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  • Guardiola to step down after glittering decade at Man City

    Guardiola to step down after glittering decade at Man City

    After a transformative, trophy-filled decade that redefined modern English football, Pep Guardiola has formally announced he will step down as head coach of Manchester City when the current Premier League season concludes this weekend.

    The 55-year-old Catalan coach, who collected 20 major honors during his 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium, will oversee his final match in charge when Manchester City hosts Aston Villa on Sunday. Following his departure, he will stay connected to the City Football Group, taking on a new role as a global ambassador for the organization.

    In an official statement released by the club Friday, Guardiola reflected on his time with the side, saying: “What a time we have had together! Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”

    Rumors of Guardiola’s impending exit first emerged early this week. When reports first broke, the coach declined to comment on his future plans, a day before Manchester City officially saw their four-year Premier League title streak end, with Arsenal claiming the 2024-25 crown.

    Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2015, already widely regarded as one of the most innovative and successful managers in European football. He built a legendary reputation during a four-year spell at his boyhood club Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, where he won two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns, before adding three consecutive domestic league titles over three seasons with Bayern Munich. Most pundits predicted a similarly short, five-year tenure at most when he made the move to the Premier League, but he would go on to stay a full decade.

    Backed by Abu Dhabi ownership, Guardiola led Manchester City out of the long shadow of local rival Manchester United to build the club’s era of dominance. His trophy haul at City includes an unprecedented six Premier League titles, the club’s first and only Champions League crown, three FA Cups, five League Cups, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and three Community Shields.

    Beyond the silverware, Guardiola’s impact on English football extends far beyond Manchester City. His signature possession-based, attacking style of play has been adopted at every level of the English game, from grassroots youth football to top-flight elite clubs. Many of the top managers currently leading the league’s biggest clubs are direct disciples of Guardiola’s coaching philosophy: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, who ended his side’s 22-year Premier League title drought this season, previously served as an assistant under Guardiola at City; Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot has credited Guardiola’s Barcelona side with shaping his coaching approach; and new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso finished his playing career at Bayern Munich specifically to learn under Guardiola.

    The announcement of Guardiola’s exit comes as Manchester City still awaits the final ruling on a long-running Premier League investigation into more than 115 alleged financial regulatory breaches. The club was first charged by the league in February 2023, an independent commission wrapped up its hearings in December 2024, and the final outcome of the case remains pending, hanging over the club’s on-pitch achievements from Guardiola’s tenure.

    Per widespread media reports, Enzo Maresca, the current manager of Leicester City and a former assistant coach on Guardiola’s Manchester City staff, is set to take over the head coaching role at the Etihad when Guardiola departs.

  • ‘I could not stay silent’, says activist who shouted at Ben-Gvir

    ‘I could not stay silent’, says activist who shouted at Ben-Gvir

    A viral video of far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting bound detained activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), an international initiative bringing humanitarian aid to blockaded Gaza, has sparked widespread international backlash, including rare public criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and formal condemnation from Ireland’s top government officials. The confrontation, which unfolded in an Israeli detention facility, began when Irish activist Catriona Graham, one of hundreds of activists intercepted by Israeli forces en route to Gaza, shouted “free, free, Palestine” as Ben-Gvir passed her. Graham, who also participated in a 2025 aid flotilla that Ben-Gvir similarly confronted, told Irish public broadcaster RTÉ she could not remain silent after witnessing what she described as years of cruel treatment by the minister toward Palestinian prisoners.

    In the widely shared video, Ben-Gvir is seen encouraging Israeli security personnel as they force Graham to the ground following her outburst. After her protest, Graham recalled being dragged into solitary confinement, surrounded by roughly eight Israeli commandos who spoke in Hebrew around her. While she escaped severe injury, she described the experience as marked by constant palpable danger, adding that many other detained activists faced far harsher treatment. Graham emphasized that the interception operation involved a dramatic escalation of force compared to previous aid flotilla missions, with unconfirmed reports of at least 15 sexual assaults and widespread physical violence against detainees.

    The GSF mission launched last Thursday from the Turkish coast, with more than 50 boats carrying 430 participants from over 40 nations, transporting a cargo of food, baby formula, and critical medical supplies to Gaza. The Palestinian enclave has remained under a strict Israeli maritime blockade for years, and despite an October 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, living conditions for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents—most of whom have been displaced by the war—remain catastrophic. Last week, the United Nations confirmed that most displaced families are still forced to shelter in overcrowded, unsanitary tents or damaged buildings, with limited access to clean water, functional waste management, and basic public health services.

