NEWS ANALYSIS

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 …

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 …

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 …

Manama, Bahrain | AFP |  Jared Kushner said Wednesday that Palestinians were still welcome to engage in his peace initiative, and accused their leaders of not caring about their own people for rejecting his $50 billion economic plan. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law launched a long-awaited Middle East initiative with …

Berlin, Germany | AFP |  Europe’s record-breaking heatwave was forecast to intensify  Thursday, with authorities on alert as temperatures threaten to surpass 40 degrees Celsius in some regions. The stifling heat has prompted traffic restrictions in France, sparked forest fires in Spain and fanned debate in Germany over public nudity as …

Paris, France | AFP |  Long dismissed as a symptom of narcissistic youth culture, the not-so-humble selfie has become big business. As hotels vie to become the next viral hotspot and new technology is developed to cater to those searching for that perfect picture of themselves, here are five things to …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP |  Mohamed Salah scored his first goal of the Africa Cup of Nations as hosts Egypt secured a place in the last 16 on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ahmed Elmohamady prodded Egypt ahead on 25 minutes after a wicked …

Paris, France | AFP | A poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the devastating fire that ripped through Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral in April, French prosecutors said Wednesday, while ruling out any criminal intent. The statement by prosecutors, which also said an investigation was being opened into possible …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boris Johnson challenged his rival for Britain’s leadership on Tuesday to deliver Brexit by the end of October whatever happens, only to be accused once again of trying to avoid scrutiny. Johnson, the former foreign secretary and ex-mayor of London, is the favourite to succeed …

What made this country transform rapidly from a backward agrarian society into a modern industrial power The Independent | ANDREW M. MWENDA | How did Japan, a poor and economically “backward” country rapidly transform into a modern industry power a few years after its initial contact with the West? I …