News

Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan including the capital Kabul on Friday, with Islamabad’s defence minister declaring the neighbours at “open war” following months of tit-for-tat clashes.

Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops on Thursday night in what the Taliban government said was retaliation for earlier deadly air strikes, while AFP journalists in Kabul and Kandahar heard blasts and jets overhead.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies. 

Several rounds of negotiations followed an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, but the efforts have failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Both militaries said they killed dozens of soldiers in the latest round of border violence, which followed multiple Pakistani strikes on Afghanistan and clashes along the frontier in recent months.

“Afghan Taliban defence targets were targeted in Kabul, Paktia (province) and Kandahar,” Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X, while defence minister Khawaja Asif declared an “all-out confrontation” with the Taliban government.

“Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between us and you,” he posted on the social media platform. 

Jets overhead 

In the Afghan capital AFP journalists heard jets and multiple loud blasts, followed by gunfire, over a period of more than two hours.

An AFP reporter in Afghanistan’s southern city of Kandahar, where Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based, said he heard jets overhead. 

The Taliban government confirmed the Pakistani air strikes, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying there were no casualties. 

Hours earlier, Mujahid announced “large-scale offensive operations” at the border “in response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military”.

The Afghan defence ministry reported eight of its soldiers had been killed in the land offensive.

An Afghan official reported multiple civilians wounded near the Torkham border crossing, at a camp for people returning from Pakistan. 

“A mortar shell has hit the camp and unfortunately seven of our refugees have been wounded, and the condition of one woman is serious,” said Qureshi Badlun, the information chief in Nangarhar province.

While the border has largely been closed since October, Afghan returnees have been allowed to cross. 

Months of border violence 

Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, told AFP that several Pakistani soldiers had been “caught alive”, a claim denied by the prime minister’s office in Islamabad.

The military operation follows Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar and Paktika provinces overnight into Sunday, which the UN mission in Afghanistan said killed at least 13 civilians. 

The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan’s announcement that the military operation left more than 80 militants dead. 

Both sides also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties. 

After repeated breaches of the initial ceasefire, Saudi Arabia intervened this month, mediating the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured by Afghanistan in October.

 (Sourcenewswire.lk)

Four people who entered Cuban waters on a US-registered speedboat have been shot dead by border guards, Cuba’s government said.

In a statement, Cuba’s interior ministry said that the speedboat’s passengers opened fire on a coast guard vessel that approached them.

Six additional passengers were wounded in the incident, which took place near an island on Cuba’s northern coast.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the nationalities of those on board is unclear, and that the US will “make determinations based on the facts. Right now we’re still gathering facts.”

He said the boat was not carrying US government personnel.

Cuba’s government said it did not know the identities of those on board the vessel, nor what it was doing in the area, and that an investigation has been launched to “clarify” the event.

In statement posted on X, the ministry said the Florida-registered vessel - with the registration number FL7726SH - was detected near Cayo Falcones, in the country’s central Villa Clara province on Wednesday morning.

When a Cuban boat carrying five members of the ministry’s border guard approached the vessel for identification, “the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire” and wounded the Cuban commander, the statement said.

“As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six injured.”

Those injured were evacuated and given medical assistance.

Rubio, spoke from Saint Kitts and Nevis, where he had travelled to meet with Caribbean leaders amid the Trump administration’s push to ramp up pressure on Cuba’s government, as well as other regional issues.

“It is highly unusual to see shootouts on the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens everyday,” Rubio told reporters.

“We’re going to find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we’ll make a determination on the basis of what we find out,” he continued.

He vowed that US investigators would move “quickly” to gather the key facts, and that the US Coast Guard has travelled to the “vicinity” of the attack.

“I don’t know who has possession of the vessel. This is the first thing we want to have,” he said.

“We obviously want to have access to these people, if they are American citizens or US residents.”

But he added that the US would not rely on information provided by the Cuban government, and that Washington would independently verify the facts of the case.

