Latest news with #CWC
TimesLIVE
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Can Sundowns pull off an upset and beat Dortmund in the Club World Cup?
Mamelodi Sundowns take on the second-most decorated German football club, Borussia Dortmund, in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup (CWC) group stage on Saturday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. Downs had a fine start to the competition, securing a 1-0 victory in the Group F opener against South Korean team Ulsan HD on Wednesday, putting them top of Group F. Dortmund drew goalless against Brazilian side Fluminense. Borussia have far more experience in international competition and compete in one of the world's top four leagues in the Bundesliga, plus regularly challenge for honours in the world's toughest continental club competition, the Uefa Champions League. They might not have had the best 2024-2025 season, finishing fourth in the Bundesliga, but reached the Champions League semifinals. It should be a mismatch between the German giants and the 2024-2025 Caf Champions League runners-up Sundowns. But Downs showed against Ulsan they have grown in international competition from their regular campaigns in the tough conditions of the African Champions League — in their only other appearance at the CWC in Japan in 2016 they lost convincingly against two Asian teams. The weather in the midsummer US, and perhaps motivation of the big European clubs for the new, expanded version of the now 32-team CWC, have seen some upsets. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal drew against Real Madrid, Inter Miami beat FC Porto and Botafogo stunned European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Bafana Bafana legend Delron Buckley believes the Brazilians can pull off a surprise and beat Dortmund, who he turned out for in the 2000s. 'I think Sundowns can surprise Dortmund and get something out of this game,' Buckley told the Sowetan. 'They need to get their facts right about Dortmund. They must be very physical because Dortmund are a German team and are very physical, and when they're in possession, everything is quick.'
The Wire
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Fresh Row Erupts Between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Over Godavari-Banakacherla Project
A fresh river water dispute has rocked the neighbouring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with the latter taking steps to implement an ambitious project to link the Godavari river basin with Penna via Krishna. The project is aimed at providing drinking and irrigation water to the drought hit Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government has already submitted the pre-feasibility report (PFR) on what is now called 'Godavari - Banakacherla project' to the Central Water Commission (CWC). The CWC has asked the state to furnish a detailed project report (DPR). Union coal minister and Bharatiya Janata Party state president G. Kishan Reddy said that while the Union government has not taken any decision on the PFR submitted by Andhra Pradesh, it has asked for a DPR. The development has raised alarm in Telangana. The state has urged the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to reject Andhra Pradesh's request to grant terms of reference (ToR) for environmental clearance at the next meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee on river valley projects. Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy also called an all-party meeting of Members of Parliament on Wednesday (June 18) to seek suggestions on mounting pressure on the Union government to halt the project. He also rushed to New Delhi to meet the Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to convey the concerns of his government. Why Telangana is opposing the Godavari-Banakacherla project Telangana's concerns stem from fears that the project could deprive it of a sizeable amount of water from its share in the Godavari. However, the Andhra Pradesh government, represented by its water resources minister Nimmala Rama Naidu, argued that as the tail-end state of the river, it was entitled to exploit its floodwaters without cap before runoff into the sea. Naidu said that this in no way affected the water allocation of upper riparian states, including Telangana. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had also been advocating that the state would use 105 flood days in a year to divert about 2,000 million cubic feet (2 TMC feet) of water every day, aggregating to about 200 TMC feet annually. He said that interlinking of rivers was the only solution to address the problem of drought in Rayalaseema. On the other hand, Telangana claimed that the project violated the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which governed all emerging disputes between the sibling states when they were separated in 2014. It also said the project went against the award of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal. The project aimed to divert water from the Polavaram multipurpose project on the Godavari to the Krishna basin using the canal network of Nargarjunasagar and Srisailam reservoirs situated on the Krishna. The canal water was proposed to be stored in a major reservoir in Bollapalli village of Guntur district in the Krishna basin for onward supply to the head regulator of Banakacherla project in Penna basin's Rayalaseema. The Godavari-Banakacherla project was conceived by the earlier Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime led by Naidu in 2018. It was called the "Godavari-Penna" river linking scheme at the time. After the party lost power in 2019, the new Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy government renamed it as the Palnadu Drought Mitigation Project and even invited tenders. The governments proposed the project to tap maximum surplus water available in the Godavari as projects in the Krishna basin – Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar – were unable meet Rayalaseema's requirements. An estimated 3,000 TMC feet flood water went untapped and flowed into the sea every year. However, the governments failed to execute the project due to frequent inter-state issues. These issues were so far mainly concerned with the Krishna basin as Telangana was advocating for a higher share of water based on its larger catchment area within the basin. It proposed a share of 70% but, as an interim arrangement, a 66-34 split between Andhra Pradesh (512 TMC ft) and Telangana (299 TMC ft) was agreed upon between the two states post-bifurcation. The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II has been asked to adjudicate the water share afresh. The two states did not have major issues in the Godavari basin until now, barring the impact of the Polavaram project on villages of Telangana. However, the Godavari-Banakacherla project has opened a new chapter in their strained relationship over river waters, with both sides firm on their respective stands. Reddy blames Chandrasekhar Rao for current impasse Reddy, who chaired the all party meeting of MPs, warned Naidu that he should not hope to get clearances for the project because on account of Reddy's considerable clout in the Union government."The Telangana government will complain to every authority in the clearances chain to stall the project. If needed, the government will also approach the Supreme Court," he said. At a media conference later, Reddy demanded that Naidu give blanket approval to all projects proposed by Telangana in the Godavari basin to utilise its allotted 968 TMC ft. Andhra Pradesh is entitled to 518 TMC ft in the river. He blamed his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao for the current impasse and released a video clipping of Rao expressing his liberal stand towards diversion of the Godavari water to Rayalaseema. "It was Rao who first proposed the idea". The Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MP V. Ravichandra staged a walkout at the meeting saying the chief minister falsely attributed the Godavari-Banakacherla project to Rao. In fact, Rao only suggested diversion of the Godavari water to the Krishna basin through Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam without naming any specific project. Reddy also released the minutes of a meeting of the Apex Council on river water disputes between the two states that was attended by Rao and Naidu in the presence of then Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharati on September 21, 2016. Rao was quoted as telling the meeting that "for the existing, ongoing and proposed projects in both the states of Krishna river, more than 1,000 TMC ft of water is required. On the other hand, more than 3,000 TMC ft is going waste into sea every year in Godavari river." Hence, he emphasised that as water is available, it has to be decided how best it can be utilised properly. He stressed the need for developing understanding between the two states by sitting together and amicably settling the issues. Reddy also said that he and Naidu's successor, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, met four times to discuss the shifting of the Godavari water to Rayalaseema. He warned that the Godavari-Banakacherla project was not merely for 200 TMC ft but an additional 100 TMC ft. "Pumpsets are getting ready now for 200 TMC ft but they will also be kept in reserve for an additional 100 TMC ft", he remarked. On the disclosures of Rao and his erstwhile cabinet colleagues, T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender, to the judicial commission probing irregularities in Kaleswaram project on Godavari, Reddy said that they lied before the panel about the project having cabinet approval. "There was never an approval for the project in the 96 times that the cabinet headed by Rao met". "Minutes of all cabinet meetings would be submitted to the commission before June 30," he added. Reddy's claim that Chandrashekhar Rao had agreed to the Godavari-Banakacherla project was rebutted by Harish Rao, irrigation minister in the BRS regime. Harish Rao said that Reddy had selectively quoted one para from the minutes of the Apex Council meeting to mislead the public. He released a subsequent para of the minutes which read "[Chandrasekhar Rao] raised objection over the Expert Committee constituted by Government of India to address the issues of diversion of water from Godavari to Krishna river between the two States without prior consultation of Telangana". 'Water interests of Telangana will be affected' In a letter to current irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Harish Rao reminded that any project in the two states had to be taken up with the prior permission of the Godavari or Krishna River Management Boards and the Apex Council as per the State Reorganisation Act. But the Andhra Pradesh government neither took permission nor communicated the decision to Telangana. He said the water interests of Telangana would be severely affected if Andhra Pradesh diverted 200 TMC ft from the Godavari even before the former exhausted its full share of 968 TMC ft. When the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal was reconstituted to look into water allocations for the states, t was directed to base its evaluation on the depleted flow of the river. Harish Rao also said that three of Telangana's projects were pending clearance