China's top diplomat will visit India next week for talks about their shared boundary, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Saturday, as the two countries eye resuming border trade five years after halting it."From August 18 to 20... (Chinese foreign minister) Wang Yi will, upon invitation, visit India and hold the 24th special representatives meeting on the China-India border issue," a spokesperson said in a statement.Past trade between the neighbours across icy and high-altitude Himalayan border passes was usually small in volume, but any resumption is significant for its symbolism.It stopped following a deadly 2020 clash between border troops.Indian media had reported earlier in the week that China's Wang was expected for talks in New Delhi on Monday.His Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Beijing in July.The two major economic powers have long competed for strategic influence across South Asia.However, caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariff regime, they have moved to mend ties.In recent weeks, Chinese and Indian officials have said the two countries were discussing resuming border trade.Agreements to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas also have been seen as part of an effort to rebuild their relationship.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from August 18–20 for the 24th round of talks on the long-standing boundary issue, Beijing confirmed Saturday.

China's top diplomat will visit India next week for talks about their shared boundary, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Saturday, as the two countries eye resuming border trade five years after halting it. "From August 18 to 20... (Chinese foreign minister) Wang Yi will, upon invitation, visit India and hold the 24th special representatives meeting on the China-India border issue," a spokesperson said in a statement. Past trade between the neighbours across icy and high-altitude Himalayan border passes was usually small in volume, but any resumption is significant for its symbolism. It stopped following a deadly 2020 clash between border troops. Indian media had reported earlier in the week that China's Wang was expected for talks in New Delhi on Monday. His Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Beijing in July. The two major economic powers have long competed for strategic influence across South Asia. However, caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US President Donald Trump's tariff regime, they have moved to mend ties. In recent weeks, Chinese and Indian officials have said the two countries were discussing resuming border trade. Agreements to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas also have been seen as part of an effort to rebuild their relationship.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from August 18–20 for the 24th round of talks on the long-standing boundary issue, Beijing confirmed Saturday.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi to visit India Aug 18–20 for key border negotiations

World number two Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Friday as women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was sent crashing by Elena Rybakina.&nbsp;Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth-seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.&nbsp;Germany's Zverev complained of feeling dizzy and out of breath as he led by a set and a break, but benefitted from 27 unforced errors from a listless Shelton over 76 minutes.&nbsp;Zverev earned a 4-1 lead in the second set as Sheldon angrily tossed his racquet on the changeover, and the 2021 champion polished off the win on a second match point and now has 24 hours to try and get fit.&nbsp;"I'm not feeling too great now, but I have a day to get fresh," Zverev said. "I hope to be at 100%.&nbsp;"I'm not sure what happened. I felt very well but at the end of the first set it got progressively worse.&nbsp;"But I'll do all I can to give it a shot tomorrow."&nbsp;Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later.&nbsp;He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point.&nbsp;"I maintained the positive thoughts even if I lost focus a bit in the second set," said Alcaraz, whose five titles so far this year include the French Open as well as Masters 1000 trophies in Monte Carlo and Rome.&nbsp;“Against Andrey, if you lose focus it can cost you the set -- or the match ... (Fighting back) is what I'm most proud of.”&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>Rybakina revenge</h2>Top seeded Sabalenka had no answer for 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who beat the Belarusian 6-1, 6-4 to book a semi-final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek -- a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya.&nbsp;Rybakina claimed a fifth victory in her 12-match personal rivalry with Sabalenka, avenging a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago.&nbsp;Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semi-final."I'm happy with the serve. It was the key today," Rybakina said. "I served really well.&nbsp;"If she had been serving well it would have been a totally different match," she acknowledged.&nbsp;Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season.Swiatek needed 93 minutes and five match points to get past Kalinskaya in what she called "the best match I played here.&nbsp;"I'm happy that I'm progressing during the tournament," said the former world number one from Poland.&nbsp;I just played my game," she said. “It was not easy but I'm happy that I stayed solid and kept my intensity.”&nbsp;In other quarter-final action, Veronika Kudermetova crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Friday night's match between world number two Coco Gauff and ninth-ranked Jasmine Paolini.&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.

Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth-seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Friday as women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was sent crashing by Elena Rybakina. Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth-seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Germany's Zverev complained of feeling dizzy and out of breath as he led by a set and a break, but benefitted from 27 unforced errors from a listless Shelton over 76 minutes. Zverev earned a 4-1 lead in the second set as Sheldon angrily tossed his racquet on the changeover, and the 2021 champion polished off the win on a second match point and now has 24 hours to try and get fit. "I'm not feeling too great now, but I have a day to get fresh," Zverev said. "I hope to be at 100%. "I'm not sure what happened. I felt very well but at the end of the first set it got progressively worse. "But I'll do all I can to give it a shot tomorrow." Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later. He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point. "I maintained the positive thoughts even if I lost focus a bit in the second set," said Alcaraz, whose five titles so far this year include the French Open as well as Masters 1000 trophies in Monte Carlo and Rome. “Against Andrey, if you lose focus it can cost you the set -- or the match ... (Fighting back) is what I'm most proud of.” ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Rybakina revenge Top seeded Sabalenka had no answer for 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who beat the Belarusian 6-1, 6-4 to book a semi-final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek -- a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya. Rybakina claimed a fifth victory in her 12-match personal rivalry with Sabalenka, avenging a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago. Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semi-final. "I'm happy with the serve. It was the key today," Rybakina said. "I served really well. "If she had been serving well it would have been a totally different match," she acknowledged. Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season. Swiatek needed 93 minutes and five match points to get past Kalinskaya in what she called "the best match I played here. "I'm happy that I'm progressing during the tournament," said the former world number one from Poland. I just played my game," she said. “It was not easy but I'm happy that I stayed solid and kept my intensity.” In other quarter-final action, Veronika Kudermetova crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Friday night's match between world number two Coco Gauff and ninth-ranked Jasmine Paolini. 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.

Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, who brought the winning run of fifth-seeded Toronto champion American Ben Shelton to its end with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Cincinnati Open: Carlos Alcaraz survives to reach semis as Elena Rybakina topples No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

Liverpool struck twice in the final minutes through Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to overcome a battling Bournemouth 4-2 in a thrilling start to the Premier League season on Friday.&nbsp;Antoine Semenyo looked to have rescued a point for the Cherries by scoring twice, after he had reported an incident of racial abuse from a fan, to cancel out Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo's strikes for the defending champions.&nbsp;But on an emotive night as Anfield remembered Diogo Jota, Chiesa was the unlikely hero as the injury-hit Italian fired the home side back in front before Salah rounded off the scoring.&nbsp;Liverpool's joy at celebrating a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the off-season as forward Jota was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month at the age of 28.&nbsp;Just 11 days prior to the accident, the Portuguese international had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children.&nbsp;A large banner at the front of The Kop stand read: "Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda - Anfield will always be your home. You'll Never Walk Alone."&nbsp;During a minute's silence, fans held up a giant mosaic with the initials of Jota and Silva, who was also a footballer, and their shirt numbers in the Portuguese flag."The main emotion should be how emotive the tribute for Diogo was," said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. "It was all so impressive and powerful."&nbsp;Despite romping to the title with four games to spare last season, Liverpool have undergone a major transformation in the transfer market, spending close to £300 million ($407 million).&nbsp;Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong made their first competitive starts for the Reds.&nbsp;More could be yet to come with Liverpool linked with a British transfer record move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak and interested in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.&nbsp;The visitors were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men less than 15 minutes in when Marcos Senesi clearly directed the ball out of Ekitike's path with his hand when the French striker had a clear run at goal, but VAR surprisingly did not intervene.&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>Salah's tears</h2>The game was briefly halted on the half hour mark as Semenyo reported to referee Anthony Taylor he had been the subject of racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter, who was seen to be removed from the stands by police at half-time.&nbsp;"Totally unacceptable," said Bournemouth captain Adam Smith. "Kind of in shock it happened in this day and age."&nbsp;Liverpool said in a statement the incident is now the subject of an ongoing police investigation.&nbsp;Shortly after the resumption, Ekitike settled Liverpool's nerves as he got the break of the ball and slotted past Dorde Petrovic.&nbsp;Gakpo then coolly left two Bournemouth defenders on the ground and rolled into the bottom corner just after half-time.&nbsp;But Slot's men have struggled to find the right balance in pre-season and in losing the Community Shield to Palace last weekend as a new-look slick attack could not compensate for wide open defensive gaps on the counter-attack and so it proved again.David Brooks broke the offside trap and squared for Semenyo to pull a goal back.&nbsp;The Ghanaian then rounded off his eventful evening for good and bad with an incredible equaliser.&nbsp;Semenyo collected possession just outside his own box and sprinted through a vacant Liverpool midfield before firing into the bottom corner 13 minutes from time.&nbsp;Chiesa was barely used by Slot in his debut season in England but became the unlikely hero when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Bournemouth box on 89 minutes.&nbsp;Salah then broke clear in stoppage time to score his customary goal in the opening game of the season and paid his own homage to Jota by mimicking one of his goal celebrations.&nbsp;The Egyptian then broke down in tears after full-time as a chant in Jota's name was belted out from the stands.&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.

Liverpool's joy at celebrating a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the off-season as forward Diogo Jota was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month at the age of 28.

Liverpool struck twice in the final minutes through Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah to overcome a battling Bournemouth 4-2 in a thrilling start to the Premier League season on Friday. Antoine Semenyo looked to have rescued a point for the Cherries by scoring twice, after he had reported an incident of racial abuse from a fan, to cancel out Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo's strikes for the defending champions. But on an emotive night as Anfield remembered Diogo Jota, Chiesa was the unlikely hero as the injury-hit Italian fired the home side back in front before Salah rounded off the scoring. Liverpool's joy at celebrating a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the off-season as forward Jota was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month at the age of 28. Just 11 days prior to the accident, the Portuguese international had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children. A large banner at the front of The Kop stand read: "Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda - Anfield will always be your home. You'll Never Walk Alone." During a minute's silence, fans held up a giant mosaic with the initials of Jota and Silva, who was also a footballer, and their shirt numbers in the Portuguese flag. "The main emotion should be how emotive the tribute for Diogo was," said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. "It was all so impressive and powerful." Despite romping to the title with four games to spare last season, Liverpool have undergone a major transformation in the transfer market, spending close to £300 million ($407 million). Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong made their first competitive starts for the Reds. More could be yet to come with Liverpool linked with a British transfer record move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak and interested in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The visitors were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men less than 15 minutes in when Marcos Senesi clearly directed the ball out of Ekitike's path with his hand when the French striker had a clear run at goal, but VAR surprisingly did not intervene. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Salah's tears The game was briefly halted on the half hour mark as Semenyo reported to referee Anthony Taylor he had been the subject of racist abuse from a Liverpool supporter, who was seen to be removed from the stands by police at half-time. "Totally unacceptable," said Bournemouth captain Adam Smith. "Kind of in shock it happened in this day and age." Liverpool said in a statement the incident is now the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Shortly after the resumption, Ekitike settled Liverpool's nerves as he got the break of the ball and slotted past Dorde Petrovic. Gakpo then coolly left two Bournemouth defenders on the ground and rolled into the bottom corner just after half-time. But Slot's men have struggled to find the right balance in pre-season and in losing the Community Shield to Palace last weekend as a new-look slick attack could not compensate for wide open defensive gaps on the counter-attack and so it proved again. David Brooks broke the offside trap and squared for Semenyo to pull a goal back. The Ghanaian then rounded off his eventful evening for good and bad with an incredible equaliser. Semenyo collected possession just outside his own box and sprinted through a vacant Liverpool midfield before firing into the bottom corner 13 minutes from time. Chiesa was barely used by Slot in his debut season in England but became the unlikely hero when he pounced on a loose ball inside the Bournemouth box on 89 minutes. Salah then broke clear in stoppage time to score his customary goal in the opening game of the season and paid his own homage to Jota by mimicking one of his goal celebrations. The Egyptian then broke down in tears after full-time as a chant in Jota's name was belted out from the stands. 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.

Liverpool's joy at celebrating a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title turned to tragedy during the off-season as forward Diogo Jota was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident last month at the age of 28.

