International

February 20, 2025 11:12 AM February 20, 2025 11:12 AM

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US Defense Secretary orders $50 billion budget cut to fund Trump’s priorities

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military services to identify 50 billion dollars in programmes that could be cut next year. This is aimed at redirecting the savings to fund President Donald Trump's priorities. In a statement yesterday, Robert Salesses, Deputy Secretary of Defence,...

February 20, 2025 11:19 AM February 20, 2025 11:19 AM

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Sri Lanka Election Commission agrees to hold long-delayed local govt polls soon

The Sri Lankan Election Commission has agreed to hold the long-delayed Local Government elections at the earliest possible date. General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) Tilvin Silva informed the media yesterday after meeting election officials, that some political parties, previously...

February 20, 2025 10:32 AM February 20, 2025 10:32 AM

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India showcases labour reforms, e-Shram success at G20 employment meet in South Africa

Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra led the Indian delegation at the first G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the South African Presidency which began on Tuesday at Port Elizabeth in South Africa. During the meeting, the Secretary highlighted India’s major reforms aimed at job...

February 20, 2025 10:26 AM February 20, 2025 10:26 AM

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Israel to receive bodies of 4 deceased hostages from Gaza

Israel has received the list of the deceased hostages who will be released from Gaza today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office informed this in a statement yesterday. In a social media post, the PMO said, It has updated the families of the hostages via the representatives of the IDF.   ...

February 20, 2025 8:46 AM February 20, 2025 8:46 AM

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Israel PM appoints close aide Ron Dermer to lead 2nd stage ceasefire talks with Hamas

An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas. The US-born Ron Dermer is a Cabinet minister, who is widely seen as Mr Netanyahu's closest adviser. He previously served as Israel's ...

February 19, 2025 9:23 PM February 19, 2025 9:23 PM

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party questions interim govt’s sincerity in holding elections

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday expressed concerns that doubts are growing among people regarding the interim government's sincerity in holding the national election without unnecessary delays. Speaking at a program in Dhaka, he also alle...

February 19, 2025 8:52 PM February 19, 2025 8:52 PM

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Italy Drops Tax Investigation After Google Agrees to 326 million Euro Settlement

Italian prosecutors said they will seek to drop a tax evasion investigation against Google after the tech giant agreed to pay a 326 million Euro settlement. Milan prosecutors had opened an investigation against Google for failure to pay taxes on earnings in Italy from 2015-2019. The investigation fo...

February 19, 2025 3:53 PM February 19, 2025 3:53 PM

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 Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Emphasizes IORA’s Role in Regional Stability

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath has highlighted the importance of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) towards promoting peace, stability and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region. Addressing the media alongside his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Khaleel, Mr. Herath...