Latest News from Alayam
France 24
an hour ago
- Sport
- France 24
Alcaraz wobbles but reaches French Open last 16
Second seed Alcaraz broke twice in each of the first two sets and seemed to be cruising but a dogged Dzumhur refused to roll over and pinched the third set. The 33-year-old Dzumhur had failed to get past the first round of qualifying at Roland Garros in his last four attempts, but he broke to open the fourth set and give Alcaraz greater cause for concern. Alcaraz's frustration grew when three break points slipped beyond his grasp the very next game. He eventually got back on serve at 3-3 though before another break put him within sight of victory. The Spaniard couldn't close it out initially but then earned a pair of match points on Dzumhur's serve, finally getting across the line at the second attempt to end his rival's spirited effort. "Today I honestly didn't enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot," said a relieved Alcaraz. "That's why doing a really good result in a Grand Slam is really difficult because you have to maintain a really high level for three to four hours." Alcaraz said he had to dig deep after admitting his energy levels dropped after a dominant first two sets. "It was really difficult for me to boost myself. I had to give everything I had inside me. In the end I'm just proud about getting the win." Four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz advances to face US 13th seed Ben Shelton for a place in the quarter-finals after picking up his 18th win in 19 matches on clay this season. Australian Open semi-finalist Shelton is one of four Americans still in the men's draw. He knocked out Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante in straight sets after receiving a walkover in the second round.
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Pope Leo XIV updates Peruvian citizen registration with new Vatican address
Last Updated: Lima, May 30 (AP) Pope Leo XIV hasn't forgotten his responsibilities as a Peruvian citizen: He updated his national registration information on Friday with his new Vatican address and a headshot. Peru's national registry agency said in a statement that the pope updated his information as part of the South American country's efforts to keep track of Peruvian citizens around the world. Leo was born in the United States but received Peruvian citizenship a decade ago. Four Peruvian officials met the pope at the Vatican headquarters and collected his fingerprints and signature, according to the statement from the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status. Miguel Stigler, a public information officer with the registry, told The Associated Press that Leo indicated that he wished to pick up his updated identity document during a future trip to Peru. The pope's travel plans to Peru are unknown. Leo was granted Peruvian citizenship in August 2015, the month before Pope Francis, his predecessor, appointed him bishop of Chiclayo, a city in the country's north. To qualify, he had to live in Peru for at least two years and pass a civics test. All adult Peruvians, including naturalised citizens, are required to vote in elections through age 69. Voting in Peru's presidential election next April won't be mandatory for Leo. He turns 70 in September. (AP) ARI First Published: May 31, 2025, 02:15 IST
News18
an hour ago
- Business
- News18
Trump gives Elon Musk Oval Office sendoff, credits him with 'colossal change'
Last Updated: Washington, May 30 (AP) US President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, providing a cordial conclusion to a tumultuous tenure for the billionaire entrepreneur. Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and he'll be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric automaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X. Trump credited Musk with 'a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington" and said some of his staff would remain in the administration. Musk, who wore all black, including a T-shirt that said 'The Dogefather", nodded along as the president listed contracts that had been cut under his watch. 'I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job. They're going to continue to be doing an incredible job," Musk said after accepting a ceremonial key from the president. He left a searing mark on the federal bureaucracy, including thousands of employees who were fired or pushed out. Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world. Boston University researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have already died as a result of the cuts. The State Department responded by saying most of USAID's programmes on HIV, known as PEPFAR, remained operational. However, the statement did not address any of the other cuts while calling on 'other nations to dramatically increase their humanitarian efforts". Despite the upheaval, Musk also fell far short of his goals. After promising to cut USD 1 trillion or even USD 2 trillion in federal spending, he lowered expectations to only USD 150 billion in the current fiscal year. It's unclear whether that target has been hit. The DOGE website tallies USD 175 billion in savings, but its information has been riddled with errors and embellishments. Musk had a bruise next to his right eye in the Oval Office, which he explained by saying he had been 'horsing around" with his young son. 