Hoshi Chizo Clan, Phek

cements family’s grip on power

COLOMBO, AUG 9 (PTI):

Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in on Sunday as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister at a centuries-old Buddhist temple after his party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections that allowed the influential family to consolidate power for the next five years.

The 74-year-old former president and Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) leader was administered the oath of office by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a gathering of Buddhist monks, representatives of the diplomatic community and other senior officials.

“I am humbled by the opportunity given to me to serve my people again,” he tweeted soon after starting his fourth innings as prime minister.

Mahinda Rajapaksa said the trust bestowed on him by the people will inspire him to continue to serve the country. The prime minister vowed that he would ensure that Sri Lanka would embark on a progressive journey during his tenure.

Supporters of the SLPP lit firecrackers to celebrate his swearing-in as the 13th Prime Minister at the Rajamaha Viharaya in Kelaniya, a north Colombo suburb, at the auspicious hour of 9:28 am local time.

SINGAPORE, AUG 9

(PTI): Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday said that the COVID-19 crisis is “far from over” and it will take a year or two before a vaccine is widely available as the country is celebrating the 55 years of independence.

Singapore’s National Day is celebrated on August 9 every year in commemoration of the country’s independence from Malaysia in 1965.

Lee, in his National Day speech, said that Singaporeans are understandably anxious and worried due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Business closures, retrenchments and unemployTOKYO, AUG 9 (AP): The Japanese city of Nagasaki on Sunday marked its 75th anniversary of the US atomic bombing, with the mayor and dwindling survivors urging world leaders including their own to do more for a nuclear weapons ban.

At 11:02 am, the moment the B-29 bomber Bockscar dropped a 4.5-ton (10,000-pound) plutonium bomb dubbed “Fat Man,” Nagasaki survivors and other participants stood in a minute of silence to honor more than 70,000 dead.

The August 9, 1945, bombing came three days after the United States dropped its first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the world’s first ever nuclear attack that killed 140,000. On August 15, Japan surrendered, ending World War II.

At the event at Nagasaki Peace Park, scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Tomihisa Taue read a peace declaration in which he raised concern that nuclear states had in recent years retreated from disarmament efforts.

Instead, they are upgrading and miniaturizing nuclear weapons for easier use, he said. Taue singled out the US and Russia for increasing risks by scrapping

Mahinda Rajapaksa blesses his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who pays respect after being sworn in as the prime minister at in Colombo, Aug. 9. (AP/PTI)

The Rajamaha Viharaya, also known as the Kelaniya temple, dates back to 2,500 years. According to the website of the temple, it has often been associated with the rise and fall of Sri Lanka.

The SLPP, led by Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, registered a landslide victory in the August 5 general election, securing twothirds majority in Parliament needed to amend the Constitution to further consolidate the powerful Rajapaksa family’s grip on power.

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on Saturday became the first envoy to congratulate the new prime minister when he called on Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Baglay recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had complimented the

Lee Hsien Loong

ment are all likely to go up in the coming months, he said.

The COVID-19 crisis is “far from over” and it will take a year or two before a vaccine is widely available, Lee said.

“Until then, we have to maintain our vigilance and resolve, to keep ourthe Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

“As a result, the threat of nuclear weapons being used is increasingly becoming real,” Taue said. Noting that the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty entered into force 50 years ago, Taue urged the US and Russia to show a (asterisk)workable way(asterisk) towards their nuclear disarmament at the people and Government of Sri Lanka on the successful conduct of elections and had acknowledged the impressive electoral performance of the SLPP.

He reiterated the strong desire and the commitment of the Indian government to work very closely with the new government and Parliament in Sri Lanka for further strengthening comprehensive bilateral cooperation, the Indian High Commission here said.

The strong mandate received by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa provides a fresh opportunity for the two countries to enhance bilateral engagement, including mitigating the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Baglay said. Mahinda Rajapaksa completed 50 years of parliamentary politics in selves, our loved ones and our neighbours all safe,” the prime minister said.

However, this is not Singapore’s first economic crisis, he said, citing the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US and the global financial crisis of 2007 to 2009.

“Each time the outlook was ominous and we feared the worst, but each time we worked hard to secure our position, gritted our teeth and came through together.

“I am confident we will get through this current crisis too, though it may take longer. All of us must do our part, but none of us will be alone,” Lee said. NPT review process next year.

