Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Cincinnati Open title on Monday after defending champion Jannik Sinner retired due to illness during the first set. World number one Sinner came into the final feeling poorly and lost the first seven points of the match played in 30 degrees Celsius summer heat. Alcaraz is the third Spaniard to win the pre-US Open title here after Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal.&nbsp;Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday.&nbsp;The Italian is due to take part in the US Open's revamped mixed doubles on Tuesday, but his participation in that draw is now in doubt.&nbsp;"I'm super-super sorry to disappoint you," Sinner said at the trophy ceremony to fans. "I was not feeling great yesterday but I thought it would go away overnight.&nbsp;"I tried to make it at least a small match but I could not handle more."&nbsp;The defending champion, who turned 24 last Saturday, added: "Some of you (fans) had to (miss) work or do other things today, so I'm really sorry.&nbsp;"I'm sorry to disappoint. Congrats to Carlos, I know this is not how you wanted to win. You are having an amazing season.&nbsp;"I'm sorry to disappoint but sometimes it's like this. This has been one of the hottest tournaments we have played."&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;Sinner lasted for just 22 minutes, calling for the doctor after losing the fifth game and shortly after going to shake hands with Alcaraz.&nbsp;It was the second match in a row he had won over an ailing opponent, with Alexander Zvrev playing ill in the closing stages of their semi-final.&nbsp;Alcaraz won his 22nd career title as he claimed his 17th victory in a row at the Masters 1000 level.&nbsp;"This is not the way I want to win trophies," Alcaraz said. I understand how Jannik is feeling right now."&nbsp;He called the Italian "a true champion, I know you will come back better and stronger than ever."&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.

Carlos Alcaraz is the third Spaniard to win the pre-US Open title here after Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. Jannik Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Cincinnati Open title on Monday after defending champion Jannik Sinner retired due to illness during the first set. World number one Sinner came into the final feeling poorly and lost the first seven points of the match played in 30 degrees Celsius summer heat. Alcaraz is the third Spaniard to win the pre-US Open title here after Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday. The Italian is due to take part in the US Open's revamped mixed doubles on Tuesday, but his participation in that draw is now in doubt. "I'm super-super sorry to disappoint you," Sinner said at the trophy ceremony to fans. "I was not feeling great yesterday but I thought it would go away overnight. "I tried to make it at least a small match but I could not handle more." The defending champion, who turned 24 last Saturday, added: "Some of you (fans) had to (miss) work or do other things today, so I'm really sorry. "I'm sorry to disappoint. Congrats to Carlos, I know this is not how you wanted to win. You are having an amazing season. "I'm sorry to disappoint but sometimes it's like this. This has been one of the hottest tournaments we have played." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Sinner lasted for just 22 minutes, calling for the doctor after losing the fifth game and shortly after going to shake hands with Alcaraz. It was the second match in a row he had won over an ailing opponent, with Alexander Zvrev playing ill in the closing stages of their semi-final. Alcaraz won his 22nd career title as he claimed his 17th victory in a row at the Masters 1000 level. "This is not the way I want to win trophies," Alcaraz said. I understand how Jannik is feeling right now." He called the Italian "a true champion, I know you will come back better and stronger than ever." 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.

Carlos Alcaraz is the third Spaniard to win the pre-US Open title here after Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. Jannik Sinner will now focus on recovery with the US Open starting on Sunday.

Cincinnati Open: Carlos Alcaraz keeps momentum as Jannik Sinner retires

Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini. The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities.&nbsp;The six-time Grand Slam singles champion's 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set.&nbsp;The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now heads to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major confidence boost after the 24th title of her career.&nbsp;Swiatek also climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the Open when it begins on Sunday.&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;Swiatek had stalled twice at the last two editions at the semi-final stage and now has only the Canadian tournament where she has not reached the final at a 1000 event.&nbsp;Swiatek began on the wrong foot as she lost serve to trail 0-3. But the situation was only temporary as the former number one immediately began her turnaround.&nbsp;The Pole answered immediately with two breaks of serve and moved to a 5-3 leadBut Paolini earned another break in the 10th game, saving a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all.&nbsp;Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to produce a love game and claim the opener 7-5 after just under an hour on court.&nbsp;The second set was a roller coaster, with the pair twice swapping breaks of serve before Swiatek salvaged a pair of break points to lead 5-3 and then serving out the winner two games later.&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.

Iga Swiatek climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the US Open when it begins on Sunday.

Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini. The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities. The six-time Grand Slam singles champion's 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set. The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now heads to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major confidence boost after the 24th title of her career. Swiatek also climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the Open when it begins on Sunday. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Swiatek had stalled twice at the last two editions at the semi-final stage and now has only the Canadian tournament where she has not reached the final at a 1000 event. Swiatek began on the wrong foot as she lost serve to trail 0-3. But the situation was only temporary as the former number one immediately began her turnaround. The Pole answered immediately with two breaks of serve and moved to a 5-3 lead But Paolini earned another break in the 10th game, saving a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all. Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to produce a love game and claim the opener 7-5 after just under an hour on court. The second set was a roller coaster, with the pair twice swapping breaks of serve before Swiatek salvaged a pair of break points to lead 5-3 and then serving out the winner two games later. 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.

Iga Swiatek climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the US Open when it begins on Sunday.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek beats Jasmine Paolini to clinch WTA title

Hamas negotiators in Cairo have received a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, a Palestinian official said Monday, with the prime minister of key mediator Qatar also in Egypt to push for a truce. Efforts by mediators Egypt and Qatar, along with the United States, have so far failed to secure a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing war, which over more than 22 months has created a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;The Palestinian official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that the latest proposal from mediators "is a framework agreement to launch negotiations on a permanent ceasefire", calling for an initial 60-day truce and hostage release in two batches.&nbsp;The official said that "Hamas will hold internal consultations among its leadership" and with leaders of other Palestinian factions to review the text.&nbsp;A source from Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant faction that has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, told AFP that the plan involved a "ceasefire agreement lasting 60 days, during which 10 Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with a number of bodies".&nbsp;Out of 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war, 49 are still held in Gaza including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.&nbsp;According to the Islamic Jihad source, "the remaining captives would be released in a second phase, with immediate negotiations to follow for a broader deal" for a permanent end to "the war and aggression" with international guarantees.&nbsp;The source added that "all factions are supportive of what was presented" by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.&nbsp;Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, visiting the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Monday, said that Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was visiting "to consolidate our existing common efforts in order to apply maximum pressure on the two sides to reach a deal as soon as possible".&nbsp;Alluding to the dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people living in the Gaza Strip, where UN agencies and aid groups have warned of famine, Abdelatty stressed the urgency of reaching an agreement.&nbsp;"The current situation on the ground is beyond imagination," he said.<h2>'Deliberate' starvation</h2>&nbsp;On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes and gunfire across the territory killed at least 11 people on Monday.&nbsp;AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment.&nbsp;Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.&nbsp;Rights group Amnesty International meanwhile accused Israel of enacting a "deliberate policy" of starvation in Gaza and "systematically destroying the health, well-being and social fabric of Palestinian life".&nbsp;Israel, while heavily restricting aid allowed into the Gaza Strip, has repeatedly rejected claims of deliberate starvation.&nbsp;Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,944 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.&nbsp;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 official said that "Hamas will hold internal consultations among its leadership" and with leaders of other Palestinian factions to review the text.

