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Fifteen-hour-long power outages to starvation: What awaits Sri Lanka as it runs out of petrol?

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The Sri Lanka economic crisis has reached a tipping point after newly-elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Monday, announced that the   island-country was down to its last day of petrol . In a televised address to the country, which has seen violent protests and the subsequent reluctant resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe said, “At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives. We must prepare ourselves to make some sacrifices and face the challenges of this period.” What does it mean to run out of petrol? What happens to a country in such a situation? How will Sri Lanka fight this crisis? We take a look at the situation and try to answer some of these questions. Sri Lanka’s crisis On Monday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the country had run out of petrol and that the residents could face more hardships in the coming months. The country, Wickremesinghe...

Supreme Court grants extension for demolition of Supertech twin towers till Aug 28

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted extension for the demolition of twin towers at Supertech Emerald Court in Noida's Sector 93 area till August 28. The top court order came on an application moved by Supertech through its interim resolution professional seeking extension of deadline of May 22 on the request made by demolition agency Edifice Engineering. The top court has directed Noida authority to file a status report on compliance of the order. On February 7, the bench comprising justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant directed Supertech and Edifice Engineering to implement the top court's order on August 31 last year to demolish the Apex and Ceyane towers in the society, which were constructed in violation of the building bylaws. In its report, the Edifice Engineering told court that two more floors were added to the list for demolition to completely help in bringing the structure down. The firm that the two floors were added after the results of the test blast on April 10...

Global wheat prices hit record high after India bans exports

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Wheat prices surged to a new record high in European trading on Monday after   India decided to ban exports   of the commodity as a heatwave hit production. The price jumped to 435 euros ($453) per tonne as the Euronext market opened, up from the previous record of 422 euros reached on Friday. Global wheat prices have soared on supply fears since Russia's February invasion of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, which previously accounted for 12 percent of global exports. The spike, exacerbated by fertiliser shortages and poor harvests, has fuelled inflation globally and raised fears of famine and social unrest in poorer countries. INDIA BANS WHEAT EXPORTS India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, said on Saturday that it was banning exports after its hottest March on record, with traders needing express government approval to enter into new deals. New Delhi said the move was needed to protect the food security of its own 1.4 billion people in the face of lower production ...

Gyanvapi Mosque Row Updates: SC suggests it can ask the trial court to first hear the Mosque committee’s application

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Gyanvapi Mosque Case Live News Updates:   The Supreme Court Tuesday suggested that it can ask the trial court to first hear the Mosque Committee’s application questioning the maintainability of the suit. The apex court made the suggestion while it was hearing a plea by the Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Varanasi,   challenging the videography survey ordered by a local court   of the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal in the complex. The Muslim body contends that it is contrary to provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991. The Hindu Sena President has filed an intervention in the apex court, seeking a dismissal of the appeal, the Bar and Bench reported. Meanwhile, the Varanasi court Tuesday removed advocate-Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra from his post. Mishra was responsible for the filming and carrying out the survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court also granted two days extension for the submission...