#ICC update

[justnownews]

Babar Azam Falls Out of ICC Top 10 After 5 Years

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest Test rankings, and for the first time in five years, Babar Azam has fallen out of the top 10 batters’ list. This significant drop comes on the heels of Pakistan’s recent poor performance and Babar’s ongoing struggles with form.Babar, once hailed as the “King” of Pakistan cricket, has slipped from 9th to 12th place following a…

[sayruq]

[drsonnet]

Israeli summer airstrikes on Gaza WERE war crimes: Military accused of carrying out bombings with 'no justification':

Airstrikes on four large buildings constitutes war crimes, say Amnesty

'Blasts designed to destroy livelihoods rather than hit military targets'

Israel rubbishes report, saying authors make unfounded allegations

The blasts at the high-rises were so large they damaged surrounding buildings and injured dozens. Amnesty said Israel has weapons that allow it to target specific parts of a building.

Israeli summer airstrikes on Gaza WERE war crimes | Daily Mail Online

[icecricnewsupdates]

Who is the Cricket World's Best Player?

The question of who is the greatest cricketer of all time has been a perennial debate among fans and pundits alike. While the answer is often subjective and influenced by personal biases, there are several players who have consistently dominated the sport and made a strong case for the title. Let's explore some of the contenders and the factors that contribute to their greatness.

The Modern Era Dominators: Kohli, Smith, and Kane Williamson

The past decade has witnessed the rise of three exceptional talents who have redefined the standards of batting. Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson have consistently produced match-winning performances across all formats, solidifying their status as the modern era's premier batsmen.

♯1. Virat Kohli: The Indian captain's aggressive style, impeccable timing, and ability to adapt to different conditions have made him a nightmare for bowlers. His record-breaking centuries and his leadership qualities have cemented his place among the all-time greats.

♯2. Steve Smith: The Australian's unorthodox technique and his ability to score runs at will have made him a force to be reckoned with. Smith's consistency and his ability to perform under pressure have earned him widespread admiration.

♯3. Kane Williamson: The New Zealand captain's elegant strokeplay and his calm demeanor have made him a joy to watch. Williamson's ability to anchor the innings and his match-winning performances have solidified his reputation as one of the best batsmen in the world.

➥ Also Read: Indian Cricket Team Schedule 2024-2025

The All-Round Legends: Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, and Jacques Kallis

The all-rounders who have excelled in both batting and bowling have always been held in high regard. Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, and Jacques Kallis are among the most iconic all-rounders of all time.

♯1. Imran Khan: The former Pakistan captain's swing bowling and his classy batting made him a complete cricketer. His leadership qualities and his contributions to his country's success have earned him legendary status.

♯2. Kapil Dev: The Indian fast bowler's ability to swing the ball both ways and his useful batting made him a valuable asset to the team. His leadership in the 1983 World Cup-winning team cemented his place in Indian cricket history.

♯3. Jacques Kallis: The South African all-rounder's consistency and his ability to perform in all conditions have made him one of the greatest cricketers of his generation. His contributions with both bat and ball have been invaluable to his country.

➥ Also Read: Indian Cricket Team Schedule 2024-2025

The Timeless Greats: Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and West Indies Legends

While the modern era has produced some exceptional talents, there are a few players who have transcended generations and are considered among the greatest of all time. Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and the West Indies legends of the 1970s and 1980s are among the most revered names in cricket history.

♯1. Don Bradman: The Australian legend's batting average of 99.98 remains the highest in Test cricket history. His dominance over bowlers and his ability to score runs at will have made him a mythical figure in the sport.

♯2. Sachin Tendulkar: The Indian "Master Blaster" broke countless records during his illustrious career. His ability to adapt to different conditions and his consistency have made him one of the most beloved cricketers of all time.

♯3. West Indies Legends: The West Indies teams of the 1970s and 1980s boasted a formidable lineup of fast bowlers and powerful batsmen. Players like Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, and Joel Garner dominated world cricket for over a decade.

➥ Also Read: Indian Cricket Team Schedule 2024-2025

[ey3bags]

Biden avoids question on ICC allegations against Israel | Al Jazeera Newsfeed

[achintsen]

Who is the Best WWE Superstar of All Time and Why?

The question of who is the greatest WWE Superstar of all time has been a topic of heated debate among fans for decades. With countless iconic performers gracing the squared circle over the years, it's no easy task to narrow down the contenders. Let's explore some of the top contenders and the factors that make them stand out.

