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One of the greatest batters of modern era, AB de Villiers has revealed that he was snubbed by erstwhile Delhi Daredevils after spending three seasons at the IPL franchise. Before making it big at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the South African batting legend had three lukewarm season with the Delhi franchise, now known as Delhi Capitals. But in a team meeting, also attended by explosive Australian opener David Warner, de Villiers was told that he was going to be "retained" but it happened otherwise as the franchise released him before the 2011 auction.

Recalling the incident in his YouTube channel, 'AB de Villiers 360', the former South African skipper said: "When I played in the 2010 season, I got called into the office and was told ‘you are going to get retained, young AB de Villiers'." "I sat alongside David Warner in that meeting. It came as a huge surprise to me a week or two later when I realised I had been released.

"So the communication wasn't great back in the day, that must be different these days but it's not a nice feeling," De Villiers added.

The 39-year-old said it was a huge blow and he was very nervous before the auction.

"You're unsure of your career, at that time in 2010 I think I only played five games in that IPL season so a lot of doubts crept up in my mind.

"But I did have a very good international season. I kept playing good cricket and luckily for me the auction happened and I got picked up by RCB, and it changed my life forever, so great memories with regards to that.

"I was so nervous. Then I got the news from Twitter that I was picked by RCB and the next moment Virat (Kohli) called." De Villiers went on to mesmerise the Indian fans with his stroke-making and formed a dream combination with star batter Kohli at the top of the order for 11 seasons.

De Villiers said the released players should not feel disappointed as it's not the "end of the road".

"For all the released players, it's not the end of the road, keep a close eye on the auction. But if you're not picked up, it gives an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and work even harder," he added.

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Shreyas Iyer brings a huge reputation as a T20 batter and is poised to make a big impact in the remaining two games of the five-match series, said young India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi on Friday. Designated vice-captain Iyer will be back in action after being rested for the first three matches as India will have another shot to seal the series from being 2-1 up. "It will make a big impact in our batting lineup," Bishnoi told reporters during the pre-match press conference.

Shreyas amassed 530 runs in 11 matches of the recent ODI World Cup.

"He brings a lot of reputation in T20 cricket and has been in good form in the World Cup. As a senior player his experience will also help us." The 23-year-old legspinner has been the pick of the bowlers in the series, having grabbed 6 wickets at 19.66.

Bishnoi credited this to his skipper Suryakumar Yadav for giving the bowlers a "free hand".

"As a captain, Surya bhai gives you a free hand, he gives you all the right to place the fielders, the length that you want to bowl but you have to deliver in your execution," said Bishnoi.

"He has been doing great captaincy in last 2-3 matches." Bishnoi made his India debut against the West Indies in a T20 game in February last year and has featured in 19 T20Is so far, snapping 31 wickets.

With a number of senior players rested, Indian team features a lot of youngsters and Bishnoi said it is important to grab the opportunity and make a mark.

"It is a great opportunity for young players from both the teams because such opportunities come rare when senior players are rested. We have a great chance to win the series," he said.

"We have a lot of young players so we will look to execute the plans, the focus will be on execution." Heavy dew has proved to be a factor in the last few games with bowlers finding it difficult to grip the ball.

India failed to defend 43 runs in the last two overs in the third T20I as Glenn Maxwell took the bowlers to the cleaners to steer Australia to a five-wicket win in Guwahati.

"We try to practice with wet bowls. I have done well in the last two matches despite the dewy conditions. I try not to give loose deliveries. If a batsman goes for a shot then it's okay, but if I bowl loose balls, that is not acceptable to me," he said.

"I am happy with my bowling and I will try and win the series for India." The Rajasthan-born spinner, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, has featured in four seasons of IPL, taking 53 wickets at an average of 27.26, playing for Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

"I learnt a lot. International cricket is the ultimate aim for everyone and it was my dream too. The atmosphere is different. In IPL, players get divided in franchises," he said.

"Other players from different countries are also part of the team but here you play for the country so there are a lot of expectations."

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Dominica will be unable to meet the deadline for completing the construction work of their stadiums and the government on Thursday announced its decision to withdraw from hosting their allotted matches of the T20 World Cup next year. Windsor Park was shortlisted to host one group match and two Super Eight games as Dominica was one of seven countries in the Caribbean shortlisted to host the T20 World Cup.

The T20 showpiece is being co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 4-30 next year. "Several tangible actions were taken both at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium and at the Benjamin's Park including the commencement of upgrading and enhancement of the practice and match venues, various assessments and the creation of additional pitches where necessary," a statement from the Dominica government's read.

"However, the implementation timelines submitted by the various contractors revealed that it would not be possible to complete these works within the stipulated timeframe before the commencement of the tournament. As a result, a decision was taken not to host any of the matches in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 as it would not be prudent for the Government of Dominica to commit to hosting these games.

"In light of Dominica's sterling reputation in hosting international cricket, this decision is considered to be in the best interest of all. The Government of Dominica thanks Cricket West Indies (CWI) for its partnership over the years and looks forward to continued collaboration in the future. The Government of Dominica extends best wishes to the organisers for a successful tournament in June 2024." The ICC is yet to respond to the development.

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Brazil Set To Join OPEC From Next Year

Major producer Brazil will join OPEC+ from next year, the oil cartel announced on Thursday.

Brazil is among the world's top 10 producers and has been the largest oil producer in Latin America since 2016.

Its crude production hit a record 3.7 million barrels per day in September, a near 17 percent increase from the same month last year and a 6.1 percent hike from August, according to pricing agency Argus Media.

Ministers of the 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headed by Saudi Arabia and its 10 partners led by Russia were meeting to discuss further output cuts to boost prices.

"The meeting welcomed Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which will join the OPEC+... starting January 2024," OPEC said in a press release.

OPEC+ was born in late 2016 when Russia and nine others joined forces with the Saudi-led OPEC to prop up falling prices.

"Considering that Brazil is a large oil producer and is driving oil production growth it is important to have them on board, but it seems that they are not cutting production like Mexico, so would conclude with: good for OPEC+, less relevant for oil market balances," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The 23-member OPEC+ is a motley crew of countries: Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals, South Sudan and Libya have been wracked by civil wars and others such as Venezuela are mired in economic crises.

The cartel faced its biggest crisis in 2020 as countries locked down due to the Covid pandemic, sending oil demand plunging.

The group agreed in April 2020 to slash output by 9.7 million barrels per day in order to boost sagging prices.

It began to raise production again in 2021 as the market improved.

In the most recent meetings amid plunging prices, OPEC+ members have announced voluntary cuts to boost prices.

Since the end of 2022, the alliance has implemented supply cuts of about five million barrels per day (bpd) with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

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In A First, Newborn Star's Spinning Disk Seen In Another Galaxy

Our sun and other stars form when a dense clump of interstellar gas and dust collapses under its own gravitational pull. Once a star is born at the centre of such a cloud, leftover material forms a swirling disk around it that feeds stellar growth and often gives rise to planets.

Newborn stars with these circumstellar disks had been observed by astronomers only in our Milky Way galaxy - until now. Researchers said on Wednesday they have spotted such a disk around a star larger and more luminous than the sun residing in one of our nearest neighbouring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The star, growing and accreting material from the surrounding disk, is about 10 to 20 times more massive than the sun and perhaps 10,000 times more luminous.

As material is drawn by gravity toward a forming star, it flattens into a spinning disk. The newly observed disk has a diameter of about 12,000 times the distance of the Earth to the sun, or roughly 10 times larger than the one that encircled the sun when it formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

The star, which also is unleashing a large jet of material into space, is around 160,000 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

"This is very exciting," said astronomer Anna McLeod of Durham University in England, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

"While we know of many stars like this one being formed in the Large Magellanic Cloud and other galaxies, we have never before observed a circumstellar accretions disk outside of the Milky Way, mainly due to lacking technology. Observing these disks in other galaxies is very important because it tells us about how stars form in environments different from that of the Milky Way," McLeod added.

The detection was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert. Until now, circumstellar disks had been detected only within about 6,500 light years of Earth.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is considered a satellite galaxy of the sprawling Milky Way, as is another galaxy called the Small Magellanic Cloud. Both are smaller than our galaxy and offer different galactic conditions. The Large Magellanic Cloud has less dust than the Milky Way and a smaller content of what astronomers call metallic elements - those other than hydrogen and helium.

The researchers enjoyed an unobstructed view of the star.

"The star is visible at optical wavelengths, whereas all of the known stars in the Milky Way that are like this one - in terms of stellar mass and having an accretion disk - are hidden from optical telescopes because they are still very enshrouded by the gas and dust they are forming from," McLeod said.

"We suggest that the star being visible in the optical is due to the different properties of the galactic environment the star is in when compared to the Milky Way."

