January 7, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Sri Lanka Economic Forum Opening Session. Image Credit - PMOffice.gov.lk
Reading Time: 2 min read
Sri Lanka Economic Forum to commence with high-profile meeting
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are to meet billionaire philanthropist George Soros and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz today.
The Sri Lanka Economic Forum will commence forthwith, centered around a theme of sustainable and inclusive development.
Security forces alert over IS threats
The Ministry of Defence issued a statement assuring that it is fully alert on any possible threats from Islamic State terrorists.
The statement comes in wake of recent media activity hinting at the presence of IS militants in Sri Lanka, which the Ministry affirmed is being looked into by intelligence units.
Economic cooperation with Pakistan apparent
Meeting with businessmen in the country, visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed interest in strengthening economic ties with Sri Lanka through investment.
He also mentioned exploring a currency swap agreement with Sri Lanka, speaking at a trade show.
Residents of besieged Syrian areas struggle to survive
The plight of Syrian civilians in rebel-controlled areas worsens as food and medicine shortages lead to a higher death toll.
Residents of besieged Syrian villages of Foua and Kfarya are compelled to survive on grass and undergo surgery without anesthesia, owing to dire circumstances.
North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test stirs widespread concern
World leaders, including the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, condemned the test of nuclear weapons by North Korea.
Meanwhile, the head of an international monitoring agency which looks into like matters regularly, denied the chances of the newly tested bomb being any more powerful than those previously tested.
Saudi-Iran rift widens as more nations declare allegiances
Jordan, Djibouti and Turkey have declared allegiance to Saudi Arabia over the recent diplomatic crisis between Saudi and Iran.
In the meantime, Iranian President Rouhani remains staunchly critical of Saudi’s executions which led to the current crisis.
Tags: Syria, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran
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