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An X sign is seen on the roof of the headquarters of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said he is considering suing a leading anti-defamation group, arguing that its accusations of anti-Semitism have led the company to lose revenue. Musk late Monday accused the US-based Jewish organization of making unfounded complaints against him and X that have scared away advertisers. "To clear our platform's name on the matter of anti-Semitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League... oh the irony!" Musk wrote on X on Monday. "Based on what we've heard from advertisers, ADL seems to be responsible for most of our revenue loss," he wrote, adding that the group "would potentially be on the hook for destroying half the value of the company, so roughly $22 billion." "Advertisers avoid controversy, so al...

A proposed loss of 100 jobs at the UK's largest chip plant has been blamed on UK government restrictions. Nexperia was ordered by UK ministers to sell its 86% stake in the Newport site, due to national security concerns. Semiconductors made at Newport Wafer Fab are used in millions of electronic products, from smartphones to household equipment and cars. The company was bought by Dutch-based firm Nexperia, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Wingtech, in July 2021. The company is now trying to sell the site in line with these directions. The UK government have been asked to comment on the proposed job losses. Bosses had described losses among the 500 staff as "inevitable" after the firm was ordered to sell its controlling stake in November 2022. UK ministers were worried about the potential influence of the Chinese government. In announcing a consultation on the job losses, a company statement said: "This is a business decision that has not been taken lightly b...

Rescue team members stand around a body bag containing a body of a victim of the floods in a campsite in Kirklareli province, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Ali Can Zeray/dia Fierce rainstorms battered neighbouring Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria on Tuesday, triggering flooding that caused at least seven deaths, including two holidaymakers swept away by a torrent that raged through a campsite in northwestern Turkey. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said four other people were missing after the flash flood swept over the campsite in Kirklareli province, near the border with Bulgaria. He noted that about 12 vacationers were at the site when the waters hit. Search teams had located two bodies, he said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The search and rescue efforts for the missing (four) continue uninterrupted,” he added. Television footage showed rescuers carrying a young girl and an adult to safety from waters reaching waist-high in some areas. T...

President of the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD) Colonel Summary ~ At least two people were killed in Guinea's capital Conakry when armed security forces attacked the neighborhoods of political activists on the eve of planned demonstrations against the junta that seized power in 2021, protest organisers said on Tuesday. A collective of opposition parties and organizations said in a statement that two young men aged 16 and 18 had been killed during an operation by security forces in the capital's suburbs on Monday, the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the September 5, 2021 putsch. No comment was obtained from the authorities. The "Forces Vives" collective had called for a "peaceful" march on Tuesday to demand a swift return to civilian rule. But the authorities banned all public gatherings. The Ministry of Territorial Administration issued a press release on Monday evening recalling "the formal ban on support movements and de...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made an unannounced visit to Kyiv where he is expected to announce a new aid package worth more than $1 billion (€930 million). The Reuters news agency cited a senior State Department official as saying Blinken's visit to Ukraine would last two days, making it the first overnight trip since Russia's invasion in February 2022. He previously visited Ukraine in April 2022 — together with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin — and September 2022.   There had been no mention of the trip from his department, and it comes as Ukraine's Parliament gets set to approve the appointment of a new defense minister. More to come...  DW  

Kenyan President William Ruto hosted the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi The landmark Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, came to a close on Wednesday with leaders adopting a joint "Nairobi declaration" to highlight the continent's potential as a green powerhouse and encourage other world leaders to support new global carbon taxes. "This declaration will serve as a basis for Africa's common position in the global climate change process," read the final document. "No country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action." Backed by the leaders of the continent of 1.3 billion people — a population set to double by 2050 — the declaration will form the basis of Africa's negotiating position at November's COP28 summit. "Decarbonizing the global economy is also an opportunity to contribute to equality and shared prosperity," it said. Calls for new global carbon taxes Agreed upon unanim...

