This year I deserve Ballon d'Or: Barca's Yamal

Lamine Yamal believes he and Kylian Mbappe are the two best players in the world and said he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or after a trophy-laden year with Barcelona and Spain.

By Afp 5 hrs ago

Foreign nationals targeted in S.Africa's extortion explosion

A South African and his two sons, one a police officer, appeared before a Cape Town magistrate last month accused of extorting around 50 convenience stores run by Ethiopians and Somalis.

By Afp 12 hrs ago

In DR Congo streets, ex-hoods get tough on litter -- and locals

Brooms in hand and faces covered in tattoos, the cleaning crew got hard to work clearing the rubbish that choked a boulevard in central Kinshasa.

By Afp 12 hrs ago

Edwin Sifuna rides Gen-Z anger as he takes aim at Ruto ahead of 2027

A 44-year-old senator, Edwin Sifuna, has emerged as a rising challenger to President William Ruto ahead of next year's election as he channels anger over political violence and corruption.

By Afp 11 hrs ago

Philippine Muslim enclave heads to polls after deadly shooting

Voters across the Philippines' autonomous Muslim region began casting ballots for their first elected parliament Monday morning, hours after gun violence left at least three people dead.

By Afp 11 hrs ago

Senegal goalkeeper Mendy retires from international football

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, 34, announced his international retirement on his social media accounts on Sunday, after eight years and 59 caps with the Lions of Teranga.

By Afp 22 hrs ago

Why Mourinho wants 2030 World Cup final played at the Bernabeu instead of Lisbon

Morocco, Spain and Portugal are co-hosting the 2030 tournament and have already begun competing for the right to stage the final.

By Afp 2 days ago

United boss Carrick dismisses Anderson's 'kings of Manchester' jibe

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has dismissed Elliot Anderson's jibe that City are "kings of Manchester" ahead of Sunday's derby.

By Afp 2 days ago

South Africa extradites six Nigerians wanted in US romance scam

The men are alleged to be members an organised criminal network called Black Axe and are wanted by US authorities on charges including wire fraud and money laundering.

By Afp 3 days ago

Nigeria police chief vows 'safe, secure' vote despite insecurity

"We will have safe and secure voting in the country," said Olatunji Disu, inspector general of the Nigeria Police Force, who took office 10 months before the vote.

By Afp 3 days ago

Messi to buy second Spanish lower league club

The club will become the former Barcelona attacker's second venture into Spanish football ownership

By Afp 4 days ago

Japan seeks change to new UN world map over Russia 'misconception'

Japan said on Thursday it had asked for the revision of a new world map adopted by the United Nations because it made the disputed Kuril islands appear to belong to Russia.

By Afp 4 days ago

Philippine ferry fire kills 5, dozens missing

At least five people were killed and 86 remain missing after a fire erupted aboard a ferry near a tourist hotspot in the Philippine province of Palawan

By Afp 4 days ago

Fire on cargo ship in China kills 20 people: state media

State news agency Xinhua said that the fire broke out at around 11:15 am (0315 GMT). It was not clear whether it had already been extinguished.

By Afp 4 days ago

Pochettino wants Chelsea stripped of 2016-17 EPL title, Spurs awarded

Chelsea had admitted to 74 breaches of FA regulations covering agents, working with intermediaries and third-party investment in players.

By Afp 4 days ago

Indonesia rescues six orangutans from fires in a week

Six orangutans including two nursing infants have been rescued from fires raging on Borneo Island in the past week

By Afp 4 days ago

Seoul's spy agency says investigating if Kim Jong UN has a son

North Korea tightly controls information about its leadership and ruling family, leaving even basic details about Kim Jong Un's children difficult to verify.

By Afp 4 days ago

Mac Allister caps Liverpool comeback against Atletico Madrid

Alexis Mac Allister completed Liverpool’s comeback with a late winner as the Reds beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their Champions League opener.

By Afp 3 days ago

DR Congo school fire leaves at least 14 children dead

A fire ripped through a school in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Bukavu on Thursday, sparking a stampede that killed at least 14 children, local and health sources said.

By Afp 3 days ago

France withdraws support for Infantino in FIFA presidential election

France has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s 2027 FIFA presidential bid, joining several European federations in criticising his leadership and governance of world football.