He said that “the true horror of nuclear weapons has not yet been adequately conveyed to the world at large” despite struggle and efforts by hibakusha, or atomic bombing survivors, to make Nagasaki the last place of the tragedy.

He also urged Japan’s government and lawmakJuly this year. He was elected as a Member of Parliament at the young age of 24 in 1970. He has since been elected President twice.

He was prime minister between April 2004 and November 2005. He was prime minister for 52 days in 2018, and from November 2019 to August 5, 2020.

In Wednesday’s parliamentary polls, he received over 527,000 individual preference votes -- the highest ever recorded by a candidate in the country’s election history.

The SLPP won in 145 constituencies, bagging a total of 150 seats with its allies, a two-thirds majority in the 225-member Parliament.

The cabinet ministers, state and deputy ministers are expected to be sworn-in this week.

The Rajapaksa family TAIPEI, AUG 9 (AP): US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday in the highest-level visit by an American Cabinet official since the break in formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei in 1979.

Beijing has already protested Azar’s visit as a betrayal of US commitments not to have official contact with the island. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be brought under its control by military force if necessary.

Azar is due to meet with the island’s independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen along with health officials during a three-day visit aimed at highlighting cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus. ers to quickly sign the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

After taking part in the ceremony, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized the treaty for not being realistic. None of the nuclear states has joined, and it is not widely supported even by non-nuclear states, he said.

“The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted without taking into consideration the reality of the harsh national security environment,” Abe said at a news conference.

“I must say the treaty is different from Japan’s position and approach” even though they share the same goal of abolishing nuclear weapons, he said.

Abe has repeatedly refused to sign the treaty. He reiterated that Japan’s approach is not to take sides but to serve as a bridge between nuclear and nonnuclear states to encourage dialogue to achieve a total nuclear ban. Survivors and pacifist groups say Japan is virtually siding with the US and other nuclear states.

Abe cited “severe national security environment and a wide gap between the two sides on nuclear disarmament.” He also noted Japan faces threats of devel-- including SLPP founder and its National Organiser 69-year-old Basil Rajapaksa, who is the younger brother of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 71, and Mahinda Rajapaksa -- has dominated Sri Lankan politics for two decades.

Mahinda’s son Namal Rajapaksa, 34, is also a lawmaker from Hambantota, the family bastion.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had won the November presidential election on the SLPP ticket. He dissolved Parliament in March and called for early snap elections.

In the parliamentary election, he was seeking 150 seats needed to execute constitutional changes, including to repeal the 19th Amendment introduced in 2015 that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.

Activists, already alarmed by the diminishing space for dissent and criticism in the island nation, fear such a move could lead to authoritarianism.

The United National Party (UNP) of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe suffered a humiliating defeat during the election. It just won a single seat that too since the party secured more than 2.5 per cent of the votes cast under a proportional representation system of voting.

UNP leader and fourtime prime minister Wikremesinghe was unseated for the first time since he entered Parliament in 1977.

Taiwan’s governmentrun health care system has been credited with keeping the number of coronavirus cases to under 500 with just seven deaths, despite its close proximity to China where the virus originated.

China sees Taiwan as a key irritant in its troubled relationship with Washington, with whom it is also at odds over trade, technology, the South China Sea and China’s response to the virus pandemic.

The US maintains only unofficial ties with Taiwan in deference to Beijing, but is the island’s most important ally and provider of defence equipment.

Azar is the first health secretary to visit Taiwan and the first Cabinet member to visit in six years. In 2014, then-Environmental Protecopment and modernization of nuclear weapons from “neighboring countries in the region.”

Taue, who spoke before Abe, disagreed, saying: “Among the nuclearweapon states and countries under the nuclear umbrella, there have been voices stating that it is too early for such a treaty. That is not so. Nuclear arms reductions are far too late in coming.”

While Tokyo renounces its own possession, production or hosting of nuclear weapons, as a US ally Japan hosts 50,000 American troops and is protected by the US nuclear umbrella.

The post-WWII security arrangement complicates the push to get Japan to sign the treaty as it beefs up its own military to deal with threats from North Korea and China, among others.

An aging group of survivors have expressed a growing sense of urgency to tell their stories, in hopes of reaching younger generations to continue their effort toward establishing a nuclear-free world.

