Massacres have spread across once-quiet towns on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, in the deadliest outbreak of sectarian violence since rebels toppled the dictator Bashar al-Assad. Christina Goldbaum, The New York Times’s bureau chief in Syria, traveled to the area to get a sense of who was responsible.
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How Violence Erupted On Syria’s Coast
Carlos Alcaraz stunned by Holger Rune in the Barcelona Open final as Alexander Zverev wins in Munich | Tennis News
Holger Rune spoiled the party in the final of the Barcelona Open by stunning home favourite Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.
Rune broke his 13-match losing streak against top-five players to claim his first title since winning in Munich in 2023.
The Dane rallied from a break deficit in the opener and converted his fourth set point. He then soared clear in the second to deny Alcaraz, who took a medical time-out, a way back in.
“It means the world, it was such a great match,” said Rune. “In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed, because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis. I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm. After he broke me, I got more into the match and played my tennis. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself.”
Alcaraz began strongly and broke serve in the fifth game but fellow 21-year-old Rune hit straight back and from there was the better player, finally taking his fifth set point in the tie-break.
Alcaraz applied pressure early in the second set but Rune withstood it, and it became clear all was not well with the Spaniard when he headed off court for a medical time-out.
His final chance came and went with two break points in the sixth game before Rune celebrated his fifth ATP Tour title.
Rune revealed he thought back to Alcaraz’s defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Olympic final last summer as he sought a winning strategy.
“When I got broken in the first set, I thought to myself that I don’t need to hit every shot on the line,” said Rune. “So I [asked] myself: ‘What did Novak do when he beat him?’ I played it in my mind, the Olympics final, and tried to play that style, making a lot of balls. I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave.”
“Congratulations for an amazing week,” said Alcaraz. “Coming from Monte Carlo where you had to retire, coming here to Barcelona… showing great tennis. For the people to enjoy… I appreciate that. We’ve been seeing each other since 12 years old. Time flies. I’m happy to see us in this position. How far we’ve come together. Congratulations and keep going.”
Tale of the Tape
Zverev wins third Munich title
Alexander Zverev celebrated his birthday with a comfortable win over American Ben Shelton in the Munich Open final to claim a record-equalling third title.
The 28-year-old German crowd favourite delivered a composed display to overcome second seed Shelton 6-2 6-4, securing his 24th career tour title and his first triumph of the season. He previously won the clay-court tournament in 2017 and ’18.
“It’s extremely special, I always love winning tournaments in Germany,” said Zverev, who has now matched fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber’s record of three Munich titles. “It’s definitely a great birthday present, let’s put it that way.”
Backed by strong home support, the top seed dominated 22-year-old Shelton, breaking early to take control. He comfortably claimed the first set 6-2 and opened the second with another break to keep up the momentum.
“I definitely knew I had to play my best tennis today, Ben has been playing extremely well this week,” Zverev said.
“The conditions suit him extremely well, it’s very hot and very fast. They suit me as well, to be fair. I enjoyed my birthday so far.”
With Zverev winning on home soil in Munich, Alcaraz will drop back to third in the world rankings behind the German on Monday.
Ostapenko books Stuttgart final spot against Sabalenka
Jelena Ostapenko famously won the French Open in 2017 with a high-risk brand of big-hitting tennis and improbable winners
Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko powered into the Stuttgart Grand Prix final with a 6-4 6-4 victory over fellow unseeded player Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The 27-year-old will meet world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who was made to work hard for a 7-5 6-4 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini to reach her fourth final in five years.
A finalist in Qatar this year, Ostapenko kept up the pressure and cruised to victory after an early break in the second set.
“I don’t know but I feel amazing playing here,” Ostapenko said. “So pumped up. Those kinds of matches, winning three sets, gives you confidence,” she said.
“I was putting a lot of balls in. I am very happy with myself.”
Sabalenka said of Ostapenko: “She’s playing great tennis right now and it doesn’t matter what happened in the past, I’m going to go out there tomorrow and fight like it’s the first match and I’m going to fight for this beautiful car behind me. I beg you, please, I need this car.”