Massive stars form more rapidly and have shorter lives than less massive stars like the sun.

"The formation of high-mass stars has been puzzling astronomers for decades, and so building a picture of how this happens under different physical conditions is both an important step and super exciting," said astronomer and study co-author Jonathan Henshaw of Liverpool John Moores University.

The disk appears to be quite stable, not fragmenting as could happen with such structures.

"We do not know if the disk will ever form planets, but it is unlikely given that these would have to form in the hostile environment of a star with strong radiation," McLeod said.

McLeod expressed hope for detecting other circumstellar disks in the Large Magellanic Cloud and perhaps the further Small Magellanic Cloud.

"With each one, we will be able to learn more about star formation in different galaxies and conditions," McLeod said.

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Myanmar Military Junta Faces Biggest Threat To Its Power Since Coup: Report

The ruling Junta in Myanmar has been losing vital military locations and border towns to well-armed ethnic militias that have collaborated with resistance forces to launch massive new offensives in recent weeks, CNN reported. This is a development that has not been seen in decades when it comes to Junta in Myanmar.

"The junta is actively collapsing right now and that's only become possible because there is this wider effort across the country," an independent Myanmar analyst, Matthew Arnold said, according to CNN.

Arnold described the situation as a "military existential moment" and stated that the opposition is "now focused on taking major towns to fundamentally defeat the junta."

It appears well-armed ethnic militias are attempting to overthrow the military government that has controlled the country since a 2021 coup ousted the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD).

For decades, there has been a civil war raging in Myanmar between the ethnic armies and the various military regimes.

However, the nation's opposition to army leader Min Aung Hlaing's February 2021 coup, which toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government, is what led to the most recent uptick in hostilities.

In Myanmar's rural and urban centres, people took up guns to protect their towns and villages when the military used force against peaceful protestors following the coup, and documented crimes against civilians further incited anger.

Ever since, daily skirmishes have broken out between the military and resistance organisations supporting the National Unity Government in exile, which opposed the junta.

Though it hasn't yet reached large towns like Mandalay, Naypyidaw, or Yangon, the most recent conflict escalation after October 27 is a turning point in that resistance.

The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that since the coup, armed conflicts have reached their largest and most widespread levels to date.

Up to now, hundreds of civilians, including children, have died as a result of Junta bombings and ground assaults on locations that the Myanmar military designates as "terrorists," and almost two million people have been displaced, CNN reported.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance, comprising the Arakan Army (AA), Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and allied peoples defence forces, announced its October offensive and said it was "dedicated to eradicating the oppressive military dictatorship."

Additionally, the alliance pledged to fight "the widespread online gambling fraud that has plagued Myanmar, particularly along the border between China and Myanmar."

According to CNN, Chinese-run compounds have proliferated in several of the villages dotting the boundaries between China and Thailand in recent years. They are said to be hubs for widespread internet fraud and illicit gambling, run by junta militias, and they have ensnared and trafficked thousands of individuals to become online scammers.

In November, Myanmar's military government lost control of Chinshwehaw, an important town on the border with China, following days of fighting with armed groups. In a significant setback for the military leaders who seized power from Myanmar's elected government in February 2021, they have struggled to quell opposition to their rule.

Chinshwehaw, a town bordering China's Yunnan province, holds vital importance in facilitating trade between Myanmar and China. State media reported that more than 25 percent of Myanmar's USD 1.8 billion border trade with China passed through Chinshwehaw from April to September, citing the Ministry of Commerce.

This development was followed by days of conflict in Myanmar's northern Shan state, where the army has been engaged in battles with a coalition of three ethnic rebel groups known as the Brotherhood Alliance, Al Jazeera reported.

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the displacement of thousands of individuals due to the ongoing conflict, with some seeking refuge across the border in China. In response, the UN has issued a call for an immediate ceasefire.

Following the military's takeover, Myanmar descended into a state of crisis, as the generals responded to widespread protests against their power grab with severe measures. In response, opposition groups aligned themselves with fighters from well-established ethnic armed organizations in an effort to restore civilian rule, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Ethnic groups in Myanmar's jungles and mountains have endured years of struggle, during which they have observed and experienced crimes such as killings, rape and other sexual abuse, torture, forced labour, and forced relocation by the military forces, in addition to state-sanctioned discrimination.

A 10-year phase of transition that momentarily brought in more extensive democratic and economic changes was abruptly terminated by a coup. However, the military continued to have a significant impact, according to CNN.

According to some analysts, Myanmar is now more likely than ever to succeed in overthrowing the regime.

"The important thing to be clear about is that a genocidal military can be defeated outright... That there's not a need to have another 10 years of a so-called transition that is fundamentally premised or corrupted by the idea that you have to negotiate and accommodate a genocidal military," said Arnold.

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Justin Trudeau Greets Sikhs On Guru Nanak Dev's Birth Anniversary

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday greeted Sikhs in Canada and around the world on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary, saying his teachings of equality, and the values of unity, selflessness, and compassion can serve as an inspiration for all Canadians to build a better future for all.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my warmest wishes to everyone celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Happy Gurpurab!" Prime Minister Trudeau said in a statement.

A large number of devotees thronged gurdwaras across the country to mark the 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

"On this important occasion, families and friends will gather to reflect on Guru Nanak Dev Ji's teachings of equality, and the values of unity, selflessness, and compassion that he upheld. These important values continue to guide Sikh Canadians today, and can serve as an inspiration for all Canadians as we strive to build a better future for all," he said.

Noting that Canada is home to one of the largest Sikh communities across the world, he said: "Guru Nanak's birth anniversary is an opportunity for all of us to recognise the many contributions of Sikh Canadians to Canada's culture, community, and economy, making our country stronger and more vibrant."

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84-Year-Old Artist, 4-Year-Old Girl Among 14 Hostages Released By Hamas

Nine children, four women and a Russian-Israeli were released Sunday by Gaza rulers Hamas, according to accounts given to AFP by their relatives, Israeli media and the Hostage Families Forum.

The releases bring to 63 the total number of freed hostages from around 240 taken to Gaza after the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The releases came following a Friday agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is supposed to last for four days and allow for 50 Israelis and 150 Palestinians to be freed.

Thirteen Israeli hostages were released on Friday and the same number on Saturday, and in exchange Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday and a further 39 the following day.

The Russian-Israeli freed on Sunday was not part of the truce deal, with Hamas saying it freed him "in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin".

The Palestinian Hamas group also freed three Thai nationals on Sunday. Fourteen Thais and one Filipino had already been released by Hamas outside the deal.

The Israeli hostages freed on Sunday are:

Elma Avraham

The 84-year-old artist was on the phone with a neighbour on October 7 when armed men burst into her home in Nahal Oz kibbutz at around 11 am.

"There's a terrorist in my house!" she told the neighbour.

Her son Uri Rawitz, with whom she had also spoken earlier, said Elma had not managed to lock the door to the safe room in her house.

Uri later received a photo of his mother being taken away on a motorcycle by armed fighters with another hostage.

Avraham's second son, who also lives in Nahal Oz, escaped the attack.

Aviva Siegel

The 62-year-old was taken from her home in the Kfar Aza kibbutz along with her American husband Keith, 64, who is still being held.

At the time of the early morning attack, the couple grabbed their phone and took refuge in the safe room of their home, still in their pyjamas, according to their son-in-law Yuval Baron.

He told The Guardian newspaper they had thought it was just another rocket attack, but soon afterwards Siegel and her husband were seen being taken away with other hostages by armed men.

Schoolteacher Aviva was born in South Africa but moved to Israel when she was eight.

The couple have four children and five grandchildren.

Hagar Brodetz and her three children

Avihai Brodetz said he was trying to defend Kfar Aza kibbutz when his wife Hagar, 40, and their three children were kidnapped.

Several days later he found out they had survived the attack but had been abducted along with Abigail, a neighbour's child who had taken refuge in their home.

Ofri, the eldest child, marked her 10th birthday in captivity in Gaza. Her younger brothers Yuval and Oria are aged 8 and 4.

Abigail

After seeing her parents killed at Kfar Aza, Abigail, who holds US citizenship, took refuge with the Brodetz family, and was kidnapped with them.

Michael and Amalya, her brother and sister, escaped the attack by hiding in a closet.

Abigail had her 4th birthday in Gaza on Friday.

Chen Almog-Goldstein and her three children

A 48-year-old social worker, Chen Almog-Goldstein was kidnapped from Kfar Aza kibbutz with three of her four children: Agam, 17, Gal, 11, and nine-year-old Tal.

The children's father Nadav Goldstein and Yam, the eldest daughter, were killed in the attack.

They are members of the family of Doron Almog, a former high-ranking army officer and current chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, a non-profit organisation that encourages Jews to immigrate to Israel.

