Opinion
New leadership can move the UK past Brexit

New leadership can move the UK past Brexit

Michael R. Bloomberg, Tribune News ServiceThat the 10-year anniversary of Brexit coincided with the fall of another British government is a fitting marker of a failed experiment. Now, the question for the UK and the

Sports
Walsh sets new 50m freestyle world record days after Douglass mark

Walsh sets new 50m freestyle world record days after Douglass mark

USA swimming star Gretchen Walsh has set a new world record for the women’s 50m freestyle. Gretchen Walsh broke the women's 50m freestyle world record on Sunday at the Sette Colli International Trophy in Rome, lowering a mark that had already been beaten this month.The 23-year-old clocked 23.55 seconds, breaking the ⁠previous record of 23.59 set by fellow American Kate Douglass earlier this month ⁠at a US Pro Swim Series event in Indianapolis.In May, Walsh bettered her own 100m butterfly world record for the third time in a year, posting 54.33 seconds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.With the 50m freestyle mark, Walsh has now broken a world record 21 times.She also got two relay gold medals at the 2024 Paris ⁠Olympics and won her first individual long-course world title in July last year at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she took gold in the women's 100m butterfly."I would feel a lot of regret if I left the time like this on the table and never was able to go (at) it again, so I say the more the merrier," Walsh told swimming ⁠news outlet SwimSwam after breaking her newest ⁠record."I'm going to ⁠keep trying to break world records in everything because that's what it takes to be at the level that I'm at."Walsh is viewed as a top contender for the U.S. heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with multiple world records and a world championship already to her name."Maybe some eyes will be on me more so than ever now and I'm ready for the challenge to handle that pressure especially at a home Olympics, so I'm here, bring it on!" she added.  Related Story

Sports
Pogacar rides with Del Toro and Yates in quest for fifth Tour de France

Pogacar rides with Del Toro and Yates in quest for fifth Tour de France

UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium after winning the Men's Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse), in Villars-sur-Ollon Switzerland, on June 21, 2026. (AFP) Defending champion Tadej Pogacar will be joined by Isaac del Toro and Adam Yates in his quest for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France, his UAE team announced on Monday.In addition to Mexican Del Toro - recent winner of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes - and Briton Yates, his regular mountain lieutenant, the Slovenian superstar's eight-man team will include German Nils Politt, Belgianpair Florian Vermeersch and Tim Wellens, Austrian Felix Grossschartner and American Brandon McNulty.The latter two were preferred to two of Pogacar's seasoned Tour teammates, Jhonatan Narvaez and Pavel Sivakov, who had been part of his previous winning squad."The Tour de France is always the biggest challenge of the season and also the race that motivates us the most," said Pogacar, winner in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025."Every year, you arrive at the start knowing that anything can happen over three weeks, and that's what makes it so special."We've prepared really well as a team, everyone has worked incredibly hard, and now we're excited to finally get started in Barcelona."The Tour de France will kick off with a team time trial through the streets of Barcelona on Saturday.Pogacar, 27, will bid to become the fifth rider to win a quintet of Tour de France titles after France's Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Miguel Indurain. Rookie Seixas aims high in unknown territoryFrench teenager Paul Seixas was on Monday named co-captain of the Decathlon CMA CGM team to compete at the Tour de France.The 19-year-old Seixas has been sensational all year, performing at a level never seen before from a teenager, but his team have set him up alongside the sprinter Olav Kooij as co-captain, which should deflect a little pressure away from the starlet on his Tour debut.The three-week race will set off from Barcelona on Saturday with Tadej Pogacar the favourite, but the Slovenian will be acutely aware that several other talents sit ready to pounce should he falter."I feel ready to give everything to get through these three weeks and achieve the best possible overall ranking," Seixas said on Monday."I'm not setting a more specific goal because I'm heading into the unknown, as I've never ridden a race that is so long and demanding," he said.Seixas will be the youngest Tour de France participant since 1937 when he sets off from the Catalan capital aged 19 years, nine months and 10 days.For his part, Kooij thanked the team for the honour bestowed on him."That Paul finishes as high in the standings as possible and that I win at least one sprint stage," Kooij said of his Tour aims.   Related Story

