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Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo says he is retiring from international football. The 41-year-old forward has scored 146 goals and won 234 caps for his country - both world records - since making his debut in 2003. He walked out  of the Portugal camp in September after being told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark, resulting in a £215 fine and a 30-day suspension. "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said in an Instagram video., external   "I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world. "Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone - they are also made with the heart. "A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my l...

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - With the US midterms  over, Democrats are turning to what could become one of their most crowded and unpredictable presidential primaries in decades, a 2028 contest likely to expose the party's divide over how to win back the White ​House. No Democrat has emerged as a clear favorite in a field that could attract dozens of contenders , while Republicans have a smaller group of widely discussed candidates, led by Vice President JD Vance ‌and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to succeed President Donald Trump, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Potential Democratic candidates, including sitting governors and senators, have spent months cultivating donors, visiting states with early nominating contests and raising their national profiles, positioning themselves for a race that strategists expect to begin in earnest now that the midterms are over. The sweeping victories by Democrats  on Tuesday, when voters deliver...

The 2027 Asian Cup is just the latest event to be postponed in the Middle East amid concerns about missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement. The 24-team tournament - Asia's version of the Euros - was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February next year. The Asian Cup has now been delayed by almost a year,  and will be held between 23 December, 2027 and 21 January, 2028. Sport in the region had already been heavily affected by the US-Iran conflict, which led to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends  in April this year. Now the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the end of the year are also in doubt due to that ongoing situation and the current conflict involving the Houthis. If they are cancelled, F1 would have lost four of its 24 events this year. It is not just football and F1 that have been forced to cancel, reschedule or move high-profile events, and many more remain under threat. BBC Sport takes...

Al Jazeera Media Network has strongly condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to extend a ban on its operations in Israel for another 90 days, including the suspension of its broadcasts, the closure of its offices and the restriction of access to its websites and digital platforms. In a statement on Monday, the Qatar-based network said it considered the move “an assault” on press freedom and the public’s right to information, warning it set “a dangerous pattern that undermines the ability of news organisations to report the facts and hold those in power to account”. It came after a court in Tel Aviv approved last week the Israeli government’s decision to extend the ban for a further 90 days.⁣ In May 2024 , at the height of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet had voted to shut Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel. The decision, which was strongly criticised by press freedom groups, followed the passage o...

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States intends to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from its flagship duty-free trade program for sub-Saharan Africa, ​its trade chief said on Monday, a move that would hit exports including South African auto parts, wine and Rwandan coffee. US Trade Representative ‌Jamieson Greer said the two countries would be suspended from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from Jan 1, 2027, citing concerns about human rights, corruption and threats to US interests. The program has been the centerpiece of US economic engagement with Africa since it was enacted in 2000, offering duty-free access to the US consumer market for thousands of products from eligible countries. "President Trump found ​that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria," Greer said in a statement. The Trump ​administration has taken a series of measures against South Afric...

Arsenal  went three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League after a statement 1-0 win at Liverpool. The Gunners had not won at Anfield since September 2012, when current coach Mikel Arteta captained the away side to a 2-0 victory, and had gone winless in their past 13 visits. However, Kai Havertz turned home a low cross from Declan Rice after the home side were caught trying to play out from the back to silence the Kop on 16 minutes. The visitors withstood wave after wave of pressure from Andoni Iraola’s side thereafter. Liverpool responded strongly with Florian Wirtz curling a free kick against the bar and Alexis Mac Allister heading a good chance over. Arsenal weathered the storm, though, and defended superbly to keep Liverpool largely at arm’s length after the break, denying the home side a shot on target for the second meeting in succession. Arteta’s side replaces Manchester City at the top with 24 points from nine games,...

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people, mostly students and workers, ​took to the streets across Italy on Friday to demand ‌higher wages and stronger public services, protest against the rising cost of living and oppose increased military spending. Grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base called a 24-hour general ​strike, with protests planned in more than 40 cities. The demonstrations, which came after clashes earlier this month  in which protesters fought with ⁠police, looted shops and vandalised property, were largely peaceful, although tensions flared ​in some areas. In Turin, police used a water cannon to push back ​students and left-wing activists who approached security cordons protecting the prefecture building. A large march passed near the Colosseum, in Rome, where protesters said they planned to set up ​tents and remain over the weekend. Some rubbish bins were placed ​across streets and set on fire.  In the evening, a large group tried to ‌march...

ABUJA, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Nigeria's government agreed on Wednesday to pay federal government workers a 70,000 naira ($52) monthly transport allowance for ​six months as part of a deal with the ‌main labour union, the Nigeria Labour Congress, to ease soaring living costs, officials said. The deal highlights the political sensitivity of rising prices ahead ​of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid  in January. His ​reforms have been credited with improving public finances but ⁠have left millions of Nigerians reeling from the worst cost-of-living crisis  ​in a generation. Ministry of Labour spokesperson Annah Daniel said federal ​government workers would receive the payout from next month The government also pledged to clear outstanding worker benefits, including arrears of a special allowance ​dating back to May 2026, which it will pay in ​three monthly instalments starting in November The agreement revives talks on a new ‌national ⁠minimum wage, with both sides ag...

Michael Owen was the last player from England to receive the prestigious individual accolade in 2001, but Kane's incredible 73-goal haul last season for club and country earned him the award from French magazine France Football. Bayern Munich forward Kane was a popular winner in the capital and has followed in the footsteps of Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen as a Ballon d'Or winner from England. Kane beat Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to the award. "Wow, I'm almost speechless," an emotional Kane said on stage. "First of all, thanks again to France Football and the Ballon d'Or for this amazing event. Being in London, it is extra special; it felt like a good omen." Kane, who thanked England, Bayern and former club Tottenham, said: "It's just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is ...