'Disruptor' Medvedev ready to bring down Sinner and Alcaraz
Melbourne (AFP) – Daniil Medvedev said Friday he had one of his best pre-seasons ever in a bid to finally win an Australian Open, pledging to be a “disruptor” against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Atletico can seize La Liga lead as Osasuna visit
Madrid (AFP) – With Spanish champions Real Madrid and their arch-rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, Atletico Madrid’s sights are firmly set on top spot in La Liga.
Navalny lawyers face long sentences in Russian 'extremism' trial
Petushki (Russia) (AFP) – A Russian court will next week issue verdicts against three of Alexei Navalny’s former lawyers, being tried for “extremism” as part of an escalating crackdown on the Kremlin critic’s allies even after his death.
US reports first severe case of bird flu in a human
Washington (AFP) – A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe infection of avian influenza, marking the first serious human case in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday.
UK PM Starmer wants football governance bill passed amid Super League talk
London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for the Football Governance Bill to be passed into English law as soon as possible amid the renewed threat of a breakaway European Super League.
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'Lucky' Shiffrin in doubt for remainder of ski season
Paris (AFP) – Mikaela Shiffrin, who injured herself in a heavy fall during the Killington giant slalom at the end of November, hinted in an interview published on Wednesday that she may not race again this season.
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Zelensky huddles with European leaders as Trump looms
Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels Wednesday to strategise over Russia’s war ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
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Notre Dame cathedral unveils controversial new stained glass windows
Paris (AFP) – Designs for six new stained glass windows in fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral were unveiled for the first time on Wednesday, with contemporary French painter Claire Tabouret chosen for a project intended to add a modern flourish to the 12th-century masterpiece.
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Swiss club Young Boys name new coach in bid to stop slump
Geneva (AFP) – Swiss champions Young Boys named Giorgio Contini as their new head coach on Wednesday as they bid to close the door on a disastrous first half of the season.
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UniCredit ups pressure on Commerzbank, fuelling German anger
Berlin (AFP) – Italian bank UniCredit said Wednesday it had boosted its stake in Germany’s Commerzbank, intensifying takeover speculation and sparking condemnation from Berlin of an “unfriendly” move at a time the country is in political limbo.
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Melting sea ice in Antarctica causes ocean storms, scientists say
Paris (AFP) – The record-breaking retreat of Antarctic sea ice in 2023 has led to more frequent storms over newly exposed parts of the Southern Ocean, according to a study published Wednesday.
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New Japan coach Nielsen targets Women's World Cup glory
Tokyo (AFP) – New coach Nils Nielsen declared Wednesday that Japan can win the Women’s World Cup for a second time and vowed to restore the 2011 champions to their former glories.
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Ravichandran Ashwin
New Delhi (AFP) – Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will go down as one of India’s greatest players after retiring from international cricket on Wednesday aged 38.
