Latest news with #KaiPfaffenbach
The Star
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-PSG's Marquinhos not going down without a fight against Inter
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Final - Paris St Germain Training - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 30, 2025 Paris St Germain's Marquinhos during training REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Paris St Germain captain Marquinhos knows what it is like to lose a Champions League final and is not going to let a second chance slip without a fight when they face Inter Milan in Munich, the Brazilian defender said on Friday. Marquinhos was a member of the PSG side which lost the 2020 final to Bayern Munich, but has the opportunity for redemption as the club look to secure their first Champions League trophy on Saturday. "We've been through highs, we've been through lows," Marquinhos told reporters. "Tomorrow we've got a beautiful opportunity. We could go down in history. This would be great for the club, for the players. "This is my second chance to win a Champions League final and I'm not going to go down without a fight." Earlier this season, PSG were in danger of not even making the knockout stages, losing three and drawing one of their opening five games, before squeaking through on the final day of the league phase. Since then they have gone from strength to strength, wrapping up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare and winning the French Cup, and the PSG players are now ready to cap their season with the ultimate prize. "We're going to pull out the performance of a lifetime tomorrow on the pitch because it will be very difficult and actually we've had to fight all season now to get to the final," Marquinhos said. "We've done everything we can to get to the final of the Champions League. This is the best moment of our season. It's that cherry on the top and it's up to us now. "We need to take the silverware back to Paris so that we can share this with our fans who have supported us over the season. Time is of the essence now, we're going for the silverware tomorrow and we're going to take it home." (Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Toby Davis)
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
German landlord Aroundtown looks to convert offices into data centres
FILE PHOTO: The skyline of the banking district is seen during sunset in Frankfurt, Germany, April 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo (Reuters) -Aroundtown, one of the largest German-listed landlords, is planning to convert office spaces into data centres as demand for them grows in Europe, the group said on Wednesday after announcing it had tripled its first-quarter profit. Aroundtown has been facing higher vacancy rates in its office spaces, the biggest segment of its portfolio, since the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift to remote work. It has already been converting some of its less sought-after office rentals into serviced apartments, most of which are expected to enter operation in 2026. Timothy Wright, Aroundtown's Head of Investor Relations, said the Luxembourg-based company was in the early stages of obtaining regulatory approvals for data centre conversions and it hoped to team up with more specialised companies. Potential tenants could be companies active in businesses ranging from cloud computing to autonomous driving, he said. "In five years time, let's hope we have some data centres in our portfolio," Wright said in an interview. "It's a different asset class for us ... We need to build up the IT know-how for the setup." The main challenges for data centre conversions in Germany include municipal regulatory permit approvals and obtaining confirmation from power providers that required energy needs can be met, he said. "It takes a few years until we can get to, let's say, crystalising the gains," Wright said. So far Aroundtown has received one regulatory permit to convert an office space into a data centre in Frankfurt, though it has not yet received the go-ahead for its electricity usage. Upon obtaining the required approvals, Aroundtown could either sell the properties for quick cash or undertake the conversions itself, Wright said. Data centre tenants typically have their own specific requirements, he added, so Aroundtown would aim to ensure they are already leasing the properties before the construction to convert them begins. "You can build a data center and go to Amazon, and they're like, 'Yeah, actually, this is not really what we need,'" he said. (Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier in Gdansk; Editing by Joe Bavier)
The Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
ECB hopes to have political deal on digital euro by early 2026
FILE PHOTO: Flags in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) before a news conference at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, April 27, 2017. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The European Central Bank hopes to have all the political decisions in place by early next year to issue a digital euro and would then need two to three years to launch the currency, ECB board member Piero Cipollone said on Thursday. The ECB has been working on a digital version of the euro for years but progress has been slower than expected, mostly because legislation is still not in place to allow the bank to proceed. Financial upheaval in the aftermath of Donald Trump's election as the U.S. President has increased the urgency, however, as Europe relies on big U.S. firms for most digital payments, a potential financial vulnerability. "I hope to have everything done by the beginning of next year, very early next year," Cipollone told a conference when asked about the timing of the legal framework. "We need the legislation in place, and from that, two to three years will be enough to launch the digital euro." Unlike when they make a card payment by the likes of Visa or Mastercard, consumers paying with a digital would have a direct claim on the central bank and their funds would be similar in function and security as cash. It would allow customers to make direct payments both in online and offline formats. Cipollone said a key hurdle is getting a political agreement from EU member states but that could be reached before the summer. Work by the European Parliament could take somewhat longer, he added. When asked if Trump could accelerate the process, French central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau, speaking at the same event, said it enhanced the ECB's determination. (Reporting by Balazs KoranyiEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
