Singapore's harsh laws make for 'secure' summit venue

Sentosa Island, the resort where the meeting between Trump and Kim will take place, is an appealing venue for the same reasons Singapore itself is, security experts say.

The world’s eyes will be trained on the tiny Asian city-state of Singapore next week, as the historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sweeps into town.
The meeting between two of the world’s most unpredictable leaders would present serious security challenges in the best of circumstances — but the short notice and off-and-on-again nature of the summit adds an extra layer of complication for Singaporean authorities and international officials.

Experts say, however, that already strict laws and ubiquitous surveillance mean Singapore is particularly up to the challenge.

"It's not a surprising choice, really," Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told NBC News by phone. “It’s a very safe and secure country, we have an immense amount of security infrastructure in place... Singapore has been a very competent event organizer."

Preparations in the country are already well underway. Ahead of the summit, Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan reportedly met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton earlier this week, before quickly jetting off to meet his North Korean counterpart in Beijing.

Kareena - Sonam's Veere Di Wedding Discusses Love, Sex, Life Without Filters

Finally, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania’s Veere Di Wedding has hit theatres. The film was one of the most awaited films of the year as it Kareena was to return to the screen after two years. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh and produced by Ekta Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor and Nikhil Dwivedi, the film’s trailer also grabbed a lot of eyeballs thanks to the discussions between the four leading ladies. The makers throughout maintained that Veere Di Wedding isn’t a chick flick. So does Veere Di Wedding impress and deserve a watch this weekend? Read reviews of leading publications to find out!

BollywoodLife in their review said, “Veere Di Wedding looks fresh and the production values haven’t been compromised at any level. It is a good looking film with an interesting ensemble of actors. Kareena Kapoor Khan leads the pack being the most senior, and her Kalindi act is definitely one of the major highlights of the film. She lights up the frame in every scene reminding us how much we miss her at the movies. There are several jokes and one-liners written keeping the female audience in mind. Veere does push the envelope and takes the risk of going into a direction a lot of filmmakers would be hesitant to dive into. The makers have also made the sexual commentary and jokes feel organic and not forced. 

Microsoft tests Project Natick, self-sustaining underwater datacenter

Microsoft's Project Natick is leveraging technology from submarines and working with pioneers in marine energy for the second phase of its moonshot to develop self-sufficient underwater datacenters that can deliver rapid and agile cloud services to coastal cities.

Trump to meet Kim at 9am Singapore time on 12 June, White House says

Sarah Sanders says US is ‘actively preparing for the 12 June summit’ and that ‘good progress has been made’

Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are tentatively scheduled to meet at 9am Singapore time on 12 June, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said that planning for the historic summit continues.

We are actively preparing for the 12 June summit between the president and the North Korean leader,” Sanders said on Monday. “We feel like things are continuing to move forward, and good progress has been made.”

Sanders said that the White House “advance team” – which features military, security, technical and medical staff - were already on the ground in Singapore.

They are “finalizing preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins,” said Sa

The announcement of the timing for the first meeting between the two leaders came just three days after Trump hosted a senior North Korean delegation at the White House bearing a letter from Kim. Trump, who had previously canceled the summit, abruptly announced the meeting was back on.nders.

Asked about the contents of Kim’s letter, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders declined to “get into the specifics of the letter” but added “we feel like things are continuing to move forward and good progress has been made.“

She added that Trump is getting daily briefings on North Korea in the runup to the landmark meeting.

“I can tell you the president has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team,” said Sanders.

Experts have voiced concern that despite Trump’s claim to be the world’s greatest dealmaker, he knows little about North Korea, arms control or international diplomacy.

The on-again-off-again summit is expected to focus on US efforts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

The oppressive regime is believed to have developed a miniaturized nuclear device that could be placed on a missile that could strike the United States.

The loss made in Sri Lanka by the closure of social media has been around $ 30,000 million.

When Sri Lanka used internet controls in an attempt to quell violent riots, it may not have anticipated an associated $30,000,000 collateral dent to its economy. That’s the figure NetBlocks in association with the Internet Society has estimated in damage to Sri Lanka’s GDP derived from the country’s reliance of its traditional and hi-tech sectors on a burgeoning digital economy, using an early version of COST, the Cost of Shutdown Tool, which will is due for release later in 2018.

