Global Pulse

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  • LeBron the star as Angola aims to cash in on E1 racing

    LeBron the star as Angola aims to cash in on E1 racing

    Against a backdrop where football and basketball reign as the undisputed most popular sports among Angolan audiences, a groundbreaking new motorsport event has made its southern African debut, drawing massive crowds thanks to the star power of two global icons. The first-ever E1 World Championship race on Angolan soil kicked off over the weekend in Luanda, marking the series’ second stop on the African continent after its 2025 debut in Lagos, Nigeria, and the fifth stop of the 2026 global calendar following events in Jeddah, Lake Como, Dubrovnik and Monaco.

    This innovative racing series, modeled after the land-based Formula E circuit, combines high-octane motorsport with a core mission of advancing sustainability and promoting green marine technology. Counted among the league’s team owners are a roster of A-list celebrities and sporting legends: alongside NBA megastar LeBron James and Hollywood A-lister Will Smith, the group includes tennis great Rafa Nadal, NFL icon Tom Brady, soccer legend Didier Drogba and cricket star Virat Kohli. Both James and Smith traveled to Luanda for the inaugural event, turning a niche motorsport race into a major cultural moment for the southern African nation.

    E1 chief executive Jamie Copas emphasized that the presence of high-profile owners is far more than just a marketing gimmick. “It’s not a short trip to get here, but LeBron committed to coming because he believes in the work we’re building,” Copas shared in an interview with BBC Sport Africa on location in Luanda. “You can’t overstate how valuable their support is. They bring massive global fanbases that would never otherwise pay attention to our sport.”

    For James, the trip marked his first visit to Angola, and he called the local reception “super welcoming” after a stop at the country’s National Museum of Slavery. Speaking to local media following the visit, the recently signed Philadelphia 76ers forward noted the deep historical ties between Angola and the African diaspora in the United States: “There’s so much rich history here, history that doesn’t just stay within Angola’s borders—it connects directly to the story of Black people in America too.”

    James’ star power was impossible to miss along Luanda’s waterfront: Angola’s men’s national basketball team is the reigning African champion, having claimed a record 12th continental title on home soil in 2025, and local spectators crowded the Clube Naval de Luanda race venue just to catch a glimpse of one of the sport’s most recognizable figures. Local journalist Omar Prata, covering the event for Jornal de Angola, admitted he had paid little attention to E1 until Will Smith’s team, Westbrook Racing, announced a three-year race hosting deal with Luanda back in March, with the team backed by the Angolan tourism board.

    “ This event has real potential to put Luanda on the global map at a time when the government is actively working to grow the tourism sector,” Prata explained. “And having LeBron here means everything. Angolans have watched him for years on TV, they emulate his game on local street courts, fans all over the country have his posters on their walls.”

    For local resident Edson Cabeta, who watched the race from the event’s public fan zone, the event was a completely new experience. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” he said. “Today all the competitors are from other countries, but maybe one day we’ll have our own Angolan E1 team competing on home water.”

    Angolan tourism officials are clear about their long-term goals for hosting the race: turning international attention into increased visitor arrivals, foreign investment and economic opportunity. Tourism minister Marcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel described growing global awareness of Angola as the “first critical step” of the country’s long-term tourism development strategy. “Our goal isn’t just to make Angola a well-known name,” Daniel told the BBC. “We want to make Angola a more desirable destination for visitors, for investors, and for businesses looking to grow.”

    This isn’t the first time Angola has invested in high-profile international events to boost its global profile: last November, the country hosted Lionel Messi’s Argentina national team for a friendly match to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence. While it’s still too early to measure the full economic impact of the Luanda E1 race, Daniel noted that large-scale events create immediate ripple benefits across multiple local sectors. “We want to turn the global attention E1 brings into future trips, overnight stays, private investment and new jobs for Angolans,” he added. “That’s the real return we’re working toward.”

    Beyond the fanfare and economic goals, sustainability sits at the core of E1’s identity, just as it does for other electric racing series. For the Luanda race, event organizers included local mangrove restoration projects as part of their marine conservation commitments. The series’ focus on sustainability has drawn scrutiny, however, especially as it hosts races in major oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, the United States, Nigeria and now Angola.

    Copas pushed back on that criticism, framing E1’s presence in these markets as part of a global transition toward cleaner energy. “The whole world is on a journey to decarbonize,” he said. “We’re welcomed in countries that do have extensive fossil fuel infrastructure, and every one of these markets is conscious of the need to transition and wants to do more on green innovation. If we can help move that process forward, why wouldn’t we?”

