WORLD

Six soldiers were killed over the weekend in an attack blamed on the jihadist group Boko Haram on a military position in southeast Niger, the defence ministry said on Tuesday revising down an earlier death toll. The Niger army previously said on Sunday that 10 soldiers were killed in the assault near the border with Nigeria. “In the night from ...

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lagos on Tuesday evening to the Shrine, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti’s music venue, to celebrate Nigerian and African culture. “I’m very happy to be here with you tonight,” said Macron, addressing the cheering and whistling crowd in English. Macron went directly to the Shrine from Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, where he met with President ...

Eritrea’s president Isaias Afwerki held talks with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed on Tuesday, which the Horn of Africa nation’s information ministry says focused on enhancing existing ties of cooperation between the two countries. Eritrea’s information minister Yemane Meskel said the two leaders agreed to increase investment in different sectors including education, health, physical infrastructure, agriculture ...

Senami, a 13-year-old girl, was purchased in Benin. “My father didn’t want to sell me, but someone put a spell on my uncle and he persuaded my father,” she said. Taken to oil-rich Gabon, Senami slaved as a domestic servant and later as a roadside peanut seller. With a mixture of rage and sorrow, she recounts her tragic life – ...

Jerome Boateng has no plans to quit international football despite coming in for criticism following Germany’s shock group-stage exit at the World Cup. Boateng, 29, was one of nine players from the squad that lifted the World Cup four years ago who made it to Russia but were dumped out after losing to both Mexico and South Korea. No player ...

Basketball star LeBron James has joined Los Angeles Lakers in a four-year deal worth $154m (£116m). The 33-year-old, who has played in eight consecutive NBA finals, moves to the Lakers from Cleveland Cavaliers. James, who became a free agent on 1 July, is widely considered the best basketball player in the world. “Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible four ...

ANDRES INIESTA has called time on his Spain career after their shock World Cup exit to Russia this afternoon. Spain captain Iniesta saw his final World Cup outing end in defeat as Russia stunned them to make the quarter-finals of the competition. Fernando Hierro’s team went in front early on when 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich put the ball into his net. ...

JESSE LINGARD claims Gareth Southgate has staged a Russian Revolution and vowed that his Red Army have no plans to stop their march any time soon. The Three Lions will be in their crimson away strip for tomorrow night’s clash in the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, knowing a win will set them up with a quarter-final again Sweden or Switzerland ...

SERGIO RAMOS has suggested several Spain players could call time on their international career after they were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup by Russia in a penalty shoot-out earlier today. Spain were not all that convincing in the group stages but, with a squad which boasts several Champions League and top flight winners, they were still regarded as ...

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho will reportedly continue to rebuff Anthony Martial offers amid fears the Frenchman could emulate Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Manchester United boss Mourinho has clashed repeatedly with Martial throughout his two years at Old Trafford. The 55-year-old angered his France superstar by stripping him of his No 9 shirt in 2016, handing it to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The ...