Bracing for monsoon amidst pandemic
As heavy rainfalls are expected to develop over high-risk river basins, Department of Irrigation Director of Irrigation Hydrology Eng. Sugeeshwara stated: “River basins of Mi Oya, Deduru Oya, Maha Oya, Attanagalu Oya, Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga, Bentota Ganga, Maha Oya, Gin Ganga, Nilwala Ganga, and Kirama Oya would be prone to flooding. “The critical reservoirs that are expected to have spill gates open include the Deduru Oya, Udawalawe Reservoir and Inginimitiya Reservoirs. Routine health screening would be carried out at all these evacuation centres and in the event Covid-19 patients or suspected patients were identified within evacuation centres, specific quarantine centres will be allocated for them. Since this could be a strain in the event of evacuation or at evacuation centres, it was highlighted to seek medical advice immediately and co-operate with authorities at evacuation facilities.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 19:52 UTC
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 review: Mean green machine
About this Acer Chromebook Spin 514 review: I used the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (Ryzen 5, 8GB/128GB) for seven days running Chrome OS 89. The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 review unit was provided to Android Authority by Acer for this article. What you need to know about the Acer Chromebook Spin 514Eric Zeman / Android AuthorityAcer Chromebook Spin 514 (Ryzen 3, 4GB/64GB): $479/£479/€479 Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (Ryzen 3, 8GB/64GB): $529 Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (Ryzen 5, 8GB/128GB): $599/£599/€599 $479/£479/€479$529$599/£599/€599 The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 comes in three different variants. It’s significantly bigger than the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and Acer Chromebook Spin 311. Acer Chromebook 514 Spin review: The verdictEric Zeman / Android AuthorityThe Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a well-built machine that is more durable than many Chromebooks thanks to the MIL-STD rating.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 19:52 UTC
The Bangladeshi example
That “achievement” comes at the expense of its South Asian compatriot, Sri Lanka, which had sought assistance to overcome its worsening financial headaches. Therefore, Sri Lanka is the more senior of the two nations, and was way ahead on economic terms when Bangladesh was born. Could Sri Lanka be that desperate, is the unspoken question lingering in many an economist’s mind. Today, the only companies that see investment potential in Sri Lanka seem to be the ones from China. China does not import anything significant from Sri Lanka; 90% of Sri Lanka’s exports head to the West, not the East.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 19:04 UTC
AstraZeneca 2nd doses: SPC in talks with Covishield suppliers
checking proposals for Covishield authenticity: Dr. SudarshiniBy Maheesha MudugamuwaThe Government is currently negotiating with prospective suppliers of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield Covid-19 vaccine to secure the required stocks for administration of the second dose, The Sunday Morning learnt. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, SPC General Manager Dinusha Dassanayake said that a final decision has not yet been taken with regard to the supply of the required Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine doses, but that the SPC is negotiating with the agencies and suppliers. The Government is attempting to secure the required 600,000 Covishield vaccines for the administration of the second dose. Sri Lanka started its Covid-19 vaccination programme in late January, after receiving 500,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from India as a gift. Meanwhile, during the course of last week, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to purchase one million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 18:56 UTC
Port City tilts balance toward China, as India watches on
The Port City has also pushed India to rethink its position in Sri Lanka – is India still Sri Lanka’s big brother, or has the island now found itself a new big brother in China? The once-main Opposition, United National Party (UNP), was one of the petitioners to challenge the Port City Economic Commission Bill before the SC. As for citizens’ right to visit Port City, the original Bill had required a person to obtain prior approval of the Commission in order to visit the Port City. This attempt to restrain citizens from entering the Port City has been struck down by the SC. The US State Department had on Monday issued an updated travel advisory on Sri Lanka, telling Americans not to travel to Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 18:56 UTC
Border Force officers in patrol boat are spotted scouring Suffolk coastline
A Border Force patrol boat has been seen scouring the coastline near an upmarket Suffolk village today. At least three border force officers wearing protective gear were spotted in the vessel by a passerby off the coast of Walberswick. Parts of the Suffolk coastline are used as landing spots for refugees smuggled across the North Sea in yachts and boats. A Border Force patrol boat has been seen scouring the coastline near an upmarket Suffolk village todaySo far at least 1,028 migrants landed in Britain in May alone. The Government says the work towards a digital system for immigration status will 'reduce costs and improve border security by reducing the possibility of forgery or theft' of identity documents.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 17:48 UTC
Biden orders National Labs to examine unexamined evidence in pandemic probe