Five members of the Almog family were killed in an October 2003 suicide attack on the Maxim restaurant in Haifa which was claimed by Hamas ally Islamic Jihad.

Sisters Ela and Dafna

Ela, 8, and her sister Dafna, 15, were abducted from their father Noam Elyakim's home in Nahal Oz kibbutz.

The day after the attack, their mother Maayan Zin saw a photo on WhatsApp of Dafna "sitting in pyjamas on a mattress in Gaza with the comment 'In prayer clothes it would be better'".

The bodies of the girls' father, his partner Dikla and her son Tomer were found riddled with bullets in an empty lot.

Before he was shot, 17-year-old Tomer had been told by militants to go door-to-door and speak in Hebrew to convince his neighbours to leave their shelters.

Ela and Dafna also hold Hungarian nationality, according to media reports.

Ron Krivoy

The 25-year-old Russian-Israeli worked as a sound technician at the Tribe of Nova music festival attacked by the militants.

Initially he managed to escape and hide in a ditch, his sister Julia told Israeli media, but by noon an Arab-speaking person was answering his phone.

The youngest of three siblings, Krivoy was born in Israel, and, according to his father, had survived two car accidents and a fall into a sewer.

Hamas said he was being released outside the truce deal with Israel, and "in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin and in appreciation of the Russian position in support of the Palestinian cause".

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Elon Musk To Meet Israeli PM Netanyahu Today: Report

Elon Musk, the tech entrepreneur accused by civil rights groups of amplifying anti-Jewish hatred on his X social media platform, will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Israel on Monday, Channel 12 TV said on Sunday.

An Israeli source confirmed the visit by Elon Musk, a billionaire who also runs Tesla and SpaceX. Spokespeople for Tesla and X, formerly known as Twitter, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Elon Musk's visit coincides with a four-day truce in an Israeli war with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.

Netanyahu met Elon Musk in California on September 18 and urged him to strike a balance between protecting free expression and fighting hate speech after weeks of controversy over antisemitic content on X.

Elon Musk responded by saying he was against antisemitism and against anything that "promotes hate and conflict," repeating his previous statements that X would not promote hate speech.

During that visit, before the war, about 200 people protested efforts by Netanyahu's right-wing government to curb the powers of Israeli courts. They gathered outside Tesla's California factory, where the meeting took place.

Then on November 15 Elon Musk agreed with a post on X that falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people, saying the user who referenced the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory was speaking "the actual truth."

The White House condemned what it called an "abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate" that "runs against our core values as Americans."

Major US companies including Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal parent Comcast paused their advertisements on his social media site.

The "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory holds that Jewish people and leftists are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white populations with non-white immigrants that will lead to a "white genocide."

Antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen in the United States and worldwide, including during the now seven-week-old war between Israel and Hamas.

Following the outbreak of war, antisemitic incidents in the United States rose by nearly 400% from the year-earlier period, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit organization that fights antisemitism.

Elon Musk has said X should be a platform for people to post diverse viewpoints, but the company will limit the distribution of certain posts that may violate its policies, calling the approach "freedom of speech, not reach."

Elon Musk is developing an artificial intelligence startup xAI, and Israel is considered a world leader in the field, thanks to burgeoning computing and robotics industries.

Israel's almost $500 billion economy, previously on track for growth to top 3% this year with low unemployment, is now estimated at around 2% with slow growth expected in 2024 as long as the war continues. After an initial 6% tumble the outset of the war, the shekel has gained 8% against the dollar and is now at pre-war levels. Helped mainly by local investors, stock prices have also recovered from a steep drop last month.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave a telling manifestation of their talent with twinkling fifties, the catalyst of India's 44-run win over Australia in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. India are now leading the five-match series 2-0. Opener Jaiswal led the charge of India's young brigade with a sparkling 53 off 25 balls, guiding India to a massive 235 for four in the company of Ishan (52 off 32 balls) and Gaikwad (58 off 43 balls).

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/32) then muffled the Australian top-order with two quick blows, and the visitors were eventually limited to 191 for nine despite aggressive knocks by Tim David (37 off 22 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (45 off 25 balls).

Pacer Prasidh Krishna grabbed three wickets to accentuate Australia's fall as they lost five wickets for 16 runs.

Australia needed to score at 11.8 runs per over to hunt down India's total. Openers Matthew Short and Steve Smith made an urgent beginning, procuring 31 runs in the first two overs.

But Bishnoi jettisoned Short in the third over and Josh Inglis, who made a hundred in the first match at Visakhapatnam, in the fifth over as Australia slipped to 39 for two.

It soon transpired to 58 for four after Smith fell to Prasidh and left-arm spinner Axar Patel gobbled up Glenn Maxwell, as the Indian bowlers produced a disciplined effort.

However, Australia found some fight through David and Stoinis, who pummelled the Indian attack for 81 runs for an entertaining fifth wicket stand that came in just above seven overs.

Both David and Stoinis are capable of clearing the fence at will, and the Aussie duo did exactly that.

David hammered pacer Mukesh Kumar for 19 runs in the 10th over as Australia made 104 for 4 in the 10 overs and looked good for a comeback.

But Bishnoi bagged the crucial wicket of David, who lifted him to Gaikwad at long-on.

Stoinis too did not last long as his attempted heave off Mukesh ended with Axar near the straight boundary.

From that point, an Indian victory was a mere formality.

But for all that, the Indian camp should profusely thank three young, talented batters - Jaiswal, Kishan and Gaikwad.

Australian captain Matthew Wade's decision to bowl first keeping in mind the dew factor did not pay off as his bowlers faltered against the Indian troika.

The ball came off the pitch a tad slow but the Aussie bowlers were wayward, offering width to Indian batsmen.

They were happy to oblige, especially Jaiswal. He took on Sean Abbot in a breathtaking fashion.

The Australian pacer rightly took the pace off his deliveries but he erred in the line and length, offering a chance for the Indian opener to free his hands.

In the fourth over, the left-hander punished Abbot with a sequence of 4, 4, 4, 6, 6 for 24 runs, coming through two square cuts, a late cut and two pulls as India motored on in the Power Play segment which produced 71 runs.

Jaiswal brought up his fifty in 24 balls, but he could not extend the innings as a rather wild slash off pacer Nathan Ellis was grabbed by Adam Zampa at backward square leg.

But that did not really affect the Indian innings as Gaikwad combined with Kishan, who made his second fifty in as many matches, to garner 87 runs for a bruising second wicket alliance.

After the return of Jaiswal, the visitors might have hoped to slow down India's march, but the right-hand-left-hand combination never allowed them to dictate the pace of the match. India touched 101 for 1 after 10 overs.

India progressed at around 11.5 runs per over in the middle phase of the innings despite spinners Zampa and Tanveer Sangha bowling relatively better spells.

Kishan reached his half-century in 29 balls with a massive pulled six off leg-spinner Sangha over mid-wicket.

Gaikwad, whose lofted shot over bowler Zampa's head was a treat to watch, too reached his fifty off 39 balls with a double off pacer Ellis.

It might appear an industrious innings, but Gaikwad's solidity allowed others to launch into the Australian attack.

Kishan too could not build on his innings as he lost balance while trying to wallop Stoinis out of the ground, hoicking a simple catch to Ellis in the deep.

However, Rinku Singh chipped in with his customary cameo (31 off 9 balls) and ensured that India finished strongly.

The left-handed Rinku robbed 25 runs off the 19th over bowled by Abbot as he leaked 56 runs off three overs in total.

The final over bowled by Ellis went for 20 runs as India reached a total that remained out of Aussies' reach.

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N Korea Suspends Military Accord With South Korea After Satellite Launch

North Korea said Thursday it was suspending a five-year-old accord reached with South Korea to reduce military tensions -- the latest retaliatory fallout over Pyongyang's spy satellite launch.

The angry statement from the nuclear-armed North's defence ministry came after state media claimed leader Kim Jong Un was already reviewing images of US military bases in Guam sent by Pyongyang's new eye in the sky.

With the United States leading allies slamming Tuesday's satellite launch as a "brazen violation" of UN sanctions, the South moved Wednesday to partially suspend the 2018 deal, a series of measures put in place to cool tensions on the Korean peninsula.

On Thursday the North said it was ripping up the agreement entirely.

"We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea, and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line," the ministry said, according to state-run KCNA news agency.

The ministry said it "will never be bound" by the deal again, according to KCNA.

Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo have slammed the sanctions-busting launch of the Malligyong-1 satellite, which KCNA images showed was watched by a smiling Kim.

It was Pyongyang's third attempt this year to put a satellite into orbit, and the first since Kim met President Vladimir Putin at a Russian cosmodrome in September.

