Afghan President apologizes for fleeing, denies reports of taking funds
(News 1st): Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani denies reports of fleeing the country with about $169m (£123m) in a recent video, in which he apologizes to the people of Afghanistan. “Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life,” he said, adding that he was sorry he “could not make it end differently”. Ghani abruptly left Afghanistan as Taliban militants advanced on the capital on 15 August. He further stated that he had devoted 20 years to helping Afghanistan become a “democratic, prosperous and sovereign state”. Ghani added that he had “deep and profound regret that my own chapter ended in similar tragedy to my predecessors”.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 07:52 UTC
Suspect arrested for death of ‘Sunshine sudda’
COLOMBO (News 1st): A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a drug dealer and organized criminal gang member Amila Prarasanga Hettihewa alias Sunshine Sudda. The Police said that the suspect has been identified as a resident of Walana, Weligama and currently functions as an office assistant in an institution in Matara. Amila Prasanga Hettihewa alias Sunshine Sudda was shot dead inside his vehicle in the Warakapitiya area in Kotawila on 03 September.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 07:30 UTC
'Solve Brexit delays by buying green parts', eBay urges motorists
In simple terms, green parts refer to used car parts that are still fit to use, and they are usually taken from insurance write-offs where components have not been damaged. The online marketplace told This is Money it believes using green parts can also help save motorists money. Sales of green parts, it claims, have risen by 24 per cent year-on-year in the first seven months of this year. 'The use of green parts is increasing within the industry as motorists are becoming more aware of the benefits of using sustainable options', eBay UK said. The online marketplace said it was also working with whocanfixmycar to provide access to green parts to over 8,000 garages across the country.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 06:56 UTC
10 Shakedowns That Backfired Big Time
No doubt about it: shakedowns can, and do, backfire big time. Karsan’s attempt to shakedown John Lennon’s widow backfired big time when he was arrested on December 13, 2006, for first-degree attempted grand larceny. proof,” Letterman told his listeners, that the talk show host had, indeed, done “terrible, terrible things.” ABC News reporters Michael S. James and Lindsay Goldwert suggest that, if Letterman’s audience thought he was joking, they would soon learn that there would be no punchline to his monologue. At his trial in March 2010, he insisted that he had never tried to extort any money from Crawford. During the conduct of the investigation, FBI agents discovered that Coss and Sippola had previously tried to extort money from Stamos.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 06:56 UTC
Xiaomi commits to extended Android updates, but there’s a catch
Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android AuthorityTL;DR Xiaomi has announced a new, longer Android update policy. The new policy will only affect the Xiaomi 11T and 11T Pro, at least for now. Xiaomi is set to introduce a new Android update policy alongside its forthcoming 11T series. The move also puts Xiaomi at par with Samsung’s Android upgrade commitment, which allows its newer devices four years of security updates with three major Android upgrades. More reading: Dear OEMs — Your Android update policy should have nothing to do with PR What about older Xiaomi phones?
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 06:56 UTC
Sinopharm refiling plant to be set up in SL?
The potential to set up a Sinpharm vaccine refilling plant on Sri Lankan soil is on the cards, according to a press release from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing. The statement also confirmed that Sri Lanka can expect more Sinopharm doses from China in the future. Such discussions took place when Ambassador Dr Palitha Kohona met with the Chairman of Sinopharm group. Mr Liu Jingzhen and the senior management of the establishment last Monday, to hand over a personal letter from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, appreciating the uninterrupted supply of the Sinopharm vaccine to Sri Lanka. Chairman Liu has confirmed that Sinopharm vaccines will continue to flow into Sri Lanka and was enthusiastic about setting up a Sinopharm vaccine refilling plant in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 05:15 UTC
Google teases Pixel 6 on Instagram as "Certified Pixel Lover"
Google has posted a cheeky teaser for its upcoming Pixel 6 smartphones on its @madebygoogle handle. Source: @MadebyGoogle's InstagramThe teaser is captioned "Certified Pixel Lover" and tagged with #TeamPixel and #Pixel6. The Google Pixel 6 will reportedly be available for purchase starting on October 28, with a Pixel 6 announcement taking place sometime before then. Pixel 6Pixel 6 ProThe Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will be powered by the Tensor chipset, a custom chip made by Samsung for the Google Pixel, which is likely an unreleased Exynos chipset. The smaller of the two Pixels will have a 6.4" FullHD+ screen with 90Hz refresh rate while the larger Pro will have a 6.7' QHD+ curved display with 120Hz refresh rate.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 04:52 UTC
637 persons arrested, 41 vehicles seized for violating lockdown regulations
COLOMBO (News 1st): Another 637 persons were arrested and 41 vehicles were seized during the past 24 hours by the Police on charges of violating lockdown regulations. The Police had arrested the number of persons from 06:00 a.m. on 08 September until 06:00 a.m. today (09). Moreover, 859 persons and 466 vehicles entering the Western Province and 1,036 persons and 619 vehicles exiting the province have been inspected at the 13 roadblocks in the Province, the Police added. 267 persons and 175 vehicles have been turned away due to not having the relevant permits to cross the border of the Province.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 04:07 UTC
iRobot’s newest Roomba uses AI to avoid dog poop
The company’s latest robovac, the Roomba j7+, uses built-in machine vision and AI to identify and avoid pet messes of all sorts. The biggest update, though, is only for the new Roomba j7+ which uses a new camera to identify not only dog mess but other hazardous obstacles, like socks, shoes, and headphones. Again, this is done using onboard machine vision, but it does require some action on the part of the owner. The new Roomba j7+ costs $849 with a base station that holds up to 60 days’ worth of dirt, which is many multiples compared to the price tag of basic robovacs. The Roomba j7+ goes on sale today in the US and Canada from iRobot’s website and will be available for purchase at selected retailers from September 19th.
