Cabraal urges all citizens to get vaccinated
State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal today (30) urged all citizens to obtain Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible. He made these statements via a tweet through his official Twitter handle. “Everyone in this country has the right and responsibility to be vaccinated. Further, the State Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka needs to open out once again to deal with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and that the main solution for this is vaccination. “If we all do that, we can soon restart the country,” the State Minister urged.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 09:33 UTC
Travel rules farce after France quarantine kept over Beta variant
Dominic Raab sparked a furious backlash after claiming that France was hit with 'amber plus' quarantine rules because of Covid cases on Reunion island 6,000 miles away. The decision on France two weeks ago led to thousands of fully-vaccinated holidaymakers having to self-isolate for ten days on their return. The source said: 'Ministers took this decision based on data on the prevalence of the Beta variant in mainland France.' The Beta variant is a cause for concern because it is believed to be more resistant to the AstraZeneca vaccine. England will allow US and EU travellers who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter without the need to quarantine from Monday.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 09:33 UTC
August security patch lands early on Samsung Galaxy S21 series
Here you’ll find the latest information on updates to the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Previous Samsung Galaxy S21 series updates July 13, 2021: Firmware version G99xBXXU3AUG4 brought Android Auto fixes to the S21 series. However, users on January 26, 2021: Well before the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra landed in consumers’ hands, Samsung rolled out two updates. The update carries firmware version G991NKSU3AUE8, G996NKSU3AUE8, and G998NKSU3AUE8 for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra respectively.Samsung rolled out firmware version G99xBXXU3AUDA (h/t SamMobile ) to the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra with a hefty download size of 1.2GB. Those experiencing issues noted that switching the phone to airplane mode halted the drain, which suggested mobile network connectivity was the culprit.Well before the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra landed in consumers’ hands, Samsung rolled out two updates.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 09:00 UTC
Israeli-owned merchant ship is attacked off of Oman
By ApPublished: 04:45 EDT, 30 July 2021 | Updated: 04:55 EDT, 30 July 2021An Israeli-owned merchant ship was attacked off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, the British military said Friday. Israeli officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident, but it comes amid heightened tensions between it and Iran as negotiations remain stalled over Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers. Oman did not immediately acknowledge an attack and officials there did not respond to requests for comment. The incident comes amid heightened tensions over Iran's tattered nuclear deal and as negotiations over restoring the accord have stalled in Vienna. Iranian media did not immediately acknowledge the attack Friday.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 09:00 UTC
Yuzvendra Chahal and Krishnappa Gowtham also COVID-19 positive
Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and spin-bowling allrounder Krishnappa Gowtham have both tested positive for COVID-19 while on tour in Sri Lanka, according to reports. The two were part of the group of eight players who had earlier been identified as immediate contacts of allrounder Krunal Pandya, who had tested positive on July 27. Chahal and Gowtham tested positive on Friday following PCR tests carried out yesterday (29). Incidentally, they had both tested negative along with the other six players on Thursday, the day of India’s final match of the tour. The rest of the Indian travelling contingent will return to India earlier in the day, the report said.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 07:18 UTC
Ex-TV exec mother of swimmer Tom Dean says BBC coverage of Tokyo 2020 'pains me'
Their comments come after the BBC was hit by a tide of complaints about the lack of live coverage compared with previous games. 'It's a huge disappointment to people not to be able to have the usual fuller BBC coverage. 'All results I've learned today have come from Twitter rather than watching BBC live? He added: 'Losing rights to lots of live Olympics is mostly out of BBC’s hands. But Dan Walker, who fronted the live coverage that led to complaints, took to Twitter to set the record straight and address viewers' concerns.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 06:11 UTC
Snapdragon-branded phones and earbuds exist now (Update: Pre-orders open)
The phone is essentially a tweaked Asus ROG Phone 5. Update: July 30, 2021 (1:05 AM ET): You can now pre-order the Asus-made Qualcomm Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders. The company just launched its first-ever Snapdragon-branded smartphone, clumsily called the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders. Asus took over those duties, which is why the phone looks a whole lot like the Asus ROG Phone 5 series. See also: The best phones with a headphone jackThe Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders does have a notably better camera, though.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 05:15 UTC
SL and Cuba to cooperate in vaccine production?
