I happened to catch the end of a BBC programme called ‘The Truth About’ hosted by Professor Tanya Byron. There have been so many significant news stories going on that there is a lot that we can get distracted by. It is of course good to be informed about what is going on in the world but do you really need to be aware of every single update and every piece of news? It really didn’t make me feel good. I’m always a sucker for a good cat video which Facebook has recognised, so they now show up aplenty in my feed!
Source:The Nation
November 06, 2024 16:35 UTC
People throw mud at Spain's King Felipe, following heavy rains that caused floods, as he visits Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, Nov. 3. Bodyguards opened umbrellas to protect the royals and other officials from the tossed muck. But even after being forced to seek protection, King Felipe VI, with flecks of mud on his face, remained calm and made several efforts to speak to individual residents. The queen had small glops of mud on her hands and arms as she spoke to women. The floods had already hit Paiporta when the regional officials issued an alert to mobile phones.
Source:The Nation
November 06, 2024 08:36 UTC
Top Spanish Travel Agents Embark on Exclusive Familiarization Tour of Sri LankaBusiness14 elite travel agents from across Spain will embark on an unforgettable adventure through the heart of Sri Lanka from 15th to 22nd October 2024. Representing various regions of Spain, these VIP agents are set to explore the island’s most breathtaking and culturally significant destinations, giving them a firsthand look at what makes Sri Lanka a must-visit destination. During their action-packed 8-day tour, the agents will experience the best of Sri Lanka, including the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla, along with the vibrant cultural hub of Kandy. Turkish Airlines is the official airline partner, ensuring a seamless travel experience for the delegates. This fact-finding mission organized by Spain's largest operator to Sri Lanka, reflects the growing interest in Sri Lanka as a top travel destination.
Source:Sunday Times
November 06, 2024 08:13 UTC
New system in place to apply for passports on One Day or Normal ServiceNewsA new system is implemented with effect from today (6) for the convenience of Passport applicants to register for applying passports under One day or Normal service, the Department of Immigration and Emigration said. Accordingly, a prior registration shall be made through the link https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/MakeAppointments/ with effect from today to apply for Sri Lankan Passports. Acceptance of applications of applicants who register since then will be commenced from Wednesday, 04.12.2024. New applicants/ those who already possess a passport/ those whose passports have been lost are also requested to register through the new methodology as well. The methodology of prior-registration is valid for both One Day Service and Normal Service.
Source:Sunday Times
November 06, 2024 08:13 UTC
The online passport appointment system is now available to the public. The public can now make prior reservations via the official web portal: https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/MakeAppointments/The service will be available to reserve a date for One day or Normal service for obtaining a Passport. The new methodology has been implemented since today ( Nov 06) for the convenience of passport applicants registering to apply for passports. Accordingly a prior registration shall be made through the link http://www.immigration.gov.lk with effect from 06.11.2024 to apply for Sri Lankan Passports. The methodology of prior registration is valid for both One Day Service and Normal Service.
Source:The Nation
November 06, 2024 07:50 UTC
Sri Lanka’s online passport appointment scheme from todayNewsSri Lanka’s online passport appointment system is available to the public from today (November 6), the Passport office said. “Now there is no need to visit the immigration office to obtain an appointment token. One can simply book your appointment through the online portal,” an official told the TimesOnline. Passport applicants to register for applying passport can do a prior registration through this link - http://www.immigration.gov.lk with effect from 06.11.2024 to apply for Sri Lankan Passports. (DEC)You can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
November 06, 2024 05:16 UTC
An MP says an incident in which business premises were vandalised and 12 cars "tampered with" in Bangor is "very concerning". Police said they believe up to 12 vehicles had been tampered with, with a business also being entered and vandalised in the early hours of the morning. A second nearby business also made police aware that they had a number of cars damaged or entered. He said: "Such acts of vandalism not only disrupt local businesses but also create distress for those affected in our community. If you have any information, please contact the PSNI by calling 101 and quoting serial 699 – 03/11/24.
Source:The Nation
November 06, 2024 05:02 UTC
A child has been hurt by shards of glass after his home was attacked in a suspected racist incident in Belfast. A masonry block was hurled through a window of the family home at Roden Street in the city on Monday evening (Nov 4). This was an exceptionally serious incident which resulted in a young child being injured by shards of glass. The child’s mother was also injured and the young family traumatised. In contrast, the victims of this attack are working hard for their local community within the Health Service.
