Nyon, Switzerland | AFP | Former champions Chelsea will face Malmo in the last 32 of the Europa League while Arsenal will lock horns again with BATE Borisov. The two sides met in the Europa League last season, the Gunners hammering the Belarussian side 6-0 at the Emirates. Five-time champions …

Nyon, Switzerland | AFP | Liverpool will take on fellow five-time winners Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Jose Mourinho’s struggling Manchester United face French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Holders Real Madrid were paired with Ajax in Monday’s draw in Nyon as the Spaniards attempt to …

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP | Miss Philippines was crowned Miss Universe on Monday in Bangkok after a trailblazing ceremony praised for featuring its first transgender candidate but marred by gaffes about the English-speaking ability of two Asian contestants. Catriona Gray, 24, finished first ahead of the South African and Venezuelan …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls this week in elections which could see the country emerge from 17 years of conflict-ridden rule under controversial President Joseph Kabila. Twenty-one candidates are running to replace Kabila, whose hand-picked successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary is one …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Little known outside DR Congo power circles, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary is a key ally of President Joseph Kabila and, critics suspect, likely to be his puppet if victorious in Sunday’s election. Often dressed in a smart suit and tie, the 58-year-old, who is one …

Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Madagascar heads to the polls on Wednesday in a crunch head-to-head election between two arch-rivals who have dominated political life on poverty-stricken Indian Ocean island for years. The showdown between Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina could revive instability in the country if a close result …

Liverpool, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United had not lost to Liverpool in the Premier League for eight games and over four years prior to Sunday’s 3-1 defeat, but the current chasm between the two sides was exposed as Jose Mourinho’s men fell 19 points behind the league leaders …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Gor Mahia could become the first Kenyan club to reach the CAF Champions League group phase after defeating Lobi Stars of Nigeria 3-1 on Sunday in a 2018/2019 round-of-30 first leg. It was a better-than-expected result for the Nairobi outfit after they struggled to …

Damascus, Syria | AFP | Sudan’s President Omar al-Bachir visited Damascus on Sunday, the Syrian presidency said, in his first such visit to the war-torn country since the start of the conflict. “President Omar Hassan al-Bashir… arrived this afternoon on a visit to the Syrian Arab Republic,” the presidency said. …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool underlined their determination to win the Premier League title as they blew away bitter rivals Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday. Manchester City also won 3-1 against Everton on Saturday, but the champions remained in second. Arsenal’s long unbeaten run came to a shock …