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☆ Gabon army officers say they have seized power after election in oil-rich country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Gerauds Wilfried Obangome | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The officers said on television channel Gabon 24 that they represented all Gabonese security and defence forces. They said the election results were cancelled, all borders were closed until further notice and state institutions were dissolved. Military officers have also seized power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad. "If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region," said the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Bongo, 64, succeeded his father Omar as president in 2009 and was re-elected in a disputed election in 2016.

Persons: Ali Bongo Ondimba's, Ali Bongo, Bongo, Elisabeth Borne, insurgencies, Josep Borrell, Albert Ondo Ossa, Omar, Eramet, Alessandra Prentice, Sofia Christensen, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Nellie Peyton, Simon Cameron, Moore, Edmund Blair Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Central African, OPEC, French, Military, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Gabonese, Centre, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Gabonese, Gabon, Handout, LIBREVILLE, Libreville, France, West, Central Africa, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad . Niger

☆ Opinion | The Trump Trial Date Is a Big Mistake
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

These choices are often defended with the suggestion that any critique is just a bad-faith attempt to let Trump or his voters off the hook. Yes, there’s always “the possibility that Mr. Trump collapses under the weight of his legal challenges,” as my colleague Nate Cohn puts it. To beat Trump in the primary, any challenger would need part of that bloc to resist the rallying impulse and swing their way instead. There may be Republican voters who regard these prosecutions as theater designed to keep Trump from the nomination and therefore expect the legal cases to fall apart when his lawyers make their defense. electorate said they wouldn’t vote for Trump if he were convicted of a felony, compared with 35 percent (that Trumpian core again) who said they would, and that more than half said they wouldn’t support him in the fall campaign if he were imprisoned.

Persons: Trump, there’s, ”, Nate Cohn, he’s, Bill Clinton Organizations: G.O.P, Trump, Republican, Reuters

☆ Gabon President Ali Bongo wins third term after disputed election
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLIBREVILLE, Aug 30 (Reuters) - President Ali Bongo has won a third term in the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, the Gabonese Election Centre (CGE) said on Wednesday, after a delay-plagued general election that the opposition has denounced as fraudulent. Announcing the result in the early hours, CGE head Michel Stephane Bonda said Bongo's main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, had come in second place with 30.77%. Bongo's team have rejected Ondo Ossa's allegations of electoral irregularities. Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ali Bongo Ondimba, Brendan McDermid, Ali Bongo, Michel Stephane Bonda, Bongo's, Albert Ondo Ossa, Bongo, Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Alessandra Prentice, Clarence Fernandez, Gerry Doyle Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Gabonese Election, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York City, U.S, Rights LIBREVILLE, Ondo, Central African

CNN —A group of military officers claiming to represent “defense and security forces” in Gabon announced on Wednesday they had seized power in the African nation, according to a televised address circulating on social media. In the broadcast, the military officer said the election results would be voided and the country’s borders would be closed until further notice. Bongo’s long ruleEarlier on Wednesday, Gabon’s election body said Bongo had won the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, after a delay-plagued general election that the opposition denounced as fraudulent. The elder Bongo came into power in 1967, seven years after the country’s independence from France. Ahead of the election, the non-profit Reporters Without Borders condemned the Gabonese government for obstructing foreign press coverage of the event.

Persons: ”, Ali Bongo, “, Bongo, Albert Ondo Ossa, Omar Bongo, Ondo, Bongo’s Organizations: CNN, Gabon24, Twitter, Senate, National Assembly, Constitutional, Economic, Social, Environmental Council, Reuters, Union, Borders, United Nations, Gabonese Locations: Gabon, Gabonese, Libreville, West, Central Africa, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Ondo, France