Seoul's military said the satellite has entered orbit, but warned it was too early to tell if it was working.

The North's defence ministry repeated Thursday that the satellite launch was part of its "right to self-defence", and dismissed the "extremely hysterical" response from the South in particular. 

It accused the South of putting the deal under strain by stepping up military provocations, saying the agreement has "long been reduced to a mere scrap of paper", and called Seoul's decision to partially suspend it "reckless", according to KCNA.

The South "must pay dearly for their irresponsible and grave political and military provocations that have pushed the present situation to an uncontrollable phase," the ministry continued.

The South had said it would partially suspend the 2018 deal and resume surveillance operations along the border.

KCNA has said the satellite will begin a formal reconnaissance mission on December 1.

Successfully putting a spy satellite into orbit would improve North Korea's intelligence-gathering capabilities, particularly over South Korea, and provide crucial data in any military conflict, experts say.

Washington said the launch was a "brazen violation" of successive rounds of UN resolutions barring the North from tests of ballistic technology -- used in both missiles and satellite launch rockets.

The launch also appears to kick off a space race on the peninsula, experts said, with Seoul planning to launch its first spy satellite via a SpaceX rocket later this month.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pandas And Partnership: Was Xi Jinping's US Trip A Success?

In a whirlwind US trip this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping held long talks with President Joe Biden, got a standing ovation from top business leaders, and even hinted there could be more pandas on the way to the United States.

The high-profile welcome for Xi in San Francisco, coupled with the summit where he and Biden agreed to restore suspended US-Chinese military communications, add up to a successful visit, analysts say.

But in the face of heightened business risks and enduring national security concerns, experts say the rhetoric needs now to be backed up by action if it is to produce meaningful long-term results for the Chinese leader, whose slowing economy needs to reverse the flight of foreign capital.

"For China, Xi's ability to gain a prominent platform in San Francisco (and) to speak with US business leaders was a success in and of itself," said Nathaniel Sher, senior research analyst at Carnegie China.

At a dinner Wednesday attended by executives like Apple CEO Tim Cook and BlackRock's Larry Fink, Xi said China was ready to be a "partner and friend" of the United States. He hinted Beijing could send more panda bears -- always a huge hit at US zoos -- as "envoys of friendship."

The world's richest person, Tesla and SpaceX tycoon Elon Musk, also met Xi before the dinner with other representatives, said Tesla in a Chinese social media post.

Chilling effect

Xi's appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco marked a rare chance for him to interact with foreign business leaders, noted Trivium China in a newsletter, offering the opportunity to challenge the idea that China is inhospitable to foreign firms.

He did not show up in person to the APEC CEO summit -- and China did not offer an explanation for the no-show -- offering instead a written speech inviting firms to invest and deepen their footprint, promising "heart-warming" measures "to make it easier for foreign companies to invest and operate in China."

But beyond the warm words, US investors will be watching Xi's actions, as the world's number two economy slows and business confidence weakens.

China's anti-espionage law, cybersecurity investigations, raids on multinationals, wrongful detentions, and non-market practices "all have chilling effects on foreign investment," Sher told AFP.

"Above all, multinationals want more legal and regulatory predictability in China, not more hollow statements about China's commitment to win-win development," he added.

'First step'

On the political front, the sit-down with Biden could be said to have been a qualified success, observers said.

The United States and China have a common goal of stabilization of their relations after a rough few years, said Australian ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd.

"It means reopening former lines -- political, diplomatic and now military communication," he told reporters on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

"This is not just a term, it actually has machinery of government around it," said the former Australian prime minister.

"The bottom line with all the above is the proof of the pudding will lie in the eating. The framework is there, they're measurable. What will now happen in practice?"

For now, the restoration of military-to-military communications is "just the first step," he said.

It remains unclear if China has changed its own strategic timetable surrounding Taiwan -- the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own -- or if the latest talks will change its military's behavior.

Strategic needs

To Seton Hall University professor Zheng Wang, Xi's first US visit in six years and the Biden-Xi summit symbolize "a potential turning point" in bilateral ties after the hostility of recent years.

"We've witnessed a trade war, technology conflicts, and the far-reaching impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

And now Biden will be managing his reelection campaign while monitoring war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, while Xi navigates China's economic challenges and the perpetual intrigue of politics at the top of the Communist Party. A former foreign minister has gone missing and the whereabouts of the defense minister remain unclear.

"Stable and constructive US-China relations are therefore needed for both sides," Wang said.

Yet, Xi could have gone "much further" to reassure the United States and the global community of China's benign intentions, Sher said.

"If the 'rejuvenation' of China entails a rejection of the existing international order, nothing that Chinese leaders say in international fora will prevent the US and its partners from seeking to impede Beijing's rise," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Nearly 4,00,000 In Europe Died Due To Air Pollution In 2021: Report

Almost 400,000 deaths in Europe in 2021 were related to three main air pollutants and some could have been avoided if pollutants had been reduced to World Health Organisation-recommended levels, an EU report said on Friday.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) said that within the European Union, pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which affects people with heart diseases in particular, led to 253,000 deaths in 2021. Pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2), most harmful to people with diabetes, resulted in 52,000 deaths and short-term ozone (O3) exposure led to 22,000 deaths.

Including a larger set of European countries outside the EU, there were 389,000 pollutant-related deaths in Europe, the EEA said in its report for 2021, released on Friday.

"Air pollutant concentrations in 2021 remained well above the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its air quality guidelines," the EEA said in the report.

"Reducing air pollution to these guideline levels would prevent a significant number of attributable deaths in EU member states."

The highest number of deaths from PM2.5 in 2021 occurred in Poland, Italy and Germany, while countries in northern Europe such as Iceland, Scandinavia and Estonia saw the lowest impact.

NO2 and short-term O3 exposure had the biggest impact on deaths in Turkey, Italy and Germany, according to the report.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing curtains to his eight-year international career. Wasim took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his decision, having played 121 international matches across ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan. Imad's final outing for his country was in April this year in a T20I against New Zealand at Rawalpindi. The Welsh-born Wasim made his international debut with the Men in Green in May 2015 in a T20I against Zimbabwe at Lahore.

"In recent days, I have been doing a lot of thinking about my international career, and I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to announce my retirement from international cricket," the 34-year-old Wasim wrote in his retirement note.

"I would like to thank the PCB for all their support over the years - it has truly been an honour to represent Pakistan. Each of my 121 appearances across the ODI and T20I formats was a dream come true." Wasim, a left-handed batter, played 55 ODIs scoring 986 runs averaging 42.86 and he plucked 44 wickets with his left-arm spin.

From 66 T20Is, Wasim made 486 runs and took 65 wickets.

"Each of my 121 appearances across the ODI and T20I formats was a dream come true. It's an exciting time for Pakistan cricket going forward with new coaches and leadership incoming. I wish all involved every success and I look forward to watching the team excel." However, Wasim said he would continue to focus on his playing career as a non-international player.

"Thank you to the Pakistan fans for always supporting me with such passion. A final thank you to my family and friends who have been so important in helping me achieve at the highest level. I now look forward to focusing on the next stage of my playing career away from the international stage."

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India-European Union Sign Pact On Semiconductors Ahead Of Key Trade Meet

An India-EU Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on semiconductors was signed on Friday, ahead of the Trade and Technology Council meeting in New Delhi, according to the Ministry of External Affairs press release.

The MoU was signed by Minister of Electronics, IT and Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw and the European Commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton.

The MoU aims at increasing the resilience of the semiconductor value chain in India and the EU and covers cooperation in wide areas covering research and innovation, talent development, partnerships and exchange of market information, as per the release.

The MoU symbolizes the strong commitment between India and the EU to work towards building robust semiconductor supply chains and work together on innovation.

Meanwhile, a virtual meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was held in New Delhi on Friday.

The Indian side was led by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry (CIM) Piyush Goyal and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The EU delegation was led by Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Vice-President Vera Jourova.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during the latter's visit to India in April 2022.

The inaugural ministerial meeting of TTC was held in Brussels on May 16, 2023, where all three working groups under TTC set out their cooperation on a wide range of issues including semiconductors, high-performance computing, digital public infrastructures, clean energy technologies, supply chain resilience and trade issues.

During the virtual meeting, the co-chairs reviewed the progress achieved in the working groups since the first ministerial meeting and also discussed the future action plans of these working groups, as per the release.

The co-chairs provided strategic guidance to the working groups on strategic technologies and digital connectivity; clean and green energy technologies; and trade, Investment and resilient supply chains towards achieving the objectives set out for TTC during its establishment at the highest levels.

They expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in the working groups till date, particularly in the areas of semiconductors, high-performance computing, digital public infrastructure, EV batteries and its recycling, waste to energy, resilient supply chains and FDI screening.