with the Union government. If the Union government cleared Godavari-Banakacherla project ahead of permissions for Telangana's projects, the state's interests would be severely jeopardised. Uttam Kumar Reddy wrote a letter to Union Minister for Environment and Forest Bhupender Yadav, urging the government to reject the ToR sought by Andhra Pradesh for the project as the state had deviated from the proposal in both the Krishna and Godavari river basins. It enlarged the scope of several components of Polavaram project in violation of the permission granted by water disputes tribunal. The Union government issued a 'stop work' order due to extensive changes to project proposals but it was kept in abeyance by several extensions, most recently till July 2, 2026. This allowed the work to continue despite objections raised not only by Telangana but also Odisha and Chhattisgarh. He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh planned to use the so-called flood water for the Godavari-Banakacherla project but the CWC guidelines suggested that flood water was not officially defined, measured or allocated for use by any state on an inter-state river, including the Godavari. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India Today
15 hours ago
- India Today
Peon, 55, arrested for raping two 11-year-olds at Pune children's home
A 55-year-old peon, Ramesh Dagdu Sathe, has been arrested for allegedly raping two 11-year-old students at a children's shelter in Pune. The incident occurred on June 7 but was revealed only after the victims confided in the shelter's reports indicate that Sathe tied the hands of the minors, stuffed cloth in their mouths and sexually assaulted them. He allegedly threatened to kill the children if they spoke about the case was initially registered at Ghodegaon Police Station but later transferred to Lonikand Police Station and filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The manager of Sahyadri Adivasi Gramin Vikas Pratishthan, which runs the shelter, noticed the children's disturbed behaviour and loss of appetite. After gentle questioning, the victims disclosed the assault, leading the manager to inform the children, placed in the shelter under the Child Welfare Committee's (CWC) orders, are now receiving counselling to help them recover from the Commissioner of Police Himmat Jadhav confirmed the arrest and assured that investigations are underway to ensure justice is served.
Observer
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Observer
Madrid held, City and Juve triumph in CWC openers
PHILADELPHIA: Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal at the Club World Cup (CWC) in new coach Xabi Alonso's first game in charge on Wednesday, after Manchester City got off to a winning start. In the late game Juventus thrashed Al Ain 5-0 in Washington after visiting US President Donald Trump at the White House. Federico Valverde had a stoppage-time penalty saved as Real were forced to settle for a point in the Group H match in Miami having taken the lead. It was a disappointing outcome for the large contingent of fans of the Spanish side in the crowd of 62,415 at Hard Rock Stadium. "The first half wasn't as good as the second one. In the second half we had better chances, better control. For sure we have the principles to start building something, but we could have won," Alonso told broadcaster DAZN. The former Bayer Leverkusen coach gave debuts to new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in defence but Real were missing Kylian Mbappe through illness. Gonzalo Garcia started in his place and the 21-year-old seized his chance as he opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark from a Rodrygo assist. Al Hilal hit back in their new coach Simone Inzaghi's first game on the bench with Ruben Neves levelling before the break from the penalty spot following a Raul Asencio foul. Real had the chance to claim victory in stoppage time after Mohammed Al Qahtani was ruled to have put his hand in the face of Fran Garcia in the box. However, Valverde's spot-kick was saved by Yassine Bounou to give the Saudi team a draw after a hugely creditable performance. RB Salzburg took the lead in Group H with a 2-1 win over Mexican outfit Pachuca in Cincinnati. The match was suspended early in the second half with the Austrian team leading 1-0 because of a storm, resuming 97 minutes later. Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani scores their first goal. — Reuters FODEN STARS In Philadelphia, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku scored first-half goals as Pep Guardiola's City eased to a 2-0 win against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Group G. City gave debuts to new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, but it was Foden who opened the scoring inside two minutes. Doku converted the second goal from a Foden corner shortly before the interval in a game played in sweaty early afternoon conditions in front of 37,446 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. The afternoon was slightly marred for City as Rico Lewis was sent off for a dangerous tackle late on, but Guardiola was satisfied with the winning start as his side look to turn the page following a difficult last season. "It is so hot. The humidity is not easy. We had good moments, many new players. The first game in this group stage is always really, really important. I saw many, many good things," said Guardiola, who suggested he will make sweeping changes for the next match against Al Ain in Atlanta on Sunday. "We are going to train well in the next few days and then fresh legs for the next game to try to improve things," Guardiola added. "We have