DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

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

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

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

☆ Netherlands vs. South Africa: How to watch Women’s World Cup last-16 tie
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Netherlands and South Africa will face each other on Saturday for a place in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, in what will be a historic occasion as Banyana Banyana’s first ever knockout stage match at the World Cup. It has already been a historic tournament for South Africa as a dramatic winner from captain Thembi Kgatlana in stoppage time secured a 3-2 victory over Italy, her team’s first ever victory at this tournament. Although the Netherlands will start the match as the favorite, this World Cup has been anything but predictable, filled with upsets and shock results. A place in the quarterfinals at stakeThe two teams last met in April 2022 when the Netherlands defeated South Africa 5-1. “From the beginning of our preparations, we were quite convinced we can beat every opponent in this tournament,” Netherlands coach Andries Jonker told FIFA.

Persons: Banyana Banyana’s, Thembi Kgatlana, Banyana Banyana, Andries Jonker, Alessandra Tarantino, Vivianne Miedema, “ It’s, Bambanani Mbane Organizations: CNN, Fox, Fox Sports, Telemundo, Peacock, Seven Network, Optus Sport, BBC, ITV, FIFA, South, Sweden, ”, Italy, US, Portugal, USA Locations: Netherlands, South Africa, Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, ” Netherlands, United States, Africa, Vietnam, Spain

☆ Spain thrashes Switzerland at Women’s World Cup despite bizarre own goal, while Japan beats Norway
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Women’s World Cup 2023: Live scores, fixtures, results, tables and top scorersCNN —Spain overcame a bizarre long-range own goal to thrash Switzerland 5-1 and advance to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, while Japan continued to impress in a 3-1 victory over Norway. Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s own goal gave Japan a well-deserved lead early on before Norway equalized soon after through Guro Reiten’s header. On paper, Norway – a team with world-class talent – looked a tricky opponent but Japan was comfortably the better side throughout. Alessandra Tarantino/APAda Hegerberg came on as a substitute in an attempt to provide Norway with some attacking thrust – but the Norwegians struggled to break down an organized Japan team. Even when it created a good opening, it found Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita in inspired form as she somehow clawed away Karina Sævik’s powerful header in the game’s dying moments.

Persons: CNN —, Laia Codina’s, Bonmatí, Ingrid Syrstad Engen’s, Risa Shimizu’s, Hinata Miyazawa, Japan's, Amanda Perobelli, –, Codina’s, Codina, Cata Coll, Saeed Khan, Gaëlle Thalmann, Redondo, bamboozling, Jennifer Hermoso, Aurora Mikalsen, – Shimizu, Vilde Bøe Risa, old’s, Miyazawa’s, Alessandra Tarantino, Ada Hegerberg, Ayaka Yamashita, Karina Sævik’s Organizations: CNN, Japan, Norway, New Zealand –, Roja, Switzerland, Getty, Alba Redondo, Norway –, Aurora Locations: CNN — Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Spain, Wellington, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Melbourne, Eden, New Zealand, AFP, Reiten’s

☆ West African bloc seeks solution to Niger coup as deadline nears
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Thousands of anti-sanctions protestors gather in support of the putschist soldiers in the capital Niamey, Niger August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou HamidouNIAMEY, Aug 4 (Reuters) - West African defence chiefs were set to wrap up discussions about possible intervention in Niger on Friday, as mediators from the regional bloc push coup leaders in Niamey to restore constitutional order before an approaching deadline. The military junta in Niger is locked in a standoff with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has taken its hardest stance yet on last week's ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum - the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. Niger's self-declared leader Abdourahamane Tiani has rejected the sanctions and said the junta will not back down against any threats. Later on Friday, the region's defence chiefs will officially end a multi-day meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja about a possible military response that they have said would be a last resort.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiani, Alessandra Prentice, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mahamadou, NIAMEY, West, Central Africa, France, juntas, Mali, Burkina Faso, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Nigerien, Nigerian, Abuja

☆ Factbox: Military interventions by West African ECOWAS bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has imposed sanctions and said it could authorise the use of force as a last resort if soldiers do not restore ousted president Mohammed Bazoum to power. Below are previous ECOWAS military interventions:LIBERIAIn 1990, West African leaders sent a neutral military force to Liberia to intervene in the civil war between the forces of President Samuel Doe and two rebel factions. West African forces were deployed again at the tail end of the brutal 14-year conflict, which finished in 2003. GUINEA-BISSAUIn 1999, ECOWAS sent around 600 ECOMOG troops to preserve a peace deal in coup-prone Guinea-Bissau. In 2004, they were integrated into a U.N. peacekeeping force.

