UK markets closed

  • NIKKEI 225

    29,620.99
    +82.29 (+0.28%)
     

  • HANG SENG

    28,900.83
    +403.58 (+1.42%)
     

  • CRUDE OIL

    63.12
    +2.94 (+4.89%)
     

  • GOLD FUTURES

    1,734.60
    -13.00 (-0.74%)
     

  • DOW

    33,794.82
    +117.55 (+0.35%)
     

  • BTC-GBP

    45,228.15
    -832.12 (-1.81%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,340.17
    -35.61 (-2.59%)
     

  • ^IXIC

    13,883.56
    -112.54 (-0.80%)
     

  • ^FTAS

    3,964.67
    +25.36 (+0.64%)
     
City news:

What Andy Haldane's departure means for the Bank of England

Surprise departure opened up rare vacancy at the top of one of the most important central banks in the world.

Give Smith the captaincy if he wants it: Khawaja

·1-min read
Second T20 International - England v Australia

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has called for Steve Smith to take back the captaincy of the test side once Tim Paine's tenure is over.

Smith, who led the team for nearly three years, was stripped of the captaincy and banned from leadership roles for two years in the wake of the Newlands ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

Smith's leadership ban expired last March but the master batsman has since been overlooked for roles in the test and white-ball teams.

"If Steve Smith wants to captain Australia, I think he should captain Australia," Queensland captain Khawaja told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.

"He’s our number one batsman, he’s done it before, he’s paid for his mistakes, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in line for the captaincy if wants to do it."

Paine succeeded Smith as captain and led Australia to their Ashes triumph in England in 2019.

But Paine's leadership was criticised during the test series against India and Australia's 2-1 loss on home soil against the injury-ravaged tourists sparked calls for the 36-year-old to relinquish the captaincy and focus on his wicketkeeping.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins is vice-captain of the test team and Marnus Labuschagne is regarded by some pundits as a candidate for the captaincy despite playing only 18 tests.

Australia's selectors have steered clear of even mentioning Smith's name in conversations about leadership roles.

Smith, who recently won a third Allan Border Medal as the country's top male cricketer, told reporters last month the captaincy was "not on (his) radar" and the decision was out of his hands.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

Latest stories

  • Cal DL Brett Johnson out for 2021 season after breaking hip in automobile accident

    Brett Johnson had successful surgery on the hip, but the injury will keep him off the field next season.

  • Biden delivers remarks about withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan

    President Biden speaks from the White House about withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

  • Fulton Homes Announced as 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Winner for Sustained Excellence

    Fulton Homes, Arizona's largest family- owned and -operated homebuilder, has been announced the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year winner for Sustained Excellence. This award is reserved for ENERGY STAR partners demonstrating outstanding leadership, year over year, as presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • MMA: Shields to make PFL debut on June 10

    PFL presents MMA in a format where individuals compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship for a million-dollar prize, although Shields's debut will not be part of the promotion's season-long competition. "I have shown I am the best boxer in the world and eventually I intend to do the same thing as a mixed martial artist." Shields, the middleweight gold medallist at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, turned professional after the Rio Games and has a perfect 11-0 record.

