Afternoon showers likely today
Afternoon showers likely todayNewsAfternoon showers are predicted for parts of Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western as well as Galle and Matara district today (20), the Department of Meteorology said. Easter and Uva Provinces along with Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts will see scattered rains, the Department added. A few showers are due in Northern Province and in Anuradhapura District. Moderately heavy rainfall over 75mm is likely in Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. In addition, several areas of Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces besides Galle and Matara Districts will have misty mornings.
Source:Sunday Times
January 20, 2024 19:37 UTC
Japan Becomes Fifth Country to Make Lunar Landing
ReutersA Japanese spacecraft touched down on the moon early Saturday, Tokyo time, making Japan the fifth country to reach the moon. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the mission may not be a complete success because the spacecraft’s solar cell is not generating electricity as it should. Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon was relying on batteries. At a press conference, when asked to rate the landing operation, he said he would give it a “60 out of 100,” dubbing it a “minimum success.”Read more at The Daily Beast. Source: www.thedailybeast.com
Source:The Nation
January 20, 2024 05:32 UTC
Number of closed farms in the country exceeds 14000: COPA
Number of closed farms in the country exceeds 14000: COPANewsThe Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) revealed that more than 14000 farms in Sri Lanka havebeen closed and this has been identified according to the data received from the provinces. Theofficials who testified before the Committee pointed out that most of these farms are small-scale farms and most of these farms have been closed due to animal theft. COPA pointed out that it is not acceptable to say that farms are closing down only because of thefrustration of small-scale farmers due to animal theft. Thus, the COPA pointed out that the Department of Animal Production and Health should maintain accurate and clear data. This was discussed at the COPA meeting held recently (11) under the Chairmanship of Hon.
Source:Sunday Times
January 20, 2024 02:24 UTC
Petition filed against proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill
Petition filed against proposed Anti-Terrorism BillNewsCentre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, filed a Petition in the Supreme Court yesterday challenging the Constitutionality of the Bill titled “Anti-Terrorism”. The Bill was published in the Gazette on the 15th of September 2023 but was only tabled in the Parliament [the first reading of the Bill] on the 10th of January 2024. CPA has raised concerns over the vague definitions in the Bill which may be a tool for abuse. "CPA argues that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill must be looked at through the lens of the legacy of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has been a source of terror over the past decades. Considering the abuse that minorities, journalists, and dissenters have faced under the PTA, any new counter-terror law must contain sufficient checks and balances, to prevent similar abuses from taking place in the future."
Source:Sunday Times
January 20, 2024 02:24 UTC
📣We Want to Hear From You!
WKMG Insider Feedback Friday(WKMG CSD)CENTRAL FLORIDA, U,S.A. We created the Insider program to give viewers access to exclusive content, contests and offers you can only get from News 6. Every week, we’re giving you a chance to let us know how you feel about the Insider program. We’re curious about what you’re looking for from the program, so we’ll throw different questions your way to gather your thoughts. Your honest feedback is crucial – whether it’s about improvements we can make or things we might be overlooking.
Source:The Nation
January 20, 2024 00:02 UTC
HTX Overcomes DDoS Hurdle, Assures User Fund Safety
In response to a recent Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, HTX, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, and its decentralized autonomous organization (HTX DAO) have successfully reinstated their services. HTX and HTX DAO: Swift Recovery Post-AttackThe DDoS attack on HTX and its DAO lasted approximately 15 minutes, causing a temporary suspension of services. HTX DAO is committed to user-driven governance as a multi-chain decentralized autonomous organization. This exchange integration into the HTX DAO ecosystem emphasizes a shift towards decentralization, reflecting a broader trend within the cryptocurrency sector. Read Also: Tron Founder Justin Sun Counters UN Report, Upholds USDT IntegrityThe post HTX Overcomes DDoS Hurdle, Assures User Fund Safety appeared first on CoinGape.
Source:The Nation
January 19, 2024 23:31 UTC
Bitcoin Prepares for Potential Pre-Halving Correction
Michaël van de Poppe, the founder and CEO of MN Trading, has suggested that Bitcoin might test lower values before a potential rebound. BTC/USD price chartMoreover, another analyst, Rekt Capital, suggests that Bitcoin’s current trajectory mirrors historical patterns before block subsidy halvings. Bitcoin’s Whale MovementsThe market has also witnessed notable activity from Bitcoin ‘whales‘ – large volume holders. The dynamics between Bitcoin and Ethereum remain a focal point for market observers, especially considering Ethereum’s attempt to end an 18-month losing streak against Bitcoin. Read Also: Coinbase Has 70% Victory Odds Against SEC – Bloomberg Legal AnalystThe post Bitcoin Prepares for Potential Pre-Halving Correction appeared first on CoinGape.
