Khawaja Asif hails Sialkot Medical City project

Sri Lanka is preparing for a prolonged period of extreme weather as authorities warn that the return of the El Nino climate pattern could bring a severe drought followed by widespread flooding later this year. The government has begun taking precautionary measures to protect water supplies, agriculture, and vulnerable communities as changing weather conditions threaten to affect millions of people across the island. Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi said the country is expected to face a significant dry spell lasting until the end of September. Officials are closely monitoring irrigation systems and drinking water reserves to ensure supplies remain available during the expected drought. The government has also urged the public to use water carefully, warning that shortages could develop over the coming months if dry conditions continue. Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to climate change. They say El Nino, a natural climate pattern caused by warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, disrupts global rainfall and wind patterns. These changes often bring drought to some regions while causing heavy rainfall and flooding in others. Sri Lankan authorities expect the current dry period to be followed by a stronger than usual northeast monsoon beginning in October. The minister warned that the seasonal rains could trigger widespread flooding in many parts of the country, creating additional risks for communities already dealing with water shortages. To reduce the impact on agriculture, the government has advised farmers to begin the main rice planting season about two weeks earlier than usual. Officials believe an earlier start to cultivation will allow crops to develop before heavy rainfall increases the risk of flooding. Authorities are also planning improved flood management measures to help protect farmland and reduce damage to the country’s most important food crop. The government has not yet released an estimate of the possible economic losses from this year’s El Nino conditions. However, a special ministerial task force has been established to coordinate preparations, manage emergency responses, and reduce the impact on agriculture, water resources, and public infrastructure. Officials said Sri Lanka’s hydroelectric reservoirs are currently operating at around 57 percent capacity. To conserve water, authorities plan to rely more heavily on solar power during daylight hours, reducing pressure on hydroelectric facilities and preserving reservoir levels for essential needs. Experts have also warned that intense rainfall later in the year could trigger landslides in the country’s mountainous regions. Many of these areas remain vulnerable after suffering significant damage during Cyclone Ditwah in November, when heavy rain caused widespread destruction across the island. Cyclone Ditwah affected nearly every part of Sri Lanka and left a lasting impact on the country’s population of around 22 million people. Nearly 650 people lost their lives during the disaster, while roads, bridges, public buildings, and other infrastructure suffered extensive damage. The World Bank estimated that infrastructure losses alone reached about 4.1 billion dollars, making it one of the country’s most costly natural disasters in recent years. With another period of extreme weather approaching, the government says early preparation will be essential to reduce risks and protect lives. Authorities are continuing to monitor weather forecasts while encouraging communities to conserve water, prepare for possible floods, and follow official guidance throughout the changing weather conditions. The coming months are expected to test Sri Lanka’s disaster response systems once again as the country faces the combined challenges of drought, flooding, and the broader effects of climate change.

The Ugandan government has initiated a large-scale emergency relief operation across the eastern Karamoja region following at least nineteen hunger-related deaths caused by prolonged drought and devastating crop failures. With approximately 1.5 million residents confronting acute food shortages and rising rates of malnutrition, parliament approved a emergency funding allocation of forty-five billion Ugandan shillings to procure and distribute over nine thousand tonnes of food aid over the coming two months. Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola personally launched the distribution efforts in Kaabong district, assuring local communities that the state would oversee the delivery to ensure no starving household is left behind. The current environmental crisis marks the most severe dry spell to strike Karamoja in recent years, with the crucial rains failing completely since the start of the planting season in April. Health facilities across the region report a surge in children suffering from severe malnutrition, forcing desperate residents to seek low-paying, grueling work in informal gold-mining operations simply to purchase basic staples like maize and beans. The disaster comes amidst significant international aid reductions, particularly following severe budget cuts from donors such as USAID, which forced organisations like the World Food Programme to scale back assistance to over one million refugees in the country. In response, Ugandan officials and civil rights advocates emphasise that while emergency food distribution provides immediate life-saving relief, the government must prioritise long-term climate resilience, drought-resistant crops, and proper water infrastructure to permanently prevent recurring starvation in the region.

A Senegalese court has sentenced three TikTok influencers to custodial sentences and fines for insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Critics have condemned the ruling as a direct blow to free expression within the country. The creators work for Feenal Digital, an online channel known for producing content supportive of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The decision follows a recent political rift between President Faye and Sonko. Mandoumbe Diop, operating under the moniker Lamignou Darou, received a three-month unconditional prison term. He represents the most prominent of the group, boasting over 500,000 followers on TikTok. Magueye Diaw and Moustapha Ndiaye were each handed two-month custodial sentences alongside fines of 500,000 CFA francs. Defence counsel Abdy Nar Ndiaye argued the posts were purely satirical and did not warrant criminal sanction.