Sweden demolish Tunisia 5-1 to seize control of World Cup group

Sweden crushed Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday to leave the North African nation's defensive reputation in tatters and seize control of World Cup Group F.

By Afp 13 hrs ago

UK PM announces ban on social media for under-16s

The ban will not affect messaging services such as WhatsApp.

By Afp 7 hrs ago

Qatari delegation in Tehran for Middle East war talks

An adviser to Qatar's foreign minister had been dispatched to the Islamic Republic,

By Afp 1 day ago

Qatar earn first ever World Cup point with late goal

Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi stunned Switzerland with a late equaliser as the sides played out a 1-1 draw in their opening match at the World Cup on Saturday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Vinicius earns Brazil 1-1 draw with Morocco in World Cup opener

Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant equaliser for Brazil in a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday as the five-time World Cup winners made an uncertain start to the tournament in New Jersey.

By Afp 1 day ago

McGinn gives Scotland win over Haiti on World Cup return

A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Australia stun Turkey 2-0 in World Cup after selection gamble pays off

Australia produced an inspired peformance to beat Turkey 2-0 in the group phase of the World Cup on Saturday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Trump says US-Iran deal to be signed Sunday, Hormuz to open after

A Pakistani foreign ministry statement also said the signing was planned for Sunday.

By Afp 1 day ago

Middle East fuel crisis keeps Mozambique fishermen ashore

Dozens of low fishing boats lay anchored in flat waters off Mozambique's capital, stranded for days as surging fuel costs kept their owners from heading out to sea.

By Afp 1 day ago

Indonesian economy comes up for air but struggles to win back investors

Indonesia's economy faces a perfect storm wrought by high energy prices, and while the currency has rebounded slightly, critics warn government policies are unnerving investors at a critical moment.

By Afp 1 day ago

Trump turns 80 with cage fight at the White House

Donald Trump celebrates his 80th birthday in typically forceful style on Sunday, as the oldest US president ever to take office holds a bloody cage match on the White House lawn.

By Afp 1 day ago

Tiny Curacao tackle Germany at World Cup as Iran arrive in US

The smallest nation by population in the tournament comes face-to-face with the four-time winners on Sunday when tiny Curacao play Germany in a true World Cup fairytale.

By Afp 1 day ago

Germany thrash Curacao 7-1 in World Cup group match

Four-time winners Germany thrashed World Cup debutants Curacao 7-1 in their first group game on Sunday.

By Afp 23 hrs ago

Uganda slams 'unfair' Ebola air travel restrictions

Besides the US, Canada, and the UAE are among the countries to have imposed entry bans on travellers from Uganda, the DRC, and neighbouring South Sudan as a result of the outbreak.

By Afp 2 days ago

Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei to be buried July 9: state TV

Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed by Israeli and US airstrikes on February 28, to be buried on July 9 state TV reports; he ruled the nation for 37 years.

By Afp 2 days ago

USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in dream start for World Cup co-hosts

The United States could scarcely have scripted a better start to their World Cup as a Folarin Balogun brace and Gio Reyna curler fired the co-hosts to a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay

By Afp 2 days ago

Lebanon reports Israeli strikes in south after evacuation warning

The Israeli army last month declared all areas south of the river "combat zones", and has since been striking the area.

By Afp 2 days ago

US says downed multiple Iran drones as both insist deal closer

US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X that Iran had "launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz".

By Afp 2 days ago

US-Iran deal could be sealed within 24 hours, mediator Pakistan says

"We are closer to a peace deal than ever before," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has played a crucial role in peace talks, wrote on X on Saturday.

By Afp 2 days ago

Kylian and Neymar top South America football naming boom

Across South America, a legion of pint-sized Kylians and Neymars will be following the fortunes of the stars to whom they owe their names after the World Cup kicked off yesterday.

By Afp 3 days ago

Mexico beat South Africa to kick off World Cup

South Africa, meanwhile, never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off.

