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Anti-war protesters clashed with police Wednesday outside a military arms convention in the Australian city of Melbourne. Protesters hurled bottles, rocks and horse manure, a police statement said. Protesters had also sprayed officers with liquid irritants, some of which had been identified as acid, police said. Police retaliated with pepper spray, flash distraction devices and by foam baton rounds. These rounds are designed to inflict pain without penetrating skin. At least 24 officers required medical treatment. Police had arrested 33 protesters for offenses including assault, arson and blocking roadways. Victoria Police is appalled at the behavior of some of the protesters, the statement said, referring to the Victoria state force. Around 1,800 police officers have been deployed to a Melbourne convention center where the Land Forces International Land Defense Exposition is taking place through Friday. Some of the convention attendees also were assaulted, police said. Witnesse
Rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were placed on opposite halves of the Australian Open bracket in the draw Thursday, meaning the owners of a combined 43 Grand Slam singles titles could only meet in the final at Melbourne Park. Djokovic, a nine-time champion in Australia, returns to the hard-court tournament after missing it last year when his visa was revoked and he was deported from the country because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19. He also couldn't compete at the 2022 U.S. Open. Fourth-seeded Djokovic will open his bid for a 10th Australian Open title against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the tournament which begins Monday. Iga Swiatek, the women's No. 1-ranked player, takes on German Jule Niemeier, who is ranked No.68, in the opening round. The Polish player was a semifinalist at Melbourne Park in 2022, a year in which she won the French and U.S. Open titles. But the main first-round focus will be on Nadal, who faces a potentially challenging match against ...
Virat Kohli was lost for words after leaving the cricket world speechless with his cricket here on Sunday. In his own words, King Kohli had no idea how he had engineering India's epic win over arch-rivals Pakistan in their blockbuster T20 World Cup face-off. When all seemed lost at 31 for four in a stiff chase of 160 at the gargantuan Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kohli thought otherwise and spearheaded India to a remarkable four-wicket win with a knock that will go down as one of the best in the tournament's history. He found an able ally in star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who contributed an invaluable 40 during a fifth-wicket stand of 113 runs. Not surprisingly, the 82 not out 53 balls has been rated as his best knock. "Well, it's a surreal atmosphere. I honestly have no words. I have no idea how that happened," Kohli said after his incredible knock in the team's big-ticket tournament opener. The run-machine added," Hardik kept telling me, just believe we can stay till the end. I'm
Virat Kohli owned the grand stage with a knock for the ages as he powered India to an epic four-wicket over Pakistan in a heart-stopping T20 World Cup game, that unfolded at the MCG 'amphitheatre' which was packed with 90,000 boisterous fans, here on Sunday. King Kohli, as his fans call him, conjured up a magical and memorable 83-run knock to anchor a chase of 160 which became tricky after India were left in tatters at 31 for 4. Hardik Pandya, the most important cog in India's T20 wheel, struck 40 off 37 balls in a partnership of 113. His ability to win matches for India coming under the scanner due to a prolonged lean patch, Kohli sang the perfect redemption song on the grandest stage. It started in the 19th over when he sent one from Haris Rauf on his hunches and pulled off two back-to-back sixes. Cricket indeed is a leveller as Rauf, after 22 splendid deliveries bowled two bad ones and it changed the complexion of the game. With 16 needed off last six balls, Pandya holed out o