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Egypt says plans railway lines extending to Libya, Sudan
Egypt’s transport minister Sunday announced proposals to construct a railway line to reach the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa, and to extend a line in the north to Libya’s Benghazi. The announcement came as part of Egyptian government efforts to overhaul the country’s transport system, including an ailing railway network with a poor safety record. The government decided on “a number rail transport projects that could be carried out in cooperation with investors,” Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir told a news conference in Cairo. They include “building an Aswan-Toshka railway line that will extend to the city of Wadi Halfa in Sudan,” he said, referring to locations in Egypt’s south and a city just across the border. He also said there were plans to extend the Marsa Matrouh-Salloum line, in Egy...
Ethiopia: From historic peace to the brink of war
As Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed replaces his army chief on Sunday amid an escalating conflict in the northern Tigray region, here are the key developments since Abiy came to power in 2018: First leader from biggest ethnic group In February 2018, prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigns after several years of anti-government protests. In April, Abiy is sworn in as premier, becoming the first leader from the Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia’s largest. Ethnic divisions Oromos and the country’s second-biggest group, the Amharas, had fuelled the protest movement over perceived marginalisation at the hands of the ruling coalition, dominated by the Tigrayan group. But with the authoritarian coalition now dissolved, ethnic violence has emerged as a persistent problem under Abiy, regularly r...
Why Donald Trump lost U.S. election
Donald Trump won more than 70 million votes, the second highest total in American history. Nationally, he has more than a 47% share of his vote, and looks to have won 24 states, including his beloved Florida and Texas. He has an extraordinary hold over large swathes of this country, a visceral connection that among thousands of supporters has brought a near cult-like devotion. After four years in the White House, his supporters studied the fine print of his presidency and clicked enthusiastically on the terms and conditions. Any analysis of his political weakness in 2020 also has to acknowledge his political strength. However, he was defeated, becoming one of only four incumbents in the modern era not to get another four years. Also he has become the first president to lose the popular vot...
Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb Announces New Country Album, Shares Jason Isbell Collaboration “Words of a Fool”: Stream
Dolly Parton (photo by Ben Kaye), Barry Gibb (photo by Nathan Dainty), Jason Isbell (photo by Ben Kaye) Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb has announced a star-studded new album called Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1. The effort features classic songs from the Gibb brothers reimagined with assistance from a wide range of country and Americana stars. GREENFIELDS boasts contributions from Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, and Gillian Welch. Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, Olivia Newton-John, and Little Big Town also appear on the LP. The entire project was produced by Grammy-winning Nashville native Dave Cobb, known for his work with John Prine and The Highwomen. In a statement about the recording process, Gibb said, “From the first day we step...
First Country: New Music From Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, Barry Gibb and Jason Isbell
Barry Gibb and Jason Isbell, “Words of a Fool” The first release from Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook Vol 1, is also the only previously unreleased track on this collection — which pairs The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb with some of country’s biggest names on recordings of the sibling trio’s greatest hits. This poignant, organ-drenched waltz sounds like it’s existed forever. Isbell and Gibb, of course, acquit themselves well here — but if a song ever cried out for George Jones to come back and sing, this is it. Billy Ray Cyrus, The Singin’ Hills Sessions – Mojave Understandably emboldened by the tremendous success of his appearance on the remix of Lil Nas X’s Grammy-wining “Old Town Road,” Cyrus opens this EP, the second in his The Singin’ Hills Session series, with a twa...
Jason Isbell Promises to Cut a Charity Covers Album If Biden Wins Georgia
Should Biden complete a come-from-behind win, Isbell tweeted, “I’m gonna make a charity covers album of my favorite Georgia songs- REM, Gladys Knight, Vic Chesnutt, Allmans, Cat Power, Precious Bryant, Now It’s Overhead, etc… And damn is that gonna be fun.” The Alabama native’s offer captured Twitter’s heart and got a lot of love from the artist community. Richard Marx responded, “F—ing love this.” Brandi Carlile chimed in and asked if they could do “Kid Fears” by the Indigo Girls and Jason would sing the Michael Stipe part. Don’t bet against that charity covers album coming to fruition. At 2.45am ET, president Trump’s lead over Biden in Georgia narrowed to just 665 votes, with a few thousand ballots yet to be counted. Isbell is known for his solo career, his work with The 400 ...