The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN. Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. UK intelligence agencies are assisting in Biden's new 90-day intelligence review, a senior Whitehall security source told The Telegraph. British intelligence agencies have generally been skeptical of the lab leak theory, while Australia's spies have been more open to it.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 17:03 UTC
Sri Lanka s COVID-19 case count surpasses 180,000
May 29, 2021 08:44 pmThe Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 788 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 2,827. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 180,593. As many as 148,391 recoveries and 1,363 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 30,839 active cases are currently under medical care.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 15:11 UTC
Realme GT 5G is "coming soon" to India
Alongside these, the company has listed the Realme GT 5G as "Coming Soon", without telling us anything about its pricing and availability. Realme GT 5G image posted on Twitter by Realme India CMO Francis WangIn addition to confirming the GT 5G's India launch, the event page also tells us that Realme is holding a 5G session in India on June 10, but it's currently unclear if Realme will introduce the GT 5G in India that day or if it has some other plans. Realme GT 5GThat said, before introducing the GT 5G in India, Realme will announce the X7 Max 5G in the country - on May 31. The Realme X7 Max 5G is likely a rebranded GT Neo, which isn't all that different from GT 5G, so it will be interesting to see how both phones are positioned by Realme. You can head this way to check out the detailed specs of GT 5G and GT Neo.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 14:26 UTC
Continue restrictions to curb COVID spread, keep political agendas aside: AMS
The Association of Medical Specialists today stated that the country should continue strict restrictions in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. “After foreseen an impending disaster, number of health sector professional bodies and many health sector experts in unison appealed to the government to impose strict travel and other restrictions to our country to control rapid spread of COVID 19. They stated that rapid spread of the COVID 19 will increase the death toll in our country due to two main reasons. “We believe that current strict measures need to be continued till the disease spread comes down to a reasonable and controllable level. “We would like to appeal to all other responsible entities to act similarly and educate and motivate our general public to follow these restrictions at this critical moment.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 14:00 UTC
COVID figures move up with 2,039 new positive cases
May 29, 2021 06:41 pmAs many as 2,039 persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus today (May 29), the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said. 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 179,750. As per official data, 29,996 virus infected persons are currently being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres across the island. Meanwhile, the number of total recoveries has reached 148,391 and the death toll stands at 1,363.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 13:41 UTC
Kate Middleton is given her first dose of Covid jab
Kate Middleton has received her first dose of Covid vaccine at London's Science Museum and thanked 'everyone who is playing a part in the rollout'. Kate said today: 'Yesterday I received my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at London's Science Museum. Kensington Palace has not said which vaccine was given to the royal couple, but they will have been entitled to the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, because they are under 40. The thoughtful note featured a sketch of St Andrews - the university town where the couple met while both studying - which Kate drew in 2002. Having started university on the same course as Kate, William later switched to geography.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 12:56 UTC
Coronavirus- 2,029 more patients discharged upon recovery
The Ministry of Health reported that 2,029 more patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have recovered and were discharged from medical care within the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 148,391. Majority of the latest recoveries were reported from Bingiriya Treatment Centre (158), Murukandy Intermediate Care Centre (101) and Punanai Treatment Centre (91). Sri Lanka has so far reported 177,711 positive cases of COVID-19 and a total of 27,957 infected patients are still being treated at designated hospitals and treatment centres. The death toll from the outbreak of the virus meanwhile stands at 1,363.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 12:11 UTC
EU provides emergency assistance to flood victims in Sri Lanka
Following the devastating floods which struck Sri Lanka in mid-May, the European Commission is providing €80,000 (close to Rs. 19.5 million) in humanitarian funding for emergency assistance. The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The floods comes as Sri Lanka is struggling to cope with a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 12:11 UTC
India records its lowest daily rise in Covid cases in 45 days with another 173,790 infections
India has recorded its lowest daily rise in coronavirus cases in 45 days. The tally of new Covid-19 infections in the country in the last 24 hours stood at 173,790 on Saturday, its lowest daily rise in little over a month, while deaths rose by 3,617. The city recorded peaks of 25,000 cases in April, but is now reporting less than 1,500 cases per day. Mucormycosis, dubbed 'black fungus' by medics, is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections. The western state ordered government hospitals to set up separate treatment wards for patients infected with 'black fungus' amid the rise in cases.
Source:The Nation
May 29, 2021 12:00 UTC