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Learn moreIt's time for UFC 301, which will see Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja defend his title against Australian Steve Erceg. ET / 3 a.m. BST (Sun) / 10 a.m. AWST (Sun)How to watch UFC 301 in the USAs usual, UFC 301's main event will stream tonight at 10 p.m. Shop at ESPNWhere to watch UFC 301 everywhere elseIf you're not in the US, you can catch the fights in the UK via TNT Sports. Canadian UFC fans can purchase the PPV fight through most major TV services, as well as through UFC Fight Pass for $65. UFC 301 Fight Card: Pantoja vs. ErcegMain card - 10 p.m.

Persons: Alexandre Pantoja, Steve Erceg, Aldo, Jonathan Martinez, we've, ExpressVPN, José Aldo, Anthony Smith, Vitor Petrino, Michel Pereira, Ihor Potieria, Paul Craig, Caio Borralho, Brito, Jack Shore, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Iasmin, Myktybek, Joaquim Silva, Drakkar Klose, Mauricio Ruffy, Jamie Mullarkey, Dione Barbosa, Ernesta, Ismael Bonfim, Vinc, Alessandro Costa, Kevin Borjas Organizations: Business, UFC, ESPN, TNT, US, TNT Sports Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ExpressVPN, Canada

☆ Three Dead in Senegal Protests Over Delayed Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Diadie Ba and Ngouda DioneDAKAR (Reuters) - The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential election until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS. "We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said. The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for Dec. 15.

Persons: Ba, Dione DAKAR, Macky Sall, Sall, Ndiame Diop, Louis, Guy Marius Sagna, Alessandra Prentice, Hugh Lawson Organizations: West African, ECOWAS, Cartogra Free, Reuters, Friday, U.S . Bureau, African Affairs Locations: Senegal, Africa, Dakar, Zinguinchor, Cartogra Free Senegal, Saint

☆ Saturn’s ‘Death Star’ moon is hiding an internal ocean, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Astronomers have uncovered additional evidence that one of Saturn’s smallest moons, Mimas, is hiding a global ocean beneath its icy surface. Discovered in 1789 by English astronomer William Herschel as a tiny dot near Saturn, Mimas was first imaged from space by the Voyager probes in 1980. Craters cover the surface of Mimas, but the largest one is 80 miles (about 130 kilometers) across and causes the moon to resemble the Death Star from the “Star Wars” films. But Saturn’s Enceladus appears younger because active geysers have contributed to resurfacing, or depositing of new, fresh material on that moon’s surface. “Mimas certainly demonstrates that moons with old surfaces can be hiding young oceans, which is pretty exciting,” Rhoden said.

Persons: Mimas, Cassini, William Herschel, Observatoire, Dr, Valéry Lainey, Lainey, ”, Nick Cooper, Saturn, ” Lainey, “, Triton, Frédéric, ” Cooper, “ Lainey, Matija Ćuk, Alyssa Rose Rhoden, Rhoden Organizations: CNN —, Saturn, Voyager, “, Physical, Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, NASA, Clipper, SETI Institute, Southwest Research Locations: Paris, California, Colorado

☆ Think Clothes Were ‘Better’ 50 Years Ago? Our Investigation Might Surprise You
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jamie Waters | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

LATE LAST YEAR, old trench coats began trending on X (formerly known as Twitter). As ammunition she supplied a swoon-worthy shot of model-actress Lauren Hutton taken at the 1983 premiere of “Starflight.” Hutton has a twinkle in her eye. Today, the average trench is cut more skimpily, according to Dione Davis, a stylist in New York and Paris. As can other laments that went viral in recent months focused on sweaters, tailored trousers, even T-shirts. Conventional wisdom holds that wardrobe classics were better in previous generations.

