Latest News
Peru appoints Jose Maria Balcazar as president, ninth leader in a decade
Peru’s Congress has voted to appoint former judge and left-wing lawmaker Jose Maria Balcazar as interim president, replacing the right-wing leader Jose Jeri a day after his removal.
Wednesday’s vote ushers in Peru’s ninth president in a decade. Balcazar’s term, however, will be short.
In just 53 days, on April 12, the country will head to the ballot box to vote for a new president. If no candidate gains more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will be held in June.
Traditionally, Peru’s president-elects are inaugurated on the country’s Independence Day in late July. That ceremony will mark the end of Balcazar’s leadership.
Balcazar’s short tenure is the latest sign of turbulence in Peru’s government. Of Peru’s last eight presidents, four have been impeached and removed from office, and two have resigned before their term’s end.
The last president to serve a complete term was Ollanta Humala, whose presidency ended in July 2016.
Balcazar’s ascent to the presidency, however, was marked by its own turmoil. In an initial round of voting, centre-right lawyer Maria del Carmen Alva, 58, and Balcazar, 83, came out ahead, with 43 and 46 votes respectively.
But they both fell short of the 59 votes needed to be president, so another round of voting was announced. The left-wing party Together for Peru, however, decided to boycott the second round.
Balcazar ultimately won after a tally of the 113 congressional votes cast. He received 60 votes.
The prospect of Balcazar’s victory in the vote sparked outrage and frustration among some right-wing politicians, who denounced him on social media.
(Aljazeera)
Qantas Airways has agreed to pay A$105m (£55m; $74m) over claims that it should have issued cash refunds for cancelled flights during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The class action lawsuit was made on behalf of passengers whose flights were cancelled by the carrier between 2020 and 2022 and received travel credits instead of cash.
The settlement is almost double the amount that Qantas had expected to pay, according to its results published in February.
The national flag carrier said on Friday that it has agreed to pay the sum “with no admission of liability”.
The settlement is subject to court approval and details of how customers can claim refunds will be made soon, said Echo Law, the legal firm leading the class action.
The firm had alleged that Qantas breached its contracts with customers by failing to provide cash refunds for cancelled flights in a timely manner, and instead offered travel credits.
The airline engaged in “misleading or deceptive conduct” over the rights of customers over their cancelled flights in violation of Australian law, Echo Law said.
By doing so, Qantas “unlawfully benefited from customers by holding for years a very significant amount of customer funds that ought to have been refunded,” it added.
Qantas said in its statement that in 2023 that it had removed the expiry date on flight credits issued during the pandemic so that customers could request a cash refund right away.
The airline told investors in its half-year report that it expected to pay A$55m to settle the case.
Echo Law is leading a similar class action lawsuit against Australian budget carrier, Jetstar, over allegedly issuing customers travel credits that were worth less than the refunds that customers were entitled to.
“By acting in this way, Jetstar has enjoyed significant financial benefits at its customers’ expense,” said Echo Law.
BBC News understands that Jetstar is continuing to defend the case.
Qantas was fined a record A$90m in August 2025 for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground workers during the pandemic.
The penalty was the largest ever imposed by an Australian court for violations of industrial relations laws.
At the rime, Qantas said it had agreed to pay the fine and that the ruling holds it accountable for actions that caused “real harm” to its employees.
“We sincerely apologise to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result,” Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said.
(BBC)
The Sri Lanka Navy during yet another successful operation on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, intercepted two (02) local multi-day fishing trawlers.
One trawler, along with 05 individuals, was suspected of attempting to smuggle a consignment of narcotics and weapons. The second trawler and the remaining 05 suspects are believed to be linked to the same illicit operation.
On 12 Mar 26, the multiday fishing trawlers and crew were brought to the Dickowita Fishery Harbour.
After a meticulous examination the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) detected 478kg of crystal methamphetamine, 176kg of heroin as well as 03 mechanical weapons, 08 sidearms and
communication equipment.
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), along with the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya, were present to inspect the seized narcotics and weapons.
Latest News
Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 12 March 2026, valid for 13 March 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Monaragala and Mannar districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on
the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Qantas agrees to pay $74m over Covid-19 travel voucher refunds
Navy seize 654kg of narcotics and haul of arms off South Coast
Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts
Showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts
Govt. bends rules, lowers coal standards in favour of errant company: FSP
Lanka requests diesel from India
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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