Pole vault world record holder Armand 'Mondo' DuPlantis said Thursday that he hoped the world championships in Tokyo would be more fun than the "apocalyptic" Olympics there four years ago. The Tokyo Games, delayed a year to 2021 because of the pandemic, were held in strict conditions to prevent the spread of the virus, with fans shut out of most events and athletes forced to undergo tests and social distancing. DuPlantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-ex-premier-league-referee-david-coote-charged-with-making-indecent-child-image-jurgen-klopp-1757532264171">Ex-Premier League referee David Coote charged with making indecent child image</a>There will be no such restrictions when the world championships begin on Saturday, with fans expected to flock to Tokyo's National Stadium, which seats almost 70,000.DuPlantis is aiming to better his own world record for a 14th time and he said he hoped to enjoy the experience more than the Tokyo Olympics."It was just strange for everyone, very apocalyptic almost, in a way," said the 25-year-old US-born Swede."In a lot of ways not enjoyable and just scary."I'm happy to have a more real, true experience where you get the real meaning of sport, which is bringing people together and having a sense of community."DuPlantis is one of the biggest names competing in Tokyo, where he will chase a third world title.He is being pushed by Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, but DuPlantis is untouchable on his day and arrives in Tokyo fresh from winning at the Diamond League finals.He also improved his world record to 6.29m in Budapest last month.DuPlantis said he was "pretty calm and pretty chilled" heading into the world championships, where high temperatures are likely to be a factor in several events."I'm very glad I'm not a marathon runner," said DuPlantis."I do very short sprints so I wouldn't say we're so much affected by the heat. If anything, it has a benefit."

DuPlantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium. There will be no such restrictions when the world championships begin on Saturday, with fans expected to flock to Tokyo's National Stadium, which seats almost 70,000.

Pole vault world record holder Armand 'Mondo' DuPlantis said Thursday that he hoped the world championships in Tokyo would be more fun than the "apocalyptic" Olympics there four years ago. The Tokyo Games, delayed a year to 2021 because of the pandemic, were held in strict conditions to prevent the spread of the virus, with fans shut out of most events and athletes forced to undergo tests and social distancing. DuPlantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium. Also Read - Ex-Premier League referee David Coote charged with making indecent child image There will be no such restrictions when the world championships begin on Saturday, with fans expected to flock to Tokyo's National Stadium, which seats almost 70,000. DuPlantis is aiming to better his own world record for a 14th time and he said he hoped to enjoy the experience more than the Tokyo Olympics. "It was just strange for everyone, very apocalyptic almost, in a way," said the 25-year-old US-born Swede. "In a lot of ways not enjoyable and just scary. "I'm happy to have a more real, true experience where you get the real meaning of sport, which is bringing people together and having a sense of community." DuPlantis is one of the biggest names competing in Tokyo, where he will chase a third world title. He is being pushed by Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, but DuPlantis is untouchable on his day and arrives in Tokyo fresh from winning at the Diamond League finals. He also improved his world record to 6.29m in Budapest last month. DuPlantis said he was "pretty calm and pretty chilled" heading into the world championships, where high temperatures are likely to be a factor in several events. "I'm very glad I'm not a marathon runner," said DuPlantis. "I do very short sprints so I wouldn't say we're so much affected by the heat. If anything, it has a benefit."

DuPlantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium. There will be no such restrictions when the world championships begin on Saturday, with fans expected to flock to Tokyo's National Stadium, which seats almost 70,000.

World Athletics Championship: Pole vaulter DuPlantis hopes for 'fun Tokyo' after 'apocalyptic' 2021 Olympics

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent image of a child. Coote, 43, was sacked from his officiating role in December after a video showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light.&nbsp;The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;Coote, who was charged on August 12 and is on conditional bail, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.&nbsp;The allegation relates to a video recovered by officers from Nottinghamshire Police in February, the force said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;Coote was also banned from officiating by European governing body UEFA until June 2026 after a different video emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;In a January interview he came out as gay and said his struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to bad choices.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

David Coote, who was charged on August 12 and is on conditional bail, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent image of a child. Coote, 43, was sacked from his officiating role in December after a video showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light. The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details Coote, who was charged on August 12 and is on conditional bail, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday. The allegation relates to a video recovered by officers from Nottinghamshire Police in February, the force said. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out Coote was also banned from officiating by European governing body UEFA until June 2026 after a different video emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) In a January interview he came out as gay and said his struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to bad choices. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

David Coote, who was charged on August 12 and is on conditional bail, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Ex-Premier League referee David Coote charged with making indecent child image

Cubans were in despair Wednesday after their cash-strapped communist country plunged into its fifth nationwide power blackout in a year."A total disconnection of the SEN electricity system has occurred, which may be associated with an unexpected shutdown" of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the energy ministry said on its X account.It added that it was investigating the outage, which happened at around 9:15 am (1315GMT).Cuba is already in the throes of its worst economic crisis in three decades.In recent years it has been plagued by hours-long daily blackouts, recurring electricity system breakdowns and an acute shortage of fuel to keep producing power.The recent installation of 30 solar parks, with Chinese funding and expertise, has not yet alleviated the situation."Yet again, we're going backward. Yet again, a lost day! Anguish and sadness, and for some, despair," said Alina Gutierrez, a 62-year-old housewife, who learned of the new outage while shopping at a fruit and vegetable market in central Havana.She rushed home to stockpile water -- electricity is used to pump water into apartments in Havana -- while "waiting to see how long this will last."The Antonio Guiteras plant is the biggest of the communist-run island's eight decrepit oil-fired power plants, some of which are more than 40 years old.On Sunday, five of the nation's 15 provinces were left in the dark for several hours due to a a breakdown in the grid.In October 2024, the island was plunged into darkness for several days following a shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras plant. The hurricane season also knocked out power toThe blackouts have led to rare anti-government protests.Cuba has attempted to plug the hole in its generating capacity with floating electric plants rented from a Turkish company.It also uses generators fueled by crude oil, while struggling to find enough petrol for the island's cars, tractors and ambulances.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

On Sunday, five of the nation's 15 provinces were left in the dark for several hours due to a a breakdown in the grid.

