COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Australia opened their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a ruthless 67‑run victory over Ireland, combining a muscular batting display with a suffocating bowling performance to underline their title credentials in Group B.
(VIDEO) Australia Thrash Ireland by 67 Runs in Colombo to Launch T20 World Cup Campaign in Style
Sent in to bat after stand‑in captain Travis Head won the toss at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Australia posted an imposing 182 for 6 before skittling Ireland for just 115 in 16.5 overs. The result not only delivered two points but also handed Australia a hefty early boost to their net run rate in a group where every decimal could prove crucial.
Stoinis and Inglis power Australia to 182
Australia’s innings began in chaotic fashion when Head, leading the side in the absence of the injured Mitchell Marsh, was run out for 6 after a mix‑up with opening partner Josh Inglis. Inglis had already survived a chance — dropped at point — and capitalised on his reprieve with an aggressive, counter‑punching cameo.
Inglis and Cameron Green quickly wrested back momentum from Ireland. The pair kept the powerplay run rate above 10 an over, mixing clean hitting down the ground with sharp running between the wickets. Green raced to 21 off 11 balls before miscuing to mid‑wicket, but by then Australia had 64 on the board at the end of six overs, with the Irish seamers struggling for control on a placid surface.
Inglis continued to attack, racing to 37 off just 17 balls with a flurry of boundaries through point and over extra cover. His dismissal, holing out after earlier striking George Dockrell for four, briefly checked Australia’s charge, and a quiet middle phase followed as new batsmen adjusted to a pitch that began to slow and grip.
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Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis then rebuilt the innings in a decisive fifth‑wicket stand worth 61. Renshaw played the anchor role with 37 from 33 balls, rotating the strike and allowing Stoinis to dictate terms. Stoinis, who top‑scored with 45 from 29 deliveries, picked his moments to accelerate, driving powerfully down the ground and muscling a six over mid‑wicket while still collecting the majority of his runs in hard‑run ones and twos.
Glenn Maxwell’s brief stay offered flashes of intent without a big payoff, but Australia’s refusal to panic after losing early wickets meant they always had a platform to launch from. Late nudges and hustled doubles in the final overs ensured Australia reached 182, a total that looked slightly above par once the ball began to hold in the surface.
For Ireland, Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy fought hard in the death overs to prevent a 190‑plus score, but the damage from the powerplay and the Stoinis‑Renshaw partnership left them facing a daunting chase.
Ellis and Zampa rip through Ireland
Ireland’s reply unravelled almost immediately. Captain Paul Stirling, their most experienced and explosive batter, retired hurt for 1 in the opening over after what appeared to be a hamstring issue, dealing a psychological blow to a side already up against it.
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Australian seamer Nathan Ellis took full advantage of the unsettled top order. Renowned for his clever changes of pace and skiddy trajectory, Ellis struck twice inside the first few overs, removing both set batters and exposing Ireland’s middle order before they could settle. By the end of the powerplay, Ireland had slumped to 40 for 4, their chase effectively in ruins.
Curtis Campher (4), Benjamin Calitz (2) and Gareth Delany (11) all fell cheaply during a brutal collapse that left Ireland tottering at 43 for 5 by the seventh over. Any hopes of a miracle hinged on wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker and all‑rounder George Dockrell, who mounted the only meaningful resistance of the innings.
The pair added 46 for the sixth wicket, with Dockrell in particular showing composure and intent. He compiled a spirited 41 off 29 balls, finding gaps and punishing anything short or wide. Tucker supported with 24 as the duo briefly quieted the Australian fielders and forced Travis Head to juggle his bowling options.
But Adam Zampa, who had been held back specifically for the middle overs, quickly reasserted Australia’s control. The leg‑spinner broke the stand by removing Tucker, drawing him into a miscued stroke. Once that partnership ended, Ireland’s lower order crumbled.
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Zampa and Ellis then turned the screw in tandem. Zampa’s drifting leg‑breaks and sharp googlies dismantled the middle order, while Ellis continued to choke off scoring opportunities with a mix of cutters and yorkers. Both bowlers finished with identical figures of four wickets apiece, underlining their dominance and leaving Ireland shot out for 115 with more than three overs unused.
Dockrell was the last semblance of resistance before the tail fell away, underscoring how little support Ireland’s top order offered in the face of Australia’s relentless attack.
