News Room : Sri Lanka to propel climate initiatives at COP28 conference in Dubai – Minister of Foreign Affairs – The Island
The French Development Agency’s (Agence Française de Développement also known as AFD) Regional Directorate is strengthening its base in Sri Lanka in line with the commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and France. It also marks the enduring partnership between AFD Group and its Sri Lankan partners, which began in 2005 when supporting the post-tsunami...
News Room : UN COP28: What to know about the climate summit in Dubai
World leaders, government representatives and delegates are set to gather for the annual United Nations climate change summit, known as the Conference of the Parties or COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Reining in fossil fuels and carbon emissions are expected to be topping the agenda of the 13-day summit (November 30 to December 12). International funding to...
News Room : All 41 workers rescued from collapsed Indian tunnel after 17 days
All 41 construction workers who were trapped in a collapsed mountain tunnel for 17 days in northern India have been brought to safety, hours after rescue crew drilled through the debris of rock, concrete and mud to reach them. Following days of multiple rescue attempts that hit obstacles just metres from reaching the men, they were eventually pulled out on...
News Room : How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October
Five armed Palestinian groups joined Hamas in the deadly 7 October attack on Israel after training together in military-style exercises from 2020 onwards, BBC News analysis shows. The groups carried out joint drills in Gaza which closely resembled the tactics used during the deadly assault – including at a site less than 1km (0.6 miles) from the barrier with Israel...
News Room : Union boss reveals how Education Ministry Secretary violated law to please panjandrums – The Island
An estimated 10% of girls are married before the age of 18 in Sri Lanka, as the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) does not set a minimum age for marriage enabling any Muslim Quazi (judge) to even authorise the marriage of girls under the age of 12, says a report published by the World Organization against Torture (OMCT). The report, titled...
News Room : 39 Palestinian prisoners expected to be released today (24)
Anticipation is building as a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas is set to begin at 7am local time in Gaza (05:00 GMT). Citing an unnamed Israeli official, CNN reported that the 39 Palestinian prisoners expected to be released today would be taken from two jails: Damon and Megiddo, both southeast of Haifa in northern Israel. They will then go to...
News Room : North Korea fully suspends military pact with South
North Korea has ripped up a five-year-old deal with Seoul aimed at lowering military tensions, in the latest escalation of a row between the two. It all started when Pyongyang claimed to have successfully launched a spy satellite into space on Tuesday (21). This led to South Korea part suspending the agreement, saying it would resume surveillance flights along the border....
News Room : Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain who lost cricket World Cup but won hearts
Millions of Indians cried along with cricket captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday as he walked off the field, trying to hold back his tears. His team had just lost the cricket World Cup final to Australia, prolonging India’s painful wait for the glory since 2011. This was arguably his best shot at winning the coveted trophy – he will be 40...
News Room : Broadcasting Regulatory Commission for electronic media to be introduced – The Island
The ICC Board on Tuesday decided to shift the 2024 men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. The move, a unanimous decision by the board, was taken as a consequence of the ICC recently provisionally suspending Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to extensive government interference in the board’s administration. The development will have no immediate implication on...
News Room : CID urged to get to the bottom of drug procurement racket – The Island
… Govt. confident of mustering majority by Shamindra Ferdinando Dissident SLPP MPs yesterday (20) asked the ruling party whether it would back what it called President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s deplorable revenue proposals when Parliament vote on the Second Reading of the Budget is held today (21). The rebel group said that the move to privatise even the profit-making enterprises, such as Sri Lanka...