Why YOU spent £4m on illegal guns and zombie knives
By Andy Jehring For The Daily MailPublished: 17:50 EDT, 26 September 2021 | Updated: 17:50 EDT, 26 September 2021The owners of illegal guns, zombie knives and knuckle-dusters have been paid more than £4million in a weapons-for-cash scheme. The largest sum of £2.78million went on buying 1,000 lever release rifles while £262,470 was paid for 133 manually activated release system (MARS) rifles – both rapid-fire weapons. Firearms expert Philip Boyce said: ‘In my 35 years in forensics, I have never seen a lever release rifle used in crime. ‘There were a lot of lever release rifles handed in. I can’t say I’ve seen any of these guns used in crime.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 21:56 UTC
'Disgusting' thugs launch vicious mass brawl at Newmarket races
By Gemma Parry For MailonlinePublished: 15:39 EDT, 26 September 2021 | Updated: 18:55 EDT, 26 September 2021Footage has appeared online of a mass brawl that broke out at Newmarket races this weekend. One man is showed with blood on his shirt, while in the background, another lands a punch on one of the many security guards trying to break up the fight. The video showed the moment the fight broke out at the racecourse in Suffolk on SaturdayA stunned spectator filmed as security guards rushed to the scene to break the fight up. 'First trip back to Newmarket in [two] years, and these idiots ruined a family day out,' they wrote. 'Otherwise, nearly 7,000 spectators enjoyed a fantastic day at Newmarket without incident.'
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 20:37 UTC
New gas company dissolved
By Pamodi WaravitaThe Treasury Department’s newly formed and controversial special purpose vehicle (SPV), gas company Siyolit (Pvt.) Siyolit (Pvt.) Ltd. was set to impact the State-run Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. negatively whilst boosting the prospects of privately-owned Laugfs Gas PLC by making Litro heavily reliant on Laugfs for its operations. High-level officials earlier told The Morning that they feared the SPV would leave Litro Gas “at the mercy” of the latter. “Interested parties have called to question the intentions and integrity of recently formed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-buying firm Siyolit (Pvt.)
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 20:02 UTC
PTA reforms to Cabinet in two weeks
48 of 1979 as amended (PTA), proposed and recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed for that purpose, are expected to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers within two weeks, by early to mid-October. Most probably in two weeks’ time, we should be able to handover our recommendations concerning changes to the PTA to the Cabinet,” he explained. Kamal Gunaratne, and includes representation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Justice Ministry, Defence Ministry, and Public Security Ministry. Progress made on the reforms process concerning the PTA is to be monitored by the five member Mission. In 2017, Sri Lanka regained it on the condition that it would repeal the PTA and implement several international conventions, including ones on human rights.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 20:02 UTC
Sri Lanka’s archer Sajeev out from second round
Compiled by Chathura Ranasinghe and Ishani UpatharithaSajeev de SilvaSri Lanka’s Sajeev de Silva, who competed in the World Archery Championship in Dakota, USA, was eliminated from the second round of the tournament. Anuradha Wijesinghe and Harshani Shashikala competed in the women’s compound category and were eliminated in the first round. In that semi-finals, Victoria beat Gayani with two counter punches in the very first Round. * Bangladesh Under-19 cricket tour of Sri Lanka announcedAvishka Gunawardene (on right)Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will host the Bangladesh U-19 during October 2021 for a limited-over series. In the meantime, Sri Lanka U19 squad is currently undergoing a residential training programme in Colombo focusing on their future assignments.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 19:41 UTC
Cabraal says IMF involvement and debt restructuring not needed
Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who insists that a home-grown solution is the key to address Sri Lanka’s debt issues, says IMF involvement and debt restructuring are not required. International investment banks have been told that Sri Lanka is willing to settle the debt maturing in January ahead of time, the Central Bank governor revealed. “A programme with the IMF enables Sri Lanka to get budget support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank,” Prof. Devarajan said further. The support of the IMF to this programme will be a signal of confidence to the international community, he pointed out adding that it is time for Sri Lanka to start debt restructuring. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe warned of an imminent crisis.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 19:30 UTC
International cricket: India women beat Aussies while Oman cruise
beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) (140 all out in 42.2 ovs) in the 44th ODI match of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup League-2 yesterday (26) at Al Amerat, Oman. Oman will host Sri Lanka in two practice matches before the start of next month’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka are to meet both Scotland and Namibia in the World Cup qualifiers next month. India Women beat the Aus# Jhulan Goswami took 3/37 as India Women (266/8 in 49.3 ovs.) Yet Aus Women won the three-match series 2-1.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 19:30 UTC
Top 10 trending phones of week 38
