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Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith lavished praise on his disciplined bowlers after the team secured a semi-final spot in the ongoing Champions Trophy following a rain-abandoned match against Afghanistan on Friday. Australia was in control at 109/1 in 12.5 overs, chasing 274, when a downpour left the field waterlogged. Following a two-hour delay, the match was called off, ensuring Australia's qualification with four points. "That's what we were after in the start, to finish in the top two and qualify for the semis. I thought the guys did a good job, made good changes and took wickets in the middle. Did well to restrict them to 270 and we were in a good position," said Smith in the post-match interaction with the broadcaster.

Australia leaked 37 runs in extras including 17 in wides but Smith backed the bowling unit.

"There were a few (extras) today, and Spencer (Johnson) was getting it to swing too much. Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper) was happy when that spell ended. The guys though did a good job, beat the bat on a few occasions," he said.

"It was a good performance, shame the game was washed out." Australian opener Matthew Short suffered an injury while fielding but he returned to open the batting and Smith said he could take a few days to recover.

It remains to be seen if he's fit for the semifinals slated on Tuesday and Wednesday. India and New Zealand are the two teams to have made the last-four stage from Group B. The final standings and the semifinal line-up will be clear only after Sunday when the group games will conclude.

"He was struggling a bit and a few days might be too short to recover," said Smith.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said they could have gone on to post 300-plus score. The Afghans are virtually out of contention and would need England to beat South Africa by a huge margin to have a chance at going through.

"Unfortunate that the game went without a result. Was a good game. I think we should have scored 300-plus but they bowled well in the middle overs," said Shahidi.

"It (273) was a good score but we didn't start well with the ball and gave them too much width and many hitting options. We'll learn from this." He also praised Sediqullah Atal for anchoring the innings and Azmatullah Omarzai for his explosive fifty.

"He (Atal) played really well today, first two games he didn't play the way we expect but his comeback was good. First ICC event for him, he played well under pressure.

"Omarzai is top class, that's why he got ODI Player of the year, he always performs for us. He plays a good role, he took a fifer against England and today also he played with a positive intent under pressure," he said.

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Citigroup Credited $81 Trillion In Account Instead Of $280 By Mistake: Report

Citigroup accidentally credited an account with $81 trillion instead of $280 as it meant to before catching the error, the  Financial Times reported.

The snafu, a "near miss" in banking industry lingo, eluded a payments employee and a second bank official before being caught by a third employee 90 minutes after it posted, the newspaper reported late Thursday.

The bank said it posted the payment to a client, without specifying what kind of client.

The payment was reversed several hours later and no funds ever left the bank, the newspaper said.

Citigroup, which has $1.7 trillion in assets according to Federal Reserve data, said there was "no impact to the bank or our client," according to a bank statement.

"Despite the fact that a payment of this size could not actually have been executed, our detective controls promptly identified the inputting error between two Citi ledger accounts, and we reversed the entry," Citigroup said.

Citi's snafu stemmed from a system blockage of payments that had to be entered manually under a program that came pre-populated with 15 zeros, according to the Financial Times report.

In July 2024, the Federal Reserve and Office of Comptroller of the Currency fined the bank $136 million for failing to sufficiently upgrade its systems under a 2020 order by the regulators to address poor risk management.

In October 2020, the OCC fined Citigroup $400 million for deficiencies in risk management, data governance and internal controls.

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

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How Trump's Threats Played A Role In The Comeback Of Trudeau's Liberal Party

The Liberal Party of Canada has made a stunning comeback, surpassing the Conservative Party in polls for the first time in four years. According to a recent Ipsos survey, the Liberals now hold a 2% lead over the Conservatives, a significant shift from the 26% deficit they faced just six weeks ago.
This dramatic turnaround is largely attributed to the anti-Trump sentiment sweeping Canada. US President Donald Trump's aggressive stance on trade and territorial expansion has led to a surge in Canadian patriotism, with many rallying behind their government in opposition to Trump's policies.

The situation is a far cry from the bleak outlook faced by the Liberal Party just a few weeks ago. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation on January 7, following intense unpopularity and opposition from within his own party, seemed to signal the end of the Liberal Party's chances. However, the party's fortunes have since reversed, with the Liberals gaining significant ground in the polls.

The Ipsos survey published on February 25 reported that 38% of voters now favour the Liberals, while 36% support the Conservatives. This shift is a remarkable reversal of the situation just six weeks prior, when the Conservatives held a commanding 46% to 20% lead over the Liberals.

Trump's aggressive rhetoric, including his claims that the US will annex Canada and make it the 51st state, has been met with widespread criticism and ridicule. Trudeau, in a passionate speech, highlighted the long history of cooperation and friendship between Canada and the US, from fighting together in World War II to providing aid during natural disasters. Trudeau's words struck a chord with Canadians, who are increasingly feeling a sense of betrayal and humiliation at the hands of the US.

As Trudeau so eloquently put it, "We will stand strong for Canada. We will stand strong to ensure our countries continue to be the best neighbors in the world... This is Team Canada at its best."
 

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Afghanistan continued their meteoric rise in the world of cricket as they beat 2019 World Cup winners England in their second Group B game of Champions Trophy 2025. With the match being a virtual knockout game, Afghanistan defeated England by eight runs in a thriller. This was Afghanistan's second successive win over England in a 50-over ICC tournament, having beaten them in the 2023 World Cup as well. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan then won hearts by doing his signature dance steps to celebrate Afghanistan's win.

Taking to social media, Irfan Pathan posted a video of him dancing to the tunes of Bollywood song 'Afghan Jalebi'. "Another ICC win against England from Afghanistan. Well done!" is how Pathan captioned his Instagram post.

The dance has become somewhat of a custom in recent years, with Pathan having done the same in 2023 when Afghanistan beat England in the World Cup.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irfan Pathan (@irfanpathan_official)

On that occasion, Pathan had danced with Afghanistan's talisman Rashid Khan. This time, Rashid was quick to jokingly point out why they weren't dancing together.

"Bhai jan mere baghair dance haha (Brother, dancing without me?). Thank you bhai always for support and love," replied Rashid Khan to Pathan's post.

Pathan's dance went viral on Instagram, racking up over 600,000 likes within the first 10 hours of being posted.

Afghanistan vs England, Champions Trophy 2025: As it happened

With both sides needing a win to stay alive in the semi-final race, Afghanistan once again proved why a victory for them should now not be considered an upset.

Batting first, Afghanistan recovered from a shaky start to pile on 325 in 50 overs. Opener Ibrahim Zadran played a mighty knock of 177 off just 146 balls. The innings is now the highest individual score by a batter in Champions Trophy history.

In response, England always appeared to be in the run chase, but could not get over the line in the end, with Afghanistan taking wickets at crucial intervals.

Joe Root played a masterful 111-ball 120, and was aided by handy knocks from Jos Buttler (38), Ben Duckett (38) and Jamie Overton. However, it wasn't enough.

Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai starred with the ball in hand. Having earlier slammed a 31-ball 41, Omarzai then scalped five wickets, including the crucial ones of Root, Overton and Adil Rashid in the final five overs.

Afghanistan face Australia on February 28, in what will be another virtual knockout game in Group B.

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Failed To "Imagine Scenario" Like Oct 7: Israel Army Probe On Hamas Attack

The Israeli army failed to "imagine such a scenario" as October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants attacked Israel from Gaza, a military official said Thursday as the army released an internal probe.

"We did not even imagine such a scenario," a military official told journalists ahead of the release of the probe's findings, adding that Palestinian militants led by Hamas caught Israel by surprise, not only in terms of the size and scale of the attack, but also its "brutality".

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

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Ibrahim Zadran's majestic 177 and pacer Azmatullah Omarzai's fifer trumped Joe Root's masterful hundred, as the brave Afghanistan registered a thrilling 8-run win to knock a largely-insipid England out of the Champions Trophy on Wednesday. England are winless after two matches and in their last league match in Group B they will face South Africa, who already have three points along with Australia. Afghanistan now have two points and will have to beat the Aussies in their final group match to entertain the hopes of reaching the last eight. For a long time, England's chase merely rattled along as the dismissal of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith jolted them early. They were 30 for two then, and eventually ended up at 317 all out with a ball to spare as pacer Omarzai (5/58) struck at crucial junctures.

