Xiaomi just passed Apple in Europe thanks to impressive growth
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android AuthorityCanalys reports that Xiaomi has moved past Apple to take second place in Europe.Apple is still ahead of Xiaomi in Western Europe, the research company notes.Oppo recorded the most impressive growth out of the top five players though. According to Q1 2021 insights by Canalys (h/t: Redmi GM Lu Weibing on Weibo), Xiaomi has moved past Apple in Europe to take second place in the region behind Samsung. The tracking firm added that Xiaomi saw 85% year-on-year growth in Europe compared to Apple’s 22%. Canalys also clarified that Xiaomi was still behind Apple when you narrow the scope down to Western Europe, accounting for 17% market-share versus Apple’s 25%. The company is now ranked fifth with 3% market-share in Europe and Western Europe, just behind fourth-placed Oppo.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 09:07 UTC
PM meets US envoy
May 6, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsPrime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa met with US Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz today (06). According to the Prime Minister’s Twitter handle, the duo had a productive meeting through which many issues of mutual interest were discussed. These issues included the urgent need for vaccines, cooperation on Covid-19 challenges, attracting more US investors and continuing important USAID development projects.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 09:07 UTC
(VIDEO) Face mask violators ‘lifted off the ground’ in Jaffna
Colombo (News 1st); A special quarantine operation was launched by Sri Lanka Police in Jaffna on Wednesday (06), where police officers were seen escorting those who continue to violate the face mask concept, to be prosecuted. Visuals obtained by News 1st showed police officers wearing Personal Protective gear instructing individuals who were NOT wearing face masks to board a bus to be taken to police; whilst those who refused to voluntarily board the bus were CARRIED by four police officers.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 09:07 UTC
India Covid: Top advisor warns of third wave even before second has peaked
India must begin preparing for an 'inevitable' third wave of Covid, scientists have warned, even as the country's brutal second wave shows no sign of slowing. The country is suffering the world's worst second wave of Covid, and while there had been faint hopes that infections were slowing this week, they were dashed today as 412,262 new cases were reported with 3,980 new deaths, both one-day records. But even before the second wave has hit its peak, chief scientific advisor K. Vijay Raghavan warned the country will see a repeat of the disaster - the only question is how long it will take to hit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been widely criticized for not acting sooner to suppress the second wave, after religious festivals and political rallies drew tens of thousands of people in recent weeks and became 'super spreader' events. Student doctors like Rohan Aggarwal, 26, recruited to fight the second wave, are being forced to make life and death decisions.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 08:26 UTC
GoSL has adopted balanced policies to promote sustainability: President
The President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that Government of Sri Lanka has adopted balanced policies that promote the sustainability of our biodiversity, forest cover, waterways and oceanic resources alongside the socioeconomic requirements of our citizens. “At the Biodiversity Summit of the United Nations General Assembly last year, I made an appeal to world leaders for the better management of Nitrogen. With agriculture comprising the primary means of livelihood for a significant section of our population, the issue of nitrogen management is particularly important to Sri Lanka. Improved Nitrogen management through comprehensive study, more awareness building and creating better solutions for the dual imperatives of sustaining economic activity and the environment is therefore of critical importance. This will in turn have a positive impact on the decisions arrived at during the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 08:05 UTC
First dose of Sputnik vaccine administered to locals from today
May 6, 2021 by Mihi Perera No CommentsMinister of State for Drug Production, Supply and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated that the first dose of the Sputnik vaccine imported from Russia will be administered to the public from today (06). Accordingly, the Gothatuwa Medical Officer of Health Division is to start administering the vaccine. The vaccine will be given to people between the ages of 30 and 60, he said. The second dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covshield vaccine was given to 18,265 people yesterday, while a total of 157,551 people have been vaccinated since the 28th of April.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 08:05 UTC
Covid testers can no longer get free lunches
Covid testers will be forced to mingle with the public to get their lunch under plans being devised by ministers, MailOnline can reveal. Sodexo circulated this letter to its staff at Covid testing sites. 'Sodexo have requested that DHSC review their decision and to reconsider the current end date for the funding of staff food provisions.' 'I'm sure the risks (of a Covid outbreak) are low because Covid testers are wearing PPE, but this is just an unnecessary risk,' he told MailOnline. Safety precautions are taken on sites to reduce the risk of testers catching Covid, including wearing PPE, face masks and regularly swabbing staff for the virus.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 07:18 UTC
COVID-19: Capacity of hospitals reaching maximum level
COLOMBO (News 1st): The capacity in hospitals is reaching its maximum level at present, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control said on Thursday (May 06). “There could be more COVID-19 patients in the community, in addition to those detected. At present, the capacity at hospitals is also reaching its maximum level. Therefore, we especially urge the people NOT to travel and remain at home after undergoing a PCR test, till you receive the results,” Dr. Fernandopulle stressed. According to the latest COVID-19 statistics released by the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health, as of Thursday (May 06), there are 16,734 active COVID-19 patients currently receiving treatment at hospitals.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 07:18 UTC