Watch the Madrid Open – live on Sky Sports
Brits Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal return to action at the Madrid Open, while Novak Djokovic is back in action under the watchful eye of coach Andy Murray.
The biggest names in tennis will be competing for the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 titles.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
Kevin De Bruyne: Departing Man City star ‘surprised’ not to be offered new deal at Etihad | Football News
Departing captain Kevin De Bruyne was “surprised” to be told his Manchester City career was over as he feels he can still perform at the highest level.
The Belgium playmaker turns 34 in June but, unlike his mid-30-something rivals at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, he has not been offered the chance to extend his 10-year career at the Etihad.
De Bruyne believes City have erred on that front and feels had the club’s season been up to standard – they are in a battle just to secure Champions League football despite the 2-0 win at Everton – he may have been asked to stay.
“I have not had any offer the whole year, they just took a decision,” he said.
“Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I just have to accept it. Honestly I still think I can perform at this level like I’m showing but I understand clubs have to make decisions.
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal then maybe they take another decision.”
Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring Man City’s first goal against Crystal Palace
De Bruyne said he has not made any decisions about his future as he is concentrating on the race to secure a top-five spot to extend City’s run in the Champions League into a 15th successive season.
He has already been linked with moves to Major League Soccer in the United States, but it appears he still has designs on playing at the highest level he can for as long as he can.
“I feel like I still have a lot to give. Obviously I know I’m not 25 any more but I still feel like I can do my job,” he added.
Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry take a look at some of Kevin De Bruyne’s assists and heaped praise on the midfielder as he nears a Manchester City exit at the end of the season.
“I’m open for anything. I have to look at the whole picture. I’m looking at sporting, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family.
“I like to play football. I like to compete. That’s what I feel so I can’t say that I want to quit because I still feel that whenever I’m in training I want to beat the guys.
“I feel like I’m doing really well and that’s why I’ve also played a lot lately.”
More to follow…
‘Black Mirror’ Showed Us a Future. Some of It Is Here Now.
The long-running tech drama always felt as if it took place in a dystopian near future. How much of that future has come to pass?
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Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron 2: Make or break? ‘A loss is disastrous. A loss would be tough to overcome’ | Boxing News
Ben Whittaker can decide his future when he fights Liam Cameron in their headline rematch on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports.
When they first met in October of last year Whittaker, the Olympic silver medallist and fast rising professional star, never intended to find himself inverted as he and Cameron both tumbled over the top rope.
The fall was ugly and the landing hard.
Whittaker had previously generated so much positive press with his dazzling professional performances, liberally sprinkled with cavalier showboating. But with that fall, he crashed through into wholly new territory. The questions being asked of him would wound any boxer’s pride. Should he have continued? Was he fortunate to finish with a draw?
Ben Whittaker says he learnt from the first fight he even looks good on the ring canvas and insisted Liam Cameron wasted his best opportunity to beat him.
Sunday’s rematch at the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham is an opportunity for Whittaker to settle those sudden doubts.
“I think we’re starting from a blank canvas. It’s starting from afresh. When round one goes, it’s a whole new fight, a whole different fight. That’s what I’m excited to show,” he told Sky Sports.
“A lot of people can talk this and that but we’ll silence them when we get the win.
“Like he said, he hit the lottery, he’s got the second opportunity. We look at it as: you should have taken your moment then, because that moment won’t come again.”
But Whittaker, in front of his home supporters, will be under intense scrutiny.
Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron went head-to-head after their public workout and shared a frosty face-off ahead of the fight on Easter Sunday.
“Them changing rooms are going to be horrible for him,” Cameron told Sky Sports. “It’s not nice as it is, never mind all this pressure on him.
“He’s got to beat me, he’s got to beat me.”
Whittaker was meant to blaze through British level on a fast track to world class. But defeat to Cameron under these circumstances will divert that career onto a wholly different trajectory.
