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Thailand and UAE triumph over Uganda and Netherlands in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier

Published

2 years ago

2024/04/30

Priyan

Thailand Women beat Uganda Women by nine wickets (ICC)

Thailand and United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered thorough wins in Monday night’s matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier at Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The wins kept alive the teams’ hopes of a place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

At Tolerance Oval, Thailand bested Uganda by nine wickets, while UAE claimed an emphatic, 10-wicket victory under the Zayed Cricket Stadium lights.

Both matches were dominated by the bowlers of the winning teams, who ripped through their opponents’ batting line-ups with superb pace and spin bowling displays.

Equally, UAE’s openers ensured that their bowlers’ hard work paid off, with a scintillating chase led by captain Esha Oza’s outstanding 66 not-out.

Uganda vs Thailand

Thailand’s bowlers proved their captain Naruemol Chaiwai’s decision of fielding first right, by producing a sensational bowling display that blew away the Uganda batting line-up. After a 17-run opening stand, Uganda collapsed to 62-all out in 17.4 overs.

Only three batters Rita Musamali (24), captain, Janet Mbabazi (14) and opener, Prosscovia Alako (10), reached double figures as Thailand’s bowlers kept making inroads.

All-rounder, Nattaya Boochatham, who shared the new ball with Chanida Sutthiruang, took two wickets for eight runs in 2.4 overs with her probing off-spinners. Pacer, Sutthiruang, was equally good as she returned her own pair of scalps for 10 runs in her four overs.

Left-arm spinner, Thipatcha Putthawong, maintained the stranglehold on Uganda’s batters, with two wickets.

Thailand chased down the target with consummate ease. Seasoned batter, Natthakan Chantham, played some delightful shots in her unbeaten 34 off 43 balls (five fours) to earn the Player of the Match award. She shared a 30-run opening stand with Boochatham (12) and an unbeaten, 34-run partnership with Nannapat Koncharoenkai, as the victory was achieved with 51 balls to spare.

Thailand have now won one and lost one match while Uganda have lost two out of their three matches, their only win was against UAE on Saturday. Sri Lanka are at the top of Group A, with Scotland in second place, both teams have won two matches so far.

Netherlands vs UAE

The Netherlands’ decision to bat first backfired as the UAE’s bowlers tore through their batting line-up. The Player of the Match in the win against Vanuatu, Sterre Kalis, fell for a first ball duck to Samira Dharnidharka in the opening over of the match. The loss of the star batter rattled the side as UAE’s bowlers tightened their grip.

Netherlands were reduced to 49 for four and seemed to recover well when they reached 82 for four in the 14^th over.

The match took a dramatic turn however, when Netherlands lost four wickets for the addition of just three runs, 82 for four tripping to 85 for eight in a space of 11 balls. The last two wickets added 16 runs as Netherlands finished their 20 overs at a disappointing 101 for nine.

Dharnidharka was the pick of the UAE bowlers, her seam bowling earned her three wickets for 11 runs in four overs. Khushi Shamra and Vaishnave Mahesh took two wickets each, both conceded 16 runs in their three and four-over spells respectively.

Robine Rijke’s 44 (36 balls, five fours, one six) was the only notable performance with the bat for the Dutch.

UAE’s openers got off to an aggressive start in their batting reply, with Oza leading the way with a brilliant knock of 66 off 39 deliveries (nine fours, two sixes). The right-hander displayed her incredible shot range in a brisk innings which helped UAE improve their net run-rate considerably, following their defeats to Ireland and Zimbabwe in their opening matches. Oza finished the match with a big six over wide mid-wicket as UAE completed the chase with 49 balls to spare.

Oza’s opening partner Theertha Satish provided her wonderful support with an unbeaten 36 off 33 balls. Satish stroked five fours in her innings as the helpless Netherlands bowlers finished the innings wicket-less.

The big win keeps the UAE’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals from Group B alive. Netherlands, who defeated Vanuatu by 100 runs in their opening match, will now need to come out firing at all cylinders against Zimbabwe and Ireland, as the battle for the top two spots heats up.

