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Sri Lanka secured a convincing 155 run win over Afghanistan in the second one-day international on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series. Afghanistan, set a target of 309 to level the series, were shot out for 153 inside 34 overs as leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga starred with four wickets. "We are quite disappointed with the way we performed today," Afghanistan's skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said. "We are a better side than this." Afghanistan were well placed at 128 for one in pursuit of their target, but once Rahmat Shah (54) and Ibrahim Zadran (63) were dismissed there was little fight from the rest of the batters.

The pair had added 97 runs for the second wicket and Asitha Fernando, playing his first ODI in 15 months, provided the breakthrough by having Ibrahim caught behind.

Leg-spinner Hasaranga then produced two wickets in an over as he trapped Rahmat leg before wicket, while Shahidi was bowled.

Hasaranga was backed up by seamers as Dilshan Madushanka claimed two wickets in an over and Asitha Fernando, who also ended with two wickets.

Afghanistan collapsed losing eight wickets for 10 runs, as Sri Lanka dominated under lights.

"Credit to all the bowlers who helped to pull this off", Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis said.

It was a back to the wall unbeaten 97 by Charith Asalanka that enabled Sri Lanka to a total of over 300 runs.

The Sri Lankan vice-captain was involved in two crucial partnerships, first adding 111 runs off 98 balls with Janith Liyanage (50) for the fifth wicket. 

A 50 run partnership followed for the sixth wicket with Hasaranga off 32 balls.

Asalanka scored 62 runs in 35 balls in the last 10 overs and finished unbeaten on 97, a score he hit off 74 balls with nine fours and two sixes.

Sri Lanka got off to a poor start, losing the openers with 36 runs on the board.

Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored half-centuries, while being involved in a 103 run stand for the third wicket.

Both batsmen fell for poor strokes.

Samarawickrama hit one straight to mid-wicket, while Mendis took on the deep mid-wicket fielder but failed to clear him.

Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan finishing with three wickets.

Afghanistan were sloppy on the field dropping as many as five catches, a performance that cost them dearly.

"We dropped several catches...that's not on" Shahidi said. 

"We bowled well I thought compared to the first game. But the mistake was on the part of fielding", he added.

The third and final ODI will be played on Wednesday at the same venue. 

The hosts won the tour's sole Test by 10 wickets. The current series will be followed by three T20 matches, all in Dambulla.

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Ukrainian, 71, Accused Of Espionage, Other Crimes Dies In Russian Jail

A 71-year-old Ukrainian man died in Russia in December awaiting trial for espionage and other crimes, human rights organisation Memorial said on Sunday, citing court documents.

Several Ukrainian citizens have been accused of espionage by Russia following the start of what the Kremlin calls a special military operation almost two years ago.

Memorial said there was little information about Viktor Demchenko, who was thought to have died at a pre-trial detention facility in the southern Rostov region. His case was sent to a military court in the city of Rostov-on-Don in August.

TASS news agency said the court had closed the case against Demchenko, also accused of participation in a "terrorist group" and illegal possession of arms and munitions, due to his death.

It cited law enforcement officials as saying he died on Dec. 31 from the consequences of a stroke he had suffered earlier.

It was unclear why information about Demchenko's death had emerged only weeks after.

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King Charles Expresses Gratitude To Well-Wishers Following Cancer Diagnosis

Britain's King Charles on Saturday expressed gratitude to well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis, his first public comment since Buckingham Palace announced he would postpone some engagements to undergo treatment.

"I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days," Charles said in a statement.

The palace announced on Monday that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, less than 18 months into his reign.

"As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement," Charles said.

The king said it was heartening to hear how his diagnosis had helped to shine a light on the organisations that support cancer patients in Britain and elsewhere.

News of his cancer came after Charles spent three nights in hospital last month where he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace has not given any details of his condition other than to say it was not prostate cancer, but said the king was remaining "wholly positive" and looking forward to returning to public duty as soon as possible.

Charles' wife, Queen Camilla, said on Thursday that Charles was doing "extremely well".

With the king undergoing treatment and Prince William's wife Kate recovering from abdominal surgery, the onus is on the remaining royals - especially William and Camilla - to provide the public face of the monarchy.

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Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Israel's planned army operation in overcrowded Rafah would cause a "humanitarian catastrophe" and called for the United Nations Security Council to intervene.

