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Sri Lanka’s Meteorology Department has issued a warm weather advisory under an Amber alert, warning of a rising heat index across several provinces. However, the announcement has triggered debate, with critics questioning whether the warning is coming too late as extreme temperatures begin to affect daily life.

According to the advisory issued yesterday (27) by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, the heat index the temperature felt by the human body is expected to reach “caution level” in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-Western, Northern, and North-Central provinces, as well as the Monaragala District.

While authorities urge the public to take precautions, including staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, concerns are growing over whether adequate preventive measures are being implemented in advance.

Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to high heat levels can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other serious conditions, particularly among outdoor workers, schoolchildren, and vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile, social media users and civil society groups have raised concerns over what they describe as inconsistent communication and delayed warnings, arguing that better preparedness could reduce risks during such extreme weather events.

The Meteorology Department has maintained that the advisory is issued in line with standard procedures, emphasizing that the public should strictly follow safety guidelines as temperatures are expected to remain high in the coming days.

(Dailymirror)

Harry Potter TV series is already under tight scrutiny even before its release as it lands in one controversy after the other.

The HBO series has reportedly increased its security by a huge margin after the Ghanian-English actor, Paapa Essiedu, who plays Professor Severus Snape, has received extreme threats over the casting.

The actor has been receiving death threats over getting to play Snape, and the show’s creator Casey Bloys told Variety that the “passionate fans” of the series can get “scary in places.”

He continued, “So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training, you know, best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it. And obviously we’ve got a serious security team. So unfortunately, it was something that we thought might happen and we just try to be as careful as we can.”

Essiedu took up the role famously played by Alan Rickman in the original movies set in Hogwarts, and a black actor taking on the role stirred up a huge debate.

Previously discussing the online hate in an interview, the actor recalled, “I’ve been told, ‘Quit, or I’ll murder you.’ The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’

While Essiedu has not legally reported any of the message he received, he strongly condemned the action, stating that nobody should be scared for their life just because of their jobs.

Source:adaderana.lk

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday slammed the United States and Israel for the attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran, most notably the Minab Elementary Girls’ school which killed over 160 people. 

Calling the actions a war crime, he urged the world to come together against the injustice towards Iran and underlined that the country would continue to defend itself as long as needed.

He made the remarks while virtually addressing the UN debate over the fatal school strike in Iran.

‘‘Indifference and silence in the face of injustices would bring no security and peace. It would invite more insecurity and right violations. 

The United Nations and the core values it embodies as well as the overall human rights framework are at serious stake. You all need to call out the aggressors and let them know that the community of states, the human collective conscience hold them accountable for the abhorrent crimes they are committing against Iranians’‘, Araghchi said.

He underlined that while Iran has never sought a war, it would, however, continue to defend itself as long as needed.

‘‘Iran has never sought war. Iranians are a peaceful noble nation inheriting one of the richest civilizations on Earth. Yet they have demonstrated absolute resolve and determination to defend themselves against the brutal perpetrators who know no boundary in perpetrating all sorts of crimes. The defence shall persist as long as it is needed."

He slammed the strike at the school as ‘‘deliberate and intentional’‘, saying that it took place despite the US and Israel possessing cutting-edge technology and military data systems.

‘‘This atrocity cannot be justified, concealed and must not be met with silence and indifference’‘, he added.

He highlighted that several other civilian infrastructure has been targeted in the US-Israeli strikes and said that in the last 27 days, which includes Red Crescent rescuers, refineries, ambulances, hospitals, health workers, water sources and residential areas. ‘‘More than 600 schools have been demolished or damaged across Iran and more than 1000 students and teachers have been martyred or wounded as a result."

The Iranian Foreign Minsiter said that war-crimes does not describe the depth of atrocities being committed against Iran.

‘‘The aggressors’ targeting pattern accompanied by their rhetoric leaves little doubt as to their clear intent to commit genocide’‘, he added.

Calling it an ‘‘unjust war of whims’‘ against Iran, Araghchi urged the world to act saying that the values of United Nations are at stake.

