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Author: AFP

‘Not just basketball’ — circumcisions, pageants at Philippines courts

Indoor courts are central to life in tens of thousands of towns and cities across basketball-mad Philippines, hosting everything from funerals and beauty pageants to “circumcision season”. These so-called “covered courts” are essential in remote or poor communities, where they are often one of just a few public buildings. So

Near-total ban on sending wild elephants to zoos agreed

THE regulator of global wildlife trade decided Tuesday to impose a near-total ban on sending African elephants captured from the wild to zoos, in a decision hailed by conservationists as “momentous”. Following a heated debate at a meeting of parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Meng Meng Berlin Zoo’s panda, is pregnant

BERLIN Zoo panda Meng Meng is pregnant, with her cub expected to be born within two weeks, it was announced Tuesday. “We are delighted with the news,” said zoo director Andreas Knieriem after an ultrasound scan confirmed the pregnancy. Berlin Zoo says the size of the foetus and the results

Nadal rampant as Thiem, Tsitsipas lead exodus

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal launched his tilt at a fourth US Open title Tuesday with a swift defeat of John Millman as other leading seeds in his half of the draw tumbled out in the first round. Four players in the world’s top 10 – Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen

Osaka relieved by ‘razzle dazzle’ win

NEW YORK: Reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka described her relief at navigating a tricky first round match Tuesday as she was struck by a bout of nerves in a three-set win over Russia’s Anna Blinkova. Osaka suffered a first-round exit last month at Wimbledon and the Japanese star found

Philip Morris in merger talks with Altria Group

WASHINGTON: Tobacco maker Philip Morris International announced Tuesday it was looking into teaming up again with its former parent company, the Altria Group. A merger could help the two companies confront declining cigarette sales and diversify in a consumer market shifting toward newer e-cigarettes and other non-traditional products. The combined

Could Trump gamble big on Iran? Skepticism reigns

US President Donald Trump is not afraid of surprises but could he take one of the biggest shifts of all in his foreign policy — easing sanctions on Iran? Washington is widely skeptical that Trump will shift course on Iran, with his hawkish advisors long pushing a hard line aimed

Big stars, small crowds

TOKYO: Rich clubs owned by massive corporations have attracted a parade of star players to Japan but the unusual set-up hasn’t been a hit with fans, prompting a re-think as the World Cup looms. Sparse crowds for Japan’s Top League, where giants of the game play alongside amateurs for the

Bradley Wiggins plans to become a social worker

LONDON: Bradley Wiggins plans to become a social worker as the former Tour de France winner moves onto a new life after his remarkable cycling career. Wiggins was the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012 and he followed that memorable success by taking an Olympic time

Pressel, Lewis complete US Solheim Cup line-up

NEW YORK: United States captain Juli Inkster named Morgan Pressel and Stacy Lewis as her wild card picks for the Solheim Cup on Monday, opting for experience as the Americans aim to defend their title against Europe at Gleneagles next month. Pressel, 31, and Lewis 34, boast a combined 35