Brazil issues emergency authorization for two vaccines
Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) Amid a devastating resurgence of the coronavirus in parts of Brazil, federal health officials have finally voted to authorize two vaccines for emergency use. Minutes later, Monica Calazans, a Black nurse from downtown São Paulo, became the first Brazilian to be vaccinated. "You don't understand what this means to me," she told São Paulo state governor João Doria. While several of its neighbors have already approved vaccines for use, Brazil has seemed to lag despite its renowned public health and vaccination track record. CNN's Rodrigo Pedroso reported from São Paulo and Caitlin Hu reported from New York.
Source:The Nation
January 18, 2021 00:56 UTC
OPPO launches OPPO A15
The Bank now operates 635 standalone ATMs and 250 CRMs that allow both withdrawal and deposit of cash, and 20 Automated Cheque Deposit Machines (ACDMs) around the country. The machine network processes nearly 150 million withdrawals on average each day, recording a monthly average of more than 4.48 million withdrawals, the Bank said. Commercial Bank’s 800th automated machine was located at its Giriulla branch, the 700th at MAS Intimates Vidiyal in Kilinochchi, the 600th at the Colombo Gold Centre, the 500th at the Maradana Railway Station, and the 400th at the Bank’s Ruwanwella branch. As a result, every Commercial Bank ATM now accepts and processes transactions based on Smart Card Integrated Circuit (IC) data as well as magnetic strip data. About a fifth of Commercial Bank’s ATM network is located outside the precincts of its branches, with terminals installed in places such as industrial zones, railway stations, central bus stands, apartment complexes, shopping malls and large-scale factories, enhancing access for customers and non-customers alike.
Source:The Nation
January 18, 2021 00:56 UTC
Govt. abandoned middle ground for extreme policies
What are your thoughts on the Government pulling out of the UNHRC resolution the Yahapalana Government co-sponsored in 2015? In fact, it has now proven to be unwise because Trump has been thrown out by his own people. This administration has abandoned the middle ground in favour of extreme policies. You have to occupy the moral high ground not simply in your eyes but in the eyes of the Council as well. The Sri Lankan administration is of the view that with the support of China, Sri Lanka can prevail on any challenge – that is simply not true.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 22:41 UTC
Ranjan imprisonment: Four years for contempt violates ICCPR, AHRC
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a group of human rights activists in Asia, expressed concerns about the imprisonment of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake. AHRC, in a statement issued recently, pointed out the views expressed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) on two occasions in 2005 and 2008 concerning contempt of court cases. The AHRC went on to say: “The United Nations Human Rights Committee said in its verdict the following: ‘The penalty imposed was a one-year term of “rigorous imprisonment”. Dissanayake) (2), who complained that by imposition of two years rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, his rights guaranteed under the ICCPR have been violated by Sri Lanka as a state party. This deserves to be taken up for serious debate by the Sri Lankan and international public,” AHRC noted.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 22:30 UTC
Three committees for vaccine roll-out
Initial inoculation in two batchesIndian vaccination drive being studiedBy Pamodi WaravitaThree committees have been appointed by the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control to co-ordinate the inoculation programme of the Oxford-AstraZeneca anti-Covid-19 vaccine, The Morning learnt. The official further said that the initial inoculation would happen in two batches to frontline health workers, frontline tri-forces, frontline airport staff, and senior citizens above the age of 60 years. Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath also spoke to The Morning regarding the potential risks that could arise from vaccination. “With successful communication, we hope to take the necessary precautions and considerations before vaccinating the at-risk groups,” said Dr. Herath. State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Sudarshani Fernandopulle had stated yesterday (17) that the Sri Lankan Government has decided to import both the Oxford-AstraZeneca anti-Covid-19 vaccine and another vaccine free of charge through the COVAX facility.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 22:07 UTC
Parler's website is back online with a brief message to 'lovers and haters'
Washington (CNN Busness) Parler's website suddenly reappeared online Sunday afternoon with a message from its CEO, John Matze: "Hello world, is this thing on?" Parler now appears to be hosted by Epik, according to a WHOIS search. Epik is a hosting platform that supports Gab, 8chan and other services often used by members of the far-right. Prior to hosting Parler, Epik issued a lengthy statement blasting what it said was a "kneejerk reaction" by major companies of "simply deplatforming and terminating any relationship that on the surface looks problematic or controversial." A temporary status update on parler.com also appeared beneath Matze's message.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 22:07 UTC
Sri Lanka Design Festival 2021: Celebrating design, innovation, and change
First-ever virtual festival comes to a closeBy Venessa Anthony and Naveed RozaisLast weekend (15-17 January), Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) concluded its first-ever virtual festival, celebrating Sri Lankan design on a global scale through a variety of virtual events and unveilings. Celebrating creativityShining a spotlight on Sri Lankan creatives and artists, SLDF 2021 celebrated two of Sri Lanka’s most renowned creative personalities through its series Creative Legends. Her passion for skateboarding fuelled her desire to create a skateboarding culture in Sri Lanka, and thus her brand Push Skateboards was born. Rathnasuriya was born and raised in Southern Sri Lanka, an area of Sri Lanka whose culture is heavily introduced by the Portuguese and Dutch who once settled there. SLDF 2021 saw Reveal, AOD’s 2020 Graduate Exhibition, taking place both virtually and physically.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 21:56 UTC
