Author: The Guardian

wattJulie, a 24-year-old refugee support worker, was bewildered when government posters appeared in metro stations recently advising Parisians to work from home during the Summer Olympics to avoid overcrowding on public transport.”It feels a bit like another COVID-19 lockdown,” she said. “It’s like saying: ‘Parisians, stay home and stay out of the way, while all this money is being spent on the Olympics.'” Personally, I would stay away. I’m not comfortable with the idea of ​​clearing out the homeless downtown to make way for the Olympics. “As Paris prepares for the Olympics and Paralympics, politicians, sports stars and President Emmanuel…

This year’s Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska has gotten off to a bumpy start.Mushers and their 16-dog teams, who train year-round to race across a 1,000-mile stretch of ice and snow, try to prepare for all eventualities during the treacherous journey across Alaska. But they weren’t quite prepared for the twists and turns of this year’s race.For Dallas Seavey, a five-time champion, it’s been especially rough. First he ran into a moose that attacked his dogs, injuring one of them, before Seavey shot the moose dead. Then Seavey was penalised for failing to properly gut the moose, as required by…

Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou with devastating power in the second round of their crossover fight in Riyadh. Two minutes into the first round, Joshua hit a trembling straight right that knocked Ngannou to the ground hard. It was a hell of a punch, but Ngannou stood up, wisely took his time, and managed to avoid further disaster before the bell rang. But Joshua showed no mercy in the early hours of Saturday morning.With 50 seconds left in the second round, Ngannou was caught with a right hook and then a left hook. He slumped to the canvas and…

The controversy and intrigue involving Red Bull Racing developed further when world champion Max Verstappen suggested he could quit the F1 team if adviser Helmut Marko is removed from his role.Marko, who was instrumental in bringing world champion Verstappen into the Red Bull programme, reportedly said on Friday that he could be suspended from his role with Red Bull after this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.Speaking after he took pole for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen responded to this news by saying: “I have a lot of respect for Helmut, and what we have achieved together. It goes very…

Andy Murray maintained a high level against one of the best players in the world for long periods but was outdone in the decisive moment by fifth seed Andrei Rublev, who saved After four set points, he finally defeated Murray (3) 7-6, 6-1 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.The Indian Wells Championship has always been a bogey event for Murray, with the slow, bouncy course and gusty winds often leaving him vulnerable to an early exit even at the peak of his career, but he showed he’s got it by reaching the second round. His hitting ability…

Todd on AliciaWhat were you hoping for?I went in with an open mind and no specific expectations, but I was hoping to find someone with the same kind of zest for life as me.First impressions?Very friendly and incredibly easy to talk to.What did you talk about?Work. Travel. Interests. And, of course, Taylor Swift.Most awkward moment?Without being mean, probably the unfortunate moment that Alicia nearly got eaten by an escalator.Good table manners?Excellent.Best thing about Alicia?Alicia had a real ability to keep the conversation flowing. She was really engaged and asked me some great questions.Would you introduce Alicia to your friends?Definitely!Describe Alicia in…

Tiger Woods, 48, will not play in next week’s Players Championship as expected, after his latest comeback was thrown into doubt. Woods had originally set a goal of playing once a month in 2024, but that is now unlikely until the Masters in April.Woods competed in the Hero World Challenge last November, his eighth since his car accident in early 2021 and his first since last year’s Masters. He finished 18th in a field of 20, finishing even at par overall. “Once a month seems reasonable,” he said of the prospects for this year’s competition. His body was severely affected…

Three men who had escaped from prison have been charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of an American couple who disappeared in the Caribbean in February after their catamaran was hijacked.The Royal Grenada Police Force announced Friday that Trevon Robertson, 23; Atiba Stanislaus, 25; and Ron Mitchell, 30, were re-arrested on two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Ralph Hendry and Kathleen Brandel.Grenada police added that the trio have also been charged with escaping lawful custody, housebreaking, robbery and two counts of kidnapping. Additionally, Stanislaus was charged with one count of rape, police said.The three…

key eventsShow only key eventsPlease enable JavaScript to use this featureThe final undercard match began as Zhang knocked out Parker in the third round. It’s a gorgeous left straight that probably won’t move more than a foot. Parker finally waited for the bell, but with blood coming from his nose, which added a sense of urgency to a cagey and technical encounter. Zhang Da Bang’s advantage.Joseph Parker stood up after being knocked down by Zhang Zhilei, Photograph: Andrew Coolidge/ReutersshareThere was a special cameo ringside. A Portuguese football manager has taken his seat for tonight’s match.Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s…

The embattled Fulton county district attorney, Fani Willis, and F Judge Scott McAfee have drawn re-election opponents for the 12 May primary ballot as qualification closes for Georgia’s 2024 election cycle. Willis will also face a Republican in November.Christian Wise Smith is challenging Willis in the Democratic primary. Smith is an attorney from Sandy Springs, Georgia. and a former prosecutor who came in third in the 2020 race behind Willis and the previous Fulton county district attorney, Paul Howard.In 2020, Smith’s campaign was to the left of Willis, arguing for an end to death penalty prosecutions, an end to cash…