Over 500 mn allocated for development of botanical gardens
575.48 million for the development of infrastructure facilities for local and foreign tourists at the Botanical Gardens this year, said Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. Accordingly, these provisions have been allocated for the development of access points to the Botanical Gardens, drinking water facilities for visitors, new restaurants, the use of electric cars for the convenience of visitors to the gardens, as well as programs for the development of plant knowledge among the general public. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says that the Department of National Botanic Gardens will implement it as per his instructions. During the first quarter of this year, 185,864 local tourists visited the Peradeniya, Haggala, Gampaha, Mirijjawila, Avissawella and Ganewatta Botanic Gardens. The Minister also stated that 1,104 foreign tourists have visited the gardens.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:56 UTC
Top 10 Outrageous Deepfake Scandals
Deepfake technology has been put to a broad range of uses, many of them positive. 9 Deepfakes In The Delhi ElectionIn BJP’s Deepfake Video Shared On WhatsApp, Leader Speaks In 2 LanguagesPoliticians are known for their duplicitous actions. But now, thanks to deepfake technology, cybercriminals can steal hundreds of thousands of dollars over the phone. 6 Avatarify, The Deepfake Zoom FilterHow to Join Zoom Meetings Using Real-Time Deep Fakes! 1 Non-consensual PornographyThe dangerous side of the wide web [DEEPNUDE / DEEPFAKE / social Engineering🕵️♂️]👨💻Non-consensual pornography is by far the biggest use of deepfake technology.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:56 UTC
Philippines suspends travelers from four countries including Sri Lanka
The Philippines government announced a ban on travelers from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 variant from India. In a memorandum, he said passengers coming from or who have been to the aforementioned countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, shall be prohibited from entering the country. Meanwhile, effective immediately, passengers coming from or who have been to the four countries within 14 days and are arriving before the travel ban, shall undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR test. They also do not need to be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in the Philippines, the memorandum added. The Philippines government blocked visitors from India last month over the surge of COVID-19 cases that has devastated the South Asian country.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:45 UTC
Karunaratne closes in on top 10
Karunaratne (left) with Praveen Jayawickrama (centre) and Oshada Fernando at the Pallekele second TestSri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has closed in on a top-10 spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Test Player Rankings after a successful second Test against Bangladesh in Kandy which his side won by 209 runs to clinch the two-match series 1-0. The opening batsman struck 118 and 66, moving up four slots to 11th position in the list led by New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson. Karunaratne’s career-best ranking is sixth, attained in August 2019. He is the top-ranked Test batsman from Sri Lanka with Angelo Mathews next in the list in 24th position. Niroshan Dickwella (up four places to 31st), Oshada Fernando (up 10 places to 58th) and Lahiru Thirimanne (up 13 places to 60th) are the other Sri Lanka batsmen to advance while left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama’s player of the match haul of 11 for 178, the best figures by a Sri Lankan on Test debut, sees him enter the rankings in 48th position.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:02 UTC
Players begin reaching home as Hussey to remain in India
Having hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, the IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely on Tuesday (4). After Wednesday’s postponementOn Wednesday, some players began to reach home even as some overseas players continued to stay in the country. CSK batting coach Mike Hussey, who was one of the personnel to test positive inside the IPL bubble, will also stay out a minimum 10-day stay in India. The announcement came after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha tested positive for Covid-19 along with Delhi Capitals’ veteran spinner Amit Mishra. By then the England-India series would be over and the foreign players would be ready for the T20 World Cup.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:00 UTC
A women’s national cricketer tests positive for Covid-19
Prabodhani became the joint-leading wicket taker for Sri Lanka in the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in West IndiesA senior international player in the Sri Lanka national women’s cricket squad, reportedly Udeshika Prabodhani, has tested positive for Covid-19, The Morning Sports learnt yesterday (5). Another member of the national women’s team confirmed that Prabodhani has now sent in for quarantine along with a few other members of the national team. Prabodhani represents Sri Lanka Navy in the women’s domestic circuit. Prabodhani became the joint-leading wicket taker for Sri Lanka, along with Shashikala Siriwardene, in the 2018 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup held in the West Indies. She also played in the ICC T20 World Cup held last year in Australia.
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 06:00 UTC
TV ad for violence against women sparks debate
By Alana Mazzoni For Daily Mail AustraliaPublished: 00:43 EDT, 6 May 2021 | Updated: 00:43 EDT, 6 May 2021A seemingly harmless conversation between two men on a television ad drawing awareness to violence against women has sparked fiery debate. The ad, created by anti-women's violence organisation Our Watch, opened with two men getting ready to box in a park while a group of women worked out nearby. The clip then automatically rewinds, and show the disappointed friend drop his boxing gloves and walk away. Our Watch said the aim of the ad was to engage men in a conversation about the prevention of violence against women. 'What does this have to do with violence against women or the prevention of violence against women?'
Source:The Nation
May 06, 2021 05:03 UTC