They also stressed taking the collaboration through research and innovation to the next phase of implementation in terms of practical outcomes/projects, through more intensive stakeholder consultations before the next TTC meeting and India-EU Summit.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the TTC in India back-to-back with the India-EU Summit at a mutually convenient date early next year.

EAM Jaishankar wrote on X: "Co-chaired the India-EU Trade & Technology Council (TTC) virtually along with my colleagues @PiyushGoyal & @AshwiniVaishnaw. Thank our EU counterparts @VDombrovskis & @VeraJourova for their partnership."

Co-chaired the India-EU Trade & Technology Council (TTC) virtually along with my colleagues @PiyushGoyal & @AshwiniVaishnaw .

Thank our EU counterparts @VDombrovskis & @VeraJourova for their partnership.

Noted the progress since our first meeting in May 2023 in digital and… pic.twitter.com/XFV2Fq8etN

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 24, 2023

"Noted the progress since our first meeting in May 2023 in digital and strategic technologies; clean energy and green technologies; and trade and investment and resilient value chains. Committed to promoting more engagements, bringing in practical initiatives and ensuring economic security," the EAM wrote.

EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin said: "The #EU- #India MoU on Semiconductors signed !! Paving the way for closer cooperation in this strategic sector. An important deliverable of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council #TTC."

Meanwhile, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday discussed progress in India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations with European Commission's Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.

"Discussed progress of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations with my friend @VDombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission," the Union Commerce Minister wrote on 'X'.

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New York Mayor Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Coworker, He Denies Claim

New York City mayor Eric Adams has been accused of sexually assaulting a female coworker 30 years ago, US media reported Thursday, as the northern state sees a flurry of such suits filed ahead of a statute of limitations deadline.

The Democratic mayor "vigorously" denies the claim, his office said, arguing he does not know the complainant and would never cause anyone physical harm.

The civil suit, first reported by The Messenger news site, alleges the complainant "was sexually assaulted by Defendant Eric Adams in New York, New York in 1993 while they both worked for the City of New York."

In the filing, the woman whose name has not been revealed, is seeking a trial and at least $5 million in relief, according to The Messenger.

"The mayor does not know who this person is. If they ever met, he doesn't recall it," a City hall spokesperson said in a statement.

"But he would never do anything to physically harm another person and vigorously denies any such claim."

The suit was submitted under the New York Adult Survivors Act, a law passed last year that opened a one-year window for sexual assault claims to be filed that otherwise happened too far in the past to litigate. That window expires Friday.

Sexual assault lawsuits were also filed Wednesday against US actor Jamie Foxx and Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose.

Wednesday's suits follow a rape complaint against rapper Sean Combs, filed last week by R&B singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura.

A day after that filing, the parties said they had agreed to resolve the case, but did not disclose the settlement terms.

Former US president Donald Trump was also sued under the law by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, whom a jury awarded $2 million in May.

Adams, a former police officer who took office in January 2022 as New York's second Black mayor in history, also faces a corruption investigation into campaign financing. Federal investigators are probing whether Adams's 2021 campaign conspired with Turkey's government and other actors.

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Korean Space Race? North And South Chase Spy Satellites

North Korea claimed Wednesday to have successfully put its first military surveillance satellite into orbit, with the South also preparing to send up its first spy satellite later this month.

The two launch attempts, set to come in such quick succession, appear to be the beginnings of a space race on the Korean peninsula.

Here, AFP takes a look at what we know about the new competition between the North and South:

Why does North Korea want the satellite? 

North Korea first tried -- and failed -- to launch a satellite in 1998. In 2021, leader Kim Jong Un made developing a military spy satellite a key regime goal.

Pyongyang wants to monitor areas of strategic interest, including South Korea and Guam, experts say.

Real-time monitoring capacity "effectively means the advancement of preemptive strike capabilities", said Lim Eul-chul, associate professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

Seoul and Washington have called the launches veiled ballistic missile tests, as space launch rockets and ballistic missiles have significant technological overlap, but different payloads.

However, if the North keeps launching satellites -- potentially even seeking Moscow's help to send some skyward from Russian spaceports -- it would indicate Kim is genuinely interested in space, said Cha Du-hyeogn, an analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

"If North Korea repeats failures again and again, insisting only on domestic launches, that would suggest its main purpose is to improve ballistic missile performance," Cha added.

Did the launch work? 

While Japanese officials have warned there is no evidence that Pyongyang's Tuesday night launch was indeed a success, North Korean state media claimed on Wednesday that Kim had reviewed images taken by the satellite of a US Air Force base in Guam.

"State-controlled media claims of a successful launch do not mean the satellite will actually perform meaningful reconnaissance functions," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

South Korea, which recovered debris from North Korea's previous failed satellite launches earlier this year, said they had no military value.

But Tuesday night's launch comes after a September meeting between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested Moscow could help.

And Pyongyang has clearly improved since its last attempt, securing the engine thrust to stably lift a 300 kilogram payload into orbit, said Cha of the Asan Institute.

This can translate into direct military gains, giving the North "the capability to load nuclear warheads without excessive miniaturisation", he added.

So did Russia help? 

Seoul has warned Russia is providing Kim with technical advice, in exchange for arms transfers for use in Ukraine.

Analysts say Russia's role appears to be mainly in the "software", given the short time span from the Kim-Putin summit to the third launch.

"If there had been a serious error to fix, such as a hardware change or a design change, a launch in November would have been physically impossible," said Chang Young-keun, a professor at Korea Aerospace University.

Cha of the Asan Institute added that if Russian engineers were involved, they would have helped with the launch coordinates, the stage separation point and know-how on assembling major parts.

"This proves that North Korea still has software problems -- in addition to hardware problems -- with its major weapon systems," he said.

What about South Korea? 

South Korea does not have its own military reconnaissance satellites and relies on the United States to help it monitor North Korea's activities.

Seoul's finalised plan to put its own domestically built spy satellite into orbit was recently unveiled, with a launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set for November 30.

If it works, it will be a huge boon for Seoul, experts say.

"Seoul will be able to independently obtain intelligence on North Korea's military trends that it previously obtained from the US and Japan," Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP.

Up until now, it has been "quite difficult" for the South to monitor North Korea "24 hours a day with US military assets alone", military analyst Shin Jong-woo told local media.

Experts say that having its own military spy satellite holds significant importance for Seoul, especially considering that North Korea enshrined in law the right to preemptively use nuclear weapons last year.

Is this a new 'space power era'? 

South Korea sent up its first lunar orbiter, Danuri, last year on a SpaceX rocket. It also became one of a handful of countries to successfully launch a one-tonne payload using its own rocket last year.

The November 30 launch of Seoul's first homegrown military spy satellite from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base would "lay the foundation for opening a full-fledged space power era" for the country, Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Eom Dong-hwan said in October.

The upcoming launch is part of Seoul's ambitious billion-dollar "425 Project", which aims to deploy five high-resolution medium- to large-sized military satellites into orbit by 2025.

North Korea, for its part, has also vowed to launch more satellites "in a short span of time" to step up its surveillance of South Korea, state media said.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Perth Scorchers Women will lock horns with Melbourne Stars Women in Match 50 of the Women's Big Bash League 2023 on November 22. The Western Australia Cricket Association Ground in Perth will host this clash, scheduled to begin at 2:40 PM IST. Talking about teams' performances, the Perth Scorchers have been in superb form in WBBL 2023, winning eight and losing four of their 12 matches so far. Currently, they stand second in the points table and can reclaim the top spot with a win in their upcoming match. On the other hand, Melbourne Stars have endured a poor campaign with just four wins out of 12 matches thus far. They have managed to collect just eight points, resulting in their elimination from the ongoing campaign.

Weather conditions

The temperature at the WACA Stadium in Perth is anticipated to be around 38C accompanied by 19% humidity.

Pitch report

The wicket at the WACA Stadium in Perth is renowned for its pace and bounce, which assists the fast bowlers in getting the breakthroughs for their teams.

In the five Women's T20Is played at the venue, the teams fielding first have won on four occasions.

PS-W vs MS-W predicted playing XI

Perth Scorchers Women: Sophie Devine (c), Beth Mooney (wk), Maddy Darke, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amy Edgar, Amy Jones, Alana King, Piepa Cleary, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Ainsworth

Melbourne Stars Women: Annabel Sutherland (c), Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Sophie Reid (wk), Nicole Faltum, Kim Garth, Olivia Henry, Sasha Moloney, Milly Illingworth, Sophie Day

PS-W vs MS-W fantasy XI WBBL 2023

Wicket-keepers: Beth Mooney

Batters: Sophia Dunkley

All-rounders: Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amy Edgar, Sophie Devine, Annabel Sutherland, Alice Capsey, Kim Garth

Bowlers: Alana King, Sophie Day, Chloe Ainsworth

It's a 6:5 combination featuring six Perth Scorchers players.

