Washington: US Vice President Kamala Harris has called for a significant increase in aid to Gaza and urged Israel to open new border crossings without imposing unnecessary restrictions. She expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing reports of malnutrition, lack of medical care, and deaths among children. Harris emphasized the need for Israel to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel and aid convoys and criticized Hamas for its actions, stating that the group’s threat to Israel must be eliminated. She also urged Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and reunite hostages with their families while providing immediate relief to the people of Gaza.
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Rahane joins Amsterdam Flames as marquee player for inaugural ETPL
Amsterdam, Aug 7 (IANS) Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has signed with the Amsterdam Flames as the franchise’s marquee player for the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), set to begin on August 26.
On July 30, Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket and all formats. Rahane represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India, while his final international appearance came against the West Indies in a two-game Test series in July 2023.
“Cricket has given me so much, and I’ve always believed that players have a responsibility to leave the game stronger than they found it. Europe is entering an exciting phase and has the potential to become one of cricket’s most promising frontiers.
“What impressed me about Amsterdam Flames is the ambition to build something meaningful that creates a lasting impact both on and off the field. I’m excited to work alongside the management to build a successful franchise while helping inspire the next generation and strengthen cricket’s future across Europe,” Rahane said in a statement issued by the tournament on Friday.
Rahane is currently in England as a commentator for the Hundred. Steve Waugh, the former Australia captain who’s the co-founder and Chief Cricket Officer of Amsterdam Flames, welcomed Rahane into the set-up. “Ajinkya Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer – skill, resilience, humility and leadership.
“Throughout his career he has earned enormous respect across the cricket world, not only for his performances but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the field. I’ve seen first-hand the composure and leadership he brings under pressure, and those qualities help shape winning cultures. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe’s premier cricket clubs.”
In the IPL, Rahane played 212 games for six teams and amassed 5367 in the tournament, including captaining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2025 and 2026 seasons and being a tournament winner with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2023.
Abhishek Bachchan, Co-owner of the ETPL, highlighted the significance of Rahane’s signing for the upcoming league. “Ajinkya Rahane joining Steve Waugh’s Amsterdam Flames is a significant moment for both the franchise and the ETPL and another important milestone in our vision to accelerate the growth of cricket across Europe.
“Players of Ajinkya’s calibre not only raise the standard of the competition but also inspire and mentor the next generation of European cricketers. We are delighted to welcome him to the ETPL family.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Tim Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Amsterdam Flames, termed Rahane’s recruitment as a landmark event for the club. “Signing a player of Ajinkya Rahane’s calibre is a defining moment for Amsterdam Flames. This is about much more than adding an outstanding cricketer, it is about establishing the standards, culture and ambition that will define our club for years to come.
“Ajinkya’s professionalism, experience and leadership perfectly align with our vision of building a franchise that competes at the highest level while making a lasting contribution to the growth of cricket across Europe,” he said.
–IANS
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World Boxing Cup: Minakshi and Pooja Rani secure medals for India in Astana
Astana, July 2 (IANS) India’s boxing contingent continued its impressive run at the World Boxing Cup – Astana 2025, with Minakshi (48kg) and Pooja Rani (80kg) delivering assured performances to guarantee the country two medals on Day 3 of the competition.
Minakshi was the first to make her mark, producing a dominant display against Guo Yi-Xuan of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. The Indian pugilist showcased sharp footwork, precision punching, and superb ring awareness to seal a comprehensive 5:0 unanimous decision win.
Her ability to dictate the pace of the bout and score cleanly from range left the judges in no doubt, as she booked her place in the semifinals and ensured herself at least a bronze.
Pooja Rani, one of India’s most experienced boxers, followed suit in the 80kg category with a gritty performance against local favourite Gulsaya Yerzhan of Kazakhstan. In a fiercely contested quarterfinal, Pooja mixed aggression with control to edge out her opponent via a 4:1 split decision.
The bout saw Pooja absorb pressure in the early rounds before landing decisive blows in the latter stages to sway the judges in her favour. With this victory, she too secured a podium finish and will look to convert it into gold as she advances to the semifinals.
Earlier in the day, Anamika (51kg) added to India’s positive momentum by advancing to the quarterfinals. She outboxed Turkey’s Aysen Taskin with a composed and tactical performance, keeping the Indian hopes alive in another weight division.
On the men’s side, Jadumani Singh fought valiantly in a close encounter against Jay Bryan Baricuatro of the Philippines. Despite a spirited effort, Jadumani fell short by the narrowest of margins and exited the tournament after a hard-fought contest.
–IANS
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FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun defeats Aronian with black to reach quarters; Harikrishna to play tiebreak
Panaji, Nov 15 (IANS) GM Arjun Erigaisi rejected a draw offer from GM Levon Aronian before tightening the noose on his experienced opponent to win with black pieces to advance to the quarterfinals, while P Harikrishna will now have to go through a tiebreak in the FIDE World Cup 2025 here on Saturday.
Having drawn the opening game of Round 5 with white, Arjun Erigaisi, who drew the first game in this round, pinned Aronian’s king in the h1 corner and forced the two-time World Cup winner to resign after the 38th move as he launched a triple attack with a queen, bishop, and knight.
“It was a tense middle game. I was not able to understand if I was better. But after he played knight e3 and offered a draw, I was confident that I could win because he was happy with a draw,” said Arjun, who is one of the two top-10 seeded players left in the competition.
Arjun will now play the winner of the match between GM Wei Yi of China and GM Samuel Sevian of the USA.
Also advancing to the next round was GM Wei Yi from China, defeating GM Samuel Sevian of the USA in 73 moves, Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev defeating GM Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia with white pieces in 35 moves, and GM Sindarov Javokhir of Uzbekistan, who defeated GM Svane Frederik of Germany in 47 moves, while three matches, including that of Harikrishna, head to the tiebreak.
Playing white, Harikrishna tried his best to make inroads, but GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara was solid in his defence, and with no possibility of any other results, both the players opted for a draw after 35 moves. The first game between Harikrishna and Alcantara had also ended in a draw, leaving the two Grandmasters to settle things in games with shorter time control, starting with rapid games.
Indian results (Round 5, Game 2):
GM Levon Aronian lost to GM Arjun Erigaisi (0.5:1.5 aggregate)
GM P Harikrishna drew with GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (1:1 aggregate).
–IANS
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