Rescuers search for survivors amid risk of fresh floods in Afghanistan

NURISTAN, Afghanistan 

Rescue crews in Afghanistan have been searching for survivors of floods amid the threat that new flash floods could hit.

Teams searched the rubble of houses on Tuesday after sudden waters cascaded down mountainsides the previous day, killing at least 23 people. This year’s monsoon season is causing chaos across the region, with Afghanistan among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The flooding that hit the eastern province of Nuristan on Monday has left more than 100 missing. As the search for survivors got under way, forecasters warned that more flooding could hit the region.

More extreme weather, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds accompanied by sand and flash floods is forecast in 10 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department said on Monday evening.

Officials say an unknown number of buildings collapsed in Nuristan on Monday, including in the provincial capital Parun, where footage showed buildings reduced to mud and rubble.

The disaster is part of a bigger pattern as the monsoon season sparks havoc across South Asia.

Afghanistan, like neighbouring Pakistan and India, is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, particularly flash floods following seasonal rains.

This year’s monsoon has triggered floods and landslides in country after country.

Floods and landslides were reported on Monday to have killed at least 25 people across northern and northeastern India.

In neighbouring Nepal, monsoon-related floods, landslides and lightning strikes have killed 27 people, left one missing and injured 69 others since mid-June

Afghanistan is one of the countries least equipped to handle such conditions, due to decades of war, weak infrastructure, deforestation and a warming climate.

Meanwhile, in remote areas, many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.

In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods. Earlier this year, at least 110 people were killed by widespread flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.

Africa becomes world's hunger hot spot, UN report finds

ROME, Italy 

Conflicts and disruptions to global energy markets could push millions more people into hunger by driving up fuel, fertiliser and food costs, the head of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development warned, as a new UN report showed that global progress against hunger remains fragile.

The UN food security report, released Tuesday, found that global hunger has eased modestly in recent years, but projected that more than 500 million people could still face chronic hunger by 2030.

Africa is expected to bear the largest share of that burden.

In an interview with The Associated Press on July 10, IFAD President Alvaro Lario said that geopolitical tensions and potential disruptions to shipping and energy supplies — including uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war — could leave an additional 9 to 18 million people facing hunger if the shocks persist.

Conflict remains one of the biggest obstacles to reducing hunger worldwide, Lario said.

Wars and geopolitical tensions can disrupt shipping, energy supplies and agricultural inputs, increasing costs across food systems already strained by inflation.

Lario stressed that hunger and conflict often reinforce one another, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without greater stability.

Higher energy prices are already affecting fertilisers and agricultural production, he said.

The impact is especially significant for small-scale farmers, many of whom rely on diesel fuel to pump water, harvest crops and transport goods to market.

Rising fuel costs increase production expenses and can feed directly into higher food prices.

The new report identifies affordability as one of the world’s biggest food security challenges.

While food production continues to grow, roughly one-third of the global population still can't afford a healthy diet.

In low-income countries, that figure rises to about 77 percent, according to Lario.

Climate change is adding further pressure to food systems and rural livelihoods.

Lario noted that floods, prolonged droughts and extreme heat are increasingly disrupting agriculture around the world and have become a common reality for many communities.

Governments should focus on resilience and adaptation before disasters strike, rather than relying solely on emergency responses afterward, he said.

The report highlights Africa as the world’s most pressing food-security challenge.

For the first time, the continent has overtaken Asia as the region with the largest number of hungry people, and nearly 60 percent of the world’s chronically undernourished people could live there by 2030.

Lario attributed the shift partly to rapid population growth and slower economic gains than in parts of Asia, and he called for greater investment in agriculture, infrastructure and food systems.

African countries currently import nearly $100 billion worth of food each year, he said, underscoring the need for stronger local production, storage, distribution and regional trade networks.

Lario said conflicts, energy-market disruptions and climate extremes threaten to derail progress unless governments invest in more resilient food systems.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 21/7/2026

 

Nigeria and Ghana call on AU to address 'Afrophobic protests' in South Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria 

Nigeria and Ghana have condemned what they called the recent "Afrophobic protests targeting African nationals in South Africa."

In a statement, Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two countries want the issue placed on the agenda at the next African Union summit.

The foreign ministers of Nigeria and Ghana held talks over the weekend on the sidelines of the ECOWAS meeting in Liberia.

South Africa has long attracted migrants from other African nations because of its relative wealth — a source of sporadic tensions.

Tens of thousands of foreigners have fled the country in recent weeks due to growing xenophobic protests and violence.

Close to 1,500 Nigerians and almost 1,000 Ghanaians were repatriated from South Africa after anti-immigrant groups issued a so-called deadline of June 30 for undocumented migrants to leave the country.

Abuja and Accra said the protests undermine the ideals of African unity, solidarity and regional integration represented by the African Union. 

They called for an urgent coordinated regional response and for stronger mechanisms within the AU, including monitoring, early warning systems and preventative diplomacy.

Abuja has said it will seek compensation from Pretoria for properties and businesses left behind by Nigerian deportees.

