Gauff, Swiatek To Clash For United Cup As Czech Player Makes Abrupt Exit

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek will battle for United Cup glory after the USA and Poland won their respective semi-finals on Saturday in Sydney amid bizarre circumstances. Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina to help last year's runners-up Poland see off Kazakhstan and they were joined in Sunday's final of the mixed-teams tournament by the Gauff-led United States. The Americans defeated the Czech Republic, with Gauff beating Karolina Muchova and then an increasingly irate Tomas Machac retiring from his match against Taylor Fritz in an abrupt and bewildering ending. 

"I woke up so late today," said Gauff, 20, after she dismissed Muchova 6-1, 6-4 to underline what a threat she will be at the Australian Open starting next week.

Gauff, the world number three, added: "The whole match I was intense and focused, that made the difference today."

Big-serving Fritz, ranked fourth in the world, lost the first set on a tie break but fought back in the second and looked poised to level up their men's singles match when a hot and bothered Machac shook hands, sending the Americans through.

"Not the way I want to win in the end, but I think we're all happy to be through to the final," said Fritz.

He said that his opponent, who had ranted at the Czech bench and squandered chances to seal the match, told him afterwards he had cramp.

"I didn't expect it to end so abruptly. I did not notice at the time that he was cramping," said Fritz.

'Perfect'

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek played a starring role for Poland in their semi-final against Kazakhstan as she beat Rybakina 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

"This win makes me really proud," Swiatek said after giving Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie.

"It is perfect preparation for the Australian Open," said the world number two.

Swiatek again played with strapping on her right thigh, having been troubled in her tough three-set win over Britain's Katie Boulter in the quarter-finals.

That clash lasted nearly three hours and Swiatek was slow out of the blocks against Rybakina, who is ranked sixth in the world.

They went to a first-set tie break after Rybakina saved two set points, before the 23-year-old Pole pulled away to take her country into the final.

"I for sure did not start well and had the handbrake on a bit. I knew I had to do something and change the momentum," said Swiatek, who made light of any injury concerns.

She is relishing the prospect of a meeting with Gauff.

"I think at this stage she's developing every month and it's going to be also a nice challenge," she said.

Hubert Hurkacz put Poland on the way when he beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in the men's singles.

The 16th-ranked Hurkacz lost both his singles matches in group play but defeated Britain's Billy Harris in the quarter-finals and took that momentum into the meeting with Shevchenko.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Cartoonist Quits Washington Post Over Rejected Sketch Mocking Owner, Trump

An award-winning political cartoonist for The Washington Post has announced her resignation after a cartoon depicting the newspaper's billionaire owner grovelling before Donald Trump was rejected.
Ann Telnaes posted on Substack late Friday that this was the first time she "had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at."

The cartoon -- which she included in her post -- depicts Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, as well as Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and other media and tech moguls, kneeling and holding up bags of money before a massive Trump.

Also shown is a prostrated Mickey Mouse, the symbol of the Disney Company, which owns ABC News. The television network recently reached a $15 million settlement with Trump after he sued for defamation over reporting on his sexual abuse trial in New York.

Telnaes wrote that while previous sketches of hers had been rejected, this was the first time that had happened because of her "point of view."

"That's a game changer... and dangerous for a free press," she said.

The Washington Post, whose slogan is "democracy dies in darkness," said Telnaes's work had not been rejected due to any "malign force."

"We had just published a column on the same topic as the cartoon and had already scheduled another column -- this one a satire -- for publication," editorial page editor David Shipley said in a statement. "The only bias was against repetition."

The US media aggressively covered Trump's chaotic first term, which included two impeachments and ended with his refusal to recognize defeat in the 2020 election -- culminating with a mob of his supporters storming Congress.

As Trump prepares for his January 20 inauguration, after having defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November, there are signs that top CEOs, including in the media, are eager to build good relations.

A stream of senior moguls, from Apple CEO Tim Cook to Bezos Zuckerberg, have travelled to meet Trump at his Florida estate.

Elon Musk, owner of influential social media platform X and the world's richest person, is one of the president-elect's closest advisors.

Amazon and Meta have both announced $1 million donations to Trump's inauguration fund, as reportedly has Apple's Cook in a personal capacity.

Bezos caused a stir just ahead of the presidential election when he broke with years of tradition and ruled against the Post endorsing a candidate.

Telnaes, who has won the Pulitzer Prize and other awards for her work, had worked for the Post since 2008.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Barcelona vs Barbastro Live Streaming Copa Del Rey: When And Where To Watch

Barcelona vs Barbastro Live Streaming Copa Del Rey Live Telecast: Barcelona return to action after the New Year's break as they face a trip to take on minnows Barbastro in the Round of 32 tie of the Copa Del Rey. Barcelona are the most successful side in the history of the competition, having won the King's Cup a record 31 times. Hansi Flick's side, however, travel to Barbastro without Pau Victor and Dani Olmo as the Catalan giants have been on hold over a financial and administrative limbo that prevented their registration beyond 2024.