Persons: Abdourahmane Tiani, Balima, Mohammed Bazoum, Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, Yahya Jammeh, Adama Barrow, Anait Miridzhanian, Alessandra Prentice, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, West, ECOWAS Monitoring, Human Rights Watch, Bissau . Rebels, Islamic, Restore, Thomson Locations: Niger, Niamey, LIBERIA, Liberia, SIERRA LEONE, Nigerian, Sierra, Freetown, GUINEA, BISSAU, Guinea, Bissau, IVORY, Ivory Coast, MALI, Mali, al Qaeda, Central, Northern Mali, Islamic State, Burkina Faso, GAMBIA, Gambia, Senegal

It has taken its hardest line yet with Niger, saying it had to show that it "cannot only bark but can bite". One of the demonstrators in Niamey held a placard that said: "Long live Niger, Russia, Mali and Burkina. France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, helping to fight an Islamist insurgency that has spread across the region. INTERVENTION PLANWest African defence chiefs meeting in Nigeria were due to conclude their discussions about possible intervention in Niger, although they have said this would be a last resort. The goal of the two-day meeting was to draw up a plan for an eventual military intervention to restore constitutional order, according to a statement from Ivory Coast's National Security Council.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Ivory, Salifou Mody, Joe Biden, Nigeriens, Camillus Eboh, Thiam Ndiaga, Tiemoko Diallo, Ange Aboa, Alessandra Prentice, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Nick Macfie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, West, Economic, West African States, EU, Reuters, Ivory Coast's National Security Council, ECOWAS, juntas, Nigerien, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West, Central Africa, Russia, Burkina, Down, France, Nigeria, Nigerian, West Africa, Guinea, Bissau, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Paris

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

☆ Niger junta says it will not back down despite 'inhumane' sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Camillus Eboh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

In a televised address, Abdourahamane Tiani said the junta "rejects these sanctions altogether and refuses to give into any threats, wherever they come from. Nigeria cut power supplies to Niger, a Niger state utility document showed on Wednesday, while truckers in Niamey were stranded by border closures - early signs of fallout from the bloc's sweeping sanctions that Tiani described as "illegal, unjust, and inhumane." "The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications," said General Christopher Musa, Nigeria's Chief of Defence and Chairman of the ECOWAS Defence Chiefs. In a further sign of the mounting pressure on the junta, the World Bank on Wednesday suspended disbursements to Niger until further notice. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Abdel, Fatau Musah, Christopher Musa, James, Bola Tinubu, Annalena Baerbock, Camillus Eboh, Felix Onuah, Christophe Van Der Perre, Ingrid Melander, Nellie Peyton, Alessandra Prentice, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Grant McCool Organizations: Islamists, West African, West African States, ECOWAS, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Defence, ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, REUTERS, British, World Bank, European Union, Islamic, Union, Thomson Locations: Niger, Abuja Niger, Islamists Mali, Burkina Faso, NIAMEY, ABUJA, West Africa, Mali, Guinea, Bissau, Nigerian, Abuja, Nigeria, Niamey, Nigeria's, Nigerien, disbursements, States, France, Italy, Paris, Rome, United States, Germany, al Qaeda, Islamic State

☆ How to watch Australia, Canada and Nigeria battle for Wwomen's World Cup knockout phase spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Norway celebrates scoring in its 6-0 victory against the Philippines on Sunday. Aisha Schulz/AP Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt, center, heads the ball to score the opening goal against Italy on July 29. John Cowpland/AP Italy's fans cheer before their team's match against Sweden at Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand. John Cowpland/AP China's Wang Shuang celebrates after scoring against Haiti during a Women's World Cup match on Friday, July 28. John Cowpland/AP US forward Alex Morgan is surrounded by Vietnam defenders during their opening match on July 22.

