Author: News Desk

Colombo, Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially taken the oath as the 9th Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presence of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Secretariat. The ceremony, marks a significant moment in the country’s political landscape. After taking the oath Dissanayake said that, “I will do my best to fully restore the people’s confidence in politicians, I am not a conjurer, I am not a magician, there are things I know and things I don’t know, but I will seek the best advice and do my best. For that,…

Hawthorne, California: Elon Musk has asserted that he would take “anyone” to Mars except if Kamala Harris becomes President of the United States. Musk informed his followers on X that within two years, he plans to launch five spaceships to Mars. Musk said that, another Democratic presidency “would destroy the Mars programme and doom humanity, we will never reach Mars if Kamala wins.” This is also a point Republican candidate Trump gave while his speech, he vowed to reach Mars during his presidency if his supporters get him to the White House. Trump said that, “I’ll talk to Elon, to get those…

Singapore: Singapore, widely recognized for its low corruption levels, is preparing for a major corruption trial and this marks the largest scandal in 4 decades for the city-state. Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran is at the centre of a high-profile corruption case. Iswaran is set to stand trial soon facing 35 charges that include receiving valuables as a public servant, corruption, and obstructing justice. Singapore’s regulations prohibit civil servants and political figures from accepting gifts valued over 50 Singapore dollars (about $38) in the course of their official duties. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in receiving over 400,000…

Bern: Switzerland has held a popular vote on two of its major national issues. The first demanded that authorities take more action to protect biodiversity, while the second was a government-backed reform on pension funding. Projected results show that voters rejected both proposals. The “biodiversity initiative,” which sought to amend laws to reserve additional land for conservation besides the borders of areas already protected in the Alpine Republic, had already been rejected by the parliament and government. The Green Liberal Party of Switzerland expressed disappointment with the result and stated that more work needs to be done to protect the environment. Half of Switzerland’s habitats and…

Ishikawa, Japan: Thousands of residents in Ishikawa Prefecture have been ordered to evacuate as unprecedented rains have triggered severe floods and mudslides in the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest alert level for Ishikawa and that 3 people were reported missing in the prefecture’s Wajima city due to the flood. Approximately 44,700 people in Wajima, Suzu, and Noto town have been ordered to evacuate. JMA forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto informed reporters that the affected areas were experiencing “unprecedented levels of heavy rain” and stressed that, “It is a situation where immediate safety measures must be taken.” An additional…

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine has implemented a ban on the use of the messaging app Telegram for officials on state-issued devices, citing security concerns as the primary reason. This decision, announced by the government, reflects ongoing worries about the potential for information leaks and the app’s vulnerability to foreign influence. The National Security and Defence Council announced the restrictions following a presentation by Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency. He provided the council with evidence demonstrating that Russian special services could monitor activities on the platform. They also mentioned that, the ban was a ‘matter of national…

Gaza City: The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, describing the situation as an ‘inconceivable toll of human suffering’. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk addressed the Security Council, expressing deep concern over the unfolding tragic events in the Middle East. He highlighted the ‘catastrophic’ humanitarian conditions in Gaza, calling attention to the dire situation as a result of the ongoing conflict. Turk also condemned the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes, which have targeted heavily populated civilian areas, including schools, hospitals, and shelters. The death toll from Israel’s war on…

Farmington Hills, Michigan: Kamala Harris joined Oprah Winfrey for a star-studded campaign rally in Michigan, aimed at energizing voters ahead of the U.S. presidential election. The livestreamed “Unite for America”, featured virtual appearances by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, and Meryl Streep, who voiced their support for Harris. Harris opened her conversation with Winfrey by framing her campaign as a broader movement focused on bringing people together. She emphasized the importance of unity and collective responsibility, suggesting that her candidacy was about fostering a sense of purpose among Americans during a critical time. Winfrey inquired about the noticeable…

Los Angeles: Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) has etched his name in baseball history. Ohtani has become the first player to achieve a remarkable dual milestone in a single season by achieving 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. Ohtani made three home runs and lifted his tally of steals to 51 in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins. The win sent the Dodgers and Ohtani into the playoffs for the first time. This groundbreaking accomplishment highlights Ohtani’s extraordinary…

Jerusalem: Israel has reportedly launched a series of targeted airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The IAF struck approximately 30 Hezbollah launchers and terrorist infrastructure sites, containing approximately 150 launcher barrels that were ready to fire projectiles toward Israeli territory amid rising war tensions. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that the targeted rocket launchers were prepared for imminent attacks on Israel. However, it remains unclear whether the strikes resulted in any casualties. The violence has intensified in recent weeks, following the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah has stated that its actions are in support of Hamas,…