Russia's war in Ukraine has shocked the world and badly affected the global economy. Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since the country gained independence in 1948. Sri Lanka, hit by rising oil import costs and declining tourism revenues, is racing to avert a default amid dwindling foreign exchange holdings. Inflation is already the worst in Asia at 15%, with the conflict only making it harder for the tropical island off the southern tip of India. Fuel shortages and blackouts lasting up to seven hours have become a daily routine, while waits become longer at gas stations where prices have risen nearly 50% this month. Officials are struggling to cope with the crisis. They have raised interest rates, devalued the local currency, and curbed...
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The IMF intends to begin discussions with Sri Lanka on a program to support the country. Spokesman Gerry Rice said the island was facing heavy currency depreciation and inflation after an unusual battle of printing money to keep interest rates low. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in a national address on Wednesday that he has permitted the IMF program to go ahead after meeting senior staff of the lender in Colombo. Officials have also indicated that they are actively considering an IMF-backed program," said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice. During the Finance Minister's visit to Washington in April, we will discuss with officials how best we can help Sri Lanka move forward. The IMF has already called for tighter monetary policy to prevent liquidity injections ...
Read MoreBhagwant Mann will take oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab on March 16
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will take oath along with other cabinet ministers on March 16. The oath ceremony will be in Khatkar Kalan, the native village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh is an important symbol of the Aam Aadmi party's ideology. The senior leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party including National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior ministers of the Delhi government will be present. The present assembly will soon be dissolved by the governor and he has got the recommendation for the same from the cabinet. He will also issue guidelines for the formation of a new assembly. Chief ministerial nominees Bhagwant Mann and Raghav Chadha are also expected to meet the Punjab governor this morning. A senior official of the Leg...
Read MorePunjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu lost the Amritsar East seat.
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu lost from Amritsar East seat on Thursday. According to the Election Commission, AAP candidate Jeevanjyot Kaur defeated Sidhu by a margin of 6,750 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is all set to form the next government in Punjab, has won the crucial Amritsar East seat. Jeevan Jyot Kaur got 39520 votes against Sidhu's 32807 ballots. While Bikram Singh Majithia of Shiromani Akali Dal lost from Amritsar East seat by a margin of 14,408 votes. Earlier today, Navjot Singh Sidhu graciously accepted his defeat and congratulated his opposition leaders for winning. The Congress chief tweeted, The voice of the people is the voice of God. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab and congratulate to Aam Aadmi Party. As soon ...
Read MoreCurrent trends in Uttarakhand, as updated by the Election Commission, suggest that the ruling BJP has not only successfully fought the battle, but is also set to return to power in Uttarakhand. BJP was ahead in 44 seats, eight more than the required majority in the 70-seat assembly, the Congress was ahead in 22 seats as the counting of votes was underway. This is going to be a record of sorts for the BJP as it continues to capture power in the state where the anti-incumbency wave has not allowed any party to remain in power since its formation in 2000. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Congress' Harish Rawat, who led the campaigns of their respective parties in these assembly elections, were trailing in their respective seats of Khatima and Lalkuan...
Read MoreUP Election 2022 Result: Second term for BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to retain Uttar Pradesh for a second term after securing a massive lead in the first few hours of counting votes in the northern state. This will be the first time since 1985 that a ruling party will return to power in the state. According to Election Commission data, after seven rounds of counting, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is leading from his constituency Karhal and BJP's SP Singh Baghel is second. The exit polls indicated that the BJP would be able to cross the 200-mark and claim a majority in the 403-member assembly in UP. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party was projected as the first runner-up. The UP assembly elections 2022 were held in seven phases from 10 February 2022 to 7 March 2022....
Read MoreCounting of votes is underway in Manipur, with preliminary data indicating that the BJP is leading in 29 seats, while the Congress is leading in 10 assembly constituencies. National People's Party is leading in 10 seats and JD(U) in 3 seats. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh is currently leading by 2,598 votes in the Hingang constituency. All eyes are on the results of the assembly elections in Manipur, where the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to retain power, while the Congress is also expected to win. According to exit polls, the ruling BJP will either emerge as the single largest party or cross the halfway mark. While the two major parties are expected to be the main contenders, other parties including the National People's Party, the Naga People's Front and ...
Read MorePunjab Election Results 2022: AAP looking ready to win in Punjab
Aam Aadmi Party is leading in most of the seats in Punjab, with Chief Ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann leading . while sitting CM Charanjit Singh Channi is trailing in both his seats. Other senior Congress leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu and President Rana Kanwarpal Singh are trailing in their respective constituencies as per the early trends. The Aam Aadmi Party has emerged as a major contender for the Congress, which wants to retain power in a multi-cornered contest. Earlier various exit polls had predicted that AAP's Bhagwant Mann would defeat Charanjit Singh Channi as the next Chief Minister of Punjab. A total of 1,304 candidates were in the fray, including 93 women and two transgenders....
Read MoreIn Goa, preliminary figures show that in Goa, the BJP is leading in 20 assembly constituencies, while the Congress is leading in 19 seats. TMC is leading in 5 seats. After exit polls predicted that the results in Goa would end in a dead heat, political parties in the state are preparing for a post-poll scenario. The counting of votes in the 40-seat state began at 8 am on Thursday. With over 300 candidates contesting in 40 assembly constituencies, Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with parties including BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and AAP. Meanwhile, BJP Goa CM Pramod Sawant on Tuesday traveled to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Congress on Wednesday said talks are on with the Aam Aadmi Party to garner sup...
Read MoreAccording to a Ukrainian media report on Tuesday, India is among the countries from where volunteers have joined the Volunteer Military Force of Ukraine, the International Army, and are currently engaged in warfare. Media reports claimed that 21-year-old Sainikesh Ravichandran, a resident of Thudaliyur in Coimbatore, has joined a paramilitary unit of volunteers in Ukraine. Sainikesh went to Ukraine in 2018 to study at the National Aerospace University in Kharkiv. He was to complete the course by July 2022. During the ongoing war in Ukraine, his family had lost contact with Sainikesh. After taking the help of the embassy, they were able to get in touch with Sainikesh. Then He informed his family that he had joined Ukrainian paramilitary forces to fight against Russia. Wh...
Read MoreBJP confident of winning more than 40 seats in Manipur Assembly elections
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Manipur President, Adhikarimayum Sharada Devi on Tuesday exuded full confidence over her victory in the Assembly election that took place in two phases in the northeastern state over the past few days. She said the BJP has set a target of more than 40 seats and we are confident of forming a stable government. When the final results are declared, we expect this number to be 40 plus only in the assembly elections Our party has not taken a decision on the chief ministerial candidate and there is no point in a new CM. Exit polls in Manipur gave the ruling BJP a clear lead in forming the next government, with many predicting that it could be reduced to less than half. As predicted by India News-Jan Ki Baat, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party...
Read MoreUkraine Celebrities Will Defend Their Country From Russian
During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many of the country's citizens have been left with potentially serious decisions to make. Some have taken up shelter in Ukraine and some have fled. Many others, including celebrities and lawmakers, have chosen to stay and fight for their country. Popular Ukrainian singer Andrey Khalivanyuk has decided to take up arms to defend his country instead of fleeing. He left his children in the care of his grandmother. He recently told the Euronews website. Now is not the time to play guitar. It's time to get rifles and protect our country. The 36-year-old Kyiv-born Stakhovsky lives in Hungary but has returned to Ukraine to join the military and is currently waiting for a chance to defend his country against Russian troops. Stakhovsky took to Ins...
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