The US government sued Uber on Thursday, accusing the ride-sharing company of violating federal law by discriminating against passengers with disabilities.
In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the US Department of Justice said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve riders with disabilities, including people who travel with service animals or stowable wheelchairs.
The department also said Uber and its drivers illegally charge cleaning fees for service animals, and cancellation fees to riders who are denied service.
Some drivers also allegedly insult and demean people with disabilities, or refuse reasonable requests such as letting mobility-impaired passengers sit in the front seat.
“Uber’s discriminatory conduct has caused significant economic, emotional, and physical harm to individuals with disabilities” and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the justice department said.
Uber said in a statement that it disagreed with the allegations, and was committed to expanding access and improving the experience of riders with disabilities.
Uber also said riders who use guide dogs or require other assistance “deserve a safe, respectful, and welcoming experience on Uber – full stop. We have a clear zero-tolerance policy for confirmed service denials.”
The complaint describes Uber’s alleged mistreatment of 17 individuals.
They include JE, a seven-year-old amputee from the Bronx, New York, who was allegedly denied a ride home from his brother’s birthday party after an Uber driver looked at his wheelchair and asked: “Is that coming?”
Another was Jason Ludwig, a Gulf war veteran with a service dog, who was allegedly denied a ride to the Norfolk airport in Virginia from Newport News, missed his flight, and had to drive 16 hours home to Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts.
A third rider, Jeff Clark of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, allegedly had four drivers in Philadelphia cancel rides in a 17-minute period after he told them he was blind and used a guide dog.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction barring further ADA violations. It also seeks upgrades to Uber’s practices and training, monetary damages and a civil fine.
A justice department spokesman had no immediate additional comment.
Dozens of protesters have gathered outside the Royal Opera House to demonstrate against an eminent Russian opera singer nicknamed “Putin’s diva” who performed on the opening night of Tosca.
Anna Netrebko, 53, one of the world’s best-known sopranos, who draws full houses for her performances at leading opera houses globally, has denied being an ally of the Russian leader.
She was ostracised by most major opera houses in the months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, despite releasing a statement unequivocally condemning the conflict.
Oleksandra Vietrova, 43, said she attended the protest because ‘polite communication didn’t bring any results’. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian
Netrebko, who has not performed in Russia since 2022, was given a People’s Artist award in 2008 by Vladimir Putin. The crowd of about 50 protesters congregated outside the central London venue included Natalia Filatova, 48, who was wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.
She told the Guardian: “I’ve been living in London for 21 years. I used to love the Royal Opera House and everything that they did but the decision is a disgrace. There are so many great opera singers, it doesn’t have to be a question. I think it’s a disgrace.
“I think it has damaged the image of the Royal Opera. I don’t understand how [this] theatre can be a royal theatre when this country has been supporting Ukraine since day one.”
Oleksandra Vietrova, 43, held a sign that read: “Behind the curtain, blood and tanks”. She said she attended because “unfortunately, all the polite communication didn’t bring any results”.
Gerald Finley (Baron Scarpia) and Anna Netrebko (Floria Tosca) perform in Tosca at the Royal Opera House in London. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian
The protest finished with a tribute to Ukraine as demonstrators lit yellow candles and gave a rendition of the national anthem, Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy. Last month, more than 50 Ukrainian writers and artists, a cross-party group of UK MPs and former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark urged the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) to drop Netrebko from its new London season, describing her as a “longtime symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime that is responsible for serious war crimes”.
In a letter, the group argued the RBO faced a “defining choice: between status and responsibility, between profit and values, between silence and conscience”, adding: “We urge you to remain, as you consistently have, on the ethical side of art – and of history.”
The RBO has said as a “singer’s house” it has a duty to showcase the greatest performers, adding that Netrebko has condemned the invasion.
A number of other major opera houses across Europe have featured the Russian soprano in the past two years. Her general manager, Miguel Esteban, said she had “never shown support for Russian separatists” and had condemned the war in three social media statements and two interviews. She had not returned to Russia since the full-scale invasion, he added.
