Facebook and The Asia Foundation launch website to promote tolerance in Sri Lanka
Colombo, June 4, 2021 – Facebook and The Asia Foundation have partnered to launch The Resiliency Initiative website which provides civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Asia Pacific with the resources they need to create a positive narrative and combat hate and intolerance online. It includes case studies from CSOs across the region, including two from Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s “New Wave” Murals and Resilience Through Dialogue: Building Shared Values in Sri Lanka. Launched last year, The Resiliency Initiative aims to promote tolerance, strengthen interfaith and inter-ethnic understanding and counter violent extremism in the Asia Pacific. The organizations that participated from Sri Lanka are Sri Lanka Unites, Women & Media Collective, Women in Need, Hashtag Generation, Grassrooted Trust, and Hithawathi. For more information, see the Facebook newsroom post by Dr. Nawab Osman and Dr. Adam Burke.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 07:18 UTC
Six others who attended Chandimal’s birthday party arrested
Six others who attended the birthday party organized by event organizer Chandimal Jayasinghe and model Piumi Hansamali have been arrested today, stated Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana. It was revealed that three women and three men were among those arrested. According to information received, another suspect is to be arrested, said DIG Ajith Rohana. Ajith Rohana further stated that the quarantine procedures relating to the arrested suspects are being carried out under the leadership of the health officers in charge of the area. The birthday party was held at midnight on the 30 May at a five star hotel in Colombo in violation of quarantine rules.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 07:03 UTC
Top 10 Beautiful Songs Underlined By Tragedy And Pain
The song by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth is one in a long line of songs and covers underlined by tragedy and pain. Pouring her feelings into her songwriting, she wrote the song “The Icicle Melts” as a reaction to James’ murder. The battle between Kesha and Luke continued for several years, with Kesha claiming that Luke forced her to release “Die Young” after receiving major backlash for the song’s lyrics. Lawsuits and fighting continued, with disturbing emails released in 2017 in which Luke appears to force Kesha into dieting. “Heaven 9/11 Remix” became one of the most requested songs in the radio station’s history and was soon played on radio stations worldwide.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 06:56 UTC
Realme Watch S gets a new color variant
The Realme Watch S was unveiled last November in Black color, and today it is joined by a new Silver variant. At INR4,999 ($70/€55), it's priced the same as the Black model, and it will go on sale in India starting June 7 through Flipkart and Realme's official website. Realme Watch S Silver variantThe Realme Watch S also comes with the camera and music controls, while health and fitness features include sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level measurement, and 16 sports modes. The smartwatch also comes with Smart Notifications, which alert you of app notifications on the connected smartphone. You can read our Realme Watch S review to learn more about it.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 06:56 UTC
Ten Of The Weirdest Elon Musk Moments
Whatever you think about him, there is one thing that no one can deny: Elon Musk is a strange man. So, as Elon Musk vies to become the richest man alive, here are ten of his most absurd moments to date. Shortly after the heroic rescue mission, Elon Musk branded Unsworth “pedo guy” in a sudden outburst on Twitter. But perhaps the weirdest baby name of all belongs to the child of Elon Musk and Grimes: X Æ A-Xii. 3 That Time He Claimed To Have Created A Bionic PigNeuralink: Elon Musk’s entire brain chip presentation in 14 minutes (supercut)We have already heard about Elon Musk’s bionic gamer monkey.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 06:56 UTC
You can now buy SEEDLESS avocadoes
The seedless variants also have edible skins and grow when avocado blossoms are left unpollinated. 'Although I would be down for a smaller avocado so I could use a whole one each time,' she continued. That big brown thing takes forever to get out, where do I buy,' one woman asked. They used to be exclusively available out of orchards in Spain throughout December making them a novelty on the Australian marketThe stoneless avocadoes look slightly different to a regular avocado because of their seedless centre. But the tree they come from, the fuerte avocado tree, is widely available from nurseries.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 06:45 UTC
SL requests US to provide AstraZeneca vaccine to complete second dose administration
Sri Lanka has requested the United States to provide excess Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines in order to administer the second dose to those who have received the first dose, State Minister of the Production and Distribution of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said yesterday (03). However, Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that no information has been received as to which brand of the vaccine and how many doses have been allocated for Sri Lanka. Therefore, a formal request has been sent to the US authorities to provide the sufficient vaccine doses to complete the second dose administration. US President Joe Biden has stated that the country will provide anti-Covid vaccines to a number of countries, including Sri Lanka. He said in a statement that the United States will be supplying 80 million doses of the vaccine to other parts of the world.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 06:11 UTC
Irrigation Department warns of rising water levels
