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.
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.
Fugitive Diamantaire Mehul Choksi who is held in Dominica after his mysterious disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda has alleged that his "friend" Barbara Jabarica was instrumental in his abduction which involved musclemen claiming to be Antiguan Police and mercenaries looking like Indians. The police have started the investigation after receiving a complaint from Choksi, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.
The mispronunciation outraged a large number of Harris' supporters and her spokesperson Sabrina Singh said, "I'll keep it simple: If you can pronounce 'former' Senator David Perdue, you can pronounce 'future' Vice President Kamala Harris."
Have a look at these photos taken from the incredible world we live in. These are the winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition 2020.
Fourteen billion dollars goes a long, long way; it would buy you three US aircraft carriers or six NASA rover missions to Mars.
Take a look at the Barbadian singing sensation's holiday album.
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.
'They talk about their 2021 centenary goal, their 2035 goal, and their 2049 goal. They're accelerating. There's also been this unfortunately bashing of nationalism inside the People's Republic of China by the government'
With pacer Jofra Archer, opener Rory Burns and star all-rounder Ben Stokes back in the England squad, the visitors are likely to have some competition for spots in the team for the 1st Test against India.
The missile has a strike range of more than 2,000 km.
Winners from the Big Picture photography competition
Any form of entanglement with India or the US on the strategic plane will be anathema to Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa rulers, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
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.
Esper said Beijing was trying to use the coronavirus tragedy to their advantage for 'propaganda purposes'.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
A summary of Sunday's action in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers across Europe.
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.
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.
Here are some of the beautiful images in the contest.
'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).
Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten 33 as Australia beat England by eight wickets to win the Women's World Twenty20 title.
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.
India and Cyprus had entered into a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement in 1994.
Self-taught Swedish photographer and retoucher Erik Johansson turns outrageous scenarios into surreal yet familiar fragments of reality.
Becoming the first casualty of the Panama Papers scandale, Iceland's Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned on Tuesday.
The Japanese navy has reportedly unveiled its biggest warship since the World War II which is speculated to double up as an aircraft carrier amid growing tensions with China over some disputed islands.
These girls are so H-O-T you just can't take your eyes off them!
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.
Agni-I missile is equipped with sophisticated navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
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.
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.
Swiss former World No. 1 Martina Hingis, a winner of five Grand Slam singles titles, headlined the International Tennis Hall of Fame's list of inductees for the 2013 class.
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.
Reacting to the recent supersonic interceptor missile test by India, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister's adviser on Foreign Affairs, has said that Islamabad will acquire advanced technology to improve its defence and will also raise the matter at the international arena.
