The ZiG is the country's sixth currency since independence in 1980
Zimbabwe is replacing its collapsing local currency with a new one backed by gold and foreign currencies that it hopes will be more stable and help bring down inflation, the central bank said on Friday.
The Southern African country relaunched its own currency in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation, but it struggled to win public trust and more than 80% of domestic transactions are now conducted in foreign currency.
A more than 70% slide in the Zimbabwean dollar since the start of the year pushed price rises beyond 55% in annual terms in March (ZWBCPY=ECI), opens new tab, evoking bitter memories of hyperinflation under former leader Robert Mugabe.
The new currency - called Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) - will circulate alongside foreign currencies, central bank governor John Mushayavanhu told a press conference in the capital Harare.
The central bank also said it was "recalibrating" its main interest rate and setting it at 20%, without elaborating, a drastic cut from the previous rate of 130%.
In a monetary policy statement, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said the new currency's starting exchange rate would be determined by the closing interbank exchange rate on April 5 and the London PM Fix price of gold on April 4.
The bank referred to the new currency as "structured", saying it would be "anchored by a composite basket of foreign currency and precious metals (mainly gold) held as reserves for this purpose by the Reserve Bank".
"If we implement these measures, we expect them to have an impact on inflation," Mushayavanhu told reporters.
Banks are to convert their current Zimbabwean dollar balances into ZiG with immediate effect, while people will have 21 days to exchange their old notes and coins for new ones, the monetary policy statement said.
Friday's announcements are the culmination of months of deliberations between the central bank and finance ministry on currency reforms.
The central bank also said on Friday that it had $100 million in cash and 2.52 tonnes of gold worth $185 million in reserve assets.
A strong earthquake rattled New York City and the surrounding area Friday morning.
It happened at approximately 10:20 a.m.
The quake - which the USGS has said was either 4.7 or 4.8 - was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 40 miles west of New York City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
So far, there have been no reports of damage.
The impact was felt throughout the Tri-State Area, including upstate in Syracuse, as well as in Philadelphia and as far away as Baltimore. Reports of buildings shaking and rattling came in from New Jersey to Long Island.
Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey has activated its Emergency Operations Center, and urged residents to not call 911 unless they are experiencing an actual emergency.
The MTA said is inspecting all New York City-area bridges and tunnels. No damage has been reported at this point.
"I was laying in my bed, and my whole apartment building started shaking. I started freaking out," one New York City resident told CBS New York's Elijah Westbrook.
Cracks in walls were visible in an apartment in Berkeley Heights, N.J.
It's not the first time the East Coast and New York City have been hit with a quake. A 5.0 quake was measured in New York City in 1884.
There's a major fault lin New Jersey called the Ramapo Fault, which stems from the Appalachian mountains, and there are at least five smaller fault lines under Manhattan island.
The quake comes just a few months after the USGS warned nearly 75% of the United States could face damaging quakes in the next 100 years.
In 2011, a 5.8 quake struck in Virginia and rattled the entire East Coast.
Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen has been swashbuckling atimes this season, with 70 points, 10 points ahead of Bayern Munich having not lost a game in the Bundesliga this season with 26 games played.
Excerpts from Xabi Alonso's Press Conference....
“I had a good meeting with Bayer Leverkusen and I informed them that I will STAY and continue at the club”.
“After lot of talks about my future, I used the break to reflect and make my decision”.
“This is the place to be for me”.
“My job at Bayer is not over. I want to help the club, help the players to develop, the board is great… it’s all fantastic here”.
“I’m still young coach but I think this is the best decision for my future. I took my time and I’m sure about that”.
“I’m grateful to Bayer and the board, the players, the fans… I feel that this is the best way, to continue together”.
“I have also informed the players, it’s true”.
“My deadline was this week, it’s matter of respect. Now everything is clear”.
“I’m not gonna comment about Liverpool or Bayern. These are big clubs and I’ve strong links with them but I’m in the place where I want to be”.
“It’s not time to decide my future now, I want to develop at Bayer Leverkusen”.
MTN Group says it is in talks with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to increase tariffs due to foreign exchange (FX) impact.
Ralph Mupita, MTN Group’s chief executive officer, spoke during an interview with Bloomberg on Monday.
“We obviously are engaged with the authorities and regulators to get some tariff increases for both voice and data, so that we can actually absorb some of the inflation-related and FX impacts that are in our operating costs, particularly the network operating costs,” he said.
Mupita made this known while speaking on three broad areas the company is working on to limit the impact of the currency devaluation.
Aside from speaking with the regulator, he said part of the solution in tackling FX impact could be through borrowings, renegotiating with IHS Towers, a telecommunications infrastructure provider, and reducing expenditure.
“There are not too many kind of derivative instruments that we can use against this FX impacts that we have seen, but there are kind of three broad areas that we are working on, in terms of limiting the impact of the currency devaluation,” he said.
“The first is to look at borrowings and that would have taken particularly the kind of letters of credit that would have been used to procure capex, so looking at reducing the outstanding balances there.
“The other is we are in conversations with IHS, in particular around some of our top contracts. We have sat down and we are looking at aspects that we can renegotiate to lessen the impact.
“And the third is actually to reduce expenditure. Nigeria is a big part of our expense efficiency program. We were looking to take out 7 to 8 billion rand of expenses out of construction on a sustained ongoing basis. So those are some of the initiatives that we are taking.
IMPACT OF FX ON MTN EARNINGS
Mupita said there was almost a 97 percent decline in the value of the naira, which reduced earnings from the Nigerian market.
“The big impact on our results was that we had significant naira devaluation, the naira at the midpoint of the year was around 462. We ended the year at 907, almost 97% devaluation of the naira,” Mupita said.
“When we consolidate at the group level, obviously, the Nigeria earnings would have been reduced. But, there was a second headwind, which was that there were foreign exchange losses that came through.
“So when we report underlying earnings, headline earnings of 1203, almost 500 of that was a loss coming out of Nigeria.
“Quite significant impact on the reported results, but the underlying momentum that we saw in the business actually was pretty resilient.”
He said naira devaluation had the most significant impact on MTN group results.
Senegal opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a political newcomer popular among the country's disaffected youth, was set to be declared the next president after his main rival called him on Monday to concede defeat.
Provisional results showed Faye with about 53.7% and Amadou Ba - from the current ruling coalition - with 36.2% based on tallies from 90% of polling stations in the first-round vote, the electoral commission said.
Ba and President Macky Sall both congratulated Faye, who turned 44 on Monday. They hailed the outcome as a win for Senegal, whose reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies took a hit when Sall postponed the vote. "The Senegalese people have reinforced the good health of our democracy.. I wish him (Faye) success at the head of our country," Ba said.