The government’s tried to cut off communications between organizers of violent mobs, but the shutdown had a huge impact on a wide swath of Internet users, said Sagarika Wickramasekera, president of Internet Society’s Sri Lanka chapter.

20 great traditional festivals in Europe

A festival adds fun to a holiday. Our writers pick less-heralded summer events they’ve found in small-town Europe – from France and Spain to Greece and Sweden
Water jousting, France

Fête de la Saint-Louis, Sète, LanguedocWhen: 23-28 AugustHighlight: The final night’s firework display

Since 1666, the port of Sète has been celebrating its patron saint in boisterous style. The town, known as the Venice of Languedoc, stages water-jousting tournaments on its canals throughout the summer, but it’s during its August festival that things go into overdrive. The lancers, standing on a platform on the stern of a boat propelled by oarsmen, try to knock each other into the water. The festival’s 70-plus events include street parades, pop-up bars and concerts.

While you’re there: Don’t miss Sète’s windswept sandy beaches, which stretch west all the way to Cap d’Agde via Marseillan Plage.
Where to stay: Peaceful Le Clos Saint-Clair B&B (doubles from €80 B&B) is on Mont Saint-Clair, the 183-metre hill between the old town and the beach, and has a pool. 
Mary Novakovich

Lavender mob, France

Corso de la Lavande, Digne-les-Bains, Provence

When: 3-7 August
Highlight: Nighttime parade of illuminated floats covered in lavender and locals in traditional costume

The festival begins with a firework display over the river and is followed by four days of lavender-themed festivities: parades, marching bands, floats covered in the mauve flowers and a nightly ball in the main square of this spa town. Every afternoon, scores of stalls sell lavender and lavandin (its more photogenic hybrid variant) products. Digne’s lavender festival parade has been running since the second world war. Even older is the lavender fair, which takes place at the end of August, once the harvest is in. Members of the Commanderie de la Lavande, dressed in purple robes and felt hats, declare the harvest over, light the fire under a huge copper still in the centre of the town and celebrate with lavender liqueur, lavender biscuits, syrup, nosegays and lavender paté.

Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker review: A lesson from the past

Understanding the expansive, liberal roots of Hinduism, its scientific and philosophic basis, through the life of Adi Shankaracharya

Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) was born in Kaladi in Kerala and, after travelling the length and breadth of India three times in his spiritual journeys, died in Kedarnath at the young age of 32. His travels took him from the southernmost tip of the country to Kashmir in the north, Gujarat in the west and Odisha in the east, debating spiritual scholars everywhere, preaching his beliefs, establishing ‘mathas’ to take his teaching forward.

He is credited with establishing the Advaita Vedanta School of Hindu philosophy, anchored in the oldest Upanishads,as undoubtedly the most influential of the multiple schools of philosophy and theology that characterise Hinduism. In his short life, Adi Shankara is not only credited with reviving a moribund Hinduism, but also with establishing the organisational structure for its survival and regeneration, through the ‘mathas’ he established in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Joshimatha (and probably in Kanchi and elsewhere as well).

Row over Vogue Arabia cover featuring Saudi princess in driving seat

As lifting of ban on female drivers nears, cover is focus of anger over activists’ arrests

A Vogue cover photo of a Saudi princess behind the wheel of a red convertible has ignited a heated debate following a string of arrests of women’s rights activists.

The image of Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah al-Saud in the driver’s seat wearing leather gloves and high heels is on the front cover of Vogue Arabia’s June edition, published as the conservative kingdom prepares to lift a driving ban on women.

The issue is dedicated to the “trailblazing women of Saudi Arabia” and lauds the reforms launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has sought to loosen social restrictions in the conservative kingdom and curb the powers of religious hardliners.

“In our country, there are some conservatives who fear change. For many, it’s all they have known,” Princess Hayfa, daughter of the late King Abdullah, was quoted as saying in the magazine.

“Personally, I support these changes with great enthusiasm,” added the princess, whose cover photo was shot in the desert outside the western city of Jeddah.

New Updated Map of Sri Lanka To Be Released

The popular Asian destination will get its new map today after several years.