Hamas negotiators in Cairo have received a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, a Palestinian official said Monday, with the prime minister of key mediator Qatar also in Egypt to push for a truce. Efforts by mediators Egypt and Qatar, along with the United States, have so far failed to secure a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing war, which over more than 22 months has created a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that the latest proposal from mediators "is a framework agreement to launch negotiations on a permanent ceasefire", calling for an initial 60-day truce and hostage release in two batches. The official said that "Hamas will hold internal consultations among its leadership" and with leaders of other Palestinian factions to review the text. A source from Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant faction that has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, told AFP that the plan involved a "ceasefire agreement lasting 60 days, during which 10 Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with a number of bodies". Out of 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war, 49 are still held in Gaza including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. According to the Islamic Jihad source, "the remaining captives would be released in a second phase, with immediate negotiations to follow for a broader deal" for a permanent end to "the war and aggression" with international guarantees. The source added that "all factions are supportive of what was presented" by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, visiting the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Monday, said that Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was visiting "to consolidate our existing common efforts in order to apply maximum pressure on the two sides to reach a deal as soon as possible". Alluding to the dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people living in the Gaza Strip, where UN agencies and aid groups have warned of famine, Abdelatty stressed the urgency of reaching an agreement. "The current situation on the ground is beyond imagination," he said. 'Deliberate' starvation On the ground, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes and gunfire across the territory killed at least 11 people on Monday. AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military. Rights group Amnesty International meanwhile accused Israel of enacting a "deliberate policy" of starvation in Gaza and "systematically destroying the health, well-being and social fabric of Palestinian life". Israel, while heavily restricting aid allowed into the Gaza Strip, has repeatedly rejected claims of deliberate starvation. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,944 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable. 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 official said that "Hamas will hold internal consultations among its leadership" and with leaders of other Palestinian factions to review the text.

Hamas receives fresh ceasefire proposal: Report

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned the alleged racial abuse which occurred during two German Cup fixtures on the weekend as "unacceptable", in a statement issued Monday (Aug 18).&nbsp;&nbsp;"I repeat myself and will continue to do so. There is no place for racism in football," Infantino said in the statement.&nbsp;On Sunday, a match between home side Lokomotive Leipzig and Schalke was halted after winger Christopher Antwi-Adjei said he was racially abused by home spectators.&nbsp;An announcement on the stadium PA was made condemning racist abuse. After the match resumed, the winger was booed repeatedly by the home support, and Lokomotive issued an apology later on Sunday.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joao-felix-remembers-close-friend-diogo-jota-says-he-will-forever-be-part-of-football-history-1755514337330">Felix remembers close friend Diogo Jota, says he will ‘forever be part of football history’</a>&nbsp;Also on Sunday, a player from the visiting side, Kaiserslautern, also alleged racial abuse from a member of the crowd at club RSV Eintracht.&nbsp;Infantino said FIFA would "continue to closely monitor these incidents" and promised to work with the German FA (DFB) "in the fight against racism".&nbsp;The incidents come after Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo alleged he was racially attacked by a member of the crowd in Friday's Premier League season opener at Liverpool.&nbsp;Play was halted after Semenyo reported he was abused by someone in the crowd during the first half of Liverpool's 4-2 win, with Merseyside Police later arresting a man for a racially aggravated public order offence.&nbsp;Semenyo later said on social media the incident would "stay with him forever" but added the response by players and officials meant "football showed its best side when it mattered most".&nbsp;Infantino, who also issued a statement on Sunday after the Semenyo incident, said Monday it was "absolutely unacceptable that racist abuse has occurred at football matches for the second time in recent days".&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 the WION audience.

Also on Sunday, a player from the visiting side, Kaiserslautern, also alleged racial abuse from a member of the crowd at club RSV Eintracht.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned the alleged racial abuse which occurred during two German Cup fixtures on the weekend as "unacceptable", in a statement issued Monday (Aug 18). "I repeat myself and will continue to do so. There is no place for racism in football," Infantino said in the statement. On Sunday, a match between home side Lokomotive Leipzig and Schalke was halted after winger Christopher Antwi-Adjei said he was racially abused by home spectators. An announcement on the stadium PA was made condemning racist abuse. After the match resumed, the winger was booed repeatedly by the home support, and Lokomotive issued an apology later on Sunday. Also read | Felix remembers close friend Diogo Jota, says he will ‘forever be part of football history’ Also on Sunday, a player from the visiting side, Kaiserslautern, also alleged racial abuse from a member of the crowd at club RSV Eintracht. Infantino said FIFA would "continue to closely monitor these incidents" and promised to work with the German FA (DFB) "in the fight against racism". The incidents come after Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo alleged he was racially attacked by a member of the crowd in Friday's Premier League season opener at Liverpool. Play was halted after Semenyo reported he was abused by someone in the crowd during the first half of Liverpool's 4-2 win, with Merseyside Police later arresting a man for a racially aggravated public order offence. Semenyo later said on social media the incident would "stay with him forever" but added the response by players and officials meant "football showed its best side when it mattered most". Infantino, who also issued a statement on Sunday after the Semenyo incident, said Monday it was "absolutely unacceptable that racist abuse has occurred at football matches for the second time in recent days". 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 the WION audience.

Also on Sunday, a player from the visiting side, Kaiserslautern, also alleged racial abuse from a member of the crowd at club RSV Eintracht.

