Faisal's blog

MELBOURNE – The sold-out Rod Laver Arena spectators witnessed their favorite player Ashleigh Barty winning her maiden Australian Open title, as the Australian defeated American underdog Danielle Collins in two sets (6-3, 7-6). The world No.1 became the first home winner of the Australian Open since Chris O’Neil in Kooyong in 1978.  O’Neil was one of those in attendance – she opted for different attire – joining Barty’s parents, Josie and Robert on a night sure to be revisited in Australia for years to come. Barty's idol, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, presented the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to her. "This is just a dream come true for me and I’m so proud to be an Aussie ," Barty said. "We started right from the start, the second part of our career, we did it all together, no-one has changed, it's been incredible," said Barty, who returned to tennis in 2016 after a roughly two-year absence. "I love you guys to death, you are the absolute best in t...

SEOUL – One of the most uprising third-generation girl groups, April, have officially disbanded, not in the month of the group's name, but in January 28, 2022. There are some reasons why this popular girl group being disbanded. Their label DSP Media (which raised popular girl groups Rainbow and Kara which also disbanded) is being taken over by RBW. Other controversial cases including the member being bullied or bullying also led the disbandment of this girl group. The label's statement regarding April's disbandment is as follows: "Hello, this is DSP Media. We are informing you that our artist APRIL has disbanded. After a long period of discussion and debate, our agency and the APRIL members decided to have the group disband and go their separate ways. We ask that you give lots of support and interest to the six members, who will be walking a new path that is not part of APRIL. Furthermore, we would like to once again thank the fans who supported and cheered...

MELBOURNE – With the exit of defending champion and world no.1 Novak Djokovic, the stage is set for this weekend's Australian Open finals (tennis' first grand slam of the year), where history would about to make at Rod Laver Arena. 1. Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev (Men singles title) Following the shocking exit of defending champion and the world no.1 Novak Djokovic, the world no. 1 status is at stake between "the king of clay" Rafael Nadal and last year's U.S. Open champion and world no.2 Daniil Medvedev. Both Nadal and Medvedev previously lost to Djokovic in their own previous Australian Open finals respectively. Over their previous four meetings, Nadal and Medvedev last time met each other at 2020 ATP Finals semifinal, where Medvedev defeated the 35 year-old Spaniard. Can the 26 year-old Russian become the new world no.1 by winning the Australian Open? Or will Nadal make history with his 21st career grand slam title? 2. Ashleigh Barty vs. Daniell...

BELLEVILLE, IL – Robert George Goalby, better known as Bob Goalby, has became one of the most decorated players on the PGA Tour since his debut win at 1958 Greater Greensboro Open. Since then, he became main rival to top players like the Big Three (Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer), Roberto De Vicenzo, Mike Souchak, Art Wall Jr. and Don January. Goalby's only major triumph, the 1968 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, saw his impeccable performance on his way to grab his only "green jacket" in his career. Bob Goalby wore the green jacket in his 1968 Masters triumph . However, like Palmer, Goalby had died after fighting against dangerous disease he suffered for more than 10 years. Goalby has left the golfing world with his incomparable performances from early 1960s to mid 1970s. "Bob Goalby was a wonderful golfer but also an all-around great athlete. Most important, Bob was a great guy and good friend to Barbara and me for many ...

MELBOURNE – World number one men's singles tennis player Novak Djokovic might have won his nine Australian Open titles in his career so far . However, the 34 year-old Serbian has been forced to miss the first tennis major championship event due to his visa cancelation, or he's not being vaccinated.  - Summary On 14 January 2022, Alex Hawke, Australia's Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, exercised his ministerial powers under the Migration Act 1958 to cancel Djokovic's visa, citing "health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so". Djokovic applied for a judicial review of the decision, but three Federal Court of Australia judges unanimously dismissed his application on 16 January with costs, preventing his participation in the 2022 Australian Open. Djokovic said he was "extremely disappointed" with the decision but accepted the ruling, and flew out of ...