Spain battle past Argentina in extra time to win 2026 World Cup

NEW JERSEY, United States 

Ferran Torres scored ‌in the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with ⁠a 1-0 win ⁠in extra time over 10-man Argentina in the final.

Torres’s deserved winner on Sunday came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time ⁠to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

It came on La Roja’s 20th shot in the contest against defending champions Argentina ⁠that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.

That was true at even strength and became more difficult when La Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge on Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no ‌choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.

Spain remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champions ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.

Ferran Torres scores the only goal of the game as Spain win their second World Cup.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the ⁠2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World ⁠Cup triumph.

The 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball in the final until Spain finally took the lead. And he never seriously looked like he would lift his ⁠side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.

Emi Martinez made 11 ⁠saves for La Albiceleste, who fell short in their ⁠bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.

What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of ‌extra time.

Pedro Porro curled in an out-swinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a ‌half-volley ‌at last past the flailing Martinez.

It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.

Asked about his goal, Torres said after the game: “Honestly, I didn’t think too much. I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”

The win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, the oldest coach ever to lead a team to the World Cup title.

“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “It was together we reached this stage.”

There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleaned up, and Spain commenced their celebration as most Argentina players sat on the turf in disbelief.

Cooler heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later to form an honour guard of sorts for Argentina’s squad to walk through on their way to the stage for the runner-up medals.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain were the better team. 

“They were the better side – that’s the truth – but I’ll cherish the memory of them [his side], of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” Scaloni said.

“We have to place immense value on this, because it takes so much effort.”

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 20/7/2026

 

Mbappe leads World Cup Golden Boot race for the ages

MIAMI, United States 

A Golden Boot race for the ages has the perfect finale - it will go down to the final match of the tournament.

Kylian Mbappe's two goals in France's incredible 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off moved him two goals clear of Lionel Messi, but the Argentine still has one match left to respond.

And if the 39-year-old can score twice in the final against Spain, he will take the Golden Boot by virtue of having more assists.

Anything less and Mbappe, 27, will become the first player to scoop the prize twice.

That is before we even mention the fight between the two men to be the World Cup's all-time scorer.

Mbappe now leads that race on 22 goals with Messi one behind.

Mbappe's double against England took him to 10 for the tournament - the most in a single edition of the World Cup this century. The last player to make it into double figures at a men's World Cup was Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970.

And to put that feat further into context, prior to this tournament only eight players had scored eight or more goals at a single World Cup - Muller, Just Fontaine, Sandor Kocsis, Ademir, Eusebio, Guillermo Stabile, Ronaldo and Mbappe.

The 2026 World Cup has certainly been a tournament for the stars.

England talisman Jude Bellingham's goal against France moved him into third in the Golden Boot standings on seven - the most an Englishman has scored at a single World Cup.

That edged him ahead of Erling Haaland by virtue of assists, with Three Lions captain Harry Kane one goal further back alongside France's Ousmane Dembele.

Saka hat-trick helps England down France to win World Cup 2026 Bronze Final

MIAMI, United States 

England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semifinal exits – France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina.

Both coaches made multiple changes for Saturday’s match in the oppressive heat of Miami, with a host of stars on the bench at the start.

England boss Thomas Tuchel left out Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from his starting lineup while Deschamps, stepping down after 14 years at the helm, omitted Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice put England ahead with a goal from distance in the third minute and Ezri Konsa headed home to make it 2-0.

Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise were a threat as France searched for a way back into the game, but they found England’s second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson in top form.

The game threatened to become embarrassing for France when Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 after a swift break.

And it was 4-0 in first-half stoppage time when Saka scored his second goal of the game, celebrated with a fist pump by Tuchel.

France coach Didier Deschamps told French TV channel M6 that the first-half display had been “catastrophic”, urging his men to show pride.

He made four changes, bringing on Dembele, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne and Barcola and was rewarded almost instantly when Mbappe scored his ninth goal of the tournament to move clear of Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings.

The game had now totally changed complexion, and Barcola pulled another goal back, with Deschamps clenching his fist on the bench.

Mbappe then netted his second of the game to become the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer with 22 goals – slotting home from Olise’s pass.

That put him two ahead of Messi in the race to finish as top scorer at the 2026 tournament.

France squandered a number of chances to equalise, and England were handed a chance to extend their lead when Malo Gusto brought down Djed Spence in the penalty area.

Saka stepped up to the spot and converted to complete his hat-trick.

There was still time for Dembele to grab a fourth for France, but Bellingham then strode forward to score the 10th goal of the match with an individual effort.

In doing so, Bellingham became the first England player to score seven goals at a World Cup.

By finishing third, England secured their best result at a World Cup since winning the tournament in 1966, though they will carry bitter memories of their defeat by defending champions Argentina.

Deschamps led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and finished as runners-up four years ago.

Les Bleus were favourites to win the 2026 tournament after a sensational start but were well beaten 2-0 by Spain in the semifinals.

Three-time champions Argentina face European champions Spain in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 19/7/2026