Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency in his role as the acting president.
"The prime minister as acting president has declared a state of emergency (countrywide) and imposed a curfew in the western province," Wickremesinghe's media secretary, Dinouk Colombage, told Reuters.
The curfew comes into effect immediately.
It comes after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on Wednesday, leading to more protests amid an economic crisis.
Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race, capping meteoric rise
Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday, capping a meteoric rise from a little-known state lawmaker to one of the country's most visible Democratic figures, and the first Muslim mayor of the largest US city.
Death toll rises to 11 in fire at Bosnian retirement home
The death toll in a fire at a retirement home in Tuzla in northern Bosnia rose to 11 on Wednesday and about 30 people were injured, police and prosecutors said.
Driver rams into pedestrians in western France, nine injured
A driver rammed into pedestrians and cyclists on France's Oleron island off its Atlantic coast on Wednesday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, and at least nine people were injured before he was arrested, according to local officials.
Philippines begins cleanup after Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves at least 85 dead
Residents of the central Philippines on Wednesday began scraping mud from streets and homes that survived after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 85 and left dozens missing as it tore through the region.
China's Shenzhou-20 return mission delayed due to space debris impact
China's Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft has delayed its return mission to Earth after the vessel was possibly hit by tiny bits of space debris, the country's human spaceflight agency said on Wednesday, an unusual situation that could disrupt the operation of the country's space station Tiangong.
Major projects in infrastructure, energy and Emirati workforce empowerment topped the agenda at the latest Ministerial Development Council meeting.
Travellers landing at Dubai International Airport are receiving a special passport stamp featuring the Dubai Fitness Challenge 30x30 logo.
The UAE has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Philippines following the floods and heavy rains caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi that killed at least 66 people.
