England and India fight fatigue as gripping Test series goes to the wire
England and India head to the Oval for the decisive fifth and final Test of a hard-fought campaign on Thursday, with both teams battling mental and physical fatigue.A congested schedule of five Tests in less than seven weeks has proved gruelling, especially for the fast bowlers from both teams, with every match going the distance so far.Remarkably, India can still end the series all square at 2-2 after salvaging an unlikely draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, keeping the hosts on the field for 143 overs in their second innings.Tensions spiked at the end of the game when India allowed Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to complete their centuries after England captain Ben Stokes offered to shake hands on a draw, adding spice to the Oval Test.AFP Sport looks at the key talking points ahead of the fifth Test in London.India weigh up Bumrah decision Jasprit Bumrah’s back injury earlier this year prompted India to announce the fast bowler would only feature in three games during the current series.The world’s top-ranked Test bowler made his third appearance on a docile pitch in Manchester and has little time to recover after bowling a gruelling 33 overs, during which he took two wickets.But India coach Gautam Gambhir says all of his squad’s quicks are fit for the finale including Akash Deep, who took 10 wickets in Bumrah’s absence during India’s 336-run win in the second Test at Edgbaston before suffering a groin injury in the next match at Lord’s.England must decide whether to risk express paceman Jofra Archer, who has bowled nearly 90 overs in two Tests after more than four years of injury-enforced exile.The home team took just four wickets on a flat Old Trafford pitch during India’s battling second innings, with seamer Brydon Carse also worked hard.Jamie Overton has been added to an England squad that already has extra pace options in Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.England may need to rein in StokesCan England stop skipper Ben Stokes from bowling himself into the ground at the Oval? The Old Trafford match was a personal triumph for the all-rounder, who became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test.Stokes has now sent down 140 overs — the most he has bowled in any series — and is the leading wicket-taker on either side with 17 scalps.Yet in Manchester he was in evident pain, often clutching his thigh as well as nursing a bicep injury.With the skipper central to England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes on their upcoming tour of Australia, concerns remain over his workload.”Bowling, being in the field is tough work, so I am pretty sore,” said Stokes after the fourth Test. “We are going in 2-1 up but we want to put that last big performance in.”Remarkable Gill eyes another recordCaptaincy appears to be doing wonders for the career of previously inconsistent India batsman Shubman Gill.The elegant 25-year-old scored his fourth century of an extraordinary debut series as skipper at Old Trafford.He came in with the tourists in dire straits at 0-2 in their second innings, responding with a marathon 103 in 238 balls that laid the foundations for a great escape. Gill has set a new record for the most runs scored by an India batsman in a series against England of 722, surpassing team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal’s tally of 712 in 2023/24.At the Oval he could eclipse Sunil Gavaskar’s all-time India series record of 774 runs, set in a four-match campaign against the West Indies in 1971.One downside for Gill is that he will be without vice-captain and prolific runscorer Rishabh Pant, who sustained a foot fracture in Manchester.