The incident comes amid increased tensions between the US and Cuba, which is facing a deepening fuel crisis that has been worsened by the US blocking oil shipments from Venezuela, a long-standing ally in the region, to the island.

Lawmakers call for investigation

The Cuban statement alluded to these tensions, saying that “in the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect it territorial waters” and safeguard its sovereignty.

On Wednesday, the US Treasury said it would ease some small private sector transactions, including oil sales, to “support the Cuban people, for commercial and humanitarian use”.

It also happened one day after Cuban-American groups in Miami commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, which killed four people.

Wednesday’s incident sparked several Florida lawmakers to call for an investigation and to criticise the Cuban government.

Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez, a Cuban-American former mayor of Miami, said he would demand an investigation into what he called a “massacre”.

He added that US authorities “must determine whether any of the victims were US citizens or legal residents”.

Florida Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar said on social media she was following the situation and “awaiting further details from US authorities”.

James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, said he would direct local law enforcement to investigate the incident.

“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he said.

In the US Senate, Florida Republican Rick Scott, demanded “a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation and to determine what happened.”

“The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!” he added.

US Vice-President JD Vance said the White House was “monitoring” the situation.

“Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be,” he said at an unrelated event in Washington.

“But I can’t say more because I just don’t know more.”

Source:adaderana.lk

The Ministry of Environment has taken steps to call for a comprehensive report to investigate the fire that broke out at the Kerawalapitiya garbage dumping yard and its subsequent environmental impact.

It has been observed that the fire, which erupted on February 25 at the waste disposal yard situated on reclaimed wetlands in the Kerawalapitiya area, has severely affected the local ecosystem and the lives of residents.

Special attention is required regarding the accumulation of combustible gases, such as methane, caused by natural pressure and biological processes inherent in wetland waste disposal. 

Consequently, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Anton Jayakody, acting in his capacity as the Acting Minister, has directed a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment requesting a report focusing on several key areas:

1. Methane Emission and Control: To consult the National Ozone Unit and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) regarding their technical expertise on the continued spread of the fire due to trapped methane gas within the wetlands, and its specific impact on the ozone layer and the atmosphere.

2. Recycling Program Review: While the new government is currently implementing a scientific waste recycling program, the investigation aims to identify the root causes of this disaster and determine whether any administrative or technical lapses contributed to the incident.

3. Environmental Restoration: To obtain a detailed assessment of the measures required to restore the wetland ecosystem that was damaged or destroyed by the fire.

The Deputy Minister has further instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment to provide this report expeditiously and to ensure that the public is kept informed of the findings and subsequent actions.

Source:adaderana.lk

Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction and prison sentence were overturned by a Hong Kong court on Thursday, in a surprise legal decision that comes soon after Lai was jailed for 20 years on a separate national security charge.

Judges Jeremy Poon, Anthea Pang, and Derek Pang said in the judgement that they allowed the appeal from Lai, and another defendant in the case, to proceed, as a lower court judge had “erred”.

“The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences,” the judges wrote in a press summary of their judgement.

Even with the quashing of the fraud conviction and sentence, Lai will still remain imprisoned for 20 years in a separate national security case over two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one for publishing seditious materials.

That case has drawn global criticism from rights groups and countries including the U.S. and Britain and served as one of the most high-profile events in a years-long crackdown under a national security law imposed by Beijing after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Thursday’s legal victory was a rare one for the prominent China critic who has faced multiple prosecutions in recent years, and described himself in court as a “political prisoner”.

Also on Thursday, a court sentenced the father of a wanted pro-democracy activist to eight months in prison under a homegrown national security law after he attempted to terminate her insurance policy and withdraw funds.

‘THE JUDGE ERRED’

Lai was sentenced in December 2022 to five years and nine months in jail after being found guilty of breaching the lease terms of Apple Daily’s headquarters by concealing the operation of a private company, Dico Consultants Ltd, in the building.

