Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed veteran politician Dinesh Gunawardena as prime minister on Friday as security forces cleared a protest camp near the presidential palace.
Mr Gunawardena's appointment comes a day after Mr Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president to complete the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country after protesters stormed his residence.
Security forces arrested several people early on Friday and cleared the main camp that protesters had occupied for more than three months during demonstrations calling for the resignation of the nation’s leaders over the country's economic collapse.
Army and police personnel arrived in lorries and buses around midnight and removed tents and protest banners at the site near the presidential palace in the capital, Colombo, where demonstrators had gathered for the past 104 days.
They blocked off roads leading to the site, carried long poles and also beat up at least two journalists, according to witnesses.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the main lawyers’ body in the country, also said at least two lawyers were assaulted when they went to the protest site to offer their counsel.
Its statement on Friday called for a halt to the “unjustified and disproportionate actions” of armed forces against civilians.
The months of protests focused on Mr Rajapaksa and his family’s political dynasty.
However, the new president has drawn the ire of protesters as he is perceived to be a Rajapaksa surrogate and an example of the country’s problematic political establishment.
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has left its 22 million people struggling with shortages of essentials such as medicine, fuel and food.
On Monday, in his role as acting president, Mr Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency that gave him wide authority to act in the interests of public security and order.
Authorities were granted broad powers to search premises and detain people, and the emergency order allows Mr Wickremesinghe to change or suspend any law.
On Friday, he issued a notice under the state of emergency calling on the armed forces to maintain law and order.
The emergency order must be reviewed by Parliament regularly to decide whether to extend it or let it expire.
Mr Wickremesinghe has a significant amount of experience in diplomatic and international affairs, and has presided over bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.
He revealed on Monday that talks with the fund were near a conclusion and that discussions on securing help from other countries had also progressed.
Mr Wickremesinghe also said the government had taken steps to resolve fuel and cooking gas shortages.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
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Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
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Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
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Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
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