A protester holds a sign outside the Royal Opera House in London. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian
In 2014 Netrebko made a donation to Donetsk’s opera house after Russia seized the city, and she was photographed holding the separatist flag of “Novorossiya” with a pro-Kremlin former Ukrainian politician. She later said did not understand what the flag meant.
Netrebko has said that she “acknowledges and regrets that past actions or statements of mine could have been misinterpreted”, and that she has only met Putin “a handful of times”.
Earlier this month the RBO pulled its production of Tosca at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv after almost 200 members signed an open letter criticising the organisation’s stance on Gaza.
Super Micro has maintained that its record of fast deployments of new Nvidia technologies is an advantage to customers
Super Micro’s stock has rallied 10% across the past three sessions and looks on pace to add to its gains.
Super Micro Computer Inc.’s stock looks poised for a fourth straight day of gains after the server maker delivered a positive update on its business.
The company said late Thursday that it’s started shipping Nvidia Corp.’s (NVDA) Blackwell Ultra systems in volume. Its stock was rising 3.7% in the extended session.
Super Micro’s stock (SMCI) rose for three sessions in a row through Thursday’s close, gaining about 10% over that span. But the stock has had a mixed performance over a longer span, rallying about 44% so far this year but falling 1% over the past 12 months.
Super Micro has “the best track record of fast and successful deployments of new Nvidia technologies,” Chief Executive Charles Liang said in a statement. He added that the company’s data-center offerings, with Nvidia racks and systems, help solve various “AI infrastructure challenges” faced by customers – such as “complex network topology and cabling, power delivery and thermal management.”
See also: Adobe’s earnings beat shows investors that AI is finally paying off, and the stock rises
In a competitive AI server market, Super Micro has maintained that its ability to quickly ship product featuring the newest Nvidia products is one of its advantages. On the company’s last earnings call, Liang discussed the earlier version of Blackwell, saying Super Micro was “able to deliver our B200 systems with an industry-leading time to market to our customers.”
At the time, he said he was “confident our B300 and GB300 solutions will deliver a similar, if not even, better, time to market and time-to-online advantages for customers, helping them accelerate their AI deployments faster than others.” Those are both Blackwell Ultra offerings.
He disclosed back then that some Super Micro customers were “always waiting for coming-soon technology,” meaning the B300 and GB300 from the Blackwell Ultra line.
Super Micro has struggled to keep pace with its own expectations. Back in February, the company predicted $40 billion in revenue for the fiscal year that ends next June. But by August, Super Micro had revised that outlook down to $33 billion.
Don’t miss: Super Micro has a new outlook, but its stock can’t dodge these old questions
The company has also seen its gross margins come under pressure. They were 9.5% in the latest quarter, versus 9.6% in the prior one and 10.2% a year earlier. The performance “highlights increased competition across the board,” Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini wrote last month. He noted that Super Micro was increasing its operating expenses as “additional resources and services are required to stay competitive.”
-Emily Bary
This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
The second season of Apple TV+’s legal thriller Presumed Innocent is adding another Emmy winner to its cast.
Matthew Rhys has joined the anthology series. The Americans and Perry Mason star joins Rachel Brosnahan and Jack Reynor in season two, which will be based on author Jo Murray’s forthcoming book Dissection of a Murder.
Presumed Innocent is the second Apple series Rhys has signed onto recently. He’s also starring in Widow’s Bay, about the residents of a seemingly cursed New England seaside town.
The first season of Presumed Innocent was based on Scott Turow’s novel of the same name (previously adapted for a feature film starring Harrison Ford) and starred Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga and Peter Sarsgaard. In renewing the show, Apple TV+ and the show’s creative team, which includes executive producers David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, opted to make the series an anthology.
The streamer is keeping plot details about season two quiet. Publisher Pan Macmillan’s description of Dissection of a Murder says the story will follow an attorney (Brosnahan) who is defending a man accused of murdering a judge.
Rhys will next be seen in Netflix’s The Beast in Me with Claire Danes; the limited series is set to premiere in November. He’s also set to star with John Krasinski in a serial-killer drama called Silent River at Prime Video. He is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content and United Agents.
Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions produce Presumed Innocent in association with Warner Bros. Television. Kelley and Erica Lipez are co-showrunners of season two and executive produce with Abrams and Rachel Rusch Rich for Bad Robot, Matthew Tinker for David E. Kelley Productions, Dustin Thomason, Brosnahan and Gyllenhaal. Turow and Murray are co-EPs.
BRASILIA, Brazil — A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison Thursday after convicting him of attempting a coup to remain in office despite his 2022 electoral defeat.
Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest in Brasilia. He can appeal the sentence.
Four of the five justices reviewing the case in the panel found the far-right politician guilty on five counts.
U.S. President Donald Trump said hours later that he was “very unhappy” with the conviction. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, he said he always found Bolsonaro to be “outstanding.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices on Thursday voted to convict former president Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup to remain in office despite his 2022 electoral defeat, in a ruling that will deepen political divisions and likely prompt a backlash from the United States government.
Four of the five justices reviewing the case in the panel found the far-right politician guilty on five counts. The latest to rule were Cármen Lúcia and Cristiano Zanin on Thursday, a day after another justice, Luiz Fux, disagreed and voted to acquit the ex-president of all charges.
The panel is now deciding on Bolsonaro’s sentence, which could amount to decades in prison.
U.S. President Donald Trump said hours later that he was “very unhappy” with the conviction. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, he said he always found Bolsonaro to be “outstanding.”
The conviction, he added, is “very bad for Brazil.”
Lawyers for Bolsonaro have said they will appeal the verdict to the full Supreme Court of 11 justices.
The 70-year-old former president, who has denied any wrongdoing, is currently under house arrest.
Bolsonaro is the first former Brazilian president to be convicted of attempting a coup. He has not attended the court proceedings, and on Thursday morning he was seen at his house’s garage but didn’t speak to reporters.
Justice Lúcia said she was convinced by the evidence the Attorney General’s Office presented against the former president. “He is the instigator, the leader of an organization that orchestrated every possible move to maintain or seize power,” she said.
The trial has been followed by a divided society, with people backing the process against the former president, while others still support him. Some have taken to the streets to back the far-right leader who contends he is being politically persecuted.
Bolsonaro’s trial got renewed attention after Trump linked a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his ally’s legal situation, calling it a “ witch hunt.” Observers say the U.S. might announce new sanctions against Brazil after the trial, further straining their fragile diplomatic relations.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, said Tuesday that Bolsonaro was the leader of a coup plot and of a criminal organization, and voted in favor of convicting him.
Lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of the former president’s sons, on Thursday talk about his father on his social media platforms. But instead of mentioning his father’s conviction, he pushed for his amnesty, which he is seeking through Congress.
“It is time to do nothing less than what is correct, just,” he said.
Fux, in his dissenting opinion on Wednesday, disagreed with de Moraes and the other two justices.
“No one can be punished for cogitation,” Fux said. “A coup d’état does not result from isolated acts or individual demonstrations lacking coordination, but rather from the actions of organized groups, equipped with resources and strategic capacity to confront and replace the incumbent power.”
Earlier Thursday, Lúcia also voted to convict Bolsonaro of organized crime in connection with the alleged coup attempt.
Lúcia allowed de Moraes to interrupt her vote and play several videos that showed Bolsonaro in front of thousands of supporters between 2021 and 2023 urging him to leave the Supreme Court. De Moraes also showed footage of some destruction inside the court’s headquarters after the riots on Jan. 8, 2023.
Bolsonaro faced accusations he attempted to illegally hang onto power after his 2022 electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Prosecutors charged Bolsonaro with counts including attempting to stage a coup, being part of an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, as well as being implicated in violence and posing a serious threat to the state’s assets and listed heritage.
“Bolsonaro attempted a coup in this country, and there is hundreds of pieces of evidence,” Lula said early Thursday in an interview with local TV Band, ahead of the trial.
Despite his legal woes, Bolsonaro remains a powerful political player in Brazil.