FIFA boss Infantino condemns alleged racial abuse in German Cup games

Joao Felix said on Monday (Aug 18) that Portugal team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota will "forever be a part of football history" following the Liverpool star's death aged 28. Jota was killed along with his brother Andre Silva when their Lamborghini went off the road in northern Spain on July 3. Just 11 days before the accident, the Portuguese forward had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children. The Premier League remembered Jota over the weekend in a series of moving tributes.&nbsp;Adding his voice to the outpouring of grief across the football world, Felix looked visibly moved as he spoke about his good friend and international colleague.&nbsp;Felix, who was among the mourners at the brothers' funeral, said: "Diogo to me was one of my best friends in the national team, he was always part of our mini group in the national team, those of us who were always together.&nbsp;"I knew his family, especially his parents, an incredible family."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/transfer-window-here-are-5-big-deals-that-could-happen-before-deadline-day-alexander-isak-eberechi-eze-1755506214856">Transfer window: Here are 5 big deals that could happen before deadline day</a>&nbsp;Speaking in Hong Kong, where Felix is with his new team, Al Nassr, for this week's Saudi Super Cup, the 25-year-old added, "I think he will forever be a part of football history; he will remain in the hearts of those who were already close to him.&nbsp;"After that day, every time we go on the field, we will remember him and play in part for him."&nbsp;The attacker Felix joined fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr late last month from Chelsea in a move reported to be worth up to 43.7 million pounds ($58 million).&nbsp;Felix, who has also played for Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan, will reportedly earn $10 million a year.&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 the WION audience.

Adding his voice to the outpouring of grief across the football world, Felix looked visibly moved as he spoke about his good friend and international colleague.

Joao Felix said on Monday (Aug 18) that Portugal team-mate and close friend Diogo Jota will "forever be a part of football history" following the Liverpool star's death aged 28. Jota was killed along with his brother Andre Silva when their Lamborghini went off the road in northern Spain on July 3. Just 11 days before the accident, the Portuguese forward had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children. The Premier League remembered Jota over the weekend in a series of moving tributes. Adding his voice to the outpouring of grief across the football world, Felix looked visibly moved as he spoke about his good friend and international colleague. Felix, who was among the mourners at the brothers' funeral, said: "Diogo to me was one of my best friends in the national team, he was always part of our mini group in the national team, those of us who were always together. "I knew his family, especially his parents, an incredible family." Also read | Transfer window: Here are 5 big deals that could happen before deadline day Speaking in Hong Kong, where Felix is with his new team, Al Nassr, for this week's Saudi Super Cup, the 25-year-old added, "I think he will forever be a part of football history; he will remain in the hearts of those who were already close to him. "After that day, every time we go on the field, we will remember him and play in part for him." The attacker Felix joined fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr late last month from Chelsea in a move reported to be worth up to 43.7 million pounds ($58 million). Felix, who has also played for Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan, will reportedly earn $10 million a year. 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 the WION audience.

Adding his voice to the outpouring of grief across the football world, Felix looked visibly moved as he spoke about his good friend and international colleague.

Felix remembers close friend Diogo Jota, says he will ‘forever be part of football history’

Rain on Monday halted search and rescue operations in northern Pakistan after flash floods that have killed nearly 350 people with around 200 still missing, officials said.Torrential rains across the country since Thursday have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the rubble.Most of the deaths -- more than 320 -- were reported in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the provincial disaster agency, which warned of new flash floods "till Thursday".Volunteers had been assisting hundreds of rescue workers in their race against time to find possible survivors and retrieve bodies as fresh rains started lashing the province."This morning fresh rains forced a halt to relief operations," said Nisar Ahmad, 31, a volunteer in worst-hit Buner district, where "12 villages have been completely wiped out and 219 bodies have been recovered"."Dozens of bodies are still buried under the mud and rocks, which can only be recovered with heavy machinery. However, the makeshift tracks built to access the area have once again been destroyed by the new rains," he added.Around 200 people are still missing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local authorities.- 'We feel scared' -Many people fled to seek shelter under damaged infrastructure and in the mountains in Buner, an area with difficult terrain."Even if it rains a little now, we feel scared because there was light rain that day. And then the unsuspecting people were swept away by the storm," said Buner resident Ghulam Hussain, 35."Children and women are running and screaming up the mountains to escape," Hazrat Ullah, 18, told AFP.Volunteer Ahmad said there were also fears for the future due to a lack of food supplies and clean water."Many livestock have also perished in the cloudburst, and their decomposing bodies are spreading a foul odour in several places. Right now, our most urgent need is clean drinking water, and I appeal to the government to provide it," he said.The monsoon season brings about three-quarters of South Asia's annual rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security but also causes widespread destruction.According to the National Disaster Agency, the intensity of this year's monsoon is about 50 to 60 percent higher than last year.Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September.The heavy rains that have battered Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon have claimed the lives of more than 650 people, with over 920 injured.Pakistan is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events.In 2022, monsoon floods submerged one-third of the country and resulted in approximately 1,700 deaths.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;

Flash floods in northern Pakistan have killed nearly 350 people, with 200 still missing, after torrential rains triggered landslides and wiped out villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rescue work was halted Monday due to fresh rains, raising fears of more flooding, food shortages, and disease.

Rain on Monday halted search and rescue operations in northern Pakistan after flash floods that have killed nearly 350 people with around 200 still missing, officials said. Torrential rains across the country since Thursday have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the rubble. Most of the deaths -- more than 320 -- were reported in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the provincial disaster agency, which warned of new flash floods "till Thursday". Volunteers had been assisting hundreds of rescue workers in their race against time to find possible survivors and retrieve bodies as fresh rains started lashing the province. "This morning fresh rains forced a halt to relief operations," said Nisar Ahmad, 31, a volunteer in worst-hit Buner district, where "12 villages have been completely wiped out and 219 bodies have been recovered". "Dozens of bodies are still buried under the mud and rocks, which can only be recovered with heavy machinery. However, the makeshift tracks built to access the area have once again been destroyed by the new rains," he added. Around 200 people are still missing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local authorities. - 'We feel scared' - Many people fled to seek shelter under damaged infrastructure and in the mountains in Buner, an area with difficult terrain. "Even if it rains a little now, we feel scared because there was light rain that day. And then the unsuspecting people were swept away by the storm," said Buner resident Ghulam Hussain, 35. "Children and women are running and screaming up the mountains to escape," Hazrat Ullah, 18, told AFP. Volunteer Ahmad said there were also fears for the future due to a lack of food supplies and clean water. "Many livestock have also perished in the cloudburst, and their decomposing bodies are spreading a foul odour in several places. Right now, our most urgent need is clean drinking water, and I appeal to the government to provide it," he said. The monsoon season brings about three-quarters of South Asia's annual rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security but also causes widespread destruction. According to the National Disaster Agency, the intensity of this year's monsoon is about 50 to 60 percent higher than last year. Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September. The heavy rains that have battered Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon have claimed the lives of more than 650 people, with over 920 injured. Pakistan is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged one-third of the country and resulted in approximately 1,700 deaths. 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.