By Afp 3 days ago

South Korea beat Czech Republic 2-1 in World Cup

South Korea gets World Cup campaign off to a winning start after beating the Czech Republic 2-1. Substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal in a Guadalajara stadium.

By Afp 3 days ago

Crime reporter shot dead in Mexico

"Lopez Valdez was killed early Thursday morning in (the city of) Poza Rica, after being intercepted by armed men while driving," an article published on its website stated.

By Afp 3 days ago

Pochettino rallies USA fans ahead of Paraguay encounter

Argentinian coach Pochettino kicks off a public training session by grabbing the microphone and leading 5,500 fans in “USA! USA” chants at the team’s training base in Irvine, California.

By Afp 3 days ago

South Korea's ex-president gets 30 years over North Korea drone incident

Ex-South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for 30 more years for sending drones into North Korea; he is already serving life sentence over his failed 2024 martial law bid.

By Afp 3 days ago

Nigeria killed 13,000 'terrorists' in past year: president

Africa's most populous country is fighting the long-running conflict across its northern regions, complicated by inroads made by militants from the Sahel, and non-ideological "bandit" gangs.

By Afp 3 days ago

Shakira and protests as World Cup kicks off in Mexico

A crush to get into an overcrowded fan zone in the centre of Mexico City and protests near the stadium made for a chaotic day that contrasted with the festive atmosphere inside the Azteca.

By Afp 3 days ago

Ebola spreading into new areas in northeast DR Congo: WHO

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, there have been 676 confirmed Ebola cases, including 136 deaths in the DRC, according to the latest figures from the WHO.

By Afp 3 days ago

Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa head home

Foreign nationals have reported being intimidated and beaten by mobs going door to door, families forced from their homes, and many have left in the face of the threats.

By Afp 4 days ago

'No Ebola here': misinformation stalls DR Congo response

Misinformation is hampering efforts to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak in the DRC, as distrust spreads alongside the virus.

By Afp 4 days ago

World Cup set for kickoff after high ticket prices, visa issues dog buildup

All systems go for 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to kick off today, and co-hosted by US, Mexico, and Canada; 48 teams to compete in expanded tournament, running through July 19.

By Afp 4 days ago

A woman in charge of the UN? Candidates feel it's about time

It is high time a woman took charge of the United Nations, argued three of the candidates in the running to take over as secretary-general, at a debate on Tuesday.

By Afp 4 days ago

Trump vows fresh Iran strikes and seizure of oil terminals

US President Donald Trump vowed fresh attacks against Iran, saying American forces would also soon seize the country's key oil infrastructure after the two sides exchanged strikes overnight.

By Afp 4 days ago

Over 260 Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in S. Africa return home

The first group of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following escalating anti-immigrant attacks landed in Lagos on Thursday, AFP journalists saw.

By Afp 4 days ago

Somali referee banned by US to officiate European Super Cup UEFA

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA's Super Cup, European football's governing body announced.

By Afp 4 days ago

Gunmen shoot dead 12 near Johannesburg: South African police

Gunmen stormed an informal settlement near Johannesburg and shot dead 12 people overnight, South African police said Wednesday.

By Afp 5 days ago

South Sudan graft whistleblower abducted in Kenya

A South Sudanese whistleblower has been abducted in Kenya, according to a police report seen by AFP, with activists fearing he could be deported back to his country and killed for exposing corruption.

By Afp 5 days ago

Premium

Why 'forever chemical' TFA is toxic for human reproduction

According to the ECHA's recommended classification, TFA "may impair fertility" and "may cause harm to the unborn child."

By Afp 5 days ago

Trump says Iran 'taken too long to negotiate,' will have to 'pay the price'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran has taken too long to negotiate a deal over the conflict in the Middle East and will now "have to pay the price."

By Afp 5 days ago

UN calls for US immigration 're-think' for World Cup

The US-Israel war on Iran has also loomed large over the tournament.

By Afp 5 days ago