Saturday, 31 January 2026
MUSIC LEGEND FELA KUTI BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN TO GET GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
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| Getty Images |
Long crowned by his legion of fans as the king of Afrobeat, the late Fela Kuti is finally being recognised by the global music industry.
The Nigerian star will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys - almost three decades after his death at the age of 58.
"Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it's a double victory," his musician son Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
"It's bringing balance to a Fela story," he adds.
Rikki Stein, a long-time friend and manager of the late musician, says the recognition by the Grammys is "better late than never".
"Africa hasn't in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that's changing quite a bit of late," Stein tells the BBC.
Following the global success of Afrobeats, a genre inspired by Fela's sound, the Grammys introduced the category of Best African Performance in 2024.
This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy also has a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category.
But Fela Kuti will be the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, albeit posthumously. The award was first presented in 1963 to American singer and actor Bing Crosby.
Other musicians who will receive the award this year include Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, the American singer known as the Queen of Funk, and Paul Simon.
Fela Kuti's family, as well friends and colleagues, will be attending the Grammys to receive his award.
"The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it's my father," Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
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| Fela Kuti is indelibly linked to Lagos, where his performances at the Afrika Shrine club were legendary |
Stein says it is important to recognise Fela as a man who championed the cause of people who had "drawn life's short straw", adding that he "castigated any form of social injustice, corruption [and] mismanagement" in government.
"So it would be impossible to ignore that aspect of Fela's legacy," he tells the BBC.
For Fela Anikulapo Kuti was not simply a musician, but also a cultural theorist, political agitator and the undisputed architect of Afrobeat - which is distinct from, but ultimately led to, the modern sound of Afrobeats.
He pioneered the Afrobeat genre alongside drummer Tony Allen, blending West African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, extended improvisation, call-and-response vocals and politically charged lyricism.
Across a career spanning roughly three decades until his death in 1997, Fela Kuti released more than 50 albums and built a body of work that fused music with ideology, rhythm with resistance, and performance with protest.
His music incurred the wrath of Nigeria's then-military regimes.
In 1977, after the release of the album Zombie, which satirised government soldiers as obedient, brainless enforcers, his compound in the main city, Lagos, was raided.
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| Fela Kuti's music resonated with people across Africa and the diaspora |
Known as Kalakuta Republic, the property was burned, residents were brutalised, and his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, later died from injuries sustained during the assault.
Rather than retreat, Fela Kuti responded through music and defiance. He took his mother's coffin to government offices and released the song Coffin for Head of State, turning grief into protest.
The musician's ideology was a blend of pan-Africanism, anti-imperialism, and African-rooted socialism.
Fela Kuti's mother was hugely influential in his life, helping shape his political consciousness, while the US-born singer and activist Sandra Izsadore helped sharpen his revolutionary outlook
He was born Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti, but dropped Ransome because of its Western roots.
In 1978, he married 27 women in a highly publicised ceremony, bringing together partners, performers, organisers and co-architects of the cultural and communal vision of Kalakuta Republic.
Fela Kuti endured repeated arrests, beatings, censorship and surveillance by the security forces. Yet repression only amplified his influence.
"He wasn't doing what he was doing to win awards. He was interested in liberation. Freeing the mind," Stein tells the BBC.
"He was fearless. He was determined."
Fela Kuti's musical evolution was shaped not only by Nigeria but also by Ghana. During the 1950s and 1960s, highlife music, pioneered by Ghanaian musicians such as ET Mensah, Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas, became a defining sound across West Africa.
Its melodic guitar lines, horn sections, dance rhythms, and cosmopolitan identity deeply influenced Fela Kuti's early musical direction.
He spent time in Ghana absorbing highlife's structure, horn phrasing, and dance-oriented arrangements before fusing it with jazz, funk, the rhythms of his own Yoruba people, and political storytelling.
The DNA of highlife can be heard in Afrobeat's melodic sensibility and its balance between groove and sophistication.
In this sense, Afrobeat is not only Nigerian. It is West African, pan-African, and diasporic in origin, carrying Ghana's musical imprint at its foundation.
On stage, Fela Kuti cut an unmistakable figure. Often bare-chested or draped in the wax-printed fabric popular across West Africa, hair shaped into a crisp Afro, saxophone in hand, eyes alert with intensity, he commanded a large band of more than 20 musicians.