The remarks come as US-Israeli strikes continue to target key infrastructure in Iran. Earlier, US President Trump signalled a thaw in operations against Iran, saying that Iran had sought a seven-day pause on American strikes targeting its energy infrastructure, but he decided to extend the window to 10 days to April 6, however the strikes by the combined US-Israel forces continue. 

Source: ANI 

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister of Nepal on Friday, tasked with restoring political stability and creating jobs in the poor Himalayan nation long troubled by fragile governments and weak growth prospects.

Shah became prime minister after his three-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won 182 seats in the 275-member parliament in the March 5 election, the first vote after the anti-corruption Gen Z protests in which 76 people were killed in September last year.

A former mayor of the capital, ⁠Kathmandu, Shah, 35, is Nepal’s youngest prime minister in decades and the first Madhesi – people of the southern plains bordering India – to lead the Himalayan nation that is wedged between Asian giants India and China.

Shah, who was wearing skin-tight trousers, a matching jacket, his signature black Nepali cloth cap and sunglasses, was sworn in at the President House in the presence of diplomats and senior government officials.

“The first test of the new government lies in transparent and prompt delivery of services to people, who expect early signs of good governance from Sunday itself,” political analyst Puranjan Acharya said. Sunday is a working ⁠day in Nepal.

Acharya said Shah’s early challenge is to implement the report of a panel that investigated the violence during the anti-corruption protests, a key demand of the families of the victims. The report recommended the prosecution of those responsible for the crackdown, including then Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

The youth-led protests were fuelled by a ⁠lack of jobs and endemic corruption in the country of 30 million people, where a fifth of the population lives in poverty and an estimated 1,500 people leave the country daily for work abroad.

Political instablity has been a ⁠bane, with 32 governments taking office since 1990 and none of them completing a five-year-term.

The Nepali Congress party, the country’s oldest party, became a distant second group in parliament with just 38 seats. ⁠The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) of Oli, who was forced to resign after the Gen Z unrest, controls 25 members.

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki led the nation through the interim period through to the parliamentary election.

Source:adaderana.lk

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah will be sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister after a landslide victory in the country’s first election since last year’s youth-led protests.

The 35-year-old’s rise marks an important shift in Nepali politics. His promise of change resonated with an electorate that was angry at corruption, nepotism and elite rule.

Before taking office on Friday, Shah, popularly known as Balen, released a song filled with optimism about Nepal’s future.

“Undivided Nepali, this time history is being made,” he rapped in a track that garnered more than two million views within hours of its release.

The song harks back to his roots in the underground rap scene, where he used music to call out corruption and other social problems in Nepal.

After just three years as mayor of the capital Kathmandu, Shah teamed up with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as its prime-ministerial candidate, scoring a decisive victory in general elections this month.

His supporters see him as a symbol of change and a break from the failings of Nepal’s old guard. But some question whether the four-year-old RSP is capable of making good on its bold pledges.

The rebellious rapper

Shah was born in 1990 in Naradevi, Kathmandu, and is his parents’ youngest son. His father is an Ayurvedic practitioner and his mother stayed at home to bring up the family. Shah is married and lives with his wife and daughter.

After leaving school he graduated with engineering degrees in Kathmandu and later in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

In 2013, he shot to fame after winning a popular rap battle in Nepal, with sharp verses that carried the frustration of a generation that felt suppressed and abandoned.

Shah went on to release several popular songs which criticised corruption and social inequality in the Himalayan nation. He cut a distinctive figure in the music videos with his trademark square black sunglasses, a black blazer and black trousers.

One of his best-known hits, Balidan, has amassed 14m views on YouTube.

The song title means sacrifice, and part of its lyrics go: “While we sell our identity abroad government employees get 30k salary and have properties in 30 different places. Who will pay the debt of people working seven seas away?”

In 2022, the political newbie won Kathmandu’s mayoral race by a landslide as an independent candidate, triumphing over parties which had dominated elections for decades.

His tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to clean up the city, preserve indigenous heritage, and a crackdown on corruption. He also started a controversial campaign to bulldoze illegal buildings – which helped ease traffic but also drew criticism from street vendors and residents in informal settlements.