Their opponents, Barbastro, play in the 4th division of Spanish football, Segunda Federacion, and reached the Round of 32 after beating the other LaLiga side from the Catalan capital, Espanyol, 2-0 in December.

Both teams met in the Round of 16 last season with Barcelona winning 3-2 at Barbastro courtesy of goals from Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

When will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match be played?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be played on January 4.

Where will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match be played?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be played at the Municipal de Deportes, Barbastro, Aragon, Spain.

What time will the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match start?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will start at 11:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will not be telecast anywhere in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match?

The Barcelona vs Barbastro Copa Del Rey Round of 32 match will be streamed live on FanCode app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

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Real Madrid vs Valencia Live Streaming, La Liga 2024/25 Live Telecast

Real Madrid vs Valencia Live Streaming, La Liga 2024/25 Live Telecast: La Liga giants Real Madrid will look to claim the top spot in the points table as they take on Valencia on Saturday. Real Madrid are currently second in the table behind Atletico Madrid and are closely followed by FC Barcelona. On the other hand, Valencia are off to a disappointing start to their La Liga campaign and are currently embroiled in a relegation table with 12 points from 17 encounters.

When will the Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match take place?

The Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match will take place on Saturday, January 4 (IST).

Where will the Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match be held?

The Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match will be held at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain,

What time will the Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match start?

The Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match will start at 1:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match?

The Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match?

The Real Madrid vs Valencia La Liga match will be live streamed on the GXR World app and website. However, the site is currently under maintenance and may not stream the encounter.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

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"Relevant T-Word Is Terrorism, Not Tango": India On Pak Deputy PM's Remark

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed that improving relations with India requires a two-way effort. He emphasised that Pakistan has been actively engaging in diplomatic efforts since the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government took office last year.

When asked about Pakistan's relations with India, he stressed the importance of mutual effort, and said, "Afghanistan is our brother. We want strong ties. With India, it takes two to tango. If there's goodwill, we are ready for trade."

India took a jibe at Pakistan's comment. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The relevant 'T' word here is terrorism, not tango", during his weekly briefing.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's statement regarding ties with India 'it takes two to tango', MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, " The relevant 'T' word there is 'terrorism' and not 'tango'..." pic.twitter.com/2hrTW75ScR

— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025

India has reiterated time and again that "terror and talks" cannot go together, and urged Pakistan to stop cross border terrorism.

The relationship between the two countries came to a halt after the 2019 Pulwama Attack. Pakistan also downgraded the diplomatic ties with India after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dar also announced plans to visit Bangladesh next month, aiming to strengthen economic and trade cooperation. He described Bangladesh as "like a lost brother" and noted that Islamabad and Dhaka are rebuilding ties after the fall of the Hasina government last year, on August 5, after a student-led protest.

Dar also rejected claims of the country's isolation as he said, "When we assumed office, there was a perception of diplomatic isolation. However, by expanding our diplomatic reach and engaging with regional neighbours, this perception has changed."

Additionally, Dar addressed Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan, expressing a desire to strengthen ties despite the challenge of terrorism. He criticised former intelligence chief Gen Faiz Hameed for engaging in talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and revealed that planned visits to Kabul were postponed due to terrorist attacks.

Moreover, Pakistan has been facing a rise in terrorism since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came to power, and they have demanded that Afghanistan should control the terrorists who are operating on their soil against Pakistan.

In other developments, Dar highlighted progress in Pakistan's nuclear energy sector, announcing the launch of the Chashma 5 (C-5) nuclear power project. He also confirmed the appointment of former Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood as Secretary General of the D-8 Developing Eight Forum.
 

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India vs Australia 5th Test Live Streaming, BGT 2024/25 Live Telecast

India vs Australia 5th Test Live Streaming and Live Telecast: It will be a do-or-die game for the Indian cricket team when it faces Australia in the fifth and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The touring side started the series with a stunning 295-run victory but failed to maintain the dominance and went on to lose two of the next three matches. While star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed with the bat, India's bowlers, barring the mesmerising Jasprit Bumrah, too have had a poor outing. As things stand now, India trail 1-2 in the five-match series and they need to win the final game to keep their World Test Championship Final hopes alive.

On the other hand, Australia are only one win away from booking their WTC Final date with South Africa, who have made it to the summit clash for the first time.

When will the India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 start?

The India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will start on Friday, January 3 (IST).

Where will the India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 be held?

The India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Melbourne.

What time will the India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 start?

The India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will start at 5:00 AM IST. The toss will take place at 4:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?

The India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will be telecast live on the Star Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25?

The India vs Australia 5th Test, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will live streamed on the Disney+ HotStar app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

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US Army Veteran Behind New Orleans Attack "100% Inspired By ISIS": FBI

A US army veteran motivated by loyalty to the jihadist group Islamic State likely acted alone when he killed and injured dozens in a truck attack against a New Orleans crowd of New Year revelers, the FBI said Thursday.