    Israeli naval commandos began intercepting the flotilla on Monday in international waters roughly 250 nautical miles west of Cyprus, far from Gaza’s coast. By Tuesday evening, all GSF vessels had been seized, with only one managing to reach within 80 nautical miles of Gaza. Israeli officials have dismissed the entire mission as a “public relations stunt in service of Hamas”, arguing that Gaza is already “flooded with aid”, claiming more than 1.5 million tonnes of aid and thousands of tonnes of medical supplies have entered the territory over the past seven months.

    Among the detained activists were 15 Irish citizens, including Dr. Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly. By Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced all foreign activists from the flotilla had been deported, reiterating that the country would not tolerate any violations of its legal naval blockade of Gaza. On Friday, Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee confirmed all detained Irish citizens had safely arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, and were recovering, adding that Irish consular officials would continue to provide full support to the group.

    After arriving in Turkey, Dr. Connolly issued a scathing rebuke of Israel, calling the country a “barbaric, cruel regime” that must be disbanded. Another Irish activist, Mikey Cullen, told RTÉ that the violent treatment activists faced during interception—even with global media attention on the mission—made clear how much harsher treatment Palestinian prisoners routinely experience at the hands of Israeli forces.

    The fallout from Ben-Gvir’s video has been swift. Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin released a statement saying he was “appalled at the shocking behaviour” of the far-right minister. In a rare break from intra-government consensus, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also publicly distanced himself from the incident, saying Ben-Gvir’s actions were “not in line with Israel’s values”. The incident has reignited international debate over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and the treatment of political detainees amid the ongoing post-ceasefire tensions in the region.

  • Why thousands of stock trades tied to Trump are raising eyebrows

    Why thousands of stock trades tied to Trump are raising eyebrows

    A growing wave of scrutiny has descended on thousands of stock market transactions tied to Donald Trump, prompting questions about financial disclosure compliance and potential conflicts of interest that have captured the attention of political observers and financial regulators alike. The controversy, first explored in depth by BBC business correspondent Michelle Fleury, centers on the public disclosures of trading activity submitted by the former president, which have left analysts and ethics watchdogs raising red flags over unusual patterns and potential gaps in transparency. For years, the financial dealings of sitting and former U.S. presidents have been a flashpoint for public debate over ethical governance, with critics arguing that any failure to fully disclose market activities opens the door to accusations of improper influence or use of non-public information for personal financial gain. What makes this current development unusual is the sheer volume of trades that have come under review, far outpacing the typical level of financial activity reported by past presidents and leading ethicists to question how Trump’s business interests intersect with his political position. As the scrutiny intensifies, Washington watchdogs are calling for a full review of the transactions to determine whether any violations of federal ethics rules or disclosure requirements have occurred, while legal analysts note that the controversy adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught political and legal landscape surrounding the former president. Financial markets experts also point out that even if no rules were broken, the perception of improper activity tied to a major political figure can erode public trust in both the political system and the fairness of the stock market, highlighting the need for strict transparency standards for senior government officials.

  • Timelapse footage shows ‘giant cave’ inflating on Paris bridge

    Timelapse footage shows ‘giant cave’ inflating on Paris bridge

    Stunning new timelapse footage has captured the extraordinary transformation of one of Paris’s most historic bridges, as renowned street artist JR — often nicknamed the “French Banksy” for his subversive, large-scale public works — completed a breathtaking temporary installation that has captured the attention of art lovers across the globe.

    The project, which reimagined the bridge’s iconic facade as a giant, inflating cave-like structure, unfolded over a period of careful preparation and construction. The timelapse sequence documents every stage of the work, from the initial anchoring of the massive flexible membrane to the gradual inflation that turned the solid stone bridge’s surface into a bulging, organic-looking form that seems to bulge out into the city space above the Seine.

    JR, who built his career on provocative, site-specific public art that challenges how viewers interact with urban landscapes, has a long history of creating works that blur the line between art, architecture, and public space. This installation continues that tradition, turning a familiar Parisian landmark into something unexpected that forces passersby and visitors to reexamine the built environment they encounter every day.

    Footage of the installation’s inflation has spread rapidly across social media, with thousands of users sharing the striking visual of the “giant cave” swelling against the backdrop of the Paris skyline. The temporary nature of the work — typical of JR’s public practice — means that only those who visited the site in person and those viewing the timelapse footage online can experience the full impact of the piece, adding an additional layer of exclusivity and urgency to its cultural conversation.