“There is not much time left for us survivors,” said Shigemi Fukabori, 89. He was a 14-year-old student mobilized to work at a shipyard when Nagasaki was bombed.

BEIRUT, AUG 9 (AP):

Lebanon’s information minister resigned on Sunday as the country grapples with the aftermath of the devastating blast that ripped through the capital and raised public anger to new levels.

The resignation comes as public anger is mounting against the ruling elite, blamed for the chronic mismanagement and corruption that is believed to be behind the explosion in a Beirut Port warehouse.

Hundreds of tons of highly explosive material was stored in the waterfront hangar, and a blast sent a shock wave that killed at least 160 people, wounded nearly 6,000 and defaced the coastline of Beirut — destroying hundreds of buildings.

Manal Abdel-Samad said in her resignation letter that change remained “elusive” and she regrets failing to fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese people.

“Given the magnitude of the catastrophe caused by the Beirut earthquake that shook the nation and hurt our hearts and minds, and in respect for the martyrs, and the pains of the wounded, missing and displaced, and in response to the public will for change, I resign from the government,” she wrote.

The disaster fueled angry demonstrations Saturday where protesters set up gallows and nooses in central Beirut and held mock hanging sessions of cut-out cardboard images of top Lebanese officials.

Alex Azar

tion Agency administrator Gina McCarthy visited Taiwan, sparking protests from Beijing.

Azar’s office said he will hold discussions on COVID-19, global health and Taiwan’s role as a supplier of medical equipment and technology Azar’s visit was facilitated by the 2018 passage of the Taiwan Travel Act, which encouraged Washington to send higherlevel officials to Taiwan

Ahead of polls,

NZ Premier visits temple in Auckland

Jacinda Ardern WELLINGTON, AUG

9 (IANS): New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who recently launched her campaign for the upcoming elections in September, was seen visiting a Radha Krishna Temple in Auckland.

The 40-year-old Premier was seen removing her shoes before entering the temple where she participated in an ‘aarti’, media reports said.

Indian envoy to New Zealand, Muktesh Pardeshi, who was also present at the temple, tweeted, “Some precious moments with the Honourable PM of New Zealand @jacindaardern at @indiannewslink event on Aug 6, 2020. She paid a short visit to Radha Krishna Mandir and enjoyed a simple Indian vegetarian mealm -- Puri, Chhole and Daal.”

New Zealand is set to go to the polls on September 19.

Manal Abdel-Samad

Demonstrators held signs that read “resign or hang.” The protests quickly turned violent when the demonstrators pelted stones at the security forces, who responded with heavy volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. One police officer was killed and dozens of people were hurt in confrontations that lasted for hours.

Protesters also fanned out around the city, storming a couple of government ministries. They briefly took over the foreign ministry, saying it will be the headquarters of their movement.

In the economy and energy ministries, the protesters ransacked offices and seized public documents claiming they would reveal how corruption has permeated successive governments.

Five of the parliament’s 128 members have also announced their resignation since Saturday— including three legislators of the Christian Kataeb party, a member of the Socialist Progressive Party and an independent.

Abdel-Samad’s resignation comes amid reports after decades during which such contacts were rare and freighted with safeguards to avoid roiling ties with Beijing.

China has cut contacts with Tsai over her refusal to recognise China’s claim to the island and has brought increasing diplomatic, economic and military pressure against her, including by poaching away several of its remaining diplomatic allies and excluding it from international gatherings including the World Health Assembly. That, in turn, has increased already considerable bipartisan sympathy for Taipei in Washington and prompted new measures to strengthen governmental and military ties.

Also Sunday, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu met with the first reprethat another government official — the environment minister — is expected to resign, adding to the challenges facing Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

Diab took over in January and has since been beset by crises.

T h e g ove r n m e n t , backed by the powerful militant Hezbollah group and its allies, announced it is defaulting on Lebanon’s sovereign debt and has since been engaged in difficult, internally divisive talks with the International Monetary Fund for assistance.

The coronavirus restrictions deepened the impact of the economic and financial crisis and fueled public anger against the new government. Lebanese have criticised Diab’s government for being unable to tackle the challenges, saying it represents the deep-seated political class that has had a hold of the country’s politics since the end of the civil war in 1990. Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned even before the blast, citing an absence of “effective will to achieve comprehensive structural reform” and competing leadership.

