Author: Daily Sabah With AFP

Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was ruthless in reaching the Australia Open quarters while veteran Novak Djokovic also surged to set up a clash against in-form Carlos Alcaraz with respective victories Sunday. Double defending champion Sabalenka is on a collision course with in-form world number three Coco Gauff in the semifinals in Melbourne if both win in the last eight. On the hottest day of the tournament so far with temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit), Alcaraz went through when Britain’s Jack Draper retired injured. Meanwhile, Sabalenka blew away Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in a chilling…

Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was ruthless in reaching the Australia Open quarters while veteran Novak Djokovic also surged to set up a clash against in-form Carlos Alcaraz with respective victories Sunday. Double defending champion Sabalenka is on a collision course with in-form world number three Coco Gauff in the semifinals in Melbourne if both win in the last eight. On the hottest day of the tournament so far with temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit), Alcaraz went through when Britain’s Jack Draper retired injured. Meanwhile, Sabalenka blew away Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in a chilling…

Neymar has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament, stating he’s determined to make the most of his last shot at glory with Brazil. “This will be my last World Cup, my last chance, and I will do everything to be there,” said the 32-year-old forward, who hasn’t featured for Brazil in over a year. Despite his long absence, Neymar remains confident Brazil will secure a spot in the finals, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Brazil faces a rocky path in South American qualifiers, sitting fifth in the 10-nation standings after…

The NFL is closely monitoring the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area ahead of Monday’s NFC wild-card game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California. A contingency plan is in place to relocate the game to Glendale, Arizona, if necessary. “The safety of the Los Angeles community is our priority,” the NFL stated. “We are grateful for the efforts of first responders and our hearts go out to all those impacted by the fires. We will continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with public officials, both teams, and the NFLPA.” The…

The NFL is closely monitoring the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area ahead of Monday’s NFC wild-card game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif. A contingency plan is in place to relocate the game to Glendale, Ariz., if necessary. “The safety of the Los Angeles community is our priority,” the NFL stated. “We are grateful for the efforts of first responders and our hearts go out to all those impacted by the fires. We will continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with public officials, both teams, and the NFLPA.” The…

Türkiye is preparing to step in to mediate a resolution for the brutal 20-month conflict between the Sudanese army and their paramilitary rivals. Sudan’s army chief has welcomed Türkiye’s offer to resolve what has been called the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” according to Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef. In early December, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a phone call with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, that Ankara could help establish “peace and stability” in the war-torn African state. At a meeting in Port Sudan on Saturday, al-Burhan asked Türkiye’s deputy foreign minister, Burhanettin Duran, to…

Authorities in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah on Thursday banned four organizations accused of affiliation with the PKK terrorist group. The four organizations include two groups and a media production house, according to the METRO center for press freedoms. PKK terrorists have several strongholds in Iraq’s northern autonomous region, controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), which also hosts Turkish military bases used to strike the terrorist targets. Ankara and Washington both deem the PKK a terrorist organization, which is responsible for over 40,000 civilian and security personnel deaths in Türkiye during an almost four-decadelong campaign of terror aimed…

Germany on Monday rushed to the PKK/YPG’s defense following Türkiye’s warning against the terrorist group’s presence in neighboring Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday it was time to destroy terrorist groups that posed a threat to Syria’s survival, including Daesh, PKK and the YPG. “The terrorists in Syria will either dissolve themselves or ultimately be destroyed as there is no place for terrorism in Syria,” Erdoğan said separately Monday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned on Monday that a military operation by Türkiye against the YPG “must not happen,” claiming that in the end, this could “empower” Daesh terrorists.…

A sea mine found drifting near the northeast coast of Istanbul in the Black Sea on Sunday is scheduled to be destroyed on Monday. The device was found off the coast of Ağva, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the point where the Bosporus enters the Black Sea. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the warring sides have both deployed mines to protect their coastlines, but they have often been displaced by storms, drifting mostly south. Given the threat to both commercial and military shipping, NATO members Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania, who border the sea, set up the…

One year after Azerbaijan’s victory against Armenian separatists in occupied Karabakh, leaders of the group face war crime charges. Azerbaijan on Tuesday submitted to court a criminal case involving 15 detained Armenians. Following Azerbaijan’s unprecedented victory, several leaders of the de facto Armenian administration of Karabakh, occupied by Azerbaijan’s historic foe, were arrested. The victory, which ended three decades of control, paved the way for criminal cases concerning “crimes committed with the full support of the Republic of Armenia and its Armed Forces have been submitted to the court,” the office of Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general said in a statement. The…