Cubans were in despair Wednesday after their cash-strapped communist country plunged into its fifth nationwide power blackout in a year. "A total disconnection of the SEN electricity system has occurred, which may be associated with an unexpected shutdown" of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the energy ministry said on its X account. It added that it was investigating the outage, which happened at around 9:15 am (1315GMT). Cuba is already in the throes of its worst economic crisis in three decades. In recent years it has been plagued by hours-long daily blackouts, recurring electricity system breakdowns and an acute shortage of fuel to keep producing power. The recent installation of 30 solar parks, with Chinese funding and expertise, has not yet alleviated the situation. "Yet again, we're going backward. Yet again, a lost day! Anguish and sadness, and for some, despair," said Alina Gutierrez, a 62-year-old housewife, who learned of the new outage while shopping at a fruit and vegetable market in central Havana. She rushed home to stockpile water -- electricity is used to pump water into apartments in Havana -- while "waiting to see how long this will last." The Antonio Guiteras plant is the biggest of the communist-run island's eight decrepit oil-fired power plants, some of which are more than 40 years old. On Sunday, five of the nation's 15 provinces were left in the dark for several hours due to a a breakdown in the grid. In October 2024, the island was plunged into darkness for several days following a shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras plant. The hurricane season also knocked out power to The blackouts have led to rare anti-government protests. Cuba has attempted to plug the hole in its generating capacity with floating electric plants rented from a Turkish company. It also uses generators fueled by crude oil, while struggling to find enough petrol for the island's cars, tractors and ambulances. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

On Sunday, five of the nation's 15 provinces were left in the dark for several hours due to a a breakdown in the grid.

Cuba in ‘despair’ after nationwide power blackout strikes country fifth time in a year

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson's surprise Oscars campaign for his first arthouse role in "The Smashing Machine" barreled into the Toronto film festival Monday.&nbsp;Johnson, 53, who has earned rave reviews playing fighter Mark Kerr, sat down with an audience before the movie's North American premiere to reflect on a unique career.<h2>- Transformation -</h2>The former grappler and action hero has never lacked bulk. But when Johnson signed up to play Kerr, director Benny Safdie had an unusual request.&nbsp;"Benny, early, said, 'I don't know if you've ever been told this before, but I think you're gonna need to gain weight,'" recalled Johnson.&nbsp;Johnson hit the gym for a few months, gaining 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) of muscle to emulate Kerr's even-more-gargantuan physique.&nbsp;The role required three to four hours of facial prosthetics every morning before filming.&nbsp;And to mimic Kerr's soft speech, Johnson employed a voice coach for the first time in his career -- hiring the teacher used by co-star Emily Blunt for "Oppenheimer."<h2>- Canadian homecoming -</h2>&nbsp;Before "The Rock" entered a wrestling ring, Johnson had another career -- pro football.&nbsp;"I played for the Calgary Stampeders" in Canada's gridiron league, he recalled, to cheers from the Toronto audience.&nbsp;"I always thought I was going to be an NFL player. I was going to take care of my parents, buy them their first home," said Johnson.&nbsp;Instead, Johnson never made the team, and returned to the United States after being cut.&nbsp;It mirrored his father's own journey. Rocky Johnson had spent years in Toronto, living homeless at age 13, before becoming a successful wrestler himself.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/dwayne-johnson-cries-as-the-smashing-machine-earns-15-minute-ovation-at-venice-film-festival-1756785698356">Dwayne Johnson cries as The Smashing Machine earns 15-minute ovation at Venice Film Festival</a><h2>- Rocky start -</h2>&nbsp;At first, wrestling didn't come easy to the younger Johnson either.&nbsp;He recalled shouts of "You suck!" from spectators early on, until he knuckled down and learnt his father's trade.&nbsp;It is a lesson Johnson took to Hollywood, when he was cast in his late twenties in the lead role of "The Mummy" franchise spin-off "The Scorpion King."&nbsp;"It was a baptism by fire," he said, recalling being "super nervous" and determined to absorb every lesson like "a sponge."&nbsp;"It was like, here's your first film, here's your starring role... don't ruin it!"&nbsp;Wild success followed with franchises like "Moana," "Jumanji" and "The Fast and the Furious" making Johnson Hollywood's top-paid actor.&nbsp;But "I was pigeonholed because I allowed it to happen," recalled Johnson.<h2>- Action to arthouse -</h2>That changed when he met Safdie, who gambled that Johnson could take the plunge into arthouse film.&nbsp;Johnson also credited Blunt -- an Oscar nominee, who told the panel the former wrestler was nothing like his persona.&nbsp;"'The Rock' is the performance of a lifetime," said Blunt.&nbsp;Safdie won best director at the Venice film festival for his work with Johnson -- and the pair are reteaming already, with "Lizard Music."&nbsp;Based off a Daniel Pinkwater novel, the movie casts Johnson as an eccentric 70-year-old man whose best friend is a geriatric chicken.&nbsp;"Benny pitched me this after we wrapped the 'Smashing Machine'," said Johnson.&nbsp;"After about 45 minutes his pitch ended, and I said, 'I am your Chicken Man.'"&nbsp;Worried that Johnson might be leaving his blockbuster roots behind entirely? There was some good news.&nbsp;"We are going to start shooting 'Jumanji 3' in November," he said.

Dwayne Johnson's performance in the new film The Smashing Machine has been lauded by one and all as the film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival. Johnson's performance, many feel, may fetch him an Oscar nomination next year. 

Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson's surprise Oscars campaign for his first arthouse role in "The Smashing Machine" barreled into the Toronto film festival Monday. Johnson, 53, who has earned rave reviews playing fighter Mark Kerr, sat down with an audience before the movie's North American premiere to reflect on a unique career. - Transformation - The former grappler and action hero has never lacked bulk. But when Johnson signed up to play Kerr, director Benny Safdie had an unusual request. "Benny, early, said, 'I don't know if you've ever been told this before, but I think you're gonna need to gain weight,'" recalled Johnson. Johnson hit the gym for a few months, gaining 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) of muscle to emulate Kerr's even-more-gargantuan physique. The role required three to four hours of facial prosthetics every morning before filming. And to mimic Kerr's soft speech, Johnson employed a voice coach for the first time in his career -- hiring the teacher used by co-star Emily Blunt for "Oppenheimer." - Canadian homecoming - Before "The Rock" entered a wrestling ring, Johnson had another career -- pro football. "I played for the Calgary Stampeders" in Canada's gridiron league, he recalled, to cheers from the Toronto audience. "I always thought I was going to be an NFL player. I was going to take care of my parents, buy them their first home," said Johnson. Instead, Johnson never made the team, and returned to the United States after being cut. It mirrored his father's own journey. Rocky Johnson had spent years in Toronto, living homeless at age 13, before becoming a successful wrestler himself. Also read: Dwayne Johnson cries as The Smashing Machine earns 15-minute ovation at Venice Film Festival - Rocky start - At first, wrestling didn't come easy to the younger Johnson either. He recalled shouts of "You suck!" from spectators early on, until he knuckled down and learnt his father's trade. It is a lesson Johnson took to Hollywood, when he was cast in his late twenties in the lead role of "The Mummy" franchise spin-off "The Scorpion King." "It was a baptism by fire," he said, recalling being "super nervous" and determined to absorb every lesson like "a sponge." "It was like, here's your first film, here's your starring role... don't ruin it!" Wild success followed with franchises like "Moana," "Jumanji" and "The Fast and the Furious" making Johnson Hollywood's top-paid actor. But "I was pigeonholed because I allowed it to happen," recalled Johnson. - Action to arthouse - That changed when he met Safdie, who gambled that Johnson could take the plunge into arthouse film. Johnson also credited Blunt -- an Oscar nominee, who told the panel the former wrestler was nothing like his persona. "'The Rock' is the performance of a lifetime," said Blunt. Safdie won best director at the Venice film festival for his work with Johnson -- and the pair are reteaming already, with "Lizard Music." Based off a Daniel Pinkwater novel, the movie casts Johnson as an eccentric 70-year-old man whose best friend is a geriatric chicken. "Benny pitched me this after we wrapped the 'Smashing Machine'," said Johnson. "After about 45 minutes his pitch ended, and I said, 'I am your Chicken Man.'" Worried that Johnson might be leaving his blockbuster roots behind entirely? There was some good news. "We are going to start shooting 'Jumanji 3' in November," he said.

