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☆ Inconsistency to blame for Sri Lanka's poor World Cup, says coach Silverwood
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's inconsistency cost them dear at the World Cup, coach Chris Silverwood said after his team suffered a seventh defeat in nine matches at the 50-overs tournament in India. Sri Lanka, who had already been eliminated, lost by five wickets to New Zealand at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. "I think we've played some good cricket along the way, and I think we'll look back on certain games and rue missed opportunities, to be honest. The top seven sides at the World Cup qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2025, along with hosts Pakistan. Silverwood said they would review their performances in India and look at how they can improve heading into the next cycle.

Persons: Chris Silverwood, Silverwood, we've, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Peter Rutherford Organizations: New Zealand, Bengaluru's, Chinnaswamy, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Bengaluru

☆ Confident New Zealand ready for business end of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We know that if we play the way we want to play, we'll come out on the right side of the draw. "Throughout the World Cup, the bowling attacks that have done well have passed the baton to the next bowler," Ferguson added. "We probably haven't had as much as we'd have liked over the whole World Cup but it was nice to see Boulty and Tim get some early wickets." New Zealand have reached the final of the last two World Cups and beat India to reach the title-decider in 2019, Ferguson's breakout tournament. Ferguson was confident he would be fit to play a role against the hosts if, as is likely, New Zealand's place in the semi-finals for the fourth straight World Cup is confirmed.

Persons: Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne, Adnan Abidi, Paceman Lockie Ferguson, We've, Ferguson, we'll, Duckworth, Lewis, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Mitch Santner, Rachin Ravindra mopped, Tim, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Chinnaswamy, Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne REUTERS, Rights, Sri, Caps, Pakistan, Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sydney

☆ New Zealand's Boult excited by prospect of facing India in World Cup semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Boult bagged 3-37 to help restrict Sri Lanka to 171 before New Zealand made short work of the chase to snap a run of four straight defeats, finishing their pool stage campaign with 10 points from nine games. "I can't speak on what they're thinking but from our point of view to play the World Cup in India and come up against the hosts, a team that's red hot playing good cricket at a great ground - you couldn't script it any better," Boult said. "Excited if that happens, I feel like we've done all we can from our point of view and we'll wait and see what happens." "But history suggests it's a good wicket," Boult said. Doesn't get any bigger than taking on India in front of 1.5 billion people.

Persons: Zealand's Trent Boult, Lanka's Charith Asalanka, Adnan Abidi, seamer Trent Boult, Boult, Doesn't, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Chinnaswamy, Lanka's Charith Asalanka REUTERS, Rights, Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, India, Afghanistan, South Africa, Pakistan, , New Zealand, Mumbai, New, Dharamsala

☆ England eye 'proper performance' against Pakistan, says Buttler
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - England captain Jos Buttler said the team have shown a desire to "put things right" in India after a dismal World Cup campaign and are determined to secure a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy with a top-eight finish. Ahead of the bottom three - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Neteherlands - on net run rate, England head to Kolkata for their final match against fifth-placed Pakistan, who will host the next edition of the eight-team Champions Trophy. "We haven't performed the way we wanted to this whole trip and we'd like to leave India putting in a proper performance," Buttler told reporters. "Not playing for what we wanted to be playing for, but a really vital match for us in the grand scheme of things. Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jos Buttler, haven't, Buttler, everyone's, Chiranjit, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Thomson Locations: England, India, Netherlands, Pune, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kolkata, Pakistan, Bengaluru

