Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe arrested for misuse of state funds
Today's news: UN agency officially declares famine in Gaza City; dozens of Palestinians are killed in Israeli raids. India's Supreme Court rules that stray dogs must be released after vaccination and sterilisation. Protests take place in Indonesia over Prabowo's cuts to regional funding. Warning shots are fired at the inter-Korean border.
SRI LANKA
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested on charges of misuse of state funds. He faces three charges related to travel abroad during his presidency. Wickremesinghe appeared in a Colombo court yesterday, after giving a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) earlier that day. He was remanded in custody. He served as president from 2022 to 2024, taking office after the worst economic crisis in the country's history.
GAZA – ISRAEL
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has determined that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially experiencing famine, which is likely to spread. The international hunger monitoring body has stated that 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza, are experiencing famine; the number could rise to 641,000 by the end of September. Meanwhile, following Israel's approval of the plan to occupy Gaza City, Netanyahu said that the army will continue even if Hamas accepts a ceasefire agreement. Since yesterday, dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids on Gaza.
INDIA
India's Supreme Court has amended its previous order requiring authorities in Delhi and surrounding areas to move all stray dogs to shelters, following protests by animal welfare groups. It has instead mandated that strays must be released after being vaccinated and sterilised, and that dogs with rabies or aggressive behaviour must be immunised and held in shelters. The number of stray dogs in Delhi is estimated at one million.
INDONESIA
Thousands of Indonesians are protesting against a tax hike, with local leaders warning that public outrage will worsen if President Prabowo Subianto's new proposal to reduce regional funding is implemented. Last week, Prabowo proposed to parliament cutting regional funding by a quarter, as part of his efforts to recentralise public finances to fund ambitious flagship policy programmes, such as the nationwide free school lunch programme.
NORTH KOREA – SOUTH KOREA
South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean troops who temporarily crossed the heavily fortified border between the two countries. North Korean state media called the attacks a "deliberate provocation," and Pyongyang accused Seoul of risking "uncontrollable" tensions. The incident was made public as new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left Seoul for a visit to Japan and the United States. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has rejected attempts at reconciliation by Lee's government.
RUSSIA
The threat of Ukrainian drone strikes is changing social and cultural life in many Russian regions, with festivals, concerts, and sporting competitions cancelled, access to public parks and shopping malls restricted, and many scheduled events moved to safer cities, not just on the border with Ukraine.
ARMENIA
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Armenpress that he is ready to begin the process of amending the constitution to eliminate WHAT might contradict the peace process with Azerbaijan, in accordance with the Constitutional Court's recommendations. The government expects the new text to be approved in 2027.
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12/02/2016 15:14