☆ U.S. Steel confirms multiple acquisition proposals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Steel (X.N) has entered into confidentiality agreements with "numerous third parties" and started to review multiple unsolicited proposals ranging from partial acquisition to an entire buyout, the company said in a letter to its stockholders on Tuesday. Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF.N), which has made a $7.3 billion cash-and-stock offer, last week demanded U.S. Steel to provide the company and the United Steel Workers (USW) union with information about all the proposals it has received so far as a part of its strategic review. Earlier this month, Esmark scraped its bid for U.S. Steel, leaving Arcelor-Mittal as the only known potential challenger to Cleveland-Cliffs. "While we don’t know how long the process will take, the board of directors, management team and outside advisers are moving quickly to complete it," U.S. Steel said in the letter. Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Esmark, Mittal, U.S . Steel, Pratyush Thakur, Maju Samuel Organizations: . Steel, U.S, Steel, United Steel Workers, U.S . Steel, Arcelor, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Cleveland, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ U.S. Steel starts due diligence after entering agreements with 'numerous third parties'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Steel Corporation facility entry gate is seen in Gary, Indiana, U.S., on October 15, 2018. Chairman David Sutherland and CEO David Burritt said in the letter that the company will start to share due diligence information. They also said the company's board and outside advisers will fully evaluate all options and make the review public to hear from any party that may have interest in the company. Earlier this month, Esmark scraped its bid for U.S. Steel, leaving Arcelor-Mittal as the only known potential challenger to Cleveland-Cliffs. "While we don’t know how long the process will take, the board of directors, management team and outside advisers are moving quickly to complete it," U.S. Steel said in the letter.

Persons: Rajesh Singh, David Sutherland, David Burritt, Esmark, Mittal, U.S . Steel, Pratyush Thakur, Maju Samuel Organizations: U.S . Steel Corporation, REUTERS, . Steel, U.S, Steel, United Steel Workers, U.S . Steel, Arcelor, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Gary , Indiana, U.S, Cleveland, Bengaluru

☆ In Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic Has a Much-Needed Gift: A Rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Kurt Streeter | More About Kurt Streeter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Novak Djokovic had dominated all of the most significant moments of the first half of this tennis season. After winning his 10th Australian Open, he emerged with the Roland Garros crown, his 23rd Grand Slam tournament title, tied for the career record. A win at Wimbledon, on tennis’s most hallowed ground, would have put him three-quarters of the way to becoming the first man to achieve a calendar Grand Slam in 54 years. Carlos Alcaraz, surprising the tennis world with a championship match victory over Djokovic on the slick Wimbledon grass, a surface assumed to have been the Spaniard’s kryptonite. But when the final was over, as Alcaraz lofted the greatest trophy in tennis skyward, a budding tug of war had morphed into a full-blown rivalry for men’s tennis supremacy.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Carlito, a.k.a, Carlos Alcaraz Organizations: Wimbledon, Djokovic

☆ Kamala Harris allies are privately grumbling that Gavin Newsom's plan to debate Ron DeSantis is 'disrespectful' to the VP as they see the move as early jockeying for 2028, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Several Biden and Harris advisors have reservations about a potential Newsom-DeSantis debate, per NBC News. Some Democratic advisors think the debate could boost DeSantis' struggling presidential campaign. And some of Harris' allies think Newsom would use a debate to elevate himself ahead of 2028. And the frustration extends to allies of Vice President Kamala Harris, according to the news outlet. Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told NBC News that the campaign didn't have an issue with the debate.

Persons: Harris, Newsom, Gavin Newsom hasn't, Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden, DeSantis, Sean Hannity, Kamala Harris, Biden, Donald Trump's, That's, Kevin Munoz, Munoz Organizations: Biden, NBC, Service, Florida Gov, Democratic, Fox News, GOP, Golden State, DeSantis, Florida Department of Education, The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, NBC News Locations: Wall, Silicon, California, Florida

☆ The Fed is ‘flying blind’ on the economy. Will this week’s jobs data help?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Bureau of Labor Statistics kicks things off on Tuesday with the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report for July. But the pace of job creation and demand by employers for flexible labor, temporary, contract and full time jobs, while still strong, has definitely slowed. Tell me about the ASA Staffing Index, which tracks weekly changes in temporary and contract employment. The ASA Staffing Index is a real-time snapshot of employment. So I think we may have seen a trough in terms of temporary employment and we could be seeing now the beginning of the upturn.

