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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is joining the Atlanta Hawks on a two-year, $15 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Saturday. Rondo, 34, is entering his 15th NBA season and spent the past two with the Los Angeles Lakers. He will provide the Hawks with a valuable puzzle piece while also mentoring 22-year-old point guard Trae Young. The Hawks also reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with guard Kris Dunn, a day after adding veteran swingman Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari, who spent ... » Learn More about Hawks sign Rondo to two-year, $15M deal

SINGAPORE - During the debate on the budget for the Ministry of Social and Family Development on Friday (March 5), MPs called for coordinated community initiatives and accessibility to social services. They also noted the stress that the Covid-19 pandemic has placed on families. Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) Better coordinate community initiatives Ms Phua noted that on the long weekend before Chinese New Year, she met groups distributing lunch bento boxes to the same group of rental residents. She said: "A common sight on the ground especially in rental housing estates is an overlap of services such as free distribution of food, masks and groceries; health screening and home cleaning." She asked if there was an effective way of coordinating such initiatives so there is less wastage and better allocation of precious resources. Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) Have mini social service offices To make it easier for families and persons in need to seek help, Ms Pereira ... » Learn More about MPs call for focus on domestic violence, supporting marriages during pandemic

The year 2020 was a remarkable year for realme Philippines, despite the setbacks and challenges experienced by many companies last year because of the pandemic. It was the year that realme, a relatively newcomer in the already competitive smartphone market, became the fastest growing smartphone brand and eventually the No. 1 smartphone brand in the Philippines. According to Canalys, IDC, and Counterpoint Research, realme Philippines claimed the No. 1 spot in the country’s smartphone market, recording triple-digit growth in Q3 2020. IDC reported realme Philippines achieved a staggering 962.5 percent annual growth and captured 25.4 percent local market share in the third quarter of 2020. The brand’s fast rise in the local smartphone arena was no mean feat. realme Philippines was able to accomplish this in a short span of time by providing the market with reasonably priced smartphones that do what they promise, successful and unique digital campaigns, opening of realme stores across ... » Learn More about Every Filipino home can now be a smart home with realme TechLife

People explore the “Entre les rangs,” comprised of thousands of flexible stems topped with white reflectors, this installation reinterprets a slice of Quebecís agricultural history, and is one of the five light installations on display to bring some comfort to residents of a city that has been battered by months of coronavirus on Dec. 18, 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Image: AFP/Eric Thomas In the heart of downtown Montreal, residents of a city battered by months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic can now indulge in a little seasonal “light therapy.” A special sound and light display has been set up to try to bring some comfort to Montreal. On Festival Square, Montrealers can marvel at imposing luminous zoetropes, fast-revolving wheels that project illustrations from twelve books written from Quebec in a way that makes the images seem like animation. Sitting inside one of these 19th-century pre-cinematic contraptions, Alison Abrego and Salma Houaichi, both 27, push a ... » Learn More about Montreal offers ‘light therapy’ in pandemic winter

Barangay Ginebra is paving a path to a dynastic future by pulling a page from its past. The Gin Kings acquired NorthPort big man Christian Standhardinger for Greg Slaughter in a one-on-one swap that was reported a year ago, but was locked in the backburner, apparently because of a sabbatical that the Ginebra center took last year. “He’s a throwback to the Ginebra players of old,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said of Standhardinger hours after the trade was announced on Friday morning by the PBA after approval from its trade committee the night before. “I think the (Gin Kings’) fans will appreciate his style of play.” The Inquirer reported the trade in February last year, citing it as one of the reasons Slaughter decided to take a sabbatical from the league. Slaughter flew to the United States but eventually mended fences with San Miguel Corp. top bosses, who signed him to a fresh contract before finally dealing him to the Batang Pier. Major piece “[Christian’s] strengths will ... » Learn More about Acquisition star Standhardinger puts Ginebra on course for brighter tomorrows