UK to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel acts
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various “substantive steps”, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.The potentially landmark move, part of Starmer’s plan for a “lasting peace”, came after the British leader recalled his cabinet from recess for urgent talks on the worsening situation in the besieged territory.Starmer’s move, paired with Paris also saying it will recognise a Palestinian state in September, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so.In a televised Downing Street address immediately after the cabinet meeting, Starmer said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if Israel has not taken the steps demanded by the time the UN General Assembly is held in September.It must “end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect” of a two-state solution, he added. “I’ve always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,” Starmer said. “With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, saying: “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims.””A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen,” he posted on the social media platform X.The UK leader also detailed several demands for militant group Hamas, which is holding Israeli hostages seized in its attacks on October 7, 2023.”They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza,” he said.- ‘Hand of history’ -Israel’s foreign ministry also said it “rejects” the UK move, arguing it “constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza”.Starmer spoke to Netanyahu before the announcement, telling him “the situation in Gaza was intolerable,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.”He urged the prime minister to take immediate action to lift all restrictions on aid access,” she added in a readout of the call.Starmer also talked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who “welcomed” the recognition announcement, the spokeswoman noted.The UK move follows French President Emmanuel Macron announcing last week that Paris would recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly meeting on September 23.Although more than 140 countries already recognise the State of Palestine, none of them carry the weight of Britain and France, who are nuclear-armed allies of Israel with permanent seats on the UN Security Council. On Tuesday, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed London joining “the momentum created by France” to “stop the endless cycle of violence”.Macron’s announcement drew a strong rebuke from both Israel and fellow G7 member the United States.Starmer said Tuesday his government “will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met” the demands.But he insisted: “No one should have a veto over our decision.”Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy, attending a UN conference in New York led by France and Saudi Arabia to promote the two-state solution, echoed the sentiment.Lammy said it was “with the hand of history on our shoulders” that London planned to recognise Palestinian statehood, given Britain’s pivotal role in Israel’s creation through the 1917 Balfour Declaration.- ‘Suffering’ -Starmer has been under growing domestic and international pressure to formally recognise a Palestinian state. More than 220 British lawmakers from nine parties including Labour published a letter last Friday urging him to take the step.It was included in Labour’s election-winning manifesto last year, as part of “a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state”.But the pressure has risen as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has dramatically worsened.”The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,” Starmer said in his TV address, adding it “must end”. His office said the UK had dropped its first aid, including “lifesaving supplies”, by air Tuesday into Gaza, with the help of Jordan.The UK leader thanked its king, Abdullah II, in a call.”However, they agreed that this could not be a substitute for truck deliveries by land, which are the only way to deliver the level of food and other aid urgently needed,” Starmer’s spokeswoman said.
Qatar, Saudi, Egypt join call for Hamas to disarm, give up Gaza rule
Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined calls Tuesday for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.Seventeen countries plus the European Union and Arab League threw their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. “In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” said the declaration.It followed a call Monday by the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to administer the coastal territory.The text also condemned the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel, something the UN General Assembly has yet to do.France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, called the declaration “both historic and unprecedented.””For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalize relations with Israel in the future,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.The text, co-signed by France, Britain and Canada among other western nations, also called for the possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilize Gaza after the end of hostilities.Israel and its ally the United States did not take part in the meeting.- 21 months of war -The document was issued at the second day of the conference in New York at which Britain announced it may recognize a Palestinian state in September.British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said London would proceed with recognition if Israel did not fulfil conditions including implementing a ceasefire in Gaza and allowing in sufficient aid.French President Emmanuel Macron last week said he would formally announce France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September.For decades, most of the global body’s members have supported a two-state solution with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side.But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli officials declaring designs to annex occupied territory, it is feared a Palestinian state could become geographically impossible.The current war in Gaza started after the Hamas attacks on Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.Israel responded with large-scale military action that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and destroyed most infrastructure in the enclave.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the meeting Monday “the two-state solution is farther than ever before.”In a statement issued late Tuesday, 15 Western nations including France and Spain, affirmed their “unwavering support to the vision of the two-state solution.”Among the signatories, nine that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state expressed “willingness or positive consideration of their countries” to do so: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino.
