The government then decided to stop the spread of false news reports on various social media routes like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Viber, and Snapchat.

However, the government did not announce the date or time when the ban will be lifted.

Moreover, it appears at a time when social media firms are striving to rein in the measure of misinformation.

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What was the reason for its ban?

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, ordered the people to hold the unverified reports and speculation about the uncertainty.

Thereby 300 people have died in a series of bombings at churches and hotels during the Sunday service, as per the reports.

All these factors resulted in an out-and-out ban on the most popular social media sites.

The government said the block would be temporary but complete in place “until investigations were settled.

Twitter seems to be unaffected by the ban- not many in Sri Lanka follow Twitter when compared to other mediums as per some experts.

The shutdown is not without a rule. Facebook was briefly blocked a year ago in Sri Lanka after it was blamed for allowing posts that incited anti-Muslim violence.

It is reasonably not surprising that the Sri Lankan government has taken such drastic measures given that the social network Facebook acknowledged in November that its service had been used to increase violence in Myanmar.

Is the ban a great idea?

Many from the public think that the ban is an inevitable response to the emerging tech firms to play safely on the spread of wrong information.
However, other sets of the group are concerned about the government taking quick action on blocking the flow of free information online worldwide. Sri Lanka’s history shows it can control the media.

Social media continues an active source for a piece of finding information and for eluding government restrictions.

Factors that affect the issue

When there is no questioning the fact that social media networks are used to mislead information, eventually, they are crucial communication platforms for people who are desperate to check about their beloved ones.

Facebook

Most people rely on our services to communicate with their loved ones.

With this, we are committed to maintaining our services and helping the community and the country during this tragic time…

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is widely used in Sri Lanka.

Moreover, platforms like Facebook are not just part of the Internet but are the Internet for many.

This means their only form of communication, to be specific when they need it most, is suddenly cut off.

Is the ban going?

A certain group of people is using virtual private networks to circumvent the ban.

As VPNs can hide someone’s location by funneling data through a server in another country.
As per Netblocks, an organization that tracks internet outages, of these – TunnelBear has also been blocked.

Dr. Claire Wardle [An academic who founded First Draft, a non-profit organization that researches misinformation]  told:

The confirmation of the influence of social media cessations in other connections points out that they don’t have the influence people demand. While there aren’t strong channels for quality information, this can backfire.

Additionally, social media can be an aid for those who attempt to connect with people.

The head of Sudan’s military council has walked down a day after leading a coup that overthrew long-time leader Omar al-Bashir amid a surge of protests.
Defense Minister Awad Ibn Auf disclosed his decision on state TV, saying his successor will be  Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan.

Sudan was thrown into chaos and uncertainty as General Awad Ibn Auf, who had assumed power following the ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir, abruptly resigned from his position as the Chief of the Transitional Military Council (TMC). The resignation, coming just a day after his appointment, caught many by surprise and further escalated the political turmoil that has gripped the country. This article aims to explore the events leading up to Ibn Auf’s appointment, analyze the factors behind his sudden resignation, and discuss the implications for Sudan’s transition to a civilian-led government.

However, the army has said it will stay in power for two years, followed by elections.
Still, protest leaders urge they will not leave the streets until the military hands over to a civilian government.

How did it start?

1. The downfall of Mr. Bashir’s pathed months of unrest that began in December over rising prices.
   Mr. Ibn Auf as head of military intelligence, gave space to the Darfur conflict in the 2000s.
2. Following this, The US imposed sanctions on him in 2007.
3. The new head in charge also is a top military figure, but the Associated Press news agency reports that his record is cleaner than other Sudanese generals.
4. He is also said to have met with protesters to hear their views.
5. Also, Mr. Bashir has been known by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Darfur conflict.
   Thus, the military council has said it will not extradite Mr. Bashir, who denies the charges, although he may be put on trial in Sudan.

