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Well, how do you sum that up? A madcap two sessions of cricket on the third day saw 17 wickets fall.

Pakistan lost seven for 48, with Jomel Warrican registering the third-best figures for a visiting bowler in Pakistan.

And yet, with half an hour to go for tea, Pakistan’s spinners had wrapped up a 127-run victory, skittling West Indies out for 123 in 36.3 overs to go 1-0 up in the series.

Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed were the chief architects, taking nine of West Indies’ ten wickets as the visitors’ challenge appeared to melt away along with the solidity of the playing strip.

West Indies had about 15 overs to face before lunch, and Pakistan just about made victory safe in this time. The visitors began with positive intent, having realised that poking and prodding would get them nowhere.

It saw them through the first four overs, but as Sajid said yesterday, the strategy was to attack with the ball and defend with the field.

Brathwaite employed the slog sweep to good effect so Pakistan had a fielder at deep midwicket, and it was him that the opener picked out to give Pakistan their first breakthrough.

With prodigious turn around, especially to the right-hander off the footmarks, the stumps were always in play, and it helped Sajid clean up Mikyle Louis and Kavem Hodge to reduce West Indies to 37 for 4.

Alick Athanaze used the sweep to good effect•Jan 19, 2025•PCB

Noman Ali, who had surprisingly not opened the bowling from the other end, came into the attack and picked up a wicket on the stroke of lunch when Justin Greaves missed a sweep laden with risk in front of middle stump.

There was plenty of West Indian resistance in the first hour after lunch, most notably from Alick Athanaze, whose half-century – West Indies’ only such contribution all Test – just about kept them alive.

Alongside Tevin Imlach first and then Kevin Sinclair, Athanaze worked to give the Pakistan spinners as little as possible.

They ditched the belligerent shot-making, and for the first time all Test, Sajid and Noman briefly didn’t look like a huge threat. (ESPNcricinfo)

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Millions of TikTok users in the United States are no longer able to watch videos on the social media platform as a federal ban on the immensely popular app takes effect.

The company’s app was removed Saturday evening from prominent app stores, including the ones operated by Apple and Google, while its website told users that the short-form video platform was no longer available. The blackout began just hours before the law took effect.

Users opening the TikTok app on Saturday encountered a pop-up message preventing them from scrolling videos that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”

“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” the message said. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” the notice continued, in a reference to President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to “save” the platform. The company told its users to stay tuned.

The only option the message gives to U.S. users is to close the app or click another option leading them to the platform’s website. There, users are shown the same message and given the option to download their data, an action TikTok previously said may take days to process.

Before the announcement went out, TikTok said in another message to users that its service would be “temporarily unavailable” and the company was working to restore its U.S. service “as soon as possible.” But how long the platform will remain dark is unclear.

Apple said in a statement on its website that TikTok and ByteDance apps were no longer available in the U.S., while visitors to the country could have limited access. “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” the company said.

“If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can’t be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible,” the statement said, adding that the change could impact performance, security and compatability with future versions of iOS and iPadOS.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew posted a video thanking Trump for his commitment to work with the company to keep the app available in the U.S. and a “strong stand for the first amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”

“We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform. One who has used talk to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process,” Chew said.

In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he was thinking about giving TikTok a 90-day extension that would allow them to continue operating. If such an extension happens, Trump — who once favored a TikTok ban — said it would “probably” be announced Monday, the day that he is sworn in as president. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with a prime seating location.

In Washington, lawmakers and administration officials have long raised concerns about the app, which they see as a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a technology company based in Beijing that operates the well-known video editing app CapCut and Lemon8, both of which were also unavailable for service Saturday evening.

The federal law required ByteDance to cut ties with TikTok by Sunday or face a nationwide ban. The statute was passed by Congress in April after it was included as part of a high-priority $95 billion package that provided foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. President Joe Biden quickly signed it, and then TikTok and ByteDance quickly sued on First Amendment grounds.

While defending the law in court, the Biden administration argued it was concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of U.S. user data that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion.

Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. But to date, the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence of TikTok handing user data to Chinese authorities or tinkering with its algorithm to benefit Chinese interests.

