Defending champion Rafael Nadal struck the first psychological blow in his French Open title duel against Roger Federer on Friday. While Nadal cruised into the third round with his 55th consecutive clay-court victory, Federer endured a lengthy struggle to put down the resistance of Chile’s Olympic champion Nicolas Massu.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo continued his golden run in taking four for 37 as the West Indies reduced India to 235 for nine on the opening day on Friday of the cricket Test at Antigua Recreation Ground. The 22-year-old Bravo was one of the stars of the West Indies’ 4-1 success in the one-day series.
Chelsea signed teenage Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo on Friday, although most of the reported £16-million transfer fee will go to Manchester United. The Blues and United have been in a long legal battle over the future of the 19-year-old star.
When David Beckham went shopping during a break in England training this week, he was ”kidnapped” in a prank by a teammate and then mobbed by hundreds of fans when he got to the store — just another day in the fishbowl life of one of the world’s most recognisable soccer players.
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Brazil is so loaded with talent that it could probably field the best two teams in the World Cup. Lucky for hosts Germany and a handful of other upset hopefuls, the rules for the world’s most popular sporting event allow only one team per country. And who might be best prepared to upset the Brazilians?
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held crisis talks on Saturday with the leaders of East Timor, trying to end the worst violence here since the tiny nation split from Indonesia seven years ago. Downer met President Xanana Gusmao, Foreign and Defence Minister Jose Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.
American soldiers have been cleared of deliberately killing Iraqi civilians in one of several incidents that have raised questions about the conduct of the occupying force, it emerged on Friday. But United States marines still face murder charges for two other incidents.
Idaho, to borrow a term gaining popularity on left-wing blogs, is part of ”Bushlandia”: the three remaining American states, clustered in the mountainous west, where the president still enjoys approval ratings of 50% or more. According to the latest polls, Idaho tops the league at 52%, with neighbours Utah and Wyoming on 51% and 50%.
Blackmailed into a web of treason woven from their own deceit and sexual transgressions, Jefal and his lover faced the justice of the street this week when the 25-year-old Palestinian father was dragged blindfolded into the heart of Balata refugee camp in the West Bank and shot as the worst kind of traitor — a collaborator with Israel.
At least 10 suspects were arrested in the Toronto area on Friday on terrorism-related charges, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. The Canadian Press quoted an unnamed police source as saying the charges were related to an explosives plot in Ontario, Canada’s largest province.