Britain IS building! Construction booms at fastest rate in seven years
The closely watched construction purchasing managers' index showed output growth in May hit the highest level since September 2014, at a reading of 64.2. This was up from 61.6 in April, and the fourth consecutive month of construction growth – any reading above 50 indicates expansion. May's manufacturing PMI, released earlier this week, showed conditions in the sector improving at an unprecedented rate with a reading of 65.6. The construction PMI indicated that firms' costs were rising at the fastest rate since records began 24 years ago. Max Jones, a director in Lloyds Bank's infrastructure and construction team, said: 'A recovery fuelled by pent-up demand isn't without risks.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 08:03 UTC
Bad weather affects 170,000 plus individuals: DMC
170,022 people of 41,717 families have so far been affected by the current adverse weather conditions observed in the country, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) stated today (05). Accordingly, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Colombo, Puttalam, Kalutara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kegalle districts have experienced torrential downpours as of late. The DMC also added that seven fatalities have been accounted for so far due to these conditions and seven others have been reported as missing. Two persons have sustained injuries as well. The members of the public have been urged by the DMC to remain on alert and stay informed on the weather situation through warnings issued by the relevant authorities.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 08:03 UTC
Top 10 Out of This World Hotel Rooms
While some hotel rooms look like interrogation cells in Guantanamo and some like Queen Elizabeth’s personal spa, there exists a third type that is simply something else. These hotel rooms are wildly unique in shape or decor, or even redefine the whole concept of living spaces. Here are ten of those hotel rooms, who can best be described as out of this world. 8 Space Room, Fantasyland Hotel, CanadaWe tour THE MOST UNIQUE theme room hotel in the world! 1 Null Stern Hotel, SwitzerlandA Hotel with a Difference: no Roof | DW EnglishNull Stern Hotel, famous for creating a hotel out of an abandoned nuclear bunker, has an expansion project called Zero Real Estate.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 08:03 UTC
Over 170,000 people afflicted by adverse weather conditions
June 5, 2021 12:30 pmDisaster Management Centre (DMC) says as many as 170,022 people of 41,717 families were affected by the prevailing adverse weather conditions in the country. According to reports, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Colombo, Puttalam, Kalutara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kegalle districts have been hit hard by torrential rains. Seven lives were claimed by the inclement weather so far, seven others are reported missing and two persons have sustained injuries, the DMC added. The DMC urges the members of public to remain alert on the warnings issued by the authorities.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 07:41 UTC
Why has Portugal suddenly been put on the amber list, will it stay there all summer?
Why has Portugal suddenly been put on the amber list? Travel insurance should cover you for an amber country but check with your policy issuer. If a country is on the amber list, will my travel company refund me? Jet2 has said that anyone travelling to an amber country before July 1 can get a full refund or can re-book. What are my employment rights if I am required to quarantine on return from an amber country?
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 07:41 UTC
Black Shark 4 gets a new memory variant
The Black Shark 4 gaming smartphone unveiled in March now comes in a new memory configuration in China - 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It's priced at CNY2,999 ($470/€385) and is up for purchase through Black Shark's official website and JD.com. The Black Shark 4 is powered by the Snapdragon 870 SoC, runs Android 11-based JoyUI 12.5, and sports a 6.67" 144Hz FullHD+ Super AMOLED screen. Fueling the entire package is a 4,500 mAh battery with 120W charging, and the Black Shark 4 also features physical shoulder triggers to improve the gaming experience. You can read our Black Shark 4 in-depth written review here to learn more about it or watch the video review linked below.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 07:01 UTC
G7 finance ministers meet to agree on new minimum global level of corporate tax
Rishi Sunak has told world finance leaders that the world cannot 'continue to rely on a tax system that was largely designed in the 1920s'. His comments come as US President Joe Biden has called for a unified minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent in negotiations with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20. 'For more than four years, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have been working together to create an international tax system fit for the 21st century,' added the four ministers. Its 12.5-percent tax rate is one of the lowest in the world, prompting tech giants such as Facebook and Google to make Ireland the home of their European operations. Proponents argue that a minimum tax is necessary to stem competition between countries over who can offer multinationals the lowest rate.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 07:01 UTC
Work from home Aussies are taking SEX BREAKS in the middle of their shifts, new research reveals
Older millennials and younger generation X's were described as two of the most sexually active groups. 'We had a bridal veil with matching garter and those sales went absolutely crazy online,' she said. The company also reported a 150 per cent lift in adult toy sales online since the latest round of restrictions were introduced, according to the Herald Sun. Sex and relationship coach Rachael White believes many people are making love behind closed doors in Melbourne to 'cope' with their unprecedented fourth lockdown. 'Sex reduces stress which may help you be able to focus more when getting back into work mode.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 06:56 UTC
SL will procure every vaccine recommended by WHO: Keheliya
