Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 169 runs in the first one-day international to take a 1-0 lead in a three-match series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Opener Liton Das struck 126 off 105 balls to guide Bangladesh to 321-1 before Mohammad Saifuddin claimed 3-22 to help the home side bowl out Zimbabwe for 152 runs in 39.1 overs.
Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and spinner Mehidy Hasan claimed two wickets each as Bangladesh recorded their biggest ever ODI win by runs.
Debutant Wesley Madhevere made 35 runs for Zimbabwe.
The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.

Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by record 169 runs in first ODI

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Iran voiced its opposition on Sunday to an Afghanistan accord between the United States and the Taliban, saying Americans had no right to decide on the country's future.
"The United States has no legal right to sign a peace agreement or to decide the future of Afghanistan," the foreign ministry said in a statement issued a day after the pact was inked in the Qatari capital.
After 18 years of war, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha on Saturday that paves the way for a 14-month timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, provided the militants open talks with Kabul and fulfil other pledges.
Ahead of the signing ceremony, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned Iran against trying to scuttle the agreement.
"There is a history of Iran engaging in activity inside of Afghanistan to act as a spoiler," Pompeo said.
In its statement, Iran called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, saying their presence "is illegal and is one of ..

Iran opposes Afghan pact it says US had 'no right' to sign

Yemen's Huthi rebels have seized control of a strategic town north of the capital, government officials said Sunday, in what analysts say could change the course of the five-year-old war.
The Iran-aligned militia captured Al-Hazm, capital of the northern province of Al-Jawf, enabling the rebels to pose a threat to neighbouring oil-rich Marib province, a government military official told AFP.
Al-Jawf has been mostly controlled by the Huthis, but its capital -- only 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of the border with Saudi Arabia -- had been in the hands of the government.
Yemen's internationally-recognised government, backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, has been battling the Huthi rebels since 2014 after they captured the capital Sanaa and swathes of the impoverished Arab nation.
"The Huthi rebels have taken control of Al-Hazm, the regional capital of Al-Jawf, after fierce fighting with government troops who were forced to withdraw to neighbouring Marib province," the official ...

Yemen rebels seize capital of strategic province

Istanbul police on Sunday detained the editor-in-chief of the Turkish edition of Sputnik, the Russian news website said, amid growing tensions between Ankara and Moscow.
"Sputnik Turkey's editor-in-chief Mahir Boztepe has been detained. He is being taken to the Istanbul police headquarters," the website said.
Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Rossiya Segodnya which owns Sputnik, confirmed the detention on Twitter, and criticised the earlier detention of three other journalists in Ankara.
"Three others were at the police station in Ankara since yesterday where last night nationalists entered their apartments. Turkey, what's going on???" Simonyan tweeted.
She added that Ankara police had said the journalists were not in custody.
"Yet at the same time, we haven't had any contact with the same three since last night -- when they went to the same police station to complain about the nationalists who entered their homes." Sputnik said that the three journalists had been taken to an ...

Russia's Sputnik says Turkey editor-in-chief detained in Istanbul

Turkish forces downed two Syrian war planes over northwest Syria Sunday, a war monitor said, after Ankara announced a cross-border military operation there.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the two Sukhoi jets fell in regime-held territory, likely after being targeted by Turkish F-16 planes.
Syrian state news agency SANA said Turkish forces "targeted" two of its planes over northwest Syria.
Since December, Russia-backed regime forces have led a military offensive against the last major rebel stronghold of Idlib, where Turkey supports some rebel groups.
Turkey's defence ministry also reported the downings Sunday, but did not confirm who was responsible.
"Two SU-24 regime planes that were attacking our aircraft have been downed," it said.
Youssef Hammoud, a spokesman for the National Syrian Army -- a pro-Turkish group -- said two Sukhoi 24 planes were brought down, also without saying who was responsible.
The downings come after Turkey announced a ..