    Copas added that E1 prioritizes low-carbon logistics, only using air freight to transport teams and equipment as a last resort, and that the series works to demonstrate that electric propulsion is a viable alternative to diesel for marine vessels. Even so, E1’s own annual sustainability report shows that as the series expanded to 10 teams and seven races in 2025, its total annual emissions rose from 1,672 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in its inaugural season to 4,049 tonnes in its second year. Copas acknowledged the growth in emissions, but argued that the long-term impact of E1’s sustainability mission outweighs the series’ current footprint.

    “We have to travel to meet new audiences and share our message, which we believe creates greater benefit than the carbon we emit along the way,” he explained. “We work very hard to offset all of our emissions and make every step of our logistics chain as sustainable as possible. It would be nonsensical to say we won’t travel or race at all, because that would mean we can’t do the work we set out to do.” E1 leadership acknowledges that their work to cut emissions is ongoing, and that deeper reductions remain a key priority for the series moving forward.

    The series has already faced growing pains on the African continent: a planned return race to Lagos, Nigeria scheduled for October was canceled earlier this month, a reminder that E1 is still working to establish its long-term footprint in emerging markets. That means the full long-term impact of the series in southern Africa will take years to assess, but the immediate impact of its celebrity ownership was impossible to miss across the Luanda paddock.

    After checking in with his Westbrook Racing team, Will Smith stopped to take selfies and shake hands with hundreds of cheering fans, telling the crowd it was a privilege to be in Luanda. On the water, however, Smith’s team did not get a fairytale result: a last-minute mechanical fault knocked Westbrook Racing out of contention for the win, and Tom Brady’s Team Brady claimed the title of the first E1 Luanda race.

    While it would take a miracle from Kianda, the traditional Angolan mermaid water spirit that protects fishermen, for electric powerboat racing to overtake football and basketball as Angola’s favorite sport, Copas says E1 is focused on building a different kind of legacy in the country. “For us, this partnership is about helping share Angola’s story with the world, and Angola helping us share our story of sustainable innovation,” he said. “We’re coming back next year, and the year after that. This isn’t just a few days of racing and then we leave. We want to walk alongside Angola as it grows, and play a small part in that journey.”

  • Africa’s richest man launches continent’s biggest share sale

    Africa’s richest man launches continent’s biggest share sale

    Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote has kicked off what will go down in African financial history as the biggest share offering ever launched, opening up a 3% minority stake in his newly operational mega oil refinery to public retail and institutional investors across the country. The landmark initial public offering (IPO) is projected to pull in up to $2.1 billion in capital, a milestone that marks a new chapter for Nigeria’s long-stagnant domestic refining sector.

    Dangote, the 67-year-old billionaire who built his fortune across cement, sugar and diversified industrial ventures across 17 African countries, framed the offering as a deliberate push to open economic opportunity to ordinary Nigerians, rather than limiting ownership of the landmark project to wealthy global investors. “I wanted everyday Nigerians to have a stake in the success of a project that will transform our country’s economy,” he shared in opening remarks for the IPO launch.

    Located in the Lekki Free Zone just outside Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, the 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery first fired up production in 2024, more than a decade after the project was first announced in 2013. What began as a $19 billion proposed project saw its development stretched by multiple delays: construction only broke ground in 2017, and progress was further hampered by global lockdowns and supply chain disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Completing the site alone required a massive engineering feat, with crews moving 65 million cubic meters of sand to reclaim land for the massive complex. Today, it ranks as the seventh-largest refinery on the planet by processing capacity, and already meets more than 70% of Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand.

    For decades, Nigeria held the title of Africa’s largest crude oil producer, yet a crippling lack of domestic refining capacity forced the country to import nearly all its finished fuel for consumers, creating persistent currency outflows and widespread fuel shortages across the country. The Dangote refinery has already upended that dynamic, and the proceeds from the current IPO are earmarked to fund a capacity expansion that will double the plant’s current output over the coming years.

    The offering has already sparked widespread excitement among ordinary Nigerian investors, many of whom are first-time market participants eager to own a slice of the transformative national project. Isah Salisu, a retail investor based in northern Nigeria, withdrew 50,000 naira (approximately $37) from his personal savings to participate in the offering. “My hope is that my small investment will grow into something substantial over time,” Salisu told reporters. “I know so many people investing in this, and I don’t want to miss this opportunity.” The IPO will remain open for subscription for 30 days, with a low barrier to entry: the minimum purchase is just 10 shares, priced at roughly $4 total, making it accessible to low- and middle-income participants.