Persons: Colombia's Manuela Vanegas, Franck Fife, Alexandra Popp, Ulrik Pedersen, Manuela Vanegas, Sajad, Jaimi Joy, Reuters Linda Caicedo, Phil Walter, Getty, Dominique Randle, Hannah Peters, Hali, Rafaela Pontes, Olivia McDaniel, Norway's Caroline Graham Hansen, Abbie Parr, Sophie Roman Haug of, Jessika Cowart, Buda Mendes, Ali Riley, Katie Bowen, Molly Darlington, Julia Stierli, Alessandra Tarantino, Ramona Bachmann, Sanka Vidanagama, James Elsby, Benzina, Edina Alves Batista, Hannah Mckay, Brenton Edwards, Panama's Aldrith Quintero, Jamaica's Deneisha Blackwood, Kameron Simmonds, Luisa Gonzalez, Allyson Swaby, Herve Renard, Wendie Renard, Debinha, Katie Tucker, Aisha Schulz, Amanda Ilestedt, John Cowpland, Rebecka Blomqvist, Wang Shuang, Maddie Meyer, Dumornay, China's Dou Jiaxing, Alex Pantling, Chloe Kelly, Carl Recine, Mary Earps, Andy Cheung, Janni Thomsen, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, Justin Setterfield, Keira Walsh, Walsh, Argentina's Mariana Larroquette, Yamila Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Matthew Lewis, Linda Motlhalo, Lars Baron, Osinachi Ohale, Bradley Kanaris, Dan Peled, Anthony Albanese, Matt Roberts, Jéssica Silva, Vietnam's, Saeed Khan, Fiona Goodall, Daphne van Domselaar, Julie Ertz, Brad Smith, Andrew Cornaga, Lindsey Horan, Joe Prior, Catherine Ivill, Amanda Perobelli, Canada's Vanessa Gilles, Ireland's Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Murty, Katie McCabe applauds, Paul Kane, Kailen Sheridan, McCabe, Stephen McCarthy, Adriana Leon, Colin Murty, Jennifer Hermoso, David Rowland, Reuters Hermoso, Spain's Alexia Putellas, Mary Wilombe, Naomoto, Japan's Mina Tanaka, Daniela Solera, Sarina Bolden, Bolden's, Hannah Wilkinson, Bolden, Victoria Esson, Katelyn Mulcahy, Hagen Hopkins, Catalina Usme, Korea's Cho, Colombia's Jorelyn, Carolina Arias, Cameron Spencer, Reuters Usme, Kim Hye, Rebecca Welch, David Gray, Brazil's Marta, Matt Turner, Borges, Khadija Er, Victoria Adkins, Germany's Alexandra Popp, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Morocco's Fatima Tagnaout, Hamish Blair, Cristiana Girelli, Kim Price, Francesca Durante, German Portanova, Reuters Italy's Giulia Dragoni, Estefania Banini, Dragoni, Grace Geyoro, Mark Baker, Rebecca Spencer, Robert Cianflone, Bunny, Shaw, Estelle Cascarino, Portugal's Ines Pereira, Stefanie van der, Van der Gragt, Portugal's Jessica Silva, Silva, Joe Allison, Magaia, Sweden's Elin Rubensson, Amalie Vangsgaard's, Zhang Linyan, Denmark's Pernille Harder, Gary Day, Shui, Reuters England's Alessia Russo, Haiti's Tabita Joseph, England's Lionesses, Reuters Nicolas Delépine, Kerly Theus, Zac Goodwin, Jun Endo, Zambia's Agnes Musase, Reuters Aoba, Catherine Musonda, Alex Morgan, Carmen Mandato, Megan Rapinoe, Horan, Trần Thị Kim Thanh, Sophia Smith dribbles, Ane, Esther González, Costa, Costa Rica's Mariana Benavides, Katrina Guillou, Switzerland's Gaëlle Thalmann, William West, Uchenna Kanu, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Canada's Christine Sinclair, Steph Catley, Heather Payne, Australia's Kyra Cooney, Mackenzie Arnold, Ria Percival, Ada Hegerberg, Jan Kruger, Zealand's CJ Bott, Norway's Mathilde Harviken vie, Jose Breton, Benee, Ireland's, Niamh Fahey, Vanessa Gilles, Coliin Murty, Sam Kerr, Kerr, Tony Gustavsson, Christine Sinclair, Ireland, Spain –, Japan's Hikaru Naomoto Organizations: CNN, Germany, Getty, Colombia, Reuters, Norway, Sunday, FIFA, AP, New Zealand, South, Jamaica, Brazil, France, Italy, Sweden, Wellington Regional, Haiti, China, Denmark, England, Argentina, Nigeria, Australia, Canada, Reuters Australian, Vietnam, Portugal, USSF, Ireland, Spain, Eden, Costa, Forsyth, AP Costa, Japan, New, Victoria, Panama, Morocco, Cristiana, Atlanta Primus, Zambia, Zambian, Costa Rica's, Getty Images, Zealand, AP Norway, Nations, FOX Sports, Telemundo, Seven Network, Optus Sport, BBC, ITV, Republic of Ireland, Super Falcons, coy Locations: Japan, Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Australia, Canada, Nigeria, AFP, Colombia, Philippines, AP Philippines, Sophie Roman Haug of Norway, New, Reuters, Morocco, South Korea, Perth, Reuters Jamaica, Brisbane, New Zealand, Reuters England, Reuters Argentina, Argentina, South Africa, Ireland, Portugal, Vietnam, United States, Netherlands, Wellington , New Zealand, Auckland , New Zealand, Costa Rican, Dunedin , New Zealand, AP Costa Rican, Reuters Switzerland, Norway, Switzerland, Sydney, Reuters Colombia, Panama, Adelaide, Germany, AP Argentina, German, Italy, Atlanta, Africa, China, European, Reuters England's Georgia, Ane Frosaker, Eurasia, Melbourne, Reuters Norway, Zealand, Eden, United Kingdom, Republic of, Republic of Ireland, Wellington