Premier League: Liverpool strike late to beat Bournemouth as Jota remembered in season opener

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August.&nbsp;"Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement.&nbsp;The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid.&nbsp;The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities", adding its forces were taking precautions "to mitigate civilian harm".&nbsp;Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and the Israeli military.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the Israeli military said plans had been approved for a new offensive in Gaza, aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing all the remaining hostages.&nbsp;The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which have been devastated by more than 22 months of war.&nbsp;In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week, Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area.&nbsp;The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.&nbsp;UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.&nbsp;Hamas's October 2023 attack, which triggered the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.&nbsp;Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August.

The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians had been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, a jump of several hundred since its last published figure at the beginning of August. "Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement. The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid. The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities", adding its forces were taking precautions "to mitigate civilian harm". Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and the Israeli military. On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the Israeli military said plans had been approved for a new offensive in Gaza, aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing all the remaining hostages. The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which have been devastated by more than 22 months of war. In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week, Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area. The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. Hamas's October 2023 attack, which triggered the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which the United Nations considers reliable.

The Israeli military said its troops were working to "dismantle Hamas military capabilities".

UN says at least 1,760 killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war.&nbsp;Qassem gave a televised address after meeting with Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, whose country has long backed the Lebanese militant group.&nbsp;Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel, and the Lebanese government -- under US pressure -- has ordered the army to draw up a plan to disarm the group by the end of the year.&nbsp;Iran, whose so-called "axis of resistance" includes Hezbollah, has also suffered a series of setbacks, most recently in its own war with Israel, which also saw the United States strike its nuclear facilities.&nbsp;"The government is implementing an American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war and internal strife," Qassem said.&nbsp;“The resistance will not surrender its weapons while aggression continues, occupation persists, and we will fight it... If necessary to confront this American-Israeli project, no matter the cost.”&nbsp;He urged the government "not to hand over the country to an insatiable Israeli aggressor or an American tyrant with limitless greed", adding the state would "bear responsibility for any internal explosion and any destruction of Lebanon".&nbsp;Prime Minister Salam later denounced the remarks, saying on X that they "constitute an implicit threat of civil war".&nbsp;He added that "any threat or intimidation related to such a war is totally unacceptable".&nbsp;Salam also hit back at Hezbollah's characterisation of the disarmament push as an American-Israeli effort.&nbsp;"Our decisions are purely Lebanese, made by our cabinet, and no one tells us what to do," he said.&nbsp;“The Lebanese have the right to stability and security... without which the country will not be able to recover, and no reconstruction or investment will take place.”&nbsp;Before the war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.&nbsp;It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for political leverage.&nbsp;Qassem said Friday that Hezbollah and its political ally Amal would not be organising any street protests against disarmament at this time, but threatened to do so in future.&nbsp;Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Larijani was in Beirut this week, and held talks with Qassem as well as with President Joseph Aoun.&nbsp;Iran has expressed its opposition to the government's disarmament plan, and has vowed to continue to provide support, with Lebanese officials recently hardening their tone towards Hezbollah and its patron.&nbsp;Both the president and the prime minister took issue with Iran's recent statements during Larijani's trip, with Salam saying Lebanon rejects "any interference in its internal affairs".

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Friday to fight government plans to disarm his group, with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accusing him of making "unacceptable" threats to unleash civil war. Qassem gave a televised address after meeting with Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, whose country has long backed the Lebanese militant group. Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel, and the Lebanese government -- under US pressure -- has ordered the army to draw up a plan to disarm the group by the end of the year. Iran, whose so-called "axis of resistance" includes Hezbollah, has also suffered a series of setbacks, most recently in its own war with Israel, which also saw the United States strike its nuclear facilities. "The government is implementing an American-Israeli order to end the resistance, even if it leads to civil war and internal strife," Qassem said. “The resistance will not surrender its weapons while aggression continues, occupation persists, and we will fight it... If necessary to confront this American-Israeli project, no matter the cost.” He urged the government "not to hand over the country to an insatiable Israeli aggressor or an American tyrant with limitless greed", adding the state would "bear responsibility for any internal explosion and any destruction of Lebanon". Prime Minister Salam later denounced the remarks, saying on X that they "constitute an implicit threat of civil war". He added that "any threat or intimidation related to such a war is totally unacceptable". Salam also hit back at Hezbollah's characterisation of the disarmament push as an American-Israeli effort. "Our decisions are purely Lebanese, made by our cabinet, and no one tells us what to do," he said. “The Lebanese have the right to stability and security... without which the country will not be able to recover, and no reconstruction or investment will take place.” Before the war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military. It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for political leverage. Qassem said Friday that Hezbollah and its political ally Amal would not be organising any street protests against disarmament at this time, but threatened to do so in future. Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Larijani was in Beirut this week, and held talks with Qassem as well as with President Joseph Aoun. Iran has expressed its opposition to the government's disarmament plan, and has vowed to continue to provide support, with Lebanese officials recently hardening their tone towards Hezbollah and its patron. Both the president and the prime minister took issue with Iran's recent statements during Larijani's trip, with Salam saying Lebanon rejects "any interference in its internal affairs".

Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from last year's war with Israel.

Hezbollah vows to fight disarmament as Lebanon PM slams civil war 'threats'

The first World Humanoid Robot Games began on Friday in Beijing with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu. Hundreds of robotics teams from 16 countries are going for gold at the Chinese capital's National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.&nbsp;Events include traditional sports like athletics and basketball, as well as practical tasks such as medicine categorisation and cleaning. "I believe in the next 10 years or so robots will be basically at the same level as humans," enthusiastic 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan told AFP. Human athletes might not be quaking in their boots just yet.&nbsp;At one of the first events on Friday, five-a-side football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse. However, in a 1500m race, domestic champion Unitree's humanoid stomped along the track at an impressive clip, easily outpacing rivals. The fastest robot AFP witnessed finished in 6min 29.37sec, a far cry from the human men's world record of 3:26.00.&nbsp;One mechanical racer barrelled straight into a human operator. The robot remained standing while the human was knocked flat, though did not appear to be injured.<h2>‘National strategy’</h2>Robot competitions have been held for decades, but the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers said. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics hoping to lead the industry. Beijing has put humanoids in the "centre of their national strategy", the International Federation of Robotics wrote in a paper on Thursday.&nbsp;"The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology," it added. Joost Weerheim, an operator with a Dutch five-a-side robot football team,&nbsp;told AFP he was impressed. "I think right now if they are not already the world leader, they are very, very quickly becoming it," he said.&nbsp;Domestically, authorities are working to raise awareness of the sector across society.Cui Han, accompanying her 10-year-old, told AFP that her son's school had organised and paid for the trip to the Games. "I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies," she said.In March, China announced plans for a one-trillion-yuan fund ($139 billion) to support technology startups, including those in robotics and AI.&nbsp;The country is already the world's largest market for industrial robots, official statistics show, and in April Beijing held what organisers dubbed the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon. Chen, the 18-year-old, told AFP he was about to begin studying automation at university. "Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field," he said. "My favourite is the boxing because... it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before."&nbsp;At the kung fu competition area, a pint-sized robot resembling one from the popular Transformer series attempted to execute a move, but fell flat on its front. It spun around on the floor as it struggled to get back up, the crowd happily cheering.

