🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Spain defeats Belgium 2-1 to advance to 2026 World Cup semifinals
via Lefaso.net1 min read
Spain has qualified for the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup after a 2-1 victory over Belgium. The match saw Fabian Ruiz open the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute. Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium shortly before halftime, sending both teams into the break with a 1-1 score. The game remained tied until Mikel Merino, who entered as a substitute in the 86th minute, scored the winning goal for Spain two minutes later. Spain will now face France in the semifinals, a rematch for France after being eliminated by Spain in the Euro 2024 semifinals.
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Must ReadThe General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces FAMa announced that joint operations with their partner Africa Corps are continuing across all engagement theaters. On the night of July 9, 2026, a significant logistical convoy from Gao arrived in Anéfis. Air-ground operations secured the route and entry into the locality, despite clashes and ambushes by terrorist groups including JNIM, FLA, and their affiliates. A communiqué dated July 10, 2026, reported preliminary results from the past 24 hours of air-ground operations, including 15 airstrikes in Anéfis, Tabrichat Gao, and Koulébala Sévaré, the destruction of 12 combat vehicles, and the neutralization of nearly a hundred terrorists.
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Evelyne Dabiré has been appointed Canada's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Benin. Her role is to strengthen ties between Canada and Benin, relations which date back to 1962. These relations primarily focus on areas such as youth empowerment, gender equality, the promotion of renewable energies, and nutrition. Ms. Dabiré holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Ouagadougou, obtained in 1997. She joined the Canadian International Development Agency in 2008. Her previous roles within Canada's central administration include international development officer for the Benin bilateral program, strategic planning analyst for the West and Central Africa Directorate General, and international development officer for the Partnerships for Innovation in Development Directorate General. She also served as senior development officer for the Democratic Republic of Congo bilateral program and chief of staff for the Pan-African and Regional Affairs Directorate General from 2021 to 2023. Internationally, she was second secretary development and first secretary development in Ethiopia from 2016 to 2020, and most recently served as head of cooperation and head of the embassy office in Benin. Canada was previously represented in Benin by its embassy in Burkina Faso before opening an embassy in Cotonou.