Dwayne Johnson's performance in the new film The Smashing Machine has been lauded by one and all as the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Johnson's performance, many feel, may fetch him an Oscar nomination next year.&nbsp;

From wrestling ring to Oscar hopeful: Dwayne Johnson hits Toronto Film Festival 2025

Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lead the US medal charge at the world championships in Tokyo that get under way on Saturday while Armand Duplantis is expected to cement his legacy as the greatest pole vaulter in history. They will be followed by some of the sport's biggest names &nbsp;-- Faith Kipyegon, Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol among them -- as they seek to etch their names into the history books over nine days of action. This world championships, for which all female athletes will have undergone a mandatory gene test, will close a season that has featured 15 thrilling Diamond League meets and Michael Johnson's fledgling Grand Slam Track series.Grand Slam was launched in the hope of bringing the top track performers together, but it floundered and the fourth of the four-meet series was cancelled due to financial difficulties.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ange-postecoglou-returns-to-premier-league-as-nottingham-forest-new-manager-1757427667476">Ange Postecoglou returns to Premier League as Nottingham Forest’s new manager</a>Olympic 100m champions Lyles and Julien Alfred opted out of the series, instead focusing on the Diamond League, and both notched up morale-boosting victories at the circuit's finals in Zurich this month.Lyles said he would head to Tokyo "with a lot of energy (and) I will use that to my advantage", after outstripping Botswana's Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo over the longer sprint.But Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, who lost to Lyles by just five thousandths of a second at the Paris Olympics, is the fastest man this year at 100m having clocked 9.75sec.Tebogo and Alfred will be seeking to repeat their feats in Paris when both claimed golds in firsts for Botswana and Saint Lucia."I feel like I want to add another gold in my collection," Alfred said. "I am much fitter than before and also mentally, I am in the right place where I want to be."The US track and field team has a lot to live up to -- the Americans have topped the medals table at the world championships 15 times in the 19 editions.The then-East Germany finished top in the opening two worlds in 1983 and 1987 while Russia dominated in 2001 and Kenya did in 2015.McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion, world record holder and the dominant performer in that event, has opted to compete in the 400m flat in Tokyo.In her absence, Dutchwoman Femke Bol is the locked-in favourite for the hurdles: the only woman to have dipped under the 52sec mark this season arrives in Japan on the back of eight successive victories.<h2>'I'm greedy'</h2>Men's 400m hurdles world record holder Warholm goes up against Olympic champion Rai Benjamin and former world champion Alison dos Santos in one of the most keenly anticipated races.Warholm clocked the third-fastest time in history -- 46.28sec -- at the Silesia Diamond League meet, getting close to the stunning world record of 45.94sec he set when winning gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the same stadium where these world championships are being held."I have three titles as world champion and I want more. I'm greedy," said the Norwegian.Duplantis is being pushed by Greece's Emmanouil Karalis in the pole vault, but the US-born Swede is untouchable on his day. The question is whether he will be able to better his own world record for a 14th time.There will be hopes for double Kenyan delight in the men's 800m and the women's 1,500m through Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Faith Kipyegon.Despite having contested only three official races this year, albeit one in a world record time, Kipyegon is fancied to win a fourth world 1,500m title and draw level with Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj.<h2>Two-lap rivalry</h2>Olympic champion Wanyonyi headlines a crop of talented athletes in the 800m, with David Rudisha's world record of 1min 40.91sec from the 2012 London Olympics seriously under threat.Such is the current rivalry over the two-lap race that when the athletes line up for the heats next week at the National Stadium, there will be not only Wanyonyi, but defending world champion Marco Arop and 11 other men who have dipped below 1:43 this year.Missing through injury will be American Olympic 200m gold medallist Gabby Thomas and Australia's Olympic and world pole vault champion Nina Kennedy.Dutch phenomenon Sifan Hassan, who has won three golds and three bronzes at the last two Olympics from 1,500m to the marathon, chose to prioritise last month's Sydney marathon.And Uganda's half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo and double Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei have not made the trip to Tokyo due to personal reasons.

This world championships, for which all female athletes will have undergone a mandatory gene test, will close a season that has featured 15 thrilling Diamond League meets and Michael Johnson's fledgling Grand Slam Track series.

Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lead the US medal charge at the world championships in Tokyo that get under way on Saturday while Armand Duplantis is expected to cement his legacy as the greatest pole vaulter in history. They will be followed by some of the sport's biggest names -- Faith Kipyegon, Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol among them -- as they seek to etch their names into the history books over nine days of action. This world championships, for which all female athletes will have undergone a mandatory gene test, will close a season that has featured 15 thrilling Diamond League meets and Michael Johnson's fledgling Grand Slam Track series. Grand Slam was launched in the hope of bringing the top track performers together, but it floundered and the fourth of the four-meet series was cancelled due to financial difficulties. Also Read: Ange Postecoglou returns to Premier League as Nottingham Forest’s new manager Olympic 100m champions Lyles and Julien Alfred opted out of the series, instead focusing on the Diamond League, and both notched up morale-boosting victories at the circuit's finals in Zurich this month. Lyles said he would head to Tokyo "with a lot of energy (and) I will use that to my advantage", after outstripping Botswana's Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo over the longer sprint. But Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, who lost to Lyles by just five thousandths of a second at the Paris Olympics, is the fastest man this year at 100m having clocked 9.75sec. Tebogo and Alfred will be seeking to repeat their feats in Paris when both claimed golds in firsts for Botswana and Saint Lucia. "I feel like I want to add another gold in my collection," Alfred said. "I am much fitter than before and also mentally, I am in the right place where I want to be." The US track and field team has a lot to live up to -- the Americans have topped the medals table at the world championships 15 times in the 19 editions. The then-East Germany finished top in the opening two worlds in 1983 and 1987 while Russia dominated in 2001 and Kenya did in 2015. McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion, world record holder and the dominant performer in that event, has opted to compete in the 400m flat in Tokyo. In her absence, Dutchwoman Femke Bol is the locked-in favourite for the hurdles: the only woman to have dipped under the 52sec mark this season arrives in Japan on the back of eight successive victories. 'I'm greedy' Men's 400m hurdles world record holder Warholm goes up against Olympic champion Rai Benjamin and former world champion Alison dos Santos in one of the most keenly anticipated races. Warholm clocked the third-fastest time in history -- 46.28sec -- at the Silesia Diamond League meet, getting close to the stunning world record of 45.94sec he set when winning gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the same stadium where these world championships are being held. "I have three titles as world champion and I want more. I'm greedy," said the Norwegian. Duplantis is being pushed by Greece's Emmanouil Karalis in the pole vault, but the US-born Swede is untouchable on his day. The question is whether he will be able to better his own world record for a 14th time. There will be hopes for double Kenyan delight in the men's 800m and the women's 1,500m through Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Faith Kipyegon. Despite having contested only three official races this year, albeit one in a world record time, Kipyegon is fancied to win a fourth world 1,500m title and draw level with Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj. Two-lap rivalry Olympic champion Wanyonyi headlines a crop of talented athletes in the 800m, with David Rudisha's world record of 1min 40.91sec from the 2012 London Olympics seriously under threat. Such is the current rivalry over the two-lap race that when the athletes line up for the heats next week at the National Stadium, there will be not only Wanyonyi, but defending world champion Marco Arop and 11 other men who have dipped below 1:43 this year. Missing through injury will be American Olympic 200m gold medallist Gabby Thomas and Australia's Olympic and world pole vault champion Nina Kennedy. Dutch phenomenon Sifan Hassan, who has won three golds and three bronzes at the last two Olympics from 1,500m to the marathon, chose to prioritise last month's Sydney marathon. And Uganda's half-marathon world record holder Jacob Kiplimo and double Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei have not made the trip to Tokyo due to personal reasons.

This world championships, for which all female athletes will have undergone a mandatory gene test, will close a season that has featured 15 thrilling Diamond League meets and Michael Johnson's fledgling Grand Slam Track series.

World Athletics Championship: Olympic champ Noah Lyles leads US charge

Nottingham Forest appointed Ange Postecoglou as manager on Tuesday (Sep 9) to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked following a dispute with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. Nuno led Forest to European qualification for the first time in 30 years last season by finishing seventh in the Premier League. But he became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season after publicly stating that his relationship with Greek billionaire Marinakis had deteriorated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Postecoglou himself was sacked by Tottenham in June just days after winning the Europa League. Despite ending Spurs' 17-year wait to win a trophy, the Australian was dismissed due to Tottenham's worst league season since 1976/77 as they finished 17th.&nbsp;However, Marinakis backed the 60-year-old to continue his record of winning trophies at Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos and during his spell in charge of Australia.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-late-ben-romdhane-goal-seals-tunisia-s-berth-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-1757351188338">Late Ben Romdhane goal seals Tunisia's berth in 2026 FIFA World Cup</a>&nbsp;"We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies," said Marinakis. "His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions."&nbsp;Greek-born Postecoglou will take charge of Forest, who sit 10th in the Premier League on four points after three games, for the first time in Saturday's daunting trip to Arsenal&nbsp;Marinakis is hoping he can repeat his Europa League success, with Forest among the favourites to win the competition.&nbsp;But Postecoglou's attacking style is vastly different to the cautious approach that reaped rewards for Nuno at the City Ground.&nbsp;"After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies," added Marinakis. “Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.”<h3>Relationship ‘changed’</h3>&nbsp;Nuno took charge in December 2023 after Steve Cooper was sacked and went on to save the club from relegation. Forest surpassed all expectations last season, but cracks in the relationship between Nuno and Marinakis began to show after they let slip a promising opportunity to qualify for the Champions League.&nbsp;Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester in May, although the club claimed that was due to the decision to let striker Taiwo Awoniyi play on following an 88th-minute injury that later required urgent abdominal surgery.&nbsp;Nuno was then publicly critical of Forest's transfer activity before the season began, saying that he was "worried" about their prospects and his squad had been left "unbalanced".&nbsp;Forest eventually brought in 13 players as new sporting director Edu Gaspar took a more hands-on role in signings.&nbsp;"Following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach," Forest said in a statement released just after midnight on Tuesday morning. "The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Club owner Marinakis backed the 60-year-old to continue his record of winning trophies at Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos and during his spell in charge of Australia.

Nottingham Forest appointed Ange Postecoglou as manager on Tuesday (Sep 9) to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked following a dispute with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. Nuno led Forest to European qualification for the first time in 30 years last season by finishing seventh in the Premier League. But he became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season after publicly stating that his relationship with Greek billionaire Marinakis had deteriorated. Postecoglou himself was sacked by Tottenham in June just days after winning the Europa League. Despite ending Spurs' 17-year wait to win a trophy, the Australian was dismissed due to Tottenham's worst league season since 1976/77 as they finished 17th. However, Marinakis backed the 60-year-old to continue his record of winning trophies at Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos and during his spell in charge of Australia. Also read | Late Ben Romdhane goal seals Tunisia's berth in 2026 FIFA World Cup "We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies," said Marinakis. "His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions." Greek-born Postecoglou will take charge of Forest, who sit 10th in the Premier League on four points after three games, for the first time in Saturday's daunting trip to Arsenal Marinakis is hoping he can repeat his Europa League success, with Forest among the favourites to win the competition. But Postecoglou's attacking style is vastly different to the cautious approach that reaped rewards for Nuno at the City Ground. "After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies," added Marinakis. “Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.” Relationship ‘changed’ Nuno took charge in December 2023 after Steve Cooper was sacked and went on to save the club from relegation. Forest surpassed all expectations last season, but cracks in the relationship between Nuno and Marinakis began to show after they let slip a promising opportunity to qualify for the Champions League. Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester in May, although the club claimed that was due to the decision to let striker Taiwo Awoniyi play on following an 88th-minute injury that later required urgent abdominal surgery. Nuno was then publicly critical of Forest's transfer activity before the season began, saying that he was "worried" about their prospects and his squad had been left "unbalanced". Forest eventually brought in 13 players as new sporting director Edu Gaspar took a more hands-on role in signings. "Following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach," Forest said in a statement released just after midnight on Tuesday morning. "The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Club owner Marinakis backed the 60-year-old to continue his record of winning trophies at Tottenham, Celtic, Yokohama Marinos and during his spell in charge of Australia.