Source:The Nation
January 19, 2024 16:31 UTC
Ethereum Accumulations Soar As ETH Price Slips Below $2,500
As per on-chain data surfacing over the crypto horizon, two prominent whales appear to be on a buying spree, accumulating Ethereum at price dips. These whales have previously been observed accumulating ETH at price lows, thereafter selling them at price highs, nabbing noteworthy profits. Meanwhile, as the accumulations emerge amid the token’s price plunge, market sentiments for Ethereum are taking a thrilling twist, hinting at bolstered prices shortly ahead. Meanwhile, the whale 0x347 was noted, accumulating ETH during last year’s bear market, further depositing it to CEXs amid price rises. Also Read: Oaktree Co-Founder Deems Bitcoin And Gold Equals In Intrinsic Value DebateThe post Ethereum Accumulations Soar As ETH Price Slips Below $2,500 appeared first on CoinGape.
Source:The Nation
January 19, 2024 15:40 UTC
A window into plant evolution: The unusual genetic journey of lycophytes
Source: phys.orgAn international team of researchers has uncovered a remarkable genetic phenomenon in lycophytes, which are similar to ferns and among the oldest land plants. Their study, recently published in the journal PNAS, reveals that these plants have maintained a consistent genetic structure for over 350 million years, a significant deviation from the norm in plant genetics.
Source:The Nation
January 19, 2024 14:04 UTC
Specialist doctor remanded for assaulting minor staffer
Specialist doctor remanded for assaulting minor stafferNewsSpecialist doctor remanded for assaulting minor stafferA cancer specialist at the Karapitiya teaching hospital arrested by Galle police for assaulting a minor employee has been remanded until January 22. The incident had occurred after Cancer specialist and surgeon Krishantha Perera had reportedly obstructed the junior staff members work after abusing them for taking part in a strike on the previous day. The staff members had gone to lodge a complaint at the hospital director’s office the specialist too had gone there and argued with the junior staff members. A spokesman from the Hospital Director’s office said that Deputy Directors and other doctors had initially settled the situation yesterday morning. However during the evening when the specialist doctor returned to the cancer unit one of the female junior staffers had engaged in a dispute with the doctor.
Source:Sunday Times
January 18, 2024 19:14 UTC
University non academic staff strike over allowance
University non academic staff strike over allowanceNewsThe nonacademic staffers at state universities launched a one day token strike today in protest over the government increasing the allowances of academic staff and they are demanding a similar incrase. The cabinet approved President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal of increasing the study allowance granted to university lecturers by 25 percent. However, the University Trade Union Joint Committee complained that they too would need an increase of their allowances due to the prevailing economic situation. They complained that increasing the salaries of lecturers has left the non-academic staff members upset. “We urge the authorities to raise the salaries and allowances of both academic and nonacademic staffers if they are going to increase the salaries of the university sector”The co-secretary of the Inter-University Trade Union Federation K.L.D.G.
Source:Sunday Times
January 18, 2024 19:14 UTC
TrueUSD (TUSD) Depegs To $0.9712, Here’s Why.
TrueUSD (TUSD) recently experienced a significant de-pegging, plummeting to $0.9712 from its stable value. On Monday, Binance announced plans for farming Manta (MANTA) tokens by staking BNB and FDUSD in its latest Launchpool. The circulating supply witnessed a drastic 43% reduction, plummeting by 1.4 billion TUSD in just two months. Moreover, data from Arkham shows that Binance wallets hold 1.7 billion TUSD, representing a whopping 90.4% of the circulating supply. Also Read: Tether Forms Strategic Alliance with Rhino.fi for Enhanced LiquidityThe post TrueUSD (TUSD) Depegs To $0.9712, Here’s Why.
Source:The Nation
January 18, 2024 13:00 UTC
Indian Crypto Community Awaits Budget 2024 with Hopes for Tax Reforms
Rajagopal Menon of WazirX has expressed the community’s hopes to CoinGape, advocating for a substantial decrease in the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS). Despite this, India’s heavy tax burden has pushed over 90% of crypto exchange traffic offshore, as CoinDCX’s Sumit Gupta informed Moneycontrol. Users draw comparisons with the U.S., where recent moves to launch Bitcoin ETFs contrast with India’s stringent tax regime. As the Union Budget 2024 looms, the collective voice of the crypto community is loud and clear—India must recalibrate its tax strategy to nurture the digital asset sector, not stifle it. Also Read: India’s Crypto Regulation at Standstill: RBI Deputy ReappointedThe post Indian Crypto Community Awaits Budget 2024 with Hopes for Tax Reforms appeared first on CoinGape.
Source:The Nation
January 18, 2024 13:00 UTC
Missing gene in mouse sperm could explain infertility
Source: phys.orgMice lacking a certain gene are unable to produce offspring because their sperm lack the connection between the tail and the head. A new thesis from the University of Gothenburg indicates a probable cause of male infertility.
Source:The Nation
January 18, 2024 12:01 UTC
Citizen scientists needed to discover elusive black holes
Source: phys.orgCould you help scientists uncover the mysterious world of invisible black holes? Become a Black Hole Hunter and you'll be taking part in scientific research that has the potential to reveal more about one of space's most intriguing aspects.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2024 21:34 UTC