Football and falls as first humanoid robot games launch in China

The first World Humanoid Robot Games began on Friday in Beijing with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu. Hundreds of robotics teams from 16 countries are going for gold at the Chinese capital's National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Events include traditional sports like athletics and basketball, as well as practical tasks such as medicine categorisation and cleaning. "I believe in the next 10 years or so robots will be basically at the same level as humans," enthusiastic 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan told AFP. Human athletes might not be quaking in their boots just yet. At one of the first events on Friday, five-a-side football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse. However, in a 1500m race, domestic champion Unitree's humanoid stomped along the track at an impressive clip, easily outpacing rivals. The fastest robot AFP witnessed finished in 6min 29.37sec, a far cry from the human men's world record of 3:26.00. One mechanical racer barrelled straight into a human operator. The robot remained standing while the human was knocked flat, though did not appear to be injured. ‘National strategy’ Robot competitions have been held for decades, but the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers said. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics hoping to lead the industry. Beijing has put humanoids in the "centre of their national strategy", the International Federation of Robotics wrote in a paper on Thursday. "The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology," it added. Joost Weerheim, an operator with a Dutch five-a-side robot football team, told AFP he was impressed. "I think right now if they are not already the world leader, they are very, very quickly becoming it," he said. Domestically, authorities are working to raise awareness of the sector across society. Cui Han, accompanying her 10-year-old, told AFP that her son's school had organised and paid for the trip to the Games. "I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies," she said. In March, China announced plans for a one-trillion-yuan fund ($139 billion) to support technology startups, including those in robotics and AI. The country is already the world's largest market for industrial robots, official statistics show, and in April Beijing held what organisers dubbed the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon. Chen, the 18-year-old, told AFP he was about to begin studying automation at university. "Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field," he said. "My favourite is the boxing because... it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before." At the kung fu competition area, a pint-sized robot resembling one from the popular Transformer series attempted to execute a move, but fell flat on its front. It spun around on the floor as it struggled to get back up, the crowd happily cheering.

At one of the first events on Friday, five-a-side football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse

Arsenal face an immediate test of their title credentials against a revamped Manchester United, while a new-look Liverpool launch the new Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on Friday (Aug 16). Newcastle are set to be without want-away star striker Alexander Isak for a tough trip to Aston Villa.<h2>Debut delight for Sesko or Gyokeres?</h2>&nbsp;Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are set to make their Premier League debuts for United and Arsenal, respectively, at Old Trafford after a summer that could have seen them line up for their opposition on Sunday.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/odisha-dog-attack-national-para-athlete-among-two-dead-from-rabies-1755182827183">Odisha dog attack: National para-athlete among two dead from rabies</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Arsenal were linked with a move to Sesko for over a year before deciding to bet on Gyokeres as the man to fire them to a first Premier League title since 2004 for a fee that could rise to £66 million ($89 million). The Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons and were lacking a clinical finisher to take that final step towards being champions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gyokeres netted a remarkable 97 times in 102 games during two years at Sporting Lisbon, much of which came under the orders of United boss Ruben Amorim. Instead of being reunited with the Swede, Amorim has been given the resources to overhaul his attack with the signings of Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at a combined cost of over £200 million.&nbsp;United endured their worst season since being relegated in 1974 during Amorim's first year in charge. The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe after losing the Europa League final. Both clubs desperately need a fast start, and the battle between the two new number nines will go a long way to deciding the outcome.<h3>Liverpool 'ready' despite revamp</h3>&nbsp;Liverpool have bucked the trend by outspending their rivals with a squad overhaul fresh from winning the league.&nbsp;Only once, Manchester City in 2019, have the Premier League champions been the biggest spending English club in the market since 2007.&nbsp;A £260 million outlay on Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez is far from over, with Isak and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi linked with moves to Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are among those to have been sold to raise funds, while the club are still reeling from the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident last month. The transition has exposed some teething problems in pre-season as a slick attacking force has been picked off on the counter-attack.&nbsp;Arne Slot, though, is confident his side are ready as they look to defend the title for the first time since 1984.&nbsp;"I think we’ve lost five to six players that played quite a lot of minutes for us last season, and we brought in four new ones, so then it’s normal that there’s a little bit of adaptation," said Slot. “But we are definitely ready for the league to start.”<h3>Can Villa, Newcastle rattle 'big six' again?</h3>&nbsp;As the Premier League's traditional "big six" of Liverpool, Manchester City, United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have flexed their financial muscle in the transfer market, Villa and Newcastle have been squeezed out.&nbsp;Constrained by the need to meet financial sustainability rules, Villa's only major signing has been Ivorian striker Evann Guessand from Nice.&nbsp;Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has had to field constant questioning on the status of Isak, who sat out pre-season preparations in a bid to force through a desired move to Liverpool.&nbsp;The Magpies' attempts to replace the Swede have repeatedly fallen down with Sesko, Mbuemo, Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro among those to opt for moves elsewhere.&nbsp;But both Villa and Newcastle have consistently outperformed some of the "big six" in recent seasons and will be targeting Champions League qualification again this season.&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.

The latest season of the English Premier League (EPL) begins Saturday, with Arsenal facing Manchester United in one of the marquee matches. 

