Syria marked the first anniversary of Liberation Day with major public celebrations and military parades across the country. Massive crowds gathered in Damascus’ Umayyad Square to commemorate the overthrow of the Assad regime after 54 years in power. Here’s a look at the nationwide events and what this milestone means for Syria’s future.

Syria Celebrates Liberation Day With Huge Crowds and Military Parades

Time is perhaps the greatest healer. One year after the Ahmedabad crowd booed the then-newly appointed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mumbai-indians" rel="dofollow">Mumbai Indians</a> captain, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/hardik-pandya" rel="dofollow">Hardik Pandya</a>, the MI skipper received the loudest cheer at the toss during MI&rsquo;s away <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> game against Gujarat Titans on Saturday. Standing alongside GT captain and India teammate Shubman Gill, Pandya won the toss and elected to field first in MI&rsquo;s second game this season.
Veteran cricketer-turned-broadcaster Ian Bishop called out the toss, and upon knowing that Pandya won it, the crowd cheered loudly.
<h3>Watch Video &ndash;</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8ubuan5-hp6idt1h-p4riunmg">
🚨 Toss 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a> won the toss and opted to bowl first against <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> in Ahmedabad! Updates ▶ <a href="https://t.co/lDF4SwmX6j">https://t.co/lDF4SwmX6j</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTvMI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTvMI</a> <a href="https://t.co/M5qAcHfJEZ">pic.twitter.com/M5qAcHfJEZ</a>
&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1905977327671976263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>What happened last year?</h2>
Mumbai Indians shocked the cricket world after appointing all-rounder Hardik Pandya as new captain the past season. The decision to replace Rohit with Pandya as the franchise&rsquo;s on-field skipper didn&rsquo;t sit well among the MI fan base as they kept booing the side&rsquo;s captain at every venue he played in IPL 2024, including at MI&rsquo;s home ground at the Wankhede Stadium.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/kl-rahul-returns-from-paternity-leave-but-delhi-capitals-sweat-over-mukesh-kumars-fitness-for-srh-tie-in-ipl-2025-8904516" rel="dofollow">KL Rahul returns from paternity leave but DC sweat over Mukesh Kumar&rsquo;s fitness for SRH tie</a>
With plenty happening on the field and behind the scenes, considering the change in the leadership group, everything fell apart for the former five-time winners. As a result, Mumbai barely won anything, let alone at least reaching the Playoffs. In 14 contested matches, they prevailed in just four, finishing the season at the bottom of the points table.
However, with Pandya returning to the Indian colours and helping his national team end its ICC trophy drought with the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the Americas, the fans that once turned on Pandya cheered the star cricketer during the team&rsquo;s open bus parade in Mumbai.
Pandya then made headlines for his star performances in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025, helping India win two ICC titles in as many years. His rise to the top changed people&rsquo;s perception of him, with cheers following him everywhere he went.
<h3>GT vs MI in IPL 2025</h3>
Pandya won the toss and elected to field first, explaining his reasons behind it.
&ldquo;We'll bowl first,&rdquo; Pandya said at the toss.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The simple reason is we don't know how the pitch will play, plus the dew factor. Only last year we played on black soil, otherwise, we have been playing on red soil.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Last year, we had the game under wraps but couldn't finish it. The prep has been fantastic, the boys are excited, and we back each other, be there for each other. Very happy stage. I come back, and the others, we are keeping the options open. Always about playing good cricket, planning right and enjoying the game,&rdquo; he continued.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Pandya missed MI's tournament opener against CSK, which they lost by four wickets.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Playing his first game this season, Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya received the loudest cheers during the toss time against GT in Ahmedabad.

