New Online Safety Bill risks stifling the press and restricting free speech, campaigners warn
The draft bill hands more power to Ofcom, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and social media platforms to regulate what news users see on social media. The government said the new internet laws are aimed at protecting young people, clamping down on racist abuse and safeguarding online freedom of expression. The draft bill faced a backlash from free speech campaigners, civil liberties groups and media organisations tonight. 'Ofcom, an unelected quango that has often failed to defend free speech, is not the ideal body to regulate social media.' 'This is a litmus test for the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister over how committed they are to the principles of free speech.'
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 23:03 UTC
Health staff shortage if situation worsens: Sudarshini
By Dinitha RathnayakeThe country will soon have to confront the problem of a shortage of health workers, State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said. Speaking at a government press conference yesterday (12), she said that if the pandemic situation gets worse than the current situation, the shortage of trained health staff would be a major issue to be dealt with. “It takes a long time to become a trained member of the health sector staff. So, how is it possible to have trained staff available with immediate effect? Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera also confirmed the rise of Covid-19 cases.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 22:52 UTC
How to Fix Outlook's Blank Email Bug
Microsoft is rolling out an Outlook update to fix a strange bug for Microsoft 365 users that’s causing email text to disappear as it’s typed and incoming messages to show up blank. While Microsoft says the bug is confined to the Outlook desktop client, some users have also reported issues with blank messages and disappearing text on the web and mobile versions. Luckily, Microsoft’s says it identified the issue and it released a patch early Wednesday morning to fix it. According to the latest Microsoft 365 service bulletin, ”the fix has been applied to all affected environments,” and the patch is available now for everyone. You’ll see amessage when it’s done.Close all other Microsoft 365 apps, then restart Outlook.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 21:00 UTC
No action yet on rape ‘victim blaming’ textbook
No action has yet been taken concerning the content in the Ministry of Education’s Health and Physical Education textbook for Grade 11 students. The textbook makes the claim that young girls who become victims of rape are also responsible for being raped because of their irresponsible behaviour. When queried as to whether they have taken any remedial action regarding this issue, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Pererasaid: “No. The relevant textbook content, which went viral on social media, claims that young girls that are victims of rape are also responsible for being raped because of their irresponsible behaviour. According to the textbook, the biggest issue that a rape victim should worry about is having an “unwanted pregnancy”, because that will make the victim a social pariah.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 20:15 UTC
White House adviser says any American undecided about getting vaccinated should 'look at India'
By Mary Kekatos Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.comPublished: 14:57 EDT, 12 May 2021 | Updated: 14:57 EDT, 12 May 2021Any American who is undecided about receiving the coronavirus vaccine should 'look at India,' a Biden administration official said on Wednesday. While India recorded its highest single-day death toll on Wednesday, the U.S. recorded a seven-day rolling average of 619 per day, the lowest figure seen since July 6. 'Look at the data, look at India, and see the results of what happens when you can't get vaccinated,' he said on MSNBC. On Wednesday, India recorded more than 360,000 new cases and more than 4,200 deaths, the country's highest single-day death toll. Slavitt also touted many of the outreach efforts the Biden administration has made in getting people vaccinated.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 18:56 UTC
Drone footage shows abandoned border wall construction sites
Huge piles of steel fencing and other construction materials, including pipes, lie stacked on the ground. A long stretch of rural land was carved out in the Patagonia Mountains of Arizona, just outside Nogales, in preparation for the border wall before construction was haltedDrone footage captured by DailyMail.com shows the abandoned construction sites along the US-Mexico border nearly four months after President Biden ordered all construction on the wall to stop. The town was supposed to include a two mile section of the border wall. It comes as the Pentagon said late last month that it was canceling all border wall construction projects paid for with military funds. The other will see holes in the Rio Grande Valley levee system left by the wall construction project filled in.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 17:15 UTC
Liz Cheney is OUT: Republicans remove Wyoming representative from leadership
House Republicans planted themselves firmly in the camp of Donald Trump on Wednesday when they removed Rep. Liz Cheney from their leadership team after her criticism of the former president. Before the GOP vote, Trump released a statement trashing Cheney, calling her a 'poor leader' and 'a person with absolutely no personality or heart.' Now, she is scheduled to meet Wednesday night with members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which will be seeking assurances. Last week, Trump endorsed Stefanik, writing: 'Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership. But he now concedes her time has come and she will exit leadership when House Republicans gather Wednesday morning in the basement of the Capitol.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 16:52 UTC
