Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek cruised, Naomi Osaka battled through, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard called time on her WTA career with a gutsy second-round loss in Montreal on Wednesday (Jul 30). Switzerland's Belinda Bencic sent Bouchard into retirement with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory -- but not before the Canadian thrilled her hometown fans by seizing an early break in the third set. Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023. But Bencic won five of the last six games to vanquish Bouchard, who had announced earlier in July she would retire after a final appearance in her home tournament.&nbsp;"I think it's so special to play my last match here in Montreal on this court in front of you guys," a teary Bouchard said as she was honoured on court after the match. "I remember being a little kid sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day.&nbsp;"I grew up playing on these courts, and courts all around Montreal and near here, so it feels like such a full circle moment to finish my career here."&nbsp;Bouchard, who rose as high as fifth in the world rankings, shot to prominence in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens. But her career was hindered by injuries, including a concussion suffered in a locker room slip at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021.<h3>Swiatek sails through</h3>&nbsp;There was no drama for Poland's Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final.&nbsp;Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo's serve six times to book her spot in the third round.&nbsp;It was much harder going for Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova.&nbsp;Osaka, now working with Tomasz Wiktorowski after announcing on Monday she had split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, surrendered early breaks in each of the first two sets.&nbsp;Wimbledon quarter-finalist Samsonova served for the match at 5-4 in the second and led 40-15. The Russian fired a forehand long on her first match point, and on her second, a lacklustre drop shot effort gave Osaka an opening, and the Japanese star pounced.&nbsp;Samsonova's double fault on break point allowed Osaka to level the set, and after storming back from 5-2 down in the tiebreaker to force a third set, Osaka took control early, breaking Samsonova twice on the way to a 4-1 lead.&nbsp;"She definitely came out really hard and, for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn't know if I should also be hitting winners," Osaka said. "After a while, I just tried to keep the ball in court."&nbsp;Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion and third seed, saved five set points in the opening set on the way to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund, avenging a third-round loss to the German at Wimbledon.&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 the WION audience.

Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek cruised, Naomi Osaka battled through, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard called time on her WTA career with a gutsy second-round loss in Montreal on Wednesday (Jul 30). Switzerland's Belinda Bencic sent Bouchard into retirement with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory -- but not before the Canadian thrilled her hometown fans by seizing an early break in the third set. Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023. But Bencic won five of the last six games to vanquish Bouchard, who had announced earlier in July she would retire after a final appearance in her home tournament. "I think it's so special to play my last match here in Montreal on this court in front of you guys," a teary Bouchard said as she was honoured on court after the match. "I remember being a little kid sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day. "I grew up playing on these courts, and courts all around Montreal and near here, so it feels like such a full circle moment to finish my career here." Bouchard, who rose as high as fifth in the world rankings, shot to prominence in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens. But her career was hindered by injuries, including a concussion suffered in a locker room slip at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021. Swiatek sails through There was no drama for Poland's Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final. Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo's serve six times to book her spot in the third round. It was much harder going for Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka, now working with Tomasz Wiktorowski after announcing on Monday she had split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, surrendered early breaks in each of the first two sets. Wimbledon quarter-finalist Samsonova served for the match at 5-4 in the second and led 40-15. The Russian fired a forehand long on her first match point, and on her second, a lacklustre drop shot effort gave Osaka an opening, and the Japanese star pounced. Samsonova's double fault on break point allowed Osaka to level the set, and after storming back from 5-2 down in the tiebreaker to force a third set, Osaka took control early, breaking Samsonova twice on the way to a 4-1 lead. "She definitely came out really hard and, for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn't know if I should also be hitting winners," Osaka said. "After a while, I just tried to keep the ball in court." Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion and third seed, saved five set points in the opening set on the way to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece. Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund, avenging a third-round loss to the German at Wimbledon. 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 the WION audience.

Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023.

Wimbledon champion Swiatek cruises, Osaka battles and Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal

Matt Henry bowled New Zealand into a dominant position on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday. Fast bowler Henry took six for 39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.&nbsp;New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively. Henry, who was voted best player of a Twenty20 tri-series tournament which ended on Saturday, did not take long to adjust to red ball cricket in New Zealand's first Test since December last year.&nbsp;Henry dismissed both Zimbabwe opening batsmen, Brian Bennett (6) and Ben Curran (13) inside the first seven overs. He took two more wickets in an over interrupted by the lunch break, then came back to finish off the innings with his final two victims shortly after tea. Seamer Nathan Smith took three for 20 in 14 tight overs.&nbsp;Captain Craig Ervine, who took 23 balls to score his first run, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39, eked out over 116 deliveries. Ervine and Nick Welch (27) put on 36 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for three. But Henry returned for the last over before lunch to have Welch caught at second slip. Three balls later, after lunch, he had the experienced Sikandar Raza caught behind for two.&nbsp;Ervine and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to lift Zimbabwe from 69 for five. Smith trapped both batsmen leg before wicket shortly before tea and Zimbabwe's resistance crumbled. In reply Conway and Young batted through to the close of play, scoring steadily after a cautious start.&nbsp;Zimbabwe opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani had an opening spell of eight overs but was unable to make a breakthrough. Conway reached his fifty in the penultimate over of the day, his first Test half-century since he made 76 against India in Pune last October. Seven innings since then had yielded a highest score of 22. Zimbabwe have played eight Tests since New Zealand last played a Test but have lost six, drawn one and had a single victory, against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.&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.

