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NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have joined forces to produce a 30-second ad promoting responsible sports betting. The “Never Know What’s Next” commercial unveiled Tuesday is a coordination of the three leagues, sportsbook operators DraftKings, Fanatics, PENN Entertainment and the National Council on Problem Gambling. The ad’s message is to remind betters to set betting limits and gamble responsibly. It’s set to air during the Cleveland Cavaliers-Philadelphia 76ers in-season tournament game on TNT and on the leagues’ social media channels. Political Cartoons View All 1260 Images___AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Persons: —, Scott Kaufman, Ross, bettors, Keith Wachtel, betters Organizations: NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, PENN Entertainment, National Council, MLB, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, TNT

The trend worries some U.S. lawmakers who fear corporate interest will make agricultural land unaffordable for the next generation of farmers. Investment firm acquisitions are also outpacing farmland purchases by foreign entities, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lawmakers debated this year whether to curtail foreign farmland ownership, concerned that adversaries might buy land to exert political influence. "If the next generation isn’t enticed to come back to the farm," he said, "then who’s going to own that land?" About 60% of U.S. farmland is farmer-owned and -operated, with the rest owned by non-farmer operators including individuals, trusts, and corporations, according to USDA.

Persons: Nuveen, Paul Schadegg, Tim Gibbons, isn’t, It’s, David Gladstone, Gladstone, Cory Booker, Bruce Sherrick, Leah Douglas, Richard Valdmanis, Anna Driver Organizations: Investment, Reuters, Manulife Investment Management, National Council of Real Estate Investment, United Nations, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Lawmakers, Senate, National Defense, Farmers National Company, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, USDA, Gladstone, Agriculture Committee, TIAA, Research, University of Illinois, Thomson Locations: U.S, United, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Missouri

☆ A Black Woman’s Rise in Architecture Shows How Far Is Left to Go
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Jane Margolies | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Kimberly Dowdell becomes president of the American Institute of Architects next month, her ascent will be noteworthy. Ms. Dowdell, an architect in a profession that is overwhelmingly white and male, is a Black woman, the first to fill the post in the group’s 166-year history. African Americans make up 13.6 percent of the U.S. population, but only 1.8 percent of licensed architects in the country are Black, according to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Fewer than a quarter of the nearly 120,000 licensed architects in the United States are women, and not even one half of 1 percent of architects are Black women. There are small signs of change: Nearly 3 percent of architects who received their license last year were Black, and 43 percent of new architects were women.

Persons: Kimberly Dowdell, Dowdell Organizations: American Institute of Architects, National Council of Locations: United States

☆ Why strikes are working and which industries could be next
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

We asked experts why recent strikes have had success and which industries could be next. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf worker movements pick up in the months and years ahead, it shouldn't be a big surprise. At the same time, an aging US population is expected to increase the demand for healthcare workers. And if the economy remains strong, he said "previously untouchable" corporations like Amazon and Starbucks could see more worker movements and unionization. But in the near term, some labor movements will likely persist even if conditions aren't perfect.

Persons: —, that's, Matthew Johnson, Victor Chen, Johnson, COVID, Caroline Lucas, Dave Young, VCU's Chen, Biden —, Eunice Han, Duke's Johnson, Jake Rosenfeld Organizations: UAW, UPS, Hollywood, Healthcare, Service, Permanente, Workforce, Teamsters, Duke University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kaiser Permanente, National Council of State, of Nursing, Coalition, Kaiser Permanente Unions, United Food, Commercial Workers, University of Utah, Research, Washington University

From having a lot of empathy to knowing how to report a scam, experts shared their recommendations for talking about scams:Political Cartoons View All 1239 ImagesKNOW WHICH SCAMS COMMONLY TARGET OLDER PEOPLEKnowing which scams are most commonly used to target older people can help. According to the FTC, common lies by scammers include “I or someone close to me is sick, hurt, or in jail” and “I can teach you how to invest.”Other common scams are investment scams, tech support scams, and impersonation scams. HAVE CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCAMSOne of the best ways to raise awareness about scams is to talk to each other about them. To keep your older family members safe, Waterman recommends that families talk about scams more often in their day-to-day lives. If you’re looking for guides to avoid scams for older adults, you can find a variety of them on the National Council on Aging’s website.