By Afp 3 days ago

Bangladesh measles crisis kills more than 1,000 children

Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughs and sneezes, and has no specific treatment once caught.

By Afp 5 days ago

Arab, Muslim nations welcome UK-led sanctions on Israeli settlements

The moves prompted a furious Israel to unveil immediate countermeasures targeting Britain.

By Afp 5 days ago

Iran war drives oil prices to $100 per barrel as Tehran strikes ships

The Gulf of Oman lies on the Indian Ocean side of the narrow Hormuz strait, which normally carries around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

By Afp 5 days ago

Drone strike near courthouse in central Sudan kills 12

The attack is the latest in an escalating wave of drone strikes by both the RSF and the Sudanese army.

By Afp 6 days ago

Man on trial in Finland accused of abusing 361 children online

A 27-year-old man has gone on trial in Finland accused of sexually abusing 361 boys aged nine to 15 through social media, including Snapchat, between 2019 and 2022.

By Afp 6 days ago

Russia says Putin, Trump had 'frank' call after US envoys visit

In a one-hour call on Tuesday, Putin and Trump "exchanged views on the outcome of the visits", Ushakov said.

By Afp 6 days ago

China's teenage 223cm basketball player 'just a little girl'

Zhang's height is listed at 223cm on the website of world governing body FIBA, making her already taller than NBA great Shaquille O'Neal.

By Afp 6 days ago

Sweden heads to the polls in close election race

Sweden votes Sunday in a tight general election that could see the left-wing opposition oust the government after a campaign dominated by concerns over healthcare and the welfare state.

By Afp 6 days ago

China's trade booms as focus turns to expected Trump-Xi summit

China's imports and exports surged in August, helped by a global AI buildout that has fuelled demand for technology products and ahead of an expected meeting between Xi and Trump.

By Afp 6 days ago

France tries 14 over deadliest Channel migrant crossing disaster

Fourteen people are to go on trial in France on Tuesday over the loss of 31 people including a seven-year-old child in 2021, in the deadliest small-boat crossing accident recorded in the Channel.

By Afp 6 days ago

Canada's counter-tariffs take effect on various US goods

Canada's retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars in US products took effect Tuesday, as a trade war between the North American neighbors heats up.

By Afp 6 days ago

Maitland-Niles strikes late as Everton hold Man U

Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a stunning 96th-minute equaliser on his Everton debut to earn a 2-2 draw against Manchester United and preserve the Toffees’ unbeaten Premier League start.

By Afp 7 days ago

Gunmen kill 10, kidnap 40 in northwest Nigeria: security report

The gangs, which are motivated by financial gains rather than ideology, have at times collaborated with jihadists, who have spread out from their strongholds in the northeast.

By Afp 7 days ago

Ethiopia's Tigray rebels say Olusegun Obasanjo not impartial in peace talks

Although we remain firmly committed to peace and credible dialogue, we have not found in (Obasanjo) the impartial and proactive mediator required by the gravity of the present crisis.

By Afp 7 days ago

Malawi's looming mining boom offers promise and challenge

Discoveries of rare earths and critical minerals are drawing Malawi into the global scramble for materials essential for the energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

By Afp 7 days ago

Germany seeks to quash Gaza genocide case at top UN court

Germany will Monday ask the top United Nations court to toss out a case brought against it by Nicaragua, which has accused Berlin of "facilitating genocide" with its support of Israel.

By Afp 7 days ago

Jakarta airport extends closure after volcano eruption

Jakarta's main airport and three others delayed reopening on Monday after halting operations due to a volcanic eruption and leaving hundreds of thousands stranded.

By Afp 7 days ago

25 years on, America seeks to keep 911 memories alive

A quarter century after the attacks of September 11, the US is eager to keep alive the memory of a 2001 trauma that is fading as the proportion of Americans who did not experience it grows.

By Afp 7 days ago

Philippine president's lawmaker cousin arrested over flood control scandal

Philippine police arrested a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his hospital bed on Monday over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal.

By Afp 7 days ago

Mbappe embraces Ballon d'Or talk after historic World Cup exploits

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe said Monday it was natural for people to consider him as a potential Ballon d'Or winner this year after his World Cup exploits.

By Afp 7 days ago