Iranian fans savour victory but wrangle over protests

[Produced with Reuters colleagues Martin Petty and Charlotte Bruneau and published here on November 25, 2022]

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Iran’s national soccer team sang during the playing of their national anthem at their second World Cup match against Wales on Friday having refrained from doing so in their opening game earlier this week in apparent support for protesters back home.

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World Cup gets underway with stakes high for host Qatar

[Produced with Reuters colleague Andrew Mills and published here on November 20, 2022]

AL KHOR, Qatar, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Qatar’s ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights.

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Outgoing president says Lebanon at risk of ‘constitutional chaos’

[Produced with Reuters colleague Laila Bassam and published here on October 29, 2022]

BAABDA, Lebanon Oct 29 (Reuters) – Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun told Reuters on Saturday his nation could be sliding into “constitutional chaos”, with an unprecedented situation of having no one in line to succeed him and a cabinet that is operating in a caretaker capacity.

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