Time is perhaps the greatest healer. One year after the Ahmedabad crowd booed the then-newly appointed Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya, the MI skipper received the loudest cheer at the toss during MI’s away IPL 2025 game against Gujarat Titans on Saturday. Standing alongside GT captain and India teammate Shubman Gill, Pandya won the toss and elected to field first in MI’s second game this season. Veteran cricketer-turned-broadcaster Ian Bishop called out the toss, and upon knowing that Pandya won it, the crowd cheered loudly. Watch Video – 🚨 Toss 🚨@mipaltan won the toss and opted to bowl first against @gujarat_titans in Ahmedabad! Updates ▶ https://t.co/lDF4SwmX6j#TATAIPL | #GTvMI pic.twitter.com/M5qAcHfJEZ — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 29, 2025 What happened last year? Mumbai Indians shocked the cricket world after appointing all-rounder Hardik Pandya as new captain the past season. The decision to replace Rohit with Pandya as the franchise’s on-field skipper didn’t sit well among the MI fan base as they kept booing the side’s captain at every venue he played in IPL 2024, including at MI’s home ground at the Wankhede Stadium. Also read | KL Rahul returns from paternity leave but DC sweat over Mukesh Kumar’s fitness for SRH tie With plenty happening on the field and behind the scenes, considering the change in the leadership group, everything fell apart for the former five-time winners. As a result, Mumbai barely won anything, let alone at least reaching the Playoffs. In 14 contested matches, they prevailed in just four, finishing the season at the bottom of the points table. However, with Pandya returning to the Indian colours and helping his national team end its ICC trophy drought with the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the Americas, the fans that once turned on Pandya cheered the star cricketer during the team’s open bus parade in Mumbai. Pandya then made headlines for his star performances in the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025, helping India win two ICC titles in as many years. His rise to the top changed people’s perception of him, with cheers following him everywhere he went. GT vs MI in IPL 2025 Pandya won the toss and elected to field first, explaining his reasons behind it. “We'll bowl first,” Pandya said at the toss. “The simple reason is we don't know how the pitch will play, plus the dew factor. Only last year we played on black soil, otherwise, we have been playing on red soil. “Last year, we had the game under wraps but couldn't finish it. The prep has been fantastic, the boys are excited, and we back each other, be there for each other. Very happy stage. I come back, and the others, we are keeping the options open. Always about playing good cricket, planning right and enjoying the game,” he continued. Meanwhile, Pandya missed MI's tournament opener against CSK, which they lost by four wickets. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: One year after Ahmedabad crowd booed Hardik Pandya, MI captain receives loudest cheer at toss – WATCH

The Brazil versus Argentina 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match made heads turn for all the wrong reasons. The match saw an interrupted start after&nbsp;the crowd got violent and the situation soon became out of control. As a result, the Brazilian cops&nbsp;charged Argentinian fans for&nbsp;fighting in the stands during the national anthems and&nbsp;severely hit them.

It turned from bad to worse as&nbsp;a&nbsp;bloodied fan was&nbsp;stretched off. Seats were being ripped off the stands and thrown at the police officials whereas some of the Argentina supporters ran onto the ground for safety.&nbsp;Later, Rio police&nbsp;arrested eight people following the crowd trouble.

After the game, which Argentina won 1-0, skipper Lionel Messi reacted to the unfortunate incident and wrote on Instagram, "Great victory in the Maracaná although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can't be tolerated it's insane and it needs to end now!!"

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cant-be-tolerated-messi-comes-in-support-of-argentina-fans-following-crowd-violence-in-wc-qualifier-661442">'Can't be tolerated': Messi comes in support of Argentina fans following crowd trouble in WC qualifier</a>

Now, FIFA chief&nbsp;Gianni Infantino has also&nbsp;condemned the violence which broke out&nbsp;at the iconic Maracana Stadium&nbsp;in Rio de Janeiro&nbsp;on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"Without exception, all players, fans, staff and managers need to be safe and protected to play and enjoy football and I urge the competent authorities to ensure this is respected at all levels," Infantino said in a statement.

Messi, in particular, severely criticised the act of the Brazilian police and accused them of brutality. "It was bad because we saw how they were beating people ... The police, as it already happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with nightsticks, there were players who had families over there," the Ballon d'Or 2023 winner&nbsp;stated during a pitch-side television interview.

A heated argument also broke out between Messi and Brazil's Rodrygo prior to the start of&nbsp;the game. After the win, Argentina players celebrated the result with the fans and the victory lap lasted for nearly 10 minutes.

The Brazil versus Argentina 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match made heads turn for all the wrong reasons. The match saw an interrupted start after the crowd got violent and the situation soon became out of control.