Summary ~ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 16 people were killed in a Russian attack on a market in the east of Ukraine. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 16 people had been killed in a Russian strike in the Donetsk region. "At this moment, the artillery of Russian terrorists has killed 16 people in the city of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. A regular market. Shops. A pharmacy. People who did nothing wrong. Many wounded," he said in a post on social media. Reports of the attack came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. ~ Development Story...  DW

Northern Ireland can be a testing centre for artificial intelligence in the UK, according to a group representing the software industry. Belfast-based IT firm Kainos announced it was investing £10m to develop the use of generative AI in its business. David Crozier, new head of The Software Alliance , believes more companies in Northern Ireland will follow suit. He described the Kainos announcement as a "super statement of intent". He said Northern Ireland had "historically been very strong at developing enterprise software solutions" so it was "no surprise" technology companies here were investing in research and innovation. "Kainos won't be the last company to make announcements in terms of investing in AI, and generative AI in particular, and I think that's where Northern Ireland can be very strong in terms of its value proposition." Mr Crozier said he believed Northern Ireland could be "the perfect petri dish and test...

As summer comes to an end and the colder months loom, what better time to book yourself in for some pampering? With outstanding views, innovative treatments, and gourmet dining, Europe is home to some of the most rejuvenating retreats in the world. Take Royal Champagne Hotel And Spa, which nestled amongst the region’s rolling vineyards offers a picture-perfect all sleep   experience. After a full-body MOT and complete detox , while going offline in the beauty of nature? VivaMayr in the Austrian Alps has you covered. Below, find pick of the best spas in Europe that deliver on luxury wellness. Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa Wind your way through the picturesque rolling vineyards of Champillon and eventually you’ll reach the elegant Royal Champagne Hotel And Spa—the region’s first contemporary luxury spa hotel. A wine-country retreat, Royal Champagne has two exceptional restaurants (including the one Michelin-starred Le Royal with a menu orchestrated b...

Jurgen Klopp said that Liverpool “want to give it a proper go” this season, and he saw signs that the his side are “a step further in the right direction” after a draw against Chelsea. The Reds’ last campaign saw them take a step in the wrong direction. In the six seasons prior, they’d not failed to finish in the top four, winning the title and finishing second in that time. Last term, they finished fifth, and could have been much worse off after a poor first few months of the season. This time around, they’ll want to get back to the heights they know they’re capable of reaching. Klopp feels the signs of that happening are good after a promising first performance. “In moments. The start was really good, both directions, offensively and defensively. We scored a super first goal, scored a sensational second goal that was unfortunately offside,” he told BBC Match of the Day . “If you ask me if I was completely happy with the game then no but I saw enough that we are a step fur...

 Few days after the Niger State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, resigned from the position, two more persons resigned their positions with the political party. The secretary and the vice chairman of the party, Barrister Khaleel Ibrahim Aliyu and Abdulsalam Madaki respectively, have also resigned saying their action had nothing to do with the perceived crisis rocking the party since the nomination of Mohammed Idris Malagi for ministerial appointment. But insiders said the resignations were directives from above as the governor does not trust the state leadership of the party since the 2022 governorship primaries. But insiders said the resignations were directives from above as the governor does not trust the state leadership of the party since the 2022 governorship primaries. Multiple sources said more officials would also resign in the coming days to pave ways for the loyalists of the governor to pilot the affairs of the party i...

The Black Sea was once a geopolitical afterthought in Europe. But that has changed since Russia began its war against Ukraine. Now, many interests are colliding on the inland sea between Europe and Asia. Since the end of the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have increased attacks on each other's merchant ships on the Black Sea. Russia has blocked the agreement since mid-July — more frequently shelling Ukrainian ports and threatening cargo ships. Ukraine, in turn, has declared six ports on Russia's Black Sea coast war-risk areas and threatened retaliatory attacks on freighters, tankers and port facilities. As a gateway to the rest of the world, the Black Sea has immense strategic and economic importance for both Russia and Ukraine. But other countries with coasts on the Black Sea — particularly the NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania — also have interests there. During the Russian Empire and, later, in Soviet times, the Black Sea formed the...

At least four people have been killed and several others injured in a "terrorist" attack at a shrine in the Iranian city of Shiraz, state media reported on Sunday. The Tasnim news agency said two gunmen attempted to enter the Shah Cheragh shrine and opened fire on visitors. One of the attackers had been arrested while the other had escaped, it added. Shah Cheragh was the scene of another attack in October, claimed by Islamic State (IS), when 13 people died.   No group has immediately claimed the latest attack. "Four people have been killed so far following a terrorist attack by two armed men on the holy shrine," the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported. ~ BBC

PARIS (AP) — Oscar-winning actors Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche, as well as other French stars of screen and music, filmed themselves chopping off locks of their hair in a video posted Wednesday in support of protesters in Iran.   “For freedom,” Binoche said as she hacked a large handful of hair off the top of her head with a pair of scissors, before brandishing it in front of the camera. The video, hashtagged HairForFreedom, comes with Iran engulfed by anti-government protests. They were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. The video of Cotillard, Binoche and dozens of other women cutting off locks of their hair was released on an Instagram account, “soutienfemmesiran” — which translates as “support women in Iran.” “These women, these men are asking for our support. Their courage and their dignity obliges us,” said a post with the video. “We have decided t...

