Sri Lanka declares a state of emergency

Published

3 years ago

July 13, 2022

Costa Haritos

Sri Lanka is in a state of emergency, as protesters push for a new government amid economic uncertainty

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed as the nation’s acting president.

It follows the incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country on a military jet.

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes the acting president.

It is believed the 73-year-old landed in the Maldives and will soon make his way to his final destination with his wife and two security officials.

Sri Lanka is in the grips of its worst economic crisis in 70 years, with protesters storming the presidential palace at the weekend.

A man stands in the swimming pool at the Sri Lankan President’s house.

Rajapaksa promised to resign by Wednesday. His departure ends a family dynasty, which has been at the helm of Sri Lankan politics for two decades.

It’s understood police fired tear gas at protesters to stop them from clashing with security officials.

Worsening economic crisis

Sri Lanka has previously defaulted on its debt for the first time in its history.

Earlier this year, the nation was forced to come up with $78 million of unpaid debt interest payments.

Police have imposed a curfew across the Western Province, which includes the nation’s capital of Colombo.

Wickremesinghe has also announced an intention to resign if there is no consensus on forming a unity government.

The President of Sri Lanka enjoys freedom from arrest, which has allowed Rajapaksa to leave the nation to avoid being detained.

Shoppers cut back this Black Friday as budgets tighten

UK shoppers are tightening budgets for Black Friday, expecting to spend £622—4% less than last year—favoring discounts.

Published

11 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

UK shoppers are tightening budgets for Black Friday, expecting to spend £622—4% less than last year—favoring discounts.

Shoppers across the UK are revising their Black Friday game plan, tightening their budgets as economic pressures reshape spending behaviour. Many are approaching the sales season far more cautiously than before.

Consumers expect to spend an average of £622 this year — a 4% drop from last year — with many relying on discounts and promotions to stretch their budgets. Value is king, with 38% of shoppers saying they’ll only buy items that are at least 50% off.

Rising inflation and income disruptions are adding pressure, and even higher-income households plan to scale back spending across Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Brands and retailers will need to work harder to earn every pound this shopping season.

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News

National Guard ambush: Afghan man charged after D.C. shooting

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrested for shooting two National Guard members; FBI probes potential terrorism link.

Published

11 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrested for shooting two National Guard members; FBI probes potential terrorism link.

An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been arrested after allegedly shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Authorities say Lakanwal previously worked with CIA-backed military units in Afghanistan before coming to the United States.

The victims, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, remain in critical condition. Officials warn that if either victim dies, the charges could escalate to first-degree murder as the investigation intensifies.

The FBI is now examining the case as a potential act of terrorism, while the Department of Homeland Security has announced a review of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.

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News

Hong Kong construction bosses arrested after city’s deadliest fire in decades

Hong Kong arrests construction bosses after deadly fire kills 83; 279 still missing as investigation intensifies.

Published

11 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Hong Kong arrests construction bosses after deadly fire kills 83; 279 still missing as investigation intensifies.

Hong Kong has been shaken by the arrest of construction company bosses following the city’s most devastating fire in almost 80 years, which claimed at least 83 lives. The blaze erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, where renovation work was underway.

Authorities report that more than 4,600 residents lived in the high-rise blocks, with most victims found within two of the towers. Shockingly, 279 people remain unaccounted for nearly 24 hours after the fire first broke out.

The Hong Kong government has announced a HK$300 million emergency fund to support survivors and affected residents. Meanwhile, police are deepening their investigation, seizing documents and equipment from the company’s headquarters.

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