Scores in brief:

Match 11:

Thailand beat Uganda by nine wickets

Uganda 62 all out in 17.4 overs (Rita Musamali 24, Janet Mbabazi 14; Thipatcha Putthawong 2-7, Nattaya Boochatham 2-8, Chanida Sutthiruang 2-10)

Thailand 64 for 1 in 11.3 overs (Natthakan Chantham 34 not out, Nattaya Boochatham 15, Nannapat Koncharoenkai 12 not out; Sarah Akiteng 1-18)

Player of the Match – Natthakan Chantham

Match 12:

UAE beat Netherlands by 10 wickets

Netherlands 101 for 9 in 20 overs (Robine Rijke 44; Samira Dharnidharka 3-11, Vaishnave Mahesh 2-16, Khushi Sharma 2-16)

UAE 104 for no loss in 11.5 overs (Esha Oza 66 not out, Theertha Satish 36 not out)

Player of the Match – Esha Oza

(ICC)

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Seven million cancers a year are preventable, says report

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/4

Priyan

Air quality around the Delhi region of India reached 'severe' levels in November [BBC]

Seven million people’s cancer could be prevented each year, according to the first global analysis.

A report by World Health Organization (WHO) scientists estimates 37% of cancers are caused by infections, lifestyle choices and environmental pollutants that could be avoided.

This includes cervical cancers caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infections which vaccination can help prevent, as well as a host of tumours caused by tobacco smoke from cigarettes.

The researchers said their report showed there is a “powerful opportunity” to transform the lives of millions of people.

Some cancers are inevitable – either because of damage we unavoidably build up in our DNA as we age or because we inherit genes that put us at greater risk of the disease.

But researcher Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram said “people are surprised to hear” that nearly four in 10 cancers can be prevented as it is “a substantial number”.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the WHO, analysed 30 preventable factors known to increase the risk of cancer.

These include smoking and ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can directly damage our DNA; obesity and too little physical activity which alter inflammation and hormones in the body to raise cancer risk; and air pollution which can wake up dormant cancer cells.

The agency’s report also looked at nine cancer-causing infections including HPV, hepatitis viruses which lead to liver cancer and the stomach bug H. pylori.

The team used data on cancer cases from 2022 and from the 30 risk factors a decade earlier – across 185 countries – to perform their statistical analysis.

The big three contributors to more than 18 million cancer cases around the world were found to be:

smoking tobacco which caused 3.3 million cancers
infections causing 2.3 million cancers
alcohol use leading to 700,000 cancers

Getty Images Nine people, mostly women, in a line at a bar, smoking cigarettes and holding alcoholic drinks. They all look dressed up for a fun night out. — *Smoking and alcohol were two of the main causes of preventable cancers [BBC]*

However, the overall figures mask a nuanced picture of cancer risk around the world.

There is a stark sex-divide with 45% of men’s cancers being preventable compared with 30% in women, partly down to higher levels of smoking among men.

In women living in Europe, the top three preventable causes of cancer are smoking, closely followed by infection and then obesity.

While in sub-Saharan Africa, infections dominate and account for nearly 80% of preventable cancers in women.

This means any measures to tackle these cancers would need to be tailored to each region or country.

“This landmark study is a comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer worldwide, incorporating for the first time infectious causes of cancer alongside behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks,” said Soerjomataram, the deputy head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit.

“Addressing these preventable causes represents one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden.”

The report, published in the journal **Nature Medicine**, showed lung cancer (linked to smoking and air pollution) stomach cancer (linked to H. pylori infection) and cervical cancer (linked to HPV infection) made up nearly half of all preventable cases of cancer.

Dr Andre Ilbawi, team lead for cancer control at WHO, said the study was “good news” as it showed something could be done and he pointed to the success of countries that have introduced policies to tackle smoking or vaccinate against HPV.

“The percentage of preventable cancers can change over time and our goal is to get it as close to zero as possible,” he said.

***[BBC]***

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Spain announces plans to ban social media for under-16s

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/4

Priyan

EPA/Shutterstock Pedro Sanchez, wearing a blue blazer and dark green tie, standing at the lectern at the World Government's summit. It's a bright blue background.EPA/Shutterstock Pedro Sánchez said the changes would protect children from the "digital Wild West"

Spain has become the latest European country to make plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16.