The rise to power

Shah’s message continued to resonate with the country’s youth during last September’s protests, in which 77 people died – many of them protesters shot by police. The unrest was triggered by a ban on social media but fuelled by anger against corruption, unemployment and economic stagnation.

Protesters adopted his song Nepal Haseko – which means Smiling Nepal – as one of their anthems.

“I want to see Nepal smiling, I want to see the hearts of Nepalis dancing. I want to see Nepal smiling, I want to see Nepalis living happily,” its lyrics played out in the streets and inside households for weeks.

Shah brought his unconventional style into his campaign for Nepal’s top office this year, largely staying out of the spotlight and avoiding media interviews.

His critics argue this strategy has allowed him to avoid public scrutiny of his record.

Shah opted instead to speak to voters through social media posts, in which he pledged a sweeping anti-corruption agenda, judiciary reforms, and to create 1.2m new jobs, among other things.

It worked – the RSP swept the 5 March general elections, shattering the political elite and entrenched power structures. Shah even unseated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the Jhapa 5 constituency, which had long been the latter’s stronghold.

Controversy and challenges

It’s not altogether a clean sheet for Balendra Shah, though.

As mayor he was criticised by rights groups for using the police against street vendors in a heavy-handed manner, as he worked to keep roads clear in the capital and crack down on unlicensed businesses. Shah’s campaign did not respond to a BBC request for comment.

Human Rights Watch is one of the groups that raised those concerns and told the BBC it’s the type of behaviour they’ve often observed of new leaders who want to show results quickly.

“We hope as prime minister, there would be a focus on a more rules-based order,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.

Shah has also sparked controversy on social media. Last November, he put up an expletive-laden post on Facebook which named America, India, China and several Nepali political parties, including the RSP, which he eventually joined in January. He deleted the post shortly after.

Beyond these controversies, Shah and his party leaders will have to confront huge expectations from voters hungry for change, as well as a host of challenges.

These include the war in the Middle East, where millions of Nepalis find work, chronic unemployment and a stuttering economy within Nepal, and the RSP’s lack of experience in office.

There is also public pressure to release the findings of an investigation into the deadly 2025 uprising, which toppled the previous government.

Nepal’s interim administration has said it will make a summary of findings public but it will be up to the newly elected RSP to decide how to implement the commission’s recommendations.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Attorney General has not represented the Speaker, who is named as a respondent in the petition filed challenging the suspension of former Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, while President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran today (27) appeared before the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Speaker.

The petition alleges that the Parliamentary Advisory Committee acted unlawfully by submitting a charge sheet and suspending former Deputy Secretary Chaminda Kularatne.

During the previous hearing, Deputy Solicitor General Chaya Sri Nammuni, appearing on behalf of the Speaker, informed the court that they were ready to consider facilitating a settlement of the case.  

The petition was called today before the bench of Court of Appeal judges, headed by President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, to explore the possibility of a settlement, Ada Derana reporter said. 

The State Counsel appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed the court that the AG’s Department would not be representing the Speaker in this case. However, President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran confirmed that he would be representing the Speaker.   

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, requested the court to schedule a date to verify the details of the petition.

The court has directed the respondents to submit any limited objections to the petition by April 20, 2026. 

The Speaker of Parliament, Jagath Wickramaratne, the Parliamentary Secretary General, and members of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee have been named as respondents in the petition.

(Adaderana.lk)

Kuwait said Friday that its main commercial port, Shuwaikh Port, was targeted in a “hostile” drone attack, causing material damage but no injuries.

The Kuwait Ports Authority said unmanned aerial vehicles struck the port early in the morning, damaging facilities. Emergency procedures were immediately activated in coordination with relevant agencies.

Shuwaikh Port, located in an industrial area near Kuwait City, is the country’s primary maritime trade hub, handling cargo storage, distribution and commercial shipping.

The incident comes amid escalating regional tensions following a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran launched Feb. 28.

Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and other countries in the region, including those hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage and disrupting markets and aviation.

Source: adaderana.lk

The Israeli military says it has “completed a wave of strikes in the heart of Tehran”. 