A peaceful transition of power in Senegal would mark a boost for democracy in West Africa, where there have been eight military coups since 2020.
Some of the juntas that seized power have cut ties with traditional power-brokers in the region such as France and the United States, and turned instead to Russia for help in their fight against a jihadist insurgency spreading through countries that neighbour Senegal.
Senegal's international bonds rose on reports that Faye was close to being declared a winner, reversing sharp falls from earlier in the day.
Many hope the vote will bring stability and an economic boost after three years of unprecedented political turbulence which saw several waves of deadly anti-government protests.
"I am happy to see there is a wind of change," said Tall, an opposition supporter who joined revellers during the night as street celebrations broke out in anticipation of Faye's victory.
"It is wonderful because democracy has won. Many thought it would not happen," he said, only wishing to give his first name.
Full, official results are expected to be announced by the Dakar appeals court on Friday.
YOUNG VOTERS Faye has not publicly spoken since he cast his vote. He owes much of his success to the backing of firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was barred from running due to a defamation conviction.
The two former tax inspectors, who were both released from jail this month, campaigned together under the slogan "Diomaye is Sonko", promising to fight corruption and prioritise national economic interests.
They are particularly popular among young voters in a country where more than 60% of people are under 25 and struggle to find jobs.
Police crackdowns on protests, the government's failure to cushion rising living costs and concerns Sall would seek to extend his mandate beyond constitutional limits buoyed the opposition.
Anger crystallised around Sonko's prosecution only grew when authorities sought to postpone the vote, initially scheduled to take place in February, by 10 months.
Investors are meanwhile wary about a potential change in leadership to an anti-establishment government that may not pursue the same business friendly policies seen under Sall's government that has attracted investments into infrastructure.
Senegal is set to start producing oil and gas this year. Faye has promised a raft of changes including plans to renegotiate the country's oil and gas contracts, though he sought to reassure investors last week that the country would respect its external commitments.
Ecuador's youngest mayor and an aide were shot dead on Sunday, police in the South American country have said.
Brigitte Garcia, 27-year-old mayor of San Vicente, and her communications director Jairo Loor, were found dead in Manabi province, officers said.
Police added that the pair had both suffered gunshot wounds and that the gunfire had come from within the car, which was rented.
Ms Garcia - a member of former president Rafael Correa's left-wing Citizen Revolution Movement party - is the latest political figure assassinated in Ecuador.
Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed last August while leaving a campaign event two weeks before the election. He was a vocal critic of corruption and organised crime.
In July 2023, the mayor of Manta Agustin Intriago was murdered while touring a construction site.
Mr Correa and Luisa Gonzalez, the party's presidential candidate in the recent elections, called Ms Garcia's killing an assassination on social media platform.
"I've just found out they've assassinated our fellow mayor of San Vicente Brigitte Garcia," Mr Gonzalez said on social media.
"I have no words, in shock, nobody is safe in Ecuador NOBODY."
On Sunday morning, the Kaduna State Government and the Defence Headquarters announced the return of 137 abducted pupils and students of LEA School, Kuriga, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Governor Uba Sani and Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, issued separate statements confirming the development. While Sani did not state the number of returnees, Buba said the military rescued 76 females and 61 males, totalling 137.
Referring to the March 7 abduction, Buba’s statement partly read: “During the incident, unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted.” Some rescued Kuriga schoolchildren
On Sunday, FIJ visited the Kuriga LEA school where the attack occurred and confirmed from security personnel what the actual figures were. During the course of our visit, the Kaduna State government was in a meeting with the Chikun LGA chairman, dignitaries from Kuriga and other stakeholders in the government house.
At that meeting, the government questioned the total number of abducted persons, as they only took custody of 137. This dispute led to the school’s vice principal having to produce attendance sheets for junior and senior secondary school students present on that day, who were all discovered to be missing. What he did not have was the register for the primary school. This register was in Kuriga.
Sources told FIJ that the government and military representatives at the meeting began quizzing the community representatives over the primary school attendance lists for the day and sent for the files to arrive from Kuriga the same day. FIJ saw them before they were transported to the government house at about 12:30 pm. LEA primary school attendance registe
“Some persons escaped that day and found their ways out of captivity,” Jibrin Kuriga, a resident of the area, whose 9-year-old daughter was abducted, told FIJ. “These people who escaped were not up to 50, so they do not account for the total number of persons still missing.
“We don’t know the total figure yet, but even the government has not told us how many they rescued or what their names are.” Jibrin Kuriga at Government House
Jibrin was in the meeting with the government, and FIJ interviewed him at the government house after the meeting. He was involved in talks, as he was the first person the terrorists spoke with after the abduction.
Kuriga residents described him as a negotiator and intermediary between the community, government and terrorists and said he was the one who informed them of the N1 billion ransom demand.
“We told Jibrin we do not have that kind of money,” some of the abducted schoolchildren’s parents told FIJ. “But he told us the terrorists did not want our money; they wanted N1 billion from the government because the children were ‘government’s children’, according to them.”
When FIJ asked Jibrin if the government paid ransom, he said, “No! No ransom was paid.” But he stated he did not know how the military rescued the children or if any arrests were made. He also said he was not the only one with access to the terrorists.
Meanwhile, FIJ confirmed 287 persons were abducted on March 7.
“We have the full list. There were 287 abductees, including pupils, students and teachers,” a security officer told FIJ. “This list was compiled by parents and teachers and given to the vice principal because even the principal of the junior secondary school was kidnapped.
“The government and military have not said anything about the principal’s rescue or release. The highest-ranking staff member is the vice principal, and he was at the meeting in the government house. The school had two principals: one for the senior secondary school and another for the junior secondary school. The senior secondary school principal was killed in his home earlier this year, while the junior one was abducted on March 7. The total number is 287.”
FIJ learned that the schoolchildren had been taken to a military hospital for check-ups and would likely be presented to their parents on Monday.
FIJ called Abdallah Yunusah, a senior special assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on media and publicity, but his number was unreachable. As of press time, he also had not responded to our text message.
Voice, Data Services Affected by Undersea Cable Cuts Restored
Following the disruption on March 14, 2024, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics along the coasts of Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal, we are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90% of their peak utilization capacities.
All operators who were impacted by the cuts have taken recovery capacity from submarine cables which were not impacted by the cuts, and have thus recovered approximately 90% of their peak utilisation capacities.
Mobile Network Operators have assured the Commission that data and voice services would operate optimally pending full repairs of the undersea cables as they have managed to activate alternative connectivities to bring back the situation to normalcy.
We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre cuts.