Persons: Daniel Goldstein’s, hadn’t, it’s, scammers, ”, Genevieve Waterman, Kathy Stokes, ” Waterman, Waterman, Goldstein, they've, it's, Stokes, “, ” Stokes, ’ ”, Charles Schwab Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, National Council, Aging, AARP, FTC, Watch Network, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: scammers, ”

☆ China basic pension fund posts 0.33% investment gain in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the city skyline, ahead of the annual National People's Congress (NPC), in Shanghai, China February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The basic pension fund managed by China's social security fund gained 5.1 billion yuan, or 0.33% in 2022, down from a 4.9% gain in 2021, the National Council for Social Security Fund said on Saturday. China's stock benchmark CSI 300 (.CSI300) lost 21.6% in 2022 and so far this year is down 7.4%. The basic pension fund manages a total 1.62 trillion yuan by the end of 2022, and has posed an annual average gain of 5.4% since the end of 2016, when the national social security fund started to manage the pension's investment. Separately, the national social security fund reported a 5.07%, or 138 billion yuan loss for the year of 2022, it said in a report in September.

Persons: Aly, Michael Perry Organizations: National People's Congress, REUTERS, Rights, National Council for Social Security Fund, CSI, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

Tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups have sprung up on some U.S. campuses, including several in New York, prompting university officials to tighten security. "There is no place for hate in America, and we condemn any antisemitic threat or incident in the strongest terms," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told a regular briefing. The Jewish leaders included representatives of the campus Jewish organization Hillel, the Anti-Defamation League and the National Council of Jewish Women, the White House official said. Cardona and White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden will visit a university and meet with Jewish students later this week, the official said. Over the weekend, threats were posted online to Jewish students and the Center of Jewish Living at Cornell, according to the student newspaper and the campus Hillel group.

Persons: Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Kamala Harris's, Douglas Emhoff, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Deborah Lipstadt, Israel, Hillel, Cardona, Neera Tanden, Kathy Hochul, Hochul, Doina Chiacu, Andrea Shalal, Trevor Hunnicutt, Howard Goller Organizations: Columbia University, REUTERS, Rights, Biden, White, Israel, Cornell University, Defamation, Education Secretary, Department of Education's, Civil Rights, Defamation League, National Council of Jewish Women, White House, Islamic Relations, Center of Jewish, Cornell, Hillel, FBI, New, Jewish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Gaza, New York City, U.S, New York, America, Israel

Pre-election polls suggested that Swiss voters had three main concerns: Rising fees for the obligatory, free market-based health insurance system; climate change, which has eroded Switzerland’s many glaciers; and worries about migrants and immigration. The Socialists, in second, added two seats to reach 41 in that chamber, known as the National Council. In Switzerland, voters also participate directly in government decision making. The Swiss did line up with the EU in imposing sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The Federal Council is considering whether to join the EU and the United States in labeling Hamas a terror organization.

Persons: Pascal Sciarini, ”, “, ” Sciarini, —, Alain Berset, Viola Amherd Organizations: GENEVA, Swiss People’s Party, Swiss, Socialists, National Council, Christian, Democrat, Liberal, Greens, University of Geneva, “, SVP, Federal Council, Berset, Voters, European Union, —, Russia, Federal, EU, United Nations, Islamic, International Monetary Fund Locations: Europe, Greece, Sweden, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Swiss, Brussels, Bern, Ukraine, United States

☆ Exit poll shows Swiss right-wing party bouncing back in parliamentary election as Greens lose ground
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Members of the National Council pose for a group picture on the last day of the legislature before national elections in October at the Swiss Parliament Building (Bundeshaus) in Bern, Switzerland on Sept. 29, 2023. Exit polls conducted for Switzerland's public broadcaster showed the country's right-wing populist party was set to further strengthen its position as the largest faction in parliament in a legislative election Sunday that saw the leading Green party lose ground. The Socialists edged up nearly a 0.5 percentage point, while the Greens lost more than 4 percentage points to fall under 10%, according to the exit poll. It appeared set to eclipse the free-market Liberal party in voter support, according to the exit poll conducted by the gfs.bern agency. The parliamentary vote is one of two main ways that Switzerland's 8.5 million people guide their country.