Persons: Savannah Bradley, Lauren Hutton, “, ” Hutton, Dione Davis Organizations: LAST Locations: New York, Paris

☆ Dashing Through These Films
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Elisabeth Vincentelli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The most fun entry on the BET+ slate is Terri J. Vaughn’s comedy about friendship. When Wyvetta (Tichina Arnold, from “The Neighborhood”) is dumped at the altar on Christmas Eve, she and her supportive bestie Dione (Tami Roman) publicly swear off romance on their podcast. Um, did these two women really intend to remain chaste for the rest of their lives? Filmed largely in Atlantic City, this breezy movie benefits from Arnold and Roman’s believable camaraderie. And we could have used a lot more of Michael Colyar and Jackée Harry as Wyvetta’s forbearing parents.

Persons: Terri J, Tichina Arnold, Dione, Tami Roman, Clarence, Robert Christopher Riley, —, Arnold, Michael Colyar, Harry, Wyvetta’s Organizations: BET Locations: Atlantic City

Local news footage shows a large crowd of students walking out of the school building and congregating outside on school property. “We will continue to follow state law and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation,” school district spokesman John Sullivan said in a statement. “We are committed to providing all our students with a safe and inclusive learning environment.”In 2021, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president as a Republican, signed a state law that bars transgender girls and women from playing on public school teams intended for student athletes identified as girls at birth. When questioned by reporters, Licata denied that the reassignments had anything to do with a lawsuit the student and her parents had previously brought against the school.

Persons: James Cecil, Kenneth May, Dione Hester, Jessica Norton, Alex Burgess, John Sullivan, Ron DeSantis, Peter Licata, Licata Organizations: South, volleyball, Monarch High School, Broward County ., Florida Gov, Republican, Broward Schools Locations: Fla, South Florida, Broward County, Broward County . Local, Florida

☆ Migrants say 'Spain or death' as Senegalese navy tackles sea crossings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Ngouda Dione | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Senegalese Navy members are seen on board the patrol boat 'Walo', as they search for illegal migrants, in the Senegalese high seas, November 2, 2023. We will reach Spain, or we will die," one man shouted into the night as he climbed on board. The numbers had dropped as most migrants chose land routes through the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. The Walo has intercepted around 4,000 migrants and 30 boats since launching operations in August, another officer on the boat said. In August, a boat carrying over 100 migrants from Senegal was found adrift near Cape Verde.

Persons: Walo, We're, Diallo, Mbaye Ndaw, Alessandra Prentice, Edward McAllister, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Senegalese Navy, REUTERS, Senegalese, Migrants, Spain, WE, Spain's Civil Guard, Thomson Locations: Canary Islands, West Africa, Europe, Spanish, Senegal, Gambia, Senegalese, Cape Verde

☆ Parthenon sculptures were once elegantly painted with ‘Egyptian blue’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But they weren’t always that way, according to a new study, which found the famous 2,500-year-old Parthenon sculptures were colorful, painted with floral patterns and other elaborate designs. Researchers found microscopic traces of paint by using infrared light that is absorbed by the blue paint and appears on camera as a glowing white (right). By illuminating the sculptures with the red light, a pigment known as “Egyptian blue” absorbs the light and appears on camera as a glowing white. “Egyptian blue” was a popular pigment of its time that was made using calcium, copper and silicon, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Verri said he hopes that further imaging will soon be developed to find other colors present on the sculptures.

Persons: Giovanni Verri, ” Verri, “ It’s, Lord Elgin, Verri, Dione, Aphrodite, Kekrops, Demeter, Persephone, Dione ,, ”, Michael Cosmopoulos, Louis, William Wootton, conservators Organizations: CNN, British, —, King’s College London, Art Institute of Chicago, British Museum, Royal Society of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Acropolis Museum Locations: Greece, Athens, Ottoman Empire, Verri

☆ Senegal President Names New Finance, Energy Ministers in Reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Senegalese President Macky Sall on Wednesday named new finance and energy ministers as part of a government reshuffle four months ahead of elections. Sall dismissed the government and reappointed Prime Minister Amadour Ba on Friday, without explaining the reasoning behind the decision. Among other changes, former Interior Minister Antoine Diome, who was criticised by the opposition for the government's crackdown on widespread protests earlier this year, was appointed oil and energy minister. Senegal will next year begin producing oil and gas from large offshore fields which are expected to transform the West African country's economy over the coming decades. Mamadou Moustapha Ba will run the finance and budget ministry.

