United States sanctions Iranians
Sri Lanka to Face daily power cut..
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The United States sanctioned Iranian defence companies Wednesday after a spate of ballistic missile attacks on targets in Iraq and the Gulf.05
The US and Iran's neighbours blame that country for a March 13 strike on Irbil, Iraq, and for repeated missile strikes into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.
On Friday, a Houthi missile strike set ablaze a Saudi Aramco oil storage site, prompting warnings from angry Saudi leaders that the attacks threatened the stability of the world oil market.
Even as the US carries out indirect negotiations with Iran for reviving limits on Iran's nuclear programme, it will keep up penalties against those involved in Iran's ballistie missile production, Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in announcing the sanctions.
"We will also work with other partners in the region to hold Iran accountable for its actions, including gross violations of the sovereignty of its neighbours," Nelson said in a statement.
Treasury Department said The Wednesday's sanctions target an Iran-based procurement agent and his companies, which helped acquire propellant-related materials for the missile research programme of Iran's Revolutionary Guard; an Iranian defence company; and an Iranian intermediary who also helped in the development of missile propellant. The sanctions were authorised under an existing executive order targeting producers and supporters of weapons of mass destruction. The penalties allow the US to block the assets of the sanctioned people and entities.
Sri Lanka to Face daily power cut
Sri Lanka's Public Utilities Commission announced that there will be 10-hour daily power cuts from Wednesday Sri Lanka has been facing power cuts since February due to dwindling electricity production in hydro power plants as well as diesel shortages that have crippled the operations of thermal power plants, the commission said, Xinhua news agency reported. The Ceylon Electricity Board said in a statement that they were "compelled to take demand management measures due to inadequate power generation, as a result of fuel shortage and unavailabili ty of generators." Meanwhile, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on Tuesday announced that there will be a diesel shortage in the country on Wednesday and Thursday. "We were unable to unload 37,500 tonnes of diesel shipment as planned on Tuesday. We request the public not to queue up at filling stations," CPC Chairman said.
