Author: Saanika.S

Sri Lanka has decided to defer its debt payments until 2027, with plans to renegotiate repayment terms extending until 2042, according to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This move aims to alleviate the financial pressure on the nation and provide a path for economic recovery. A Historic Default and Its Aftermath In April 2022, Sri Lanka announced its first-ever sovereign default since it became independent from Britain in 1948. This financial crisis led to the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The default underscored the severity of the country’s economic challenges. Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry announced that Sri Lanka aims…

Stalemate in Ceasefire Negotiations Hamas has announced its refusal to engage in further indirect negotiations unless Israel ceases its ongoing military offensive in Gaza. The Palestinian group has expressed willingness to enter into a “complete agreement” that would include an exchange of captives and prisoners, provided Israel ends its assault. This statement, released on Thursday, comes as the conflict in Gaza intensifies, with devastating consequences for the territory’s residents. Mediation Efforts Stalled Key mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been working to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Despite their efforts, talks have repeatedly stalled, with…

UK: Early Thursday morning, May 30, the British Parliament was dissolved ahead of the highly anticipated general election on July 4. This election could potentially bring the Labour Party back to power after 14 years of Conservative rule. This dissolution marks the end of all parliamentary activities in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, leaving every seat in the Commons vacant until after the general election on July 4, 2024. With the dissolution, all 650 parliamentary seats were declared vacant at one minute past midnight (2301 GMT), marking the official start of the campaign period. A…

Washington — National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed the administration’s sorrow over the loss of life but noted that the White House is awaiting the results of Israel’s investigation into the incident. White House Stance Unchanged The White House announced on Tuesday that President Joe Biden is not changing his policy toward Israel after a deadly strike killed more than 45 people. This indicates that the incident has not yet crossed a threshold that would require a shift in American support. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed sorrow over the “heartbreaking” incident and stated that the…

Spain has pledged one billion euros in military aid to Ukraine under an agreement signed between President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Sanchez in Madrid today, covering modern equipment for ground, air, and sea defense. Security Deal Highlights Spain has committed to providing military aid to Ukraine worth €1 billion ($1.08 billion) in 2024. During a meeting in Madrid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez formalized the agreement. Sanchez announced during a joint press conference that the deal encompasses a commitment of one billion euros in military aid for 2024. The aid aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense…