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Death toll from Pakistan monsoon rains, floods tops 100
Heavy rains and flooding in Pakistan have killed at least 107 people, injured 344 others and damaged hundreds of homes since the start of the monsoon season in June, authorities said, warning of more downpours later this week.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told local media on Sunday that the death toll from rain-related incidents since late June has reached 107
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded the highest number of deaths, 55, followed by Punjab with 36.
More than half of the deaths were caused by house or roof collapses, the NDMA said.
In Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab and Pakistan’s second-largest city, authorities have set up at least 17 flood relief camps to house evacuated residents, the Dawn newspaper reported.
An unnamed senior official at the Punjab Irrigation Department told Dawn on Saturday that the situation was “very alarming”, with “a vast area of around 400sq km [154sq miles]” now under water across the Lahore and Gujranwala divisions of Punjab.
The official said, “The current situation resembles an inland sea because of the vast expanse of floodwater.”
Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on X that emergency responders had been deployed across the province and that teams were actively working to drain floodwaters.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Sunday that no “flood-generating activity is expected” until Tuesday, though “a fresh wet spell is likely to commence” from Wednesday in upper catchments of all big rivers in Islamabad, upper Punjab, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
It added that Punjab’s Ravi River was currently flowing at a “medium flood level” and that “most major rivers are flowing at normal to low flood levels”.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Punjab, said authorities were urging residents to avoid low-lying areas.
“So far the monsoon has brought pounding rain. Cloudbursts have brought hundreds of millimetres of rain in a short span, inundating the provincial capital [Lahore] and other major cities of Punjab,” Hyder said. “All eyes now will be on the rivers.”
Pakistan’s disorganised urban planning, a result of rapid rural-to-urban migration, has led to sprawling slums that are particularly vulnerable to flooding.
In 2025, heavy flooding in Pakistan killed 1,037 people, displaced two million people, and killed millions of livestock, as well as causing significant damage to standing crops.
“This is just the middle of the monsoon season, which is likely to continue until September,” Hyder said. “That will keep everybody on their toes.”
(Aljazeera)
The Italian Naval Vessel ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ arrived in Sri Lanka today, 9 September 2026, on a replenishment visit.
The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in accordance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ is a 180m long Landing Helicopter Aircraft Vessel commanded by Captain Marco GUERRIERO.
During the ship’s stay in Sri Lanka, the Commanding Officer of ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ is scheduled to call on the Commander Western Naval Area.
Leah Poulton the former Australia batter turned coach and administrator, will join England Women as managing director, succeeding Clare Connor.
Poulton will be charged with overseeing the success of the international team and pathways after the ECB cited her “impressive track record driving women’s cricket forward in Australia”.
Poulton earned 90 caps for Australia before retiring in 2015 and has spent the past six years as head of elite female cricket at Cricket New South Wales. There, she oversees cricket performance operations across two WBBL franchises, women’s state cricket and one of the world’s largest women’s cricket talent pathways.
Before that, she spent three years at Cricket Australia as a High Performance Coach, where she was instrumental in setting up Australia’s enviable women’s high-performance pathway, which included developing the Australia A and Under-19s women’s teams.
In her new role, she will be accountable for the performances of England Women, England Women A, England Women Under-19s and the overall women’s high-performance system.
Poulton will start in her new role in November with England set to host the Women’s Ashes next summer. She fills the role vacated by Connor, who announced earlier this year that she would be leaving the ECB after a career spanning 18 years, and will work closely with England Women’s head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
“I’m incredibly excited and honoured to be joining England, and to have the opportunity to help shape our programmes and, most importantly, invest in our people,” Poulton said. “I’m looking forward to working with Charlotte, Nat and the wider team, building on the strong foundations already in place and taking the programme forward.
“I know how vital strong pathways and a healthy domestic game are to sustained success, so I’m looking forward to connecting with people across the game and helping give the next generation of English players every opportunity to thrive. It’s a huge privilege to be part of England Women, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Richard Gould, the ECB’s CEO, said that with the senior women’s team had made under Edwards, appointed last year, and having reached the final of their recent home T20 World Cup, England Women were well placed for a successful era.
“I’m delighted to welcome Leah on board to help us build on this and take us to the next level,” Gould said. “She has a deep understanding of international cricket from her playing career and has built an impressive reputation in her time in administration.
“I believe she and Lottie will be a formidable combination, and will continue the team’s progress and development as we compete for the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy and Women’s Ashes in 2027.”
[Cricinfo]
University of Sri Jayewardenepura weightlifter Avindu Liyanagedara made history yesterday by becoming the first Sri Lankan university student to win a gold medal at a World University sports event, as Sri Lanka made a spectacular start to the 2026 World University Weightlifting Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Liyanagedara won the men’s 60kg title, while Sabaragamuwa University’s Nipun Dissanayake added a bronze medal in the 65kg category on the opening day of the championship.
Liyanagedara lifted 105kg in the snatch and 132kg in the clean and jerk for an impressive combined total of 237kg.
Spain’s Gomez Martinez took the silver with 228kg, while Chun-Yen Tang of Chinese Taipei won bronze with 227kg.
Dissanayake also secured a podium finish in the 65kg class with a total of 220kg, comprising a 100kg snatch and a 120kg clean and jerk.
Iran’s Mohhadov Tehran won the gold with 289kg, with Moldova’s Ion Badanev taking silver with 288kg.
Liyanagedara’s achievement represents a landmark breakthrough for Sri Lankan university sport. His gold is the first gold medal won by a Sri Lankan university student at a World University sports event, while Dissanayake’s bronze further strengthened the country’s historic opening-day showing.
The Sri Lanka University Sports Association has entered five male and two female athletes for the championship, with University of Colombo’s Sujan Walgampaya serving as team manager and coach.
The championship continues in Doha until September 12, with Sri Lanka already assured of a memorable place in the history of World University sport through Liyanagedara’s historic gold medal.
Italian Naval Vessel ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ arrives in Colombo
England Women appoint Leah Poulton as managing director
Bangladesh bank on bowlers in bid to bring India down
Avindu makes history with first World University gold for Sri Lanka
Establishment of National Trade Negotiation Committee (NTFC) and Trade Policy Consultation Committee.
Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts
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