Another Next Digital executive, Wong Wai-keung, 61, was found guilty of fraud and jailed for 21 months.

“In conclusion, we hold that Apple Daily Printing did not owe a duty to the Corporation to disclose its breach of the user restrictions or the non-alienation clauses occasioned by Dico’s occupation and use of the said Premises. With respect, the Judge erred,” the judgement read.

“His reasoning in concluding that the applicants were liable for the concealment as the prosecution contended is unsupportable. He erred in making those findings.”

In the earlier ruling, Judge Stanley Chan wrote that Lai was aware of the need to apply for a license from the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation for Dico to operate at the headquarters and had “acted under the protective umbrella of a media organization”.

During the appeal hearing, Lai’s lawyer Derek Chan said that Dico, a company owned by Lai, supported the publishing and printing of the newspapers apart from handling the tycoon’s private affairs.

He noted that at the start of the charge period on April 1, 1998, Dico held a 49% stake in Apple Daily and was linked to Next Animation, the studio that produced animations for the newspaper’s online news reports.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the prosecution would appeal.

DETERIORATING HEALTH

Lai’s son and daughter have warned their 78-year-old father might die in prison given his deteriorating health from over five years in solitary confinement. Lai has suffered from retinal vein occlusion in his right eye, high blood pressure, heart palpitations and progressive hearing loss.

Rights groups and numerous democratic countries have called for Lai’s release. U.S. President Donald Trump raised the matter with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and is expected to follow up again in a closely anticipated visit to Beijingat the end of March.

Source:adaderana.lk

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday his country’s armed forces can “crush” aggressors, following air strikes on neighbouring Afghanistan.

“Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambitions,” Sharif said, according to the Pakistani government’s X page.

“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces,” he said.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Sri Lanka Police is currently experiencing a significant shortage of close to 40,000 personnel, prompting urgent action by the government to reinforce the force through recruitment and structural reforms.

Speaking to News1st, Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Public Security, said steps are already underway to address the gap. He noted that 10,000 members of the Civil Security Department will be integrated into the police service, while a further 10,000 new recruits are expected to join within the year.

The Minister explained that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the institution. In addition to increasing manpower, the focus will be on enhancing operational standards and raising the overall quality of officers.

Wijepala further stated that improvements to infrastructure and workplace facilities are being prioritized, alongside measures designed to boost efficiency. Expanded training programmes have already been introduced, and steps are being taken to resolve long-standing promotion concerns.

He added that promotions aligned with existing vacancies are anticipated to be granted during the year as part of the reform process aimed at revitalizing the police service.

The progress review meeting of the 16th session of the National Council for Disaster Management was held this morning (26) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

During the meeting, the Secretary to the President observed that the various institutions responsible for providing relief to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah each have distinct roles and implementation plans, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). 

The Secretary to the President highlighted that greater coordination and collaboration among these institutions at this stage would enable disaster management and relief operations to be carried out more efficiently and effectively.

Dr Kumanayake further stated that by working together as a single mechanism towards a common objective and by ensuring the accurate exchange of information, relief measures for affected communities could be expedited. He also stressed the importance of obtaining accurate and reliable data for this purpose.

Discussions were also held on identifying suitable lands for the construction of new houses for those affected by the disaster and those residing in high-risk areas. 

It was noted that construction should proceed promptly in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the National Building Research Organisation, following site inspections.

It was decided to hold a special discussion with the Commissioner General of Essential Services to expedite the completion of the housing programme, the statement said.

The Secretary to the President further instructed officials to ensure the prompt payment of compensation and other allowances to affected persons and to give special attention to appeals submitted by those who have not yet received benefits.

Among those present were the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.), Secretary to the Ministry of Housing Construction and Water Supply, Kumudulal Bogahawatta, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara, Additional Secretary of Disaster Management Division K.G. Dharmathilaka, Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayake, Senior Assistant Secretary of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre Namal Liyanage, Director General of the National Building Research Organisation, Asiri Karunanayake, Director General of the Disaster Management Centre Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda(Retd.) and representatives from the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the Urban Development Authority, the Central Environmental Authority and several other institutions.