Flash floods in northern Pakistan have killed nearly 350 people, with 200 still missing, after torrential rains triggered landslides and wiped out villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rescue work was halted Monday due to fresh rains, raising fears of more flooding, food shortages, and disease.

Pakistan flash floods death toll rises to 350, 200 still missing — relief ops halted by rain

Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to book a title clash with Jasmine Paolini. The six-time Grand Slam champion earned a Monday evening final against an opponent with nothing to lose after Paolini managed to "forget" a patch of bad form to claim a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 win over Russian Veronika Kudermetova.&nbsp;The 29-year-old, who was a two-time Grand Slam finalist in 2024, will bid for the fourth title of her career when she faces Swiatek, who is set to compete in her 13th final at the 1000 level as she closes in on a return to world number two.&nbsp;Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;The former world number one from Poland now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semi-final stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity.&nbsp;"It was a great match, and at the beginning, I was even surprised that I'm able to keep up with the pace, because we played so fast," Swiatek said.&nbsp;"I wanted to be there when Elena starts making mistakes. It's impossible to play such a good level throughout the whole match."&nbsp;Swiatek recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games.She jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina's serve.&nbsp;But Kazakhstan's Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later.&nbsp;"I was playing with intensity and quality," Swiatek said. "I feel good about my game right now and would not change anything."&nbsp;Swiatek has beaten Paolini in all five of their prior meetings with the Italian winning just one set.&nbsp;But Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final against a player who beat world number two Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;"Anyone who is there will have been playing well," she said.&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><h2>Keep fighting</h2>Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros.Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24.&nbsp;Paolini looked headed to a straight-set victory but failed to serve out her match at 5-4 in the second set and admitted the lapse left her nervous.&nbsp;"The key was to forget, get back into the fight and stay in the present," Paolini said after wrapping up the win in two and a quarter hours.&nbsp;"I was fighting in the second set and all was fine. But I got nervous and thought I would lose the tiebreaker.&nbsp;"I came back onto court in the third set trying not to think about what had happened. You have to keep going."&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.

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to book a title clash with Jasmine Paolini. The six-time Grand Slam champion earned a Monday evening final against an opponent with nothing to lose after Paolini managed to "forget" a patch of bad form to claim a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 win over Russian Veronika Kudermetova. The 29-year-old, who was a two-time Grand Slam finalist in 2024, will bid for the fourth title of her career when she faces Swiatek, who is set to compete in her 13th final at the 1000 level as she closes in on a return to world number two. Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. The former world number one from Poland now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semi-final stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity. "It was a great match, and at the beginning, I was even surprised that I'm able to keep up with the pace, because we played so fast," Swiatek said. "I wanted to be there when Elena starts making mistakes. It's impossible to play such a good level throughout the whole match." Swiatek recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games. She jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina's serve. But Kazakhstan's Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later. "I was playing with intensity and quality," Swiatek said. "I feel good about my game right now and would not change anything." Swiatek has beaten Paolini in all five of their prior meetings with the Italian winning just one set. But Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final against a player who beat world number two Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals. "Anyone who is there will have been playing well," she said. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Keep fighting Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros. Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24. Paolini looked headed to a straight-set victory but failed to serve out her match at 5-4 in the second set and admitted the lapse left her nervous. "The key was to forget, get back into the fight and stay in the present," Paolini said after wrapping up the win in two and a quarter hours. "I was fighting in the second set and all was fine. But I got nervous and thought I would lose the tiebreaker. "I came back onto court in the third set trying not to think about what had happened. You have to keep going." 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.

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek swamps Elena Rybakina in semis, to face Jasmine Paolini in final

Spain's Jon Rahm captured his second consecutive LIV Golf season crown on Sunday, shooting an 11-under par 60 before losing a playoff to Colombia's Sebastian Munoz at LIV Golf Indianapolis. Munoz birdied the first playoff hole to beat Rahm for the Indy title after both finished on 22-under 191 through all 54 holes at Chatham Hills in the Saudi-backed series' last individual event of the year.&nbsp;"First time I've ever beat him, so really proud of that and happy I got to go home with the trophy," Munoz said.&nbsp;But Rahm's result, a second playoff loss in as many weeks, was enough to edge Chile's Joaquin Niemann in the season points chase for the second year in a row, delivering heartbreak on the campaign's last day as he did in 2024.&nbsp;"Still slightly bittersweet," Rahm said. "I know I'm supposed to be happy. It's a great moment. But it just doesn't feel great to finish the year losing two playoffs.&nbsp;"I'm sure over time I'll get over that and I really appreciate what I've done this year."Rahm won the season title without winning any LIV event while Niemann took titles this year in Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico City, Virginia and Britain.&nbsp;"It sucks," Niemann said. "I started playing my best golf on the back nine, which I'm proud of, but at the end of the day, the putts didn't drop, and it wasn't enough. It's kind of hard to swallow."&nbsp;Rahm, a Masters and US Open champion, wasn't overjoyed about a season crown without a win all year.&nbsp;"To be able to win the season without actually winning a tournament, I know eventually I'll be proud of that. Right now it's slightly more something I'm going to suffer over a little bit more, and it may never be replicated," Rahm said.&nbsp;"You need a lot of coincidences to go on exactly with the year Joaquín had. He's won five times. He has played incredible golf. One could argue he was probably the more deserving guy to win this. But we have the points system we have and somehow, I don't know how, I managed to pull through and get it done."&nbsp;Rahm captured $18 million for claiming the season crown with Niemann taking $8 million for his runner-up season finish after sharing fourth at Indy on 196 with a closing 66.&nbsp;Munoz, who battled two-time major winner Dustin Johnson for the lead most of the day, birdied the 17th and 18th holes in regulation and the 18th again in the playoff to win his first title since the 2019 PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship.&nbsp;"We came today to try and take care of business," Munoz said. "Of course Jon shot 10-under so you go from one legend to another one. It was pretty cool. Awesome experience. Making birdie two times in a row (at 18), it's undescribable."&nbsp;Munoz battled for the victory after firing a 59 on Friday, only the third sub-60 round in LIV history.&nbsp;"I feel really proud of myself," he said. "It has been a long time coming, six years since my last win, and it's awesome right now."&nbsp;A severe overnight storm toppled trees and swamped fairways, delaying the shotgun start by 55 minutes, with players using lift, clean and place rules on the rain-softened course.&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><h2>Englishmen avoid drop</h2>England's Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter avoided being dumped from LIV for 2026, finishing in the season's top 48 in points to escape the relegation zone.&nbsp;Westwood birdied four of his first five holes while Poulter birdied four of his last five to avoid the drop, each finishing on 201.&nbsp;Sweden's Henrik Stenson was dropped, however, after missing a birdie putt at the 18th that would have seen him avoid relegation at Poulter's expense.&nbsp;Niemann's Torque won the Indy team title, it's first triumph since 2023, but Rahm's Legion XIII holds the top seeding for next week's LIV Team Championship.&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.