    While industry experts have hailed the offering as a historic moment for Nigeria’s capital markets and domestic economy, they have also issued important cautionary guidance for new investors. Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim Fagge, a Nigerian economist and business analyst, emphasized that first-time investors need to approach the offering with realistic expectations. “This is a historic moment for our country’s business sector, but prospective buyers, especially those investing in the stock market for the first time, need to understand that share prices can decline, which means investors could face losses,” Fagge explained. His core advice for participants is to avoid investing essential funds or money that will be needed in the short term: “You should only invest money that you can afford to leave untouched for the next three to five years, to ride out any short-term market volatility.” Fagge also issued a warning about investment scams, noting that bad actors are likely to target inexperienced investors unfamiliar with the IPO process. He urged all participants to only transact through the officially registered financial institutions cleared for the offering.

    With a net worth estimated at roughly $28 billion by Forbes, Dangote stands as Africa’s richest person, and his Dangote Cement operation is already the continent’s largest cement producer. This IPO extends his legacy of building large-scale infrastructure that addresses long-standing gaps in Nigeria’s economy, while opening up ownership to a broad base of domestic citizens.

  • Body of missing runner found in South Africa: ‘It is very scary’

    Body of missing runner found in South Africa: ‘It is very scary’

    In the wake of a multi-day nationwide search for a missing South African runner, law enforcement has confirmed the death of 29-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, one of five women whose partially clothed, bruised remains have been discovered in the same region east of Johannesburg. The grim string of discoveries has reignited widespread fear and public anger over South Africa’s long-standing crisis of gender-based violence (GBV), a crisis that data from UN Women places among the most severe in the world.

    Moselakgomo, an avid runner affectionately known to her community as “Tsontso” and a mother to an 8-year-old daughter, went missing last week during a routine daily jog, prompting a widespread public appeal for information to locate her. Her body was recovered in Kempton Park this past Saturday, and formal identification was completed by her family members on Monday. In a disturbing development that same Monday, a fifth female body matching the same half-naked, injured description was found just 25 kilometers from the original recovery site. That body was spotted by a commuter on his way to work, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

    While SAPS has stopped short of linking the five deaths to a single serial killer, officials have acknowledged that the striking similarities between the cases are alarming enough to issue a urgent public advisory. Authorities are urging all women in the Kempton Park area to avoid solitary walking or running, especially in remote, low-traffic regions where assistance would be hard to call. To date, one arrest has been made in connection with the first discovered body, and the suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. SAPS has now assembled a dedicated task force to probe all five cases, and the remaining four victims have not yet been formally identified.

    Moselakgomo’s death has resonated deeply across the country, with tributes pouring in for the runner and widespread social media conversation about the constant threat women in South Africa face in daily life. Keamo Sefularo, a fellow runner who knew Moselakgomo through their local running club, told the BBC that the string of discoveries has left local women deeply unsettled. “It’s sad to know that every woman in South Africa… can’t just go outside. You can’t just go to the shop and buy flowers… because you are always in danger,” Sefularo said, adding that Moselakgomo’s disappearance had weighed heavily on the entire running community.

    Reflecting on the tragedy, Sefularo questioned whether the outcome would have been different if Moselakgomo had not been running alone. “As we always say, when we go out for runs, there’s safety in numbers,” she noted, sharing the personal safety precautions she takes every time she runs, including varying her daily route and only sticking to open, high-visibility areas where other people can see her.

    The public conversation around the killings echoes longstanding data on GBV in South Africa: UN Women figures show that the rate of female homicide in the country is five times the global average, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Many South Africans have taken to social media to express their shared anxiety over the constant need to plan their movements around safety. “Women are not free if we have to calculate where, when and with whom we can walk, run or exist safely”, user Lesedi Ledwaba wrote in a viral post on platform X.

    Women’s advocacy groups have condemned the repeated failures of state institutions to curb the crisis of femicide in the country. Merlize Jogiat, a representative of advocacy group Women for Change, called the latest discoveries infuriating. “What is the purpose of having a protective service like the police if we have to make sure… we are [protecting] ourselves,” Jogiat asked. She argued that the core issue stems not from a lack of legislation, but from poor implementation of existing GBV laws, and said that collective public pressure from mass citizen action is the only way to force meaningful change.

    Moselakgomo’s family has spoken publicly to thank the South African public for their widespread support during the search for the mother of one, and specifically praised her 8-year-old daughter, who first raised the alarm when her mother did not return home from her run.

  • Wild dogs record 2,500-mile trek across Africa in search of a mate

    Wild dogs record 2,500-mile trek across Africa in search of a mate

    Against a backdrop of shrinking wilderness and expanding human development across southern Africa, a pack of three young African wild dog brothers has achieved a feat never before recorded for a continental land mammal: an epic 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) dispersal journey in search of a mate. Scientists say this unprecedented trek not only reveals the remarkable resilience of one of Africa’s most endangered predators, but also reshapes current understanding of how large roaming species can survive amid growing human pressures.