Signed:
Reuben Muoka Director, Public Affairs 18th March, 2024
The Creator Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Napoleon
Best Supporting Actor WINNER: Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer✓
Sterling K Brown, American Fiction Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon Ryan Gosling, Barbie Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Best International Feature WINNER: The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom✓
Io Capitano, Italy Perfect Days, Japan Society of the Snow, Spain The Teacher’s Lounge, Germany
Best Costume Design WINNER: Poor Things✓
Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Napoleon Oppenheimer
Best Production Design WINNER: Poor Things✓
Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Napoleon Oppenheimer
Best Hair and Make-Up WINNER: Poor Things✓
Golda Maestro Oppenheimer Society of the Snow
Best Adapted Screenplay WINNER: Cord Jefferson, American Fiction✓
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, Barbie Tony McNamara, Poor Things Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Best Original Screenplay WINNER: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall✓
David Hemingson, The Holdovers Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer, Maestro Samy Burch, May December Celine Song, Past Lives
Best Animated Feature WINNER: The Boy and the Heron✓
Elemental Nimona Robot Dreams Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Animated Short WINNER: War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko✓
Letter to a Pig Ninety-Five Senses Our Uniform Pachyderme
Best Supporting Actress WINNER: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers✓
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple America Ferrera, Barbie Jodie Foster, Nyad
Best Documentary Feature WINNER: 20 Days in Mariupol✓
Bobi Wine: The People’s President The Eternal Memory Four Daughters To Kill a Tiger
Best Cinematography WINNER: Oppenheimer✓
El Conde Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Poor Things
Best Editing WINNER: Oppenheimer✓
Anatomy of a Fall The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Poor Things
Best Sound WINNER: The Zone of Interest✓
The Creator Maestro Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Oppenheimer
Best Original Song WINNER: “What Was I Made For?”, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Barbie✓
“I’m Just Ken,” Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, Barbie “The Fire Inside,” Diane Warren, Flamin’ Hot “It Never Went Away,” Jon Batiste, American Symphony “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” Osage Tribal Singers, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Original Score WINNER: Oppenheimer✓
American Fiction Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Killers of the Flower Moon Poor Things
Best Live-Action Short WINNER: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar✓
The After Invincible Knight of Fortune Red, White and Blue
Best Documentary Short WINNER: The Last Repair Shop✓
The ABCs of Book Banning The Barber of Little Rock Island in Between Nai Nai & Wài Pó
Best Director WINNER: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer✓
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
Best Actress WINNER: Emma Stone, Poor Things✓
Annette Bening, Nyad Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Best Actor WINNER: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer✓
Bradley Cooper, Maestro Colman Domingo, Rustin Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Best Picture WINNER: Oppenheimer✓
American Fiction Anatomy of a Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Past Lives Poor Things The Zone of Interest
Freelance copywriter Chai Wanrou thinks marriage is an unfair institution. Like many young women in China, she is part of a growing movement that envisions a future with no husband and no children, presenting the government with a challenge it could do without.
"Regardless of whether you're extremely successful or just ordinary, women still make the biggest sacrifices at home," the 28-year-old feminist said at a cafe in the northwestern city of Xian.
"Many who got married in previous generations, especially women, sacrificed themselves and their career development, and didn't get the happy life they were promised. Living my own life well is difficult enough nowadays," she told Reuters.
President Xi Jinping last year stressed the need to "cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing" as China's population fell for a second consecutive year and new births reached historic lows.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also vowed to "work towards a birth-friendly society" and boost childcare services in this year's government work report.
The Communist Party views the nuclear family as the bedrock of social stability, with unmarried mothers stigmatised and largely denied benefits. But a growing number of educated women, facing unprecedented insecurity amid record youth unemployment and an economic downturn, are espousing "singleism" instead.
China's single population aged over 15 hit a record 239 million in 2021, according to official data. Marriage registrations rebounded slightly last year due to a pandemic backlog, after reaching historic lows in 2022. A 2021 Communist Youth League survey of some 2,900 unmarried urban young people found that 44% of women do not plan to marry.
Marriage, however, is still regarded as a milestone of adulthood in China and the proportion of adults who never marry remains low. But in an other sign of its declining popularity, many Chinese are delaying tying the knot, with the average age of first marriage rising to 28.67 in 2020 from 24.89 in 2010, according to census data.
In Shanghai, this figure reached 30.6 for men and 29.2 for women last year, according to city statistics.
"Feminist activism is basically not allowed (in China), but refusing marriage and childbirth can be said to be ... a form of non-violent disobedience towards the patriarchal state," said Lü Pin, a Chinese feminist activist based in the United States.
NO APOLOGIES After decades of improving women's education levels, workforce participation and social mobility, Chinese authorities now face a dilemma as the same group of women have become increasingly resistant to their propaganda.
Long-term single lifestyles are gradually becoming more widespread in China, giving rise to online communities of mostly single women who seek solidarity from like-minded people.
Posts with the hashtags "No marriage, no children" from female influencers often in their thirties or forties on Xiaohongshu, China's Instagram, regularly gain thousands of likes.
One anti-marriage forum on Douban, another social media platform, has 9,200 members, while another dedicated to "singleism" has 3,600 members who discuss collective retirement plans, among other topics.
Liao Yueyi, a 24-year-old unemployed graduate in the southern city of Nanning, recently declared to her mother that she "wakes up from nightmares about having children". "No marriage or kids is a decision I've made after deep consideration. I don't owe anyone an apology, my parents have accepted it," she posted on WeChat.
Instead she has decided to "lie flat" - a Chinese expression that means doing just enough to get by - and save money for future travels.
"I think it's okay to date or cohabit, but children are a huge asset investment with minimal returns," she said, adding that she has discussed renting a house with some female friends when they all retire.
Many of the women interviewed cited a desire for self-exploration, disillusionment with patriarchal Chinese family dynamics and a lack of "enlightened" male partners as the main factors behind their decision to stay single and childless.
Gender equality also plays a role: all the women said it was difficult to find a man who valued their autonomy and believed in equal division of household labour.
"There's an oversupply of highly educated women and not enough highly educated men," said Xiaoling Shu, professor of sociology at the University of California, Davis. Decades of the one-child policy have led to 32.3 million more men than women in 2022, according to official data.
"College-educated women become stronger believers in advocating for their rights and status in society," Shu said. "Well-educated women in search of supportive life partners find fewer suitable men who also endorse women's rights."
While not all the women interviewed identified as feminist or viewed themselves as deliberately defying the government, their actions reflect a broader trend of Chinese female empowerment expressed through personal choices.
And even though some analysts believe that the number of people who remain single for life will not grow exponentially in the future, delayed marriages and falling fertility are likely to pose a threat to China's demographic goals.
"In the long run, women's enthusiasm for marriage and childbirth will only continue to decrease," said feminist Lü.
"I believe this is the most important long-term crisis that China will face."
Stop the double standards and killings in Gaza - Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has called on Israel to drop its ‘double standards’ and stop the killings in Gaza.
