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
Gordon Brown: Scottish independence could cause '50 years of conflict'
By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor For MailonlinePublished: 07:58 EDT, 13 June 2021 | Updated: 08:42 EDT, 13 June 2021Gordon Brown today said he fears there could be '50 years of conflict' between Scotland and England if Nicola Sturgeon wins her push for independence. The former prime minister said he believes there is 'no future in neighbouring nations fighting each other'. Mr Brown was asked this morning what he believes Labour should be doing to restore its status in Scotland. 'So we have got to be the party of solidarity, of talking about empathy, reciprocity, cooperation and sharing. Ms Sturgeon told Boris Johnson after the SNP's election victory last month that she believes a re-run of the 2014 independence vote is 'a matter of when - not if'.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
Fuel price hike is a measure to stabilize national economy - PMD
The latest fuel price hike is a step taken to stabilize the national economy, bank interest rates, and foreign reserves as well as to secure and improve the health and welfare of the public, President’s Media Division said. Issuing a statement, the PMD stated that the Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with the participation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Ministers in charge of the subject, focused on a number of key reasons for the increase in fuel prices. These price increases are just one key factor in a common plan to strengthen the local economy, the PMD said. It is a decision to strengthen the country’s banking system, maintain low interest rates, reduce foreign exchange spending, strengthen the exchange rate, secure the health and well-being of the people, and transform the import-dependent consumer economy into an investment and consumption economy based on domestic production, PMD further said.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 12:45 UTC
TOP SPIN ON THE TEST: England lose home Test series for just the third time since 2008
This is just the third time England have lost a Test series at home since going down to South Africa in 2008. Since then, they have lost to South Africa in 2012, Sri Lanka in 2014, and now New Zealand. In that time, they have won 18 series and drawn four. This was only New Zealand's third series victory in England, following a 1-0 win in 1986 and a 2-1 win in 1999. This is just the third time England have lost a Test series at home since going down to South Africa in 2008
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 12:07 UTC
President & PM approved fuel price hike.: Gammanpila
Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Energy stated that he only announced a decision taken by the entire government with the approval of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, with regard to the fuel price hike. Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila had called a special media briefing today (13) regarding the allegations leveled against him due to the decision to increase fuel prices. “Sagara Kariyawasam is attacking not only himself but President of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for using his letterhead,” Gammanpila added. “Accordingly, the intelligent people of this country will decide whether myself or Sagara Kariyawasam should resign,” said Minister Udaya Gammanpila. He said he would challenge Sagara Kariyawasam to name the senior ministers who participated in the party’s central committee to take this decision.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 11:05 UTC
G7 leaders will call out 'human rights abuses' - but will their final communique even ID China?
Leaders attending the summit have made contending with China's economic ambitions and countering its human rights practices a prime focus, even as they seek to unify the richest democracies against climate change and stamping out the coronavirus. 'I would say there was unanimity in terms of a willingness to call out human rights abuses and violations of fundamental freedoms that invoke our shared values,' said a senior administration official. President Joe Biden and his team have been pushing for a strong statement on human rights in China at the G7 summit. And that, because of that partnership, you know, it's our obligation to call out human rights abuses and other -- other violations of fundamental freedoms that calls us into -- that really invoke our shared values. The leaders are also 'willing to speak out on human rights abuses, including in Xinjiang' – a reference to the treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 10:30 UTC
Teenage shoplifters clash with Woolworths staff on Gold Coast
By Tita Smith For Daily Mail AustraliaPublished: 01:58 EDT, 13 June 2021 | Updated: 05:16 EDT, 13 June 2021Two brazen teenage shoplifters shoved and hurled abuse at Woolworths staff when they were caught stuffing items into their hoodies. Footage posted online on Sunday shows the two girls unleashing on staff members at a Woolworths Metro in Broadwater, on the Gold Coast, on March 31. A teenage shoplifter has been filmed (pictured) assaulting a Woolworths worker who asked her to leave the store after the youth was caught stealing'What c***? Ms Taylor said the girls were boldly packing store items into their clothes before trying to walk out of the store. 'I only filmed the end of it, there was a lot more that happened,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 10:05 UTC
Sajith asks govt. to reverse fuel price hike
June 13, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsOpposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to ‘stop burdening the public’ and to immediately reverse the fuel price hike. In a statement the Opposition Leader said the disgraceful act of increasing fuel prices at this time has led to much controversy in the country and the government has become a joke in the face of the people as it is unaware as to who decided to increase the prices of fuel. Sajith Premadasa further went on to note that internal struggles of the government are burdening the people.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 09:56 UTC
Dominic Raab dashes June 21 'Freedom Day' hopes
Dominic Raab poured more cold water on June 21 'freedom day' hopes today as he warned that the government will not risk 'yo-yoing' in and out of lockdown. He added: 'On Corfu, the island with the biggest population of around 120,000, there have been ten to 15 cases a day.' Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has been told by ministers that lockdown rules will remain until next spring unless he can see off pressure to delay Freedom Day. He told The Mirror: 'In a month you'll be up to 100,000 new cases a day. Airlines slash schedules until end of July amid Freedom Day delay Airlines have started shrinking their schedules until late July as the government plans to push Freedom Day back by a month.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 09:33 UTC
Gammanpila to address criticisms over fuel price hike
Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila says he will respond to the criticisms and the call to resign over the recent fuel price hike, at a press conference held today (June 13). Prior to the price hike, Energy Minister Gammanpila informed the media that the Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living had decided to revise fuel prices. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam, yesterday (June 12) issued a statement that the subject minister must take complete responsibility for pushing the people into more difficulties with a fuel price hike amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement called the subject minister to step down from his position. Accordingly, Energy Minister has tweeted that he will respond to the criticisms of the SLPP General Secretary at a press conference held in Colombo at 02.00 pm today.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 08:15 UTC
137,067 individuals vaccinated yesterday
A total of 137,067 individuals were vaccinated against Covid-19 yesterday (12), State Minister of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated. According to the State Minister, this is the highest number of vaccinations carried out in a single day so far. He also stated that a total of 59,881 persons have been administered the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine while 76,615 have been administered the second dose and 390 persons have received the Sputnik V vaccine. Meanwhile, 181 persons received the second dose of the AstraZeneca (Covishield) vaccine yesterday.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 08:02 UTC
Top 10 Kits You Can Buy To Survive Any Situation
Here are the top 10 kits you can buy to survive any situation. Kits like the Jinager wilderness survival kit has everything you need to survive the wilderness—if you know how to use everything in it, of course. 9 Stranded In-The-Middle Of The Ocean Survival KitHow to Survive Being Lost in the Ocean, According to ScienceFirestarter to make the freezing nights warmer. 7 Roadside Emergency Survival Kit25 Must Have Items for Your Car Emergency Kit pt1Red ponchos to keep the stinging wind away. A good doomsday emergency survival kit should have at least the following gear to make the apocalypse a little more bearable.
Source:The Nation
June 13, 2021 08:02 UTC