Arsenal face an immediate test of their title credentials against a revamped Manchester United, while a new-look Liverpool launch the new Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on Friday (Aug 16). Newcastle are set to be without want-away star striker Alexander Isak for a tough trip to Aston Villa. Debut delight for Sesko or Gyokeres? Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are set to make their Premier League debuts for United and Arsenal, respectively, at Old Trafford after a summer that could have seen them line up for their opposition on Sunday. Also read | Odisha dog attack: National para-athlete among two dead from rabies Arsenal were linked with a move to Sesko for over a year before deciding to bet on Gyokeres as the man to fire them to a first Premier League title since 2004 for a fee that could rise to £66 million ($89 million). The Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons and were lacking a clinical finisher to take that final step towards being champions. Gyokeres netted a remarkable 97 times in 102 games during two years at Sporting Lisbon, much of which came under the orders of United boss Ruben Amorim. Instead of being reunited with the Swede, Amorim has been given the resources to overhaul his attack with the signings of Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at a combined cost of over £200 million. United endured their worst season since being relegated in 1974 during Amorim's first year in charge. The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe after losing the Europa League final. Both clubs desperately need a fast start, and the battle between the two new number nines will go a long way to deciding the outcome. Liverpool 'ready' despite revamp Liverpool have bucked the trend by outspending their rivals with a squad overhaul fresh from winning the league. Only once, Manchester City in 2019, have the Premier League champions been the biggest spending English club in the market since 2007. A £260 million outlay on Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez is far from over, with Isak and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi linked with moves to Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are among those to have been sold to raise funds, while the club are still reeling from the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident last month. The transition has exposed some teething problems in pre-season as a slick attacking force has been picked off on the counter-attack. Arne Slot, though, is confident his side are ready as they look to defend the title for the first time since 1984. "I think we’ve lost five to six players that played quite a lot of minutes for us last season, and we brought in four new ones, so then it’s normal that there’s a little bit of adaptation," said Slot. “But we are definitely ready for the league to start.” Can Villa, Newcastle rattle 'big six' again? As the Premier League's traditional "big six" of Liverpool, Manchester City, United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have flexed their financial muscle in the transfer market, Villa and Newcastle have been squeezed out. Constrained by the need to meet financial sustainability rules, Villa's only major signing has been Ivorian striker Evann Guessand from Nice. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has had to field constant questioning on the status of Isak, who sat out pre-season preparations in a bid to force through a desired move to Liverpool. The Magpies' attempts to replace the Swede have repeatedly fallen down with Sesko, Mbuemo, Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro among those to opt for moves elsewhere. But both Villa and Newcastle have consistently outperformed some of the "big six" in recent seasons and will be targeting Champions League qualification again this season. 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.

The latest season of the English Premier League (EPL) begins Saturday, with Arsenal facing Manchester United in one of the marquee matches.&nbsp;

Premier League Preview: Arsenal face revamped Man Utd as new-look Liverpool aim for bumper season opener

Jannik Sinner "felt great on the court" as he annihilated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2 on Thursday (Aug 14) to reach the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open semi-finals with his 25th straight hardcourt match victory. The world number one powered through a rapid-fire opening set and overcame a wobble as he started the second set by dropping serve. The defending champion prevailed in a brief 71 minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th this season.&nbsp;"I felt great on the court today, you could see that," said the Italian, who turns 24 on Saturday. "But every day can be different. Let's see what I can do in the semis."&nbsp;Sinner, playing his first tournament since his Wimbledon triumph, will face either French qualifier Terence Atmane or Danish seventh seed Holger Rune for a place in the final.&nbsp;Auger-Aliassime meekly lost the opening set after less than 30 minutes, delivering three double-faults in the final game.&nbsp;After dropping his serve early in the second, Sinner broke back to level at 2-all, eventually advancing as Auger-Aliassime coughed up his eighth double fault on match point.&nbsp;"I served well today, that was the key for me," Sinner said. "I had a small drop in the second set, and I'm happy that I broke back. He moves and serves well; he's difficult to play."&nbsp;Ben Shelton, the fifth seed coming off a title in Toronto, finished up the last of the men's fourth-round matches with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Jiri Lehecka, punctuated by back-to-back aces to yield three match points. Shelton came good on his second as Lehecka drilled a return wide.&nbsp;"I'm hungry, I'm in a good rhythm, and the body feels good," said Shelton, who will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev for the third time this season when they meet in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;Zverev has won all three of their matches, including a quarter-final here a year ago.<h3>Gauff into quarter-finals</h3>&nbsp;In women's action, French Open champion Coco Gauff beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.&nbsp;The second-seeded American's game showed minor rust after a bye in the previous round.&nbsp;"I could have maybe made some more first serves in that second set, but overall, I had a lot of aces and unreturnables," said Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion who went on to win the US Open title that year. “I'm happy considering where (my serve) was last week. I'm always trying to get better, but also just trying to take the little wins along the way.”&nbsp;"I'm just trying to be happy with where I'm at now, but still doing the things I need to do to improve."&nbsp;Gauff, who was broken once in each set herself, finally secured a spot in the last eight with a concluding break of the 61st-ranked Italian's serve as Bronzetti hit long after 79 minutes on court.&nbsp;Gauf next takes on seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who crushed 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-1, 6-2.&nbsp;Krejcikova had treatment on her left foot in the second set, and her movement was clearly hampered.&nbsp;Paolini, the 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, won seven straight games on the way to a 4-0 second-set lead and rallied from 0-30 down in the final game to advance.&nbsp;"She's a great player and can do anything she wants with the ball," Paolini said. "But I don't think she was at 100% today."&nbsp;Gauff will play Paolini - whom she beat here two years ago on the way to the title - in her third 1000-level quarter-final of the season after Madrid and Rome.&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.

The defending champion Sinner prevailed in a brief 71 minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th this season.