Persons: Bell, Richard Wahlquist, Jackson, Jerome Powell, Powell’s Jackson, we’ve, We’ve, they’ve, upticks, Alicia Wallace, ”, Janelle Griffith, Marsh, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Labor Statistics, Labor, ADP, Reserve, American Staffing Association, Fed, ASA, Panama Canal Authority, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Companies Locations: New York, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Panama, North American

☆ Trump's mug shot caps off a messy week for American politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The atmospherics are distractingFormer President Donald Trump’s stone-faced mug shot and the televised motorcade of his trip to court painted his arrest Thursday at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta with a reality TV theatricality. Trump’s control of the party he remade around himself continues to hold. But ultimately, just as he was forced to submit to a mug shot, Trump will have to submit to the fact that juries of his peers, American citizens, will decide these trials of the century. It’s far from a mainstream view, and Trump’s multiple arrests have so far yielded little in the way of mass protest. He could win acquittal in any or all four of the trials in which he’s a defendant.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, John King, Read, Jack Smith’s, Fani Willis ’, Biden, Vladimir Putin, what’s, Sarah Palin Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Fulton, Alaska Gov, won’t, Biden Locations: Fulton, Atlanta, Iowa, East Coast, Manhattan, Florida, Fulton County, Georgia, Washington ,, Russia, Alaska

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko Acquire Licensing RightsHARARE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's elections commission said late on Saturday that incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa had won this week's presidential election with roughly 53% of the vote, but the opposition and analysts immediately questioned the result. ZANU-PF supporters started singing and cheering at the results centre after the elections commission said Mnangagwa had won. Mnangagwa also narrowly defeated Chamisa at the last presidential election in 2018. The opposition alleges that election was rigged but the constitutional court upheld the result. While the run-up to the election has been largely free from violence, the police routinely ban opposition rallies and arrest opposition supporters using Zimbabwe's tough public order laws.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Siphiwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa, Nicole Beardsworth, ZEC, Nyasha Chingono, Nelson Banya, Carien du Plessis, Bhargav, Alexander Winning, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, ZANU, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Citizens ' Coalition, PF, University of, SADC, Thomson Locations: Shurugwi, Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, Rights HARARE, Zimbabwe, Southern, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

☆ Usyk knocks out Dubois in nine after low blow controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Boxing - WBA, IBF & WBO Heavyweight Titles - Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois - Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw, Poland - August 26, 2023 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the belts after winning his fight against Daniel Dubois REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Usyk retains heavyweight titles and remains unbeatenDubois counted out after second knockdown'Low blow' controversy erupted in round fiveBriton says he was 'cheated' of victoryWROCLAW, Poland, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk knocked out British challenger Daniel Dubois in nine rounds on Saturday to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight boxing world titles in a fight overshadowed by a low blow controversy. The referee ruled it a low blow and told Usyk to take his time as he remained on the canvas grimacing and shaking his head, with the round eventually continuing. Dubois, who lasted longer than expected but took some big blows with blood oozing from his nose early in round nine, said the blow was legal. The Ukrainian said he was now ready to fight WBA heavyweight champion Tyson Fury if the Briton was willing. "The strength of our people as mighty as Oleksandr Usyk, the strength of our friends as solid as Daniel Dubois."

Persons: Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois, Kacper, Dubois, Luis Pabon, Usyk, I've, Frank Warren, Tyson Fury, Will Tyson Fury, Dubois's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Alan Baldwin, Ken Ferris, Pritha Organizations: WBA, IBF, WBO, Tarczynski, Daniel Dubois REUTERS, Puerto, TNT Sports, Briton, Thomson Locations: Wroclaw, Poland, WROCLAW, Puerto Rican, Russia's, Ukraine, London