Bowling discipline sets the tone
Australia’s performance with the ball was as clinical as their batting was controlled. Ellis’ 4 for 12 stood out not just for the wickets but for the pressure he applied; his economy and accuracy forced Ireland’s batters into high‑risk shots far earlier than they would have liked.
Zampa’s 4 for 23 demonstrated once again why he is central to Australia’s white‑ball plans. On a surface that rewarded patience and changes of pace, he consistently attacked the stumps, forcing errors from batters unsure whether to commit forward or back.
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Xavier Bartlett and Matthew Kuhnemann provided useful support, tightening the screws from the other end and ensuring Ireland never found a passage of play in which they could counter‑attack freely. In the field, Australia were sharp, with direct hits and diving stops adding to Ireland’s sense of suffocation.
Perfect start to Group B campaign
The 67‑run margin sends Australia to the top of Group B on net run rate and serves as a statement of intent to the rest of the tournament. Coming into the World Cup with key players missing and questions about depth, they answered emphatically on both fronts: the batting card produced multiple contributions, and the attack functioned as a well‑drilled unit.
For Ireland, the defeat leaves them winless after two matches and with serious concerns over both form and fitness. Stirling’s hamstring issue looms as a major worry, and the fragility of the top order under pressure was laid bare. Their bowlers showed patches of discipline, particularly in the latter half of Australia’s innings, but the early overs with both bat and ball ultimately proved decisive.
As the tournament moves forward, Australia will look to build on the momentum of this comprehensive opening victory, while Ireland face a quick turnaround to resurrect their campaign and repair both confidence and combinations.
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Australia may have needed four days to get on the park, but once they did, they wasted no time reminding everyone why they remain perennial contenders in global T20 cricket.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026, marking 51 years of Thai-Chinese relations. Celebrations include events in Bangkok and other provinces, promoting tourism nationwide.
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Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 at Government House, celebrating 51 years of Thailand-China diplomatic relations. The event marked the beginning of nationwide festivities, featuring notable attendees like the Chinese ambassador and tourism officials.
A lion dance performance highlighted the occasion, alongside the presentation of an auspicious ceremonial horse to the prime minister. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in partnership with various agencies, will organize the festival across key locations.
Festive lighting in Bangkok, themed “Ride the Fortune, Share the Future,” will adorn Yaowarat Road from February 7 to March 1, with major activities at Siam Paragon from February 14 to 18. Additional celebrations are planned in Hat Yai and provinces like Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri, aiming to boost holiday travel.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has presided over a publicity event for the Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 at Government House to commemorate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. The event, held at Command Building 1, signaled the start of nationwide celebrations.
The event was attended by the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, the minister of tourism and sports, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and senior officials from relevant agencies. A lion dance performance was presented to promote the upcoming festival, and an auspicious ceremonial horse was offered to the prime minister as part of the occasion.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in coordination with partner agencies, will stage Thailand Chinese New Year Festival 2026 events at major locations. In Bangkok, festive lighting under the theme Ride the Fortune, Share the Future will illuminate Yaowarat Road from February 7 to March 1, while main festival activities are scheduled at Siam Paragon from February 14 to 18. Additional celebrations will take place in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, from February 17 to 20.
Chinese New Year events are also being supported in provinces known for long-established traditions, including Nakhon Sawan and Suphan Buri, as well as other activities organized nationwide by government and private partners. Officials said the celebrations are expected to encourage travel during the holiday period, with more information available through the national tourism hotline and official festival platforms.
The tech company was founded less than two years ago by then-23-year-old entrepreneur James Dacombe
16:19, 11 Feb 2026Updated 16:22, 11 Feb 2026
An aerial view of Bristol city centre (Image: Getty Images)
A UK AI chip start-up has raised $220m in a Series A funding round and is planning to expand its presence in Bristol, it has confirmed. London-based Olix was founded by 25-year-old James Dacombe in 2024 and is targeting the development of technology that it claims will be faster and cheaper than Nvidia’s.
The company was valued at £1bn following the raise, with Hummingbird Ventures – a backer of Revolut and Deliveroo – leading the round. Other investors include Plural, Vertex Ventures, LocalGlobe, Entrepreneurs First, Fundomo and Transition.
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The round brings total capital raised by Olix – formerly known as Flux Computing – to $250m.