Jannik Sinner "felt great on the court" as he annihilated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2 on Thursday (Aug 14) to reach the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open semi-finals with his 25th straight hardcourt match victory. The world number one powered through a rapid-fire opening set and overcame a wobble as he started the second set by dropping serve. The defending champion prevailed in a brief 71 minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th this season. "I felt great on the court today, you could see that," said the Italian, who turns 24 on Saturday. "But every day can be different. Let's see what I can do in the semis." Sinner, playing his first tournament since his Wimbledon triumph, will face either French qualifier Terence Atmane or Danish seventh seed Holger Rune for a place in the final. Auger-Aliassime meekly lost the opening set after less than 30 minutes, delivering three double-faults in the final game. After dropping his serve early in the second, Sinner broke back to level at 2-all, eventually advancing as Auger-Aliassime coughed up his eighth double fault on match point. "I served well today, that was the key for me," Sinner said. "I had a small drop in the second set, and I'm happy that I broke back. He moves and serves well; he's difficult to play." Ben Shelton, the fifth seed coming off a title in Toronto, finished up the last of the men's fourth-round matches with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Jiri Lehecka, punctuated by back-to-back aces to yield three match points. Shelton came good on his second as Lehecka drilled a return wide. "I'm hungry, I'm in a good rhythm, and the body feels good," said Shelton, who will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev for the third time this season when they meet in the quarter-finals. Zverev has won all three of their matches, including a quarter-final here a year ago. Gauff into quarter-finals In women's action, French Open champion Coco Gauff beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. The second-seeded American's game showed minor rust after a bye in the previous round. "I could have maybe made some more first serves in that second set, but overall, I had a lot of aces and unreturnables," said Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion who went on to win the US Open title that year. “I'm happy considering where (my serve) was last week. I'm always trying to get better, but also just trying to take the little wins along the way.” "I'm just trying to be happy with where I'm at now, but still doing the things I need to do to improve." Gauff, who was broken once in each set herself, finally secured a spot in the last eight with a concluding break of the 61st-ranked Italian's serve as Bronzetti hit long after 79 minutes on court. Gauf next takes on seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who crushed 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-1, 6-2. Krejcikova had treatment on her left foot in the second set, and her movement was clearly hampered. Paolini, the 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, won seven straight games on the way to a 4-0 second-set lead and rallied from 0-30 down in the final game to advance. "She's a great player and can do anything she wants with the ball," Paolini said. "But I don't think she was at 100% today." Gauff will play Paolini - whom she beat here two years ago on the way to the title - in her third 1000-level quarter-final of the season after Madrid and Rome. 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.

The defending champion Sinner prevailed in a brief 71 minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th this season.

World no. 1 Jannik Sinner hammers Auger-Aliassime to reach Cincinnati semis

The United States offered a $10 million reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, head of the Mexican drug trafficking group Carteles Unidos.&nbsp;Farias Alvarez, nicknamed "El Abuelo," or the grandfather, was one of five high-ranking members of Carteles Unidos -- the United Cartels in English -- whose criminal indictments were unsealed by the Justice Department on Thursday.&nbsp;"Today's charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.&nbsp;The US Treasury Department simultaneously announced it was imposing sanctions on members of the United Cartels and another group known as Los Viagras.&nbsp;"Treasury, alongside our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.&nbsp;The State Department designated the Michoacan-based United Cartels and other drug trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations in February.&nbsp;Aside from Farias Alvarez, rewards of $5 million each were announced for Nicolas Sierra Santana, known as "El Gordo," and Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, known as "Poncho," and $3 million each for Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, known as "Wicho," and Edgar Orozco Cabadas, known as “El Kamoni.”&nbsp;According to the Justice Department, the United Cartels are a major supplier of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to the United States.&nbsp;"Profits from US drug sales are allegedly used to acquire heavy weaponry, hire mercenaries, bribe local officials, and fund lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders," it said.&nbsp;The announcement comes two days after Mexico transferred 26 wanted fugitives to the United States, including several high-ranking members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.&nbsp;The transfer was the second since Republican Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.&nbsp;In late February, Mexico sent 29 accused drug traffickers to the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who was accused of kidnapping and killing US Drug Enforcement Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.

The United States offered a $10 million reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, head of the Mexican drug trafficking group Carteles Unidos.

The United States offered a $10 million reward on Thursday for information leading to the arrest of Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, head of the Mexican drug trafficking group Carteles Unidos. Farias Alvarez, nicknamed "El Abuelo," or the grandfather, was one of five high-ranking members of Carteles Unidos -- the United Cartels in English -- whose criminal indictments were unsealed by the Justice Department on Thursday. "Today's charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. The US Treasury Department simultaneously announced it was imposing sanctions on members of the United Cartels and another group known as Los Viagras. "Treasury, alongside our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The State Department designated the Michoacan-based United Cartels and other drug trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations in February. Aside from Farias Alvarez, rewards of $5 million each were announced for Nicolas Sierra Santana, known as "El Gordo," and Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, known as "Poncho," and $3 million each for Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, known as "Wicho," and Edgar Orozco Cabadas, known as “El Kamoni.” According to the Justice Department, the United Cartels are a major supplier of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to the United States. "Profits from US drug sales are allegedly used to acquire heavy weaponry, hire mercenaries, bribe local officials, and fund lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders," it said. The announcement comes two days after Mexico transferred 26 wanted fugitives to the United States, including several high-ranking members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. The transfer was the second since Republican Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. In late February, Mexico sent 29 accused drug traffickers to the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who was accused of kidnapping and killing US Drug Enforcement Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.

Farias Alvarez is one of five high-ranking members of Carteles Unidos -- the United Cartels in English.

US offers $10 million reward for United Cartels leader's arrest

The NBA on Wednesday (Aug 13) approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, five months after the deal worth a then-record $6.1 billion was agreed.&nbsp;"The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interests in the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm," the league said in a brief statement. “The transaction is expected to close shortly.”&nbsp;Chisholm is the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group. When he and his co-investors agreed to purchase the storied Celtics franchise "at an initial valuation of $6.1 billion," that was the highest ever offered for a North American sports team. It has since been surpassed by the $10 billion sale, in June, of the Los Angeles Lakers by the Buss family to billionaire Mark Walter.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-defending-champions-jannik-sinner-aryna-sabalenka-in-cincinnati-open-quarters-1755139806229">Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters</a>&nbsp;When the Celtics sale was announced, it was stated that Wyc Grousbeck would continue in his roles of chief executive officer and governor, overseeing team operations through the 2027-28 season.&nbsp;The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.&nbsp;But US media reported this week that Chisholm -- a Massachusetts native who calls himself a "die-hard Celtics fan" -- will assume the role of governor because under the terms of the deal, Grousbeck will no longer have the required 15% ownership stake the league requires to hold that role.&nbsp;Nevertheless, ESPN reported that Chisholm and Grousbeck "plan to run the team together as originally planned."The Celtics are one of the most storied in the NBA's history, with a record 18 championships, the most recent in 2024.&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 Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.