    African wild dogs, classified as one of the continent’s rarest carnivores with only roughly 6,000 individuals remaining in the wild, have evolved a unique social and biological drive for long-distance travel. Unlike seasonal migrations, where animals move back and forth between habitats to access food or water, dispersal is a one-way trip undertaken by young adults that leave their birth pack to avoid inbreeding and seek out new packs and mating opportunities. At 2 to 3 years old, these dispersing canines either wait to inherit leadership of their native pack or strike out across unfamiliar terrain to build new social groups.

    Over eight months of GPS tracking, the three brothers covered just 418 kilometers (260 miles) in a direct straight line, but their zigzagging route through a landscape fragmented by human development pushed their total travel distance to nearly 10 times that figure. Their path cut across Zambia, weaving between isolated protected wildlife strongholds, skirting major human population centers including the capital city Lusaka, and navigating around large industrial and agricultural developments that have split the region’s once-continuous wild habitats into disconnected fragments.

    This journey stands as the longest recorded dispersal trip ever documented for an African land mammal, far outstripping the 640-plus kilometer seasonal migrations of wildebeest between Tanzania and Kenya that the UN Convention on Migratory Species previously recognized as Africa’s longest large mammal movement. While other terrestrial species globally travel longer annual distances – including gray wolves, which have been recorded covering more than 7,000 kilometers in a year, and caribou, which complete 1,350-kilometer round-trip seasonal migrations – the African wild dogs’ 4,000-kilometer one-way dispersal sets a new record for the continent.

    For conservation scientists, the significance of the journey extends far beyond the distance itself. The fact that the pack successfully navigated human-altered landscapes to cross from one protected area to another suggests that wild dog populations across eastern and southern Africa may be more genetically connected than researchers previously assumed. This connectivity is critical for the long-term survival of endangered species, as it maintains genetic diversity and prevents the negative effects of inbreeding in isolated populations.

    “This discovery gives us reason for cautious optimism,” explained Professor Scott Creel, lead author of the study published in the journal *Ecology* and a researcher at Montana State University who has studied African wild dogs for more than 30 years. “It’s plausible to believe that every major unfenced wild dog population in eastern and southern Africa is potentially connected.”

    Yet the study also offers a stark reminder of the ongoing threats facing the species, highlighting that conservation efforts still face major hurdles. Of the six dispersing wild dogs tracked for the research – three brothers and three sisters – only the three males completed their journey. One female was caught in an illegal poaching snare early in the trip, ending the pack of sisters’ journey, and both that female and a second sister ultimately died from human-related causes. GPS data showed surviving pack members repeatedly returned to the location where the females were last detected, a behavior researchers say typically signals mourning for a lost companion.

    Creel emphasized the dual nature of the findings, noting that “in conservation, the glass is half empty and the glass is half full.” The illegal snare traps set by poachers remain a deadly, pervasive threat across the region, even for species as mobile and adaptable as wild dogs.

    The study’s conclusions add new urgency to longstanding conservation calls for the creation of wildlife corridors: strips of intact natural habitat that connect isolated protected areas split apart by roads, expanding towns, and agricultural development. Bruce Ellender, co-author of the paper and Kafue Conservation director for the environmental non-profit The Nature Conservancy, explained that wide-ranging species such as African wild dogs and elephants cannot survive in isolated, island-like protected areas in the long term.

    “We cannot treat protected areas as isolated islands and expect them to sustain viable wild populations for decades to come,” Ellender said. “We need to think far beyond park boundaries to maintain connected landscapes that give roaming species the space they need to survive and thrive.”

