Washington, United States | AFP | The Iraqi military’s hard-fought victory over the Islamic State group in Mosul marks a defining moment not just for them. It is also a key win for the US doctrine behind it. Instead of putting large numbers of American boots on the ground, the …
Read More »Turkey marks failed coup that changed country
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkey marks one year on July 15 since a coup attempt aiming to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that failed within hours but etched far-reaching consequences into its society and politics. The country is in the throes of the biggest purge in its history against …
Read More »Rival Libyan forces battle east of Tripoli
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord on Sunday battled rival forces in the Garabulli region east of the capital, witnesses said, drawing condemnation from the UN. Witnesses said the fighting pitted pro-GNA forces against fighters loyal to former prime minister Khalifa Ghweil …
Read More »Kuwait airline says US laptop ban lifted
Kuwait City, Kuwait | AFP | Kuwait Airways said Sunday that a ban on laptops and tablets in the cabins of its US-bound flights had been lifted by Washington. “Now our passengers flying from Kuwait International Airport to in #NY will be able to use all of their personal electronic devices,” …
Read More »Stormy G20 ends with opt-outs for Trump on climate, trade
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | World leaders made concessions on trade and climate language to Donald Trump Saturday at the end of the most fractious and riot-hit G20 summit ever, in exchange for preserving a fragile unity of the club of major industrialised and emerging economies. In a departure from final …
Read More »Football: Benin league resumes after two-year break
Cotonou, Benin | AFP | Top-flight football resumed in tiny west African nation Benin Saturday after a two-year absence due to power struggles between officials. Among those who attended a league fixture involving Atlantic Sharks and US Seme-Krake were state president Patrice Talon and CAF boss Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar. Disagreements …
Read More »G20 launches plan to fight poverty in Rwanda, Ethiopia
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | G20 nations launched an unprecedented initiative Saturday at the group’s summit in Germany to fight poverty in Africa, but critics called the plan half-hearted. Under German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “Investment Compacts”, an initial seven African countries would pledge reforms and receive technical support in order to …
Read More »Football: Lukaku arrested after rowdy party in Beverly Hills
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Manchester United-bound striker Romelu Lukaku is likely to have to spend a fraction of his extravagant salary on settling a fine in Beverly Hills after being arrested during a noisy party at his rented mansion. A Beverly Hills Police Department statement on Saturday said …
Read More »G20 summit: The highlights
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | US President Donald Trump’s first G20 summit wrapped up Saturday in Germany, marked by violent clashes outside and political discord inside. Here follows a summary of the main news from the two-day meeting of the leaders of the world’s 19 top economies and the European …
Read More »Putin eyes new era of cooperation under Trump
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he expects Russian-US cooperation will improve under Donald Trump and that the American president is “very different” in real life compared to on TV. The comments came a day after the pair held their first face-to-face meeting, an encounter eagerly …
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