United News of Bangladesh

Five-time former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was reappointed Thursday in an effort to bring stability to the island nation, engulfed in a political and economic crisis. Wickremesinghe took his oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a ceremony at the president’s residence. Protesters have blocked the entrance to the president's office for more than a month. Also read: Wickremesinghe to be appointed Sri Lankan PM: Party official The president’s brother, Mahinda Rajakapsa, resigned as prime minister on Monday following violent attacks by supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters. His resignation automatically dissolved the Cabinet, leaving an administrative vacuum. The president’s selection of Wickremesinghe is seen an attempt to end violence triggered by the crisis and restore international credibility as the government negotiates a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. On Wednesday, authorities deployed armored vehicles and troops in the streets of the capital after the attacks on protesters triggered a wave of violence across the country. Nine people died and more than 200 were injured. Security forces have been ordered to shoot people deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continue despite a strict nationwide curfew that began Monday evening. For weeks, protesters have been demanding that both Rajapaksas resign over a debt crisis that has nearly bankrupted the country and caused severe shortages of fuel, food and other essentials. Some opposition politicians and religious leaders objected to Wickremesinghe's appointment, saying citizens wanted sweeping reforms. Opposition lawmaker Anura Dissananayake said the president’s choice of Wickremesinghe was more about protecting him and his family from public anger over his role in the economic crisis than solving the country’s problems. When he was foreign minister from 2015 to 2019, Wickremesinghe was accused of protecting Rajapaksa’s powerful family from allegations of corruption and other wrongdoing. Buddhist and Catholic clergy also objected to Wickremesinghe’s selection. “This decision has been taken totally disregarding the aspirations of the people who are protesting today. The protests can only get worse by this decision,” said the Rev. Omalpe Sobitha a senior Buddhist monk. Also read: Sri Lanka leader vows to shed powers, appoint prime minister Catholic Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said for the country to move forward from its crisis, “we need a complete change of the system.” Sri Lanka is nearly bankrupt and has suspended repayments of $7 billion in foreign loans due this year. The IMF has said any short or long-term assistance depends on the outcome of talks with creditors on loan restructuring. Sri Lanka must repay about $25 billion in foreign loans by 2026 out of a current total foreign debt of $51 billion. The finance ministry said earlier this month that the country’s usable foreign reserves have plummeted to just $25 million. The foreign currency shortage has forced a sharp decline in imports, leading to severe shortages of essentials such as fuel, cooking gas, food and medicine. For months, people have had to stand in long lines to buy limited supplies, with many returning empty handed. The new prime minister will likely present a Cabinet list to the president for appointment, a power vested in him by the constitution. If there are any objections to the prime minister or the new Cabinet, lawmakers can submit a no-confidence motion to the house speaker when the body reconvenes on Tuesday. The motion would then be debated and voted on. Wickremesinghe, 73, has been in Parliament for 45 years. His political party split in 2020 amid a leadership crisis and most senior members left to form a new party, which is currently the country’s main opposition. Wickremesinghe’s reputation was damaged during his previous term as prime minister, when he was in a difficult power- sharing arrangement with then-President Maithripala Sirisena. Conflict and a communication breakdown between him and Sirisena were blamed for intelligence lapses that led to Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in 2019 that killed more than 260 people. He was also accused of shielding a friend he appointed as head of the Central Bank from allegations of insider trading.

Nurses have played a key role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, from treating patients to the successful implementation of the country's national immunization program, Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Khairy Jamaluddin said on Thursday. In a ceremony to mark the International Nurses Day 2022 celebrations organized by the Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA) in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, Khairy said their efforts and those of other frontliners have made it possible for the country to move towards an endemic phase. "Nurses have treated patients, dispensing the vaccine shots with the syringe into the arms of millions of Malaysians and that has enabled us to slowly shift to endemicity," he said in his speech. "Their contributions must not be forgotten as they had sacrificed their time, energy, safety and lives to be at the frontline while not knowing how dangerous the virus was during the early months of the pandemic," he added. Also Read: Malaysia's ruling party wins big again in state polls Meanwhile, in a separate ceremony, Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah launched an exhibition at the National Museum showing the evolution of the uniform of nurses in the country's history. Noor Hisham said the exhibition would allow the public to see how the profession has developed and to foster greater appreciation for the country's nurses. "This is seen as a sign of appreciation to the nurses as a front line officer in providing the best health services to society," he said in a brief speech. May 12 marks International Nurses Day. It is a special day observed every year to mark the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth and to celebrate the contributions that nurses make to the society.          