After 18 years, the Sri Lanka Survey Department (SLSD), the national surveying and mapping organization under the Ministry of Land and Land Development have decided to update the geographical map of Sri Lanka. ALSO SEE Top 12 Things to do in Kandy

A revised map including, an additional two square kilometer of land of the Colombo Port City is set to be released today.

Survey General of Sri Lanka PMP Udayakantha said a digital version of the map demonstrating the land added to the Colombo city by reclamation of the sea is to be released, Colombo Page reported. CHECK OUT Sri Lanka travel and tourism: 21 things to do in Sri Lanka

In the last 18 years, the geography of Sri Lanka has undergone several developments, including territorial changes.

The new map produced by the 1:500 ratio will include features like Moragahakanda reservoir and various other schemes. Measures have been taken to produce printed copies of this map by June mid, while digital maps are made available.

President Maithripala Sirisena makes a controversial statement

Mahathir’s boldly states: “The people of Singapore must be tired of having the same government since independence”

Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a bold statement during a recent interview with The Financial Times, seemingly taking a jibe at the ruling party here.

92-year-old Dr Mahathir made history earlier this month by defeating the incumbent at the polls and ushering in Malaysia’s first transition of power since independence, at the watershed 2018 Malaysian General Election.

Mahathir, who helped establish the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in power and served as Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister, stepped out of retirement and left the ruling party to lead the opposition. Breaking the BN’s six-decade long monopoly, Mahathir beat his one-time protégé Najib Razak and became the world’s oldest head of government.

Implying that the stunning election upset he led across the causeway may have a ripple effect in Singapore, Dr Mahathir said: “I think the people of Singapore, like the people in Malaysia, must be tired of having the same government, the same party since independence.”

Dr Mahathir’s bold remark comes amid widespread speculation that his recent victory at the polls may have a dampening effect on relations between Malaysia in Singapore. Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that he met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for just 30 minutes after Lee travelled all the way to Putrajaya to congratulate him on his electoral win.

More recently, Dr Mahathir’s announcement that Malaysia is pulling out of the widely anticipated KL-Singapore High Speed Rail project has contributed to talk that the strained relations Singapore and Malaysia shared before Mahathir retired and came back might return

Coca-Cola Launches Its First Alcoholic Drink

A fizzy lemon-flavored alcoholic drink that went on sale in Japan on Monday marked Coca-Cola Co.’s KO 0.19% first fling at selling alcohol in its 132-year history.

At a sampling event in Fukuoka on Saturday, hundreds of people lined up for a taste, including some who didn’t expect to find the U.S. company experimenting with Japanese-style booze.

Hiroshi Tsukano, 59 years old, a financial planner, thought one of Coca-Cola’s competitors was relaunching an old favorite. “I’m a bit surprised that this is a Coca-Cola brand,” he said. “It’s nice, but I would add a splash of grapefruit or more lemon to it.”

Canned drinks known as chuhai have long been popular in Japan. They are often made with a distilled grain-based alcohol called shochu and carbonated water flavored with fruit juice or other flavorings.
Coca-Cola, a big competitor in nonalcoholic drinks in Japan, is entering the fray with a lemon-flavored version of chuhai called Lemon-Do. It will be available with 3%, 5% and 7% alcohol, including a salty-lemon version and another that is flavored with honey and lemon. The drink doesn’t include any Coke.

The company enters a highly segmented and competitive market, where others such as Suntory Holdings Ltd., Kirin Holdings Co. andAsahi Group Holdings Ltd. dominate supermarket and convenience-store shelves. Coca-Cola launched the foray on the southern island of Kyushu; its plans for the rest of Japan or other countries aren’t set yet.

“We’ve started to experiment because, in the end, we are trying to follow the consumer. And, in the case of Japan, this is a relatively well-developed segment of low alcohol,” Coca-Cola Chief Executive James Quincey said at a shareholder meeting on April 26. He observed that rival companies already make both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages

Saudi crown prince shot, injured in last month’s incident near palace: opposition activist

A Saudi activist has revealed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has not been seen in public over the past few weeks, was actually shot and injured in heavy gunfire reported from outside the royal palace in the capital Riyadh late last month.

