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(PTI)

BEIJING, May 26: China on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to the Quad, saying it was opposed to the formation of exclusive groupings and engaging in bloc confrontation.

“China has stated its position on Quad on multiple occasions,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here when asked to comment on the grouping’s new measures to boost maritime surveillance in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity, and not target any third party. We oppose forming exclusive groupings or engaging in bloc confrontation,” she said.

The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.

At a meeting of its foreign ministers in Delhi on Tuesday, the Quad unveiled new measures to boost maritime surveillance and port infra- structure across the Indo- Pacific against the backdrop of China’s growing military posturing in the region.

The Quad grouping also expanded cooperation in critical minerals and energy.

PTI: Israeli settler parents travel with their baby on camels in the Judean Desert near the settlement of Kochav Hashachar, in the West Bank, on Monday.

PTI

A police officer runs after launching tear gas at protesters during an anti-government demonstration in La Paz, Bolivia, on Monday.

PTI Supporters of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) listen to speeches by deposed leader Ozgur Ozel during a rally in Izmir, Turkey, on Tuesday. Riot police used water cannons on Tuesday to prevent people from gathering to hear a speech by the deposed leader. Ozel and the core leadership of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, were removed from their posts on Thursday by a court order that many people consider to be politically motivated.

Members of the Meghalaya Kudo team pose with their medals after winning four golds and one silver at the 4th National Kudo Championship held in Pune, Maharashtra, from June 16 to 22. (ST)

NEW DELHI, May 26: Left-handed batter Hashmatullah Shahidi was on Tuesday named captain of the Afghanistan squad which will play a one-off Test and three ODIs against India from June 6 to June 20.

While the ODI squad features top players including Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ibrahim Zadran, the Test team comprises a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent, with Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai forming the core of the batting group. Wicketkeepers Afsar Zazai and Ikram Alikhil have also been included, while the spin department will rely on Sharafudin Ashraf and Qais Ahmad.Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi will spearhead the pace department.Interestingly, Afghanistan have opted for a slightly different combination in the ODI setup, bringing back seasoned stars Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan for the white-ball leg of the tour.

Young opener Ibrahim Zadran, Sediquallah Atal and Darwish Rasooli bolster the batting unit, while AM Ghazanfar and Bilal Sami add depth to the bowling attack.

Young spinner Ghazanfar was rewarded for his exploits in the IPL. He snapped 15 wickets in 11 games for Mumbai Indians.

Afghanistan will start their tour with a one-off Test from June 6 to 10 at New Chandigarh before embarking on a three-match ODI series.

The first ODI will be held on June 14 at Dharamsala, followed by the second game on June 17 at Lucknow and the third ODI on June 20 in Chennai.

Squad for one-off Test

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Abdul Malik, Sediquallah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, Saleem Safi.

Reserve Pool: Bashir Ahmad, Bahir Shah, Ismat Alam

Squad for the ODI series: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediquallah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami.Reserve Pool: Qais Ahmad, Saleem Safi, Bashir Ahmad. (PTI)

(Agencies)

ZURICH, May 26: FIFA will introduce a special “concussion substitution” rule at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, marking the first time the tournament will feature a dedicated emergency replacement for players suffering head injuries during matches.

Under the new regulation, teams will be allowed to make an additional substitution if a player is suspected of sustaining a concussion or serious head injury. The change will not count towards the standard limit of five tactical substitutions permitted during a game.

The move has been widely welcomed as an important step towards improving player safety and ensuring quicker medical intervention during high-intensity matches.

Medical teams and match officials are expected to closely monitor head injury incidents.

Rongdal Kide and a goal

GOALKEEPERS: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Barnsley), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami).

DEFENDERS: Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City), Moise Bombito (Nice), Derek Cornelius (Rangers), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc de Fougerolles (Dender EH), Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Swindon Town), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire).

MIDFIELDERS: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choiniere (LAFC), Stephen Eustaquio (LAFC), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismael Kone (Sassuolo), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jayden Nelson (Austin), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Nathan-Dylan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC).

FORWARDS: Jonathan David (Juventus), Promise David (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse).

(AP) BUENOS AIRES, May 26: Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has said the reigning world champions will head into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with the same winning mentality that guided them to glory in Qatar, insisting that the Albiceleste always aim to finish as champions.

Alvarez, who emerged as one of Argentina’s break-out stars during the 2022 World Cup campaign, reflected on how dramatically his role in the national team has evolved over the past four years. The 26-year-old travelled to Qatar largely as a back-up option be-hind Lautaro Martinez, who had been instru-mental in Argenti-na’s Copa America tri-umph in 2021. However, after making substitute ap-pearances against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, Alvarez earned a start-ing place in the final group-stage match against Poland and never relin-quished it.Now one of Scaloni’s most trusted players, Alvarez heads into the tournament as an estab-lished starter and one of the central figures in Ar-gentina’s attack alongside Lautaro Martinez.