Turkish forces down Syrian planes over Idlib: monitor

A centre-right opposition party focused on rooting out graft was on course to form Slovakia's next government on Sunday after voters ousted the governing populist-left in a general election marked by an angry backlash over the 2018 murder of a journalist probing corruption in the eurozone state.
Vowing to push through anti-corruption measures in the judiciary and police, the leader of the winning OLaNO party Igor Matovic galvanised voter outrage over the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, and the high-level graft their deaths exposed.
The killings -- allegedly a hit ordered by a businessman with connections to politicians -- triggered the largest anti-government protests since communist times and led to the toppling of the powerful head of the populist-left Smer-Social Democracy (Smer-SD) Robert Fico as prime minister in 2018.
Fico's party colleague Peter Pellegrini took over as premier, but he conceded defeat overnight, congratulating Matovic on his stunning victory in .

Slovakia anti-graft party stuns in vote haunted by journalist murder

Israeli airline El Al said Sunday it was considering firing 1,000 staff out of its total workforce of around 6,000 due to losses linked to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
A company spokesman confirmed the plan to AFP but would not give further details.
Israel has cancelled direct flights to and from areas of high contamination and has barred foreign nationals from entering the country if they have travelled from such areas.
Last week, El Al was ordered to cancel its service to Italy following health ministry warnings, Tel Aviv business daily Globes reported.
In a report last week to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, before the reported Italy route closure, El Al estimated its losses from the COVID-19 virus for the first quarter of 2020 at between USD 50-70 million.
At a protest by El Al workers Sunday at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, the head of the Histadrut trade unions federation said the carrier and others in the industry were "facing collapse".
"We are in an emergency," a Histadrut ..

Israeli airline eyes mass job cuts over coronavirus

All crew members from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship off Japan have now disembarked, the country's health minister said.
The crew began leaving the Diamond Princess on Thursday for quarantine ashore after the last of the passengers had departed.
"Including the captain, all crew members disembarked," health minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters late Sunday.
Around 130 people -- including the captain and 98 health ministry officials who were working aboard -- tested negative for the virus as they left the vessel, he said.
They will spend 14 days at government-designated dormitories before being allowed to leave Japan, while the vessel will be disinfected before sailing again.
At least six people who were hospitalised after being taken off the ship have died, including a British male passenger, the health ministry said.
On Sunday a 78-year-old man evacuated from the vessel died at a Perth hospital, becoming Australia's first fatality from the disease.
Japan quarantined the cruise ...

All crew members have left virus-hit ship in Japan: minister

Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva smashed half-centuries as Sri Lanka posted 307 in the third one-day international against West Indies on Sunday.
Mendis top-scored with 55 while De Silva hit 51 after Sri Lanka -- enjoying an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series -- elected to bat first in Kandy.
Paceman Alzarri Joseph claimed four wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out in 50 overs.
Avishka Fernando and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne gave the hosts a brisk start with a 60-run opening stand before the West Indies struck.
Joseph got Fernando caught behind for 28, and spinner Roston Chase caught and bowled Karunaratne for 44.
Kusal Perera, who made 44, and Mendis then rebuilt the innings during their 89-run stand to take the attack to the opposition.
The in-form Mendis, who hit a century in his team's thrashing of West Indies on Wednesday, completed his 17th ODI fifty before falling to Joseph.
Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell bowled former captain Angelo Mathews for 12, but the rest of .

Mendis, De Silva help Sri Lanka to 307 in third ODI

Pope Francis on Sunday said he was cancelling a planned six-day spiritual retreat south of Rome after coming down with a "cold".
"Unfortunately, a cold forced me not to take part this year," the 83-year-old pontiff said after coughing a couple of times during his weekly Sunday appearance from a Vatican window in front of supporters.
The cancellation of the retreat, which was supposed to start Sunday, came as Italy battles Europe's worst outbreak of the new coronavirus that has spread from China across much of the world.
The number of cases in Italy surpassed 1,000 on Saturday.
There have been 29 confirmed deaths and 105 people were receiving intensive care treatment in hospital -- all of them in three adjacent northern regions near Milan.
The Vatican quickly shot down speculation that the pope himself had come down with COVID-19.
"There is no evidence to suggest a diagnosis of anything other than a slight ailment," a Vatican spokesman told AFP Sunday.
The pope himself looked ...

