WORLD
Sri Lanka to experience 10-hour daily power cuts
Sri Lanka has been facing power cuts since February due to dwindling electricity production in hydro power plants as well as diesel shortages that have crippled the operations of thermal power plants, the commission said, Xinhua news agency reported. The Ceylon Electricity Board said in a statement that they were "compelled to take demand management measures due to inadequate power generation, as a result of fuel shortage and unavailability of generators."
As Taliban ban girls from secondary schools, World Bank suspends $600mn projects
The projects were being prepared for implementation by United Nations agencies to support agriculture, education, health and livelihoods, the World Bank said, Pajhwok News reported. Now the four projects will be presented to ARTF donors for approval only when the World Bank and international partners have a better understanding of the situation and confidence that the goals of the schemes could be achieved. The US officials last week cancelled planned meetings in Doha.
Imran Khan risks losing majority after key ally MQM-P supports non-trust motion
Leaders from the opposition parties and MQM-P drafted an agreement at the Parliament Lodges after midnight. MQM-P Senator Faisal Subzwari confirmed, first in a tweet and then in an interaction with reporters, that a draft agreement had been finalized and the details will be announced at a press conference.
NSAs from China, Middle East, Central Asia to attend Islamabad Security Dialogue
The list of attendees includes National Security Advisers (NSA) from China, Middle East, and Central Asia. During the two-day hybrid event, organised by the National Security Division, the Pak-China Friendship Centre in the federal capital, will be a vital venue for policymakers, experts, scholars, thinkers, and serving National Security Advisers from China and several other countries in the region.
SL military assures maritime pacts with India not threat its security
Alleging that several media have misinterpreted the news, the Ministry of Defence ruled that the recently signed maritime security pacts with the Government of India would neither result in hindrance nor threat to the national security of Sri Lanka. The Defence Ministry clarified that several security pacts signed with India over setting up of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), a Floating Dock and Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Covid cases surge in most populous Australian states
NSW reported 25,235 new cases on Wednesday, its second highest daily increase in the month of March, the first highest being a result of a backlog of cases earlier in the month, Xinhua news agency reported. As the weather gets colder and the BA.2 variant, which is estimated to be 30 per cent to 40 per cent more transmissible than the original omicron strain, hospitalizations in the state have also grown steadily over the month.
US proposes USD 1.8 billion fund for strengthening security and stability in Indo-Pacific
“In the Indo-Pacific, America is strengthening its role and expanding its cooperation with longtime allies and partners, including new diplomatic, defence and security, critical and emerging technology and supply chain, and climate and global health initiatives, while supporting stronger ties between our European and Indo Pacific allies,” US President Biden said in a statement.
12 killed in Russia's airstrike on Ukraine's regional administration building
The airstrike, which occurred at about 8.45 a.m. local time (0545 GMT), destroyed the central section of the nine-story building, the ministry said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the ministry, 18 people were rescued from the debris following the attack. The search and rescue operation is under way, the ministry said.
'Putin-Zelensky meeting possible only after agreement ready'
Before the discussion of a possible meeting of the presidents, a treaty must be prepared and approved by the negotiators, and then endorsed by the foreign ministers, explained Medinsky, also an aide to the Russian President. This will be not simple especially because the meeting could be a multilateral one with the participation of state guarantors of peace and security to Ukraine, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
Omicron subvariant BA.2 becomes dominant strain in US: CDC
The variant has been steadily rising in proportion due to its increased transmissibility compared to the original Omicron strain, Xinhua news agency reported. The BA.2 variant represented 54.9% of new Covid-19 cases for the week ending March 26, according to CDC data. This data is up from 39 percent a week prior, and 27.8% two weeks before. The BA.2 subvariant is thought to be about 30% more transmissible than the original BA.1 Omicron strain, the early study suggested.
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