In a televised speech Saturday evening, Diab said the only solution was to hold early elections. He called on all political parties to put aside their disagreements and said he was prepared to stay in the post for two months to allow time for politicians to work on struc

Singapore PM Hsien Loong says COVID-19 crisis ‘far from over’

Azar leads highest-level US delegation to Taiwan in decades

tural reforms. sentative of Somaliland to the island ahead of the territory’s opening of a representative office in Taipei.

Wu earlier tweeted that Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud had “braved Chinese pressure” — a reference to reports that China had sought to block relations between Taiwan and the region on the Horn of Africa that broke from the rest of Somalia but is not recognized by the United Nations as an independent country.

“The fact ‘sovereignty & friendship aren’t for sale’ deserves international recognition,” Wu tweeted.

On his arrival, Mahamoud tweeted that “We are ready to establish good relations with all countries - those we share values of

Nagasaki urges nuke ban on 75th anniv of US A-bombing

Shinzo Abe carries the wreath to offer during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing in Nagasaki, southern Japan, Aug. 9. (AP/PTI)

democracy are special.”

UEFA Ch mpions L Messi stars in Barca win over Napoli

BARCELONA, AUG 9

(AGENCIES): Barcelona set up a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich after overcoming Napoli on a night of high VAR drama at the Nou Camp, reports BBC Sports.

Quique Setien’s hosts scored three times through Clement Lenglet, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in an incident-packed first half, during which Messi was also denied a second for handball.

With the tie evenly poised at 1-1 after February’s first leg, Messi produced a mazy run and sublime finish to double his side’s lead on the night following Lenglet’s headed opener.

The Argentine had a possible second disallowed by VAR for handball but was later awarded a penalty by the video referee after being brought down by Kalidou Koulibaly, allowing Luis Suarez to step up to make it 3-0 on the night.

The first-half drama was not over there, as Ivan Rakitic conceded a penalty for a foul on Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne converted for Napoli in the fifth minute of injury time.

In a significantly quieter second period, Lorenzo Insigne failed to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Do ha , Aug 9 (IANS):

South Korean footballer Jung Wooyoung stated that 2022 World Cup stadiums in Qatar look in top shape. Jung started his professional experience overseas, playing for clubs in Japan and China PR from 2011 to 2018 before joining Al Sadd of Qatar, where he is in his second season.

Having spent two years in the country that will host the next edition of the global showpiece, he is already well adapted to life in the Gulf.

“I never thought I’d love life here,” he told FIFA. com “Everyone is friendly and that has helped me adapt to this new lifestyle. In fact, I was delighted to find some Korean restaurants in Qatar. That said, I still share traditional Qatari meals with club-mates when we have our training camps. I love eating lamb,” he said. With two of the eight Qatar 2022 stadiums already opened, Jung has

Messi celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Napoli at the Camp Nou. (AP/PTI)

with a header as the visitors chased a lifeline, while substitute Arkadiusz Milik was on the pitch for less than two minutes when he saw a goal ruled out for offside in the closing stages.

German champions Bayern Munich await Barca in the last eight after beating Chelsea 4-1 on Saturday to complete a 7-1 aggregate victory.

“This was the first forward step we wanted and now it is to be hoped we play the matches in front of us with the same attitude which we demonstrated here,” Barcelona manager had the chance to play in both of them. “It’s wonderful to drive by the stadiums. Right away you feel a desire to play in them. We had several games at the Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium in Al Quique Setien said.

“The team played well and we deserved this. All the rivals who are left are strong and there are only complicated matches left. It will be tough for us but for Bayern too. They’re a great side but so are we.”

Barcelona boss Setien was adamant in the buildup to Saturday’s game that “at no point” had he considered his side’s second leg against Napoli could be his final match in charge.

There could, however, be little doubt that a Champions League exit at the last-16 stage, following a ons League final. Pirlo is also the fifth-most capped player for Italy with 116 appearances. He played an instrumental role in their victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Juventus on Saturday sacked Sarri after he failed to guide the Italian champions to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, losing to Lyon in the last-16 stage.

“Juventus Football Club announces that Maurizio Sarri has been relieved of his post as coach of the First Team,” a statement on the club’s official website said.

