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

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

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

☆ Protesters descend on French Embassy in Niger shouting 'long live Putin'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Omar Hama Saley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Niamey, Niger CNN —Tense and sometimes violent scenes played out in front of the French Embassy in Niger Sunday as thousands of people who support a military coup voiced anger over France’s influence in its former colony. Some protesters tore down a plaque identifying the Embassy, stomped on it and then replaced it with Russian and Nigerien flags. Shouts of “long live Putin,” “long live Russia” and “down with France” could be heard among the crowds. President Emmanuel Macron’s office said France would immediately retaliate against anyone who attacks French nationals or facilities in Niger. Niger’s military leaders may have found one potential ally: the country’s eastern neighbor, Chad.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mohamed Bazoum, Putin, ”, Emmanuel Macron’s, Bazoum, Stringer, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, ‘ We’re, I’ve, Karimou Sidi, “ Organizations: Niger CNN, Embassy, Kremlin, Russian, Nigerien, Niger, National Council for, Homeland, Reuters, West African States, Sunday, ECOWAS, European Union, ” Locations: Niamey, Niger, stomped, Nigerien, Russia, France, Reuters Niger, Republic of Niger, ”, Chad, Niger’s, Africa ’ Niger, French, Kanto, Africa, ” Kanto, St, Petersburg, Ukraine, Sahel, Burkina Faso

CNN —A Niger general, Abdourahamane Tiani, appeared on state television as the country’s new leader following a military coup that sparked international condemnation. Tiani said in the broadcast that Wednesday’s coup was motivated by both the desire to “preserve our homeland” in a context of a “deteriorating security situation,” and poor economic and social governance. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the coup was “deeply dangerous for Niger and the whole region,” and called for Bazoum’s release. However, a senior official loyal to Bazoum has suggested there is discord among coup leaders. The aide spoke on condition of not being identified because of the security situation.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiani, “, Mohamed Bazoum’s, Abdourahamane, ” Bazoum, Mahamadou Issoufou, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, –, Catherine Colonna, Bazoum, ”, they’ve, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Bazoum “, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mahamat, General Antonio Guterres, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, ” Abdramane Organizations: CNN, African, AFP, Télé, Getty, Nigerien, Union, Bazoum, National Council for, ECOWAS, United Nations, African Union Commission, RIA Novosti, UN Locations: Niger, France, Télé Sahel, Sahel, AFP, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Papua New Guinea, Niamey

☆ Head of Presidential Guard Claims Power in Niger Coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Elian Peltier | More About Elian Peltier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The commander of the presidential guard in Niger claimed the leadership of the West African country with a televised address on Friday, two days after his military unit detained the democratically elected president and threw into uncertainty the future of a key Western ally in the region. “We have decided to intervene and seize our responsibilities,” Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who goes by the first name Omar, said on state television, where he was identified onscreen as the president of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country. “We can’t continue with the same approaches.”Niger, a poor country rich in uranium, lies in the Sahel, the arid region south of the Sahara that has faced growing insecurity amid the worsening effects of climate change, political instability and armed insurgencies. The United States has 1,100 troops and two drone bases in Niger, and France, the former colonial power, more than 1,500 troops. The military takeover in Niger is the sixth in West Africa in less than three years, following in the steps of Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, and threatening to upend efforts in the region to fight Islamist insurgencies by groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Persons: ”, Abdourahmane Tchiani, Omar, Al Qaeda Organizations: National Council, United, Al, Islamic Locations: Niger, West, ” Niger, Sahel, United States, France, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Islamic State

☆ Niger coup leaders dissolve govt, declare Tiani head of state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Moussa Aksar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NIAMEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Leaders of the coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday, and said they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all former institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. He represents the state of Niger in international relations," an officer said, reading out a statement. African countries, Western powers, regional and international organizations have reacted with alarm to the coup in Niger, insisting that Bazoum be freed and constitutional order restored. Niger borders three countries - Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad - that have also experienced military coups in the last two years. Niger so far has held them off better than Mali and Burkina Faso, where violence has only worsened since the military coups.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Kamala Harris, Boris Pistorius, Bate Felix, Anait, Nellie Peyton, John Stonestreet, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie Organizations: National Council, Bazoum, REUTERS, Islamic, West African States, European Union, United, European, EU, German, Spiegel, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, France, Niamey, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West Africa's, Nigeria, Guinea, United States, Africa, EU, Germany, Italy

