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☆ England hope to avoid repeat of soccer team's Nice disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NICE, France, Sept 15 (Reuters) - England face Japan in the Rugby World Cup in Nice on Sunday hoping to avoid any sort of repeat of one of the country's lowest sporting moments when the national soccer team were humbled in the city by Iceland at the 2016 Euros. The footballing disaster was the final act for manager Roy Hodgson, paving the way for Gareth Southgate to start the rebuilding job that took England to a World Cup semi-final and a penalty shoot-out final defeat in the last Euros. England's rugby team had gone through a similar process eight months earlier as their pool-stage exit from their own World Cup in 2015 after Twickenham defeats to Wales and Australia spelled the end for Stuart Lancaster. It was a brilliant performance and, coming on the back of a Six Nations title earlier in the year, there was huge confidence surging through the England set-up. They have struggled though to reproduce anything like that form since though and the chances of another shock look slim - even in Nice.

Persons: Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, Stuart Lancaster, Wayne Rooney's, Eddie Jones's, Jones, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby, soccer, Stade de Nice, England, rugby, Twickenham, England's rugby, Nations, New Zealand, South, Argentina, Australia, Springboks, Ireland, Thomson Locations: France, England, Japan, Nice, Iceland, Stade, Wales, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Scotland

☆ Rugby World Cup: After triumphing with the All Blacks, Malakai Fekitoa has found a ‘new purpose’ with Tonga
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Long before he had the chance to travel to New Zealand, Fekitoa set his sights on competing for the All Blacks – undoubtedly the most famous rugby team on the planet. “It was always a dream of mine to play for New Zealand, even though I was born and raised in Tonga,” Fekitoa tells CNN Sport. Fekitoa tries to force his way through a tackle during a Rugby Championship match between New Zealand and Argentina in 2014. The change has proved particularly beneficial for Tonga, which, as well as Fekitoa, has named former All Blacks Vaea Fifita, George Moala and Charles Piutau in its squad for the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France. After the rule change, he thinks more All Blacks players will follow his lead by swapping allegiances.

Persons: Fekitoa, ” Fekitoa, Jonah Lomu, Cameron Spencer, –, haven’t, Fifita, George Moala, Charles Piutau, Leon Lord, Adam Coleman, Israel Folau, “, ”, “ I’m, I’ve, Richard Heathcote, It’s, James Crombie, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, All Blacks, New Zealand, CNN Sport, Tonga, Wellington Sevens, Wesley College, Rugby, Blacks, Fiji, Getty, Australia, Ireland, Wasps, Gloucester, Tonga –, Rugby Championship, Nations, United Rugby, Munster, Romania, Tonga’s, Tongan, Kiwi, New Locations: Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Auckland, Argentina, Europe, Monaco, France, AFP, New, England, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Scotland, Samoa

☆ Scotland call up hooker McInally after Cherry suffers hotel tumble
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Scotland v France - BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Britain - March 8, 2020 Scotland's Stuart McInally celebrates scoring their third try Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOULOUSE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Scotland have called up Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally to replace David Cherry in their Rugby World Cup squad after Cherry suffered an accident at their hotel, the team said on Thursday. Cherry suffered a concussion after slipping on the stairs at the hotel on Monday, Scottish Rugby said, and the team took the decision to replace him in the squad for the rest of the tournament. McInally had already been on standby following a concussion suffered by Ewan Ashman last week, Scottish Rugby added. Scotland next play Tonga on Sept. 24 in Nice, looking to bounce back from their opening round defeat by South Africa. Reporting by Lawrence White; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Scotland's Stuart McInally, Lee Smith, Stuart McInally, David Cherry, Cherry, McInally, Ewan Ashman, Lawrence White, Ken Ferris Organizations: Rugby Union, Six Nations, Scotland, France, BT, Rights, Edinburgh, Rugby World, Scottish Rugby, Thomson Locations: Edinburgh, Britain, Scotland, Tonga, Nice, South Africa

☆ England's Curry banned for Japan, Chile games
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A statement from World Rugby said: "The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offence warranted a red card. England are already without captain Owen Farrell and number eight Billy Vunipola for the Japan game as they serve out the final game of their suspensions. Curry's was their fourth red in six matches, though Freddie Steward's against Ireland in the Six Nations was rescinded. Earlier on Tuesday England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth said the red card was the result of a "fast-moving game." “You will appreciate that I can’t talk around this instance or any other that may affect pre-hearing,” he said.

