Global Pulse

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  • Parisians cool off in canal amid ‘red alert’ heatwave

    Parisians cool off in canal amid ‘red alert’ heatwave

    As record-breaking heat continues to grip much of Western Europe, France has rolled out its highest-level heat warning across nearly half of its administrative regions, marking one of the most severe early summer heat events the nation has faced in recent years. Meteorological agencies confirm that temperatures have already climbed to unprecedented levels for this time of year, with forecasts predicting no immediate relief for affected areas in the coming days.

    For residents in the French capital Paris, where temperatures have pushed well into the mid-30s degrees Celsius and stayed high even after sunset, escaping the oppressive heat has become a daily priority. With public cooling centers operating at capacity and indoor air conditioning not universally available across the city’s older residential buildings, thousands of Parisians have flocked to the city’s urban canals to wade, swim, and lower their body temperatures. Families set up makeshift shade along the banks, young people gather in the cool canal water, and many long-term residents say this level of sustained heat is unusual for the region.

    Public health officials have urged residents to stay hydrated, check on vulnerable neighbors including elderly and unhoused populations, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat hours between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. The red alert level triggers additional emergency response measures across affected regions, including extended hours for cooling sites and increased staffing at local hospitals to handle heat-related illnesses. Climate researchers note that extreme heat events like this are becoming more frequent and more intense across Europe as a result of global climate change, prompting governments to update their heat response plans to protect public safety.

  • Brilliant Kapp leads South Africa past India

    Brilliant Kapp leads South Africa past India

    At the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup Group 1 clash hosted at Old Trafford in Manchester, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp delivered a career-defining all-round performance to hand South Africa a dramatic six-wicket victory over India, reigniting the Proteas’ chances of reaching the tournament’s semi-finals. With just five deliveries remaining in their chase, South Africa crossed the finish line of a 159-run target, capping off a stunning comeback led by Kapp’s unbeaten 45-ball knock of 81, which included seven fours and four blistering sixes. This result leaves both sides level on four points in the group standings, setting up a decisive final stretch of group stage fixtures for both nations.

    India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her milestone 200th T20 International match, won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that got off to a promising start. Opening batter Shafali Verma got the side off to a flying start, notching 31 runs off just 15 deliveries with three boundaries and one six, lifting India to 59-2 by the end of the mandatory powerplay. But the innings stalled early: both opening batters were back in the pavilion before the powerplay ended, with Smriti Mandhana bowled while attempting a risky scoop shot and Verma edging a short delivery behind to the wicketkeeper. No subsequent Indian batter was able to match Verma’s aggressive start, and despite a late 29 runs from 21 balls from Deepti Sharma, India could only post a competitive total of 158-7 from their 20 overs. Kapp was India’s undoing with the ball as well, claiming two key wickets for just 27 runs, including the scalps of Mandhana and dangerous lower-order batter Richa Ghosh, while Shabnim Ismail backed her up with 2-28 to keep India’s total in check.

    South Africa’s chase got off to a rocky start, with Indian leg-spinner Sree Charani picking up three wickets for 24 runs, including two strikes in three balls that left the Proteas reeling at 25-2 by the final over of the powerplay. It was at this precarious juncture that Kapp joined Tazmin Brits at the crease to rebuild the innings. The pair started cautiously, reaching only 59 runs by the halfway point of the chase, before gradually shifting gears and building a match-winning partnership. When Brits fell for 40 runs off 36 balls, caught in the deep off Verma, the partnership was just three runs short of a century, leaving Kapp with the majority of the chase still ahead. Minutes later, Kapp survived a major scare when Indian spinner Radha Yadav dropped a straightforward catch at long-on, a missed opportunity that would prove costly for India.

    Kapp made India pay immediately for the error, hammering two consecutive sixes over the ropes off Deepti Sharma in the penultimate over of the chase, putting the Proteas within touching distance of victory. Chloe Tyron eventually sealed the win with a edge for four off Nandni Sharma in the 19th over, securing the six-wicket win with five balls to spare. Post-match, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt heaped praise on the match-winner, calling Kapp the most impactful big-match player she has ever shared a dressing room with. “Whenever something is on the line or we’re playing in a World Cup she finds a way,” Wolvaardt said. “She said she didn’t feel great today so I hope she doesn’t feel great every game! She just has that competitive nature and it brings out the best in her.” Analysis of the match also noted that India struggled to adjust their bowling plans when Kapp moved around the crease and targeted the area behind square on the leg side, allowing her to accumulate runs at will in the back half of the innings.