☆ A darling of US conservatives, Iran’s top opposition group may face an uncertain future
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But recent setbacks for the most powerful Iranian opposition group have some observers wondering whether its glory days are numbered. The MeK believes these actions were part of a “policy of appeasement” of the regime in Tehran, a top representative from the group told CNN in an email interview. Gobadi told CNN the raid “was carried out at the behest or under pressure” from Iran. ‘Illegal and subversive activity’An Albanian foreign ministry coordinator told CNN by email that the country has not provided any seized material to Iran. Gobadi told CNN that that speakers or attendees have never received payments from the MeK.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Mike Pence, Saddam Hussein, bode, ” Shahin Gobadi, Ashraf, Gobadi, “, ” Gobadi, cyberattack, Albania “, Saud, Maryam Rajavi, Bryan Olin Dozier, Prince Turki al, Faisal, Al Faisal, ’ “, Emanuel Macron, Ebrahim Raisi, Trita Parsi, ”, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Liz Truss, Ali Ahmadi, ” Ahmadi, Alex Vatanka, ” Vatanka Organizations: CNN, United States National Security, Foreign Affairs, National Council of Resistance, Paris, Washington Summit, Organization of Iranian, Communities, Hyatt, Quincy Institute, British, Geneva Centre, Security, Middle East Institute Locations: Iran, Islamic Republic, Albania, France, Tehran, Paris, Tirana, Albanian, Saud Arabia, Washington ,, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, al, Riyadh

☆ Facing a future without affirmative action, students of color say the pressure is on them to fight for diversity: 'To be going backwards in this sort of immense way is really scary'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Yoonji Han | Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Affirmative action has been used to pit Asian Americans against other communities of color, experts said. "By grouping together all Asian students, for instance, respondents are apparently uninterested in whether South Asian or East Asian students are adequately represented, so long as there is enough of one to compensate for a lack of the other," Roberts wrote. "Affirmative action provides a second chance for students of color," Stewart Kwoh, co-executive director of the Asian American Education Project, told Insider. In the face of the destabilizing effects of rolling back affirmative action, students of color are shoring up to ensure diversity at their schools. Ron DeSantis signed a bill mandating Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in schools, a move that critics condemned as using Asian American communities as a "wedge" against other communities of color.

Persons: —, John Roberts, Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Stewart Kwoh, Sarah Zhang, we're, Zhang, Muskaan Arshad, Arshad, Chip Somodevilla, Ron DeSantis, Gregg Orton, There's, Reyna Patel, Hill, I've, Shruthi Kumar, Scott Applewhite, They're, Agustin Leon, Saenz Organizations: Service, Harvard, University of North, Asian American Education, Affirmative, Coalition, UNC, Fair, US, Florida Department of Education, AP, American, Florida Gov, Pacific, National Council of Asian Pacific, NBC, Studies, Asian Locations: University of North Carolina, America, Mexican, Harvard, Washington ,, Florida

☆ Mexico's ruling party to announce 2024 presidential candidate on Sept. 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Alfonso Durazo, President of the National Council of Mexico's ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, announces the names of four aspiring candidates for the party's 2024 presidential candidacy, in Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) said on Sunday its candidate for the 2024 presidential election will be announced on Sept. 6. All those competing for the party's 2024 candidacy must step down from public office to campaign, MORENA resolved. That decision had been widely anticipated, and followed what party insiders said was a recommendation made by Lopez Obrador on Monday evening which aimed at keeping his movement united. Reporting by Diego Ore and Dave Graham; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alfonso Durazo, Henry Romero MEXICO, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's, MORENA, Lopez Obrador, Diego Ore, Dave Graham, Carolina Pulice, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: National Council of, Regeneration, REUTERS, Henry Romero MEXICO CITY, Thomson Locations: National Council of Mexico's, Mexico City, Mexico, MORENA, Sonora

[1/4] Military officers assist a person on a dinghy after heavy rains hit Italy's Emilia Romagna region, in Faenza, Italy, May 18. "Climate change is here and we are living the consequences. Last July, an ice avalanche in the Italian Alps killed 11 people following a heatwave that exacerbated the worst drought that Italy has suffered for at least 70 years. "A climate change adaptation policy that goes beyond how to handle emergencies and considers the effects of ordinary planning is increasingly urgent," it said in a statement. Italy's national civil protection agency estimates that 94% of the country's municipalities are prone to natural disasters - making it inconceivable to protect everyone from the dangers of climate change.

☆ Top pro leagues, media outlets team up to combat problematic sports-betting ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The nation's top professional leagues are teaming up with some TV broadcasters to tackle irresponsible sports-betting advertising. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, NASCAR, and MLS have joined media companies NBCUniversal and Fox to form The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising. The coalition, led by NFL vice president of public policy and government affairs, Jonathan Nabavi, aims to regulate sports-betting advertising as it floods television, internet and print media. The move comes as sports betting becomes legal in more states and opponents worry its advertising targets minors. The National Council on Problem Gambling has commended the coalition and promised to work in collaboration with it to "better mitigate problem gambling related harm."