Tuggar, who was part of the delegation led by President Bola Tinubu to Qatar, made the call in an interview with Al Jazeera.
During their visit to the Asian country, President Tinubu and Qatari authorities had several meetings where potential collaboration in the energy, trade, labour and agriculture sectors were discussed.
However, following the meetings, Tuggar granted an interview with Al Jazeerah to discuss Nigeria’s upcoming projects and relationship with other countries.
Responding to a question on the unending conflict between Israel and Palestine, the minister asked Israel to stop killing innocent civilians in Gaza.
“There is no justification for the carnage that is going on in Gaza. It has to stop. There is no justification for the complete disregard for the proportionality of force that is being meted out on innocent civilians, on kids on children, on babies on women,” Tuggar said.
While calling on Israel to drop what he described as a double standard, the minister maintained that the situation is no longer unacceptable.
He reiterated Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution to the lingering conflict between the two entities, adding that Palestine has every right to exist like Israel.
The minister said, “Nigeria has been consistent with its support for a two-state solution. The state of Palestine has every right to exist as an independent sovereign nation, the same way that Israel has a right to exist as an independent sovereign nation.
“But this carnage is completely out of hand and totally unacceptable. There is no way to explain the double standards; it has to stop.”
Tuggar also stressed the independence of Nigeria as a sovereign nation, saying the West African country gets along with all countries and is not compelled to follow any other country’s lead.
Instagram and Facebook are experiencing widespread problems, locking users out of their accounts and failing to load properly.
Outages reported on Down Detector shot up just before 3pm, with more than 300,000 problems logged.
More than 25,000 Instagram outages were also reported via the website, which collates status reports from several sources, including users.
Problems on Facebook appear to leave users unable to login, with users logged out and unable to reset their password or access their accounts.
On Instagram, there are problems loading users' timelines, stories and comments.
Sky News understands some of Meta's internal systems have also been affected by the outage.
Meta, the parent company for both platforms, has not yet commented officially on the issue.
However Andy Stone, communications director at Meta, posted on X, formerly Twitter: "We're aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now."
France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.
Parliamentarians voted to revise the country's 1958 constitution to enshrine women's "guaranteed freedom" to abort.
The overwhelming 780-72 vote saw a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.
President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride" that had sent a "universal message".
However anti-abortion groups have strongly criticised the change, as has the Vatican.
Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but polls show around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to protect the right to end a pregnancy.
And while several other countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions - France is the first to explicitly state that an abortion will be guaranteed.
It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France's founding document, and the first since 2008.
Following the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in celebration, with the message: "My Body My Choice".
Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers".
"We're sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you," he added.
While resistance from right-wingers in parliament failed to materialise, President Macron has been accused of using the constitution for electoral ends.
Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary, and accused the president of trying to use the cause to boost his left-wing credentials.
Since 1975 the law has been updated nine times - and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.
France's constitutional council - the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws - has never raised a query.
In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.
So many jurists say abortion was already a constitutional right.
The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was removed by the Supreme Court in 2022. Individual states are now able to ban the procedure again, ending the right to an abortion for millions of women.
The move to enshrine abortion in the French constitution has been welcomed by many.
"This right (to abortion) has retreated in the United States. And so nothing authorised us to think that France was exempt from this risk," said Laura Slimani, from the Fondation des Femmes rights group.
"There's a lot of emotion, as a feminist activist, also as a woman," she said.
But not all support it, with the Vatican repeating its opposition to abortion.
The Vatican opposes move The Pontifical Academy for Life recalls that in the era of universal human rights, there can be no 'right' to take a human life," the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops. It appealed to "all governments and all religious traditions to do their best so that, in this phase of history, the protection of life becomes an absolute priority.
The particular life situations and difficult and tragic contexts of our time must be addressed on the basis of a law which seeks above all to protect the weakest and most vulnerable.
The U.S. Supreme Court handed Donald Trump a major victory on Monday as he campaigns to regain the presidency, barring states from disqualifying candidates for federal office under a constitutional provision involving insurrection and reversing a judicial decision that had excluded him from Colorado's ballot.
The justices unanimously reversed a Dec. 19 decision by Colorado's top court to kick Trump off the state's Republican primary ballot on Tuesday after finding that the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment disqualified him from again holding public office. The Colorado court had found that Trump took part in an insurrection for inciting and supporting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.
Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. His only remaining rival for his party's nomination is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
The ruling came on the eve of Super Tuesday, the day in the U.S. presidential primary cycle when the most states hold party nominating contests.
"BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!," Trump wrote on his social media platform immediately after the ruling.
The 14th Amendment's Section 3 bars from office any "officer of the United States" who took an oath "to support the Constitution of the United States" and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."
"We conclude that states may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But states have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the presidency," the unsigned opinion for the court stated.
The justices found that only Congress can enforce the provision against federal officeholders and candidates.
'MOMENTOUS AND DIFFICULT ISSUES' Though the justices unanimously agreed with the result, the court's three liberal justices, as well as conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, said the court's opinion decided more than what was necessary to resolve the case.
"We cannot join an opinion that decides momentous and difficult issues unnecessarily, and we therefore concur only in the judgment," liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote.
"In my judgment, this is not the time to amplify disagreement with stridency. The court has settled a politically charged issue in the volatile season of a presidential election. Particularly in this circumstance, writings on the court should turn the national temperature down, not up," Barrett wrote.
"For present purposes, our differences are far less important than our unanimity: All nine Justices agree on the outcome of this case. That is the message Americans should take home," Barrett added.
Trump was also barred from the ballot in Maine and Illinois based on the 14th Amendment, but those decisions were put on hold pending the Supreme Court's ruling in the Colorado case.
The Supreme Court resolved the Colorado ballot dispute speedily, a timeline that stands in contrast to its slower handling of Trump's bid for immunity from criminal prosecution in a federal case in which he faces charges for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. Trump's trial has been put on hold awaiting the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision - a benefit for him as he campaigns against Biden.
In the Colorado dispute, the justices agreed to take up the case a mere two days after Trump filed his appeal, fast-tracked arguments and issued the written opinion in just over two months.
The justices in the immunity case in December declined a bid to speed up resolution of the matter before a lower court had weighed in, then last week agreed to take up the matter after lower courts had ruled - setting arguments to take place in late April, a much longer timeline.
Trump's eligibility had been challenged in court by a group of six voters in Colorado - four Republicans and two independents - who portrayed him as a threat to American democracy and sought to hold him accountable for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.
The plaintiffs were backed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal watchdog group.
As lawsuits seeking to disqualify Trump cropped up across the country, it was important for his candidacy to clear any hurdles to appear on the ballot in all 50 states.