Jonathan Heiliger, general partner at investor Vertex Ventures, and former Facebook infrastructure executive, said: “One of the biggest constraints in AI today is the compute required to run these models at scale.
“Today’s GPU-based approach forces a compromise between speed and cost. Olix is taking a radically different approach designed to deliver a step change in both and it has huge promise.”
Mr Dacombe dropped out of school at age 16 to work as a software engineer at a start-up and then left that to build his brain healthcare company CoMind. In 2022, he secured a $200,000 grant from the Thiel Foundation – a two-year programme established by technology entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel for young people who want to build new things.
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Mr Dacombe launched his semiconductor business Olix in March 2024. That same year he was named by the Sunday Times as one of the most inspiring people under the age of 30 in the UK.
Following the latest funding round, Olix is currently hiring for a number of roles – in the US, Canada, London and Bristol. According to a statement on its website, Olix is “an in-person” company and claims to employ “some of the best minds” in photonics, systems, and compute.
“It is difficult to overstate the impact a step change will have, not just for AI, but for society as a whole,” a statement on its website reads.
“Life at Olix is high-velocity and high-stakes. We don’t believe in ‘grinding’ for the sake of it, but we do believe in dedication to the mission.
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“This isn’t work you leave at the door; it’s work that matters enough to command a space in your life. You’ll be making a tangible impact alongside people just as excited as you are.”
The company is offering visa sponsorship, including for dependents and a £24,000 annual top-up for living near the office. The Bristol role advertised on the site is for a senior/staff digital design engineer, with a pay packet of between £125,000-£180,000.
The announcement comes just a day after UK chip start-up Fractile confirmed it would invest £100m in its UK operations, in London and Bristol, and the government urged British tech entrepreneurs to “take bold risks” with the development of AI.
“By investing in British tech innovation, just as Fractile is doing today, we can reinforce our leadership in AI and boost our influence on the global stage,” the AI minister said on Tuesday.
Heineken said Wednesday it plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally and expects slower profit growth in 2026 as the beer industry grapples with weak demand.
The reductions represent nearly 7% of the Dutch company’s approximately 87,000 employees worldwide. The beer giant said the cuts are part of a broader strategy aimed at strenghtening its operations while continuing to invest in growth.
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“To fuel the growth and the profit, we are stepping up productivity initiatives and [making] changes to our operating model,” Heineken Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek told investors on a call announcing the company’s annual earnings results. “We are moving to a simpler, leaner Heineken centered on empowered operating companies.”
Heineken announced Wednesday its intent to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters / Reuters)
Van den Broek said between 5,000 and 6,000 roles will be eliminated over the next two years.
“Timelines will vary by market, and we will support impacted colleagues with care, respect and appropriate assistance,” van den Broek said.
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“These actions are designed to deliver 400 million [euros] to 500 million [euros] of annual gross savings and allow us to continue investing in our brands and capabilities while supporting healthy operating profit growth.”
“These actions are designed to deliver 400 million [euros] to 500 million [euros] of annual gross savings,” Chief Financial Officer Harold van den Broek told investors. (Freek van den Bergh/ANP/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Some of the job cuts will be concentrated in Europe and non-priority markets, as well as at the company’s headquarters and within its supply network, Reuters reported.
Heineken expects profit growth this year of 2% to 6%, down from the 4% to 8% range it projected for 2025. Rival Carlsberg last week issued a similar forecast, according to Reuters.
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The beer industry has been grappling with slowing sales amid tight household budgets, increased competition from alternative beverages, and growing health warnings related to alcohol consumption.
Former Anheuser-Busch executive Anson Frericks joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down the Super Bowl commercials that resonated with American consumers.
The activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics saw a year-old ad explode in viewership over Super Bowl weekend, leading to sales tripling compared to a normal weekend for the brand.
The “real girls rock” ad, which premiered in February 2025, was the brand’s second full-length commercial, and initially garnered traction when it was shared on social media by “Harry Potter” author and women’s rights activist, J.K. Rowling.
XX-XY Athletics Instagram advertisement (XX-XY Athletics on Instagram)
But then, this past weekend, founder Jennifer Sey and the company decided to recirculate the ad, and it went viral again, increasing its total combined views on X to more than 40 million, and was among the highest-trending topics on X for Super Bowl Sunday.
Sey, a former marketing executive for Levi’s and U.S. champion women’s gymnast, credited Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for being one of the figures to help re-circulate the ad during its viral resurgence.
