S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka on debt servicing risks.

S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka on debt servicing risks. Rating agency S&P Global Ratings slashed Sri Lanka’s credit rating to “CCC+/C” on Friday 11 December 2020, citing concerns that risks to the island nation’s debt servicing capacity have risen as the…

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Christmas Star to be visible this festive season for first time in 800 years.

Christmas Star to be visible this festive season for first time in 800 years. On December 21, a bright object will appear in the night’s sky. Astronomers have dubbed it the ‘Christmas Star’ due to it appearing over the festive season. However, the astronomical object is not a…

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International Day of Neutrality - 12 December.

International Day of Neutrality - 12 December. Every year on December 12th, the International Day of Neutrality promotes the importance of peaceful, friendly, and mutually beneficial relations between countries. When a country is neutral, it means they are not taking a side i…

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The world of football mourns the passing of Paolo Rossi.

The world of football mourns the passing of Paolo Rossi. FIFA and the world of the football has learned today with much sadness and emotion the terrible news of the passing of Paolo Rossi at the age of 64 years. Football loses another true legend, a symbol, and another great…

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UNICEF Birthday - 11 December.

UNICEF Birthday - 11 December. Each year on December 11th, the world celebrates the UNICEF Birthday commemorating the day it was created in 1946. Headquartered in New York City, UNICEF is a member of the United Nations Development Group and its Executive Committee. Since its …

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International Mountain Day - 11 December.

International Mountain Day - 11 December. International Mountain Day, held each year on 11 December, was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003. The UN encourages events to be organized at all levels that day on behalf of sustainable development in mountains. Healthy …

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World’s richest banker Joseph Safra dies at aged 82.

World’s richest banker Joseph Safra dies at aged 82. Joseph Safra, a Lebanese-born financier who became the world’s richest banker after building an international business empire from his adopted country Brazil, has died aged 82. Famous for his discretion and conservatism, Sa…

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Mara Gomez becomes the first transgender woman to play football in Argentina.

Mara Gomez becomes the first transgender woman to play football in Argentina. Villa San Carlos striker Mara Gomez became the first transgender woman to play football in Argentina. Gomez, 23, got the approval to play from the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and started in…

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08th December: 36th SAARC Charter Day.

08th December: 36th SAARC Charter Day. On December 08 2020 the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) celebrated its 36th Charter Day Anniversary. SAARC Charter Day is observed annually on 8th December. This day marks the signing of the SAARC Charter in 1985…

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UK and Singapore sign free trade agreement.

UK and Singapore sign free trade agreement. The UK and Singapore have signed a free trade agreement, delivering a modicum of positive news for Boris Johnson’s government as it remains locked in negotiations with the EU over its future relationship with the bloc. The new deal …

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Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban resigns.

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban resigns. The Prime Minister of Romania, Ludovic Orban has stepped down from his post after his ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) lost in 2020 parliamentary election. Following this, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed the Minis…

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Annika Sorenstam elected as the president of International Golf Federation.

Annika Sorenstam elected as the president of International Golf Federation. Anika Sorenstam will be the next president of the International Golf Federation. The IGF Board elected the 72-time LPGA winner and World Golf Hall of Famer during a virtual meeting on Wednesday 09 Dec…

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Madagascar replaces Maldives as host of 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games.

Madagascar replaces Maldives as host of 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games. Madagascar has replaced the Maldives as the host of the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games due to concerns over the current pandemic. The event had been awarded to the Maldives last year, but members of the …

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Zena Wooldridge Elected As World Squash Federation President.

Zena Wooldridge Elected As World Squash Federation President. Zena Wooldridge has been elected as the new World Squash Federation (WSF) President following the WSF’s 2020 Annual General Meeting. Zena Wooldridge, from England, will become the 10th WSF President to serve since …

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"Havana syndrome" likely caused by directed microwaves - US report.

"Havana syndrome" likely caused by directed microwaves - US report. Mystery illness suffered by US diplomats in Cuba was most likely caused by directed microwave radiation, a US government report has found. The report by the National Academies of Sciences does not a…

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Gen. Chuck Yeager, 1st to break sound barrier, dies at age 97.

Gen. Chuck Yeager, 1st to break sound barrier, dies at age 97. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager has died. He was 97 and born in 1923, in Myra, West Virginia.  He was a World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who travelled firstly in a s…

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UK, Canada assure Sri Lanka terrorism glorification will not be tolerated.

UK, Canada assure Sri Lanka terrorism glorification will not be tolerated. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena met with the British High Commissioner Sarah Hulton and Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon, this week to discuss matters of bilateral importance. T…

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The World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes.

The World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes: Shemara Wikramanayake named one of World’s Most Powerful Women of 2020. Shemara Wikramanayake, the CEO and Managing Director of Australian firm Macquarie Group, has been ranked 29th in The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2020…

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Human Rights Day - 10 December.

Human Rights Day - 10 December. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights whi…

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International Animal Rights Day - 10 December.

International Animal Rights Day - 10 December. Each year on December 10th during International Animal Rights Day, animal rights advocates around the world seek to persuade people that kindness and respect are owed to all sentient beings. This, of course, includes animals. The…

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Nobel Prize Day - 10 December.

Nobel Prize Day - 10 December. Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded annually on December 10th.   On December 10th, Nobel Prize Day recognizes the annual prize established by Alfred Nobel. On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his third and last will at the Swedish-…

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Argentina’s Senate passes ‘millionaire’s tax’.