  • Taliban Promises ‘Nightmare’ for U.S. Troops in Final Afghanistan Stretch

    NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Taliban never kept secret what their reaction would be if the Biden administration delays the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, and now that it’s happened, U.S. forces may have to deal with a new, unbridled wave of violence and bloodshed in the months leading up to the new September pull-out deadline.Hours after news broke on Tuesday that following a “rigorous policy review,” President Joe Biden is planning to have all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11—a break away from the previously agreed May 1 deadline—Taliban military leaders sat down for a policy review of their own. The group then announced it would be boycotting peace talks unless “all foreign forces completely withdraw from our homeland.”Speaking to The Daily Beast on Wednesday, Mullah Salih Khan, a Taliban group commander from Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, said that the insurgent group is “very much prepared to strike,” against U.S. and Afghan government forces, warning that the militants will turn Afghanistan “into a nightmare” for them.Mullah Mujahid Rahman, a Taliban subcommander from the Ghazni province, added that the U.S. has “proven they can’t be trusted after retreating from the May 1 deadline,” and that the group is willing to “fight till the end” of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.“We have the pride of defeating about 100,000 invaders from [different] countries in Afghanistan. A few thousand won’t be a problem at all,” he said, referring to the 3,500 American troops still stationed in the country.Taliban Boycotts Key Peace Talks After U.S. Pull-Out DelayExperts say this reaction shouldn’t come as a surprise.“Afghanistan will likely see an unrestricted fighting season, with attacks on Afghan provincial capitals as well as against foreign forces,” Andrew Watkins, Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for Afghanistan, told The Daily Beast. “It is hard to say if the talks have been entirely halted, but it’s also difficult to see any reason for the Taliban to continue, if, as they seem to suggest so far, the Doha deal has been broken by the U.S.”There were signs of the violence-to-come even before U.S. officials shared news of the extended deadline, when rumors of a seemingly inevitable delay were swirling both domestically and abroad.Most dramatic among them was one video shared across their social media platforms last week, portraying what appears to be the Taliban’s training facility, somewhere between the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 50-second clip, made in English for the benefit of international parties, shows an assortment of 50 odd young men—part of the Taliban’s martyrdom-seeking forces of suicide bomber and fighters—dressed in military fatigues and with their faces covered.Wearing a jacket with the initials “I.E.A”, an acronym for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan—the Taliban’s self-given name—one of them issues a warning against the Americans: “God willing, if they do not abide by the agreement they will be responsible for the killing in the next war,” he said, adding that the martyrdom forces are “waiting the order of the Emir and the establishment of the Islamic system all around the world.”“It seems clear from the Taliban’s response that even if they privately celebrate the news of a U.S. withdrawal, the primary mood is mistrust, and they reject the announcement as an abrogation of the U.S.-Taliban deal,” said Watkins, adding that while the Taliban may resume talks with Americans., “there is very little chance of the Taliban committing to real compromise in peace talks with other Afghan stakeholders.”Other stakeholders believe that the seeming disintegration of the peace process might not entirely be on Biden, but can also be attributed to developing fractures within Taliban’s insurgency.“Not all of the Taliban have been in favour of power sharing, inclusive governments. Many among them want a monopoly over everything,” Rahmatullah Nabil, a former Afghan spy chief, told The Daily Beast.He was referring to the many recent proposals made public that detail a potential deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government. One such proposal from the U.S. recommended a power-sharing agreement between the warring parties, and has been criticized by the members of the US congress.Biden Desperate for Last-Ditch Afghan Deal Before Admitting He’ll Miss Trump’s Withdrawal DeadlineNabil continues to maintain strong intelligence networks, and had previously warned of the Taliban’s lack of commitment to the process and the U.S.-facilitated deal, which seems to have emboldened the insurgent group.“The Taliban is consulting with their leaders in Pakistan… but with no actual pressure on the Taliban’s main backers like the Pakistani military and ISI, we will plunge into another crisis if the peace process collapses and Americans withdraw,” he warned.Hekmatullah Azamy, deputy director of Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies, an Afghan think tank closely observing the political and security developments, gave a similar assessment.“The Taliban’s military wing feels compelled to teach the Americans a lesson for not abiding with their promised deadline, and as such they will restart the violence. Unfortunately, the political wing that is conducting the negotiations is unable to convince them otherwise,” Azamy told The Daily Beast.In any case, an increase in violence seems inevitable.“Such units are already prepared for battle,” Azamy said, referring to the information gathered by his organisation. “They understand that it won’t be easy, and the U.S. is fully-equipped to respond to their attacks. But many among them are willing to engage in conflict anyway.”Meanwhile, Afghan government officials are opting to remain optimistic, as the U.S.’s extended stay in Afghanistan gives them a little more time to develop diplomatic and political pressure on the Taliban to agree to a possible ceasefire.“I think the U.S.’s extension on troop withdrawal could be a good thing for Afghanistan. It will force the Taliban to reconsider their stance,” a senior Afghan security official told The Daily Beast. But the official was less certain that the Taliban would actually escalate violence against the U.S. right away: “They have gained so much, it is unlikely that they will risk it all,” he said.Some in the Taliban, however, continue to promise otherwise.“We never paused our Jihad after the U.S.-Taliban deal,” said Mullah Salih Khan, one of the Taliban commanders who spoke to The Daily Beast. “There is nothing for the Taliban to lose, but the puppet Afghan government will lose everything .”Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

  • $1.3 Billion Worldwide Boric Acid Industry to 2027 - Featuring 3M, BASF and Gujarat Boron Derivatives Among Others - ResearchAndMarkets.com

    The "Boric acid - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

  • 'Built like a tank that shoots happiness': Over 24,000 Amazon reviewers love this $40 massager

    Reviewers can't stop singing this portable massager's praises — and neither can we. Plus, it's on sale!