In a statement, the IDF said it had targeted Iranian infrastructure in what it called “wide-scale” strikes. 

The IDF had earlier said it had identified Iranian missiles launched towards Israel and was working to “intercept the threat”.

Source:adaderana.lk

India slashed its special excise duties on petrol and diesel, as fuel prices stay volatile with supplies choked by the Iran war.

In a government order on Thursday, India’s finance ministry reduced the special excise duty on petrol to 3 rupees ($0.0318) per litre from 13 rupees earlier. It also cut the duty on diesel to zero from 10 rupees.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has led to a near-closure of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a conduit for 40% of crude oil imports, hurting shipping and gas supplies.

The ministry did not say how much the duty cuts would cost the government.

Madhavi Arora, an economist at Emkay Global, estimated the annualised fiscal hit to be nearly 1.55 trillion rupees. The duty cuts would absorb about 30%-40% of annual losses of oil marketing companies on auto fuel at current prices, she added.

India has been ⁠hit hard by volatility in crude prices and disruption in oil and gas supplies, but unlike China it has not moved to ban exports of refined fuels.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have stressed that adequate arrangements are in place, ⁠including for fertilisers supply for the summer sowing season and for coal to meet the rising demand for electricity.

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, meets ⁠over 90% of its oil needs through purchases from overseas.

The South Asian country consumed 33.15 million metric tons of cooking gas last year, with ⁠imports accounting for about 60% of demand. About 90% of those imports came from the Middle East.

Source:adaderana.lk

Netflix has increased prices on all its plans in the U.S., as the streaming giant pushes into new programming formats such as video podcasts and live sporting events.

The company’s ad-supported tier will now cost $8.99 a month, compared with $7.99 earlier, while prices for its standard plan rose $2 per month to $19.99, according to its website.

The premium ⁠plan now costs $26.99 a month, up from $24.99 earlier. Netflix has also increased the price of adding an extra member to $7.99 for ad-supported plans and to $9.99 for ad-free plans.

Netflix, which has more than 325 million subscribers, had scrapped its cheapest ad-free plan, called basic, in 2023, leaving users with its more expensive premium and standard ⁠plans, as well as the standard plan with ads.

With the new prices, the company’s average revenue per subscriber in the U.S.-Canada region will rise 6% year-over-year in 2026, ⁠according to estimates from TD Cowen analysts.

It last raised prices early last year.

Netflix reported revenue of $12.1 billion for the October-December period, ⁠modestly exceeding analysts’ estimate.

In February, it walked away from bidding for Warner Bros’ streaming and studio assets, paving ⁠the way for Paramount Skydance to buy the storied Hollywood studio in a $110 billion deal.

Source:adaderana.lk

Donald Trump is set to become the first sitting US president to have his signature on US banknotes, the Treasury Department has announced.

Trump’s signature will appear alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, an unprecedented move that the department said was being made to mark America’s 250th anniversary.

“There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than US dollar bills bearing his name,” Bessent said. US banknotes have traditionally carried the signatures of Treasury officials.

It is the latest move by the administration to associate Trump’s name with a range of government programs and public buildings.

The first $100 (£75) bills with the signatures of Trump and Bessent will be printed in June, with others to follow.

Notes currently being printed bear the signatures of former President Joe Biden’s Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, and Treasurer Lynn Malerba.

It has been tradition since 1861 for the US treasurer’s signature to appear on bank notes, a tradition which will end under the Trump administration’s plans.

Ahead of the 250th anniversary, Bessent said printing currency bearing Trump’s name would be a “powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country” and the president.

And current US Treasurer Brandon Beach vowed the country’s currency will “continue to stand as a symbol of prosperity, strength, and the unshakable spirit of the American people”.

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the formal declaration when 13 states declared their independence from Britain.

Trump faced a public backlash after the White House said the Kennedy Center in Washington DC would be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.

Several artists cancelled performances after the rebrand and it has since closed for a two-year renovation, scheduled to begin in July.

During his first term in office, President Trump’s name appeared on paper support cheques sent to millions of Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source:adaderana.lk