Watch the Asus Zenfone 8 lineup announcement live
The time for Asus’ announcement of the Zenfone 8 series has finally come. The event will see the global debut of the Asus Zenfone 8 and Asus Zenfone 8 Flip. The first phone is expected to be a compact handset with two cameras, becoming a rare fully featured but compact Android phone. The Flip, on the other hand, should retain the full-screen experience and flip camera mechanism from the Zenfone 6 and Zenfone 7 series. Also, the Zenfone 8 will finally have an IP68 rating - something Asus haven’t done on any previous devices in its 10 years in the smartphone world.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 13:52 UTC
Realme Narzo 30 officially confirmed to pack a 90Hz screen
After launching the Narzo 30A and Narzo 30 Pro 5G in February, Realme will add the vanilla 30 to the lineup on May 18. And today we got another detail about it with the latest teaser. While Realme didn't reveal the screen's diagonal and resolution officially, it took to Facebook to announce that Narzo 30 will indeed sport a 90Hz display. Realme previously confirmed the Narzo 30 will come with a Helio G95 SoC, 5,000 mAh battery, 30W charging, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. Realme Narzo 30 will have two color optionsAdditionally an early hands-on video mentioned 6.5" screen of 1080p resolution.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 13:18 UTC
Boris Johnson announces Covid public inquiry will start next Spring
Boris Johnson today declared a full public inquiry into the Government's response to the coronavirus pandemic will launch in Spring next year with powers to put ministers 'under the microscope'. Mr Johnson said he hoped the study could be completed in a 'reasonable timescale' but expectations are it will take years. Mr Johnson said in Parliament yesterday: 'I have made that clear before… I do believe it's essential we have a full, proper public inquiry into the Covid pandemic.' Reports suggested that Mr Cummings could use his appearance to discuss whether 'herd immunity' was ever an official Government strategy. In a brutal assault on Mr Hancock and his department, Mr Cummings said the PPE and therapeutics efforts were a 'smoking ruin'.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:56 UTC
Passenger arrested with 18 gold biscuits at BIA
May 12, 2021 06:12 pmA Sri Lankan national has been arrested by Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake this morning while attempting to smuggle 18 gold biscuits into the country. The PNB officers recovered 18 gold biscuits from the possession of the passenger who had arrived at BIA onboard an Oman Airways flight at around 10.00 a.m. today (12), the police spokesman said. The suspects, identified as a 37-year-old resident of Negombo, has been handed over to Sri Lanka Customs by the PNB while further investigations are underway.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:33 UTC
Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka appointed Chairman of SLSI
May 12, 2021 06:07 pmDr. Nihal Jayathilaka has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). He succeeds the former Chairman of SLSI Nushad Perera, who recently stepped down from the post to rejoin the private sector. Dr. Jayathilaka has previously served as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRP). He had also acted as the Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development back in 2014.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:33 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,016 more recoveries reported in Sri Lanka
May 12, 2021 05:49 pmAs many as 1,016 more patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have been discharged from medical care within the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported today (May 12). This brings the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 107,657. Sri Lanka has reported 131,098 positive cases of COVID-19 following the outbreak of the virus infection. However, up to 22,591 virus-infected patients are currently receiving treatment at designated hospitals and treatment centres. Sri Lanka’s pandemic death toll meanwhile stands at 850.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:11 UTC
Health Ministry clarifies permitted events & operational restrictions
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has clarified the restriction of Inter-Provincial travel and the revised restrictions on permitted operations and events. Only 15 people can attend a funeral and final rites MUST be performed within 24 hours said the Police Spokesperson. While weddings are prohibited until the 31st of May, Marriage registration is allowed with only 15 people in attendance including the marriage registrar, he said.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:00 UTC
Israel vows more attacks to bring 'total, long-term quiet'
Israel today vowed to bring 'total, long-term quiet' to the Gaza Strip amid growing international alarm at the increasing civilian death toll from retaliatory air strikes targeting Hamas militants. Gantz issued the fresh warning from the southern town of Ashkelon where two Israeli women were killed by Hamas rockets on Tuesday. One of the three women was in her 60s and another in her 80s, and died during Hamas rocket attacks earlier on Tuesday. She added that the Biden administration 'will also continue to support a two state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict.' It comes after militants launched more than 200 rockets at Israel, injuring six civiliansAnother - Hassan Abu al-Atta - was also killed.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:00 UTC