    For the group standings, the result puts South Africa level with India on four points, behind unbeaten group leaders Australia who sit top with six points from two matches. South Africa still has group fixtures against Bangladesh and the Netherlands to come, while India now faces a do-or-die clash against Australia at Lord’s on 28 June, a match that will likely decide which of the two sides advances to the semi-finals from Group 1. Having suffered a 65-run thrashing at the hands of Australia in their opening group fixture, this win was a must for South Africa to retain any realistic hope of claiming one of the two Group 1 semi-final spots, and Kapp’s historic knock has kept their campaign firmly on track.

  • Lamine Yamal scores 10 minutes into his first World Cup start and gives Spain liftoff

    Lamine Yamal scores 10 minutes into his first World Cup start and gives Spain liftoff

    ATLANTA — After an underwhelming opening draw left European champions Spain under intense pressure at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal delivered exactly the statement performance the side needed, kickstarting their tournament campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Yamal, the Barcelona winger widely tipped to become soccer’s next global superstar, etched his name into World Cup history just 10 minutes into his first ever start on the sport’s biggest international stage.

    Yamal rose to the occasion after Spain was held to a shock 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in their tournament opener, a result that left fans and analysts questioning La Roja’s readiness after years of underperformance at the World Cup. The teenage forward slid onto a low cross from Mikel Oyarzabal at the far post to tap home the opening goal, making him the eighth-youngest goalscorer in the 96-year history of the men’s World Cup. Before finding the back of the net, he had already carved through Saudi Arabia’s defense multiple times, announcing his threat early in the contest.

    The result comes amid months of speculation around Yamal’s fitness: a hamstring injury forced him to miss the closing weeks of his club season with Barcelona, leaving doubt over how quickly he would be ready to lead Spain’s World Cup push. He only featured as a second-half substitute against Cape Verde, but coach Luis de la Fuente opted to name him in the starting XI against Saudi Arabia — a call that paid off instantly.

    For Yamal, the moment was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I’ve always dreamed of being at a World Cup, and being able to score in my first match as a starter is a dream,” he told reporters after the match. “I watched the last World Cup from a classroom so being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream come true.” The crowd of predominantly Spain supporters at Atlanta’s packed stadium erupted when Yamal took the pitch for pre-game warmups, and their cheers reached a fever pitch as he celebrated his historic goal: sliding to his knees, offering a prayer, and kissing the playing turf.

    Yamal’s opening goal unlocked a flood of first-half goals for Spain, which entered the tournament as one of the pre-tournament favorites. Oyarzabal, who faced heavy criticism after failing to touch the ball in the opening 30 minutes of the Cape Verde draw, bounced back in stunning fashion: he not only set up Yamal’s opener, but netted two more goals of his own with close-range finishes in the 21st and 24th minutes, putting Spain up 3-0 before halftime.

    With the contest all but decided, de la Fuente pulled both Yamal and Oyarzabal off at the break to rest his key players for upcoming matches. Spain extended their lead four minutes into the second half, when Marc Cucurella’s shot bounced off Saudi defender Hassan Altambakti for an own goal that sealed the 4-0 rout.

    Spain entered this World Cup looking to end a disappointing decades-long drought at the tournament: since lifting the World Cup trophy in 2010, La Roja have failed to advance past the round of 16 in every edition, winning just three matches across that stretch. Sunday’s dominant win has reignited hopes that this year could be different, with Yamal emerging as the breakout star of the tournament so far, joining global superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in getting off to a flying start in this year’s competition. “The first game wasn’t really us, it was different, but now we’ve arrived and we’re going for more,” Yamal said.

  • Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters

    Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters

    PRAGUE — Tens of thousands of Czech citizens filled the streets of the capital Sunday, turning out in a show of mass opposition to a controversial policy proposal from populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ruling coalition that critics warn would fatally undermine the independence of the country’s public broadcasting sector. The demonstration assembled directly outside the headquarters of Czech public television, building on a wave of similar protest actions that have already swept through regional capitals and Prague in recent weeks. The gathering comes 24 hours before public media employees are set to stage a nationwide warning strike to push back against the restructuring plan.