The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority includes three Trump appointees. Not since ruling in the landmark case Bush v. Gore, which handed the disputed 2000 U.S. election to Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore, has the court played such a central role in a presidential race.
CAPITOL ATTACK In a bid to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's 2020 election victory, Trump supporters attacked police, broke through barricades and swarmed the Capitol. Trump gave an incendiary speech to supporters beforehand, repeating his false claims of widespread voting fraud and telling them to go to the Capitol and "fight like hell." He then for hours rebuffed requests that he urge the mob to stop.
The 14th Amendment was ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War of 1861-1865 in which seceding Southern states that allowed the practice of slavery rebelled against the U.S. government.
In ruling against Trump, Colorado's top court cited the "general atmosphere of political violence that President Trump created" and that he aided "the insurrectionists' common unlawful purpose of preventing the peaceful transfer of power in this country."
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Feb. 8. Trump's lawyer argued that he is not subject to the disqualification language because a president is not an "officer of the United States," that the provision cannot be enforced by courts absent congressional legislation, and that what occurred on Jan. 6 was shameful, criminal and violent but not an insurrection.
US vice-president Kamala Harris has bluntly called out Israel for not doing enough to ease a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza as the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to rein in its close ally while it wages war with Hamas militants.
Harris, speaking on Sunday in front of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where state troopers beat US civil rights marchers nearly six decades ago, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept a deal to release hostages in return for a 6-week cessation of hostilities.
But she directed the bulk of her comments at Israel in what appeared to be the sharpest rebuke yet by a senior leader in the US government over the conditions in the coastal enclave.
“People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act,” Harris said at an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Alabama.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses,” Harris said.
Her comments reflected intense frustration within the US government about the war, which has hurt president Joe Biden’s standing with left-leaning voters as he seeks re-election this year.
Harris said Israel must open new border crossings, not impose “unnecessary restrictions” on aid delivery, protect humanitarian personnel and convoys from becoming targets, and work to restore basic services and promote order so that “more food, water and fuel can reach those in need.“
The United States carried out its first airdrop of aid into Gaza on Saturday and Harris is scheduled to meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday at the White House, where she is expected to deliver a similarly direct message.
On Sunday, a Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo for the latest round of ceasefire talks, billed by many as the final possible hurdle for a truce, but it was unclear if any progress was made. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth’s online version reported that Israel boycotted the talks after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages who are still alive.
“Hamas claims its wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal,” Harris said. “Let’s get a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza”.
Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and has been pushing to put in place a truce by the start of Ramadan, a week away. A US official on Saturday said Israel has agreed on a framework deal.
An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told the Reuters news agency the deal was “not yet there”. There was no official comment from Israel.
Qatari and US mediators also arrived in the Egyptian capital on Sunday, according to the state-linked Al Qahera News.
Ceasefire talks come after the death last week of more than 100 Palestinians approaching an aid truck in Gaza, an incident Harris recalled during her speech.
“We saw hungry, desperate people approach aid trucks simply trying to secure food their family after weeks of barely no aid reaching northern Gaza and they were met with gunfire and chaos,” Harris said.
Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a crowd crush.
Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some “looters” who “approached our forces and posed an immediate threat”.
Muatasem Salah, a member of the emergency committee at the ministry of health in Gaza, told Reuters the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.
In her comments, Harris laid out specific ways in which the Israeli government could allow more aid into Gaza.
“They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted, and they must work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more food, water and fuel can reach those in need.”
Hundreds of inmates have broken out of a prison in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, as armed gangs stormed the city.
An outbreak of violence since Thursday has targeted the city's international airport, police stations and the National Penitentiary prison.
It comes as gang leader Jimmy Cherizier pledged to oust the country's acting prime minister Ariel Henry.
On Friday he called on the Haitian military and national police to 'take responsibility' and arrest Mr Henry, who has served as prime minister since the assassination of Haiti's last president Jovenel Moise in 2021.
Cherizier, known as Barbecue, is a former police officer who now leads a gang alliance and has faced sanctions from the United Nations and US Department of Treasury.
A demonstrator holds up the flag of Haiti during protests against the country's prime minister Gang violence since Thursday in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince has left at least five dead Pictured: A burnt car outside the city's National Penitentiary prison where hundreds of inmates are reported to have escaped Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti's power company after it was targeted by demonstrators An inmate in a prison cell from where criminals broke out Inmates wave their hands out of the windows of the prison where armed gangs stormed overnight Protests have broken out against acting prime minister Ariel Henry, who took office in 2021 after assassination of President Jovenel Moise Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee metropolitan areas which are gripped with unrest and controlled by gangs One the country's largest police unions called on all officers to help regain control of the prison
Mr Henry had agreed to hold elections no later than the end of August 2025, CNN reported.
Over 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes from indiscriminate killing and rape in Port-au-Prince, which is largely controlled by gangs.
One of the country's policing unions, the National Police Syndicate of Haiti, posted on X that if efforts to contain the escape of inmates were unsuccesful than 'we are done for'.
It added there would be 3000 extra criminals on the loose, and urged all officers to assist in regaining control of the prison.
The UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise against all travel to Haiti, which has been plagued with unrest in recent years.
January was labelled by the UN as the most violent month in recent years, with around 1,100 people killed.
On Thursday, flights were suspended at the capital's Toussaint Louverture International Airport amid gunfire, while several fire stations across the city have since been burnt down.
Other pictures showed workers putting out flames at the offices of Haiti's power company after they were targeted by demonstrators.
President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. will begin air-dropping humanitarian assistance into Gaza, a day after dozens of Palestinians were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops.
The president announced the move after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 others were injured, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, on Thursday when witnesses said nearby Israeli troops opened fire as huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.
Biden said the air drops will begin in the “coming days.”
Israel said many of the dead were trampled in a stampede linked to the chaos and that its troops fired at some in the crowd who they believed moved toward them in a threatening way. Biden made the announcement while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White house.
Super Eagles coach, José Peseiro, whose contract with the NFF expired on Thursday, in this interview with Goal.com talks about the pressure of managing Nigeria’s national team, his experience at the last Africa Cup of Nations, his relationship with Africa and his future with the team
First of all, how are you? Were you able to rest a little after the African Cup of Nations?
Yes, I rested and I am still resting. My contract ends in two days. The AFCON was an exhausting tournament, I must admit. We did a good job, me, the staff and the players. There was a lot of energy expended.
It was an AFCON with a lot of strong emotions. How did you experience this competition on a personal level?
It was a fantastic experience. It was my first AFCON. Some of my colleagues told me that it is different from other tournaments. The context changes. And I felt it. It was full of emotions. The public’s enthusiasm is unique. There was also some great competition. All the teams and players gave their all for their country. And African football was able to display all that it has in qualities. There was also a lot of pressure on the teams, not just from their fans but from their countries as well.
