International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) - 04 May.

Although organized efforts to fight urban fires have been around for over two millennia, International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) was first marked on May 4, 1999. It is a day to salute the men and women who help keep us safe, protect our property, our communities, and our wil…

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Brazil landscape garden earns UNESCO world heritage status.

The Sitio Burle Marx in western Rio features more than 3,500 species of plants native to Rio and is considered a laboratory for botanical and landscape experimentation. The recognition was granted during a meeting of UNESCO’s Heritage Committee in China. The site was designa…

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World Laughter Day - 01 May 2022 (First Sunday in May)

Every year on the first Sunday in May, World Laughter Day raises awareness of laughter and the many healing benefits it provides. Another goal of the day is to manifest World Peace and build a global consciousness through laughter. You have probably heard the saying, “laught…

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Sri Lanka to purchase LP gas from Thailand-based company.

The Cabinet of Ministers has given the approval to purchase liquefied petroleum (LP) gas from Thailand-based Siam Gas Company for a period of one year. In comparison to the current rates of the Omani supplier, the prices offered by Siam Gas Company are less than USD 09 per m…

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SLC announces 14 new coaching appointments.

Sri Lanka Cricket, as part of the restructuring program of the High-Performance Center made the 14 appointments to the Coaching Unit. The changes are aimed at further enhancing the focus on the National Team, ‘A,’ Emerging Team and as well as the Under 19 Team. The new coachi…

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Special cash allowance to low-income families hit by economic crisis.

The go-ahead of the Cabinet of Ministers has been given to provide a special cash allowance for a period of three months to identified low-income families affected by the ongoing economic crisis. Relevant proposal was tabled by the Minister of Finance and Minister of Samurdh…

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India approves opening of New Diplomatic Mission in Lithuania.

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to open a new Indian mission in Lithuania in 2022 in a bid to deepen political relations and strategic cooperation and enable growth of bilateral trade with the Baltic country. The decision to open an embassy in Lithuania is part of the …

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China, Russia, India, four others on US property rights 'Priority Watch List'

India, China, Russia, and four other countries were added to the US’s annual ‘Priority Watch List’ for intellectual property protection and enforcement. Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, and Venezuela are among the other countries on the Office of the United States Trade Represe…

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Ben Stokes named new Test captain of England.

Star all-rounder Ben Stokes has won the race to replace Joe Root and will become England's next Test captain. The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Stokes as new Test skipper on Thursday, with the 30-year-old taking over the top job from the outgoing Root…

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IMF forecasts 2.6% growth for Sri Lanka.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is forecasting Sri Lanka’s economy to grow by 2.6% this year down from 3.6% in 2021.  The projection for 2023 is a growth of 2.7% as per the IMF which this week released its forecasts for Asia and the Pacific countries.  IMF Asia and Paci…

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Myanmar's Suu Kyi handed five-year jail term.

A court in military-ruled Myanmar sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to five years in jail on Wednesday after finding her guilty in the first of 11 corruption cases she faces, a source with knowledge of the proceedings said. The Nobel laureate and figurehead of Myanma…

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S&P cuts Sri Lanka to 'selective default' on missed payments.

S&P Global Ratings cut Sri Lanka's rating as an issuer of foreign currency debt to 'selective default' after the South Asian country missed sovereign bond interest payments, S&P said. The bonds which had missed payments, maturing in 2023 and 2028, were cu…

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Yupun Abeykoon sets new Asian record.

Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon has set a new Asian record in the 150 meters men’s event at an athletic meet held in Italy. The sprinter clocked a time of 15.16 seconds to finish first place in the race and in the process surpassed the existing Asian record in the event.  The prev…

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Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index - March 2022.

Purchasing Managers' Indices for both Manufacturing and Services activities expanded in March 2022. Following the seasonal pattern in manufacturing activities, the manufacturing PMI increased on a month-on-month basis to an index value of 57.8, yet at a slower rate than …

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Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100) based headline inflation continuously increased to 29.8% in April 2022.

Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100) increased to 29.8% in April 2022 from 18.7% in March 2022. This increase in Y-o-Y inflation was driven by the monthly increases of both Food and Non-Food …

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World Asthma Day - 03 May 2022 (First Tuesday in May)

World Asthma Day is an annual event held on the first Tuesday in May, in collaboration with health care groups and asthma educators throughout the world. The day calls attention to the health issue and the struggles of asthma suffers. The goal is to improve asthma awareness…

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World Press Freedom Day - 03 May.

Every year, May 3 is when the world celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom. It’s a day to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exerc…

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Explosion at Afghan mosque kills dozens of people.

An explosion tore through a mosque near the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Friday 22 April killing at least 33 people and wounding dozens of others. This bombing is the latest in a series of deadly attacks across Afghanistan. Mujahid called the perpetrator’s of the Kunduz…

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1,700-year-old sandal found on a remote mountain in Norway.

A team of researchers working on what has been named the "Secrets of the Ice" project has come into possession of a 1,500-year-old shoe that was found in a Norwegian alpine pass—one that resembles an ancient Roman sandal. The group has not yet published their pape…

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World Tuna Day - 02 May.

World Tuna Day is an annual celebration on May 2. The day highlights the importance of managing fish stocks to maintain sustainability. With proper management, it’s hoped to ensure the world has systems in place to prevent tuna stocks from crashing. More than 96 countries ar…

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International Workers’ Day - 01 May.

Every year on May 1st, International Workers’ Day seeks to honor laborers and the working classes in many countries throughout the world. This day is also commonly referred to as Labour Day or May Day. In 1760 a major event called the Industrial Revolution began in Britain. …

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Russia withdraws from UN World Tourism Organization.

The Russian Federation has been suspended from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), losing with immediate effect its rights and privileges as part of the United Nations specialized agency. Meeting for a first extraordinary UNWTO General Assembly, Members debated the suspe…

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World Veterinary Day - 30 April

Every year on the last Saturday in April, World Veterinary Day celebrates the veterinary profession. The day also honors the lifesaving work performed by veterinarians around the world. Veterinarians practice medicine by diagnosing diseases and treating injuries and ailments…

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Estonia hosts the world's largest cyber exercise.

The Tallinn, Estonia NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, abbreviated as CCDCOE, is organising the Locked Shields 2022, the largest and most complex annual international live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world. This year’s exercise has particular impor…

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International Dance Day - April 29

International Dance Day on April 29th is an annual celebration of how dancing positively impacts our lives. The human body’s ability to move, groove, pop, and lock has captivated the way we interact with music and express ourselves artistically. This day was created to allow…

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Robert Golob elected as Prime Minister of Slovenia.

Robert Golob has defeated three-time prime minister Janez Janša in the Slovenia Prime Minister election.  State election authorities have confirmed that the Freedom Movement won nearly 34% of the votes as compared to around 24% for the governing conservative Slovenian Democr…

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The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022.

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, for the first time ever, awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022 to five individuals. The award will be presented by Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg on May 22, 2022, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential…

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Elon Musk to acquire Twitter in $44 billion deal.

The social media giant confirmed Monday 25 April 2022 the Tesla CEO and billionaire will acquire the company in a deal worth $44 billion. Once the deal is complete, which is expected by this year, Twitter will become a privately held company. Source: www.usatoday.com

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Guadalajara named World Book Capital 2022.

Guadalajara (Mexico) was named World Book Capital for the year 2022 by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, on the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. The city, already a UNESCO Creative City since 2017, was selected for its comprehensive …

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World Immunization Week 2022 - 24 to 30 April.

World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. WHO works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccin…

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