  • Steven Yeun Says 'Walking Dead' Did Not Prepare Him For COVID-19 Pandemic

    Virus-spreading zombies on TV were no match for the existential dread caused by the coronavirus, the actor told Conan O'Brien.

  • Fed Chairman Powell has not yet met with President Biden

    Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said that he has not yet met with President Joe Biden, illustrating the administration’s caution in approaching matters at the independent central bank.

  • Nicole Kidman Treats Husband Keith Urban and Their Kids to Pedicures During At-Home Spa Days

    The Academy Award winner said her country star husband is "pretty low-maintenance," with the exception of their spa days

  • NBA Star Jayson Tatum Needs Inhaler Before Games Since Contracting COVID-19: 'It's a Process'

    Jayson Tatum was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early January, and is still struggling with lingering symptoms

  • Cafe worker expects Windsor to be ‘very busy’ on day of duke’s funeral

    Tone Mendez, who has worked at Clairmont’s cafe in the Berkshire town for 12 years, said Philip was ‘a big part of the community’.

  • Canada Backs Astra; Denver Ends Outdoor Mask Rule: Virus Update

    (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE expect to deliver more vaccines to the European Union this quarter than currently targeted, offering good news to the bloc after deliveries of Johnson & Johnson’s shot were paused.Denmark became the first EU country to drop AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine from its pandemic inoculation program, reflecting the same concerns over blood clots that prompted the J&J pause. Russia said there have been no cases of clotting with its Sputnik vaccine.South Africa said drugmakers including J&J demanded “unreasonable terms” in exchange for vaccine supplies. Germany’s rate of infections climbed further beyond a key threshold, and EU governments reached a deal on technical standards for so-called vaccine passports.Key Developments:Global Tracker: Cases pass 137 million; deaths exceed 2.96 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 814 million shots given worldwideVaccine givers at an Atlantic City convention hall race timeBlood Clots, anaphylaxis and other vaccine fears: QuickTakeWhat we know about the impact of Covid-19 on childrenWhich vaccine is best, and other questions answered (Video)Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.Denver Ends Outdoor Mask Mandate (2 p.m. NY)Denver ended its outdoor mask mandate but will continue to require masks on public transit and indoor events, Mayor Michael Hancock announced Wednesday.Astra Shot Safe, Effective, Health Canada Says (11:40 a.m. NY)AstraZeneca’s vaccine may be linked to “very rare events of blood clots,” but the benefits of the shot outweigh its potential risk, Health Canada said in a statement following an assessment of scientific data.The federal agency has updated warnings about the possible side effects in product information and is providing information about potential symptoms as well as when to seek prompt medical attention following vaccination.J&J Drops Pregnant Women From Study (11:39 a.m. NY)Johnson & Johnson will revise protocols on its Covid-19 vaccine study and exclude pregnant health workers from a trial in South Africa set to include 500,000 people. The move came after U.S. regulators paused the shot’s rollout on concerns of a rare and severe blood-clotting side effect.While all studies are delayed, plans to run trials on children and pregnant women in South Africa have been set aside for now, said Glenda Gray, the co-lead of the South African studies, in an interview on Wednesday.The research team will meet with South African regulators later on Wednesday, she said.Airline Middle Seats Cited as Risk (11:38 a.m. NY)The risk of being exposed to the Covid-19 virus on an airline flight drop by as much as half when airlines keep middle seats open, a new study published by the U.S. government concludes, a safety practice the carriers have abandoned.The study is the latest to roil the waters on a controversial topic: just how risky it is to travel during the pandemic. It didn’t attempt to estimate infection risks and was based on modeling done before the pandemic, so it didn’t consider rules that now require face masks on flights.The risk of coming in contact with the virus dropped by 23% to 57% if airlines limited passenger loads on both single-aisle and widebody jets, compared with full occupancy, according to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday.U.S. Spy Chiefs Say Virus Source Unknown (11:25 a.m. NY)U.S. spy agencies have yet to determine the source of the virus that causes Covid-19, top intelligence officials told the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday.Avril Haines, the director of National Intelligence, said analysts are still examining two theories: animal-to-human transmission, and the possibility of a laboratory accident. “The intelligence community does not know exactly where, when or how Covid-19 virus was transmitted initially,” Haines said.CIA Director William Burns, echoed Haines’ assessment, adding that “the Chinese leadership has not been fully forthcoming or fully transparent” in working with the World Health Organization to pinpoint the origin of the coronavirus.The spy chiefs’ assessments add to a growing number of top politicians and public health experts who argue that the theory of a lab leak warrants further investigation. In late March, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a mission to study the origins of the virus was too quick to dismiss the theory of a lab leak.Russia Says No Clotting Cases From Sputnik (10:45 a.m. NY)The developers of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine said it hasn’t produced any instances of the dangerous blood-clotting that forced U.S. officials to urge a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.Sputnik’s first dose uses the same human adenovirus as the Johnson & Johnson inoculation, but they have “significant differences in their structure” and it isn’t appropriate to extrapolate safety data from one to the other, the state-run Gamaleya Center said in a statement.Switzerland Allows Theaters to Open (10:45 a.m. NY)Switzerland will allow theaters, cinemas and outdoor dining at restaurants to open starting Monday, pursuing once again a more liberal course than many of its European neighbors.While facilities will be subject to capacity limitations, the move stands in contrast to France, where officials have responded to an increase in Covid-19 infections by doubling down on restrictions.Outdoor events will be limited to 100 people, while indoors at cinemas or concerts the maximum is 50.EU Sees J&J Recommendation Next Week (9:43 a.m. NY)The European Union’s drug regulator is accelerating its review of blood-clot reports with J&J’s vaccine and said it expects to issue a recommendation next week.EU