“That was a big difference-maker,” Sey told FOX Business of Cruz. “He made a huge difference… and we could see it differently, even in terms of traffic to our website.”
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The ad itself portrays the brand’s ambassadors, who have stood up for women’s sports, facing vulgar hate comments and witnessing liberal media outlets berate them as “transphobic.” It featured appearances by OuKick host Riley Gaines and former University of Nevada volleyball player Sia Liilii.
Sia Liilii appears in the XX-XY Athletics “Real Girls Rock” advertisement. (Courtesy of XX-XY Athletics / FOXBusiness)
“It’s the proudest one I’ve ever made in my life,” Sey said. “I’ve made a lot of ads in my life, I was the chief marketing officer at Levi’s for eight years, I’ve made Super Bowl ads… but for sure, this one I’m most proud of. I think the message is just so deeply resonate and I think it really moves people to stand up for this cause.”
Despite the company’s rapid growth since it launched in 2024, Sey said she doesn’t aspire to ever run one of her ads during the Super Bowl, insisting that the prestige of getting that time slot has waned.
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“I think that the Super Bowl ads having prestige is sort of a thing of the past,” Sey said. “I don’t think anybody cares anymore, I think people leave the room and get food, I don’t think people tune in for the ads anymore. And from a business perspective, I don’t know how you generate a positive return when it costs $10 million just to secure the medium.”
FOX Business correspondent Madison Alworth reports on Anthropic’s anti-ChatGPT advertisement and the competition among artificial intelligence chatbots on ‘Varney & Co.’
Sey criticized the quality of this year’s crop of Super Bowl ads in particular.
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“They were just relying on jamming as many celebrities into the ad as they could,” Sey said. “That doesn’t really work.”
Nio cars are seen displayed at Nio House, at the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker’s manufacturing hub in Hefei, Anhui province, China April 2, 2025.
Florence Lo | Reuters
DETROIT — The largest U.S. auto dealer isn’t interested in selling vehicles from China-based brands domestically right now, its CEO said Wednesday.
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But it’s not necessarily because of politics, logistics or potential consumer backlash, according to Lithia Motors CEO Bryan DeBoer. His company already has at least 10 stores selling vehicles from three Chinese companies in the United Kingdom.
DeBoer, who has grown Lithia exponentially in recent years, said the potential cost, return-on-investment and needed infrastructure, largely due to franchise rules in the U.S., are the biggest hindrances right now.
“We’re quite excited that we’ve got that opportunity in the United Kingdom, but there’s a big fundamental difference,” DeBoer told investors Wednesday, citing “dueling of franchises” practices in the U.K. that allow Lithia to offer brands from different companies in the same showroom if they’re deemed competitors.
DeBoer said the dealer can be allowed to put vehicles from a company such as China’s Chery Automobile, which is growing in Europe, into an existing showroom in the UK, and it would cost less than $100,000.
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That’s not the case for the U.S., where franchised dealer laws are strict, vary by state and companies can have more influence in, if not rules against, such decisions.
His comments come as Chinese automotive brands are increasingly exporting and expanding outside of their home market.
Global market share for Chinese brands has jumped nearly 70% in five years, and many experts see a threat to U.S. automakers, including the anticipated entrance of Chinese brands into America. There have been China-produced vehicles on sale in the U.S. from brands such as Buick and Volvo, but none are from Chinese brands such as BYD, Nio or others.
In the U.S., Lithia would need to establish new retail locations and service operations to support sales of Chinese brands, which would mean having to make completely new investments. He noted that roughly 50% to 60% of the company’s profits come from service and parts.
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“I think we would probably not be early adopters when it comes to the United States or possibly even Canada, primarily because we’re usually not in a dual franchise situation,” he said.
China’s most recent announced expansion is to Canada, a relatively small vehicle market that removed 100% tariffs on imported vehicles from China amid a trade dispute with the Trump administration.
But DeBoer said the Oregon-based company isn’t completely shutting the door, as Chinese brands continue to grow globally.
“We do have building relationships with a number of Chinese brands,” he said. “We’ll keep our minds open and look at what the opportunities that present us in the future.”
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DeBoer comments occurred on the company’s call to discuss its fourth-quarter and year-end earnings, which included annual increases of 4% in revenue and 3.1% in gross profit.