Ange Postecoglou returns to Premier League as Nottingham Forest’s new manager

Sandro Tonali's last-gasp winner edged Italy to a 5-4 victory over Israel in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Monday, while Kosovo beat Sweden despite Alexander Isak making his first appearance of the season. After collapsing from leading 4-2 in the final two minutes to drawing 4-4, Tonali's 91st-minute strike in the Hungarian city of Debrecen sent Italy above Israel and into the play-off spot in Group I.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-late-ben-romdhane-goal-seals-tunisia-s-berth-in-2026-fifa-world-cup-1757351188338">Late Ben Romdhane goal seals Tunisia's berth in 2026 FIFA World Cup</a>New coach Gennaro Gattuso's side trail leaders Norway by three points and still have a chance of taking first place and the group's sole direct qualifying spot as they seek to avoid missing out on a third-consecutive World Cup finals appearance."We'll take the win which was crucial for us, but we're completely nuts, nuts because we conceded some absurd goals," said Gattuso."We need to work on that because we're too fragile, we concede goals too easily. The boys know that, but this is my problem to fix."Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out by Palestinian gunmen, took an early lead through an own-goal.Moise Kean wiped out the nominal hosts' lead on two occasions before Italy went 4-2 ahead on 81 minutes.A second Dor Peretz strike in the 88th minute and a clumsy Alessandro Bastoni own-goal two minutes later made it appear the four-time world champions were on course for a disastrous result.But Tonali's speculative effort went through a sea of legs and into the net to spark wild celebrations as the topsy-turvy encounter held one last surprise.Israel have played their 'home' matches in Hungary since the country's offensive in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.<h2>‘No-playing time’</h2>Sweden's slow start to their qualifying campaign continued into matchday two as they went down 2-0 to Kosovo in Pristina.The Swedes now sit on just one point after a last-gasp equaliser by Slovenia condemned them to a 2-2 draw on Friday.Goals in the first half by Elvis Rexhbecaj and Vedat Muriqi were enough to give Kosovo just their second-ever win in World Cup qualifying.Augsburg midfielder Rexhbecaj bundled the hosts ahead on 26 minutes after goalkeeper Robin Olsen saved his initial one-on-one effort.Kosovan captain Muriqi then doubled the lead three minutes before the interval with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.Premier League record signing Isak was sent on from the bench to try and salvage something for the Swedes inside the final 20 minutes.The Liverpool star had a chance to halve the deficit on 85 minutes but was stoutly denied by 'keeper Arijanet Muric as Kosovo moved second in Group B despite finishing with 10 men."(Isak) had only done three training sessions with the team," Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson told Viaplay."He had no pre-season with the team and of course no playing time," he added of the 25-year-old who endured a turbulent departure from former club Newcastle.Switzerland, who beat Kosovo 4-0 last week, stay top of the pool following a dominant first-half display in Basel against Slovenia.The home side ran out 3-0 winners after goals by Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye inside the first 40 minutes.Denmark won by the same margin in Greece as they moved top of Group C on four points. They sit level with Scotland, who beat Belarus 2-0 in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary.Croatia took the lead in Group L with a 4-0 home victory over neighbouring Montenegro.Kristijan Jakic opened the scoring in Zagreb, before Montenegro were reduced to 10 men as Andrija Bulatovic saw red.Andrej Kramaric went clear at the top of the qualification goal-scoring chart with his sixth goal of the campaign on 51 minutes, before a late Edvin Kuc own-goal and an Ivan Perisic strike put gloss on the result.The 2018 World Cup runners-up leapfrogged Czech Republic atop the table with both countries boasting 12 points, although Croatia have a match in hand.Faroe Islands moved to third in the group with a 1-0 win over Gibraltar.

Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out by Palestinian gunmen, took an early lead through an own-goal but lost in the end.

Sandro Tonali's last-gasp winner edged Italy to a 5-4 victory over Israel in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Monday, while Kosovo beat Sweden despite Alexander Isak making his first appearance of the season. After collapsing from leading 4-2 in the final two minutes to drawing 4-4, Tonali's 91st-minute strike in the Hungarian city of Debrecen sent Italy above Israel and into the play-off spot in Group I. Also Read - Late Ben Romdhane goal seals Tunisia's berth in 2026 FIFA World Cup New coach Gennaro Gattuso's side trail leaders Norway by three points and still have a chance of taking first place and the group's sole direct qualifying spot as they seek to avoid missing out on a third-consecutive World Cup finals appearance. "We'll take the win which was crucial for us, but we're completely nuts, nuts because we conceded some absurd goals," said Gattuso. "We need to work on that because we're too fragile, we concede goals too easily. The boys know that, but this is my problem to fix." Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out by Palestinian gunmen, took an early lead through an own-goal. Moise Kean wiped out the nominal hosts' lead on two occasions before Italy went 4-2 ahead on 81 minutes. A second Dor Peretz strike in the 88th minute and a clumsy Alessandro Bastoni own-goal two minutes later made it appear the four-time world champions were on course for a disastrous result. But Tonali's speculative effort went through a sea of legs and into the net to spark wild celebrations as the topsy-turvy encounter held one last surprise. Israel have played their 'home' matches in Hungary since the country's offensive in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. ‘No-playing time’ Sweden's slow start to their qualifying campaign continued into matchday two as they went down 2-0 to Kosovo in Pristina. The Swedes now sit on just one point after a last-gasp equaliser by Slovenia condemned them to a 2-2 draw on Friday. Goals in the first half by Elvis Rexhbecaj and Vedat Muriqi were enough to give Kosovo just their second-ever win in World Cup qualifying. Augsburg midfielder Rexhbecaj bundled the hosts ahead on 26 minutes after goalkeeper Robin Olsen saved his initial one-on-one effort. Kosovan captain Muriqi then doubled the lead three minutes before the interval with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Premier League record signing Isak was sent on from the bench to try and salvage something for the Swedes inside the final 20 minutes. The Liverpool star had a chance to halve the deficit on 85 minutes but was stoutly denied by 'keeper Arijanet Muric as Kosovo moved second in Group B despite finishing with 10 men. "(Isak) had only done three training sessions with the team," Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson told Viaplay. "He had no pre-season with the team and of course no playing time," he added of the 25-year-old who endured a turbulent departure from former club Newcastle. Switzerland, who beat Kosovo 4-0 last week, stay top of the pool following a dominant first-half display in Basel against Slovenia. The home side ran out 3-0 winners after goals by Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye inside the first 40 minutes. Denmark won by the same margin in Greece as they moved top of Group C on four points. They sit level with Scotland, who beat Belarus 2-0 in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. Croatia took the lead in Group L with a 4-0 home victory over neighbouring Montenegro. Kristijan Jakic opened the scoring in Zagreb, before Montenegro were reduced to 10 men as Andrija Bulatovic saw red. Andrej Kramaric went clear at the top of the qualification goal-scoring chart with his sixth goal of the campaign on 51 minutes, before a late Edvin Kuc own-goal and an Ivan Perisic strike put gloss on the result. The 2018 World Cup runners-up leapfrogged Czech Republic atop the table with both countries boasting 12 points, although Croatia have a match in hand. Faroe Islands moved to third in the group with a 1-0 win over Gibraltar.

Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out by Palestinian gunmen, took an early lead through an own-goal but lost in the end.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Tonali saves Italy from embarrassment vs Israel, Kosovo beat Sweden

Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored in added time to give Tunisia a 1-0 win in Equatorial Guinea on Monday and qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Victory for Tunisia gave them an unassailable lead in Group H and they become the second African nation to secure a place at the tournament after Morocco.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;Tunisia have 22 points from eight matches, 10 more than second-placed Namibia, who have one match in hand but cannot match the total of the Carthage Eagles.&nbsp;Ben Romdhane, a midfielder with Egyptian and African club giants Al Ahly, struck in the 94th minute after being set up by Firas Chaouat.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;Tunisia started the match in Malabo with players based in nine countries, including Hannibal Mejbri from Premier League outfit Burnley.&nbsp;The Eagles are coached by former defender Sami Trabelsi, who captained Tunisia at the 1998 World Cup in France.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;In other early matches, Morocco maintained a 100 percent record in Group E by winning 2-0 in Zambia through goals from Youssef en Nesyri and Hamza Igamane.&nbsp;Mozambique beat Botswana 2-0 in Maputo -- a result that means leaders Algeria cannot qualify from Group G later on Monday even if they win away to Guinea.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tunisia have 22 points from eight matches, 10 more than second-placed Namibia, who have one match in hand but cannot match the total of the Carthage Eagles.

Mohamed Ben Romdhane scored in added time to give Tunisia a 1-0 win in Equatorial Guinea on Monday and qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Victory for Tunisia gave them an unassailable lead in Group H and they become the second African nation to secure a place at the tournament after Morocco. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details Tunisia have 22 points from eight matches, 10 more than second-placed Namibia, who have one match in hand but cannot match the total of the Carthage Eagles. Ben Romdhane, a midfielder with Egyptian and African club giants Al Ahly, struck in the 94th minute after being set up by Firas Chaouat. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out Tunisia started the match in Malabo with players based in nine countries, including Hannibal Mejbri from Premier League outfit Burnley. The Eagles are coached by former defender Sami Trabelsi, who captained Tunisia at the 1998 World Cup in France. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details In other early matches, Morocco maintained a 100 percent record in Group E by winning 2-0 in Zambia through goals from Youssef en Nesyri and Hamza Igamane. Mozambique beat Botswana 2-0 in Maputo -- a result that means leaders Algeria cannot qualify from Group G later on Monday even if they win away to Guinea. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tunisia have 22 points from eight matches, 10 more than second-placed Namibia, who have one match in hand but cannot match the total of the Carthage Eagles.

Late Ben Romdhane goal seals Tunisia's berth in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been hit with a 10-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United last season, European football's governing body UEFA said on Monday.&nbsp;Analysis of a sample provided by the player after the game in May "revealed the presence of Canrenone", a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, UEFA said.&nbsp;UEFA acknowledged that the 30-year-old took the substance "involuntarily", with Alvarez saying it been through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;However, he was banned for 10 months, with the start backdated to June when he had accepted a voluntary provisional suspension.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;That means Alvarez will be able to return to action at the start of April next year, albeit he will be allowed to return to training with his teammates two months before that.&nbsp;Alvarez was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and after treatment returned to play in 2017, but suffered a reoccurrence later that year, making a second comeback in 2018.&nbsp;His positive test came after Athletic's 3-0 home defeat by United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;The news of his ban is a major blow to the Basque club, who will take part in this season's Champions League.&nbsp;It comes after a move to bring Spain centre-back Aymeric Laporte back to the club for a second spell from Saudi side Al-Nassr fell through late in the transfer window.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UEFA acknowledged that the 30-year-old took the substance "involuntarily", with Alvarez saying it been through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer.

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been hit with a 10-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United last season, European football's governing body UEFA said on Monday. Analysis of a sample provided by the player after the game in May "revealed the presence of Canrenone", a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, UEFA said. UEFA acknowledged that the 30-year-old took the substance "involuntarily", with Alvarez saying it been through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details However, he was banned for 10 months, with the start backdated to June when he had accepted a voluntary provisional suspension. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out That means Alvarez will be able to return to action at the start of April next year, albeit he will be allowed to return to training with his teammates two months before that. Alvarez was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and after treatment returned to play in 2017, but suffered a reoccurrence later that year, making a second comeback in 2018. His positive test came after Athletic's 3-0 home defeat by United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) The news of his ban is a major blow to the Basque club, who will take part in this season's Champions League. It comes after a move to bring Spain centre-back Aymeric Laporte back to the club for a second spell from Saudi side Al-Nassr fell through late in the transfer window. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UEFA acknowledged that the 30-year-old took the substance "involuntarily", with Alvarez saying it been through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer.

