Sports
Kamala Harris Secures Democratic Nomination for President
Vice-President Kamala Harris has achieved a significant milestone by garnering the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, securing her position as the party’s nominee for president. A survey conducted by the Associated Press on Monday evening revealed that she has surpassed the necessary 1,976 delegate endorsements needed to clinch the nomination in the first round of voting.
This marks a pivotal moment for Ms. Harris, who is now poised to challenge Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election. The official confirmation will occur when party delegates participate in a roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago next month.
Delegates, chosen to represent their electoral areas, have pledged their support to Ms. Harris, and while these pledges are technically non-binding until the vote, they are unlikely to change. Since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on Sunday, no challenger has emerged to contest Ms. Harris’s candidacy.
President Biden’s exit came after increasing pressure from senior party members following a difficult debate against Trump. If current support holds until the delegates cast their votes between August 1-7, Ms. Harris will formally secure the party’s nomination.
The Associated Press survey underscores the growing support for Ms. Harris after President Biden’s withdrawal. Her campaign has seen a surge in donations, and prominent Democrats have rallied behind her as the Democratic nominee.
During a speech at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday evening, Ms. Harris addressed her supporters and aimed her focus at Donald Trump. Reflecting on her background as a prosecutor in California who tackled predators and fraudsters, she stated, “I know Donald Trump’s type.”
Ms. Harris emphasized the contrast between the visions offered by her campaign and Trump’s, highlighting, “One focuses on the future, the other focuses on the past.” She expressed her belief in a “brighter future that makes room for all Americans,” in contrast to Trump’s approach, which she described as wanting to take the country backward.
Ms. Harris also took the opportunity to acknowledge President Biden’s achievements, calling her tenure as his vice-president “one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Before Ms. Harris addressed her supporters, President Biden made his first public comments since withdrawing from the 2024 race. Speaking via phone while isolating due to Covid-19, he expressed gratitude to his aides and urged them to “embrace” Ms. Harris, praising her as “the best.”
Acknowledging the surprise and difficulty of his decision, Mr. Biden affirmed that it was the right course of action. He pledged to remain actively involved in the campaign, emphasizing the importance of defending democracy.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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