But Root (120, 111b, 11x4, 1x6) brought stability to England's innings through two alliances, adding 68 runs with Ben Duckett (38), who was dropped on 29, for the third wicket and then an 83-run stand with skipper Jos Buttler for the fifth wicket.

They were not really blazing partnerships but kept England afloat, keeping them in the vicinity of the asking rate.

But the jettisoning of Duckett and Buttler prematurely curtailed those blossoming joint ventures, as Root had to shoulder the burden all by himself.

Root's was a clever innings, as he hardly hit any ball in anger but still managed a strike-rate close to 100, and at times above 100.

But there those little flourishes which are so central to a Root innings such as a reverse sweep four off wrist spinner Noor Ahmad or a scooped six behind wicketkeeper off Fazalhaq Farooqi.

He brought up his 17th ODI hundred with a single off Rashid Khan, and looked to stay on. But a rather tired ramp off pacer Omarzai ended in the gloves of keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

But England had another willing soldier in Jamie Overton (32, 28b), who added precious 54 runs for the seventh wicket, but a feeble heave off Omarzai ended his stint.

It also marked the end of England's journey in this tournament.

Earlier, Zadran's remarkable innings helped Afghanistan pile 325 for seven.

Zadran, whose daddy hundred came off 146 balls (12x4, 6x6), had solid support from skipper Hashmathullah Shahidi (40, 67b, 3x4), with whom he raised 103 runs for the fourth wicket, and Azmatullah Omarzai (41, 31b) with whom he milked 72 runs for the fifth wicket.

Later, he plundered 111 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammed Nabi (40, 24b) to put England through the wringer.

But Afghanistan's start to a must-win game was way off the mark after they elected to bat first. Jofra Archer's (3/64) pace and accuracy put them under considerable strife inside the first 10 overs on an absolute batting beauty.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz dragged an Archer delivery back onto his stumps while attempting a drive, Sediquallah Atal was trapped in front and Rahmat Shah pulled one straight to Adil Rashid at square leg as the Afghans slumped to 37 for three inside the Power Play.

Zadran began the repair work in the company of Shahidi and they were understandably circumspect.

But once he reached 50 off 65 balls, Zadran opened up more and smoked Jamie Overton for a couple of fours to signal the shifting of gears.

However, Shahidi was dismissed when he tried to reverse sweep leg-spinner Rashid, whose front-of-the-arm delivery crashed onto the stumps.

But Zadran flourished in the company of Omarzai as England felt the heat of double-barrel firing.

England also had to deal with a knee injury to pacer Mark Wood, as he bowled only eight overs even after spending some time away from the field during the Afghan innings.

Zadran, who brought up his sixth ODI hundred off 106 balls, soon slipped into overdrive, smashing Overton for 6, 4, 4, in an over.

The departure of Omarzai did not slow down the 23-year-old as he blasted Archer for 6, 4, 4, 4 to reach the 150-run mark for the second time in his career.

Along with a veteran batter Nabi, Zadran added quick runs for the sixth wicket at over 11 runs an over as England fell apart spectacularly in the final 10 overs, conceding 113 runs. Zadran eventually fell to Liam Livingstone in the final over. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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New Zealand's victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match on Monday proved to be the final nail in the coffin for hosts Pakistan. After defeats against New Zealand and India in their first two matches, Pakistan's campaign was on the brink. As the Kiwis outscored the Bangla Tigers in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's elimination was confirmed. Courtesy of their early exit from the tournament, Mohammad Rizwan's men went on to register a few embarrassing records to their name.

It was the first occasion since 2009 that saw the host nation failing to make it out of the group stages of the Champions Trophy. In the 2009 campaign, South Africa failed to qualify for the knockouts after winning just one and losing 2 matches in the group stage of the tournament.

Already out of the semi-finals race, Pakistan became only the 4th team to enter the Champions Trophy as defending champions and exit in the group stages. In the 2004 edition of the tournament, India and Sri Lanka were eliminated from in the group stages. India and Sri Lanka were crowned the joint-winners in the 2002 edition. Even in the 2013 campaign, defending champions Australia failed to win even a single match and were eliminated in the group stage itself.

On Sunday, India rode on a clinical performance to outclass traditional rivals Pakistan with plenty to spare at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for 241. Virat Kohli then regained his glorious touch with his 51st ODI hundred, and was ably supported by Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, as India completed the chase with 45 balls to spare to inch closer to the semifinals.

As per a PTI report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that head coach Aaqib Javed will be relieved of his duties after the Champions Trophy.

“Obviously there is backlash over the team's performance in the CT. The Board hasn't decided as yet on whether the team will have separate head coaches (for red and white ball teams) but one thing is certain the current support staff will be overhauled now after the poor show in the Champions Trophy,” the source told PTI.

"But the way the Board has been changing coaches and selectors since last year, it will be a challenge to find other candidates for these positions,” he said.

This is the first time Pakistan were given the hosting right of an ICC tournament since the 1996 World Cup.

With PTI Inputs

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"Romance Scam On Steroids": Woman Used Dating Apps To Lure Men, Steal Money

Authorities are looking for more possible targets of a Las Vegas woman, who allegedly used dating apps to lure several men to Mexico, drugging them with sedatives, and stealing their money and financial information.

The FBI on Friday requested other men who fell victim to Aurora Phelps' dating scam to come forward. Although the bureau is required by law to name the victims of federal crimes it looks into, it said the identities will remain private.

According to reports, Phelps would steal victims' cars, withdraw money from their bank accounts, use their credit cards to purchase luxury items and gold, and even try to access social security and retirement accounts after injecting them with steroids.

The 43-year-old is currently in custody in Mexico and is facing 21 charges, including wire fraud and identity theft. Authorities said Phelps is also facing charges for one of the men's deaths. 

As per the indictment, Phelps kidnapped one of the victims by heavily sedating him and then took him in a wheelchair across the US-Mexico border. She then took him to a hotel room, where he was later found dead.

Spencer Evans, the special agent-in-charge of the FBI's Las Vegas division, said that one of the four victims, who were targeted in 2021 and 2022, went into a coma after she gave him prescription sedatives over the course of a week. He said, "This is a romance scam on steroids."

In another case, Phelps went on a lunch date with a man in July 2021 at his home and slipped him a prescription drug. She then stole his iPhone, bank cards, driving license, and iPads, and also gained access to his bank accounts. 

She also allegedly sold Apple shares for around $3.3 million through his E-Trade account, but she was unable to withdraw the money.

Authorities said Phelps used popular dating apps, including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, to find her targets. 

According to Sue Fahami, the acting United States attorney for the District of Nevada, Phelps may face a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty of all seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, six counts of bank fraud, three counts of identity theft, and one act of kidnapping.

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Elon Musk Is A "Hateful Person", Says American-Islamic Relations Body

Billionaire Elon Musk has come under fire for amplifying claims labelling US-based Muslim aid groups as "terrorist organisations." The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Musk's remarks, calling him a "hateful person" whose words fuel Islamophobia and put American Muslim communities at risk.

On Sunday, the Tesla CEO reposted a claim that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had given over $164 million to "terrorist-linked organisations," including American Near East Refugee Aid, the Arab American Institute, the Islamic Relief Agency, and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

He wrote on X, "As many people have said, why pay terrorist organisations and certain countries to hate us when they're perfectly willing to do it for free?"

As many people have said, why pay terrorist organizations and certain countries to hate us when they're perfectly willing to do it for free? https://t.co/zQwFpnMNNS

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2025

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad responded sharply, saying the billionaire "baselessly" labelling law-abiding American Muslim organisations as "terrorists" was "reckless and dangerous."

"This kind of rhetoric fuels Islamophobia, endangers innocent lives, and undermines the values of justice and equality. Do better," he said.

Elon, baselessly labeling law-abiding American Muslim organizations as 'terrorist' is reckless and dangerous. This kind of rhetoric fuels Islamophobia, endangers innocent lives, and undermines the values of justice and equality. Do better. #StopHate #Accountability

— Nihad Awad (@NihadAwad) February 23, 2025

The advocacy group said the listed organisations were legitimate nonprofits, many of which previously partnered with the US government, including during Donald Trump's first term.