His performances at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos were legendary, part concert, part political rally, part spiritual ceremony.
Stein recalls that performances at the Shrine were immersive rather than conventional.
"When Fela played, nobody applauded," he tells the BBC. "The audience wasn't separate. They were part of it."
Music was not spectacle. It was communion.
Fela Kuti's visual identity was shaped in part by artist and designer Lemi Ghariokwu, who created 26 of his album covers between 1974 and 1993.
"Fela has been an ancestor for 28 years. His legacy is growing by the day. This is immortality," Ghariokwu tells the BBC, welcoming the posthumous award.
Today, Fela Kuti's music is still popular with millions around the world, and his influence is audible in modern artists such as Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar and Sir Idris Elba.
Elba is a huge fan - the award-winning actor and DJ has curated an official vinyl box set, Fela Kuti Box Set 6, and has publicly compared him to icons such as Sade and Frank Sinatra to illustrate the point that Fela Kuti has his own unique sound.
Fela Kuti performed at major international festivals in Europe and North America, introducing global audiences to a bold and politically charged version of modern Africa.
Seun Kuti was just 14 when his father died.
"Fela never made me feel like I was a child," he recalls. "He didn't hide anything from me. He talked about everything openly."
There was no myth-building.
"I didn't even realise my dad was famous," he says. "That's credit to him. He kept me grounded."
What stayed with him most was not spectacle, but discipline, clarity and humanity.
"The human part of him, leadership, musicianship, fatherhood, that was the epitome of who he was."
One of Seun Kuti's most revealing reflections speaks to independence and identity.
"Fela was our dad, but you didn't own him. Fela belonged to himself. But we all belonged to him."
Fela Kuti insisted on being addressed by name, not by title, even by his children. Seun recalls having his pocket money docked after calling him "Pops", a moment that carried a lesson in respect.
"He always reminded us that he was in service to others more than himself."
That ethic shaped Seun's evolution from youthful ambition toward cultural responsibility.
"I used to make music to make money. But as I've grown, I lean more toward working for my people as well as my art."
Fela Kuti led multiple ensembles, most famously Africa 70 and later Egypt 80, the latter now carried forward by his son.
These were not conventional backing bands. They were musical militias, trained in discipline, endurance, and ideological purpose.
Stein recalls Fela Kuti's obsessive attention to detail.
"He tuned every instrument personally. Music wasn't entertainment to him. It was his mission."
- Mark Wilberforce
Friday, 30 January 2026
FORMER BRIT BOXING CHAMP JAILED OVER 'BITTING EX'S BREAST' AND PUNCHING WOMAN IN PARKING ROW
Former British boxing champion John Murray, who retired in 2014, has been jailed after attacking two women with one coming after a row broke out over a drive being blocked
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| John Murray is now behind bars after the attacks on two women (Image: Manchester Evening News) |
A former British and European lightweight champion has been jailed over attacking his ex-partner and punching another woman after he blocked her drive.
John Murray, 41, originally from Levenshulme, Manchester, enjoyed a successful career in the sport before being forced to retire due to injury in 2014.
During his career, he took on stars such as Anthony Crolla, and fought on the undercard at the Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather world title clash in Las Vegas in 2007.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the former British and European lightweight champion was now working as a delivery driver in 2023, when the attack on one women occurred.
On January 20, Murray launched an unprovoked attack on a woman after a row broke out after he was accused of blocking her drive.
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| John Murray is a former British and European lightweight champion (Image: Supplied) |
The victim had her two children in the back of her car when she was punched in the face after she challenged Murray and another woman, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Prosecutor Eleanor Myers said. "Her children were screaming 'get off my mum' as her partner came to help."
Murray then punched the woman again before driving off and reportedly hitting her car as he left, the court heard.
The woman was left with a broken nose and in a victim statement said said: "This changed me as a person, I do not feel like I am the same person I was. I cannot leave the house on my own any more."
Ms Myers told the court the second incident occurred on July 15, 2023, after he split with his former partner.
Murray reportedly went to her home to discuss a family issue and the victim was woken by banging at her door. This caused her to look through the window but she did not see anything.
The prosecutor said: "She didn't see anything outside that could have caused the banging, so turned her back. As she did, the defendant was coming in through the window.
"She ran from the room and he followed her to the bedroom. He walked up to her and strangled her with both of his hands around her neck. He held onto her for 45 seconds."