  • West Indies get past Sri Lanka to set up unbeaten T20 World Cup clash with England

    West Indies get past Sri Lanka to set up unbeaten T20 World Cup clash with England

    BRISTOL, England — The ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup is gearing up for one of its most anticipated group stage matches after the West Indies secured a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday. The win keeps the Caribbean side’s perfect record intact, setting up a high-stakes showdown with fellow unbeaten team England at Lord’s this coming Wednesday.

    The game got off to a dominant start for West Indies after captain Hayley Matthews won the pre-match toss and opted to bowl first on a turn-friendly pitch ideal for spin bowlers. Matthews made the decision pay off almost immediately, claiming the wickets of both Sri Lankan openers and top-order batter Harshitha Samarawickrama in just her opening two overs. By the end of the mandatory powerplay, Sri Lanka was in deep trouble at 23 runs for the loss of four wickets, with Matthews finishing her spell with impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 15 runs. In total, six different West Indies bowlers registered wickets throughout the innings, showcasing the depth of the side’s bowling attack.

    Nilakshika Silva put up a valiant resistance for Sri Lanka, top-scoring for her team with 30 runs. But once Silva departed, the Sri Lankan lower order collapsed: the team went six consecutive overs without hitting a single boundary, and added three more wickets to the scoreboard via two run outs and a stumping. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out all out for just 98 runs, a total that quickly looked under par even early in the West Indies chase.

    Despite the solid start with the ball, West Indies made the chase far harder than necessary, stumbling through the middle overs to put their undefeated record at risk. In the very first over of West Indies’ innings, a misfield let batter Deandra Dottin survive when she should have been run out. Captain Matthews was eventually run out for 17, and Dottin followed shortly after for 12, leaving the Caribbean side at 36 runs for 2 wickets at the end of the powerplay. By the 12th over, West Indies had slipped further to 70 runs for 5 wickets, leaving the door open for a major Sri Lankan upset.

    That upset never materialized, thanks to a steady, match-winning innings from experienced all-rounder Stafanie Taylor. Taylor remained unbeaten on 27 runs to guide the West Indies across the finish line in the 17th over, with the winning run coming after Sri Lanka spilled a catch at midwicket.

    Sri Lanka’s unforced errors ultimately cost the side any chance of an upset. Costly mistakes including wayward bowling that delivered 23 extra runs, multiple dropped catches, sloppy wicket-keeping and inaccurate in-field relays, left the team with far too many concessions. The 23 extras ended up as the second-highest individual score on the West Indies team scorecard, a statistic that underscores just how much Sri Lanka’s errors undermined their own performance.

    With the win, both West Indies and England advance to Wednesday’s clash at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground holding a perfect 3-win, 0-loss record in group play. In the final match of Sunday’s World Cup slate, South Africa and India faced off in a late game at Manchester, with the result still pending as of this update.

    Reporting by the Associated Press.

  • ‘Have faith’: Vozinha’s mom speaks out as Cape Verde heads back to World Cup field

    ‘Have faith’: Vozinha’s mom speaks out as Cape Verde heads back to World Cup field

    MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — As the world prepares to celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday, one of the most heartwarming underdog stories of the 2024 FIFA World Cup has taken an even more uplifting turn: Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will have his mother watching him from the stands when his Blue Sharks side faces Uruguay in their second Group Stage matchup.

    Josimar José Évora Dias, known professionally by his nickname Vozinha, became a global sensation after Cape Verde pulled off one of the most stunning results in recent World Cup history: a scoreless draw against pre-tournament favorite Spain in their opening fixture. But the 40-year-old goalkeeper’s viral post-match moment carried a bittersweet edge: he teared up sharing that his mother Ana Candida Evora had been unable to join him for the match after being denied a U.S. travel visa, largely due to financial barriers covering the application costs. He also shared a touching tribute to his late grandparents, saying he wished they had lived to see him play on the world’s biggest soccer stage.

    That emotional interview sparked an unprecedented collective effort to reunite mother and son. Officials from the U.S. State Department, FIFA, members of the U.S. Congress, and the Cape Verde Football Federation joined forces to cut through bureaucratic red tape and resolve Evora’s visa and funding issues. After more than 24 hours of nonstop travel from the small West African island nation, Evora landed in Miami on Friday afternoon, where she was greeted by a waiting group of FIFA staff and volunteers. Over the weekend, FIFA hosted her at the organization’s Florida tournament headquarters before she settled in to watch Sunday’s match.

    The viral moment has already transformed Vozinha’s profile and turned the tiny Cape Verde side into global fan favorites. When the World Cup kicked off, Vozinha had roughly 50,000 followers on Instagram. By Sunday morning, that number had skyrocketed to nearly 15 million, as fans from across the world latched onto the team’s underdog narrative and the heartfelt story of Vozinha and his mother.