☆ New Zealand restrict Sri Lanka to 171 in vital World Cup game
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Seamer Trent Boult and spinner Mitchell Santner landed timely blows as New Zealand restricted Sri Lanka to 171 all out in their World Cup encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. A big win for New Zealand will put them in a strong position to bag the last semi-final spot and join India, South Africa and Australia, while Sri Lanka need a victory to boost their chances of a top-eight finish for 2025 Champions Trophy qualification. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson's decision to bowl after winning the toss paid off early as pacemen Boult (3-37) and Tim Southee (1-52) ripped through Sri Lanka's top-order to leave them in trouble at 32-3 inside five overs. A fit-again Lockie Ferguson (2-35) struck in his second over to dismiss the aggressive Perera for 51 as Sri Lanka crumbled to 70-5 before folding in the 47th over for a modest total after Santner (2-22) and Rachin Ravindra (2-21) joined the party. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Seamer Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson's, pacemen Boult, Tim Southee, Kusal Perera, Tom Latham, Boult, Charith Asalanka, Lockie Ferguson, Perera, Rachin Ravindra, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: New Zealand, Sri, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka's, New Zealand, Bengaluru

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference after participating in G7 ministerial meetings in Tokyo, Japan, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI/WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will hold talks with India this week that officials say will focus on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and concerns over China, rather than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. U.S. officials were moving swiftly to deepen ties with India while pledging support for an investigation into the June killing on Canadian soil, an American official aware of the Indo-Pacific policy said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. India's ties with the U.S. have grown steadily stronger on several fronts, and it has close strategic links with Israel.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Lloyd Austin, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, Narendra Modi's, Joe Biden's, Xi Jinping, Rick Rossow, Rossow, Krishn Kaushik, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, YP Rajesh, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Officials, Ottawa, Indian, Economic Cooperation, Asia Society, South, U.S, Washington’s Center, Strategic, International Studies, Biden, YP, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, DELHI, WASHINGTON, India, China, Gaza, Ukraine, New Delhi, Canada, Washington, Asia, San Francisco, South Asia, Israel, Delhi, Russia, Washington and New Delhi, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal

☆ Rain threat adds element of unknown to NZ's semi-final bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 8 (Reuters) - A forecast for rain has added an unknown element to New Zealand's final World Cup group stage match against Sri Lanka in Chennai on Thursday, captain Kane Williamson said. There's been a lot of weather around and it could look different tomorrow," said Williamson. "I think if we look at the cricket on a whole, there has been a lot of good cricket. New Zealand similarly struggled to make the semis in 2019 but were able to turn things around and reach the final. Williamson added that pacer Lockie Ferguson's return after missing two matches due to injury would depend on pitch conditions.

Persons: Kane Williamson, There's, Williamson, Chiranjit, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Sri, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Sri Lanka, Chennai, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Zealand, Bengaluru

☆ Sri Lanka, Argentina top list of most vulnerable economies -study
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka and Argentina remain very vulnerable amid a worsening in global financial conditions while China has suffered a sharp deterioration in financial resilience since pre-COVID times, a think-tank study found on Wednesday. The study also showed that debt sustainability has declined over the last four years across emerging market economies. "In 2019, only Tunisia, Pakistan, Argentina, and Sri Lanka had ratios of external financing needs above 100%. The study calculated external financing needs by measuring short-term external debt plus current account deficits as a proportion of international reserves. Bolivia, Egypt, Turkey and El Salvador are also on the list of vulnerable countries, while the study shows that Indonesia, Peru and Bulgaria are the most resilient countries in the group.

Persons: Liliana Rojas, Suarez, Rojas, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker Organizations: Washington -, Global Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sri Lanka, Argentina, China, Washington, Ukraine, Lanka, Britain, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bolivia, Egypt, Turkey, El Salvador, Indonesia, Peru, Bulgaria, Rosario, Lincoln

A U.S. foreign development agency announced on Wednesday it would lend $553 million to establish a deepwater shipping-container terminal at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, expanding America’s effort to finance infrastructure around strategic parts of Asia. Adani will help develop the terminal with Sri Lankan partners. The money from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation resembles the kind of big-ticket deals that China’s development banks have struck around the world over the past decade. Under its Belt and Road Initiative, central to the foreign policy of President Xi Jinping, China made loans to build up ties around Asia, including in Sri Lanka. The Development Finance Corporation was created during the Trump administration to bankroll international infrastructure projects, cooperating with the State Department to support U.S. foreign policy and curb Chinese influence.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Adani, Xi Jinping, Trump Organizations: Port, Adani, Sri, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, Initiative, Development Finance Corporation, State Department Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Asia, India, China, United States