Persons: Macky Sall, Sall, Amadour Ba, Antoine Diome, Mamadou Moustapha Ba, Doudou Ka, Ngouda Dione, Edward McAllister, Chris Reese Organizations: Reuters, Wednesday Locations: Senegal

☆ Senegal seeks regulation deal with TikTok after ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok logo is seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. "For the time being, the restriction is being maintained pending the conclusion of a comprehensive written agreement," communications minister Moussa Bocar Thiam told a press conference, adding that authorities were in discussions with TikTok. During its discussions with TikTok, the government requested better regulation of the platform and asked questions about the functioning of its algorithm and data protection. It also asked for fair remuneration for content creators that would enable young people to make a living from social media. Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Moussa Bocar Thiam, Ousmane Sonko, Macky Sall, TikTok, Ngouda Dione, Anait Miridzhanian, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Rights DAKAR, Sonko, West Africa

☆ Migrant boat capsizes off Cape Verde, over 60 feared dead, Senegal ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DAKAR, Aug 16 (Reuters) - More than 60 people are feared dead after a boat carrying mostly Senegalese migrants capsized off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. The boat left Senegal on July 10 with 101 passengers on board, and 38 people were rescued on Tuesday, Senegal's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. The survivors were on the Cape Verde island of Sal, where Senegal is liaising with authorities for their repatriation, the ministry said. At least 15 people drowned when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal's capital Dakar in late July. Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Additional reporting and writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Safa, Ngouda Dione, Nellie Peyton, Bernadette Baum Organizations: International Organization for Migration, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Cape Verde, Senegal, Sal, Guinea, Bissau, West Africa, Canary, Spain, Senegal's, Dakar

An aerial view of traffic on a street in the capital Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. In a sign of this resistance to one-time allies, Niger on Thursday suspended broadcasts of French state-funded international news outlets France 24 and RFI - drawing condemnation from the French foreign ministry. One of the demonstrators in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. After their coups, Burkina Faso and Mali kicked out French troops, many of whom are now stationed in Niger. In Niger, there are signs that regional sanctions are starting to have an impact: Nigeria has cut power supplies to Niger, while Nigerien truckers have been stranded by border closures.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, crackdowns, Sall, Antony Blinken, it's, Allah, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Moussa Aksar, Camillus Eboh, Thiam, Tiemoko Diallo, Ange Aboa, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Nick Macfie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Niger's, France, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Sunday, EU, National Assembly, Islamic, Niger, Reuters, West, Senegalese, U.S, United Nations, Nigerien, CFA, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, France, West, Central Africa, Russia, Burkina, Down, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Niger ., Nigeria, Senegal, Nigerian, China, Paris

☆ Senegal suspends TikTok saying it was threatening stability
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok logo is seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photoDAKAR, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Senegal has suspended access to social media app TikTok until further notice, the communications minister said on Wednesday, days after restricting the use of mobile internet amid opposition protests. The West African country has also restricted access to internet services since Monday, using a similar justification. The restrictions come after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was charged with plotting an insurrection, criminal conspiracy and other offences. Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Nellie Peyton; editing by Jason Neely and Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ousmane Sonko, Macky, Sonko, Ngouda Dione, Nellie Peyton, Jason Neely, Alexander Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Senegal