Beth Mooney is a no-brainer pick among wicket-keepers. The Southpaw is the leading run-getter in the ongoing campaign with 535 runs at a staggering average of 66.87, including one ton and five half-centuries.

Sophia Dunkley will be the sole batter in this lineup dominated by the all-rounders. Even though the right-handed batter hasn't been at her aggressive best, she has amassed 130 runs in 12 innings while chipping in as a part-time bowler with three wickets.

Three all-rounders each from Perth Scorchers (Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amy Edgar & Sophie Devine) and Melbourne Stars (Annabel Sutherland, Alice Capsey, Kim Garth) will make it to our XI.

The trio of Sciver-Brunt, Edgar and Devine have played an instrumental role in Scorchers' stellar form this season. While Sciver-Brunt has piled up 117 runs in five innings, Edgar has picked up 19 wickets at an economy of 6.50 and also has 59 runs to her credit

Captain Sophie Devine has led by example, accumulating 446 runs and taking 11 wickets in 12 fixtures.

Annabel Sutherland, Alice Capsey and Kim Garth have been the positive takeaways from a rather underwhelming season for the Melbourne Stars.

Australian duo Annabel Sutherland and Kim Garth have combined for 27 wickets. Sutherland has also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 243 runs at a strike rate of 120.29. Meanwhile, Alice Capsey has accounted for 240 runs and seven wickets in 12 matches.

Alana King, Sophie Day and Chloe Ainsworth will be our three bowlers expected to provide points through wickets.

Sophie Day, the 25-year-old spinner from Melbourne Stars, has had a breakthrough WBBL 2023 season and is currently the top wicket-taker in the tournament with 23 wickets.

Captain: Sophie Devine

The Perth Scorchers skipper has been a major force to reckon with throughout the competition and will once again look to display her all-round heroics against the Melbourne Stars.

Vice-captain: Annabel Sutherland

In Meg Lanning's absence, the onus will be on Sutherland to add important runs with the willow and help her side with the ball as well. Moreover, she has yielded an average of 88.42 fantasy points over the course of WBBL 2023 and hence, will be a good pick for vice-captaincy.

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"Feel Alive Again": Mother Reunites With Baby Rescued From Gaza Hospital

At first, the young mother couldn't find her newborn son, Anas, among the 31 tiny babies who had just arrived in southern Gaza after being evacuated from Gaza City's devastated Al Shifa Hospital. She hadn't seen him for 45 days.

"I was losing hope to see my baby alive," said Warda Sbeta in an interview with Reuters TV on Tuesday.

She and her husband frantically checked the list of names provided by the head of the neonatal unit where the babies were being cared for, at a hospital in Rafah, and there it was, Anas's name in black and white.

"I felt alive again, grateful to God that we now have our baby safely in our care," said Sbeta, speaking at the hospital as she watched over her sleeping son, whom she had dressed in a light blue sleepsuit and matching hat.

Sbeta smiled as she held him in her hands and her husband helped her to wrap him in a white swaddling blanket with pink ribbons and a hood. Once he was bundled up, she cradled him against her chest.

Sbeta, 32, has seven older children and the family, whose home was in Gaza City before the war, are now living in a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, that has become a shelter for hundreds of people displaced from the north of the strip.

Sbeta was offered the option of being evacuated to Egypt with Anas so he could receive further medical care, but she did not want to leave her husband and her other children.

"I can't leave them with only their father. He won't be able to look after them. So I was obliged to refuse this offer," she said.

Anas was one of only three out of the 31 premature babies rescued from Al Shifa who stayed behind in Gaza. Of the other two, one was unidentified, according to doctors at the Rafah hospital. They did not give information about the third baby.

When doctors at Al Shifa first raised the alarm nine days ago about the premature babies in their care, 39 of the infants were alive, but eight died because of the dire conditions before the evacuation to Rafah and Egypt could be organised.

A World Health Organization official said on Tuesday that two of the eight had died the night before the evacuation.

'IS HE ALIVE?'

Out of the 31 who were transported to Rafah on Sunday, 28 were evacuated to Egypt on Monday. UNICEF spokesman James Elder said on Tuesday that 20 of them were unaccompanied and eight were with their mothers. There were seven mothers as two of the infants were twins.

Elder said some of the 20 unaccompanied babies were orphans, while for others there was no information about their families. "It all underlines the horrific situation for families in Gaza," he said.

For Anas, the safety of Egypt was out of reach, but the separation from his family was over.

Sbeta said that Anas was being treated at Al Shifa when war broke out on Oct. 7, the day when Hamas militants rampaged through southern Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 240, according to Israeli figures.

Israel responded with a military assault on Gaza that has killed some 13,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-controlled enclave, and has made three quarters of the population homeless, according to U.N. data.

Like hundreds of thousands of others in the northern Gaza Strip, Sbeta and the rest of the family fled their home for southern Gaza, while Anas stayed behind at Al Shifa as the hospital gradually ran out of power, water, food and medicines.

"They called us from Al Shifa to come and take the baby but it was hard for us to return. The route out of Gaza City was open, but the way back was closed," she said.

The anguish of separation worsened when Israeli forces last week entered Al Shifa, which Israel says has been used by Hamas as a base for its operations - an assertion denied by Hamas - and the family lost communication with the hospital.

"We completely lost any news about the baby. We were not able to know anything about him. Is he alive? Is he dead? Is someone giving him milk?" said Sbeta.

With communications patchy at the shelter in Khan Younis, the parents were struggling to get any solid information, until other displaced people living in the school told them they had heard the babies were being moved south.

The parents rushed to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, but were told they had to go to the maternity hospital in Rafah, where they were finally reunited with Anas.

On Tuesday, he was well enough to leave the hospital. His parents were taking him to the school in Khan Younis, their wartime refuge, to start a new life with his seven brothers and sisters.

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2 Ships Divert Routes Away From Red Sea After Vessel Seized By Houthis

Two commercial ships that diverted their course in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were connected to the same maritime group whose vessel was seized by Yemen's Houthis, according to shipping data and British maritime security company Ambrey.

Israel on Sunday said the Houthis had seized a British-owned, Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing the incident as an "Iranian act of terrorism" with consequences for international maritime security.

The Houthis, an ally of Tehran, confirmed that they had seized a ship in that area but described it as Israeli.

Japan's top government spokesperson on Monday confirmed the capture of the Nippon Yusen-operated ship Galaxy Leader, adding that Japan was appealing to the Houthis while seeking the help of Saudi, Omani and Iranian authorities to work toward the swift release of the vessel and its crew.

Two other ships also listed as commercially managed by Ray Car Carriers, Glovis Star and Hermes Leader, diverted their sailing routes on Sunday, Ambrey said on Monday.

The Hermes Leader had set a course to sail south of Nishtun in Yemen when it diverted its journey.

"The vessel continued to sail back to where it had come from, providing a new AIS destination as Hambantota, Sri Lanka," Ambrey said. "The vessel incurred a minimum four-day business disruption and sailed an additional 1,876 nautical miles."

The Glovis Star drifted for a number of hours in the Red Sea before continuing its journey, AIS ship tracking data showed on Monday.

Galaxy Maritime Ltd, which is listed in shipping records as the beneficial owner of the Galaxy Leader, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Houthi leadership last week said their forces would make further attacks on Israel and they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

U.S. maritime administration MARAD in an advisory said the Galaxy Leader had been hijacked approximately 50 miles west of the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, adding that ships should "exercise caution when transiting this area."

"We saw yesterday a new record - for the first time we saw (an) official announcement of pirates taking over a ship on the high seas, which I think is a major threat to international law and order," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in comments on Monday, referring to the Galaxy Leader.

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UN Chief Calls For "Multi-Stakeholder Approach" To Solve Gaza Conflict

A UN protectorate in Gaza would not solve the conflict there, the body's Secretary-General said Monday, calling instead for a "transition period" involving Arab nations and the United States and leading to a two-state solution.

Antonio Guterres said it was "important to be able to transform this tragedy into an opportunity" -- which, for him, meant moving "in a determined and irreversible way to a two-state solution."

This means, after the current war between Israel and Hamas fighters in Gaza ends, "a strengthened Palestinian Authority, assuming responsibilities in Gaza," he said.

But the Palestinian Authority cannot go into Gaza backed by Israeli tanks, he added -- meaning the "international community needs to look into a transition period."

"I do not think that a UN protectorate in Gaza is a solution," however, Guterres said.

Instead, he called for a "multi-stakeholder approach" that would see the US act as the "main guarantor" of Israel's security, while Arab nations are "essential" to support Palestinians.

