March 5, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Greenland's icebergs are under greater threat of global warming. Image credit - jele76/depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
*A Daily Brief will not be published on Monday due to the local public holiday
Sri Lanka to accede to the Ottawa Convention
Sri Lanka will become the 163rd state party to ratify the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, stated that mine clearance is a priority for the government, as it is crucial to expedite the resettlement process.
Consultations begin for the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework
Consultations for the World Bank’s 2017-2020 Country Partnership Framework are being held across the island, from 1st March to 1st April, across the country.
The Country Partnership Framework is a strategic plan formulated with the support of the World Bank. It enables the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank to plan development activities in areas of common interest, such as poverty alleviation.
Investment Summit to be held in Singapore this month
Leading Sri Lankan personalities from the financial sector will be meeting 250 foreign delegates at the Sri Lanka Investment Summit to be held this month, in Singapore.
Both the government and private sector will represent Sri Lanka, at what will be the first concerted attempt to attract potential investors in Asia.
Greenland’s ice sheet in a “feedback loop”
New research has found that the surface of Greenland’s ice is darker and reflects sunlight less, which implies that ice is melting faster and sea levels could rise accordingly.
This situation is exacerbated by soot blown from wildfires, leaving Greenland in a “feedback loop,” which increases its susceptibility to the effects of global warming.
Hollande warns Britain of consequences of leaving the EU
French President, Francois Hollande, has warned that Britain leaving the European Union will have negative consequences on bilateral ties, especially on immigration, trade, and economic development.
President Hollande reiterated that although historic ties with Britain would not be severed, there would be immediate significant repercussions, including the relocating of refugee camps from Calais to Kent.
Saudi Arabia terminates aid to Lebanon
Saudi Arabia has named Hezbollah a terrorist group and cancelled billions of dollars in aid to Lebanon.
The move is regarded as censuring Lebanon for Hezbollah’s support of Iran and Syria.
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