India's federal education ministry has issued guidelines for schools to combat the ill effects of the ongoing heatwave, officials said Thursday. With India Meteorological Department (IMD) declaring a heatwave in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) from Friday, the guidelines say schools should reduce hours, relax uniform norms and restrict outdoor activities. "School hours may start early and get over before noon. The timing may be from 7:00 a.m. local time onwards. The number of school hours per day may be reduced. Sports and other outdoor activities which expose students directly to the sunlight may be appropriately adjusted in the early morning," read the guidelines. "School assembly should be conducted in covered areas or classrooms with reduced timing. Similar care may be taken during dispersal after school is over." According to the directive, school buses and vans should not be overcrowded and there should be drinking water and first aid kit available in every vehicle. Also Read: Oxygen tank leak claims 22 lives in India Covid hospital The ministry also said teachers should remind students to sip water from their water bottles at regular intervals. Last month IMD said northwest and central India recorded the highest maximum temperatures for the month of April in 122 years. India, on average, also recorded its warmest March in 122 years. A heatwave had sent the mercury soaring across India, with the temperature in New Delhi rising to 46 degrees centigrade. Regarding uniform, the ministry said students must be allowed to wear loose and light-colored cotton outfits. The ministry also said children are advised not to carry their tiffins as the food might turn stale or get spoiled in the heat. Instead, it asked schools to provide hot-cooked and fresh meals under a government program. Additionally, schools must be equipped with Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) sachets and school staff should be trained to provide first aid to students in case of mild heat stroke.    

At least five people were killed and two others injured when their SUV crashed into a speeding dumper on a busy expressway near the national capital on Thursday. Police said the accident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida city bordering Delhi when the victims, all tourists from western India, were returning from Agra, where they had gone to visit the Taj Mahal. Read: 7 of family killed in India road accident "They were on the way from Agra towards Noida (sister city of Greater Noida) when their SUV hit the dumper truck from the rear side near Jewar toll plaza," a spokesperson for Noida Police told the local media. While five of the occupants died on the spot, the injured have been hospitalised. "The condition of one of them is critical," a police officer said. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter to expresse grief over the loss of the lives in the accident. "Praying for peace to departed souls," he said. A probe has been ordered into the accident, the police spokesperson said, adding that the truck was seized. Read: India's top court stays sedition law Road accidents are very common in India, with one taking place every four minutes. These accidents are often blamed on poor roads, rash driving and scant regard for traffic laws. Indian government's implementation of stricter traffic laws in recent years have failed to rein in accidents, which claim over 100,000 lives every year.

Five-time former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be reappointed on Thursday in an effort to bring stability to the island nation, engulfed in a political and economic crisis, a party official said. “He is being sworn in as prime minister this evening because a number of members of Parliament have asked him to take over and solve the country's problems,” said Vajira Abeywardena, an official of the United National Party, which Wickremesinghe heads. Also read: Sri Lanka leader vows to shed powers, appoint prime minister Abeywardena said more than 160 lawmakers in the 225-member Parliament support Wickremesinghe’s selection, but this could not be verified independently. There was no immediate comment from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has the power to appoint the prime minister. If Rajapaksa selects Wickremesinghe, it would be seen an attempt to end violence triggered by the crisis and restore international credibility as his government negotiates a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund and debt restructuring plans. The president’s brother, Mahinda Rajakapsa, resigned as prime minister on Monday following violent attacks by their supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters. His resignation automatically dissolved the Cabinet, leaving an administrative vacuum. Authorities deployed armored vehicles and troops in the streets of the capital on Wednesday after the attacks on the protesters triggered a wave of violence across the country. Nine people died and more than 200 have been injured. Security forces have been ordered to shoot people deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continue despite a strict nationwide curfew that began Monday evening. The protesters have been demanding the resignations of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother over the economic crisis. Sri Lanka is nearly bankrupt and has suspended repayments of $7 billion in foreign loans due this year. The IMF has said any short or long-term assistance depends on the outcome of talks with creditors on loan restructuring. Sri Lanka must repay about $25 billion in foreign loans by 2026 out of a current total foreign debt of $51 billion. The finance ministry said earlier this month that the country's usable foreign reserves have plummeted to just $25 million. The foreign currency shortage has forced a sharp decline in imports, leading to severe shortages of essentials such as fuel, cooking gas, food and medicine. For months, people have had to stand in long lines to buy limited supplies, with many returning empty handed. If selected, Wickremesinghe will likely present a Cabinet list to the president for appointment, a power vested in him by the constitution. If there are any objections to the prime minister or the new Cabinet, lawmakers can submit a no-confidence motion to the house speaker when the body reconvenes on Tuesday. The motion would then be debated and voted on. Also read: Sri Lanka deploys troops in capital after violence, protests Wickremesinghe, 73, has been in Parliament for 45 years. He has wide international connections and is seen as a capable negotiator. His political party split in 2019 amid a leadership crisis and most senior members left to form a new party, which is currently the country’s main opposition. Wickremesinghe's reputation was damaged during his previous term as prime minister, when he was in a difficult power sharing arrangement with former President Maithripala Sirisena. An internal conflict and communication breakdown between him and Sirisena was blamed for intelligence lapses that led to Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in 2019 that killed more than 260 people. He was also accused of shielding a friend he appointed as head of the Central Bank from allegations of insider trading.