  • Zambians warned not to eat dead wildlife after anthrax kills dozens of animals

    Zambians warned not to eat dead wildlife after anthrax kills dozens of animals

    A new anthrax outbreak in a northern Zambian wildlife management area has killed dozens of wild animals and infected a dozen local residents, prompting emergency public health warnings from Zambian authorities. The outbreak, first detected in July in the Munyamadzi Game Management Area of Muchinga Province, has already claimed the lives of 46 hippos, 8 elephants, 5 buffalo, and one crocodile, according to the country’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit. Norman Chipakupaku, the unit’s national coordinator, explained that local communities often rely on the meat of naturally deceased wild animals for sustenance, leaving residents exposed to the deadly bacteria. To date, 12 people have been confirmed to have contracted anthrax after eating meat from the infected carcasses. All 12 patients are currently receiving medical care, and no human fatalities have been recorded from this latest outbreak. In response to the developing situation, Zambian officials have issued urgent guidance for residents across the affected region: people are banned from consuming, selling, distributing, or handling meat from animals that died suddenly or from unexplained causes. The public has also been instructed to report any unusual wildlife deaths to local authorities immediately, and all hunting activities in the affected zone have been suspended until officials can map the full spread of the outbreak and assess associated public safety risks. As of the latest update, field surveillance teams and laboratory researchers are still working to determine the full geographic scope of the outbreak. Anthrax, an infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is endemic to Zambia, where the bacteria can remain dormant as spores in soil for decades. The pathogen primarily targets grazing animals, often causing rapid sudden death, and can jump to humans through contact with contaminated animal products or infected tissue. While anthrax is endemic in the country, human fatalities from outbreaks remain rare. However, Zambia has faced several large-scale outbreaks in recent years. In 2023, the country recorded what public health officials described as an “unprecedented” outbreak that spread across nine of Zambia’s 10 provinces and killed four people. The deadliest recorded event in recent history dates back to 2011, when a major outbreak linked to infected hippo meat caused more than 500 human cases and five deaths. Public health teams continue to monitor the situation closely as work to contain the current outbreak progresses.

  • Boks power & All Blacks of old – what did we learn from series?

    Boks power & All Blacks of old – what did we learn from series?

    In a historic edition of rugby’s most storied rivalry, world-ranked number one South Africa has solidified its status as the global game’s dominant force, clinching a 3-1 series win over New Zealand that offers critical insight into both sides’ preparations ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

    After opening the three-match South African leg with a 33-16 upset loss to the All Blacks at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park, the back-to-back world champions reeled off three consecutive wins, wrapping up the series title with a comfortable 43-28 victory in the fourth Test hosted in Baltimore, United States. The standalone four-match series, which replaced the 2026 Rugby Championship and is scheduled to return in 2029, marked the first high-stakes test for both sides 12 months out from rugby’s showpiece tournament.

    For the Springboks, the series put on display the tactical flexibility that has become their greatest competitive advantage. The side had already signaled its ambition to dominate across all areas of the game with the 2024 appointment of former Highlanders head coach Tony Brown as attack coach, who will join the All Blacks’ staff in 2028 and is renowned for building sharp, fluid attacking systems centered on quick ball movement. After being outscored on tries across the first two Tests, however, South Africa leaned back into the forward pack power that carried them to consecutive World Cup titles, shutting down New Zealand’s bid to replicate their 1996 series win on South African soil.

    This physical dominance was perfectly encapsulated by the match-deciding try in Baltimore: a massive rolling maul that started just inside New Zealand’s 22-meter line, before hooker Malcolm Marx peeled off to score under the posts. That score followed a first-half penalty try awarded from a dominant scrum, proving once again that the Springboks’ forward advantage is nearly unmatchable when the stakes are highest. 2019 World Cup winner Schalk Brits emphasized this approach in comments to BBC Sport, noting: “South Africa have tried to play expansively a couple of times when we have dominance after hurting teams in the maul or scrum. New Zealand didn’t have that dominance in the forwards, but people said they played beautiful rugby. I don’t care if it is beautiful or not. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I love a maul and a scrum.”

    The series also offered key clues about South Africa’s 2027 World Cup selection puzzle. Twenty-four-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who returned from a late May injury to start all four Tests after Handre Pollard’s late withdrawal, showed steady improvement as the series progressed but failed to hit his usual standard of individual brilliance. The question remains open as to whether the Springboks will turn back to experienced 32-year-old Pollard to close out high-pressure knockout matches, just as they did during their 2023 World Cup title run. Most of Rassie Erasmus’ seasoned core of world champions, including Marx (32), Eben Etzebeth (34), Pieter-Steph du Toit (34), Siya Kolisi (35), Damian de Allende (34) and Cheslin Kolbe (32), remain regular starters, proving that the experienced core can deliver even as the side experiments with more expansive attacking play. For Erasmus, the priority remains clear: a third consecutive World Cup title trumps popular demand for flashy attacking rugby, and the proven winning formula is still the side’s first choice.

    For the All Blacks, the series offered encouraging signs under new head coach Dave Rennie, who took over in January after the controversial dismissal of Scott Robertson after just two years in charge. A low-key appointment, Rennie hit the ground running immediately, guiding the side to that opening upset win at Ellis Park that threw the series outcome into doubt, defying pre-series predictions of a comfortable Springboks win fueled by home advantage and recent dominance.