☆ Women’s World Cup: Which teams are through? Which are out? Which can still qualify?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —With some Women’s World Cup groups balancing on a knife edge, working out which team needs to get what result to still qualify can be a tricky process. Group ANorway vs. the Philippines, Switzerland vs. New ZealandPhilippines' Sarina Bolden celebrates after scoring the winning goal over New Zealand. The pressure is on New Zealand to avoid an unwanted piece of history by becoming the first host nation to go out of the group stages of a Women’s World Cup. The Norwegians need to win and hope either Switzerland or New Zealand win and they themselves earn a three-goal swing over Switzerland or New Zealand. Group FJamaica vs. Brazil, Panama vs. FranceJamaica earned the country's first ever Women's World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Panama.

Persons: Sarina Bolden, Amanda Perobelli, Bradley Kanaris, Alessandra Tarantino, Lauren James, Justin Setterfield, Kim Price, Luisa Gonzalez, John Cowpland Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, New, Reuters, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria Nigeria, Getty, Nigeria, C, C Costa Rica, Spain, AP Japan, China, England, Haiti, Portugal, US Women’s National, Jamaica, France Jamaica, Panama, Brazil, France, G Argentina, Italy Sweden, Italy, Argentina, Sweden Locations: Norway, Philippines, Switzerland, New Zealand Philippines, New Zealand, Zealand, Swiss, New, Australia, Republic, Nigeria, Canada, Republic of Ireland, C Costa, Zambia, Japan, Spain Japan, Costa Rica, Spain, England, Haiti, Denmark, China, United States, Vietnam, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Panama, Reuters France, Jamaica, Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina

When the French interior designer Camille Vergnes throws a dinner party in Paris, she opts for unfussy white table linens and white plates. This allows her Art Deco-style set of serving spoons, salad servers and carving knives, all with almond green shagreen handles, to take center stage. “I use [the serving set] as the key piece of the table along with the flowers or candleholders,” she says. Vergnes’s approach reflects a shift in focus when it comes to tableware, away from handblown glassware and patterned napkins to sculptural utensils. - Host Gift Guide: What T’s editors and contributors are bringing to thank their hosts this summer, including surreal serving spoons and cozy quilts.

