Sports

France’s train network hit by arson attacks hours before Olympic ceremony

By Dominique Vidalon and Elizabeth Pineau July 26, 2024   PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) – Saboteurs struck France’s TGV high-speed train network in a series of pre-dawn attacks across the country, causing travel chaos and exposing security gaps ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony later on Friday. The coordinated sabotage took place as France mounted a massive security operation involving tens of thousands of police and soldiers to safeguard the capital for the sporting […]

Chinese badminton player, 17, dies after collapsing on court

JAKARTA, July 1, 2024 (AFP) – A 17-year-old Chinese player has died after collapsing on court during an international tournament in Indonesia, badminton officials said on Monday. Zhang Zhijie was taken ill during a match late Sunday against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Asian Junior Badminton Mixed Team Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang suddenly fell to the floor. A doctor and medical team were quickly on […]

Two people hospitalized after lightning strike near PGA tournament course

  NEW YORK, June 23, 2024 (AFP) – Two people were taken to hospital Saturday after a lightning strike near a home at TPC River Highlands, the course hosting the US PGA Tour Travelers Championship, the local fire department said. A release from the Cromwell Fire Department said the Connecticut town’s police department began receiving emergency calls regarding a lightning strike at a house located near the course’s fifth green around 4:26 pm — about […]

New report warns of heat danger at Paris Olympics

PARIS, June 18, 2024 (AFP) – A new report backed by climate scientists and athletes warned Tuesday about the dangers of extreme high temperatures at this year’s Paris Olympics. The “Rings of Fire” report — a collaboration between non-profit Climate Central, academics at Britain’s University of Portsmouth and 11 Olympians — said conditions in Paris could be worse than the last Games in Tokyo in 2021. It warned that “intense heat at the Paris Olympics […]

Celtics celebrate 16-year wait, thump Mavericks 106-88 to win 18th NBA title

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2024 (AFP) – Jayson Tatum produced a dazzling 31-point display as the Boston Celtics dominated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 to clinch a record-breaking 18th NBA championship crown on Monday. Humbled by Dallas in a 38-point game four drubbing on Friday, Boston slammed the door on any chance of a Mavericks fightback to seal a 4-1 series victory at an electric TD Garden. Tatum spearheaded a superb performance at both ends of […]

Toss delayed in India v Canada T20 World Cup match

LAUDERHILL, United States, June 15, 2024 (AFP) – A wet outfield caused a delay to the toss ahead of the T20 World Cup match between India and Canada at Central Broward Stadium on Saturday. Both the scheduled games at the Florida venue have been abandoned due to rain and while the forecast for Saturday’s game looks more promising there remained wet parts of the outfield needing attention. Umpires will carry out an inspection of the […]

Hong Kong arrests three for ‘insulting’ anthem at World Cup qualifier

HONG KONG, June 7, 2024 (AFP) – Three people were arrested for turning their backs and remaining seated when China’s national anthem was played prior to Hong Kong’s home World Cup qualifier against Iran, police said Friday. Football fans in Hong Kong used to boo the national anthem as a show of political discontent, but the government in 2020 banned the practice as part of a wider crackdown following huge democracy protests in the city. […]

Celtics overpower Mavericks 107-89 in game one of the NBA Finals

NEW YORK, June 7, 2024 (AFP) – Kristaps Porzingis dazzled in his return from injury and the Boston Celtics dominated on both ends of the floor to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in game one of the NBA Finals on Thursday. Porzingis, who missed 10 games after straining his right calf in the first round of the playoffs, made an immediate impact on his return as the Celtics built a 29-point lead in the first […]

Stricken Djokovic stages French Open escape act, Medvedev out

By Jed Court PARIS, June 3, 2024 (AFP) – An injured Novak Djokovic sealed a 15th consecutive French Open quarter-final with a thrilling comeback victory over Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday, while Daniil Medvedev became the highest seed to crash out at Roland Garros so far. In the women’s draw, both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina comfortably powered into the last eight. A limping Djokovic looked to be heading for a […]

Russia ramps up disinfo ahead of Paris Games: Microsoft

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2024 (AFP) – Russia is waging an intense disinformation campaign aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the International Olympic Committee and stoking fears of violence at this summer’s Paris Games, according to a new report from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center. According to Microsoft, the influence operations utilize a potent mix of fake videos, fictitious news stories, and AI-generated impersonations, including the faked voice of Hollywood star Tom Cruise. “Russia is ramping up […]

Djokovic eyes Federer record and French Open last 16 spot

PARIS, June 1, 2024 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic can equal Roger Federer’s record for Grand Slam match wins by beating Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open on Saturday. Defending champion Djokovic, chasing a fourth title at Roland Garros and 25th career major, will go level with the retired Federer on 369 victories at the Slams if he sees off the Italian 30th seed and makes the last 16. Djokovic has defeated Musetti four times in […]

Chechen arrested over Paris Olympics attack plot: ministry

By Shahzad ABDUL and Adam PLOWRIGHT PARIS, May 31, 2024 (AFP) – French security services have arrested a Chechen teenager suspected of plotting an “Islamist-inspired” attack on a football game during the Paris Olympic Games in July and August, the interior ministry said Friday. The DGSI domestic intelligence agency “arrested a 18-year-old of Chechen origin in Saint-Etienne” in southeast France on May 22, the ministry said, calling it the “first foiled attack against the Olympic […]