Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese hometown watches LA Dodgers reach brink of World Series

British actor and comedian Russell Brand pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault involving four women from 1999 to 2005 during a court appearance at Southwark Crown Court. Brand, who has consistently denied non-consensual sex allegations, faces two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault, with a trial scheduled for June 2026. The charges came to light following a September 2023 report by the Sunday...

SummaryMelbourne midfielder Jack Viney will miss his fourth consecutive AFL match due to lingering concussion symptoms, despite being part of the extended squad for Sunday's game against St Kilda. General manager Alan Richardson stated that while Viney is improving, he is not yet ready for the demands of an AFL match. In related news, West Coast's Jeremy McGovern also faces concussion issues and must meet with an expert panel before returning to play, while Melbourne...

St Kilda, facing a challenging AFL season with a 4-7 record after losing three consecutive games, is determined to navigate the "maelstrom" of league competition, according to coach Ross Lyon. On a charter flight to Alice Springs for their match against Melbourne, who have rebounded to 5-6, Lyon emphasized the importance of maintaining their strategic focus despite inconsistencies and recent struggles. Lyon remains optimistic about developing their roster, highlighting the support from club legends and...

Asian stocks declined as the US dollar weakened alongside Treasury yields, following an appeals court's decision to keep President Trump's tariffs in place while considering an appeal against a previous ruling that deemed the tariffs unconstitutional. Japan's Nikkei index fell 1.7%, influenced by a stronger yen, which impacts overseas earnings, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's KOSPI also experienced losses. Despite the legal uncertainty surrounding the tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed ongoing...

Novak Djokovic's French Open journey has been impacted by the hospitalization of his close friend and physio, Miljan Amanovic, who underwent surgery for a serious health issue. Djokovic expressed concern for Amanovic, stating he is stable but requires several days in the hospital. Despite this, Djokovic advanced in the tournament by defeating Corentin Moutet in a challenging match, where he dealt with blisters and a set point against him, emphasizing his motivation to make history...

Gold Coast Titans have signed 21-year-old Keano Kini to a four-year contract extension, securing him until the end of the 2030 season, demonstrating confidence in him despite his ongoing neck injury. Kini, who had a standout 2024 season winning the Paul Broughton Medal and representing New Zealand, is now the Titans' equal-longest contracted player. Titans coach Des Hasler praised Kini's impact on games and highlighted his professionalism and family values, as he and his partner...