The organisation said that assuming any American charity with "Islam" in its name is linked to terrorism reflects ignorance and fuels Islamophobia. They added one who assumed so was "a hateful person who must know next to nothing about American Muslims and their contributions to our society, including humanitarian work."

The Muslim American and Arab American organizations smeared in these defamatory posts are duly registered nonprofit organizations that have the same right to apply for federal funding as every other eligible charity. In fact, many of these nonprofits partnered with the government… https://t.co/11Pk8eRcdp

— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) February 23, 2025

CAIR also called out Musk for selectively targeting Muslim charities while ignoring other issues, questioning why he hasn't spoken about "the billions in American taxpayer dollars that the Israeli government has used to slaughter tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza."

US spending on Israel's military operations has reached at least $22.76 billion since October 7, 2023, a Brown University research found. This estimate includes approved security assistance, supplemental funding for regional operations, and additional operational costs but does not account for other economic expenses.

Of this, $17.9 billion has been allocated specifically for Israeli military operations in Gaza and beyond - the highest annual military aid to Israel since the US began its assistance in 1959. Reports suggest this is only a fraction of the full financial support provided during the ongoing conflict.

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Virat Kohli showcased his penchant to lord over Pakistan in ICC tournaments once more as the batting icon's glittering unbeaten 100 helped India claim an authoritative six-wicket win over their traditional rivals and all but seal a semifinal spot in the Champions Trophy here on Sunday. The victory should be enough for India, who are now on top of Group A with four points, to make the last four. However, Pakistan are staring at early elimination from the eight-team event after their second successive loss.

Chasing a tricky 242, India rode on Kohli's 51st ODI ton, Shreyas Iyer's classy 67-ball 56 and Shubman Gill's brilliant start of 46 off 52 balls to overhaul the target with more than seven overs to spare.

Kohli rebelled against his own modest recent form and a dangerous opposition to peel off a memorable knock that took 111 balls and was punctuated with seven fours.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are on their way out of the tournament of which they are the hosts.

Once again, they ran into their old nemesis — Kohli. The 36-year-old had several demons of his own to tame — a lean run, recurring form of dismissals and struggles against spin.

But he slayed each one of them, in a manner befitting a batter who also became the quickest to 14,000 ODI runs during the course of the knock.

Pakistan might have hoped to hustle him a bit through pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

But Kohli drove them on the up with elan or pulled them with audacity as Pakistan's premier pacers transformed into dejected figures after the early high of Afridi castling Rohit Sharma (20 off 15 balls) with a peach of a yorker.

Perhaps, the biggest hope Pakistan harboured against Kohli would have been leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, considering the Indian's recent travails against England's Adil Rashid.

Kohli did have a couple of tough moments against Ahmed but none big enough to put him in distress. He largely dealt with him in singles, cutting down risks.

But the Pakistan quicks offered him enough chances to free his arms.

At the other end, Iyer flowed with a variety of shots but a 103 metre six off spinner Salman Agha was the standout hit during his tenure, in which he assisted Kohli to raise 114 runs for the third wicket.

Iyer had to walk back to the hut after Imam-ul-Haq pulled off a stunner at covers off spinner Khushdil Shah although replays suggested that the ball might have been grounded.

But by then, India had already shut the door on Pakistan.

A large chunk of credit for this win can also be rightfully claimed by Indian bowlers, who were stunningly accurate while limiting Pakistan to 241.

That total was made possible by Saud Shakeel's polished fifty and Khushdil's cameo.

Shakeel (62, 76b, 5x4) was largely untroubled and added 104 runs for the third wicket with skipper Mohammad Rizwan (46), but Pakistan never really managed to break the shackles after opting to bat.

The pitch expectedly grew slow once the match entered the middle passage, and the precision of Indian bowlers made run-making a laboured task with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav leading the way (3/40).

There was a period in Pakistan innings when both Rizwan and Shakeel failed to find the boundary rope for 55 consecutive deliveries.

They were forced to traverse a cautious path because of the early departure of Babar Azam (23) and Imam (10).

Azam looked million dollars while playing those trademark cover drives for a few boundaries off Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya.

But that desire to drive brought his doom as well. Pandya immediately pulled the length back after getting driven for a four and Azam's full-throttle shot took an edge to KL Rahul's big gloves.

Soon, Imam took off for a non-existent single and Axar Patel at mid-on just had to hit the stumps, which he did.

At 47 for two, Pakistan had their task cut out in a high-pressure match but Rizwan and Shakeel brought some stability to their innings with composed knocks.

India also had a couple of worrying points at this stage as veteran pacer Mohammed Shami and skipper Rohit Sharma had to stay off the field for some time.

Shami had to tend to his shin while Rohit looked in some discomfort primarily because of the heat here. However, both of them returned to the field to allay the concerns.

Rizwan's adventurous shimmy down the track against Axar saw him losing the stumps, and from thereon Pakistan went on a downward spiral.

Shakeel, who played the pull with some conviction, perished to the same shot against Pandya, skying a simple catch to Axar in the deep.

Salman, Afridi and Naseem Shah fell to Kuldeep's guile as India tightened their grip.

Khushdil (38, 39 balls) played a couple of big shots, including the first six of Pakistan innings, that helped his side reach a healthy total but Kohli's brilliance was too high to match on the night. 

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

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New York-Delhi Flight Diverted To Rome Over "Security Threat": Report

An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome due to a "possible security issue", news agency Reuters reported.

American Airlines flight AA292 departed New York's JFK International Airport on February 22 and was scheduled to arrive at Delhi but was diverted to Rome.

A report in ABC News also quoted the airline as saying that the American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Rome over a "possible security issue."

Italy's ANSA news agency said that the diversion was caused by an "alleged bomb threat".

The flight has landed safely at the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport, the airport authorities told ABC News.

"Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding," the airline said in a statement.

According to the flight's status on the American Airlines website, flight AA 292 departed New York's JFK airport at 8:14 pm on February 22 and was estimated to arrive at the Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport in Fiumicino, Italy at around 5:30 pm local time.

Visuals on social media showed the Boeing 787-9 aircraft being escorted by the Italian Air Force before landing in Rome.

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Shooting At Hospital In US' Pennsylvania, Reports Say Gunman Killed

Several shots were fired at a hospital in central Pennsylvania, with the gunman being reportedly killed in the encounter with police. The incident took place at the UPMC Memorial Hospital and some people are reportedly injured.

Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, said, "I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene. The hospital is now secure and members of the police are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners."

I've been briefed on the tragic shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County and I am on my way to the scene.

The hospital is now secure and members of the @PAStatePolice and @PEMAHQ are on the ground responding alongside our local and federal partners.

Follow the…

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 22, 2025

"Follow the direction of local authorities and stay clear of the area. We will share more updates as they become available," Mr Shapiro said.

A video, which is viral on social media, shows a police car approaching the hospital and people running out of the premises. After shots were fired, the area was cordoned off by the police.

???#BREAKING | NEWS ⚠️
Active shooter situation at UMPC hospital in York, Pennsylvania story is still developing multiple victims reported pic.twitter.com/GqOAqWMtiE

— Todd Paron?????? (@tparon) February 22, 2025

According to reports, two law enforcement officers and a nurse sustained injuries in the shooting.

The New York Times, quoting an official from the hospital said, "A gunman was at the hospital on Saturday and shots were fired." "The hospital is now secure and the threat has been neutralized," the hospital said.

Officials at UPMC Memorial in York said that no patients were injured and that the gunman is dead, the news agency Associated Press reported, adding that law enforcement agencies are on-premises and are managing the situation.

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Opening batter Ryan Rickelton struck a flawless maiden century before a clinical display by the bowlers as South Africa began their Champions Trophy campaign with a comprehensive 107-run win over Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday. Rickleton smashed 103 off 106 balls with the help of seven fours and one six while captain Temba Bavuma (58 off 76 balls), Rassie van der Dussen (52 off 46 balls) and Aiden Markram (52 not out off 36 balls) scored half centuries as South Africa posted 315 for 6 after opting to bat. Rickleton's ton was the tournament's fifth in three day's time and the third at the National Stadium here.