Pope Francis cancels planned retreat due to 'cold'

Armenia on Sunday confirmed its first case of coronavirus, an Armenian citizen who recently returned from Iran and who was in stable condition in hospital.
Around 30 people who had been in contact with the patient had also been placed in isolation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook.
Neighbouring Azerbaijan registered its first case of the COVID-19 virus on Friday, a Russian who had also arrived from Iran. On Saturday, Azerbaijan suspended all flights to Iran.
Georgia also has confirmed three cases and has temporarily banned Iranian nationals from visiting, along with suspending air links with China.
The number of novel coronavirus cases in the world has risen to more than 87,000, including 2,990 deaths, across 64 countries and territories since it first emerged in China in December.

Armenia confirms first coronavirus case

The United Nation called Sunday for calm and urged states to refrain from "excessive" force, as thousands of migrants have flooded to Turkey's border with Greece in a bid to enter the EU.
The UN refugee agency said it was "calling for calm and easing of tensions on the border."
"While states have a legitimate right to control their borders and manage irregular movements, they should refrain from the use of excessive and disproportionate force and establish a system to seek asylum in an orderly manner," UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said in an email to AFP.
A massive influx of migrants swelled along the border over the weekend after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to open its frontier to Europe as tensions mount over its deepening conflict in Syria.
The International Organization for Migration said late Saturday that some 13,000 migrants have amassed at the Turkey-Greece border, including families with young children who spent the night in the cold.
An estimated ...

UN urges calm amid migrant surge at Turkey-Greece border

Turkey said Sunday it was continuing a military operation against the Russian-backed Syrian regime in Syria's northwestern Idlib region but insisted it did not wish to clash with Moscow.
Though Turkey has reported striking targets in Syria since dozens of its troops were killed there Thursday, it was the first confirmation of a full and continuing operation.
"Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib, operation 'Spring Shield' successfully continues," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a televised speech.
"We don't have the desire or intention to clash with Russia," the minister added. Thirty-four Turkish troops have been killed in Syria since Thursday.
"Our intention is to stop the regime's massacres, and prevent... migration," he said.
"We expect Russia to stop the regime's attacks and to use their influence to ensure the regime withdraws to the borders of the Sochi agreement." Turkey has 12 observation posts established in rebel-held Idlib following a 2018 deal 

Turkey says pursuing military operation against Syrian regime

The Syrian military Sunday threatened to down any aircraft over northwest Syria after Turkish drone strikes killed dozens of pro-regime forces in the embattled region.
"Syrian military high command announces the closure of the airspace for planes and any drone above northwestern Syria and especially above the Idlib region," state news agency SANA reported a military source as saying.
"Any aircraft breaching our airspace will be treated as enemy aircraft that needs to be downed and prevented from carrying out its goals," the source said.
Turkey, meanwhile, said it was pursuing a military operation dubbed "Spring Shield" in northwest Syria after regime air strikes on Thursday killed 34 Turkish soldiers.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish drone strikes killed 26 soldiers in northwest Syria on Saturday.
That brought the number of soldiers killed in Turkish drone strikes and bombardment since Friday to 74, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on sources inside ...

Damascus says will down 'enemy' aircraft over NW Syria

Sumo's spring tournament will be held behind closed doors, the sport's governing body said Sunday, the latest big event in Japan to be hit by the coronavirus less than five months before the Tokyo Olympics.
The Japan Sumo Association said spectators would be barred the tournament in Osaka scheduled for March 8-22.
"We made this decision to help end the spread of the infection," it said on its website.
"We ask for your understanding."
The virus has infected at least 230 people across Japan and been linked to five deaths.
The sumo decision comes after the International Tennis Federation said Japan's home Davis Cup tie against Ecuador on March 6-7 would also be played behind closed doors.
Football's top-flight J-League, meanwhile, has postponed all matches until March 15.
All tickets for the spring sumo tournament were sold out with some 7,000 spectators a day expected to visit the venue in the western city.
The viral outbreak across Japan and dozens of other countries has fuelled ...

