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Novak Djokovic said he accepts responsibility for Serbia's Davis Cup semifinal defeat to Italy on Saturday after failing to convert three match points against Jannik Sinner. The world number one had his Italian counterpart on the ropes in the second singles rubber at 5-4 up, but allowed Sinner to recover and win 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to force the doubles decider. Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic, who had won the opening singles rubber against Lorenzo Musetti, were defeated by Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-4 and left Malaga disappointed. "For me personally it's a huge disappointment, because I take the responsibility, obviously having three match points, being so close to win it," D...

Keep on reading: Djokovic: ‘I take responsibility’ for Serbia’s Davis Cup defeat

A "proud" Jannik Sinner beat world number one Novak Djokovic twice in one day to send Italy into the Davis Cup final with a 2-1 win over Serbia on Saturday in Malaga. Italy, who won the trophy for the first and only time in 1976, will face 28-time winners Australia on Sunday. Sinner, who has now triumphed three times in four clashes across 11 days against the usually unstoppable Djokovic, crucially kept Italy in the tie by beating the 24-time Grand Slam winner 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the second singles rubber. Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then defeated Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive doubles to clinch victory, after Kecmanovic had dispatched Lorenzo Musetti 6-7...

Keep on reading: ‘Proud’ Sinner twice beats Djokovic to send Italy into Davis Cup final

Michelle Dee is overwhelmed with joy and gratitude after coming home to a hero's welcome in the Philippines last Saturday, Nov. 25, a week after representing the country in Miss Universe 2023. Dee thanked her supporters for "making [her] feel like a winner" on her Instagram page on Sunday, Nov. 26, while sharing glimpses of her homecoming at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. "Feels good to be back home. With or without the crown, all of you made me feel like I was a winner. Last night was so overwhelming! All I could feel was so much love and support from all of you," she wrote.   View this post on Instagram ...

Keep on reading: Michelle Dee ‘feels like a winner’ after warm welcome in the Philippines

Anjo Yllana revealed that he's still not on speaking terms with his brother Jomari Yllana, although he clarified that he's happy for the latter's marriage to Abby Viduya in Las Vegas. During an interview with ex sister-in-law Aiko Melendez on YouTube last Wednesday, Nov. 22, Anjo admitted that he's not on good terms with Jomari while pointing out that the reason behind their apparent squabble should be kept between them. Melendez is the ex-wife of Jomari, where they tied the knot in 2000 but it ended in annulment four years later. "Hindi kayo nag-uusap? Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi rin kami nag-uusap. Kayo hindi kayo nag-uusap, kami hindi kami nag-uusap. Pero ayoko nang pag-u...

Keep on reading: Anjo Yllana not on speaking terms with brother Jomari Yllana

Max Verstappen made light of earlier set-up problems on Saturday by blitzing to pole position for Red Bull in an eventful qualifying session for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The three-time world champion clocked a best lap in one minute and 23.445 seconds to outpace nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by a tenth of a second ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri. It secured Verstappen's 12th pole of the season, his fourth in succession in Abu Dhabi and the 33rd of his career, drawing him level with 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell in the record books. https://twitter.com/F1/status/1728514896768479472 George Russell was fourth for Mercedes ahead of McLaren's Lando ...

Keep on reading: F1: Verstappen shrugs off problems to claim 12th pole of season

MANILA, Philippines--Meralco played with sustained brilliance on Sunday afternoon to pound TNT, 109-95, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Bolts drew 35 points from import Suleiman Braimoh Jr., 18 from the returning Chris Banchero, and at least 12 more from three other players to get back to the win column and rise to 3-1 overall. "TNT is a champion team ... We had to gut it out with them," coach Luigi Trillo said as his charges joined Phoenix at second place. "But it's nice that we could put the ball in CB's (Chris) hands, and he went to work there in the fourth quarter." "It felt good. Obviously, the first five minutes I had to get used to...