    Rennie placed his trust in 25-year-old Hurricanes half-backs Cam Roigard and Ruben Love to revive the iconic All Blacks playing identity: the ability to score from transition anywhere on the pitch and build relentless scoreboard pressure. The side delivered on that promise, scoring four or more tries in each of the three South African Tests, with the third Test tied at the halftime break. Former England wing Ugo Monye highlighted the difference Rennie has already made, telling Rugby Union Weekly: “Scott Robertson was a good culture coach but maybe not a brilliant technical coach. Dave Rennie is a brilliant technical coach. After the Nations Championship, you could see the structures and how they want to play. I think the All Blacks’ backline is the most skilled in World Rugby.”

    While Love struggled to replicate his strong first Test form in the subsequent two matches, the Baltimore Test marked the return of star fly-half Richie Mo’unga, who played his first Test since the 2023 World Cup final after a stint playing club rugby in Japan. Though the 32-year-old did not hit the elite form that made him one of the standouts of the 2023 tournament, getting him back to match fitness and sharpness over the next 12 months is a clear priority for the All Blacks program. Former England scrum-half Danny Care summed up the optimism around New Zealand’s resurgence: “Imagine what New Zealand would do with a platform and some dominance. It is great for the game that they are coming back to be the All Blacks of old, and the next 12 months will be fascinating.”

    Beyond the two teams directly competing in the series, the result offers context for the 2027 World Cup picture. For South Africa, the opening loss at Ellis Park exposed a rare vulnerability, even though the side quickly reclaimed their world number one ranking after the series win. Currently installed as pre-tournament favorites to win a third consecutive title in Australia, the Springboks are facing a level of pressure they have not experienced in previous World Cup cycles. As Brits noted, the side performs best when written off: “We hate being the favourite, we almost have to have our backs against the wall. We prefer not to have the eyes on us and move under the radar. I think that is the best way for any team.”

    Brits also identified the other key contenders heading into next year’s tournament. Back-to-back Six Nations champions France, who earned a narrow 34-32 win over a weakened New Zealand side in July and fell to an emphatic 32-17 defeat to South Africa last November, were named as the most settled side, with a similar tactical flexibility to the Springboks. “I feel like South Africa have an advantage as they can play multiple styles, and it feels like most other nations don’t have that capability,” Brits said. “The only team that can play multiple styles is France, as they can grind it out with the forwards, play the kicking game and the expansive game as well.”

    He added that England are still working to find their best form, and warned against counting out Ireland, who have fallen off the radar after peaking in previous World Cup cycles: “Ireland still have amazing rugby players and coaches – the best coaches out there – and a top-four squad. Be careful of Ireland.”

  • Kosgei wins Great North Run but McColgan withdraws

    Kosgei wins Great North Run but McColgan withdraws

    The 45th edition of the iconic Great North Run delivered drama, dominant performances and unexpected twists this year, as a field of 63,000 registered runners took on the 13.1-mile half-marathon course across northeast England. Among the pre-race storylines that captured local attention was the highly anticipated comeback of British long-distance star Eilish McColgan, who had been working her way back to top form after a broken toe derailed her season earlier this year. That comeback was cut short just miles into the race, however, when a fresh foot injury forced the 35-year-old Scot to withdraw early, leaving the women’s elite field wide open.

    Seizing the opportunity without hesitation was Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the Olympic silver medalist and former London Marathon champion who already held the women’s course record at the Great North Run from her 2019 run. The 32-year-old stamped her authority on the race from the opening mile, breaking away from the chasing pack early and spending much of the distance running alone at the front. She crossed the finish line in a time of 1:06:15, securing a comfortable victory that came two full minutes ahead of her compatriot Sheila Chepkirui, last year’s race winner, who took second place. While Kosgei’s winning time was slower than her 2019 course record of 1:04:28, her performance was no less dominant, cementing her status as one of the most consistent distance runners in the world. For British fans, the top finish by a home athlete came from Amy-Eloise Neale, who crossed the line in fifth place overall.

    For McColgan, the early exit adds another chapter to a tough 2025 season. The runner originally suffered her broken toe during April’s London Marathon, where she still pushed through the pain — with blood visible seeping through her running shoe by the finish line — to claim seventh place overall and top British honors. The injury forced her to miss July’s Commonwealth Games, and while she notched a win at London’s Big Half just one week prior to the Great North Run, finishing in 1:10:54, she had openly admitted post-race that she still harbored concerns about her injury recovery and overall fitness.

    The men’s elite race delivered a far tighter finish, with American runner Zouhair Talbi pulling off a stunning late surge to claim the title over last year’s champion, Kenya’s Alex Mutiso. The two runners matched each other stride for stride through nearly the entire 13.1-mile course, staying neck-and-neck into the final mile before Talbi, 31, kicked into another gear to pull away. He held off Mutiso’s late chase to cross the line in 59:47, just six seconds off his own personal best time of 59:41. Mutiso finished second with a time of 1:00:01, 14 seconds behind Talbi, while Japan’s Yohei Ikeda rounded out the podium in third place. The men’s course record of 58:56, set by Kenya’s Martin Mathathi back in 2011, remains unbroken after this year’s race. Marc Scott, the 2021 Great North Run champion, was the top British finisher in the men’s elite field, taking eighth place overall.

