This story is one in our six-part series The Pandemic Playbook. Explore all the stories here. Every January or February, Le The Linh and his wife pack their children into their car and drive 80 miles to visit family in Haiphong, a port city east of Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, for Lunar New Year. But this…
Joe Biden wants to prove democracy works — before it’s too late
There’s a quote often attributed to Winston Churchill, the former British premier: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried.” Churchill’s tongue-in-cheek defense of democracy came just two years after the end of World War II. Totalitarian forces had vied for their chance to lead the…
Israel’s Iron Dome, explained by an expert
By now, you’ve probably seen the videos: dark skies, illuminated by exploding balls of light, like alien spaceships doing battle or a terrifying fireworks display, scored by air raid sirens. This is the view of Israel’s Iron Dome, the aerial defense system the country uses to intercept incoming short-range rockets. The intensifying conflict this week…
Artists laid the foundation for Cuba’s protests. An economy in free fall and the pandemic ignited it.
“Patria y vida!” (“homeland and life”) is the slogan of the rare and massive protests that erupted across Cuba over the weekend. It’s a riff on the “patria o muerte” (homeland or death) slogan of the Cuban Revolution — and the lyrics of a popular rap song compiled by Afro Cuban hip-hop artists in Cuba…
The political crisis in Tunisia, explained by an expert
Tunisia’s president has pushed the country’s fledgling democracy into crisis. Over the weekend, President Kais Saied fired the country’s prime minister and suspended Parliament in what his political opponents have called a coup. But he says the move was justified after thousands of Tunisians took to the streets in recent days to protest the government’s…
Ghana-Nigeria Combined XI: Essien vs Mikel
Which of these Chelsea greats would make our Super Eagles-Black Stars combined XI? Goal/GettyGhana-Nigeria Combined XI Ahead of this week’s World Cup qualifying double header between Nigeria and Ghana, GOAL Africa are picking our dream combined XI between these two West African heavyweights. Both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars have storied histories in…
Barcelona's Ter Stegen snubs Messi in best XI of team-mates across his career
The Argentina icon was not among the seven Barcelona figures included in the shot-stopper's list Marc-Andre ter Stegen has named his dream XI of current and former team-mates, and there is no place for Lionel Messi in the side. The goalkeeper’s time with Borussia Monchengladbach, Barcelona and Germany has seen him play alongside many top…
Controversial Chelsea '12 men' tweet sees Newcastle midfielder Hayden hit with FA charge
The 27-year-old vented his frustration online after a narrow defeat to the west London outfit earlier in March Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden has been charged by the FA after comments he made on social media suggesting that Chelsea had the referee on their side in their 1-0 win over the Magpies at Stamford Bridge. in…
2022 World Cup Qualifiers: Partey, Amartey named in Ghana squad for Nigeria fixture
The two nations will be battling for a ticket to represent Africa in Qatar in a two-legged encounter Ghana interim coach Otto Addo has named his 27-man squad for the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoff against Nigeria. The two West Africa heavyweights are scheduled to meet in the first leg at the Baba Yara Sports…
Pochettino, Ten Hag, Tuchel or Lopetegui: Who should Man Utd hire as their next manager?
It will be a make-or-break summer at Old Trafford with the contenders for the coaching job representing two current predominant schools of thought If at the beginning of last week Ralf Rangnick held a flicker of hope he would be Manchester United manager next season, then defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League second…