Archive August 1, 2025

US special envoy visits Gaza aid sites as famine deaths mount

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In response to growing international outcry over the continuation of the Strip’s famine, US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has visited aid distribution centers in Gaza. Since May, more than 1, 000 deaths have been linked to the aid facilities, which are operated by the controversial US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Witzoff claimed that his visit will aid in the development of President Donald Trump’s “plan to distribute food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.”

Ineos carer facing doping probe worked at Man Utd

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The Ineos Grenadiers employee who left last year worked for Manchester United after being asked to speak with the International Testing Agency (ITA) about allegations of doping during the 2012 campaign.

After being contacted in April, the cycling team confirmed that David Rozman had been asked to interview by the ITA, and that he “stepped down” from Tour duties last month.

One of Ineos’ soigneurs is the Slovenian, who provides a range of services from logistics to massages.

After Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner of the club, it has now emerged that Rozman and United’s soft tissue therapists had collaborated on a “knowledge exchange” in 2024.

According to insiders, United claimed to have no knowledge of the recently published historical allegations and that they had no involvement in them.

The team went on to win six of the following seven Tour de Frances under the name Ineos Grenadiers, who was then known as Team Sky. Bradley Wiggins won the race in 2012, taking the title of the winning team.

A member of ITA staff in April 2025 contacted Rozman informally, claiming that it then requested a review by an external law firm, in order to contact him about alleged historical communications.

The team took the allegations seriously while acknowledging that David has a long-standing, dedicated team member, according to a statement released at the time.

The team has formally requested any pertinent information from the ITA and continues to assess the circumstances and any pertinent developments. No relevant authority has provided any evidence to date, so the team has received no evidence.

“Both David and the team will of course work with the ITA and any other authority,” the team said.

According to a report from the Irish Independent in July, Rozman and German doping convicted felon Mark Schmidt exchanged messages in 2012.

Ineos and Schmidt were linked in part to a documentary produced by the German TV company ARD, which did not identify the staff member.

After being found guilty of providing illegal blood transfusions to athletes in cycling and a number of other sports as part of Operation Aderlass, Schmidt was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison in 2021.

The ITA stated in a statement to BBC Sport that its investigations are “conducted confidentially” and that results “may only be shared if and when one or more anti-doping rule violations are discovered.”

Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ director of sport, resigned from his position with Manchester United in June despite having previously played a significant role in the organization’s football operations.

After Ratcliffe bought his stake in United, Brailsford resigned as the Ineos Grenadiers team principal. He has since played a significant role in the cycling team and participated in the Tour de France this year.

The 61-year-old became a force behind the “marginal gains” theory and oversaw a long run of success at British Cycling and Team Sky.

However, there have been a lot of controversy in his career.

Former British Cycling and Team Sky chief medical officer Dr. Richard Freeman was given a four-year suspension from all competitions in August 2023 after breaking anti-doping regulations.

A mystery “jiffy bag” by Freeman that had been ordered to Wiggins before a 2011 race, was allegedly the source of the banned anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone, and Brailsford made an appearance before a parliamentary committee in 2018 to answer questions about its contents.

Following Wiggins’ revelation that he had received triamcinolone for treating asthma and allergies shortly before three of the three major races, Wiggins was given therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs).

A parliamentary committee ultimately found it impossible to determine what was inside the jiffy bag despite Freeman and Brailsford’s contention that the bag had legal flu medication inside it.

In a final report from 2018, the MPs accused Team Sky of “crossing an ethical line” with its more general use of TUEs.

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  • Manchester United
  • Cycling
  • Football

Osaka impresses to beat Ostapenko in Montreal

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Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, defeated 22-seed Jelena Ostapenko to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open.

The Latvian defeated the unseeded 27-year-old 6-2, 6-4, and could face third-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the final 16.

On Friday, Japan’s Osaka, who has triumphed twice at the US and Australian Opens, will face Pegula or a second successive Latvian in Anastasija Sevastova.

However, Osaka impressed by winning the first set within 30 minutes before increasing its lead to 3-1 in the third.

When Ostapenko hit a forehand and finished the match at 5-3, she again gave up a 4-2 lead.

However, when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline, her 28-year-old opponent broke back and saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner.

