March 19, 2025 5:39 PM

Turkish authorities detain Istanbul Mayor, key rival of President Erdogan

    Turkish authorities have detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of an investigation into corruption and terror links. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors also issued warrants for around 100 other people, including businessmen and journalists. Imamoglu was detained ...

March 19, 2025 5:31 PM

Indian vehicle manufacturers venture automobile collaboration  with Sri Lanka

  In a move to foster collaboration and development in the automobile industry, an 18-member delegation from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers visited Sri Lanka this week. The delegation called on Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi...

March 19, 2025 1:37 PM

Ceasefire collapses as Israel resumes airstrikes on Gaza, over 400 reported dead

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which had held for nearly two months, came to an abrupt end yesterday as Israeli airstrikes targeted Gaza, resulting in over 400 reported casualties, according to health authorities. Israeli officials stated that this was just the beginning of renewed military...

March 19, 2025 1:19 PM

Pak-Afghan border remains closed as talks fail again

The Torkham border crossing, a key trade and transit point between Afghanistan and Pakistan, remains closed as the second round of ceasefire talks between religious, political, and tribal elders from both sides could not yield a breakthrough. According to media reports, the border was expected to re...

March 19, 2025 1:17 PM

Sri Lanka’s economy records robust 5.4% growth in Q4 2024

Sri Lanka’s economy recorded a robust 5.4 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking its strongest expansion since the nation began its recovery in mid-2023. This is the highest growth rate since 2014, as per the latest GDP estimates from the Census and Statistics Department of Sri Lan...

March 19, 2025 11:57 AM

Suspended Sri Lanka Police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon surrenders in Weligama hotel shooting case

Sri Lanka’s suspended Inspector General of Police, Deshanbandu Tennakoon, has surrendered before the Matara Magistrate’s Court. According to the Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon arrived at the Matara Magistrate’s Court today morning to surrender. Suspended IGP Tennakoon is wanted in connection wit...

March 19, 2025 8:26 AM

Taiwan detects ‘massive’ Chinese military presence in region

Amid growing security concerns and the aggressive posturing of China, Taiwan has stated that it has detected a number of Chinese aircraft and warships operating around the country over the past 24 hours. The aircraft and warships crossed the meridian line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the air def...

March 19, 2025 8:09 AM

NASA astronauts return to Earth after 9 months stuck in space

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore of NASA returned to Earth early this morning aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon Spacecraft. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico. A splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, ending the nine-month ordeal of the ...

March 19, 2025 8:07 AM

Trump, Putin agree on partial ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to temporarily halt attacks on energy and infrastructure targets in Ukraine after a lengthy telephone call with US President Donald Trump yesterday. The White House and the Kremlin both have confirmed this. The White House said the highly anticipated phone...

March 19, 2025 8:16 AM

Israeli PM Netanyahu confirms resuming combat in full force against Hamas in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed resuming combat in full force against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. His comments came after Israeli aircraft launched massive airstrikes that killed more than 400 Palestinians in Gaza. He called the airstrikes the beginning and said that fighting in...