Persons: —, Claudine Juillard, Chatelenat, Alain Berset, Viola Amherd Organizations: National Council, Swiss, Switzerland's, Swiss People's, Socialists, Greens, of States, European Union, Swiss People's Party, Christian, Democrat, Liberal, Socialist, Alpine, Federal, EU Locations: Bern, Switzerland, Poland, Geneva, Carouge, Swiss, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Andreswd | E+ | Getty ImagesMedicare beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to change their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for the coming year through open annual enrollment. Starting in 2024, people who face high prescription drug costs will not have to pay anything out of pocket once they hit the catastrophic phase of their benefits, she noted, thanks to new prescription drug legislation. Notably, Medicare beneficiaries who take insulin currently do not have to pay more than $35 per month for covered prescriptions. There are other reasons why Medicare beneficiaries should pay attention to the annual enrollment period this year. Medicare open enrollment is when beneficiaries can shop around for health plans or prescription drug coverage that better meet their needs.

Persons: Meena Seshamani, Seshamani, Darren Hotton, Hotton, that's, Catherine, There's Organizations: Getty, Center, Medicare, Centers, Services, National Council, Aging, Insurance, State Health Insurance Locations: Catherine Falls, Medicare.gov, ShipHelp.org, Utah

The individuals' accounts varied but were consistent in describing heightened scrutiny of overseas travel even after China reopened borders in January. Reuters is reporting these measures and the scope of some post-COVID travel curbs for the first time. NEW LIMITSRestrictions on personal foreign travel have long applied to senior government officials and state executives with access to confidential information. MAPPING CONNECTIONSChinese authorities are also scrutinising personal foreign ties, according to a document seen by Reuters, one of the 10 people who discussed travel curbs and three other state-enterprise workers with knowledge of the matter. Thomas said the travel curbs in particular would have implications for China's interactions with the world.

Persons: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Xi, Neil Thomas, Thomas, Wang Zhi'an, Engen Tham, Julie Zhu, Kane Wu, Xie Yu, Martin Quin Pollard, David Crawshaw, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Asia Society, Center for, State, Information Office, Communist Party, China Construction Bank, China Development Bank, National Council for Social Security Fund, Municipal Eco, Communist, Communist Youth League, Ministry of State Security, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Beijing, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Rights SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Center for China, Washington, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Japan, Italy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Tuesday formally declared the ousting of Niger's democratically-elected president a coup d'etat, more than two months after mutinous soldiers seized power. The coup designation comes with the suspension of counterterrorism assistance and military training as well as the pausing of certain foreign assistance programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Under U.S. law, a formal determination of a coup — the unconstitutional overthrow of a democratically elected government — typically results in a suspension of all non-humanitarian assistance, particularly military aid and cooperation, to the country concerned. The bases are a critical part of America’s overall efforts in West Africa and Niger, hosting more than 1,000 troops in the country. While a sizeable footprint remains in the country, those troops are not conducting either partnered training or counterterrorism missions, administration officials said, raising questions as to why they were staying.

Persons: Niger's, it’s, we’ve, they've, ”, Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon, Mohamed Bazoum who’s, Bazoum, —, Biden, Peter Pham, ___ Mednick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National Council for, U.S, Islamic, Atlantic Council Locations: United States, U.S, West African, Ambassador, Niger, Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali, West Africa, Niamey, Agadez, West Africa’s, Cotonou, Benin

☆ Why all signs point to an Australian summer of heat and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On top of El Niño, there’s another climate fluctuation in the mix that amps up the likelihood of heat and drought. A fire rages in Bobin, 350 km north of Sydney, on November 9, 2019, during Australia's catastrophic Black Summer fire season. A combination of extreme heat and wind would likely fuel very intense fires “that will seem to come from nowhere,” he added. Whether summer heat will be unprecedented remains uncertain. “Increasing extreme heat is the clearest example,”he said, but it’s worsening the impacts of drought and extreme rain too.

