FISCO, United States (AFP) — Japan snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Olympic champions Canada in their closing match of the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday. The Japanese, who had failed to score in defeats to the United States and Brazil in their first two matches of the women’s international football tournament, broke out in a big way with goals from Kiko Seike, Yui Hasegawa and Jun Endo. The top-ranked United States, […]
Tag: USA
Texas executes man who admitted murders but said trial was tainted
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US state of Texas on Wednesday executed a man sentenced to death for a triple murder despite claims by his lawyers that his trial was tainted by racial bias. John Balentine, a 54-year-old African American, received a lethal injection, nearly 25 years after he shot three white teenagers as they slept. Balentine was pronounced dead at 6:36 pm local time (0036 GMT Thursday) in the city of Huntsville, the […]
Bollettieri, coach of Agassi and other tennis superstars, dies
Paris, France (AFP) Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who helped develop superstars such as Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova, has died aged 91, the IMG Academy announced in a statement on Monday. “Nick Bollettieri, the legendary tennis coach and founder of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which served as the foundation for today’s IMG Academy, has passed away,” read the statement. While his methods were sometimes controversial, his academy in Florida churned out top players […]
MLS fines Galaxy, club exec over salary violations
New York, United States (AFP) Major League Soccer fined the Los Angeles Galaxy $1 million and suspended club president Chris Klein on Friday for improper payments involving Argentine forward Cristian Pavon in 2019. “The LA Galaxy entered into agreements that were not disclosed that included payments that were not accounted for in the calculation of Cristian Pavon’s salary budget and roster category,” MLS said in a statement. The league said the undisclosed payments resulted […]
Catholic Diocese in New York state submits to sweeping oversight
New York, United States | AFP | New York state’s attorney general on Tuesday announced an unprecedented settlement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo that includes secular oversight of its operations following decades of scandal. The US Catholic Church has been rocked by years of accusations and revelations of sexual abuse committed by priests. In December 2019, the Vatican said that it had accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard Malone from the Buffalo […]
French prodigy Wembanyama gets early taste of NBA
Henderson, United States | AFP | by Nicolas PRATVIEL With an 8-foot (2.42m) wingspan and the smooth shooting touch of a point guard despite his towering frame, French prodigy Victor Wembanyama didn’t disappoint in his first US appearance. Wembanyama, 18, flew to Nevada with his French league team to showcase the skills that many informed observers believe will make him the number one pick in next year’s NBA draft. Around 200 NBA team representatives […]
USA to face Canada, Australia meet China in women’s basketball World Cup semis
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas nailed 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as the United States close in on an 11th title after setting up a women’s basketball World Cup semi-final against Canada Thursday. Guard Kelsey Plum added a game-high 17 points in a 88-55 pummelling of Serbia, with the three-time defending champions strong on both offence and defence. They will meet Canada in Sydney on Friday after the world […]
Mayweather scores KO in front of watching Pacquiao
Tokyo, Japan (AFP) Floyd Mayweather knocked out mixed martial arts fighter Mikuru Asakura in the second round on Sunday in Japan in the latest of the retired boxing great’s post-retirement exhibitions. The 45-year-old Mayweather floored his opponent with a right hand as his former welterweight foe Manny Pacquiao watched ringside in Saitama. The American Mayweather, who retired in 2017 with an unbeaten 50-0 record, afterwards dismissed any prospect of a fight with the similarly […]
USA thrash Puerto Rico 106-42 at women’s basketball World Cup
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Holders the United States hit the century mark against Puerto Rico on Friday to signal they mean business at the women’s basketball World Cup while Serbia upset Olympic silver medalists Japan. The three-time defending champions romped 106-42 in Sydney to make it 2-0 in Group A as they target an 11th title, after easing past a strong Belgium on the opening day of the 10-day championships. The Americans shot 54 percent […]
Tiafoe relishing role model status at US Open
by Rob Woollard Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Frances Tiafoe says he hopes to inspire a new generation of Black tennis players after moving to within two wins of becoming the first African-American in 54 years to win the US Open. The 24-year-old has lit up this year’s championships after a giant-killing run that saw him eliminate Rafael Nadal before Wednesday’s quarter-final demolition of Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev. Tiafoe’s assured 7-6 […]
‘I don’t know when I’ll be back,’ says Nadal
by Dave JAMES Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rafael Nadal admitted Monday that he wasn’t sure when he will return to action after Frances Tiafoe condemned him to his earliest US Open exit since 2016. Four-time US champion Nadal, bidding for a 23rd Grand Slam title, lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the last-16 to 26th-ranked Tiafoe. The American’s free-swinging performance conjured up 18 aces and 49 winners which flew past a […]
Ruthless Rafa pounds Gasquet to extend winning streak
New York, United States (AFP) Rafael Nadal demolished Richard Gasquet in ruthless fashion to march into the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday with his 18th straight victory over the French veteran. Second seed Nadal improved his record against Gasquet to a perfect 18-0 with a clinical beatdown of his close friend on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Nadal’s 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 victory in 2hr 17min sees him advance to a meeting […]