IOL News
13-05-2025
- IOL News
Armed gang steals 300 litres of diesel from Bergville road project, raising safety concerns
Construction workers in Bergville, in KwaZulu-Natal were held at gunpoint by an armed gang in Bergville while working on a road rehabilitation project. Image: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach A violent gang of six armed men, believed to be linked to the construction mafia, stormed a construction site in the the rural area of Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal and stole 300 litres of diesel. The robbery has prompted strong condemnation from KwaZulu-Natal's Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma. According to Duma, the criminals held construction workers at gunpoint before making off with the diesel. The incident happened on a site where a major road rehabilitation project is underway. The P304 road is being rebuilt at a cost of R177 million. 'This road serves as a major link connecting Bergville to Maloti Drakensberg Park/Royal Natal Park through R74,' said Duma in a statement issued on Tuesday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The road plays a vital role in terms of stimulating rural economies for communities living under the burden of poverty.' The P304 route was damaged during the devastating floods that hit parts of KwaZulu-Natal, leaving communities isolated and cut off from hospitals, schools, and socio-economic centres. Duma said the department's investment aimed to ensure the road remains safe and usable, helping to revitalise key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and tourism. Describing the robbery as the first incident on this project, Duma confirmed that a case has been opened at the Bergville Police Station 'We are confident that KZN Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team will apprehend the criminals,' he said. Duma also commended local traditional leaders and the broader community for standing up against the criminals. 'We salute Inkosi Njabulo Miya of the Emazizini Traditional Council, the izinduna, and the entire community for their public display of anger and opposition against these criminals who are trying to derail the project.' He called on anyone with information about the incident to contact the nearest police station, saying: 'There should be no place for construction mafia gangs in villages, townships, suburbs, or anywhere in KZN.' THE MERCURY
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Pope Francis' funeral through the eyes of Reuters photographers
Faithful and members of the clergy attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Francis during his funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' funeral brought world leaders, monarchs, and hundreds of thousands of people to Rome on Saturday to bid him farewell in a ceremony of breathtaking spectacle that offered age-old Catholic funeral rites and touching moments of personal grief. Sixteen Reuters photographers, some inside St. Peter's Basilica, others perched on podiums or deep within the crowd, shot the key moments and conveyed the sheer scale, capturing the solemnity as the pallbearers raised the pope's simple coffin and individuals clasped their hands in silent prayer. Rows of cardinals in their flowing bright red robes prayed and bowed their heads, nuns clutched rosaries and images of the pope, and pilgrims young and old battled with their exhaustion after waiting for hours. "Seeing the square from above, the casket, the silence, and the thousands of people there to pay tribute to one man — it's something very hard to put into words," said Reuters Rome-based photographer Yara Nardi. The death of 88-year-old Francis early on Easter Monday (April 21) came as a jolt after he had appeared in public on Easter Sunday, and set in motion coverage plans that had been long in the works but needed to be acted on immediately. Photographers flew in from as far away as Brazil and Doha to join Reuters' visuals team in Rome. Some had covered the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, which meant they could anticipate some of the most powerful images. Others were working on such a large-scale event for the first time. The run-up to the funeral was intense with photographers working long hours capturing mourning as the pope lay in state, and the late-night arrival of leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump. On the day, the team set their alarms for as early as 3 a.m. (0100 GMT), seven hours before the start of the funeral, to ensure that they could get through crowds, security checks and then the inevitable jockeying with photographers from other media outlets to ensure a prime spot. Blue skies and a fluttering breeze helped to create vivid images, but the high spring temperatures were a challenge for sleep-deprived photographers. The pope's decision to break with tradition and be buried in the St. Mary Major Basilica saw his coffin driven through the streets and past crowds at Rome's ancient monuments, allowing a chance to capture compelling images from along the route. "I think being around large groups of religious people, whatever your faith, is always touching. I was there the day Francis was elected and that is maybe one of the most incredible things I have ever done - so to go full circle was amazing," said London-based photographer Dylan Martinez. Below is a selection of some Reuters pictures taken during the events of the day along with comments from the photographers who took them. Photographer Quotes Yara Nardi, Reuters photographer based in Rome, Italy 'We were given about 40 seconds for the photo from the statue of Christ inside the Basilica. It was my first time up there, and I got goosebumps the moment I arrived. Seeing the square from above, the casket, the silence, and the thousands of people there to pay tribute to one man—it's something very hard to put into words.' Mohammad Salem, Gaza Senior Visuals Journalist based in Doha, Qatar 'I encountered this scene when everyone attending the Pope's funeral was waiting outside the church. Sadness enveloped everyone, and it was a sorrowful moment. What caught my attention was this girl holding a picture of the pope.' Kai Pfaffenbach, Reuters photographer based in Frankfurt, Germany 'The fluttering of the pages of the Book of Gospels on the pope's coffin was very special as it also happened during the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 