The far-right politician had been previously banned from running for office until 2030 in a separate case. He is expected to choose an heir who is likely to challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva next year.
The ruling may push Bolsonaro’s allied lawmakers to seek some amnesty for him through Congress.
After the court panel debates on Bolsonaro’s sentence, the embattled former leader could face increased pressure to pick a political heir to likely challenge Lula in the general elections next year.
“There is a God in heaven who sees everything, who loves justice and hates iniquity,” former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro wrote on social media.
___
Sá Pessoa reported from Sao Paulo. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville, in Washington, D.C., contributed with this report.
As we approach what’s likely to be a January launch for Samsung’s next flagship camera phone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, rumors about its possible camera specs continue to build. The latest tip, from renowned leakster Ice Universe, doesn’t provide much hope that the new phone will offer much of a camera hardware upgrade over the current S25 Ultra. In fact, it may actually be a slight downgrade, at least when it comes to the 3x telephoto camera.
Rival phones like the Oppo Find X8 Ultra are available with far larger telephoto camera sensors – can Samsung afford to equip the S26 Ultra with a tiny sensor that could compromise telephoto image quality? (Image credit: Oppo)
Ice Universe reports that the S26 Ultra could use a 10MP 1/3.94” sensor, fronted by a 3x f/2.4 lens. By comparison, the Sony IMX754 sensor used in the S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto module is slightly larger at 1/3.52”. If Samsung does indeed downsize the S26 Ultra’s telephoto sensor, it would seem like a major own-goal, at least from a hardware perspective. The 1/3.52” sensor in the S25 Ultra’s 3x telephoto camera is already tiny compared to comparable modules in other flagship phones. For example, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra’s 3x telephoto module uses a far larger 1/1.56″ sensor. Equipping the S26 Ultra with an even smaller sensor than that in the S25 Ultra can’t be good news for low light image quality or fine detail rendition. Opting to use such a small sensor is even more puzzling when you consider Samsung itself already produces the ISOCELL HP9: a 200MP, 1/1.4″ sensor designed specifically for telephoto modules, and already in use in phones like the Vivo X200 Pro. According to Ice Universe, Samsung has rejected using its own HP9 sensor in the S26 Ultra due to price concerns.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung has been using the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera sensor in its flagship phones since the S23 Ultra and that doesn’t look set to change for the S26 Ultra. The S25 Ultra debuted a new 50MP ultrawide snapper, so it’s likely that’ll be carried over to its replacement. If the 3x telephoto module then gets a downgrade, can we therefore expect yet another Samsung flagship to rely solely on more AI image processing trickery to separate itself from older models? Well, according to a separate leak from Ice Universe, the S26 Ultra may actually pack some camera hardware upgrades, just not in the sensor department.
(Image credit: Ice Universe / X)
It’s reported that the thickness of the S26 Ultra’s camera bump may increase from 2.4mm on the S25 Ultra to a hefty 4.5mm on the S26 Ultra. That’s said to be on account of the new phone getting a larger f/1.4 aperture lens for the main camera (the S25 Ultra uses an f/1.7 lens) along with a variable aperture feature enabling the camera to better adapt to variable lighting.
But is this really enough to make the S26 Ultra stand out from the compelling iPhone 17 Pro and fierce Chinese rivals from the likes of Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo?
The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!
South Africa lead the series 1-0 (Image Source: X/@ProteasMenCSA)
What’s the story
England will take on South Africa in the second T20I of the three-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester.
The match is scheduled for Friday, September 12.
In the first match, rain played a major role as England fell short by 14 runs according to Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method while chasing a target of 69 runs in five overs.
Here are the details and stats.
Can South Africa continue their winning momentum?
Despite the rain-affected match, South Africa emerged victorious in the first T20I.
The Aiden Markram-led side will be looking to continue their winning streak and seal the series with another victory on Friday.
However, they may have to do without Keshav Maharaj who sustained a groin injury just before the last fixture.
England, who lost the ODI series, will want to get the job done and stay afloat in the series.