☆ Djokovic savouring the moment after past US Open disappointment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 25, 2023, Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices ahead of the 2023 the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. I felt sad for not being able to participate," the world number two said on Friday. Djokovic beat Alcaraz in the Roland Garros semi-finals this year, en route to his third title at the clay court major. Djokovic will open his latest Grand Slam campaign against 85th-ranked Frenchman Alexandre Muller. "I see every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history," he added.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Mike Segar, Daniil Medvedev, I'm, Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Roland Garros, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, New York, Flushing Meadows

A tally by state broadcaster ZBC showed ZANU-PF winning 101 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 59, out of a total of 210. The result of the presidential vote has not been announced yet. The ERC later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 16 of its staff together with Zimbabwe Election Support Network members had been released on $200 bail each by a magistrate. Mnangagwa last week told state media that if he got a second term, it would be his last. As in previous elections, the parliamentary results appeared to show ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Castaldo, Nevers Mumba, Patrick Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Eldred Masunungure, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Devika Syamnath, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, ZBC, ZANU, Coalition, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Philimon, Rights Police, Zimbabwe Election, Election, Centre, ERC, Zimbabwe Election Support, Southern African Development Community, National Assembly, University of Zimbabwe, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: EU, HARARE, Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, SADC

Police sealed off roads around the election results centre on Friday morning, and members of the public were being stopped for questioning, a Reuters reporter in the capital Harare said. However, results announced so far by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission showed ZANU-PF winning 38 parliamentary constituencies and the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) winning 32, out of a total of 210 single-member constituencies. The early results showed ZANU-PF retaining its rural base, while the CCC captured the urban vote, as has been the case in previous elections. In the highest-profile loss yet for the ruling party, the electoral commission said on Friday that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube had lost his parliamentary contest to a CCC challenger. Mnangagwa took over from longtime strongman Robert Mugabe after a 2017 coup and won a disputed election in 2018.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa's, Nelson Chamisa, Patrick Chinamasa, Mthuli Ncube, PF's Chinamasa, Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Banya, Bhargav Acharya, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Philimon, Rights, Emmerson Mnangagwa's ZANU, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Police, ZANU, National Assembly, Commission, Coalition, PF, CCC, Thomson Locations: Harare, Zimbabwe, Philimon Bulawayo, Rights HARARE

But analysts warned it was unlikely the ruling ZANU-PF party would allow any loosening of its 43-year grip on power. Fewer than 10 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had results on Thursday, making it too early to identify any national trend. Results in the presidential race were not expected for another day or two but before a five-day deadline. "The equipment was being used to unlawfully tabulate election voting statistics and results from polling stations throughout the country," police spokesman Paul Nyathi said in a statement. The police named some of the organisations targeted as the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Election Resource Centre and Team Pachedu - all well-known civil society groups that had said they were monitoring the vote in the interests of democracy.

Persons: Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa's, Paul Nyathi, Eldred Masungure, Estelle Shirbon, Angus MacSwan, Miral Organizations: Police, Citizens Coalition, ZANU, PF, Bank, International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe Election Support, Centre, Pachedu, University of Zimbabwe, Thomson Locations: Zimbabwe, HARARE, Harare

☆ What a Few Seconds of Hand Raising Said About Trump’s G.O.P.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | More About Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vivek Ramaswamy, the candidate who has clung closest to the front-runner, immediately raised his hand in the affirmative. He was followed quickly by Nikki Haley, who served as Mr. Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations; Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who helped Mr. Trump weather accusations of racism; and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, once seen as the most formidable challenger to Mr. Trump, looked to his left, looked to his right and then raised his hand — after the four others had done so. Mike Pence, Mr. Trump’s vice president, then lifted his, clearly reluctantly. Another Trump critic, Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, kept his hands locked at his sides.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott of, Doug Burgum, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Mike Pence, Trump’s, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson Organizations: Gov, Trump Locations: Milwaukee, United Nations, Tim Scott of South Carolina, North Dakota, Florida, New Jersey, Arkansas

☆ Who Won the Debate? Political Observers Weigh In.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Michael Gold | More About Michael Gold | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The first Republican debate on Wednesday night offered political pundits a bit of a thought experiment: If the clear front-runner doesn’t take part, can the debate have a clear winner? Still, some pundits said that Mr. Trump’s absence did offer candidates the chance to differentiate themselves, an opportunity they may not have had if he had participated. And the battle to become Mr. Trump’s top challenger, some said, is more hazy. Ron DeSantis of Florida in some ways entered Wednesday’s debate with the most to prove and the most to lose. While he has long been viewed as Mr. Trump’s strongest potential challenger, his campaign has stumbled in recent weeks amid fund-raising trouble and staffing changes.