The Brazil versus Argentina 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match made heads turn for all the wrong reasons. The match saw an interrupted start after the crowd got violent and the situation soon became out of control. As a result, the Brazilian cops charged Argentinian fans for fighting in the stands during the national anthems and severely hit them. It turned from bad to worse as a bloodied fan was stretched off. Seats were being ripped off the stands and thrown at the police officials whereas some of the Argentina supporters ran onto the ground for safety. Later, Rio police arrested eight people following the crowd trouble. After the game, which Argentina won 1-0, skipper Lionel Messi reacted to the unfortunate incident and wrote on Instagram, "Great victory in the Maracaná although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can't be tolerated it's insane and it needs to end now!!" Also read: 'Can't be tolerated': Messi comes in support of Argentina fans following crowd trouble in WC qualifier Now, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has also condemned the violence which broke out at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. "Without exception, all players, fans, staff and managers need to be safe and protected to play and enjoy football and I urge the competent authorities to ensure this is respected at all levels," Infantino said in a statement. Messi, in particular, severely criticised the act of the Brazilian police and accused them of brutality. "It was bad because we saw how they were beating people ... The police, as it already happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with nightsticks, there were players who had families over there," the Ballon d'Or 2023 winner stated during a pitch-side television interview. A heated argument also broke out between Messi and Brazil's Rodrygo prior to the start of the game. After the win, Argentina players celebrated the result with the fans and the victory lap lasted for nearly 10 minutes.

FIFA chief condemns violence during Brazil vs Argentina WC qualifier after Messi slammed police for brutality

Huge crowds gathered across Mexico on Feb 26 to protest against electoral overhaul.

Thousands in Mexico protest against electoral overhaul

From the Festival of Chhath Puja in Delhi to a memorial altar for crowd crush victims in Seoul, here are some impactful images from around the world on 31 October, 2022.

World in Pictures: Festival of Chhath Puja in Delhi; Memorial altar for crowd crush victims in Seoul

Two people were killed and 20 others were injured in a crash in Nebraska in the United States ​​hosted by the Midwest Association of Car Enthusiasts (MACE) that sent two cars hurtling into a crowd of bystanders at an annual Memorial Day weekend “cruise” night in Nebraska’s capital Lincoln on Monday.

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2 people are dead &amp; 19 others were injured after two cars crashed into a crowd of people in Lincoln.<a href="https://twitter.com/Lincoln_Police?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lincoln_Police</a> say both deceased victims are females &amp; were inside one of the cars involved. 
 
Five hours after the crash, both cars involved are still along O street.<a href="https://twitter.com/KETV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KETV</a> <a href="https://t.co/5jP3XE312s">pic.twitter.com/5jP3XE312s</a>
— Jonah Gilmore (@JonahMGilmore) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonahMGilmore/status/1531200233543192578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“We do not believe nor is there any evidence this was an intentional act,” Lincoln police said in a statement.

According to reports, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said in a news conference on Monday afternoon that neither of the vehicles involved in the crash was participating in the “Americruise” event, which has been taking place in the city since the early 1990s. It was a collision that could have happened at any time, she said.

“At the time of the collision there wasn't a lot of people out," Ewins said. "The cars were not flowing down the street as normal during this event.”

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Happening now: Lincoln police discuss fatal crash that killed two people <a href="https://t.co/8IFTazDW7c">https://t.co/8IFTazDW7c</a>
— KETV NewsWatch 7 (@KETV) <a href="https://twitter.com/KETV/status/1531364178102845440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Police said the crash happened when an 18-year-old Omaha man driving a black Ford Taurus travelling westbound on O Street struck a white Toyota Corolla that was “facing” eastbound. The women, both in the Corolla, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Taurus was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Two women, ages 20 and 22, had been inside one of the cars and died in the Sunday night crash on O Street in Lincoln. Of the injured bystanders, one person was listed in critical condition and the others were treated at hospitals for injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said. 
&nbsp;

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Two people were killed and 20 others were injured in a crash in Nebraska in the United States hosted by the Midwest Association of Car Enthusiasts (MACE) that sent two cars hurtling into a crowd of bystanders at an annual Memorial Day weekend “cruise” night in Nebraska’s capital Lincoln on Monday.