Keep on reading: PBA: Meralco tops TNT, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scores 47 in loss

Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco (center) greets Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (right) on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Jimmy was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 and was released on Saturday. (Photo from Philippine Embassy in Israel). MANILA, Philippines -- The Filipino who was recently released from Hamas custody will receive lifelong benefits from the Israeli government, the Philippine Embassy in Israel announced on Sunday. The Filipino worker, Jimmy Pacheco, was taken hostage on October 7 and has spent 49 days in captivity until his release on Saturday. "The Israeli Government will provide Jimmy and his immediate family lifetime social security benefits and regular stipend...

Keep on reading: Released Filipino hostage to receive full benefits from Israeli gov’t

DUBLIN --- Katie Taylor avenged her only professional loss by beating Chantelle Cameron in a majority decision on Saturday night to become a two-weight undisputed champion. The Irishwoman improved to 23-1 after the judges scored the bout 98-92, 96-94 and 95-95 at 3Arena in Dublin, six months after a majority decision went Cameron's way in the same venue. The 37-year-old Taylor, whose lightweight belts weren't on the line, now adds Cameron's world super-lightweight titles at 140 pounds. https://twitter.com/MatchroomBoxing/status/1728555175600644393 "That was the longest six months of my life waiting for this rematch," Taylor said in the ring. "Tonight, you've seen the real...

Keep on reading: Katie Taylor becomes two-weight undisputed champion

LAS VEGAS --- David Benavidez retained the interim world super middleweight belt by stopping Demetrius Andrade after the sixth round Saturday night. In what was billed as clash of styles that could go the distance between unbeaten 168-pounders, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) looked more like a clinician with a dominating performance before Andrade's corner requested the stoppage after the sixth round. Andrade (32-1) suffered the first loss of his career. Benavidez is widely recognized as the world's best super middleweight after Canelo Alvarez. Immediately after his win he called for a match against Alvarez to unify the super middleweight title as an announced gathering of 9,585 f...

Keep on reading: David Benavidez wants Canelo Alvarez next after dominant win

  ROME -- Pope Francis will recite his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday from the chapel of his Vatican residence instead of the usual venue overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Vatican said in a statement. Francis went to a hospital in Rome on Saturday for a scan, which the Vatican said had ruled out lung complications after a bout of flu forced him to cancel his activities.  ...

Keep on reading: Ailing pope to recite Sunday prayer from residence, not St. Peter’s square

  JENIN, West Bank -- Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians, including two minors and at least one gunman, in the occupied West Bank late on Saturday and early Sunday, medics and local sources said. Five of the deaths occurred in the city of Jenin, which the Israeli military said it raided to detain a Palestinian who is suspected of involvement in a lethal West Bank ambush in August. The military did not immediately elaborate on the Jenin incident, which witnesses described as clashes between gunmen and troops. The WAFA official Palestinian news agency said that Israeli forces stormed Jenin "from several directions, firing bullets and surrounding government hospit...

Keep on reading: Israeli forces kill seven Palestinians in West Bank, officials say

MANILA, Philippines --- House Speaker Martin Romualdez has commended his fellow parliamentarians for achieving their "primary objective" to implement initiatives to attain peace and support sustainable economic growth during the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). In a statement issued on Sunday, Romualdez also expressed his gratitude to his parliamentarian counterparts in the Asia Pacific region. "Through the APPF-member parliaments' active engagement and resilient partnerships, we were able to ensure a respectful and peaceful resolution of our common concerns," Romualdez said. "It is my belief that as parliamentarians, we were able to accomplish our primary objective ...

Keep on reading: Speaker commends APPF delegates for accomplishing primary objective

  BEIJING -- China's health ministry on Sunday urged local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics as the country grapples with a surge in respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since easing COVID-19 restrictions. The spike become a global issue last week when the World Health Organization asked China for more information, citing a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases. China and the WHO have faced questions about the transparency of reporting early in the pandemic, which emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. The WHO said on Friday no new or unusual pathogens had b...

Keep on reading: China ministry seeks more fever clinics to combat respiratory illness surge

MANILA, Philippines -- There were 724 motorists apprehended for violating different traffic laws in recent operations conducted from November 8 to 17, the Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) reported on Sunday. LTO Regional Director Roque I. Verzosa III mentioned that the motorists were apprehended for various violations, including breaking Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code), Republic Act 8750 (requiring adults to wear seat belts), Presidential Decree 96 (prohibiting the use of sirens, blinkers, horns, and devices to evade traffic), as well as driving colorum vehicles and other related laws. LTO-NCR said that it had apprehended 212...

