Australia calls for second investigation into how Covid-19 began
January 11, 2021: Australia blocks $300million construction deal that would have seen state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation takeover Probuild. February 5, 2021: China confirms Melbourne journalist and single mother Cheng Lei has been formally arrested after being detained in August, 2020. March 11, 2021: Australia is accused of genocide by a Communist Party newspaper editor. April 21, 2021: Foreign Minister Marise Payne announces Australia has scrapped Victoria's controversial Belt and Road deal with China using new veto powers. May 6, 2021: China indefinitely suspends all strategic economic talks with Australia, blaming the Morrison Government's attitude towards the relationship.
Source:The Nation
June 14, 2021 01:30 UTC
CNN panel criticizes Kamala Harris' 'cringeworthy' border response
Kamala Harris lashed out during an interview on Monday when asked again why she hasn't visited the southern border. Harris' trip came amid mounting concern about the number of arrivals along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden-Harris administration has promised a more 'humane' approach to the borderSingle adults still represented the majority of border-crossers, data from the U.S. Border Patrol showed. In May there was a decrease in the number of unaccompanied minors, from roughly 16,910 to 13,906, Border Patrol found. 'I've said I'm going to the border,' said Harris, visibly irritated.
Source:The Nation
June 14, 2021 00:00 UTC
How lab-grown diamonds became every girl's best friend
Six to seven million carats of lab-grown diamonds were produced last year. De Beers, the historic diamond company, initially tried to position lab-grown diamonds for the ‘masses’ and mined stones for the ‘classes’. When they heard from family friends about a new trend for ethical lab-grown diamonds, they were hooked. Two, the niche occupied by lab-grown diamonds was ripe for exploitation.’ She launched Chelsea Rocks soon after, funding it herself. ‘I want to offer the creme de la creme of lab-grown diamonds,’ she says.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 21:56 UTC
New Zealand's mantra of keeping things simple shows England the way to go
Second, the match award went to seamer Matt Henry, who is unlikely to play in Friday’s World Test Championship final against India. New Zealanders, he concluded, needed a Test team they could take pride in. But back to ‘keeping things simple’. England are towards the bottom of the pile: Root’s blunder to reprieve Young on seven was symptomatic of the malaise. As for New Zealand, it’s perfectly possible to imagine them keeping things simple all the way to becoming Test cricket’s first world champions.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 21:56 UTC
(VIDEO) Man carries pregnant wife across flood waters because ambulance couldn’t get to them
COLOMBO (News 1st); A remarkable story of a true testament of love was reported from Hiniduma, Galle in Sri Lanka recently. The local Medical Officer for Health had informed them of the need to seek medical attention. However, the floods were in their way and it was impossible for even an ambulance to reach their location. It was then that Kumara decided to take his wife into his arms and carry her to the hospital braving the flood waters in their neighborhood. His wife is now receiving medical attention and it is reported that both she and her baby are in good health.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 21:01 UTC
Online education via e-Thaksalawa for free
Online education via e-Thaksala for free of data charge...A discussion was held at Temple Trees under the patronage of Minister Namal Rajapaksa to further formalize the online education system. During the discussion, the Minister instructed the relevant officials to plan the initial activities for the initiation of a separate television channel for education programs, which will beoperated under the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, now the e-Thaksalawa online teaching website operated by the Ministry of Education can be accessed free of data charge. The Minister pointed out that through this itis possible to carry out educational activities covering the school curriculum. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion, Piyal Nishantha De Silva, StateMinister of Women and Child Development, Preschools & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services, Secretaries to the Ministries and many other officialsparticipated on this discussion.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 21:00 UTC
Euro 2020: The historic tournament feuds amid Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud's reported spat
Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud helped spearhead Les Bleus to 2018 World Cup glory in Russia but fast-forward to three years and their is a simmering tension between the duo. According to RMC Sport, Mbappe was so livid at Giroud's comments that he wanted to give a press conference on the matter but this was rejected by France manager Didier Deschamps. Keane returned home and missed out on the World Cup as his team-mates reached the last 16 before losing on penalties to Spain. Clarence Seedorf, who missed the decisive penalty against France, left Ajax for Sampdoria at the end of the 1994-95 season. Ghana (2014 World Cup)The most recent example on our list stems from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with Ghana.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 20:03 UTC
G7 pledges one billion COVID vaccine doses for poorer nations