Chasing a big target of 316, Afghanistan couldn't repeat their series-winning performance of late last year against South Africa when they won the series 2-1 in Sharjah.

They were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs with South Africa pacers Kagiso Rabada (3/36), Lungi Ngidi (2/56), Wiaan Mulder (2/36) and Marco Jansen (1/32) sharing eight wickets among them as they never allowed Afghanistan to get going in the first 15 overs.

The Afghans slipped to 50 for 4 and then to 89 for 5 in the 23rd over. They never recovered from there.

Rahmat Shah played a lone hand with a 92-ball 90 while Rashid Khan (18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) were the second highest scorers for Afghanistan who were never in the game after conceding a big total.

Ngidi set the pace when he got rid of danger man Rehmanullah Gurbaz in the fourth over for 10 when the batsman couldn't play down a short ball which got big on him and Maharaj took a fine catch at short leg.

After five overs, Rabada, bowling with fire on a batting track, clean-bowled Ibrahim Zadran with a beauty.

To make matters worse, Afghanistan lost Sediqullah Atal (16) to a run out in the 14th over while trying a suicidal single and the next over, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) pulled Mulder straight to his opposite number Bavuma at wide mid-on to derail the innings.

Rabada and Jansen went through Azmatullah Omarzai (18) and Muhammad Nabi (8) to make it 120 for 6 and more or less settle the matter even though Rehmat Shah stood out with his fighting 90 from 92 balls before he was the last man out, edging Rabada to the keeper.

Even though Tristan Stubbs was dropped and Heinrich Klassen was ruled out with an elbow tissue injury, South Africa had enough firepower to subdue the Afghans whose deadly three pronged spin attack was nullified on a flat pitch.

There was a period when South Africa struggled to get boundaries with seven overs going without a four at one stage in their innings, overall their batting performance was clinical.

South Africa, after winning the inaugural Champions Trophy event in 1998 (held in knockout format), have never been able to win an ICC title held in proper league group format.

South Africa came close to breaking their jinx when they lost in the final of the World T20 Cup last year to India while they have already qualified for the final of the ICC World Test Championship to be held in June in England.

The South African innings was spearheaded by Rickleton who played a flawless innings to reach his maiden hundred before he found himself run out in unfortunate circumstances.

The southpaw led a disciplined batting display for South Africa with Bavuma, Van Der Dussen and Markram also scoring half centuries to set up the big total.

Rickleton, who hit seven fours and a six, was run out in the 36th over when he flicked back to Rashid Khan whose throw was picked up by the wicketkeeper before whipping off the bails. The batter dived full length but found his bat in the air when the bails came off.

Rickelton displayed great footwork against spinners Rashid and Muhammad Nabi and chinaman Noor Ahmed, not allowing them to dictate terms on him as he was also very strong off his back foot with his cuts and pulls.

The left-hander shared a strong second wicket partnership of 129 runs with Bavuma who batted smoothly for his 58 off 76 balls.

Once the two were separated with Bavuma holing out into the deep, Rickleton found another able partner in van der Dussen who helped himself to a 52 from 46 balls.

Van Dussen made sure South Africa didn't feel the absence of Heinrich Klassen who was out of the match with an elbow soft tissue injury and the dropped Tristan Stubbs as he batted very well against pace and spin.

Markram then smashed a quick-fire 52 from 36 balls with six fours and a six but even then South Africa just got 70 in their final 10 overs.

His 52 not out from 36 balls is the fastest by a South African in the tournament.

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

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

A funny interaction between cricket presenter Sanjana Ganesan and Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz is going viral on social media. During the chat, the duo talked about India's right-arm pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is also the husband of Sanjana.  "He is very different bowler and very dangerous," said Mehidy in the video. To this, the presenter replied, "He is not coming here." Then Mehidy said, "Yeah, I know. We are very happy." The Bangladesh star then asked about how Bumrah was doing. "He is okay. He is training at the NCA," said Sanjana.

Notably, Bumrah is not a part of India's squad for the ongoing Champions Trophy due to a back injury he suffered during the fifth and final Test in Australia in January this year.

That OOF for bumrah . pic.twitter.com/CLg7jlTyQD

— onlyy rndom thngss (@sahilmemon23) February 19, 2025

India talisman pacer Bumrah had recently shared a picture of him hitting the gym after being ruled out of the ICC event. Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released a statement to confirm Bumrah's absence from the tournament.

"Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The Men's Selection Committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah's replacement," BCCI had stated.

In his recent post, Bumrah had taken to Instagram and shared a picture from inside a gym. "Rebuilding" was the caption of the post.

https://ift.tt/GDR4kvV

Bumrah has been missing from on-field action since January. His last appearance was in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in Sydney.

After bowling 10.1 overs in the first innings, the A-Lister was visibly in discomfort and went for scans. He was advised by the Australian doctors not to participate in the remainder of the Sydney Test. He came out to bat in the second innings but didn't take up his duties with the ball.

Talking about Champions Trophy 2025, the eight-team tournament is featuring 15 matches and will be played across Pakistan and Dubai. The ICC Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9 is being hosted by Pakistan and UAE, with India playing its matches in Dubai under a hybrid model.

The biggest match of the ICC tournament between two arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, will be played on February 23. India will started their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India's last league match will be against New Zealand on March 2.

India's squad for ICC Champions Trophy, 2025: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Non Travelling substitutes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Shivam Dube. The three players will travel to Dubai as and when required.

(With ANI Inputs)

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Pope Francis, Who Has Pneumonia, "Not Out Of Danger", Say Doctors

One of the doctors treating Pope Francis said on Friday the 88-year-old, who has pneumonia, was "not out of danger" and would likely stay in hospital "at least all next week".

Professor Sergio Alfieri said the pontiff's condition was "slightly better", made clear he was not hooked up to any machine -- and said Francis was cracking jokes.

"The question is, is the pope out of danger? No, the pope is not out of danger," he told a press conference at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where Francis was admitted on February 14 with breathing difficulties.

What began as bronchitis developed into double pneumonia, causing widespread alarm.

"If we send him to Santa Marta (his home at the Vatican), he'll start working again as before," Alfieri continued.

"So we're keeping him here. Right now, he's in the hospital, at least for all next week.

"We're keeping him here so that when he goes back to Santa Marta, it'll be harder for him to overdo it."

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

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar criticised star batter Babar Azam for his slow and conservative knock against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy opener, saying that the batter has "no intention to improve". Babar's sluggish approach in ODIs made headlines as he made a 90-ball 64 against NZ while chasing 321 in the Champions Trophy opener. His strike rate was extremely underwhelming at 71.11, leaving Pakistan 60 runs short of a win and their net run rate slipped to -1.20. Their next match against arch-rivals India on Sunday has become a virtual knockout.

Speaking in the post-match analysis show 'Game On Hai' as quoted by Wisden, Shoaib said, "Babar Azam has become the product he had to become; it is visible; what can I debate about it?. You saw it (against New Zealand). There is no intention to improve."

"You cannot run a team by acting like Maula Jatt (violent Pakistani fictional character) - 'Bring this, do this, do that' etc. You're not playing T20. You can play T20 cricket with T20 skills, but in longer formats you need awareness, intelligence and method as well. How do you create this package?"

"They used to teach us way back in the 80s and 90s in club cricket how to play run-a-ball. Even us tailenders knew that we have to play run-a-ball," he concluded.

Babar's knock of 64 in 90 balls, was his fifth-slowest 50-plus score in ODIs, with his slowest being an 86-ball fifty against NZ back in 2023. While Babar was no doubt at fault, he did not get much support from top order, who also played extremely conservative cricket, with Saud Shakeel (6 off 19), Mohammad Rizwan (3 off 14), and Fakhar Zaman (24 off 41) failing to fire. In the middle order, Salman Agha (42 in 28 balls, with six fours and a six) and Khusdil Shah (69 in 49 balls, with 10 fours and a six) did come good, but it was not enough as Pakistan was bundled out for 260 in 47.2 overs.

