Author: Press Room

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police were searching for their chief on Sunday (Mar 2) after a court order for his arrest was issued over the killing of an officer during a botched raid, an official said. Inspector-General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon has been missing since a magistrate in the island’s south ordered his arrest on Friday, following allegations that he had ordered the raid on Dec 31, 2023. “We went to his home to carry out the arrest warrant but he had gone into hiding, leaving behind his bodyguards,” a senior officer told AFP. He said the court had also imposed a…

Football betting isn’t just about luck. If it were, bookies wouldn’t be in business, and we’d all be millionaires. In reality, making smarter bets requires strategy, discipline, and an understanding of the game that goes beyond who’s top of the league.With 2025 shaping up to be a dynamic year for football, strategies that worked in the past might not cut it anymore. The landscape is shifting – advanced stats and evolving betting markets are changing how people approach the game. If you’re looking to bet smarter, not harder, stick around. This guide’s got you covered.Oh, and if you enjoy a…

Japan’s largest wildfire in more than three decades was burning through a forested area of a small coastal city on Sunday after killing at least one person, damaging dozens of homes and prompting evacuation orders for thousands of residents, fire officials said.The roughly 1,800-hectare (4,500-acre) fire has been burning for days in Ofunato, a city on the east coast of Japan’s main island that is about 300 miles northeast of Tokyo. It had grown by 400 hectares since Saturday.Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said it had learned of the fire on Wednesday afternoon, and that at least 84 homes…

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S.The order revokes an executive order issued by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, “Improving Access Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.However, Trump’s order notes it does not “require or direct” any change in services provided by any agency.It will be up to agency heads to decide if any changes should be made. President Donald Trump waves as he departs in his motorcade from the Trump International…

Brush fires fueled by gusty winds and dry conditions broke out on Saturday in North and South Carolina, prompting the authorities to order evacuations in several communities.The fires ignited while a large portion of the southeastern United States was under a red-flag warning, an alert from the National Weather Service indicating a high risk of fires. Most of those warnings expired late Saturday night, and the fire risk was expected to decrease overnight as winds eased.On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire in the mountains was threatening Tryon and Saluda, small communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 40 miles south…

Downtown Kelowna, B.C., had an energetic vibe on Friday. The streets and waterfront promenade were extra busy as thousands of visitors descended on the city from all over Canada, some even from abroad.“I’m from Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland,” said Richard Stern.Stern, like thousands of others, travelled to Kelowna for the 2025 Montana’s Brier, a 10-day Canadian curling championship event that is waking up an otherwise sleepy time of year.“What’s important about these events like the Brier, it is starting off our season,” said Lisanne Ballantyne, president and CEO of Tourism Kelowna. “It’s just going to help keep the momentum going into…

A drainage ditch in Perth’s northern suburbs a Labor member boasted over as part of his election campaign has cost taxpayers almost 10 times the promised amount.The West Australian can reveal the Albert Street urban stream sucked in almost $14 million of cash — despite an original $1.5 million pledge.The project, which saw the ditch “transformed” to a “vibrant” living stream was signed off by then water minister Dave Kelly.The kilometre-long drain — nestled between Honeymyrtle Turn and Grindleford Drive and emptying into Roselea Lake — was completed last year, with Water Corporation expecting to continue pumping funds into it…

SEOUL: The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the southern city of Busan in South Korea on Sunday (Mar 2) as a show of force, South Korea’s navy said. The visit was part of the “ironclad” commitment of the United States to extended deterrence and to show readiness by the military alliance between Seoul and Washington against North Korea, according to the navy. The nuclear-powered vessel belonging to Carrier Strike Group 1 was joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the USS Sterett guided-missile destroyer, the navy said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test…

In Summary Africa’s banking sector is undergoing a digital revolution, driven by mobile money, fintech partnerships, and AI-powered financial services. Over 60% of Africans now use mobile banking, surpassing traditional banking in many regions. Banks like Standard Bank and Ecobank are leveraging AI, blockchain, and cloud technology to enhance security and accessibility. Nigeria and South Africa lead in fintech-driven banking, while Morocco and Tanzania are fast adopters. Metrics like digital transaction volume, app usability, cybersecurity strength, and AI-driven customer service define top-tier digital banking services. Deep Dive!!With billions invested in fintech, African banks are no longer catching up—they are setting global benchmarks. Banking in…

These are the key developments on day 1,102 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.Here is the situation on Sunday, March 2: Fighting The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee says Ukrainian attacks on Russian regions on and near the border have killed at least 652 civilians so far, Russian news agency TASS reported. Moscow said it downed three Ukrainian drones targeting the Russkaya gas compressor station in the southern Krasnodar region, part of the TurkStream pipeline network. A new monitoring mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine for the first time through…