Persons: Tom Curry, Mathieu Raynal, Peter Cziborra, Curry, Argentina fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, Curry's, Freddie Steward's, Farrell, Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth, ”, Mitch Phillips, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, England, Rights, Japan, Argentina, Saturday, Argentina fullback, Independent, World Rugby, Ireland, Nations, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Orange, Marseille, France, Rights MARSEILLE, England, Chile, Paris, Samoa, Japan

☆ Jelonch back as France ring the changes to face Uruguay
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LILLE, France, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France head coach Fabien Galthie made 12 changes to the team who beat New Zealand in the World Cup curtain raiser as Anthony Jelonch is making a long-awaited comeback to face Uruguay in Lille on Thursday. "He needed a lot of willpower, a lot of fighting spirit to be here with us," Galthie told a press conference on Tuesday. Jelonch, who underwent surgery in March and will captain the team on Thursday, said he went through periods of 'doubt'. From the team who started at the Stade de France, only lock Cameron Woki, centre Yoram Moefana and winger Gabin Villiere will be on the Pierre Mauroy stadium field at kickoff. "They're a South American team who are going to fight with a lot of aggressiveness and a lot of energy," said Galthie.

Persons: Fabien Galthie, Anthony Jelonch, Les Bleus, Galthie, Jelonch, I'd, Paul Boudehent, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Antoine Dupont, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Melvyn Jaminet, France's, Louis Bielle, Cameron Woki, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villiere, Pierre Mauroy, Paul Bourgarit, Jean, Baptiste Gros, Dorian Aldegheri, William Servat, Lock Bastien Chalureau, Italy, Les, Arthur Vincent, Romain Taofifenua, Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Bastien Chalureau, Thibaud Flament, François Cros, Baptiste Couilloud, Thomas Ramos, Julien Pretot, Christian Radnedge Organizations: LILLE, New Zealand, All Blacks, Six Nations, Stade de France, Namibia, France, Fiji, South, Thomson Locations: France, Uruguay, Lille, scrumhalf, flyhalf, A, Marseille, Lyon, South American

☆ Italy attempt to make headlines at home during World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sept 12 (Reuters) - The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicked off in France on Friday, and while the competition is already a roaring success, it's not always front page news even within countries involved. Italy began their Rugby World Cup campaign with a win over Namibia on Saturday, but picking up the country's most popular sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, the day after, there was no mention on the front page. The newspaper's main rugby journalist, Andrea Buongiovanni, explained the reasons behind this. "It's a question of tradition, and in my opinion, considering the small following rugby has in Italy, we give the Rugby World Cup ample coverage." It will take more than a win in their next game with Uruguay to push the Rugby World Cup onto the front pages.

Persons: it's, Andrea Cimbrico, Andrea Buongiovanni, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge Organizations: national rugby team, Six Nations, Nations, Communications, Media Relations, Italian Rugby Federation, Reuters, Rugby World, Namibia, Gazzetta dello Sport, Rugby, Corriere dello Sport, team's, North, Gazzetta dello, Blacks, Thomson Locations: France, Italy, North Macedonia, Namibia, Uruguay, New Zealand

☆ Wales's victory over Fiji raises hopes of emulating 2019 semi-final spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia are the other Tier 1 nation in the pool and fancied to advance with the pre-tournament expectation that either Fiji or Wales would take the other qualifying spot. England are one of two teams that Wales managed to beat in eight internationals played this year before the World Cup. Although it is still a long way off, the Welsh could be eyeing a semi-final spot thanks to Sunday’s success in Bordeaux. This is despite a year of mediocre returns as they lost four of five games in the Six Nations and two of their three World Cup warm-up internationals. So that's exciting,”Gatland had taken them to the 2019 World Cup semi-final where they narrowly lost to eventual winners South Africa.

Persons: ”, Warren Gatland, We've, Gatland, Mark Gleeson, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wales, Rugby, Fiji, Six Nations, eventual, South, Thomson Locations: BORDEAUX, France, Fiji, Bordeaux, Australia, Wales, Georgia, Portugal, Argentina, England, Cape Town

☆ Tech CEOs Want to Make a ‘Super App.’ Here’s Why It’s So Hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Brics Expansion: Iran, Saudi Arabia Among Nations Invited to Join Bloc The Brics–Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa–invited six nations to become new members of the economic group from 2024. The WSJ analyzes the significance of the expansion, and whether the bloc can challenge the western-led G-7. Photo: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

Persons: South Africa –, Gianluigi Guercia Organizations: Nations, Getty Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, AFP

☆ Tech CEOs Want to Make a ‘Super App.’ Here’s Why It’s so Hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: South Africa –, Gianluigi Guercia Organizations: Nations, Getty Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, AFP

☆ Rugby World Cup 2023: How to watch, teams and star players
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The Stade de France will host this year's Rugby World Cup final. A full list of international broadcasters is available here on the Rugby World Cup website. A total of 20 teams have qualified for this year’s Rugby World Cup and they will compete in four pools of five teams each. “It’s probably the most open Rugby World Cup we’ve seen for a long time,” former England international Ugo Monye told CNN Sport. Antoine Dupont will be a key player for France at this year's Rugby World Cup.

Persons: Etienne, David Rogers, Stan, Clive Mason, Webb Ellis, “ It’s, Ugo Monye, you’ve, Romain Ntamack, Paul Willemse, Cyril Baille, Jonathan Danty, ”, haven’t, – let’s, Stuart Hogg, I’ve, ’, Antoine Dupont, Ntamack, Fabien Galthié, Damian Penaud, Alldritt, Richard Heathcote, – Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick –, Sam Kane, Dane Coles, Handré Pollard, Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole, Johnny Sexton, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van, Owen Farrell, Finn Russell, Hogg, “, ” Russell isn’t, Levani Organizations: CNN, Rugby World, New Zealand, Stade de France, Rugby, Paris, Games, Getty, Blacks, Stade de Marseille, NBC, Stan Sport, ITV, S4C, South, CNN Fiji, England, –, USA, Africa, Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga, C Wales Australia Fiji, Japan, Japan Argentina Samoa Chile Who, – New, CNN Sport, New, Wales, Australia, Ireland, “, Scotland, Tonga’s, France, Blacks ’, Fiji, The Pacific Islanders Locations: France, New, Paris, South Africa, Ireland, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Saint, Toulouse, United States, Australia, Sky, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Georgia, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, Uruguay, Namibia, Romania, Portugal, Chile, Zealand France Italy Uruguay Namibia, Africa Ireland, Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga Romania, C Wales Australia Fiji Georgia Portugal, Japan Argentina Samoa Chile, – New Zealand, Fiji, darting, Zealand

☆ Western officials arrive in the UAE amid push to deprive Russia of advanced microchips
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The UAE has invested large sums in developing an artificial intelligence program and has a ministry dedicated to the technology. UAE ‘abides by UN sanctions’Russia is under a barrage of sanctions from the US and other Western nations following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Western officials have visited the UAE several times over the past two years to warn the regional business hub that helping Moscow evade sanctions wouldn’t be without consequences. The UAE central bank in March cancelled a license granted to Russia’s MTS Bank after it came under US and British sanctions. We look at BRICS from a geo-economic not a geo-political perspective, with the aim of strengthening our economic competitiveness,” a senior UAE official told CNN.