member states should store doses as they await guidance, and the European Medicines Agency said it will decide shortly whether “regulatory action is necessary.”Astra Shot Induces Strong T-Cell Response (9:40 a.m. NY)The Astra vaccine generated a stronger cellular immune response than the Pfizer and BioNTech shot in people over 80 years old, a study by U.K. researchers shows.Responses in T cells -- a type of white blood cell that helps fight viruses -- were seen in 31% of participants receiving the Astra vaccine and 12% of the Pfizer-BioNTech group, according to the University of Birmingham and U.K. Coronavirus Immunology Consortium. Elderly people receiving a single dose of either vaccine showed equivalent antibody responses after five weeks.It’s unclear if the different levels of T cell responses observed will have any impact on clinical effectiveness, the researchers said.NYC Reschedules 4,000 Appointments (9:29 a.m. NY)New York City had to reschedule 4,000 shots on Tuesday due to the Johnson & Johnson pause, according to Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi. The “vast majority” of New Yorkers will keep the same appointments but receive the Pfizer or Moderna shots instead.The city’s homebound senior vaccine program, which depended on the J&J shot, will be suspended through Sunday, but the city is working to reschedule appointments and arrange transports by taxi or ambulette, Chokshi said.Denmark Is First in EU to Drop Astra Shot (8:14 a.m. NY)Denmark has become the first country in the European Union to drop AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine from its inoculation program amid concerns over blood clots.Denmark was one of the first countries to suspend the vaccine, on March 11. At the time, the Danish Health Authority called the decision a precautionary move and reiterated its view that Astra’s vaccine was “effective and safe.”Pfizer to Speed EU Deliveries (7:42 a.m. NY)Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE will raise Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to the European Union by 50 million this quarter, offering good news to the bloc after Johnson & Johnson’s shot was paused.The drugmakers will bring forward deliveries scheduled for the fourth quarter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. The additional supplies will add to the 200 million doses the EU was already expecting from Pfizer through June. The company provided about 66 million in the first three months of the year.EU Vaccine Passports Draw Closer (7:30 a.m. NY)European Union governments reached a deal on technical standards for so-called vaccine passports, advancing the effort to boost travel to and within the bloc in time for the summer season.Envoys meeting in Brussels unanimously supported a draft legal text setting out specifics for “digital green certificates,” according to a diplomat familiar with the private meeting. The documents will provide proof their holders have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, tested negative or have recently recovered from the disease and are considered immune.India to Get 250 Million Sputnik Doses (5:09 p.m. HK)Sputnik V’s capacity in India should be “ramped up significantly” in the next quarter, said Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’s chief executive for API and Services Deepak Sapra.Initially, the vaccines will be imported from Russia and distributed by Dr. Reddy’s, according to Sapra. Eventually, six manufacturers in India are lined up to make the shot.Poland Extends Most Virus Restrictions (4:54 p.m. HK)Poland will reopen nurseries and kindergartens as of Monday but extend other restrictions that were due to end after April 18, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said.S. Africa Says J&J Seeks Unreasonable Terms (4:13 p.m. HK)South Africa is facing delays to vaccine supplies because of “unreasonable terms” being demanded by manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.J&J won’t sign off on 20 million doses until the company gets a letter from the trade and industry minister expressing support for its investment in local drugmaker Aspen, Mkhize told lawmakers.Denmark to Reopen Borders for Some Countries (2:26 p.m. HK)Denmark will gradually reopen its borders to some countries next month when older Danes are expected to have gotten at least one dose of vaccine, the government said.Denmark will be open to vaccinated citizens from European countries as of May 1. Residents who haven’t gotten a shot but come from European countries with low contamination rates will be able to enter Denmark from May 14. Travelers will need to provide a recent negative test and isolate upon arrival, unless they have been vaccinated.EasyJet Hangs on to Summer-Revival Hopes (2:22 p.m.)EasyJet Plc said it remains optimistic that European travel markets will be revived this summer even as vaccination campaigns and plans to reopen borders stutter.The London-based carrier will operate no more than 20% of 2019 capacity in the three months through June but said in a statement Wednesday that it’s ready to ramp up flights from May if there’s sufficient demand.Taiwan to Expand Covid Shots (2:12 p.m. HK)The government will provide 10,000 doses of vaccines for people who are traveling abroad from April 21, according to Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control. Taiwan started to vaccinate healthcare workers from last month.German Incidence Rate Hits Three-Month High (1:37 p.m. HK)Germany’s infection rate climbed further beyond a key threshold, a day after the government approved legislation that mandates tougher restrictions in virus hotspots.The seven-day rate of cases per 100,000 people rose to 153.2, the most since Jan. 13, the RKI public-health agency said on its website.Chancellor Angela Merkel urged lawmakers in both houses of parliament to support the legislation, which triggers stricter curbs when the incidence rate climbs above 100.CanSino Finds No Severe Side Effects (1:29 p.m. HK)CanSino Biologics Inc said it hasn’t found any severe side effects such as blood clots after about 1 million vaccinations with its shot, which relies on the same approach as AstraZeneca Plc’s and Johnson & Johnson’s.The Astra, J&J and CanSino vaccines, as well as Russia’s Sputnik V, all uses an adenovirus to deliver the genetic material into the body to provoke a defense against Covid-19.France Prepares to Reopen Businesses (1:28 p.m. HK)President Emmanuel Macron will meet Thursday with ministers to prepare the rules for reopening French businesses next month.Macron said in March that bars and restaurants would be back in business in mid-May with outdoor seating, and that cultural establishments also would reopen.The country is eyeing a restart even as it prepares to cross the threshold of 100,000 deaths from Covid-19.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • Former Bachelor Colton Underwood Documenting His Coming Out Journey for Upcoming Netflix Series