“We will protect them from the digital Wild West,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday.

The ban, which still needs parliamentary approval, is part of a raft of changes that include making company executives responsible for “illegal or harmful content” on their platforms.

Australia became the world’s first country to bring in a ban last year, with others watching – and judging – its success.

France, Denmark and Austria have also announced that they are considering their own national age limits.

The UK government has launched a consultation on whether to implement a ban for under-16s.

Social media companies have argued that the bans would be ineffective, difficult to implement and could isolate vulnerable teenagers. Reddit is challenging Australia’s ban in the High Court.

“Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone,” Sánchez said, describing social media as a place of “addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation [and] violence. “We will no longer accept that. We will protect them.”

Sánchez first mooted a possible ban in November, but on Tuesday, the plan was fleshed out.

Under the changes, social media platforms would be required to have effective age verification systems, “not just check boxes, but real barriers that work,” the prime minister explained, in a possible reference to the loopholes Australian children use to bypass checks – including simply using a photo of an adult.

The new laws would also criminalise manipulating algorithms to amplify illegal content.

“This is something created, promoted, and disseminated by certain actors whom we will investigate, as well as the platforms whose algorithms amplify disinformation in exchange for profit,” Sánchez said.

“Hiding behind code and claiming that technology is neutral is no longer acceptable.”

There would also be a new system designed to track “how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate”. No further details were given on how this would work.

Another measure, Sánchez said, would be to “investigate and prosecute the crimes committed by Grok [X’s AI tool], TikTok, and Instagram”.

The European Commission has launched an investigation into Grok over concerns it was used to create sexualised images of real people.

The UK has announced its own investigation into Grok and on Tuesday in France, the offices of X were raided by the Paris prosecutor’s cyber-crime unit as it looked into allegations of offences including unlawful data extraction and complicity in the possession of child pornography.

X is yet to respond to either investigation – the BBC has approached it for comment. It has previously characterised the French investigation as an attack on free speech.

[BBC]

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Join hands in unity, determination and brotherhood to build the beautiful shared dream of ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’ – President

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/4

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayaike in his Independence Day message called upon all Sri Lankans to join hands in unity, determination and brotherhood to build the beautiful shared dream of ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’

The full text of the President’s message:

“We commemorate the 78th National Independence Day at a historic moment when, despite numerous challenges, our country is moving steadily forward while regaining economic stability. As Sri Lankans, through our collective struggle, we have within a short period of approximately eighteen months succeeded in achieving tangible economic progress. Amidst adversity, acting collectively and with determination, we have been able to position Sri Lanka on the international stage as a nation branded by a clean and principled political culture, a beautiful country rising with integrity.

Our next foremost objective is to ensure that the macroeconomic gains we have achieved flow to communities of all ethnicities across all provinces of Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that without this, it will be impossible to realise the true rhythm and essence of the new development process we are building.

Recently, we were compelled to confront the largest natural disaster of our time. While the experience of this calamity was painful, the strong foundations we have built over the past eighteen months have enabled us, with the support of all stakeholders, to move forward successfully in the process of recovery and restoration.

Throughout the period since independence, our nation has often missed golden opportunities to steer the country in the right direction, to achieve our national aspirations, and to live together in unity. This time, however, we are determined not to repeat those mistakes. With unwavering resolve, we are striving to elevate our country into a more advanced, resilient and dignified State than it has ever been. I wish to emphasise that this endeavour is being carried out while safeguarding our proud culture, our ancient history and our invaluable heritage, standing firmly upon them.

I hold an unshakable faith that by realising in the twenty-first century, the dream of a proud nation that was born in the twentieth century but later became blurred, we can build Sri Lanka into the developed, prosperous and virtuous country that our people expect, and thereby certainly create the new era for which we have long aspired. In this endeavour, we place our firm confidence in the strength of all our citizens, in their collective spirit and in their unwavering character.

As we reclaim for our nation the victories that were lost in the past century, I once again invite all citizens to join hands in unity, determination and brotherhood to build the beautiful shared dream of ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’. With this call, I extend my warm wishes for a meaningful National Independence Day that inspires us all to advance towards the true objectives of freedom”.