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We know how it feels to lose; now looking forward to winning a final – Harmanpreet

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we-as-a-team-werent-shaken-even-once-eventhough-we-lost-three-big-matches "We, as a team, weren't shaken even once eventhough we lost three big matches" [Cricbuzz]
When Shreya Ghosal sang the national anthem in Guwahati, Harmanpreet Kaur stood still – eyes closed, lips moving in perfect sync, truly savouring each one of those first 52 seconds of a home World Cup as captain. In Colombo, a young volunteer nearly missed the chance to walk out with the teams for the national anthems since the player assigned to accompany her was unwell. Harmanpreet stepped in with a smile, put her arm around the kid’s shoulder, and walked out holding the hands of two children – one on either side.

In Navi Mumbai, ahead of the high-stakes semifinal against Australia, she then did the unprecedented. Harmanpreet’s impromptu decision to hand over her huddle to a young girl for a quick pep-talk was a tiny peek into how she leads now. It’s Harmanpreet’s first World Cup as captain, potentially her last too, and she has been unafraid to show her unguarded, expressive self.

Maybe it’s a reflection of how she’s feeling on the inside too. When India sealed their final berth, she wept happy, unrestrained tears, while tightly hugging everyone in sight. In 2017, it was her herculean effort that had carried the team past the mighty Australian side, a knock that turned her into the icon she is now. Eight years later, having stumbled more than a few times against that very opponent in the meantime, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ epic that scripted that moment. After doing her part in setting the stage for it, Harmanpreet sat in the dugout earnestly watching the circle complete – a torch quietly passed on. In those liberal tears was a story of how far Indian women’s cricket has come since that moment of reckoning in 2017.

There’s another, clearer hint of this evolution – and Harmanpreet is savouring that too.

“I mean, there are rarely a handful of such days when there’s pressure for these small things. I think it’s good that not just cricket, but there is pressure on us for arranging tickets too,” India captain said on the eve of the final, leaving everyone in the room in splits.

The clamour for tickets was evident from all the extra security that had to be called in at the DY Patil’s box-office gates with hundreds thronging the slip road parallel to the Mumbai-Pune highway a day after India’s record chase to knock Australia out in a tough semifinal draw. The country – and certainly the players – know the energy and effort it takes, as well as the emotional upheaval involved in taking down the unanimous pre-tournament favourites.

“The semifinal was a very high-pressure game and very intense. After that, recovery was something which we all paid more attention to, because the fresher we are, mentally, [for the final] the better it will be. We’ve been working hard for so many years… so skill-wise we know we have done a lot. Now, it’s only about keeping ourselves fresh for tomorrow. Recovery is something which we all talk about, and everybody is really taking that very seriously and hopefully tomorrow we will feel fresher for the main game,” Harmanpreet shared.

It’s India’s third time in a World Cup final in 50-overs cricket, and first time in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd in Navi Mumbai. India aren’t new to the big stage, and they have peaked at the right moment once they hit the familiar turf where the title clash will be their fourth straight game now. However, in between was a string of three narrow losses, one apiece against all other semifinalists, that posed serious questions about the skill and ability to handle crunch moments.

“We, as a team, weren’t shaken even once eventhough we lost three big matches,” the captain said. “Even after that everyone was together and we were all saying that we still have a great opportunity to reach the final. That positive mindset has brought us here. Our team has such a positive mindset and everyone wants to do good for the country and win the World Cup,

“We definitely were talking about what we wanted to improve, but at the same time, we were all looking at the same goal. It’s a long process [journey], there will be ups and downs. Some teams win, some lose. But at the end of the day, it’s about how we reach the end. We were talking about this journey, what we have to do after this defeat, how have to improve ourselves, and along with that we have to stay together and help each other. That really showed what positive characters are there in the team.”

The team’s mental resilience through tough stretch was thoroughly tested, and has shaped the team’s mindset and approach to this final as well.

“In a home World Cup, there’s always going to be ups and downs emotionally because it’s tough. But, keeping yourself balanced and focused is the key,” the 36-year-old said. “We are having those sessions where we have been talking about how we can be more focused and more balanced and at the same time keeping ourselves relaxed because this is the biggest stage and biggest opportunity for us: playing in home conditions and that also a final.