(BBC News) The internationally-traded yuan fell to its lowest level since data first became available in 2011. China's domestic currency also reached its weakest point since the 2008 global financial crisis. It comes as the dollar continues to rise in value against other major currencies, after the US central bank increased interest rates again earlier this month. Meanwhile on Wednesday, major stock market indexes across Asia fell sharply. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed 3.4% lower, Japan's benchmark Nikkei index closed 1.5% lower and the Kospi in South Korea ended the day down by 2.4%. Many investors see the dollar as a safe place to put their money in times of trouble. That has helped to drive up its value against other currencies, including the British pound - which hit an all-time low against the dollar on Monday. Also on Wednesday, the dollar reached a fresh 20-year high against a closely-watched group of leading global currencies. The yuan's slide i...

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine will “defend” its citizens in Russian-occupied regions, as authorities there announced the results of so-called referendums that have already been denounced by the west. (The Guardian)  “This farce in the occupied territory cannot even be called an imitation of referendums,” Zelenskiy said on Tuesday in a video posted on Telegram. “We will act to protect our people: both in the Kherson region, in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the Donbas, in the currently occupied areas of the Kharkiv region, and in the Crimea.” The Ukraine president’s comments came as officials in four Moscow-occupied regions of the country claimed victory in the referendums, which have been condemned by western leaders as sham ballots. The local poll body in the southern Zaporizhzhia region said 93.1% of voters opted for Russian annexation after all ballots were counted, adding that this was a preliminary result. In Kherson, also in the south-east, authoriti...

(The Guardian) Almost a year after The Guardian report on foreign airlines departing Nigerian shores empty, the situation has changed, but for the worse. Today, more airlines are departing without exportable goods, much to the pains of stakeholders and loss of foreign exchange earnings worth billions of dollars yearly. The Guardian findings showed that besides mails that topped cargo net export in 2021, the country slumped in the export of agricultural produce following high rate of rejections and prohibitions overseas over poor packaging, documentation and alleged noncompliance with set standards. Compared to the import-to-export ratio that was given as 66:34 in 2017, last year’s ratio stood at 87:13, though movement of goods through the airports had increased by 56 per cent compared to 2020. While regulators blame exporters for failure of due diligence, operators push back on regulatory bottlenecks, one-too-many local agencies and conflicting guidelines, high cost of ...

Germany’s last competitive fixtures before the World Cup are over following a 3-3 draw with England in London. With it came a humble reminder that Germany's World Cup aspirations must be tempered with realism. England 3-3 Germany (Shaw 72', Mount 75', Kane pen 83' - Gündogan pen 52', Havertz 67', 87') Wembley Stadium (DW)  For seven weeks, Hansi Flick will sit with the sound of Harry Kane’s penalty hitting the top corner. It was the sound of the curtain being pulled back as the ugly truth of this Germany side was revealed. Thirteen games unbeaten is all well and good, but in the last two competitive games before the World Cup in Qatar Germany’s form has abandoned them . In the end, a draw flattered Germany and when Kane converted from the spot it marked an 11-minute spell in which Germany went from leading 2-0 to deservedly being 3-2 down. On the surface, this game delivered everything both sides needed ahead of a World Cup. Both scored lots of ...

Pop singer Shakira says the tax fraud allegations made against her are ‘false’ and shared that she has paid ‘everything’ that was owed. For the unversed, the 45-year-old pop star is being accused of fraud and faces up to eight years in prison after allegedly racking up six  separate counts of tax fraud totalling over $13 million. (The New Nation) However, she has decided to fight the allegations and insisted that she did not spend more than 183 days in the country, which would lead the Spanish government to count her as an official citizen, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Shakira said, “I have to fight for what I believe; because these are false accusations. First of all, I didn’t spend 183 days per year at that time at all. I was busy fulfilling my professional commitments around the world.”   Shakira continued, “Second, I’ve paid everything they claimed I owed, even before they filed a lawsuit. So as of today, I owe zero to them. And finally, I was advised by one of t...