SPORTS

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bayern Munich will play their first game under returning coach Jupp Heynckes when they host Freiburg this Saturday. The 72-year-old, who won the treble with the club in 2013, is tasked with reviving Bayern’s stuttering season after his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed two weeks …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho takes high-flying Manchester United to Liverpool for a searching test of their title credentials this weekend as the Premier League returns with a bang after the international break. United are level with Manchester City at the top of the table on 19 points, …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded on Thursday he may have no option but to sell star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the January transfer window. The pair are both out of contract at the end of the season and are yet to agree …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Switzerland has opened a criminal probe targeting Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain, and FIFA’s former secretary general Jerome Valcke, over alleged corruption in the sale of World Cup media rights. “The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has opened a criminal proceeding against …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Glistening with sweat, Satoko Yamanouchi’s biceps ripple and the veins in her neck throb as if about to pop as she strikes a fearsome pose at the Japan bodybuilding championships. An hour later, the pint-sized Nagoya housewife is close to tears after narrowly failing to retain …

Gelsenkirchen, Germany | AFP | Schalke 04 are a sleeping giant in the German league, yet their youth academy is one of Germany’s most successful, producing World Cup winners, Bundesliga stars and Premier League exports. Germany has just qualified for Russia 2018, where they will defend the World Cup title …

Panama City, Panama | AFP | Panama president Juan Carlos Varela declared a national holiday in celebration at the central American country’s first ever qualification for the World Cup. “It’s a historic day for the country. Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a national holiday for public and private sector workers,” Varela said …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona must remain in Spain’s La Liga, club general director Oscar Grau said on Wednesday following the signing by Catalan leaders of a declaration of independence. “The budgets are based on participation in La Liga. I think that La Liga and Barca must continue together,” Grau …

The Bugatti Chiron shifts from 0-400kph in just 42 seconds Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Cristiano Ronaldo has a new car in his already stunning collection. The latest addition to his collection is a Bugatti Chiron. The Real Madrid football star shelled out $3 million (Approx.Shs11 billion or over half …

Quito, Ecuador | AFP |  Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador here Tuesday. Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentina’s World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito. …