Inaki Williams’ parents left Ghana barefooted to Spain, he plans to repay their endurance with Africa Cup of Nations win
Williams played in a friendly for Spain in 2016. But when Ghana was interested in him, he decided to change allegiance, with Spain no longer calling him. His decision was influenced in part by a conversation with his grandfather, who encouraged him to join the “Black Stars.”
Does Morocco have the drive and verve to repeat Qatar World Cup heroics at Africa Cup of Nations?
Sadio Mane, who took last weekend off to get married, again headlines a Senegal side that, like Morocco, had success over Brazil in a friendly last year and is bristling with experience and talent.
Armed men storm an Ecuador TV studio during a live broadcast as attacks in the country escalate
Ecuador’s attorney general’s office said the 13 people arrested will be charged with terrorism. It tweeted that it will present the charges in coming hours. Ecuadorian law establishes a penalty of up to 13 years in prison for anyone convicted of terrorism.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Ackman backs bid by dissidents for Harvard board seats
Ackman has criticised Harvard for not doing enough to protect its students from antisemitism incidents in the wake of the October attack by the militant Islamist Palestinian group Hamas on Israel and subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza, as well as for the university’s adoption of diversity and inclusion programs he argues stifle meritocracy.
Macron sends out France’s youngest prime minister, Gabriel Attal, to fend off far right
France’s influence in Europe has grown under Macron, with Britain’s departure and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s retirement leaving way for more statist French ideas to influence EU policymaking.
Washington appeals court judges sceptical of Trump’s immunity claim in ballot subversion case
With the Republican state-by-state presidential nominating contest due to kick off next week, Trump used the hearing as an opportunity to claim he is the victim of political persecution. In a video posted to social media ahead of the hearing, Trump said he could prosecute Democratic President Joe Biden if he wins the November presidential election.
Wuhan lab’s ‘Bat Lady’ Shi Zhengli met x-US health director Fauci at NIH in 2017, emails reveal
By December 2017, NIH had resumed funding for gain-of-function research that generates new viruses in the lab following a three-year pause and debate about the possibility that such research could cause a pandemic.
Vatican moves to calm bishops and limit same-sex ‘weddings’ to 10 to 15 seconds events
Catholic bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, have expressed various degrees of dissent over the December 18 declaration, known by its Latin title Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which was approved by Pope Francis.
Israel’s war strategy against Hamas shifts to deadlier, indiscriminate strikes on Iran-linked targets
The intensified air campaign has killed 19 Hezbollah members in Syria in three months – more than twice the rest of 2023 combined, according to a Reuters count. More than 130 Hezbollah fighters have also been killed by Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon in the same period.
United Airlines finds loose bolts on several 737 MAX planes, raising pressure on Boeing aircraft
Alaska Airlines said it was waiting for final revised guidelines from Boeing before it could start inspecting planes and said it was ready to begin as soon as it received required FAA approvals. Boeing said it was staying in close contact with MAX 9 operators and would help customers address any findings during inspections.