Governor El-Rufai: Killing of policemen evil
Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday described the killing of policemen by protesters in some parts of the country as evil. El-Rufai, who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna after the meeting of the Northern Governors Forum and traditional rulers as well as other key stakeholders in the region, said that the police must be supported to discharge their duties. He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had briefed the meeting on the #EndSARS protest and its aftermath. “We support the police, we believe that there may be some bad eggs in the police just as there are bad eggs in any organisation, but it is no excuse to destroy or kill policemen. “We hope to expand the footprints and the effectiveness of the Nigerian police in accordance with their mandate. “We have discusse...
Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy to Be Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Three-time Grammy winner Earle has released 18 studio albums, beginning with his acclaimed 1986 debut, Guitar Town, and is known for writing songs such as “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand.” Singer/songwriter/producer Gentry is best known for her 1967 No. 1 smash “Ode To Billie Joe,” as well as “Fancy” and “Mornin’ Glory.” Blazy’s songwriting credits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes” (Garth Brooks), “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up)” (Garth Brooks) and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” (Chris Young). James has a long list of songwriting credits, including “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “When The Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker) and “Summer Nights” (Rascal Flatts). Oldham has written such R&B and pop hits as “I’m...
The Players Behind Gabby Barrett’s ‘I Hope’ (feat. Charlie Puth): See the Full Credits
ArtistsMain Artist – Gabby BarrettFeatured Artist – Charlie Puth Songwriters:Writer – Charlie PuthWriter – Gabby BarrettWriter – Jon NiteWriter – Zach Kale Producers:Producer – Ross CoppermanProducer – Zach Kale Production Team:Assistant Production – Scott Johnson Programmer – Zach Kale Engineers:Assistant Mixer – Jeremie InhaberAssistant Mixer – Robin Florent Digital Editor – Daniel RossDigital Editor – Ross CoppermanDigital Editor – Trey KellerDigital Editor – Zach Kale Masterer – Michelle Mancini Mixer – Manny Marroquin Mixing Engineer – Chris Galland Recorded By – Ross CoppermanR...
Ask Billboard: From Shania Twain to Gabby Barrett, These Are the Biggest Country Radio Crossover Hits
Hi Gary, As a certified chart nerd, I’m excited about Gabby Barrett‘s arrival and continued rise in the Billboard Hot 100‘s top 10 with “I Hope,” featuring Charlie Puth. A recent “Ask Billboard” ran down every Hot 100 top 10 by American Idol contestants, while this week’s recap of the Hot 100’s top 10 notes that “I Hope” is just the fourth song to have topped both the Country Airplay and all-format Radio Songs charts. Can you please provide a deeper list of No. 1 Country Airplay hits that have crossed over to the Radio Songs entire top 10? Thanks, Mark BlankenshipNew York, New York Hi Mark, Barrett and Puth’s hit is clearly among rarified radio air in having conquered both Country Airplay and Radio Songs. But it’...
Neil Young Details After the Gold Rush 50th Anniversary Reissue
Neil Young has finally shared the details for the 50th anniversary edition of his seminal album After the Gold Rush. It’s due out later this year, and on top of its 11 original tracks, the release comes with two versions of the B-side “Wonderin’”. After the Gold Rush was initially released back on September 19th, 1970, kicking off Young’s beloved and insurmountably influential ’70s catalog. The album was remastered and re-released back in 2009, so outside of the new “Wonderin’” variants, this reissue is more focused on the commemorative packaging. The deluxe vinyl box set edition comes with special artwork, a litho print of its cover, and a 7-inch picture sleeve of both versions of “Wonderin’”. The first was recorded in 1970 and originally released in The Archives Vol. 1:...
Cam Drops ‘The Otherside,’ Featuring Songs With Harry Styles, Tim Bergling and More: Listen
An outspoken songwriter, Cam opens the door for the first time for songwriting from other artists she admires. Harry Styles co-wrote album track “Changes,” Sam Smith co-wrote “Happier for You” and the late EDM producer and Tim Bergling (aka Avicii) co-wrote the title track, “The Otherside.” The LP also includes the previously released single “Classic,” co-written and produced with Jack Antonoff; “Redwood Tree,” “Diane,” and “Till There’s Nothing Left,” which she performed live on America’s Got Talent. On working with Bergling, Cam told Billboard: “He didn’t feel the need to make everyone else in the room comfortable, which happens a lot in sessions. It was a tall order to make sure this song lived well on t...
