MOSCOW: A Russian military court on Monday sentenced in absentia Meta spokesman Andy Stone to six years behind bars for “justifying terrorism,” as part of efforts to restrict Western social media platforms in the country. The largely symbolic ruling came several months after Mosocw, which has blocked Meta platforms Instagram and Facebook, put the US … Read more
Ukraine, Georgia and Poland are going to Euro 2024 after late drama in qualifying playoffs LONDON: Ukraine found another late winning goal in another comeback win. Georgia and Poland held their nerve in penalty shootouts. All are going to the European Championship. The 24-nation Euro 2024 lineup was finalized Tuesday with three qualifying playoffs giving … Read more
KABUL/PESHAWAR: Afghans say access to international markets through Pakistan is still the most viable option for their landlocked country, as bilateral trade talks took place in Kabul this week to resolve obstructions amid heightened border tensions. The neighboring countries have traded blame in recent months over who was responsible for a recent spate of militant attacks … Read more
BERLIN: German soccer and Adidas are breaking up. American sportswear giant Nike will supply all of Germany’s national teams with its apparel and equipment from 2027, the German soccer federation (DFB) surprisingly announced Thursday. The new deal extends to 2034 and ends Germany’s long-standing relationship with Adidas, which goes back some 70 years and had … Read more
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden declared democracy under threat at home and abroad and called former President Donald Trump’s position on NATO unacceptable on Thursday in a State of the Union speech designed to contrast visions with his 2024 Republican opponent. Biden, speaking before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, opened … Read more
PARIS: Liverpool and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are the standout contenders to go all the way in this season’s Europa League with both teams this week heading east for last-16 ties they will be expected to win comfortably. Jurgen Klopp’s side are one of four British teams still alive in the competition and hoping to … Read more
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has hit out at referee union members after talks broke down leaving the league to start the new season without their top referees. Garber, speaking to reporters prior to the opening game of the season between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake, warned MLS was “very … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s pardons board said on Friday it had halved the jail term for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently in prison for corruption, to six years. Najib was sentenced in 2022 to 12 years in jail for offenses linked to the misuse of public money in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal. “After considering … Read more