And what differentiates the AFCON from other tournaments you have played like the Copa America (with Venezuela) or the Asian Cup (with Saudi Arabia).
In terms of atmosphere, it is incomparable. Already, with Venezuela, there was none at all because we were playing during the Covid period. The stadiums were empty. In Asia, it’s different. I believe that here in Africa, there is greater proximity with the supporters or even the media. Which makes it more alive. But that also means there’s more pressure. And when it comes to the football produced, it’s different too, that’s for sure. The level of commitment and standards are different. This can be seen in particular with matches that are more open. Even teams that are less technically well equipped manage to provide beautiful football through the enthusiasm and commitment they offer. And then, it must be said that there are very good players in Africa. 90 per cent of them play in Europe, in very good championships. And the Europeans may be pretending not to be interested in this tournament, but I can tell you that they all have their eyes on it.
You reached the final with Nigeria. Did you think you could get this far before the tournament?
From the first day when the president of the federation called on me and I took a look at this team and the matches they played, I told everyone that I want to win the next AFCON because I was certain that we could do it. I believed it, my staff believed it, my players too, but not the people outside. And I’m happy because we did a fantastic job reaching the final. It has been shown that Nigeria still belongs to the best nations on the continent. And who wants to fight for trophies. On the other hand, I’m also sad because we lost.
Precisely, the feeling which predominates between satisfaction, pride and frustration in relation to the fact of not having won, which is it?
After the final, I was definitely sad. Because we are competitors and as soon as I took charge of this team, I wanted to win this tournament. We wanted to win it. During my first meeting with the players, which I did in the United States for my first match, I told them during my presentation that I came here to win the next AFCON. And since we didn’t manage to do it, I can’t be happy. But on the other hand, when I saw the way the Nigerian people and government welcomed us when we returned to Abuja after the AFCON, I could only be proud of what we achieved. People were satisfied and they thanked us. Everyone in the streets, and even the media, made us understand that they were happy with us. And that’s a good feeling. They saw our matches and they know what we did. We fought until the end and against the very big selections. We were not favorites at the start, unlike Ivory Coast or Senegal. And teams like Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Cameroon, with very rich squads, came out quite early. We reached the final. So I am satisfied. But the satisfaction is not complete because we wanted to win.
What did you lack to win the competition?
There are two things. First there is the fact that Ivory Coast reached the final of the competition having avoided the worst each time. They were almost eliminated three times. In the final, they were more liberated. They weren’t under as much pressure as at the start of the competition. Second thing, I think the energy there was that day in the stadium touched us. If I had to rate our performance, it was perhaps our worst game. In previous matches, we have always been in control and we have created a lot of opportunities. But in this match, even at 1-0 for us, we were feverish. The atmosphere penalised my players. We didn’t have the same abilities. There were too many lost balls. If I had to analyse, I would say that two or three of my players played at their true level. They wanted to do their best, but they couldn’t.
How to explain this nervousness?
I’m sure if another final was played a week later, we would have won it. Because many players have never had the experience of a AFCON final. 14 of our players have never played in a AFCON final phase. While the Ivorians had experienced players. We tried to play down the event, trying to forget the pressure and the responsibilities that weighed on our shoulders, but it wasn’t enough. Yes, the final is about winning and we must seize this opportunity. But we still felt nervous, including in the semi-final against South Africa. Once again, the atmosphere made the environment not conducive to a great performance from us. And it’s also my responsibility, I should have made sure that they were more liberated. And I am still very happy with them and very proud. They did a great job. And no one can blame them. This new final will perhaps take place next year in Morocco.
How did you manage to transform a selection that was in difficulty before the competition into a team that was almost an African champion? What was the method?
The matches before the tournament were used to help the team progress. And despite this, we only lost to Guinea at home. And during a match where we created a lot of opportunities. In qualifying for the World Cup, it’s true that it wasn’t good. Against Lesotho, it was the same thing, we dominated a lot and they scored on one of their only two shots of the match. Against Zimbabwe, the conditions were bad. Many parameters impacted our performance there. Then, in our preparation for this tournament, I chose a different way to play. With my staff, we realized that we were playing offensively in our 4-4-2 system, that we were creating a lot of chances but that we were conceding avoidable goals on semi-chances. I felt that our team needed more solidity. More confidence in our defensive work and our organization.
And how did you go about making your team more balanced?
So I chose differently. We opted for 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 systems. We started working on these two diagrams in Abu Dhabi during our internship. And the guys very quickly understood what we wanted to do. From the first match against Equatorial Guinea, even if we didn’t win, it bore fruit. They put into practice what we had worked on. Everyone got into tune, following the offensive and defensive instructions to the letter. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to work on the offensive aspect a little more. Defensively, there was nothing to say. The guys understood everything well. We were perfect until the final, where unfortunately two mistakes cost us dearly. And once again, I put it down to pressure. In 3-4-3, we played very well and it was best suited to our team. With wingers who help our attackers, and a 3-man defense which maintains our balance. And I told them that this system will allow us not to concede too many goals and to score one. This is what we did in the final at the start, by scoring first. It was very hard to create chances against us. But once again, offensively, we weren’t 100% of what we could do. I would say only 70 per cent. We would have needed a little more time to be completely up to speed with this plan.
Were you surprised by the level shown by some of your players during the competition? I’m thinking in particular of Lookman or goalkeeper Nwabali?
I don’t like to talk too much about individual performances. I prefer to talk about collective performances. Well, there is Victor Osimhen who didn’t score a lot, but what a collective job he did! Everyone talks about his ability to finish plays, but we don’t talk enough about the efforts he makes for the team. Overall, our team did an excellent job. So yes, Nwabali was excellent, making many decisive saves, but it’s not just him. It was a fantastic performance from everyone. Even the attackers contributed to our good defensive performance.
So there was a good group spirit…
Yes and I am very satisfied, even with those who have not played. They were all magnificent. Because to reach the final of such a tournament, everything must be perfect. You have to train well at 25, have a good atmosphere on and off the pitch. The key to our success was the excellent collective state of mind we had. Whether it’s from those who played a lot, those who played less or those who didn’t play at all. Everyone was impeccable. Nobody complained. Of course, there were some who were sad because it’s not easy to be in a big tournament and not play. But everyone sacrificed themselves for the collective. During training, they put themselves at the service of others. Even if they wanted their places, they helped them. In the investment, for 40 days, everyone was perfect. And it’s not easy to be during this whole period, especially when you are away from your families. They were resistant.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. How do you manage popular pressure when you are Nigeria coach?