News
France, Oman to cooperate with partners on de-mining Horm…

France, Oman to cooperate with partners on de-mining Horm…

France and Oman ‌are working together to de-escalate ​tensions ⁠in the Middle ‌East and ‌will cooperate with their partners on ‌clearing mines from the ⁠Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday."We have

Sports
‘Disbelief’ in India camp after Ireland debacle

‘Disbelief’ in India camp after Ireland debacle

A sense of "disbelief" hangs over the India camp after the double 20-overs world champions suffered a 2-0 series whitewash against Ireland with assistant coach ‌Ryan ten Doeschate blaming the debacle on their failure to

News
8-year-old boy among 3 three killed after Israeli strike …

8-year-old boy among 3 three killed after Israeli strike …

Israeli forces struck a tent sheltering displaced people in the central Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old boy and his grandfather, medical officials said.Health authorities in the coastal enclave

Sports
Man City hire Maresca to start new era after Guardiola

Man City hire Maresca to start new era after Guardiola

Manchester City on June 29, 2026 unveiled Italian Enzo Maresca as their new manager, taking over from Pep Guardiola. Maresca, 46, signed a three-year deal that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the

News
UAE expresses solidarity with Qatar over death of Qatari …

UAE expresses solidarity with Qatar over death of Qatari …

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with the brotherly State of Qatar following the death of a Qatari citizen and the injury of another Arab national as a result of shrapnel from military

Sports
Hovland beats Scheffler in playoff for PGA Travelers title

Hovland beats Scheffler in playoff for PGA Travelers title

Viktor Hovland defeated top-ranked Scottie Scheffler with a par on the first extra hole to win a sudden-death playoff on Monday and capture the Travelers Championship.It was the eighth career PGA Tour triumph for the 28-year-old Norwegian, who sank a birdie putt from just outside nine feet at the 18th hole.Scheffler then missed from just beyond two feet to seal Hovland's victory at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut."It has been stressful, but yeah, it's unbelievable, especially after Scottie hits it so close there," Hovland said."I knew I had to bring in my best to have a chance to beat him and he certainly brought it out of me. Couldn't be happier."Scheffler, a 30-year-old American and four-time major winner, settled for his fourth runner-up result of the year."I played solid over the course of four days," Scheffler said. "A little bit disappointed with the finish but overall I think my game is in a good spot."Hovland took the $3.6mn top prize from the $20 million PGA signature series tournament.It was the eighth career PGA Tour title for Hovland and his first since last year's Valspar Championship. He won his only other playoff to capture the 2023 Memorial.Scheffler sank a clutch par putt from just inside nine feet on the 18th hole Sunday to force the playoff after both completed 72 holes on 21-under par 259.Scheffler fired a two-under 68 in the final round while Hovland shot 69 after a late-afternoon storm halted play for 83 minutes, leading to play being suspended for darkness before the playoff could begin.The playoff began with both players finding the fairway.A Scheffler 8-iron approach landed just outside two feet from the hole while Hovland dropped a 9-iron shot to just outside six feet. Hovland's pressure birdie putt dropped in on the right side and Scheffler's putt lipped out off the left edge."I hit it on my line. I think it was just a little bit firm," said Scheffler. "It was one of those putts you had to make and I hit it firm. Was a bit disappointing."Just one of those weeks where I was close but just not quite good enough."Hovland won for the first time with his mother Galina watching."I'm glad my mom got to be here and we get to share this moment together," Hovland said.Hovland was cheered by Norwegian World Cup supporters, dressed in football attire and chanting his name."It helps when you've got people like this cheering you on as well," Hovland said. "I know how good I can get and I keep pushing myself and I want to get better."Scheffler, who won the 2024 Travelers title in a playoff, took his season opener in the California desert but has not won since. This is his fourth runner-up finish this year, he also came second at the Masters, Heritage and Doral.  Related Story

News
UAE’s weather body launches country’s first Agentic AI as…

UAE’s weather body launches country’s first Agentic AI as…

In line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership and the national vision to accelerate the adoption of Agentic Artificial Intelligence across government operations, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has launched the country’s