However, Ostapenko’s love was rekindled in the final game when the Latvian netted a backhand to bring an end to the match that lasted an hour and a half.

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  • Tennis

Sharon Osbourne’s furious X Factor outburst at ‘pensioner’ who slammed Ozzy

Sharon Osbourne once revealed that while appearing on The X Factor, she hilariously yelled a pen at a pensioner who had abused her husband Ozzy.

Sharon Osbourne once declared war on a “pensioner” who made the decision to have a go at her late husband, Ozzy. Sharon, 72, has never been one to mince her words and during an interview about her return to The X Factor, the music manager opened up about the interaction with the man who bravely attempted to say negative things about her husband Ozzy.

Sharon abruptly left the showbiz industry in 2013 when she made a shock return to the talent show six years later. However, she never held back when talking about a contestant in the typical Mrs. O way.

Speaking on Alan Carr’s Chatty Man about the incident, the fiery redhead exclaimed: “I did too!” when asked if it was true she’d launched a pen at the contestant. “And it should have been a knife, really!” she went on to add. It comes after Sharon Osbourne breaks down in tears at Ozzy’s funeral in heartbreaking scenes.

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Sharon recalled the moment she hurled a pen at a pensioner (Image: CHANNEL 4)

When asked why she had launched the pen, Sharon responded, “This old bloke comes in and starts slagging my old man, so I’m like, here, what can I throw at you? ” I then yelled “You can f**k off,” and I threw a pen at him. You little f***er”!

But she reacted furiously when Alan inquired why someone would disrespect Ozzy in front of Sharon, saying, “They know what they’re going to get.” He must be! I’m almost pension age, so f**k him!”

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The clip, which has since been reappeared on TikTok, has received 58, 000 views and was filled with comments, with many people laughing at Sharon’s quick wit. “Sharon Osbourne,” What a woman, one said.

Sharon is known for not mincing her words
Sharon is known for not mincing her words(Image: CHANNEL 4)

A second went on to write: “Absolute brilliance, love Sharon.” “I want their marriage when I’m older and I won’t settle for less,” said another. The resurfacing of the clip comes just hours after Sharon sadly buried Ozzy. In keeping with the rockstar’s wishes, he was buried in the grounds of his sprawling family home, where he shared many happy memories with Sharon, and where he spent his final weeks.

The funeral followed an emotionally-charged day in Birmingham, that saw the Prince of Darkness made one final trip through his home city. Thousands of fans lined the streets to pay their respects and say goodbye as a procession led by Ozzy’s hearse travelled from the Aston Villa football ground through the city centre.

In moving scenes, the procession stopped outside the Black Sabbath bridge, where the frontman’s wife and children stepped out of their cars to lay down roses wrapped in black paper among the sea of tributes left by fans.

Sharon has been left heartbroken following the death of her husband, Ozzy
Sharon has been left heartbroken following the death of her husband, Ozzy(Image: PA)

Sharon, Ozzy’s widow, witnessed the outpouring of love for her husband for the first time since his passing. Children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee comforted Sharon as she shed tears. For the family moment, Sharon and Ozzy’s children were also nearby.

Ozzy’s family announced last week that he had passed away at the age of 76, just days after he performed at his final Back to the Beginning concert in his beloved hometown of Birmingham. Kelly and Sharon Osbourne’s families announced in a statement that “we have to announce the passing of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne this morning.

He was surrounded by love and his family. At this time, we ask that everyone respects our family’s privacy. “Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis.

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England hurt by late drops in decisive final Test

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The Kia Oval, Day Two of the Fifth Rothesay Test, is scheduled for today (day 2).

India 224 (Nair 57, Atkinson 5-33, Tongue 3-57) &amp, 75-2 (Jaiswal 51*)

England 247 (Crawley 64, Brook 53, Duckett 43, Krishna 4-62, Siraj 4-86)

India leads by 52 runs.

Late in the second day of the crucial final Test, England let go of crucial catch and gave India the lead at The Oval.

Sai Sudharsan let off once before falling to Gus Atkinson, and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal put down twice in his 51 not out. The tourists, who led by 52, eventually closed out a chaotic day with a 75-2 lead.