Persons: Camille Vergnes, ”, Olga Bonne, Alessandra Williams, Frank Traynor, Ben Bodman, Yann Nury Organizations: Fair Trade, Bodman, Credit Locations: French, Paris, Copenhagen, Danish, Brighton, British, Zimbabwe, Nairobi, United States, Melksham, Wiltshire, England, Ibiza, Long, Amsterdam

☆ Women’s World Cup: Sweden Rallies Past South Africa; the Netherlands Gets Started
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Andrew Das | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Women’s World Cup: Sweden Rallies Past South Africa; the Netherlands Gets Started Sunday’s schedule includes three of the tournament favorites. Give this articleNetherlands v. Portugal Molly Darlington/Reuters Netherlands v. Portugal Molly Darlington/Reuters Netherlands fans Lars Baron/Getty Images Sweden v. South Africa Amanda Perobelli/Reuters Sweden v. South Africa Andrew Cornaga/Associated Press Sweden v. South Africa Amanda Perobelli/Reuters Sweden v. South Africa Andrew Cornaga/Associated Press Sweden v. South Africa Andrew Cornaga/Associated Press Sweden v. South Africa Andrew Cornaga/Associated Press Wellington, New Zealand Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Team France Carl Recine/Reuters Published July 23, 2023 Updated July 23, 2023 1 Netherlands Group E 0 Portugal 2 Sweden Group G Full Time 1 South Africa Fridolina Rolfo (65’) Amanda Ilestedt (90’) Hildah Magaia (48’) – France Group F – JamaicaSweden survives a scare against South Africa. Much was made before the World Cup of the potential gap between the eight first-time entrants and the traditional powers. Credit... Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press The Netherlands, Sweden and France are the teams to watch on Sunday, the fourth day of the Women’s World Cup. But if his pedigree coaching women is thin, his World Cup pedigree is long: Most recently, he coached Saudi Arabia in the men’s World Cup in December, a run that included a famous win over Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Persons: Molly Darlington, Lars Baron, Africa Amanda Perobelli, Africa Andrew Cornaga, New Zealand Catherine Ivill, Carl Recine, Africa Fridolina, Amanda Ilestedt, Hildah Magaia, John Cowpland, Fridolina Rolfo, Alessandra Tarantino, Corinne Diacre, Hervé Renard, Lionel Messi, Sophia Smith, Crystal Dunn, Andrew Cornaga, Sophia Smith’s, Smith, Katie Meyer, Meyer, “, Katie, ” Smith, Naomi Girma, Girma, Katie ❤️ pic.twitter.com, AoGLUcxeMU — Naomi Girma, ” Organizations: Reuters, Getty, Associated Press, Team, –, Jamaica, Credit, Canada, England, Haiti, United, Vietnam, Sunday, Sweden, South, U.S, Portugal, Tokyo, Wellington , New Zealand, that’s, Saudi Arabia, Stanford, U.S . Locations: Africa, Netherlands, U.S, Reuters Netherlands, Sweden, Reuters Sweden, Associated Press Sweden, Associated Press Wellington, New Zealand, Portugal, Jamaica Sweden, South Africa, United States, France, Wellington , New, that’s Portugal, Saudi, Argentina, Germany, Australia, Jamaica, Credit, States, Vietnam

☆ Women’s World Cup: Canada Ties Nigeria, but Laments Missed Penalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Andrew Das | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

Women’s World Cup: Canada Ties Nigeria, but Laments Missed Penalty Switzerland beat the Philippines, which was making its World Cup debut. Credit... Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Not much of what led to this World Cup has gone the way Canada’s women’s team might have wanted. What he and Horan do know, however, is that the world of women’s soccer has changed since the United States thumped Thailand, 13-0, at the last World Cup. The first two World Cup debutantes to take the field, Ireland and the Philippines, both lost, but in close games. injuries are keeping some big stars off the Women’s World Cup stage.

Persons: Alessandra Tarantino, Costa Rica Catherine Ivill, Wellington , New Zealand Catherine Ivill, Morgan Hancock, Nigeria Izhar, Hannah Mckay, Philippines Lars Baron, Abbie Parr, Associated Press Team England Dan Peled, Reuters Team Denmark Luisa Gonzalez, Reuters Manhattan Michael M, del Campo, Aitana Bonmati, Esther Gonzalez, Switzerland Ramona Bachmann, Seraina Piubel, Canada’s Julia Grosso, Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie, Robert Cianflone, Asisat Oshoala, Christine Sinclair, Deborah Ajibola Abiodun, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Sinclair, Bev Priestman, “ Christine Sinclair, ” Priestman, Sam Kerr, Ramona Bachmann, Sanka, A.R., e Parr, Amer, “it, tol, conn, abou, S., ike, orr, C., Viv Organizations: Canada Ties Nigeria, Associated Press, Getty, Canada, Shutterstock Canada, Agence France, Reuters, U.S.A, Associated Press Team England, Reuters Team Denmark, Reuters Manhattan, Credit, Barcelona, Ireland, emi, erc Locations: Philippines, Spain, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Associated Press Spain, Wellington , New Zealand, Nigeria, Nigeria Izhar Khan, Reuters Switzerland, Costa, Canada Canada, Australia, Melbourne, Canada, Norway, Ireland, nsw, hol