Matt Henry puts New Zealand in control of first Test against Zimbabwe

Matt Henry bowled New Zealand into a dominant position on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday. Fast bowler Henry took six for 39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat. New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively. Henry, who was voted best player of a Twenty20 tri-series tournament which ended on Saturday, did not take long to adjust to red ball cricket in New Zealand's first Test since December last year. Henry dismissed both Zimbabwe opening batsmen, Brian Bennett (6) and Ben Curran (13) inside the first seven overs. He took two more wickets in an over interrupted by the lunch break, then came back to finish off the innings with his final two victims shortly after tea. Seamer Nathan Smith took three for 20 in 14 tight overs. Captain Craig Ervine, who took 23 balls to score his first run, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39, eked out over 116 deliveries. Ervine and Nick Welch (27) put on 36 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for three. But Henry returned for the last over before lunch to have Welch caught at second slip. Three balls later, after lunch, he had the experienced Sikandar Raza caught behind for two. Ervine and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to lift Zimbabwe from 69 for five. Smith trapped both batsmen leg before wicket shortly before tea and Zimbabwe's resistance crumbled. In reply Conway and Young batted through to the close of play, scoring steadily after a cautious start. Zimbabwe opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani had an opening spell of eight overs but was unable to make a breakthrough. Conway reached his fifty in the penultimate over of the day, his first Test half-century since he made 76 against India in Pune last October. Seven innings since then had yielded a highest score of 22. Zimbabwe have played eight Tests since New Zealand last played a Test but have lost six, drawn one and had a single victory, against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April. 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.

New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively

Thousands lined the streets of UK city Birmingham on Wednesday to pay an emotional farewell to hometown hero Ozzy Osbourne as the heavy metal hellraiser was laid to rest.Black Sabbath frontman Osbourne, who earned the nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" and once bit a bat while on stage, died on July 22 at the age of 76.He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019 and died 17 days after playing a final gig to a sold-out crowd in Birmingham.Osbourne's funeral procession set off at around 1200 GMT on a route planned with the rocker's family through the English city.Chants of "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!" could be heard, with one fan crying out "we love you Ozzy!" as his coffin -- sitting in a stately black Jaguar hearse topped with flower arrangements -- and other vehicles crawled by.The procession, which earlier passed the star's childhood home in the city's Aston area, was accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin' Brass.Fan Reece Sargeant came with friends to say goodbye."I think it was important to come and pay our respects.... Ozzy and Black Sabbath really put Birmingham on the map," he said.The 16-year-old told AFP the band's last concert had been "out of this world".Osbourne famously once said he wanted his funeral to be a celebration of his life and not a "mope-fest".The procession paused at the Black Sabbath bench -- an art installation featuring headshots of each member on a bridge also named after the band.Visibly emotional family members including his widow Sharon Osbourne laid flowers at the bench and read some of the written tributes that have been left there along with balloons and flowers.Thousands of fans have gathered at the bridge in recent days, mourning the death of the musician who was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal.The cortege, led by police motorbikes, then continued its slow journey towards a private funeral service.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ozzy&#39;s name has been displayed using pink flowers in Ozzy Osbourne funeral cortege. <a href="https://t.co/jU1WtLnzIc">pic.twitter.com/jU1WtLnzIc</a>&mdash; Rock Photography (@Photomusicrock) <a href="https://twitter.com/Photomusicrock/status/1950537081500881254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>- 'Tribute' -</h2>&nbsp;"Ozzy was more than a music legend - he was a son of Birmingham," Zafar Iqbal, the lord mayor of the central English city, said in a statement."It was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral."We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began," Iqbal, who could be seen hugging family members when the procession stopped in central Birmingham, added.Black Sabbath enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1970s and 80s after forming in Birmingham in 1968.Their eponymous 1970 debut album made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records, including their most famous song "Paranoid".The group went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was added for a second time last year as a solo artist.Osbourne gained notoriety for his outlandish stunts, many fuelled by his legendary indulgence in drugs and alcohol.In 1989, he was arrested for drunkenly trying to strangle his wife Sharon, which he once mentioned in a 2007 interview.His live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly the 1982 gig in the US city of Des Moines when he bit a bat on stage.Osbourne said he thought a fan had thrown a rubber bat onstage, and it was not until he took a bite that he realised it was real.