☆ 18 states require personal finance education in schools—here's what they're teaching kids about money
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As of this year, 18 states guarantee some form of personal finance education before students graduate, according to Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), a nonprofit that provides educational resources and advocates for financial literacy in schools. Personal finance is a huge umbrella. Setting the standardsWhen it comes to mandating personal finance education, it's not as simple as legislators or school boards agreeing that there need to be courses available. The National Council for Economic Education identifies six critical topic areas in their personal finance standards: Earning incomeSpendingSavingInvestingManaging creditManaging risk Developing the local standards can come down to "whoever's in the room," according to Chris Cannon, chief program officer at the Georgia Council on Economic Education, who worked on Georgia's personal finance education standards. NGPF also works on the policy side to help ensure when states are mandating personal finance education, they're doing so effectively.

☆ Canadian trade minister condemns hate crime at mosque
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 8 (Reuters) - Canada's Trade Minister Mary Ng condemned on Saturday a hate crime at mosque saying the incident, which an Islamic society said had apparently involved an attempt to tear a copy of the Muslim holy book, had no place in Canadian society. "Deeply disturbed to hear of the violent hate crimes and racist behaviour at the Islamic Society of Markham," Ng said in a post on Twitter. Muslims see any attempt to damage a Koran as blasphemous because they consider the Islamic holy book to be the literal word of God. The incident comes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when worshippers throng to mosques. Thousands of people attend the mosque at Markham, the society said.

☆ Bulgarian election runner-up rules out coalition with first-placed GERB party
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SOFIA, April 4 (Reuters) - The runner-up in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections will not form a coalition with the winning GERB party, the leader of We Continue the Change (PP) said on Tuesday, signalling a likely continuation of the country's political deadlock. "The National Council of the party has decided that We Continue the Change will not support a Cabinet with... the participation of the political party GERB," Assen Vassilev, co-leader of PP told reporters. "The National Council mandates the Executive Council to send representatives to hold policy talks with all parliamentary parties." Preliminary results show GERB won 26.5% of the vote, while PP received 24.6%. Reporting by Stoyan Nenov; Writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Office Doom Loop: Landlords Face a Reckoning As Companies Move to Fancy Offices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Daniel Geiger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The Gas Company Tower in downtown Los Angeles has a sterling pedigree, but even that can't save it from the doom loop facing many older office towers. A huge swath of America's office market is vulnerable to these twin threats of being under-equipped with amenities and underwater financially. This behavioral shift has deeply cut into demand for office space. The amount of sublease space nationally more than doubled from 118.5 million square feet at the end of 2019 to 242.8 million square feet at the end of 2022, Colliers stated. Lenders are often reluctant, he said, to seize office buildings because of the costs and expertise required to operate the properties.

☆ Israel's 'Handmaids' become a defining image of the mass protests against Netanyahu's judicial reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Women dressed as "Handmaids" are at the forefront of mass protests against the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli supreme court. The protests in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli Supreme Court in favor of elected officials. Israeli protesters wearing costumes from ''The Handmaid's Tale'' particiapte in a rally against Israeli Goverment's judicial overhaul bills at Haogen Junctions on March 16, 2023. Gili Yaari/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesPeople around the world are also voicing concerns about Netanyahu's plans.

☆ Online sports betting is surging. So is gambling addiction
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The booming sports betting industry, lawmakers and even the professional sports leagues themselves are making it easier, faster and more tempting for people to bet on games — and develop gambling problems, say gambling researchers and addiction specialists. A flood of advertising, technology that allows for one-click betting at home, and nearly unlimited betting options during games have collided. The sports gambling industry is most similar to financial markets, he said, but financial markets are much more regulated than banks. Most states require that sports betting ads disclose the minimum legal age to gamble and responsible gambling messages, such as problem gambling hotlines. From DraftKingsRegulators are wary of how tightly they can curtail messages in gambling advertising without running afoul of First Amendment protections on commercial speech.

☆ I made nearly $2 million in 2 years selling my nursing-school study notes on Etsy and TikTok — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Stephanee Beggs, 28, started posting her study sheets on TikTok while in nursing school. She plans to keep her day job and loves that her influencer work ties back to her hospital job. It's also humbling and exciting seeing how many people have gravitated toward my TikTok videos and study sheets. My approach to TikTok is organized and strategicWhen I first started posting on TikTok, I didn't have much of a strategy or direction. Once my study sheets started selling on Etsy, I decided to come up with a game plan of how to continue to monetize my audience.