In contrast, Kiwis had well-made centuries from Will Young (107 in 113 balls, with 12 fours and a six) and Tom Latham (118 in 104 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes) and an explosive 61 in 39 balls by Glenn Phillips, which had three fours and four sixes.

In his last 10 ODIs, Babar has scored 354 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.25, with a strike rate of over 76 and three fifties, with best score of 73. He has not scored an international ton since his century against Nepal in August 2023 during the Asia Cup.

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

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"I Am Okay, I Love You": Israeli Hostage's Message For Family

An Israeli soldier, held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, has sent a message for his family through recently released hostages, his father has confirmed.

"I am okay," Nimrod Cohen conveyed via former fellow captives, his father Yehuda told Israeli news outlet N12. "Don't worry about me. I love you," Mr Cohen told the people released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza.

Mr Cohen, 20, a gunner in an Israeli tank unit, was captured during the Hamas-led attack on the Nahal Oz army base. His three crewmates - Cpt Omer Neutra, Sgt Shaked Dahan, and Sgt Oz Daniel - were killed. He remains one of the last Israeli hostages held in Gaza, excluded from the first phase of the hostage release deal.

Yehuda Cohen, currently in Washington, DC, is on his fifth mission to advocate for his son's release.

"There is no doubt - he will return. He will come back alive and well," Yehuda Cohen said.

He has been outspoken in his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the hostage situation. He accused Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations and claimed that US President Donald Trump and investor Steven Witkoff have stepped in as mediators "against our own government-a government that has betrayed us."

He also questioned Netanyahu's decision to appoint Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to lead hostage talks, alleging that Dermer had dismissed the possibility of any hostages being alive just three months ago.

As discussions continue on the second phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal, Yehuda Cohen, along with other hostage families - including Einav Zangauker, mother of captive Matan Zangauker - has petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice to force the government to disclose full details of the ceasefire agreement.

"Our goal is to make sure Netanyahu does not torpedo the second phase of the deal," Yehuda Cohen said, referring to the phase in which his son is expected to be included.

Back home in Rehovot, the Cohen family is fully committed to securing Nimrod's return. Yehuda Cohen and his eldest son, Yotam, regularly attend protests on Tel Aviv's Begin Road, while Viki, Nimrod's mother, and his twin sister, Romi, participate in silent demonstrations at Hostages Square.

Beyond Israel, Yehuda Cohen has taken his fight to the international stage, meeting with US lawmakers, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, and European officials to push for diplomatic and legal action against Netanyahu if negotiations stall.

Yehuda Cohen is convinced that Hamas is determined to keep the hostages alive - possibly even more so than the Israeli government, The Times Of Israel reported. 

He acknowledges that the process is long and methodical. "To get to Nimrod, there's a list, and it has to progress," he said. He recalled how in November 2023, Israel claimed Hamas provided the wrong list, leading to the collapse of a ceasefire. "Bibi looks for the spot where he can torpedo it all," he alleged, criticising the Israeli Prime Minister's handling of negotiations.

Watching the weekly return of freed hostages has felt surreal for Nimrod's brother, Yotam Cohen. "It's like watching a reality TV show," he said. "We all watch it and deserve to be a part of it after everything that so many Israelis have gone through in this struggle, but I'm jealous of them."

He also grieved for the hostages, who never returned. Among them was Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a friend from his army service, killed in captivity in late August alongside five others. "They could have been at home," he said. "They could have come back to their families. It's the crime of the government that they're not coming back."

Israel has confirmed ongoing discussions for the next phase of the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal. The ceasefire, which began on January 19, aims to end the war. So far, 19 hostages have been freed, with 14 more expected soon. Around 73 hostages - alive and dead - are still in Gaza. Hamas took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people in its October 7 attack.

In response, Israel's 15-month military offensive in the narrow strip killed almost 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

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Egypt Unveils First Ancient Royal Tomb Since Tutankhamun In 1922

Egypt's antiquities authority says it has found the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial to be located since the famed discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

The tomb, discovered near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in southern Egypt, belonged to King Thutmose II of the 18th dynasty, who lived nearly 3,500 years ago.

Thutmose II was an ancestor to Tutankhamun himself, and his half-sister and queen consort was Pharaoh Hatshepsut.

Her giant mortuary temple stands on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor a few kilometres (miles) from where the tomb of Thutmose II was found.

Although preliminary studies suggest its contents were moved in ancient times -- leaving the tomb without the iconic mummy or gilded splendour of the Tutankhamun find -- the antiquities ministry on Tuesday called the discovery "one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years".

It has been excavated by a joint Egyptian-British mission, led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the New Kingdom Research Foundation.

The tomb's entrance was first located in 2022 in the Luxor mountains west of the Valley of the Kings, but was believed at the time to lead to the tomb of a royal wife.

But the team then found "fragments of alabaster jars inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose II, identified as the 'deceased king', alongside inscriptions bearing the name of his chief royal consort, Queen Hatshepsut", confirming whose tomb it was, the ministry said.

Shortly after the king's burial, water flooded the burial chamber, damaging the interior and leaving fragments of plaster that bore parts of the Book of Amduat, an ancient mortuary text on the underworld.

Some funerary furniture belonging to Thutmose II has also been recovered from the tomb in "the first-ever find" of its kind, according to the ministry.

It quoted mission chief Dr Piers Litherland as saying the team will continue its work in the area, hoping to find the tomb's original contents.

There has been a surge of major archaeological discoveries in recent years, as Egypt seeks to boost its tourism industry as a key source of foreign currency revenue.

Last year, Egypt hosted 15.7 million tourists and aims to attract 18 million visitors in 2025.

The crown jewel of the government's strategy is the long-delayed inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the pyramids in Giza, which Egypt has said will finally open this year.

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

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Pope Accepts Resignation Of Canadian Bishop Accused Of Sexual Abuse

Pope Francis on Tuesday said he had accepted the resignation of a Canadian bishop who has been named in a class-action lawsuit against the church that alleges sexual assault.

The pope did not give a reason for replacing Jean-Pierre Blais, the 75-year-old bishop of Baie-Comeau in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec.

But in a statement, he noted that any bishop who turns 75 is automatically requested to offer his resignation. The pope makes a decision on whether to accept the offer "after he has examined all the circumstances", the statement said.

Blais is mentioned in a list of sexual predators filed as part of a victims' class action against the Archdiocese of Quebec. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Baie-Comeau were not immediately available to comment on the pope's decision.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Trump Envoy Says US Will Not "Impose" Deal On Ukraine

US envoy Keith Kellogg on Monday said that he would not tell Ukraine to accept whatever deal is negotiated by President Donald Trump to end Russia's war, ahead of a visit to Kyiv.

Kellogg is set to arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday for three days of talks that will include a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

His visit to Kyiv will come after top US officials meet Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the first time since Trump blindsided allies by agreeing to launch peace efforts with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Kellogg said US officials were engaged in parallel efforts to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table -- with him spearheading the outreach to Ukraine.

Trump's envoy insisted that it would ultimately be up to Zelensky to decide if Ukraine accepts any deal that the US leader brokers.

"The decision by Ukrainians is a Ukrainian decision," Kellogg told journalists after talks with US allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"Zelensky is the elected leader of a sovereign nation and those decisions are his and nobody will impose those on an elected leader of a sovereign nation," Kellogg said.

He insisted that his job was to "facilitate" a deal that would "ensure that there are solid security guarantees that Ukraine is a sovereign nation".

European leaders on Monday met in Paris to try to come up with a strategy as fears swirl that they will be left on the sidelines of any talks.

Kellogg reiterated earlier suggestions that Europeans would not directly participate, but insisted they would have an "input".

"I don't think it's reasonable or feasible to have everybody sitting at the table," he said.

Kellogg said that "everything remains on the table" in the negotiations after US defence secretary Pete Hegseth poured cold water on Ukraine's goals of joining NATO or regaining all its territory.

He did not rule out that broader issues of European and global security would be brought up in negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

"I think what is brought into those discussions are unknowns," he said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if global issues are brought up," he added, pointing to potential efforts to break up Russia's ties with Iran, North Korea and China.

