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Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, September 23, 2024 (AP) — Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president on Monday after an election that saw voters reject an old guard accused of leading the country into economic crisis. Dissanayake, 55, who ran as head of the Marxist-leaning National People’s Power coalition, defeated President Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 35 other candidates in Saturday’s election. The election came as the country seeks to recover from a severe economic crisis that led to shortages of essentials such as foods, medicines, cooking gas and fuel in 2022, triggering massive

India reports first case of mpox from new, fast-spreading clade 1b variety

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) – India said on Monday that an mpox case involving a traveller in the southern state of Kerala was from the fast-spreading clade 1b variety, marking the country’s first recorded case from the new strain. Manisha Verma, a spokesperson for the health ministry, confirmed the strain after news agency ANI cited official sources as saying that the mpox case reported in Kerala’s Malappuram district last week belonged to clade 1. The patient is a 38-year-old man who had travelled from the United Arab Emirates, Kerala authorities had said last week.

Manipur on high alert over alleged influx of 900 militants from Myanmar

Imphal, India, Sept 21 (Reuters): India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been placed on high alert after intelligence reports of a potential influx of 900 suspected Kuki militants from Myanmar, a senior security official said on Friday. An organisation that represents the Kuki community, however, denied the security official’s allegations and called for his resignation. Kuldiep Singh, Manipur’s security adviser, told reporters the information regarding the militants had been shared with various intelligence agencies. Since May 2023, Manipur has been embroiled in violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities, driven by disputes over economic benefits and quotas. “The

India’s monsoon expected to be prolonged, threatening ripe crops, sources say

MUMBAI, Aug 29 (Reuters) – India’s monsoon rains are likely to be prolonged into late September this year due to the development of a low-pressure system in the middle of the month, two weather department officials told Reuters. Above-normal rainfall due to the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon could damage India’s summer-sown crops like rice, cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses, which are typically harvested from mid-September. The crop damage could lead to food inflation, but the rains may also result in higher soil moisture, benefiting the planting of winter-sown crops such as wheat, rapeseed, and chickpea. “There is an increased

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