Police make 617 more arrests regarding quarantine law violations
May 8, 2021 01:54 pmSri Lanka Police has arrested 617 more individuals on Friday (May 07) for failing to adhere to quarantine regulations. This is reportedly the highest number of quarantine law violations-related arrests made in a single day since October, 2020. Up to 342 of the arrests have been made from the area of Colombo, according to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana. A total of 6,539 arrests pertaining to health protocol violations have been made by the police since 30th of October last year.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 08:15 UTC
Pakistan imposes Eid holiday shutdown as COVID cases soar
Pakistan on Saturday began a nine-day shutdown affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Fitr. Eid, which comes at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, usually sees the mass movement of people around the country and tourist spots crowded with Pakistanis. Last year the country saw a spike in cases in the weeks after the celebrations. Mosques, however, which have been packed each night throughout Ramadan - with few people wearing masks - will remain open. International flights have been slashed and border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan closed, except for trade.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 08:03 UTC
American Express offers Gold cardmembers £10 back with Deliveroo every month
Amex will dish out holders of its Preferred Rewards Gold credit card £10 every month when ordering from Deliveroo. New and existing American Express Preferred Rewards Gold cardmembers can tuck into an exclusive new benefit with Deliveroo. The cashback cuts relate to its free Platinum Cashback Everyday Card and its Platinum Cashback Card which comes with a £25 annual fee. The new Deliveroo perk may sway some of its cashback cardmembers as well as new joiners to seriously consider Amex's Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card. 'Putting aside the ultra-elite charge and credit cards on the market, the Preferred Rewards Gold card offers perhaps the most diverse and engaging perks scheme around,' said Lilly.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 08:02 UTC
Top 10 Biggest Sex Scandals
Sex sells, so it comes as no surprise that sex scandals are a hot topic across the country. Here are the top ten biggest sex scandals in recent history. 9 Kim Kardashian’s Sex TapeKim Kardashian’s Biggest Regret: The Sex Tape | Oprah’s Next Chapter | Oprah Winfrey NetworkIf you thought one sex scandal would be enough for any family, you haven’t heard of the Kardashians. Once exposed, Keith Raniere was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy. 1 Bill Clinton and Monica LewinskyThe price of shame | Monica LewinskyWhat would a list about sex scandals be if we left out the most famous sex scandal in American history?
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:52 UTC
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G India launch imminent as support page goes live on official website
Samsung announced the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52 5G in March. The A52 is already available in India with a starting price of INR26,499 ($360/€300), and Samsung will launch the A52 5G in the country soon as the smartphone's support page has gone live on the Korean conglomerate's official Indian website. The page doesn't include any specs of the Galaxy A52 5G, however, it tells us that the smartphone will carry model designation SM-A526B/DS in India, where DS indicates dual-SIM support. It's unclear when exactly Samsung will introduce the Galaxy A52 5G in India, but you can expect it to cost more than the 4G variant. You can check out the detailed specs of Galaxy A52 4G and Galaxy A52 5G here.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:18 UTC
India COVID-19 variant detected in Sri Lanka
May 8, 2021 12:01 pmThe Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, officially known as B.1.617, has been detected for the first time in Sri Lanka. The virus strain, which has exacerbated the pandemic situation in the neghbouring country, was found in sample obtained from an individual who had returned to the island from India. Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit of Sri Jayewardenepura University confirmed this to Ada Derana. The B.1.617 variant was first identified in Maharashtra, India in October 2020.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:08 UTC
Sri Lankans to receive Sinopharm COVID jabs from today
China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to Sri Lankan nationals starting from today (May 08), says State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana. Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) approved the emergency use of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Sri Lanka on March 20. Chinese nationals residing in Sri Lanka were given priority under the first phase of the Sinopharm vaccination drive in the country. Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine, also known as BBIBP-CorV, is produced by China National Biotec Group (CNBG) – a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (SINOPHARM). The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday (May 07) gave the nod for emergency use of China-made Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine across the world.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:08 UTC
SL condemns terrorist attack on Nasheed: MFA
May 8, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsIn a statement released by the Foreign Ministry yesterday (07), the Ministry communicated that Sri Lanka condemns the terrorist attack on Hon. Mohamed Nasheed, the Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament and the former President of Maldives, which took place on 06 May. “At this most critical time, the people and the Government of Sri Lanka join in expressing solidarity with the people and the Government of Maldives while strongly condemning all forms of violence,” the Ministry said.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:08 UTC
