At 17.5 million, Indian diaspora largest in the world: UN report

India continued to be the largest country of origin of international migrants. It had the largest number of migrants living abroad (17.5 million), followed by Mexico (11.8 million), and China (10.7 million). The top destination country remained the United States (50.7 milli…

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Highest volcano on Indonesia’s Java island Semeru has erupted.

The highest volcano (3676m) on Indonesia’s most densely populated island of Java, spewed hot clouds as far away as 4.5km today (18th December). There were no immediate evacuations, but the National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned people who live in the villages on the slop…

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Rohit Sharma becomes the First Cricketer to smash 100 Sixes against Australia in International Cricket

Rohit became the first cricketer to score 100 sixes against Australia in international cricket. The hitman has now hit nine sixes in Test matches against Australia, 76 sixes in ODIs and 15 in T20Is making him the first cricketer to smash 100 sixes vs Australia.  The six agai…

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India Finds Its First Ever Lithium Reserves.

India has discovered its maiden lithium reserves discovery in the igneous rocks located in the Marlagalla-Allapatna region of Karnataka's Mandya district. Though the discovery is very small in size in the present and stands at only 1,600 tonnes of lithium, it marks an in…

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North Korea unveils new submarine-launched missile.

North Korea has unveiled a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, described by state media as "the world's most powerful weapon". Several of the missiles were displayed at a parade overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, reported state media. The weapon's…

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Uganda's long-time leader Yoweri Museveni declared as the election winner.

Uganda's long-time President Yoweri Museveni has been re-elected, electoral officials say, amid accusations of vote fraud by his main rival Bobi Wine. Mr Museveni won almost 59% of the vote, with Bobi Wine trailing with about 35%, the Electoral Commission said. Thursday&#…

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Nepali climbers make history with winter summit of K2 mountain.

A team of 10 Nepali climbers has set a new world record by becoming the first to reach the summit of K2, the world's second highest mountain, in winter. Mountaineer Nimsdai Purja, a member of the group, said they reached the peak at 17:00 local time (12:00 GMT). Dozens of…

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Fiji wins presidency of The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR).

The favorite of Western nations, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, beat off competition from Bahrain and Uzbekistan to win the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) on Friday (15 Dec) elected Fiji's ambassador as its 2021 p…

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US emissions in 2020 in biggest fall since WWII.

US greenhouse gas emissions tumbled below their 1990 level for the first-time last year as a result of the response to the current pandemic. A preliminary assessment from research group Rhodium says that overall emissions were down over 10%, the largest fall since World War …

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World Religion Day - 17 January.

Every year on the third Sunday in January, people from all cultures and backgrounds come together World Religion Day. The day celebrates the commonality of the major faiths of the world. It may surprise you to know that there are over 4,000 recognized religions in the world.…

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Sri Lanka Tamils appeal to UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for rights accountability.

Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil political parties and civil society groups have urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international independent investigatory mechanism with a strict time frame to ensure accountability from the island nation on the alleged human right…

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New Species of Bat Found in West Africa.

A new species of a striking orange & black bat has been discovered from the Nimba Mountains in West Africa. The species has been named Myotis Nimbaensis in recognition of the Guinea Mountain Range it inhabits. The American Museum of Natural History tweeted about this new …

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U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese officials.

The United States announced sanctions on Chinese state-owned enterprise and military officials and added Chinese oil giant CNOOC to a blacklist, accusing them using coercion against states with rival claims in the South China Sea. The moves by the Trump administration will f…

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Archaeologists find world's oldest animal cave painting in Indonesia.

Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest known animal cave painting in Indonesia - a wild pig - believed to be drawn 45,500 years ago. Painted using dark red ochre pigment, the life-sized picture of the Sulawesi warty pig appears to be part of a narrative scene. …

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Biden names ex-US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power to lead international aid agency.

Joe Biden on named Samantha Power, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, as his choice to lead the US Agency for International Development (USAid). Samantha Power was US ambassador to the United Nations in the Obama-Biden administration and also served on Barack Ob…

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Daily Telegraph owner Sir David Barclay dies at age 86.