☆ Senegal opposition leader Sonko charged with plotting insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Ngouda Dione | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DAKAR, July 29 (Reuters) - Senegal's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was charged on Saturday with plotting an insurrection, criminal conspiracy and other offenses, two months after his trial for a separate rape charge sparked deadly riots across the country. Sonko, 49, was handed a two-year prison sentence on June 1 for immoral behavior towards individuals younger than 21, leading to protests in which at least 16 people were killed. Sonko was detained on Friday following a scuffle with security forces stationed outside his home, who he claimed were filming him without permission. Playing videos from a laptop of Sonko making allegedly inciteful speeches, Senegal's state prosecutor Abdou Karim Diop told a crowded press conference that Sonko would be freshly charged with calling for insurrection, plotting against the state and criminal conspiracy, among other charges. Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Bate FelixOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Sonko, Abdou Karim Diop, Ngouda Dione, Cooper Inveen, Bate Felix Organizations: Thomson Locations: DAKAR

☆ From pixels to pails, crowdfunded wells quench thirst in Senegal's drylands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ngouda Dione | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Water scarcity is so acute at this time of year that many communities face a dire choice: water your farms or quench you thirst. He turned to the internet, setting up crowdfunding campaigns where people can donate money to construct wells in communities lacking water. "In many villages, there were water problems, and this issue notably impacted on learning," said Diakhate, who previously worked in school construction. In a region pockmarked with wells in various states of disrepair, Diakhate hopes the internet can bring communities together to solve the problem of water scarcity. His group has built more than 50 wells this way since 2020, and nine more are under construction.

Persons: Ourou Amady, Mamadou Diakhate, Diakhate, Yoro Boubou Ba, Ngouda Dione, Cooper Inveen, Nellie Peyton, Christina Fincher Organizations: Workers, REUTERS, United Nations, Pepperdine University, Thomson Locations: Ourou, Podor, Senegal, PODOR, Senegal's, Dakar, Saharan Africa, Bagga

"Dakar looks great with certain coloured films, because they really bring out the warm, vibrant colours," Saar said, loading a fresh roll into the camera. "Film can be really great in Africa, because in general it’s sunny (and) very colourful.”Saar is part of a growing resurgence of analogue photography enthusiasts in Senegal, nurtured by Le Sel studio in the capital’s Ouakam neighbourhood. Founded two years ago in owner Kevin Aubert’s apartment, Senegal’s only studio of its kind aims to rekindle the country’s love for the craft through film sales and workshops. In the meantime, local photographers like Eva Diallo are already showing works developed there at some of Dakar’s most prestigious art houses. “The film process is much more conscious than digital or iPhone photos,” Diallo said during her solo exhibition at Dakar’s Gallerie Cecile Fakhoury.

Persons: Amy Saar, Kevin Aubert’s, Senegal’s, Le, Aubert, ” Aubert, Eva Diallo, ” Diallo, Dakar’s Gallerie Cecile Fakhoury, “, Cooper Inveen, Alison Williams Organizations: Le Sel, Precision Reports, Le, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Senegalese, Dakar, Saar, Africa, Senegal

☆ Analysis: Caught between riots and debt crises, African countries cut fuel subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Senegal, like Nigeria and Angola, is removing costly fossil fuel subsidies – a move once considered politically unthinkable but which has become a necessity due to crushing debt, a spike in borrowing costs and high fuel prices. SHEER FISCAL NECESSITYNearly every country on earth has some fossil fuel subsidies, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Now, high costs have effectively locked many out of international bond markets. According to the World Bank, almost half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are in or at high risk of debt distress. The World Bank estimates that subsidy removal, and scrapping foreign exchange controls, would save Nigeria some 21 trillion naira ($27.49 billion) from 2023 to 2025.