This screenshot from a cell phone displays a message from the TikTok app reading “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in San Bruno, Calif. (AP Photo/Stephanie Mullen)

The Supreme Court unanimously decided on Friday the risk to national security posed by TikTok’s ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.

After TikTok’s service started going dark, some in China slammed the U.S. and accused it of suppressing the popular app. In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief for the Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper Global Times, said “TikTok’s announcement to halt services in America marks the darkest moment in the development of internet.”

“A country that claims to have the most freedom of speech has carried out the most brutal suppression of an internet application,” said Hu, who is now a political commentator. TikTok does not operate in China, where ByteDance instead offers Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok that follows Beijing’s strict censorship rules.

After the court ruling, both White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the Biden administration would leave the law’s implementation to President-elect Donald Trump given that his inauguration falls the day after the ban takes effect.

But TikTok said on Friday evening it “will be forced to go dark” if the administration didn’t provide a “definitive statement” to the companies, such as Apple, Google and Oracle, that deliver its service in the U.S.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikTok’s demand a “stunt” and said there was no reason for TikTok or other companies “to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office.” But despite those statements from the administration, confusion lingered about what would happen until TikTok began blocking its service.

Under the law, mobile app stores are barred from offering TikTok and internet hosting services are prohibited from delivering the service to American users. Violators could incur fines of up to $5,000 for each user who continues to access TikTok, meaning penalties the companies could face if they continue offering TikTok could total to a large sum.

As its written, experts said the law does not require TikTok to take down its platform, so its unclear if the company voluntarily shut it down or was unable to continue the service alive after losing access support from its tech providers. The company did not respond to questions sent this week about its plans.

The statue allows the sitting president to extend the deadline by 90 days if a sale is in progress. But no clear buyers have emerged, and ByteDance has previously said it won’t sell TikTok.

On Saturday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI submitted a proposal to ByteDance to create a new entity that merges Perplexity with TikTok U.S. business, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Perplexity is not asking to purchase the ByteDance algorithm that feeds TikTok user’s videos based on their interests and has made the platform such a phenomenon.

Other investors have also been eyeing TikTok. “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary recently said a consortium of investors that he and billionaire Frank McCourt put together offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash. Trump’s Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said last year that he was putting together an investor group to buy TikTok. (AP News)

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The 40 houses that are under construction at Five Miles Housing Scheme Phase II in Bartica, Region Seven, are slated for completion by February month-end.

During an inspection of the project on Saturday, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal expressed satisfaction with the works completed thus far in the scheme.

The government is investing about $490 million on the construction of these houses.

Two types of three-bedroom houses are being built in the housing area, which is the bungalow-roof and V-roof, which cost $13 million and $11 million, respectively.

“Overall, [works on] majority of the houses are over 50 per cent completed…We have a list of persons who have already indicated their interest. During the next two weeks, we will be engaging those persons to be able to pre-qualify as well as to allocate,” Minister Croal said.

The 99-acre housing area yields over 300 serviced lots, with 150 house lots already allocated.

Minister Croal examines the plan for the housing scheme (Photo: DPI)

Meanwhile, approximately $1.87 billion is being spent on infrastructural works such as drainage and road networks in the housing scheme, providing enhanced access.

This project is also stimulating the local economy with the creation of employment opportunities since all four of the contractors involved in the project are from Bartica.

To address the region’s housing backlog, Minister Croal underlined that the ministry is currently engaging the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) to acquire additional lands there.

Region Seven currently has about 1,000 pending applicants.

“We will be able to clear those arrears once those lands are acquired…We are trying to do a hybrid [approach] for both lands and the construction of houses to push homeownership,” he explained.

The minister was joined by GWI’s Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailal, Prime Minister Representative for Region Seven, Ewrin Ward, Mayor of Bartica, Anthony Murray, and other technical personnel from the ministry. (DPI)

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The National Sports Commission (NSC) has lauded the Government’s historic allocation of $8 billion for the sports sector in this year’s budgetary allocation, noting that the ecosystem will continue its developmental metamorphosis under the guidance of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

On Friday, at the 2025 National Budget presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Dr. Ashni Singh, a Senior Minister within the Ministry of Finance, announced the largest-ever allotment for the sector.

