KUALA LUMPUR: Lao Toyota FC will not be eligible to participate in the 2018 AFC Cup because of the Laos club’s previous involvement in match-fixing, Asian soccer’s governing body said on Thursday. The Asian Football Confederation said the club was involved in match-fixing during the 2015 and 2016 AFC Cup seasons. “Meeting yesterday, the AFC […]
Star cyclist Froome ‘not ashamed’ of using asthma inhaler
LONDON: Chris Froome has said his use of an inhaler is “not something to be ashamed of” after a urine test at the Vuelta a Espana in September showed excess levels of an asthma medication. Froome was found to have double the allowed amount of the legal drug Salbutamol in his system in a test […]
Banned cricketer Stokes finally hits form in New Zealand
WELLINGTON: Banned England cricketer Ben Stokes finally found some form while playing in New Zealand as he smashed 93 in Canterbury’s domestic Twenty20 match against Otago in Christchurch on Thursday. Stokes has signed a short-term contract with Canterbury after being banned from the England team by the country’s cricket board pending the outcome of a […]
Trump administration’s turnaround in Syria
On the campaign trail, in his speeches and as well as on TV debates with other presidential contenders, Donald Trump repeatedly mentioned that he has a ‘secret plan’ for defeating the Islamic State (IS) without elaborating on what the plan is. However, to the careful observers of the US-led war against the IS in Iraq […]
Sports unions unveil universal declaration of player rights
WASHINGTON: Leaders from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball players associations have helped unveil a universal declaration of player rights that is designed to establish a new approach to governing sports and protecting athletes. Among the 17 articles laid out in the declaration are rights to unionize and collectively bargain, express opinions freely […]
USA secret services control doping whistleblower Rodchenkov: Putin
MOSCOW: Russia’s former anti-doping chief-turned-whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov is working under the control of USA special services, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. The scandal over the 2014 Sochi Olympics, triggered by revelations made by Rodchenkov, is part of a broader doping affair that has led to the suspension of Russia’s anti-doping agency RUSADA, the […]
Russia’s ‘partial’ withdrawal from Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the partial withdrawal of his forces from Syria after almost two years of operations against terrorists in the country. Putin made this announcement in a surprise visit to Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base on Monday. Putin announced that Syrian and Russian army operations had succeeded in defeating and […]
Kalatu Bandar — heaven for the fishing community
The tents of fishermen in the heart of the nearby hill, the noise of seabirds, torrents of breeze from the sea and the incessant music of waves are scenes that enchant visitors at first sight. Boat makers can be seen busy refurbishing and repairing the boast on the beach. If you travel from Pasni to Ormara, […]
Sammu, What Do You Like Most?
Sammu, what do you like most? The redolent morning breeze Every day That blows across the land Heart of the evening Shaped out of clouds Sammu, what do you say? If I place the moon In your window Sammu what do you like most? If a boat, I carve out of a star Along with […]
The Hidden Favour
Khatija was a robust, healthy, 19 year old girl. She had just finished her studies and had found a good job. Because of her good health she managed to work long hours, both in the office and at home. Her peers were envious of her as they could not even do half the amount of […]