Decision to quit

• On Thursday despite Mr. Bashir being removed, demonstrators had refused to disperse, camping out outside army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, in defiance of a curfew.
• The military council came out to speak in response for the first time on the issue.
• The council denied as it was seeking power, telling the protesters that they would decide the country’s future, while the army maintained public order.
• Just a few hours after that, Mr. Ibn Auf announced he was resigning and would be replaced by Lt-Gen Burhan.

Mr. Ibn Auf

I have taken this decision, in order to ensure the cohesion of the security system, particularly the armed forces,  from cracks and strife, and relying on God, let us begin this path of change.
The protesters rejoiced his strong and sudden departure but the Sudan Professionals Association, which has been spearheading the demonstrations, later announced that they will confirm soon.

Sudan Professionals Association[SPA]

• We have called on the armed forces to ensure the immediate transfer of power to a transitional civilian government.
• While they further responded to the destruction of arbitrary decisions by leaders that do not represent the people and the detention of all symbols of the former regime who were involved in crimes against the people.
• Until these demands are met completely, we ought to continue with our sit-in at the General Command of the Armed Forces.
• The police meanwhile have reported saying, at least 16 people had been killed by stray bullets at the protests that took place on Thursday and Friday.

Conclusion:

The abrupt resignation of General Awad Ibn Auf as the Chief of the Transitional Military Council has added another layer of complexity to Sudan’s already turbulent transition period. The factors behind his resignation include public outrage, international pressure, and internal power struggles. As Sudan navigates this uncertain phase, the focus should be on fostering inclusive dialogue and ensuring a peaceful transition to civilian rule. The international community must continue to support Sudan in its pursuit of a democratic and prosperous future.

It should be noted that these reports are preliminary in nature and will be revised in the days to come- possibly over the next month. That should mean the initial estimates may still hold some water. What we mean by that is economist are not yet ready to buy the truth in the reports and consider the report is a little exaggerated as things stand as of now. They still foresee a downfall over the next couple of months.

Negative clouds being prevalent, the situation, however, looks impressive enough. The job market is still stronger enough, and the consumers market also appears to be confident. These positive traits should ideally help the policy-makers to set the fears of recession aside.

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The anger that the people had seems to have subsided to a considerable extent, and the economy appears to be heading back to normalcy.

What does this mean for The Administration?

Well, for Washington, this may be good news. During the latter part of the last year, the situation was not impressive for the Trump administration. The growth did slow down, there was a huge trade deficit, and the stock market had experienced a huge plunge downward.

The conditions seem to be improving these days. The trade deficits have been experiencing narrowing trends, the stock market is finding itself being slightly renewed, and now the good news about the GDP can be something that the trump administration will find a saving grace. There have been signs of the recovery of the job market as well.

“We’re knocking it out of the park,” that is what Trump told the reporters on Friday morning to the reporters. But, you cannot expect the improvements in terms of policy-making as such.  The policymakers are most likely to consider the first quarter results and the reports to be much temporary.

The future holds anything good?

Well, it may not be. The trends in the first quarter may or may not be truly rewarding. They may as well reverse in the second quarter.

The month ahead is likely to witness a dip in the overall GDP. The global trade is considerably weaker and can have a serious effect on the GDP. The analysts expect net trade to grow further ahead. However, consumer spending has been one of the strongest points and has been likely to improve recovery. While the spending had tumbled in December and January, it is recovering in the quarter and has been raising hopes.

The analysts are keeping a close watch on the world scenario. They are hoping to find a good surge in the consumer spends in the upcoming months. As Joe Brusuelas, chief economist for RSM candidly puts it, “We had a near miss on a recession, but we didn’t have one last year, We won’t have one this year. I think this is a good place for the economy to be.”

There are expectations of slow growth this year as a result of tax cuts and government spending increases. However, there is not much havoc in the minds as had been a few months ago. That should point to a better direction.

The Department for Transport (DfT), in the preceding month, was coerced to end with chain operator Eurotunnel, which had summoned the procurement of no-deal Brexit freighting deals.

As part of the deal, Eurotunnel conceded to make enhancements to its terminal. P&O argues that this embedded its business at a weakness over its competitors.