    In the wheelchair competitions, British legend David Weir made history once again, claiming his 10th Great North Run title with a winning time of 43:06 in the men’s race. Melanie Woods claimed the women’s wheelchair title with a finish time of 50:19. Beyond the elite competition, the race drew global attention for its massive participation field, which included UK politician Andy Burnham, who completed the iconic race and spoke publicly about his positive experience taking on the challenge.

  • South Africa cap series victory over NZ with Baltimore win

    South Africa cap series victory over NZ with Baltimore win

    The biggest name in men’s rugby union delivered yet another iconic chapter of its most storied rivalry on Saturday, as world champion South Africa secured a 43-28 win over New Zealand in the fourth and final Test of their “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. The result locked in a 3-1 overall series win for the Springboks, whose physical forward power, bench depth and clinical finishing once again outmatched a resolute All Blacks side in front of a record-breaking American crowd.

    When the series kicked off last month in Johannesburg, South Africa claimed an opening win, before New Zealand bounced back in the second Test to climb to the top of the global rugby world rankings – a result that stoked expectations the All Blacks could upend the existing hierarchy and level the series on neutral American soil. That narrative aligned with a fast start from New Zealand, which threatened to run away with the match in the opening 10 minutes. Just eight minutes after kickoff, the All Blacks’ signature fluid tiki-taka catch-pass game, executed with the backline holding deep width, outflanked South Africa’s aggressive blitz defense to put hooker Codie Taylor over for the opening try, converting to take an early 7-0 lead.

    But the Springboks leaned into their signature strength: dominant close-quarters forward play that yielded points without the high-risk attacking sequences New Zealand used. With their pack winning scrum penalties and dominating collision after collision, center Damian de Allende burrowed over from short range for South Africa’s first try, before scrum-half Morne van den Berg threw a crisp dummy to evade All Blacks defender Sam Darry and score a second. By the 25th minute, the Springboks held a 17-7 advantage, with veteran enforcer Eben Etzebeth landing a bone-rattling tackle on returning fly-half Richie Mo’unga and number eight Jasper Wiese rampaging through open loose play. South Africa had chances to extend their lead further before halftime, but fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed an early long-range penalty, a drop goal attempt, and overcooked a kick to the corner that handed momentum back to the All Blacks.

    New Zealand capitalized on those mistakes just before the break, grinding through 32 exhausting phases to set up a try for Will Jordan, the country’s all-time leading try scorer, who cut a perfect line off his wing to dive over the line. The conversion cut South Africa’s halftime lead to just four points, leaving the All Blacks on the cusp of squaring the series and taking home their half of the series’ innovate magnet-connected split trophy. That shared trophy, however, would go unneeded: South Africa took control of the match immediately after halftime to put the result out of reach.

    Hooker Malcolm Marx rumbled over for a try from the back of a rolling maul just minutes after the restart, and three minutes later, lock Pieter-Steph du Toit barged over the line after a sharp blindside break from van denberg, who turned in a man-of-the-match performance. Ethan Blackadder crossed for an All Blacks try in the final quarter to cut the Springbok lead to eight points, but fatigue from the high intensity of the match and a grueling multi-game tour opened up space on the pitch for South Africa to press their advantage. After a Damian McKenzie break in the opposite direction created chaotic open space, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse sliced through to score, and four minutes later flanker Cameron Hanekom picked up a loose ball to touch down the try that sealed the victory. A late try from All Blacks replacement Beauden Barrett did nothing more than add a final footnote to the scoreline.

    The match drew a near-capacity crowd of 68,173, the largest audience ever to attend a rugby union match in United States history, marking a successful landmark outing for the sport in the growing North American market. Beyond the commercial win for rugby, the four-match series also served as a critical pressure test for both sides ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup – a tournament the two nations have collectively won the last five editions of, making their form going into the next cycle closely watched by rugby fans around the world. Two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi, who led South Africa to victories in 2019 and 2023, featured in the starting lineup for the Springboks, as the side proved their depth and consistency once again, delivering on director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ pre-series prediction of a Springbok series win.

  • Uganda’s King Oyo buried amid calls for unity over his successor

    Uganda’s King Oyo buried amid calls for unity over his successor

    Thousands of grieving Ugandans packed the streets of western Uganda on Saturday to pay their final respects to King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the former ruler of the Tooro traditional kingdom who made global headlines as the world’s youngest reigning monarch. The 34-year-old cultural leader passed away last month while receiving treatment for cancer in the United States, bringing an early end to a 31-year reign that began when he was just three years old. His casket was processed to the royal tombs in Fort Portal, where a private burial ceremony was held following the public procession.