Two people were killed and 20 others were injured in a crash in Nebraska in the United States hosted by the Midwest Association of Car Enthusiasts (MACE) that sent two cars hurtling into a crowd of bystanders at an annual Memorial Day weekend “cruise” night in Nebraska’s capital Lincoln on Monday. 2 people are dead & 19 others were injured after two cars crashed into a crowd of people in Lincoln.@Lincoln_Police say both deceased victims are females & were inside one of the cars involved. Five hours after the crash, both cars involved are still along O street.@KETV pic.twitter.com/5jP3XE312s — Jonah Gilmore (@JonahMGilmore) May 30, 2022 × “We do not believe nor is there any evidence this was an intentional act,” Lincoln police said in a statement. According to reports, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said in a news conference on Monday afternoon that neither of the vehicles involved in the crash was participating in the “Americruise” event, which has been taking place in the city since the early 1990s. It was a collision that could have happened at any time, she said. “At the time of the collision there wasn't a lot of people out," Ewins said. "The cars were not flowing down the street as normal during this event.” Happening now: Lincoln police discuss fatal crash that killed two people https://t.co/8IFTazDW7c — KETV NewsWatch 7 (@KETV) May 30, 2022 × Police said the crash happened when an 18-year-old Omaha man driving a black Ford Taurus travelling westbound on O Street struck a white Toyota Corolla that was “facing” eastbound. The women, both in the Corolla, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Taurus was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Two women, ages 20 and 22, had been inside one of the cars and died in the Sunday night crash on O Street in Lincoln. Of the injured bystanders, one person was listed in critical condition and the others were treated at hospitals for injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Two killed and 20 injured as two colliding cars ram into crowd in Nebraska

Crowd surfing will not be permitted at concerts in Ireland and nightclub goers must form a socially distanced queue to buy drinks, under new guidelines issued by the government for recently reopened venues.

Irish nightclubs opened their doors for the first time since March 2020 last weekend, while theatres and concert venues also returned to full capacity as the government lifted most curbs that had made up one of Europe's toughest lockdown regimes.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-who-delays-approval-for-covaxin-jab-every-minute-is-an-eternity-for-this-indian-family-424897">As WHO delays approval for Covaxin jab, every minute is an eternity for this Indian family</a>

However with COVID-19 infection rates rising despite Ireland boasting one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, ministers scrambled to put some mitigation measures in place to minimise any further spread and keep the whole economy open.

These included telling performers they should not "partake in high-risk activities" such as crowd surfing, moving through the crowd or throwing personal items from the stage. Neither should they encourage fans to sing along, the guidelines said.

Nights out will also be less spontaneous, with anyone attending a nightclub required to buy a ticket online at least one hour in advance to assist with contact tracing, a measure club owners have been particularly critical of.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merck-strikes-deal-for-global-access-to-covid-drug-424507">Merck strikes deal for global access to Covid drug</a>

Once inside, facemasks should be worn at all times other than when people are dancing, drinking or eating, and clubgoers must also stay one metre apart in a supervised queue at the bar to order a drink.

The measures, which include the continued requirement for vaccine certificates to gain entry to pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and indoor live entertainment venues, are likely to last until at least February, the government has said.

Crowd surfing will not be permitted at concerts in Ireland and nightclub goers must form a socially distanced queue to buy drinks, under new guidelines issued by the government for recently reopened venues.

Crowd surfing will not be permitted at concerts in Ireland and nightclub goers must form a socially distanced queue to buy drinks, under new guidelines issued by the government for recently reopened venues. Irish nightclubs opened their doors for the first time since March 2020 last weekend, while theatres and concert venues also returned to full capacity as the government lifted most curbs that had made up one of Europe's toughest lockdown regimes. Also Read | As WHO delays approval for Covaxin jab, every minute is an eternity for this Indian family However with COVID-19 infection rates rising despite Ireland boasting one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, ministers scrambled to put some mitigation measures in place to minimise any further spread and keep the whole economy open. These included telling performers they should not "partake in high-risk activities" such as crowd surfing, moving through the crowd or throwing personal items from the stage. Neither should they encourage fans to sing along, the guidelines said. Nights out will also be less spontaneous, with anyone attending a nightclub required to buy a ticket online at least one hour in advance to assist with contact tracing, a measure club owners have been particularly critical of. Also Read | Merck strikes deal for global access to Covid drug Once inside, facemasks should be worn at all times other than when people are dancing, drinking or eating, and clubgoers must also stay one metre apart in a supervised queue at the bar to order a drink. The measures, which include the continued requirement for vaccine certificates to gain entry to pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and indoor live entertainment venues, are likely to last until at least February, the government has said.

No crowd surfing, orderly queues: Ireland lays down new COVID-19 rules

Crowds gathered outside a Hong Kong court early on Saturday ahead of a hearing for two executives of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily charged under the city's sweeping national security law, in a case that has drawn international condemnation. 
 