Persons: CNN — It’s, El, ”, David Bowman, Steve Christo, ” Bowman, Karl Braganza, “, –, Peter Parks, Robb Webb, rainier, ” Braganza, Andrea Taschetto, Jason Evans Organizations: CNN, Sydney Marathon, University of Tasmania, Sydney, Getty, Australia’s, Meteorology, El, National Council, University of New Locations: Australia, New South Wales, AFP, Bobin, Sydney, Sydney’s, University of New South Wales

☆ Australia braces for severe bushfires as Sydney swelters under record September heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The threat of intense bushfires looms over New South Wales as record spring temperatures and high winds fan the flames of more than 60 blazes already burning in Australia’s most populous state, authorities have warned. Several cities along the east coast saw record spring temperatures Tuesday, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meterology (BOM). Sydney, the NSW capital, was expected to record its hottest September day ever Wednesday, with BOM forecasting a high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). “The climate influences driving increased risk of bushfire this season are widespread,” said AFAC CEO Rob Webb. On Tuesday, BOM declared an El Niño weather event was underway, which typically results in a warmer, drier spring and summer and an increased risk for bushfires.

Persons: Miriam Bradbury, “, we’ve, ”, Rob Rogers, Rob Webb, climatologist Zhi, Weng Chua, BOM, Karl Braganza Organizations: CNN, Bureau, NSW, Fire Service, Facebook, ABC, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, ”, 9News Locations: New South Wales, Australia’s, Sydney, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Australia, Tennant, Northern Territory, New Zealand, ” Australia, El, BOM

OTTAWA, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting it was linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, but wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. "The prime minister hasn't provided any facts. We need to have the evidence that allowed the prime minister to come to the conclusions yesterday," Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters. [1/5]Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada September 19, 2023. New Delhi, which urged Ottawa to act against anti-Indian elements, has long been unhappy over Sikh separatist activity in Canada.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, hasn't, Pierre Poilievre, Blair Gable, Balraj, Trudeau's, Mukhbir Singh, Stephen Brown, Singh, Nijjar, David Ljunggren, Steve Scherer, Susan Heavey, Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Conservative, Ottawa, Conservative Party, Canada, U.S, Canada's, REUTERS, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Indian, Sikh Organization of Canada, National Council of, State Department, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, Canada, India, New Delhi, British Columbia, Canadian, Ottawa , Ontario, Ottawa, India's, Punjab, Pakistan, Australia, Britain

☆ Many older Americans who will need long-term care won't be able to afford insurance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. Insurance is an option for someLong-term care insurance, a very niche and complex market, has traditionally been an option for those able to buy policies, but it is far from the norm. “The population of seniors who buy long-term care insurance constitutes a segment of the population who are healthier and their longevity is likely different than the nation as a whole,” said Slome. “Our concern is that … it will get even more expensive for those who have had the modest resources to access long-term care insurance to be able to afford it,” she noted.

Persons: ”, Jesse Slome, Jason Hopper, Ramsey Alwin Organizations: CNN, American Association for, Care Insurance, of Health, Human Services, Insurance, HHS, National Council, Aging, Washington Locations: United States, American, Washington, Pennsylvania, California, New York

☆ Tennant Creek: Huge bushfire sweeps through central Australia near popular tourist town
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A huge bushfire raging for over a week in central Australia has come dangerously close to the popular tourist town of Tennant Creek, as authorities warn that changing wind conditions could pose a risk to residents. Home to about 3,000 people, Tennant Creek is a popular place for travelers to stop and rest as they drive through the outback along the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Darwin. Back-burning operations aimed at slowing the fire's spread have caused increased smoke within the Tennant Creek Township. Extra crews from South Australia arrived in Tennant Creek Wednesday afternoon, Fuller told ABC. Earlier this week, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast extreme fire danger for several areas within the Northern Territory.