    In a video message distributed by FIFA on Sunday, Evora expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support that got her to Miami. “I want to thank all the fans, everyone who helped in the process, for the support you gave to the team, especially to Cabo Verde,” she said. “We’re all rooting for Cabo Verde to play well, to shine on the pitch. The players need to have faith and everything will go well. Keep your heads held high, go onto that pitch, push for a goal and you’ll perform beautifully, my boys. A kiss for you, be strong and brave. Blue Sharks!” The team’s nickname, Tubarões Azuis, translates directly to Blue Sharks in English.

    While the off-pitch excitement and new global attention have been overwhelming, Cape Verde forward Garry Rodrigues said the squad is staying focused on their next challenge against Uruguay. “It’s been intense,” Rodrigues acknowledged. “But as we are professionals, the game against Spain is now in the past. … We’re still human. Seeing everything on the internet has been very intense. But we cannot use that as an excuse. We know our targets. We know our goals.”

  • Nobel Peace Prize winner triumphs at Ethiopian polls but fears grow of new conflict

    Nobel Peace Prize winner triumphs at Ethiopian polls but fears grow of new conflict

    Ethiopia’s recent general election has delivered a resounding victory to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his ruling Prosperity Party, cementing the incumbent’s hold on power for another five-year term as the country grapples with deep-seated security challenges and regional instability. With 438 of 501 declared parliamentary seats already secured by the Prosperity Party, Abiy is set to be sworn in for a new term in early October. Supporters of the prime minister point to his pledges to continue driving economic transformation across Africa’s second most populous nation, where the capital Addis Ababa has already seen widespread rapid infrastructure development in recent years. But critics and regional analysts warn that the lopsided election result, overshadowed by widespread opposition boycotts, ongoing insurgencies and broken peace accords, could deepen divisions and push the country back into large-scale conflict. Abiy first rose to power in 2018, amid widespread anti-government protests that shook the long-standing ruling coalition. Initially celebrated for his promises of national reconciliation and democratic opening, he quickly drew backlash from politicians of the northern Tigray region, which had dominated Ethiopian national politics for more than 20 years. Just one year after taking office, Abiy was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, primarily for his diplomatic efforts to end two decades of hostilities with neighboring Eritrea. That breakthrough has since unraveled, however, creating a dangerous new web of regional alliances that threaten stability across the Horn of Africa. The 2020-2022 Tigray civil war, which killed an estimated 600,000 people and pushed millions to the brink of famine, formally ended with a November 2022 peace deal brokered by the African Union. But tensions have remained high, and the entire Tigray region – home to six million people across 36 electoral constituencies – was completely excluded from the recent general election, as fears of renewed fighting grow. Both sides have repeatedly accused one another of violating the terms of the 2022 peace accord. In the weeks leading up to the election, Tigray’s dominant Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) restored its pre-war regional administration, disbanding an interim body appointed by Abiy’s government. Local reports have emerged of forced recruitment of young Tigrayan men to rearm, claims that TPLF-aligned local authorities deny, saying civilians are only receiving voluntary self-defense training. But regional analysts note that the rising tensions are driven by actions from both Abiy and TPLF leadership. Cameron Hudson, an Africa analyst and former U.S. State Department official, explained that Abiy’s government has stepped back from the terms of the peace deal and made threatening military moves toward Tigray, while TPLF actions have stoked fears of preparations for renewed conflict. The regional dynamic has been further complicated by a dramatic shift in alliances along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. When the Tigray war broke out, Eritrean troops fought alongside Abiy’s federal forces against the TPLF, with widespread allegations of atrocities against Tigrayan civilians that Eritrean and Ethiopian authorities have denied. Today, Abiy’s repeated public calls for Ethiopia to regain access to a Red Sea port – lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993 – have pushed relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara to a breaking point. Eritrea now accuses Ethiopia of imperial ambitions, and Asmara has formally aligned with the TPLF, raising the prospect that any new conflict in Tigray would draw in a neighboring sovereign state. Ongoing insurgencies in two of Ethiopia’s most populous regions, Amhara and Oromia, have further disrupted the election process. On voting day, 143 polling stations failed to open in the two regions due to safety threats from anti-government armed groups: the Fano militia in Amhara and the proscribed Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Oromia, both of which demand greater regional autonomy and rejected the election and its final results. Beyond Ethiopia’s borders, the country is also embroiled in the ongoing civil war in neighboring Sudan. Multiple international reports have accused Addis Ababa of providing support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the main warring factions in Sudan’s conflict, claims that the Ethiopian government has repeatedly denied. Eritrea and the TPLF, meanwhile, are known to maintain close ties with the Sudanese military, which is fighting the RSF, creating a connected web of conflict that analysts warn could spill across regional borders. The international community has already begun to sound the alarm over rising tensions. The European Union has called for immediate de-escalation in northern Ethiopia, while the United States – a key broker of the 2022 Tigray peace deal – recently announced targeted visa restrictions on hardline TPLF members and their immediate families, citing their role in undermining efforts to resolve the regional crisis. While many analysts do not expect an immediate return to full-scale civil war, they warn that the ongoing low-level polarisation and tension creates a dangerous powder keg. Magnus Taylor, a Horn of Africa analyst at the International Crisis Group, explained that the current dynamic leaves the door open for miscalculation: with the federal government in Addis Ababa convinced the TPLF is aligned with Ethiopia’s foreign enemies, even small clashes could escalate into a full regional conflict centered on Tigray. Opposition figures in Tigray echo that concern, noting that both sides have refused to return to negotiated talks to resolve outstanding differences. For the upcoming months following the election, analysts say the path Abiy chooses will shape the entire future of Ethiopia. While some observers worry the prime minister will use his newly consolidated political power to attempt a military solution to the ongoing Tigray conflict, his supporters maintain he will focus on delivering the economic transformation he has promised to a country that has long struggled with poverty and instability.