Mohammed al-Mas’ari, the secretary-general of the Islamic Revival Party, citing reliable sources, said in a recent interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV that bin Salman was hit by bullets during the late April attack

He said the news of bin Salman’s injury was leaked by sources within the royal family before widely circulating on social networking websites such as Twitter.

Elsewhere in his remarks, al-Mas'ari said the crown prince now plans to appear before the media in order to deny reports of a coup.

A number of journalists in Riyadh reported heavy fire outside the palace compound on April 21. Although Saudi Arabia’s state news agency claimed it was a shooting down of a toy drone that had gotten too close to the royal property, some wondered if the gunfire was in fact a coup led by royals against King Salman.

Saudi activists said the shooting had nothing to do with the drone, but it was an attack from vehicles carrying heavy machine guns and shooting randomly.
It was claimed that bin Salman had been evacuated to a nearby bunker at a military base for his safety.

The incident happened just after the young heir to the throne wrapped up a whirlwind global tour meant to advertise himself as the new power in the kingdom. Back home, the crown prince faced tension within the royal family.

No new photo or video of bin Salman were released by state media. Bin Salman was not even seen on camera when US Secretary of State Mike Popmeo paid his maiden visit to Riyadh in late April. The long disappearance had raised speculation about the fate of the crown prince.

A photo widely circulating on social media shows an attack on Saudi royal palace in Riyadh on April 21, 2018.
Bin Salman’s month-long disappearance from the media limelight contrasts his high-profile tour in the United States and Europe.

The attack on palace came after a self-promoting campaign at home, which saw hundreds of royals and businessmen detained and tortured. Most of them were later released after reaching financial settlement deals with the kingdom.

AL Jazeera Exposure - The match-fixers then made large sums of money from betting. We can make pitch do whatever we want

Reporter films Indian fixer boasting of bribing Sri Lankan groundsman to doctor pitch in Test matches.
Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit has revealed how criminals fixed two Test matches - the highest level of international cricket - and were planning to fix a third.
The two fixed matches were Sri Lanka versus India in July last year and Sri Lanka versus Australia in August 2016.
Both matches were played at Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka.
In secretly filmed meetings, the match-fixers also said that they were planning to fix England's game against Sri Lanka, also at Galle, in November this year.
The world cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), has launched an investigation into Al Jazeera's findings.
Robin Morris, a match-fixer from Mumbai, told undercover reporters that he bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch to ensure guaranteed outcomes.
The match-fixers then made large sums of money from betting.

Files on Tamil Tigers and MI5 in Sri Lanka erased at Foreign Office-The Guardian says.

Destruction of 1978-1980 files means there is no record of UK government’s work at the time

Britain’s Foreign Office destroyed almost 200 files on Sri Lanka dating from the start of a Tamil Tiger uprising during which MI5 and the SAS secretly advised the country’s security forces, it has emerged.

The loss of the files means that there is almost no record of the British government’s work with the Sri Lankan authorities at the start of a famously brutal civil war.

The destruction of the files raises fresh concerns about the Foreign Office’s attitude towards handling historic files on sensitive subjects. An official review in 2012 found that the department had destroyed thousands of documents detailing British counter-insurgency operations in Kenya and other colonies as the empire came to an end.

Under the Public Records Act 1958 government departments are obliged to preserve historic records. But, in response to a Freedom of Information request from the Guardian asking for information about the destruction of the files, the Foreign Office stated that it was not required to preserve the documents. It said the files’ content “may be of a policy nature but might also be administrative or ephemeral”.

The Foreign Office has now confirmed that it destroyed 195 files on Sri Lanka, dating from 1978 to 1980, three decades after the country became independent from Britain. The department would not say exactly when, where, or how the destruction occurred.

UAE will change labour law, minister tells FNC

Emiratis must account for 5% of private sector workforce and 6% of total UAE workforce

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Labour Law will be changed to live up to the ambitions of the leadership, citizens and private sector, and to fit the post-oil era, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.

Al Hameli was speaking as the human resources policy was discussed, but he did not give a time frame as to when the new law would be issued.