Source:Adaderana.lk

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed two fundamental rights petitions that contested the emergency regulations imposed following the Cyclone Ditwah disaster, declining to hear the cases.

The petitions had alleged that the emergency measures introduced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake infringed upon citizens’ fundamental rights. However, the court ruled that the applications would not proceed to a formal hearing.

The decision was issued by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Priyantha Surasena.

With this ruling, the legal challenge against the emergency regulations has been dismissed at the preliminary stage, allowing the measures to remain in effect without further judicial review in this matter.

The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Borge Brende, has resigned after a review into his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The forum ordered an independent review into Brende over his ties to the disgraced financier following the release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.

Brende has acknowledged he dined with Epstein three times between 2018 and 2019 and communicated with him by email and text, but said he was “completely unaware” of his past criminal activity.

The WEF said a review into his links to Epstein found “there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed”.

Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, has also said he regretted not having investigated Epstein more thoroughly.

The WEF holds an annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which attracts political and business leaders from across the world.

In a statement on Thursday, Brende said he had decided to step down after more than eight years in the role following “careful consideration”.

“I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” he said.

Epstein was convicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008, for which he was registered as a sex offender.

Being named in the Epstein files does not indicate criminality and Brende has not been accused of wrongdoing.

WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink thanked Brende for his “significant contributions” and said they respected his decision.

Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO while the organisation’s board of trustees oversees a process to identify a permanent successor, the WEF said.

Zwinggi had been a managing director on the WEF’s executive body.

A number of politicians, celebrities, business leaders and royals from across the world have faced scrutiny over their links to Epstein following the release of the latest tranche of files linked to US investigations into Epstein.

The files contain millions of private emails, images and FBI reports into Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

Brende’s home country of Norway has seen several public figures drawn into the controversy, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit and diplomats Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was charged with “gross corruption” earlier this month over his ties with Epstein, police said.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, has appealed to all parties to refrain from influencing or disrupting the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Speaking at a special media briefing in Colombo on Wednesday (26), Fr. Fernando warned that any interference in the investigative process would deny justice to the victims and their families. He emphasized that the probe must proceed without obstruction to ensure accountability.

Describing the coordinated suicide bombings carried out on April 21, 2019, he characterized the incident as a brutal act of violence that resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 people. The attacks targeted religious sites and hotels, including St. Anthony’s Shrine and St. Sebastian’s Church, claiming the lives of worshippers and civilians from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Fr. Fernando stressed that establishing the truth behind the attacks is crucial to safeguarding the country’s justice system. He cautioned that failure to hold those responsible accountable could create a dangerous precedent, allowing serious crimes to go unpunished.

He also noted that the investigation is being handled independently by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and emphasized the importance of allowing investigators to carry out their duties without political or external pressure.

Fr. Fernando further stated that undermining the investigation would amount to another injustice toward those who were killed or injured. He urged the public and relevant stakeholders to remain patient and allow the legal process to continue, expressing confidence that the truth would eventually emerge.

He added that it is vital to determine whether any political involvement existed, identify those responsible, and uncover the motives behind the attacks, insisting that the complete facts must be revealed in the interest of justice.

The Department of Meteorology says that stable and mainly fair weather will prevail over much of the country in the coming hours.

Despite the generally clear conditions, the department has forecast isolated showers or thundershowers in the Southern Province, as well as in the Ratnapura District and Monaragala District, particularly after 2.00 p.m.

In addition, misty conditions are likely to develop in several parts of the island during the early morning hours, potentially affecting visibility in some areas. Authorities advise the public to remain attentive to changing weather conditions, especially in regions where showers are expected later in the day.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Israel, Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat struck an upbeat, candid note in an exclusive interview with NDTV, calling India “a gateway to Asia” and predicting that a long-awaited India-Israel Free Trade Agreement could be clinched sooner than expected.

