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State Minister defends President’s foreign trips
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Taraka Balasuriya, speaking at a press briefing titled ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country,’ held at the President Media Centre (PMC) today (01) defended the President’s recent foreign trips and dismissed claims that the trips were unnecessary by emphasizing their importance in strengthening Sri Lanka’s foreign relations and securing new partnerships.
He reiterated that Sri Lanka cannot afford to be isolated on the global stage pointing out that foreign relations are crucial for the country’s development, and that the President’s visits are essential for building bridges and fostering cooperation with other nations. He dismissed criticisms of the trips as baseless, asserting that they play a vital role in Sri Lanka’s pursuit of progress.
Sri Lanka’s recent diplomatic efforts have focused on economic recovery and international cooperation. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Wickremesinghe and the Foreign Minister engaged the business community in discussions on rebuilding the nation and attracting investment. This dialogue aimed to leverage Sri Lanka’s potential within the global market.
Furthermore, the President’s participation in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala addressed broader geopolitical concerns. Discussions centred on navigating the current power dynamics and Sri Lanka’s long-term economic trajectory within the context of the evolving global landscape by 2050. These engagements highlight Sri Lanka’s proactive approach to securing its future through international partnerships and strategic economic planning.
President Wickremesinghe’s participation in the G77 + China Summit addressed crucial issues like climate change and epidemic threats, particularly their impact on developing nations like Sri Lanka. Discussions included strategies for managing economies in the face of these challenges, and exploring the transition towards a green economy.
These events, he argued, provide opportunities to build new connections and strengthen existing relationships, which are crucial for a country seeking to avoid isolation and achieve progress. In his view, foreign official trips play a vital role in strengthening foreign relations and fostering development.
An earthquake in Afghanistan has killed eight members of the same family when their home collapsed in the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul province.
Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said on Saturday that a child aged around two years old was the only survivor. Afghanistan’s disaster management agency said the boy was injured
The 5.8-magnitude quake struck at 8:42pm local time (16:12 GMT) on Friday at a depth of 186km (115 miles). The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicentre was in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.
The capital Kabul is about 290km (180 miles) southwest of the epicentre.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in areas closer to the epicentre. The province is remote so it can often take several hours before local authorities can relay information back to Kabul.
Strong tremors were felt in multiple parts of Afghanistan, including Kabul and the Indian capital New Delhi, witnesses told the Reuters news agency.
Pakistan also felt the quake, including in the capital Islamabad and Peshawar, Chitral, Swat and Shangla. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Afghanistan is frequently jolted by earthquakes along the Hindu Kush mountain range – near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. On average, 560 people are killed by quakes there every year.
The deadliest tremor in the country’s recent history struck last August. The shallow magnitude 6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan wiped out mountain villages, killing at least 2,200 people.
Most casualties were in Kunar province, where Afghans typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep valleys.
Impoverished Afghanistan often faces difficulty in responding to natural disasters, especially in remote regions.
Many homes in rural and outlying areas are poorly built with bricks, wood and mud.
[Aljazeera]
Latest News
Breakdown of the teams and groups of the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US after the final playoffs
Iraq’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has completed the lineup of 48 nations for the tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Lions of Mesopotamia edged Bolivia 2-1 on Tuesday to win the second final of the FIFA Playoff tournament in Mexico. In the first final earlier, Democratic Republic of the Congo beat Jamaica 1-0.
In the other games, Turkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden and Czechia were the final four teams to complete the European quota of World Cup qualification.
Widely considered the most famous sporting event in the world, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be its biggest ever. Forty-eight nations will play instead of the usual 32, with 104 matches in 16 venues across the three host nations.
Argentina will look to defend the trophy lifted by iconic captain, Lionel Messi at Qatar 2022. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their debut.
The World Cup’s first game will be a throwback to 2010 when Mexico take on South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City in a replay of the tournament opener then. Football fans will hope the opening goal this year matches the screamer scored by Lawrence Tshabalala from the South African hosts then.
Mexico in group A – which includes South Korea and Czechia – will be one of the toughest of the 12 groups.
Team USA are alongside Australia, Paraguay and Turkiye.
Canada, too, face the challenging task of making it out of a group comprising Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia.
Here’s a breakdown of the 48 teams in the 12 groups:
Group A:
- Mexico
- South Korea
- South Africa
- Czechia
Group B:
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Qatar
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C:
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Scotland
- Haiti
Group D:
- USA
- Australia
- Paraguay
- Turkiye
Group E:
- Germany
- Ecuador
- Ivory Coast
- Curacao
Group F:
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Tunisia
- Sweden
Group G:
- Belgium
- Iran
- Egypt
- New Zealand
Group H:
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- Cape Verde
Group I:
- France
- Senegal
- Norway
- Iraq
Group J:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Algeria
- Jordan
Group K:
- Portugal
- Colombia
- Uzbekistan
- DRC
Group L:
- England
- Croatia
- Panama
- Ghana
[Aljazeera]
A total of 365 US service members have been wounded in action since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to figures released by the Pentagon.
They come from the following divisions:
- Army – 247
- Navy – 63
- Marines – 19
- Air Force – 36
The death toll remains at 13, according to the figures.
[BBC]
Afghanistan earthquake kills eight members of same family
Breakdown of the teams and groups of the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US after the final playoffs
365 US service members injured since start of Iran war – Pentagon
World Cup 2026: Italy’s football chief resigns after qualifying failure
Iran says it downed two US jets as search for one pilot continues
Showers above75 mm are likely at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, North-central and Eastern provinces after 1.00 p.m.
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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