"Everybody needs to come together to create the conditions for the transition, allowing for a strengthened Palestinian Authority to assume responsibilities in Gaza," and from there to a two-state solution, he said.

Guterres also again denounced the killing of civilians -- especially children -- in Gaza as Israel wages a relentless air and ground campaign in retaliation for the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

For seven years now he has published a "list of shame" of parties to armed conflict who commit grave violations against children. Israel's absence from the list has previously been criticized by human rights organizations.

Without saying whether that may change this year, Guterres put the number of children killed in Gaza into stark context. 

In the "shame" reports, the highest number of children killed in one year by one actor was the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017-2018, followed by the Syrian government and its allies before 2020. Both times the tally was in the hundreds. 

"Without entering into discussing the accuracy of the numbers that were published by de facto authorities in Gaza, what is clear is that we have had in a few weeks thousands of children killed," Guterres told reporters. 

"We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I am Secretary-General."

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Gaza Hostage Deal Closer Than Ever: US Official

A deal to secure the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza by Hamas operatives is closer than ever in the Islamist group's war with Israel, a White House official said on Sunday.

White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said an agreement to free "considerably more than 12" hostages would also likely include an extended pause in the fighting and allow for the distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Fighting raged on Sunday, with Hamas operatives battling Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza's largest refugee camp, the day after Israeli and US officials denied a Washington Post report that a deal had been reached.

"What I can say at this point is that some of the outstanding areas of disagreement, in a very complicated, very sensitive negotiation, have been narrowed," Finer told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

"I believe we are closer than we have been in quite some time, maybe closer than we have been since the beginning of this process, to getting this deal done," he added.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog also said in an interview on ABC's "This Week" that Israel is hopeful a significant number of hostages could be released by Hamas "in coming days."

But Finer cautioned: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Sensitive negotiations like this can fall apart at the last minute."

Hamas took about 240 hostages during its deadly cross-border rampage into Israeli communities on Oct. 7, which prompted Israel to lay siege to Gaza and invade the Palestinian territory to eradicate its ruling Islamist group.

"We're talking about considerably more than 12 (hostages)," Finer told NBC.

"This could and would likely include an extended period of a pause in the fighting, a multiple-day period," he added. "It would enable us, we believe, to get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. That's a priority under any circumstances."

Finer also said Israel should not conduct combat operations against Hamas in the south of Gaza until military planners have taken into account the safety of fleeing Palestinian civilians.

"In the event that Israel is likely to embark on combat operations, including in the south, we believe ... that they have the right to do that," Finer told CBS' Face the Nation program in a separate interview.

"We think that their operations should not go forward until those people, those additional civilians, have been accounted for in their military planning," he said.

Israel's blitz has reduced swaths of the north to rubble, while some two-thirds of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have been displaced to the south.

Gaza's Health Ministry has raised its death count from Israeli bombardment to 12,300, including 5,000 children.

Finer urged Israel to draw lessons from its military operations in the north of Gaza and provide enhanced protections for civilians by narrowing the area of active combat and by specifying where civilians can seek refuge.

On Saturday, Israel warned civilians in parts of southern Gaza to relocate as it girds for an offensive from the north.

The south has been repeatedly bombarded by Israel, rendering Israeli promises of safety absurd, Palestinians say.

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Ukraine Says Two Killed, Seven Injured In Russian Strike Near Frontline

Ukraine said two first responders were killed and at least seven people injured in Russian rocket strikes on the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday.

The attacks came as Kyiv's air force said Russia fired 38 drones at its territory overnight -- the highest reported number in more than six weeks.

Ukrainian police said Russia fired a series of rocket strikes at the village of Komyshuvakha, close to the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, which Russia claimed to have annexed last year.

"As a result of the first two strikes, four local residents were injured and a fire broke out in a residential building," they said in a statement. 

"When the police and rescuers arrived at the scene, Russians conducted another strike. Two emergency service workers were killed, and three more were injured." 

Separately, Ukraine's air force said Saturday it shot down 29 of the 38 Iranian-made Shahed drones -- also known as "kamikaze drones" because they are packed with explosives to detonate upon reaching their targets -- fired by Russia.

According to its figures, that is the most drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack since September 30.

An energy facility was hit in the southern Odesa region, with the resulting fire quickly extinguished, Ukraine's emergency services said.

Russia's defence ministry said its forces had shot down 20 Ukrainian aerial drones over Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, and seven naval drones in the Black Sea, off the annexed peninsula of Crimea.

Ukraine also said Saturday that its forces "continue to hold positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro river."

Ukrainian and Russian forces have been entrenched on opposite sides of the vast waterway in the southern Kherson region for more than a year, after Russia withdrew its troops from the western bank last November.

Ukrainian forces have staged multiple attempts to cross and hold positions on the Russian-controlled side -- with officials in Kyiv finally reporting a "successful" breakthrough last week.

"Our defenders are consolidating their positions and firing on the occupiers," the general staff said in a Saturday morning briefing on its operations on the eastern side of the river.

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Ex-Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, Others Acquitted In Mega Corruption Scam

Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and two members of the incumbent federal caretaker cabinet were acquitted in a mega housing corruption scam on Saturday.

Accountability Court Lahore Judge Ali Zulqarnain Awan acquitted Shehbaz, federal cabinet members -- Fawad Hassan Fawad and Ahad Khan Cheema -- and others in the mega Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme corruption case on the report of the national anti-graft body.

Shehbaz Sharif, 72, is the younger brother of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua submitted a report on the interpretation of a recent order by the Supreme Court wherein the trial courts had been restrained from announcing final orders till a decision on appeals against a judgment on the amendments in the law.

"The stay order of the top court does not apply to acquittal applications in hand as the trial court heard them on merits and the defunct amendments in the law had nothing to do with the proceedings," he told the court.

After going through the NAB's report, the judge allowed the applications of the accused persons and acquitted them in the reference. The judge observed: "There is no probability of the conviction in the case." 

Since the ouster of former premier Imran Khan in April 2022, the Sharif brothers - Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif - and other members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party have been getting relief from courts in one corruption case or another.

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"My 'Hindu' Faith Led Me To This Presidential Campaign": Vivek Ramaswamy

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy opened up about his 'Hindu' faith, emphasizing that it provides him with freedom and has motivated him to undertake this presidential campaign as a moral obligation.

Speaking at 'The Family Leader' forum organized by The Daily Signal platform on Saturday, the Indian-American entrepreneur drew parallels between the teachings of Hinduism and Christianity, expressing his intention to promote shared values for the benefit of the next generation.

Mr Ramaswamy said, "My faith is what gives me my freedom. My faith is what led me to this presidential campaign...I am a Hindu. I believe there is one true God. I believe god put each of us here for a purpose. My faith teaches us that we have a duty, a moral duty to realise that purpose. Those are God's instruments that work through us in different ways, but we are still equal because God resides in each of us. That's the core of my faith".

Speaking about his upbringing, he said that he was instilled with values surrounding family, marriage, and respect for parents.

"I grew up in a traditional household. My parents taught me family is the foundation. Respect your parents. Marriage is sacred. Abstinence before marriage is the way to go. Adultery is wrong. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Divorce is not just some preference you opt for...you get married before God and you make an oath to God and your family," Mr Ramaswamy said.

The Ohio-based bio-tech entrepreneur also drew parallels between Hindu and Christian faiths and said that these are the 'shared values' of God, and he will stand for those shared values.

"I went to Christian High School. What do we learn? We learned the 10 commandments. We read the Bible. Scriptures class. God is real. There is one true God. Don't take his name in vain. Respect your parents. Don't lie. Don't steal. Don't commit adultery. What I learned at that time, is that these values are familiar to me. They don't belong to Hindus. But, they don't belong to Christians either. They belong to God actually. And I think these are the values that undergird this country," Mr Ramaswamy said.

He added, "Can I be a President who can promote Christianity across the country? I can't...I don't think that's what we should want a US President to do either...but will I stand for those shared values? Will I promote them in the examples that we set for the next generations? You are damn right, I will! Because that's my duty".

The Republican leader further said that as a president it will be his responsibility to make faith, family, hard work, patriotism, and faith "cool" again in the US.

"One of the teachings is that we don't choose who God chooses to work through. That's not our choice, that belongs to God...so yes are founded on Judai-Christian values and these are values that I deeply share....as a president, it is my duty to make faith and family and hard work and patriotism, but faith includes, cool again in this country for the next generation.

Notably, 38-year-old Vivek Ramaswamy is a native of southwest Ohio. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist and his father worked as an engineer at General Electric. His parents migrated to the US from Kerala.

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has gained attention, and he has risen in GOP primary polls, although he still trails behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in support.