Jon Rahm's result, a second playoff loss in as many weeks, was enough to edge Chile's Joaquin Niemann in the season points chase for the second year in a row, delivering heartbreak on the campaign's last day as he did in 2024.

Spain's Jon Rahm captured his second consecutive LIV Golf season crown on Sunday, shooting an 11-under par 60 before losing a playoff to Colombia's Sebastian Munoz at LIV Golf Indianapolis. Munoz birdied the first playoff hole to beat Rahm for the Indy title after both finished on 22-under 191 through all 54 holes at Chatham Hills in the Saudi-backed series' last individual event of the year. "First time I've ever beat him, so really proud of that and happy I got to go home with the trophy," Munoz said. But Rahm's result, a second playoff loss in as many weeks, was enough to edge Chile's Joaquin Niemann in the season points chase for the second year in a row, delivering heartbreak on the campaign's last day as he did in 2024. "Still slightly bittersweet," Rahm said. "I know I'm supposed to be happy. It's a great moment. But it just doesn't feel great to finish the year losing two playoffs. "I'm sure over time I'll get over that and I really appreciate what I've done this year." Rahm won the season title without winning any LIV event while Niemann took titles this year in Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico City, Virginia and Britain. "It sucks," Niemann said. "I started playing my best golf on the back nine, which I'm proud of, but at the end of the day, the putts didn't drop, and it wasn't enough. It's kind of hard to swallow." Rahm, a Masters and US Open champion, wasn't overjoyed about a season crown without a win all year. "To be able to win the season without actually winning a tournament, I know eventually I'll be proud of that. Right now it's slightly more something I'm going to suffer over a little bit more, and it may never be replicated," Rahm said. "You need a lot of coincidences to go on exactly with the year Joaquín had. He's won five times. He has played incredible golf. One could argue he was probably the more deserving guy to win this. But we have the points system we have and somehow, I don't know how, I managed to pull through and get it done." Rahm captured $18 million for claiming the season crown with Niemann taking $8 million for his runner-up season finish after sharing fourth at Indy on 196 with a closing 66. Munoz, who battled two-time major winner Dustin Johnson for the lead most of the day, birdied the 17th and 18th holes in regulation and the 18th again in the playoff to win his first title since the 2019 PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship. "We came today to try and take care of business," Munoz said. "Of course Jon shot 10-under so you go from one legend to another one. It was pretty cool. Awesome experience. Making birdie two times in a row (at 18), it's undescribable." Munoz battled for the victory after firing a 59 on Friday, only the third sub-60 round in LIV history. "I feel really proud of myself," he said. "It has been a long time coming, six years since my last win, and it's awesome right now." A severe overnight storm toppled trees and swamped fairways, delaying the shotgun start by 55 minutes, with players using lift, clean and place rules on the rain-softened course. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Englishmen avoid drop England's Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter avoided being dumped from LIV for 2026, finishing in the season's top 48 in points to escape the relegation zone. Westwood birdied four of his first five holes while Poulter birdied four of his last five to avoid the drop, each finishing on 201. Sweden's Henrik Stenson was dropped, however, after missing a birdie putt at the 18th that would have seen him avoid relegation at Poulter's expense. Niemann's Torque won the Indy team title, it's first triumph since 2023, but Rahm's Legion XIII holds the top seeding for next week's LIV Team Championship. 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.

Jon Rahm's result, a second playoff loss in as many weeks, was enough to edge Chile's Joaquin Niemann in the season points chase for the second year in a row, delivering heartbreak on the campaign's last day as he did in 2024.

Jon Rahm edges Joaquin Niemann for LIV season title as Sebastian Munoz wins at Indy

Manchester United's expensively-assembled new forward line drew a blank as Arsenal began their quest for the Premier League title by grinding out a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday (Aug 17). Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal after the Italian defender pounced on a huge mistake by United's stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. United have splashed out £200 million ($271 million) on new forwards to remedy a lack of punch in the final third. Despite promising debuts, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo failed to find the net, while substitute Benjamin Sesko could not make Arsenal pay for not pursuing their interest in the Slovenian.&nbsp;After finishing second for the past three seasons, the pressure is on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to deliver the club's first league title in 2003/04. The Spaniard was left to depend on his reliable defence and goalkeeper David Raya to secure a huge three points, as the visitors never got going as an attacking force.&nbsp;Only four other teams scored fewer than United's 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season as the English giants endured their worst campaign for 51 years, finishing 15th in the table.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pl-2025-26-club-world-cup-champs-chelsea-escape-palace-with-goalless-draw-at-home-1755444574579">PL 2025/26: Club World Cup champs Chelsea escape Palace with goalless draw at home</a>&nbsp;The new arrivals have at least lifted the mood around Old Trafford, and the majority of the 75,000 fans in attendance could at least leave encouraged by the performance of Ruben Amorim's men.&nbsp;Cunha and Mbeumo unsettled Arsenal's normally unflappable centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba early on. However, United's good work was undone by a glaring error from Bayindir, who was deputising for the injured Andre Onana. The Turkish international meekly flapped at an inswinging Declan Rice corner on 13 minutes, allowing Calafiori the simplest of tasks to head into an unguarded net.&nbsp;Patrick Dorgu came closest to a United reply before half-time with a powerful effort from distance that came back off the post.&nbsp;Mbeumo and Cunha saw tame efforts easily saved by Raya, while the Spaniard did brilliantly to divert another Cunha shot across the face of the goal.&nbsp;Arsenal had held interest in Sesko for well over a year before instead pursuing a move for Viktor Gyokeres as the solution to their need for a number nine. The Swede had a quiet Premier League debut and was replaced before the hour mark by Kai Havertz.&nbsp;Sesko made his entrance moments later to a hero's welcome after rejecting the advances of Newcastle for the lure of the 20-time English champions.&nbsp;United continued to enjoy the better of the play without finding the finish as Mbeumo saw a powerful header expertly clawed out by Raya.&nbsp;But Arsenal held firm to keep pace with title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, who also won on the opening weekend of the campaign.&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 the WION audience.