Even Andy Lee, Whittaker’s new trainer, had to admit: “A loss is disastrous.
“A loss would be tough to overcome, mentally as much as physically,” he continued. “He didn’t have to take this rematch. It shows the character that he wanted this rematch.
“Cameron has to be respected and if you don’t respect him or don’t appreciate the way he fights or consider him a threat, a fight will go that way against him. He’s formidable. He’s strong, he’s aggressive and he’s tough and if you’re not prepared for that, you’re going to come unstuck.”
Whittaker himself is refusing to contemplate defeat.
“My mindset is not ‘my career’s on the line,'” he said. “I’m not sitting at home going: ‘I need to win this’. I know if the right me turns up, I will win.”
For Whittaker, this fight is make rather than break.
“Nobody wants blips to happen but I’m happy it happened in a sense where it’s brought me back to earth. It’s brought me back to a position where I know the real me,” he said.
“Now I’m just back to me, back to my boxing and that’s when the best me will show.
“That’s why I just went quiet. I thought I don’t need to say nothing. They can talk if they want to talk. At the end of the day, judgement day will be coming soon.
“I just grow up. I think it’s the making of me.”
Speaking on Toe2Toe, Matthew Macklin, Barry Jones and Wayne Elcock discuss how Ben Whittaker might approach his rematch with Liam Cameron.
Whittaker added: “I ain’t been humbled. It just grounded me in a sense where there’s a lot more things bigger than boxing. There’s a lot more things bigger than my situation.
“With my life there’s been so many ups and downs and dark times, so something like that, I’ve been through worse if I’m honest.
“I truly believe nothing can faze me again.”
Cameron has had a hard route. He suffered a four-year ban from boxing after testing positive for a recreational drug. When he returned, only in 2023, he had weight to shed and personal issues to lay to rest. He needed the opportunity when he came up against Whittaker and he seized it.
The fallout from the first fight led Whittaker to Andy Lee’s boxing gym. That could be an excellent move for his development.
But Cameron still sees weakness in his opponent.
“He wants to blame everyone else, bar himself. The day he blames himself is the day he’ll get better,” the Sheffield man said. “I think he should take accountability that they tried to rush him with me and he wasn’t good enough on the night.
“Ben’s quite a deluded person, so he’s going to blame everything else when, really, it’s just his boxing.”
Ben Whittaker says he will pass the microphone to Liam Cameron once he wins their fight. The Gloves Are Off is available to watch now in full.
He doesn’t believe Whittaker is as confident as he appears.
“I saw that the last time. All this showboating is just to get a rest. That’s all it is,” Cameron said.
“You get a rest because your opponent either backs off from you and it boosts your confidence. He needs confidence boosting and his showboating’s that. There’s no stopping me going [like] that in the ring.
“I was pushing the pace, but nothing to what I could have. The fight was early. That’s the sad thing about it.
“It’ll be hard, won’t it? He’s not human if it’s not going to torture him,” Cameron added. “I’m looking for him to blow out in four rounds and just absolutely pummel him.”
But Whittaker might still incorporate showboating into his efforts on Sunday, if he wants to display the full array of his talents.
Ben Whittaker jokingly threatened Liam Cameron with an egg during ‘Gloves Are Off’ – but you’ll have to tune in to see if the two shook hands!
“It opens up a lot of doors, opens up a lot of opportunities,” he said of the onslaught expected from Cameron in the fight.
“It depends how he comes. If he comes a hundred miles an hour, nice and easy. If he comes to box, nice and easy, because you can’t box me either. So it depends how he tries to play it but we’ve got answers for everything.
“I’ve got an A plan, a B plan and a C plan, it just depends how I feel in the moment.
“I think you’ll get the full repertoire.”
Cameron, however, promises to be implacable in this fight. “He’s lying if he said he took me lightly. Definitely lying,” he said of Whittaker. “The occasion got to him. It wasn’t going his way.
