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation", had even prevented Russia from supplying free fertiliser to poor nations. On the one hand, Western countries are obstructing supplies of our grain and fertilisers, while on the other they hypocritically blame us for the current crisis situation on the world food market," said Putin. Visiting dignitaries were also invited to visit Russia's imperial palaces or watch a gala match between Russian and African "football legends".

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia's, U.N, Antonio Guterres, PUTIN, Azali Assoumani, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Thursday, WEST Putin, European Union, Union, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Africa, Moscow, MOSCOW, St Petersburg, Russian, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ukraine, Sudan, United States, France, African

CNN —An African delegation on a peace mission to Ukraine headed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was greeted with explosions and forced to shelter in bunkers amid air strikes on the capital Kyiv. The African leaders are expected to travel to Russia Saturday to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. “Russia’s missile attack took place just as African leaders arrived in the capital,” Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said Friday. He has also come under fire after the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, said South Africa supplied arms to Russia in December last year. He added that the future of this agreement would be discussed at his meeting with the African leaders on Saturday.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, “, ” Andriy Yermak, “ Putin, ”, Joe Biden, Antonio Guterres, ” Yermak, ” Ramaphosa, Macky Sall, Hichilema, Azali Assoumani, Andriy Kostin, Valentyn Ogirenko, Andrzej Duda, Ramaphosa, Reuben Brigety, Vincent Magwenya, Putin, Moscow, ” Putin Organizations: CNN, South, UN, Russia, Ukraine's, Reuters, Polish Border Guard, United Nations General Assembly Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, ”, Senegal, Zambia, Comoros, Egypt, Congo, Uganda, Africa, Bucha, Poland’s, Warsaw, Poland, South Africa, America, Latin America

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