The US envoy said that after nearly three years of all-out war he believed that both Russia and Ukraine were ready to call a halt as neither can score a decisive victory on the battlefield.

"You get the feeling right now that both sides kind of want to tap out," he said.

"When you think about it, this is really unsustainable."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Smriti Mandhana smashed a blistering 47-ball 81 to power reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a resounding eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League in Vadodara on Monday. RCB bowlers, led by Renuka Singh (3/23) and Georgia Wareham (3/25), produced a disciplined performance to bowl out Delhi for 141 in 19.3 overs. RCB's opening duo of Smriti and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (42 from 33 balls; 7x4) made the target look effortless, forging a commanding 107-run partnership in just 55 balls before Richa Ghosh (11 not out from 5 balls) sealed the chase with a six in 16.2 overs.

The Indian vice-captain Smriti smashed 10 fours and three sixes, dominating the bowlers with her signature sweeps, inside-out drives, and a towering pull over deep mid-wicket off Marizanne Kapp.

She reached her fastest fifty of the tournament in just 27 balls, setting the tone for RCB's clinical chase.

Danni provided solid support, striking seven boundaries, keeping the momentum going.

The English batter survived a dropped catch at long-off when Jemimah Rodrigues spilled a sitter with Danni on 34.

The duo's staggering opening stand in just 10 overs, left Delhi with no answers.

RCB stormed to 50 in just five overs, ensuring there was no let-up.

Smriti's powerful six off Arundhati Reddy over long-off was an early statement of intent, while back-to-back boundaries off Shikha Pandey further dismantled Delhi's bowling attack.

The toss also proved crucial as RCB's decision to bowl first paid off.

With dew making it difficult for Delhi's bowlers to grip the ball, the spinners struggled, allowing Smriti and Danni to dominate the chase.

With this emphatic win, RCB flexed their batting firepower and bowling discipline to lead the standings with two wins out of two.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Delhi had a solid powerplay, reaching 55/1, but RCB struck back with a double blow in the seventh over, triggering a dramatic collapse.

Jemimah, who was looking fluent with a 34 off 22 balls (4x4, 2x6), was stumped by Richa while attempting a reverse sweep.

Five balls later, captain Meg Lanning fell for 18, mistiming a short ball from Georgia Wareham, caught by Ellyse Perry at square leg.

Renuka continued her magic, dismissing Annabel Sutherland (19) in the 11th over, just when she was looking dangerous after hitting Bisht for a six.

The Indian pacer had earlier made an impact in the first over itself, removing Shafali Verma for a golden duck.

Despite surviving an umpire's call for LBW earlier, Jemimah's dismissal swung the momentum in RCB's favour.

Lanning played some elegant strokes to rebuild, but Delhi lost their last five wickets in six overs, crumbling under sustained pressure.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce chipped in with a 19-ball 23, but Wareham got the better of her as Delhi failed to last the distance.

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Taiwan Considering Multi-Billion Dollar Arms Purchase From US: Report

Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said, hoping to win support from the new Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island.

Three sources familiar with the situation, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, told Reuters that Taiwan is in talks with Washington.

The package is meant to demonstrate to the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one of the sources said.

A second source said the package would include coastal defense cruise missiles and HIMARS rockets.

"I would be very surprised if it was less than $8 billion. Somewhere between $7 billion to $10 billion," the source added.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, US national security adviser Mike Waltz has said he wants to speed delivery of weapons to Taiwan.

Taiwan's defense ministry declined to comment on specific purchases but said it is focused on building its defenses.

"Any weaponry and equipment that can achieve those goals for building the military are listed as targets for tender," it said.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.

TRUMP-TAIWAN RELATIONS

US President Donald Trump unnerved chip powerhouse Taiwan on the election campaign trail by saying the island stole American semiconductor business. This month, he threatened tariffs on chip imports.

But his administration maintained diplomatic support for the Chinese-claimed island.

Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a joint statement on February 7 opposing any attempt to change the current situation in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion. The U.S. State Department also removed language on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, a move praised by the island's government. China has urged the US to "correct its mistakes".

Taiwan plans to propose a special defense budget that prioritizes precision ammunition, air-defense upgrades, command and control systems, equipment for the reserve forces and anti-drone technology, a third source familiar with the matter said.

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump established regular arms sales to Taiwan, including multi-billion dollar deals for F-16 fighter jets. The Biden administration continued these sales, though often with smaller price tags.

Taiwanese officials see encouraging signs from Trump's administration even as tariff threats weigh on that optimism.

Taiwan does not believe Trump is looking to make a "grand bargain" with Chinese President Xi Jinping to sell out Taiwan's interests, one of the sources said. Trump is more concerned with putting tariffs on semiconductors, the source said.

In another sign of US commitment to Taiwan, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, will retain his post, three sources told Reuters, even as other US diplomatic postings undergo major reshuffles.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a question about Greene's job status.

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

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

One of the most promising young cricketers in the game, Yashasvi Jaiswal has rapidly grown into an all-format player for the Indian team. The left-handed opening batter made his ODI debut for India in the recently-concluded 3-match series against Englan. Though Jaiswal only played one game in the series, he is widely seen as one of the future cricketing superstars for the nation. Jaiswal was also selected for India's preliminary Champions Trophy squad but was later removed as the selectors wanted to make space for spinner Varun Chakravarthy's inclusion. 

Despite the drama-filled recent weeks, Jaiswal's coach Jwala Singh has high hopes for the exciting batting talent that the southpaw is. In an exclusive chat with NDTV, Yashasvi's coach opened up on his ward's rapid rise on the international stage, his exclusion from the Champions Trophy and also his leadership skills, which have made him a leadership candidate for the future.

It was only in 2023 that Yashasvi Jaiswal made his international debut. In less than 2 years he has become an all-format player. Considering how few all-format batters are there in the Indian team at present, his progress must really make you proud.

Yeah, I think I'm happy to see his progress since 2023 and the way he grew, scoring 100 in his Test debut and then later on with multiple records like two double-hundreds and scoring well in Australia. I think he has been a very good Test player as well as many good performances in T20 cricket and now he just got selected for the one-day team as well. So yes, I think the progress has been very satisfying and I always had trust and belief in his ability and that's why I really put a lot of energy into him and I'm very, very happy and satisfied with what I started many years back with the reason to make him, a world-class player that's on the way. So it makes me very, very proud and very, very happy.

Yashasvi made his ODI debut in the recently-concluded debut for England but the turn of events was such that couldn't get a longer rope. How do you see such an opportunity? Does it leave an unfulfilling feeling?

Well, I think he just got his one-day debut against England, scored around 15 runs and I think he could have scored more but in cricket, there are multiple challenges and sometimes you don't get what you're looking for. But yes, I think playing ODIs for India made him an all format but there's a learning curve for him. Whenever players fail or they don't perform, it's always time to rearrange your mind and body and rearrange your skills, upgrade your skills and that helps in the future. So I'm sure that later on he will play well in ODIs as well. It's not about wasting the opportunity or unfulfilling the ability, or opportunity. It's all about learning. So I think failure also gives you a lot of lessons and he will do well in ODIs. He will play well when he'll get his next chance.

Yashasvi was a part of the preliminary Indian squad for the Champions Trophy but had to be dropped from the final roster. How do you see that change?

Yes, I think he was part of the Champions Trophy based on his performance against Australia in the Test series. I heard Rohit Sharma on multiple occasions saying he is looking good and so without playing ODIs, you can include him in the Champions Trophy and that happened but I'm not much aware of what happened, why his name was not featured (in the final Champions Trophy squad). But yes, we have to accept the selectors' decision about what they feel, what kind of team balance they are looking for, and what kind of combination they are looking for. It's all okay because he's young and he will improve in the future. The most important thing is respecting the decisions of the decision-makers, those are selectors, and we all need to respect that and wait for another opportunity till that time he can work hard and he can get better.

India didn't have a particularly impressive Border-Gavaskar Trophy but Yashasvi's performances were among the few positives the team had. What did you make of his effort with the bat?