Persons: doesn’t, Donald J, Trump, Trump’s, Ron DeSantis Gov, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Republican Locations: Florida

☆ Magnus Carlsen defeats Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa to become Chess World Cup champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Magnus Carlsen defeated Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in a tiebreak to become Chess World Cup champion on Thursday. The Norwegian grandmaster has now won every major individual classical chess tournament and, as Chess.com puts it, “completes chess” with his victory in Baku, Azerbaijan. In said tiebreak – which took the format of a two-game rapid match – Carlsen showed why he is the reigning World Rapid Champion and world No. For Pragg, the World Cup was somewhat of a breakthrough onto the top table of the sport. Ding’s victory ended the reign of five-time champion Carlsen, who had decided not to defend his title earlier this year.

Persons: CNN — Magnus Carlsen, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, “, ” It’s, – Carlsen, outmaneuvering, Pavel Mikheyev, Pragg –, –, Ding Liren Organizations: CNN, Rapid, Reuters Locations: Norwegian, Baku, Azerbaijan, China

☆ In Trump's absence, DeSantis seen as 'punching bag' in first Republican debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis listens to a question from the audience at a campaign town hall meeting in Newport, New Hampshire, U.S., August 19, 2023. In Trump's absence, candidates are expected to launch a fusillade of attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as competitors try to displace him as Trump's top challenger, according to strategists and aides to rival campaigns. DeSantis is seen as vulnerable after a summer slide in the polls, which have left him languishing more than 30 points behind Trump in the race. "He's going to be a punching bag," said Brian Darling, a Republican strategist and former senior aide to U.S. Still, Trump's no-show doesn't mean he won't be a major presence in the debate, which kicks off at the Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Brian Snyder, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Tucker Carlson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Brian Darling, Rand Paul, Martha MacCallum, Bret Baier, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Jeanette Hoffman, He's, Hoffman, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Doug Burgum, Hutchinson, Pence, Ramaswamy, Christie, Christopher Wlezien, Wlezien, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Susan Heavey, Ross Colvin, Deepa Babington, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Republican, Florida, REUTERS, Democratic, Fox News, Florida Governor, Trump, Former New Jersey, Former Arkansas, U.S . Capitol, North Dakota, Reuters, University of Texas, Austin, Thomson Locations: Newport , New Hampshire, U.S, Milwaukee, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Former, Christie

☆ ATP to trial minimum wage initiative from 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 23 (Reuters) - The ATP will guarantee its players a minimum wage for the first time as part of a three-year trial to be launched in 2024, the governing body of men's tennis said. The "Baseline" programme will guarantee minimum income for the top 250-ranked singles players each season, with the ATP covering any shortfall should their earnings fall below the threshold. The ATP said it expected to provide financial support to between 30-45 players who meet the criteria. The ATP said it will also commit to supporting players who compete in fewer than nine ATP Tour and Challenger Tour events in a season due to injury. The thresholds for the injury protection initiative are set at $200,000 (top 100), $100,000 (101-175) and $50,000 (176-250) for 2024, it added.

Persons: Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andrea Gaudenzi, Gaudenzi, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: ATP, 101st, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

It is the second contest between the two after Mnangagwa won a closely contested poll in 2018, which the opposition allege was rigged. Some 6.6 million people are registered to vote in the nation of about 15 million. LITTLE CHANGE SINCE MUGABE ERAPolitical analysts say Zimbabwe's unending economic maelstrom could tip the contest in favour of the opposition if the election is clean. We will not accept a rigged vote," Chamisa said at his last campaign rally on Monday. If there is no outright winner, a run-off between the top two candidates will be held on Oct. 2.

