Latest news with #SalvatoreDiNolfi
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US-owned Irish soccer club Drogheda barred from Conference League by UEFA ownership rules
FILE - The trophy of Conference league is pictured during the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draw, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, Feb. 21, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, File) LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Irish Cup winner Drogheda lost its appeal on Monday against being removed from the Conference League next season for breaking UEFA rules on club ownership. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said its judges gave an urgent decision dismissing Drogheda's appeal that was heard on Monday. On Tuesday, UEFA will start making the draws for qualifying rounds in the third-tier European competition. Advertisement Drogheda and Silkeborg of Denmark qualified for the Conference League second preliminary round but are owned by the Trivela Group from the United States. UEFA rules to protect sporting integrity do not allow teams from a multi-club network to enter the same competition if one owner has 'decisive influence' over management of both. CAS said the three judges agreed UEFA committed key information to Drogheda and that by a 2-1 majority 'rejected (the club's) submissions on alleged unequal treatment by UEFA.' Other cases involving Manchester City, Manchester United, AC Milan, Brighton and Aston Villa in the past two years were resolved by one of the ownership stakes being placed into a blind trust for the season. A UEFA expert panel also imposed transfer bans and limited cooperation between clubs in question. Advertisement The UEFA panel is also assessing if Crystal Palace and Lyon can both enter the next Europa League. Lyon's American owner John Textor has a 43% stake in Palace though with limited decision-making power. In the latest case, Silkeborg took priority with UEFA to get the Conference League place because it finished higher in the Danish league this season than Drogheda did in the Irish league last year. Drogheda loses prize money of 350,000 euros ($406,000) that UEFA pays for playing in the Conference League second qualifying round. ___ AP soccer:
Toronto Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
WHO opens annual assembly as UN health agency faces 'existential crisis' in wake of U.S. funding cuts
Published May 19, 2025 • 4 minute read Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), talks during a press conference organized by the Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents (ACANU), at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 1, 2025. Photo by Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization on Monday opened its annual meeting of government ministers and other top envoys facing one of the most serious crises of its 77-year history in the wake of Trump administration funding cuts and plans to withdraw the United States. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The U.N. health agency this year has seen a plunge in its ability to carry out its sweeping mandate to do everything from recommend reductions in sugar levels in soft drinks to head the global response to pandemics like COVID-19 or outbreaks like polio or Ebola. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been grappling with a response to the U.S. cuts as well as reduced outlays from other traditional Western donors who are putting more money toward defence and less toward humanitarian aid. Matthew Kavanagh, the director of Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy and Politics, said other countries have used the 'U.S. disruption' — the cut in aid — 'as cover to do their maneuvering, with many countries in Europe reducing aid.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The WHO faces an existential crisis that goes well beyond a budget gap to the question of whether this sort of multilateralism can succeed in addressing global health in this new era of nationalism and misinformation,' he said. 'Literally millions will likely die needlessly on the current trajectory and the world's health ministers do not seem capable of a coherent response,' Kavanagh added. Pandemic preparedness on the agenda On tap for the nine-day World Health Assembly are two major advances that are aimed to buttress WHO's financial strength and bolster the world's ability to cope with pandemics in the future. Member countries are expected to agree to raise annual dues, known as 'assessed contributions,' by 20% to support WHO finances and reduce dependency on governments' voluntary contributions _ which change each year and make up over half of the budget. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. They are also expected to agree to a hard-wrought ' pandemic treaty ' that was born of a desire to avoid any replay of the patchy, unequal response to COVID-19 when the next — and inevitable, most experts say — pandemic hits. Among other things, the treaty would guarantee that countries that share critical samples of viruses will receive any resulting tests, medicines and vaccines and give WHO up to 20% of such products to make sure poorer countries can have access to them. 'Every World Health Assembly is significant, but this year's is especially so,' Tedros said in his opening remarks Monday. 'At this assembly, member states will consider and hopefully adopt the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This is truly a historic moment.