    The former Bachelor star opened up about his sexual orientation on Good Morning America on Wednesday

  • Why Bed Bath and Beyond Stock Was Tumbling Today

    Shares of Bed Bath and Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) were moving lower today after the company's fourth-quarter earnings report disappointed investors. Comparable sales in the quarter were up 4% across the enterprise (the company owns several brands) and 6% at Bed Bath and Beyond stores.

  • Mock crew straps into space capsule, exits before liftoff

    Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company strapped two employees into a fueled rocketship for practice, but pulled them out shortly before sending the capsule to the edge of space Wednesday with only a test dummy. The crew rehearsal in West Texas brings Blue Origin closer to launching tourists and others into space. Blue Origin wanted to see how well a crew could get in and out of the capsule.

  • Royal Family Shares Never-Before-Seen Photos of Prince Philip with George, Charlotte and Louis!

    The royal siblings and their cousins gathered for a sweet portrait

  • Agnelli, Peugeot families agree to consult on Stellantis

    Italy's Agnelli and France's Peugeot, the largest shareholders in Stellantis, have signed a consultation agreement, holding companies representing the two families said on Wednesday, on the eve of the carmakers' first annual general meeting. Exor and Peugeot 1810 said in a joint statement they had entered an understanding "aimed at strengthening the relations between the Agnelli and Peugeot families and to provide support for Stellantis in its long-term success". With a 14.4% stake, Exor is the single largest shareholder in Stellantis, the world's fourth largest carmaker, which was formed in January through the merger of Italian-American Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA.

  • Prince Philip: Royal Family releases photo by Kate of Queen and duke with seven great-grandchildren

    The Royal Family has released new photographs of the Duke of Edinburgh following his death at the age of 99. In another, posted on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Twitter account, William and Kate are seen along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in a photo with Philip and Her Majesty at Balmoral in 2015.

  • Union Leaders Call for Immediate Action on Laurentian Crisis

    Devastating program and job cuts at Laurentian University will have a profound impact on students and the region's economic and social development.