World

SRI LANKA: He was known as “The Terminator” for his role in ending Sri Lanka’s long-running civil war, but he’s now a wanted man and the country’s economy is in ruins. From 2005 to 2015, Rajapaksa served as Sri Lanka’s defense secretary, one of four brothers who have dominated recent Sri Lankan politics. His tough-guy image was bolstered by reports …

UKRAINE: Ukrainian officials announced on Tuesday that they had launched a long-range rocket strike against Russian army and military equipment in southern Ukraine, which they claim they are intending to reclaim with hundreds of thousands of troops in a counter-offensive. The settlement of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region was attacked by an airstrike that killed 52 people, according to …

US: COVID is making a resurgence. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that the pandemic is “nowhere near ending,” and expressed alarm that the virus is running free. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern that the number of cases was increasing, putting further strain on already taxed health institutions and staff. According to a news conference, “new waves of the virus …

SOUTH AFRICA: Cricket Australia (CA) was unable to meet South Africa’s request to postpone the January one-day international series against Australia. This series had been set for Hobart (Jan. 12), Sydney (Jan. 14), and Perth in January, however Cricket South Africa requested that it be moved (Jan. 17). There are no other dates available, CA stated in a statement on …

UKRAINE: As a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki agreed to collaborate on Tuesday to combat rising food and energy costs and currency market volatility. Economic and financial stability could be adversely affected by the increased volatility in the exchange rate, they added. They agreed to collaborate “where appropriate” …

US: According to Walmart’s stated goal of zero net emissions by 2040, the company has agreed to buy 4,500 electric vehicles from Canoo as part of the deal. Prior to the opening bell on Tuesday (Jul. 12), Walmart said that it has an option to purchase up to 10,000 Canoos as it electrified its fleet of delivery vehicles. The deal’s …

DENMARK: Upon his retirement from football, former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere stated that he intends to emulate the style and ideals of Arsene Wenger and current manager Mikel Arteta when he takes over the club’s Under-18 team. Wilshere, who played with Arteta for five seasons and appeared in 197 games for Arsenal under Wenger, revealed on Friday that he was …

DUBAI: The first officially approved camel riding school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located on the wind-carved sand just outside the air-conditioned metropolis of Dubai. Camels have played a significant role in the region’s history for a long time. One-hundred and fifty years ago, the Arabian Peninsula’s single-humped camel, the dromedary, was tamed and used as a mode …

US: Even as he celebrated returning to the top of the podium for the first time since April on Sunday, Charles Leclerc expressed concern over the reliability of Ferrari’s engines. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Max Chilton leads the championship by 38 points, but the Monegasque driver has now won three races in a row this season. “That was just …

US: Asked about his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, US President Joe Biden said he wants to “strengthen our strategic cooperation,” but also reiterated his commitment to “basic American principles.” “Many people think I made a mistake by going to Saudi Arabia. Fundamental freedoms are always on my agenda when I travel, as they will be on this trip. My …