Starmer fails to help sports centre where he plays football
Sir Keir Starmer was condemned for ‘putting politics above people’ by not backing a bid to rescue the Talacre Sports Centre in his North London constituency. Labour tried to defuse the row last night, claiming Sir Keir had not personally known about the application. Earlier this year, keen footballer and Arsenal fan Sir Keir spoke of the ‘real buzz’ he felt to be back playing at the Talacre Sports Centre after Covid restrictions were eased. They claimed the Talacre funding request ‘had fallen through the cracks’, with Sir Keir himself being unaware of the approach. But one Labour MP said last night: ‘A lot of us are already worried Keir and his team haven’t got a grip.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 22:52 UTC
Should healthy Britons be given blood pressure tablets?
Their suggestion: give blood pressure pills to people with healthy blood pressure levels to prevent problems occurring in the first place. Prof Rahimi explained: ‘Decisions to prescribe blood pressure pills should not be based simply on a prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, or a patient’s blood pressure level. ‘If you lower blood pressure too much there is a bigger risk of falls and fractures, especially in the elderly,’ says Professor Graham MacGregor, who chairs the charity Blood Pressure UK. But this is not seen for everyone – and it has the biggest impact on people with very high blood pressure. ‘I’ve had no side effects at all and my blood pressure is now pretty much healthy.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 21:56 UTC
Restaurants will be banned from keeping tips intended for staff
By Glen Owen for The Mail on SundayPublished: 17:27 EDT, 18 September 2021 | Updated: 17:44 EDT, 18 September 2021Restaurants will be banned from keeping the tips intended for staff under new laws targeting unscrupulous practices in the hospitality industry. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is expected to announce plans this week to stop businesses from keeping the service charge when customers pay it on bank cards. This follows complaints that low pay and morale are helping to drive chronic staff shortages in the hospitality industry. The use of cash has also tumbled during the pandemic, making it harder for staff to pocket tips. Restaurants will be banned from keeping the tips intended for staff under new laws targeting unscrupulous practices in the hospitality industry.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 21:45 UTC
Rohit Sharma likely India’s next T20I Captain
Virat Kohli said on Thursday (16) that he will be stepping down as T20I Captain of India after next month’s World CupAs Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as India’s Twenty 20 International Captain on Thursday (16), current Vice Captain Rohit Sharma, who had led India in 19 T20Is already, is most likely to be Kohli’s successor. Sharma’s first test as the new Captain will be in South Africa, when India will tour there for a four-match T20I series. Kohli posted a statement on his Twitter handle on Thursday, where he revealed that he will be stepping down as the T20I Captain after next month’s World Cup of the format.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 21:33 UTC
A media rights ‘war’ between ICC and IPL?
The global body of cricket is worried about the Indian premier League (IPL) rights tender hitting the market in 2022. “ICC is initiating the process to sell media rights 24 months early because of fear that IPL media rights can walk in with the larger pie of budgets available at the end of potential bidders,” added the Inside the Sport. The ICC rights valueWhat are the values expected by ICC? IPL rights valueThe estimated value by the Inside Sport is more than what IPL rights fetched in its current cycle. 2022 a tricky year for ICC and BCCI“We will come out with our IPL rights tender before the next IPL (2022) season.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 21:22 UTC
Real Madrid get the best of Italian champions
With his goal, Bellingham became the youngest-ever player to score in consecutive Champions League appearances. Bellingham’s most recent Champions League appearance before Wednesday came in last season’s quarter-final second leg against Manchester City. Salah netted in the 48th minute of the Champions League encounter, levelling the match at 2-2 after finishing an assist from Divock Origi. The goal was Salah’s 14th in the Champions League at Anfield, going level with Reds legend Gerrard. However, when Liverpool already up 1-0 in the 14th minute, Salah saw his penalty saved by Milan keeper Mike Maignan.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 20:48 UTC
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starlink internet service leaving beta in October
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted Friday that the company’s Starlink satellite internet network would come out of its open beta phase next month. A terminal costs $499 and there’s a $99 monthly fee for service. It opened its public beta test in October 2020, and Musk said in August that SpaceX had shipped 100,000 Starlink terminals, which includes a satellite dish and a Wi-Fi router, to users in 14 countries. Starlink’s internet service is planned to be sold directly to consumers in rural areas around the world, among other customers, and it’s touting 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds. Reviews of the Starlink service so far have been mixed, however.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 20:37 UTC
(PICTURES) Exercise Cormorant Strike XI – Halo Casting in Trincomalee
COLOMBO (News 1st); Troops of 2nd Regiment Special Forces inserted to general area “Ilankanthai” in Trincomalee District on Thursday (16) evening to conduct another special reconnaissance mission in Exercise Cormorant Strike XI – 2021. M I -17 helicopter of Sri Lanka Air Force assisted 2nd Regiment Special Forces troops to conduct Halo casting in the sea nearly 2 nautical miles away from the beach. They will utilize two Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) to secretly move into the beach under the cover of darkness. This special mission was conducted to secure a ‘beachhead’ for 583 Infantry Brigade troops to conduct attack on ELF base located in Ilankanthai. The mission was executed under the supervision of the Exercise Deputy Director Major General Anil Samarasiri (General Officer Commanding of 65 Infantry Division)
