SPORTS

Paris, France | AFP | Rafael Nadal secured the year-end world number one ranking with a 7-5, 6-3 second-round victory over South Korean Hyeon Chung at the Paris Masters on Wednesday. The 16-time Grand Slam champion is the oldest man to finish a season at the top of the rankings at …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) will dedicate next month’s Challenge Cup in Kenya to peace following the post-election violence witnessed in parts of the country. The 12-nation tournament, which runs from November 25 to December 9, will be played in Nakuru, …

Rome, Italy | AFP |  Pep Guardiola takes his swaggering Manchester City side to the home of Italian league leaders Napoli on Wednesday knowing a win will guarantee qualification for the Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare. City, unbeaten this season, notched an eighth straight Premier League …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Tiger Woods will make his latest return from long-term injury at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas next month, the former world number one confirmed on Monday. The 14-time major champion has not played since February after a recurrence of back problems …

Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | A relieved, if happy, Lewis Hamilton admitted clinching his fourth drivers’ world title in a tense and dramatic Mexican Grand Prix was something of a horror show. The 32-year-old Briton, who thrilled an enthusiastic crowd with celebratory ‘donuts’ after completing his slow-down lap with …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums for the first time from next year, authorities said Sunday, in a landmark move opening up three previously male-only venues to families. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, has long …

Paris, France | AFP | Rafael Nadal will be crowned as the year-end world number one if he wins his first match at this week’s Paris Masters, after Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament. The two old rivals have both had stunning seasons, returning to form and fitness with two Grand …

Girona, Spain | AFP |  Real Madrid suffered a backlash on the field rather than from an expected hostile atmosphere amid political turmoil in Catalonia as they slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at Girona on Sunday. Goals from Cristhian Stuani and Portu in four second-half minutes cancelled out Isco’s …

Mexico City, Mexico | AFP |  Lewis Hamilton clinched his fourth drivers’ world championship in unexpected but dramatic fashion on Sunday when, after a first lap collision with title rival Sebastian Vettel, he finished ninth in the Mexican Grand Prix. The 32-year-old Briton, who needed to finish in the top …

Kigali, Rwanda | AFP |  Rwanda’s first cricket stadium was inaugurated Saturday by President Paul Kagame as a permanent home for developing the sport in the country. Gahanga Cricket Stadium in the capital Kigali is built on a 4.5 hectare (11 acre) ground and cost $1.3 million (1.1 million euros), …