Despite promising debuts, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo failed to find the net, while substitute Benjamin Sesko could not make Arsenal pay for not pursuing their interest in the Slovenian.

Manchester United's expensively-assembled new forward line drew a blank as Arsenal began their quest for the Premier League title by grinding out a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday (Aug 17). Riccardo Calafiori scored the only goal after the Italian defender pounced on a huge mistake by United's stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. United have splashed out £200 million ($271 million) on new forwards to remedy a lack of punch in the final third. Despite promising debuts, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo failed to find the net, while substitute Benjamin Sesko could not make Arsenal pay for not pursuing their interest in the Slovenian. After finishing second for the past three seasons, the pressure is on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to deliver the club's first league title in 2003/04. The Spaniard was left to depend on his reliable defence and goalkeeper David Raya to secure a huge three points, as the visitors never got going as an attacking force. Only four other teams scored fewer than United's 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season as the English giants endured their worst campaign for 51 years, finishing 15th in the table. Also read | PL 2025/26: Club World Cup champs Chelsea escape Palace with goalless draw at home The new arrivals have at least lifted the mood around Old Trafford, and the majority of the 75,000 fans in attendance could at least leave encouraged by the performance of Ruben Amorim's men. Cunha and Mbeumo unsettled Arsenal's normally unflappable centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba early on. However, United's good work was undone by a glaring error from Bayindir, who was deputising for the injured Andre Onana. The Turkish international meekly flapped at an inswinging Declan Rice corner on 13 minutes, allowing Calafiori the simplest of tasks to head into an unguarded net. Patrick Dorgu came closest to a United reply before half-time with a powerful effort from distance that came back off the post. Mbeumo and Cunha saw tame efforts easily saved by Raya, while the Spaniard did brilliantly to divert another Cunha shot across the face of the goal. Arsenal had held interest in Sesko for well over a year before instead pursuing a move for Viktor Gyokeres as the solution to their need for a number nine. The Swede had a quiet Premier League debut and was replaced before the hour mark by Kai Havertz. Sesko made his entrance moments later to a hero's welcome after rejecting the advances of Newcastle for the lure of the 20-time English champions. United continued to enjoy the better of the play without finding the finish as Mbeumo saw a powerful header expertly clawed out by Raya. But Arsenal held firm to keep pace with title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, who also won on the opening weekend of the campaign. 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 the WION audience.

Despite promising debuts, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo failed to find the net, while substitute Benjamin Sesko could not make Arsenal pay for not pursuing their interest in the Slovenian.

No hurray for Manchester United as Arsenal win at Trafford to open their PL campaign

LA PAZ: Bolivians expressed hopes of change on Sunday as they voted in elections shaped by an economic crisis, which has given the right its first shot at power in 20 years. The Andean country is struggling through its worst crisis in a generation, marked by annual inflation of almost 25 per cent and critical shortages of fuel and foreign exchange.Polls show voters poised to punish the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (known by its Spanish acronym MAS), in power since Evo Morales was elected Bolivia’s first Indigenous president in 2005.“We’re experiencing a tremendous crisis so we need a change,” Alicia Vacaflor, a 62-year-old importer of industrial machines, told AFP after voting in the biting cold at a school in central La Paz.Karla Coronel, a 46-year-old market analyst, agreed on the need for a new direction. “Socialism has brought us nothing good,” she declared.More than 7.9 million Bolivians are eligible to vote Sunday, choosing between eight presidential candidates as well as electing 166 members of Bolivia’s bicameral legislature.Centre-right business tycoon Samuel Doria Medina and right-wing ex-president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga are the favourites to succeed Morales’s unpopular successor, Luis Arce, who is not seeking re-election.Polls showed Doria Medina, 66, and Quiroga, 65, neck-and-neck on around 20 per cent, with six other candidates, including left-wing Senate leader Andronico Rodriguez, trailing far behind. A run-off will take place on October 19 if no candidate wins an outright majority.The two frontrunners have vowed radical reforms to Bolivia’s big-state economic model if elected. They want to slash public spending, open the country to foreign investment and boost ties with the United States, which were downgraded under the combative Morales, a self-described anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist.“Today is a very important day for Bolivians because through voting we can emerge from this economic crisis peacefully, democratically,” Doria Medina told the press after voting at a polling station in La Paz.Agustin Quispe, a 51-year-old miner, accused both the left and right of failing to advance “new ideas.”Branding Doria Medina and Quiroga, both of whom are on their fourth run for president, “dinosaurs,” he said he supported centre-right candidate Rodrigo Paz.&nbsp;<h2>Shades of Argentina</h2>&nbsp;Analysts say the election resembles that of Argentina in 2023, when voters dumped the long-ruling leftist Peronists and elected libertarian candidate Javier Milei in a bid to end a deep economic crisis.“What people are looking for now, beyond a shift from left to right, is a return to stability,” Daniela Osorio Michel, a Bolivian political scientist at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies, told AFP.Unlike Milei, who was a political newcomer, Doria Medina and Quiroga are experienced candidates.Doria Medina, a millionaire former planning minister, made a fortune in cement before going on to build Bolivia's biggest skyscraper and acquire the local Burger King fast food franchise.Seen as a moderate, he has vowed to halt inflation and bring back fuel and dollars within 100 days, without cutting anti-poverty programmes.The tough-talking Quiroga, who trained as an engineer in the United States, served as vice-president under ex-dictator Hugo Banzer and then briefly as president when Banzer stepped down to fight cancer in 2001.“We will change everything, absolutely everything after 20 lost years,” he trumpeted during his closing rally in La Paz on Wednesday.&nbsp;<h2>The Morales factor</h2>&nbsp;Bolivia enjoyed more than a decade of strong growth and Indigenous upliftment under Morales, who nationalised the gas sector and ploughed the proceeds into social programmes that halved extreme poverty. But underinvestment in exploration has caused gas revenues to implode, falling from a peak of $6.1 billion in 2013 to $1.6 billion last year.With the country’s other major resource, lithium, still underground, the government has nearly run out of the foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other key commodities.Bolivians have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against rocketing prices and hours-long waits for fuel, bread, and other basics.Morales, who was barred from standing for a fourth term, has cast a long shadow over the campaign. The 65-year-old has called on his mostly rural Indigenous supporters to spoil their ballots over the refusal by electoral authorities to allow him to run again.&nbsp;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.