Every vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be brought to Sri Lanka as soon as possible for the benefit of the people, Minister of Mass Media and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella stated. The Minister made this statement when he visited the Kundasale electorate on Thursday (03) to inspect the implementation of the vaccination programme. He also alleged that despite the Opposition resorting to mudslinging from the beginning, the national vaccination programme is being implemented successfully. The Minister said that no country can get vaccines without Government intervention and some politicians in the North who made false statements in the past to mislead the people are doing the same today with regards to vaccine procurement.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 05:37 UTC
Covid-19 cases cross 3,000 mark for third consecutive day
The daily caseload of Covid-19 infected patients stood at 3,398 yesterday (04), making it the third consecutive day and fifth instance in which the daily count of cases crossed the 3,000 mark. According to the Government Information Department, the new cases reported yesterday were associated with the New Year cluster. So far, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases reported in the country stands at 199,242. Meanwhile, the Director-General of Health Services stated that yesterday saw 48 more Covid-19 deaths, bringing the country’s death toll to 1,656. Official data shows that up to 33,353 active cases are currently under medical care at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 05:37 UTC
Navy and Coast Guard prevent further spread of leaking furnace oil
Following the leaking furnace oil from an underground tank at Sapugaskanda oil refinery which mixed with flood waters last night (04) in Heiyanthuduwa, the Coast Guard together with Sri Lanka Navy have prevented the contaminated flood water from spreading towards the Kelani River, the Navy said in a statement. Yesterday’s heavy rains resulted in the overflow of separator tanks containing furnace oil at the refinery managed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Due to the fact that the Heiyanthuduwa area was flooded with rainwater, there was a possible risk that the furnace oil mixed with flood water could drift into the Kelani River via the Pattivila canal. Accordingly, steps were taken to place a floating boom to prevent the further spread of furnace oil and to skim them by means of an oil skimmer in order to prevent the consequences of above water distribution of Ambatale and Biyagama water treatment plants as well as to avert its environmental impact to the area.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 04:41 UTC
Flood situation in low-lying areas of three rivers to intensify
Flood situation in low lying areas of Kalu River is expected to continue further due to prevailing downpours and increasing water levels, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) warned today. Thereby, the DMC has urged people living in following areas of Kalu river basins to remain alert on significant levels of flooding: Horana, Agalawatta, Ingiriya, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, Dodangoda, Millaniya, Madurawala and Kalutara Divisional Secretariat divisionsThe upper and middle catchment areas of Attanagalu Oya Basin have experienced downpours of about 100 mm while upstream, middle reach and downstream catchment areas of Kelani River Basin received heavy rains over 200mm, Director of Irrigation (Hydrology) Eng. Sugeeshwara stated. The residents of following low-lying areas of Attanagalu Oya and Kelani River have been requested to be vigilant of an increase in minor flood situation:Attanagalu Oya – Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-Ela and Katana Divisional Secretariat divisionsKelani River – Dehiowita, Ruwanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Homagama, Kaduwela, Biyagama, Kolonnawa and Wattala Divisional Secretariat divisions
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 04:41 UTC
New £30million Normandy memorial that will honour 22,442 British servicemen
These images show the spectacular new memorial that will honour 22,442 fallen British servicemen and women who died in the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. Photographs show the finished Normandy Memorial, overlooking Gold Beach, where British troops stormed ashore on June 6, 1944. Britain was the only allied country involved in the landings which did not have its own national memorial on French soil. Ex-Royal Engineer George Batts, the veteran patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust, said: 'Only those who were there on D-Day can truly know what it was like. Yet it has taken all this time for Britain’s Normandy heroes to be honoured with a proper, national memorial in the place where they fell.
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 02:05 UTC
Tech deal with China for a £50million lab in Manchester will be axed within weeks
Former chancellor George Osborne announced with great fanfare in 2015 that the UK's National Nuclear Laboratory would work with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in the development of technology. The Joint Innovation and Research Centre was unveiled in Manchester with an initial pledge of £25million in Government cash. But the Mail has learnt that the £50million research hub is due to be scrapped in the coming weeks after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng became concerned about risks to national security. Former chancellor George Osborne announced with great fanfare in 2015 that the UK's National Nuclear Laboratory would work with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in the development of technologyIt comes after MI5 voiced increasing concerns about such partnerships with China. 'It's baffling as to how this got through at the time but in the current climate it's a national security issue.'
Source:The Nation
June 05, 2021 01:10 UTC
Inside the mind of psychopath church warden Ben Field
For his part, Peter's own diaries described Field as 'a delightful young man'. Along with drugging Peter, Field was gaslighting him, removing items from their usual places only for them to reappear unexpectedly elsewhere, leaving Peter feeling as if he was going crazy. That August came what Peter described to a friend as 'the worst day of my life'. When he arrived with Field, Peter looked flushed and was visibly shaking. It's likely that, at the very end, Field suffocated Peter with a cushion to ensure that he was dead.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 23:03 UTC