Black Sabbath frontman Osbourne, who earned the nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" and once bit a bat while on stage, died on July 22 at the age of 76.

Thousands lined the streets of UK city Birmingham on Wednesday to pay an emotional farewell to hometown hero Ozzy Osbourne as the heavy metal hellraiser was laid to rest. Black Sabbath frontman Osbourne, who earned the nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" and once bit a bat while on stage, died on July 22 at the age of 76. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019 and died 17 days after playing a final gig to a sold-out crowd in Birmingham. Osbourne's funeral procession set off at around 1200 GMT on a route planned with the rocker's family through the English city. Chants of "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!" could be heard, with one fan crying out "we love you Ozzy!" as his coffin -- sitting in a stately black Jaguar hearse topped with flower arrangements -- and other vehicles crawled by. The procession, which earlier passed the star's childhood home in the city's Aston area, was accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin' Brass. Fan Reece Sargeant came with friends to say goodbye. "I think it was important to come and pay our respects.... Ozzy and Black Sabbath really put Birmingham on the map," he said. The 16-year-old told AFP the band's last concert had been "out of this world". Osbourne famously once said he wanted his funeral to be a celebration of his life and not a "mope-fest". The procession paused at the Black Sabbath bench -- an art installation featuring headshots of each member on a bridge also named after the band. Visibly emotional family members including his widow Sharon Osbourne laid flowers at the bench and read some of the written tributes that have been left there along with balloons and flowers. Thousands of fans have gathered at the bridge in recent days, mourning the death of the musician who was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal. The cortege, led by police motorbikes, then continued its slow journey towards a private funeral service.

Black Sabbath frontman Osbourne, who earned the nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" and once bit a bat while on stage, died on July 22 at the age of 76.

Thousands honour Ozzy Osbourne at UK hometown funeral procession

China's military accused Taiwan on Wednesday of forcing its people to become cannon fodder as it raged against recent drills by the island's armed forces.&nbsp;Taipei's leaders "under the banner of protecting Taiwan, are harming and destroying Taiwan, and coercing the people to be cannon fodder", Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang told a regular news conference.&nbsp;Taiwan this month held the 10-day "Han Kuang" military drills.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rather than only repelling a Chinese attack on its shores, Taiwanese troops this year also practised fighting invading forces in city streets.&nbsp;Beijing's military on Wednesday fumed over the exercise, describing them as "merely a show".&nbsp;"They cannot change the inevitable demise of Taiwan independence," Zhang said, accusing Taipei's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of hatching an "evil plot".&nbsp;"We sternly warn the DPP authorities that unjust deeds will bring destruction, no matter what efforts they try, it will all be in vain," he added.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Taipei said Wednesday it had detected 33 sorties of Chinese "main and auxiliary warplanes", 23 of which entered its airspace.&nbsp;"Coordinating with naval vessels under the so-called 'joint combat readiness patrol,' they have harassed our surrounding air and sea areas," the island's defence ministry said.&nbsp;Communist China has never ruled Taiwan but Beijing insists the island is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.&nbsp;Taiwan is keen to show the world, especially its key security backer Washington, that it is serious about boosting its defence capability.&nbsp;But this week reports emerged that US President Donald Trump's administration had denied permission for Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to transit in New York as part of an official trip to Latin America next month.&nbsp;Taipei's foreign ministry in response said Lai had not been blocked from visiting the United States and that he had no plans to travel overseas "in the near future".&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.

Rather than only repelling a Chinese attack on its shores, Taiwanese troops this year also practised fighting invading forces in city streets.

China's military accused Taiwan on Wednesday of forcing its people to become cannon fodder as it raged against recent drills by the island's armed forces. Taipei's leaders "under the banner of protecting Taiwan, are harming and destroying Taiwan, and coercing the people to be cannon fodder", Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang told a regular news conference. Taiwan this month held the 10-day "Han Kuang" military drills. Rather than only repelling a Chinese attack on its shores, Taiwanese troops this year also practised fighting invading forces in city streets. Beijing's military on Wednesday fumed over the exercise, describing them as "merely a show". "They cannot change the inevitable demise of Taiwan independence," Zhang said, accusing Taipei's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of hatching an "evil plot". "We sternly warn the DPP authorities that unjust deeds will bring destruction, no matter what efforts they try, it will all be in vain," he added. Meanwhile, Taipei said Wednesday it had detected 33 sorties of Chinese "main and auxiliary warplanes", 23 of which entered its airspace. "Coordinating with naval vessels under the so-called 'joint combat readiness patrol,' they have harassed our surrounding air and sea areas," the island's defence ministry said. Communist China has never ruled Taiwan but Beijing insists the island is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Taiwan is keen to show the world, especially its key security backer Washington, that it is serious about boosting its defence capability. But this week reports emerged that US President Donald Trump's administration had denied permission for Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to transit in New York as part of an official trip to Latin America next month. Taipei's foreign ministry in response said Lai had not been blocked from visiting the United States and that he had no plans to travel overseas "in the near future". 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.