Persons: ”, AMD, “, Abu Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN — Senior, United, European Union, CNN, Street, UAE, Nvidia, Reuters, AMD, US Department of Commerce, Financial Times, UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute, UN, US, “, MTS Bank, Moscow, BRICS, UAE hasn’t, New Development Bank Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Ukraine, United States, United Kingdom, Gulf, “, UAE, East, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Iran, Washington, multipolarity, China, South Africa, BRICS

☆ BRICS expansion is a big win for China. But can it really work as a counterweight to the West?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The summit was the largest the BRICS have ever held, with more than 60 countries attending alongside member nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “This makes China the clear winner,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London. Helena Legarda, lead analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, a think tank in Berlin, said it is unclear to what extent the BRICS expansion will increase the value and influence of the group. The BRICS expansion is also likely to fuel competition – and potential friction – between China and India, whose ties have already been strained by a simmering border conflict. “Sino-Indian competition for the leadership of the Global South is now bound to sharpen with China having a clear advantage,” said Jacob in New Delhi.

Persons: Xi Jinping, United Arab Emirates –, Xi, ”, Steve Tsang, “, ” Happymon Jacob, Yun Sun, Helena Legarda, Cyril Ramaphosa, Narendra Modi, Jacob Organizations: CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Moscow, US, United Nations, Security Council, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Xi, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Stimson, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Indian, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: Johannesburg, Beijing, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab, Moscow, United States, Ukraine, Washington, Tigray, UAE, America, Berlin, New Delhi, “

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Jackson Hole fears overshadow Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Rally fizzles outU.S. stocks closed lower Thursday as an earlier Nvidia-sparked rally fizzled out, while Treasury yields climbed higher. Low trading volumes, economic weakness in China and high Treasury yields are all contributing to the August sell-off, writes CNBC's Fred Imbert. This ETF, however, consists of just one stock — and aims to deliver a 1.5-times return on a daily basis.

Persons: Jerome Powell, paring, Nvidia's, Fred Imbert, South Africa —, BRICS, it's Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, CNBC, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Nasdaq, United, United Arab Emirates, Exchange Locations: Moran , Wyoming, Turkey, China, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab

☆ BRICS invites six nations to join developing world bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A person walks past the Sandton Convention Centre, which will host the upcoming BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa August 19, 2023. REUTERS/James Oatway/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations have invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates to join, in a move aimed at growing the clout of a bloc that has pledged to champion the "Global South". South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hosting a summit of BRICS leaders, announced on Thursday that the new candidates would be admitted as members on Jan. 1, 2024. And while all BRICS members publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly. More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, say South African officials, and 22 have formally asked to be admitted.

Persons: James Oatway, Cyril Ramaphosa, BRICS, Carien du Plessis, Joe Bavier, Toby Chopra, Emelia Organizations: Sandton, REUTERS, Rights, United, West ., BRICS, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Beijing, Moscow, West

☆ Emerging markets group BRICS invites 6 new members, including Saudi Arabia and Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

South African police officers walk in front of an event banner outside the venue for the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Center in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. South African police officers walk in front of an event banner outside the venue for the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Center in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. The BRICS economic coalition of emerging markets has decided to extend membership invitations to six nations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday. The BRICS alliance — which currently reunites Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — is set to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join, Ramaphosa said in a speech published on the X social media platform, previously known as Twitter. South Africa is presently hosting the 15th BRICS summit.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Ramaphosa Organizations: South, United, Twitter Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Africa

☆ France assess flyhalf options in the absence of Ntamack
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 15 (Reuters) - France's World Cup prospects have suffered with the injury to flyhalf Romain Ntamack but coach Fabien Galthie has several options to replace him, including Matthieu Jalibert, in-form Antoine Hastoy or even a switch from fullback for Thomas Ramos. It is a combination capable of devastating effectiveness, at eye-jolting pace and with a Gallic flamboyance, and the fact that France cannot use Ntamack will weigh heavily on the rest of their World Cup preparations. He won the European Champions Cup with La Rochelle this year but has won only three caps for France and played a total of 96 minutes of test rugby. France name their World Cup squad next Monday. Reporting by Mark Gleeson and Nick Said, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: flyhalf Romain Ntamack, Fabien Galthie, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy, Thomas Ramos, Ntamack, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, Galthie, Jalibert, Ramos, Allan Alaalatoa, Achilles, Mark Gleeson, Nick Said, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: France, New Zealand, Toulouse, Nations, Scotland, European, La Rochelle, South Africa, Argentina, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Ntamack, Hastoy