Editor-in-chief Ryan Law, 47, and chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were among five Apple Daily executives arrested on Thursday when 500 police raided the outlet's newsroom, which authorities described as a 'crime scene'. 
 
Both are charged with collusion with foreign powers, raising alarm over media freedoms in the financial hub as authorities intensify a crackdown under the contentious legislation. 
 
The other three, Chief Operating Officer Chow Tat-kuen, Deputy Chief Editor Chan Puiman and Chief Executive Editor Cheung Chi-wai, were released on bail late on Friday, according to Apple Daily. 
 
"I already left Apple Daily due to personal and safety reasons," said Chan, 37, a former Apple Daily reporter. 
 
"I hope the two being charged can think about themselves first. They also have their families. I worked with them before. We are like friends." 
 
The national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 on the former British colony has brought an authoritarian tone to most aspects of life in Hong Kong, including education and arts. 
 
It punishes what Beijing broadly refers to as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. 
 
Police said dozens of the newspaper's articles were suspected of violating the national security law - the first time media articles have been cited as potentially falling foul of the legislation. 
 
Crowds gathered at dawn on Saturday outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, some holding yellow umbrellas or wearing Apple Daily T-shirts saying, "No fear, fight on." 
 
"Right now, you can be charged with NSL because of a word or a speech that they didn't like. It's a big regression,” Lo, 29, a reader of the popular, 26-year-old paper, said. 
 
The arrests and scale of the Apple Daily raid have been criticised by Western nations, global rights groups, press associations and the chief UN&nbsp;spokesperson for human rights. 
 
Apple Daily and its listed publisher Next Digital have come under increasing pressure since their owner, pro-democracy activist and staunch Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, was arrested last year under the legislation. 
 
Lai, whose assets have been frozen under the security law, is already in jail for taking part in unauthorised assemblies and awaiting trial in his national security case. 
 
As investigations into Apple Daily and its senior executives ramp up, some employees and observers have expressed deepening concern over the newspaper's future. 
 
Since the law was imposed by Beijing in June last year, more than 100 people have been arrested, with most denied bail. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Crowds gathered outside a Hong Kong court early on Saturday ahead of a hearing for two executives of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily charged under the city's sweeping national security law, in a case that has drawn international condemnation.

Crowds gathered outside a Hong Kong court early on Saturday ahead of a hearing for two executives of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily charged under the city's sweeping national security law, in a case that has drawn international condemnation. Editor-in-chief Ryan Law, 47, and chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were among five Apple Daily executives arrested on Thursday when 500 police raided the outlet's newsroom, which authorities described as a 'crime scene'. Both are charged with collusion with foreign powers, raising alarm over media freedoms in the financial hub as authorities intensify a crackdown under the contentious legislation. The other three, Chief Operating Officer Chow Tat-kuen, Deputy Chief Editor Chan Puiman and Chief Executive Editor Cheung Chi-wai, were released on bail late on Friday, according to Apple Daily. "I already left Apple Daily due to personal and safety reasons," said Chan, 37, a former Apple Daily reporter. "I hope the two being charged can think about themselves first. They also have their families. I worked with them before. We are like friends." The national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 on the former British colony has brought an authoritarian tone to most aspects of life in Hong Kong, including education and arts. It punishes what Beijing broadly refers to as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. Police said dozens of the newspaper's articles were suspected of violating the national security law - the first time media articles have been cited as potentially falling foul of the legislation. Crowds gathered at dawn on Saturday outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, some holding yellow umbrellas or wearing Apple Daily T-shirts saying, "No fear, fight on." "Right now, you can be charged with NSL because of a word or a speech that they didn't like. It's a big regression,” Lo, 29, a reader of the popular, 26-year-old paper, said. The arrests and scale of the Apple Daily raid have been criticised by Western nations, global rights groups, press associations and the chief UN spokesperson for human rights. Apple Daily and its listed publisher Next Digital have come under increasing pressure since their owner, pro-democracy activist and staunch Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, was arrested last year under the legislation. Lai, whose assets have been frozen under the security law, is already in jail for taking part in unauthorised assemblies and awaiting trial in his national security case. As investigations into Apple Daily and its senior executives ramp up, some employees and observers have expressed deepening concern over the newspaper's future. Since the law was imposed by Beijing in June last year, more than 100 people have been arrested, with most denied bail. (With inputs from agencies)

Crowds gather for hearing of two Apple Daily executives on national security charge

