March 29, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Hijacked EgyptAir plane lands in Cyprus. Image credit - portosabbia/depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
Japan to lend LKR 56 billion for airport expansion
The Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to sign a concessionary loan agreement worth LKR 56 billion, for the expansion of the Bandaranaike International Airport.
The funds will be allocated towards the construction of a new multi-level terminal building, which is expected to double the existing capacity of the airport and ease congestion.
President visits US naval ship
President Maithripala Sirisena visited the US naval ship, USS Blue Ridge, which arrived at the Colombo port last week. He was joined by the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap.
The event followed the Partnership Dialogue held in Washington DC last month, where the two nations pledged to strengthen maritime security cooperation efforts in the Indian Ocean.
Official statistics to be disseminated via social media
The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) has stated that it will use social media to disseminate official statistical reports. The DCS has already released the National Consumer Price Index and inflation rates relevant to the month of February 2016, on their Twitter account.
Instant updates are available on Twitter, under the DCS account name ‘@lankaSTAT’.
IS claims responsibility for soccer stadium attack
The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the recent suicide attack at a soccer stadium in the Iraqi city of Iskandariya.
Dozens were killed as a result of the blast, when a teenage suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt during a local soccer match.
FBI hacks San Bernadino gunman’s iPhone
The United States Department of Justice reported that the FBI has successfully accessed the iPhone belonging to the San Bernadino gunman, without Apple’s assistance.
This development comes after a prolonged legal battle between the United States Department of Justice and Apple.
Hijacked EgyptAir plane lands in Cyprus
The Government of Egypt and EgyptAir have stated that a domestic flight travelling from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked by at least one armed hijacker.
According to the latest reports, the flight has now landed in Cyprus upon the request of the authorities.
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