Latest News
Iceland volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula
A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland after weeks of intense earthquake activity.
About 4,000 people were earlier evacuated from the fishing town of Grindavik and the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was closed.
The eruption started north of the town at 22:17 local time (22:17 GMT), the Icelandic Met Office said.
The region around the capital Reykjavik has been experiencing an increase in earthquake activity since late October.
Images and videos posted on social media showed lava bursting from the volcano just an hour after an an earthquake swarm, or seismic events, were detected. A coastguard helicopter has been sent to the area to confirm the exact location and size of the eruption.
The Met Office said that the eruption was located about 4km (2.5 miles) north-east of Grindavik and the seismic activity was moving towards the town.
The length of the crack in the volcano is about 3.5km, with the lava flowing at a rate of around 100 to 200 cubic metres per second, it added. It said that this was many times more than in previous eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in recent years.
A senior police officer at the Civil Defence told national broadcaster RUV the eruption had happened quickly and appeared to be “quite a large event”.
Vidir Reynisson said the lava appeared to be flowing in all directions from a large crack in the volcano. “The jets of lava are quite high, so it appears to be a powerful eruption at the beginning,” he said.
The eruption can be seen from Reykjavik, which is about 42km north-east of Grindavik. One eyewitness in the city told the BBC that half of the sky in the direction of Grindavik was “lit up in red”. He said smoke could also be billowing into the air, with police warning people to stay away from the area.
Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said defences recently constructed would have a positive effect. She said her thoughts were with the local community and she was hoping for the best despite the “significant event”.
President Gudni Johannesson said safeguarding lives was the main priority but that every effort would be made to protect structures too.
In April 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption caused the largest closure of European airspace since World War Two, as a result of an extensive ash cloud.
Losses were estimated at between 1.5bn and 2.5bn euros (£1.3-2.2bn; $1.6-2.7bn).
The Under-19 World Cups come thick and fast: once every two years. Soon enough, most of the players appearing in today’s final will graduate, their cricket limited by franchises and passports rather than age limits. But for now, India and England’s roads at this World Cup finally converge.
Both teams are unbeaten in the tournament so far. England stormed into the final after their captain, Thomas Rew, starred with a 110 that took them to a 27 run victory against defending champions Australia.
India were faced with a tall task of chasing down a record setting 311, against Afghanistan. However, India’s batters – led by a swashbuckling century by opener Aaron George raced to the target with 53 balls and seven wickets to spare, to lay down the marker on a Harare pitch that should continue to have plenty in it for the batters.
India and England have met once in the recent past: they faced off in a warm-up match right before the tournament proper. In the rain interrupted encounter, James Rew starred with a 66-ball 71* to take England home. This time around, there will be plenty more stakes involved for either side. They might as well be facing each other for the first time.
Aaron George was having an underwhelming Under-19 World Cup at the top of the order for India. His scores at the tournament had been 7, 23, and 16 when he came out to bat against Afghanistan. Under the spotlight, though, he put in his most impressive showing of the tournament. He led the chase with poise, being the last wicket to fall with just 11 runs left to knock off. By then, he had peppered the Afghan bowlers around the ground for 15 fours and two sixes during a classy 104-ball 115. He might revel under the spotlight some more in the final.
Thomas Rew has led England from the front in more ways than one. He is the fourth highest run-getter in the tournament, with 299 runs at an average of 74.75 and an equally impressive strike rate of 101.01. His footwork has been a class above his fellow England batters against spin especially, and if the Harare surface decides to spin and bounce, he will be keen to take off from where he left during his century against Australia in the first semi-final.
The Harare Sports Club has served up fast-paced pitches in the tournament so far. The semi-final between India and Afghanistan was a belter in particular, with the ball coming onto the bat and seeing an aggregate of 621 runs scored between both sides at a run rate of 6.81. If the final happens on a similar surface, conditions will favour the batters again.
The weather today [Friday] has a chance of light rain: the match will begin at 9.30am local time; shower and thunder might roll in after 5pm. The temperature will hover around the mid-20s (Celsius) throughout.