A car drove into a crowd of pedestrians in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian, killing five, state media reported on Sunday.&nbsp;

A black sedan drove into a crowd of people crossing a street at 11:47 am (0347 GMT) on Saturday and fled the scene, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Dalian's public security bureau.&nbsp;

Four people died at the scene and another was confirmed dead after being sent to hospital, while five, who sustained injuries, were receiving medical treatment in hospital, according to Xinhua.&nbsp;

The driver, surnamed Liu, has been caught and was determined not to have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Xinhua said.&nbsp;

Further investigation was underway, it said.&nbsp;

A car drove into a crowd of pedestrians in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian, killing five, state media reported on Sunday. A black sedan drove into a crowd of people crossing a street at 11:47 am (0347 GMT) on Saturday and fled the scene, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Dalian's public security bureau.

A car drove into a crowd of pedestrians in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian, killing five, state media reported on Sunday. A black sedan drove into a crowd of people crossing a street at 11:47 am (0347 GMT) on Saturday and fled the scene, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing Dalian's public security bureau. Four people died at the scene and another was confirmed dead after being sent to hospital, while five, who sustained injuries, were receiving medical treatment in hospital, according to Xinhua. The driver, surnamed Liu, has been caught and was determined not to have been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Xinhua said. Further investigation was underway, it said.

Car drives into crowd in China, killing five: State media 

A driver ploughed his white Ryder rental van into a crowd in Toronto on Monday, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a roughly mile-long (1.6-km) stretch of sidewalk thronged with lunch-hour pedestrians, police said.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) identified the suspect as Alek Minassian, 25, without identifying its source for that information. Citing government officials, it said Minassian was not associated with any organised militant group.

Officials declined to answer questions about what motivated the driver to steer his vehicle toward people just before 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT) in the northern section of Canada's biggest city. They said the driver was in custody and officials stopped short of calling it a deliberate act.

But at least one witness described the driver as appearing to deliberately target victims, according to media reports.

"This is going to be a long investigation," Toronto Deputy Chief Peter Yuen told reporters after disclosing the death toll.

"The investigation is at a stage where no further information can be confirmed at this point," Canada's public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, told a news conference.

"The police are conducting obviously their thorough investigation to determine what happened and why it happened, the motivations involved," Goodale said.

A Reuters witness saw at least two tarp-covered bodies at the site of the incident. Five people remained in critical condition at Sunnybrook Health Services Centre on Monday afternoon, the hospital said.

The CBC aired a video it said was shot by a bystander that showed police arresting a suspect at the scene as he shouted: "Kill me" and pointed an unidentified object at an officer. The video later showed what appeared to be the same man lying on the floor, being handcuffed.

Ryder System Inc spokeswoman Claudia Panfil confirmed that one of the company's rental vehicles had been involved and said the company was cooperating with authorities.

There has been a string of deadly vehicle attacks in the United States and Europe, including an Oct. 31 attack in New York that killed eight. The Islamic State militant group encourages its supporters to use vehicles for attacks.

'IT'S UNPRECEDENTED'

The incident was one of the most violent in recent Canadian history.

A former Canadian university student pleaded guilty last month to killing six men praying in a Quebec City mosque in January 2017.

In September, a Somali refugee was charged with attempted murder over allegations he ran down four pedestrians with a car and stabbed a police officer outside a sports stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.

"It's unprecedented," said John Flengas, acting superintendent of Toronto's paramedic services. We've never seen anything like this in the city of Toronto."

The incident occurred about 30 km (18 miles) from the site where Toronto is hosting a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers from Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, but had no noticeable effect on that event's security.

A man who gave his name as Ali told CNN he saw the van and that the driver appeared to have been targeting people.

"This person was intentionally doing this, he was killing everybody," the man said. "He kept going, he kept going. People were getting hit, one after another."

He said a number of the victims were older people and that he saw at one point a stroller fly into the air.

At least one person was struck outside an Anglican church, north of where the van came to rest in front of a condominium tower.

Some of the victims were struck in a public square popular with office workers on lunch breaks. Aerial photos of the scene posted on social media showed a food truck parked just a few feet away from where emergency workers transferred people onto stretchers.