“I know this is bad to say, but I’m one of those fighters who will fight to the death. I can say that about myself. We’ll soon find out [about him] in the rematch. I’ve always got that edge because I know I will not quit and he will look for a way out, it’s proven in his track record.
“If I can just win one more fight in boxing and lose every other one, it’ll be this one. [It’s] all I want. No world titles, no British title, this win.”
Ben Whittaker says he is ‘counting down the weeks’ to his second fight against Liam Cameron, ready to show him what he can do.
Whittaker knows the irrefutable response to Cameron would be simply to win himself.
“Him goading and saying these things, it’s landed him a big fight, it’s landed him another money fight and it’s kept his career alive,” Whittaker said.
“Just win and move on, that’s the mindset I’ve got,” he continued. “Ten years down in my career, when I’ve done what I’m supposed to do, we won’t be looking at this fight.
“I’ve turned up the way I’ve turned up, done the right things, he got the lucky draw from it and he’s got the bigger headline [fight] now. So fair play to him. These things do happen. But we’ll have to just stop it Sunday.”
Watch the Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron rematch live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm.
World Snooker Championship: Kyren Wilson knocked out after first-round defeat to Lei Peifan | Snooker News
Kyren Wilson suffered a shock defeat on the first day of World Snooker Championship; Wilson beaten 10-9 by China’s Lei Peifan on Saturday; Wilson is sixth first-time champion to lose in first round of their title defence
Last Updated: 19/04/25 11:52pm
Defending champion Kyren Wilson has been knocked out of the World Snooker Championship
Kyren Wilson’s title defence is over after he was stunned by China’s Lei Peifan on the opening day of the 2025 World Snooker Championship.
Wilson had a 6-3 lead after the first session but when the players returned for the second session, Lei won six consecutive frames to put himself on the brink of victory.
Despite a late comeback from Wilson forcing a deciding frame, Lei held his nerve to book his place in round two with a 10-9 win.
It means snooker’s ‘Crucible curse’ continues for another year as a first-time world champion has never retained their title since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977.
Lei Peifan has booked his place in round two
Wilson came into the tournament as one of the favourites after winning four ranking events this season, two more than any other player.
The 33-year-old is the sixth first-time champion to lose in the first round of their title defence after Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Graeme Dott, Neil Robertson and Luca Brecel.
“Obviously it’s really hard to take,” said Wilson. “I’ve got such a strong record at the Crucible and I was nowhere near my best, but it still took a 10-9 to beat me.
“It’s been a really long season and I’ve done so much. I’ve never been stretched so much in all my life but I’m proud of the way I’ve handled it and I’m proud of the success I’ve had as well.”
Reflecting on becoming the latest victim of the ‘curse’, Wilson added: “It’s obviously been built up into something it’s not, because other players have gone on to win it. I’m sure it’ll be broken at some point, but unfortunately, I won’t be that person.”
RBC Heritage: South Korea’s Si Woo Kim moves into lead after third round with Tommy Fleetwood close behind | Golf News
South Korea’s Si Woo Kim carded a five-under 66 to move into the lead after the third round of the RBC Heritage with Tommy Fleetwood three shots off the pace.
Kim goes into the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links on 15-under 198, one clear of American duo Justin Thomas and Andrew Novak.
Thomas, who posted a 61 in the opening round, started the day with a two-shot advantage but could only mix four birdies with two bogeys in a two-under 69, while Novak matched Kim’s 66.
Kim, 29, is aiming for his fifth PGA Tour victory but his first in more than two years, although he could be left to rue his only bogey of the day at the 18th where Thomas, who was in the final pairing with him, made a birdie.
Thomas was handed a one-stroke penalty on the par-five second hole, when he caused the ball to move in a waste bunker, although he still managed to salvage a par.
Maverick McNealy (65) is fourth at 13 under, while Brian Harman (66) and England’s Fleetwood (68) are tied for fifth at 12 under.
Fleetwood was only one off the lead when he made his second birdie of the day at the fifth but bogeys at the seventh and 10th stalled his progress, although he managed to play the final eight holes in two under thanks to birdies at the 11th and 16th.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler shot 68, moving to 11 under and tied for seventh place with Russell Henley (70).