“The most important thing is that we have to enjoy this, because there is nothing bigger than this in your life as a cricketer and as a captain. Our focus is to enjoy this moment, and keep taking down the small targets to achieve as a team rather than thinking of the bigger target. When you take care of the small targets along the way,you’ll automatically achieve your ultimate target.”

As a result of achieving the next ultimate target the team has set its sights on, Harmanpreet is hoping to further elevate women’s cricket in India, bringing it into mainstream with “greater seriousness and viewership”.

There aren’t any celebrations pre-planned, for the captain wants the joy to unfold naturally. Like the happy tears and tightest hugs from Thursday night that currently flood the social media.

“I’m a very emotional person – I cry at everything. Maybe yesterday was the first time on television, but my teammates have seen me cry in the dressing room many times – even after wins, not just losses. I am the first person to cry. As a player, these moments are very important. To beat a team like Australia, a giant that has always done well on the world stage, it was not an easy thing to perform [and stay] mentally strong in front of them. But overcoming that hurdle was something very special to all of us. I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions: if you feel like crying, cry.”

Whether the Indian dugout will see more happy tears or unbridled joy, should they cross the final frontier, is something upto the individuals who have “already visualised in our dreams many times”. But Harmanpreet was absolutely sure that there’s “no bigger motivation than a home World Cup final” for her side to produce their best cricket.

“We know pretty well how it feels to lose, but we are really looking forward to the feeling of winning a final now,” she said, confident in her team and in her own leadership. “Hopefully it’s going to be a special day for us tomorrow. We’ve worked really hard, and now it’s about getting everything right together.”

[Cricbuzz]



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US, Israel launch attack on Iran, explosions in downtown Tehran

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Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, February 28 [Aljazeera]

The United States and Israel have launched an attack on Iran,  with explosions heard and seen across Tehran.

Several missiles have struck University Street and the Jomhouri area in Tehran, Fars news agency reported. Smoke was seen rising in the city, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent on the ground.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed Israel launched the missile attack in order to “remove threats to the State of Israel”.

A United States official told Al Jazeera that the attacks were carried out as a joint military operation between Israel and the US, which has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme.

The Associated Press news agency reported that the strike in Iran’s capital happened near offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to an official cited by Reuters, Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a secure location.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that explosions also occurred in Tehran’s northern Seyyed Khandan area.

As sirens sounded and a state of emergency declared in Israel, the Israeli military said it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

Israel’s Airports Authority announced airspace had been closed to all civilian flights and urged the public not to come to the airport.

Meanwhile, the ⁠US Embassy in Qatar ⁠implemented shelter-in-place for ⁠all personnel, recommending that all of ‌its citizens to do the same until further notice.

Reuters cited an Israeli deence official as saying the attacks had been planned for months ⁠and the ⁠launch date ⁠was decided ⁠weeks ago.

[Aljazeera]

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At least 11 killed after military plane carrying banknotes crashes in Bolivia

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At least 11 people have been killed after a Bolivian air force cargo plane crashed in the western city of El Alto, according to media reports quoting firefighters.

The incident happened at 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) on Friday as the plane was arriving at El Alto’s airport from the city of Santa Cruz, aviation officials said. It reportedly skidded off the runway and hit nearby vehicles.

The defence ministry later confirmed its C-130 Hercules was involved and that it had been transporting banknotes to the Central Bank of Bolivia. It did not say how many people were on board, and gave no casualty numbers.

Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds allegedly trying to take the scattered banknotes.

Video footage showed people running away from the tear gas and police officers, some holding shields, forming a line. Some in the crowds are seen throwing rocks at police.

The crashed plane can be seen on the ground and badly damaged vehicles can be seen in other videos.

“I want to make it clear to those who are trying to take money from the plane involved in this tragedy that this money has no legal value since it has not been issued by the Central Bank and does not have a serial number, and that attempting to use this money is a crime,” the Minister of Defence, Marcelo Salinas, said.

“We also ask all those who are engaging in acts of vandalism in this area to refrain from doing so and to respect the mourning and grief we are experiencing at this difficult time.”

Firefighters working at the crash site said that at least 20 people were injured, local media reported.

El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed following the crash.

“My sister told me that she was in the car when the plane crashed. The plane’s tire fell on the car, and my sister was injured because the impact of the tire hit her on the head, so we rushed her to the hospital,” a man told the Reuters news agency.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, but some witnesses said the weather at the time was treacherous.