The court heard how the woman shouted at him and pleading for him to let go. But Murray grabbed her hair and repeatedly punched her in the head.
She ran downstairs and was followed by Murray. He then threw her on the sofa and jumped on top of her, before biting her breast.
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| Murray was working as a delivery driver at the time of once incident (Image: Manchester Evening News) |
The woman attempted to calm him down, before punching her again and kicking in the stomach.
"She was gasping for air and begging him to stop," Ms Myers added.
After the attack, Murray said: "Look what you made me do - look at your neck." The woman ran outside as he shouted: "Get here you s**g."
A passer-by stepped in as Murray threw two unsuccessful punches at him. The woman suffered bruising to her breast, neck and face; and a cut to the back of her ear.
In a victim statement, she said: "This incident has really shocked me. I never expected him to be so horrible in my life, and I hope I don't have to again. I don't feel safe in my own home."
Murray, of Lichfield Walk, Romiley, earlier pleaded guilty to strangulation; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; and assault by beating. He was jailed for three years and banned from contacting his ex-partner for seven years under the terms of a restraining order.
- Simon Hamalienko & Amy Walker
AUDI CONFIRMS FREDDIE SLATER AS FIRST SIGNING OF NEW F1 DRIVER PROGRAMME
Audi F1 has launched a Driver Development Programme, and its first signee is one of the most exciting young prospects in the world, Freddie Slater.
In what Audi calls its ‘first concrete step’ in their blueprint to identify and develop future Formula 1 drivers, Slater represents a marquee signing, as the reigning Formula Regional European champion prepares for his first full Formula 3 season in 2026.
Audi confirms Freddie Slater as first junior driver
Audi has arrived on the grid for F1 2026, following its takeover of the Sauber squad. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto remain for the transition, as both drivers prepare to front the Audi charge in the German brand’s debut F1 season.
But, Audi is already looking ahead to the future by forming a Driver Development Programme. In its very first signing, Audi has brought in one of the top young talents in the world.
Slater will be targeting an F3 title challenge in 2026, now with Audi behind him. This marks the first time that Slater has affiliated himself with any driver academy.
Slater, the 17-year-old from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, has the Ginetta Junior Winter, Ginetta Junior, UAE Formula 4, Italian Formula 4 and Formula Regional European Championship titles all on his CV.
Slater broke the record previously held by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli for the most wins in an Italian F4 season. Antonelli won 13, but Slater took 15 race wins in 2024, as well as 11 pole positions.
161 points clear of runner-up Jack Beeton by the end of the season, that was the biggest winning margin ever seen in Italian F4.
Slater followed that up by winning the 2025 FRECA title, and also impressed during his part-time F3 appearances, finishing P2 on debut with AIX Racing in the Bahrain Sprint race.
Set to race full-time in F3 2026 with Trident, Slater has joined forces with Audi as their first F1 development driver.
Reacting to the announcement, Slater said: “It’s an incredible honour to be the first driver selected for the Audi Driver Development Programme.
“Audi is a brand with a legendary motorsport history, and to have their trust and support at this crucial stage of my career is a dream come true.
“Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the backing of Audi Revolut F1 Team is a massive opportunity. I am fully focused on working hard and making the most of this pivotal step towards my goal of reaching Formula One.”
Audi Driver Development Programme chief Allan McNish added: “In Freddie, we see the immense potential of a future star.
“His track record is remarkable, but more importantly, he possesses the focus, determination, and willingness to learn that are essential for reaching the pinnacle of our sport.
“He is the ideal candidate to be the first signing of the Audi Driver Development Programme, and we are committed to providing him with the tools, mentorship, and support he needs to succeed as he steps up to Formula 3 with Trident Motorsport.
“This is the first step in building our future on and off the track.”
- Jamie Woodhouse
Thursday, 29 January 2026
2026 F1 BARCELONA PRE-SEASON TEST - DAY 4 RESULTS
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| © Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team |
George Russell underlined Mercedes' superiority in pre-season testing in Barcelona by posting the quickest time of the week so far.
Team-mate Kimi Antonelli set the benchmark in the morning session, with a lap of 1:17.081s proving to be the best of the 90 he clocked as Mercedes also again racked up the laps.
Taking over the W17 in the afternoon, Russell became the first driver to dip into the 1:16s, culminating in a 1:16.445s. The Briton also churned out a further 77 laps for Mercedes.
