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Two of the top three teams in FIFA rankings will meet in a World Cup 2026 semifinal on Tuesday as Spain take on France. Led by Kylian Mbappe, France are ranked No. 1 and coming off a 2-0 quarterfinals victory over Morocco. The third-ranked Spaniards, who feature teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, defeated Belgium, 2-1, in the quarters to reach their second ever World Cup semifinal. Spain are aiming for their second championship at this tournament, while France are hoping to become the fifth nation with at least three World Cup titles.Kickoff for Spain vs. France is 3 p.m. ET from…

By Ayo Onikoyi Afriwood Studios has officially released the Shutter-Bird Theme Song, the musical identity of Nigeria’s first live-action superhero character. The original track captures the values associated with Shutter-Bird — courage, focus, determination and a commitment to truth — while expanding the character’s presence beyond comics and film into music and digital entertainment. “This song embodies the spirit of Shutter-Bird and the core values of her story,” said Urenna Amadi, Founder and Creative Director of Afriwood Studios. “We want audiences, especially young people, to listen and feel inspired to stay focused, believe in themselves and stand for what is…

Key eventsWelcome to the conversationSundowners in nature, kids – and adults – unplugged from screens, escaping everyday life: camping is one of life’s unparalleled joys. Want to know what to look for in a sleeping mat, the best place to pitch a tent – or what to do when it all goes wrong? Outdoors journalist Sian Lewis has walked hundreds of miles and braved all weathers to test everything from tents to camping chairs to hiking sandals.Post your questions below in the comments and she will answer as many as she can at 1200 BST on Wednesday 15 July.Sian Lewis…

Ukraine says drones hit 11 Russian vessels in the Azov Sea, targeting tankers, dry cargo ships, and a tugboat overnight.Published On 14 Jul 202614 Jul 2026Russia says it is working to reroute ⁠grain shipments from the Sea of Azov after its vessels came under Ukrainian attacks in the sea, as Kyiv claimed it hit 11 more Russian vessels in overnight strikes.Russia was preparing to use “alternative shipping routes” and may redirect cargo “to other modes of transport”, Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement on Tuesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe ministry added that “the situation in…

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved the appointment of new aides, board chairmen and members of governing councils as part of efforts to strengthen governance, improve service delivery and advance his administration’s development agenda. The appointments were announced in a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa, who said the move is aimed at injecting fresh energy into public service and enhancing the effectiveness of government institutions. Among the new appointees are Hon Audu Maikori who was named Chief Strategic Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Umar Uba Maicitta (Senior Special Assistant on Community Relations) and…

Kenya is considering buying back as much as $500 million of its outstanding Eurobonds as part of a broader strategy to smooth debt repayments, reduce refinancing risks and take advantage of improving investor appetite for African sovereign debt, according to Bloomberg. Under the proposal, East Africa’s largest economy would repurchase part of its outstanding international bonds during the 2026/27 fiscal year while simultaneously issuing a new US dollar-denominated bond to finance the transaction. The final amount repurchased will depend on investor demand, with any excess proceeds expected to be used for budget financing. If completed, the transaction would mark Kenya’s…

If you remember racing home after school to grab the family landline and call your best friend before dinner, a new device from Pinwheel is aiming to reboot that experience for a new generation. The kid-focused tech company announced Tuesday the launch of Pinwheel Home, a modern take on the classic household phone designed to let children stay connected without the distractions of a smartphone. Pinwheel is positioning the phone as an intro to phones for children ages 5 to 10 before they’re ready for a smartphone. The company already sells kid-friendly smartphones and launched a smartwatch last year. Image…

Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman has accused the government of a “dereliction of duty” over Nigel Farage’s taxpayer-funded security, claiming it had previously been “downgraded”.Robert Jenrick said his party leader had not been offered the security he needs, after it emerged Reform UK turned down an offer of government-funded security last year.It comes as the alleged murder of Reform’s Ann Widdecombe, which is now being investigated by counterterrorism police, has prompted renewed debate over the security offered to politicians.Farage is set to meet with the Home Office over his security arrangements, after accepting an offer of a meeting made by Home…

The bottom of the ocean has been mapped in much less detail than has the surface of Mars.Credit: US Geological Survey/Science Photo LibraryThe ocean’s depths are among the ultimate frontiers for scientific exploration. Scientists have visually surveyed less than 0.001% of the sea floor, yet oceanography is essential to understanding the climate, ecosystems and processes of deep Earth — including earthquakes and the resulting tsunamis.Now, emerging technologies, including advanced drilling technologies, seismic sensors and methods to convert deep-sea cables into a giant seismic-surveillance network, are poised to crack open these mysteries.Nature has looked into how some of these tools work,…

The date: 2 May 2009. The place: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid. The occasion: A match in La Liga.Guardiola made a decision. He pulled Messi away from the right wing and placed him at the tip of the forward formation – but without the job of a traditional striker. Samuel Eto’o went right, Thierry Henry went left, and Messi was told: Drop, receive, decide. By full-time, it was 6-2. The false nine was reborn.It was nothing new. Gusztav Sebes’ Hungary had dismantled England in their own backyard in 1953, when in their 6-3 win over England, he repeatedly dropped Nandor Hidegkuti…