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The U.S. announced a $553- million project Wednesday to build a new, deep-water shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo as it competes with China in international development financing. The U.S.-backed financing comes at a time when Sri Lanka is struggling to recover from a dire financial and economic crisis. Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from China to build the port and other infrastructure including an airport and a city being built on reclaimed land. Both neighboring India and China are jostling for influence in Sri Lanka and both have already invested in expanding facilities at the Colombo port. Colombo port also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings.

Persons: ”, Scott Nathan, Sri Lanka’s John Keells, Lanka’s, Wang Wenbin, William & Mary, AidData, China's, saysChina, Bradley Parks, “, ” ___ Didi Tang Organizations: South, U.S . International Development Finance Corp, West, Local, Sri, Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings, Initiative, Foreign Ministry, China Merchants Port Holdings, CHEC Port City Colombo Co, China Communications Construction Company, William & Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, U.S, Port, Colombo, China, Bay, Bengal, Beijing, Hambantota Port, Hambantota, India, oceanside, Port City, Virginia, “ Beijing, Washington

☆ Court stays sacking of Sri Lanka board
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ranasinghe had replaced the board with an interim committee on Monday after a disappointing World Cup campaign, amid protests calling for the resignation of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials. The matter was also discussed in Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's team wind up their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on Thursday. Sri Lanka are currently ninth with four points -- the same as England, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The only control that we have in this tournament is the game tomorrow," Nawaz told reporters.

Persons: Arun Jaitley, Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka, Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan, Pathum Nissanka, Anushree, Roshan Ranasinghe's, Ranasinghe, Shammi Silva, Sri, Sri Lanka's, Naveed Nawaz, Nawaz, Chiranjit Ojha, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Arun, Sri, Pathum Nissanka REUTERS, Sri Lanka Cricket, New Zealand, Christian, Thomson Locations: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Delhi, India, Sri Lanka's, Pakistan, England, Netherlands, Bengaluru

☆ US commits $553 mln financing for Adani terminal venture at Colombo port
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Traffic moves past the logo of the Adani Group installed at a roundabout on the ring road in Ahmedabad, India, February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOLOMBO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said it will provide $553 million financing for a Colombo port terminal project, partly owned by India's Adani Group, advancing the first foray by an Indian company into the sector. Ports-to-edible oils Adani group, controlled by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, holds a 51% stake in the west container terminal of the port, which also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd (0144.HK). India extended about $4 billion in swaps and credit lines to Sri Lanka last year, providing critical support to import fuel, medicine and fertiliser during the worst of the crisis. Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings owns 34% of the WCT and the rest is held by the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

Persons: Amit Dave, Gautam Adani, Scott Nathan, Uditha Jayasinghe, Kim Coghill Organizations: Adani, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, India's Adani, China Merchants Port Holdings Co, HK, West, John Keells Holdings, WCT, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Thomson Locations: Ahmedabad, India, Colombo, Indian, Sri Lanka, China, Sri

☆ Bangladesh captain Shakib ruled out of final World Cup game
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka - Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India - November 6, 2023 Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan in action as he scores four runs REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan will miss his team's final World Cup match after fracturing his finger during their win over Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Tuesday, and will be replaced by Anamul Haque. Shakib scored 82 in Delhi, helping Bangladesh chase down 280, and took two wickets in a man-of-the-match performance. "He underwent an emergency X-ray in Delhi after the game which confirmed the fracture on the left PIP joint. Shakib, 36, also made the appeal that led to the controversial time-out dismissal of Sri Lanka batter Angelo Mathews who called him a "cheat" on social media. The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup has approved Anamul Haque Bijoy, who has played 45 ODIs, as Shakib's replacement.