The ball whirled throughout. India lost all nine of their first innings wickets for 155 runs when England were dismissed for 247 after being bowled out for 224 in the opening six overs of the morning.

An extraordinary opening score of 92 between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett was incredibly valuable for the home side in such favorable circumstances for the bowlers given the home side’s lack of experience.

With his 43, Duckett reverse-swept Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj for six, which was sensational. In his 64, Crawley hammered 14 fours.

In what has been a tetchy series, Duckett’s dismissal, in an attempt to reverse at Deep, led to India’s resurgence and sparked more verbal exchanges between the two teams.

As Duckett left, Deep sat duck in his arms. Later exchanges between Prasidh Krishna and Joe Root were anything but amiable if that appeared pleasant. Root was furious, which is typically unflappable.

Krishna’s 4-62 and Mohammed Siraj’s 4-62 were outstanding. England slipped to a 23-point lead thanks to Harry Brook’s 53.

England’s second consecutive defeat was quickly achieved by that advantage. The hosts could not recover from a series victory despite being ruthless in the morning, led by Atkinson’s 5-33.

England had to win the series after a bitter defeat.

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In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, India’s backguard denied England a series victory. To avoid a 2-2 draw at The Oval, they now need to put in a lot of effort on Saturday.

They were probably too far away, in fact. The Duckett-Crawley partnership stifled India, threatening to completely derail tourists. Though Duckett’s decision to dismiss him is up for debate, it was only appropriate for the remainder of a splendid innings.

India deserves a lot of praise for their bravery. Siraj, Deep, and Krishna have already out-bowled England, but they left themselves a seamer short of their choice.

Siraj stepped up to lead the attack, as he does when Jasprit Bumrah isn’t on the team. Ollie Pope, Root, and Jacob Bethell all had a game-changing contribution to the afternoon thanks to an unwavering eight-over spell that lasted for the entire afternoon.

On Thursday, England picked up wickets despite being poor with the ball. On Friday, their bowlers improved but the fielders did not.

England lives and dies in a sword-wielding society.

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England is more likely to attack if the playing conditions are worse. The Duckett-Crawley stand was the most extreme period of Bazballing this summer, which is why the aggressive intent also led to problems for England.

The rest of the day appeared to play a different game than the opening partnership. Duke danced down the pitch while playing the offensive shots over his shoulder. With strong drives, Crawley took the lead.

Duckett’s unsuccessful attempt at Deep opened the door to India, but it was one too many. Before the bowler’s altercation with Root caused the umpires to intervene, Krishna miscued Crawley and forced the bowler to pull.

Krishna made quick work of the lower-order as Siraj ran through the middle-order, including Bethell, who was six for six in his first Test match at home. The tame dismissals of Jamie Smith’s lazy ploy, Jamie Overton’s four-ball duck, and Atkinson’s miscue midway were all dismissed.

England needed Brook to keep them together, even as they rang in a frantic start. He slashed and swarmed his first 19 balls, which he had to score 9, before half-a-century from 57. Brook had a fantastic six-point sweep when Tongue arrived.

Fielders leave late

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Even if England were limited bursts at the beginning and end of the day, it was far from ideal for them to be a man down and have to bowl twice on Friday.

England took the field in white headbands as The Oval honored former England batter Graham Thorpe’s life when India resumed their first innings, winning by 204-6. The ball was then delivered by Surrey’s Atkinson, who was also Thorpe’s opponent.

Tongue produced a vicious in-swinger for 57 pounds, which was just as erratic as he was on day one. For his fourth Test century century with five wickets, Atkinson bounced out of Washington Sundar, bowled Siraj, and caught Krishna behind. In 18 deliveries, the last four wickets were lost.

Left-hander Jaiswal was atypical aggressive in India’s second innings when faced with the deficit. His first chance, on 20, was difficult because Brook’s bowling partner, Atkinson, had a high edge at second slip. Dawson lost track of the ball when Dawson hit the long leg off Tongue on 40, which was supposed to have been swallowed.

When third slip Crawley missed Sudharsan’s sharp edge off Overton, England was dwindling toward chaos, but Atkinson responded with a shooter that gave him a leg-before-decided result. As he left, Sudharsan appeared to have spoken to the England players.

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related subjects

  • England Men’s Cricket Team
  • India
  • Cricket