“Oh, it’s really exciting. All of Israel, we love India. We love the Indian people. We love the people-to-people relationship,” Barkat said, underscoring the warmth that has come to define ties between the two democracies. 

He pointed to the personal rapport between Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a force multiplier. “The fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister Modi get along so well--that matters,” he said.

Fast-Tracking The FTA

On the trade front, Barkat revealed that negotiations are firmly on the “fast track.” “We have a mission from Israel in India negotiating the free trade agreement between us,” he said, adding that momentum picked up after India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Israel late last year. 

“We really understood that we want to move on the fast track...We want to make something significant as soon as this year. And I believe it’s possible.”

Pressed on timelines amid India’s expanding trade footprint--from interim arrangements with the US to deals with the UK, New Zealand and Oman--Barkat remained optimistic. “Hopefully so,” he said of a 2026 target, before adding with a smile, “This puzzle thing is possible.”

Why India Matters To Israel

Asked why India’s economy is so critical for Israel, Barkat framed the relationship as deeply complementary. “What we do--we’re innovative, we have new ideas, cutting-edge technology--but we’re 10 million people,” he said. “So it’s difficult for us to scale to the magnitude that India knows how to do.”

India’s size and trajectory, he argued, complete the picture. “India today is becoming the third largest economy... 1.4 billion people. We view India as a gateway to Asia--that’s 59 per cent of the world population.” 

“We are out-of-the-box thinkers, but we need to get in the box, right? And India is the box,” he added.

IMEC: Beyond A Corridor

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20 and stalled by regional conflict, also featured prominently. 

With a ceasefire holding, Barkat said the vision could now move from concept to execution. “First of all, it’s a beautiful vision. And I believe now that there’s an opportunity to fulfil that vision.”

IMEC, he stressed, is “not just a corridor...It’s for energy, for information and data, transportation--way over and beyond just a little corridor.” Israel, he said, is planning its gateways--from the Haifa port toward Europe and eastern links toward Jordan and Iraq--while acknowledging that “additional steps with the Saudis and Iraq” will be needed.

Haifa, Adani And Infrastructure

On Indian investment in Israel, Barkat welcomed the Adani Group’s stewardship of the Haifa port. “Adani was very smart. We know that they own a lot of the ports in India. 

Now he owns one of the ports that we have in Haifa,” he said. “We’re here to help them succeed,” Barkat added, signalling openness to more Indian bids in Israeli infrastructure. “I’m committed to helping Indian companies succeed in Israel.”

‘Tough Negotiators’ And Ancient Ties

The minister shared a lighter moment about negotiating styles. Calling Goyal “tough on the outside, but really soft on the inside,” Barkat said the two sides have “cracked how to make this work together.” 

He also invoked shared civilisational roots. “We’re two ancient people--thousands of years of history... We’re also challenged by terror. We’re so alike in many, many ways.”

Make In India--And Defence

On manufacturing and defence cooperation, Barkat was clear that scale dictates strategy. “You’re 150 times larger than Israel. We cannot produce large products and ship them to India. 

It doesn’t make sense,” he said, advocating joint ventures and local production. “If you’ve got big products to market, then it makes sense to go and make in India.”

Asked directly about defence cooperation and the possibility of manufacturing systems like Iron Dome in India, Barkat was careful but open. “There are talks all across all sectors -- defence, economy, culture, friendship,” he said. “If you’re talking about a huge amount of products, then yes, it makes sense to have production in India.”

Summing up Israel’s priorities, Barkat said, “Side by side with what we’re doing with the Americans, my highest priority is making sure that Piyush Goyal and Prime Minister Modi are happy with the relationship with Israel.”

As Prime Minister Modi’s visit approaches, the message from Jerusalem is clear: India is not just a partner, but a central pillar in Israel’s economic and strategic future.

Source:Adaderana.lk