Persons: Arun Jaitley, Shakib Al Hasan, Anushree, Anamul Haque, Shakib, Khan, Sri, Angelo Mathews, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Chiranjit, Ed Osmond Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Arun, Sri, Bangladesh Cricket Board, Australia, Thomson Locations: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Delhi, India, Delhi, Bengaluru

NEW DELHI (AP) — A toxic blanket of grey smog hangs over New Delhi’s monuments and high-rises. Authorities are struggling to rein in severe air pollution levels, an annual and chronic health crisis that disrupts the lives of over 20 million in the city every year. On Tuesday, the air quality index veered close to the 400 mark for tiny particulate matter, a level considered hazardous and more than 10 times the global safety threshold, according to SAFAR, India’s main environmental monitoring agency. The severe air pollution crisis affects every resident in the city, but the millions who work outdoors are even more vulnerable. "If I had had employment back home, I wouldn’t have come to Delhi to work.”

Persons: SAFAR, ”, Srinivas Rao, Gulshan Kumar Organizations: DELHI, Authorities, Sri, Arun, Indian, Meteorology, Living Sciences Locations: Andhra Pradesh, India, New Delhi, Bangladesh, Pune . New Delhi, Bihar, ”, Delhi

Reuters GraphicsMuch of China's growing rescue lending is denominated in renminbi, the report found, with loans in the Chinese currency overtaking U.S. dollars in 2020. Overdue payments to Chinese lenders have also risen. The arrangement is controversial because it gives China debt seniority, meaning other lenders, including multilateral development banks, could get paid second during any coordinated debt relief. Half of its non-emergency lending in 2021 was syndicated loans, 80% of that alongside Western banks and international financial institutions. Loan commitments to African countries fell from 31% of the total in 2018 to 12% in 2021, while lending to European countries almost quadrupled to 23%.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, AidData, Xi Jinping, —, Mary, Brad Parks, Rachel Savage, Clare Baldwin, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, Initiative, People's Bank of China, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Mary university, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights JOHANNESBURG, HONG KONG, U.S, Sri Lanka, Zambia, renminbi, Africa

☆ India's New Delhi to restrict use of vehicles to curb air pollution - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk on 'Kartavya Path' amidst the morning smog as air pollution levels declined in New Delhi, India, November 6, 2023.REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - India's Delhi city will restrict use of vehicles for a week between Nov. 13 and 20 to curb air pollution, the local government's environment minister said on Monday, as air quality remained in the "severe" category despite mitigation efforts. The rule would allow vehicles with odd number plates to ply on odd dates and similarly vehicles with even registration numbers will be allowed on road on alternate days. Air quality was 'severe' for a third consecutive day in the city on Monday, according to the federal pollution control body, forcing the city government to extend the closure of primary schools until Nov. 10. "There is a possibility that air pollution will rise after the Diwali," Gopal Rai, Delhi's environment minister, said, referring to the Hindu festival on Nov. 12 during which firecrackers, which are banned, are often set on fire, worsening air pollution. Reporting by Shivam Patel; additional reporting by Amlan Chakraborty; editing by Sudipto GangulyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anushree, Gopal Rai, Shivam Patel, Amlan Chakraborty, Sudipto Ganguly Organizations: REUTERS, Sri, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

☆ China Is Lending Billions to Countries in Financial Trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Keith Bradsher | More About Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

China’s early, rapid expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative alarmed U.S. officials, who saw the program as eroding American influence. The Trump administration and Congress merged and expanded two agencies in 2018 to create the development finance corporation. Between 2014 and 2017, AidData found, China was providing nearly three times as much development financing as the United States. But by 2021, China was outspending the United States by only 30 percent. (The American loan for up to $553 million would be for expansion of the busy port in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital and main city.)

