NASA Perseverance Mars Rover to Acquire First Sample.

NASA is making final preparations for its Perseverance Mars rover to collect its first-ever sample of Martian rock, which future planned missions will transport to Earth. The six-wheeled geologist is searching for a scientifically interesting target in a part of Jezero Crat…

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Philippines approves 'golden rice' for commercial production.

The Philippines became the world's first country Friday (Jul 23) to approve the commercial production of genetically modified "golden rice" that experts hope will combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world. A biosafety permit issued by go…

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China's first green sheep-farming city in ecological push.

Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, became the country's first green sheep-farming city thanks to its efforts in grassland ecological protection and green sheep farming. The honor was rolled out by China Meat Association during a summit …

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Guinea reverses decision to pull out of Tokyo Olympics.

The West African country of Guinea has reversed an earlier decision to pull out of the Olympics and will send a delegation of five athletes to the Tokyo Games. Minister of Sports Sanoussy Bantama Sow made the announcement after national and international outcries that follow…

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Norovirus outbreak reported in the UK.

The United Kingdom, which is already seeing a surge in coronavirus cases amid relaxation of curbs, has now reported an outbreak of the norovirus. Public Health England (PHE) has issued a warning after finding a rise in infections recently. Over the past five weeks since May-e…

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G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting 2021.

The G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting 2021 is one of the ministerial meetings organized as part of the G20 Leaders Summit 2021, which will be hosted by Italy in October 2021. The 2021 G20, under the Italian Presidency, will focus on three broad, interconnected pillars of a…

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Russia successfully launches test hypersonic cruise missile.

The Russian defense ministry on Monday 19 July 2021 reported a successful test launch of its new Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. The missile had been fired from the Admiral Gorshkov, a warship in the White Sea. The missile successfully hit a target more than 350 kilometers…

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Hayleys Fabric cuts carbon footprint by 15% with Sri Lanka’s largest solar roof.

Contributes 6,241,500kWh of power per annum to the National grid Largest single rooftop solar installation in Sri Lanka 9,000 solar panels installed across 18,000 square metre rooftop Carbon footprint reduced by 4,065.45 tCO2. Leading textile manufacturer, Hayleys Fabric furthe…

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Russia launches long-delayed lab module to space station.

Russia on Wednesday 20 July 2021 successfully launched a long-delayed lab module for the International Space Station that is intended to provide more room for scientific experiments and space for the crew. A Proton-M booster rocket carrying the Nauka module lifted off as sch…

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UN and IOC launch stamps.

The United Nations and International Olympic Committee have initiated a new move to acknowledge the role of sports for peace. They have launched a series of stamps for the same. The United Nations Postal Administration or UNPA worked in partnership with the International Oly…

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BTS tops Billboard Hot 100 with new hit replacing own song.

South Korean boy band BTS has gracefully replaced its own No. 1 song, “Butter,” at the Billboard Hot 100 chart with another hit -- “Permission to Dance.” The latest track officially debuted at No. 1 on this week’s Hot 100, while “Butter” bowed to the seventh spot in the char…

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Tokyo Olympics 2020 kick off amid pandemic fears.

The most troubled Olympics in modern history finally get under way in Tokyo on Friday 23 July 2021, struggling to emerge from the clutches of Covid-19 after a one-year postponement and following a build-up marred by scandal and controversy. The opening ceremony of the Tokyo …

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Mercedes-Benz announces plan to go all-electric by 2030.

Mercedes-Benz today announced a new electrification plan that sets them up to “go all-electric by the end of the decade.” The German automaker is the latest in a series of automakers who are trying to put a timeline on when they are going to sell their latest internal combus…

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Facebook spent $23.4 million on Mark Zuckerberg's personal security.

The cost to protect high-profile tech execs is spiralling even as lockdowns have grounded travel to a halt. A new analysis of the security expenses racked up by Silicon Valley giants shows they collectively spent $46 million to safeguard their top brass last year. Of that f…

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UK to permanently deploy two warships in Asia Pacific.

Britain has announced that it will permanently deploy two warships in Asian waters after its Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and escort ships sail to Japan in September through seas where China is vying for influence with the United States and Japan. Plans for the high-prof…

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Australia’s Brisbane to host 2032 Olympic Games.

The Australian city of Brisbane will host the 2032 Summer Olympic and Paralympic after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the recommendation of its executive board. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has voted the Australian city of Brisbane as the hos…

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US launches air strike in Somalia.

The US military conducted an airstrike against Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab jihadists on Tuesday 20 July 2021, the first since President Joe Biden took office. The US military command for Africa (Africom), in coordination with the Somali government, conducted one airstrike…

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Ariel Henry to take over as new Haitian Prime Minister.

Ariel Henry has formally assumed the post of Prime Minister of Haiti. He assumed the role of the leader of the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation in a ceremony in the capital Port-Au-Prince. Henry was installed as head of a new government in an attempt to stabilize a c…

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Liverpool’s historic waterfront removed from World Heritage List.

The World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO, holding its 44th session in Fuzhou and online, decided to delete the property ‘Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City’ (UK) from the World Heritage List. That decision  has taken due to the irreversible loss of attributes conveying …

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A finger-sized fossil unearthed in United States.

A finger-sized fossil from 308 million years ago unearthed in the United States gives tantalizing clues to the habits of tiny dinosaurlike creatures that may be the forerunners of reptiles. The new species is a microsaur — small lizardlike animals that roamed the Earth well …

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World Brain Day - 22 July.

World Brain Day is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting advocacy related to brain health. It is celebrated on July 22. The day was first observed in 2014 and This year, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and MS International Federation (MSIF) are at the forefro…

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Russia's S-500 Missile System Hits Test Target.