The Kelani River is reaching spill level following a torrential downpour, the Department of Irrigation said today. The Department of Irrigation added that a considerable rainfall exceeding around 150 mm was reported in most of the Middle catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as of 9.00 AM on Friday (04). By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations in Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a considerable flood situation (Minor Flood) in low line areas of Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Attanagalla, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, and Ja-Ela D/S Divisions. Sri Lanka’s Met Department said the prevailing showery condition in the Southwestern parts of the country (particularly in Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts) and North-western province is expected to continue further.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 04:41 UTC
Shameful behaviour of some that bespoils the country’s image
As a result, there is an ongoing international debate and a proposal for introducing an international law to grant ‘place of refuge”. This debate received international attention in early 2000 when several incidents took place due to the “refusal or denial of place of refuge”. Finally, the Salvors removed the cargo oil at sea by ships to ship transfer and saved the vessel. CONTAINER CARGO FIRESBesides oil tanker fires, in recent times there have been fires on board container ships. The international insurance industry says one container ship fire occurs every two weeks somewhere in the world.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 01:09 UTC
Govt. hospitals should introduce drive-through testing – medical don
By Ifham NizamEnvironmental damage caused by the sinking of the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl would affect Sri Lanka for over 100 years, a top state official told The Island yesterday. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the damage to sea grasses and rare aquatic species couldn’t be estimated. A senior marine scientist also said the sinking of the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl would have a disastrous impact on Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. The Additional Magistrate ordered officials to determine if the death of the turtle was caused by the chemicals released from the X-PRESS PEARL vessel. The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) said it was in the process of filing a public interest litigation against the company that owns X-Press Pearl.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 00:45 UTC
‘Place of refuge’ – the international debate
As a result, there is an ongoing international debate and a proposal for introducing an international law to grant ‘place of refuge”. This debate received international attention in early 2000 when several incidents took place due to the “refusal or denial of place of refuge”. CONTAINER CARGO FIRESBesides oil tanker fires, in recent times there have been fires on board container ships. The international insurance industry says one container ship fire occurs every two weeks somewhere in the world. Although there has been no instance of denial of ‘place of refuge’ in Sri Lanka, ships passing through its territorial waters are always in probable, unintended “place of refuge”.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 00:45 UTC
Bipolar democracy and its disadvantages
Freedom of expression, right to information, media freedom, vociferous opinions, half-baked solutIons are now a “free-for -all” in the name of the much “prostituted ‘ democracy, which is much cherished. This disaster, of course, is a very special case, where legal proceedings as well as insurance companies get fully involved, finally. In that particular situation, talking out of turn can damage the entire process, prejudicing the claim for damages / compensation. Perhaps, unknowingly or innocently, in the process of loose talk and open discussion, ammunition can be provided to the respondents. On the face of the calamity itself it appears as if the disaster had occurred in the normal course of events.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 00:45 UTC
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba awarded honorary degree
The former Chelsea star has been credited with helping bring peace to the Ivory Coast. Drogba famously helped enact a ceasefire in 2005 after securing qualification for the World Cup. Drogba's outstanding work has now been recognised by the Réseau des Universités des Sciences et Technologies (RUSTA), and the Chelsea legend was seen beaming as he accepted his honorary degree on a proud day for the former striker. In 2020, Drogba was awarded the UEFA President's Award, with Aleksander Ceferin labelling the former Blues marksman a 'pioneer'. 'Didier is a hero to millions of football fans for his achievements throughout his glittering playing career,' said Ceferin.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 00:00 UTC
Pfizer vaccine 'works less well against Indian variant'
People who have had the Pfizer vaccine have lower antibody levels targeting the Indian coronavirus variant than those against previously circulating strains in the UK, new data has found. But it could also fuel concern that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective in preventing serious illness from the more-transmissible Indian variant, known as Delta. The Indian variant is now believed to be dominant in the UK, with early evidence suggesting it may lead to an increased risk of being admitted to hospital compared with the Kent variant. According to the research, in people who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, levels of neutralising antibodies were more than five times lower against the Indian variant when compared to the original strain, upon which current vaccines are based. PHE said it was concerned that a single dose could be up to 20 per cent less effective than it was against the Kent variant.
Source:The Nation
June 04, 2021 00:00 UTC
Alleged Parliament House rape survivor Brittany Higgins is hospitalised
Earlier that week Labor had named members of the prime minister's staff accused of 'back-grounding' journalists about Mr Sharaz during a feisty Senate estimates hearing. 'I do not make a finding that negative briefing against Mr Sharaz of the sort alleged has taken place,' he wrote. 'My conclusion, based on the evidence presented to me, should in no way be taken as a reflection upon the honesty or sincerity of Ms Higgins.' She questioned why Dr Kunkel would ask the victim of an alleged rape at Parliament House in March 2019 to now demonstrate that the backgrounding occurred. 'This looks like an attempt to push back on Ms Higgins very strongly and it seems extremely unfair to me,' Senator Gallagher said.
Source:The Nation
June 03, 2021 22:52 UTC