The driver is in custody. Officials have so far stopped short of calling the attack a 'deliberate act'

A driver ploughed his white Ryder rental van into a crowd in Toronto on Monday, killing 10 people and injuring 15 along a roughly mile-long (1.6-km) stretch of sidewalk thronged with lunch-hour pedestrians, police said. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) identified the suspect as Alek Minassian, 25, without identifying its source for that information. Citing government officials, it said Minassian was not associated with any organised militant group. Officials declined to answer questions about what motivated the driver to steer his vehicle toward people just before 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT) in the northern section of Canada's biggest city. They said the driver was in custody and officials stopped short of calling it a deliberate act. But at least one witness described the driver as appearing to deliberately target victims, according to media reports. "This is going to be a long investigation," Toronto Deputy Chief Peter Yuen told reporters after disclosing the death toll. "The investigation is at a stage where no further information can be confirmed at this point," Canada's public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, told a news conference. "The police are conducting obviously their thorough investigation to determine what happened and why it happened, the motivations involved," Goodale said. A Reuters witness saw at least two tarp-covered bodies at the site of the incident. Five people remained in critical condition at Sunnybrook Health Services Centre on Monday afternoon, the hospital said. The CBC aired a video it said was shot by a bystander that showed police arresting a suspect at the scene as he shouted: "Kill me" and pointed an unidentified object at an officer. The video later showed what appeared to be the same man lying on the floor, being handcuffed. Ryder System Inc spokeswoman Claudia Panfil confirmed that one of the company's rental vehicles had been involved and said the company was cooperating with authorities. There has been a string of deadly vehicle attacks in the United States and Europe, including an Oct. 31 attack in New York that killed eight. The Islamic State militant group encourages its supporters to use vehicles for attacks. 'IT'S UNPRECEDENTED' The incident was one of the most violent in recent Canadian history. A former Canadian university student pleaded guilty last month to killing six men praying in a Quebec City mosque in January 2017. In September, a Somali refugee was charged with attempted murder over allegations he ran down four pedestrians with a car and stabbed a police officer outside a sports stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. "It's unprecedented," said John Flengas, acting superintendent of Toronto's paramedic services. We've never seen anything like this in the city of Toronto." The incident occurred about 30 km (18 miles) from the site where Toronto is hosting a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers from Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, but had no noticeable effect on that event's security. A man who gave his name as Ali told CNN he saw the van and that the driver appeared to have been targeting people. "This person was intentionally doing this, he was killing everybody," the man said. "He kept going, he kept going. People were getting hit, one after another." He said a number of the victims were older people and that he saw at one point a stroller fly into the air. At least one person was struck outside an Anglican church, north of where the van came to rest in front of a condominium tower. Some of the victims were struck in a public square popular with office workers on lunch breaks. Aerial photos of the scene posted on social media showed a food truck parked just a few feet away from where emergency workers transferred people onto stretchers.

Canada: 10 dead, 15 injured after van ploughs into crowd on Toronto sidewalk

Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a&nbsp;rally&nbsp;by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said.

Police have not given an estimate of the number of protesters, but Arizona media said there were several thousand. Police did not say whether the pepper spray was used on pro- or anti-Trump protesters, or both.

&quot;People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police,&quot; Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said.

&quot;Police have responded with pepper balls and OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd and stop the assaults,&quot; he said.

Four people were arrested during the protest, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said during a news conference.

&quot;We had tens of thousands of people downtown peacefully exercising their first amendment rights,&quot; Williams said. &quot;What&rsquo;s unfortunate is that a very small number of individuals chose criminal conduct.&quot;

Police called on the crowds to disperse. Many of the protesters quit the scene, while dozens of police in riot gear and carrying shields sought to clear remaining protesters from the downtown area.

The Phoenix Fire Department said it treated 56 people for heat exhaustion and dehydration at the convention center. Twelve people were taken to the hospital.

"People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police," Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said

Police fired pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a rally by US President Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday after being pelted with rocks and bottles, police said. Police have not given an estimate of the number of protesters, but Arizona media said there were several thousand. Police did not say whether the pepper spray was used on pro- or anti-Trump protesters, or both. "People in the crowd have begun throwing rocks and bottles at police," Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sergeant Jonathan Howard said. "Police have responded with pepper balls and OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd and stop the assaults," he said. Four people were arrested during the protest, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said during a news conference. "We had tens of thousands of people downtown peacefully exercising their first amendment rights," Williams said. "What’s unfortunate is that a very small number of individuals chose criminal conduct." Police called on the crowds to disperse. Many of the protesters quit the scene, while dozens of police in riot gear and carrying shields sought to clear remaining protesters from the downtown area. The Phoenix Fire Department said it treated 56 people for heat exhaustion and dehydration at the convention center. Twelve people were taken to the hospital.

