MORE PROTESTS OVER ARREST OF RAPPER IN SPAIN

Madrid, Feb. 18: Spanish police fired rubber bullets and baton-charged protesters as clashes erupted for a second night in a row Thursday at demonstrations against the arrest of rap artist Pablo Hasl.

Many protesters threw objects at officers and used trash containers and overturned motorbikes to block streets in both Madrid and Barcelona.

Hasl barricaded himself in a university building earlier this week to avoid his arrest in a case centering on free speech. After a 24-hour standoff, police took him away early Tuesday. He was taken to prison to serve a 9-month sentence for insulting the monarchy and glorifying terrorism in a song about former King Juan Carlos I and in 64 tweets several years ago.

Hasl's legal situation has drawn considerable public attention, with performers, celebrities and politicians demanding a change in the law he was convicted of violating.

Amnesty International said the case was the latest in a string of artists and social media personalities being put on trial.

Melbourne: Japan’s Naomi Osaka brutally halted Serena Williams’s latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on Thursday, as Novak Djokovic wrote the final chapter of qualifier Aslan Karatsev’s fairy-tale run. Fans returned after a five-day Coronavirus lockdown in time to see an emotional exit from Williams, Jennifer Brady’s win over Karolina Muchova and topranked Djokovic preserving his perfect semifinal record at Karatsev’s expense. Osaka again proved Serena’s nemesis with a one-sided 6-3, 6-4 win which heightened questions about whether the American, 39, will ever match Margaret Court’s all-time record for Slam singles titles. Serena put her hand on her heart as she acknowledged a standing ovation on Rod Laver Arena, and later walked out of her post-match press conference in tears, saying: “I’m done.” —