[Cricinfo]
Senior US and Iranian officials are expected to meet in Oman later for direct talks amid a crisis that has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.
The discussions come after a US military build-up in the Middle East in response to Iran’s violent repression of nationwide anti-government protests last month, that human rights groups say killed many thousands of people.
Uncertainty over the location and scope had threatened to derail the talks, which are part of a diplomatic effort by regional mediators to de-escalate tensions.
Both countries remain far apart in their positions. The hope is that, if successful, the discussions could lead to a framework for negotiations.
The US, which is demanding Iran freezes its nuclear programme and discards its stockpile of enriched uranium, had said the talks should also involve Iran’s ballistic missiles, the country’s support for regional armed groups and its treatment of its citizens.
Iran, however, has said the discussions will be limited to its nuclear programme, and it is unclear if these differences have been resolved.
In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if it does not reach a deal. The US has sent thousands of troops and what Trump has described as an “armada” to the region, including an aircraft carrier along with other warships as well as fighter jets.
Iran has vowed to respond to an attack with force, threatening to strike American military assets in the Middle East and Israel.
The Iranian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who last week said his country’s armed forces were “with their fingers on the trigger”, while the US will be represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
[BBC]
The ICC and PCB are engaged in back-channel communications as the global governing body tries to find a way for its showpiece group match at the 2026 T20 World Cup between Pakistan and India to go ahead.
On instructions from their government, Pakistan will not take the field against India in Colombo on February 15, though they will play their other matches. The Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the decision was to show solidarity with Bangladesh, who were excluded from the T20 World Cup because they did not want to play in India, one of the co-hosts along with Sri Lanka.
Though the PCB has not publicly commented on the boycott of the group match against India, the ICC responded to the decision – originally conveyed by the Government of Pakistan on its ‘X’ account – saying it expected the PCB to “explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
That resolution has been the subject of calls and meetings between Imran Khwaja, the ICC deputy chair, and Mubashir Usmani of the Emirates Cricket Board, who is also on the ICC Board. They have been in communication with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Salman Naseer, who is the PSL head but also a senior advisor to Naqvi.
The efforts had begun a week before the boycott was announced, when Naqvi had first raised doubts over Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup and said it would depend on the government. Naqvi travelled to the UAE that week as part of a state visit but is believed to have sought advice from officials there and met Khwaja on that trip. With Khwaja back in Singapore, where he is based, and Naqvi in Pakistan, discussions have since continued.
Initially the PCB was informed of potential sanctions Pakistan could face should they withdraw from the tournament entirely, though its response was that the issue is not about financial consequences. After the decision to exclude Bangladesh was taken, Naqvi criticised it, accusing the ICC of “double standards” and of doing an “injustice” to Bangladesh.
Since the announcement of the boycott, however, contact from the ICC has focused on addressing PCB’s grievances so that the game goes ahead. Khwaja has stepped in as a mediator in other recent disputes involving the PCB, BCCI and the ICC.
[Cricinfo]
Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics
India chase sixth Under-19 World Cup title, England their first since 1998
Meet the women protecting India’s snow leopards
Louvre Museum crown left crushed but ‘intact’ after raid
US and Iran talks to begin as fears of direct conflict continue
INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business6 days agoHayleys Mobility ushering in a new era of premium sustainable mobility
-
Business3 days agoSLIM-Kantar People’s Awards 2026 to recognise Sri Lanka’s most trusted brands and personalities
-
Business6 days agoAdvice Lab unveils new 13,000+ sqft office, marking major expansion in financial services BPO to Australia
-
Business6 days agoArpico NextGen Mattress gains recognition for innovation
-
Business5 days agoAltair issues over 100+ title deeds post ownership change
-
Editorial6 days agoGovt. provoking TUs
-
Business5 days agoSri Lanka opens first country pavilion at London exhibition
-
Business4 days agoAll set for Global Synergy Awards 2026 at Waters Edge