During a meeting held between the new Ambassador of Cuba to Sri Lanka Andres Marcelo Gonzalez Garrido and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (29) at the Foreign Ministry, the possibility to forge further cooperation in the areas of pharmaceutical and vaccine production was discussed. Cuba’s health authorities have stated that the domestically produced Abdala vaccine has proven to be 92% effective against the coronavirus in clinical trials. With a view to enhance the cordial relations prevailing at all levels between Sri Lanka and Cuba, the Foreign Minister discussed a wide-range of bilateral matters with Ambassador Garrido. These included cooperating on coconut and sugarcane cultivation and Spanish language courses in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, Gunawardena conveyed President Rajapaksa’s appreciation to the Cuban government for the continued support and cooperation extended to Sri Lanka at multilateral fora, particularly at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 05:03 UTC
Another record number of vaccines administered yesterday
Yesterday (29) marked the highest number of vaccinations administered in the country in a single day so far, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said. In total, 515,830 Covid-19 vaccines were administered throughout the day. Since the beginning of the national vaccination drive, more than 11.2 vaccinations have been administered to date. As per the data from the Epidemiology Unit’s COVID-19 immunization progress report, 418,494 have received the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine while 56,738 received both doses. In addition, 38,430 people have been vaccinated with the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine while 2,168 people received the first dose of Moderna COVID-19 jab.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 04:30 UTC
Record high of over 500,000 COVID vaccinations administered yesterday
Sri Lanka on Thursday (July 29) recorded the highest number of vaccinations rolled out in a single day, says the State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals. Thereby, 515,830 coronavirus jabs in total have been rolled out within the day, Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated. According to the Epidemiology Unit’s COVID-19 immunization progress report, as many as 418,494 have people received the first shot of China-developed Sinopharm vaccine. Meanwhile, 56,738 completed the vaccine course as they were administered the second dose of the same jab. As per official data, the national inoculation drive has rolled out more than 11.2 million vaccinations in the country against the novel coronavirus.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 03:33 UTC
Condolences, warnings and admonition never to forget
Two great Sri Lankans have died and we as a country are much the poorer, and mourn their deaths. The appreciation of him by Rex Clementine in The Island, Monday July 26, detailed the great good he did for Sri Lankan cricket. Death is death.) Cass’ thought was never forget terrible crimes committed on persons who were innocent or who were doing their duty. This is parallel to the Sri Lankan habit of hanging bunting, posting posters but never bothering to remove them.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 00:56 UTC
Uncle Percy is 85 today
by Rex ClementineCheerleader Percy Abeysekara turns 85 today. Former India captain Ravi Shastri once wrote, ‘Percy, don’t lose your voice. Percy then asked the cops whether they knew the best advice Vic Richardson, Australia’s former captain gave his grandson Ian Chappell. Not only was he let off without being charged, the cops were also seen taking pictures with Percy, an international icon. ‘Percy go home.’Percy asked, Your home’Once late Gamini Dissanayake asked, ‘Percy, why don’t you join the Cricket Board.’Percy said, ‘Sir, there are three palanas I don’t like.
Source:The Nation
July 30, 2021 00:00 UTC
U.S. offers $100 incentive for citizens to get vaccinated
The United States lags other developed countries in vaccination rates, despite having plenty of free vaccines on hand. White House efforts to urge the hesitant to get vaccinated have hit a wall of anti-vaccine sentiment, misinformation, and political division. Biden’s decision to require millions of federal workers and contractors to show proof of vaccination is a departure from a previous opposition to so-called vaccine passports. read more“I know that paying people to get vaccinated might sound unfair to folks who have gotten vaccinated already. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which has 90,000 members including some 30,000 NASA engineers and other skilled federal workers, said it supported a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal workers.
Source:The Nation
July 29, 2021 22:07 UTC
When is Titans Season 3 coming to HBO Max?
However, the wait for Titans Season 3 won’t be much longer now. Here’s all the info you will need about the Titans Season 3 release date on its new streaming home, HBO Max. When is the Titans Season 3 release date? Due to low subscriber numbers, DC Universe rebranded as a digital comics service called DC Universe Infinite. What’s planned for Titans Season 3?
Source:The Nation
July 29, 2021 21:22 UTC
Player Managers bowled out! – SLC to take control of players’ future
The Player Manager curse that has been hampering the progress of Sri Lanka’s cricket is to be over soon as sanity seems to have prevailed, at least belatedly. “Now we are seriously looking at various strategies to counter the Player Manager issue. We are thinking of offering our (Sri Lanka Cricket’s) services to the national players so that they don’t have to go behind the Player Managers,” a senior SLC official told the Morning Sports on Wednesday (28). It was only Wednesday that we reported that the player manager ‘mafia’ continued to hinder progress of the new-look Sri Lanka team by influencing even the top-level coaching staff of the team to include their ‘clients’ in the playing eleven. There, we also added, “The Sri Lanka cricket team is NOT a part of anyone’s private business property but one that has to serve the interests of 21 million people in this country… Player-management should entirely be centralised and taken over by the Sports Ministry/Government or SLC pretty soon.”
Source:The Nation
July 29, 2021 21:22 UTC