Author: AFP

Rafael Nadal draws qualifier in Brisbane

BRISBANE: Rafael Nadal avoided meeting a seed first up at his comeback tournament after drawing a qualifier in the Brisbane International, with Russia’s Aslan Karatsev a potential second-round opponent. The 37-year-old Spaniard has been out of the game for almost 12 months following hip surgery after the 2023 Australian Open

Exhausted Gazans desperate for war to end

GAZA STRIP (Palestinian Territories): After nearly three months of deadly strikes, incessant displacements and sputtering humanitarian aid, “exhausted” Gazans say they are desperate for an end to the fighting as Israel’s war against Hamas looks set to grind on into the new year. The Israeli army kept up its campaign

Big waves pound US West Coast

LOS ANGELES: Huge surf was battering the US West Coast on Friday, with forecasters warning of more danger ahead after a rogue wave swept pedestrians off their feet and swamped a hotel. Rollers as high as nine metres were expected to lash parts of California and Oregon as a powerful

Sydney-Hobart race fleet sets sail

SYDNEY: More than 100 yachts set off on the SydneyHobart race yesterday, with thunderstorms and hail threatening to lash sailors in one of the world’s most gruelling ocean events. Thunder and rain lifted just minutes before the start at a slightly misty Sydney Harbour as spectators lined the waterfront or

Mullins eyes third King George with Allaho

LONDON: Allaho bids to give legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins a third win in an intriguing renewal of the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Tuesday. Allaho missed all of last season but returned to win the Clonmel Oil Chase this term setting him up for a

Khawaja sports shoes with daughters’ names in Pakistan Test

MELBOURNE: Australia’s Usman Khawaja wore shoes marked with his daughters’ names as he batted against Pakistan on Tuesday, after being banned from wearing references to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. An AFP close-up photo of the 37-year-old’s shoes showed the names of Khawaja’s daughters Aisha and Ayla taped to the

Czechs mourn varsity shooting victims

PRAGUE: Flags on public buildings flew at half mast on Saturday and masses were scheduled across the Czech Republic for a day of national mourning after a deadly shooting at Prague’s Charles University — the worst in the country in decades. A 24-year-old student opened fire at the Faculty of

Retired rugby star Jones reveals heart condition

LONDON: Retired Wales rugby great Alun Wyn Jones has revealed he was diagnosed with a heart condition towards the end of his career and has called for better screening for players. The 38-year-old, rugby’s mostcapped international, told the Telegraph he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation while he was at French

Bristol City deny Hull in five-goal tourney thriller

LONDON: Jason Knight’s goal six minutes from time secured a dramatic 3-2 win for Bristol City at home to Hull in English football’s second-tier Championship on Friday. Bristol City, now eighth in the table against a Hull side still occupying a play-off position in sixth spot, opened the scoring when

Liverpool reach League Cup semis

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool destroyed West Ham 5-1 on Wednesday to set up a League Cup semi-final against Fulham, easing the frustration of their weekend Premier League stalemate against Manchester United. Curtis Jones scored twice and Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were also on the scoresheet for Jurgen Klopp’s dominant