“The club would like to thank the coach for having written a new page in Juventus’ history with the victory of the ninthconsecutive championship, the culmination of a personal journey that led him to climb all the divisions of Italian football,” it added.

The former Chelsea and Napoli coach took charge of Juventus in June last year and had put pen to paper on a three-year contract at the time. Wakrah. It’s amazing. I can imagine how the players who will be coming to the World Cup in two years’ time are going to feel. I hope I’ll be in top form then so that I can keep my spot in the national team and disappointing domestic campaign, would have seen his position fall under serious threat.

Ex-Real Betis boss Setien was hired as Ernesto Valverde’s replacement in January to reintroduce the free-flowing, possessionbased brand synonymous with the club, but he failed to inspire his players to a third successive league title, or beyond the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Manager Gennaro Gattuso said his Napoli side were “going to have to climb Everest” to progress against Barcelona at the

Ne w Del hi, Aug 9

(IANS): Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly stated that Vivo’s exit as title sponsor for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) shouldn’t be seen as financial crisis.

The BCCI, last week, had decided to officially announce the suspension of the partnership with title sponsors Vivo.

The move came after the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council were both criticised for retaining Vivo as the title sponsor amid the raging anti-China sentiment.

“I wouldn’t call it as a financial crisis,” Ganguly said while speaking during a webinar organised by Learnflix, as per ESPNCricinfo. “It’s just a little bit of a blip. And the only way you can do it is by being professionally strong over a period of time.A

“Big things don’t take part in this big tournament.”

Jung has helped Al Sadd to win the Qatar Stars League, the Sheikh Jassim (Super) Cup and the Qatar Cup. The AFC Champions League, however, remains Nou Camp and they appeared up for the challenge, as Mertens delivered an early wake-up call to the hosts.

It took Lenglet’s opener to settle Barcelona, for whom once again it was Messi who made the difference when it mattered.

Though there was an element of fortune to the run which preceded his fine finish - the Argentine stumbling between challenges - his commitment to the cause drew the error from Koulibaly which allowed Suarez to put the tie beyond Napoli.

Barcelona have not tasted success in Europe’s elite competition since 2015, but progress into the latter stages is a minimum requirement.

A potentially crucial victory for Setien extends Barca’s streak of having not failed to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals since 2007, but as the competition moves to a one-game knockout format in Portugal, his side will be without the comfort of the Nou Camp where they are now unbeaten in their past 36 Champions League home games.

Undoubtedly, Barcelona - and Messi - will need to be at the top of their game to defeat an in-form

Andrea Pirlo appointed new Juventus coach

Andrea Pirlo

Turin , Aug 9 (IANS): who retired from football Italian midfield great Anin November 2017. drea Pirlo has been anJuventus was the last nounced as the new head club Pirlo played for in coach of Serie A champiItaly after a highly successons Juventus. Pirlo will reful 10 years at AC Milan. place Maurizio Sarri in the He won two Champions role, who was sacked after League titles, two UEFA the Champions League exit Super Cups, two Serie A and the 41-year-old former titles, a FIFA Club World World Cup winner was anCup, a Supercoppa Italinounced as his successor. ana, and a Coppa Italia

“Andrea Pirlo today before joining Juve on a signed a two-year contract free transfer in 2011. until 30 June 2022,” said With the Turin giJuventus in their stateants, Pirlo won four more ment. consecutive Serie A titles

The decision also alongwith two Supercoppa comes just nine days after Italiana titles, and a Coppa Pirlo was announced as the Italia. His final game for coach of the side’s under 23 Juventus and in Europe squad. This will be the first was a 3-1 defeat to Barcemanagerial job for Pirlo, lona in the 2015 Champi

Wouldn’t call it financial crisis: Ganguly on Vivo’s exit

Bayern. come overnight. And big things don’t go away overnight. Your preparation for a long period of time gets (you) ready for losses, gets you ready for successes.

“You keep your other options open. It is like Plan A and Plan B. Sensible people do it. Sensible brands do it. Sensible corporates do it. BCCI, it’s a very a strong foundation - the game, the players, the administrators in the past have made this game so strong that BCCI is able to handle all these blips,” he added.

Meanwhile, the suspension of Vivo’s title sponsorship has opened up the market for a new brand to come in for the cash-rich league.