This is an increase of $3.4 billion, or approximately 73.9%, from last year’s allocation.

The NSC also wishes to congratulate Dr. Singh and his team on their exceptional work in outlining the fiscal plan for 2025.

Completing the stadium in Palmyra, located in Region Six, and the commencement of a new arena in Crane in Region Three are some of the significant projects that will be undertaken during this budgetary cycle.

Similarly, multipurpose facilities at Anna Regina, Bayroc, Mackenzie, and New Amsterdam will also be completed, and the construction of sports halls of a similar nature in Leonora, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia, and Mongrippa Hill will also begin.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle said, “Even though we recognise that development is a difficult process, obtaining the necessary resources is a significant part of that process, and we can declare with confidence that our country is making great strides toward achieving this goal.

A historic turning point has been marked by the government’s recently announced budget, which includes an unprecedented allocation towards sports development and demonstrates a deep commitment to promoting sports at all levels.”

According to Ninvalle, “This budget is more than just a financial figure; it is a strong declaration of purpose and an unmistakable recognition of the transformational potential of sports by the government.

The substantial increase in funding will be distributed among numerous projects. From modern training facilities for top athletes to refurbished community fields and easily accessible recreational areas for all residents, we can expect a significant improvement in sports facilities across the country.

Regardless of their location or background, aspiring athletes will have the necessary platform to refine their skills thanks to this investment.”

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle

Ninvalle expounded, “In addition to the purely physical component, the budget highlights how vital it is to identify and develop talent. To guarantee that no potential champion is left behind, committed programmes that emphasise developing young talent, offering specialised coaching, and providing extensive support systems will be implemented.

The development of a steady stream of athletes capable of representing our country with pride on the international scene will be greatly aided by these programmes. Investing in our country’s future is the goal. Youth empowerment, national pride, and leaving a legacy of sporting greatness that will motivate future generations are the main goals.”

He further said, “Ultimately, this budget demonstrates a vision that transcends words and embraces concrete action. For coaches, aspiring athletes, and anyone who believes that sports can change lives, it is a ray of hope.

The government’s investment shows a deep understanding of how important a robust sports sector is to the country’s well-being, social cohesiveness, and economic development in addition to boosting national pride.

This is more than just a budget; it is a game-changer for our country’s sports future, and it appears to be a more promising one than it has ever been.”

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Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, presented the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) largest-ever fiscal framework on Friday – a monumental $1.38 trillion budget for 2025.

With this budget, the government is not just meeting its manifesto promises, but is well on its way to surpassing them, particularly in the housing sector.

At the heart of this year’s budget is a massive $112.6 billion allocation aimed at reshaping the housing landscape in Guyana. The government’s ongoing commitment to affordable housing will see the construction of 1,000 additional homes, pushing the number of house lots distributed to 80,000 – well beyond the original goal of 50,000.

While the government has already delivered more than 41,000 house lots and housing units, the budget will accelerate these efforts with plans to surpass 50,000 by the end of 2025.

Furthermore, there are already plans to acquire land for an additional 30,000 house lots in the months ahead, further cementing the PPP/C’s pledge to provide affordable housing for all Guyanese.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, reflected on the budget’s pivotal role in fulfilling the government’s promises during an interview with the News Room on Friday.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues engages a resident of Pigeon Island during the outreach.

“What struck me when the Honourable Minister, Dr Singh, concluded his speech was the simple but profound message – we have delivered,” she said.

“This budget allows us to continue delivering on our commitments – building roads, providing housing, clean water, and supporting farmers and workers.”

Rodrigues assured the public that the government’s efforts are far from finished.

“We’ve already delivered over 40,000 house lots, and we’re on track to surpass the 50,000 mark long before the end of this year,” she confirmed.

“In fact, we’ve already begun planning for another 30,000 house lots to meet demand well into the future.”

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Following four gruelling days of trials at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Guyana’s senior national men’s basketball team has been finalized.

The selection process, led by Head Coach Adrian Hooper, and his assistant Marlon Rodrigues, brought together some of the country’s top basketball talents in a highly competitive environment.

