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Ghana has named Portuguese veteran Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the men’s national team, a move made less than two months before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that Queiroz will assume immediate responsibility for the squad’s tournament preparations, working alongside key stakeholders to finalize the roster.“The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, working with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars,” the GFA said in an official statement.At 73, Queiroz recently departed his role as Oman’s manager after the side failed to qualify for the World Cup, but his appointment marks his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance, this time guiding Ghana.Ghana found itself without a coach 72 days before the tournament after parting ways with Otto Addo following friendly defeats to Austria and Germany in March.Queiroz’s World Cup résumé includes leading Portugal to the round of 16 in 2010 and steering Iran through three editions, recording three wins in 13 matches.Born in Mozambique, the former goalkeeper has also managed Egypt, Japan, Colombia and South Africa, and previously helmed Portugal in the early 1990s.“This is not just another job – it is a mission,” Queiroz said. “I am ready to give everything of my experience and knowledge once again, in service of the game and the happiness of people.”He was chosen from more than 600 local and foreign applications because of his extensive World Cup experience.Ghana have been drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama.The Black Stars will fine‑tune their tactics in warm‑up matches against Mexico on May 22 and Wales on June 2.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a staggering number of births, with 5.6 million children born since the start of the war in April 2023. This translates to 5,000 children a day being born in a country where millions are struggling to survive on just one meal a day.Save the Children has warned that these children are born in overcrowded shelters, under-equipped or damaged health facilities, or while their families are on the move. The charity's country director for Sudan, Mohamed Abdiladif, emphasized that children have a right to receive care and protection, even in conflict.The conflict, which began on April 15, 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12 million, and spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Both sides have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, while the RSF has been implicated in atrocities in the vast Darfur region.The healthcare system in Sudan has been pushed to the edge, with widespread violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure straining the country's already fragile healthcare system. The rate of maternal deaths during childbirth has increased by more than 12 percent, from 263 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 295 per 100,000 in 2025.Save the Children has called for all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and allow access to reach families in urgent need of assistance.

Israel has conducted separate strikes in Gaza, leading to the deaths of three Palestinians. The incidents occurred on April 14, 2026, as reported by Al Jazeera.The strikes are part of the ongoing conflict in the region, which has seen increased tensions between Israel and Palestine. The Gaza Strip has been a focal point of the conflict, with both sides experiencing significant losses and casualties.The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with many calling for de-escalation and peace talks to resolve the longstanding conflict.

Southampton have moved just three points off automatic promotion after a 3-0 victory over Blackburn, coupled with Ipswich’s 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth. The hosts extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in all competitions with a comprehensive victory at St Mary’s, secured by first-half goals from Cyle Larin and Ryan Manning and a late strike from Cameron Archer. The Southampton manager, Tonda Eckert, made five changes to the team which beat Derby 2-1 on Saturday but there was no disruption to the relentless rhythm which has catapulted the club up the Championship table and earned an FA Cup semi-final spot. Saints made the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Kuryu Matsuki set Archer free down the left, and he squared the ball perfectly for Larin to slot home. Shea Charles then went close with a rampaging run and shot, before Manning’s low shot deflected in past Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth two minutes from half-time. Matsuki missed a glorious chance to add a third after brilliant work from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Larin left him with the goal at his mercy, and substitute Leo Scienza went close at the near post before Blackburn finally threatened. Daniel Peretz beat away Yuki Ohashi’s shot before Ryoya Morishita struck the post on the rebound. Archer completed the scoring late on to secure Southampton’s seventh win in a row, moving them up to fourth with a home fixture against second-placed Ipswich to come, after they head to Wembley and face Manchester City in the FA Cup. “I think no matter who we put on at the moment, they’re all ready to perform. It’s quite an easy decision at the moment to pick a team, because they’re all ready to go,” Eckert said after the game. Ipswich missed the chance to tighten their grip on second place as they slipped to defeat at Fratton Park. Conor Shaughnessy and Colby Bishop claimed quickfire goals as Portsmouth boosted their survival hopes with a crucial victory.

In a tense showdown at Wembley, England’s women’s national team edged past Spain 1‑0 to keep their World Cup qualifying campaign flawless. Lauren Hemp opened the scoring in the third minute, a strike that set the tone for a match defined by English resolve. Coach Sarina Wiegman entered the game with a clear plan: abandon possession‑heavy play and adopt a compact low‑block to frustrate Spain’s technical superiority. Captain Keira Walsh echoed this approach, noting that “you can’t go toe‑to‑toe with Spain for possession”. The strategy paid off as England held the ball for only 36.7% of the time, yet limited the visitors to 21 chances, just three of which were on target. Defensively, England were razor‑sharp. The side recorded 21 tackles with a 61.9% success rate, and the newly‑formed partnership of Lotte Wubben‑Moy and Esme Morgan kept the Spanish attack at bay. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton cemented the clean sheet with a world‑class save from Edna Imade’s close‑range header, preserving the lead. Beyond Hemp’s early goal, the attacking trio of Lauren James on the left and Lucy Bronze on the right added width and defensive cover, showcasing the squad’s evolution since last year’s goalless draw. While Wiegman admitted the team “could have been higher up the pitch”, she praised the collective effort that made Spain uncomfortable once the English side entered the opponent’s half. The victory propels the Lionesses to the top of their qualifying group with three wins from three games and a healthy goal difference. A return fixture in Mallorca in June now looms, but England have already secured a psychological edge.

