International

Colombo, Dec 8: Sri Lanka will host the 37th session of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in February, 2024. The conference will enable ministers of agriculture and high officials from 46 member countries across the Asia Pacific region to discuss challenges and priorities related to food and agriculture, promoting regional coherence, Xinhua news agency reported quoting FAO as saying. Sri Lanka Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the gathering will provide a vital platform for regional collaboration, benefitting the agricultural landscape, fisheries sector and environment of Sri Lanka, as well as participating member countries. According to the FAO, by hosting the event, Sri Lanka demonstrat...

New Delhi, Dec 7: As the conflict in Gaza completes two months, the situation is described as nearing apocalyptic, with hundreds of thousands of people concentrated in a shrinking area in the south. The intensification of the fighting has rendered meaningful humanitarian efforts nearly impossible, exacerbating the plight of the affected population. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has invoked a rarely-used power under the UN charter, urging the Security Council to take action on the Gaza war. Despite this plea, the Council has yet to endorse any resolution calling for a comprehensive ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza has become a focal point of heavy fighting, with Israeli tanks surrounding the area. Thousands of people remain in the camp with...

New Delhi, Dec 7: In response to the catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Ulawun in Papua New Guinea on November 20, 2023, India has announced a substantial relief package of US$1 million. The eruption has forced the evacuation of over 26,000 people, creating pressing humanitarian needs in the affected region. The officials expressing heartfelt sympathy, India stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, acknowledging the extensive damage and destruction wrought by this natural disaster. This assistance is not merely a financial contribution but a testament to the enduring friendship and developmental collaboration between the two nations, particularly within the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Having consistently demonstrated...

New Delhi, Dec 7: Seychelles President Ramkalawan declared a State of Emergency on Thursday, December 7, responding to a massive explosion that jolted the Providence Industrial Area and adjacent districts injuring around a hundred residents. The explosion occurred at the explosive store of Civil Construction Company Ltd. (CCCL), leaving at least 100 individuals injured, with several already admitted to Seychelles Hospital. The Providence Industrial Area, situated on Mahé Island off the East African nation’s eastern coast in the Indian Ocean, bore the brunt of the blast, causing widespread destruction. The president’s office reported “massive damage” to the industrial zone, where the majority of the nation’s residents reside. The severity of the incident was underscored by a Se...

New Delhi, Dec 3: On the third day of renewed hostilities, the Israeli military has redirected its offensive efforts towards southern Gaza, with heavy airstrikes targeting the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah. The shift comes after the ceasefire with Hamas collapsed on Friday, leading to intensified attacks. The Israeli military states that its current operations aim at Hamas command centers, weapons storage, and naval forces, alleging that Hamas fighters are hiding in the south. Despite international concern, including statements from US officials, Israel asserts its right to defend itself while acknowledging a “moral responsibility” to protect civilians. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasises the moral duty to safeguard the population and warns of potential consequences...

New Delhi, Nov 30: Former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, has passed away at the age of 100 in his Connecticut residence, as confirmed by a statement from Kissinger Associates. The cause of death was not disclosed. Kissinger, a key figure in American diplomacy, served as the top diplomat and national security adviser during the Nixon and Ford administrations.He championed the policy of détente, actively working to thaw relations with both the Soviet Union and China. However, his legacy is marked by controversy, particularly surrounding allegations of tacit supportfor a coup that toppled a leftist government in Chile. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was a polarizing figure, simultaneously celebrated and condemned as a war criminal. Born in 1923, Kissinger’s life spanned g...

New Delhi, Nov 30: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the continuation of the six-day truce in Gaza, citing ongoing mediation efforts to facilitate the release of hostages. Concurrently, Hamas has agreed to extend the ceasefire for an additional day, as reported by Reuters. The IDF did not specify the duration of the extension. Late Wednesday night, ten Israeli hostages and four Thai citizens returned to Israeli territory following their release from Gaza. Additionally, two Russian-Israeli women were reported to have been released on the same day. Israel’s prison service disclosed the release of an additional 30 Palestinian prisoners. The extension marks the seventh day of the truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in...

New Delhi, Nov 30: In Jerusalem this morning suspected two Palestinian brothers killed three people and injured several others, leading to increased tensions in Israel and the West Bank Palestinian Territories. The two attackers were brothers known to the Israeli security services as Hamas supporters from (Palestinian) East Jerusalem and had both served prison sentences for what Israelis described as “terrorist activity” How these incidents in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jenin will affect the temporary truce which allows for the continued exchange of hostages and prisoners is unclear. That temporary ceasefire has now been extended for another day, but it feels particularly fragile. The hard-line national security minister in Israel’s government, Itamar Ben-Gvir, arrived quickly a...

Dubai, Nov 30: Hours before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland met with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and discussed ways to fight the climate crisis. Both leaders discussed the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work on climate change, India’s innovative climate solutions and leadership, as well as ways to strengthen their ongoing collaboration.Speaking after the meeting, the Secretary-General said: “I was really pleased and proud to be able to join hands with my colleague from India, Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. “We are discussing how we are going to address this climate crisis. ...

New Delhi, Nov 29: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has provided concerning details about the prevalence of various diseases in Gaza, shedding light on the dire health conditions facing its population. According to Ghebreyesus, cases of Acute respiratory infections, Scabies, Lice, diarrhoea, Skin rash, Impetigo, Chickenpox: and Jaundice are alarmingly increasing.Ghebreyesus issued a stark warning, stating, “Given the living conditions and lack of health care, more people could die from the disease than bombings.”Previous reports have highlighted the challenging conditions endured by the millions of internally displaced people in Gaza, including overcrowding, shortages of food and medicine, and inadequate sanitation. The ongoing six-da...