Rather than only repelling a Chinese attack on its shores, Taiwanese troops this year also practised fighting invading forces in city streets.

‘Coercing people to be cannon fodder’: China rages against Taiwan over recent military drills

The status of the Asia Cup 2025 could now be in limbo as fans and sponsors have continued to boycott the India vs Pakistan contest, and the latest warning came in the World Championship of Legends. On Wednesday (July 20), a major Indian sponsor in the ongoing WCL 2025 in England’s Birmingham pulled out after India were drawn against Pakistan in the semifinal clash. The sponsor released a statement stating, “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.”<h2>Major sponsor pulls out of WCL 2025</h2>“We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip, we stand with India,” founder Nishant Pitti said in a statement.&nbsp;“We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Always. Jai Hind,” added the statement.&nbsp;With India and Pakistan paired up in the Asia Cup 2025, it has not received huge stardom with fans and sponsors ready to boycott the clash after the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Indian fans, former cricketers and politicians have called for a boycott of any ties with Pakistan.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-test-bumrah-is-fit-to-bowl-as-per-his-workload-says-india-batting-coach-sitanshu-kotak-1753810202717">IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak</a>&nbsp;Earlier in a league game of the WCL 2025 against Pakistan, former India cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and Yusuf Pathan opted out after fan backlash. The match was consequently called off with players giving priority to national integrity.&nbsp;If the backlash continues, the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan on September 14 could be in limbo. On Monday, Indian politician and leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) and called for a boycott of the India vs Pakistan clash in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

On Wednesday (July 20), a major Indian sponsor in the ongoing WCL 2025 in England’s Birmingham pulled out after India were drawn against Pakistan in the semifinal clash. The sponsor released a statement stating, “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.”

The status of the Asia Cup 2025 could now be in limbo as fans and sponsors have continued to boycott the India vs Pakistan contest, and the latest warning came in the World Championship of Legends. On Wednesday (July 20), a major Indian sponsor in the ongoing WCL 2025 in England’s Birmingham pulled out after India were drawn against Pakistan in the semifinal clash. The sponsor released a statement stating, “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.” Major sponsor pulls out of WCL 2025 “We applaud Team India @India_Champions for their outstanding performance in the World Championship of Legends, you’ve made the nation proud. However, the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game. Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. EaseMyTrip, we stand with India,” founder Nishant Pitti said in a statement. “We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. The people of India have spoken and we hear them. EaseMyTrip will not be associated with the India vs Pakistan match in WCL. Some things are bigger than sport. Nation first, business later. Always. Jai Hind,” added the statement. With India and Pakistan paired up in the Asia Cup 2025, it has not received huge stardom with fans and sponsors ready to boycott the clash after the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Indian fans, former cricketers and politicians have called for a boycott of any ties with Pakistan. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak Earlier in a league game of the WCL 2025 against Pakistan, former India cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and Yusuf Pathan opted out after fan backlash. The match was consequently called off with players giving priority to national integrity. If the backlash continues, the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan on September 14 could be in limbo. On Monday, Indian politician and leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) and called for a boycott of the India vs Pakistan clash in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

On Wednesday (July 20), a major Indian sponsor in the ongoing WCL 2025 in England’s Birmingham pulled out after India were drawn against Pakistan in the semifinal clash. The sponsor released a statement stating, “terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.”

India vs Pakistan, WCL: Major Indian sponsor withdraws, comments 'terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a memo to league employees Tuesday night the New York office will remain closed through at least August 8 after a gunman attacked their headquarters building.&nbsp;A man identified by the New York Police Department as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas opened fire in the high-rise building where the NFL offices are located and killed four people on Monday while also wounding a man Goodell identified as a league employee.&nbsp;"Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families, and we are deeply grateful for the first responders and medical staff who acted so quickly and continue to provide care," Goodell wrote.&nbsp;"Our thoughts and prayers remain especially with our colleague who was impacted. He is currently surrounded by his family and members of the NFL community and we are all continuing to hope for and support his full recovery."&nbsp;The NFL Manhattan office at 345 Park Ave. will be closed until August 8, Goodell said, asking employees who usually work on-site to work remotely.&nbsp;"We ask that you do not attempt to enter the building until we confirm that it is ready for us to return," Goodell wrote.&nbsp;The league plans a virtual town hall for Wednesday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-test-bumrah-is-fit-to-bowl-as-per-his-workload-says-india-batting-coach-sitanshu-kotak-1753810202717">IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak</a>&nbsp;"We are strongest when we come together and support one another," Goodell wrote. "To provide a space for our community, we will be holding a virtual town hall tomorrow where we can connect, share and support each other.&nbsp;"This has been a challenging time for our entire team. Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. If you need additional support, do not hesitate to reach out to your manager or HR. We are here for you."&nbsp;Goodell closed by writing: "In the midst of this difficult time, we hold on to hope and optimism for healing and brighter days ahead."&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.

