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DAILY BRIEF THURSDAY, 17TH MARCH 2016

March 17, 2016    Reading Time: 2 minutes

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February breaks global temperature records. Image credit - kwest/depositphotos

Reading Time: 2 min read

LOCAL NEWS

 
Sri Lanka investment summit concludes in Singapore

The Sri Lanka investment summit concluded yesterday in Singapore. Leaders from the government, and the public and private sectors were among the participants.

The Chief Guest for the event, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, stated that “Sri Lanka is open for business”. He outlined the vision, policies, and strategies of the Government to create a suitable environment for foreign investors.

Committee appointed to investigate blackouts

The Minister of Power and Energy, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, has appointed a probe committee to investigate the causes of the country-wide blackouts.

The committee is also tasked with producing a report on the short term solutions to the prevailing power crisis, by the 22nd of March.

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development in Sri Lanka

The European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Niven Mimica, is currently in Sri Lanka.

The objectives of this visit include; re-affirming the EU’s support for the government of Sri Lanka, reviewing of ongoing development programmes, and the exploration of ways in which the EU-Sri Lanka cooperation can be enhanced.
 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

 
Marco Rubio drops out of U.S. presidential race

Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio, ended his candidacy after losing the primary in his home state of Florida to the party’s front-runner, Donald Trump.

Trump won the Florida Primary election with 45.8% of the votes, securing 99 delegates, followed by Rubio who won 27% of the votes.

Refugee camp teacher wins global teaching prize

Hanan Al Hroub, a teacher at a Palestinian refugee camp, has won a US $1 million global teaching prize, awarded by the Varkey Foundation.

Al Hroub grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp herself, and now specialises in supporting children who have been traumatised by violence.

February announced the hottest month ever

The global average temperature during the month of February increased by a significant margin of 1.35 °C, making it the warmest month ever recorded.

The global rise in temperature is said to increase pressure on the signatories of the ‘Paris Agreement,’ who agreed to keep the average temperature increases below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

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