The kingdom "warned of the extremely dangerous repercussions of storming and targeting" Rafah and affirmed its "categorical rejection and strong condemnation of their forced deportation", in a foreign ministry statement carried by state media.

"This continued violation of international law and international humanitarian law confirms the necessity of convening the Security Council urgently to prevent Israel from causing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe," the statement added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the army to prepare to evacuate civilians from Rafah ahead of a planned ground operation against Hamas in the city.

More than one million displaced Palestinians have taken refuge in the city in Gaza's far south, many sheltering in tents pushed up against the border with Egypt and the sea.

Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has never recognised Israel but had been considering to do so before the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October.

The conflict was triggered by Hamas operatives' attack on southern Israel which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that the Hamas-run territory's health ministry says has killed at least 27,947 people, mostly women and children.

Riyadh has repeatedly called for a ceasefire while criticising Israeli "aggression" in Gaza.

While US President Joe Biden's administration has voiced optimism that Saudi-Israeli normalisation can be revived, Saudi Arabia said this week it had told Washington it would not establish ties with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is "recognised" and Israeli forces leave Gaza.

Gaza's Hamas rulers warned on Saturday that Israeli operations in Rafah could cause "tens of thousands" of casualties in the city.

The office of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said the move "threatens security and peace in the region in the world" and is "a blatant violation of all red lines".

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"Worst That Could Happen In Civilised Society": Governor On Bengal Protests

West Bengal Governor on Saturday said that the present situation in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district is the "worst that could happen in a civilised society" and called upon the state government to take effective action, seeking a report from it.

His assertion came hours after the BJP demanded his intervention in the violent protests that rocked Sandeshkhali, where prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were clamped after local women brought out processions demanding the arrest of missing TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides.

"The Sandeshkhali incident shows the worst that could happen in a civilised society. Women are harassed and assaulted there. The established government has to act firmly and effectively," CV Ananda Bose said in a video message released by the Raj Bhavan on Saturday night.

"No one will be allowed to take the law in their hands. The government has a responsibility to put an end to this. I understand that prohibitory orders have been issued there, the police are there, and the assembly is in session when in such a situation a goon or his group can take the law into their hands, then it means it's a warning to the civil society," he said.

"Let me get the report from the government. Action will be taken," he said.

The protesting women alleged that Sheikh Shajahan and his "gang" captured swathes of land by force, besides sexually harassing them. Sheikh Shajahan's supporters also took to the streets, further adding to the tension.

Sheikh Shajahan has been missing since last month after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that went to raid his house in an alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob.

Referring to the incident, he said, "We saw what happened there once. The ED officials were prevented, then they broke through and raided. Never ever think Bengal is a Banana Republic. Never think that goons will have their day." "We will all come together and see that an end is put to this nonsense that has been going on in Bengal society in some pockets," he said.

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly alleged that human rights have been violated in Sandeshkhali.

A delegation of BJP MLAs led by Adhikari went to the Raj Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum, demanding the intervention of CV Ananda Bose to restore peace in Sandeshkhali.

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Why Young Pakistanis Voted For Imran Khan's Party In Pakistan Elections

Below huge wall-mounted photos of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Naila Khan Marwat cheered with scores of young volunteers on election night whenever counts on TV channels suggested their candidate was in the lead.

Then she returned to her laptop to collect complaints of alleged electoral rules violations from candidates, compiled with 50 other young women to give to party lawyers launching legal challenges.

Marwat, 26, worked until the early hours of Friday at the party headquarters in Pakistan's capital, tracking the results closely, a more confusing task than usual after former cricket hero Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters were barred from running as PTI candidates and using the cricket bat party symbol. They had to run as independents.

"We have memorised all of the symbols and all the names of our candidates," said Marwat, a law student. "We know every candidate and every symbol."

Pakistan voted on Thursday in a critical general election as it struggles to recover from an economic crisis and battles violence in a deeply polarised political environment.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared victory on Friday, saying his party has emerged as the largest and would talk to other groups to form a coalition government.

Final results were unclear due to an unusual counting delay, but independents, most backed by PTI, accounted for the biggest group with 92 of the 225 seats counted by 1600 GMT, doing much better than expected and taking many by surprise.

Khan was ousted from power in 2022, jailed in August and has received multi-year bans from taking part in politics over a series of corruption and criminal charges.