A man identified by the New York Police Department as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas opened fire in the high-rise building where the NFL offices are located and killed four people on Monday while also wounding a man Goodell identified as a league employee.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a memo to league employees Tuesday night the New York office will remain closed through at least August 8 after a gunman attacked their headquarters building. A man identified by the New York Police Department as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas opened fire in the high-rise building where the NFL offices are located and killed four people on Monday while also wounding a man Goodell identified as a league employee. "Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families, and we are deeply grateful for the first responders and medical staff who acted so quickly and continue to provide care," Goodell wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers remain especially with our colleague who was impacted. He is currently surrounded by his family and members of the NFL community and we are all continuing to hope for and support his full recovery." The NFL Manhattan office at 345 Park Ave. will be closed until August 8, Goodell said, asking employees who usually work on-site to work remotely. "We ask that you do not attempt to enter the building until we confirm that it is ready for us to return," Goodell wrote. The league plans a virtual town hall for Wednesday. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak "We are strongest when we come together and support one another," Goodell wrote. "To provide a space for our community, we will be holding a virtual town hall tomorrow where we can connect, share and support each other. "This has been a challenging time for our entire team. Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. If you need additional support, do not hesitate to reach out to your manager or HR. We are here for you." Goodell closed by writing: "In the midst of this difficult time, we hold on to hope and optimism for healing and brighter days ahead." 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.

A man identified by the New York Police Department as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas opened fire in the high-rise building where the NFL offices are located and killed four people on Monday while also wounding a man Goodell identified as a league employee.

NFL commissioner says NYC office closed until Aug 8 after shooting

Goalkeeper James Trafford has signed a deal to return to Manchester City from Burnley, the Premier League giants announced on Tuesday.&nbsp;Man City activated a £27.5 million ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports.&nbsp;Trafford, who never played for the City senior team during his first spell at the Etihad Stadium, left for Burnley in 2023.&nbsp;He struggled in his first season as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, but equalled an English football record with 29 clean sheets last term to help Burnley earn promotion back into the top flight.&nbsp;"This is the place I call home -- it's a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play," he said in a statement.&nbsp;"I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving -- and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.&nbsp;"I will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success."City coach Pep Guardiola dropped established number one Ederson multiple times last season in favour of Stefan Ortega.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-test-bumrah-is-fit-to-bowl-as-per-his-workload-says-india-batting-coach-sitanshu-kotak-1753810202717">IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak</a>&nbsp;Trafford, who will wear the number one shirt, will battle with Brazilian Ederson to be first choice.&nbsp;He is Man City's sixth signing of the transfer window after they finished third last season, well adrift of champions Liverpool in their bid for a fifth straight Premier League title.&nbsp;Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Sverre Nypan have all already moved to the club since the end of last 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 WION audience.

Man City activated a £27.5 million ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports.

Goalkeeper James Trafford has signed a deal to return to Manchester City from Burnley, the Premier League giants announced on Tuesday. Man City activated a £27.5 million ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports. Trafford, who never played for the City senior team during his first spell at the Etihad Stadium, left for Burnley in 2023. He struggled in his first season as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, but equalled an English football record with 29 clean sheets last term to help Burnley earn promotion back into the top flight. "This is the place I call home -- it's a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play," he said in a statement. "I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving -- and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be. "I will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success." City coach Pep Guardiola dropped established number one Ederson multiple times last season in favour of Stefan Ortega. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 5th Test: 'Bumrah is fit to bowl as per his workload', says India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak Trafford, who will wear the number one shirt, will battle with Brazilian Ederson to be first choice. He is Man City's sixth signing of the transfer window after they finished third last season, well adrift of champions Liverpool in their bid for a fifth straight Premier League title. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Sverre Nypan have all already moved to the club since the end of last 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 WION audience.

Man City activated a £27.5 million ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports.

