by Rob Smyth (now) and Tim de Lisle (later) on January 16, 2021 at 4:09 am

• Over-by-over updates from the third day in Galle
• Andy Bull: Lawrence makes formidable Test debut
• Get in touch! Email Rob with your thoughts

4.09am GMT

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Related: 'I did a lot of talking': Joe Root puts words into deeds with Galle century

Related: Dan Lawrence settles into Test cricket with formidable familiarity | Andy Bull

5.52pm GMT

Hello. Here’s how it usually works in Galle: the team that wins the toss bats first and wins the match. Good job everyone, thanks for coming. On a pitch that deteriorates like no other in world cricket, batting second is a huge disadvantage - and one that, for touring teams in particular, has been almost impossible to overcome.

The away side has won only two of the 21 Galle Tests in which they have fielded first. Pakistan were the victorious team on both occasions, in 2000 and 2015. Since then, India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh have all lost the toss and then the match.

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by Reuters on January 16, 2021 at 3:49 am

Justice department puts itself in between president and writer who sued after Trump dismissed 1990s rape allegation as bookselling ploy

The US justice department has said Donald Trump should not be forced to defend himself against a defamation lawsuit by the author E Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her, and that the government itself should be substituted as the defendant.

In a filing with the 2nd US circuit court of appeals in Manhattan, the department said Trump qualified as a typical “employee of the government” entitled to immunity under federal law from Carroll’s claims, and was also shielded because he spoke about her in his capacity as president.

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by Martin Pengelly on January 16, 2021 at 1:57 am

• Photographer snaps pictures of notes near West Wing
• Visible words include ‘Move Kash Patel to CIA Acting’
• US politics – live coverage

My Pillow founder and Trump supporter Mike Lindell was photographed entering the West Wing of the White House on Friday, carrying notes which seemed to advocate the imposition of martial law.

Donald Trump will be replaced as president in five days’ time, by Joe Biden. Trump continues to baselessly claim his election defeat by the Democrat was the result of electoral fraud.

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by Reuters on January 16, 2021 at 1:52 am

Legislative polls to be held in May, presidential election set for July

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has announced parliamentary and presidential elections, the first in 15 years, in an effort to heal long-standing internal divisions.

The move is widely seen as a response to criticism of the democratic legitimacy of Palestinian political institutions, including Abbas’s presidency.

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by Alex Hern on January 15, 2021 at 11:10 pm

Error message greets visitors to site registered in name of Irish businessman who claims he does not know campaign group

Leave.EU has been forced to “Internexit” after the group’s EU domain name was temporarily suspended. It comes after the Irish businessman in whose name the pro-Brexit campaign group’s domain name is registered denied having any involvement with the organisation.

Now visitors to the site are greeted with an error message, and the EU’s online registry marks the domain as under a server hold, meaning it is “temporarily inactive and under investigation”.

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by Guardian sport and agencies on January 15, 2021 at 10:24 pm

• Luis Alberto double seals comfortable Rome derby win
• PSG manager to miss two Ligue 1 games after positive test

Lazio boosted their hopes of another top-four finish and dented Roma’s title ambitions as Luis Alberto’s double sealed a dominant 3-0 victory in the Rome derby.

The nominal hosts took the lead after 14 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to Manuel Lazzari, who pressured Roger Ibañez into a defensive error and cut the ball back for Ciro Immobile to sweep into the top corner.

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by Associated Press in New York on January 15, 2021 at 10:14 pm

• Gun rights group claims to be in strong financial condition
• New York state sued over executive expenditures
• US politics – live coverage

The National Rifle Association announced on Friday it has filed for bankruptcy. The nation’s most politically influential gun-rights group will now seek to incorporate in Texas instead of New York.

Related: New York prosecutors interview Michael Cohen about Trump finances

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by Associated Press in New York on January 15, 2021 at 10:04 pm

• Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr is seeking tax records
• Former Trump lawyer serving out sentence at home
• US politics – live coverage

New York prosecutors conducted an hours-long interview on Thursday with Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former attorney, asking a range of questions about the president’s business dealings, according to three people familiar with the meeting.

Related: Nancy Pelosi says lawmakers who aided in Capitol attack may be prosecuted

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