HONOLULU, HI – Hideki Matsuyama started his 2021-22 season stronger with his 2nd win of the season at Hawaiian Open (Sony Open In Hawaii) at Waialae Golf Club. Matsuyama previously won his home tournament at Zozo Championship in Chiba. With this Hawaii Open victory, Matsuyama became the 2nd Japanese golfer to win the Hawaii golf open tournament, the last being Isao Aoki in 1983. Aoki won by one stroke over Jack Renner with an hole out eagle at 72nd hole (Aoki was one stroke behind Renner entering the 72nd hole), while Matsuyama defeated 2013 winner Russell Henley with a birdie on first extra hole. Sources:  -  https://www.pgatour.com/daily-wrapup/2022/01/16/hideki-matsuyama-wins-in-playoff-at-sony-open-in-hawaii.html -  2022 Hawaii Open Golf final leaderboard

JAKARTA – Siapa yang tidak kenal dengan Toyota Land Cruiser? Ya,  SUV mewah nomor satu di Asia produksi Toyota ini menjadi salah satu mobil populer di Indonesia. Kebanyakan Land Cruiser di Indonesia digunakan oleh para pejabat, pegawai negeri sipil, maupun beberapa menteri; mereka menggunakan Land Cruiser terbaru mereka untuk kegiatan dinas antar provinsi. Berikut ini merupakan sejarah Land Cruiser di Indonesia. Land Cruiser FJ40 Hardtop yang diluncurkan pada tahun 1970an, saat ini merupakan mobil khusus wisata pegunungan di Indonesia .  Model ini merupakan model Land Cruiser satu-satunya yang diproduksi Toyota bersama Daihatsu . 1. Generasi pertama  Mobil di atas merupakan mobil Land Cruiser generasi pertama yang dijual sekitar tahun 1970an hingga 1980an. Di Indonesia, Land Cruiser generasi pertama ini banyak digunakan sebagai mobil operasional TNI Angkatan Darat, Laut dan Udara pada era Orde Baru/masa kepresidenan Soeharto. 2. Generas...

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA – The 2022 Dakar Rally was a rally raid event held in Saudi Arabia and the 44th edition of the Dakar Rally organized by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). The event took place between 1–14 January 2022. This was the third time Saudi Arabia had hosted the event, with support from the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. The race started in Ha'il and ended in Jeddah, going through canyons and cliffs in the Neom region, passing by the Red Sea coastline, into to stretches of dunes surrounding Riyadh, with a lot more action on sand dunes in the Empty Quarter. The route consisted of one prologue stage and 12 normal stages, with one rest day in Riyadh on 8 January. When ASO signed the five-year deal with Saudi Arabia, there was a first-year exclusivity clause. Since it has expired, more countries could have been added to the route. However, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions a decision has been made to remain only in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, the F...

Here are my favorite new releases for this week! (January 10-16) 1. Erika Tham - "Shhh" Los Angeles-based Singaporean singer-songwriter Erika Tham returns with her new single "Shhh". The single, along with her previous single "Admit It" which released last October, will be part of her upcoming album which will be released some time in 2022. Tham is famously known with her lead role as Corki Chang in a popular teen drama Make It Pop  (2015-16) which was aired on Nickelodeon. During an interview, Tham expected that her debut solo album will be released in summer 2022. Erika Tham's Twitter Erika Tham's Instagram 2. Momoland X Natti Natasha - "Yummy Yummy Love" South Korean popular girl group Momoland collaborate with Latin singer Natti Natasha in a non-album duet single "Yummy Yummy Love". Momoland have been popular with their 2018 hit "Bboom Bboom", while Natti Natasha has been popular...

PALM BEACH, FL (via TheGolfChannel.com and PGATour.com) – American golf journalist Tim Rosaforte passed away Tuesday (January 11th) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, after a brief battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 66. Rosaforte retired in late 2019 after a decorated career that included stops at Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest and Golf Channel. He officially joined Golf Channel in 2007, but he first appeared on the network in the mid-1990s, during the company’s infancy. Over the years he grew into the high-profile role of golf’s “insider,” offering notes and behind-the-scenes tidbits about the sport and its biggest names. One of the game’s most well-respected voices and well-connected reporters, Rosaforte covered more than 125 majors and 17 Ryder Cups; the 2020 edition was the first Masters he’d missed since 1983. “The PGA Tour family lost a friend today in Tim Rosaforte, one of the great golf journalists of his generation,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “...

SEOUL (via Soompi.com) – Former Gugudan member Kim Nayoung will be debuting as an actress! On January 3, the agency Goodman Story Entertainment confirmed that they had signed an exclusive contract with Kim Nayoung. The agency stated, “We are happy to be working with Kim Nayoung, who has proved her diverse talent in various fields like acting, singing, and dancing. We will fully support her activities in various projects that will not be limited to any particular stage or media. Please look forward to and support Kim Nayoung’s new image as an actor.” Kim Nayoung (26) placed No. 14 on Mnet’s “Produce 101” series and debuted later in Jellyfish Entertainment’s new girl group gugudan. During her time in gugudan, she acted in the musical “Mephisto” and the play “Why Did You Come to My House?”. Gugudan  disbanded  on December 31, 2020, and Nayoung  left  Jellyfish Entertainment in March 2021. Other artists at Goodman Story include  Cho Seung Woo ,...