Image: Mozilla Image: MozillaThe recent Firefox 89 update overhauls the browser’s desktop interface and introduces several welcome quality of life tweaks and expanded data privacy protections. To help you with the transition, we’ll go over all the updates in Firefox 89 you need to know about. To try these new features yourself, install the latest Firefox update by going to Settings > General > Firefox Updates > Check for updates on desktop, or you can download the latest installer from the official Firefox downloads page. Open tabs now “float” about the URL bar, each one its own individual rectangle. Other UI changes in Firefox 89Mozilla has also streamlined Firefox’s main toolbar.

June 03, 2021 21:33 UTC

Then Tillakaratne took two runs which took him to 100 with Sri Lanka requiring to score five runs in four balls. “A West Indies victory looked a formality when they reduced Sri Lanka to 103 for five, but Tillakaratne hadn’t had his say yet,” remembered Isam. Within the Sri Lanka playing ranks, the victory-hungry combination was being finalised. It was the very first moment where Sri Lanka tasted victory of such magnitude away from their shores. Sri Lanka knocked out the Windies and reached the best-of-three finals only to lose a fierce battle with uncompromising belligerence against the Aussies.

June 03, 2021 21:00 UTC

By Pamodi WaravitaThe fundamental rights (FR) petition against the alleged coercion of two moulavis by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to frame detained attorney Hejaaz Hizbullah, will likely be heard before the Supreme Court (SC) next week as an urgent matter, The Morning learnt. The two moulavis alleged that they had been instructed to say that they witnessed the meeting take place at a school in Batticaloa run by the “Save the Pearls” organisation, to which Hizbullah is affiliated. However, Balasooriya said that the moulavis have claimed that they were not aware of any such meetings between Hizbullah and Zahran. The two moulavis were arrested in March 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) for their alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday bombings of 21 April 2019. Last week, the BASL wrote to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne regarding these alleged rights violations that lawyers face when gaining access to their clients in detention.

June 03, 2021 18:56 UTC

Importing organic fertilisers in whatever form is not a good idea. This is the reason why other countries do not allow the import of organic fertilisers,” he added. Meanwhile, the All Ceylon Peasants Federation National Organiser Namal Karunaratne also noted that bringing down organic fertilisers could be dangerous. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture has identified the need to take immediate action to supply the required organic fertilisers for the 2021/2022 Maha Season. “Imported organic fertilisers also pose a high risk of contaminating our soils and water resources.

June 03, 2021 18:45 UTC

Research findings have clearly demonstrated that vaccination reduces deaths and complications in patients infected with Covid-19. Research evidence does not support benefits of vaccination to reduce transmission of infection unless a large majority of the population is vaccinated. An equal amount of vaccines could also be given to hospitals to immunise high-risk people with comorbidities. Along with vaccinating high-risk persons, people working in larger numbers in enclosed areas on longer shifts in economic hubs and other essential congregate settings could also be prioritised, it added. They have requested the President for an appointment to be granted to discuss this issue further.

June 03, 2021 18:45 UTC





A bit of background about what happenedThe vessel MV X-Press Pearl was sailing under the flag of Singapore when the unfortunate incident took place. The tremendous harm caused to the environment by this unfortunate incident can be discussed in detail under three different sections. Since it is reported that the Pearl has started sinking, there is the dreadful possibility of an oil spill. Apart from these, burnt metal scraps, containers, and plastic and polythene waste were also found abundantly in the shorelines. The MV X-Press Pearl is not the first ship that caught fire and was destroyed and it is not going to be the last.

June 03, 2021 18:33 UTC

'UNDENIABLE ASSET': White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Dr. Anthony Fauci (pictured) had been an undeniable asset to the administrationPressed again on Fauci, Psaki gushed: 'The president and the administration feel that Dr. Fauci has played an incredible role in getting the pandemic under control.' Many emails were redacted, and Fauci was asked during the Thursday morning interview on CNN if he remembers what was said. Fauci also shared a scholar's conclusion in April that there was 'no evidence' the virus emerged from a lab. In response to a Feb. 5 email, Fauci counseled former Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell not to wear a mask on a trip. As the Post noted, there do not appear to emails providing Fauci with concrete evidence of a lab leak theory that he dismissed.