☆ Central African Republic says Wagner troop movement is rotation not departure
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Judicael Yongo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BANGUI, July 8 (Reuters) - The departure of hundreds of Russian Wagner troops from Central African Republic is part of a rotation of forces rather a withdrawal, a spokesperson for the CAR presidency said on Saturday. But CAR presidential spokesperson Albert Yaloke Mokpem said "it is not a definitive departure but a rotation." Several hundred Wagner troops have recently left the country, a military source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity and without giving further details. Any restructuring of Wagner operations in CAR could have substantial commercial ramifications. Analysts have said Wagner received logging rights and control of a gold mine in CAR.

Persons: Russian Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, insurgencies, Albert Yaloke Mokpem, Alessandra Prentice, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Central African, CAR, Thomson Locations: BANGUI, Russian, Central African Republic, Russia, Africa, Bangui, States, UAE

☆ Sierra Leone's main opposition party demands rerun of general election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Umaru Fofana | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FREETOWN, July 1 (Reuters) - Sierra Leone's main opposition party said it had decided to formally reject the results of the national election won by President Julius Maada Bio, citing "glaring irregularities", and called for a rerun of the June 24 poll. Bio was re-elected for a second term with 56% of the vote, narrowly avoiding a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara of the opposition All People's Congress (APC). But Kamara has questioned the official tally, while European election observers noted statistical inconsistencies. In its first official statement on the full results, the APC said on Friday it rejected the outcome "given the glaring irregularities and violations of established electoral procedures." "A rerun after an official declaration of results and a swearing-in ceremony is unconstitutional," he said by phone to Reuters.

Persons: Julius Maada, Samura Kamara, Kamara, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Swaray, Alessandra Prentice, David Holmes Organizations: People's Congress, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, United States, Britain, Ireland, Germany, France

☆ Sierra Leone ruling party wins 60% of parliamentary seats in contested vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Umaru Fofana | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FREETOWN, July 1 (Reuters) - The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party has won 60% of the seats in a parliamentary election, the election commission said on Saturday, as the main opposition party demanded a rerun of the vote that also saw President Julius Maada Bio win a second term. The SLPP won 81 seats while the opposition All People’s Congress won 54, according to the results read by the commission's chairman Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. The results showed the ruling party made significant gains in the bellwether diamond-rich district of Kono, winning seven of the 10 seats where they had none previously. They also made gains in the opposition heartland of the north and west, especially in the capital Freetown. The APC also said it would refuse to participate in any form of governance as a result of the alleged election irregularities.

Persons: Julius Maada, SLPP, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, Alessandra Prentice, Louise Heavens Organizations: Sierra Leone People’s Party, People’s, Thomson Locations: FREETOWN, Sierra, Kono, Freetown

Mali, where military authorities seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, is battling a years-long Islamist insurgency. It has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia. In February, French President Emmanuel Macron described the deployment of Wagner Group troops in Africa as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa" that will only sow misery. A suspension of Wagner operations in Africa could impact the group's finances. The group has cemented strong ties with several African governments over the past decade with operations in at least eight African nations, according to leaked U.S. documents, including Mali, Central African Republic, and Libya.