Persons: Nicole Manison, Tennant, Tony Fuller, ” Manison, Fuller, James Gray, Spence, Gray, ”, ” Gray, “, “ We’ve, ” Fuller Organizations: CNN, Northern, Authorities, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Northern Territory, South Australia, ABC, Northern Territory Police, Emergency Services, Australian Defence Force, Alice, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, Meteorology Locations: Australia, Tennant, Alice Springs, Darwin, Barkly, Northern, South, New Zealand, Northern Territory

View all 8 PhotosAug. 28, 1963 | U.S. President John F. Kennedy meets with leaders of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom at the White House. The march was organized by major U.S. civil rights groups and brought thousands to the nation's capital to call for racial equality and opportunity. The group includes Whitney Young of the National Urban League, Martin Luther King of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Joachim Prinz of the American Jewish Congress, Eugene P. Donnelly from the National Council of Churches, A. Philip Randolph from the AFL-CIO, Walter Reuther of the United Auto Workers, U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson, and Roy Wilkins of the NAACP.

Persons: John F, Kennedy, Whitney Young, Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Joachim Prinz, Eugene P, Donnelly, Philip Randolph, Walter Reuther, Lyndon Johnson, Roy Wilkins Organizations: U.S, Jobs, White, Whitney, National Urban League, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Student Nonviolent, American Jewish Congress, National Council of Churches, AFL, United Auto Workers, NAACP Locations: Washington

☆ Sixty years after King's 'dream' speech, thousands gather in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chi and Chiamaka Okonkwo take a selfie in front of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, U.S., January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson Acquire Licensing RightsAug 26 (Reuters) - Thousands of Americans will converge on Washington on Saturday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a pivotal event in the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement at which Martin Luther King Jr gave his galvanizing "I have a dream" speech. Many credit the show of strength with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other civil rights groups, this year's march takes place at the Lincoln Memorial, the backdrop to King's impassioned call for equality. Speakers at Saturday's march will include civil rights leaders such as the Reverend Al Sharpton, King's son Martin Luther King III, his granddaughter Yolanda Renee King and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Persons: Chi, Martin Luther King, Jr, Julia Nikhinson, Martin Luther King Jr, Kimberle Crenshaw, Crenshaw, Al Sharpton, King's, Martin Luther King III, Yolanda Renee King, Hakeem Jeffries, Jonathan Greenblatt, we've, Greenblatt, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, John F, Kennedy, Chanelle Johnson, Johnson, Rachel Nostrant, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Civil, National Association for, Advancement of Colored People, Lincoln Memorial, African American Policy, African American Studies, Defamation League, White, National Council of Negro, Youth, Collegiate Affairs, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Florida, Arkansas, King's

CNN —Niger’s junta claimed Sunday it had gathered evidence to prosecute the country’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason,” upping the stakes in their brinkmanship against key neighbors in West Africa who have vowed to restore constitutional order in the coup-hit country. Niger has been engulfed in political chaos since late last month, when Bazoum was ousted in a coup d’etat by the presidential guard. Increasing pressureWest African leaders have ramped up rhetoric against Niger’s coup leaders and ordered the “activation and deployment” of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the country. The source also said committee members would first meet among themselves via Zoom on Monday but did not make clear when they would meet with coup leaders. Guinea underwent its own military coup in 2021.

Persons: CNN —, Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Bazoum, Ahmed Idris Wase, “, Moussa Salaou Barmou, Mamadi Doumbouya, ” Doumbouya, Abdourahamane Tchiani Organizations: CNN, CNN — Niger’s, Nigerien, National Council for, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Sunday, Nigerian, United Nations, African Union Locations: West Africa, Niger, Africa, France, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niamey, Guinea’s, Conakry

☆ Niger hangs in the balance as junta ignores ultimatum from West African bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The 7-day deadline given by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the military junta on July 30 for the release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazum expired at midnight. Niger's coup leaders on Monday closed its airspace after an ultimatum from the Economic Community of West African States to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum expired on Sunday night. The military junta calling itself the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland seized power on July 26 and detained Bazoum, with the commander of the country's presidential guard, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaiming himself the country's new leader. Many foreign countries have already begun evacuating embassy staff and citizens from Niger, while the likes of the U.S. and U.K. have partially suspended aid programs. The 15-member ECOWAS gave the military junta one week to return the elected government to power and restore constitutional order, threatening the use of force if its demands were not heeded.

