Iraqi women table tennis players chase Paralympic dreams
Diwaniyah, Iraq -- Iraqi table tennis player Nur al-Huda Sarmad adjusts her wheelchair before striking the ball into play, braving...
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host Asian playoffs for World Cup: AFC
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, the...
Arts & Culture
FIFA U-20 World Cup draw in Indonesia nixed after call for Israel ban
Organisers had hoped hosting Israeli games on the Hindu-majority island of Bali would offer a buffer against local backlash, but...
- Fixtures for the 24-nation tournament beginning in May were due to be chosen on Friday in Bali, but FIFA cancelled the event without giving a reason
- Officials said a likely factor in the draw's cancellation was a call by Bali governor for Israel to be banned over its policies towards Palestinians in a letter
Economy
Morocco stun Brazil 2-1 in first ever win over five-time world champions
Tangiers, Morocco--Morocco stunned Brazil 2-1 in a friendly international on Saturday as the north African side recorded a first ever win...
- Sofiane Boufal, midfielder, gave Morocco the lead after 29 minutes, scoring with a powerful turn and drive from a pass by Bilal El Khannous
- Casemiro, Brazil skipper, levelled the score in the 67th minute when his weak shot was fumbled by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou
Business
Qatar Islamic Bank owner again offers to buy Manchester United
Manchester United have received a second Qatari bid to buy the English football giants, British media reported. The reports said...
- Bidders were initially told they had until 2100 GMT on Wednesday to submit new offers, but reports say that has been extended.
- No figures have been revealed but one or more of the initial bids were understood to be in the region of US$5.5 billion
Arts & Culture
Dubai World Cup: 129 horses compete for $30.5m prize money
Dubai, UAE -- The 27th Dubai World Cup, which begins on Saturday at the Meydan Racecourse, will see a total...
- The World Cup, which begins on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse, will see horses from 13 countries in the contest.
- The Meydan Racecourse, in partnership with leading auction house Goffs, hosted the second Dubai Breeze-Up Sale on 21 March.
Credit Suisse demise puts question mark over lucrative sponsorship deals
The Swiss national football team, the country's top football division, tennis great Roger Federer, golf star Sergio Garcia and Zurich's...
- Golf and equestrian events also relied on Credit Suisse money, as did the Swiss Sport Aid Foundation, which backs talented young athletes in minority sports
- Credit Suisse logo will stay on the national teams' training jackets and jerseys for as long as the bank exists, Swiss Football Association spokesman Adrian Arnold said
Business
Abu Dhabi to host world’s largest autonomous racing league from 2024
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, will host the world's largest autonomous racing league, with...
- The first autonomous car race will take place at Yas Marina Circuit in the last quarter of 2024 as the first in a series of autonomous vehicle races.
- The league will feature the Dallara-built Super Formula cars, the usage of which has been enabled by Japan Racing Promotion (JRP).
Qatari delegation visits Man Utd as bidding war for Premier League club intensifies
The rival bidders, Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe were invited to visit...
- Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, founder of the INEOS chemicals company, have made separate offers to buy United
- There will be another day of presentations and tours at United on Friday, with boyhood United fan Ratcliffe who will be joined by INEOS co-owners Andy Currie and John Reece
Economy
Morocco joins Spain, Portugal to launch bid for 2030 World Cup
Morocco has joined the bid by Spain and Portugal to host the centenary World Cup in 2030, according to its...
- South Korea and Japan in 2002 shared the competition, and in 2026, the finals will be played in the US, Mexico and Canada
- Morocco, in December in Qatar, became the first nation from either Africa or the Arab world to reach the semi-finals
Iran names Ghalenoei as Queiroz successor
Based on the technical and expert review and the agreement made, Mr. Amir Ghalenoei, the valuable coach of our country...
- Ghalenoei, 59, held the Iran job from 2006 to 2007 before his contract was ended after elimination by the South Korea in the 2007 Asian Cup quarterfinals
- He is the most successful coach in Iranian premier league history with five titles, three times with Tehran powerhouse Esteghlal FC and two with Sepahan
Business
BBC top boss not to resign in face of Lineker controversy
London, United Kingdom--The BBC's director general Tim Davie said he will not resign after the publicly-funded broadcaster's sport service was decimated...
- The controversy was triggered by Lineker's response to a video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats
- The publicly-funded broadcaster said on Friday that Gary Lineker, England's fourth highest goalscorer of all-time, had breached guidelines on impartiality
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Iraqi women table tennis players chase Paralympic dreams
Diwaniyah, Iraq -- Iraqi table tennis player Nur al-Huda Sarmad adjusts her wheelchair before striking the ball into play, braving...
Arts & Culture
Company News
Afif helps Qatar exorcise World Cup demons at Asian Cup
Arts & Culture
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Al Nassr thrash Inter Miami as Ronaldo, Messi watch on
Otavio drilled in the opener as Miami lost the ball trying to play out from the back, bringing Ronaldo to...
Saudi football chief brands Mancini penalty walkout ‘unacceptable’
Doha, Qatar - The president of Saudi Arabian football said Roberto Mancini's disappearing act before the end of the penalty shootout...
Arts & Culture
Iran ‘following dreams’ in trying to win first Asian Cup since 1976
Doha, Qatar - Iran are "following our dreams" in trying to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 48...
Arts & Culture
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Son faces Saudis, Palestine make history in Asian Cup last 16
The knockout phase begins on Sunday when Australia play Indonesia, followed the same day by the United Arab Emirates against...
- The tournament has been whittled down from 24 teams to 16 but trying to predict who lifts the trophy on February 10 looks more difficult than ever
- Japan came to Qatar as favourites and looking to win the title for a record-extending fifth time, but they reached the knockout phase as only runners-up in their group behind Iraq
Arts & Culture
Coach Mancini lays out Saudi’s plan at Asian Cup
Doha, Qatar - Roberto Mancini said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia fear no team at the Asian Cup and will not...
- "Our calculation is always to win all the games we play," said Mancini, who won the European Championship with his native Italy in 2021.
- Mancini has repeatedly played down Saudi Arabia's chances of winning the Asian Cup saying Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia are favorites.
Business
Tata Group retains IPL sponsorship rights for record $300m
New Delhi, India - Corporate behemoth Tata Group has again been awarded title sponsorship rights of the Indian Premier League for...
- Tata Group already holds the title sponsorship for the IPL and its sister competition, the Women's Premier League, which staged its first tournament last year
- The IPL attracts cricket's top international stars with bumper salaries, and features 10 sides competing in the sport's hugely popular Twenty20 format