Leaders of the major industrial nations have pledged one billion COVID vaccine doses to poor countries as a “big step towards vaccinating the world”, Boris Johnson has said. At the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall, the PM said countries were rejecting “nationalistic approaches”. He said the G7 leaders had pledged to supply the vaccines to poor countries either directly or through the World Health Organization’s Covax scheme - including 100 million from the UK. Mr Johnson rejected suggestions the vaccines pledge was a moral failure by the G7 as it was not enough to cover the needs of poorer countries. Kirsty McNeill from Crack the Crises, a coalition of charities and NGOs including Save the Children and Oxfam, said the G7 summit was a “historic missed opportunity” on COVID-19 and climate change.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 18:11 UTC
Jill Biden and Joe coordinate while Queen is pretty in pink for royal meeting
Jill Biden changed into a baby blue suit to match husband Joe's tie for their royal sit down on Sunday while The Queen was pretty in pink to host the first couple for tea. The Queen, meanwhile, wore a bright pink dress with a floral pattern and a matching pink hat for the occasion. Jill Biden, on the other hand, often speaks to reporters and held an impromptu, short press conference at the G7. Jill Biden wore blue while The Queen donned pink and President Biden slipped on his signature aviator shadesDON'T TOUCH JOE! Trump and the Queen had afternoon tea together in the castle's Oak Room, with the meeting lasting longer than expected.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 18:00 UTC
Jude Bellingham becomes the youngest-ever England player at a major tournament
By Alex Bowmer For MailonlinePublished: 12:24 EDT, 13 June 2021 | Updated: 12:45 EDT, 13 June 2021Jude Bellingham has hit yet another milestone in a dazzling early career after becoming the youngest-ever player to appear for England at a major tournament. The youngest player ever to appear for England at the Euros before Bellingham's appearance at Wembley was Marcus Rashford, who made his major international tournament debut in the pivotal Euro 2016 group-stage game against Wales at the age of 18 years and 228 days. However, his record of being the youngest-ever player at the Euros may not last long. Reacting to Bellingham's achievement, Franklin Leonard tweeted: 'Jude Bellingham was born the week the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out.' Football website Goal pointed out that 37-year-old Goran Pandev, who captains tournament outsiders North Macedonia, made his international debut two years before Bellingham was born.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 17:03 UTC
COVID- Sri Lanka confirms 2,329 new cases within the day
June 13, 2021 09:33 pmDaily COVID-19 cases count hit 2,329 on Sunday (June 13) as 443 more people were tested positive for the virus in Sri Lanka. The new development brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 223,606. As many as 188,547 recoveries and 2,136 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. According to official data, up to 32,923 active cases are currently under medical care at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 16:52 UTC
Week 23 in review: OnePlus Nord CE 5G official, WWDC kicks off
As we reach another week's end it's time to recap the major events from the past seven days. And the MacBook Pro and M1X chip announcements that were tipped didn't happen, despite later leaks showing the M1X tag in official Apple promo images. OnePlus announced a more affordable version of its popular Nord 5G. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G starts at €299/INR 22,999 and improves on the battery and main camera of its more premium sibling, making up for a compelling offer. Sony announced the second generation of its truly wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation - €280 WF-1000XM4.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 16:02 UTC
Kumar Sangakkara among 10 ICC Hall of Fame special inductees
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, widely recognized as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world, has been inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. The ICC today (June 13) announced a special edition intake of 10 cricket icons into the ICC Hall of Fame to celebrate the prestigious history of Test cricket, and to coincide with the first ever ICC World Test Championship Final. Sangakkara is the second Sri Lankan cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, after spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan made the list in 2017. He has played 134 Tests, scored 12,400 runs at 57.40, took 182 catches and 20 stumpings, and was grace personified at the crease. Sangakkara ended his career as the most prolific run-scorer his country had ever known, with double-hundreds flowing from his bat with consummate ease.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 14:48 UTC
Construction of Central Expressway in Gampaha paused
June 13, 2021 07:17 pmThe construction work on the Central Expressway in the Gampaha District will be temporarily suspended, said Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga. The work will be suspended until a final decision is reached after reviewing the construction plan, he said. A number of areas in the Gampaha District have been inundated due to the recent heavy rains and there have been allegations from various parties that such a situation has arisen due to the construction of the Central Expressway.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 13:52 UTC
1,886 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Sri Lanka
June 13, 2021 06:32 pmThe Ministry of Health reports that another 1,886 persons have tested positive for coronavirus today (June 13). All new cases are associated with the New Year Covid-19 cluster. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country thus far to 223,163. Presently 32,480 infected patients are being treated at hospitals and treatment centers across the island. Meanwhile, the number of total recoveries has reached 188,547.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 12:56 UTC