Qatar, Saudi, Egypt join call for Hamas to disarm, give up Gaza rule
Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined calls Tuesday for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.Seventeen countries plus the European Union and Arab League threw their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. “In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,” said the declaration.It followed a call Monday by the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations for both Israel and Hamas to leave Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to administer the coastal territory.The text also condemned the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel, something the UN General Assembly has yet to do.France, which co-chaired the conference with Saudi Arabia, called the declaration “both historic and unprecedented.””For the first time, Arab countries and those in the Middle East condemn Hamas, condemn October 7, call for the disarmament of Hamas, call for its exclusion from Palestinian governance, and clearly express their intention to normalize relations with Israel in the future,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.The text, co-signed by France, Britain and Canada among other western nations, also called for the possible deployment of foreign forces to stabilize Gaza after the end of hostilities.Israel and its ally the United States did not take part in the meeting.- 21 months of war -The document was issued at the second day of the conference in New York at which Britain announced it may recognize a Palestinian state in September.British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said London would proceed with recognition if Israel did not fulfil conditions including implementing a ceasefire in Gaza and allowing in sufficient aid.French President Emmanuel Macron last week said he would formally announce France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September.For decades, most of the global body’s members have supported a two-state solution with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side.But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli officials declaring designs to annex occupied territory, it is feared a Palestinian state could become geographically impossible.The current war in Gaza started after the Hamas attacks on Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.Israel responded with large-scale military action that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and destroyed most infrastructure in the enclave.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the meeting Monday “the two-state solution is farther than ever before.”In a statement issued late Tuesday, 15 Western nations including France and Spain, affirmed their “unwavering support to the vision of the two-state solution.”Among the signatories, nine that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state expressed “willingness or positive consideration of their countries” to do so: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino.
Ukraine: au moins trois soldats tués et 18 blessés par une frappe russe contre un camp d’entraînement
Au moins trois soldats ukrainiens ont été tués et 18 blessés mardi par une frappe russe contre un camp d’entraînement militaire, a annoncé l’armée ukrainienne, au lendemain d’offensives nocturnes russes qui ont fait 25 morts.Ces attaques interviennent alors que le président américain Donald Trump a donné dix jours à compter de mardi à son homologue russe Vladimir Poutine pour mettre un terme au conflit, sous peine de sanctions des Etats-Unis.”L’ennemi a lancé une frappe de missile sur le territoire d’une des unités à l’entraînement des forces terrestres”, a indiqué l’armée de terre d’Ukraine sur Facebook. “Trois militaires sont morts et 18 sont blessés”, a-t-elle ajouté, sans préciser où l’attaque s’est produite.Sur la journée de mardi, la Russie a tiré “six missiles” et mené “1.229 frappes” avec des drones suicide, a détaillé l’armée.Au cours de la nuit précédente, au moins 25 civils dont une femme enceinte et une quizaine de personnes détenues dans une colonie pénitentiaire de la région de Zaporijjia (sud), ont perdu la vie dans des bombardements russes, selon les autorités. Celles-ci ont fait état de plus de 70 blessés.Le président ukrainien, Volodymyr Zelensky, a dénoncé l’attaque contre la prison, la qualifiant de “frappe délibérée, intentionnelle”, assurant que “les Russes ne pouvaient ignorer qu’ils y visaient des civils”. Seize personnes ont péri et 43 ont été blessées dans cet assaut, d’après l’administration régionale.Le Kremlin a démenti s’en prendre à “des cibles civiles” par la voix de son porte-parole Dmitri Peskov, affirmant que l’armée russe n’effectuait des bombardements que “sur des infrastructures militaires ou liées à l’armée”.- “Aucun progrès” -L’armée de l’air ukrainienne a expliqué avoir fait face dans la nuit de lundi à mardi à deux missiles et 37 drones ou leurres, dont 32 ont été abattus. Ce nombre est plus bas que d’habitude alors que la Russie a intensifié ses frappes ces derniers mois, étant capable de tirer plus de 500 engins par nuit.Volodymyr Zelensky a accusé les militaires russes d’avoir tiré sur un hôpital de la ville de Kamianske, dans la région de Dnipropetrovsk (centre), y provoquant la mort de trois personnes dont une femme enceinte de 23 ans, et en blessant 22.D’autres attaques russes ont fait six morts dans la région de Kharkiv (nord-est), ont fait savoir les autorités. La ville de Kharviv était à nouveau visée mercredi à l’aube par une attaque de drones, selon le maire Igor Terekhov.”Poutine rejette un cessez-le-feu, évite une réunion des dirigeants et prolonge la guerre”, s’est agacé mardi le ministre ukrainien des Affaires étrangères Andriï Sybiga, appelant à priver la Russie de son “budget de guerre”.De son côté, Donald Trump a accentué la pression en précisant son ultimatum lancé à Vladimir Poutine: ce dernier dispose de dix jours — à compter de mardi — pour mettre fin à la guerre déclenchée par l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine en février 2022. Sans quoi les Etats-Unis infligeront des sanctions à Moscou, des “droits de douane et d’autres choses”.”Il n’y a aucune raison d’attendre. Nous ne voyons aucun progrès”, avait justifié lundi le président américain, qui avait d’abord privilégié l’option du dialogue mais avec très peu de résultats.