The NBA on Wednesday (Aug 13) approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, five months after the deal worth a then-record $6.1 billion was agreed. "The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interests in the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm," the league said in a brief statement. “The transaction is expected to close shortly.” Chisholm is the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group. When he and his co-investors agreed to purchase the storied Celtics franchise "at an initial valuation of $6.1 billion," that was the highest ever offered for a North American sports team. It has since been surpassed by the $10 billion sale, in June, of the Los Angeles Lakers by the Buss family to billionaire Mark Walter. Also read | Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters When the Celtics sale was announced, it was stated that Wyc Grousbeck would continue in his roles of chief executive officer and governor, overseeing team operations through the 2027-28 season. The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. But US media reported this week that Chisholm -- a Massachusetts native who calls himself a "die-hard Celtics fan" -- will assume the role of governor because under the terms of the deal, Grousbeck will no longer have the required 15% ownership stake the league requires to hold that role. Nevertheless, ESPN reported that Chisholm and Grousbeck "plan to run the team together as originally planned." The Celtics are one of the most storied in the NBA's history, with a record 18 championships, the most recent in 2024. 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 Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.

NBA approves sale of Boston Celtics to a Bill Chisholm-led investment group

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka booked quarter-final berths at the rain-hit ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Wednesday (Aug 13) with straight-set wins. Sinner shrugged off a mid-match rain interruption lasting nearly three hours as he advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Adrian Mannarino. He next faces Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-4, 6-3.&nbsp;Sabalenka, taken to three sets in her previous match with Emma Raducanu, defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-5, winning a season-leading 50th match of 2025 and reaching her 29th career last-eight at the elite 1000 level. Sabalenka had to work after surrendering a second-set break, but she broke Bouzas Maneiro in the final game to seal the victory.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pole-vault-superstar-duplantis-named-ultimate-star-athlete-for-world-athletics-ultimate-championship-1755097075804">Pole vault superstar Duplantis named ‘Ultimate Star Athlete’ for World Athletics Ultimate Championship</a>&nbsp;"The key was to focus and put as much pressure as possible on her serve," Sabalenka said. "I was up a break, made a couple of mistakes and she broke me back.&nbsp;"I'm glad to win in straight sets - I didn't want to stay for three hours."&nbsp;World number one Sinner, playing his first tournament since lifting the trophy at Wimbledon, notched his 24th consecutive hardcourt match win to gain his fifth quarter-final of the season.&nbsp;The victory required patience, with the Italian who turns 24 on Saturday passing some of the afternoon weather pause by playing cards with his team.&nbsp;Sinner had won the first set and they were on serve in the second when they returned, but Frenchman's tricky game took a toll as Sinner was broken while trying to serve out the match.&nbsp;The second set instead went to a tiebreak, with the Italian firing his 11th and 12th aces to clinch victory.&nbsp;"He's a very difficult opponent, different from the other payers," Sinner said. "He can read the opponent well.&nbsp;"It was a struggle to close it out, but I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals."&nbsp;Earlier former champion Alexander Zverev polished off a weather-hit third-round victory, winning the final four points of a 6-4, 6-4 win over Brandon Nakashima.&nbsp;The entire one-game exercise, with 2021 Cincy winner Zverev leading 6-4, 5-4 when play resumed, took less than two minutes, with the third seed set for a later fourth-round encounter against Toronto finalist Karen Khachanov.&nbsp;Fifth seed Ben Shelton, last week's Toronto winner, reached the fourth round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in a match rescheduled from Tuesday.&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.

Sinner shrugged off a mid-match rain interruption lasting nearly three hours as he advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Adrian Mannarino, next facing Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-4, 6-3.

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka booked quarter-final berths at the rain-hit ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Wednesday (Aug 13) with straight-set wins. Sinner shrugged off a mid-match rain interruption lasting nearly three hours as he advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Adrian Mannarino. He next faces Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka, taken to three sets in her previous match with Emma Raducanu, defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-5, winning a season-leading 50th match of 2025 and reaching her 29th career last-eight at the elite 1000 level. Sabalenka had to work after surrendering a second-set break, but she broke Bouzas Maneiro in the final game to seal the victory. Also read | Pole vault superstar Duplantis named ‘Ultimate Star Athlete’ for World Athletics Ultimate Championship "The key was to focus and put as much pressure as possible on her serve," Sabalenka said. "I was up a break, made a couple of mistakes and she broke me back. "I'm glad to win in straight sets - I didn't want to stay for three hours." World number one Sinner, playing his first tournament since lifting the trophy at Wimbledon, notched his 24th consecutive hardcourt match win to gain his fifth quarter-final of the season. The victory required patience, with the Italian who turns 24 on Saturday passing some of the afternoon weather pause by playing cards with his team. Sinner had won the first set and they were on serve in the second when they returned, but Frenchman's tricky game took a toll as Sinner was broken while trying to serve out the match. The second set instead went to a tiebreak, with the Italian firing his 11th and 12th aces to clinch victory. "He's a very difficult opponent, different from the other payers," Sinner said. "He can read the opponent well. "It was a struggle to close it out, but I'm happy to be in the quarter-finals." Earlier former champion Alexander Zverev polished off a weather-hit third-round victory, winning the final four points of a 6-4, 6-4 win over Brandon Nakashima. The entire one-game exercise, with 2021 Cincy winner Zverev leading 6-4, 5-4 when play resumed, took less than two minutes, with the third seed set for a later fourth-round encounter against Toronto finalist Karen Khachanov. Fifth seed Ben Shelton, last week's Toronto winner, reached the fourth round with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in a match rescheduled from Tuesday. 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.

Sinner shrugged off a mid-match rain interruption lasting nearly three hours as he advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Adrian Mannarino, next facing Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Benjamin Bonzi of France 6-4, 6-3.

Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters

European champions Paris Saint-Germain began the new season by lifting more silverware on Wednesday (Aug 13) as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup after producing a late comeback to draw the match 2-2. Spurs looked set to get their hands on the trophy in their first competitive match under new coach Thomas Frank as they led 2-0 just after half-time at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. Micky van de Ven gave last season's Europa League winners the lead on 39 minutes and Cristian Romero got their second goal three minutes into the second half.&nbsp;However, PSG were rescued by two substitutes as Lee Kang-in pulled a goal back in the 85th minute and Goncalo Ramos headed in the equaliser four minutes into injury time.&nbsp;That meant a penalty shoot-out, although it started badly for PSG when Vitinha put their first kick wide.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-newcastle-united-sign-germany-defender-malick-thiaw-from-ac-milan-1755052302038">Newcastle United sign Germany defender Malick Thiaw from AC Milan</a>&nbsp;New Paris goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier then saved from Van de Ven and Mathys Tel missed the target, allowing Nuno Mendes to convert the winning penalty for PSG.&nbsp;Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro all scored from the spot for Spurs, in vain. Ramos, Ousmane Dembele and Lee converted for PSG before Mendes stepped up.&nbsp;It is the first time PSG, or indeed any French club, have lifted the Super Cup, as they take their tally of trophies won in 2025 to five.&nbsp;"I am proud. We have hadn't much preparation but you could see that football is not only about the physical aspect -- it is also about the mental aspect, being in the right place, having the right tactics," PSG captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus. “They sat back a lot after going 2-0 up and it is dangerous to invite PSG to come at you like that.”&nbsp;It is the perfect start to the new campaign for Luis Enrique's team, who had a shortened off-season break having lost the FIFA Club World Cup final to Chelsea exactly a month ago.<h3>Frank's debut defeat</h3>&nbsp;They only began pre-season training a week ago and played no friendly matches before this game.&nbsp;PSG now begin the new Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday away to Nantes, while Spurs will turn their attentions to the start of the Premier League season as they take on Burnley at home on Saturday.&nbsp;"I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world -- maybe the best in this moment in time," Frank told TNT Sports. "I think we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until the 2-1 goal. Then of course that shifted a little bit the momentum, but there was so much positive.&nbsp;"I am so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans. I think there is a lot to be happy with. It is a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shoot-out."&nbsp;As well as Frank making his debut on the bench, new signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha both started for Spurs.&nbsp;Chevalier made his debut in goal for PSG following his arrival from Lille, a move which has sidelined Italy 'keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Luis Enrique's team.&nbsp;The 23-year-old was called into action to tip over a Richarlison shot midway through the first half but he could not prevent Van de Ven giving the Premier League side the lead as the interval approached.&nbsp;Chevalier did tip a Palhinha shot onto the bar after Spurs sent a ball into the Paris area, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to stop Dutch defender Van de Ven scoring the follow-up.&nbsp;The new signing was then culpable as Tottenham scored again just after the break, with Chevalier too easily beaten by a header from the unmarked Romero.&nbsp;It looked like it would not be PSG's night as Bradley Barcola had an effort disallowed for an offside midway through the second half, but they saved the day with a remarkable late show.&nbsp;Lee controlled a Vitinha pass before firing low into the far corner from the edge of the box, and Ramos then equalised in the 94th minute by heading in a driven ball across the face of goal by Dembele, setting PSG up for penalties.&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.

It is the first time PSG, or indeed any French club, have lifted the Super Cup, as they take their tally of trophies won in 2025 to five.

European champions Paris Saint-Germain began the new season by lifting more silverware on Wednesday (Aug 13) as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup after producing a late comeback to draw the match 2-2. Spurs looked set to get their hands on the trophy in their first competitive match under new coach Thomas Frank as they led 2-0 just after half-time at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. Micky van de Ven gave last season's Europa League winners the lead on 39 minutes and Cristian Romero got their second goal three minutes into the second half. However, PSG were rescued by two substitutes as Lee Kang-in pulled a goal back in the 85th minute and Goncalo Ramos headed in the equaliser four minutes into injury time. That meant a penalty shoot-out, although it started badly for PSG when Vitinha put their first kick wide. Also read | Newcastle United sign Germany defender Malick Thiaw from AC Milan New Paris goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier then saved from Van de Ven and Mathys Tel missed the target, allowing Nuno Mendes to convert the winning penalty for PSG. Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro all scored from the spot for Spurs, in vain. Ramos, Ousmane Dembele and Lee converted for PSG before Mendes stepped up. It is the first time PSG, or indeed any French club, have lifted the Super Cup, as they take their tally of trophies won in 2025 to five. "I am proud. We have hadn't much preparation but you could see that football is not only about the physical aspect -- it is also about the mental aspect, being in the right place, having the right tactics," PSG captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus. “They sat back a lot after going 2-0 up and it is dangerous to invite PSG to come at you like that.” It is the perfect start to the new campaign for Luis Enrique's team, who had a shortened off-season break having lost the FIFA Club World Cup final to Chelsea exactly a month ago. Frank's debut defeat They only began pre-season training a week ago and played no friendly matches before this game. PSG now begin the new Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday away to Nantes, while Spurs will turn their attentions to the start of the Premier League season as they take on Burnley at home on Saturday. "I think we played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world -- maybe the best in this moment in time," Frank told TNT Sports. "I think we had them exactly where we wanted them for 80-something minutes until the 2-1 goal. Then of course that shifted a little bit the momentum, but there was so much positive. "I am so proud of the team, the players, the club, the fans. I think there is a lot to be happy with. It is a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shoot-out." As well as Frank making his debut on the bench, new signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha both started for Spurs. Chevalier made his debut in goal for PSG following his arrival from Lille, a move which has sidelined Italy 'keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Luis Enrique's team. The 23-year-old was called into action to tip over a Richarlison shot midway through the first half but he could not prevent Van de Ven giving the Premier League side the lead as the interval approached. Chevalier did tip a Palhinha shot onto the bar after Spurs sent a ball into the Paris area, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to stop Dutch defender Van de Ven scoring the follow-up. The new signing was then culpable as Tottenham scored again just after the break, with Chevalier too easily beaten by a header from the unmarked Romero. It looked like it would not be PSG's night as Bradley Barcola had an effort disallowed for an offside midway through the second half, but they saved the day with a remarkable late show. Lee controlled a Vitinha pass before firing low into the far corner from the edge of the box, and Ramos then equalised in the 94th minute by heading in a driven ball across the face of goal by Dembele, setting PSG up for penalties. 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.

It is the first time PSG, or indeed any French club, have lifted the Super Cup, as they take their tally of trophies won in 2025 to five.

PSG beat Euro winners Spurs to become first French Club to win UEFA Super Cup

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