News
2027 Africa Cup of Nations Scheduled for June and July
African football president Patrice Motsepe has dismissed speculation that the Afcon 2027 finals, scheduled to take place in June and July of next year, may be postponed, describing such reports as entirely without basis.
Last month, Senegal emerged victorious against Morocco with a 1-0 score in extra time, securing the 2025 Afcon championship title.
According to Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe, the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is scheduled to take place in June and July of next year.
Motsepe, who is from South Africa, dismissed speculation that the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, might be postponed or relocated, describing such reports as "completely unfounded".
Concerns have been raised regarding the readiness of the necessary infrastructure in the three host countries to stage the tournament on time.
Nicholas Musonye, chair of Kenya's local organizing committee, suggested to AFP on Thursday that delaying the tournament until 2028 could be beneficial for Kenya, as the country is set to hold a general election in August 2027.
Motsepe expressed confidence in the upcoming Afcon, stating that the tournament in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be "enormously successful".
He acknowledged that challenges are inevitable but emphasized the importance of self-belief and confidence in African capabilities.
Motsepe highlighted the high caliber of leaders in African football, describing them as "world-class" and a key factor in the continent's success.
Motsepe's comments came during a news conference following a meeting of Caf's executive committee in Dar es Salaam, where officials from the governing body are conducting an inspection of facilities and infrastructure in the three host nations until Tuesday.
Despite a commitment to host Afcon mid-year starting from 2019, the past three editions have been held during the January-February or December-January period, prompting disputes over player release dates.
As a result, Afcon will be held every four years instead of biennially from 2028, and the tournament will no longer coincide with the European club season.
Motsepe announced that the exact dates for the 2027 Afcon will be revealed at a later time.
While Motsepe did not provide an update on bids for the 2028 finals, he expressed his desire to expand Afcon from 24 to 28 teams in the future.
In a separate development, Motsepe confirmed that Caf is still in talks with Morocco regarding their hosting of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), which is set to begin on 17 March.
Earlier this month, South Africa's deputy sports minister suggested that her country could step in as an alternative host for the Wafcon 2026 finals.
However, South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie later clarified that Morocco remains the officially designated host of the tournament.
Motsepe revealed that other countries have expressed interest in hosting the Wafcon, but only if the date can be changed.
However, Motsepe emphasized that the date cannot be altered, as the Wafcon serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Motsepe reaffirmed that the Wafcon will proceed as planned and must take place within the designated timeframe to ensure its success.
Entertainment And Arts
Catherine Zeta-Jones Explores Art Collecting Before New Project
The actress states that her social circle is more heavily comprised of individuals from New York’s art scene than those associated with the Los Angeles film industry.
In a recent revelation, Catherine Zeta-Jones has embarked on a new hobby – art collecting – which interestingly parallels her latest role in a film.

Zeta-Jones plays the part of an art consultant in The Gallerist, a movie that made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival just last month.
According to her, this hobby reflects a personal interest that has been growing over time, and her collection now includes works by renowned sculptor Henry Moore and contemporary artist Marc Quinn.
Born in Swansea, Zeta-Jones resides in New York with her husband, actor Michael Douglas, and notes that her social circle there comprises more individuals from the art world compared to her network in Los Angeles.
In an interview with People magazine, Zeta-Jones mentioned that she has spent more time on the East Coast with her husband and has not been actively involved in the Los Angeles social scene.
She stated that her social interactions are more frequent with business professionals, individuals from Wall Street, and those involved in the art world in New York.
Zeta-Jones has developed a strong affinity for the New York art scene, describing her collecting style as eclectic.
She has been gradually exploring the world of art, taking a cautious approach to this new interest.
On the occasion of their shared birthday, Michael Douglas gifted her a piece by Marc Quinn, known for his expensive artwork, including the sculpture Myth Venus, which sold for $1,325,000 at Christie's New York in 2014.
Quinn also created the notable installation Alison Lapper Pregnant, displayed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2004.
Zeta-Jones expressed her fondness for sculpture, mentioning that she owns a Henry Moore piece, a gift from her father-in-law, Kirk, which she and her husband cherish.