Sir David Barclay, one of the two billionaire brothers who own the Telegraph newspaper group, has died unexpectedly after a short illness, aged 86. The newspaper reported that the billionaire died “unexpectedly”. Sir David, alongside his twin brother Sir Frederick, had built…

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Biden picks Kurt Campbell to head Asia Policy.

United States President-elect Joe Biden has picked veteran diplomat Kurt Campbell, who was the architect of the trilateral dialogue with India and Japan during the Obama Administration, to lead his Asia Policy. The brain behind the Asia Pivot of the Obama Administration from…

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International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2021 to celebrate the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be celebrating the work of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray by screening five of his classics.  As part of the tribute, the festival will showcase Ray's acclaimed "Pather Panchali", the first film of his…

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Apple announces education funding under racial justice plan.

Apple has announced it's $ 100 Million initiative funding for technology education efforts as part of its racial justice initiative launched last year during the civil unrest sparked by police killings of African Americans. The projects include a global innovation and le…

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Sri Lanka’s trade deficit narrows in November.

According to the latest external trade data released by the Central Bank, country’s trade deficit narrowed in November 2020 by US $ 198 million to US $ 565 million, from US $ 762 million recorded in November 2019, due to a larger decline in imports compared to the decline i…

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Selling rate of US $ exceeds Rs.196 mark.

According to the daily exchange report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the current buying rate of the US Dollar today stands at Rs.190.77 and selling rate of the US dollar stands at Rs.196.05. This is the highest buying and selling rate recorded for a US dollar, sin…

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Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) emerges as world’s second best performing equity market in 2021.

The main index of the Colombo Stock Exchange, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) has been ranked as the second best performing stock index in the world as of 13 January 2021, with a positive price return of 9.88%, according to Bloomberg data. In a Twitter message, State Minist…

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Port City Colombo attracts world’s top investor Nathaniel Rothschild.

World renowned financier and a member of Rothschild family, Nathaniel Rothschild who is in Sri Lanka for a brief business tour, paid a visit to Port City Colombo yesterday (14). He was accompanied by prominent Sri Lankan born British politician and former EU parliamentarian …

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Record-breaking day (15th Jan) for Colombo Stock Exchange.

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange gained 291.34 points today (15), marking the highest daily points gain in its history. The ASPI closed at 7,734.57 points - the highest since February 28, 2011 - gaining 3.91% from the previous day of trading.  Th…

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South Asia’s Largest Tyre Manufacturing Plant Now in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturing facility for tyres and radials, Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Limited, was declared open by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday (14). The occasion was also joined by Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa and Minister of Ports and S…

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Astronomers Have Discovered an Alien Planet with Three Suns.

Astronomers think they've spotted an alien planet with three suns on its horizon — but that still isn't the most interesting thing about the strange new world's sky. Scientists found the world, which they've dubbed LTT 1445Ab, in data gathered by NASA's T…

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Biden lays out $1.9 trillion Covid relief package with $1,400 stimulus checks.

President-elect Joe Biden laid out his $1.9 trillion relief package in a prime-time address Thursday 14 January 2020 — focusing on a new round of stimulus checks to struggling Americans and an ambitious vaccine distribution plan to control the deadly pandemic. Biden will ask…

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U.S. declares Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Trump administration declared Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, the latest in a series of actions aimed at undoing the Obama-era legacy of opening U.S. relations with the island nation just weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Cuba was placed on the list…

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NASA plans to ignite the most powerful rocket it's ever built on January 17.

It will be the first firing of the Space Launch System (SLS), the long-awaited (and delayed) rocket ship that NASA plans to use for non-commercial human space flight. However, during this first ignition, only the liquid fuel engines at the core of the rocket will be tested, …

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Tesla sets up India subsidiary in Bengaluru.

Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla has registered a fully-owned subsidiary in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Tesla, the world’s most valued carmaker has incorporated a fully owned subsidiary ahead as a first step to set up an R&D unit and a manufacturing plant f…

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