The minister stressed that the goal is to achieve the national agenda indicators, especially to have citizens in five per cent of the private sector jobs. “The new law will address all basic requirements of the post-oil era,” Al Hameli said.

Johann Peries second Sri Lankan to summit Mt. Everest

 Sri Lanka's Johann Peries successfully summited the 29,030 feet of Mount Everest at 5.55 a.m in Nepal time today.

This was his second attempt and Mr. Peries now has become the second Sri Lankan to summit Mt. Everest after Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala in 2016.

He left the Camp at 4.00p.m last evening.

His earlier attempt in 2016 was unsuccessful when his oxygen tank failed 400 metres from the summit.

Posting a Twitter message the Foreign Employment Bureau had wished their warmest congratulations.

daily mirror

Some can't identify difference between soldiers and terrorists - MS

President Maithripala Sirisena saya that our security forces have not been accused of war crimes in the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council as certain media and extremist parties falsely depict.

President Sirisena said that  today such accusations are made by the parties who support the L.T.T.E. and living abroad and those who are against the government and security forces.

The President stated this addressing the” National War heroes day ” held near the war heroes monument in parliament grounds today (19).

The President who speaking on this occasion said that it is a shame some have failed to identify the difference between the soldier and the terrorist.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry marry as millions watch

Couple exchange vows in Windsor Castle chapel before celebrity-studded congregation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become husband and wife after exchanging their wedding vows before an altar that has sealed royal unions for centuries, and a global television audience of millions.

Markle, 36, a former actor, also exchanged her Ms prefix for the style HRH and the title Duchess of Sussex as her marriage to the 33-year-old prince made her an official member of the royal family.

The couple emerged into the sunshine, her long train covering the chapel steps, and kissed in front of a cheering crowd.

Then the new Her Royal Highness Princess Henry, Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel, and her husband, were driven through Windsor and up the Long Walk back towards the castle in a horse-drawn Ascot Landau. 

The service was conducted before a congregation of 600 in the 15th-century St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, a key symbol of the British monarchy from which the modern royal family has taken its name.

Army commander tells the Hindu newspaper :sri Lanka is the only country that eradicated terrorism.

                                                                          Pic :army.lk

The Sri Lankan Army Chief on the army’s role and challenges in the post-war context, efforts towards resettlement, and on international scrutiny

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake took over as the 22nd Commander of the Sri Lankan Army in June 2017. The conduct of the army in the past, during the island’s civil war that it ended by defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in 2009, and its contentious presence and role in the country’s Tamil-majority north and east since then continue to dominate the discourse around post-war resettlement and reconciliation. Amidst growing calls from the Tamil political leadership and the people for demilitarization of the war-scarred areas, what is the army’s role and vision as Sri Lanka tries transitioning into peace? Excerpts from an interview in Colombo:

It is nine years since the civil war ended. The period has witnessed some crucial political developments, including a regime change in 2015. The current government came to power on the promise of strengthening democracy. In this post-war context, how do you see the role of the army?

The Sri Lankan army had been a traditional army, a ceremonial army, back in the 1970s, early 1980s. Due to the negative incidents that took place in the early 1980s, the army was expanded to face the challenges and threats that came in the way of the country’s territorial integrity and internal security. The army put in the main effort to ensure there is peace that the people aspired for, making many sacrifices. In recent history, Sri Lanka is the one and only country on the world map that has eradicated terrorism from its soil. We are a victorious army

Once the combat is over, it is the responsibility of the army itself to understand its role and task. The last nine years were very critical to understand what happened 30 years ago. What must this government and army do to ensure that we don’t go back to the roots of the conflict that began 30 years ago? We have to find a mechanism, a commitment within the country to satisfy our own people more than the people outside. Today, we are closer to a better solution. Democracy was restored, elections were held [in 2015], good governance was brought in.

In this context, we are right-sizing and building a capacity-based army. We have to give back to the people by right-sizing and ensuring that the war will not recur. We are engaging with the people in the north and east to identify our responsibility. The 30 years of war were brutal, many lives were lost on both sides. This is a sort of testing period for us. Maybe till 2020. I believe that will be the time to take a good jump. As Chief of the Army Staff, I can say that the army is the only organisation which has the biggest capacity, be it human resource or anything else.