Market experts believe it will be a case of one from either e-commerce or e-learning companies coming in with the telecom sector playing the role of the dark horse. the team’s ultimate goal. “Unfortunately, luck hasn’t been on our side at continental level. We exited at the semi-final stage in the last two editions, but we aim to go all the way and lift the trophy. I think our chances improved when it was confirmed that we’ll play our remaining games in Doha and won’t have to travel. We’re determined to get back to winning things.”

Having shared the dressing room at Al Sadd with Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez, who is now the team’s head coach, Jung considers himself lucky. “I remember I used to watch him when he played at the 2002 World Cup. I continued to watch him as one of the stars of Barcelona and Spain. He had a fantastic career. It was great playing alongside him at Al Sadd, where we learned a lot from him. He is a great person and has a bright future as a coach.”

Qatar stadiums look amazing for 2022 World Cup: Jung

BARCELONA, AUG 9

(AGENCIES): Bayern Munich will meet Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals after Robert Lewandowski inspired them to a crushing 7-1 aggregate win over Chelsea, reports BBC Sports..

Having established a commanding 3-0 first leg lead at Stamford Bridge back in February, Bayern quickly made it 5-0 on aggregate when Lewandowski - from the penalty spot - and Ivan Perisic scored inside 25 minutes at the Allianz Arena.

Chelsea pulled a goal back through Tammy Abraham after a rare mistake by keeper Manuel Neuer, but Bayern’s class shone through.

Substitute Corentin Tolisso made it 6-1 on aggregate when he volleyed home unmarked inside the six-yard area before Poland forward Lewandowski, who now has 53 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions this season, headed the fourth to finish the match with two goals and two assists.

Bayern will now face Barca in a mouth-watering one-game knockout format in Lisbon on Friday.

Tough German lesson for Chelsea

A long season which started with a 4-0 hammering at Manchester United on 11 August 2019 ended - via a top-four Premier

M umbai , Aug 9

(IANS): India captain Virat Kohli on Sunday took to social media to share his excitement at the prospect of leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is set to begin from September 19 in the UAE.

RCB -- one of only three yet to get their hands on the coveted trophy -- have made it to three finals, but have returned with the runners-up medal on each occasion.

“Loyalty above everything. Can’t wait for what’s to come,” Kohli said in a tweet with video snippets of his time at RCB.

In a chat with his star teammate and South Africa batting great AB de Villiers on Instagram in April, Kohli had said that he is never going to leave

Robert Lewandowski has a staggering 51 goals in all competitions so far this season (Image-Getty Images)

League finish and FA Cup final loss - in heavy defeat and a reminder that Chelsea are still a work in progress.

Having been blown away by Bayern in 25 second-half minutes in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, it was always going to require something extra special from Frank Lampard’s side to turn it around in Munich.

The Chelsea boss described his side’s challenge as an “opportunity to do something special” yet it turned into a damage limitation exercise inside the opening 10 minutes thanks to Lewandowski’s precise finish from the spot.

There was a check by the video assistant referee to see if Lewandowski was onside when he was clipped by keeper Willy Caballero, who received a yellow card for the foul.

It went from bad to worse when Mateo Kovacic, sent off in last week’s FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal, carelessly conceded possession, allowing Lewandowski to set up Perisic to guide home and make it 5-0 on aggregate.

There were few positives for a Chelsea side without seven first-team regulars because of injury or suspension.

Callum Hudson-Odoi thought he had pulled a goal back with an excellent, curling finish but his celebrations were cut short when it was ruled out for offside, before Abraham scored after Neuer palmed the ball into his path at the end of the first half.

The space Tolisso was allowed to score Bayern’s third goal was a reminder that Chelsea’s defence needs work, before Lewandowski added to their pain with a

Can’t wait for what’s to come: Kohli shares excitement ahead of IPL

Virat Kohli

the franchise and will keep Kohli had said. attempting to break the The BCCI will be orduck. ganising the IPL at three

“I can never think of UAE venues -- Dubai, Abu leaving this team. To have Dhabi and Sharjah -- from that loyalty. Till I am playSeptember 19 to November ing IPL, I am never leaving 10 after it was postponed this team. We know we from March due to the both want to win a title,” COVID-19 pandemic.

Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

powerful header.