Watch day four of the RBC Heritage, with coverage starting from 11:45 on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
When can Liverpool win the Premier League title? Date, permutations, trophy parade plans | Football News
After Liverpool’s late winner against West Ham, when is the earliest Arne Slot’s side can win the Premier League title?
Second-placed Arsenal dropped points again against Brentford on Saturday, before Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s late winner to increase the gap to 13 points.
The Reds face relegation battlers Leicester in their next fixture on April 20, live on Sky Sports.
It means Liverpool need a maximum of SIX points to clinch the title.
If Liverpool beat Leicester and Tottenham in their next two Premier League games, providing Arsenal win both their games against Ipswich and Crystal Palace, they will be crowned champions of England for a record-equalling 20th time on April 27.
However, if Arsenal lose to Ipswich, live on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday next week at 2pm, then Liverpool know that victory over Leicester – which is live on Sky after the Gunners’ game – will secure the title.
They could then get a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge when they play Chelsea on May 4. All of those matches will be shown live on Sky Sports.
What is the earliest date Liverpool can win the title?
Liverpool could win the title on April 20, following their televised game at relegation-threatened Leicester. But that would require them to beat Leicester and then for Arsenal to lose at Ipswich. All of those games are on Sky Sports too.
Liverpool cannot win the league title any earlier than that.
Could Liverpool win the league when Arsenal visit Anfield?
Yes, there is a scenario where that happens, but it would need Arsenal to make up at least two points on Liverpool ahead of that game.
If Liverpool come into that game with a pre-match lead of nine, eight or seven points, a draw would be enough to win them the title. If it is less than that, the hosts would need to win to secure the Premier League trophy.
When would Liverpool get the trophy?
If the Reds do, as expected, go on to win the league, then they would be presented with the Premier League trophy after their final home game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday May 25, the first time the club’s supporters will have actually seen their side lift the top-flight title in person since May 1990.
Premier League title odds: What do the bookmakers say?
As far as the bookies are concerned, this season’s Premier League title race is already over!
Would there be a trophy parade?
Liverpool players celebrate with the Premier League trophy in 2020 but without fans at Anfield
Given Liverpool’s fans were unable to celebrate their previous Premier League title win in 2020 with the team and players due to Covid restrictions, the Reds would be expected to go on an open-top bus parade with the trophy this time around, although that will all be confirmed at a later date once they have been crowned champions.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed at a community club event in South Africa that he will attend a Liverpool parade if they win the Premier League
How many Premier League titles have Liverpool won?
If the Reds are, as expected, to go on and win the league, that would draw them level with arch-rivals Manchester United on 20 top-flight titles, two of which would have come in the Premier League era.
When were Liverpool last crowned Premier League champions?
Liverpool last won the championship back in the delayed 2019/20 Covid season when Jurgen Klopp’s side amassed 99 points en route to the title, ending a 30-year wait for a top-flight title in the process.
- April 20: Leicester (A) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- April 27: Tottenham (H) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- May 4: Chelsea (A) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- May 11: Arsenal (H) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
- May 18: Brighton (A) – Premier League*
- May 25: Crystal Palace (H) – Premier League*
*These dates are subject to change
How China and the E.U. Are Reacting to Trump’s Tariffs
Ana Swanson, who covers trade and international economics for The New York Times, talks to Jeanna Smialek, The Times’s Brussels bureau chief, and Keith Bradsher, The Times’s Beijing bureau chief, about how Trump’s tariffs are playing out in Europe and China.
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For Sale: Burnt Lots in Pacific Palisades
Jesus Jiménez, a New York Times reporter, goes to the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles to look into the burnt lots on sale for millions of dollars. Several weeks after wildfires destroyed the wealthy neighborhood, homeowners are assessing the damage, their insurance coverage and the costs of rebuilding, and some are deciding to cut their losses and leave for good. Jiménez reports on who is selling and who is buying.
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