A look at pitch report and conditions
The Old Trafford surface is known to be high-scoring but not entirely flat. It provides good bounce and carry, allowing batters to play their shots freely.
However, bowlers who can vary their pace with slower deliveries and cutters can also find success on this pitch.
Traditionally, chasing teams have had the upper hand at this venue as its conditions remain consistent throughout the match.
A look at head-to-head record
England and South Africa have faced each other in 27 T20Is so far.
Out of these, England have won 12 matches while South Africa has emerged victorious in 14 encounters. One match ended with no result.
As per ESPNcricinfo, in 11 matches on English soil, the hosts have picked up 4 wins with the Proteas winning 6. One game was a no result.
Predicted starting XI of both sides
England probable XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid. South Africa probable XI: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lizaad Williams.
A look at the key stats
In 138 T20I matches, Buttler owns 3,725 runs from 127 innings at 35.81. He has 27 fifties and a ton.
Salt, who resgistered his 5th duck in the 1st T20I, averages 33.13 with 1,193 runs under his belt.
In 128 matches, England spinner Rashid has bagged 136 scalps at 24.44.
Aiden Markram is 41 runs shy of becoming the 6th-highest scorer for SA in T20Is.
Dewald Brevis owns a strike rate of 193.75 in T20Is.
Leaders of Nepal’s “Gen Z” protest movement are continuing to meet with the army to discuss appointing an interim leader to run the country as an uneasy calm descends on the country after days of deadly violence.
Nepal’s capital remains under tight security after riots forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
Schools are still closed, while some essential services have resumed following protests against corruption, economic stagnation, and the government’s short-lived social media ban.
An army spokesperson said talks would resume.
In a statement, Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel appealed to all parties involved in negotiations “to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought as soon as possible to address the demands of the protesting citizens”.
A name emerges for interim leader
Attention has turned to who will lead an interim administration.
Protesters have rallied behind Sushila Karki, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court widely seen as independent of Nepal’s political establishment.
“The clear favourite emerging from the Gen Z protesters is Sushila Karki, Nepal’s former chief justice. I think this is an excellent choice,” said Bishal Sapkota, a Nepalese software engineer living in Australia.
“During her tenure, she demonstrated remarkable independence, making Supreme Court decisions without aligning to any major political parties and earning widespread respect from citizens, while being resented by the political establishment.”
Bishal Sapkota is among those calling or the former supreme justice to lead Nepal through its transition. (Supplied: Bishal Sapkota)
Protesters say her legal background and reputation for integrity make her the right person to oversee a transition.
“She’s well-spoken, down-to-earth, embodies Nepali values, and brings deep knowledge of Nepal’s constitution and political system — exactly what’s needed for this transitional moment,” Mr Sapkota said.
Ms Karki’s appointment could be formally made as soon as Friday following a meeting at President Ramchandra Paudel’s residence, according to a Gen Z source involved in the talks.
A director of an international NGO in Kathmandu, who asked not to be named due to the sensitive situation, also praised the young organisers as they entered negotiations.
“I think what they have done is tremendous. We haven’t seen this before — tens of thousands of people on social media debating who should be the right candidate to be the interim leader,” he said.
“The strength of the constitution is it’s inclusive. It’s federal. The power is very close to the people. We have 753 local governments.”
“It’s quite a liberal democracy in terms of what is written in the constitution but the challenge is that people are disgruntled because these 70-plus leaders never wanted to leave their seats to the younger generation.
“So you have had three senior leaders who have been holding, clinching on to the power for the last 30 years and that has promoted nepotism.”
Kathmandu mayor gains support
Some Gen Z activists have floated Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old mayor of Kathmandu, as a potential leader.
A civil engineer, Mr Shah studied in Nepal and India before entering politics.
He has led anti-corruption drives, pursued tax cases against private schools, and pushed for stronger oversight of public education.
Yet Mr Shah himself has endorsed Ms Karki as interim leader, according to local media.
“I don’t think he wants to be interim leader — I think he wants to be a leader for the longer term in my view,” the INGO director said.
