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Swiatek’s career Grand Slam attempt ended by Rybakina

Iga Swiatek’s bid to complete the career Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open was ended by Kazakh fifth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek lost 7-5 6-1 as Rybakina used her power to devastating effect.

Swiatek, 24, can already be ranked among the greats, having won six major titles across all three different surfaces.

Mastering the Wimbledon grass last year – a surface considered her weakest – opened the door to attempting in Melbourne to become only the sixth woman in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam events.

Before the tournament, Swiatek acknowledged the achievement would be a “dream come true” but insisted she was blocking out the outside noise about what was at stake.

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Swiatek’s service game had not been rock solid, while the quicker courts at Melbourne Park have historically led to problems against aggressive opponents.

That always promised to be a bad combination against 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who ruthlessly took advantage in Wednesday’s contest.

Rybakina, 26, could not find rhythm with her serve in a first set which started with the pair exchanging breaks.

A low first-serve percentage of 41% was uncharacteristic, but she had enough pace and aggression in her groundstrokes to rush Swiatek.

That was demonstrated in the crucial 12th game. Rybakina fought back from 0-30 with deep returning – drawing loose sprays from Swiatek – and explosive winners to take the opener.

Momentum stayed with Rybakina as she immediately took control of the second set.

In perfect 22C sunny conditions following Tuesday’s heatwave, her groundstrokes continued to fly through the court and Swiatek was unable to solve the problem facing her.

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Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar attacked during town hall meeting

BREAKING,

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar has been attacked by a man while hosting a town hall meeting in Minneapolis.

Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance by the man before he was tackled to the ground on Tuesday.

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The Reuters news agency said that Omar was not injured in the attack, and authorities have not said what substance was sprayed or whether charges have been filed against the assailant.

The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In a video clip of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her”, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room.

Just before the attack, she had called for the abolishment of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

“ICE cannot be reformed,” Omar said.

US Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (R) reacts after being sprayed with an unknown substance by a man as she hosted a town hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 27, 2026. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP)
Ilhan Omar, right, reacts after being sprayed with an unknown substance by a man as she hosted a town hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 27, 2026 [Octavio Jones/AFP]

Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident and whether anyone was arrested.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message from the AP seeking comment.

Six English clubs, one huge night – all to play for in Champions League

A blockbuster final day of games in the Champions League’s league phase in rich in dramatic potential, with 30 teams waiting for their fate to be decided.

Six English clubs are eyeing top-eight spots, while there are notable familiar faces looking to get the better of their former employers.

Arsenal are safely through to the last 16, where they will be joined by Bayern Munich, but just about everybody else still has work to do and major targets to aim for in a congested 36-team table.

The table-topping Gunners have been predicted as being best-placed to win the competition for the first time, with Opta ranking their chances at 31%, ahead of Bayern on 16.9%

Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle United and Chelsea are the other Premier League sides occupying a top-eight spot, and staying there would mean they avoid the play-offs and go straight into the last 16.

Manchester City – currently in a play-off spot – are behind seventh-placed Newcastle and eighth-placed Chelsea only on goal difference. The English trio feature among eight teams on 13 points heading into Wednesday’s final round of games, with all 18 matches kicking off at 20:00 GMT.

Opta predictions table, which shows Arsenal as most likely winners of the Champions League with a 31% chance, followed by Bayern Munich (16.9%), Manchester City (8.8%), Barcelona (8.1%) and Liverpool (8%).Opta

Who is through to the last 16?

Leaders Arsenal have won all seven of their matches, so just a point at home against Kairat Almaty would be enough to make sure of top spot ahead of Bayern.

In terms of seedings for the last-16 stage, the top two will face the winners of play-offs involving teams who finish between 15th and 18th place in the league phase.

Bayern will be certain of a top-two finish if they avoid defeat at PSV Eindhoven.

The top two will also be guaranteed to play the second leg at home in every round until the final, which will be played in Budapest.

Top half of Champions League table

Will Mourinho and Conte haunt old clubs?

Jose Mourinho points as he wears a blue jacket above a zip-up topReuters

The battle to pin down places in the top eight could be enthralling, given how tightly packed the standings are.

Let’s start with the easy bit. For Real Madrid and Liverpool, both on 15 points, and Tottenham, on 14, a victory on matchday eight would secure direct entry into the last 16.

Spurs face eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, where the north London outfit won last year on the way to a Europa League triumph that secured them Champions League football this season.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool side are at home to Qarabag, who have a slim chance of still making the top eight.

“It’s all down to us again. Let’s make sure we’re in the top eight,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after last week’s win in Marseille.

“It’s very important as you miss the play-offs, and it helps with the intense programme that we’re having. We’ve put ourselves in a good position.”

Real Madrid are away to their former manager Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Mourinho reached three Champions League semi-finals in a row with Real before leaving in 2013, but Benfica – with only two wins in their first seven games – will need to beat Real to have a chance of sneaking into the play-offs.