The actress also enjoys visiting flea markets and purchasing artwork during her travels to different locations.
She shared that she likes to acquire a small memento from each place she visits as a reminder of her experiences.
This newfound interest in art presents a contrast to the darker tone of her film, The Gallerist, where she portrays an art consultant entangled in a plot to sell a deceased body as a work of art.
The comedy-thriller features a star-studded cast, including Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Charli xcx, and Zach Galifianakis, alongside Zeta-Jones.
News
Ukrainian Athlete Faces Winter Olympics Ban Over Helmet Design
On his helmet, Vladyslav Heraskevych honors fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A controversy has emerged at the Winter Olympics surrounding Ukrainian slider Vladislav Heraskevych, who was disqualified for wearing a helmet that pays tribute to fellow athletes killed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Heraskevych's participation in the men's skeleton event in Milan-Cortina was barred earlier this week after he declined to remove the helmet, and his subsequent appeal was rejected on Friday.
The helmet features images of several athletes, including teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, some of whom were reportedly friends of Heraskevych.
In total, more than 20 athletes are depicted on the helmet, each with their own story.
Androschuk, a young athlete, lost his life in January 2023 while fighting in the Bakhmut area of eastern Ukraine, just a few years after his 22nd birthday.



He had represented Ukraine in international decathlon and pentathlon competitions, showcasing his athletic prowess.
Initially, Androschuk had aspirations to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris or the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, but injuries led him to join the army in 2022, as reported by the New York Times.
According to Oleksiy Kasyanov, the general secretary of Ukraine's track and field federation, Androschuk's decision to join the army was driven by his sense of duty, with Kasyanov stating, "It was his dream."
Bakhur, a 17-year-old national kickboxing champion, was killed in 2023 during Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region of north-eastern Ukraine.

She had competed at both national and international levels, representing Ukraine with distinction.
Bakhur's life was cut short when she suffered fatal shrapnel wounds while seeking shelter in the city of Berestyn, just weeks before her 18th birthday.
Her coach, Volodymyr Zibarov, remembered Bakhur as an athlete with "enormous potential," whose life was tragically cut short.
In an interview with Ukrainian newspaper Pravda, Zibarov recounted the circumstances of Bakhur's death, saying, "We were supposed to leave for the World Cup in Austria… a Russian missile took Karyna from us one day earlier."
Diachenko, an 11-year-old gymnast, died in March 2022 in the south-eastern city of Mariupol, as reported by the memorial website Angels of Sport.
She was killed instantly, along with her father, when a Russian air strike hit their home, while her mother and brother were injured and later died in a hospital that was also hit by an air strike.
Halinichev lost his life in 2023 in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian news outlet Tribuna, Halinichev had chosen to volunteer as a soldier in 2022, rather than participate in a European boxing championship.
In an interview with Voice of America, one of Halinichev's coaches recalled that the athlete had been deeply affected by the destruction caused by the war, feeling compelled to take up arms.
Halinichev had expressed his motivation for fighting, saying, "I have a little child, and I don't want her to live in occupation among the aggressor, among the Russians," as quoted by another coach.
Tribuna reported that Halinichev was injured twice during the conflict but continued to fight until his death.
He had achieved notable success in his athletic career, winning silver medals at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the 2021 European U22 Championships.
Ishchenko, a four-time strongman champion and former Ukrainian powerlifting champion from Kyiv, was also a coach who mentored young athletes.

He was remembered by Ukrainian outlet Sport.ua as a role model who inspired new generations of athletes with his resilience, courage, and dedication to sport and country.
Ishchenko lost his life on the front lines in 2023.
His legacy continues to inspire athletes in Ukraine.
Ivashko, a nine-year-old judo enthusiast, was killed in June 2023 while attempting to shelter from Russian air strikes in Kyiv, along with her mother.
The Ukrainian Judo Federation's president, Mykhailo Koshlyak, described Ivashko's death as "painful for the entire Ukrainian judo family."
Khabarov, a 31-year-old athlete, was a prominent figure in Ukrainian national shooting sports for over a decade, according to the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
Throughout his career, he had set multiple national records and won national championships.
In 2023, Khabarov joined the army and lost his life in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
ISSF president Luciano Rossi paid tribute to Khabarov, stating, "He was an elite athlete who paused his career to defend his country, and will forever be in the hearts and memories of the Ukrainian people."
Kononenko was a competitive strongman and actor who appeared in popular Ukrainian TV programs.
He joined the front lines in February 2022 and suffered a severe injury by November, as reported by Pravda.
Kononenko designed his own rehabilitation program, which he shared on social media, before returning to fight on the front lines, where he became a senior lieutenant and commander of a rifle platoon.
Contact with Kononenko was lost during a combat mission in February last year, and he has since been considered missing in action, with a funeral held for him in December.
Kozubenko, a 31-year-old diver and coach from Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, died in combat last year.