which I covered. It happened at the end of the Mass, and I immediately had John Paul II's funeral in mind, but newer camera technology made it easier to capture the moment this time.' Claudia Greco, Reuters photographer based in Milan, Italy 'The day's challenges were technical. I was assigned to a spot in front of the Basilica and we were escorted to the area 10/15 minutes before the arrival of the coffin, so I had to fight for a position, as front on to the door as possible, and quickly try to activate the setup for the Wi-Fi.' Dylan Martinez, Senior Photographer, Special projects Europe and other regions, based in London, Britain 'I moved positions to find a spot to photograph the coffin passing Trump. I managed to squeeze into a very tight spot, precariously balanced on two chairs. In the end I was lucky with the angle and the way it lined up. I think being around large groups of religious people, whatever your faith, is always touching. I was there the day Francis was elected and that is maybe one of the most incredible things I have ever done - so to go full circle was amazing.' Alkis Konstantinidis, Greece Chief Visuals/Chief photographer Central and Eastern Europe based in Athens, Greece'These were the last moments before the pope's coffin entered the Basilica. The pallbearers slightly raised the coffin so that the people could say farewell to Pope Francis. Suddenly from the utter silence, people started applauding and shouting goodbye to the pope. At that moment, I decided to shoot a wide frame to include as many elements as possible of a historic moment, the death of a pope, and the burial outside the Vatican.' Vincenzo Livieri, freelance photographer based in Rome, Italy 'We had been told in a press release that the car would move at walking pace, so I had planned to take a clean background shot first and then follow to capture the crowd's reactions. Instead, the car passed much faster than expected, and I could only get the first type of shot. I gave my stool to an elderly woman next to me who was struggling with leg pain and exhaustion. She had come all the way from northern Italy to attend, despite her health issues.' Remo Casilli, Reuters photographer based in Rome, Italy 'There was a contrast between the jovial atmosphere that the Jubilee events have brought to the Vatican and the grief over the Pope's death. The photo above was probably the first chance to take pictures of the hearse carrying the coffin of Pope Francis. Also I liked the composition of the picture, with people placed at different levels, almost all taking pictures.' Kevin Coombs, Pictures Production Editor, based in London, Britain 'I was walking from St Peter's Square to the side entrance of the Vatican to scout a shot of the popemobile when it came about. The nuns were just standing right there. I love to look around the edges of an event, to go down a street that perhaps no one else would bother with. There is usually something interesting to be found, and the pictures to be taken can really complement the main news pictures shot from the photographer on the podium.' Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters photographer based in Rome, Italy 'I was waiting for the Mass to start and looking for feature images when I saw this guy sleeping in the middle of the square and I could really relate to him. I thought he was in the same condition as I was. This is, however, one of those events you really feel lucky to witness.' Mangiapane had had only one hour of sleep the night before the funeral. Hannah McKay, Reuters photographer based in London, Britain 'I was working on the Via Della Conciliazione to look at the faces of the people watching and listening to the funeral service in front of the Vatican, and out of the corner of my eye I could see a balloon with an image of the Pope on it bobbing up and down. So I made my way through the crowd and there laying on the ground playing with the balloon was 4-year-old Elizabetta Campagna. I quickly took some photographs of her before she moved and then approached her mother to ask for her name and age. It was just a nice moment of a youngster, amongst a sea of faces.' Susana Vera, Reuters photographer based in Madrid, Spain 'When the pope's coffin was taken away, I saw someone holding an Argentine flag and I made my way to shoot as he was raising it in the air, waiting for the flag to partially cover his face and have the rest of his head and arms silhouetted. Bergoglio (Francis) was from Argentina, and he was the first Latin American pope, so it felt important to try to capture that in the coverage.' Matteo Minella, freelance photographer based in Rome, Italy 'The most important thing I tried to do was never to interrupt a deeply intimate moment like prayer with my presence, so that the photos I took would truly represent that instant in the most authentic way. Many of those young people had spent the night in the streets near St. Peter's, and once they entered the square and secured a spot, they fell asleep — some woke up as soon as the funeral began, others only after it ended.' Carlos Barria, Reuters photographer based in San Francisco, California, USA 'The challenges are numerous, ranging from the long hours of work, to navigating the crowd of thousands and attempting to send pictures with slow internet due to the overcrowding. But we never lost sight of the story, which is about the people who came to the Vatican to attend this event. Sometimes, during long hours of waiting, I take the time to look around and find those quiet moments that reveal the context of the story. Like the picture of Antonino Siracusa, part of a group of homeless and poor chosen to bid a final farewell to Pope Francis.' Matteo Ciambelli, freelance photographer based in Naples, Italy 'The procession was only in front of me for a few seconds. I had to track the vehicle carrying the coffin with my camera while adjusting for the changing light as clouds moved across the sun. The raised arms of mourners and the phones held high to record the moment added emotional depth to the scene. Once the coffin came into view, it was simply a matter of following the car and pressing the shutter.' Amanda Perobelli, Reuters photographer based in Sao Paolo, Brazil 'I have never covered an event this big and this historical, and this is also my first time in Italy. Rome kind of breathes religion and Catholicism. I thought this image was interesting because the Colosseum has so much history itself, and this is part of that history now.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
