- Masood, Abdullah centuries lift Pakistan to 328-4 in first England Test
- Hurricane Milton strengthens fast, threatens Mexico, Florida
- Tunisia's President Saied set for landslide election win
- Barca hoping to return to Camp Nou 'by end of year'
- Trump to open second golf course at Scotland resort in summer 2025
- Super-sub Jhon Duran rewarded with new Aston Villa deal
- US duo win Nobel for gene regulation breakthrough
- Masood hits first ton for four years to power Pakistan to 233-1
- Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round
- Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open with back injury
- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Artist Marina Abramovic hopes first China show offers tech respite
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- Pakistan 122-1 at lunch in first England Test
- Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- 'Second family': tennis stars hunt winning formula with new coaches
- Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation
- Mexico mayor murdered days after taking office
- Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
- Japan govt admits doctoring 'untidy' cabinet photo
- Israel marks first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack
- Darvish tames Ohtani as Padres thrash Dodgers
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- Amazon activist warns of 'critical situation' ahead of UN forum
- Mourners pay tribute to latest victims of deadly Channel crossing
- Tunisia incumbent Saied set to win presidential vote: exit polls
- Phillies win thriller to level Mets series
- Yu bags first PGA Tour win with playoff win
- PSG held by Nice to leave Monaco clear at top of Ligue 1
- AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea's penalty heroics
- Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
- Fresh Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Sucic stunner earns Real Sociedad draw against Atletico
- PSG draw with Nice, fail to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Gudmundsson downs AC Milan after De Gea's penalty heroics for Fiorentina
- 'Yes' vote prevails in Kazakhstan nuclear plant vote: TV
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- Lewandowski hat-trick powers Liga leaders Barca to Alaves victory
- 'Nothing gets in way of team,' says Celtics' MVP hopeful Tatum
- India maintain Pakistan stranglehold as Windies cruise at Women's T20 World Cup
- 'We will win!': Mozambique's ruling party confident at final vote rally
- Tunisia voting ends as Saied eyes re-election with critics behind bars
- Florida braces for Milton, FEMA head slams 'dangerous' Helene misinformation
- Postecoglou slams 'unacceptable' Spurs after 'terrible' loss at Brighton
USA spoils host China's hockey debut in 8-0 thrashing
The United States spoiled Olympic hosts China's first-ever appearance in men's hockey with an 8-0 thrashing on Thursday as the geopolitical rivals faced off in a wide-open Beijing tournament lacking NHL glamour.
Perennial gold medal threat Canada meanwhile dispatched 2018 silver medallists Germany 5-1 in the other match in the Olympic tournament's "Group of Death".
The National Hockey League's late decision to keep their superstars away from Beijing over Covid sent heavyweights Canada and the United States scrambling to assemble squads that are heavy on youth but light on experience at the international level.
But the young Americans had no trouble with a Chinese side packed with US and Canadian players who signed up to skate for China in the Olympic hosts' maiden appearance in the event.
China was nearly barred from the Beijing Games over concerns they would embarrass themselves and the sport, and they came close to that on Thursday.
The US squad, many of whom are college players, launched twice as many shots on goal and were far superior throughout the game.
Sean Farrell, a 20-year-old who plays for Harvard University, whipped in three goals in a long night for China's US-born goalie Jeremy Smith.
The contest had loomed as an intriguing match-up due to the rancour between the two countries, with the US government refusing to send any government representatives to the Games in a snub of China over its human rights record.
Canada, birthplace of the sport and winner of three of the last five golds, deployed its seemingly inexhaustible pool of young talent to dominate the Germans in a rematch of the 2018 semifinal won by Germany.
The Canadians pounced with three goals in the first period and the Germans were never able to recover.
The 2018 semifinal "is in the back of your mind," Canada forward Eric O'Dell said.
"It was a tough loss (in Pyeongchang) and it felt good to get the win today."
With North America's biggest stars absent, the experienced Finns and defending-champion Russians have emerged as potential favourites.
Both are stocked with top talent from Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), widely considered the world's second-best after the NHL.
The Russians looked beatable in their opening game on Wednesday, battling to get past Switzerland, 1-0.
But Finland's veteran squad were sharp and efficient on Thursday, easily dispatching Slovakia 6-2 to open their account in Group C.
World champions in 2019, Finland is comprised of teammates from various KHL squads and their chemistry was on display from the start as they scored three goals on just six shots to begin the game.
"I think we were just very efficient today," coach Jukka Jalonen said.
"Sometimes, with those chances you will score one or two goals, but we scored six."
In other Group C play earlier on Thursday, Sweden beat Latvia 3-2.
burs-dma/pb
S.Gregor--AMWN