Goalkeeper James Trafford returns to Man City from Burnley in $37 million deal

England's Lionesses returned to a heroes' welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their dramatic penalty-shootout victory against world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final.&nbsp;Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022.&nbsp;Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend airport, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) east of London.&nbsp;In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane, which had "Home" painted in red letters on its side.&nbsp;The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from two fire engines after landing. Captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman were the first off, with the skipper proudly holding the trophy.&nbsp;Among the waiting supporters were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo.&nbsp;"We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it," said Poppy. "They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well."&nbsp;The Lionesses were whisked straight to 10 Downing Street, the working home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer which was decked out in England flags.&nbsp;"What a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers," Starmer wrote in a message to the Lionesses on X.&nbsp;The team were hosted at number 10 by Deputy Prime minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock while Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;Rayner hailed the players as a "shining example of talent and excitement for women’s football".&nbsp;An open-top bus parade will follow on Tuesday, culminating in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace.&nbsp;Victory in Switzerland was sweet revenge for Wiegman's defending champions, who suffered bitter defeat against the same opponents in the World Cup final two years ago.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-slams-england-double-standards-over-handshake-saga-in-manchester-test-1753709560665">Ravi Ashwin slams England’s ‘double standards’ over ‘handshake saga’ in Manchester Test</a><h2>Late drama</h2>Victory in Switzerland on Sunday capped a remarkable tournament packed with late drama for England.&nbsp;Wiegman's team were slow out of the blocks, losing their first match against France, before comfortable wins over the Netherlands and Wales in the group phase.&nbsp;They came back from 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties, and sealed their spot in Sunday's final with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy.&nbsp;The defending champions again fell behind against Spain on Sunday but Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's first-half opener and the teams were still locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time.&nbsp;Two penalty saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo's miss set the stage for Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final.&nbsp;In total, the Lionesses led for fewer than five minutes across the entire Euros knockout stage.&nbsp;"I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played," said Wiegman.&nbsp;"The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up."&nbsp;The Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship crowns in a row, having led the Netherlands to victory in 2017, said she hoped England's win would boost women's football across the globe.&nbsp;"How I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof," she said. "That's what we've seen.&nbsp;"We've seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that's great, and I hope that that will boost the women's game everywhere."&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.

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022.

England's Lionesses returned to a heroes' welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their dramatic penalty-shootout victory against world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final. Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022. Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend airport, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) east of London. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane, which had "Home" painted in red letters on its side. The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from two fire engines after landing. Captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman were the first off, with the skipper proudly holding the trophy. Among the waiting supporters were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo. "We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it," said Poppy. "They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well." The Lionesses were whisked straight to 10 Downing Street, the working home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer which was decked out in England flags. "What a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers," Starmer wrote in a message to the Lionesses on X. The team were hosted at number 10 by Deputy Prime minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock while Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump. Rayner hailed the players as a "shining example of talent and excitement for women’s football". An open-top bus parade will follow on Tuesday, culminating in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace. Victory in Switzerland was sweet revenge for Wiegman's defending champions, who suffered bitter defeat against the same opponents in the World Cup final two years ago. ALSO READ | Ravi Ashwin slams England’s ‘double standards’ over ‘handshake saga’ in Manchester Test Late drama Victory in Switzerland on Sunday capped a remarkable tournament packed with late drama for England. Wiegman's team were slow out of the blocks, losing their first match against France, before comfortable wins over the Netherlands and Wales in the group phase. They came back from 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties, and sealed their spot in Sunday's final with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy. The defending champions again fell behind against Spain on Sunday but Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's first-half opener and the teams were still locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time. Two penalty saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo's miss set the stage for Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final. In total, the Lionesses led for fewer than five minutes across the entire Euros knockout stage. "I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played," said Wiegman. "The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up." The Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship crowns in a row, having led the Netherlands to victory in 2017, said she hoped England's win would boost women's football across the globe. "How I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof," she said. "That's what we've seen. "We've seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that's great, and I hope that that will boost the women's game everywhere." 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.

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022.

England's Lionesses return to heroes' welcome after Euro 2025 glory

Japan's Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, will work with Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on a trial basis after splitting with Patrick Mouratoglou after less than a year together.&nbsp;Osaka announced the parting with Frenchman Mouratoglou, the former coach of superstar Serena Williams, on social media on Monday before defeating Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes in a first round match at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal.&nbsp;Osaka, ranked 49th, began working in Canada with Wiktorowski, who coached Poland's Agnieszka Radwańska from 2011-2018, helping her reach the Wimbledon final and world number two ranking in July 2012.&nbsp;Wiktorowski also coached Poland's Iga Swiatek from late 2021 until last October, a run where she won four of her six career Grand Slam singles titles, before adding the most recent at Wimbledon earlier this month.&nbsp;Osaka, who improved to 11-1 in matches against players ranked outside the top 100, will next face 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the second round. They have split four prior meetings but Osaka won the two they played on hardcourts.&nbsp;Former world number one Osaka, 27, began working with Mouratoglou last September.&nbsp;"Merci Patrick it was such a great experience learning from you," Osaka posted on social media. "Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people l've ever met and I'm sure I'll see you around."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-slams-england-double-standards-over-handshake-saga-in-manchester-test-1753709560665">Ravi Ashwin slams England’s ‘double standards’ over ‘handshake saga’ in Manchester Test</a>&nbsp;Mouratoglou said on Instagram he was "grateful for the trust, the journey and what we have built together," and told Osaka he "will always root for you."&nbsp;Under the Frenchman's guidance, Osaka reached the Auckland final in January but retired after the first set with an abdominal injury. She won twice at the Australian Open but retired after the first set in her third match with the same injury.&nbsp;Osaka won her first WTA title since the 2021 Australian Open in May at the L'Open 35 de Saint Malo, but fell in the first round of the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon.&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.