This photo taken on October 26, 2019 shows Shenzhen FC head coach Roberto Donadoni gesturing during the Chinese Super League (CSL) football match between Shenzhen FC and Wuhan Zall FC in Shenzhen in China’s southern Guangdong province. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT Roberto Donadoni should be in the thick of China’s football season but his thoughts are consumed by the suffering that the coronavirus has brought to his hometown in northern Italy. Nearly 14,000 people have died in Italy since the pandemic struck, more than any other country, and the region where the AC Milan legend is from has been hit hardest. “I’m from Bergamo, one of the places in a very difficult situation now. My family are from there, it’s very, very tough,” the 56-year-old former Italy international, now coach of Shenzhen FC, told AFP by telephone from southern China. “Every day I spoke with my mum, my brother, my sister. It’s possible for me to see my family on Facetime or Skype or WeChat, but it’s ... » Learn More about China-based Donadoni fears for family in Italian coronavirus hotspot

Barangay Ginebra took a break on Friday, ahead of the PBA’s move to suspend team practices and other basketball-related activities. Halfway around the world, however, its former big man, Greg Slaughter, was putting in the work. Slaughter posted on his Instagram account three images showing him and Chris Ellis, another former Gin King, working on their shooting in an undisclosed court in the United States. The caption to the big man’s entry read two dragon emojis, “grind,” and a hashtag: #DoubleDragon. Slaughter announced a sudden sabbatical from the PBA on Feb. 8, sending the crowd darlings in disarray and leaving the basketball world in a fog of speculation. Ellis, meanwhile, had been Awol for two years, following his trade to Blackwater in 2017. Recently, he was spotted in Thailand, playing for Lao club Luang Prabang in the Thai Basketball Super League. Both players played only for Ginebra throughout their careers. Ellis, a former national team player, won a PBA ... » Learn More about Slaughter sighting in US

SINGAPORE - Like other athletes in Singapore, Netball Super League club Swifts Barracudas were relieved when the restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 were eased in June, allowing them to gather in groups of five to train. However, safe-distancing measures remain in play for almost all aspects of local sport, and with that, several team sports are now racking up increased costs. For the Barracudas, expenses have doubled as the club have to book an additional court for 20 players to train twice a week at the Kallang Netball Centre, said coach Geraldine Ng. Only five players are allowed on one court at any one time. The team have had to halve training time to just one hour to accommodate more players for each two-hour booking. The club use club funds contributed by members to cover costs, said Ng, 28, who has been coaching the Barracudas for three years. When asked how they have had to adapt their training to fit the arrangements, she said: "We build up from small-group ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: Local sports teams racking up extra expenses, modifying training structures due to safe distancing measures

SINGAPORE - Weeknights at The Cage used to be overflowing with adrenaline and goals as futsal players flocked to Kallang to get their football fix. These days however, Rajesh Mulani is often greeted with silence as he stares at the six empty pitches. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the facility would usually be fully booked with up to 20 different groups there during the 7pm-11pm peak period. Co-owner Mulani now sees an average of three groups each night and said his business has been badly affected despite help from the Government's Jobs Support Scheme, which co-pays salaries to help firms retain workers. He estimated The Cage, which has pitches in Kallang, Turf City and MacPherson, is operating at 20 per cent utilisation while revenue has fallen by 80 per cent. His running cost across all three venues, excluding rent which is being negotiated with the Singapore Land Authority, is between $70,000 and $80,000. "The deal-breaker is the 'group of five' limitation because we're ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: Futsal facilities in Singapore hit hard during pandemic

SINGAPORE - Aqilah Andin, vice-captain of the national netball team, has spent the bulk of her career keeping goal for both club and country. But from next month, the 24-year-old defender will get a chance to test out her skills as an attacking player with the launch of Netball Singapore's 3v3 league. The competition will run from Feb 23 to May 21, ahead of the Netball Super League (NSL), the annual seven-a-side club competition which has been postponed till May 15. NS is one of several leading national sports associations that have begun pivoting to small-sided formats with team sport at a standstill because of the Covid-induced, group-of-eight rule. Hockey and volleyball were the first to start the ball rolling. The Singapore Hockey Federation launched its Under-19 3v3 League on Jan 30, with an eye on also introducing leagues for men and women. The same weekend, the Volleyball Association of Singapore (VAS) held a closed-door beach volleyball tournament. The VAS Kickstart ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: Team sports adopting small-sided formats as they seek to get players back to competition