Balendra Shah is also a former rap artist and composer. (Reuters: Stringer)
Ms Karki, Nepal’s first female chief justice when appointed in 2016, remains the frontrunner for what some are calling a Neutral Interim Authority Council.
But she still has her critics.
“The Nepal army and a few others may have reservations, as she was nominated by the former prime minister who just resigned,” the INGO director explained.
“But the majority are saying she is the most credible, with a clean record, to lead the process despite divided opinion.”
For many younger protesters, consensus has not yet been reached.
A 26-year-old woman who joined the demonstrations in Kathmandu, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns, was concerned that the uncertainty would open the door to royalist influence.
“If we go beyond the constitution, we create a vacuum — and that’s where the monarchy could step in. For us, the constitution is our strongest safeguard,” she said.
Decentralised protests organised online
Unlike earlier protest waves, this movement has been loosely organised across multiple cities rather than directed by a single group.
Organisers relied on platforms such as Discord, where channels with up to 10,000 participants have been active in recent days.
“This was an organic, decentralised protest across multiple cities — not a centrally organised movement,” Bishal Sapkota explained.
“Frankly, the protesters didn’t expect the government to fall within just two days, so they were somewhat unprepared for this rapid success.”
Nepal’s parliament will also need to be repaired after it was set ablaze in the unrest.
(Reuters: Adnan Abidi)
He said attention had shifted to charting the next steps.
“They’re actively consulting with industry leaders, lawyers, and experts to determine the best path forward and restore normal governance as quickly as possible,” he said.
The 26-year-old protester said the lack of a single leader was deliberate.
“In our generation, nobody is saying ‘I’ll take this leadership position’. We genuinely want the right people to lead, not just someone hungry for power,” she said.
“Of course, part of it is fear, but part of it is that we want the process to be collective.”
Army’s crackdown under scrutiny
The upheaval has left visible scars across Kathmandu.
Parts of parliament were charred by fire, several ministers’ homes were attacked, and vehicles lay burnt out near government offices.
Mr Oli’s private residence was also set ablaze during the clashes.
The army said curfew orders would remain in place until Friday morning, warning that further unrest would be met with “strict action”.
Yet there were signs of life returning to normal.
Television images showed young volunteers sweeping debris from streets near parliament and clearing rubble from damaged buildings.
The clean-up from the riots is expected to take some time. (Reuters: Navesh Chitrakar)
But some protesters questioned the army’s handling of the crisis.
“The second day became really violent — many doctors said those on the streets seemed under the influence. Yet the army only imposed a curfew late at night,” the 26-year-old woman told the ABC.
“We are curious why they delayed stepping in. It feels like the army is deliberately dragging this process.”
The army said it would continue working with protesters through talks.
“We are trying to normalise the situation first. We are committed to protect the life and property of people,” said army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet.
Questions of outside interference linger
Alongside street clashes, fears of outside interference and online manipulation have unsettled protesters.
The 26-year-old said she and others had seen signs of infiltration.
“This was supposed to be a peaceful protest. How is it possible that in two days so many goons appeared on the streets? We believe Hindutva forces in India and pro-monarchy factions here are trying to take advantage of the situation,” she said.
She described attempts to hijack the movement online.
“A lot of Facebook pages that used to call themselves Hindu groups have suddenly renamed themselves with Gen Z titles and are pushing royalist agendas. It’s a strategy to manipulate young people who never lived under the monarchy.”
Indian media narratives have also fuelled suspicion.
“Some posters are even trying to suggest Nepalese want Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi as our prime minister. That is not what we want. We want change, but within democratic and constitutional norms,” she said.
Elections could be held within six months, according to some analysts, but protesters say much depends on the interim government.
“I want Nepal to be led by a team that is genuinely free from corruption — leaders the people can trust, aligned with Nepali values and interests, regardless of their background,” Mr Sapkota said.
In sport, sometimes there is no better way to prepare for a fierce rivalry than watching reruns or reading summaries of previous heart-stopping encounters.
And in cricket, there is no bigger rivalry than India vs Pakistan.