    Tooro is one of five traditional kingdoms given formal recognition by the Ugandan government after decades of abolition. First dissolved shortly after independence in 1967, these cultural institutions were restored in the 1990s under long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, with monarchs granted status as cultural figureheads rather than political sovereigns. For much of his life, Oyo held a place in the Guinness World Records as the youngest active monarch on Earth, a distinction that drew international attention to the small western Ugandan kingdom during his reign.

    Even as mourners gathered to lay the king to rest, a bitter public dispute over his succession has split the Tooro royal establishment. Clan elders, who oversee traditional succession rituals, have named 56-year-old Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a television news presenter and Oyo’s cousin, as the incoming king. During Saturday’s burial ceremony, Kijanangoma carried out a centuries-old traditional ritual, dropping nine roasted coffee beans into Oyo’s grave to symbolize the close of one reign and the beginning of the next.

    But Oyo’s immediate family has rejected the clan’s choice outright. Princess Ruth Komuntale, Oyo’s sister, says the late king left a formal will drafted in 2022 that names his young son as the rightful heir to the throne. The boy’s identity has never been made public to protect his safety. The conflict has escalated in recent days, with Queen Best Kemigisa, Oyo’s mother, claiming that royal palace guards have been removed and national soldiers deployed to the site. She says the deployment has restricted the royal family’s movement and blocked them from receiving visitors, describing the situation as de facto house arrest for the royal faction supporting Oyo’s son.

    As tensions remain high, national and religious leaders have issued urgent calls for unity to avoid escalating the conflict into widespread unrest. Archbishop Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, head of the Church of Uganda, addressed mourners directly on Saturday, warning that heated words spoken in grief could leave permanent damage and erase Oyo’s lasting cultural legacy. “Words spoken in grief can cause pain, division and conflict. It can even destroy the legacy of the king we are mourning,” he told the gathered crowd. President Museveni echoed the call, urging all factions to resolve their differences and prioritize unity over infighting.

    For their part, leaders of the Babiito royal clan, which is responsible for managing Tooro’s royal succession, have defended their decision to name Kijanangoma as king. Omusuuga Charles Karumasi, the clan’s head, insisted that the selection process followed every requirement laid out in Tooro’s long-standing cultural traditions, and called on all parties to work together to preserve peace in the kingdom following the king’s death. “We have done everything in observance of the culture and traditions of Tooro. We must all preserve peace and serenity,” Karumasi said.

  • ‘I’ve turned the page’ – Camara on Chelsea deal collapse

    ‘I’ve turned the page’ – Camara on Chelsea deal collapse

    A high-stakes summer transfer saga has come to an unresolved end for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, who has opened up about falling just short of a move to Premier League side Chelsea that would have been worth £47.1 million. The 22-year-old Senegal international had already passed his medical examination with Chelsea, but the deal collapsed in the chaotic final moments of the European transfer window, leaving him at the Ligue 1 club.

    The transfer drama unfolded against a backdrop of interconnected moves involving another Monaco star, forward Folarin Balogun. Chelsea had two previous bids for Camara rejected by Monaco, but the Ligue 1 side softened their asking price when Balogun’s prospective transfer to Everton looked set to fall through. As the window entered its final hours, Balogun’s move to Everton regained momentum, prompting Monaco to reverse their decision to allow Camara to leave. In a surprising twist, both players ultimately remained with Monaco when the window closed.

    Speaking ahead of Monaco’s Ligue 1 fixture against Strasbourg this past Saturday, Camara struck a measured tone about the failed move. “There was a possibility I could leave,” he explained. “It didn’t go through at the last minute and that’s part of football. I’ve turned the page and am focusing on the season.”

    French football sources have confirmed that Monaco was under pressure to secure a major outgoing transfer this summer to balance their books, and the club had prioritized selling Balogun over Camara. Insiders at the club had previously stated that only a substantial transfer fee would have convinced them to approve Camara’s departure.

    Despite the off-pitch distraction, Monaco have made a flying start to their 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign, claiming maximum points from their opening three matches. Heading into the weekend’s fixtures, the club sat second in the league table, just behind leaders Rennes, with one game still in hand on the pacesetters.

    Camara, who has now made 55 senior appearances for Monaco since joining the club, made clear he remains committed to contributing to his current side’s success this season. “I can help the team a lot,” he said. “Football moves fast. Maybe other opportunities will come along. But for now, I’m staying focused on the season with Monaco.”