  • Scottish counter-terrorism police investigating ‘anti-Muslim’ Edinburgh attacks

    Scottish counter-terrorism police investigating ‘anti-Muslim’ Edinburgh attacks

    EDINBURGH — Scottish counter-terrorism policing units have launched a formal investigation into a string of coordinated violent attacks that left five Muslim men injured across the city Friday, in assaults that top UK officials have confirmed were driven by overt anti-Muslim bigotry.

    Five men between the ages of 22 and 36, all targeted because of their Muslim identity, were hurt in the linked incidents, authorities confirmed. Three of the victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment of injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

    Shortly after the attacks, police took a 36-year-old white Scottish man into custody. He faces multiple charges including making threats, committing robbery, and vandalism related to the violent incidents. Witnesses and arresting officers allege that during his detainment, the suspect shouted explicit anti-Muslim slurs, claiming he was “protecting” the country from what he falsely framed as a threat to children from Muslim communities. Unconfirmed social media footage circulating after the arrest also appears to show the suspect carrying a weapon during the attacks.

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the violence in a post on the social platform X, calling the attacks “absolutely appalling.” Starmer emphasized that the suspected hate motive was clear, stating, “I will not tolerate this — he will face the full force of the law.” Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney echoed the condemnation, saying he was “deeply concerned” by the incidents, adding that “there is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country.”

    Muslim advocacy groups across the UK have gone further, calling for authorities to explicitly classify the attacks as far-right Islamistophobic terrorism, arguing that the suspect’s publicly stated motive leaves no room for ambiguity. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the attacks were not an isolated incident, tracing them to a broader culture of divisive political rhetoric that demonizes entire Muslim communities. The organization noted the attacks came just weeks after targeted anti-minity violence in Belfast, warning that escalating bigotry is directly enabled by dehumanizing political discourse.

    A spokesperson for UK-based non-profit Muslim Engagement and Development stressed that authorities must acknowledge the clear hate motive behind the attacks. “To investigate these attacks while ignoring a motive shouted aloud at the point of arrest would tell every Muslim in Scotland that the law does not see the hatred aimed at them,” the group said.

    The Edinburgh attacks align with a documented recent surge in anti-Muslim hate crime across the UK, newly released data shows. Metropolitan Police statistics published in early June reveal that Islamophobic hate offenses jumped 33 percent between April and May this year, rising from 135 reported cases to 179 — the highest monthly count recorded since August 2024. The sharp upward trend followed a period of decline in late 2025 and early 2026, but began spiking in March shortly after the UK government implemented a revised official definition of anti-Muslim hostility, a change that advocacy groups say has emboldened bigots.