Over the course of their three days on track this week, with Thursday the last of their permitted allocation, the team has amassed a staggering 499 laps.
Oscar Piastri was fourth quickest in his McLaren, almost 1.8 seconds behind Russell. Unfortunately for the Australian, all his running was confined to the morning session due to the team encountering a fuel system issue in the afternoon.
Ferrari, meanwhile, enjoyed a day of dry-weather running, given the rain they encountered on Tuesday. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton combined for 174 laps, with the duo both in the 1:18s.
And Aston Martin finally made it out on track, with Lance Stroll completing four highly exploratory laps.
- Ian Parkes
EMMA RADUCANU'S FULL STATEMENT AS SHE CONFIRMS FRANCISCO ROIG SPLIT
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| Emma Raducanu has parted ways with coach Francis RoigCredit: Shutterstock Editorial |
Emma Raducanu has announced her split from Francisco Roig after a six-month partnership with the Spaniard.
World No 29 Raducanu released a short statement on Thursday confirming her split with Roig, a former coach of Rafael Nadal, following a difficult start to her 2026 season.
The Brit played just one match at the United Cup in Perth, falling to Maria Sakkari in three sets, before an underwhelming straight-sets loss to world No 204 Taylah Preston at the Hobart International.
Raducanu was then beaten in straight sets by world No 55 Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open, with the Brit having now lost six of her nine matches since the end of the 2025 US Open.
Speaking after her loss to Potapova in Melbourne, the 23-year-old spoke of a “misalignment” within her game, and it has now been confirmed that Roig will not part of her journey to solve that concern.
The former US Open champion took to her Instagram story on Thursday to announce her split from Roig, following a partnership that started at the Cincinnati Open last August.
She wrote: “Francis, thank you for our time together.
“You have been more than a coach to me and I will cherish the many good times we spent together on the court.
“While we have come to the conclusion together that we ought not to move forward, please know that I am very grateful for all you have taught me and fond of our time shared.”
Raducanu’s decision to split with Roig means that she is again without a coach, having now worked with eight different permanent coaches during her professional career.
The Brit’s partnership with Nick Cavaday, from the start of 2024 until early 2025, has been her longest since her 2021 US Open triumph, with Raducanu having worked with Mark Petchey on a temporary basis in between her split with Cavaday and the start of her time with Roig.
According to The i, the Brit will work with Alexis Canter over the next few weeks before she looks to make a new permanent hire.
Raducanu is set to return to action at the Transylvania Open next week, with the world No 29 set to be the top seed at the WTA 250 event.
Her campaign in Cluj will then be followed by back-to-back WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, with the Qatar Open in Doha swiftly followed by the Dubai Tennis Championships.
- Oli Dickson Jefford
LAMINE YAMAL TAKES ANOTHER RECORD OFF KYLIAN MBAPPÉ WITH CHAMPIONS LEGUE GOAL FOR BARCELONA VS COPENHAGEN
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| Getty Images |
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal added a few more records to his collection on Wednesday night after scoring and assisting in the Champions League win over Copenhagen.
Yamal’s goal means he’s now the youngest player to reach eight goals in the Champions League at the age of 18 years and 199 days, beating the record previously held by Mbappe (18 years and 302 days), per Mister Chip.
It’s not the first time Yamal has taken a record off Mbappe. The Barca youngster became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final at the age of 17 years and 291 days last season.
Yamal’s efforts against Copenhagen also mean he has now scored and assisted in a Champions League game for the third time. That’s a record he now shares with Mbappe - for now at least.
Yamal now has 13 goals and 13 assists in 28 appearances in all competitions so far this season for Hansi Flick’s side.
His performance on Wednesday night was also key as Barcelona managed to secure a top eight finish in the Champions League and automatic qualification to the last 16 of the competition.
- Gill Clark
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
F1 TEST: MCLAREN HITS TRACK, RED BULL BIDES TIME, ALPINE SHINES AND AUDI RUNS INTO TROUBLE
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| Lando Norris has taken the new McLaren out on track on Day 3 of the F1 test in Barcelona. Image: McLaren |
Lando Norris has hit the track for the first time this week, as McLaren begins its programme on Day 3 of the Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona.
