The year 2010 was a reckoning for Japan’s economic security. On September 7, the Chinese fishing trawler Minjinyu 5179 refused an order by Japan’s coast guard to leave disputed waters near the Senkaku Islands, which are known in China as Diaoyu. The vessel then rammed two patrol boats, escalating a...
Cristiano Ronaldo’s no-show leaves Saudi Pro League facing awkward questions
League’s star said to be unhappy over his club’s transfer dealings and Karim Benzema’s move. Now he could face his first backlash Jurassic Park sounded great given the spectacular beasts on display, but there was chaos after they started to do their own thing. When Cristiano Ronaldo, surely the T...
Butler did it: 11 years on, was the NFL’s most criticized call actually the right decision?
The last time the Seahawks and Patriots met in a Super Bowl, a dramatic interception by an undrafted rookie changed the history of both franchises When the New England Patriots faced off against the Denver Broncos in this season’s AFC championship, Malcolm Butler was at home in Houston. He had...
LIV Golf tour hits out at decision to only award ranking points to top-10 finishers
Ranking points to be awarded at LIV events for first time Saudi-backed tour attacks ‘unprecedented restriction’ The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Tour has hit out at what it regards as victimisation from those presiding over the sport’s world rankings process, despite seeing their wait of nearly four years for recognition...
Jacob Bethell dismantles Sri Lanka tail to deliver T20 series clean sweep for England
3rd T20i: England, 128-9, bt Sri Lanka, 116, by 12 runs Bethell takes 4-11 in 3.3 overs to seal 3-0 series win It was a thriller on a Pallekele turner, the game going England’s way. Jacob Bethell’s part-timers turned lethal, his three-wicket over dismantling Sri Lanka’s tail to help secure...
‘People are dying, you have to help’: Guardiola decries wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Palestine
Manchester City manager opens up on global conflicts UN reports UAE have backed Sudan paramilitary group Pep Guardiola has spoken out against killings across the world, including in Sudan, where a paramilitary group backed by the United Arab Emirates, which in effect owns Manchester City, is embroiled in a civil...
IOC president gives clearest signal so far that Russia could be at 2028 Olympics
Kirsty Coventry: ‘Keep sport a neutral ground’ Ukraine sports minister hits out at Fifa president The International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, has given her clearest signal yet that Russia could be back for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. A day after the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, said he wanted...
Winter Olympics briefing: final preparations amid the noise for Milano Cortina
What to look out for as the action gets under way in Italy despite the Games not yet beginning until Friday In my opening briefing last week, I wrote that organisers were banking on the cultural pull of Italy – its architecture, food, history and fashion – to cut through...
Outspoken Cristian Romero brings his own form of leadership to Tottenham
The Spurs captain is driven by an internal fire and is unafraid of dropping truth bombs on the club’s ownership Cristian Romero had been named as the Tottenham captain, a symbol of a new era, of fresh direction and hope. It was last September, the eve of the club’s Champions...
Quadruple-chasing Arsenal can dream a micromanaged dream | Barney Ronay
After prevailing in a gristly physical ballet with Chelsea, Arsenal’s season has now reached a point of pre-ignition Zamina mina. Waka, waka, hé-hé. By the end of this gruelling, bruising, deep tissue ache of a football match, it felt as though the opening 96 minutes had been staged simply as...