  • Teenager killed in Donegal rally crash named

    Teenager killed in Donegal rally crash named

    One of Ireland’s most prominent annual motorsport events has been brought to a tragic early end after a 15-year-old spectator was killed when struck by a competing rally vehicle on Saturday, with two other attendees injured in the incident. The victim, identified by An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, as Tadhg Callaghan Carter, lost his life in the collision that unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. local time in the Trentagh area near Kilmacrennan, County Donegal.

    Emergency responders rushed the teenager to Letterkenny University Hospital, where medical teams later confirmed he had died from his injuries. Two additional spectators who were hurt in the same incident were also transported to the same medical facility for treatment. Their injuries have been classified as non-life-threatening, and they are reported to be in stable condition as of the latest updates.

    In the wake of the tragedy, rally organizers made the immediate decision to halt the ongoing event and scrap all remaining stages of the three-day gathering as a public mark of respect for the deceased teenager. Both Motorsport Ireland, the governing body for motorsport in the country, and the Donegal Motor Club, the primary organizer of the international rally, released official statements extending their deepest condolences to Callaghan Carter’s family and loved ones. They also issued a public request that the family be granted privacy to grieve in the coming days.

    Irish police have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal collision, and are actively asking members of the public who were at the location of the incident — marked as Location 15 on Special Stage 12 Gartan — to come forward with information. Investigators are particularly eager to obtain any mobile phone recordings or dashcam footage captured in the area at the time of the event, which could help clarify the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.

    This death marks the latest in a string of fatal incidents stretching back decades at the Donegal International Rally, which is widely regarded as one of the largest and most prestigious motorsport competitions on the island of Ireland. The last fatality connected to the event occurred in 2019, when three-time rally champion Manus Kelly died behind the wheel during a competitive stage. Prior to that, an 18-year-old spectator was killed in 2008 when another competing car veered off the track, leading to the cancelation of that year’s remaining rally stages. In 1992, two event marshals died in a separate incident at the rally.

    Across all events sanctioned by Motorsport Ireland, this is the first spectator fatality recorded since the 2012 Cavan Stages rally, where two attendees lost their lives in an on-course incident.

  • Australia beats Bangladesh by 7 wickets in 3rd T20 to complete series sweep

    Australia beats Bangladesh by 7 wickets in 3rd T20 to complete series sweep

    In a dominant display of aggressive batting at the Chattogram venue on Sunday, Australia delivered a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the third and final T20 international, capping off a flawless 3-0 clean sweep of the bilateral series. Australia’s chase of a modest 110-run target was wrapped up in just 11 overs, powered by a devastating, quick-fire knock from captain Mitchell Marsh, who notched an unbeaten 60 off only 28 deliveries to set the tone for the win.

    Marsh’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression: the all-rounder smashed seven boundaries and four towering sixes, putting the Bangladeshi bowling attack under relentless pressure from the early overs. He and wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis built a solid foundation for the chase, putting on a 54-run partnership during the mandatory opening powerplay before left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed broke the stand, removing Inglis for 17.

    By the 23rd ball of his innings, Marsh had already notched his 14th career T20 half-century, sealing the milestone with a slog sweep for six off Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. It looked as though he would see Australia across the finish line, but a late breakthrough from Bangladeshi paceman Shoriful Islam – one of three team changes Bangladesh made in a last-ditch effort to avoid a series sweep – ended his innings, with Shamim Hossain holding the catch when Australia was still 22 runs short of victory.

    The match did not last long after Marsh’s departure, however. Batter Tim David sealed the win in dramatic fashion, hitting two consecutive sixes off Hossain to push Australia to a final score of 112 for three. David remained unbeaten on 12 at the close, while Matt Renshaw, who hit a match-winning 89 not out in the second T20, finished unbeaten on six.

    Earlier in the day, Bangladesh captain Towhid Hridoy put on a lone standout performance with the bat after his side won the toss and elected to bat first. Hridoy carried his team to a total of 109 for eight from the full 20 overs, scoring an unbeaten 61 off 51 deliveries that included three fours and three sixes. Hossain was the only other Bangladeshi batter to reach double digits, finishing with 16 runs.

    Australia’s bowling attack was in formidable form, with fast bowlers Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis, and leg-spinner Adam Zampa each taking two wickets to restrict Bangladesh’s scoring. Notably, the series sweep comes after Bangladesh claimed a 2-1 victory over Australia in the preceding three-match one-day international series, making Australia’s clean sweep in the T20 leg all the more impressive. The first T20 of the series was won by Australia by four wickets, while the second ended in a seven-run win for the side.