For me, considering my age and the experience I have, it’s not that difficult. I prepare in advance. I knew it. The media and social networks can have a positive side for our lives, but sometimes it is negative. But we have to be understandable. And also accept it, because we can’t change anything. Sometimes it wrongly criticizes us and it’s not pleasant, and it’s not only in football that we see this. But I can bear it. I never respond to criticism or fake news. It’s not easy playing for the Super Eagles. It’s a heavy jersey to wear. Not like the others. You have 200 million Nigerians behind you. And who put pressure on you and complain. Sometimes they also use bad terms when talking about players. Against me too, but I know how to manage. On the other hand, when it comes to the players, it upsets me. Because the players feel it and they suffer from it.
Are you trying to protect them from criticism?
Yes, by talking to them and telling them not to pay too much attention to it. There is often fake news coming from our country and I don’t know why. And to this is added the pressure that their own family puts on them. It is our role, with all my staff, to put them at ease and encourage them not to give importance to what is being said. And it’s not just criticism that can be dangerous. When people praise you and congratulate you, you can also lose your ground. You are in the clouds and you think you are too beautiful and that is also the best way to fall. You have to find the right balance and it’s not easy in football, especially for young players who have never set foot in Africa. Mental trainers are also there for that. And we, the coaches, protect them from that, by saying “only listen to us”. And my staff helped me a lot. My captains too, like Troost-Ekong, Omeruo and Musa. I asked them at the beginning to explain and show me how the players reason and how to adapt and what strategy to choose for everything related to the selection, not just the footballing side.
Seeing other national selections approach you, must that be flattering? Surely you are not insensitive?
Yes it’s good. Especially now and after this tournament. We lost in the final, but everyone recognizes our very good work. But it’s also thanks to the players and we can’t do anything without them. We are only coaches, we are not geniuses. I am happy. I am grateful to them and also to the staff. It’s hard work and it’s even harder in Africa. The players believed in us and gave their best, even those who didn’t play. And I apologize to those I was unable to satisfy, particularly in terms of playing time. I have always worked and chosen for the best in the national selection. If I could, I would have put 25 players on the field each time. Because they all had the potential to play. Thanks to them.
Do you enjoy the work of a coach more than that of a club coach?
These are different contexts. I like both. Before, I liked clubs more because we are in contact with the players on a daily basis. But I adapted to this new role as coach. I would say that I love both jobs equally. Coaching also means choosing players, watching a lot of matches throughout the week. But in both cases, we remain a coach. It’s the best activity in the world. It’s very motivating and it gives us a lot of emotion. In fact, the most important thing for me is the project.
What can we wish you for the future?
Earn. I would like to play in the World Cup, I would like to work in England, work in Brazil… I have already been to many countries. Nine countries and four continents. All the experiences I’ve had, I’ve enjoyed. Because there were connections and emotions, even in the teams where we did not have good results. I would like to continue working, with projects where we will be able to aim for success. And where I will continue to do my job because I love football.
I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.
I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.
When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.
As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against.
As a consequence of the decision announced today I will appeal this before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Dear Customer, we sincerely apologise for the challenges experienced with our services yesterday, caused by significant damage to our fibre cables. This has been resolved and services fully restored. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Jose Peseiro has reportedly decided to quit his post as Head Coach of the Super Eagles. He’s expected to officially leave tomorrow, per multiple reports!
Pulse Sports Nigeria
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has opened up on his next coaching steps after AFCON 2023.
Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the just concluded AFCON 2023, losing 2-1 to host nation Ivory Coast in a nervy final.
The 63-year-old Portuguese tactician is reportedly a free agent following the expiration of his contract with the NFF and is yet to decide on his next coaching job.
Peseiro has been linked with the vacant Algeria job and insists he has up to 7 offers on his table.
“I told everyone to come back at the end of the month. What is certain is that I want to continue coaching and I need to choose wisely,” he told Goal.
“At this moment, I repeat, all options remain possible. I received a lot of options and a lot of contacts from national teams or clubs.
“I would say 5, 6 or 7 offers.
“I let them all know that I need to rest and that when my contract expires I will talk about it and start thinking about other projects. And decide my future. For now, I need to take a break and be calm.
“But I listen to the proposals and projects that are offered to me. And I evaluate whether I like it or not.”
MTN Nigeria has confirmed that it suffered a glitch that impacted user’s efforts across the country.
The glitch caused an uproar among many customers who were not able to carry out business activities using their sims.
In a statement published on social media, the telecommunications provider said its engineers are working hard to resolve the network issues.
The multinational giants said: “You have been experiencing challenges connecting to the network due to a major service outage caused by multiple fibre cuts, affecting voice and data services.
“Our engineers are working hard to resolve with services gradually being restored in some areas.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and ask for your patience and understanding as the team works to restore full service as soon as possible.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that sending Western troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out, as European leaders concluded a summit on supporting Kyiv.
"There is no consensus today to send ground troops officially but ... nothing is ruled out," Macron said at a press conference in Paris, where the meeting had just wrapped up. "We will do whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war."
"The defeat of Russia is indispensable to the security and stability of Europe," the French president added.
Macron confirmed the topic of Western boots on the ground in Ukraine was discussed in a "very free and direct" manner, adding that "everything is possible, if it is useful." The subject was first raised publicly by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who said a "restricted document" ahead of the summit had implied "that a number of NATO and EU member states were considering sending troops to Ukraine on a bilateral basis."
EU leaders also moved toward an agreement on scaling up ammunition purchases for Ukraine from third-country providers — something that goes against France's strategic autonomy agenda and desire to boost European defense industries.
On Monday evening, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he received "big support" at the talks in Paris from European partners for his proposal to source shells from outside the EU for Kyiv. The Czech Republic is leading a campaign to raise €1.4 billion to pay for ammunition for Ukraine, in compensation for a blocked U.S. aid package and delays in EU deliveries.
The French president said Paris "would take part in the initiative," adding: "We're totally open to it, the only objective is to be effective in helping the Ukrainians."
Delegates indicated that countries were taking stock of what shells were available for purchase on the market before making a decision in 10 days' time.
For France, this is a significant shift. Previously, Paris argued that rushed purchases of non-EU weapons and shells risks de-incentivizing European defense manufactures at a time when the Continent needs to be more self-reliant.
"It is a recognition of the challenge Ukraine faces, and that there is a bit more give, it's a credit to the French. They've had a longstanding concern [about purchases from non-EU countries], and it's a sign that they are willing to be pragmatic," said Mujtaba Rahman, Europe head of the Eurasia Group.
Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a sharp reminder that the EU had massively undershot promises on ammunition deliveries.
Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskyy underlined the EU's failure to deliver 1 million shells by March.
"Of the million shells promised to us by the European Union, not 50 percent arrived, but 30 percent. Unfortunately," said Zelenskyy, alongside Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov at a press conference.
Macron also announced that leaders agreed to set up a ninth capability coalition on deep strikes that will focus on medium- and long-range missiles. Other coalitions include artillery, air defense and de-mining.