    Critics and art observers have noted that the work continues JR’s signature style of taking well-known public spaces and injecting them with new meaning, using large-scale visual trickery to spark dialogue about art’s role in everyday life. Like the anonymous British street artist Banksy, JR works primarily in public space, avoiding traditional gallery settings to bring his art directly to the public, a practice that has earned him a global following and widespread critical acclaim.

  • Ndiaye adamant Senegal are champions of Africa

    Ndiaye adamant Senegal are champions of Africa

    As the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaches, Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye has made it clear that the ongoing legal battle over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title will not distract his side from their pursuit of global glory. Ndiaye insists that regardless of the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Teranga Lions still view themselves as the rightful kings of African football.

    The controversy traces back to January’s dramatic Afcon final hosted by Morocco, where Senegal claimed a 1-0 extra-time victory over the Atlas Lions, a match marred by a 17-minute stoppage triggered by a Senegal protest over a late penalty decision. Two key flashpoints unfolded in second-half stoppage time: first, a late Senegal headed goal from Ismaila Sarr was ruled out for an alleged foul on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi. Minutes later, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala overturned his original on-field call after a VAR review, awarding Morocco a penalty for a foul by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Brahim Diaz.

    Furious over the back-to-back calls, multiple Senegal players, substitutes and coaching staff left the pitch in protest. It was tournament star Sadio Mane — who remained on the field throughout the chaos — who raced to the dressing room to convince his teammates to return and complete the match. Once play resumed, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s Panenka-style penalty, and Pape Gueye netted the winning goal in extra time to secure Senegal’s second consecutive Afcon title.

    The dispute did not end on the pitch, however. On March 17, two months after the final, a Confederation of African Football (Caf) appeals board ruled that Senegal breached tournament regulations by walking off the pitch without the referee’s formal permission, and stripped the side of the title, awarding it to Morocco instead. Senegal’s football federation immediately appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has not yet issued a final judgement.

    Despite the unresolved legal cloud hanging over the 2025 Afcon title, Ndiaye says Senegal will not let the saga impact their World Cup preparations. The 26-year-old Everton forward, who started the final and watched the stoppage-time chaos from the bench after being substituted, emphasized that the squad’s focus and hunger for the 2026 World Cup remains undimmed. “Obviously, in our eyes and many other people’s eyes, we are the champions of Africa,” Ndiaye told BBC World Service’s Newsday. “Whatever their decisions will be, it doesn’t disturb us. The same focus and hunger and determination that we had going into the Afcon, we’re going to do the same going into the World Cup. It’s another trophy on the line and nothing’s going to distract us.”

    Ndiaye also acknowledged that the entire controversy has been bad for the reputation of African football, saying “it’s not a good look” for the continent’s top sport. He added that the timing of the Caf ruling, coming two months after Senegal had already celebrated the title and even paraded the trophy during a pre-World Cup friendly against Peru, left him confused. “If you give the decision to the referee on the pitch, you’ve got to leave that decision to him and leave it how it is,” he said. “In Africa we have to stay together, be strong and do everything in our power to lift up African football. It wasn’t a great look so I just hope they put it right.”

    Senegal will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group I, where they are set to face 2022 champions France, Norway and Iraq. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

  • Michael Carrick given permanent deal as Man Utd manager – club

    Michael Carrick given permanent deal as Man Utd manager – club

    English Premier League giant Manchester United announced Friday that Michael Carrick, the club’s former legendary midfielder, has been rewarded with a permanent contract to serve as head coach for the upcoming season, capping a stunning interim spell that secured the side a return to the UEFA Champions League. The 44-year-old stepped into the interim role back in January, following the club’s decision to dismiss former manager Ruben Amorim. What followed was a remarkable turnaround in form that propelled United from a mid-table position to a third-place finish in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, booking the club an automatic spot in the Champions League group stage next term. In an official statement released by the club Friday, Manchester United executives expressed their delight at locking in Carrick long-term, praising his steady leadership and immediate impact during his five-month interim tenure. Speaking after the contract was confirmed, Carrick — who first joined Manchester United as a player 20 years ago, going on to win multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy during his playing career — reflected on his deep connection to the club. “From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United,” Carrick said. “Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride.” The new permanent head coach also highlighted the character of his playing squad, noting that over the past five months, the group has demonstrated the resilience, teamwork and relentless determination that has long been a core value of the storied club. “Throughout the past five months, this group of players have shown they can reach the standards of resilience, togetherness and determination that we demand here,” Carrick added. “Now it’s time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose. Manchester United and our incredible supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honours again.” The appointment marks a full-circle moment for Carrick, who has become one of the few former club legends to transition from decorated player to permanent first-team manager at Old Trafford. Fans have broadly welcomed the decision, after Carrick’s attacking, disciplined brand of football reinvigorated a squad that had struggled for consistency earlier in the season.