☆ Robbie Robertson, songwriting force in rock group The Band, dies at 80
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Matthew Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Musician Robbie Robertson arrives for the gala presentation of his biopic "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band" on opening night at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 5, 2019. The Band included four Canadians - Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel - and was anchored by an Arkansas drummer, Levon Helm. Robbie Robertson later learned that his biological father was a man he described as a "card shark" of Jewish heritage named Alex Klegerman, who was killed in a highway hit-and-run accident before Robertson was born. Danko died at age 55 in 1999. Helm died of throat cancer in 2012.

Persons: Robbie Robertson, Mario Anzuoni, Robertson, Jared Levine, Robbie, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm, Ronnie Hawkins, Bob Dylan, Martin Scorsese's, Helm, Danko, Manuel, Greil Marcus, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Walcott, Jaime Royal Robertson, Rosemarie Dolly Chrysler, Canadian Army enlistee, Jim Robertson, Alex Klegerman, Dylan, Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Scorsese, Jodie Foster, Hudson, Matthew Lewis, Kanishka Singh, Diane Craft, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Toronto, Film, REUTERS, Canadian -, Hawks, Big, Beatles, Walcott Medicine, Canadian Army, Six Nations Indian Reserve, Canadian Broadcasting, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Canadian - American, Los Angeles, Arkansas, Woodstock , New York, San Francisco, America, Toronto, Canadian, Mohawk, Cayuga, Ontario, Florida, Chicago, Washington

☆ Global food prices bounce following collapse of Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Global food prices ticked up last month after Russia pulled out of a deal to allow the safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukrainian ports. The United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said Friday that its global Food Price Index rose 1.3% in July compared with the month before — notching only the second increase in a year of steady declines since the grain deal was struck. “International sunflower oil prices rebounded by more than 15% month-on-month, primarily underpinned by renewed uncertainties surrounding the exportable supplies out of the Black Sea region,” the FAO said in a statement. The FAO’s global wheat price index — which feeds into its broader Food Price Index — jumped 1.6% in July from the month before, its first monthly increase in nine months. Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure since the grain deal’s collapse have also bumped up prices in recent weeks.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, —, ” Putin, Shashwat Organizations: London CNN — Global, United Nations, Food, Agricultural Organization, FAO, —, UN, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Gro Intelligence, East, International Rescue Locations: Russia, Russian, Somalia, Eritrea, Ukraine, Asia, North America, East, East Africa

☆ As Russia Strikes on Ukraine's Ports, White House Warns Ships May Be Next
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Safak Timur | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Russia’s moves have profound implications for the export of Ukraine’s grain, a commodity vital for its own economy and world grain markets. How have Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian ports affected the situation? Since Monday’s announcement, Russia has launched a series of nightly aerial attacks on Ukrainian ports, killing and wounding civilians. Six nations have a Black Sea coastline and it is a main conduit for Russia’s grain exports. Last summer, the European Union took steps to smooth a path for Ukraine’s overland grain exports, given the Russian Black Sea blockade.

Persons: Sal Gilbertie, Oleksandr Gimanov, Volodymyr Zelensky, António Guterres, Chris Mcgrath, Vladimir V, Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Reni, Benoît Fayaud, Arif Husain, ”, Maciek, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Monika Pronczuk Organizations: Ministry of Defense, Initiative, World Food, ., Agence France, United Nations, Getty, Strategie, European Union, The New York Times Ministers Locations: Kushuhum, Ukraine’s, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, U.S, Chornomorsk, Odesa, Turkey, Istanbul, China, Poland, Izmail, Romanian, Constanta, Russian, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

☆ Neville relishing her moment in history at the Rugby World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, May 15 (Reuters) - Joy Neville says selection on merit is more important to her than "tags and labels" as she prepares to become the first woman to officiate at a men's Rugby World Cup in France later this year. "I'd like to think that I'm there because I'm good enough," Neville told Reuters. "I've always asked to be selected through merit and for no other reason – drop all the other tags and labels. Neville said the role of TMO can be a thankless one, drawing criticism both for interfering to much or for not getting sufficently involved in matches. In the role of TMO sometimes you're damned if you do and damned if you don't," she says.

