The Djoker’s Show

djokovic

Australia’s government cancelled the world number one Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time on Friday as it sought to deport the tennis superstar for arriving in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. According to Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, he acted on “health and good order grounds on the basis that it was in … Read more

Crowd capacity restricted to 50 per cent during Australian Open

australian open

Crowds at the troubled Australian Open will be capped at 50 per cent capacity as Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations continue to rise in Melbourne, announced Thursday. Face masks will also be mandatory at the opening Grand Slam of the year, which starts on Monday, except when eating or drinking, and spectators must socially distance themselves … Read more

Cricket’s constant change

cricket

For a sport that for decades held on to its traditions like an oak’s roots do in the soil; where innovation meant fast-bowler Bill Lockwood bowling the slower ball, leg spinner Bernard Bosanquet creating the googly, Rohan Kanhai executing his falling hook or Mushtaq Mohammad playing the reverse sweep, the number of changes made over … Read more

PIAF asks govt to add hydropower projects to renewable energy scope

PIAF

KARACHI: The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) chairman Mian Nauman Kabir has urged the government to include hydropower projects in the scope of renewable energy, as the country cannot afford costly and anti-environment fossil fuels. PIAF senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed and vice chairman Javed Siddiqi in a joint statement, demanded the government … Read more

Djokovic drawn to play Australian Open first round amid visa saga

djokovic

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was drawn Thursday to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty over whether he will still be in the country. The world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park starting next week and a record … Read more

Australia poised to decide on Djokovic deportation

djokovic

MELBOURNE: Australia was poised Thursday to decide if it will deport Novak Djokovic following a sensational legal battle over the tennis superstar’s arrival in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. The 34-year-old world number one’s hopes of a record 21st Grand Slam were in peril after he admitted breaking isolation rules in Serbia and to an incorrect … Read more

Jabeur suffers injury scare days before Australian Open

jabeur

SYDNEY: In-form world number seven Anett Kontaveit cruised into the Sydney Classic semi-finals Thursday after top-10 opponent Ons Jabeur retired hurt, days before the Australian Open. The Estonian won a tight first set 6-4 before the Tunisian called for a medical timeout. After lengthy treatment on her lower back, Jabeur forfeited the match. It is a big … Read more

Khawaja to open for Australia in 5th Ashes Test as Harris dropped

Usman Khawaja

HOBART: Double Sydney centurion Usman Khawaja will move up to open the batting for Australia in the final Test beginning in Hobart on Friday, captain Pat Cummins confirmed Thursday. Cummins announced Khawaja would replace Marcus Harris as David Warner’s opening partner with Travis Head slotting back in at number five for the day-night pink-ball match … Read more

Root wants ‘fight and pride’ from first ball in Hobart

root

HOBART: England captain Joe Root Wednesday called on his team to harness the “fight and pride” they showed in salvaging a draw in Sydney and use it from day one at the fifth and final Test in Hobart. The tourists staved off Australia’s victory push on Sunday with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad batting out two tense … Read more

Djokovic admits ‘errors’ as he fights to avoid Australian deportation

djokovic

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted “errors” in his travel papers and for not isolating after a claimed coronavirus infection, as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam. The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his … Read more

Injury-hit England fighting to turn corner in Ashes climax

england

HOBART: A patched-up England head to an Ashes finale against Australia under lights in Hobart on Friday buoyed by a fighting draw in Sydney, but consumed by injury worries and selection dilemmas. The tourists finally stopped the rot on a gruelling tour last week with their nail-biting last-wicket hold-out at the Sydney Cricket Ground to prevent a … Read more

Australia’s new fossil discovery

austrailia

SYDNEY – Australian researchers found a 400-million-year-old fossil plant that provides more insights into the global evolution of early land plants. The fossil was named as Taungurungia garrattii, after it was found in Taungurung sites in the state of Victoria. The last name, garrattii, is to further acknowledge one of the researchers, Dr. Michael Garratt, … Read more

Australian state sees deadliest day amid new wave of Omicron pandemic

Covid-19 pandemic

SYDNEY, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Australia’s state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded its deadliest day since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the country in early 2020, with 18 deaths including a child under five. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the child who died at home had “significant underlying health conditions.” The state … Read more

Australian researchers find vaccinating children benefits larger populations

Australian researchers

SYDNEY – An Australian and Canadian study has found that childhood COVID-19 vaccination not only leads to high relative reductions in child disease and mortality, but also benefits adults, particularly the unvaccinated. The findings, published in MedRxiv and released by the Griffith University on Monday, came at the same time when vaccinations for children aged … Read more

Cyclone Tiffany to hit Australia’s northern coast

australia cyclone

SYDNEY – Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has been tracking a tropical cyclone, dubbed Cyclone Tiffany, over the weekend, which is expected to hit the coast of the northern tip of the state of Queensland on Monday. The BoM issued a warning on Monday morning that the cyclone showed wind speeds of 130 km per … Read more

Babar Azam’s amazing shots from 2012 U19 World Cup, watch

Babar Azam

U19 World Cups have long served as a platform for young cricketers to demonstrate their abilities on a global stage, and today’s modern-day great Babar Azam was no exception, captaining his team and scoring two fifties and a century at the 2012 U19 World Cup in Australia. Babar began drawing attention by demonstrating his abilities … Read more

Australia’s ‘vital’ tour to Pakistan is backed by Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan

Shane Warne and Michael Vaughan

Shane Warne, an ex-Australian spinner, and Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, agree that Australia’s tour of Pakistan is “vital” and that it must go ahead in order to promote cricket. In an interview with Fox Cricket, the two former cricketers emphasised the need of larger cricketing nations touring lesser-known countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, … Read more

World’s largest free trade deal takes effect on first day of 2022

World’s largest free trade

BEIJING: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the world’s largest free trade agreement, entered into force on Saturday, injecting vitality into multilateralism and free trade amid the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic recovery. After the agreement takes effect, more than 90 per cent of merchandise trade among members that have approved the agreement will … Read more