With the country’s other major resource, lithium, still underground, the government has nearly run out of the foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other key commodities. Bolivians have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against rocketing prices.

LA PAZ: Bolivians expressed hopes of change on Sunday as they voted in elections shaped by an economic crisis, which has given the right its first shot at power in 20 years. The Andean country is struggling through its worst crisis in a generation, marked by annual inflation of almost 25 per cent and critical shortages of fuel and foreign exchange. Polls show voters poised to punish the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (known by its Spanish acronym MAS), in power since Evo Morales was elected Bolivia’s first Indigenous president in 2005. “We’re experiencing a tremendous crisis so we need a change,” Alicia Vacaflor, a 62-year-old importer of industrial machines, told AFP after voting in the biting cold at a school in central La Paz. Karla Coronel, a 46-year-old market analyst, agreed on the need for a new direction. “Socialism has brought us nothing good,” she declared. More than 7.9 million Bolivians are eligible to vote Sunday, choosing between eight presidential candidates as well as electing 166 members of Bolivia’s bicameral legislature. Centre-right business tycoon Samuel Doria Medina and right-wing ex-president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga are the favourites to succeed Morales’s unpopular successor, Luis Arce, who is not seeking re-election. Polls showed Doria Medina, 66, and Quiroga, 65, neck-and-neck on around 20 per cent, with six other candidates, including left-wing Senate leader Andronico Rodriguez, trailing far behind. A run-off will take place on October 19 if no candidate wins an outright majority. The two frontrunners have vowed radical reforms to Bolivia’s big-state economic model if elected. They want to slash public spending, open the country to foreign investment and boost ties with the United States, which were downgraded under the combative Morales, a self-described anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist. “Today is a very important day for Bolivians because through voting we can emerge from this economic crisis peacefully, democratically,” Doria Medina told the press after voting at a polling station in La Paz. Agustin Quispe, a 51-year-old miner, accused both the left and right of failing to advance “new ideas.” Branding Doria Medina and Quiroga, both of whom are on their fourth run for president, “dinosaurs,” he said he supported centre-right candidate Rodrigo Paz. Shades of Argentina Analysts say the election resembles that of Argentina in 2023, when voters dumped the long-ruling leftist Peronists and elected libertarian candidate Javier Milei in a bid to end a deep economic crisis. “What people are looking for now, beyond a shift from left to right, is a return to stability,” Daniela Osorio Michel, a Bolivian political scientist at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies, told AFP. Unlike Milei, who was a political newcomer, Doria Medina and Quiroga are experienced candidates. Doria Medina, a millionaire former planning minister, made a fortune in cement before going on to build Bolivia's biggest skyscraper and acquire the local Burger King fast food franchise. Seen as a moderate, he has vowed to halt inflation and bring back fuel and dollars within 100 days, without cutting anti-poverty programmes. The tough-talking Quiroga, who trained as an engineer in the United States, served as vice-president under ex-dictator Hugo Banzer and then briefly as president when Banzer stepped down to fight cancer in 2001. “We will change everything, absolutely everything after 20 lost years,” he trumpeted during his closing rally in La Paz on Wednesday. The Morales factor Bolivia enjoyed more than a decade of strong growth and Indigenous upliftment under Morales, who nationalised the gas sector and ploughed the proceeds into social programmes that halved extreme poverty. But underinvestment in exploration has caused gas revenues to implode, falling from a peak of $6.1 billion in 2013 to $1.6 billion last year. With the country’s other major resource, lithium, still underground, the government has nearly run out of the foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other key commodities. Bolivians have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against rocketing prices and hours-long waits for fuel, bread, and other basics. Morales, who was barred from standing for a fourth term, has cast a long shadow over the campaign. The 65-year-old has called on his mostly rural Indigenous supporters to spoil their ballots over the refusal by electoral authorities to allow him to run again. 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.

With the country’s other major resource, lithium, still underground, the government has nearly run out of the foreign exchange needed to import fuel, wheat, and other key commodities. Bolivians have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against rocketing prices.

Bolivians vote as right eyes return in elections marked by economic crisis

Air Canada said it will resume flying on Sunday after the country's industrial relations board ordered an end to a strike by 10,000 flight attendants that effectively shut down the airline and snarled summer travel. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) "directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume their duties by 14:00 EDT on August 17, 2025," the airline said in a statement.While it plans to resume flights on Sunday evening, Canada's flag carrier warned it would take "several days before its operations return to normal."Some flights are still set to be cancelled over the next seven to 10 days, it added. Air Canada cabin crew walked off the job early Saturday over a wage dispute.Hours later, Canada's labor policy minister,&nbsp;Patty Hajdu, invoked a legal provision to halt the strike and force both sides into binding arbitration."The directive, under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, and the CIRB's order, ends the strike at Air Canada that resulted in the suspension of more than 700 flights," the Montreal-based carrier said.The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is representing the workers, sought&nbsp;wage increases as well as to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process.It had previously said its members would remain on strike until the government formally issued an order that they return to work.It had urged passengers not to go to the airport if they had a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge.While it did not immediately issue a response to the back-to-work directive, the CUPE earlier slammed the Canadian government's intervention as "rewarding Air Canada's refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted.""This sets a terrible precedent," it said.The union also pointed out that the chairwoman of CIRB, Maryse Tremblay, previously worked as legal counsel for Air Canada.Tremblay's ruling on whether to end the strike was "an almost unthinkable display of conflict-of-interest," the union posted on Facebook.On Thursday, Air Canada detailed the terms offered to cabin crew, indicating a senior flight attendant would on average make CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027.CUPE has described Air Canada's offers as "below inflation (and) below market value."In a statement issued before the strike began, the Business Council of Canada warned an Air Canada work stoppage would exacerbate the economic pinch already being felt from US President Donald Trump's tariffs.Canada's flag carrier counts around 130,000 daily passengers and flies directly to 180 cities worldwide.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is representing the workers, sought wage increases as well as to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process.