The next US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

South Africa suffered another semi-final loss in an ICC event, going down fighting to Australia at the penultimate hurdle of the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday. Despite posting a mediocre total of 212 runs on the board, the Proteas took the game to the end but it was the Australian side that prevailed. After the match, when South Africa coach Rob Walter was asked about the potential winner in the final, between India and Australia, he gave a rather cold response.

Understandably disappointed over his team's departure at the semi-final stage, Walter told the reporter that he doesn't even care who goes on to win the World Cup, knowing that his team is out. 

However, Walter did admit that India would have an advantage as it is a home event for them.

Reporter: If I could ask you - can I have a few words or would you like to answer the question on India vs Australia I mean, how are you I mean if you had to, once you are over the disappointment, who do you think would make it, get the trophy?

Rob Walter: To be honest, there's about a 1% chance I'll be watching. And to be even more brutally honest, I actually don't care. But obviously, because of the World Cup being in India, it's always great for the home nation to win the World Cup. I've got a lot of friends in the Australian change room, so I have probably a soft spot for a couple of them, especially the coach, for them to do well. But just seeing when we last played here against India and the support that's rallied around the team, and just the great hope and inspiration that winning a World Cup at home does actually bring. I think it would only be fitting for India to win. And in the same breath, they have been the best side in the competition and they've played the best cricket but that doesn't necessarily mean that's what will happen.

India will square off against Australia in the final on Sunday.
 

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White House Condemns Elon Musk's "Abhorrent Promotion" Of Anti-Semitism

The White House on Friday condemned the owner of social media platform X and the world's richest person, Elon Musk, for "abhorrent promotion" of anti-Semitism.

Referring to Elon Musk's post on X, formerly called Twitter, in which he endorsed an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said it was "unacceptable" to repeat such a "hideous lie."

"We condemn this abhorrent promotion of anti-Semitic and racist hate in the strongest terms, which runs against our core values as Americans," Bates said. "We all have a responsibility to bring people together against hate, and an obligation to speak out against anyone who attacks the dignity of their fellow Americans and compromises the safety of our communities."

The White House was reacting to a post by Elon Musk in which the controversial Tesla and SpaceX tycoon replied to an anti-Semitic post on X with the words: "You have said the actual truth."

The original post has been perceived by the White House and the US media as a reference to a longtime conspiracy theory among White supremacists that Jews have a secret plan to bring in illegal immigrants to weaken white majorities.

Most notoriously, the idea was promoted by the man who carried out a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, killing 11 people.

"It is unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of anti-Semitism in American history at any time, let alone one month after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust," Bates said, referring to the October 7 assault by Palestinian group Hamas on Israel.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Travis Head starred with bat and ball as Australia set up a World Cup final clash with India after a tense three-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday. Chasing a tricky 213 for victory, Australia wobbled after Head hit 62 but Steve Smith (30) and Josh Inglis (28) helped the five-time champions reach their target with 16 balls to spare in the second semi-final in Kolkata.

"It's hard to unpack all of that. I didn't move for the past couple of hours. It was a tense finish and an amazing game," said Head.

As Australia reached an eighth World Cup final, South Africa were left to rue a fifth semi-final loss despite David Miller's 101.

Australia slipped to 137-5 and then 193-7 before Mitchell Starc (16) and skipper Pat Cummins (14) kept their nerve to steer the team home.

Left-hand batsman and part-time off-spinner Head stood out after taking two wickets and then with his 48-ball innings laced with nine fours and two sixes.

Australia were in trouble when they were five down as spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi struck in quick succession to rattle the middle-order.

Maharaj bowled Head, who was dropped on 40 and 57, and Shamsi, a left-arm wrist spinner, trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 18 and bowled Glenn Maxwell for one in his next over.

Australia started the tournament with two losses but registered their eighth straight win.

"The way we started with the bat and ball was the turning point, we always had to play catch-up," said South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma.

'Ruthless Australia'

"The conditions combined with the quality of the Australia attack. They were ruthless and exploited every bit of advantage, and really put us under pressure."

Starc led the bowling charge with figures of 3-34 and Cummins also picked three wickets to bowl out South Africa for 212 in 49.4 overs.

Left-arm quick Starc struck in the first over to send back Bavuma, who had said he was not "100% fit" at the toss, for a fourth-ball duck.

Josh Hazlewood claimed the wicket of in-form Quinton de Kock for three as Cummins took a stunning catch.

De Kock, who will quit one-day international after the World Cup, ended with 594 runs including four centuries to sit behind the tournament's leading batsman Virat Kohli (711).

The new-ball bowlers kept up the attack with the wickets of Aiden Markram (10) and Rassie van der Dussen (six) as South Africa slumped to 24-4 and were 44-4 when rain interrupted play.

Klaasen and Miller hit back after the 45-minute rain break as the two put on 95 runs but Head broke through to bowl Klaasen for 47.

Head trapped Marco Jansen lbw on the next delivery to be on a hat-trick, which was saved by Gerald Coetzee, who put on a 53-run partnership with Miller.

The left-handed Miller smashed eight fours and five sixes in his 116-ball knock.

The final is on Sunday at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Amazon To Block Employee Promotions Who Don't Return To Office: Report

Amazon has announced that employees who do not show up for work three times a week will be blocked from promotions, as per a report in the Independent. The company told managers that a higher office-to-home ratio is a must for employees who wish to advance in their careers. If they do not adhere to the same, employees would need approval from the Vice President. 

"Managers own the promotion process, which means it is their responsibility to support your growth through regular conversations and stretch assignments, and to complete all required inputs for a promotion. If your role is expected to work from the office 3+ days a week and you are not in compliance, your manager will be made aware and VP approval will be required," the internal memo stated. 

This comes after the e-commerce company implemented a policy in February this year requiring workers to report to work three days a week starting in May. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the workplace, with companies sending employees home to work remotely. Even as lockdowns eased around the world, a large population of employees remained remote or in a hybrid environment. In a message that was posted on Amazon's blog, CEO Andy Jassy wrote the decision was taken at a meeting and that the move would make it easier to learn and collaborate. The company added there would be some exceptions to the rule - customer support roles and salespeople would have the option of working remotely.

Many staff members resisted the policy and around 30,000 employees petitioned Amazon to do away with its office rules in March 2023. At a protest at the company's Seattle headquarters in May, hundreds of Amazon employees voiced their opposition to the new policy. 

Later in August, the CEO told staff, "It's past the time to disagree and commit. If you can't disagree and commit, it's probably not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week."

Meanwhile, Amazon.com cut around 180 jobs in its games division, at least the second round of layoffs in under a week by the online retailer and digital streaming provider in a broader restructuring, an email viewed on Monday by Reuters showed. "After our initial restructuring in April, it became clear that we needed to focus our resources even more on the areas that are growing with the highest potential to drive our business forward," said Christoph Hartmann, Vice President of Amazon Games.
 

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Virat Kohli created history by slamming his 50th ODI century during the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Kohli surpassed legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar to claim the world record of scoring the highest number of centuries in ODI cricket. Celebrations erupted all around the ground as Kohli reached the milestone and wife Anushka Sharma's reaction has gone viral. Anushka could not control her excitement and was seen blowing flying kisses towards Kohli. Sachin was also in attendance and he, along with legendary footballer David Beckham, was seen applauding the huge feat.

Kohli, 35, reached his century -- his third of the tournament -- with a two off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, having faced 106 balls, hitting eight fours and a six, to break the record of 49 ODI hundreds he had shared with Sachin Tendulkar.

He did so on his former India team-mate's home ground, with Tendulkar among those applauding at the Wankhede Stadium as Kohli bowed towards his childhood hero and fellow 2011 World Cup-winner.

"It feels like a dream. Too good to be true," said Kohli at the innings break after India piled up 397-4.

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This was Kohli's 279th ODI innings, with the former India captain having also scored a further 71 fifties in addition to his 50 hundreds.

Dropped on 107, Kohli was eventually out for 117 when he pulled Tim Southee low to Devon Conway at deep square leg.

"For me the most important thing is to make my team win. I've been given a role this tournament and I'm trying to dig deep," added Kohli.

"That's the key to consistency - play according to the situation and play for the team."

Tendulkar, whose previous record of 49 had been equalled by Kohli 10 days ago in the group stage win over South Africa, hailed his compatriot's "passion and skill".

"The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn't stop laughing that day," Tendulkar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I couldn't be happier that an Indian broke my record. 

"And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake."

Kohli said he was over-joyed to achieve the record in front of his wife, Anushka Sharma, and Tendulkar 

"Sachin was there in the stands, my hero. My life partner and all these fans at the Wankhede," said Kohli.

India, bidding to win a third World Cup title and second on home soil, were also boosted by Shreyas Iyer's 105 and 80 from Shubman Gill.

(With AFP inputs)

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