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Previously, he has said the accord can 'make the world safer' by boosting collaboration to prepare for, prevent and respond to pandemics. The treaty's effectiveness will face doubts when the U.S. _ which poured billions into speedy work by pharmaceutical companies to develop COVID-19 vaccines — is sitting out, and because countries face no penalties if they ignore it, a common issue in international law. Kavanagh said passage of the treaty 'could be a significant victory — evidence that the U.S. government may no longer be indispensable in global health' and could offer an opportunity for developing nations in the 'global South' over the longer term. Management shake-up as budget tightens CitizenGo, an activist group that supports right-to-life and religious liberty issues, protested against the treaty outside the U.N. compound in Geneva where WHO's meeting was taking place. The rally included a balloon sculpture in the shape of the world and a banner inveighing against 'globalist elites' and showing an image of Tedros and billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a major WHO supporter, shaking hands while surrounded by dollars. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'In the aftermath of Covid, the WHO got together and thought was a good idea to centralize even more power,' said CitizenGo campaigner Sebastian Lukomski, accusing WHO of an effort to 'remove more fundamental freedoms and not learn from the mistakes that were taking place during COVID.' In the run-up to the assembly, WHO has been cleaning house and cutting costs. Its management has presented a budget for the next two years at just under $4.3 billion, which is 22% less than originally planned — largely in response to Western funding cuts. At a meeting on its budget last week, Tedros — a former Ethiopian health and foreign minister — announced a shake-up of top management that included the exit of key adviser Dr. Michael Ryan from the job as emergencies chief. Tedros said last week that the loss of U.S. funds and other assistance have left the WHO with a salary gap of more than $500 million. WHO is 'confident' that it has commitments for 60% of funds for the next two-year budget cycle, but it faces a budget gap of $1.7 billion.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrighetto scores 4 goals in Switzerland's win over Germany at ice hockey worlds
Finland's Finland's Eeli Tolvanen, left, celebrate after scoring his side's seventh goal during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group A match between Finland and Slovenia in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP) Switzerland's scorer Damien Riat, right, and his teammate Simon Knak, left, celebrate the opening goal during the IIHF 2025 World Championship group B match between Switzerland and Germany in Herning, Denmark, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the IIHF 2025 World Championship group B match between Switzerland and Germany in Herning, Denmark, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the IIHF 2025 World Championship group B match between Switzerland and Germany in Herning, Denmark, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Finland's Finland's Eeli Tolvanen, left, celebrate after scoring his side's seventh goal during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group A match between Finland and Slovenia in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP) Switzerland's scorer Damien Riat, right, and his teammate Simon Knak, left, celebrate the opening goal during the IIHF 2025 World Championship group B match between Switzerland and Germany in Herning, Denmark, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the IIHF 2025 World Championship group B match between Switzerland and Germany in Herning, Denmark, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Sven Andrighetto scored four goals to lift Switzerland to a 5-1 victory over Germany at the ice hockey world championship on Thursday. Switzerland moved atop Group B in Herning with 10 points. Germany trails by a point in second after registering its first loss. Advertisement After Damien Riat opened the scoring 4:25 into the middle period, Andrighetto needed a span of 9:04 to complete a hat trick and build a four-goal lead in the frame. He added with his fourth — and second on a power play — in the final period. Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni made 21 saves. Following problems with the quality of the ice in Herning, organizers extended the time for breaks between the periods from 15 to 17 minutes. On Tuesday, play had to be suspended in the opening period of a game between Germany and Norway and again in the middle period due to a hole in the ice. In Stockholm, Finland routed Slovenia 9-1 to move to the third place in Group A with eight points. Slovenia remains without a point. Eeli Tolvanen scored four goals for Finland. Later Thursday, Canada meets Austria in Stockholm, and defending champion Czech Republic plays Hungary in Herning. ___ AP sports:
CTV News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘Not a commodity': UN staff rally over deep cuts
Staff from United Nations agencies gather to protest against the drastic budget cuts and staff reductions that are affecting thousands of UN employees worldwide, at Place des Nations in front of the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Hundreds of UN staff rallied in Geneva Thursday over deep funding cuts, especially from key donor the United States, which have led to mass-layoffs and threatened life-saving services around the world. The demonstration, called by UN staff unions and associations, brought together workers from a wide range of Geneva-based agencies, along with their families and supporters under a blazing sun. Carrying signs reading 'UN staff are not a commodity', 'We stand for humanity', 'Stop firing UN staff now' and 'Protect the protectors', protesters poured into the square in front of the United Nations European headquarters. 'We're supposed to stand for workers' rights, so this is really tough,' Lena, a staff member at the International Labour Organization, told AFP, refusing to give her last name. 'You just feel helpless,' she said, standing next to her daughter sound asleep in a baby carriage with a sign reading 'We stand for better jobs in the world' propped on top. Humanitarian organisations worldwide have been reeling since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January, pushing an anti-refugee and anti-migrant agenda and immediately freezing most US foreign aid funding. The United States has traditionally been by far the top donor to a number of agencies, which have been left scrambling to fill sudden and gaping budget gaps. A number of agencies have already signalled the dire consequences as austerity measures take hold across the UN system. 