Blowing a gale at Goodwood! Glamorous racegoers refuse to let the rainy weather dampen their spirits
Many guests had come prepared for a day of inclement weather, donning plastic rain macs and carrying umbrellas at the racecourse in Chichester today. With umbrellas in hand, ladies seemed undeterred by the wet forecast, donning strappy sandals and stilettos and form fitting colourful gowns. Umbrellas were the accessory of the day for many racegoers arriving at the event earlier this afternoonLadies arrive for the festivities, braving stylish hats despite the gusty conditions. 'Between 70 and 80 per cent of our revenue is directly due to people coming through the gates. Goodwood held just 13 racedays - six less than usual - last year due to rescheduling and all went ahead without any paying punters.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 13:52 UTC
Uptick in COVID cases as 2,150 more people test positive
July 31, 2021 06:36 pmSri Lanka saw an uptick in COVID-19 figures, as 2,150 more persons were tested positive for the virus today (July 31), says the Ministry of Health. All new cases are associated with the New Year COVID-19 cluster. The new development has pushed the total number of infections confirmed in the country to date to 308,812. According to official data, more than 27,000 infected patients are currently under medical care at hospitals and treatment centers across the island. Meanwhile, the number of total recoveries reached 277,118 earlier today as 1,906 more patients returned to health.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 13:07 UTC
Japan extends state of emergency as Covid cases continue to spread
The Japanese public have finally embraced the Games as their athletes defy expectation and continue to win medals. ‘During the last state of emergency, no customers came. ‘I had expected that August would bring our highest sales.’Meanwhile new figures claim Japan will lose £3.4 billion from hosting Tokyo2020. The Nomura Research Institute reported that the Japanese economy will net some £14.4 billion from the hosting the Olympic and ParaOlympic Games. But the cost of implementing the country’s fourth state of emergency is expected to be £14.4 billion – making a deficit of £3.4 billion.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 12:56 UTC
China says Delta variant behind virus surge
China raced Saturday to contain its worst coronavirus outbreak in months, as health officials blamed the highly infectious Delta variant for a surge in infections spanning 14 provinces. “The main strain circulating at present is the Delta variant... which poses an even greater challenge to virus prevention and control work,” Mi Feng, spokesman for the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press briefing. But that record has been thrown into jeopardy after the fast-spreading Delta variant broke out at Nanjing airport in eastern Jiangsu province earlier this month. “The Covid vaccine’s protection against the Delta variant may have somewhat declined, but the current vaccine still has a good preventative and protective effect against the Delta variant,” said Feng Zijian, virologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials have said they are aiming for 80 percent of the population to be fully vaccinated by year-endSource: AFP-Agencies
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 12:11 UTC
Ash Barty bags a mixed double bronze at Tokyo Olympics
By Australian Associated PressPublished: 07:26 EDT, 31 July 2021 | Updated: 07:34 EDT, 31 July 2021Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Ash Barty has added an Olympic bronze medal to her collection after Novak Djokovic was a late scratching from the pair's much-anticipated mixed doubles showdown in Tokyo. But it secured Australia's first Olympic tennis medal since Barty's Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik claimed bronze in the women's singles in Athens 17 years ago. The 25-year-old can showcase the bronze medal next to her coveted Wimbledon trophy, the 2019 French Open title and 2018 US Open doubles crown with Coco Vandeweghe. For Peers, 33, Olympic bronze will rank among his career highlights. He won the 2017 Australian Open doubles with Finn Henri Kontinen, as well as two season-ending championships.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 12:02 UTC
Over 700,000 AstraZeneca doses arrive in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (News 1st); 728,460 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan arrived in Sri Lanka under the COVAX facility a short while ago today (31). Another similar consignment is scheduled to reach the island next Saturday (07) as well, State Minister Channa Jayasumana stated. The consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines, will be used to administer the second dose for those who had already received the first dose, and the remainder will be used to administer the 1st dose of the jab to the residents in Kegalle, the State Ministry of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals elaborated.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 11:48 UTC
New batch of AstraZeneca COVID shots arrives from Japan
A consignment of 728,460 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by Japan under the COVAX facility arrived in Sri Lanka this evening (July 31). The shipment had been airfreighted from Japan on SriLankan Airlines flight UL455 earlier today. Japan will be providing a similar amount of coronavirus jabs of the same brand to Sri Lanka next week. This batch of vaccines is set to arrive in the country on August 07. When rolling out newly-received vaccines, the priority will be given to those who have already received the first dose of AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 11:15 UTC
Son of Libyan dictator Gaddafi, 49, announces plans to unify nation he fled
