ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday. Rays manager Kevin Cash announced the news before Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Springs was moved from the 15- to the 60-day injured list. Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister, who specializes in the elbow ligament replacement procedure, will operate. The 30-year-old Springs went 2-0 with an 0.56 ERA during the Rays’ 13-0 start. The lefty departed after throwing two pitches in the fourth inning on April 13 against Boston. He threw a 79.8 mph changeup and a 83.5…
Author: National Tone
Brazilian president says he does not want to ‘please anyone’ with his views about the conflict after he provoked criticism in the West for suggesting Kyiv was in part to blame for the war.Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva has called for a “negotiated” settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war and said he does not want to “please anyone” with his views about the conflict. Lula, who is seeking to revive Brazil’s role as a dealmaker and go-between, angered Ukraine by saying Kyiv shared blame for the war and has not joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Moscow or…
British No 2 Dan Evans was beaten in straight sets by defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open.The top-seeded Alcaraz saw off Evans 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 20 minutes to book a meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final. The Greek No 2 seed beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 5-7 6-3 in the other semi-final.Alcaraz, last year’s US Open champion, will be seeking his ninth career title and third of the year after triumphing in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells.The 19-year-old Spaniard is 3-0 against Tsitsipas over his career, including a three-set victory in the Barcelona…
My life was shattered on September 14, 2014, when my son, Samer Reda Abdelfattah was seized by the Syrian regime. Samer was just 29 years old when he was detained. A father of three, he is a kind and respectful man, loved by everyone around him. His youngest child was only five months old when Samer was taken from us. I will never forget the last time I heard from my son. He left our home early in the morning after the Fajr prayer. Samer worked as a bus driver and that day he was transporting students from Atarib to…
Sudan’s army and paramilitary group RSF began a violent power struggle last Saturday with more than 400 people killed since.Heavy fighting is continuing in Sudan’s capital Khartoum between warring factions that have plunged the country into chaos with foreign expatriates preparing to flee via military escort. The Sudanese army said on Saturday it was coordinating efforts to evacuate diplomats from the United States, Britain, China and France out of the country on military aeroplanes. Diplomats and their families from Saudi Arabia had already made it out of Sudan. Jordanian nationals were set to leave later. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan…
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s Madrid Open in the wake of recent concerns over an elbow injury.The announcement comes just a month out from the French Open, with Rafael Nadal having also already confirmed he will not compete in Madrid. While it is unclear as to the exact reasoning for Djokovic’s withdrawal, he admitted recently his right elbow was “not in an ideal condition” as he played with strapping on during his upset defeat to Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo.The 35-year-old was back in action at the end of the week but suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to…
Projected No 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama officially declared for the NBA draft in June.The 7’5″ Wembanyama will enter the NBA as the most anticipated draft-eligible prospect since LeBron James in 2003. “Declaring for the draft, it’s something crazy I’m not realising yet,” Wembanyama told ESPN. “I realised pretty young I wanted to play in the NBA but it becomes a reality more every day. I’m so lucky to have this dream within the reach of my hand.”The 19-year-old has played in 29 games for the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in France so far this season and is averaging 21.4 points,…
Fighting in Sudan between the forces of two rival generals erupted on April 15, killing more than 400 people, igniting a humanitarian catastrophe, and raising fears of a prolonged and unpredictable civil war. Battles continue to rage in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere between troops loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Daglo, commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Analysts warn the conflict could draw in foreign armed groups and regional powers, and may have far-reaching consequences, not only for the northeast African country but also for an already unstable region. A rapid…
Former head of the Russian Baltic Fleet, Admiral Viktor Liina, named as new chief of the Russian Pacific Fleet.Moscow has installed new commanders at the head of its Baltic and Pacific fleets, Russia’s Interfax and TASS news agencies have reported. The former head of Russia’s Baltic Fleet, Admiral Viktor Liina, is now in charge of the Pacific Fleet, the news agencies reported on Friday, and Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov is the new commander of the fleet in the Baltics. Liina replaces the previous head of the Pacific Fleet, Sergei Avakyants, whose surprise retirement was announced on Thursday. “The deputy chief…
Brighton’s first meeting of the season looks as competitive as ever and features alongside some good jumps at Bangor-on-Dee, live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday. 6.15 Brighton – Tight handicap featuring Walker winnerThe Mum, Nanny, Dolly – Queen Of Hearts Handicap (6:15) looks tough to solve but possibly Ed Walker’s Canoodled is the best place to start. He runs off an 8lb higher mark than when victorious at Newmarket for his final start of last season, although Saffie Osborne takes off 3lb.Archie Watson’s Mountbatten has not been seen for over 300 days but was in good form then and…