I think Indian performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was not so great. All we know, I mean, it is a disappointment that we lost it after winning the last time and this time we lost it and so as India started well there but later on we could not, you know, maintain that tempo and the last two Test matches were not so great for Indian players and I feel we are all disappointed, all Indian disappointed but I'm happy that Yashashvi played well but as I predicted early in the series that Yashasvi should score around two hundreds and he was very close to another century. But yes, still he's young and he has time to grow and I'm sure he will learn from all those experiences and he will get better. So I think scoring 100 in Australia really makes him a tougher player for the future.

Yashasvi is only 23 but sometimes he seems like a 30-year-old seasoned cricketer who knows how to handle himself in different situations. Was he always so determined?

Yes, I think he's quite mature for his age and because of his adaptability skill and the more he's playing, the better he's getting, and I think a lot of credit goes to the, you know, the other players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and team management as part of them. I think Rajasthan Royals played a major role in his development by giving him a lot of opportunities in IPL and he's been playing IPL for around five years and that IPL is the platform where you meet and interact with different players, different conditions and so I think that's really one of the key features of his maturity level and he knows how to handle the pressure in different formats. So yes, I think since these years he has played a lot of cricket with many legends that really helps him to grow and whenever, I used to always tell him that you need to learn from the legends, those who are playing the game, those who are big in the game and I think that really helps and he learned so many things from the legends and that's why he's looking very, very mature.

Though nothing official has been said, there are talks around Yashasvi Jaiswal being groomed into a future captain. How do you assess his leadership skills?

I think the captaincy is something which is not in the player's hands. I think it totally depends on the selectors, coaches, and the people who take the decision. I think ,as a player, you always try to play well, win the match for your country. That is the, you know, the basic goal for players but yes, I mean if you play for any team for a longer period like two years, three or four years, five years, you become the senior player and then you can contribute in other aspects as well, like becoming a captain, a vice-captain. It's a part of the journey but first I think you need to play well, to be there, be consistent, win the matches for the team and then if, I mean, the decision makers feel like he's good enough to lead the side or maybe help the captain, that is auto pilot. I know, you know, the bioproduct and it's something which we cannot choose. It's all about the decision makers, what I can say.

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Internet Links Trump's Cryptic Quote To CEO Murder Suspect Luigi Mangione

A cryptic quote from US President Donald Trump has ignited online debates, drawing comparisons to an unlikely figure - Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Donald Trump, facing mounting legal challenges over his executive actions, shared a phrase attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte on his Truth Social and X platforms: "He who saves his country does not violate any law." While the quote seemingly referenced Trump's ongoing legal battles, the internet swiftly latched onto a different interpretation, linking it to Luigi Mangione, who has become an unexpected anti-establishment symbol online.

https://t.co/QlQrXSfKsg pic.twitter.com/cov2VlNYxI

— rebecca (@babyybeckz) February 15, 2025

A user wrote on X, "Might is right, says Trump. The mighty will fall, says Luigi."

Might IS right says Trump.

The mighty will fall, says Luigi.

— Mords ⚙️ Game Dev (@modredcastleton) February 16, 2025

Another called Mangione a "true American hero."

TRUE AMERICAN HERO ????????????

— lucio ball (@BallLucio62118) February 16, 2025

Luigi Mangione, who pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and firearms offences, was arrested on December 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Authorities arrested him after a McDonald's worker identified him. They recovered a ghost gun, suppressor, and an alleged anti-healthcare manifesto. Police believe he gunned down Thompson in a targeted attack on December 4, citing frustration with the US healthcare system.

Despite the serious allegations, Mangione's arrest has fuelled a bizarre wave of online support. The hashtag "FreeLuigi" was trending across social media platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram. Supporters - frustrated with rising healthcare costs - view him as an anti-corporate vigilante, with some posts focusing more on his appearance than the crime itself.

On Saturday, from his detention facility in New York City, Mangione released a statement through a website created by his defence team, acknowledging the overwhelming support. "I am grateful for everyone who has written me... This support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions," he wrote. "While it is impossible to reply to every letter, please know I read each one."

The website, managed by his legal team, seeks to combat misinformation and raise funds for his defence. So far, supporters have crowdfunded nearly $400,000 for his legal expenses. Luigi Mangione's next court appearance is set for February 21 in Manhattan.

As Mangione's case fuels controversy, Trump remains entangled in multiple lawsuits over his executive orders, touching on issues like illegal immigration, military service bans for transgender individuals, and federal workforce reforms. One controversial order seeks to give the White House the power to fire employees who don't "faithfully implement administration policies."

At least 10 lawsuits target Trump's immigration policies, including seven challenging his move to end birthright citizenship. Another lawsuit, as reported by The New York Times, aims to block the release of FBI agents' names involved in the investigation of the January 2021 Capitol riot.

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball, leading Gujarat Giants to a comprehensive six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their Women's Premier League match in Vadodara on Sunday. Gardner (2/39) claimed two wickets and then scored a stylish 32-ball 52, her second consecutive fifty, as Gujarat registered their first win of the third edition of the tournament, following a loss in the opening game to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Opting to bowl, Gujarat produced a clinical effort with young spinner Priya Mishra returning impressive figures of 4-0-25-3. Skipper Gardner, Deandra Dottin (2/34), and Kashvee Gautam (1/15) also played key roles in restricting UPW to 143 for nine.

Chasing 144 to win, the Giants were reduced to 22 for 2 with opener Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalata back in the pavilion after UPW introduced spin at both ends. However, Gardner produced an inspired knock, adding 55 runs off 42 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (22) to resurrect the innings.

Gardner struck two fours off Kranti Goud to ease the pressure before depositing Saima Thakor twice into the stands in the fifth over. Wolvaardt also hit a six, as 20 runs came off the over, taking GG to 41 for 2 in six overs.

The GG skipper blasted five fours and three sixes before being dismissed by Tahila McGrath in the 12th over.

However, it had little effect as Harleen Deol (34) and Dottin (33) added 58 runs off 37 balls to take Gujarat home with two overs to spare.

Earlier, UPW skipper Deepti Sharma top-scored with a 27-ball 39, while Uma Chetry (24) and Shweta Sehrawat (16) made useful contributions in the middle-order. Alana King (19) and Saima Thakor (15) combined for a late surge, adding 26 runs off 13 balls to take UPW past 140.

Kiran Navgire and Vrinda Dinesh were dismissed cheaply by Dottin and Gardner as the Warriorz struggled early on. UPW were reduced to 22 for 2 by the third over, with Navgire trapped in front by Dottin and Dinesh was cleaned up by Gardner.

Chetry and Deepti tried to rebuild but were limited by tight bowling from the Gujarat team, with UPW managing just 41 for 2 in the powerplay. Their partnership of 50 runs off 43 balls was broken by Dottin, who removed Chetry.

Mishra then struck twice in three balls, removing Australians Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris to break UPW's back, leaving them at 78 for 5 in the 11th over.

Sehrawat and Deepti attempted a recovery, but Gardner's sensational catch accounted for Deepti as UPW slumped to 117 for 8 by the 18th over.

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

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"If It Saves The Country, It's Not Illegal": Trump Amid Many Legal Challenges

Echoing France's Napoleon Bonaparte, US President Donald Trump on Saturday took to social media to signal continued resistance to limits on his executive authority in the face of multiple legal challenges. "He who saves his Country does not violate any Law," Trump, a Republican, proclaimed on his Truth Social network. The White House did not respond to a request for more details.

The phrase, attributed to the French military leader who created the Napoleonic Code of civil law in 1804 before declaring himself emperor, drew immediate criticism from Democrats.

"Spoken like a true dictator," Senator Adam Schiff of California, a longtime adversary of Trump, wrote on X.

Trump, who took office on January 20, has made broad assertions of executive power that appear headed toward US Supreme Court showdowns. Some lawsuits accuse Trump of usurping the authority of Congress as set out in the US Constitution.

While Trump said he abides by court rulings, his advisers have attacked judges on social media and called for their impeachment. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X this week that judges "aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."

Washington lawyer Norm Eisen, who like Schiff worked on the first of Trump's two impeachment trials, said Trump's lawyers have repeatedly tried to argue that if the president does it, it's not illegal.

Napoleon's saying, he said, excuses illegal acts.

"This is a trial balloon and a provocation," Eisen said of Trump's message.

