While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 7 edition

Blair defends Iraq war after damning inquiry report

Former British prime minister Tony Blair made a passionate defence of the 2003 war in Iraq, after a long-awaited official inquiry condemned it as woefully executed and based on flawed evidence.

His voice cracking with emotion, Blair said he had "more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know or can believe" for some mistakes in the planning of a war that deeply divided Britain.

But, in a two-hour press conference, he stuck resolutely to his defence, as more than 100 anti-war protesters rallied in London, shouting: "Blair lied, thousands died" and "war criminal Tony Blair."

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US sanctions North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for rights abuses

The United States placed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on its sanctions blacklist for the first time, calling him directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses.

US officials said Kim and 10 other top officials also blacklisted were behind widespread abuses including extrajudicial killings, forced labour and torture in the country's system of prison camps for political detainees that has made North Korea "among the world's most repressive countries."

They also were responsible for harsh censorship of media, academic and cultural activities, including imprisoning people accused of viewing foreign films.

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Sacked Fox News host Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment suit

Fox News host and former Miss America Gretchen Carlson filed a suit against the head of the media network's parent company, saying she was fired for rejecting his sexual advances.

The sexual harassment suit filed in New Jersey state court said Roger Ailes, chairman and chief executive officer of 21st Century Fox, terminated Carlson as a retaliatory act.

Carlson, a top Fox personality, had been with the network for more than a decade.

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Wimbledon: Federer stages epic fightback to oust Cilic in five sets

Roger Federer put his global army of "Fed-Head" fans through the wringer for four nerve-shredding sets before he kept alive his pursuit of a record eighth Wimbledon title with a 6-7(4) 4-6 6-3 7-6(9) 6-3 win over Marin Cilic the quarter-finals.

Novak Djokovic's shock third round exit had raised hopes that this could be the week when the Swiss finally ends his four-year hunt for an 18th grand slam title, as the Serb had been the only man to beat him at the majors over the past year.

However, all those expectations appeared to be heading for the dustbin as Cilic stood one point away from victory - not once, not twice but three times in a pulsating fourth set that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

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Euro 2016: Ronaldo, Nani send Portugal into final

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and inadvertently set up the other as Portugal ground out a 2-0 win over Wales to march into the Euro 2016 final.

The Portuguese superstar, who has had to soak up a lot of criticism for a lacklustre tournament by his high standards, majestically powered in a 50th-minute header to put his side in front.

Ronaldo then saw his shot turned in by Nani for a second goal three minutes later, ending Wales' remarkable run at their first major finals since 1958.

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