Naomi Osaka announced the parting with Frenchman Mouratoglou, the former coach of superstar Serena Williams, on social media on Monday before defeating Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes in a first round match at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal.

Japan's Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, will work with Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on a trial basis after splitting with Patrick Mouratoglou after less than a year together. Osaka announced the parting with Frenchman Mouratoglou, the former coach of superstar Serena Williams, on social media on Monday before defeating Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes in a first round match at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal. Osaka, ranked 49th, began working in Canada with Wiktorowski, who coached Poland's Agnieszka Radwańska from 2011-2018, helping her reach the Wimbledon final and world number two ranking in July 2012. Wiktorowski also coached Poland's Iga Swiatek from late 2021 until last October, a run where she won four of her six career Grand Slam singles titles, before adding the most recent at Wimbledon earlier this month. Osaka, who improved to 11-1 in matches against players ranked outside the top 100, will next face 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the second round. They have split four prior meetings but Osaka won the two they played on hardcourts. Former world number one Osaka, 27, began working with Mouratoglou last September. "Merci Patrick it was such a great experience learning from you," Osaka posted on social media. "Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people l've ever met and I'm sure I'll see you around." ALSO READ | Ravi Ashwin slams England’s ‘double standards’ over ‘handshake saga’ in Manchester Test Mouratoglou said on Instagram he was "grateful for the trust, the journey and what we have built together," and told Osaka he "will always root for you." Under the Frenchman's guidance, Osaka reached the Auckland final in January but retired after the first set with an abdominal injury. She won twice at the Australian Open but retired after the first set in her third match with the same injury. Osaka won her first WTA title since the 2021 Australian Open in May at the L'Open 35 de Saint Malo, but fell in the first round of the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon. 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.

Naomi Osaka announced the parting with Frenchman Mouratoglou, the former coach of superstar Serena Williams, on social media on Monday before defeating Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes in a first round match at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal.

Naomi Osaka to work with Tomasz Wiktorowski on trial after Patrick Mouratoglou split

China's government will offer subsidies to parents to the tune of $500 per child under the age of three per year, Beijing's state media said Monday, as the world's second most populous nation faces a looming demographic crisis. The nationwide subsidies apply retroactively from January 1, Beijing's state broadcaster CCTV said, citing a decision by the ruling Communist Party and the State Council, China's cabinet.&nbsp;"This is a major nationwide policy aimed at improving public wellbeing," CCTV said. "It provides direct cash subsidies to families across the country, helping to reduce the burden of raising children," it added.&nbsp;There were just 9.54 million births in China last year, half the number than in 2016, the year it ended its one-child policy, which was in place for more than three decades.&nbsp;The population declined by 1.39 million last year, and China lost its crown as the world's most populous country to India in 2023.&nbsp;Marriage rates are also at record low levels, with many young couples put off having babies by high child-rearing costs and career concerns.<h2>'Groundwork for the future'</h2>Analysts warned that the subsidies alone would not reverse China's population decline, nor boost its long-standing domestic spending slump.&nbsp;"The sums involved are too small to have a near-term impact on the birth rate or consumption," Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said.&nbsp;"But the policy does mark a major milestone in terms of direct handouts to households and could lay the groundwork for more fiscal transfers in future."&nbsp;Many local governments have already rolled out subsidies to encourage childbirth. In March, Hohhot, the capital of China's northern Inner Mongolia region, began offering residents up to 100,000 yuan ($14,000) per newborn for couples with three or more children, while first and second children will be eligible for 10,000 and 50,000 yuan subsidies.&nbsp;In Shenyang, in northeastern Liaoning province, local authorities give families who have a third child 500 yuan per month until the child turns three.&nbsp;Hangzhou, in eastern Zhejiang province, offers a one-time payment of 25,000 yuan to couples who have a third child. More than 20 provincial-level administrations in the country now offer childcare subsidies, according to official data. Premier Li Qiang vowed to provide childcare subsidies during the government's annual work report in March. China's shrinking population is also ageing fast, sparking worries about the future of the country's pension system. There were nearly 310 million people aged 60 and over in 2024.