Persons: Mohamed Toumba, Mohamed Bazum, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, Abdourahmane Tchiani Organizations: National Council for, Fatherland, Economic Community, West African States, Economic, West, National Council, European Union, ECOWAS, France Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, West African States, U.S, Russia, France, Nigerian, Niamey

Niamey, Niger CNN —Niger’s armed forces have been bringing in reinforcements to the capital to prepare for a potential invasion, a military source told CNN, just hours after the military junta running the country refused to abide by an influential regional bloc’s deadline to cede power. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responded days later by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention. A junta leader said Sunday that Niger’s armed forces would be closing the country’s airspace due to the threat of military intervention. Wagner forces have been contracted to help local defense forces against rebellions and insurgencies, and suppress opposition. Both countries are sending delegations to Niger’s capital Niamey, “in solidarity with the people of Niger,” according to the Malian Armed Forces.

Persons: Niger CNN —, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, insurgencies, Wagner, “, ”, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Niger CNN, CNN, West African States, National Council for, French Foreign Ministry, Nigerien, Malian Armed Forces, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Niamey, Niger, France, United States, Russia, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, “, ”, Burkina

☆ What to know when your child starts school during a deadly heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Millions of children are heading to school in August during the worst heat wave in recorded human history. Despite excessive heat, school is a necessity for a child’s emotional, mental, social and educational achievement, a lesson well learned during the pandemic, experts say. Worried families can best prepare their children to attend school in a heat wave by being aware of their school’s facilities and needs. Parents and caregivers should investigate the cooling conditions at their child’s school and advocate for change if needed, Patel said. Teach your child the warning signsEven if your child’s school is cool, many youngsters attend recess or participate in after-school activities that may be outdoors.

Persons: ”, Lisa Patel, Patel, Mike Pickens, ” Pickens, Prabu, ” Patel, Selvam, ” Selvam, premoistened, “ Organizations: CNN, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, Medical Society, Health, Our, National Council, School, HealthCare, San Francisco Unified, ” Locations: Atlanta, San Bernardino , California, California, Phoenix, Maricopa County , Arizona, New Orleans, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, United States, Gaithersburg , Maryland, San Francisco, Texas

CNN —General Salifou Mody, one of the Niger officers who seized power in a military coup last week, visited Mali on Wednesday, according to the Mali presidency, amid speculation of a possible interest in the Wagner mercenary group, which has a presence in the country. Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, hosted Mody and a large Nigerien military delegation on Wednesday, according to pictures and a statement posted on Facebook by the Mali presidency. Hundreds of Wagner contractors are stationed in Mali at the invitation of the country’s military junta, to quell an Islamist insurgency brewing in an area where the borders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger meet. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last week celebrated the coup in the landlocked West African country, saying his private military company could also help with situations like the one unfolding in Niger. US officials have warned that the Russian mercenary group could now seek new opportunities in Niger.

Persons: Salifou Mody, Wagner, Assimi, Mody, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Bazoum, Matt Miller, Miller, ”, Burkina Faso’s, Niger’s, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: CNN, Nigerien, Facebook, National Council for, ”, Wednesday ., Central African, Economic, West African States Locations: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, West, Western, France, Russian, “, Africa, histed, Wednesday . Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, Sahel, Burkina, Guinea

☆ Niger coup draws condemnation from Russia and the West as regional body threatens force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

NIAMEY, Niger - July 30, 2023: Coup supporters take to the streets carrying Nigerien and Russian flags after the army seized power in Niger. LONDON — West African leaders on Sunday threatened military action against the junta that seized power last week in a coup in Niger, as protesters carrying Russian flags stormed the French embassy in capital city Niamey. The U.S. and France, which have troops stationed in Niger, called for calm, but strongly condemned the coup, along with much of the international community. Thousands of Nigeriens took to the streets on Sunday in support of the coup, with many carrying Russian flags and chanting pro-Putin messages. Images purporting to be from the scene, which CNBC could not independently verify, showed fires outside the French embassy in Niamey, along with French flags being burned and projectiles thrown at the former colonial power's mission.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Bazoum's, Mahamadou, Bazoum, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, Nigeriens, Dmitry Peskov, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: West, Sunday, National Council, Fatherland, CNBC, Reuters, Wagner Group, Kremlin Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Russian, LONDON, Niamey, U.S, France, Moscow, Africa

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