International Affairs

An inquiry by Britain’s Home Office of its use of an anti-terror rule to deny highly-skilled workers who had made errors in their tax submissions has concluded that it was “reasonable” for decision-makers to adopt the approach they did but has acknowledged the need to overturn at least 12 rulings.In …

The U.K. is “concerned” at certain aspects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is keen to work with countries like India and Australia so that everyone gets the opportunity for “our own belts and our own roads” and not just one, said Tom Tugendhat, MP and Chair of …

1,600-year-old Byzantine art was stolen in the 1970s One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned Dutch art investigator. “It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith …

Following the vote, the Speaker said he was sending a copy of the motion, signed by 122 MPs, to the President for further action. Responding to the Speaker, the President has reportedly said in a letter that Mr. Jayasuriya ignored parliamentary procedures and standing orders, and failed to get the …

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya declares it doesn’t have majority In a watershed floor test in the Sri Lankan Parliament, a majority of lawmakers on Wednesday voted for a no-confidence motion against disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. “I hereby declare that the appointed government has no majority in this House,” Speaker Karu …

Stan Lee created flawed and relatable icons like Spider-Man and Black Panther Marvel legend Stan Lee, who died on Monday at the age of 95, revolutionised pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk. He ended up in the comics business by accident, thanks to …

Congress chief claims PM has admitted to ‘theft’ in Rafale deal; Minister hits back, calls it falsehood A day after the Centre filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, explaining the decision-making process in buying 36 Rafale fighter jets, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sparred on …

U.S., EU had warned against such move Voters in rebel-held east Ukraine chose new leaders on Sunday after Russia defied Western calls not to sabotage peace talks and Kiev urged fresh sanctions against the Kremlin. In the Donetsk and Lugansk “People’s Republics” in Ukraine’s industrial east, voters headed to polling …

BNP leader says they are in a ‘democratic struggle’ Bangladesh’s main Opposition party announced on Sunday that it would not boycott next month’s general election and would challenge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the polls, despite its leader being in jail. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party said it would contest the …

Rajapaksa confident of SLPP sweeping the forthcoming polls Mahinda Rajapaksa told reporters on Sunday that the elections scheduled for January 5 would go ahead, and that he was confident of his party “sweeping” the polls. While admitting that he was speaking to lawyers on the legal challenge being mounted by …

In the month or so preceding Remembrance Day, which marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War, red poppy badges are a common sight across Britain. This year, however, some of them come with a difference. Prime Minister Theresa May is among the high profile figures to …

Caught in the demographic pincers of a declining birth rate and an ageing population, notoriously immigrant-shy Japan is being forced to open its doors to foreign workers. Its current position on immigration is, at best, tepidly welcoming to highly skilled workers, while sceptical of allowing in job-seekers from lower down …

After a 40-year ride of economic reforms, Shenzhen is now looking for answers to spur an artistic renaissance. “Many questions of creativity have come to the fore,” says Ole Bouman, director of the Sea World Culture and Arts Center, a head-turning icon in the Shekou area of Shenzhen. It was …

Late on Friday, President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the Sri Lankan Parliament and called a snap general election for January 5. The announcement came within hours of his party spokesman publicly admitting to lacking a majority in Parliament. Mr. Sirisena’s front was aiming for a majority to push its controversially installed …

High stakes legal battle in offing as parties will move Supreme Court next week A day after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena controversially dissolved Parliament, parties opposed to the decision are preparing for a high stakes legal battle. Major parties on Saturday decided to move the Supreme Court early next …

Big Ben, one of the world’s most famous bells, is to ring out on Sunday to mark the end of the centenary celebrations of the end of the First World War. The U.K. Parliament authorities said on Thursday that, despite ongoing essential conservation works, Big Ben, will strike on Sunday …

A copy of Stephen Hawking’s doctorate thesis signed in a shaky hand was the highlight of an auction of the British physicist’s personal items in London, which raised nearly £1.4 million. The copy, one of only five originals of the thesis entitled ‘Properties of expanding universes’, smashed pre-sale expectations four …

Mockingbirdis America’s best-loved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a coming-of-age story about racism and injustice, overpowered wizards and time travellers to be voted America’s best-loved novel by readers nationwide. The 1960 book by Harper Lee emerged as No. 1 in PBS’ “The Great American Read” survey, whose results were announced …

With just six months away for Brexit to become a reality, Ireland is wooing Indian companies, currently having United Kingdom (U.K.) as their EU headquarters, to shift base to the country. “Indian companies in the U.K. and particularly, those using the U.K. as a gateway to the EU face some …

Tens of thousands of supporters of the European Union (EU) began marching through London on Saturday as part of what organisers say will be the largest ever demonstration to demand that the British government holds a public vote on the terms of Brexit. The protesters waved the blue and gold …