  • Rwanda embraces TCM to aid healthcare

    Rwanda embraces TCM to aid healthcare

    Nestled in the heart of East Africa, the “Land of a Thousand Hills” Rwanda draws visitors with its sweeping green mountain slopes, but this same dramatic terrain creates unique public health challenges for its population. For millions of Rwandans, daily life requires traversing steep, winding mountain paths for hours at a time, a routine that gradually wears down joints, muscles and musculoskeletal health over years.

  • Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City after the season: ‘It’s my time’

    Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City after the season: ‘It’s my time’

    MANCHESTER, England – After a decade of unprecedented success that reshaped English top-flight football and turned Manchester City into one of the most dominant forces in global soccer, Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed he will depart the club at the end of the current season, ending the most anticipated coaching exit in recent Premier League history.

    The Catalan boss, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, will lead the Sky Blues for his final match this Sunday against Aston Villa, despite having 12 months remaining on his existing contract. In an emotional announcement Friday, Guardiola said he felt the moment had come to step away, declining to share specific reasons for his decision beyond an inner conviction that his time at the Etihad Stadium had come to a natural close.

    “Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside I know it’s my time,” Guardiola told reporters. The 55-year-old added that he plans to step back from coaching entirely for the foreseeable future, acknowledging he no longer has the consistent high energy required to compete for major honors at the highest level year after year.

    Guardiola’s 10-season spell at Manchester City stands as the longest tenure of his entire managerial career, breaking his long-running pattern of never staying in a single role for more than four years. Across his time at the club, Guardiola delivered an unmatched haul of 17 major senior trophies, including six Premier League titles, one Champions League crown (claimed in 2023), four League Cups, and two FA Cups. This season alone, he added a domestic double of the FA Cup and League Cup to his collection, capping his tenure with yet more silverware.

    Among his many groundbreaking achievements, Guardiola led City to become the first English club ever to claim four consecutive Premier League titles, set a top-flight record with 100 points in the 2017-18 campaign, and claim a historic full domestic treble (league, FA Cup, League Cup) in 2019. In 2023, he guided the club to an even more remarkable treble, adding the Champions League to Premier League and FA Cup honors to match the iconic feat first achieved by Manchester United in 1999. Across his entire career stints at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Guardiola has now won 35 major managerial trophies.

    Beyond silverware, Guardiola revolutionized the identity of English football with his signature possession-based playing style, centered on building attacks from the back through the goalkeeper and defensive line. This approach has been widely replicated at every level of the game across the country, from grassroots youth teams to top-flight rival clubs. Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak highlighted Guardiola’s far-reaching impact on the sport in a statement following the announcement, noting that the manager’s innovative approach challenged long-held assumptions about how the game should be played.

    “The unique approach that he brings to his coaching has allowed him to constantly challenge the accepted truths of our game. It is the reason that in the last 10 years he has not only made Manchester City better — he has also made football better,” Al Mubarak said, adding that Guardiola’s decision to step away now was the right call for both the manager and the club.

    In recognition of his unparalleled legacy at the club, Manchester City has announced that Guardiola will take on a new role as a global ambassador for the club, and will provide technical guidance to other clubs under the City Football Group ownership umbrella. The club will also honor his contributions by naming the newly developed stand at the Etihad Stadium after him. Chief Executive Ferran Sorriano emphasized that Guardiola’s lasting impact will be studied and celebrated by future club historians, praising his unmatched consistency in chasing titles year after year.

    “If there is something more difficult than winning, it is winning again. It requires incredible persistence, resilience and the humility to start again every year, with the same energy, again and again. This is what Pep did,” Sorriano said.

    The leading candidate to replace Guardiola is Enzo Maresca, a former head coach of Chelsea who previously worked as an assistant manager under Guardiola at Manchester City, who now faces the unenviable challenge of filling the shoes of a manager who delivered a decade of unprecedented dominance. Even with Guardiola departing on a high note after another trophy-winning season, this campaign marked the first time in his City tenure that the club failed to claim the Premier League title in back-to-back seasons, and the Sky Blues have been eliminated before the Champions League quarterfinals in both of the last two campaigns.

    Throughout his time at Manchester City, Guardiola repeatedly defended the club against lingering financial fair play allegations. The Premier League has brought more than 110 charges against City related to alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018, a period when the club won three league titles and recruited many of its star players. Guardiola has repeatedly stated he remains fully convinced of the club’s innocence, which City has consistently maintained.