The Ukrainian Sports Committee acknowledged Kozubenko's sacrifice, stating, "In the country's most difficult time, Kozubenko took up arms to defend his native land."
His death was a loss for the Ukrainian sports community.
Kurdel, a 20-year-old dancer, was killed in July 2022 during a Russian air attack in the central city of Kryvyi Rih.
She was training at a sports ground with her father when the attack occurred, resulting in injuries to her parents, who survived.
Prior to her passing, Kurdel achieved success in numerous international dance competitions, earning recognition for her talents.
Between 2006 and 2016, Kutsenko represented Ukraine in European and World track cycling championships, showcasing his skills as a champion athlete.

The 34-year-old, who had been residing in Italy with his family, returned to Ukraine following the full-scale invasion to enlist in the army.
Regional officials reported that he lost his life in 2024 during a combat operation.
A Russian missile strike on a Dnipro high-rise building in 2023 resulted in the death of 15-year-old Lebid.
Lebid held the position of president of her school's student council and was also an avid ballroom dancer.
As stated in her student council election campaign, Lebid described herself as a 15-year-old with a music education, a passion for learning English, and a hobby of cultivating houseplants, highlighting her determination, friendliness, and strong work ethic.
Loginov, the former goalkeeper of Ukraine's professional ice hockey team Bilyi Bars, had a notable athletic career.

Loginov's life was cut short at the age of 23 in the Luhansk region in 2023.
Malyshev, 19, lost his life on the front lines in Kharkiv.
He had previously competed in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a biathlete.
Malyshev was posthumously honored with an Order For Courage in 2022.
Peregudova, 14, was killed in March 2022 during Russian shelling of Mariupol.
According to Pravda, Peregudova and her mother were fatally injured shortly after leaving their house when an explosion occurred, and her brother was subsequently shot by a Russian sniper.
Peregudova was a promising young athlete, having been a candidate for the Ukrainian national weightlifting team and preparing to participate in a European Championship.
Polischchuk was a track and field athlete specializing in the high jump.

He enlisted in Ukraine's armed forces shortly after the full-scale invasion began and died in March 2023.
Sharpar, a 25-year-old figure skater, lost his life near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine in 2023.

Originally from Kharkiv, Sharpar won a silver medal at the Ukrainian Championships in 2016 and participated in the Youth Winter Olympics in Norway the same year.
After retiring from professional figure skating, Sharpar went on to perform in ice shows.
Shpuk joined the Ukrainian army in 2014 as part of a volunteer battalion.

He later became involved in veteran sports and coached the Ukrainian team at the Invictus Games.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion, Shpuk rejoined the army and died in November 2023.
Troyan, a 32-year-old former professional athlete, died in June 2025 in the Pokrovsk area of eastern Ukraine after sustaining injuries during a combat mission.
In addition to her athletic career, Troyan worked as a programmer and journalist at an international IT company before enlisting in the army in 2024.
According to Angels of Sport, Troyan operated drones in over 1,000 combat missions.
Yaramenko was a member of Ukraine's national Greco-Roman wrestling team.

He died just days shy of his 26th birthday in December.
Yaramenko had aspirations of becoming a coach and had pursued a master's degree in physical culture and sports, as reported by Angels of Sport.
Yaramenko lost his life during a combat mission.
Those who knew him described Yaramenko as a person with a strong sense of justice, inner balance, and a kind heart, according to Angels of Sport.
Yepifanov, a national fencing champion in Ukraine, put his athletic career on hold to fight on the front lines.

At the age of 18, Yepifanov enlisted in the army during the initial days of the full-scale invasion and died in 2023.
Zui, 13, was an enthusiastic young athlete who enjoyed boxing and football, playing the latter for a local team in Mariupol.
Zui's life was tragically cut short in March 2022 when a Russian air strike hit the high-rise building where his family was seeking shelter, resulting in the loss of his parents as well.
News
Avalanche in French Alps Claims Lives of Three, Including Two Britons
In Val d’Isère, a group of five individuals, including the Britons, had been skiing off-piste under the guidance of an instructor.
An avalanche in the French Alps on Friday has resulted in the deaths of two individuals from the UK and one from France.

According to a resort spokesperson, the two British victims were among a group of five people, including an instructor, who were skiing off-piste in Val d'Isère.
A statement from the prosecutor's office indicated that the French victim was skiing by themselves at the time of the incident.
Additionally, one other British individual sustained minor injuries, as reported.
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