Author: AFP

Hot Japan look to roast rivals

TOKYO: Japan coach Jamie Joseph admits his side can no longer fly under the radar, but has warned that his super-fit players will run teams ragged at the Rugby World Cup. The host side kick off the tournament against Russia in Tokyo on September 20 before facing Ireland, Samoa and

Ruiz Jr to make more history against Joshua

DIRIYAH (Saudi Arabia): Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr promised on Wednesday that history would repeat itself when he takes on Anthony Joshua in December’s controversial rematch in Saudi Arabia. Ruiz goes into the bout trying to defend the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he sensationally took from British fighter Joshua

Nissan CEO admits receiving excess pay

TOKYO: The head of crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan admitted yesterday he received more pay than he was entitled to but denied wrongdoing, as the firm’s former chief faces financial misconduct charges. Nissan is already mired in scandal over the arrest and ouster of ex-boss Carlos Ghosn, who is accused of

Basque wins stage in home region breakaway

MADRID: Mikel Iturria dug deep to register his first ever professional win as a mass escape dominated stage 11 at the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday. Iturria (Euskadi-Murias) pulled clear of a group that came in 18 minutes ahead of the peloton in the final kilometres and the 27-year-old held

US survive scare to edge Turkey

SHANGHAI: Reigning champions the United States were given a huge scare in a nail-biting 93-92 overtime victory over Turkey at the Basketball World Cup on Tuesday to labour into the second round. Khris Middleton was the overtime hero for Gregg Popovich’s young team, who are chasing a third straight title,

Montenegro coach fumes at World Cup ‘robbery’

NANJING (China): Montenegro’s irate coach launched an extraordinary broadside at Basketball World Cup match officials on Tuesday saying his side were “robbed” in a 93-83 defeat to New Zealand. Zvezdan Mitrovic watched the second half of the defeat in the Chinese city of Nanjing away from the bench after being

Berlin zoo delights in rare birth of panda twins

Berlin zoo said Monday its resident panda Meng Meng had delivered twins, as it voiced delight at the first such births in the country. “Meng Meng became a mom — twice! We are so happy, we are speechless,” the zoo said on Twitter, also posting a video of the new

Christian ‘beliefs’ cited in refusing mixed race wedding

WASHINGTON: An event venue in the southern United States refused to host a mixed race couple’s wedding, stating that the union went against its “Christian beliefs,” in a viral video that has drawn a barrage of criticism. The husband-and-wife-to-be — he black and she white — had been in contact

Southern Africa threatens to quit wildlife trade monitor

Southern African nations are threatening to quit the global wildlife trade regulator after it refused to relax restrictions on trade in ivory and rhino horn and imposed a near total ban on zoos taking African elephants captured in the wild. Ties soured during this week’s meeting of the Convention on

Lloyd double helps US cruise past Portugal

LOS ANGELES: Carli Lloyd made it four goals in three games as the United States romped to a comfortable 3-0 win over Portugal in their World Cup victory tour on Tuesday. Veteran striker Lloyd took her international tally to 117 in 284 games with two first half goals at Allianz