June 03, 2021 18:22 UTC

The Department of Meteorology says that the prevailing showery condition in the South-western parts of the country, particularly in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, is expected to continue further. Very heavy falls above 150 mm will occur at some places in above areas tonight (03) and tomorrow, it said issuing a ‘Red’ warning for heavy rain. Following rainfalls were recorded from 08.30 a.m. on 03.06.2021 to 10.00 p.m. on 03.06.2021. Automatic rainfall station RainfallHorana- NBRO (Kaluthara district) - 145.5mmMinuwangoda (Gampaha district) - 141.5mmBandaragama (Kaluthara district) - 139.5mmYakkala (Gampaha district) - 136.5mmKatunayake (Gampaha district) - 133.6mmEheliyagoda (Rathnapura district) - 112.0mm

June 03, 2021 17:26 UTC

Britain added seven countries, including Egypt and Sri Lanka, to its “red list” of destinations that require hotel quarantine on return to England on Thursday, in a review that also saw Portugal move from “green” to “amber”. Britain added seven countries — Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Trinidad and Tobago — to its “red list” of places with severe COVID-19 outbreaks. All but essential travel to red list countries is barred, and U.K. residents returning from any of them must spend 10 days in a government-approved quarantine hotel. No countries were added to the quarantine-free green list. The full list of countries added to the “red list” is: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad & Tobago.

June 03, 2021 17:26 UTC

The United States announced Wednesday that it plans to send 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to countries around the world, including Sri Lanka, by the end of June. “We are sharing these doses not to secure favors or extract concessions. The Biden administration has pledged to share at least 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses globally by the end of June. Sri Lankan state minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana confirmed that Sri Lanka has been included in the first tranche of the US global vaccine sharing programme. The much-awaited vaccine sharing plan comes as demand for COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. dipped significantly with over 63 per cent of adults having received at least one shot.

June 03, 2021 17:15 UTC

June 3, 2021 09:17 pmThe Ministry of Health reported that another 642 persons have tested positive for coronavirus today (03), increasing the daily total of new Covid-19 cases to 3,264. This brings the total cases count in the country thus far to 195,811. This is also the fifth instance of the daily count of Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka crossing the 3,000-mark.

June 03, 2021 15:56 UTC

By Raven Saunt For MailonlinePublished: 11:21 EDT, 3 June 2021 | Updated: 11:58 EDT, 3 June 2021A leading female bishop has been forced to apologise after slamming the Conservative party on Twitter. Dr Joanna Penberthy was the Church in Wales' first woman bishop when she was appointed to St Davids in 2017. 'The tweet was in response to another tweet which claimed that the Conservative Party was planning to abolish the Senedd. 'I acknowledge that while there may be those within the Conservative Party who oppose Welsh devolution, it is not the policy of the Conservative Party to abolish the Senedd and I should have checked all the facts before tweeting. 'I, of course, trust and have trusted many Conservatives and know there are many honourable people in that party.

June 03, 2021 15:56 UTC

A number of programmes are being planned to expedite the production of organic fertilizers required for the Maha season, the President’s Media Division said today (03). “The raw material required for the production of organic fertilizer can be conveniently obtained from the rural environment. Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that the full quantity of organic fertilizer required for this purpose is expected to be produced locally and in case of any shortage, the required shortfall will be imported and stored by the Government. State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa said that steps are being taken to provide the necessary technical knowledge to the farmers to produce organic fertilizer. The President officially handed over the soil testing equipment to the Commissioner General of Agrarian Services and the Director General of Agriculture.

June 03, 2021 15:56 UTC

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reviewed the progress of state ministries during the monthly meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (03), the President’s Media Division said. The State Ministers presented their future strategies that have been prepared for launch in order to accomplish their assigned duties, responsibilities and targets to the President. The State Ministers had also highlighted that in the face of the Covid pandemic, their Ministries have implemented a number of initiatives to fulfill their responsibilities to the people, prioritizing the need to protect the economy.

June 03, 2021 15:33 UTC

But even amid shutdowns and border closures, there was a spike in solo travel, as travel companies began to cater to people who found the socially- distanced lifestyle appealing (and had the flexibility to take advantage of deals). Even as the world reopens and people begin to book flights and plan trips again, solo travel still offers many benefits to those who aren’t deterred by the idea of setting out alone. Keep up on changing travel restrictionsAs travel opens up worldwide, there are still regulations and restrictions in place that you’ll need to be aware of. Right now, Central American and the Caribbean have lessened their COVID-19 restrictions and travel regulations for U.S. Citizens. Wherever you go, make sure you are up to date on travel restrictions, because we’re not completely out of the woods yet.

June 03, 2021 15:22 UTC