#1. The Icon: Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan's impact on WWE cannot be overstated. As the face of the company for much of the 1980s, he helped usher in the "Rock 'n' Wrestling" era and transformed WWE into a global phenomenon. His larger-than-life persona, signature catchphrases, and iconic "Hulkamania" movement resonated with fans of all ages.

#2. The Cerebral Assassin: The Undertaker

The Undertaker is a legendary figure in WWE, known for his imposing physique, dark character, and undefeated streak at WrestleMania for 21 years. His entrance music, his signature moves, and his ability to create an aura of mystery and fear have made him one of the most iconic characters in wrestling history.

#3. The People's Champion: The Rock

Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock in WWE, is one of the most popular and charismatic superstars of all time. His electrifying promos, his incredible athleticism, and his ability to connect with the audience have made him a global superstar. His "People's Champion" persona and his iconic catchphrases have become synonymous with WWE.

#4. The Heart and Soul: John Cena

John Cena's longevity and his ability to adapt to different eras have made him a beloved figure among WWE fans. His incredible athleticism, his in-ring skills, and his dedication to the fans have earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of the WWE Universe. His "Never Give Up" attitude and his positive message have resonated with millions of fans around the world.

#5. The Rattlesnake: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin's rebellious attitude and his anti-establishment persona helped to define the Attitude Era. His confrontations with Vince McMahon, his iconic beer drinking, and his signature "Austin 3:16" promo have made him one of the most memorable characters in WWE history.

#6. The Deadman: Triple H

Triple H's reign as WWE Champion and his role as the company's COO have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest superstars of all time. His in-ring skills, his charisma, and his ability to create memorable moments have made him a fan favorite for decades.

#7. The Phenomenal One: AJ Styles

AJ Styles' arrival in WWE in 2016 sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. His incredible athleticism, his high-flying moves, and his ability to tell compelling stories in the ring have made him a must-see attraction. His "Phenomenal" moniker is well-deserved, and his impact on WWE is undeniable.

➥ Also Read: Top Five WWE Superstars Of 2024

[aninditanath]

Ask to open, KL says "Yes". Ask to bat at 3, KL says "Yes". Ask to bat at middle order, KL says "Yes". Ask to bat at 6, KL says "Yes". Ask to keep wickets, KL says "Yes".

A COMPLETE TEAM MAN, KL RAHUL 🌟

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up March 22-23, 2023

Under the cut:

Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for four months, will launch a long-awaited counterassault "very soon" now that Russia's huge winter offensive is losing steam without taking Bakhmut, Ukraine's top ground forces commander said on Thursday. The remarks were the strongest indication yet from Kyiv that it is close to shifting tactics, having absorbed Russia's onslaught through a brutal winter.

Spain is expected to send its first shipment of modern battle tanks to Ukraine by the end of next week, once officials have completed final firing tests in the field, the Spanish Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday. The six Leopard 2A4 tanks have been undergoing final checks at a weapons factory near Seville in southern Spain, the statement said.

Finland has pledged three more Leopard 2 tanks from its arsenal to Ukraine, bringing the total to six, MTV Uutiset reported on March 23.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) responded on March 23 to threats made by Russia, expressing regret over the country's attempts to obstruct "international efforts to ensure accountability" for violations of international law. "The Presidency of the Assembly emphasizes that the Court, its elected officials, and its staff have the strong support of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute," the statement read. "We reaffirm its full confidence in the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution and reiterate our strong commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats," the statement added.

Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, has signed legislation to make his country part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) during a ceremony on Thursday.

“Ukrainian troops, on the defensive for four months, will launch a long-awaited counterassault "very soon" now that Russia's huge winter offensive is losing steam without taking Bakhmut, Ukraine's top ground forces commander said on Thursday.

The remarks were the strongest indication yet from Kyiv that it is close to shifting tactics, having absorbed Russia's onslaught through a brutal winter.

Russia's Wagner mercenaries "are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam", Kyiv's ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a social media post.

"Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Kupiansk," he said, listing Ukrainian counteroffensives last year that recaptured swathes of land.

There was no immediate response from Moscow to the latest suggestions its forces in Bakhmut were losing momentum, but Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has issued pessimistic statements in recent days warning of a Ukrainian counterassault.