Persons: Wagner, Stringer, Bassirou Doumbia, Wagner's, Vladimir, Putin, Yvan Guichaoua, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Edward McAllister, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prentice, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Southern Military District, REUTERS, Central African Republic, Kremlin, United Nations, Brussels School of International Studies, Central African, Wagner Group, West, United, Thomson Locations: Rostov, Don, Russia, Mali, Central, Africa, BAMAKO, BANGUI, Moscow, Malian, Russian, Central African Republic, Francophone Africa, France, United States, Ukraine, Libya

[1/6] Ballots are displayed at a polling station, after polls closed, on the day of the national election, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, June 24, 2023. The race is expected to be close between the incumbent and the All People's Congress' (APC) Samura Kamara, who narrowly lost to Bio in the last election in 2018. The main opposition APC also said their election representatives were attacked and intimidated in three districts, highlighting the tense backdrop to the vote. Inflation soared to its highest level in over 20 years in 2022, while the national Leone currency slumped 60% in value. Bio and Kamara reported small-scale attacks on their supporters ahead of election day, while the APC's recent questioning of the independence of election officials has raised tensions.

Persons: Cooper Inveen, Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio's, Samura Kamara, Abu Koroma, We've, Kandeh Yumkella, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Kamara, Alessandra Prentice, Angus MacSwan, Ros Russell, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Provisional, APC, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Freetown, Sierra Leone, FREETOWN, Sierra, Leone, Ukraine

BAMAKO, June 18 (Reuters) - Malians will vote on Sunday in a referendum on changing the constitution that the ruling military junta and regional powers have said will pave the way to elections and a return to civilian rule. "Now is the time to confirm our commitment to the new Mali," he added, wearing his trademark beret and military fatigues. They also say the proposed constitution hands excessive authority to the president including over the legislative process. "I am for a revision of the constitution but not this referendum. Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Assimi Goita, Fousseini Ag Yehia, Alessandra Prentice, Andrew Heavens Organizations: West African, ECOWAS, Nations, West African Economic, Monetary Union, Thomson Locations: BAMAKO, Mali, Bamako, Saturday

☆ Gannett tiptoes into generative AI, giving humans the last word
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Helen Coster | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Their caution follows well-publicized generative AI gaffes at media outlets including CNET and Men’s Journal. Generative AI is a sticking point in some negotiations with the company, the union said. Other news outlets are approaching generative AI with varying levels of commitment and caution. Bloomberg, which competes with Reuters, is developing its own generative AI model, BloombergGPT, which it trained on financial data. The New York Times, Washington Post and Bloomberg declined to provide additional comment on their plans.

Persons: Larry Downing, Renn Turiano, Turiano, ”, We’re, Paul Bascobert, Nicholas Diakopoulos, Ilana Keller, Gannett, Alessandra Galloni, Miranda Marcus, Marcus, “, we’re Organizations: YORK, Gannett, Gannett Co, USA, Gannett Co's, U.S, Reuters, ” Gannett, Northwestern University, CNET, Men’s, USA Today, Journalists, Asbury Park Press, Microsoft, USA Today’s, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, BBC News Labs Locations: McLean , Virginia, New Jersey, USA, Washington

☆ Mali asks United Nations to withdraw peacekeeping force
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, June 16 (Reuters) - Mali's interim military authorities on Friday asked for a United Nations peacekeeping force to leave "without delay", citing a "crisis of confidence" between Malian authorities and the decade-long U.N. mission known as MINUSMA. MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability. "This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA," he said. Security Council members must adopt a resolution to extend MINUSMA's mandate by June 30. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended this month that the Security Council extend MINUSMA's mandate for a year, maintaining the current authorized strength of some 15,000 troops and police.

Persons: MINUSMA, Abdoulaye Diop, Wagner, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Nicolas de Riviere, de Riviere, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Michelle Nichols, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prenticel, Frank Jack Daniel, Grant McCool Organizations: YORK, United Nations, West, . Security, Foreign, Security, UN, Thomson Locations: France, MINUSMA, Russia, China, United States, Britain, Mali, al Qaeda, State, Sahel, El