Ukraine: au moins trois soldats tués et 18 blessés par une frappe russe contre un camp d’entraînement
Au moins trois soldats ukrainiens ont été tués et 18 blessés mardi par une frappe russe contre un camp d’entraînement militaire, a annoncé l’armée ukrainienne, au lendemain d’offensives nocturnes russes qui ont fait 25 morts.Ces attaques interviennent alors que le président américain Donald Trump a donné dix jours à compter de mardi à son homologue russe Vladimir Poutine pour mettre un terme au conflit, sous peine de sanctions des Etats-Unis.”L’ennemi a lancé une frappe de missile sur le territoire d’une des unités à l’entraînement des forces terrestres”, a indiqué l’armée de terre d’Ukraine sur Facebook. “Trois militaires sont morts et 18 sont blessés”, a-t-elle ajouté, sans préciser où l’attaque s’est produite.Sur la journée de mardi, la Russie a tiré “six missiles” et mené “1.229 frappes” avec des drones suicide, a détaillé l’armée.Au cours de la nuit précédente, au moins 25 civils dont une femme enceinte et une quizaine de personnes détenues dans une colonie pénitentiaire de la région de Zaporijjia (sud), ont perdu la vie dans des bombardements russes, selon les autorités. Celles-ci ont fait état de plus de 70 blessés.Le président ukrainien, Volodymyr Zelensky, a dénoncé l’attaque contre la prison, la qualifiant de “frappe délibérée, intentionnelle”, assurant que “les Russes ne pouvaient ignorer qu’ils y visaient des civils”. Seize personnes ont péri et 43 ont été blessées dans cet assaut, d’après l’administration régionale.Le Kremlin a démenti s’en prendre à “des cibles civiles” par la voix de son porte-parole Dmitri Peskov, affirmant que l’armée russe n’effectuait des bombardements que “sur des infrastructures militaires ou liées à l’armée”.- “Aucun progrès” -L’armée de l’air ukrainienne a expliqué avoir fait face dans la nuit de lundi à mardi à deux missiles et 37 drones ou leurres, dont 32 ont été abattus. Ce nombre est plus bas que d’habitude alors que la Russie a intensifié ses frappes ces derniers mois, étant capable de tirer plus de 500 engins par nuit.Volodymyr Zelensky a accusé les militaires russes d’avoir tiré sur un hôpital de la ville de Kamianske, dans la région de Dnipropetrovsk (centre), y provoquant la mort de trois personnes dont une femme enceinte de 23 ans, et en blessant 22.D’autres attaques russes ont fait six morts dans la région de Kharkiv (nord-est), ont fait savoir les autorités. La ville de Kharviv était à nouveau visée mercredi à l’aube par une attaque de drones, selon le maire Igor Terekhov.”Poutine rejette un cessez-le-feu, évite une réunion des dirigeants et prolonge la guerre”, s’est agacé mardi le ministre ukrainien des Affaires étrangères Andriï Sybiga, appelant à priver la Russie de son “budget de guerre”.De son côté, Donald Trump a accentué la pression en précisant son ultimatum lancé à Vladimir Poutine: ce dernier dispose de dix jours — à compter de mardi — pour mettre fin à la guerre déclenchée par l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine en février 2022. Sans quoi les Etats-Unis infligeront des sanctions à Moscou, des “droits de douane et d’autres choses”.”Il n’y a aucune raison d’attendre. Nous ne voyons aucun progrès”, avait justifié lundi le président américain, qui avait d’abord privilégié l’option du dialogue mais avec très peu de résultats.