Trump, whose longtime slogan is "Make America Great Again," attributed his survival of an assassination attempt in July to God's will.

"Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness," he said after his election victory.

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

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NDTV Sports-Cricket

Delhi Capitals produced a splendid bowling effort before their batters, led by Niki Prasad, survived some anxious moments to register a narrow two-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in a last-ball thriller in the Women's Premier League in Vadodara on Saturday. Opting to bowl, DC bundled out MI for 164 in 19.1 overs, with Nat Sciver-Brunt's commanding unbeaten 80 and Harmanpreet Kaur's quickfire 42 off 22 balls anchoring the innings. Chasing the target, Shafali Verma's blistering 43 off 18 balls gave DC a flying start, as they reached 60 for no loss. However, MI staged a sensational comeback, almost derailing the chase.

Alice Capsey (16), Annabel Sutherland (13), and Sarah Bryce (21) kept DC in the hunt before Niki Prasad (35) showed great temperament under pressure to steer them closer to the target.

Needing 21 off the last 12 balls with four wickets in hand, No. 9 Radha Yadav (9 not out) smashed a six to reduce the equation. Niki then hit a four but holed out on the fifth ball.

Arundhati Reddy (2 not out) took the two required runs off the final ball to seal the win.

Earlier, Shafali had accumulated 22 runs in the second over off Saika Ishaque, including four fours and a six, before taking Hayley Matthews to the cleaners with two fours and a six. However, she holed out in the fifth ball.

Given a fourth over, Shabnim Ismail cleaned up Meg Lanning, as DC suddenly slipped to 60 for 2. Jemimah Rodrigues (2) and Annabel Sutherland (13) soon followed back to the pavilion, as DC slumped to 76/4 in the ninth over.

For MI, Amelia Kerr (2/21), Hayley Matthews (2/32), Sciver-Brunt (1/38), and Shabnim Ismail (1/18) were the wicket-takers.

Earlier, Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet shared a crucial 73-run partnership off 40 balls for the third wicket, laying a solid foundation. However, DC's bowlers struck back, taking the final six wickets for 35 runs to dismiss MI in 19.1 overs.

Pacer Shikha Pandey (2/14) was the most successful bowler for DC, while Minnu Mani (1/23) was economical. The rest of the bowlers were expensive, but they chipped in with key wickets.

Pandey gave DC an early breakthrough, dismissing both openers - Hayley Matthews (0) and Yastika Bhatia (11) as Mumbai reached 42/2 at the end of the powerplay, thanks to a 19-run over from Alice Capsey (1/25).

Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet took charge, striking 18 runs off Radha Yadav's eighth over, which included three fours and a six. MI were 87/2 at the halfway mark.

Harmanpreet continued to attack, taking Annabel Sutherland (2/34) for three fours and a six before falling to her in the 14th over.

Sciver-Brunt was left to carry the innings but ran out of partners as MI crumbled.

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

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1 Dead, 4 Injured In Knife Attack In Austria: Police

A 14-year-old boy died and four other people were injured in a knife attack in southern Austria on Saturday, police said, adding they have arrested a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker.

"A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife," police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP of the incident in the city of Villach. "One victim, a 14-year-old boy, died."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Jack The Ripper's Identity Revealed After 137 Years? Historian Makes Bold Claim

The 137-year-old mystery surrounding the identity of infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, responsible for the brutal rape and murders of at least five women, may have been solved at last. British historian and self-proclaimed 'Ripperologist', Russell Edwards has claimed to have made the breakthrough, based on evidence recovered from one of the victims, according to a report in news.com.au.

Mr Edwards purchased a shawl belonging to one of the victims, Catherine Eddowes, 46, in 2007 which contained blood and semen. Eddowes was an orphan with a daughter and two sons who was killed on the same night as the Ripper's third victim.

Working as a prostitute, she was found brutally murdered at 1:45 am. Her throat was cut and she was disemboweled. Her face was also mutilated. As per reports, the shawl left at the crime scene belonged to the killer, not Eddowes.

Mr Edwards put the shawl through forensic testing where it was found to contain DNA from two separate people. He explained that the DNA work took over four years with issues such as contamination and "many other hurdles" slowing down the process.

"We tested the semen left on the shawl. When we matched that, I was dumbfounded that we actually had discovered who Jack the Ripper truly was."

Also Read | Here's When The World Will End As Per Sir Isaac Newton's 1704 'Doomsday' Prediction

One of the samples matched with a descendant of the female victim while the other matched the descendants of a Polish immigrant. Upon discovering this male's name, Mr Edwards was able to unravel the mystery with the serial killer's name being: Aaron Kosminski.

"When we matched the DNA from the blood on the shawl with a direct female descendant of the victim, it was the singular most amazing moment of my life at the time," said Mr Edwards.

"Considering his DNA is on the shawl that was at the murder scene and he was named, I have never considered anyone else to be the Ripper," Mr Edwards said.

Notably, Kosminski was born in Klodawa in central Poland in 1865. His family fled the imperial Russian anti-Jewish pogroms and emigrated to east London in the early 1880s. He lived close to the murder scenes.

While Mr Edwards stands firmly behind his claims, some scientists have disputed his testing process and the eventual outcome.

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After Trump's Peace Talks Announcement, Zelensky Meets JD Vance In Munich

US Vice President JD Vance met Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich on Friday for crunch talks on ending Russia's war, as Kyiv insisted it wanted to hammer out a joint plan with Washington.

The sit-down in Germany was seen as a key moment for Kyiv as it seeks to keep Washington on its side after US President Donald Trump stunned allies by launching peace efforts with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

"I will meet with Russians -- with only one Russian guy, with Putin -- only after we will have a common plan with Trump, Europe," Zelensky told the Munich Security Conference before seeing Vance.

"Only in this case I'm ready to meet."

Vance in the run-up insisted the United States was prepared to pressure Russia to end its three-year war on Ukraine, as he said Europe should "of course" be at the table.

But the vice president also told Europe to "step up" on bolstering its own defence to allow Washington to focus on threats elsewhere in the world.

US officials have sent mixed messages over Washington's strategy after Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth appeared to rule out Ukraine joining NATO or retaking all of its territory.

That has sparked major worries in Kyiv and Europe that Ukraine could be forced into a bad deal that leaves the continent facing an emboldened Putin.

But Vance told the Wall Street Journal that Trump would put everything "on the table" in potential talks, and that Washington could even use "military leverage" against Russia to force a deal.

The vice president did not give more away in a keenly-awaited keynote speech, as he avoided addressing the war in Ukraine and focused instead on scolding Europe over immigration and free speech.

- Trump's phone number -

Trump rattled US allies on Wednesday by agreeing to launch peace talks in his first publicly announced call with Putin since returning to office.

After being named by Trump as a likely venue for a meeting with Putin, Saudi Arabia said it would welcome holding any talks between the two leaders.

Zelensky appeared to play down fears that Trump was leaving Kyiv out in the cold, as he joked the US president had given him his personal number when they spoke.

"If he will choose our side, and if he will not be in the middle, I think he will pressure and he will push Putin to stop the war," Zelensky said.

In a bid to keep Washington close Kyiv has held talks over granting access to its rare mineral deposits in return for future US security support.

- Chernobyl strike -

European allies -- who along with Washington are Ukraine's strongest backers -- demanded that they too be included in negotiations that will impact their continent's security.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen warned that forcing Ukraine into a bad deal would harm US interests.

"I believe that by working together, we can deliver that just and lasting peace," she said.

While Europe nervously monitors the US stance on Ukraine, there is little ambiguity on Trump's determination to get Europe to spend more on its defence.

Fears Vance could announce a major US troop reduction in Europe did not materialise, but he repeated warnings that Washington needs to focus more on other parts of the globe.

Amid the diplomatic flurry in Munich, Zelensky said that back on the ground in Ukraine a Russian drone had struck a cover built to contain radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, adding that radiation levels were normal.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 133 drones across the country overnight -- including attack drones -- targeting northern regions of the country where the Chernobyl plant lies.

Zelensky said the attack was evidence that "Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations -- he is preparing to continue deceiving the world."

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

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