A Nepali Sherpa broke her own record as the most successful female climber of Mount Everest by reaching the summit of the world's highest peak Thursday. Lakpa Sherpa and several other climbers took advantage of favorable weather to reach the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit early in the morning, her brother and expedition organizer Mingma Gelu said. He said she was in good health and was safely descending from the peak. Also read: Sherpa guide breaks own record scaling Everest for 26th time Sherpa, 48, never got a chance to get a formal education because she had to start earning a living by carrying climbing gear and supplies for trekkers. Thursday's successful ascent was her 10th — the most times any woman has climbed Everest — and she has always said she wanted to inspire all women so they too can achieve their dreams. A native of Nepal, Sherpa lives in the U.S. with her three children in West Hartford, Connecticut. Another Nepalese Sherpa guide, Kami Rita, reached the summit for the 26th time Saturday, breaking his own record for the most climbs of Everest. Rita led a group of Sherpa climbers who fixed ropes along the route so that hundreds of other climbers and guides can make their way to the top of the mountain later this month. Also read: China cancels Everest climbs over fears of virus from Nepal Hundreds of foreign climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides are set to attempt climbs of Everest in May, the month when weather conditions in the Himalayan peaks are most favorable for climbing.

A Chinese passenger jet left the runway upon takeoff and caught fire in western China on Thursday morning, and several people were injured. Tibet Airlines said it happened at 8:09 a.m. (0009 GMT) as the flight to the city of Nyingchi in the Tibetan Autonomous Region was preparing to take off from the western city of Chongqing. Also read:5 dead after small plane crashes into soda truck in Haiti The Airbus A319-115 jet had 113 passengers and nine flight crew onboard, all of whom were safely evacuated with some taken to a hospital with minor injuries, the airline said in an statement. The plane itself had fire damage, it said. “In the process of taking off, the flight crew discovered an abnormality with the aircraft and stopped the takeoff, after which the aircraft left the runway," the statement said. Also read: Search finds 49,000 pieces of plane in China Eastern crash The incident follows the crash of a Chinese Eastern Boeing 737-800 in southeastern China on March 21 in which all 132 people on board were killed. That accident, in which the plane went into a sudden nosedive and slammed into the ground in a mountainous area, remains under investigation.