PTI's strong showing suggests a possible protest element spurring turnout and the enduring resilience of Khan's support, analysts said. If the independents cannot form a government on their own, their large number could make Pakistan more unstable, they fear.

PTI supporters said the playing field was unfair, including a day-long cut in mobile services during polling on security grounds after a series of militant attacks. The PTI relies heavily on its social media presence, including automated social media responses that helped citizens find their polling booths and PTI-backed candidates.

Pakistan's election commission has said it will look into allegations of violations.

"PTI is definitely here to stay. It may have been hollowed out and cut down to size, but ... its support base remains large and loyal," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. "Khan remains a force to be reckoned with, even from his jail cell."

Young, Enduring Supporters

That support base, at odds with powerful army generals, has been grappling with a military-backed crackdown. The party alleges the crackdown gathered pace ahead of Thursday's vote as the military sought to keep it out of the race, a charge the army denies.

Some analysts and voters have said that public perception of military involvement in politics may have driven Khan supporters to the polls, alongside frustration at months of soaring inflation and anger at the three prison sentences Khan has received.

"One of the reasons the military may be concerned is that there are signs of some genuine grassroots support," said Maya Tudor, associate professor at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, adding the mobile services suspension on election day, after authorities had reassured people there would be no blanket communications failure, was a possible sign of worry.

Marwat, the law student, said she joined PTI in 2016 and cast her first vote for it in 2018, drawn by its leader who she saw as being "true" to Pakistan. Khan's sentences galvanised her and many of her peers, she said.

"Haven't you seen the other great leaders? Like Nelson Mandela? ...There are so many great leaders who have been in prison and they are suffering a lot," she said. "But things change."

Pakistan's elections have long been marred by accusations of rigging and the imprisoning of political figures. While the turbulence is not new, analysts and supporters say PTI's responsive campaign that cuts across demographics is.

With its celebrity sportsman figurehead and social media presence, PTI is also popular with Pakistan's huge youth population that is growing every election cycle. Newspaper Dawn estimated Pakistan added 10 million since the 2018 election.

One of them, software engineering student Nayaba Akhtar, 21, said she was inspired to vote for a PTI-backed independent.

"It feels great," she said. "I'm sad Imran Khan isn't here, but I'm happy my first vote is for Imran Khan."

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Hamas "Open" To Discuss Ceasefire Despite Rejection Of Initial Offer

Hamas still wants to discuss a ceasefire in its war with Israel, a Palestinian official close to the group told AFP Thursday, despite a rejection of its initial offer.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed the organisation's ceasefire proposal, calling it "bizarre" and vowing to press on with military action until "total victory".

The Palestinian official said a Hamas delegation would meet Egyptian officials in Cairo from Thursday, who would then work with Qatari representatives to find more common ground.

"We expect the negotiations to be very complex and difficult but Hamas is open to discussions and the movement is keen to reach a ceasefire," added the official, who is familiar with the negotiations.

"The two parties will hold several rounds of negotiations indirectly," he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on this sensitive issue.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials on his latest visit to the region to try to broker a deal.

He called on Wednesday for Israel to tone down its rhetoric as the war, sparked by Hamas fighters' deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, entered its fifth month.

On the Israeli side, some 1,160 people died, while 250 hostages were taken, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel says 132 are still in Gaza, and 29 are thought to be dead.

In Hamas-run Gaza, at least 27,840 people have been killed, the health ministry said Thursday, in Israel's retaliatory offensive. Civilians made up the bulk of casualties on both sides.

The Palestinian official based in Gaza said the talks in the Egyptian capital would concentrate on the first phase of a proposed ceasefire, which would last "about six weeks".

During that time, talks would take place about an exchange of hostages for women and children held in Israeli prisons.

"Hamas' response, which reached Egypt and Qatar and was seen by the United States and other parties, included an offer to release detained Israeli children, women, the elderly, and the sick," the official added.

"In return, Israel would release a number of Palestinian prisoners, which will be discussed starting today (Thursday)."

The first phase would include allowing 400 to 500 aid trucks carrying food, medicine and fuel to enter Gaza daily, with widespread concerns about a humanitarian crisis in the territory.

Talks during the first pause in fighting would look for a deal on the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and a return of the displaced, the official said.

"Hamas will insist that Turkey and Russia stand alongside Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and France to ensure the implementation of the agreement in all its stages, including a permanent ceasefire and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," the official added.

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