Behind Spurs come the group of eight teams, starting with holders Paris St-Germain in sixth down to Atalanta in 13th, on 13 points.

Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City are all in that group and looking for a priceless win – and even then knowing their fate could come down to goal difference.

Chelsea are also up against a familiar face in their former head coach Antonio Conte, who won Serie A with Napoli last season.

Antonio Conte in an animated pose as he points his left hand and raised his right, with his mouth open as if shouting a message. He is wearing a black top and a black gilet jacketGetty Images

Manchester City host Galatasaray, while Eddie Howe’s Newcastle face the daunting task of travelling to PSG.

Everyone down to Qarabag in 18th still has a mathematical chance of automatically advancing as a top-eight finisher.

That is in part because, remarkably, despite 16 teams still being in contention for the six remaining top-eight spots, only two of the 18 matches have those sides facing each other.

Play-off hopefuls

It is also incredibly tight in the fight for the play-offs, with everyone down to Ajax in 32nd still in the mix for a top-24 finish.

Only the bottom four of Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat have been eliminated.

Bottom half of Champions League table

Final round of fixtures

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 GMT on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

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Two fans in hospital as Chelsea urge caution after Naples ‘incident’

Chelsea have urged fans travelling to Naples for Wednesday’s Champions League game to “exercise extreme caution” after two supporters needed hospital treatment.

The city has a long history of cases of away supporters being targeted by Napoli ultras.

“The club is aware of an incident that took place in Naples,” a Chelsea statement said.

“Two fans are being treated in hospital, having sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The club would like to remind all supporters to exercise extreme caution whilst in the city and take note of the advice shared ahead of this fixture.”

Fans on social media claimed Chelsea supporters had been stabbed, but there has been no official confirmation of how the injuries were caused.

Around 2,500 Chelsea supporters have tickets for the game, with fans urged to meet at designated areas so they can travel to the ground by shuttle bus under police escort.

In travel advice that was issued to fans earlier this month, Chelsea said: “During Uefa competition matches, attacks on away fans have sometimes occurred in Naples.”

Supporters have been urged not to walk around the city and to avoid wearing club colours or emblems that identify them as Chelsea fans.

Liam Rosenior’s side need a win against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to go directly into the last-16 stage of the Champions League.

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Trump says US will end support for Iraq if al-Maliki reinstated as PM


President Donald Trump has threatened that the United States will end support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki, a former prime minister with ties to the US’s longstanding foe Iran, is reinstated to the post.

Trump, in his latest intervention in another country’s politics, said on Tuesday that Iraq would be making a “very bad choice” with al-Maliki, who just days previously was nominated by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shia bloc in parliament, as its candidate.

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“Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” he said.

“If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump’s comments are the starkest example yet of the Republican president’s campaign to curb Iran-linked groups’ influence in Iraq, which has long walked a tightrope between its two closest allies, Washington and Tehran.

In a letter, US representatives said that while the selection of the prime minister is an Iraqi decision, “the United States will make its own sovereign decisions regarding the next government in line with American interests”.

As part of Trump’s pressure campaign, Washington has also threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions on the country should armed groups backed by Iran be included in the next government, the Reuters news agency reported last week.

Al-Maliki, 75, is a senior figure in the Shia Islamist Dawa Party. His tenure as prime minister from 2006 to 2014 was a period marked by a power struggle with Sunni and Kurdish rivals and growing tensions with the US.

He stepped down after ISIL (ISIS) seized large parts of the country in 2014, but has remained an influential political player, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.

George Moghalu Resigns From Labour Party


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Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Anambra State, George Moghalu, has resigned his membership of the party.

Moghalu announced his resignation in a letter shared on his X handle on Tuesday.

In the letter, dated January 26, 2026 and  addressed to the Chairman of Ward 1, Labour Party, Uruagu, Nnewi, Moghalu said his decision took immediate effect.

“I bring you the good wishes of my family and to formally inform you of my resignation from the Labour Party, effective today, the 26th of January, 2026,” the letter read.

He thanked the party for the opportunity to contest the 2025 Anambra State governorship election on its platform.

READ ALSO: Anambra Election: Why I Lost In My Polling Unit – LP Candidate

Moghalu also requested that his regards be conveyed to party members, signing off the letter as “Ohamadike Na Nnewi.”

Before joining the Labour Party in October 2024, Moghalu was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he served as National Auditor.

The former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), a position he held between 2019 and 2023, resigned from the APC in August 2024. He cited personal reasons and the need for a “better platform” to pursue his governorship ambition.

Moghalu later secured the Labour Party governorship ticket in April 2025 ahead of the Anambra State governorship election.

However, in the November 8, 2025, election, Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), defeated him and others to pick a return ticket as Anambra governor.