Apple's iPhone 13 lineup remains the dominant force in our trending chart for the second week running with the 13 Pro Max joined by the vanilla 13 and the 13 Pro on the podium. The Xiaomi 11T Pro also retained its fourth position from last week, with the first change coming in fifth place. The iPhone 13 mini that occupied it last week dropped off the chart entirely, allowing the Samsung Galaxy M52 to gain a position. The Redmi Note 10 Pro also benefited from the sharply declining interest in the diminutive iPhone to get sixth place. The Samsung pair of Galaxy A52s and S21 Ultra follows, while ninth goes to the Xiaomi Civi, which is getting people taking even before its official announcement.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 18:56 UTC
Real tug-of-war ends with All Blacks securing title
Here is All Blacks with the Freedom Cup, played on the sidelines of the Rugby Championship, between New Zealand and South Africa. After second halfThe second half was a scrappy affair where both teams failed to keep the ball for a longer period of time. First points of the second half came through a penalty from Pollard and All Blacks responded immediately with a penalty from Barret to establish a two-point lead. The game deciderAll Blacks kept making handling errors and they were struggling with the set pieces too. The win puts the Wallabies into the second place behind All Blacks in the Rugby Championship this year.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 18:33 UTC
COVID- 1,074 new cases recorded within the day
The daily total of new COVID-19 cases moved to 1,074 today (Se. 26) as 327 more people were tested positive for the virus, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said. According to Epidemiology Unit data, 46,397 active cases are currently under medical care at hospitals, treatment centres and homes. Total recoveries from the virus infection reached 454,532 earlier today as 843 more patients were discharged from medical care upon returning to health. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka registered 71 new COVID-related fatalities confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Sep. 25.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 15:45 UTC
Iceland elects Europe’s first female majority parliament
Iceland looks set to make history by becoming the first European country to elect a female majority to parliament, BBC reportsAccording to projections based on the final election results, 33 of the 63 seats in the Althingi, or 52%, have been won by women. This would mark an increase of nine seats from the last election in 2017. Unlike some other countries, Iceland does not have legal quotas on female representation in parliament, though some parties do require a minimum number of candidates to be women. It was also the first country in the world to elect a female president in 1980. Meanwhile, yesterday’s election saw the incumbent left-right coalition government, led by Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, increase its majority.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 15:45 UTC
Fears deadly spider is on the loose in Cotswold town
Arachnophobe Jim Dodds said he is left living in fear and has to check under his pillows before going to bed at night. But the spider has now vanished from his backyard in Tetbury, Gloustershire. The kitchen fitter and his wife Helen managed to take a photograph of the spider before it escaped from the box. He said Helen, 51, had discovered the spider lurking inside a plastic box the couple keep in the garden of their home on Sunday. 'Note that I would recommend a spider like this is only dealt with by an expert,' he added.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 15:00 UTC
Jinti Ranji arrested for strangling woman to death
September 26, 2021 07:32 pmA woman was found strangled to death inside a house in the Rajagiriya area at around 3 am last morning (September 25). A man named Hewawatte Vijitha Kumara alias ‘Jinti Ranji’ has been arrested on suspicion of the incident. The Police Crimes Investigation Division of Nugegoda arrested the suspect while he was hiding in a house in the Rajagiriya area. The suspect was arrested less than 24 hours later with aid of CCTV footage, Police said. It is revealed that the suspect had previously strangled a woman to death in the Athurugiriya area and robbed her of a gold necklace.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 14:03 UTC
This Govt. does not sell National assets: Rohitha
COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena says that the Government does not have a ‘sell out’ policy. ” Our government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not focused on selling National assets for our well being. It was the UNP that followed this policy of selling assets. Therefore our Government will not sell away National assets. But we welcome private investors for projects.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 12:45 UTC
Germany goes to the polls to decide Angela Merkel’s successor
(News 1st): Polling stations across Germany have opened as the nation decides who succeeds in the race to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor after 16 years. Polls showed the lead held by the Social Democrats’ Olaf Scholz over Armin Laschet of the Christian Democrats to have narrowed to a tiny margin, voter participation among the more than 60 million Germans eligible to vote, was predicted to be high. The Greens, under Annalena Baerbock, which at one point had led in the polls, were on track to secure third place, and are expected to find themselves in Government for the first time since 2005. Due to the pandemic, about 40% – a record number – of voters have already cast their ballot in a postal vote. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the president, said Germany faced a “political transition” and urged citizens to use their vote to determine “how the country continues to deal with both the small and large questions of our time”.
Source:The Nation
September 26, 2021 11:26 UTC