Persons: Abdoulaye Diallo, Diallo, Stanley Achonu, Goolam Ballim, Angola's, David Amaglobeli, Amaglobeli, Gregoire Garsous, Achonu, Karin Strohecker, Ngouda Dione, Hugh Lawson Organizations: ONE, LONDON, CFA, Global, International Energy Agency, Reuters Graphics, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Standard Bank, World Bank, OECD, Bank, Christian, Thomson Locations: Africa, Nigeria, Senegal's, Dakar, Senegal, Angola, Ukraine, Russia, Johannesburg, China, Saharan Africa, Zambia, London, Brazzaville

☆ NASA’s Webb telescope image shows details of Saturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Astronomers have discovered surprising details about Saturn’s atmosphere, using a new image captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. In the image, Saturn itself appears extremely dark due to the near-total absorption of sunlight by methane gas. The image was taken with Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera, known as NIRCam, as part of a Webb program that involves several exceptionally deep exposures of Saturn, according to NASA. This latest detailed image comes just weeks after the Webb telescope spotted a record-breaking water plume erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which feeds Saturn’s diffuse E ring, according to NASA. In the future, additional and deeper exposures from Webb will help astronomers examine fainter rings around Saturn, according to NASA.

Persons: NASA’s James Webb, Webb, “, ” Organizations: CNN —, NASA’s James Webb Space, NASA, Cassini, Webb, Saturn, Hubble

☆ Japanese wrestler moves to Senegal to master ancient martial art
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ngouda Dione | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Shogo Uozumi, also known as Songo Tine, 29 years old, wrestles with Baye Ibra at the Samba Dia stable in the Diakhao neighbourhood, in Thies, Senegal, May 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ngouda DioneTHIES, Senegal, June 14 (Reuters) - In a dusty alleyway in the Senegalese city of Thies, Japanese wrestler Shogo Uozumi lay face-down in the sand after being tossed in the air by an oversized opponent. Uozumi then rose to his feet, dusted himself off and rejoined the surrounding group of wrestlers wearing loincloths. Anchored in ancestral war rituals, Laamb has evolved from a post-harvest pastime into Senegal's national sport. Since relocating to Senegal full-time in 2022, Uozumi has lived with a community of wrestlers in Thies, Senegal's third largest city.

Persons: Songo Tine, Baye Ibra, Shogo Uozumi, Uozumi, Laamb, Cheikh Badiane, Louis, Badiane, Cooper Inveen, Ed Osmond Organizations: Samba Dia, REUTERS, Thies, Thomson Locations: Diakhao, Thies, Senegal, THIES, Senegalese, Tokyo, Omotenashi, Japan, Saint

☆ From restaurants to water towers, unrest dents Senegal's economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sofia Christensen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An attack on a state-owned water plant could create shortages in Dakar, where it hasn't rained for eight months and where water cuts are common, Diome said. Bus company Dem Dikk, which is part state owned and whose beige buses are recurring targets during protests, partially resumed services this week. Attacks on its buses have cost the company over $7 million since March 2021, CEO Ousmane Sylla told Reuters. Stalled operations can cost Dem Dikk up to $80,000 in losses per day and make it tricky for thousands of commuters to get to work. "It is creating unemployment," he said, adding that it was already difficult for graduates to find jobs before the unrest.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome, Diome, Read, Ousmane Sylla, Dem, Sylla, . University student Mbodj, Saint Louis, Ngouda Dione, Sofia Christensen, Edward McAllister, Sharon Singleton Organizations: KFC, Sedima Group, International Labour Organization . Bus, Reuters, . University student, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Senegal, Dakar, Mbour, Keur Massar, Saint

[1/5] A view of a ransacked supermarket Auchan, after Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to prison in Dakar, Senegal June 3, 2023. REUTERS/Zohra BensemraDAKAR, June 3 (Reuters) - Streets filled with rubble and ransacked shops greeted residents of some Dakar neighbourhoods on Saturday - fallout from clashes between anti-government protesters and police that have gripped Senegal in recent days. Mobs smashed windows and looted at least two gas station shops overnight in Dakar's Ouakam and Ngor districts, while an Auchan supermarket in densely populated Grand Yoff was torched and ransacked. The unrest is the latest in a string of protests in Senegal, long considered one of West Africa's most stable democracies. The opposition is also concerned that President Macky Sall will try to bypass the two-term limit and run again in February elections.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Khadija, Ndiaye, Macky Sall, Edward McAllister, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prentice, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Dakar, DAKAR, Dakar's, Ouakam, West