'Sorry' According to UN staff unions, the UN refugee agency is preparing to cut up to 30 percent of its staff worldwide, while the International Organization for Migration has said it will need to lay off more than 6,000 staff members, or over a third of its workforce. The World Food Programme is meanwhile preparing to cut between 25 and 30 percent of its global workforce. Thousands of jobs are also being cut at the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, with many more hanging in the balance, the staff unions said. They also noted that nearly one in 10 jobs were being eliminated at the ILO, while the UN children's agency UNICEF is facing a projected 20-percent budget cut. 'So many people are afraid of losing their jobs,' said Elodie Saban, who works at the main UN geneva office. 'People who work for the UN are often asked to make extreme sacrifices. It is outrageous to see how they are being treated.' Ian Richards, head of the UN office in Geneva staff union, stressed in a statement that 'our colleagues have worked in some of the most dangerous, difficult and isolated locations in the world'. 'They couldn't choose when or where they moved. They have sacrificed their personal and family lives, and in some cases paid the ultimate price, to help those in need,' he said, decrying that now 'many are being let go without any social or financial support from their employers'. Lena agreed, pointing out that some workers 'are here for 20 years, and then it is basically: 'goodbye', you're gone in two months'. She highlighted that international UN staff are not granted unemployment benefits in the countries they work in, and their residence permits expire within a month of losing their employment. Even worse, perhaps, would be the impact on operations in the field where the UN's humanitarian agencies provide life-saving aid to millions of people, while an agency like the ILO battles against things like child labour, Lena said. 'Now, we just have to tell people we have worked with for years, 'sorry'.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona targets European title hat trick after winning UEFA Youth League final
Trabzonspor's Taha Emre Ince, left, fights for the ball with Barcelona's Hugo Alba, right during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Andres Cuenca, 2nd right, celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Andres Cuenca, left, fights for the ball with Trabzonspor's Onuralp Cakiroglu, right, during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's captain forward Hugo Alba celebrates after scoring, during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Hugo Alba celebrates scoring during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Hugo Alba celebrates scoring during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Trabzonspor's Taha Emre Ince, left, fights for the ball with Barcelona's Hugo Alba, right during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Andres Cuenca, 2nd right, celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Andres Cuenca, left, fights for the ball with Trabzonspor's Onuralp Cakiroglu, right, during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's captain forward Hugo Alba celebrates after scoring, during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Barcelona's Hugo Alba celebrates scoring during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Trabzonspor and Barcelona, at the Colovray Sports Centre in Nyon, Switzerland, Monday, April 28, 2025. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Barcelona is on course for a hat trick of European titles after beating Trabzonspor 4-1 in the UEFA Youth League final on Monday. It was won the day after Barcelona reached the Women's Champions League final and two days before the men's team hosts Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Advertisement Leading from the 11th minute, on the first of two precise left-foot strikes by Mali youth international Ibrahim Diarra, Barcelona was rarely tested to claim a record third European youth title. Trabzonspor got a deserved goal in the 88th. No club has swept European titles at each level since the Youth League started in the 2013-14 season. Barcelona won the inaugural edition and also lifted the trophy in 2018. Barcelona's youth system is so strong that first-team players Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi were still eligible for the under-19 team that plays in the UEFA Youth League. The starting lineup on Monday had 10 players older than superstar winger Yamal, who turned 17 last July on the eve of helping Spain win the European Championship final against England. Advertisement Barcelona was too strong for Trabzonspor, the first Turkish team to reach even the round of 16 in the competition. Hundreds of its noisy claret-and-blue fans outnumbered Barcelona's support in the small stadium next to UEFA headquarters. Diarra's opening goal was added to in the 18th when defender Andres Cuenca tapped in a loose ball after goalkeeper Erol Can Çolak pushed away a powerful header by Landry Farré. Barcelona captain Hugo Alba placed a rising shot in the 57th and Diarra again found the bottom corner of the net in the 68th. A late header by Trabzonspor defender Bican Tibukoğlu hardly dimmed the celebrations for Barcelona, which could have a stellar end to the season. Advertisement The La Liga-leading men's team must get past Inter over two legs to earn a Champions League final on May 31 in Munich against Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal. The women's team faces Arsenal in their Champions League final on May 24 in Lisbon. The youth team coached by Juliano Belletti — who scored a Champions League-winning goal for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2006 — did its part on Monday. ___ AP soccer:
