News Room : UN chief finally calls for a ceasefire – The Island
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned Western states against “decoupling” from his country’s economy, insisting amid declining foreign investment that China’s development should be viewed as not a threat but an asset. Xi’s caution came as he opened the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum in Beijing on Wednesday. He also used his speech to laud the scheme, which was...
News Room : Antony Blinken holds talks with Prime Minster Netanyahu in Israel – The Island
Indigenous Australians have called for a “week of silence” and mourning after a referendum on giving them more political representation was rejected by the country’s white majority. With more than 70 percent of ballots counted on Sunday, about 61 percent of Australians said “no” when asked if the country’s 1901 constitution should be changed to recognise the country’s original inhabitants....
News Room : Afghanistan hit by third earthquake in a week
A new earthquake has hit western Afghanistan – several days after two large tremors in the region killed more than 1,000 people. The US Geological Survey (USGS) says the magnitude 6.3 quake struck near the city of Herat. It was at a depth of 6.3km (four miles). In its report, the USGS said the epicentre of the latest tremor was...
News Room : US to move second aircraft carrier to Mediterranean – The Island
Washington’s deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean is a sign of the US’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security”, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said. Sending the USS carrier Dwight Eisenhower and its strike group to join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier in the region demonstrates Washington’s “resolve to deter any state or non-state...
News Room : Government has taken significant steps to combat gender-based violence and enhance social welfare – State Minister – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Opposition is agreeable for the abolition of the executive presidency if parliamentary election could be held instead, top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Pieris said. The former External Affairs Minister mentioned this when The Island asked whether the rebel SLPP group, styled as Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa, would seek a consensus with Opposition parties in that regard. The presidential election...
News Room : Colombo YMBA Buddhist Panel discussion in English
The next Buddhist Panel Discussion in English of the Colombo YMBA will be held on Sunday (15) from 9.30 am to 11.05 am in the Conference Room of the Association at the Third Floor of its Borella Building. Facility available to participate via Zoom. Subject – “LOOKING VS SEEING, THE BUDDHIST: PERSPECTIVE The Panelists are Ven. Dhammakusala Thera and Retired Accountant...
News Room : JVP Leader nails govt. on ETF, EPF balances – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe yesterday (06) said that the weakening of the National Audit Bill, before Parliament endorsed the new law in early July 2018, too, had contributed to the collapse of the national economy. Alleging that the then Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition and influential public servants sabotaged their efforts to introduce a new law that could have...
News Room : Rains expected to subside from today – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe yesterday (06) said that the weakening of the National Audit Bill, before Parliament endorsed the new law in early July 2018, too, had contributed to the collapse of the national economy. Alleging that the then Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition and influential public servants sabotaged their efforts to introduce a new law that could have...
News Room : Iranian woman jailed for rights work wins Nobel Peace prize
Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. Announcing the decision, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Ms Mohammadi, 51, was honoured for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Her struggle has come at a “tremendous personal cost”, committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said. Ms Mohammadi is currently serving a 10-year jail term in...
News Room : Trump seeks to dismiss election interference charges
Ex-President Donald Trump has asked a federal court to dismiss the election interference case against him, arguing his role entitled him to “absolute immunity”. Mr Trump’s lawyers say his attempts to cast doubt on the 2020 election fell within his duties as president and are not subject to criminal prosecution. The claims were “at the heart of his official responsibilities”, they...