Persons: Trump, China’s, AidData, Mahinda Rajapaksa Organizations: United States International Development Finance Corporation, Initiative Locations: Greece, Sri Lanka, China, United States, Hambantota, Colombo, Sri

☆ Choking New Delhi smog shutters schools and shrouds Cricket World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A throat-searing blanket of smog has enveloped New Delhi, forcing schools to shut and disrupting the Cricket World Cup as officials rush to contain a pollution crisis that has become an annual occurrence in the Indian capital. New Delhi started the week with a PM 2.5 concentration nearly 80 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, according to Swiss air quality company IQAir. Traffic moves on a road enveloped by fog and smog in New Delhi, India, on November 3, 2023. The study also found that every single one of India’s 1.4 billion residents endure annual average pollution levels that exceed guidelines set by WHO. A passenger plane ready to take off at IGI Airport amid heavy smog on November 5, 2023 in New Delhi, India.

Persons: ”, Prachi, Health Organization’s, Awesta Chaudhary, “, Chaudhary, Vipin Kumar, Suranjit Chatterjee Organizations: CNN, Cricket, Health, Bangladesh, Arun, Authorities, Energy, Institute, University of Chicago, WHO, IGI, Hindustan Times, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, . New Delhi, India, Sri Lanka, New, “

☆ Asthmatic players skip practice, Bangladesh coach says Delhi air 'not ideal'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Amlan Chakraborty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Altaf Hussain/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Asthmatic Bangladesh cricketers remained indoors while Sri Lankan players wore masks as poor air quality in smog-shrouded New Delhi remained the talking point ahead of Monday's World Cup clash between the two nations. "Our doctor is keeping a close eye on the players," Hathurusinghe told reporters on Sunday. "Some of the players didn't turn up for practice as they are asthmatic, so they stayed indoors. "Team selection won't depend on air quality. Most of the Sri Lankan players wore masks when they arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the afternoon.

Persons: Altaf Hussain, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Hathurusinghe, Skipper Kusal Mendis, Mendis, they've, Amlan Chakraborty, David Goodman, Pritha Organizations: REUTERS, Asthmatic, Sri, Bangladesh, Indian, International Cricket Council, ICC, Arun, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Asthmatic Bangladesh, Sri Lankan, Delhi, Sri Lanka

☆ India's Pandya ruled out of World Cup, Krishna joins squad
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 4 (Reuters) - India vice-captain Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after the all-rounder sustained an ankle injury last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday as it approved Prasidh Krishna as his replacement. Pandya injured his left ankle while trying to stop a shot with his foot on his own bowling during India's seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in Pune on Oct. 19. Pandya picked up five wickets for the hosts in their opening three matches of the World Cup tournament and pace bowler Krishna has played 17 one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches for India claiming 33 wickets overall. Krishna will face competition from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj for a spot in India's pace line-up. Semi-finals-bound India have managed well in the absence of Pandya and lead the table with seven wins from as many matches.

Persons: Hardik Pandya, Prasidh Krishna, Pandya, Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Michael Perry Organizations: International Cricket Council, ICC, Bangladesh, England, India, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Pune, England , New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kolkata, Bengaluru

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - India's capital New Delhi was wrapped in a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday and some schools were ordered closed as the air quality index (AQI) plummeted to the "severe" category. In India, the annual average concentration of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in the air is the highest in northern regions. Officials said they saw no immediate improvement in the air quality. Delhi hosts a World Cup match on Monday between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Poor air quality also caused respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes and restlessness in pet animals.

