Former Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, reiterated in a recent interview his opposition to Sri Lanka being taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), reported the Jaffna daily Maalaikathir last Friday. He accused Western nations of double standards and criticised the UN, asserting that without Sri Lanka’s contributions to World War II the modern human rights framework would not exist.

Nationwide protests erupted as the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had his biggest political rival arrested last Wednesday and jailed today on counts of corruption and links to terrorism.

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have captured the strategic mining hub of Walikale in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

M23 rebels entered Walikale on Wednesday. Spokesperson for the Congolese army, Nestor Mavudisa, confirmed on Thursday that “the enemy” now controlled Walikale. 

Authorities in Cyprus have reported that they have retrieved at least 7 bodies after a boat carrying refugees capsized 30 nautical miles southeast of Cape Greco. 

Two people were rescued on Monday, there is still an unspecified number of people believed to be missing. 

Cyprus Defense Minister, Vasilis Palmas said on Tuesday that it was becoming “increasingly unlikely” that more survivors would be found.

Sri Lanka’s Attorney General compares fugitive IGP to Prabhakaran after he finally surrenders

The Attorney General’s Department drew parallels between the hunt for suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon and a military search for LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, as the former police chief was finally remanded until 20 March following weeks of evasion.