While France and the U.K. have already sent cruise missiles to Ukraine, respectively SCALPs and Storm Shadows, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday reiterated that his government was not in favor of providing Kyiv with its long-range Taurus missiles.
The high-level gathering in Paris came as Ukraine, which has entered its third year of war against Russia's invading forces, faces an ammunition gap on the front line and uncertainty over fickle Western support, despite having signed bilateral security deals with France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Denmark.
Williams Troost-Ekong is out for the rest of the season. The Super Eagles Captain and 2023 AFCON MVP will undergo surgery in Finland on Tuesday to repair a ruptured biceps femoris in his right leg.
He suffered the hamstring injury in the 2023 AFCON group stage game against IvoryCoast, but played through the pain to help Nigeria get to the Final.😥❤️
A man set himself on fire on Sunday afternoon outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. A U.S. Air Force spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, confirmed on Sunday night that the man was an active-duty airman.
Officers with the U.S. Secret Service extinguished the fire outside the embassy, in northwestern Washington, around 1 p.m., said Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman with the city’s fire department. The man was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition.
No embassy staff members were injured, and all were accounted for, according to Tal Naim, a spokeswoman for the embassy.
The man appeared to have filmed the protest and livestreamed it on the social media platform Twitch at the time that the police said they responded to the incident. The New York Times could not confirm who was behind the account that posted the video, but the video featured a man walking toward the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
“I will no longer be complicit in genocide,” a man said in the video, echoing language that opponents of Israel’s military action in Gaza have used to describe the campaign. “I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest.”
Standing in front of the embassy gates, he set his phone down to film dousing himself in a clear liquid from a metal bottle. He then lit himself on fire while yelling “Free Palestine!” until he fell to the ground.
The video showed law enforcement officers approaching him shortly before the fire caught. One could be heard off-camera saying: “Can I help you, sir?" The officers then scrambled for more than a minute to put out the flames.
The video was removed on Sunday afternoon and replaced with a message stating that the channel violated Twitch's guidelines. It was the only video posted to the account, which had a Palestinian flag as its header image.
In the video, the man was dressed in fatigues, and the name he used matched a Linkedin profile for an active-duty Air Force officer based in Texas.
The police also investigated a suspicious vehicle nearby for explosives, but Sean Hickman, a police spokesman, said the scene had been cleared by 4 p.m. Officers with the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had worked with Washington's Explosive Ordinance disposal unit to investigate the incident.
Protests against Israel have become a near-daily occurrence across the country since Israel began its campaign in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that killed at least 1,200 people, according to the Israeli officials. International calls for a humanitarian cease-fire have grown in the past months as the humanitarian crisis has deepened. The embassy has been the site of sustained protests against the war in Gaza as the civilian death toll in the devastated enclave continues to climb,with more than 29,000 dead, according to the local health ministry officials.
Protests have sometimes resulted in arrests but seldom in violence. In December, a protester self-immolated in front of the Israeli consulate in Atlanta in what police said was "likely an extreme act of political protest."
#Incident: MPD responded to the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, at approximately 1:00 p.m., to assist the United States Secret Service after an individual set themselves on fire in front of an embassy in the block.
An adult male was transported by DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition. MPD is working with the USSS and ATF to investigate the incident. (L
MPD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) has also been requested to scene in reference to a suspicious vehicle that may be connected to the individual. This remains an active investigation at this time.
The suspicious vehicle has been cleared with no hazardous materials found.
Goals from Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi, fresh from the AFCON, got a big win for Fulham at Old Trafford.
Bassey got his first Premier league goal in the 65th minute with Iwobi sinking the hopes of the home fans with a sublime finish in the 97th, after a Harry Maguire equaliser on the stroke of 89'.
A win made in Nigeria 🇳🇬
Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey scored to help @FulhamFC earn their first win at Old Trafford since 2003 😲
U.S. President Joe Biden calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “crazy SOB” was an attempt to act like a “Hollywood cowboy,” the Kremlin said Thursday.
Biden made the remarks during a fundraiser Wednesday night in San Francisco, saying the U.S. is always forced to worry about nuclear conflict, despite climate change being “the existential threat to humanity.”
But the American leader’s comments do not faze Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
“Such boorish statements from the mouth of the head of state of the United States are unlikely to hurt the head of another state, especially President Putin,” he said, Russian media reported. “But it is a huge disgrace for the country itself.”
“It is clear that Mr. Biden demonstrates behavior in the style of a Hollywood cowboy for the sake of domestic political interests,” Peskov added.
Peskov claimed that Putin never makes insulting statements toward Biden. “If the president of such a country uses such language, it should be shameful,” he said.
During a recent interview, Putin said he can’t remember the last time he spoke with the U.S. president, adding that it was sometime before Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, he pointed out that he had a “personal relationship” with Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden has not held back in expressing his criticism of Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
Greece’s parliament voted late on Thursday to pass a landmark bill legalizing same-sex marriage and granting full parental rights to same-sex couples.
“The vote has passed: as of tonight, Greece is proud to become the 16th EU country to legislate marriage equality,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on X. “This is a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values,” he added.
The legislation has divided politics in the country, and was strongly opposed by some conservatives and the powerful Christian Orthodox church.
Around a third of Mitsotakis’ ruling conservative New Democracy party abstained or voted against the bill, but the legislation passed with the help of three center-left and left-wing opposition parties — a rare instance of cross-party support in the country’s parliament.
But the bill also caused ructions within progressive parties, in a sign of how divisive the legislation is in Greece. A third of the Socialist Pasok party abstained in the vote, alongside three MPs from left-wing Syriza and two from New Left.
A total of 176 MPs backed the bill in the 300-seat parliament, while 76 voted against and the rest abstained. The vote makes Greece the first Orthodox country to legalize same-sex marriage.
The legislation clears the way for same-sex couples to adopt and gives the same rights to both parents as a child’s legal guardian. But the bill still does not grant the right to surrogacy for same-sex couples.
Prominent conservatives railed against the bill. “Same-sex marriage does not constitute a human right,” ex-Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told lawmakers. “Τhe government should be careful: Overconfidence can lead it to become disconnected from reality and from the society.”
Despite significant opposition from within his own party, the move allows Mitsotakis to further encroach on the territory of centrists and liberals. It may also go some way in helping repair his government’s tarnished international image from an ongoing spying scandal and concerns over media freedom.
Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution expressing strong concerns about systemic violations of the rule of law, media freedom and fundamental rights in Greece.
On Thursday, in an unprecedented move, Greece’s Supreme Court issued a direct reply to the resolution arguing that it was based on “vague and unsubstantiated allegations” and constitutes a “direct interference in the work of the Greek judicial authorities.”
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