The team is set to depart for Paramaribo on Thursday, January 23, to participate in back-to-back matches against Grenada and Suriname on January 24, 25, and 26, and will return to Guyana on Monday, January 27.

The players selected are: Stanton Rose (KK Untouchables), Domair Gladstone, (KK Untouchables), Orlan Glasgow (Royals), Harold Adams (Royals), Travis Belgrave (Eagles), Zian Gray (Eagles), Nikkoloi Smith (Ravens), Denzil Ross (Eagles), Shane Webster (Colts), Jermaine Slater (Kobras), Oquacey Shortt (Colts) and Kimol Grimmond (KK Untouchables).

Coach Hooper described the selection process as exceptionally challenging due to the sheer level of talent displayed during the trials.

“It was a difficult task to narrow the team down, as many players proved they were worthy of consideration,” Hooper said.

He emphasized that the team is a perfect blend of seasoned veterans and promising younger players. One such player, Kimol Grimmond, has started making strides in adjusting to the rigors of international basketball.

“The team we’ve selected is more than capable of representing Guyana with distinction,” Hooper added confidently. “We have the talent, the chemistry, and the determination to win this tournament.”

This well-rounded team features players from some of Guyana’s top clubs, showcasing their readiness to compete on the international stage.

Coach Hooper extended his gratitude to the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) for entrusting him with the opportunity to lead the team.

“It’s always an honour to guide this team into action. I’m looking forward to more international basketball opportunities in the future,” he said.

To the players who were not selected, Hooper offered words of encouragement. “Keep working hard and showing improvement through your participation in the ongoing One Guyana Premier League tournament,” he advised. “Your time will come.”

GBF President Michael Singh expressed his excitement about the team’s participation in Suriname.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the team compete and showcase their skills. This tournament is an excellent opportunity for us to measure the depth of talent available locally as we gear up for a busy 2025 on the regional and international basketball scenes,” Singh noted.

He also commended Coach Hooper and Assistant Coach Rodrigues, for their dedication in preparing and selecting the team.

The tournament in Suriname promises to be a pivotal moment for Guyana’s basketball programme, according to Singh, who believes that with a team that combines skill, experience, and youthful energy, expectations are high for a strong showing.

 

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Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have been named in India’s provisional 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.

The same squad will take on England in three ODIs in early February, with Harshit Rana coming into the set-up as back-up for Bumrah, who may not be ready for the first two matches of the bilateral series.

There were injury concerns over both Bumrah and Kuldeep ahead of the selection on Saturday, with Kuldeep not having played any competitive cricket since his hernia surgery in November, while Bumrah had suffered a stress-related injury during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kuldeep has been building up his bowling load at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and is understood to be bowling 10-12 overs at a go.

The 15-man squad will be led by Rohit Sharma, with Shubman Gill as his vice-captain, and also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was picked for the first time in ODIs. He is likely to be the reserve opener for the Champions Trophy.

With Virat Kohli the No. 3, the middle order has the same look as the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul retaining their spots, along with allrounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

Apart from Rahul, Rishabh Pant is the other wicketkeeper in the 15, preferred ahead of Sanju Samson who did not take part in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy. Washington Sundar is the fourth allrounder in the squad, which includes only four specialist bowlers.

Mohammed Shami, who was recently named in the T20I squad for the upcoming home series against England following a long injury layoff, was also named in the Champions Trophy squad.

He last played international cricket at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets.

Mohammed Siraj did not find a place in the 15, with the left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh earning a spot after finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and impressive performances in international cricket – he was the top wicket-taker in India’s ODI series in South Africa in 2023.

The final squad for the Champions Trophy must be submitted to the ICC by February 11.

India play three bilateral ODIs against England on February 6, 9 and 12 – their first 50-over games since the tour of Sri Lanka in August last year – before the Champions Trophy. India are in Group A in the Champions Trophy and begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, after which they play Pakistan on February 23, and New Zealand on March 2.