'I said, go ahead punch me in the face," he said. 'And he did." Trump said Musk led the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations". He suggested that Musk is 'really not leaving" and 'he's going to be back and forth" to keep tabs on what's happening in the administration. There were signs, however, that attention was already shifting away from Musk, who once appeared omnipresent in Washington. He often stood quietly next to Trump as reporters peppered him with questions about the French president (he's great), Joe Biden's autopen (it's bad) and the potential for pardoning Sean 'Diddy" Combs (he'll look at the facts). When Musk was asked about the impact of tariffs on Tesla — something Musk has expressed concerns about in the past — Trump jumped in to answer. Musk, the world's richest person, recently said he would reduce his political donations. He was Trump's top donor in last year's presidential campaign. Trump appeared eager to end Musk's service on a high note. 'This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way," Trump wrote on social media on Thursday evening. 'Elon is terrific!" As a special government employee, Musk's position was designed to be temporary. However, he speculated about staying 'indefinitely", working part time for the administration, if Trump still wanted his help. Musk has brushed off questions about how DOGE would continue without him, even suggesting it could 'gain momentum" in the future. 'DOGE is a way of life," he told reporters recently. 'Like Buddhism." (AP) ARI First Published:
France 24
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
'M*A*S*H' actress Loretta Swit dead: publicist
Swit who played the high-strung but flirty Houlihan for the entire TV run of the smash series, was nominated for 10 Emmy awards for her work, winning two of them. Her death, at her home in Manhattan, was announced by her publicist, US media reported. AFP has sought confirmation. "M*A*S*H," which sprang from an Oscar-winning 1970 film, aired initially in 1972 and was a hit until it finished in 1983. The comedy was set in a mobile hospital for the US Army during the Korean War, and starred Alan Alda as Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce. The series tackled a range of issues from the tragic to the light-hearted, and was sometimes seen as a satire on US involvement in Vietnam -- a war that was still happening when it first began airing. © 2025 AFP
France 24
an hour ago
- Sport
- France 24
Germany qualify, England hit six in Women's Nations League
Euro 2022 champions England shrugged off the shock international retirement of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Mary Earps this week to sweep aside Portugal 6-0 and set up a tantalising decider for Sarina Wiegman's side in the final group game against world champions Spain in Barcelona on Tuesday. Spain eased past Belgium 5-1 and top their group by two points from England with only the winner of the four top-tier mini-leagues advancing to the semi-finals in October. Germany booked their ticket to the two-legged semis with a 4-0 rout of the Netherlands. That left them three points clear of the Dutch. In the event of the two sides ending up level after Tuesday's closing games the Germans will go through on the basis of their head-to-head results - they drew when they met in the opening game in February. At Wembley the star of the show was Aggie Beever-Jones, who will forever remember her first ever start at the iconic stadium. The Chelsea forward scored in the third minute, again in the 26th with a header from Lucy Bronze's cross, and then completed her treble in the 33rd minute. "I'm absolutely shattered," the 21-year-old Beever-Jones told ITV. "Coming into this today after a busy season and I got told I was starting and I wanted to help the team as much as I can. I'm absolutely delighted right now," she added. Joining her on the scoresheet were her club teammate Bronze, whose father is Portuguese, the Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead, and Chloe Kelly. France, who secured their path to the semi-finals on the last matchday, maintained their perfect record beating Switzerland, hosts of July's Euro 2025, 4-0 in Nancy. Les Bleues were runners-up to Spain in last year's final. At Euro 2025 their group stage opponents include defending champions England and 2017 winners Netherlands. Group A4 meanwhile is finely poised, with Sweden and Denmark, who meet on the final matchday, level on nine points, two clear of out of contention Italy. As well as defining the make-up of the Nations League semi-finals the group standings also determine the teams contesting promotion and relegation matches to establish their starting league position in the European qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