☆ World record crowd watches England complete Grand Slam against France in Women’s Six Nations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —When England’s women first played at Twickenham in 2003, the crowd was scattered about the vast stadium, almost imperceptible in the pictures taken that day. Twenty years later, in the latest historic occasion for women’s rugby, a world record crowd of 58,498 supporters watched England win the Women’s Six Nations by defeating France 38-33 in a thrilling finale at Twickenham, the home of English rugby union. The previous record for a women’s game was 42,579, set at the 2022 women’s rugby World Cup final in New Zealand. To produce a game like that on a stage like this is everything that is good about the game. Ultimately, however, it was too little too late – France’s last try arrived as the clock ticked into the red – and England clung on for victory.

☆ Unlocking the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of a Dying Language
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

SIX NATIONS OF THE GRAND RIVER, Ontario — When Brian Maracle returned in his mid-40s to the Mohawk community near Toronto that he had left when he was just 5, he didn’t have a job and knew almost no one there. But perhaps the biggest challenge facing him was that he neither spoke nor understood much Kanyen’keha, the Mohawk language. More than a century of attempts by Canada’s government to stamp out Indigenous cultures had left Mr. Maracle and many other Indigenous people without their languages. Now, 30 years later, Mr. Maracle has become a champion of Mohawk, and is helping revive it and other Indigenous languages, both in Canada and elsewhere, through his transformation of teaching methods. Yet, linguistics academic conferences now feature him as a speaker.

☆ Over 150 ex-soccer, rugby players join concussion lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

London sports law firm Rylands Garth said it would issue proceedings in court on Tuesday on behalf of 100 rugby league players, 40 rugby union players and 15 football players, taking the total number of claimants to 380. The players allege that the sports' governing bodies failed to protect them from concussion and non-concussion injuries that caused various disorders including early onset dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease. "Acting on the latest science, evidence and independent expert guidance, we constantly strive to safeguard and support all our players – future, current, and former...," World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said in a joint statement. Rylands Garth represents over 250 rugby union players with brain damage, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and former Wales captain Ryan Jones, in a claim against World Rugby and the governing bodies of England and Wales. The firm also represents 100 rugby league players as part of a separate but similar potential claim against England's RFL.

☆ France still on track for home World Cup despite losing Six Nations title
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - France surrendered their Six Nations title on Saturday but over the last four years they have rediscovered their brilliance and less than six months before hosting the World Cup Les Bleus know they have a credible shot at claiming the crown. "We started the tournament in unremarkable fashion," said Galthie as he drew his conclusions on his fourth Six Nations in charge of France. "We're the best attack of the tournament," said Galthie, whose team have not finished below second place in the Six Nations in four editions. I don't know if we're the team to beat (for the World Cup), but I certainly hope that the other teams fear us." "We gave Wales a couple of soft tries so we need to be more consistent and more rigorous for 80 minutes."

☆ Imperious Ireland beat England to clinch Six Nations Grand Slam
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

DUBLIN, March 18 (Reuters) - Ireland completed their fourth Six Nations Grand Slam with a 29-16 victory over England at a pulsating Aviva Stadium on Saturday, emphatically underlining their status as the world's top-ranked team heading into September's World Cup. What a group of coaches," Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, playing in his final Six Nations game, said in a pitchside interview. If it looked like Ireland would cruise towards a Grand Slam in Dublin, following success in Twickenham (2018), Cardiff (2009) and Belfast (1948), England had other ideas and another Owen Farrell penalty after the break made it 10-9. "We've built some foundations over the course of the Six Nations but clearly we want to be a better team." The defeat consigned England to fourth place in the table and a third successive Six Nations with more defeats than victories after winning the championship in 2020.

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