    In a farewell message to City’s global fanbase, Guardiola struck a reflective, proud tone: “We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way.”

  • Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini dies aged 76

    Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini dies aged 76

    The global sustainable food movement has lost one of its most influential pioneers. Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food, who dedicated 40 years to advancing eco-friendly food production and protecting centuries-old culinary traditions, passed away at the age of 76 on Thursday in Bra, his hometown in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region. The Slow Food organization confirmed his death in an official statement, with local media reports noting he had battled cancer in recent years.

    Petrini’s journey into global food activism began in 1986, when a then-journalist joined widespread public protests opposing the opening of Italy’s first McDonald’s location in Rome’s iconic Piazza di Spagna. In the wake of those demonstrations, Petrini gathered a small group of like-minded friends in the Italian countryside to launch a grassroots movement initially named Arcigola. What started as a local pushback against the rise of standardized fast food quickly grew into a national phenomenon, and by 1989, more than 20 international delegates gathered to sign the official Slow Food Manifesto. The document laid out the movement’s core mission: to push back against the “tediousness of fast-food” and safeguard cultural food heritage around the world.

    Under Petrini’s decades-long leadership as president, the movement expanded far beyond Italy’s borders, establishing a presence in more than 160 countries. Slow Food’s core principles — a commitment to food that is “good, clean, and fair for all” — have reshaped global conversations around food systems, emphasizing quality ingredients, environmental stewardship, and equitable working conditions for small-scale farmers and food producers. Petrini’s work united a diverse global network: from rural farming communities and traditional food artisans to professional chefs, grassroots activists, and young people passionate about food justice.

    Throughout his campaigning career, Petrini built close connections with major global figures who shared his commitment to sustainability. He developed a lasting friendship with King Charles III, rooted in their shared dedication to promoting fresh, ecologically responsible food production. The pair were even photographed together during a 2017 visit to Florence’s Sant’Ambrogio Market, when Charles was still the Prince of Wales. Petrini also formed a bond with the late Pope Francis, who surprised the activist with a personal phone call in 2013 after Petrini sent the pontiff a copy of one of his books alongside a letter. Reflecting on the call to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Petrini noted, “Our phone conversation ended, with wishes of good health and a mutual embrace. A world in which one can fraternally embrace a Pope is truly a beautiful world.”

    In tributes following his death, leaders and the Slow Food organization itself have honored Petrini’s far-reaching legacy. The movement released a statement calling Petrini a visionary who “brought to life a global movement rooted in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all.” It added that his work successfully connected diverse groups of food stakeholders across every continent. Italian President Sergio Mattarella echoed those remarks, saying Petrini’s death leaves a “huge void not only in the world of food and wine science, but also in society as a whole, and not just in Italy.”

  • Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to miss the German Cup final for Bayern with calf injury

    Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to miss the German Cup final for Bayern with calf injury

    MUNICH — Veteran Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s German Cup final against defending champions VfB Stuttgart, dealing a fresh blow to his fitness ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup and reigniting concerns over his match readiness for the national team’s campaign. The 40-year-old, who recently ended a two-year international retirement to earn a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad, is sidelined by muscle issues in his left calf, the Bavarian Bundesliga giant confirmed in a statement released Friday.

    The injury, the latest in a string of fitness setbacks that have plagued Neuer throughout the 2024-25 season, occurred during Bayern’s final Bundesliga fixture against FC Cologne last weekend. In the immediate aftermath of the match, the club only noted that Neuer required an immediate break from training and match action, offering no further details on the severity of the problem or a projected timeline for his return. Friday’s announcement formalized his absence from one of the biggest domestic fixtures on the German football calendar, and the club once again declined to specify how long the star goalkeeper will be sidelined.

    Neuer’s unexpected return to the German national side was the headline story when head coach Julian Nagelsmann unveiled his official World Cup squad earlier this week. Nagelsmann made clear that the Bayern captain would be the team’s starting number one goalkeeper for the tournament, marking a rapid comeback after two years away from international football. The injury setback comes at a critical juncture for Germany, with pre-tournament preparations set to kick off on May 27 in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach. The four-time World Cup champions are scheduled to play warm-up friendlies against Finland in Mainz on May 31 and the United States in Chicago on June 6, before opening their Group E campaign against first-time qualifier Curacao in Houston on June 14. Germany will also face off against Ivory Coast and Ecuador in the group stage as they chase a first World Cup title since 2014.