Argentina’s Senate passes ‘millionaire’s tax’. Argentina’s Senate has approved a wealth tax to help the government fund for current pandemic measures, including purchasing health supplies and offering economic relief to struggling businesses. The one-time levy, passed late on…

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Sri Lankan entrepreneur shaping digital landscape in Bhutan; opens university, Silicon Valley equivalent.

Sri Lankan entrepreneur shaping digital landscape in Bhutan; opens university, Silicon Valley equivalent. Sesiri Pathirane is a tech investor and entrepreneur who has been highly instrumental in - with blessings of the Government and cooperation from Private sector investors…

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Sanjaya Mohottala assumes duties as new BOI Chairman.

Sanjaya Mohottala assumes duties as new BOI Chairman. Sanjaya Mohottala assumed duties today (09) as the 21st Chairman of the Board of Investment, the apex Investment Promotion Agency of the Government of Sri Lanka. Having previously served as DG BOI from March 2020, under hi…

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Capital City Holdings secures 10MW wind power plant deal in Trincomalee.

Capital City Holdings secures 10MW wind power plant deal in Trincomalee. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Energy to award the contract for the construction of 10MW wind power plant for the Trincomalee Grid Substation to Capital …

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Stock market turnover tops Rs.5.2bn. ASPI crosses 6,600 mark.

Stock market turnover tops Rs.5.2bn. ASPI crosses 6,600 mark. The main index of the Colombo Stock Exchange, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) crossed the 6,600 point mark today (09 December 2020). The ASPI surged 41.09 points ( or 0.63%) to close at 6,605.09. The day’s trading…

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England returning to Sri Lanka for 2-test cricket tour.

England returning to Sri Lanka for 2-test cricket tour. England will return to Sri Lanka for a rearranged two-test cricket tour in January, 10 months after leaving the Asian country as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold. England’s players will isolate for three days …

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Bangladesh, Bhutan sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

Bangladesh, Bhutan sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Bangladesh and Bhutan on Sunday 06 December 2020 signed the first ever preferential trade agreement (PTA) to boost bilateral trade. Bangladesh's Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minist…

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Lloyd Austin: Biden picks ex-general as defence secretary.

Lloyd Austin: Biden picks ex-general as defence secretary. US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin as his defence secretary. If approved, the 67-year-old who retired in 2016 would become the first African-American to lead the Pentagon. Four-star Ge…

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World Athletes of the Year 2020.

World Athletes of the Year 2020. Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas are the 2020 Male and Female World Athletes of the Year. They are their countries’ first recipients of the prestigious athletics award announced during the virtua…

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China successfully activates nuclear-powered ‘artificial sun’.

China successfully activates nuclear-powered ‘artificial sun’. China has successfully activated its so-called “artificial sun,” a nuclear fusion reactor that could fuel its energy ambitions for years to come — if they can make it more sustainable. China’s Atomic Energy Author…

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China successfully launches new Earth observation satellite.

China successfully launches new Earth observation satellite. China on December 6, 2020 successfully launched a new Earth observation satellite which can take high-resolution pictures of ground objects across the globe. The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Lau…

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The Climate Change Performance Index 2021.

The Climate Change Performance Index 2021. The Climate Change Performance Index is collectively developed by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network (CAN) International. The index, developed based on objective emission indicators, renewable energy, and en…

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Indian-origin health expert to lead The WHO Foundation as first CEO.

Indian-origin health expert to lead The WHO Foundation as first CEO. India-origin global health expert Anil Soni has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of the newly established The World Health Organisation Foundation. The WHO Foundation will work alongside …

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Fitch Downgrades Bank of Ceylon to ‘CCC’ on Sovereign Downgrade.

Fitch Downgrades Bank of Ceylon to ‘CCC’ on Sovereign Downgrade. Fitch Ratings has downgraded Bank of Ceylon's (BOC) Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to 'CCC', from 'B-'. The ratings do not carry an Outlook because of the…

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China removes TripAdvisor, 104 other apps from stores under cleansing campaign.

China removes TripAdvisor, 104 other apps from stores under cleansing campaign. China has removed 105 apps including that of U.S. travel firm TripAdvisor Inc from app stores in the country, under a new campaign to cleanse stores of apps it deems spread content related to por…

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Bob Dylan sells entire song catalog to Universal Music.

Bob Dylan sells entire song catalog to Universal Music. Bob Dylan has sold his entire catalog of more than 600 songs spanning six decades to Universal Music Group’s music publishing arm, the company said on Monday 07 December 2020. The deal includes Dylan’s iconic 1960s count…

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New Election Commission to take office on 10th December 2020.

New Election Commission to take office on 10th December 2020. The newly appointed members of the Elections Commission of Sri Lanka are due to assume duties tomorrow (December 10, 2020). Its new members, including the Chairperson, has been appointed by President Gotabaya Rajap…

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Nepal and China have jointly announced revised height of Mount Everest.

Nepal and China have jointly announced revised height of Mount Everest. After working for a year on processing data regarding the measurement of the world's highest peak, Nepal and China have jointly announced revised height of the Mount Everest on Tuesday 08  December 2…

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Singapore to host World Economic Forum in May 2021.

Singapore to host World Economic Forum in May 2021. Singapore will host the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting next May 2021,  This Special Annual Meeting 2021 will be a venue to see top political, business and academic leaders gather to discuss pressing global i…

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