Recommended Stories
list of 2 itemsend of list
The sport’s history is embellished with historic India-Pakistan clashes at every tournament and in every decade.
With the teams set to meet again in the T20 Asia Cup 2025, Al Jazeera Sport picks the three India-Pakistan Asia Cup classics you must revisit before Sunday’s encounter:
2010: Harbhajan is a last-over hero with the bat
The 2010 edition of the Asia Cup was a four-team tournament played entirely in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, where all teams played a round-robin group stage, with the top two progressing to the final.
India beat Bangladesh while Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka, making their June 19 encounter a must-win for the Shahid Afridi-led side.
Pakistan opened with a 71-run partnership between Salman Butt and Imran Farhat. A par total of 267 followed the regular fall of wickets thereafter. India’s fast-medium seamer Praveen Kumar picked up three wickets, but it was Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin that kept Pakistan in check.
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag opened the batting for India’s chase, and while Sehwag fell after an uncharacteristically slow innings, Gambhir kept going as captain MS Dhoni chipped in with a half-century.
India seemed well set before Pakistan’s spinners struck in the last third of their innings. Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dhoni and Jadeja fell in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 219-6 with 49 runs required off 29 balls.
Lower-order batter Suresh Raina had the responsibility to take India home alongside off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Raina hit Ajmal for 12 off 4 before three economical overs from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Amir.
With eight runs to defend in the final over, Amir made a near-perfect start as Raina ran a single. In a desperate attempt to get back on strike, Raina had a mix-up with Harbhajan and was run out, giving Pakistan the upper hand. India needed seven off four, with Kumar facing Amir. A double and a single brought Harbhajan back on strike for the final two balls.
Harbhajan, who had an altercation with Akhtar a few balls earlier, swung at a length delivery, clearing midwicket for a huge six. The Turbanator then turned towards Akhtar and let out a loud roar as the Indian dressing room celebrated wildly.
India were in the final and Pakistan were nearly out.
Brief scorecard
Pakistan: 267 in 49.3 overs – Salman Butt 74 (85), Kamran Akmal 51 (41); Praveen Kumar 3-53 in 10 overs. India: 271 in 49.5 overs – Gautam Gambhir 83 (97), MS Dhoni 56 (71); Saeed Ajmal 3-56 in 10 overs.
Harbhajan Singh celebrates the win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dambulla [File: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Reuters]
2014: Afridi seals it with two sixes and a kiss
The round-robin format continued for the 2010 tournament in Bangladesh.
By the time India faced Pakistan, both teams had one win and one loss and needed a win to bolster their chances for a spot in the final.
Runs flowed off Rohit Sharma’s bat on a quick Mirpur outfield, and India seemed on their way to a big total despite losing Shikhar Dhawan early. Virat Kohli joined Rohit in smashing the Pakistani pacers.
While Rohit went his merry way, India were dealt a blow when Umar Gul dismissed Kohli for five. Regular wickets slowed India’s scoring rate, but they still posted 245, thanks to a late flourish by Ambati Rayudu and Jadeja.
Pakistan’s top-order, particularly Mohammad Hafeez, gave them a good start to the chase. However, it wasn’t long before India’s spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra forced a collapse worthy of Pakistani renown. Four batters were dismissed in the space of 42 runs.
Hafeez began the rebuild with Sohaib Maqsood in an 87-run partnership, but both were dismissed in consecutive overs, leaving Pakistan reeling at 203-6 off 45. Maqsood’s run out, in particular, was a gift for India after a huge mid-pitch mix-up with Shahid Afridi, just after Pakistan took the upper hand.
Afridi, the last recognised batter, was joined by Gul as Pakistan required 43 off 30 with four wickets standing. Every Afridi swing of his bat was met with trepidation as the all-rounder was known for attempting big shots irrespective of the match situation.
At first, he targeted Jadeja, hitting him for a four and a six in the 46th. The following over, from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, also brought two boundaries before Mohammad Shami kept Pakistan quiet in the 48th.
Kumar’s next over, with two wickets and just three runs, all but ended Pakistan’s hopes as Afridi watched on from the non-striker’s end.
