Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | The US-organised economic workshop in Bahrain failed to deliver tangible results over the long-awaited Middle East peace plan but it opened the door for closer Israeli-Gulf ties, analysts say. Despite this, the normalisation of ties between the Gulf oil monarchies and the Jewish state …
Read More »Rapinoe knocks out hosts and fires USA into World Cup semi-finals
Paris, France | AFP | Megan Rapinoe stole the headlines again as her brace took the United States through to the semi-finals of the women’s World Cup on Friday, the holders beating France 2-1 in Paris to puncture the hopes of the host nation. Rapinoe’s free-kick five minutes into this quarter-final …
Read More »Chile beat Colombia on penalties to reach Copa semis
Sao Paulo, Brazil | AFP | Champions Chile maintained their hopes of a third straight Copa America victory after beating Colombia on penalties on Friday to reach the semi-finals. Chile could have won the game in normal time but had two goals ruled out for marginal decisions in a scoreless draw, …
Read More »Berlin allotment holders dig in against property developers
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Birds tweet and shears snip as one of Berlin’s many urban gardeners tends her city centre allotment, but behind the tranquil scene a battle is raging over the real estate. “Schrebergaerten”, or allotments, offer city dwellers a chance to grow plants and vegetables in small, private …
Read More »Benin leaps into 21st century with new national map
Cotonou, Benin | AFP | The last time that cartographers mapped Benin, Elvis Presley had just released “Jailhouse Rock,” the Soviets had launched Sputnik — and the country was still a colony named French Dahomey. Things in the West African state have sure changed since 1957, and the old maps were …
Read More »‘A bribe’ — Palestinians unmoved by US economic offer
Ramallah, Palestinian Territories | AFP | An economic conference intended to kickstart a Middle East peace initiative by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law has failed to convince Palestinians, who boycotted it and treated it with disdain or disinterest. In a rare show of unity, all Palestinian factions condemned the conference in …
Read More »Andre Onana eager to honour Cameroon’s rich goalkeeping heritage
Ismailia, Egypt | AFP | Following in the footsteps of Joseph-Antoine Bell, Thomas Nkono and Jacques Songo’o as the latest in a line of acclaimed Cameroon goalkeepers is no minor task, but the Indomitable Lions are placing their faith in Andre Onana, one of the season’s revelations in Europe, as they …
Read More »Sudan’s underground musicians turn defiant after uprising
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | During the day, Gadoora checks his patients at a clinic near Khartoum, but at night he locks himself in his room rapping songs which echo the sentiments of Sudan’s “revolution”. “The revolution broke the long-standing wall of fear,” said Gadoora. “Songs have become much more daring …
Read More »OPEC faces output balancing act over US-Iran crisis
London, United Kingdom | AFP | OPEC is on red alert over escalating US-Iran tensions that fuelled strong oil-price gains — but the cartel and other crude-producing nations are unlikely to end output cuts at a meeting Tuesday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel of 14 countries pumping …
Read More »Brazil exorcize Paraguay penalty demons to reach Copa semis
Porto Alegre, Brazil | AFP | Gabriel Jesus scored the winning spot-kick in a tense penalty shoot-out as Brazil exorcized their demons to beat Paraguay on Thursday and reach the Copa America semi-finals. Twice before in 2011 and 2015 Paraguay had beaten Brazil at this same stage on penalties at the …
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