Rajapaksa's move signalled that he would contest the snap polls, to be held on January 5, under his own party banner and not that of Sirisena's SLFP.
Esper said Beijing was trying to use the coronavirus tragedy to their advantage for 'propaganda purposes'.
The sky is literally the limit for the Drone Awards competition that has unveiled the stunning winning photos for 2019. From cross-country skiers that look like fish, voted Photo Of The Year, to human giants, this year's aerial art winning submissions demonstrate the diversity and artistry of the craft. The winning images will have their public display at the "Sky's the Limit" exhibition which will be held in Siena throughout November 2019, during the "Siena Awards" Photo Festival.
A summary of Sunday's action in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers across Europe.
The announcement means that a total of five pieces of debris from the Malaysian Airlines' jet have now been discovered in various spots around the Indian Ocean since it vanished.
'Seen in the context of world turmoil in face of the pandemic and the Chinese 'miracle' of being the only country in the world to control it, this is not merely a 'Sputnik' moment, but a 'Sputnik Plus' moment,' argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Winners from the Big Picture photography competition
Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle made clear that everything had to be done so as not to put stress on policing or divert medical resources away from the fight against the coronavirus.
The missile has a strike range of more than 2,000 km.
The two brothers led a decisive campaign that helped end the island nation's three decade long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Closures, travel restrictions, and self-isolation measures due to the coronavirus have cleared public squares, roads, and travel destinations across the globe. Photographers have been capturing the eerie stillness of these public spaces, recently emptied of the crowds they were built for.
Fourteen billion dollars goes a long, long way; it would buy you three US aircraft carriers or six NASA rover missions to Mars.
India has much paranoia in India about a new 'Terroristan' coming up between Pakistan and a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Pakistan has zero ability economically, diplomatically, geostrategically or militarily to create one. If they try, it will be great for India as they will destroy themselves yet again, asserts Shekhar Gupta.
Take a look at the Barbadian singing sensation's holiday album.
The deep depression in North Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood intensified into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast on October 12.
China should not feel cornered by a raft of geopolitical moves by the US and Japan against it by forging closer ties with India, Russia and others in the region and Beijing should focus on becoming a strong economic and military power, a state-run daily said on Thursday.
South Korean rescue boats and helicopters scrambled to pluck passengers, most of them high school students, from a ferry as it listed and slowly sank off the country's southwest coast on Wednesday.
The 74-year-old leader, who describe himself as "a rebel with a cause", earlier served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming South Asia's longest-serving leader. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018.
It was for the first time that a Chinese spy ship was detected in Japanese water since a submarine was spotted in 2004. The latest intrusion came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.
Here are some of the beautiful images in the contest.
Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten 33 as Australia beat England by eight wickets to win the Women's World Twenty20 title.
V Chinnadurai and S Swetha wanted their wedding to be memorable. So this is what they did.
India on Monday successfully test-fired its indigenously built nuclear-capable intermediate range Agni-I ballistic missile, capable of hitting a target 700 km away, from a test range off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the Army.
Since 55 per cent of Indian trade passes through the South China Sea, and with over $5 billion investments in the energy sector in Vietnam, it is imperative India actively pursues its national interests in the region, says Srikanth Kondapalli.
Despite the odd time, hordes of enthusiasts had reached the island, some of them travelling long distances on two wheelers, to witness the historic moment.
Sunder Navalkar devoted her whole life to the cause of workers' rights, remembers Sanober Keashwaar.
Bollywood's obsession with biopics is getting stronger with each year. The focus seems to be on Indian sportswomen.
Self-taught Swedish photographer and retoucher Erik Johansson turns outrageous scenarios into surreal yet familiar fragments of reality.
Formula One team bosses backed the decision of Japanese Grand Prix organisers to cancel all of Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions as the sport hunkered down to ride out Typhoon Hagibis.
The sources said the military brass is considering deploying Indian Navy's MiG-29K fighter jets in a couple of air bases in the northern sector as part of efforts to bring in tri-services synergy in dealing with national security challenges.
The manner in which a large proportion of common people have mortgaged their rationality and questioning spirit to let hatred, prejudice, and bigotry take over their minds is a cause of worry, observes Mohammad Sajjad.
India and Cyprus had entered into a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement in 1994.
Becoming the first casualty of the Panama Papers scandale, Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned on Tuesday.
Missed the biggest news from last week? Here's what happened in the world in photos.
Unofficial results indicate that the SLPP would comfortably win at least 17 out of the 22 districts on offer.
Violence erupted on Monday following which police imposed curfew in the Theldeniya area.
The 22-year-old completed only half his quota of overs in Sunday's second one-day international against Pakistan in Sharjah before he was forced off the field having dislocated his bowling shoulder when trying to save a boundary.
These girls are so H-O-T you just can't take your eyes off them!
Agni-I missile is equipped with sophisticated navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
India on Sunday conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-V long-range ballistic missile, which has a strike range of more than 5000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.
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