Yasitha and Anika win National Tennis crowns
Anika Seneviratne with SL women’s singles national trophyFormer Ananada College, Colombo old boy, 23-year-old Yasitha de Silva realised his childhood dream on Sunday (17) clinching the Sri Lanka National Men’s Singles championship –the ultimate glory of Sri Lanka’s men’s tennis– beating four-time champion Sharmal Dissanayake 7/6 (7/3) (retired) at the 100th edition of Sri Lanka Tennis Nationals held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) hard courts in Colombo. On the same day afternoon, the 2018 Sri Lanka Women’s Singles champion Anika Seneviratne cruised to her second title with a powerful display over Janali Manamperi. She won her first set 6/0 before having some unforced errors which cost her four games in the second. RESULTSMen’s Singles final:Yasitha de Silva beat Sharmal Dissanayake 7/6 (7/3), Retd. Women’s Singles final:Anika Seneviratne beat Janali Manamperi 6/0, 6/4
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 19:07 UTC
Sri Lanka registers 08 new COVID-19 deaths
A 63-year-old woman from Kolonnawa has passed away at the Colombo National Hospital on January 13 from COVID-19 pneumonia. Meanwhile, a 27-year-old youth have succumbed to COVID-19 infection and a lung infection on January 15. On January 16, two men, one from Kegalle (87) and another from Dehiwala (72) had died at the Homagama Base Hospital. Another patient at the IDH, an 83-year-old male from Colombo 08, fell victim to sepsis shock, multiple organ failure, and COVID-19 pneumonia. The cause of his death has been determined as a severe respiratory infection, COVID-19 pneumonia, and a heart condition.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 18:07 UTC
Mangala happy about getting foreign investors involved to develop ECT
“As a true patriot, I am happy about attracting foreign investors to develop the ECT,” he said. He said it is essential to attract foreign investors to develop the country. “SriLankan Airlines, which has been running at a loss since its inception, made profits only after it was partnered with foreign investors. “Only a handful of people think that attracting foreign investors is an act of betrayal. “Today, even the socialist countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia understand the importance of foreign investors in developing a country and offer massive concessions to foreign investors,” he said.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 18:07 UTC
Eight more COVID-19 deaths reported
January 17, 2021 by Lahiru Pothmulla No CommentsEight more COVID-19 deaths were reported today increasing the COVID-19 death toll in the country to 264, the Government Information Department said. The victims are; a 63-year-old female from Kolonnawa, a 75-year-old male from Borella, a 27-year-old male from Udupussellawa, an 87-year-old male from Kegalle, a 72-year-old male from Dehiwala, a 66-year-old male from Polonnaruwa, an 83-year-old male from Colombo 08 and a 75-year-old male from Ududumbara.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 16:06 UTC
Ministers 'consider replacing council tax with property levy'
But the suggestion of replacing them with a property tax, likely based on the current value of a home, could spark a Conservative rebellion. At the 2020 Budget ministers announced that the main rate of corporation tax would remain at 19 per cent. The Chancellor announced the stamp duty holiday at the start of July and it is due to last until March. Ministers and officials are also said to be looking at long term plans to replace stamp duty as well as council tax with a national property levy. However, a national property tax based on more up to date valuations would almost certainly prompt a backlash in Tory Shire heartlands where owners of expensive homes would likely see their bills increase.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 16:06 UTC
More coronavirus cases move total past to 53,000
Department of Government Information confirmed that 427 of the newly-identified patients are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda fish market. Accordingly, a total of 749 new cases have been reported within the day. As per statistics, the total number of Covid-19 infections confirmed in the country to date now stands at 53,062. Recoveries from the virus meanwhile climbed to 45,171 earlier today, as more patients regained health. However, 7,627 active cases are still under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centres located across the island.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 15:22 UTC
Here's when Americans may see aid from Biden's proposal
There's a lot that has to happen before Biden's plan -- which is chock-full of measures long favored by Democrats -- becomes law. And even though Democrats will soon control the White House and both chambers of Congress, that doesn't mean lawmakers will follow Biden's suggestions to the letter. He intends to announce a recovery strategy at his first appearance before a joint session of Congress next month. "For this to happen in some expedited time, it's really going to require significant influence from the president, especially on key senators." "All the work of getting people lined up -- that's likely going to take a lot of time," Kosar said.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 15:09 UTC
Jos Buttler is holding his own with the gloves in the alien conditions of Sri Lanka
That half-blemish aside, Buttler has probably never kept better in a Test shirt, and certainly not in conditions that feel like Mars to a keeper reared on seam and swing. And so, in his 48th Test – though only his 28th as wicketkeeper – Buttler had his first stumping. The only other occasion Buttler had the Test gloves in Asia proved his undoing. Exhausted and demoralised after the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October 2015, he was dropped – a decision that felt mutually beneficial. Buttler spoke before the first Test about admiring Foakes in practice, and seems to have absorbed some of his skills, as if by osmosis.
Source:The Nation
January 17, 2021 15:07 UTC