Source:The Nation
November 05, 2024 20:33 UTC
Two police officers have been injured after a "deliberate collision" in Co Armagh on Monday 4th November. The officers were on patrol in the Monaghan Road area of Middletown at around 2.40pm when they signalled to a grey Audi A6 to stop. However the vehicle made off in the direction of Armagh, colliding with a pillar as it did so. Nearby, the Audi was then deliberately reversed into the police vehicle twice, causing significant damage that meant that the vehicle could not be driven further, according to the PSNI. READ MORE: Missing person appeal for Belfast man seen 24-hours agoA PSNI statement said: "Our two officers reported injuries which, at this time, are thankfully not thought to be serious.
Source:The Nation
November 05, 2024 17:34 UTC
High school junior Jang Ha-bin (played by Chae Won-bin) is suspected of murder by her profiler father, Jang Tae-su (played by Han Suk-kyu), forming a tragic father-daughter duo onscreen in the drama "Doubt." Courtesy of MBCBy KTimesWhen profiler Jang Tae-su (played by Han Suk-kyu, 59) asks his daughter, “Did you kill Song Min-a?” the air turns icy. As deaths surround the family, Tae-su and his wife, Ji-soo (Oh Yeon-soo), begin suspecting their daughter, with their mistrust plunging them into psychological despair. In one scene, Ha-bin’s shadow ominously splits in two as she confronts her father, heightening the psychological impact. Content highlighting the fragility and volatility of family, such as “Doubt,” is on the rise.
Source:The Nation
November 04, 2024 15:06 UTC
AFP-YonhapAlibaba Group Holding is scaling down its metaverse operations, according to a source familiar with the matter, making it the latest Big Tech company to pull back resources from the once-popular sector. Dozens of employees at Yuanjing, the metaverse unit of e-commerce giant Alibaba, have been laid off, as part of a restructuring that aims to optimize and improve efficiency in the organization, the source said. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Friday. Chinese companies often refer to job cuts as business "optimization" to avoid drawing unwanted attention from the public. Yuanjing was set up by Alibaba in 2021 amid the intense hype surrounding the concept of the metaverse.
Source:The Nation
November 04, 2024 13:35 UTC
SC dismiss FR case challenging date of upcoming Parliamentary pollsNewsThe Supreme Court today dismissed the Fundamental Rights petition challenging the scheduled date to hold Parliamentary polls on November 14. The five-justice bench dismissed the petition when it was taken up for hearing today. Earlier,SC the petition was filed requesting the SC to rule the decision to hold the parliamentary election on November 14 as unconstitutional will be considered by the Court on November 4. When the petition was taken up before SC Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, the Court ordered the respondents to file any objections they had regarding the petition on October 28. You can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
November 04, 2024 08:17 UTC
China donates Rs. 30 m as flood relief to Sri LankaNewsThe Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat and made the donation. The emergency flood relief was to assist those affected by the recent flooding in the country. In addition to immediate relief measures, the discussion also extended to a dialogue about long-term flood prevention and management strategies. They discussed sustainable approaches to enhance the resilience of communities against future flooding, the President’s Media Division said.
Source:Sunday Times
October 22, 2024 15:38 UTC
Sri Lanka’s Economic Summit rescheduled to Jan. 2025NewsThe Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said on Tuesday its flagship event, the Sri Lanka Economic Summit, originally scheduled for November 2024, has been rescheduled to January 28 and 29, 2025, owing to the forthcoming General Election on November 14. Under the theme 'Shaping Sri Lanka's Future: Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies,' the Summit will provide an essential platform for discussing the path forward at a time when Sri Lanka’s economic and political landscape has had significant changes. After two years of economic contraction, the country is now striving for accelerated growth. “As the nation navigates this critical period, understanding the key drivers of economic stability is essential for informed decision-making. The insights and understandings gained from the Summit will equip participants to actively engage in and contribute to vital conversations about Sri Lanka’s future, and we encourage all stakeholders to participate,” the chamber said.
Source:Sunday Times
October 22, 2024 07:33 UTC
New office bearers for Authors, Composers, and Publishers OrganizationNewsVeteran lyricist Nilar N. Kasim was unanimously reappointed as the new president of the Authors, Composers, and Publishers Organization of Sri Lanka (ACPOSL) on October 10, during their annual meeting held in Colombo. Additionally, Saratha de Alwis, Samantha Perera, Bathiya Jayakodi, Ranga Dasanayake, Raj Thilleyanpalam, Chinthaka Jayakody, Amith Liyanage, and Nisal Gamage have been appointed to the board of directors. The ACPOSL consists of Sri Lankan songwriters, music directors, and music publishers who meet the criteria of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The activities of ACPOSL are overseen by WIPO. Ganegala, a former Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media, was the previous chairman of this organization and made significant contributions to its development.
Source:Sunday Times
October 21, 2024 20:08 UTC