Trump's Phoenix rally pelted with rocks and bottles, Police used pepper spray to disperse protesters

UEFA began disciplinary proceedings today against Portugal, Hungary and Belgium for incidents in their Euro 2016 matches the previous day. 
 
Portugal is charged with allowing a pitch invasion, Hungary for allowing crowd disturbances and other offences and Belgium for its fans setting off fireworks and throwing objects. 
 
A fan ran on to the pitch in Portugal&#39;s 0-0 draw with Austria at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday and posed for a selfie with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. 
 
In Marseille, Hungarian fans clashed with stewards in the Stade Velodrome as they tried to climb a fence to join up with another group of Hungarians before the 1-1 draw with Iceland. 
 
Hungary is also accused of allowing its fans to set off fireworks and throwing objects. 
 
The punishment in that case will be announced on Tuesday. 
 
Belgium also faces charges that its supporters threw fireworks and other objects during the 3-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux. 
 
UEFA said it was yet to decide a date for its disciplinary committee to meet on the cases of Belgium and Portugal. 
(AFP)

A fan ran on to the pitch after Portugal's 0-0 draw with Austria in Paris and posed for a selfie with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo

UEFA began disciplinary proceedings today against Portugal, Hungary and Belgium for incidents in their Euro 2016 matches the previous day. Portugal is charged with allowing a pitch invasion, Hungary for allowing crowd disturbances and other offences and Belgium for its fans setting off fireworks and throwing objects. A fan ran on to the pitch in Portugal's 0-0 draw with Austria at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday and posed for a selfie with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. In Marseille, Hungarian fans clashed with stewards in the Stade Velodrome as they tried to climb a fence to join up with another group of Hungarians before the 1-1 draw with Iceland. Hungary is also accused of allowing its fans to set off fireworks and throwing objects. The punishment in that case will be announced on Tuesday. Belgium also faces charges that its supporters threw fireworks and other objects during the 3-0 win against the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux. UEFA said it was yet to decide a date for its disciplinary committee to meet on the cases of Belgium and Portugal. (AFP)

UEFA opens disciplinary probes against Portugal, Hungary and Belgium

Turkish military forces on Saturday opened fire on crowds gathered in Istanbul following a coup attempt, causing casualties, an AFP photographer said.

The soldiers opened fire on grounds around the first bridge across the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, said the photographer, who saw wounded people being taken to ambulances. 
 
(AFP)

There are an unconfirmed number of casualties

Turkish military forces on Saturday opened fire on crowds gathered in Istanbul following a coup attempt, causing casualties, an AFP photographer said. The soldiers opened fire on grounds around the first bridge across the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, said the photographer, who saw wounded people being taken to ambulances. (AFP)

Turkey's military opens fire on crowd following coup attempt

&quot;Unapologetic&quot; singer Rihanna broke down mid concert to the point where she couldn&#39;t continue with her song. 
 
The 28-year-old hitmaker was performing on a stage in Dublin, Ireland as a part of her &quot;Anti World Tour&quot;, reported E! online. 
 
Instagram videos of the concert shows RiRi singing the first few lyrics of her famous hit song with Eminem &quot;Love the Way You Lie&quot; with tears in her eyes. 
 
When the crowd sang the song back to her, she got engulfed in emotion and stepped back with her hand in the air. Later she attempted to continue with the track, but kept getting choked up. 
 
It seemed the singer was just taken aback by all the love she was getting from the crowd. 
 
(PTI)

Singer gets overwhelmed by all the love from the crowd

"Unapologetic" singer Rihanna broke down mid concert to the point where she couldn't continue with her song. The 28-year-old hitmaker was performing on a stage in Dublin, Ireland as a part of her "Anti World Tour", reported E! online. Instagram videos of the concert shows RiRi singing the first few lyrics of her famous hit song with Eminem "Love the Way You Lie" with tears in her eyes. When the crowd sang the song back to her, she got engulfed in emotion and stepped back with her hand in the air. Later she attempted to continue with the track, but kept getting choked up. It seemed the singer was just taken aback by all the love she was getting from the crowd. (PTI)

Rihanna breaks down in tears onstage during Dublin gig

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