☆ Can an AI 'angel' help find thousands in Mexico who were forcibly disappeared?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Marina E. Franco | Noticias Telemundo | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

The software is able to process thousands of documents and databases and find connections and patterns that elude the human eye. Relatives of people who were forcibly disappeared during the counterinsurgency period in Mexico between 1964 and 1985, at a march in 2001. Jorge Uzon/AFP via Getty ImagesAngelus is currently focused on reviewing facts about people who were forcibly disappeared between 1964 and 1985. He noted that when it comes to cases of missing persons as part of government repression, it's never about just one person missing. Angelus' reach is widening now that prosecutors are beginning to show interest in it to help them solve their cases, Yankelevich said, visibly frustrated for the delay.

☆ Iran sentences Belgian aid worker to 40 years in prison, Tasnim reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sentence imposed on aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, was more severe than the 28-year term Belgium had reported in December. It said Vandecasteele, who was arrested while on a visit to Iran in February last year, could appeal the verdict. Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib condemned Vandecasteele's "arbitrary detention" on Twitter and said Iran's ambassador to Brussels would be summoned in protest at the sentencing. "The family is devastated by the news," Olivier Van Steirtegem, who is Vandecasteele's best friend and has been acting as the family's spokesperson, told Reuters. "Olivier is a victim, a hostage," Van Steirtegem said, adding that the Belgian government should do everything possible to free Vandecasteele and condemn Iran's "hostage diplomacy".

☆ Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton says he is considering 2024 presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

John Bolton, who was former President Donald Trump's national security advisor for more than a year, said Monday he is "absolutely" considering launching a 2024 presidential bid — in large part to challenge Trump. Bolton called on GOP leaders to denounce Trump, who is currently the only Republican to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Nearly all GOP voters "disagree that Donald Trump is more important than the Constitution," Bolton said. The former national security advisor said his possible presidential platform might be "very Reaganesque." He added that he believes the 2024 presidential field will be "very crowded," and that he might make a decision on whether to run "earlier than some would think."

☆ The types of rental properties and regions set to outperform, according to a research strategist who supports a $15 billion portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Regardless of what traditional economic indicators are pointing to, there are certain real estate sectors that are set to outperform. The firm, which has $15 billion in assets, offers an investment vehicle called the Bluerock Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, which allows individuals to invest in institutional private equity real estate (iPERE) securities alongside large endowments and pension plans. A commonly used metric is called a capitalization rate or a cap rate for short. The cap rate is determined by the NOI divided by a property's valuation and expressed as a percentage. Another way to gain exposure to the sector is through real estate investment trusts (REITs) on the public stock market.

But just 31% of that group has gotten updated booster shots. Hospital physicians, state public health officials and advocacy groups for older adults pointed to a variety of factors fueling the low booster uptake. They include feelings of fatigue at the pace of Covid shots and a lack of awareness that the new booster could make the difference between a mild case and a hospital visit. Morell said she experienced dizziness, blurry eyesight and heart palpitations after her first Covid booster in November 2021. Wachter said the majority of people who have gotten the new booster get mild Covid, even if they’re older or have risk factors.

☆ Americans plan to wager $1.8 billion on the first World Cup with widespread, legal sports betting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

An estimated 132 million Americans now live in states where sports betting is legal, compared with just 10 million during the last World Cup four years ago. AGA reports the majority of those betting — 78% — say placing legal bets is important. "As the World Cup kicks off, anyone getting in on the action should have a game plan to bet responsibly," AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark said in a press release. Legal gambling means you may not find yourself in trouble with the law for wagering on the World Cup or any other sporting event. Before mobile sports betting became widely legal, bettors had to go to a physical sportsbook or work with a live bookie to place bets.

Two years later, Bautista and hundreds of thousands of other FTX customers are in limbo, shocked and unsure what happens next. FTX has paused customer withdrawals, and there’s growing doubt that customers will be able to recover any of their assets. “It’s lost at this point.”Bautista, 34, got the FTX itch thanks in part to flashy advertising. FTX, boosted by celebrities like NFL giant Tom Brady and pumped up by Silicon Valley bigwigs, struck Bautista as the most reliable crypto platform on the market. The firm has started the process of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Bankman-Fried has resigned — and Bautista lost access to his crypto portfolio.

☆ To Compete With China, India Might Need to Open Up to It
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Megha Mandavia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

India doesn’t see eye to eye with China on several issues, especially ones related to their border. But the South Asian nation might be coming to realize that to become an electronics manufacturing hub, it may need the support of its sometimes hostile neighbor. Earlier this month, the National Council of Applied Economic Research, or NCAER, a think tank, prepared a report for industry body the Confederation of Indian Industry that recommended that India soften rules on allowing investment from China if it wants to reach the state’s lofty goal of becoming a $300 billion industry by the financial year ending in March 2026.

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