China has announced that it is planning to provide childcare subsidies to parents in the country, a plan to boost the birth rate in the second most populous nation in the world. China will pay $500 per child in cash as a subsidy. 

China's government will offer subsidies to parents to the tune of $500 per child under the age of three per year, Beijing's state media said Monday, as the world's second most populous nation faces a looming demographic crisis. The nationwide subsidies apply retroactively from January 1, Beijing's state broadcaster CCTV said, citing a decision by the ruling Communist Party and the State Council, China's cabinet. "This is a major nationwide policy aimed at improving public wellbeing," CCTV said. "It provides direct cash subsidies to families across the country, helping to reduce the burden of raising children," it added. There were just 9.54 million births in China last year, half the number than in 2016, the year it ended its one-child policy, which was in place for more than three decades. The population declined by 1.39 million last year, and China lost its crown as the world's most populous country to India in 2023. Marriage rates are also at record low levels, with many young couples put off having babies by high child-rearing costs and career concerns. 'Groundwork for the future' Analysts warned that the subsidies alone would not reverse China's population decline, nor boost its long-standing domestic spending slump. "The sums involved are too small to have a near-term impact on the birth rate or consumption," Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said. "But the policy does mark a major milestone in terms of direct handouts to households and could lay the groundwork for more fiscal transfers in future." Many local governments have already rolled out subsidies to encourage childbirth. In March, Hohhot, the capital of China's northern Inner Mongolia region, began offering residents up to 100,000 yuan ($14,000) per newborn for couples with three or more children, while first and second children will be eligible for 10,000 and 50,000 yuan subsidies. In Shenyang, in northeastern Liaoning province, local authorities give families who have a third child 500 yuan per month until the child turns three. Hangzhou, in eastern Zhejiang province, offers a one-time payment of 25,000 yuan to couples who have a third child. More than 20 provincial-level administrations in the country now offer childcare subsidies, according to official data. Premier Li Qiang vowed to provide childcare subsidies during the government's annual work report in March. China's shrinking population is also ageing fast, sparking worries about the future of the country's pension system. There were nearly 310 million people aged 60 and over in 2024.

China has announced that it is planning to provide childcare subsidies to parents in the country, a plan to boost the birth rate in the second most populous nation in the world. China will pay $500 per child in cash as a subsidy.&nbsp;

'$500 per child, direct cash': China to offer childcare subsidies to boost birth rate

Iran defended its use of the death penalty, saying it applies to only the most serious offences, after the United Nations on Monday urged the Islamic Republic to halt executions.&nbsp;"The death penalty is recognised under Iran's domestic laws for a range of the most serious crimes," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, adding Tehran was "striving to limit the use of this punishment to only the most severe crimes".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Defending its recent use of the death penalty, Iran said that executions are used as a punishment in the Islamic Republic only for the most severe crimes. This came after multiple executions in Iran on charges of spying. 

Iran defended its use of the death penalty, saying it applies to only the most serious offences, after the United Nations on Monday urged the Islamic Republic to halt executions. "The death penalty is recognised under Iran's domestic laws for a range of the most serious crimes," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, adding Tehran was "striving to limit the use of this punishment to only the most severe crimes".

Defending its recent use of the death penalty, Iran said that executions are used as a punishment in the Islamic Republic only for the most severe crimes. This came after multiple executions in Iran on charges of spying.&nbsp;

Iran defends recent executions, says use ‘only for most severe crimes’

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community on Monday to reject hunger as a weapon of war.UN agencies have been warning of life-threatening hunger in Gaza as aid supplies dried up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation.Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points."Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains, and humanitarian aid. Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond," Guterres told a UN conference in Ethiopia by video."Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," the UN chief added.In the Gaza Strip, the war-shattered Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May.Since the easing of the blockade, the levels of aid reaching Gaza have been far below what aid groups say is needed.On Sunday, as Israel began a "tactical pause" in the fighting to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis, the World Health Organization warned that malnutrition was reaching "alarming levels."Sudan is "the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered", Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of UN's IOM migration agency, told reporters last week.Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people.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;

"Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," the UN chief added said.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community on Monday to reject hunger as a weapon of war. UN agencies have been warning of life-threatening hunger in Gaza as aid supplies dried up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation. Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points. "Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains, and humanitarian aid. Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond," Guterres told a UN conference in Ethiopia by video. "Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," the UN chief added. In the Gaza Strip, the war-shattered Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May. Since the easing of the blockade, the levels of aid reaching Gaza have been far below what aid groups say is needed. On Sunday, as Israel began a "tactical pause" in the fighting to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis, the World Health Organization warned that malnutrition was reaching "alarming levels." Sudan is "the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered", Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of UN's IOM migration agency, told reporters last week. Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people. 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.

"Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," the UN chief said.

Hunger must never be 'weapon of war': UN chief Antonio Guterres

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