Russia’s S-500 next-generation missile system has struck a fast-moving ballistic target in a training exercise at the Kapustin Yar range. The first S-500 system will be procured to the Moscow Region’s air and missile defense unit after a full cycle of tests is completed, th…

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China unveils 600 kph maglev train.

The world's first high-speed maglev transportation system running at a speed of 600 kilometers per hour has made its public debut in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday 20 July 2021.   As the fastest ground vehicle available so far, the system, self-d…

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Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has made a short journey to space on 20th July 2021, in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard.  He was accompanied by Mark Bezos, his brother, Wally Funk, an 82-year-old pioneer of the space race, and an 18-year-old student. They trav…

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Pedro Castillo declared president-elect of Peru.

Pedro Castillo has been declared president-elect of Peru, weeks after winning the popular vote in a tightly-contested run-off election. The country's election authority announced its verdict after reviewing claims of electoral fraud by his right-wing rival, Keiko Fujimor…

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China reports first human death from rare Monkey B virus.

China has reported the first human infection and death in the country caused by a rare infectious disease found in primates known as the Monkey B virus.  The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said a 53-year-old veterinary surgeon who worked in a research inst…

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Russian troops to conduct military drills near the Afghanistan border.

Russia said  it will stage military drills next month with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan near the border with Afghanistan where the Taliban has led a lightning offensive against government troops. The joint drills will take place August 5-10 at the Kharbmaidon training ground in…

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Space Exploration Day - 20 July.

The annual holiday commemorates the anniversary of the first manned mission to the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Americans astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to step foot on the surface of the Moon. In 1984, the day was proclaimed a holiday by United…

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Zoom is buying cloud contact center provider Five9.

Zoom announced on Sunday 18 July 2021 that it’s buying Five9, a provider of cloud contact center software, in an all-stock transaction valuing the company at $14.7 billion. The deal marks Zoom’s first billion-dollar acquisition and comes as the company prepares for a post-pa…

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International Chess Day - 20 July.

International Chess Day on July 20th honors the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDES) in 1924. The FIDES became the governing body of the game of chess, an ancient game played around the world. Chess developed in India during the fifth century. As the strate…

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Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE)'s All Share Price Index crosses 8,000 mark.

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) crossed the 8,000 mark today (July 19) as it went by 55.60 points. ASPI closed at 8,022.55, according to the CSE. Further, the value of turnover for today is at Rs 6.22 billion. Read Full News

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ICC inducts Mongolia, Tajikistan and Switzerland as new members.

The ICC has announced that Mongolia, Tajikistan and Switzerland will be its newest members during the 78th Annual General Meeting. Mongolia and Tajikistan are the 22nd and 23rd members of the Asia region, while Switzerland is Europe's 35th Member, with the ICC now compri…

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Japan sets new world record for internet speed with 319 Terabytes per second.

Researchers in Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology recently set a new world record for the world's fastest internet speed at 319 Terabytes  per second (Tbps). The long-haul transfer of data took place over 3,001 kilometres. This re…

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Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix 2021.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), won the British Grand Prix 2021, for a record-extending eighth time. The event was held on July 18, 2021, at the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom. This is the 99th career win of seven times world champion Hamilton and the fo…

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US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan to form new quad grouping.

The US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity. The parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and agr…

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Microsoft acquires cyber security firm RiskIQ for $500M.

Microsoft has reached a deal to acquire RiskIQ, a San Francisco-based provider of cybersecurity services, including malware and spyware monitoring and mobile app security. RiskIQ’s services and solutions will join Microsoft’s suite of cloud-native security products, includin…

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Cannes Film Festival 2021 winners list announced.

The Cannes Film Festival 2021 concluded on 17 July 2021. The jury, presided by Spike Lee, presented the awards at the Closing Ceremony. Julia Ducournau won the Cannes' top prize, the Palme d'Or, for her film Titane, making her the second woman ever to win the award.…

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Jeff Bezos is flying to space. Here's everything you need to know.

Jeff Bezos, the richest man on the planet, is preparing for a rocket-powered, 11-minute 2,300-mph excursion to the edge of space, capping off a month filled with rocket news and a bit of drama among the world's richest people who are dedicating large portions of their w…

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World leaders pledge to redouble Covid-19 fight at special APEC meeting.

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC, including US President Joe Biden, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and China's Xi Jinping, pledged on Friday 16 July 2021 to work to expand sharing and manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines to fight the global pandemic. The leaders,…

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Top EU court rules hijab can be banned at work.

The European Union’s top court has ruled that employers may forbid the wearing of visible symbols of religious or political belief, such as headscarves. But the Luxembourg-based tribunal said in its ruling on Thursday that courts in the bloc’s 27 member states should weigh u…

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Eiffel Tower reopens after nine-month COVID closure.

The Eiffel Tower has reopened to visitors after nine months of shutdown caused by the COVID pandemic, the landmark’s longest closure since World War II. The lifts of the “Iron Lady” again whisked tourists to its 300-metre (1,000-foot) summit and its majestic views of the Fre…

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Biodegradable lunch sheets compulsory from August 01.

The Environment Ministry has made the use of biodegradable lunch sheets compulsory from August 1, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Addressing the media, he said biodegradable lunch sheets should be made available in shops from the said date. Non-perishable lunch …

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Sri Lanka to field 9 athletes for 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Sri Lanka will field a nine-member team of athletes for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Games, says the National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The squad will be led by former bronze medal winner at the Rio Paralympics Games, Javelin thrower Dinesh Priyantha Herath. Meanwhile, Sri La…

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WhatsApp blocks two million Indian accounts.

WhatsApp has said it blocked over two million accounts in India in May and June for violating rules. The service said 95% of these users were blocked for violating the limits of the number of times messages can be forwarded in India. The submissions were made by WhatsApp in i…

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