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Dhaka Test see-saws on curtailed Day 3

Published

3 years ago

2023/12/8

Priyan

Southee picked up two early wickets before Stumps. (Cricbuzz)

The Dhaka Test finds itself on a knife’s edge at the end of the third day as New Zealand counterattacked to cut the deficit and then picked two quick wickets before bad light brought an early end to the proceedings. Glenn Phillips’s 72-ball 87 pushed New Zealand just past the Bangladesh total before Ajaz Patel and Tim Southee picked two wickets to leave the hosts on 38/2 – with a lead of 30 runs – at stumps.

After the second day was completely washed out, wet outfield and bad light disrupted Day 3 too, with only 32.3 overs bowled in all. Yet there was plenty of action that moved the game along at a rather brisk pace. Glenn Phillips was at the heart of New Zealand’s strong riposte as he counterattacked Bangladesh’s spinners expertly. No play was possible in the morning session but when it did begin post Lunch, Bangladesh spinners looked to continue from where they left off on Day 1. There was ample turn and bounce for them to employ a couple of close in catches and attack the two batters with spin from both ends.

Phillips took the aggressive route against the viciously turning ball as he stood deep in his crease and played cut shots at deliveries that weren’t short enough, and unfurled the slog sweep at a whim. Mehidy Hasan was the recipient of the early carnage that dragged New Zealand ahead from the precarious position of 55 for 5 in response to Bangladesh’s 172. He got the scorecard moving briskly while Daryl Mitchell did enough to keep the outside edge of his bat away from the turning ball to stay put. After an initial nervous exchange, he too looked to cut loose and gave Nayeem Hasan the charge for a big hit down the ground but had to depart as Mehidy Hasan sprinted across from long on and took an exceptional catch.

Nayeem looked to speed up the end of New Zealand’s innings as he dismissed Mitchell Santner soon after to leave the visitors tottering at 97 for 7. Kyle Jamieson then walked out to put on a stubborn stand of 55 runs for the eighth wicket that ate into the deficit. During this alliance, Phillips brought up his 38-ball half-cetury – the joint-fastest for a New Zealand batter against Bangladesh. He also tried to shift gears further and dragged the team towards Bangladesh’s total. With spinners being dealt with, Najmul Hossain Shanto brought in pace from one end via Shoriful Islam and reaped instant rewards. On the first ball of his new spell, Islam got Jamieson to nick one to the keeper and depart for a 28-ball 20. Tim Southee dragged New Zealand’s essay in Phillips’s company before Shoriful ended the latter’s fine knock on 87 off just 72 deliveries.

Taijul Islam then returned to dismiss Southee, but by this stage New Zealand had gone past Bangladesh’s total to take a slender eight-run lead.

Southee didn’t waste any time in employing a spinner as Ajaz opened the bowling and struck on the third ball to dismiss Mahmudul Hasan Joy, caught by Mitchell at first slip. Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain looked to build a quick lead but the latter fell in the eighth over when he tamely drove on the up off Southee straight to Kane Williamson at mid-off. Right after this dismissal bad light stopped play. After a wait of more than an hour and thorough inspection by the umpires, play was called off. As it stands, Bangladesh head into the fourth day with a lead of 30 runs.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 180 (Glenn Phillips 87, Mehidy Hasan 3-53) trail Bangladesh 172 (Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Glenn Phillips 3-31, Mitchell Santner 3-54) & 38/2 (Ajaz Patel 1-13, Tim Southee 1-8) by 30 runs

(Cricbuzz)

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UK’s Starmer resigns as prime minister

Published

47 mins ago

2026/06/22

Priyan

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is stepping aside after less than two years in office, paving the way for the UK's seventh leader in 10 years (Aljazeera)

British Prime Minister KeirStarmer has resigned in a televised statement after coming under mounting pressure from his own Labour Party.

It follows the decisive by-election win by his rival, Andy Burnham, to claim a parliamentary seat in North West England.

Polls say the 63-year-old Labour Party leader and former lawyer is deeply unpopular with voters after a series of policy missteps and scandals.

In 2024, Starmer won the biggest parliamentary majority for Labour since 1997 after 14 years of ‌Conservative-led government.

(Aljazeera)

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President chairs discussion on providing swift solutions to challenges in apparel sector

Published

1 hour ago

2026/06/22

Priyan

A discussion aimed at identifying swift solutions to the challenges facing Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, with a view to strengthening an export-led economy and enhancing dollar earnings, was held this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The meeting brought together leading business leaders and investors in the country’s apparel industry. Extensive discussions were held on the practical challenges confronting the sector and the support measures required to successfully implement the Export Development Board’s (EDB) new export strategy.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that the Government would extend its fullest support towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s export economy and outlined the policy measures planned to achieve this objective.

The President further noted that expanding industrial operations into rural areas could significantly strengthen the country’s export economy and invited investors to participate in this initiative. Discussions were also held on a Government-supported “Plug and Play” mechanism, under which the necessary infrastructure and factory buildings would be provided to facilitate investment.

