No sweat, no shake as Svitolina cruises into Melbourne quarters
Melbourne (AFP) – Elina Svitolina delivered a stunning first-set comeback before overwhelming Veronika Kudermetova Monday to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, but the Ukrainian did not shake hands with her Russian opponent.
Late night tears and hugs for released Palestinian prisoners
Baytunya (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Two buses carrying Palestinian prisoners released in the Gaza ceasefire deal had to inch through a thick crowd when they at last arrived in the West Bank at 2 am Monday.
TV host issues on
Melbourne (AFP) – A leading TV presenter apologised on-air Monday to Novak Djokovic after mocking the 24-time Grand Slam winner and his Serbian fans at the Australian Open, saying it was meant to be banter.
As LA burns, criticisms and questions about response arise
Washington (AFP) – The speed and intensity of the blazes ravaging Los Angeles this week have put its firefighting infrastructure to the test — and given rise to questions and criticism surrounding preparedness.
Lakers coach Redick hopes team's return can 'give people hope'
Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick says he hopes the team’s eventual return to play can “give people hope” after seeing his Pacific Palisades home incinerated in the deadly wildfires that have ravaged the city.
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Rybakina 'focused' on Australian Open after coach controversy
Melbourne (AFP) – Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said Saturday she would put the controversy surrounding her former coach Stefano Vukov to one side to focus on winning the Australian Open.
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Fishburn, McCarthy lead at halfway stage of Sony Open
Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Patrick Fishburn fired a bogey-free five-under-par 65 Friday to grab a one-shot lead alongside American compatriot Denny McCarthy at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
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Cambodia sends suspect in ex
Phnom Penh (AFP) – Cambodian police said Saturday they had handed over to Thai authorities a man suspected of assasinating a former opposition politician in a brazen attack in downtown Bangkok.
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Sri Lanka bowlers skittle New Zealand in 140
Auckland (AFP) – Sri Lanka razed New Zealand’s top-order Saturday to comfortably win the third one-day international in Auckland by 140 runs and salvage a lone victory in the series.
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Sinner and Sabalenka target back
Melbourne (AFP) – Jannik Sinner will try to put a doping scandal behind him when he kicks off his Australian Open defence against Nicolas Jarry, while Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a hat-trick of titles starts on Sunday against Sloane Stephens.
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Family to bury Jean
Paris (AFP) – The co-founder of the main French postwar far-right movement Jean-Marie Le Pen is to be buried Saturday at a strictly family-only funeral after his death aged 96 exposed polarising attitudes towards a figure who for decades shook and shocked the country.
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Thousands of South Koreans protest as president digs heels in
Seoul (AFP) – Thousands of South Koreans gathered for rival demonstrations in the capital on Saturday, as investigators prepare another attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law decree.
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Germany races to secure stricken 'Russian shadow fleet' oil tanker
Berlin (AFP) – Germany was racing Saturday to secure a heavily loaded tanker stranded off its northern coast, towing the stricken ship it said was part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet” away from shore to avert an oil spill.