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 20:05 UTC
French minister accuses Britain of returning to the 'American lap'
When asked on the France 2 radio station why his Ambassador to London had not been recalled too, Mr Le Drian suggested there was no need. Britain was known for its ‘permanent opportunism’ and Mr Johnson was deemed the ‘fifth wheel on the carriage anyway,’ said French Foreign Minister Le Drian. In his furious attack on all three members of the new AUKUS pact – America, Australia and Britain – Mr Le Drian said all had acted disgracefully. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said it was a 'stab in the back' and constituted 'unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners'. In the Commons on Thursday, Mr Johnson said it was not intended as an 'adversarial' move against China or any other power.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 20:03 UTC
CPC to borrow $ 1 b from America
The loan is said to be received by the end this year at an interest rate of 3% per annum. The Sri Lankan authorities initially requested credit from the Bank of Japan and the State Bank of China at a comparatively lower interest rate. Therefore, we asked the Chinese and Japanese Ambassadors if they could provide loans to replace the existing loans with a lower interest rate. However, after the calculation and evaluation, they said they can’t lower the interest rate,” Gammanpila said at the time. However, later on it was reported that CPC had received loan offers from several other countries including Australia, Singapore, and China.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 20:03 UTC
News from WADA: Cannabis or ‘Ganja’ ban for athletes to be reviewed
WADA’s cannabis ban to be reviewedSha’Carri RichardsonThe World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is to review whether cannabis should remain a banned substance. The 21-year-old later revealed she had used cannabis to help cope with the death of her biological mother. Wada says the scientific review will begin next year and that cannabis will remain prohibited in 2022. The anti-doping agency says the review is taking place “following receipt of requests from a number of stakeholders”. A three-member Court of Arbitration panel cut the period of sanctions to two years last December following an appeal by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 19:52 UTC
Sports in brief: Hasaranga and Chameera reach IPL in Dubai
Dushmantha Chameera (on left) and Wanindu Hasaranga left for the IPL phase-two in Dubai on Wednesday (15)Players from the Sri Lanka vs. South Africa series joined their respective franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 phase two by Wednesday (15). The likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Sri Lankan recruits Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, besides their other overseas players David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi, had all arrived in Dubai. All of them will be in quarantine for two days before joining the RCB squad ahead of the IPL 2021 second stage that begins today on Sunday (19), with the game between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. IPL to have crowds in “reduced capacity”Crowds will be allowed at the IPL 2021 second phase which will be held today (19) and will be played at three venues in the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. The final was held last (Wednesday, 15) night Sri Lanka time.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 19:52 UTC
Davis Cup in Jordan – Part 2: SRI LANKA’S PROGRESS IN DAVIS CUP (1953-2021)
The 1968 Final was the closest, as they lost it 3-2, or a single-rubber (match) margin1976-82 – No participation for five years1988 – A new zonal system is introduced into the Davis Cup. Each tie had only three matches with each match is only in best-of-three sets1988-96 – Sri Lanka is slotted straight in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group-II. Davis Cup is currently sponsored by Rakuten Group Inc., a Japanese electronic commerce and online retailing company based in Tokyo. The bottom team in each pool, or three countries in total, will be relegated to Asia-Oceania Group IV next year. Sri Lanka Team:Yasitha De Silva, Thehan Wijemanne, Vibuda Wijebandara, Chathurya Nilaweera and Non-playing Captain Renouk Wijemanne
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 19:41 UTC
India supplies 20 more passenger coaches
This consignment is a part of the contract to supply 160 passenger coaches to Sri Lanka Railways, funded under an Indian Line of Credit of USD 318 million. With this consignment, a total of 60 coaches out of 160 have been supplied to Sri Lanka and 20 more coaches are ready to be shipped from India. The first lot of passenger coaches had arrived Sri Lanka in March 2021, following which requisite trials were conducted. These State-of-the-Art ‘India-made’ modern passenger coaches have been custom made and built as per the requirements of Sri Lanka Railways, said the Indian High Commission. The first AC DMU set (13 coaches) is ready for shipment from India and is waiting for nomination of a ship by Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 19:18 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Mahinda to resign
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Kalutara District MP Mahinda Samarasinghe is tipped to resign from his parliamentary seat. Following his resignation, Samarasinghe is to be appointed as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US and Mexico, it is learnt. It is learnt that Samarasinghe’s decision to resign from Parliament was made[...]The post Sunny Side Up: Mahinda to resign appeared first on The Morning - Sri Lanka News.
Source:The Nation
September 18, 2021 19:03 UTC