La Liga: Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez given 10-month doping ban

Bayer Leverkusen on Monday appointed Dane Kasper Hjulmand as coach, replacing Erik ten Hag, who was fired after just two league games in charge.&nbsp;The former Denmark coach has been appointed on a contract until 2027.&nbsp;"It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team", Hjulmand said in a statement, adding: "I'm motivated to shape the future of the club."&nbsp;The appointment ends a chaotic fortnight for Leverkusen, who sacked former Manchester United manager Ten Hag on September 1, just two games into the Bundesliga season.&nbsp;Ten Hag replaced Xabi Alonso, who took Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24 -- the club's first-ever Bundesliga title -- before moving to Real Madrid in the summer.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted to an error in hiring Ten Hag but said letting him continue would have been "an even bigger mistake."&nbsp;Runners-up last season, Leverkusen collected just one point from their opening two matches.&nbsp;Ten Hag hit back in a statement, calling the sacking "unprecedented" and "a complete surprise".&nbsp;Hjulmand is expected to be on the bench for Leverkusen's home match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;Hjulmand emerged as one of several candidates to take over the vacant position, alongside one-time Barcelona coach and player Xavi, former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and Raul, the Spain striker who recently coached Real Madrid's second team.&nbsp;The 53-year-old resigned as Denmark coach in July 2024, having taken the side to the semi-finals of the Euros in 2021 where they narrowly lost to England. He also took Denmark to the last 16 of Euro 2024, where they were eliminated by hosts Germany.&nbsp;Rolfes said Monday the new manager would "set up a clear and dominant style of play with our team" and will "strive for the most ambitious national and international goals."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;The manager took Nordsjaelland to their first and only Danish title in 2011-12.&nbsp;Hjulmand has experience in Germany, having coached Bundesliga side Mainz for just under one season in 2014-15, but was sacked after a run of one win in 13 games.&nbsp;After Friday's match against Frankfurt, Leverkusen kick off their Champions League campaign with a trip to Danish champions Copenhagen.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The appointment of Kasper Hjulmand ends a chaotic fortnight for Leverkusen, who sacked former Manchester United manager Ten Hag on September 1, just two games into the Bundesliga season.

Bayer Leverkusen on Monday appointed Dane Kasper Hjulmand as coach, replacing Erik ten Hag, who was fired after just two league games in charge. The former Denmark coach has been appointed on a contract until 2027. "It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team", Hjulmand said in a statement, adding: "I'm motivated to shape the future of the club." The appointment ends a chaotic fortnight for Leverkusen, who sacked former Manchester United manager Ten Hag on September 1, just two games into the Bundesliga season. Ten Hag replaced Xabi Alonso, who took Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in 2023-24 -- the club's first-ever Bundesliga title -- before moving to Real Madrid in the summer. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted to an error in hiring Ten Hag but said letting him continue would have been "an even bigger mistake." Runners-up last season, Leverkusen collected just one point from their opening two matches. Ten Hag hit back in a statement, calling the sacking "unprecedented" and "a complete surprise". Hjulmand is expected to be on the bench for Leverkusen's home match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out Hjulmand emerged as one of several candidates to take over the vacant position, alongside one-time Barcelona coach and player Xavi, former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and Raul, the Spain striker who recently coached Real Madrid's second team. The 53-year-old resigned as Denmark coach in July 2024, having taken the side to the semi-finals of the Euros in 2021 where they narrowly lost to England. He also took Denmark to the last 16 of Euro 2024, where they were eliminated by hosts Germany. Rolfes said Monday the new manager would "set up a clear and dominant style of play with our team" and will "strive for the most ambitious national and international goals." ALSO READ | Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details The manager took Nordsjaelland to their first and only Danish title in 2011-12. Hjulmand has experience in Germany, having coached Bundesliga side Mainz for just under one season in 2014-15, but was sacked after a run of one win in 13 games. After Friday's match against Frankfurt, Leverkusen kick off their Champions League campaign with a trip to Danish champions Copenhagen. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The appointment of Kasper Hjulmand ends a chaotic fortnight for Leverkusen, who sacked former Manchester United manager Ten Hag on September 1, just two games into the Bundesliga season.

Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen name Kasper Hjulmand as Erik ten Hag replacement

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday removed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle following deadly anti-government protests across the country.Sri Mulyani is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and was finance minister under three different presidents. Her house was ransacked during the recent protests over lavish perks for lawmakers.Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, an economist who previously served as the chief commissioner of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation, was appointed as her successor, according to a presidential decree.Prabowo did not give any reason for Sri Mulyani's removal from the cabinet. He also honourably discharged chief security minister Budi Gunawan and sports minister Dito Ariotedjo.Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, said Sri Mulyani's removal was not surprising, considering the recent economic situation in the country."The demand to remove Sri Mulyani has long been voiced by various think tanks and civil societies as a criticism of her inability to push for a fair taxation system," he told AFP."But certainly the market's reaction to short-term risks will be volatile, but it is only temporary."Bhima said the new finance minister needed to take into account the purchasing power of the middle and lower classes when implementing tax revenue strategies in order to quickly restore public trust.He also said the new minister must be able to put the brake on Prabowo's ambitious programmes, such as free meals for schoolchildren and a programme to boost national food security by creating large-scale agriculture areas, which have been heavily criticised by environmentalists.The demonstrations in late August are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo's presidency and a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule.Protesters rallied over low wages, the unemployment rate, and perks for lawmakers.Jakarta stocks closed down 1.28 per cent following the announcement of Sri Mulyani's removal from the cabinet.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The demonstrations in late August are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo's presidency and a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday removed Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle following deadly anti-government protests across the country. Sri Mulyani is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and was finance minister under three different presidents. Her house was ransacked during the recent protests over lavish perks for lawmakers. Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, an economist who previously served as the chief commissioner of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation, was appointed as her successor, according to a presidential decree. Prabowo did not give any reason for Sri Mulyani's removal from the cabinet. He also honourably discharged chief security minister Budi Gunawan and sports minister Dito Ariotedjo. Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, said Sri Mulyani's removal was not surprising, considering the recent economic situation in the country. "The demand to remove Sri Mulyani has long been voiced by various think tanks and civil societies as a criticism of her inability to push for a fair taxation system," he told AFP. "But certainly the market's reaction to short-term risks will be volatile, but it is only temporary." Bhima said the new finance minister needed to take into account the purchasing power of the middle and lower classes when implementing tax revenue strategies in order to quickly restore public trust. He also said the new minister must be able to put the brake on Prabowo's ambitious programmes, such as free meals for schoolchildren and a programme to boost national food security by creating large-scale agriculture areas, which have been heavily criticised by environmentalists. The demonstrations in late August are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo's presidency and a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule. Protesters rallied over low wages, the unemployment rate, and perks for lawmakers. Jakarta stocks closed down 1.28 per cent following the announcement of Sri Mulyani's removal from the cabinet. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The demonstrations in late August are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo's presidency and a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule.