Despite initial concerns that Shamsud-Din Jabbar had accomplices still on the run, preliminary investigations show he likely was alone, FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia said.

"We do not assess at this point that anyone else was involved," Raia said.

However, new evidence emerged detailing the extent of the US citizen's loyalty to Islamic State and his plans to cause mayhem in the attack, which killed 14 and injured more than 30 in the French Quarter district, ending only after he was shot by police.

"He was 100 percent inspired by ISIS," Raia said, using an alternative name for the international jihadist group.

Just before the attack, in which 42-year-old Jabbar slammed a rented Ford F-150 pickup into the crowd, he "posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS," Raia said.

He also carried a black ISIS flag on the back of the vehicle.

In one video, Jabbar "explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the 'war between the believers and the disbelievers.'"

Raia said that Jabbar had planted two homemade bombs in drinks coolers in French Quarter streets. The bombs were viable but were made safe in time, he said.

Raia clarified that the total death count of 15 from Wednesday's carnage included 14 victims and Jabbar himself, who died after wounding two police officers in an exchange of gunfire.

Vegas incident likely separate

The New Orleans attack coincided with a high-profile incident in Las Vegas a few hours later where a Tesla Cybertruck blew up outside a hotel owned by US President-elect Donald Trump.

One person was killed and seven were injured in the incident. It remains unclear whether it was accidental or deliberate.

US media quoted law enforcement sources as saying the person who rented the Telsa truck was a current US Army special forces member.

In another echo of the New Orleans incident, the vehicles in both cases had been rented through the car-sharing app Turo.

Raia said: "At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas."

Cleanup on Bourbon Street

In New Orleans' French Quarter, cleaners continued to clear the debris. Bourbon Street, at the heart of the area's famous nightlife and jazz establishments, remained closed to the public.

After a 24-hour delay due to the violence, the city was gearing up to stage the major Sugar Bowl college football game in the Superdome later Thursday. The stadium will also host the NFL's Super Bowl championship game in February.

"We believe we can absolutely provide a safe and wonderful environment today, and hold the Super Bowl and all of our activities," New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.

Trump rant

The terrifying incident came three weeks before Trump takes over as president.

The Republican has used the mayhem to push his anti-immigrant agenda, despite the killer being a US-born citizen.

Overnight, Trump again took to social media to link the attack to "OPEN BORDERS."

In a lengthy rant, he berated law enforcement bodies for "attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM."

Claiming "the USA is breaking down," Trump said, without giving details: "the CIA must get involved."

Radicalization

Police say Jabbar drove at high speed into the crowd, intent on causing maximum casualties.

"There were bodies and blood and all the trash," bystander Zion Parsons told CNN. "People were terrified, running, screaming."

"It was just scary, I cried my eyes out, honestly," tourist Ethan Ayersman, 20, told AFP.

The Pentagon said Jabbar served in the Army as a human resources specialist and an IT specialist from 2007 to 2015, and then in the army reserve until 2020.

He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 until January 2010, an army spokesperson said.

Raia said the growing focus now is on how Jabbar became radicalized.

"That's the stuff in the coming days, as far as that path to radicalization, that we're really going to be digging into and making a priority of," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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UK Man Falls 600-Ft To His Death From Helvellyn Mountain

A dog walker in the UK tragically fell 600 feet to his death from the peak of Helvellyn, one of the Lake District's tallest mountains, according to a report in The Telegraph. The unnamed man was reported missing by his wife after he went on a walk with his black labrador. As per the police, the wife had been tracking her husband's progress on the phone but noticed he had not moved for a few hours, which prompted her to inform the authorities.

The search operation involved seven mountain teams, two coastguard and rescue helicopters probing the numerous routes leading to Helvellyn's summit, where his phone last signalled. However, the atrocious weather conditions meant that a total of 68 rescue personnel from various teams including Patterdale, Keswick, Langdale Ambleside, Cockermouth, Penrith, and Kirkby Stephen had to spend two days to complete the operation.

As per Cumbria Police, the man had left a holiday home in Grasmere and gone out on his bicycle with his dog. On the first day, the search had to be called off around 1:30 am as the safety of the team members could have been compromised.

Also Read | Miracle At Kilauea Volcano: Toddler Snatched From Brink Of 400-Ft Cliff

Body recovered

On the second day, the team, using a rope system, descended a headwall down towards Red Tarn where the dog was found "safe and well" on a ledge. After the team members were lowered, the man's body was found near the lake on the eastern side of the mountain.

"The man's body was lowered by stretcher to the back of Red Tarn, then carried down to Greenside and transported back to Patterdale Base where it was handed over to Cumbria Police. The whole incident took 20 hours to complete over two days," a mountain rescue spokesman told the publication.

"We would like to send our condolences to the man's family and friends and our thanks to the various teams and search and rescue helicopter crews who assisted with the search and subsequent recovery."

Meanwhile, the police said the death was not believed to be suspicious.

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