Well, the Eurotunnel’s issue was disclosed out following the DfT bestowed contracts worth more than £100m in total to three firms – DFDS, Seaborne Freight, and Brittany Ferries.

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Also, the firms were to render more potential over the Channel in the case that a no-deal Brexit led to gridlock at UK ports. As per the news report, the DfT had been obliged to drop its contract with Seaborne earlier in February. Moreover, the authority was reprimanded for not holding run a full public procurement process.

Furthermore, Eurotunnel sued, alleging that it had never been observed for a contract, notwithstanding earlier a cross-channel barge aid.

The DfT, which is been driven by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, resolved the claim for £33m.

The authoritative body has been keen to emphasize, that the funds would be utilized by Eurotunnel to improve its facilities in Folkestone. Thereby also installing new scanners and changing traffic routing.

Concerning the issue, the experts said that this prerequisite could lead to illegal state support.

Andrew [Dean from law firm Clifford Chance] said: 

It could be deciphered as another piece of public acquirement without open and transparent contestant”.
P&O, which seemed not bidding for the first ferry contracts, is presently challenging the Eurotunnel contract.

Regularly we tried to make it clear during decades of providing vital transport services between Britain and the Continent, that we are content to race with other providers on a level playing reach.

We too fully accept that it was prudent of the government to make contingency plans to shield international supply chains in the result of a grim Brexit.

Nevertheless, we accept that the payment of £33m, which is of public allowed to Eurotunnel to settle its legal provocation to these plans is clear or understandable.

It is sketched in a way to be funded in the tunnel’s infrastructure and if issued unchallenged it might later set our co-operation at a rival bar.

A ministry spokeswoman said:
‘We are poised we performed competently to join the deal with Eurotunnel’

Scenario if P&O wins the state:

Emily Heard [Head of Procurement, Competition and State Aid at law firm Bevan Brittan]

P&O’s implied terrains cover a case that the £33m payment to Eurotunnel amounts to a deal, which been promoted under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The improvements would comprise placing alongside the settlement, losses and a fine.

The fascinating questionable topic here is-
Can we secure emerging contracts as a part of the Eurotunnel settlement deal directs an oppositely lawful settlement agreement into an unlawful public contract?

Also, the P&O might debate that the settlement amounts to illicit state aid, on the terrains that it bestows an interest on Eurotunnel above its adversaries.

For instance, if unlawful land funding is obtained, the government would have to rescue the aid in whole, with attention, and losses may be obligatory to P&O.

However, the degree to which the settlement draws reasonable price will be extremely suitable.

Uber the last week openly listed for an initial public offering, it fastened its reputation as a technology behemoth with its own share of liabilities. One significant sector is its Autonomous Technology group, which has emitted hundreds of millions into mounting self-driving car tech since 2015 but is however to commercialize it. According to reports, Uber spent $457 million in 2018 on research and development for autonomous vehicles (and its other tech research think tanks, like “flying taxis”) a figure 19 percent higher when compared to those we saw in 2017.

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Real progress by for Uber not to consider the latent shareholders embracing its IPO while declaring a major stake into its Autonomous Technology Group from a Japanese consortium on Thursday. Well, the inflow of $1 billion investment arrives from Softbank Vision Fund, Toyota, and the automotive supplier Denso. All of these corporations are aggressively bankrolling encouraging transportation technology businesses.

The investment values the autonomous tech team at $7.25 billion also facilitates the formulation of a new board for the group, with seats for Softbank and Toyota. These council posts may, however, need to accept the US government‘s approval. Uber’s plan for autonomous vehicle technology is somewhat intricate. In partnership with the help of Volvo Cars, it intends to establish its own technology for self-driving vehicles, which could serve as a fleet operator.

The firm also has a two-year-old agreement with Daimler, to set the automaker’s self-driving vehicles on the Uber stage. It has a former association with Toyota, which invested $500 million in Uber ATG last summer and sketched a plan to work with Uber to build a self-driving Toyota Sienna minivan and stream it on Uber’s stage.