Air Canada said it will resume flying on Sunday after the country's industrial relations board ordered an end to a strike by 10,000 flight attendants that effectively shut down the airline and snarled summer travel. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) "directed Air Canada to resume airline operations and for all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants to resume their duties by 14:00 EDT on August 17, 2025," the airline said in a statement. While it plans to resume flights on Sunday evening, Canada's flag carrier warned it would take "several days before its operations return to normal." Some flights are still set to be cancelled over the next seven to 10 days, it added. Air Canada cabin crew walked off the job early Saturday over a wage dispute. Hours later, Canada's labor policy minister, Patty Hajdu, invoked a legal provision to halt the strike and force both sides into binding arbitration. "The directive, under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, and the CIRB's order, ends the strike at Air Canada that resulted in the suspension of more than 700 flights," the Montreal-based carrier said. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is representing the workers, sought wage increases as well as to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process. It had previously said its members would remain on strike until the government formally issued an order that they return to work. It had urged passengers not to go to the airport if they had a ticket for Air Canada or its lower-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge. While it did not immediately issue a response to the back-to-work directive, the CUPE earlier slammed the Canadian government's intervention as "rewarding Air Canada's refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted." "This sets a terrible precedent," it said. The union also pointed out that the chairwoman of CIRB, Maryse Tremblay, previously worked as legal counsel for Air Canada. Tremblay's ruling on whether to end the strike was "an almost unthinkable display of conflict-of-interest," the union posted on Facebook. On Thursday, Air Canada detailed the terms offered to cabin crew, indicating a senior flight attendant would on average make CAN$87,000 ($65,000) by 2027. CUPE has described Air Canada's offers as "below inflation (and) below market value." In a statement issued before the strike began, the Business Council of Canada warned an Air Canada work stoppage would exacerbate the economic pinch already being felt from US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Canada's flag carrier counts around 130,000 daily passengers and flies directly to 180 cities worldwide.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is representing the workers, sought&nbsp;wage increases as well as to address uncompensated ground work, including during the boarding process.

Air Canada to resume flights after government ends strike; will take several days to make it operational

Chelsea suffered a Club World Cup hangover as they were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace to open their Premier League campaign on Sunday (Aug 17). Palace were denied an early opener when Eberechi Eze's free-kick was ruled out by a VAR review for Marc Guehi obstructing the Chelsea wall. New Chelsea signing Estevao came closest to snatching a winner, but the newly-crowned world champions were blunt in attack against a well-organised Palace defence.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Eagles' key duo, Guehi and Eze, started despite mounting speculation that the England internationals are set to join Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively. Eze thought he had opened the scoring with a blistering free-kick that had too much power for Robert Sanchez.&nbsp;The goal was disallowed for Guehi's role in creating a gap by man-handling Moises Caicedo into the Chelsea wall.&nbsp;Chelsea's demolition of European champions Paris Saint-Germain to win the Club World Cup last month had raised the Blues' hopes that they can&nbsp;challenge for a first Premier League title since 2017.&nbsp;Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro shone in the 3-0 win over PSG in New York 35 days ago, but were anonymous as Enzo Maresca had to turn to his bench for inspiration.&nbsp;Estevao scored against Chelsea at the Club World Cup in his final game for Palmeiras. The Brazilian has been hyped as one of the world's brightest young talents, but lacked the composure to finish when he sliced high and wide from the middle of the box.&nbsp;Nottingham Forest made light of manager Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-season fears with a dominant 3-1 win over a much-changed Brentford. Chris Wood struck twice, either side of Dan Ndyoe's debut goal for Forest, on a nightmare afternoon for new Brentford boss Keith Andrews. The Bees have lost their manager, captain and top scorer in the off-season.&nbsp;Thomas Frank left to take charge of Tottenham, Mbeumo got his dream move to United, and Arsenal secured Christian Norgaard.&nbsp;Yoane Wissa was also missing from the Brentford squad ahead of an expected move to Newcastle.&nbsp;Igor Thiago's first goal for the club from the penalty spot late on was the only consolation for the visitors.&nbsp;Arsenal, runners-up for the last three seasons, begin their quest for a first title in 22 years later away at a revamped Manchester United.&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 the WION audience.

New Chelsea signing Estevao came closest to snatching a winner, but the newly-crowned world champions were blunt in attack against a well-organised Palace defence.

Chelsea suffered a Club World Cup hangover as they were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace to open their Premier League campaign on Sunday (Aug 17). Palace were denied an early opener when Eberechi Eze's free-kick was ruled out by a VAR review for Marc Guehi obstructing the Chelsea wall. New Chelsea signing Estevao came closest to snatching a winner, but the newly-crowned world champions were blunt in attack against a well-organised Palace defence. The Eagles' key duo, Guehi and Eze, started despite mounting speculation that the England internationals are set to join Liverpool and Tottenham, respectively. Eze thought he had opened the scoring with a blistering free-kick that had too much power for Robert Sanchez. The goal was disallowed for Guehi's role in creating a gap by man-handling Moises Caicedo into the Chelsea wall. Chelsea's demolition of European champions Paris Saint-Germain to win the Club World Cup last month had raised the Blues' hopes that they can challenge for a first Premier League title since 2017. Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro shone in the 3-0 win over PSG in New York 35 days ago, but were anonymous as Enzo Maresca had to turn to his bench for inspiration. Estevao scored against Chelsea at the Club World Cup in his final game for Palmeiras. The Brazilian has been hyped as one of the world's brightest young talents, but lacked the composure to finish when he sliced high and wide from the middle of the box. Nottingham Forest made light of manager Nuno Espirito Santo's pre-season fears with a dominant 3-1 win over a much-changed Brentford. Chris Wood struck twice, either side of Dan Ndyoe's debut goal for Forest, on a nightmare afternoon for new Brentford boss Keith Andrews. The Bees have lost their manager, captain and top scorer in the off-season. Thomas Frank left to take charge of Tottenham, Mbeumo got his dream move to United, and Arsenal secured Christian Norgaard. Yoane Wissa was also missing from the Brentford squad ahead of an expected move to Newcastle. Igor Thiago's first goal for the club from the penalty spot late on was the only consolation for the visitors. Arsenal, runners-up for the last three seasons, begin their quest for a first title in 22 years later away at a revamped Manchester United. 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 the WION audience.

New Chelsea signing Estevao came closest to snatching a winner, but the newly-crowned world champions were blunt in attack against a well-organised Palace defence.

PL 2025/26: Club World Cup champs Chelsea escape Palace with goalless draw at home

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.

Afp