India play all their matches in Dubai because their government refused to let the team travel to Pakistan. (ESPNcricinfo) 

India squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja

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West Indies fell predictably to Pakistan’s spinners, as they collapsed for 137 in less than a session on day two of the opening Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Noman Ali (5-39) and Sajid Khan (4-65) expectedly combined for a spin-bowling clinic, as they shared nine wickets to give Pakistan a commanding grip on the match, which they now lead by 202 runs.

After bowling down the Caribbean side, Pakistan, who posted 230 in their first innings, added to the 93-run lead with intent in their second innings, led by Shan Masood’s well-crafted 52.

The captain was run out in a mix-up, while Jomel Warrican dismissed Muhammad Hurraira (29) and Babar Azam (5) to leave Pakistan at 109-3 by stumps. Kamran Ghulam, on nine, and Saud Shakeel, on two, will resume on day three.

West Indies had no answer to the relentless accuracy and sharp turn of Ali and Khan, who bowled all but 14 deliveries in the innings.

Noman Ali picked up his seventh five-for in Test cricket•Jan 18, 2025•PCB

Only a defiant 46-run last-wicket partnership between Jomel Warrican (31 not out) and Jayden Seales (22) spared them further embarrassment, as it pushed their total past 100.

They were in disarray at 68-8 before the tail-end resistance, in which Warrican and Seales provided brief fireworks, including several cleanly struck sixes.

Seales was eventually deceived by a googly from Abrar Ahmed, who claimed the final wicket as Mohammad Rizwan completed the catch.

Prior to that, Khan set the tone early as he dismantled the West Indies top order with four wickets in his first three overs. He accounted for captain Kraigg Brathwaite (11), Mikyle Louis (one), Keacy Carty (zero), and Kavem Hodge (four) with consummate ease.

Ali joined the fray with a ripping delivery that clipped Justin Greaves’ off stump for four to set the stage for his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

His other scalps were Alick Athanaze (six), debutant Tevin Imlach (six), Kevin Sinclair (11), and Gudakesh Motie (19), as West Indies struggled to either defend or attack, with a few batsmen even dragging the ball onto their stumps in a desperate attempt to counter the spinners.

Earlier, the day began with West Indies taking four wickets for 13 runs that triggered a Pakistan collapse from their overnight score of 143-4. Shakeel (84) and Rizwan (71), who resumed on 56 and 51, respectively, added to their fifth-wicket stand, which eventually ended at 141 before the slide began.

Sinclair lured Shakeel into edging one to slip, and Warrican exploited the turn to dismiss Salman Agha (two) and contribute to the chaos.

A mix-up between Rizwan and Noman Ali (zero) resulted in the latter’s run-out, while Rizwan himself fell to a reverse sweep following a sharp review. Sajid Khan (18) and Khurram Shahzad (seven) added 25 late runs to take Pakistan to 230.

Warrican finished with 3-69 and Seales 3-27. (SportsMax)

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As the country prepares for the intense parliamentary debates surrounding the 2025 National Budget, Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has called for a review of the list of banned words in Parliament.

Teixeira pointed out that many of these prohibitions were inherited from the British House of Commons when the country gained independence and are now seen as archaic, especially by younger generations.

“Many of those words are out of date,” Teixeira explained.

“Some of us, especially the younger generation, have even forgotten what they mean.”

Her comments come amid a public debate sparked by Opposition MP Amanza Walton Desir, who raised concerns over the ban on the term “corruption,” arguing that it stifles free speech and prevents MPs from addressing important issues.

Government Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir on Friday reaffirmed the strict enforcement of banned words, warning MPs that violations would be dealt with firmly.

Teixeira’s stressed that the ban on terms like “corrupt” and “corruption” prevents meaningful discussions, particularly when addressing anti-corruption efforts.

Teixeira shared her personal frustrations, recalling how, during her tenure, she was frequently told she was “out of order” when attempting to speak on anti-corruption measures in her ministry.

“How do we address corruption if we can’t even say the word?” she asked.

Teixeira’s call for a review of the parliamentary language rules mirrors the recent revision of the parliamentary dress code, which was updated in 2024 to be more inclusive.

She suggested that a similar review process should be undertaken for the language rules to ensure they reflect the evolving political and social landscape.

 

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