☆ Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's former showman leader, dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Valentina Di Donato Barbie Latza Nadeau Laura Smith-Spark Peter Wilkinson Antonia Mortensen Rob Picheta | Valentina Di Donato | Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Umberto Cicconi/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Berlusconi swims at a Tunisian beach in 1984. Umberto Cicconi/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Berlusconi leaves a 1985 news conference in Paris. Franco Origlia/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Berlusconi announced in November 1993 that he would be entering the world of politics. Franco Origlia/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Berlusconi waves while attending a European Council meeting in Corfu, Greece, in June 1994. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Berlusconi hands the Berlusconi Trophy to AC Milan's Massimo Ambrosini in August 2011.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Silvio Berlusconi, Christ, ”, Berlusconi, Milan’s, Benito Mussolini, “ Il Cavaliere ”, Milan, Giorgia Meloni, Matteo Salvini, Silvio Berlusconi, Alessandra Benedetti, Eric Vandeville, Indro Montanelli, Umberto Cicconi, Italy's, Michel Clement, Francis Apesteguy, Veronica Lario, Franco Origlia, Langevin Jacques, Sygma, Cesare Previti, Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Veronica, William Stevens, Barbara, Eleonora, Oscar Scalfaro, Patrick Hertzog, Romano Prodi, Alberto Pizzoli, Giuseppe Cacace, Gregorio Borgia, Associated Press Berlusconi, Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Massimo Ambrosini, Claudio Villa, Dan Kitwood, preliminarily, Filippo Monteforte, Alessia Pierdomenico, Remo Casilli, Reuters Berlusconi, Giuseppe Lami, Angelo Carconi, Emanuele Cremaschi, Tiziana Fabi, Luigi Brugnaro, Renato Brunetta, Piero Cruciatti, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Britain’s Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, “ Berlusconi, ” Severgnini, ” Meloni, Claudia Greco, Prodi –, –, Berlusconi’s, Ignazio La Russa, “, Gianfranco Fini –, FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, Vladimir Putin, Volodymr Zelensky, Nobel, salesmanship ’, Jesus Christ, Severgnini, il, salesmanship, Francesca Pascale, Del, Pavarotti, ” Berlusconi, Marina, Carla Dall’Oglio, Luigi Organizations: Rome CNN, Milan’s San Raffaele, Forza Italia, Freedom, Italian, Getty, Canale, AC Milan, Berlusconi, Romano, Associated Press, Associated, Bloomberg, Reuters, Venice, Anadolu Agency, RAI, Media, Milano, Milan –, world’s, Forza Italia Party, Forza, soccer team, Northern League Party, European, Union coalition, Sporting, della, PM, “, ”, Del Monaco Locations: Milan, Paris, AFP, Naples, Italy, Rome, Corfu, Greece, Tatanto, Cannes, France, Italy's, Venice, Italy's Senate, Monza, Lombardy, ”, L’Aquila, Milan’s, Italian, Europe, Ukraine

☆ Slump in global cashew demand pushes Ivory Coast industry to verge of collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Ange Aboa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Global demand for cashew nuts, eaten as snacks or used for cooking and desserts, has tumbled since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, driven by multiple factors, including consumer inflation and increased production. "No one wants to buy cashew, even if I ask for 150 CFA francs per kilogram ($0.24) instead of the farmgate price of 315 CFA francs. Dembele lost 20 million CFA francs ($33,000) during the 2022 season after buying nuts he could not resell to wholesale processors. Output rose from 400,000 tonnes in 2011 to 1 million tonnes in 2022, and is expected at the same level in 2023. In Bouake, the heart of the country's cashew processing industry, work has come to a near standstill as employers struggle to pay salaries.

Persons: Ange Aboa, Dembele, Ibrahim Coulibaly, Ivory Coast, Ganesh, Rajaraman, It's, Alessandra Prentice, Bate Felix, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Ivory, Farmers, Global, CFA, Factories, Thomson Locations: Katiola, Ivory Coast, Korhogo, Bouake, Dakar

[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

ACCRA, June 1 (Reuters) - Ghanaian labour unions have asked the government for time to assess a proposal presented on Thursday to restructure pension funds worth around 30 billion Ghanaian cedis ($2.7 billion). The majority of eligible holders of Ghana's local bonds participated in a domestic debt exchange in February. The pension funds were exempted after unions threatened to strike, but have now been offered their own deal. Thomas Kwesi Esso, executive secretary of the lobby group for the pension funds, told Reuters that the offer was an improvement and addresses liquidity concerns with the old bonds. Editing by Alessandra Prentice, Rachel Savage and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abraham Koomson, ”, Thomas Kwesi, ” Anthony Yaw Baah, Alessandra Prentice, Rachel Savage, Leslie Adler Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Finance Ministry, Reuters, International Monetary, Thomson Locations: ACCRA

Search resuls for: "Alessandra"

25 mentions found