WORLD

Manny Pacquiao has challenged five-weight world champion Floyd Mayweather to a rematch, calling for the American to come out of retirement. Pacquiao, 40, lost to Mayweather in 2015 by unanimous points decision, but has since regained a version of the world title. He previously said he “cannot retire with peace of mind” without a rematch. “Get back to the ring ...

US President Donald Trump has postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Brussels and Afghanistan, asking her to stay to negotiate an end to the partial US government shutdown. The president was able to halt the trip by denying the use of military aircraft to Mrs Pelosi and a delegation. On Wednesday Mrs Pelosi had urged Mr Trump to ...

The Duke of Edinburgh has been involved in a car crash while driving near the Queen’s Sandringham estate, Buckingham Palace has said. Prince Philip, 97, was not injured in the accident, which happened shortly before 15:00 GMT. Buckingham Palace said the crash involved another vehicle and police attended the scene. The duke was driving a Range Rover and was pulling ...

Barcelona overturned a first leg defeat to beat Levante in the Copa del Rey on Thursday but could yet be thrown out of the competition after being accused of fielding an ineligible player. Barca won 3-0 at the Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi setting up two Ousmane Dembele goals and then scoring himself to seal a 4-2 victory on aggregate. ...

Barcelona face being thrown out of the Copa del Rey after Levante’s president confirmed they will complain the Catalan club fielded an ineligible player in the first leg of their last 16 tie. Levante won the opening match 2-1 last week and believe Barca defender Juan Brandariz ‘Chumi’ played illegally as he should have been serving a suspension. “Whatever happens ...

Tunisian public sector workers ignored an appeal to limit calls for protest by the Tunisian President Beji Caïd Essebsi on Thursday by turning up in their numbers to continue requests for pay rise. The general strike of the Tunisian public sector workers was well attended on Thursday. Public schools, public transport and the national airline have been disrupted by this ...

SIR ALEX FERGUSON remembered the EXACT transfer fee Manchester United sold Giuseppe Rossi to Villarreal for in 2007. Former Italy international Rossi played for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2004 until 2007. The United States-born striker only managed five Premier League appearances for United and a single goal – which came against Sunderland in 2005. The 31-year-old had ...

For a populous nation as Ethiopia – on record as Africa’s second biggest only behind Nigeria, imports are as important to its economic growth as are the goods it also exports – chief amongst them, coffee. Ethiopia is, however, landlocked with five neighbours who have access to the sea – Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea. As things stand now, ...

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes has described axed manager Jose Mourinho as “an embarrassment to the club” in an interview on Norwegian television. Mourinho was sacked last month after a torrid start to his third season in charge at Old Trafford. The Portuguese tactician garnered widespread criticism during his final term for his divisive nature and negative approach to games. ...

Nigeria’s two main presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, are intensifying their efforts to convince voters, with one month to go to polling in Africa’s most populous nation. President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) and Atiku of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) both staged set-piece meetings to secure the support of a record 84 million ...