A coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean
Source: phys.orgNew research has revealed that, despite being scattered across more than a million square kilometers, remote coral reefs across the Seychelles are closely related. Using genetic analyses and oceanographic modeling, researchers at Oxford University have demonstrated for the first time that a network of ocean currents scatter significant numbers of larvae between these distant islands, acting as a "coral superhighway."
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2024 12:15 UTC
Political rage on social media is making us cynical: Study
Source: phys.orgPolitical anger and cynicism are rising in the United States and in many democracies worldwide, and both are associated with exposure to political attacks on social media, a new University of Michigan study shows.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2024 09:32 UTC
FEATURE-Threads of Resilience: Is Sri Lanka’s apparel sector prepared to face another pandemic?
FEATURE-Threads of Resilience: Is Sri Lanka’s apparel sector prepared to face another pandemic? Scientists predict a higher likelihood of its origin in tropical regions, placing Sri Lanka at considerable risk. Approximately 33 per cent of these female apparel workers are informal (for comparison only 13 per cent of male apparel workers are informal). Apparel workers faced many challenges during this initial period due to the nature of their work and their living arrangements. (Chaya Dissanayake is a Research Assistant at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka -IPS).
Source:Sunday Times
March 12, 2024 05:48 UTC
More precise understanding of dark energy achieved using AI
Source: phys.orgA UCL-led research team has used artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to infer the influence and properties of dark energy more precisely from a map of dark and visible matter in the universe covering the last 7 billion years.
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2024 16:43 UTC
Terrifying ‘Technical Problem’ on Flight Leaves Around 50 Injured
Anna Zvereva/Wikimedia CommonsAbout 50 people required medical treatment at an airport in New Zealand on Monday after a “technical problem” during an inbound flight caused a plane to suddenly drop, throwing passengers and crew into the ceiling of the cabin. Chilean airline LATAM’s flight LA800 between Sydney, Australia, and Auckland was met by a large emergency response, including seven ambulances, when it finally landed at Auckland International Airport. A total of 12 people—including one in a serious condition—were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to Hato Hone St John, a New Zealand ambulance charity. With about an hour remaining of the flight, the 8-year-old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plunged without warning. Source: www.thedailybeast.com
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2024 12:32 UTC
Terrifying Poison Threat Makes Ukraine Soldiers’ Lives Hell
Diego Herrera Carcedo/Getty ImagesKUPYANSK, Ukraine—Ukrainian troops in Kupyansk are running low on ammunition and weapons as they fight to remain in control of a city that doesn’t even want to be saved from the Russians. In this eastern town, soldiers say that they are afraid that pro-Russian civilian collaborators might help to poison, bomb, or otherwise kill them because they believe that life under Vladimir Putin’s occupation would be better than living in a free Ukraine. Located in the eastern Kharkiv region, Kupyansk was once nicknamed “Little Russia” and has become known for its pro-Russian sentiment. By Feb. 27, 2022, Kupyansk was already occupied, and it would remain under Russian control until September 2022, when Ukraine’s rapid counteroffensive saw Kyiv reclaim 1,160 sq miles of land in just two months. Source: www.thedailybeast.com
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2024 09:35 UTC
Ranil Wickremesinghe to stand as common candidate for Presidential elections
Ranil Wickremesinghe to stand as common candidate for Presidential electionsNewsPresident Ranil Wickremesinghe was today declared as the common candidate of the United National Party (UNP) led front. The announcement was made at UNP rally in Kuliyapitiya which was described as the first meeting to launch Presidential election campaign. Senior UNP member Ravi Karunanayake addressing the meeting said that President Wickremesinghe would be definitely standing as the common candidate of the UNP led common front. President Wickremesinghe and senior members of the party including Chairman Wajira Abeywardene, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, Deputy Leader Ruwwan Wijewardene and Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. President Wickremesinghe addressing the meeting said he was now inviting all party members who left the UNP and joined the SJB.
Source:Sunday Times
March 11, 2024 05:54 UTC
Kate's Image Withdrawn By News Agencies Amid 'Manipulation' Concerns
AFP and other news agencies removed from their services on Sunday the first official photo of Britain's Princess Kate to be released since her abdominal surgery, saying the image was found to have been manipulated. In a statement, the palace said the photo was taken "in Windsor earlier this week" by Kate's husband, Prince William. However, multiple news agencies including AFP later pulled the image over concerns it had been manipulated. The king withdrew from public duties during his treatment, though he attended church services and held his weekly audience with the prime minister. Camilla steps inCharles's wife Queen Camilla, 76, has been the most visible senior royal, stepping in to cover many of her husband's public duties during his treatment.