Sri Lanka’s president on Wednesday promised to appoint a new prime minister, empower the Parliament and abolish the all-powerful executive presidential system as reforms to stabilize the country engulfed in a political crisis and violence triggered by the worst economic crises in memory. In a televised address, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he without partisanship condemns attacks on peaceful protesters by mobs who came to support his brother and former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned Monday. “I am taking steps to appoint within this week a new prime minister who has the trust of a majority in Parliament, who can win over the confidence of the people and a new Cabinet to control the current situation, to stop the country from falling into anarchy and to continue the government’s functions that are at a standstill,” Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. “I will make way for the new prime minister to present a new program of work and implement it.” Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he will also give away much of his powers to Parliament and when some normalcy returns, take steps to abolish the country’s powerful executive presidential system. The president’s speech came as authorities deployed armored vehicles and troops in the streets of the capital Wednesday, two days after pro-government mobs attacked peaceful protesters, triggering a wave of violence across the country. Security forces have been ordered to shoot those deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued despite a strict nationwide curfew that began Monday evening. Also read: Sri Lanka deploys troops in capital after violence, protests Anti-government protesters have been demanding the resignations of President Rajapaksa and his brother, over a debt crisis that has nearly bankrupted Sri Lanka and left its people facing severe shortages of fuel, food and other essentials. In the past few days, nine people have died and more than 200 have been injured in violent attacks in which mobs set fire to buildings and vehicles. Armored trucks with soldiers riding on top rolled into some areas of Colombo. Defying the curfew, some protesters regrouped opposite the president’s office to continue demonstrations that began over a month ago. Police announced over loudspeakers that it is illegal to stay in public places during the curfew. Videos posted on social media showed lines of military trucks moving out of the capital, along with soldiers riding on motorbikes and setting up checkpoints across the country amid fears that a political vacuum could pave the way for a military takeover. The Defense Ministry’s top official, Kamal Gunaratne, denied speculation of a military takeover at a news conference held with the country’s army and navy chiefs. “None of our officers has a desire to take over the government. It has never happened in our country, and it is not easy to do it here,” Gunaratne said. President Rajapaksa is a former top army officer and remains the country’s official defense minister. Gunaratne said the army will return to its barracks once the security situation normalizes. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the military deployment, with spokesman Ned Price saying it was “closely monitoring” the situation. The prime minister’s departure has created an administrative vacuum with no Cabinet, which dissolved automatically with his resignation. Navy commander Nishantha Ulugetenne said the former prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is being protected at a naval base in Trincomalee on the northeastern coast. After Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned, he and his family were evacuated from his official residence through thousands of protesters trying to break into the heavily guarded colonial-era building. The Indian Embassy denied social media speculation that “certain political persons and their families have fled to India,” and also rejected speculation that India was sending troops to Sri Lanka. India’s Ministry of External Affairs affirmed its support for Sri Lanka on Tuesday, saying it had extended $3.5 billion to help overcome the economic crisis and had sent essential items such as food and medicine. On Monday, supporters gathered at the prime minister’s official residence to urge Mahinda Rajapaksa to stay in office. After the meeting, mobs backing the government beat peaceful protesters who had camped out near the prime minister’s residence and president’s office demanding their resignations, as police watched and did little to stop them. Across the country, angry citizens responded by attacking government supporters and ruling party politicians. Nine people including a ruling party lawmaker and two police officers were killed and 219 were injured in the violence, the defense ministry said. In addition, 104 buildings and 60 vehicles were burned. Pro-government mobs were chased, beaten and stripped. Homes of government supporters were attacked, and some businesses were set on fire. Pope Francis in a Tweet called for peace in Sri Lanka. “I address a special thought to the people of Sri Lanka, especially the young,” he said. “I urge everyone to maintain a peaceful approach, without giving in to violence. I appeal to all those with responsibility to listen to the aspirations of the people, respecting human and civil rights.” The European Union called on the authorities to initiate an investigation into the events and hold accountable those who instigated and carried out the violence. Sri Lanka is nearing bankruptcy and has suspended payments on $7 billion in foreign loans due this year out of $25 billion due by 2026. Its total foreign debt is $51 billion. The Central Bank on Wednesday urged the president and Parliament to quickly restore political stability, warning the economy faces a threat of further collapse within days. “Even for us to make progress on debt restructuring, we need a stable kind of a government. A Cabinet, a Parliament, a prime minister, a finance minister are all needed,” Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. “Without that kind of an administration, it is very difficult for us make any progress.”

China's National Meteorological Center on Wednesday renewed an orange alert for rainstorms in various parts of the country. From Wednesday evening to Thursday evening, downpours are expected to lash parts of Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan. Some areas will experience up to 280 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours. Some regions are likely to encounter hourly precipitation of over 100 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales. Also Read: Rainstorm kills five people in north Nigeria The center has advised local governments to make preparations for the rainstorms. Schools and kindergartens have been asked to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of children, and drivers have been warned to watch out for flooding and traffic jams. China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.    

Sri Lankan authorities deployed armored vehicles and troops on the streets of the capital Wednesday, two days after pro-government mobs attacked peaceful protesters, triggering a wave of violence across the country. Security forces have been ordered to shoot those deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued despite a strict nationwide curfew that began Monday evening. Armored trucks with soldiers riding atop were seen rolling into some areas of Colombo, where the government is facing its severest challenge in decades as the country plunges into economic crisis and protests. Videos posted on social media showed lines of military trucks moving out of the capital and soldiers setting up checkpoints across the country, amid fears that a political vacuum could pave the way for a military takeover. Read: India's top court stays sedition law The Defense Ministry’s top official, Kamal Gunaratne, denied allegations of a military takeover, at a news conference jointly held with the country’s army and navy chiefs. “None of our officers have a desire to take over the government. It has never happened in our country and it is not easy to do it here,” said Gunaratne. President Rajapaksa is himself a former top army officer and remains the country’s official defense minister. Gunaratne said the army will return to its barracks once the security situation normalizes. Navy commander Nishantha Ulugetenne said the former prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is being protected at the naval base in Trincomalee on the northeastern coast. Nationwide protests have been calling for the resignations of Rajapaksa and his brother, who stepped down as prime minister this week, over a debt crisis that has nearly bankrupted Sri Lanka and left its people facing shortages of fuel, food and other essentials.