The wheel of the MCL40 has been turned in anger for the first time on Wednesday morning by the reigning World Champion, the car sporting a special black livery, as well as the #1.
With the media and data blackout continuing, all information is subject to confirmation, but early reports suggest Norris has been part of a varied strategy by Mercedes to increase the testing of its new powertrains.
The German marque’s works team is thought to be focusing on long runs, with McLaren opting for short runs before pitting.
Mercedes’ newest customer, Alpine, is deploying a similarly long strategy, with Franco Colapinto reportedly setting a 1:19.150, which is thought to be the quickest time of the day so far.
| Audi is facing real challenges during this shakedown.
They ran 27 laps on Monday before Bortoleto had to retire from a mechanical issue and today Hülkenberg has had to retire the car as well after running into another problem.
pic.twitter.com/fsiW1Irv9d
— deni (@fiagirly) January 28, 2026
Red Bull sits out Day 3 of F1 test as Audi runs halted by Hulkenberg woe
Red Bull has confirmed it will sit out Day 3 after a productive first two days, with Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen completing runs on Tuesday.
It is thought that the Milton Keynes-based squad has not made the decision based on Hadjar’s crash shortly before the chequered flag, with a calculated strategy as to which day it will decide to use as its final one of the week.
Ferrari have also yet to take to the track on Wednesday, after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both managed to get runs in on Tuesday.
Audi appears to have run into trouble, with Hulkenberg’s reported five laps down to a stoppage on track earlier in the morning, his R26 halting at Turns 9 and 10.
It is the second time the car has stopped out on track this week, with Gabriel Bortoleto also having to find a tow truck on Day 1.
Oliver Bearman has also been in the wars, his Haas VF-26 also stopping out on track in the morning, after some positive long runs from the car alreadty completed this week.
- Jack Oliver Smith
CHELSEA URGE 'EXTREEM CAUTION' AFTER TWO FANS INJURED IN NAPLES
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| Chelsea face Napoli tonight at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium |
Chelsea have told fans to take "extreme caution" in Naples after two supporters were treated in hospital ahead of their Champions League tie in the Italian city.
Napoli and Chelsea meet at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium tonight in the competition's final round of group games.
"The club is aware of an incident that took place on Tuesday evening in Naples," Chelsea posted on their official X account.
"Two fans are being treated in hospital, having sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
"The club would like to remind all supporters to exercise extreme caution whilst in the city and take note of the advice shared ahead of this fixture."
Chelsea are hoping to seal a top-eight finish in the Champions League group phase that would secure a place in the last 16 of the competition and avoid them playing in next month’s play-off round.
- PA
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
MACAO TABLE TENNIS STAR ZHU YULING SAYS HER COMEBACK WAS 'DRIVEN BY LOVE AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS'
- Zhu Yuling speaks to Macao News on her comeback to table tennis after years away, her recent WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 win, and returning to world No. 5
- Yuling shares advice for young players in Macao and hopes to help athletes pursue professional pathways
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| Macao’s Zhu Yuling poses with her winner’s trophy after the women’s singles final match against Japan’s Sato Hitomi at the WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 – Photo by Nikku/Xinhua |
For several years, Zhu Yuling was absent from the international table tennis circuit – a quiet pause that followed one of the most decorated stretches of her career as a former world No. 1. The break came in the early 2020s, when health issues led her to step away from competition and temporarily put her playing career on hold.
During that time, Zhu returned to school to continue her studies and later transitioned into life as a professional teacher, gaining perspective beyond the demands of elite sport. Her return came in 2024, when she re-entered international competition representing Macao, starting again without a world ranking and gradually rebuilding her place among the sport’s elite.
That stunning resurgence has been underscored by a rapid rise back into the top tier, with Zhu climbing to world No. 5 and adding titles along the way. Most recently, she won the WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 crown, a victory that highlighted both her form and resilience at this stage of her career.
After flying back from Doha, Zhu Yuling took time out of her schedule for an interview with Macao News, reflecting on her journey into table tennis, her years away from the sport, and what continues to drive her today.
How did you first discover table tennis, and what drew you to the sport as a child?
When I was in primary school, I was quite weak and often fell ill, so my parents wanted me to take up a sport to improve my health. My school had a table tennis interest class, and I was instantly drawn to the sound of the ball being struck.
