Blog

Satellite image: Iran blast struck by suspected missile site

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ An explosion that rattled Iran’s capital came from an area in its eastern mountains that analysts believe hides an underground tunnel system and missile production sites, satellite photographs showed Saturday. What exploded in the incident early Friday that sent a massive fireball into the sky near Tehran remains unclear, as does the cause of the blast. The unusual response of the Iranian government in the aftermath of the explosion, however, underscores the sensitive nature of an area near where international inspectors believe the Islamic Republic conducted high-explosive…

West Indies’ Joseph hopes England treat him as ‘weaker link’

Loading

“Not a ‘weaker link’ – West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Alzarri Joseph hopes it will work to his advantage if England treat him as the “weaker link” of the West Indies’ pace attack during next month’s Test series. The 23-year-old is the junior member of a fast bowling line-up that also includes captain Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel. “Well obviously those three guys have a lot more experience than I do,” Joseph, who has played just nine Tests, told a conference call…

Ten players left off Pakistan’s England tour over virus: cricket board

Loading

“Teenage batsman Haider Ali failed a second coronavirus test and is one of 10 players left off Pakistan’s squad for the tour of England. ©AFP” /> Karachi (AFP) – Pakistan’s cricket team will leave for its tour of England on Sunday without 10 players who tested positive for coronavirus at least once this week, the country’s cricket board said Saturday. The board chief executive Wasim Khan said the players left behind can rejoin the squad of 18 players once they have taken two negative tests. Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Haider…

AstraZeneca, Moderna ahead in Covid-19 vaccine race: World Health Organisation

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ AstraZeneca’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine is probably the world’s leading candidate and most advanced in terms of development, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) chief scientist said on Friday. The British drugmaker has already begun large-scale, mid-stage human trials of the vaccine, which was developed by researchers at University of Oxford. This week, AstraZeneca signed its tenth supply and manufacturing deal. “Certainly in terms of how advanced they are, the stage at which they are, they are I think probably the leading candidate,” WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told a news…

US tightens the screws on Beijing, restricts visas for Chinese officials

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The United States is imposing visa restrictions on current and former Chinese officials responsible for “eviscerating” the freedoms of Hong Kong citizens, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday, signalling that the US would continue to tighten controls vis-a-vis the Chinese government officials. The move coincides with an intensified US rhetoric against China in the midst of Trump’s re-election campaign, in which opinion polls have shown voters increasingly embittered toward Beijing, especially over the coronavirus that began from China’s Wuhan. “I am announcing visa restrictions on…

Indian envoy delivers sharp message to China about ‘repercussions’ over Ladakh

Loading

COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The standoff between Indian and Chinese border troops can be resolved only if the Chinese side stops building new structures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India’s ambassador to China Vikram Misri said on Friday. Reiterating India’s position that the standoff and a violent face-off on June 15 were triggered by China’s actions, Vikram Misri told news agency PTI in Beijing that the Chinese side has to stop the practice of transgressing. His remarks made it clear that the Indian side expects China to take steps that will…

4-way fight for Maq T10 title

Loading

DELRAY BEACH/FL – USA: Four teams will battle on July 4 and 5 for the coveted Maq T10 title at the Maq Cricket Stadium in Delray Beach in Florida. The tournament is being hosted by Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) and will see Maq Stars, Spartans, Pakistan Eagles, and T&T Stars battle for glory. This tournament comes after weekend matches that were held since CCUSA re-started cricket after the Covid 19 lockdown. This tournament will be the first cricket tournament to be held in America since the lockdown and will see…

West Indies coach Simmons has no worries over Holder’ niggle’

Loading

“Ankle problem – West Indies captain Jason Holder . ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – West Indies coach Phil Simmons had no qualms over the fitness of Jason Holder after the captain played a restricted role on the final day of his side’s first warm-up match ahead of next month’s Test series against England. Holder led one team in a drawn intra-squad three-day game against Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI at Old Trafford. But the Barbados paceman did not bowl on Thursday, although he was in the field on all three days, and…

Reifer takes five wickets from 11 balls in Windies warm-up

Loading

“West Indies all-rounder Raymon Reifer was in the wickets on Wednesday. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Raymon Reifer claimed five wickets in 11 balls on the second day of the West Indies’ intra-squad match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Reifer, whose lone Test appearance came away to New Zealand three years ago, is looking to achieve the “ultimate dream” of forcing his way into the side for next month’s three-match series against England, which starts at the Ageas Bowl on July 8. The left-armer’s haul helped give a side captained…

Connor to be first female MCC president in 233 years

Loading

“The MCC are the owners of Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. ©AFP” /> London (AFP) – Former England women’s captain Clare Connor is to become the first female president of Marylebone Cricket Club in its 233-year history. Current incumbent Kumar Sangakkara, the first non-British MCC president, nominated Connor via video link from his native Sri Lanka during an annual general meeting on Wednesday. Connor, now the England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of women’s cricket, is set to take up her new post on October 1, 2021, subject to the…