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Lybian dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has come out of hiding after vanishing six years ago and announced his intention to re-enter politics and take back control of Libya. Before his father's death in 2011 at the hands of of militia, Gaddafi was the presumed successor to rule Libya. Saif al-Islam is the second sun of dictator Muammar Gaddafi who ruled Libya with an iron fist from 1969 to his brutal death in 2011. He was found in southern Libya after his father's regime had collapses, and held prisoner by a militia group in Zintan city. However, the militia group refused to hand him over to the ICC in The Hague, which has indicted him for war crimes allegedly committed during the civil war.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 11:03 UTC
Most of the cheapest Covid travel tests on the government website are unavailable to holidaymakers
The British advertising watchdog is probing the 'wild west' market place of Covid travel tests after it was found most of the cheaper swabs listed on the Government's website are not available to customers. Private companies offering tests are listed on the site, with the lowest priced at supposedly selling for £23. English travellers have to fork out for tests but in Wales they are free and supplied by the NHS. The probe into the price of Covid tests comes as Mr Shapps came under pressure to allow more quarantine-free travelling. Spain, Italy and Greece are among the countries on the amber list.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 11:03 UTC
Prisons engage in production of organic fertilizer to combat shortage
COLOMBO (News 1st); An operation to produce organic fertilizer with the labour contribution of inmates is currently underway at selected prisons around the country in areas such as Batticaloa, Wariyapola, Watareka, Pallekele, Thaldena, Weerawila and Anuradhapura, Prisons Media Spokesperson Chandana Ekanayake stated. The program has been initiated under the purview of Lohan Ratwatte, Minister of Prisons, Prison Management and Prison Rehabilitation, on the advice of the President as a solution to the shortage of organic fertilizer in the country, and in achieving the objective of creating a poison-free country in line with the President’s manifesto a ‘Vision of Prosperity’. The program has been launched under the theme ‘From the prison to the garden’ in selected prisons. The program has already commenced cultivating fruits and vegetables in a 10 acre area located in Thirupaperunthurai affiliated to the Batticaloa Prison and is reaping its harvest while prisons in Wariyapola and Pallekele are also reaping the benefits of the program by cultivating fruits and vegetables. Part of the rehabilitation process of the Department of Prisons is to improve the mental health of inmates, to provide them with necessary vocational training for self-employment and to release them back into society as stable citizens.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 10:52 UTC
1,906 more patients recover from novel coronavirus
July 31, 2021 03:33 pmA total of 1,906 more COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals and treatment centres as they have recovered from the virus infection, says the Ministry of Health. This brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 277,118. Sri Lanka has confirmed as many as 306,662 cases of COVID-19 to date. According to Epidemiology Unit’s data, 25,164 virus-infected patients are currently under medical care. Meanwhile, the death toll now stands at 4,380.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 10:07 UTC
Cabinet revolt over vaccine passports
Boris Johnson is facing a cabinet revolt over vaccine passports, having been accused of denying people their fundamental freedoms. There are concerns across the cabinet about denying people their freedoms.' The Conservative MP told Times Radio: 'We don't force anyone to have a vaccine in this country, it is up to their individual choice. The revolt comes just days after the government was accused of introducing passports by stealth after the NHS App was updated with 'domestic' and 'travel' options for Britons to prove their vaccination status. It emerged this week that the government has signed a 12-month contract with a company to provide Covid passport technology.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 09:45 UTC
Team GB wins two golds on Super Saturday
Team GB enjoyed more Olympic success in Tokyo overnight, scooping two more gold medals and a bronze on what is already being dubbed a 'Super Saturday'. When asked what made Team GB's swimmers so special, Peaty told the BBC: 'One word has changed the whole British team - belief. But back he stormed in the team relay on Saturday morning, part of a fabulous four with Jess Learmonth, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee. To finally get a gold medal, I'm quite emotional. 'It's also the first ever mixed team relay in triathlon so we've made history in that.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 09:00 UTC
Interprovincial public transport services to resume from tomorrow
Interprovincial bus and train services will resume from tomorrow (August 01) in compliance with health guidelines, says State Minister for Transport Dilum Amunugama. However, the public transport services will be up and running only in the morning and evening, the state minister noted. “We decided not to operate public transport services in the middle of the day as the health authorities have warned that there is still a very serious pandemic situation.”Speaking further in this regard, he stated that buses and trains are resuming operations to provide services to the public servants who are called back to work from Monday (August 02). The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has been instructed to carry passengers only up to the seating capacity, the state minister said, stressing that they were further directed to adhere to health guidelines. Private passenger transport buses will also be allowed to function from tomorrow, he added.
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 08:03 UTC
Over 500K COVID vaccine doses administered on Friday (30)
COLOMBO (News 1st): More than 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive day, on Friday (Jul. 30), the State Ministry of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals said. According to State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana, 513,822 people were administered the COVID-19 jab on Friday (30).
Source:The Nation
July 31, 2021 08:01 UTC