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| Zhu Yuling hits a return against Sato Hitomi at the WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 – Photo by Nikku/Xinhu |
At what point did table tennis stop being just a hobby and become something more serious?
After entering the national first team, table tennis shifted from being a hobby to becoming a responsibility and a mission.
Looking back, what helped you deal with the challenges you faced during your development as a player?
There were many difficulties, but I always treated each one as temporary. I would tell myself to think about how I might view today’s challenges ten years from now.
You stepped away from international table tennis for several years before returning. What was that period like, and what ultimately motivated your comeback?
During my time away from competition, I returned to school to continue my studies and later transitioned into a teaching role. Returning to the court wasn’t something I planned in advance. It came unexpectedly, driven by my love for the sport and the feeling that there were still things left unfinished.
How did it feel to win the WTT Star Contender Doha 2026 title?
It’s not the most significant title I’ve won in terms of weight, but it was the most surprising and meaningful gift for me in 2026.
The final in Doha was an intense battle. What stayed with you most from that match?
At a point when both my physical strength and mental energy were nearly exhausted, I managed to overcome myself. That experience is extremely valuable to me at this stage of my career.
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| Zhu Yuling (right) hugs Germany’s Han Ying after the women’s singles semifinal match at the WTT Champions Doha 2026 in Doha – Photo by Nikku/Xinhua |
You are now ranked world No. 5. How do you personally view rankings?
World rankings are just a form of statistics. I don’t pay too much attention to them.
What does it mean to represent Macao on the international stage?
Macao table tennis is relatively unknown internationally. I hope to let more people see and understand the broader possibilities of table tennis in Macao.
What advice would you give to young players in Macao who hope to follow a similar path?
You must dare to create dreams for yourself. If you believe in them, they can come true. I believe they will meet a better version of themselves along the path toward their dreams.
- Erico Dias
SEPP BLATTER BACKS CALLS FOR FANS TO AVOID US MATCHES AT 2026 WORLD CUP
- Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed calls urging fans to avoid travelling to the US for the 2026 World Cup, citing security and immigration concerns
- Blatter’s comments come amid wider debate over the 2026 World Cup after Donald Trump last year questioned ‘safety’ in several US host cities
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| Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter attending an event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 28 April 2010 – Photo by Richard Juilliart |
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed calls urging football fans to avoid travelling to the United States for matches at the 2026 World Cup, according to multiple media reports, citing concerns over security, immigration enforcement and the country’s political climate.
Blatter voiced his support for comments made by Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who warned that fans should “stay away” from World Cup matches in the US. Pieth worked with FIFA on governance reforms during Blatter’s presidency
“I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” Blatter wrote in a social media post, endorsing Pieth’s advice to supporters.
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, with the majority of matches scheduled to take place in the US.
Pieth cited domestic developments in the United States, including aggressive immigration enforcement and recent deaths linked to clashes involving federal authorities, as reasons for discouraging travel. He warned that fans could face heightened scrutiny at US borders and risk being denied entry or deported if they fail to comply with officials, adding that supporters may be “better off watching on television.”
Concerns have intensified following the expansion of US travel bans affecting several countries whose national teams have qualified for the World Cup. Fans from Iran and Haiti are expected to be barred from entering the United States, while supporters from Senegal and the Ivory Coast face restrictions unless they already hold valid visas.
Concerns over safety have also entered the political debate, after US President Donald Trump suggested that World Cup matches could be moved away from host cities he considers “unsafe,” comments that drew criticism from local officials and organisers, according to separate reports.
Criticism has also emerged from within European football. Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German football federation, said the idea of a boycott should be “seriously considered.”
Blatter, who resigned as FIFA president in 2015 amid corruption investigations and was later acquitted alongside former UEFA chief Michel Platini, has remained a vocal critic of FIFA’s current leadership under Gianni Infantino. Infantino dismissed the concerns, insisting fans would continue to attend in large numbers.
Monday, 26 January 2026
ASTON MARTIN WILL SKIP FIRST TWO DAYS OF 2026 BARCELONA F1 TEST
The British marque will not be seen in Barcelona this week by Wednesday at the earliest
Aston Martin is set to skip the opening two days of the first 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona, Motorsport.com understands.
F1 is currently hosting a five-day shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (26-30 January), ahead of further tests in Bahrain (11-13 and 18-20 February) before the forthcoming campaign.