On Monday, Prigozhin published a letter to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying Ukraine aimed to cut off Wagner's forces from Russia's regular troops.

Reuters journalists near the front line north of Bakhmut saw signs consistent with the claim that the Russian offensive in the area could be flagging. At a Ukrainian-held village west of Soledar, on Bakhmut's northern outskirts, the intensity of the Russian bombardment had noticeably lessened compared with another visit nearby just two days earlier.

"It was really hot here a week ago, but in the last three days it has been more quiet," said a Ukrainian soldier who used the call sign "Kamin", or "Stone".

"We can see this in the enemy's air strikes. If before there were 5-6 air raids in a day, today we had only one helicopter attack and it was too far and so ineffective," said the soldier, a member of an anti-aircraft unit in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade.

A slow-down in Russia's assault on Bakhmut could be in part a consequence of Moscow diverting its troops and resources to other areas. Britain said on Thursday that Russian troops had been making gains further north this month, partially regaining control over the approaches to the town of Kreminna, a Ukrainian target. Intense battles were also under way further south.

But any shift in momentum in Bakhmut, if confirmed, would be remarkable given the city's symbolic importance as the focus of Russia's offensive, and the scale of the losses on both sides there in Europe's bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Europe to provide more weapons, faster to his forces and impose additional sanctions on Russia, warning the war could otherwise drag on for years.

"If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war. It is in your power to prevent this," a clearly frustrated Zelenskiy said in a video address to European Union leaders, delivered from a train.”-via Reuters

~

“Spain is expected to send its first shipment of modern battle tanks to Ukraine by the end of next week, once officials have completed final firing tests in the field, the Spanish Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The six Leopard 2A4 tanks have been undergoing final checks at a weapons factory near Seville in southern Spain, the statement said.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles visited the factory Thursday and said four more Leopard tanks due for Ukraine will arrive there soon for inspection and testing.

The first group of Ukrainian troops to learn how to operate the Spanish tanks are wrapping up training at a military base in northern Spain, the Defense Ministry announced last week.

Some background: Robles initially told Spain's parliament last month that the country would send six Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

A day later, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made a surprise visit to Kyiv on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced Spain would bump its commitment to 10 fighting vehicles.”-via CNN

~

“Finland has pledged three more Leopard 2 tanks from its arsenal to Ukraine, bringing the total to six, MTV Uutiset reported on March 23.

Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen also confirmed that Ukraine had approached Finland's Defense Ministry about supplying F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.

Kaikkonen said that Finland "will respond to this query in due time," as cited by MTV Uutiset.

The transfer is part of Finland's 14th defense aid package to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Finland will also provide Ukraine with training relating to the use and maintenance of the tanks.”-via Kyiv Independent

~

“Slovakia has handed four of its Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets over to Ukraine, the country’s Defense Minister Jaro Nad said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

This comes days after the country pledged 13 Mig-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, along with Poland which pledged four.

On the question of a military advantage, Russia has been dismissive, claiming the gift of more Soviet-era MiGs to Ukraine will not alter the course of the conflict. Which might be why it is F-16s – and not MiGs – that are in fact at the top of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s wish list.

MiG-29s are analog aircraft, using older flight technology. Zelensky’s sought-after F-16s are digital. MiGs can be used for short combat missions, they can deploy weaponry and shoot down Russian aircraft with good maneuverability at short range. But F-16s can fly for longer, are more versatile, possess integrated weapons systems and have dramatically better long range and radar capability, therefore providing improved early warning.”-via CNN

~

“The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) responded on March 23 to threats made by Russia, expressing regret over the country's attempts to obstruct "international efforts to ensure accountability" for violations of international law.

"The Presidency of the Assembly emphasizes that the Court, its elected officials, and its staff have the strong support of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute," the statement read.

"We reaffirm its full confidence in the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution and reiterate our strong commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats," the statement added.

The ICC issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportations of over 16,000 Ukrainian children to Russia.

In its statement, the ICC wrote that it believes Putin “bears individual criminal responsibility” as the leader of Russia for the crimes committed against Ukrainian children.

Russian ex-President Dmitriy Medvedev went on to threaten a missile strike against the Hague on March 20.

"Everyone walks under God and missiles. It's quite possible to envision a scenario where a Russian ship stationed in the North Sea could strategically strike the Hague courthouse with a hypersonic Onyx (cruise) missile," Medvedev, who is currently the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote.

