Gunman kills several at Russian university
A gunman has killed at least eight people at a university in the Russian city of Perm, officials say. Students and teachers barricaded themselves inside the university building; others were seen jumping from windows. The gunman was identified as a student at the university, according to the Investigative Committee that handles probes into major crimes. Perm University posted a message on social networks urging students who were in the building to stay in the classrooms. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old gunman opened fire in his old school in the central Russian city of Kazan, killing nine people.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 10:30 UTC
Amateur chefs share their WORST ever cooking fails
But these images, curated by Bored Panda, show off some of the biggest cookery fails of all time. From sourdough bread that is completely raw in the middle, to pizza that looks like it was charred in the fiery pits of hell, these creations really are true kitchen nightmares. Pictured, believed to be taken in the UKWe've all suffered from the occasional spill or splatter when in the kitchen. Picture taken in an unknown locationThese unpleasant looking bakes, from a kitchen in the US, are either under or overfermented. Is it the glassy-eyed stare or the manic grin that makes this lamb-shaped cake, from an amateur chef in an unknown location, looks like something out of a horror movie?
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 07:18 UTC
United Nations’ fullest support to Sri Lanka
The UN Secretary-General made these remarks during the meeting he held with the President at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, yesterday (19). Mr. Guterres, warmly welcomed President Rajapaksa when he arrived at the United Nations Headquarters, reminisced about his visits to Sri Lanka in 1978 representing the Inter-Parliamentary Union and his visits to Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee. Mr. Guterres also recalled his dealings with Sri Lanka during his tenure as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his meeting with then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2006. President Rajapaksa said that he was pleased to have the opportunity to hold a bilateral discussion with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and congratulated him on leading the United Nations during a difficult period facing the world as well as on his re-election as the Secretary-General. President Rajapaksa also explained the engagement with civil society organizations to bring about development and reconciliation in the country.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 06:56 UTC
Anjali Ullandupitiya : The dancing jewel from the hills
Anjali was born and raised in Kandy, and has been dancing since she was a little girl. We had the chance to catch up with Anjali earlier this week, and here is what she had to say! Later it was renamed/relaunched as “TikTok”, making it an open platform for everyone to dance at their own pace. I like exploring different trends – dancing, lip-syncing, transitions, make-up videos, etc. So making content has also paved the path for my career as a dancer/model.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 06:22 UTC
Evergrande: Why Chinese company's collapse is a ticking timebomb
Should the Shenzhen-based corporate giant sink, so would Chinese demand for Australian iron ore, with big miners and the share market plunging on Monday. But a cutback in Chinese steel production saw iron ore prices fall by 21 per cent in August. 'China more broadly is looking to curb their steel production - a big part of it is due to environmental reasons,' he told Daily Mail Australia. The Chinese Evergrande Group has no connection whatsoever with a Melbourne-based company of the same name, Evergrande Properties Pty Ltd which is also known as Evergrande Group. Those Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, released on September 2, predated the plunge in iron ore prices.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 06:00 UTC
Prez meets UN Secretary General
September 20, 2021 by Ruwani Fonseka No CommentsPresident Gotabaya Rajapaksa has met with United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York, the President’s Media Division said. Accordingly, the Secretary General had assured the President that the UN will extend its fullest positive cooperation to Sri Lanka. President Gotabaya is currently in New York to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be commenced on September 21. This will be the President’s first address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 05:37 UTC
Channa Jayasumana explains delay in setting up vaccine filling plant
The prospect of setting up a COVID-19 vaccine filling plant in Sri Lanka in collaboration with China has been in discussion, whereas there was a delay in getting the project launched. Accordingly, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals explained the reason as to why such a delay had occurred. Prof. Jayasumana stated that receiving the accreditation to build the vaccine plant from the World Health Organization (WHO) takes time, further confirming that the documentation for application has already been submitted. However, he went on to say that if there was a possibility for the export of vaccines, the proposal for a vaccine plant would materialise. Initial discussions were for the Chinese-manufactured Sinovac vaccine to be produced in Sri Lanka, but Prof. Jayasumana stated that the Chinese authorities have confirmed permission for the Sinopharm vaccine to be produced in Sri Lanka as well.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 05:03 UTC
Pixel 6 Pro wallpapers have leaked. Download them here.
Light and dark-themed wallpapers of the Google Pixel 6 Pro have leaked. The Pixel 6 wallpapers that leaked back in August depict a mix of images in pastel hues that focus on the phone’s punch-hole display design. Thanks to folks over at XDA Developers, we now have access to Pixel 6 Pro wallpapers in light and dark themes. This fresh set of Google Pixel 6 Pro wallpapers consists of pictures of the following plants and flowers photographed by Andrew Zuckerman. Each color variant of the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to ship with one of the last three wallpapers as default.