[1/5] People put out burning barricades that were set on fire by supporters of Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, after Sonko was sentenced to prison in Dakar, Senegal June 1, 2023. Nine people were killed in clashes between riot police and Sonko supporters on Thursday after he was sentenced to two years for corrupting youth. The opposition says the verdict, which could prevent Sonko from running in elections next year, was politically motivated. Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar was the epicentre of Thursday's violence, with protesters setting buses alight and throwing rocks at riot police, who responded by firing tear gas. One student, Alioune Ndiaye, said he planned to travel hundreds of miles to his home in eastern Senegal to escape the violence.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Sonko, Abdou Karim Fofana, Cheikh, Alioune Ndiaye, Macky Sall, Sall, Mouhamad Diouf, Diouf, Adji Sarr, Cheikh Hann, Bate Felix, Cooper Inveen, Sofia Christensen, Anait, Edward McAllister, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Army, Security, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Dakar, DAKAR, Senegalese, West, Ouakam

Sonko, 48, was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlour in 2021, when she was 20, and making death threats against her. "With this sentence Sonko cannot be a candidate," said one of his lawyers, Bamba Cisse. University law professor Ndiack Fall said Sonko could demand a retrial if he turns himself in to authorities. But Sall's second term has been particularly turbulent for a country usually viewed as one of West Africa's strongest democracies. Separately, Sonko is appealing against a six-month suspended prison sentence for libel.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Bamba Cisse, Ndiack Fall, Sonko's, Sonko, Macky Sall, Sall, Ngouda Dione, Bate Felix, Sofia Christensen, Estelle Shirbon, Christina Fincher, Matthew Lewis Organizations: University, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Dakar, West, Dakar Senegal, Senegal

DAKAR, June 1 (Reuters) - Nine people were killed in Senegal on Thursday in clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after a court sentenced him to two years in jail, casting serious doubt on his chances of running for president next year. The justice ministry said the opposition leader could now be taken to prison at any time. Police remained stationed around his home Dakar as unrest flared in the capital and elsewhere after the verdict. But Sall's second term has been particularly turbulent for a country usually viewed as one of West Africa's strongest democracies. Separately, Sonko is appealing against a six-month suspended prison sentence for libel - an offence he also denies.

Persons: Ousmane Sonko, Sonko, Bamba Ciss, Sonko's, Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome, Abdou Karim Fofana, Ndiack Fall, Macky Sall, Sall, Ngouda Dione, Bate Felix, Diadie Ba, Edward McAllister, Sofia Christensen, Alessandra Prentice, Matthew Lewis, Andrew Heavens, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Police, REUTERS, University, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Senegal, Dakar, Dakar Senegal, West, Lincoln

☆ Senegal president promises fair election as tensions simmer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sporadic violent protests have broken out across Senegal since opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was detained for alleged rape in 2021. Sonko's supporters say this is a tactic to bar him from the February presidential poll, which the government denies. Sall on Wednesday welcomed members of various parties, religious leaders and civil society to a multi-day national dialogue aimed at easing tensions and fostering dialogue. As a result, neither was able to run for president in 2019. Khalifa Sall attended Wednesday's dialogue and said he hoped the president's potential third term bid was up for discussion.

Persons: Macky Sall, Ousmane Sonko, Sonko's, Sall, Sonko, Anger, Khalifa Sall, Karim Wade, Abdoulaye Wade, Sofia Christensen, Alessandra Prentice, Ngouda Dione, Bate Felix, William Maclean Organizations: Dakar, Khalifa, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Senegal, Sonko's, Dakar, Sall

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