“Because of oil, the whole world has its eyes on Iraq,” Hussein sighed. “My whole life has a close connection with oil, and so has the fate of my country.” Hussein Ali Saeed, an 81-year-old resident, has spent his entire life in Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq renowned for its abundant oil reserves. As this retired Iraqi oil worker sees it, his hometown is dotted with flames raging above the oil fields, with silver oil pipelines stretching from afar…

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, has made an extraordinary journey from street corners to the prestigious stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For the first time, breaking will be included as an Olympic sport, a milestone moment for dance culture worldwide. Behind China’s impressive rise in the breaking arena stands the legendary French breakdancer, Mounir Biba. A 13-time breaking world champion, Biba now serves as the head coach of China’s breaking team. His journey to legend status began with…

Cycling has many benefits, but for Amir Ansari, the first rider off the ramp in the men’s time trial race at the Paris Olympic Games, it is more than just a sport. The 24-year-old Afghan competes in the colors of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, highlighting how cycling gave him hope during his darkest moments while striving to build a new life. “My ambition is to represent 120 million refugees around the world and think about those who have lost…

lmost every Olympiad sees new sports introduced and some other events dropped amid discussion, anger and controversy. Recent Games have seen BMX biking and skateboarding introduced, with questions asked over whether they really qualify as sports. The introduction of breakdancing also caused raised eyebrows: does an event that has its roots in music and street culture have a place in the Olympics and even if there is no doubt the fitness and agility of the competitors, many ask: Is it…

Rawdoth Alazi Soumaila, a young actress and model from Benin, has recently been cast in a leading role on the Chinese small screen. Formed Police Unit, a recent film by Hong Kong director Lee Tat-Chiu, showcases her artistic talent.   Adopting the Chinese name of Mulan, Soumaila wants to stand out and embody a heroic figure, following in the footsteps of the legendary Chinese warrior admired for her bravery and humility for over 1,500 years. By exploring the world of the seventh…

Dawit Muluneh, 50, found his calling for painting and sculpture at an early age. Born and raised in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, he abandoned the playground and became obsessed with watching his uncle paint. In time, Muluneh developed a remarkable skill of painting figures. In fifth grade, he recalled how his ability to paint was so good that he taught painting classes to other art students, including those who were his seniors.   Graduating in 1995 from the Addis Ababa University’s…

In the post-war USSR there was an ideologeme in use: ‘Stalin’s Ten Strikes’ standing for 10 major operations carried out by the Red Army against Wehrmacht (unified armed forces of the Nazi Germany) in 1944, which altogether led to the collapse of the Third Reich. ‘Stalin’s fifth strike’ was the offensive against the Nazis in June-August 1944 in Soviet Belarus, one of the largest operations in the world’s military history. The operation was codenamed ‘Bagration’ after Pyotr Bagration – a…

China and Tajikistan are jointly building a community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit. “I am filled with joy and expectations to visit the home of a good neighbor and good brother during this crisp fall season,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his signed article published in Tajik media ahead of his first state visit to the country in 2014. In this midsummer, Xi’s third state visit to Tajikistan will surely write a new…

IN 2023, a €9 billion project was launched in Namibia to introduce “green” hydrogen energy, funded by German investors.  Although it creates apparent benefits for Namibia, the project has given rise to serious debates among the local population and international experts, who believe that Germany ruthlessly uses Namibia in its own interest trampling on the rights of the local people and disregarding environmental concerns. As one may well imagine, it is Germany that will own all assets and collect revenues…

Situated by the scenic Danube River, the Smederevo Steelworks had long been hailed as the pride of Serbia before it slid to bankruptcy more than two decades ago. Thanks to the deepening of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Serbia, the century-old factory made a remarkable comeback in 2016 when its Chinese partner arrived. In just a couple of months, the steel mill started turning a profit. It has now become one of the world’s largest iron…