Swiss Ski Resort Bar Fire Leaves Dozens Dead and Scores Critically Injured
Authorities said around 115 people were injured, many with severe burns, as flames rapidly engulfed the venue. “I think a large number of the injured, maybe between 80 and 100, are in a life-threatening condition,” he said. France’s foreign ministry reported that nine French nationals were injured and eight remained unaccounted for. Cornado told Italian media that 47 people had died, though Ganzer said he was “surprised” by that figure, adding that it did not match official counts at that time. Elisa Sousa, 17, told Reuters she had planned to attend the bar that night but stayed home for a family gathering.
Source:The Nation
January 02, 2026 12:33 UTC
Customs seizes Kush valued at 34.19 mn at BIA
Customs seizes Kush valued at 34.19 mn at BIANewsA 35-year-old Indian national was arrested by Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit at Bandaranaike International Airport after seizing 3,419 grams of Kush with a street value of 34.19 million rupees. The suspect and seized drugs were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. He arrived from Bangkok on SriLankan Airlines, which landed at approximately 11.00 a.m.You can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
January 02, 2026 12:03 UTC
Setting Up a Crypto Business in the UAE |
What follows is a practical, newspaper-style guide to how the UAE framework works in real terms—and what it means for anyone planning to set up a crypto business here. The Core Reality: One Country, Multiple FrameworksThe UAE is a federal state, and crypto regulation is split across emirate-level and federal-level authorities. At the federal level, the UAE has also formalized a national layer of virtual asset regulation through Cabinet Resolution No. It does not automatically authorize you to conduct regulated virtual asset activity. Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) where activities overlap with payment systems, stored-value, payment tokens, remittance-like rails, or retail payment services regulation.
Source:The Nation
January 02, 2026 11:38 UTC
Boring Businesses That Make Millions: The Cash-Flow Playbook
Property Businesses: Passive in Theory, Disciplined in PracticeProperty-oriented cash-flow businesses appeal to investors because they appear passive. Why “Boring” Businesses Outperform in Uncertain EconomiesOne reason boring businesses continue to outperform during economic downturns is their insulation from trends. Labor, Automation, and the Next Decade of Boring BusinessesAs labor shortages persist across developed economies, boring businesses are quietly becoming technology adopters. The Psychological Edge: Why Boring Businesses Are Easier to SustainThere is also a human factor at play. Boring businesses may never go viral, but they pay dividends month after month, year after year.
Source:The Nation
January 02, 2026 10:58 UTC
AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY - The Viral Theory That Says Marvel Isn’t Ending the World — It’s Rewriting the Future
Yet as anticipation builds for Avengers: Doomsday, the internet is converging on a far more unsettling idea: this time, the apocalypse may not be explosive. PULL QUOTE“The Avengers may win the war — and still lose the future.”The Avengers’ Most Impossible ChoiceIf this theory holds, Avengers: Doomsday may reach its emotional climax not with an explosion, but a reunion. Or do they accept that the world may choose Doom’s order over their freedom? According to viral analysis, the children in Avengers: Doomsday are not emotional embellishments — they are load-bearing narrative devices. The Quiet Horror at the Heart of the FilmWhen viewed through this lens, Avengers: Doomsday becomes Marvel’s most philosophical film yet.
Source:The Nation
January 02, 2026 09:15 UTC
Stranger Things Season 5 and the Culture Debate: Are Viewers Seeing a Narrative Shift?
As Stranger Things prepares for its long-anticipated fifth and final season, the global hit series finds itself at the center of a familiar—but intensifying—cultural debate. From this perspective, Stranger Things is not abandoning its roots, but evolving in step with its characters and audience. Treating that as controversial says more about society’s discomfort than about the show’s intentions.”Netflix’s PositionNetflix has not directly addressed claims that Stranger Things Season 5 is designed to “convert” or ideologically influence viewers. The Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, have repeatedly stated that the show’s priority remains character integrity and narrative closure. What Season 5 Will Ultimately DecideAs the final chapter of one of Netflix’s most successful properties, Stranger Things Season 5 carries enormous symbolic weight.
Source:The Nation
January 02, 2026 08:17 UTC
Cinnamon Life sets the stage for ‘Island Invitation’ Golf Experience
Cinnamon Life sets the stage for ‘Island Invitation’ Golf ExperienceBusinessCinnamon Life at City of Dreams is set to host the ‘Island Invitation’, an exclusive, invitation-only international lifestyle and golf-led experience taking place in Colombo in February 2026. The event will be delivered in partnership with Island Golf (Pvt) Ltd, bringing together world-class sport, refined hospitality, and curated lifestyle experiences. The ‘Island Invitation’ brings together a carefully curated group of international golfers, entrepreneurs, senior business leaders, and lifestyle influencers – predominantly from India, alongside Sri Lankan participants, for a premium golf and hospitality experience. The tournament will be hosted at the Royal Colombo Golf Club, with Cinnamon Life serving as the official venue partner and title sponsor, anchoring the event’s social and experiential elements. “Hosting the tournament at Royal Colombo Golf Club, with Cinnamon Life as the title partner, creates a seamless experience for the players, combining high-quality competition with outstanding hospitality.
Source:Sunday Times
January 02, 2026 06:33 UTC
Sunshine Holdings PLC joins S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index
Sunshine Holdings PLC joins S&P Sri Lanka 20 IndexBusinessDiversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC has been included in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index, following the 2025 year-end index rebalance announced by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and S&P Dow Jones Indices. The S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index represents the 20 largest and most liquid companies listed on the CSE, selected based on stringent criteria including market capitalisation, liquidity, financial viability and sustained profitability. Commenting on the milestone, Sunshine Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer, Shyam Sathasivam, said, “Our inclusion in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 is the result of more than five decades of collective effort and perseverance by our people, past and present, who have built Sunshine Holdings into the institution it is today. Sunshine Holdings has also taken steps to enhance stock liquidity and investor participation through timely corporate actions, including share splits implemented over recent years. 45.6 million, comfortably exceeding the liquidity thresholds required for inclusion in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index.
