Saudi Arabia tests Japan-inspired ‘nap pods’ for Hajj
MECCA: Mansour al-Amer swipes a card to reveal a narrow sleep pod, reminiscent of Japan’s famed capsule hotels. But this pod is in Saudi Arabia, where the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage begins Sunday.…
Tests link Syrian govt stockpile to largest sarin attack
THE HAGUE: The Syrian government’s chemical weapons stockpile has been linked for the first time by laboratory tests to the largest sarin nerve agent attack of the civil war, diplomats and scientists…
Sindh govt to make drug tests mandatory for students
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced that the children receiving education in government and private institutes will have to pass a mandatory drug test before their admission. The…
Probe launched as Russian athletes withdraw before doping tests
MOSCOW: The Russian track-and-field federation says it has launched an investigation after dozens of athletes suddenly withdrew from a competition in Irkutsk following the arrival of drug testers. The federation said in…
US lifts funding ban on studies that enhance dangerous germs
CHICAGO: The US government on Tuesday lifted a 2014 temporary ban on funding research involving the flu and other pathogens in which scientists deliberately make them more transmissible or more deadly. The…
Russia conducts ballistic missile tests
MOSCOW: Russia conducted several ballistic missile tests on Thursday from “land, air, and sea” as part of its strategic nuclear programme, the Defence Ministry announced. A “Topol” intercontinental ballistic missile was fired…
ECB has ‘no firm position’ on four-day Tests
BRISTOL: The England and Wales Cricket Board insisted Sunday it had “no firm position” on playing four-day Tests, adding they were “sensitive to the potential effects of any change to the traditional…
Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka Tests could be replaced by tri-series
Just as Zimbabwe are getting back to Test cricket, they face the prospect of another lengthy stint without matches in the longest format. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Sri Lanka’s tour of Zimbabwe…
ICC panel raises concerns over ‘home advantage’ in tests
Test teams are excessively exploiting ‘home advantage’ by preparing pitches that favour the strengths of the host nation, an International Cricket Council (ICC) panel representing various stakeholders within the sport said on…
England’s Cook becomes youngest to score 10k runs in Tests
England captain Alastair Cook has become the first England batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs, after reaching the milestone on the fourth afternoon of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street.…
BCB shelves January Tests against Zimbabwe
Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, has said that Bangladesh’s two-Test series against Zimbabwe, scheduled originally for January 2016, will be shelved to keep the team’s focus on T20Is. Hassan did not mention…
Ajmal’s third best bowling in tests
Saeed Ajmal recorded best bowling against South Africa in Tests by taking six for 96 in 42 overs on the third day of the second Test match at Newlands, Cape Town on…
Pakistan dent Indian pride at Eden Garden
They lost eight successive overseas Tests. They lost a home Test series. And now the ODI world champions have lost a home bilateral series for the first time in more than three…
Sangakkara wants more Tests for Sri Lanka
Kumar Sangakkara hoped better communication between administrators and players would in future help avoid the dearth of Test cricket that Sri Lanka face in 2013. When the Sydney Test ends early in…
Injured Southee ruled out of Tests in South Africa
Tim Southee, the New Zealand fast bowler, has been ruled out of the Test series in South Africa because of a thumb injury. He needs surgery for a ruptured ligament and is…
Australia open post-Ponting era against Sri Lanka
Australia open the post-Ricky Ponting era with three tests against Sri Lanka over the next four weeks, desperate to build on the positives from a thrilling series against South Africa and hoping…
Pakistan successfully tests Ghauri
Pakistan on Wednesday successfully conducted the training launch of its medium-range ballistic missile Hatf V (Ghauri) capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads over a distance of 1,300 kilometers. The launch…