The UK's culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has cleared Axel Springer's £575m takeover of the Telegraph titles, paving the way for the end of almost three years of uncertainty over the ownership of the newspapers. Nandy stated that she does not believe there are grounds to intervene and refer the deal to the media regulator, Ofcom, for an in-depth regulatory investigation. The culture secretary has the power to call in mergers for further scrutiny on public interest grounds, as well as the new foreign state influence regime. Axel Springer, a German media group, had tabled a significantly superior offer to Lord Rothermere's Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), prompting the United Arab Emirates-backed group that controls the Telegraph to seek UK government approval to switch the permission to sell the right-to-buy option to Axel Springer. The Telegraph titles will add to Axel Springer's media portfolio, which includes Europe's biggest newspaper, Bild, Politico, and Business Insider. Axel Springer CEO, Mathias Döpfner, has promised to invest in the Telegraph to make it the “leading centre-right media outlet in the English-speaking world”, with a rapid expansion planned for the US supported by the expertise of Politico and Business Insider. The sale of the newspapers was kicked off in 2023 when the Barclay family lost control of the group over £1.16bn of unpaid debts owed to Lloyds bank. RedBird IMI, which is 75% controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the UAE and the owner of Manchester City, took control of the publishing group after agreeing to pay the Barclays' debts.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reportedly pitched a merger with American Airlines to US President Donald Trump in late February, according to sources. This potential deal would combine the world's two largest carriers by available capacity, significantly impacting the global air travel industry.The proposed merger would be the largest consolidation move in the airline industry in at least a decade, combining the 'big four' US carriers – United, American, Delta, and Southwest – into the 'big three'. Collectively, these airlines already control 74% of passenger capacity in the US market.Shares in United rose 3.9% and American climbed 9.3% during early trading in New York on Tuesday following the report. However, critics warn that the deal would likely face intense opposition from unions, rival airlines, lawmakers, and airports due to concerns around overlapping routes and job losses.Experts also caution that a merger would have a detrimental impact on passengers, leading to fewer choices, higher ticket prices, and more fees. Ganesh Sitaraman, director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, described the potential merger as 'an absolute disaster for the flying public'.William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, called the proposed deal 'undoubtedly the most absurd airline merger I've ever heard about'. He emphasized that a single US carrier controlling nearly 40% of the market would be unprecedented and harmful to consumers.Despite these concerns, some stakeholders, such as Capt. Dennis Tajer, spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, approached the report with an open mind, highlighting American Airlines' financial and operational challenges under current management.

Dianna Russini, a prominent NFL reporter for The Athletic, has resigned from her position amid an investigation into photos of her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. The images, published by The New York Post, show Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury hotel in Sedona, Arizona, and have sparked speculation about their relationship.Russini maintained that her interactions with Vrabel were platonic and taken out of context. She expressed frustration with the media frenzy surrounding the photos, stating that it was 'unmoored from the facts' and had caused significant damage to her career.In a letter to The Athletic's executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, Russini said she had covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout her career. She chose to resign before her contract expired on June 30, rather than allowing the situation to continue and potentially harm her reputation further.The Athletic initially defended Russini, with Ginsberg stating that the images lacked context and depicted public interactions among multiple people. However, the outlet expanded its review after additional reporting raised questions about Russini's coverage of Vrabel and the nature of their relationship.Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including SportsCenter anchor, NFL analyst, and insider. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots.

"Bloody unacceptable" – those were the words of UN humanitarian chief Denise Brown as she condemned the failure to halt a war that has now entered its fourth year. The conflict, which began with rival generals overthrowing Sudan’s civilian leadership, has eclipsed global crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, yet remains largely ignored. The Berlin‑hosted international conference aims to inject urgency into a situation where tens of thousands have been killed, four million have fled abroad, and millions more are internally displaced. Roughly 30 million Sudanese – more than half the population – now face acute food insecurity, and large swathes of Khartoum lie in ruins. Violence has not abated. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have established a rival administration in western Sudan. In the siege of El Fasher, an estimated 10,000 civilians were massacred – a UN mission described the atrocity as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Gen. Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan have deliberately targeted civilians, carried out summary executions, tortured detainees and increasingly employed drones to devastate urban areas. Gen. Burhan, whose government enjoys international recognition, refuses any compromise, insisting the RSF must first disarm and retreat to camps before any national dialogue. The RSF, meanwhile, demands a new federal system and the removal of Islamist elements – a stance that directly challenges Burhan’s coalition. In September, a US‑led mediation team that included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt outlined a tentative roadmap: a humanitarian truce leading to a cease‑fire and subsequent political talks. Yet the United States has shown little appetite to prioritize Sudan, and the plan sidestepped the most contentious issues. The deeper scandal, according to diplomats and analysts, is the role of external actors in sustaining the war. Despite denials, the UAE is widely reported as the principal backer of the RSF, while Saudi Arabia and Egypt back Burhan’s forces. Recent Yale research points to Ethiopian collusion with the RSF, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. European states, which previously funded Sudanese security to curb migration, have inadvertently strengthened the RSF and supplied weapons now used on the battlefield. The ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict further hampers relief efforts, inflating costs and limiting aid deliveries. Community kitchens that once fed countless families are disappearing – more than 40 % have closed in the past six months. The Berlin delegates must therefore boost support for Sudan’s grassroots mutual‑aid networks, but humanitarian assistance cannot replace a durable peace. Pressure on the UAE and other geopolitically motivated actors is essential if the international community hopes to halt the suffering of millions of Sudanese.