Source:Sunday Times
January 02, 2026 06:33 UTC
Thor will die? Inside the Avengers: Doomsday trailer and Marvel’s quiet warning
That is why a single line from the newly released Avengers: Doomsday trailer — “Thor will return” — has triggered more unease than reassurance among long-time fans. If Avengers: Doomsday is meant to reset the Avengers as a credible force after years of multiverse abstraction, the film must reintroduce stakes that feel irreversible. The suspicious comfort of “Thor will return”The phrase “Thor will return” is central to the trailer’s unease. If Thor does die in Avengers: Doomsday, it will not be framed as shock. The quiet message behind the thunderThe Avengers: Doomsday trailer works because it does not shout.
Source:The Nation
January 01, 2026 15:30 UTC
Doctor Doom Is Not Ending the World. He Is Replacing It - AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY THEORY
AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY THEORY — PART IDoctor Doom Is Not Ending the World. With Avengers: Doomsday, the clues suggest something unprecedented: the film is not about planetary destruction, multiversal collapse, or even the defeat of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In this theory, Doom’s logic is ruthless but coherent:If the future defeats him, then the future must be rewritten first. AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY THEORY — PART IIThe Avengers’ Greatest Fear Is Not Death — It Is SurvivalBy Senior Entertainment CorrespondentIf Part I of the Doomsday theory asks what Doctor Doom is doing, Part II confronts the more devastating question:What if the Avengers stop him too late? The Avengers’ Impossible ChoiceImagine the emotional core of Avengers: Doomsday not as a final battle—but a reunion.
Source:The Nation
January 01, 2026 15:23 UTC
CERT records over 12, 000 cybersecurity complaints in 2025
CERT records over 12, 000 cybersecurity complaints in 2025NewsThe Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) has received more than 12650 complaints related to social media misuse and cybersecurity incidents in 2025. This represents a significant rise in online frauds, digital fraud, and cyber harassment when compared to prior years. According to Charuka Damunupola the Lead Information Security Engineer of Sri Lanka CERT, a significant proportion of the complaints involve fake account, hacked accounts and financial scams carried out through social media platforms. In order to facilitate rapid response and mitigation, members of the public are also urged to promptly report cyber incidents to Sri Lanka CERT. For assistance or to report a cyber incident, the public may contact Sri Lanka CERT through 101 or emailing Sri Lanka CERT.
Source:Sunday Times
January 01, 2026 12:06 UTC
Uyeda Calls for Clear SEC Guidelines in the Crypto Sphere
Uyeda critiqued the current enforcement-heavy strategy of the SEC, underscoring the need for clear rules to guide the burgeoning industry. SEC Commissioner Urges for Clearer Crypto RulesUyeda’s comments shed light on the complex journey ahead for legal clarity in the crypto sector. Uyeda Advocates for Balanced Crypto RegulationIn his remarks, Uyeda pointed to the fundamental need for balance in regulatory approaches. As digital currencies continue to permeate the mainstream, the need for an adaptive and clear regulatory environment becomes more acute. Read Also: Fed Chair Hints At No More Interest Rate Hikes, Crypto Market CheersThe post Uyeda Calls for Clear SEC Guidelines in the Crypto Sphere appeared first on CoinGape.
Source:The Nation
January 01, 2026 06:49 UTC
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank shuts Public Debt Dept.
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank shuts Public Debt Dept. NewsThe Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CB) has closed the Public Debt Department (PDD) on January 1, in line with a previously agreed decision. A statement said the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) has been established within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoF) under the Public Debt Management Act No. This transfer was effected in view of strengthening institutional accountability and enhancing the efficiency and transparency of Sri Lanka’s debt management framework. However, in terms of the relevant provisions of the PDM Act and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No.
Source:Sunday Times
January 01, 2026 06:25 UTC
SEC Sri Lanka eases Minimum Public Holding Rules for Listings
SEC Sri Lanka eases Minimum Public Holding Rules for ListingsBusinessThe Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has approved amendments to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) Listing Rules to provide greater flexibility regarding the Minimum Public Holding (MPH) requirement for companies listing through the Introduction method. These revisions were proposed and deliberated under Project 6 – New Listings (Public and Private), one of 12 key strategic initiatives launched by the SEC to strengthen Sri Lanka’s capital market framework. A phased MPH compliance framework has been introduced requiring a minimum 50 per cent compliance with MPH requirement within 12 months and full compliance within 18 months from the date of listing. Entities should include clear disclosures in the Introductory Document confirming their obligation to meet MPH requirements within the prescribed timelines. In the event of non-compliance with the MPH requirement, certain enforcement actions have also been introduced.
Source:Sunday Times
December 31, 2025 08:38 UTC
Academics protest over interference into universities autonomy
Academics protest over interference into universities autonomyNewsA one-day token strike was held today across the state universities in protest to what they called an unnecessary intervention by the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding university autonomy. This is seen as illegal because it contradicts the existing Universities Act No. Timesonline was told that Rajarata University has been without a Vice Chancellor for one and a half years. 16 of 1978, citing ambiguity and inconsistencies in sections 49(1) and 51(1) regarding the qualifications for Deans and Heads of Faculty. The UGC is directing universities to pause appointments until these amendments are sorted.
Source:Sunday Times
December 30, 2025 20:44 UTC