Source:The Nation
March 11, 2024 04:01 UTC
Police on scene of incident at Idaho Falls apartment complex
Published at 3:02 am, March 10, 2024 | Updated at 3:05 am, March 10, 2024IDAHO FALLS — Police are on the scene of a situation at Teton Mesa Apartments in Idaho Falls. Multiple witnesses and residents tell EastIdahoNews.com that several Idaho Falls police officers, the SWAT team, Idaho State Police, an armored truck and Idaho Falls ambulances have been at the apartment complex on the 800 block of Lomax Street since before midnight. Some tenants report being evacuated from their building. The public should avoid the area. We will update this story when police release information about the incident.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2024 21:30 UTC
Gender equality – what it means for the women and the country
Gender equality – what it means for the women and the country View(s):March 8, is marked the world over as International Women’s day. As President Ranil Wickremesinghe remarked at the National Celebration of international Women’s Day last week “In celebrating International Women’s Day, the usual practice in our country is to hold a ceremony, discuss women’s rights and return home. This routine occurs every year.”The President pledged that this year, however, the Government would introduce legislation to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. He revealed plans to introduce two significant bills aimed at advancing gender equality and empowering women, both of which would be presented to Parliament in May. He also announced that a bill focusing on gender equality, aimed at securing women’s rights, will be published in the Gazette next week.
Source:Sunday Times
March 10, 2024 16:37 UTC
Researchers explains how streaks motivate us
Source: phys.orgFriends out for a drink have hatched many a bright idea, but these insights (or what feel like insights at the time) don't usually end up published in academic journals. For researchers Jackie Silverman and Alixandra Barasch, though, a trip to a brewery sparked an idea that has blossomed into multiple published papers.
Source:The Nation
March 10, 2024 14:59 UTC
‘I resigned from the presidency to give the people of Sri Lanka some respite’
‘I resigned from the presidency to give the people of Sri Lanka some respite’ View(s):Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week released his book titled “The Conspiracy: How Internationally Sponsored Regime Change Made a Mockery of Democracy in Sri Lanka”. I can now say through experience that whoever becomes President should be the leader of the political party as well”. –“Usually people spend years in a political party rising through the ranks as parliamentarians and ministers before becoming President. There was in fact a major foreign power that was insisting that I should not resign and they had demonstrated their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep Sri Lanka supplied with essentials. Yet I resigned from the presidency [sic] to give the people of Sri Lanka some respite.”(See also the Political Commentary on pages 12 and 13)Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS
Source:Sunday Times
March 10, 2024 12:28 UTC
Body of 17 year old girl found in a tea plantation
Body of 17 year old girl found in a tea plantationNewsThe body of a young girl was found in a secluded tea plantation situated at Kurundugaha hathakma area in Elpitiya. The police confirmed the identity of the girl as Madusdhani Hansika Madusahani, a 17 year old resident of Thalawa Madakanda. Police observations revealed that the body of the girl had been found three kilometers away from her residence, and they had detected the body following a tip off. The police suspect that the body was placed in the secluded tea plantation after committing a murder elsewhere. The police said that observations were made that the body has cut wounds and bruises.
Source:Sunday Times
March 09, 2024 18:06 UTC
Steady tourist arrivals over the weeks
Steady tourist arrivals over the weeksNewsSri Lanka’s tourism arrival figures continued to rise for the past 10 weeks with an average of more than 6,000 arrivals per day. The latest figures for this month show that more than 40,000 tourists arrived between March 1 to 6. Last month, a total of 218,350 tourists arrived while in January 208,253 tourist arrivals were recorded. Reports from the outstations said that large number of tourists had arrived in the Ella, Kandy and Galle areas over the past few weeks. Pix by Prasad RukmalYou can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
March 09, 2024 18:06 UTC
Local students to host fundraiser for trip to Peru
Ashtyn Mayo, a junior at Alturas, said the trip is part of the program, called IB Diploma. RELATED | ‘Rigorous’ diploma program equips local teens for successPart of the program’s curriculum, Mayo said, is the completion of CAS (creativity, activity, service) Project. Along with three of her program-mates, Mayo selected a trip to Peru, where the students will assist in development programs while taking part in cultural activities, like cooking and basket weaving. “We’re hoping, after we come back, to hold events to fundraise for charities in Peru where we would talk about Peruvian culture, probably prepare some Peruvian food,” she said. The group expects to plan additional fundraiser events before the trip, which is planned for June.
Source:The Nation
March 09, 2024 16:32 UTC