Month: August 2023

Thembi Kgatlana scored early in stoppage time Wednesday to give South Africa a 3-2 win over Italy and send it into the knockout rounds of a Women’s World Cup for the first time. On a night of high drama and low temperatures, Hilda Magaia scored in the 67th minute to put South Africa 2-1 ahead before Arianna Caruso equalized with her second goal of the match from a Cristiana Girelli corner, briefly denting South African hopes. A draw would have been enough to put eighth-ranked Italy into the knockout rounds. Instead, South Africa will play Netherlands in a round of …

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Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were set to hold talks Wednesday in the Nigerian capital Abuja about last week’s coup in Niger, while several European nations work to evacuate their nationals from Niger.  ECOWAS said in a brief statement the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff would discuss the “political situation in the Republic of Niger” in their meetings lasting through Friday. France planned to continue running evacuation flights Wednesday after an initial plane load landed early Wednesday in Paris.  French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said 262 people were on board, mostly French nationals.  …

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The French and Japanese air forces have conducted aerial exercises in Japan, the first of their kind between the two allies. But even as Paris seeks to build its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, France has blocked proposals to open a NATO liaison office in Tokyo. The four-day joint drills are part of a larger French exercise, codenamed Pegase 2023, taking place across the Indo-Pacific in the coming weeks, including in French island territories. “It’s natural that France, a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, is particularly concerned by the geopolitical tensions felt in the region as a result of …

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The British government on Tuesday recognized as genocide those crimes committed against the Yazidi minority by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq in 2014. The decision comes days before the ninth anniversary of the crimes that were perpetrated by the terror group also known as ISIS or Daesh. “The Yazidi population suffered immensely at the hands of Daesh nine years ago, and the repercussions are still felt to this day,” Britain’s minister of state for the Middle East, Tariq Ahmad, said in a statement. “Justice and accountability are key for those whose lives have been devastated.” Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking …

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SYDNEY — Only the video assistant referee prevented England’s Lauren James from scoring a hat trick against China at the Women’s World Cup. China certainly didn’t know how to stop the forward as she scored two goals and provided three assists in a 6-1 rout on Tuesday at Adelaide, South Australia. “She did special things today … she flows over the pitch,” England Coach Sarina Wiegman said. James’ impressive performance should be a warning for future opponents of the threat she poses at this World Cup, with England entering the knockout stage with three straight wins. The Chelsea forward makes …

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Greek authorities are planning tougher penalties for arson — with fines to be increased to 10 times the current level — following a spate of major wildfires that have already caused more damage than the 2022 annual total.  Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said details of the measures would be announced next month, but added that fines for causing fires deliberately or because of negligent behavior would match penalties introduced two years ago for the abuse of animals. Those carry a fine of up to $55,000 and a maximum jail sentence of 10 years. “I am obliged to say that …

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Megan Rapinoe’s energy as a second-half substitute failed to spark the listless United States, which slipped through to the round of 16 in the Women’s World Cup despite an uninspiring 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday.  The tie helped the U.S. avoid the biggest upset in tournament history and was just enough to ensure the Americans advanced to the knockout round. The U.S. team looked shaky at best in a game the team was expected to win.  The Americans, the most successful team ever at the World Cup with four titles, have never been eliminated in the group stage at …

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