“A heavy hailstorm” was falling and “there was lightning” when the plane went down,” a woman whose car was struck by the aircraft wreckage told the AFP news agency.

An investigation into the incident is under way.

[BBC]

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A ‘delicate’ balance for Canada and a ‘win-win’ for Modi as Carney visits India

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in India for a pivotal trip aimed at repairing ties with the world’s largest democracy, as both countries seek to reduce their trade reliance on the US.

Carney began his visit in Mumbai, where he is meeting with business leaders. He will then travel to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The trip marks a remarkable turnaround in relations, which had collapsed when Canada accused India of carrying out an extrajudicial killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist on Canadian soil — an allegation India strongly denied.

Both sides now appear ready to move forward.

Here’s what has changed, and what each country hopes to gain as Carney’s trip gets underway.

For Carney, this trip is strictly business, aligned with his broader goal of diversifying Canada’s trade partners to reduce economic dependence on the US.

A big focus will be making progress on a comprehensive free trade agreement with India, which has been discussed on-and-off for the last 15 years.

The latest derailment in trade talks occurred after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a bombshell public accusation against India in 2023, alleging it was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist, who was gunned down in British Columbia. Four men were later charged in his death, and their case is still before the courts.

India has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Now faced with US tariffs, and under Carney’s more “pragmatic” approach to foreign policy, Ottawa is repairing ties with Delhi.

Still, the allegations remain a point of contention for some members of Canada’s Sikh community, who say they continue to be targeted by India through transnational repression, and have criticised Carney for prioritising economic interests over their safety.

It is a situation that will require “delicate handling”, Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, told the BBC.

Asked repeatedly about these concerns, Canadian officials told reporters ahead of Carney’s trip that the two countries are engaged in “robust” discussions on national security and foreign interference.

They added that Canada does not believe the Indian government is currently linked to any violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil, and that they “probably would not be taking this trip” if that were the case.

Not everyone is convinced. Sukh Dhaliwal, an MP from Carney’s Liberal party, told Canadian media that the claim of India no longer being a threat is “disconnected from the reality”.

Canada has made several diplomatic overtures to India since Carney took office last year, beginning with inviting Modi to the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta last summer.

That was followed by a series of meetings between Foreign Minister Anita Anand and her Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, as well as a visit to Ottawa last month by India’s national security advisor, Ajit Doval.

Carney’s itinerary in India offers some insight into his priorities.

He will stop only in Mumbai, India’s financial hub, to meet with business leaders, and New Delhi, where he will sit down with Prime Minister Modi on Monday.

Unlike Trudeau, Carney will not be visiting cultural sites like the Taj Mahal. Nor will he travel to Punjab, the home state of many of India’s Sikhs, which was a stop for both Trudeau and another former prime minister, Stephen Harper.

Those stops were often seen as nods to Canada’s large Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities. Their omission signals that, this time, Canada’s focus is squarely on trade.

On the agenda will be discussions around energy, technology, artificial intelligence and defence, Carney’s office has said, as well as attracting top talent to Canada.

Carney and Modi are also likely to discuss tariff policies enacted by President Donald Trump, which have had an impact on both their economies.

Heading into the trip, Canada remains the only G7 country that has not reached a preferential trade agreement with India. Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada said that fact “adds urgency” for Carney.

“There is a window of opportunity, and it needs to be seized,” Nadjibulla said.

It was in 2024, not too long ago, that both countries were openly trading barbs, suspending visa services and expelling diplomats.

But a lot has changed since then.

India is now more open for business, which is evident from a flurry of free trade deals that it has signed recently.

Then there is Trump, who has targeted both India and Canada with steep tariffs.

In Carney’s own words, the world is “in the midst of a rupture, not a transition” and “if you are not at the table, you are on the menu”.

For India’s Prime Minister Modi, a reset with Canada is a win-win situation.

Domestically, the visit will boost Modi’s image as a leader who refused to come under pressure from Canada.

Ottawa has already said it believes India is not currently linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil.

But more broadly, it is the trade potential between the two countries that will drive the outcome of this visit.

EPA Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds his hands together in a prayer style, as he stands before a microphone. Behind him can be seen the flags on India and Malaysia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interested in buying more Canadian energy [BBC]

[BBC]

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