Explaining the current economic situation, the President pointed out that although investments made in Sri Lankan rupees have increased, it is essential to strengthen dollar-earning sectors in order to manage the impact on the country’s foreign exchange position. The President further stated that economic revival could be achieved by increasing dollar revenues while keeping rupee-denominated expenditure under control.

Special attention was also paid to land-related issues faced by investors. The President stated that the Government would intervene to ensure the value of land assets and maintain policy stability, adding that the necessary legal reforms in this regard are already underway.

The President also drew attention to the challenges faced by local raw material suppliers as a result of the Value Added Tax (VAT) system and requested business representatives to promptly submit proposals on alternative relief measures that could be introduced to address these concerns.

Alternative measures that could be taken to expand free trade agreements and increase quotas to increase market opportunities were also discussed extensively.

It was further noted that the National Single Window for Trade is expected to be operational by the end of July this year to enhance the efficiency of trade-related activities, while the National Single Window for Investment is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The President also highlighted the need to strengthen legal and technological mechanisms to prevent illicitly acquired wealth from being transferred out of the country. He further stated that a new law aimed at combating organised crime, while safeguarding public rights, would be introduced in place of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The investors expressed their appreciation to the President for providing them with an opportunity to directly present their concerns. They also requested that a monthly forum be established to enable discussions with relevant officials on issues that may arise in the course of their operations. Responding positively to the request, the President instructed officials to take the necessary steps to facilitate such engagements.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Harshana Suriyapperuma, Controller General of Imports and Exports Upulmali Premathilaka, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe, officials representing the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs and other relevant institutions, as well as a number of leading business leaders and investors from Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, were present at the discussion.

President’s Media Division (PMD)

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Schools close as more than half of France under red heat alerts

Published

1 hour ago

2026/06/22

Priyan

Figures show temperatures are expected to be significantly higher than average in some areas of Europe (Bbc)

More than half of France’s regions are under a red heat alert, as the country braces for sweltering temperatures in an intensifying heatwave.

Highs of more than 40C (104F) are expected across parts of western France on Monday, with temperatures expected to hit 42C in Bordeaux, forecaster Météo-France said.

Some 845 schools have been shut, while a further 1,800 are allowing pupils to finish classes early, the education ministry said. But more than a million high school students are due to take their oral final exams for the baccalaureate.

The French government has warned people not to try to cool off in unsupervised areas such as lakes and rivers, after 13 drowning deaths at the weekend.

A red heat alert is the highest of four warnings issued by Météo-France, and advises people to exercise extreme caution in conditions that are potentially life-threatening.

Dozens of other regions in France are under an orange alert – the second-highest warning – with an estimated 63 million people in total affected across the country.

The national railway operator SNCF urged “vulnerable” people to avoid or postpone train travel this week, while in Paris, several train lines reduced their services on Monday due to the heat.

Belgium’s train operator also announced some peak hour trains would be cancelled for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures in Belgium are expected to reach record levels in the coming week, the IRM meteorological institute said.

Madrid is forecast to hit 39C on Monday and in Italy, temperatures are predicted to reach 37C in Rome.

Red warnings are also in force across other parts of western and central Europe – taking effect in Germany and Switzerland on Monday and in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

The rising temperatures are being driven by hot air moving north from the Sahara desert, which is in turn trapping hot air over western and central Europe with forecasters suggesting the conditions could result in one of the longest heatwaves in recent years.

Temperatures are expected to peak in many areas on Wednesday.

Météo-France said of the 51 heatwaves recorded in France since 1947, 34 have taken place since 2000 and 26 since 2011.

Spain’s state weather service Aemet warned of “extremely high” temperatures for the season until Wednesday “between five and 10 degrees above what is typical”.

A red alert has been issued for the Basque country, with highs in San Sebastian forecast to rise to 40C, almost double its average for this time of year.

It comes as the UK’s Met Office issued a rare red heat warnung on Wednesday and Thursday for parts of England and Wales, with forecasts suggesting temperatures could reach 38C (100F) in some areas this week.

The conditions in France follow a weekend in which the mercury hit 40C, prompting an alcohol ban at the annual Fetede la Musique, a national festival that sees large crowds celebrate on the streets of most cities.

The ban applied to all events organised by the French state and its agencies, and aimed “to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable”, the government said.

In the south-west Gironde region, local authorities on Sunday said three people – aged between 80 and 95 years – had died, partly due to the intense heat.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told French public broadcaster TV1 Info on Monday that many “fellow citizens will suffer” during the hot weather, and called on people to keep a “close eye” on relatives and neighbours.

While the hottest temperatures are expected on the western coast, highs are expected to hang around 36C to 40C across much of the rest of the country, Météo-France said.

The forecaster warned that the heatwave will be “widespread, long-lasting and intense” – with temperatures not expected to drop until the end of the week.