Persons: Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe, Nelson Chamisa, Chamisa, Olivia Kumwenda, Estelle Shirbon, Giles Elgood Organizations: World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Citizens Coalition, MUGABE, PF, Risk Consulting, ZANU, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Parliamentary, Thomson Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, Shurugwi, Harare

☆ Esmark scraps bid for U.S. Steel
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Steel workers at U.S. Steel Granite City Works in Granite City, Illinois, U.S., May 24, 2018. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - Privately held steel company Esmark said on Wednesday it would not participate in the purchase process for U.S. Steel Corp (X.N) and respect the position of the United Steel Workers (USW) union, which is supporting Cleveland-Cliffs' (CLF.N) offer. Last week, Esmark made an offer to buy U.S. Steel for $35 per share, or an equity value of $7.8 billion. Esmark's exit leaves Arcelor-Mittal (MT.LU) as the only known potential challenger to Cleveland-Cliffs, which went public with its bid for U.S. Steel earlier in August. However, U.S. Steel last week said its labor agreement with USW does not afford the union the right to veto a sale of the company.

Persons: Lawrence Bryant, Esmark, ”, Jim Bouchard, Pratyush Thakur, Maju Samuel Organizations: U.S . Steel, U.S . Steel Granite City, REUTERS, . Steel Corp, United Steel Workers, Steel, U.S, USW, Thomson Locations: U.S . Steel Granite, Granite City , Illinois, U.S, Cleveland, Bengaluru

Eight candidates will appear onstage for the first Republican debate on Wednesday. Many far more politically experienced contenders have met their end under the bright lights of the debate stage. How Republican voters respond will offer some early clues into the ideological future of the party, particularly in a post-Trump era. He participated in eight face-offs during the 2016 campaign and helped coach Mr. Trump for his presidential debates in 2020. The debate offers Mr. Christie an opportunity to take aim at those aligned with Trumpism, even if they are opposed to Mr. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Mitt Romney, gantlet, ”, Newt Gingrich, “ Donald Trump, —, Tucker Carlson, Ron DeSantis, Jordan Gale, Donald Trump, ” Mr, DeSantis, Trump’s, parry, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Pence, Mike Pence’s, AJ Mast, Mike Pence, Ramaswamy, Vivek Ramaswamy’s, MAGA, Victoria Coates, Roe, Wade, Tim Scott of, Christie, Scott, Nikki Haley, Will Christie, David Degner, Coke, New Coke, “ Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Haley, Doug Burgum, Maddie McGarvey, Burgum, Asa Hutchinson, “ We’re Organizations: Republican, Trump, Fox News, Fair, The New York Times, Wednesday, Fox News Radio, PAC, Ukraine, Harvard, Russia, Democratic, Republicans, United Nations, Mr, Credit, The New York, Gov Locations: Atlanta, Florida, Ukraine, Tim Scott of South Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, South Carolina, U.N, Iowa, North Dakota, Arkansas

☆ Brazil's Lula in favor of Argentina joining BRICS bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAO PAULO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he wanted Argentina to join the BRICS group of emerging countries, as Brazil's neighbor struggles with a lack of foreign reserves. "It is very important for Argentina to be in BRICS," Lula said in a live broadcast on social media as he attends the bloc's summit in South Africa. Argentina, whose largest trade partner is Brazil, has previously said it intended to join the BRICS bloc. Lula also said he was in favor of other countries joining the alliance, mentioning Indonesia as a potential new member. "We do not want to be a counterpoint to the G7, G20 or the United States," Lula said.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Javier Milei, Ian Bremmer, Gabriel Araujo, Kylie Madry, Mark Potter Organizations: SAO PAULO, International Monetary Fund, South, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Argentina, BRICS, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia, Babel, Eurasia, Saudi Arabia, United States

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