Virus forces sumo tournament behind closed doors

Liton Das struck his second one-day international century to guide Bangladesh to 321-6 in the first one-day international of a three-match series against Zimbabwe in the northeastern city of Sylhet on Sunday.
Liton hit 126 off 105 balls with 13 fours and two sixes and was involved in a few sizable partnerships as Bangladesh dominated the Zimbabwe bowlers after Mashrafe Murtaza opted to bat first.
Mohammad Mithun hit 50 off 41 balls while Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten on 28 off 16 balls as Bangladesh raced past the 300-run mark before posting their highest score against Zimbabwe.
Liton and Tamim Iqbal put on 60 runs in the opening stand before debutant all-rounder Wesley Madhevere trapped Tamim in front for 24 for Zimbabwe's first breakthrough.
Liton and Najmul Hossain then added 80 runs for the second but several dismissals slowed their innings as Najmul fell for 29 and Mushfiqur Rahim departed for 19.
Liton brought his first hundred since Asia Cup final in 2018 in 95 balls ...

Liton ton guides Bangladesh to 321-6 against Zimbabwe

Iran's health ministry on Sunday reported 11 new deaths from the novel coronavirus and 385 infections, bringing the overall number of lives lost to 54 and cases to 978.
"Eleven people lost their lives" in the past 24 hours, spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised news conference, adding that testing across the country showed there were 385 new cases.

Iran reports 11 new virus deaths, taking total to 54

South Africa will evacuate 151 citizens from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan within days, the health minister said Sunday, as the death toll and number of infected worldwide mounted.
The virus has spread to more than 60 countries around the globe -- killing nearly 3,000 people and sickening 87,000 -- prompting the World Health Organization to raise its risk assessment to its highest level.
The decision to airlift the trapped South Africans came after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday directed the repatriation of those who have asked to return home.
"We were asked by the president to start the process immediately  -- (so) within seven to 10 days (the evacuation team) must have completed the task," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.
The minister told a news conference at the country's main OR Tambo International airport that there were 201 South Africans in Wuhan -- the epicentre of the virus, and that "151 have indicated they want to be repatriated".
The group will be ...

S Africa to airlift 151 from virus-infected China within days

Police in authoritarian Kazakhstan detained dozens of people in the Central Asian country's largest city Sunday, after an activist's death in jail triggered diplomatic condemnation and calls for anti-government rallies.
AFP correspondents in Almaty saw around 40 people detained by police close to the city hall, where two opposition groups had called for anti-government rallies.
Elsewhere in the city, 26 members of Oyan Qazaqstan, one of the groups that called for a rally, were detained in the morning before they had a chance to reach the protest site, a member of the group told AFP.
"According to our information, they have not been released yet," Dimash Alzhanov, one of Oyan Qazaqstan's founding members, told AFP by telephone.
One man who AFP correspondents saw bundled into a van full of detainees by black-clad police appealed to "the lawmakers in the European parliament", which sent a delegation to Kazakhstan last month.
"My constitutional rights are being violated. This is the 21st .

Police in Kazakhstan detain dozens after activist's death

International experts are questioning the scale of the new coronavirus epidemic in Iran, where the official death toll is second only to China and risks creating a regional epicentre of contagion.
While Iran has acknowledged 43 deaths among 593 confirmed infections nationwide -- with a vice-president and deputy health minister among those testing positive -- unofficial tolls are much higher.
The London-based BBC Persian service says 210 people have been killed by the virus; a figure it says it collated from hospital sources.
The report was immediately dismissed by Iran's health ministry.
The People's Mujahedin, an exiled organisation that Tehran considers a terrorist group, claims that the epidemic has killed "more than 300", while infecting up to 15,000 across the country.
Six epidemiologists based in Canada used a mathematical model to estimate that there have been more than 18,000 cases on Iranian soil.
Their calculations -- not yet peer reviewed -- take into account the number of .

What is the real size of the coronavirus epidemic in Iran?

The EU's border protection agency Frontex said Sunday it is on "high alert" on Europe's borders with Turkey as thousands of migrants seek to enter the bloc, adding it is deploying support to Greece.
"We... have raised the alert level for all borders with Turkey to high," the Frontex spokeswoman said in a statement to AFP.
"We have received a request from Greece for additional support. We  have already taken steps to redeploy to Greece technical equipment and additional officers," she added.
Thousands of migrants were getting unimpeded passage across Turkey to the borders of European Union member countries Greece and Bulgaria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he "opened the gates" for them after dozens of his troops were killed in airstrikes in northern Syria by Damascus's Russian-backed regime.
He is seen to be using the migration flow to try to pressure the EU and its NATO member states to lend him support in Turkey's military operation in Syria.
Frontex said it was ...

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