1,914 Covid patients identified yesterday
May 8, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsA total of 1,914 Covid patients had been reported island wide yesterday (7). Gampaha district had the highest number of cases, standing at 591. Meanwhile, Colombo district reported 434 cases. 19 deaths were reported yesterday, the highest daily death toll so far. Total deaths in the country now stand at 764.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:08 UTC
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia meets Foreign Minister
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia Prof. M.D. Lamawansa met Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Thursday (06) at the Foreign Ministry. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia Prof. M.D. Lamawansa pointed out that many countries, including Russia, are interested in cooperating with Sri Lanka, due to Sri Lanka’s non-aligned foreign policy. The Ambassador further stated that agreements have been reached with Russia and related countries to assist in many development and service activities in Sri Lanka in the future.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:07 UTC
Today is the World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day on 8 May, set to Inspire a Global Chorus for Birds and Nature - World Migratory Bird Day OrganizationOn Saturday, 8 May people all over the world will be celebrating World Migratory Bird Day, a global campaign which aims to raise awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. On World Migratory Bird Day, I call on us to re-double our commitment to addressing the triple planetary crisis and securing the future of bird song for all,” says Andersen. “World Migratory Bird Day 2021 is a celebration of birds, and it is also a reminder of the importance of working together, across borders, to protect migratory birds and nature,” she added. "World Migratory Bird Day champions bird conservation across the flyways,” says Susan Bonfield, Executive Director, Environment for the Americas (EFTA) which organizes World Migratory Bird Day in the Americas, bringing people and communities together in celebration of migratory birds from Canada to Argentina and the Caribbean. “Our programs are helping to unify our voices for migratory birds and serve as a call to action to protect them.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 07:07 UTC
BOI enterprises in isolated areas to continue operations: DGHS
COLOMBO (News 1st): A decision has been reached to allow enterprises under the purview of the Board of Investment (BOI), located in areas that are isolated to continue operations considering the economic significance, the Ministry of Health said in a statement released on Friday (May 07). Employees from areas under lockdown shall not be allowed to work until the lockdown status is lifted. Staff engaged in transporting employees of enterprises should not mix with the community in isolated areas. Additionally, the focal points of enterprises should send the “Workplace COVID-19 Daily Alert Google Form” to the Environmental and Occupational Health Unit of the Ministry of Health on a daily basis. The link to this Google Form has already been shared with all the focal points of BOI enterprises by the Environmental and Occupational Health Unit.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 06:11 UTC
Heartbreaking images reveal puppies in quarantine
From chow chows to French bulldogs, these saddening photographs show some of the illegally imported puppies being held at a quarantine facility in a secret location in England after a tortuous journey into the country. Campaigners want the UK Government to raise the age of imported puppies to six months to make them less desirable - along with tougher penalties, with prosecuted smugglers currently often only facing minor penalties. Among the puppies pictured at a Dogs Trust rehoming facility in an unspecified location yesterday were illegally imported cocker spaniels, chow chows, French bulldogs, Maltese Terriers, Dachshunds and Havanese breeds. The puppies that were seized at the border and went into quarantine primarily came from Hungary (16 per cent), Poland (12 per cent) and Romania (10 per cent). Dogs Trust said the puppies are often brought into Britain for sale with either no or falsified paperwork and often without having received the necessary treatments, including rabies vaccination.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 06:00 UTC
Hillary Clinton calls for a 'global reckoning' with big tech
Hillary Clinton railed against the power of social media platforms in an interview in which she said it was time for a 'global reckoning' on disinformation and called for internet platforms to be held to accountClinton said it was time to rein in the power of social media giants. However, it later emerged that Moscow helped fuel a social media campaign against her that included the 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory that claimed she ran a sex trafficking ring. She blamed the big social media companies for a growing amount of misleading material online. This week, he claimed social media companies would pay a price after Facebook upheld his ban. 'These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our electoral process.'
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 05:48 UTC
2021 State Vesak Festival cancelled
May 8, 2021 11:19 amThe 2021 State Vesak Festival, scheduled to be held at Nagadeepa Rajamaha Viharaya in Jaffna, has been cancelled, says the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. The decision was reached after taking into account the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country aggravated by a third wave. However, plans will be made to hold the festival at another location in the future, Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Kapila Gunawardhane noted.
Source:The Nation
May 08, 2021 05:48 UTC