This season will introduce widespread regulation changes and as a result, the Catalan test is being held behind closed doors with teams permitted a maximum three days of running.
It is already known that Mercedes, Audi, Alpine, Haas, Cadillac, Racing Bulls and Red Bull are out on track during the first day, with McLaren and Ferrari set to start on Tuesday.
Williams, meanwhile, announced last week that it was skipping Barcelona “to prepare for the first official test in Bahrain” with a series of virtual tests “following delays in the FW48 programme”.
The only team whose plan is not entirely known is Aston Martin, but Motorsport.com can reveal that it will not be seen in Barcelona until Wednesday at the earliest, with Thursday being a genuine possibility.
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| Mercedes W17 Barcelona test Photo by Formula 1 |
That is despite the Silverstone outfit’s hospitality and support structures being present at the track, but it is understood that Aston’s situation is similar to that of Williams with delays in development.
The 2026 regulations are proving a huge challenge for all teams with changes across the whole car: the chassis is now lighter and smaller, while power units feature more electric energy with a near 50-50 split alongside the internal combustion engine.
A car chassis becoming lighter is already proving difficult for teams, as they are struggling to meet the reduced minimum weight of 768kg - last year it was 800kg.
There is also the added complication at Aston Martin that it is partnering with a new power unit supplier this year, as it is becoming a Honda works’ outfit rather than its previous guise as a Mercedes customer team.
This comes alongside a new team principal in Adrian Newey, who is stepping into the team boss role for the first time following decades of being a championship-winning designer.
The expectations at Aston Martin are therefore huge for the coming years, especially following significant investment from billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, but it may not meet the three days of track time in Barcelona this week.
- Roberto Chinchero
STATEMENT FROM YOUNG AFRICANS (YANGA) ON THE PASSING OF FORMER GOALKEEPER PETER MANYIKA
Our former goalkeeper, Peter Manyika, has passed away this morning, January 26, 2026, while receiving treatment at St. Monica Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
The leadership of our Club, Members, and Fans in general have received this news with great sorrow and we join the family during this difficult time of mourning.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
#timuyawananchi #daimambelenyumamwiko #yanga #youngafricans #petermanyika
ARSENAL TRANSFER STATE OF PLAY AS PATH CLEARED TO BUY JULIAN ALVAREZ DESPITE MAN UTD FIGHT
Arsenal have been linked with a blockbuster move for Julian Alvarez.
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| Julian Alvarez has reportedly emerged as a potential target for Arsenal (Image: Getty) |
Arsenal haven't rushed to sign players in the January window but there is still plenty of time for some late business to be done. The north Londoners are yet to welcome any new arrivals and have only sanctioned one departure, with Ethan Nwaneri joining Marseille on loan. The youngster will be hoping to gain valuable experience across the Channel before returning to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.
Several high-profile players have been linked with Arsenal in spite of their reluctance to delve into the January market. They are on course to win their first Premier League title in over two decades and could benefit from an extra injection of quality to carry them over the line. It remains to be seen if this will materialise before the window slams shut at the start of next month.
Express Sport looks at the current state of play as far as the Gunners are concerned...
Path cleared for Alvarez
Arsenal are believed to be weighing up a blockbuster move for Julian Alvarez, who has scored seven league goals for Atletico Madrid since the start of the campaign.
Barcelona have also been credited with a desire to land the former Manchester City striker, but their financial troubles could give Arsenal a free run at his signature.
According to Sport, the Catalan giants are unable to afford Atletico's asking price of around £104million, which could pave the way for the Gunners to swoop.
However, given the complexities of such a big move, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Arsenal wait until the summer to launch their pursuit.
They have been tipped to land a new striker to complete with Viktor Gyokeres, who has struggled to make a huge impact since his arrival from Sporting.
Man Utd join transfer fight
Arsenal's hopes of signing Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong could be under threat, with Manchester United said to be plotting a potential move of their own.
The striker, who represented Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, has bagged six goals and three assists in 18 league appearances since the start of the campaign.
His impressive form is said to have drawn Arsenal's attention, with GiveMeSport reporting that club chiefs are 'exploring' the idea of a transfer.
However, they aren't the only team in the race with United also mentioned as an interested party alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Only time will tell how the situation will play out, with Levante certain to demand a significant profit on the £2.6m they paid to sign him in the summer.
- Archie Griggs
Sunday, 25 January 2026
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