
-
Israel targets Hezbollah in south Lebanon as US envoy visits
-
Bumrah 'available' for Mumbai's IPL clash with Bengaluru
-
Bordeaux book Champions Cup quarter-final with victory over Ulster
-
Israel's Netanyahu ends Hungary visit, heads to US
-
Fiji and New Zealand seal sevens wins in Singapore
-
Le Pen invokes Martin Luther King ahead of far-right Paris rally
-
Zelensky says attacks 'increasing' as 2 killed in missile and drone attacks
-
Vietnam seeks US tariff delay as economic growth slows in first quarter
-
Recovering Pope surprises crowd at Vatican square
-
UK readies to protect industry as US tariffs upend global order: Starmer
-
Tsunoda has 'mixed feelings' after 12th-place Red Bull debut
-
France's far-right, leftwingers rally supporters after Le Pen conviction
-
Hamilton says Ferrari still off the pace in Japan
-
Vietnam economic growth slows in first quarter as US tariffs loom
-
Record-breaker Antonelli aims higher after hitting front in Japan
-
Chennai brush aside talk of Dhoni's IPL retirement
-
Foreigners run in N.Korea's first Pyongyang Marathon for six years
-
Verstappen to 'keep grinding' after Japan win closes gap to Norris
-
Missile strike on Kyiv kills one amid 'massive' attack
-
UK readies to protect industry as US tariffs upend old order: Starmer
-
Research on multiple sclerosis wins 'Oscars of science'
-
Artist of 'distorted' portrait says Trump complaint harming business
-
India's Modi praises close Sri Lanka ties at holy tree
-
Verstappen wins Japanese GP to close championship gap on Norris
-
Red Bull's Verstappen wins Japanese GP from Norris
-
US storms, 'severe' flooding death toll climbs to 16
-
Rain complicates recovery in quake-hit Myanmar as death toll rises
-
Explosions as Ukraine capital under missile attack
-
The scientist rewriting DNA, and the future of medicine
-
'Anxious': US farmers see tariffs threaten earnings
-
Nostalgia fuels UK boom in vintage video game repairs
-
Snappy birthday: Germany's Leica camera turns 100
-
Bucks clinch playoff berth as West battle tightens
-
Czech beer culture eyes UNESCO listing as pubs take hit
-
Explosions as Kyiv under missile attack, says mayor
-
Weary Boutier still alive in LPGA Match Play after 45-hole day
-
Artificial glaciers boost water supply in northern Pakistan
-
Brooksby upsets Paul to reach Houston final
-
Thomas, Bednarek hit jackpot at Grand Slam Track meet
-
Rodman on target as USA beat Brazil in Olympic rematch
-
'Hands Off!' Anti-Trump Americans flood Washington
-
Harman leads by three at Texas Open
-
Barcelona draw to increase Liga lead after Real Madrid stumble
-
Ecuador mounts anti-drug op overseen by Blackwater founder
-
Pegula rallies to reach Charleston final
-
Nick Rockett flies to victory in magical Mullins Grand National
-
Ovechkin on the brink of the 'impossible'
-
Anthony, Bird to enter basketball Hall of Fame
-
'Phenomenal' Munster edge O'Gara's La Rochelle to reach Champions Cup quarters
-
Munster edge O'Gara's La Rochelle to reach Champions Cup quarters
RBGPF | 100% | 69.02 | $ | |
RELX | -6.81% | 48.16 | $ | |
NGG | -5.25% | 65.93 | $ | |
RYCEF | -18.79% | 8.25 | $ | |
GSK | -6.79% | 36.53 | $ | |
AZN | -7.98% | 68.46 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.13% | 22.29 | $ | |
BTI | -5.17% | 39.86 | $ | |
RIO | -6.88% | 54.67 | $ | |
BP | -10.43% | 28.38 | $ | |
JRI | -7.19% | 11.96 | $ | |
SCS | -0.56% | 10.68 | $ | |
BCE | 0.22% | 22.71 | $ | |
BCC | 0.85% | 95.44 | $ | |
VOD | -10.24% | 8.5 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.7% | 22.83 | $ |

Covid was 'a disaster' for badminton, says federation chief
Badminton is finally emerging from a pandemic that was "threatening the sport", world federation chief Thomas Lund told AFP, but China's zero-Covid policy means it may face further damaging disruption.
Badminton World Federation secretary general Lund said the coronavirus pandemic made 2020 and 2021 "a disaster" for the game, forcing tournament cancellations worldwide and slashing finances to the bone.
The situation is gradually returning to normal and in June the BWF announced an expanded calendar for the next four years that adds four more tournaments to the world tour.
But Lund also warned that three events scheduled for the end of this year in China, as well as one each in Hong Kong and Macau, could be moved if Covid restrictions make them unworkable.
China is traditionally the pre-eminent force in badminton and a vast, lucrative market crucial to the sport.
But most international sports in China has been cancelled in recent years because of the country's strict zero-Covid strategy.
"No doubt about it, that's under heavy review at the moment," the Dane said on the sidelines of the world championships in Tokyo of shifting the China events once again.
"Once we get a clear view whether it can happen or not, we may have to find a different destination for some of those tournaments."
Lund said badminton will not turn its back on China because of Covid and wants the sport to "start growing there again".
The Dane said surviving the pandemic has been "the focus" for badminton but he is now looking towards a brighter future with more events on next year's calendar.
The 31-tournament world tour will include new stops in Japan, Germany, Canada and Finland, and Lund says the sport is expanding beyond its traditional Asian heartland.
"It's on the rise because it's not only the same countries coming in and bidding for extra tournaments here and there," said the 54-year-old, who twice represented Denmark in men's doubles at the Olympics.
"Growth is not only having 10 tournaments in our normal key countries, it's also about expanding the global footprint."
- 'Creating legends' -
The addition of extra tournaments has fuelled accusations that players are being pushed too hard and risking injuries.
Lund believes players and coaches need to "learn how to play the calendar" by picking and choosing events, and says badminton wants to be "a sport creating legends" such as fellow Dane and world number one Viktor Axelsen.
Lund says it is also important to look after those further down the pecking order, citing the support for Ukrainian players since Russia's invasion of their country.
In line with other sports, Russian players were subsequently banned from all international badminton tournaments and Lund says that is not about to change.
"I don't think anybody can disagree that this war wasn't started by Russian badminton players," he said.
"That's not what we're claiming at all, but we are following the advice that we've discussed with our sports colleagues around the world."
Lund says the BWF is also in the process of creating a new policy on transgender athletes that has a "more solid profile" than the federation's current stance.
At present, national associations can deny entry to players who they deem to have gained an advantage after changing gender but Lund says it is a "complex question".
He also says badminton "offers inclusivity" for LGBTQ players, despite the small number of openly gay athletes at its top level.
But he says the BWF is "not here to solve every issue on this globe" and will "choose our areas where we can help and contribute the best way possible".
"I'm not sure anything is too big or too small but I also have to say that we've just gone through two years of Covid," he said.
"That was threatening the sport, the livelihoods of our players, our financial solidity. Frankly, that has been the focus."
M.Ouellet--BTB