The final over was handed to Ashwin, who had taken 2-31 in his nine overs thus far. The wily spinner gave India the perfect start by bowling Ajmal first up. Pakistani fans held their heads in disbelief while India’s celebrated wildly.
Junaid Khan was last in, and he played a perfect dab to pinch a single, bringing Afridi back on strike.
With nine needed off four, the stadium held its breath knowing Afridi could sway the match either way.
As Ashwin began his delivery stride, Afridi stepped back and swung hard at a short ball. The connection between was by no means ideal, but Afridi’s power cleared the ropes.
Afridi again gave himself room with the ball pitched closer to his body, but when has that ever stopped Afridi from playing a risky shot? Another wild swing skied the ball, but it again cleared the boundary.
Ashwin was all hands-on-head as the Indian team stood in disbelief.
Afridi was all arms lifted wide in his trademark star-man celebration as Junaid embraced him. A delighted Afridi gave Junaid a quick kiss on the cheek before the star all-rounder was mobbed by his teammates.
Brief scorecard
India: 245-8 in 50 overs – Rohit Sharma 56 (58), Ravindra Jadeja 52 (49); Saeed Ajmal 3-40 in 10 overs. Pakistan: 249-9 in 49.4 overs – Mohammad Hafeez 75 (117), Shahid Afridi 34 (18); Ravichandran Ashwin 3-44 in 9.4 overs.
Shahid Afridi celebrates his risky but rewarding run-chase against India in their Asia Cup 2014 match [File: Andrew Biraj/Reuters]
2016: Kohli trumps Amir in low-scoring thriller
The Asia Cup 2016 was the first played as a T20 and produced one-sided group games until India met Pakistan in the fourth match of the round-robin stage.
Pakistan lost Hafeez to the fourth ball of the match.
A poor umpiring decision, with Khurram Manzoor surviving a caught-behind, left India furious. However, Dhoni’s team didn’t have to wait too long for Manzoor’s departure as Afridi’s men continued to struggle on a low-scoring pitch, losing wickets in every other over.
In a total of 83, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s 25 was Pakistan’s only saving grace. Hardik Pandya led the attack with three wickets, but each of India’s bowlers chipped in, including a then-fresh-faced Jasprit Bumrah.
The chase was seemingly simple, given India’s power-packed batting. Mohammad Amir, playing his first Asia Cup since returning to the team following his cricket corruption-linked ban, had other plans.
The left-arm pacer made a near-perfect start, striking Rohit’s toes with a swinging yorker, only for it to be adjudged not out. There was no surviving the following inswinger, which struck the pads.
Kohli was next in to face the pumped-up Amir, swinging the ball to his will. A single switched strike with Ajinkya Rahane’s first ball ending up being his last, Amir swinging the ball back into the right-hander viciously to strike his pads plumb in front.
Amir’s second over, and India’s third, brought more lbw appeals as Kohli was struck on the pads by another skilful delivery that straightened, but failed to impress the umpire. Amir had his reward next ball, as Raina was the man to go, chipping an easy catch to short mid-on.
Kohli and Yuvraj Singh saw out Amir’s spell, nudging towards the target. Kohli, in particular, showed nerves of steel to see off Amir’s scintillating swing.
The Indian batting star soon reaped his reward, however, settling in to take boundaries off all the bowlers, including Amir’s last.
India’s charge was halted in the 15th when Kohli fell on 49, followed by Pandya, but the team total was 76-3. New batter Dhoni and Yuvraj took six more deliveries to finish the job.
India won by five wickets, but the match could have had a nervy finish were it not for Kohli’s brilliance.
Brief scorecard
Pakistan: 83 runs in 17.3 overs – Sarfaraz Ahmed 25 (24); Hardik Pandya 3-8 in 3.3 overs. India: 85-5 runs in 15.3 overs – Virat Kohli 49 (51); Mohammad Amir 3-18 in 4 overs.
Virat Kohli was the anchor of India’s innings in a low-scoring match against Pakistan in the T20 Asia Cup 2016 [AM Ahad/AP]