Keep on reading: LTO-NCR apprehends 724 motorists for various offenses in 9 days

    GAZA -- After seven weeks of bombardment stopped in Gaza for a truce, Tahani al-Najjar used the calm on Saturday to return to the ruins of her home, smashed by an Israeli air strike that she said killed seven of her family and forced her into a shelter. More than 24 hours into the four-day pause in fighting, thousands of Gaza residents are making that same difficult journey from communal shelters and makeshift encampments to discover what has become of their homes. "Where will we live? Where will we go? We are trying to collect bits of wood to build a tent to shelter us, but to no avail. There is nothing to shelter a family," Najjar said, picking through the...

Keep on reading: Palestinians in Gaza use truce to pick through rubble of homes

WASHINGTON --- Trae Young had 26 points and 10 assists and the Atlanta Hawks handed the Washington Wizards their ninth consecutive loss, 136-108 on Saturday night. Atlanta had lost three of four entering this game, but the Hawks had no trouble with the rebuilding Wizards. They went on a 10-2 run to take a 70-58 halftime lead and were up by 29 after three quarters. "It just shows that we're getting more comfortable with what we're doing," Young said. "It's good to lead from wire to wire like that and come out with a big victory." https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1728593556573478932 Washington (2-14) fell into a tie with Detroit for the NBA's worst record. The Pistons ho...

Keep on reading: NBA: High-scoring Hawks dump Wizards

  MOGADISHU -- The number of people killed by floods from heavy rains in Somalia has climbed to 96, state news agency SONNA said on Saturday. "Somalia's flood death toll climbs to 96," SONNA said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, adding the figure had been confirmed by Mahamuud Moallim, the head of the country's disaster management agency. Like the rest of east and Horn of Africa, Somalia has been battered by relentless heavy rains that begun in October, caused by the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole weather phenomena. Both are climate patterns that impact ocean surface temperatures and cause above-average rainfall. The flooding has been described as the worst in d...

Keep on reading: Death toll from flooding in Somalia climbs to nearly 100

SALT LAKE CITY --- Collin Sexton and a ragtag group for the Utah Jazz turned it on down the stretch. Sexton scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter in Utah's 105-100 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. The Jazz (5-11) were missing their two top scorers, Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) and Jordan Clarkson (illness), for the first of two straight games between the teams in Utah. https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1728641767833235952 "Just making the right reads, not trying to make the home run play and just making a simple play and find the open guy," Sexton said. "We made some really good plays and we got some really good shots out of it...

Keep on reading: NBA: Jazz use big 4th quarter to rally past Pelicans

NEW YORK --- Mikal Bridges scored 24 points, Cam Johnson added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets routed the short-handed Miami Heat 112-97 on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak. Brooklyn got double-figure scoring from its entire starting five, with Dorian Finney-Smith scoring 16 points, Nic Claxton chipping in 13 and Spencer Dinwiddie finishing with 14 points and 11 assists. Miami was the third team the Nets held to under 100 points this season. The Nets forced the Heat into 17 turnovers. "Just give our guys credit for continuing to work at it," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "It's something new, getting our guys in different positions on the floor a...

Keep on reading: NBA: Nets snap three-game skid at expense of shorthanded Heat

MANILA, Philippines --- Chinese jets shadowed an aircraft used during the joint patrol of Australia and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, according to Armed Forces ofthe Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. Brawner said two People's Liberation Army (PLA) jet fighters were found circling a Philippine Air Force's Super Tucano attack aircraft around the vicinity of Hubo Reef in Kalayaan Island Group. "May dalawang Chinese jet fighters na umikot dun sa plane natin," Brawner told reporters in a phone interview. (There were two Chinese jet fighters circling our plane.) "Umikot yung mga eroplano, jet fighters inikutan yung Super Tucano n...

Keep on reading: Chinese jets seen shadowing PH aircraft during AFP drill with Australia