He went on to warn judges of the International Criminal Court to "look carefully at the sky."

Russian investigators also announced on March 20 that they had opened a case against members of the ICC for issuing the arrest warrants.

Namely, the Investigative Committee of Russia targeted ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, as well as judges Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez.

According to a press release, the committee is accusing the ICC of "bringing a known innocent person to criminal responsibility" and preparing "an attack on a representative of a foreign state who enjoys international protection, with the aim of complicating international relations."

Russia withdrew from the ICC in 2016 after the international organization criticized its illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, meaning that Putin cannot be arrested unless he sets foot in one of the 123 countries that are party to the court.”-via Kyiv Independent

~

“Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, has signed legislation to make his country part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) during a ceremony on Thursday.

Last year, Finland sought to join the military alliance in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and legislation incorporating Nato’s founding treaties was passed in parliament in Helsinki on 1 March.

Hungary and Turkey, the only Nato members that have yet to ratify Finland’s membership, have both signalled they will soon do so.”-via The Guardian

[musiquesduciel]

I, a Maxwell stan, had to be at work the day Australia played against Afghanistan in that legendary match so a moment of silence for me, kids.

[sayruq]

[drsonnet]

Palestinian children suffering from malnutrition receive treatment at a healthcare center, amid widespread hunger in #Rafah, in the southern #Gaza Strip March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Fear of famine grows in Gaza as emaciated children seen at hospitals - March 5, 2024 | Reuters

أطفال فلسطينيون يعانون من سوء التغذية يتلقون العلاج في أحد المراكز الصحية وسط انتشار الجوع في #رفح جنوبي قطاع #غزة https://reut.rs/3T1NsJ1 #Rafah #Reuters #GazaStarving‌‌ #Gazagenocide Mohammed Salem

[ey3bags]

US Senator Bernie Sanders notes of the US Government's hypocrisy.

"International law cannot be applied only when it is convenient."

[oneturfnews]

Will Shubman Gill become the next ODI captain?

Shubman Gill, the star batsman of the current Indian cricket team, was recently appointed as the Vice-Captain of the ODI team. He is one of the players who easily fits in all formats. Fans Comparing him with the legendary batsman Virat Kohli. He is the current Captain of the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans. He was the 2nd leading run scorer in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup where he scored 372 runs including 1 century and 3 half-century. The time when Shubman Gill was rising in cricket and after just 11 months, he got his debut for team India against New Zealand and in just some days, he will become a regulated part of the team. 

He has played 48 ODI matches where he scored 2415 runs including 6 centuries and 14 half-centuries. He is one of the players who has a double century in ODI. He scored 208 runs against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 2023. He remains constant and now he will become the Vice-Captain in ODIs. If he does the same in future upcoming series then team Management can deliver the captaincy of the Indian ODI team to him in future.

Shubman Gill scored 1893 runs in 59 test innings so far including 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries. He is especially known for his second innings batting. Fans still remember his Gabba innings where he scored 91 runs. He was the unsung hero of that match. In T20Is, he has 578 runs in 21 innings including 1 century and 3 half-century. His T20I best is 126 runs which he scored against New Zealand in 2023. This is the 2nd highest individual performance of an Indian batsman in T20Is. A few days ago, Abhishek Sharma broke the record when he scored 135 runs against England. Gill was also captain of the Indian T20I team in the Zimbabwe tour, where India won 4-1. 

After some days, The Champions Trophy 2025 will start and Gill can become the key player for the team during the tournament. At this time, Indian Cricket team’s mega star Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are struggling with their ongoing forms but it is not with Gill. In Nagpur, in 1st ODI against England, while chasing 249 runs, India lost 2 early wickets for just 19, but Shubman Gill played a match winning knock of 87 runs. He first contributed with Shreyas Iyer (57) but after Iyer’s wicket, Gill played his natural game. He again formed a partnership with Axar Patel (52). In this match, he batted at 3. He stepped down himself for Yashasvi Jaiswal but this did not affect his batting. In the Border Gavaskar Trophy,he did not score so many runs and after the tour, he also played in the Ranji Trophy. He failed in his first innings. His critics criticized him for his batting but in the next innings he made a century and made a statement. This will be very interesting. If Virat Kohli will fit for the 2nd ODI, who will go out of the team. Will Shubman bat again at 3 or will he return to his regular position.