Indonesia appoints new finance minister following violent protests

Russell Crowe's nerve-shredding portrayal of a notorious Nazi on trial and Angelina Jolie's deeply personal dive into the world of French fashion led a busy Sunday of world premieres at the Toronto film festival.&nbsp;Crowe's depiction of the second-ranking Nazi, Hermann Goering, in "Nuremberg," as he plays a cat-and-mouse game with a psychiatrist (Rami Malek), drew an unusually lengthy standing ovation at North America's biggest movie fest.&nbsp;The movie, out in theaters in November and based on Jack El-Hai's book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist," depicts Goering as a charming, smart and wily prisoner, while not shying away from the colossal evil in which he played a pivotal role.&nbsp;"You can't play a character like this and not walk away, at the end of the day, feeling things that maybe shake you about what went down," Crowe told journalists on the world premiere's red carpet.&nbsp;Crowe speaks German in parts of the film, depicting how Goering believed he could use the post-World War II Nuremberg trials to justify his actions on a global stage.&nbsp;The Oscar-winner signed up just after reading the script, in which he could see Goering's "ambition bloom" and "how his egotism told him that he could control the narrative."The movie contains devastating archive footage of Nazi concentration camp victims being bulldozed into their graves -- the same film reel that was shown in the real Nuremberg courtroom.&nbsp;Director James Vanderbilt said he asked his actors not to research the footage before they were confronted with it on the day the scene was filmed.&nbsp;Crowe's role was "a dark person to play -- that takes an emotional toll on an actor," Vanderbilt told AFP.&nbsp;"He was game for all of it, and I'm eternally grateful to him for that."&nbsp;In an early review, Deadline called the movie "unrelenting" and "enormously effective," praising Crowe's "stunning" performance.<h2>- 'Stitches' -</h2>&nbsp;Elsewhere at Toronto on Sunday, Angelina Jolie premiered "Couture," a drama focusing on some of the human stories behind the often superficial world of fashion.&nbsp;Set in Paris and coming from French director Alice Winocour, it follows an American filmmaker who is diagnosed with cancer as she prepares for a runway show, and told she needs a double mastectomy -- echoing Jolie's real-life health issues.&nbsp;"It's about couture -- in French, it means stitches," the actress told AFP.&nbsp;"So stitches, when you think of our surgeries, our bodies, the way our lives and stories are sewn together, you understand what the film is."&nbsp;The film does not yet have a release date.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao walked the red carpet for "Hamnet," which colors in the gaps of the little we know about William Shakespeare and his wife, and a tragedy that inspired arguably his greatest work.&nbsp;"To see them fall in love and come together, be torn apart... it's an inner civil war that we all battle with as we grow and mature," she told AFP.&nbsp;The movie, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, hits theaters in November and is expected to be an Academy Awards contender.&nbsp;And at a Toronto press conference, stripper-turned-actor Channing Tatum said his performance in "Roofman," which tells the true story of a man who robbed dozens of McDonald's and hid out in a toy store, had helped him overcome "imposter syndrome."The film, out next month, recounts the life of Jeffrey Manchester, who robbed dozens of fast food stores through the 1990s, entering the restaurants through the roof.&nbsp;He famously built a secret hideout inside a Toys "R" Us store in the city of Charlotte, coming out after closure at night to wash in the bathroom, surviving largely on snack food like M&amp;Ms.&nbsp;"For the very first time, maybe even on this movie, I feel like I've actually earned my seat at the table" with the role, Tatum said.&nbsp;The Toronto International Film Festival runs until next Sunday.

Russell Crowe and Britney Theriot starrer Nuremberg premiered on Sunday at the ongoing 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Nuremberg set during the Nazi regime also stars Rami Malek.

Russell Crowe's nerve-shredding portrayal of a notorious Nazi on trial and Angelina Jolie's deeply personal dive into the world of French fashion led a busy Sunday of world premieres at the Toronto film festival. Crowe's depiction of the second-ranking Nazi, Hermann Goering, in "Nuremberg," as he plays a cat-and-mouse game with a psychiatrist (Rami Malek), drew an unusually lengthy standing ovation at North America's biggest movie fest. The movie, out in theaters in November and based on Jack El-Hai's book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist," depicts Goering as a charming, smart and wily prisoner, while not shying away from the colossal evil in which he played a pivotal role. "You can't play a character like this and not walk away, at the end of the day, feeling things that maybe shake you about what went down," Crowe told journalists on the world premiere's red carpet. Crowe speaks German in parts of the film, depicting how Goering believed he could use the post-World War II Nuremberg trials to justify his actions on a global stage. The Oscar-winner signed up just after reading the script, in which he could see Goering's "ambition bloom" and "how his egotism told him that he could control the narrative." The movie contains devastating archive footage of Nazi concentration camp victims being bulldozed into their graves -- the same film reel that was shown in the real Nuremberg courtroom. Director James Vanderbilt said he asked his actors not to research the footage before they were confronted with it on the day the scene was filmed. Crowe's role was "a dark person to play -- that takes an emotional toll on an actor," Vanderbilt told AFP. "He was game for all of it, and I'm eternally grateful to him for that." In an early review, Deadline called the movie "unrelenting" and "enormously effective," praising Crowe's "stunning" performance. - 'Stitches' - Elsewhere at Toronto on Sunday, Angelina Jolie premiered "Couture," a drama focusing on some of the human stories behind the often superficial world of fashion. Set in Paris and coming from French director Alice Winocour, it follows an American filmmaker who is diagnosed with cancer as she prepares for a runway show, and told she needs a double mastectomy -- echoing Jolie's real-life health issues. "It's about couture -- in French, it means stitches," the actress told AFP. "So stitches, when you think of our surgeries, our bodies, the way our lives and stories are sewn together, you understand what the film is." The film does not yet have a release date. Meanwhile, Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao walked the red carpet for "Hamnet," which colors in the gaps of the little we know about William Shakespeare and his wife, and a tragedy that inspired arguably his greatest work. "To see them fall in love and come together, be torn apart... it's an inner civil war that we all battle with as we grow and mature," she told AFP. The movie, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, hits theaters in November and is expected to be an Academy Awards contender. And at a Toronto press conference, stripper-turned-actor Channing Tatum said his performance in "Roofman," which tells the true story of a man who robbed dozens of McDonald's and hid out in a toy store, had helped him overcome "imposter syndrome." The film, out next month, recounts the life of Jeffrey Manchester, who robbed dozens of fast food stores through the 1990s, entering the restaurants through the roof. He famously built a secret hideout inside a Toys "R" Us store in the city of Charlotte, coming out after closure at night to wash in the bathroom, surviving largely on snack food like M&Ms. "For the very first time, maybe even on this movie, I feel like I've actually earned my seat at the table" with the role, Tatum said. The Toronto International Film Festival runs until next Sunday.

Russell Crowe and Britney Theriot starrer Nuremberg premiered on Sunday at the ongoing 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Nuremberg, set during the Nazi regime, also stars Rami Malek.

Russell Crowe shaken by Nazi role in festival hit Nuremberg

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