Source:The Nation
September 09, 2021 03:56 UTC
‘It’s not an easy process’
Colombo-based independent policy think-tank Advocata Institute Research Manager Aneetha Warusavitarana has secured a place at the University of Cambridge for an MPhil in Public Policy. In terms of the process, Warusavitarana highlighted that these things often take a lot of time and work, adding that there’s definitely a bit of luck involved as well, and we should talk about this more and bring awareness to this long process. “Sometimes people do get in on their first try and that’s brilliant, but I want to highlight that it’s not an easy process and it can take a few tries,” she commented, adding that because often when someone gets a scholarship, people tend to focus on the fact that they received it and neglect to acknowledge how tedious the process is. “They are not easy decisions to make and anyone applying for their undergraduates or masters would agree with me on that! “We all had to work from home and shift to online meetings and take on the workload that comes with that.
Source:The Nation
September 08, 2021 18:33 UTC
Thai PM invited to visit Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand Chaminda I. Kolonne has invited the country’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to visit Sri Lanka once the pandemic is over. The invitation was extended when the Ambassador met with the Thai Prime Minister at his official residence in Bangkok. The Prime Minister has also instructed the Thai Board of Investment to hold an online meeting with the Colombo Ports Commission and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister agreed with the Ambassador’s proposal to open a Thai Language Teaching Center in Sri Lanka and a Sinhala Language Teaching Center in Thailand. The Ambassador said that Sri Lanka would extend its fullest support to Thailand, which is seeking to chair the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.
Source:The Nation
September 08, 2021 16:18 UTC
Sri Lanka records 185 new COVID-related deaths
The total number of people who fell victim to COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka soared yet again as 185 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Tuesday (September 07). The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in Sri Lanka to 10,689. According to the data released by the Department of Government Information, the latest victims include 102 males and 83 females. As many as 140 deaths were reported among elderly people who are aged above 60 years. In addition, 44 individuals aged between 30-59 years and 01 below 30 years have also succumbed to the virus infection.
Source:The Nation
September 08, 2021 16:07 UTC
Microsoft’s Clipchamp acquisition will help improve video editing on Windows
Microsoft is acquiring Clipchamp, a browser-based video editing tool, and is hinting that it will be a great fit for Windows. Microsoft is now looking to integrate Clipchamp into its Microsoft 365 offerings, and perhaps even Windows itself. Interestingly, Pratley also says “it’s a great fit for Microsoft Windows,” which suggests that Microsoft could integrate Clipchamp into Windows in the future. Clipchamp already exists as an app in the Microsoft Store, and Microsoft’s existing video editing tools for Windows are lackluster to say the least. Windows and devices chief Panos Panay teased a new photos app for Windows 11 just minutes before the acquisition announcement, with what looks like better tools for editing photos and videos.
Source:The Nation
September 08, 2021 09:33 UTC
How to Break Through a Lifting Plateau
This is the phenomenon often called a “plateau,” and while it seems hopeless, there are tons of ways to bust through. Do five sets of bench twice a week, and now you’re up to 10 total sets for the week. Even if you’re already in the range of 10-15 sets per week (a typical recommendation), more is still probably better. Instead of just lifting whatever you feel like each day, choose a pre-written program, or pay a coach or trainer to write you one. Food and sleep are the two biggest things you can adjust to help yourself recover better from lifting.
Source:The Nation
September 07, 2021 21:56 UTC
England expects with Gareth Southgate's confident side anticipating greatness
It is the hope that kills you - a feeling the England football team are all too familiar with. No longer a team hoping for the best, but rather one anticipating greatness. Yet his team’s swagger comes with a risk, one the England chief was at pains to point out yesterday. Nevertheless, Kane’s next best opportunity to win a major trophy will be in Qatar with England in December 2022. ‘There is every chance Kane will go as long as possible because he’s an incredible professional,’ said the England boss.
Source:The Nation
September 07, 2021 21:56 UTC