Source:The Nation
September 20, 2021 05:03 UTC
An increase in domestic violence since opening wine stores?
According to a report published last October by the Epidemiological Unit in Sri Lanka, evidence shows a 10-50% increase in domestic violence helpline calls in some countries. The report also stated that the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the escalation of violence against women and children in Sri Lanka too. A survey done in Sri Lanka shows that 76.8% of the respondents experienced verbal abuse, while 7.8% encountered physical and 5.6% sexual violence. Attorney-at-Law and Child Protection Force Founder Milani SalpitikoralaAttorney-at-Law and Child Protection Force Founder Milani Salpitikorala observed that since the recent opening of wine stores, the amount of calls she received on domestic abuse has increased. She also added that lawyers who are well versed in the field of domestic violence laws should also partake in training of the police.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:56 UTC
Learning through play
What is learning through play and what is the landscape of play-based learning in Sri Lanka? Play-based learning and its importanceAccording to the encyclopaedia on early childhood development, play-based learning is learning that occurs while you play. Play-based learning involves the following elements:Self-direction: The child chooses what they play and how they play. Learning through play requires resources, therefore children must be provided access to play materials needed for different types of play such as water play, sand play, sensory play, musical play, art play and digital play. Creating awareness about the importance of play and how it benefits learning is profound in overcoming pertinent challenges to play-based learning.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:56 UTC
‘We are struggling to pay our staff’
Harpo’s Hotels, Cafés, and Restaurants CEO and Founder, and CCRC President Harpo GooneratneIt’s been 18 months since Covid-19 came into our lives. Gooneratne urges the Government to permit SLTDA-registered restaurants to open during the lockdown at least at a minimum capacity of 25%. “The CCRC have vaccinated all of our staff; they are required to wear masks as well when serving customers,” he informed us, adding that they have over 60 members of the CRC with over 3000 employees. He also informed us that their staff have been given badges stating that they are vaccinated to assure the customers that their safety is their priority. Staff rendered helplessGooneratne also added that they have gone through 18 months of loss with no hand-offs from the Government whatsoever with their staff left high and dry.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:33 UTC
You are not men, Ramiz Raja tells New Zealanders
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appears heartbroken by the development and the cricket fans in the country are incensed. Pakistanis are also coming up with bizarre arguments to shame the New Zealand cricket team for apparently withdrawing due to Indian influence. “New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is puppet of BCCI. Sri Lanka are placed among Ireland, Namibia, and Netherlands in their World Cup Round-1 Group-A. Only the top two countries from each Group in the Super-12 will enter straight into the World Cup semi-finals.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:11 UTC
Sagging morale of our cricket curved further by Proteas’ whitewash
Thereafter Sri Lanka beat a more formidable South African team to gain a series win, after an eight-year drought, in a bilateral One-Day International (ODI) series. Until the beginning of that series, the tally stood at about 20 losses to only five wins. With that series win, Sri Lanka added 10 more International Cricket Council (ICC) Super League World Cup 2023 pathway points as well. Theekshana debuted as the only Sri Lankan cricketer born in the 21st Century to play for Sri Lanka, too. Quinton de Kock’s featsQuinto de Kock (on left) and Reeza Hendricks (right) shared impressive opening partnerships of 73, 62, and an unbeaten 121 in the three-match T20I series.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:11 UTC
Alcohol queues and relief queues
The news that liquor stores were reopened on Friday (17) came as a surprise to both those who consume alcohol and those who do not. 2,000 allowance to survive during the travel restrictions before flocking to liquor stores in what he called were queues that extended 1.5 km. Data from different sources indicates that alcohol consumption among Sri Lankans is actually fluctuating, with no significant increase or decrease. While alcohol consumption had increased from 2.6 litres per annum in 2005 to 4.3 litres per annum in 2016, it had declined to 4.1 litres per annum by 2018. It is also a fallacy that people have sufficient disposable income and hence need no additional allowance or relief from the Government simply because the queues outside liquor stores on one day were lengthy.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:00 UTC
Healthy eating during the Covid-19 pandemic
By Dr. Charuni KohombangeIn the battle with Covid-19, nutrition plays a key role, but unfortunately, this particular aspect is often overlooked in discussions regarding Covid-19 management. This habit should be stopped immediately in order to prevent obesity, which aggravates the “syndemic”; the synergistic pandemic of Covid-19 and non-communicable diseases. Covid-19 and consumption of fatIn relation to Covid-19 infection, fats or oils do not play a major role. Therefore, most of the Covid-19 patients, as well as the people confined to their homes during the lockdown period, may have vitamin D deficiencies. Thus, it is vital to improve nutrition by adopting healthy eating habits during the pandemic.
Source:The Nation
September 19, 2021 18:00 UTC