a lot of new players, injured players back, and step by step we will get to the right tempo." Manchester City's Omar Marmoush in action with Wydad Casablanca's El Mehdi Benabid. — Reuters JUVE DOMINANT Juventus, who sent a delegation to the White House earlier in the day to present Trump with a club shirt, surged to the top of Group G with a crushing triumph over UAE team Al Ain at Audi Field. On loan Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both struck twice while Kenan Yildiz was also on target. "I'm delighted for my goals but first and foremost for the team's win," Conceicao, on loan from Porto, told DAZN. "We started the game well and that's what we wanted to do, to win this opening match and now we need to kick on." The second round of group games begins on Thursday, with matches including Lionel Messi's Inter Miami against Porto and European champions Paris Saint-Germain facing Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo. — AFP
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘Everyone knows what Dortmund are capable of': Sundowns brace for step up at CWC
Mamelodi Sundowns might have notched their historic first win at a Fifa Club World Cup (CWC), but they know they will have to step up a gear to be competitive against Borussia Dortmund. The Brazilians registered a crucial win — for many reasons — when they got off to the best possible start beating South Korea's Ulsan HD 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday night. The result boosts Downs in a number of ways. It was the first by an African team at this year's expanded 32-team CWCin the US, which has been characterised by some mismatched 'rugby' scores in clashes between heavyweights and minnows, though Al-Hilal's draw with Real Madrid lands a confidence-building blow for the minor sides. Sundowns' introduction to the old seven-team CWC in Osaka in 2016 saw something of a baptism of fire, being dismantled 2-0 by host Japanese club Kashima Antlers and 4-1 by Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. That the Brazilians beat an Asian team this time round will spur their confidence that they are a club growing in competitiveness internationally, thanks mainly to their near-decade of strong performances in the Caf Champions League since they won it in 2016. 𝗡𝗢 𝗗𝗡𝗔, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗦𝗔 🇿🇦 Congratulations to Masandawana on their first historic #FIFACWC win 🙌 Catch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every game. Free. | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 18, 2025 In Japan Sundowns did not get a crack at one of the bigger clubs, given their early defeats against the Asians. In the US the new format will see them meet German giants Borussia at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday (6pm SA time) and Brazilian outfit Fluminense at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 25 (9pm). Given such a tough Group F, Downs really had to beat Ulsan to stand a chance of progressing. They did, which gives them some boost in belief they can compete better at this CWC than their first. Now coach Miguel Cardoso's team will be out to make life as tough as they can against the group heavyweights — and perhaps get another result that sees them through to the quarterfinals. Divine Lunga, Sundowns' classy Zimbabwean left-back, said the Ulsan win, where the Brazilians enjoyed 70% of possession and had the better chances, has boosted the team on their US adventure. Iqraam Rayners takes his scoring form to the FIFA #CWC2025 ⚽🎯 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: #SSFootball | @DAZNFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 18, 2025 'We are still so happy about the win. I think we gave it our all — everyone fought to get a win,' he said. 'Ulsan were what we expected. We analysed their games. When they made their substitutions, their structure started to change a bit — but I think it was going well on our side.' Sundowns will have it far tougher against crack Bundesliga giants Dortmund. Borussia were flat in their opening 0-0 draw against Fluminense, though that match was played at noon heat in New Jersey — midday matches go to European TV audiences at prime time. Dortmund battled in the Bundesliga in 2024-25 but improved after Niko Kovac arrived in February to replace Mike Tullberg and become their third manager of the season, winning seven of their last eight games to end fourth and clinch a Uefa Champions League place. Yellow Nation 👆 Masandawana brought the energy and showed the world who we are! 🌍🙌 #Sundowns #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #AfricaToTheWorld — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) June 18, 2025 Downs were travelling to Cincinnati on Thursday. They also meet Dortmund at noon Ohio time — their match against Ulsan was at 7pm in Orlando — and the heat might act as a leveller or provide challenges. It might also be a factor the South African club, more used to such conditions, could try to exploit. 'It's good to travel on Thursday to get used to Cincinnati because we don't know much about the city,' Lunga said. 'Everyone knows what Dortmund are capable of. They are big guns. But even us — yes, we might be underdogs but I think where we come from, people know who Mamelodi Sundowns are. 'Even Dortmund — I read an interview of their coaches talking about us. So I think it's going to be a tough game.' One downside to Sundowns starting with a win was it alerted the bigger teams in Group F to their potential and gave them a good look at the South African club. Downs will be up against it to produce another win at this CWC — but they will surely not waste any effort trying.
