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BANGLADESH batters Mushfiqur Rahim (L) and Liton Das run between the wickets during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.—AFP GALLE: Bangladesh continued their dominance over Sri Lanka on the second day of the first Test on Wednesday, finishing at a commanding 484 for nine — despite a few late breakthroughs by the hosts. The Tigers resumed on 292 for three overnight and turned the screws on a batting-friendly wicket, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto extending their record-breaking partnership. The 264-run partnership finally en­d­ed when Shanto fell for 148, decei­ved in…

CNN  —  Despite unprecedented immigration raids, a massive domestic policy agenda and now the prospect of actual war, President Donald Trump’s first five months in office have nevertheless been dominated by his trade war. He notched some recent wins, but Trump is rapidly running out of time to seal the deal. Or, more accurately, deals. More than 100 of them. After pausing his “Liberation Day” tariffs that sent levies surging for dozens of countries’ exports to the United States, Trump has sought to make a number of bilateral trade deals that would open American businesses’ access to foreign markets and…

PAKISTAN captain Ammad Butt in action during the FIH Nations Cup match against New Zealand at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.—courtesy FIH KUALA LUMPUR: In a pulsating contest at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the FIH Nations Cup remained intact despite a heart-wrenching 4-3 defeat at the hands of table-toppers New Zealand in their final Pool ‘B’ outing. With qualification hanging in the balance, the Green Shirts knew that a victory would seal their progression. However, they were up against a New Zealand side that had exhibited perfect form throughout the…

Staff members remove a sign following a press conference after the House passage of the tax and spending bill, at the U.S. Capitol on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC.Kevin Dietsch | Getty ImagesRepublicans’ “big beautiful” bill, if enacted as drafted, would make some of the biggest changes to the federal student loan system in decades.GOP House and Senate lawmakers’ proposals would eliminate several repayment plans, keep borrowers in debt longer and roll back relief options for those who become unemployed or run into another financial challenge.The House advanced its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May.…

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on June 17, 2025.Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesA multitrillion-dollar tax package issued Monday by the Senate Finance Committee would offer a tax break for drivers on auto loan interest, but it doesn’t seem to be available for used cars, tax experts said.The Senate GOP tax plan is part of a broader domestic policy bill that Republicans are trying to get to President Trump’s desk by the Fourth of July, and aims to partially fund…

CNN  —  Still no movement. For its fourth meeting in a row, the Federal Reserve opted to leave unchanged its key short-term interest rate — which influences a host of rates on consumer financial products and bank accounts across the United States. That means that once again anyone with savings that they want to invest in stable, low-risk, interest-yielding assets is in luck. It may be especially good news for retirees, who are usually advised to keep a year’s worth of living expenses in interest-bearing accounts so that they won’t have to sell stocks from their portfolio when the market…

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it will leave interest rates unchanged.The Fed decision comes amid demands from President Donald Trump to lower the key borrowing rate benchmark, and escalating attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell even hours before the announcement.Trump has been pressuring Powell for a rate cut, arguing that maintaining a fed funds rate that is too high makes it harder for businesses and consumers to access cash, adding more strain to the U.S. economy. But Powell has said that the federal funds rate is likely to stay higher as the economy changes and policy is in flux. That’s enough to keep the central bank on the…

Topline Google AI Overview and AI Mode could further slash online media revenue. Will Reddit capitalize on its user-generated content to defy this trend? The Google AI logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo in Reno, United States, … More on December 18, 2024. (Photo Illustration by Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty Images Key Facts AI chatbots are replacing Google search, which is devastating some online publishers’ traffic. Online publishers are cutting staff as they struggle to find new sources of revenue. Reddit’s licensing of its content to train Google’s language models and selling ads…

The Senate has begun deliberations over President Donald Trump’s massive “Big Beautiful Bill” that narrowly passed the House on May 22.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a temporary enhanced deduction for seniors ages 65 and up. The House of Representatives also proposed such a tax break in its text, calling it a “bonus.”Notably, the Senate is calling for a deduction of up to $6,000 per qualifying individual. The House included a $4,000 deduction.The senior “bonus” is in lieu of the elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits that President Donald…

KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has sounded the alarm on Tuesday as it revealed a severe financial crisis jeopardizing the upcoming 2025-2026 snooker season and Pakistan’s participation in crucial international tournaments. In a press release directed at the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), the Association appealed for urgent intervention. The PBSA stated it is on the brink of launching its new season but faces critical financial constraints impacting its ability to fund international participation, maintain the domestic circuit and cover essential secretariat expenditures. The core issue, according to the PBSA, is the non-receipt of any financial…