Persons: Aheed Khan, Ashwani Kumar, Prabhat Gangwar, Tanvi Mehta, Rajesh, Blassy Boben, Manoj Kumar, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: joggers, Residents, Officials, Control Committee, Farmers, Health, Friendicoes, Thomson Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, Swiss, Pakistani, Lahore, Delhi, India, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

☆ Laos Buffalo Dairy: A mid-life crisis with a purpose
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Katie Lockhart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Laos Buffalo Dairy, in the UNESCO-listed heritage town of Luang Prabang, is the country’s first dairy and buffalo farm. Laos Buffalo DairyVillagers around Luang Prabang travel up to two hours to bring their pregnant buffalo to the farm. Laos Buffalo DairyTraditionally, buffalo were used for plowing rice fields in Laos. Laos Buffalo DairyWhen the Laos Buffalo Dairy team first introduced their program to area farmers, it took roughly 18 months to convince them that it was a win-win idea. More than buffaloThe Laos Buffalo Dairy has created a free recipe book for locals that offers suggestions on how to incorporate buffalo milk into traditional Laotian dishes.

Persons: Laos CNN — We’ve, Susie Martin, Steven McWhirter, ”, Martin, Rachel O’Shea, milked, Rachel O'Shea, it’s, ’, “, The’ve Organizations: Laos CNN, Laos Buffalo Dairy, UNESCO, Porsche, Laos Buffalo Dairy Villagers, Laos Buffalo, Buffalo Bank, World Bank Locations: Luang Prabang, Laos, Asia, Laos Buffalo, Australian, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Australia, brie, parmesan, cheddar, Prabang, Rosewood, Cambodia

☆ Air pollution sparks alarm, dims World Cup cheer in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Blassy Boben | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view shows residential buildings and a stadium shrouded in smog in New Delhi, India, October 27, 2023. Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 415 on a scale of 500 in the capital's Anand Vihar area on Thursday, indicating "severe" levels of pollution that can affect healthy people and those with existing ailments. The dip in air quality in the region during the winter months is often accompanied by a spike in respiratory illnesses, spurring school and factory closings. The worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup as fans flock to stadiums across Indian cities. Players have expressed concern about the toxic air, with England's Joe Root complaining of breathing difficulties during a game and India's Rohit Sharma urging change for "future generations".

Persons: Altaf Hussain, Anand, Joe Root, India's Rohit Sharma, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, BCCI, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Pakistan's Lahore, Swiss, India's Mumbai, AQI, Mumbai, Sri Lanka

Eventually he found a ride, but he and the driver were terrified while driving from central Gaza on the enclave’s empty streets. Family members of those who could evacuate were sometimes barred from leaving, because they did not have foreign citizenship or the necessary documents, forcing people into difficult decisions. “We just want one thing: Help us to leave Gaza,” Ms. Abu Middain said. Mkhaimar Abu Sada, 58, an associate professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, was accompanying his two sons, both in their 20s, at the Rafah crossing on Thursday. He said they had American citizenship, but that he was not allowed to leave because he has only an American green card.

Persons: ” Ala, ” Ala Al Husseini, Al Husseini, Israel, “, ”, Hisham Adwan, Al Qahera, Adala Abu Middain, Maha, Ms, Abu Middain, Matthew Miller, Mkhaimar Abu Sada, Lena Beseiso, Iyad Abuheweila, Vivian Yee, Anna Betts Organizations: American Embassy, State Department, Al, Azhar University Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, “, ”, ” Ala Al, Austrian, Cairo, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, American

☆ Air Pollution in India's New Delhi Turns 'Severe', Some Schools Shut
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Tanvi MehtaNEW DELHI (Reuters) - People in New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday, and some schools were ordered to be shut for two days as the air quality index (AQI) entered the "severe" category in several parts of the Indian capital. "Unfavourable meteorological conditions, sudden increase in the farm fire incidents and north-westerly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI," the region's Commission for Air Quality Management said on Thursday. Authorities ordered primary, or elementary, schools to remain shut on Friday and Saturday, while most construction work in the region has been suspended. This year, attention on the worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup hosted by India, with financial capital Mumbai also suffering from a spike in the pollution levels. Delhi hosts a World Cup match next on Monday between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Persons: Tanvi Mehta, Lincoln Organizations: Residents, region's Commission, Air Quality Management, . Authorities Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, Delhi, India, Mumbai, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

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