Second journalist Khalid al-Misslam 'dies suddenly' at Qatar World Cup
Qatar news outlet Gulf Times tweeted: 'Al-Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It comes just 48 hours after the death of American journalist Grant Wahl, who had struggled to enter stadiums due to wearing a pro-LGBT top. 'I'm the reason he wore the rainbow shirt to the World Cup. He was covering his eighth world cup and had previously made headlines for being refused entry to a game for wearing a rainbow shirt. The World Cup in Qatar has faced criticism for 'sportswashing' due to the host nation's poor human rights record, in particular the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Source:The Nation
December 12, 2022 10:02 UTC
A winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast through Monday
Northeastern Pennsylvania, upstate New York, northwest Connecticut, northwest New Jersey, New England, and western Massachusetts have all received Winter Weather Advisories as residents can expect large amounts of snowfall. As of Sunday evening, light snow is predicted in New York City around 10pm local time until 1am leading into Monday. If snow hits The Big Apple, it'll be the first time the city has seen snow since March 27. The storm shut down mountain highways, toppled trees and triggered flood and avalanche warnings on Saturday from the coast of Northern California to Lake Tahoe. More than 250 miles of the Sierra remained under a winter storm warning at least until early Monday from north of Reno to south of Yosemite National Park.
Source:The Nation
December 11, 2022 23:43 UTC
Search teams find NO survivors after Jersey 'gas' blast
Police said they believed 'around a dozen' people were missing following the blast which destroyed a block of flats in St Helier in the early hours of Saturday morning. The scene of an explosion and fire at a block of flats in St Helier, Jersey. Security camera footage showed a fireball engulfing the three-storey building in the Channel island's port capital St Helier, leaving several people missing. The Jersey government tweeted a video of firefighters and specialist rescue teams, including a dog, on the scene in St Helier on Saturday night. Last night the Parish Church of St Helier held a candle-lit vigil.
Source:The Nation
December 11, 2022 16:09 UTC
Finally, Budget 2023 is passed amidst accusations of ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unfair’
Finally, Budget 2023 is passed amidst accusations of ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unfair’ View(s):By Sandun JayawardanaAfter a committee stage debate lasting 13 days, Parliament passed the third reading of Budget 2023 by a majority of 43 votes on Thursday (8). Several MPs who sit as independents with the opposition also voted in support of the Budget. He also appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to only set targets that Sri Lanka can achieve. Mr Wickramaratne reminded that Sri Lanka has already entered into 16 agreements with the IMF. Nine of the agreements were completed but Sri Lanka gave up on seven others.
Source:Sunday Times
December 11, 2022 08:04 UTC
Report on cricket by special committee out soon
Report on cricket by special committee out soon By Pranavesh Sivakumar cricket View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka Cricket’s embarrassing stay that eclipsed their T20 World Cup show in Australia, and the betting company, which sponsored the national team during the Asia Cup and a team from the Lanka Premier League (LPL), will be looked by the same committee, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, the Secretary to the Sports Ministry, said. Only last week, a six-member committee, led by a Retired Supreme Court Judge Sarojani Weerawardena, launched investigations into incidents that rocked the team’s stay down under. Fair Play News and its logo, subsidiary of an Indian betting company, was worn prominently by the said two teams, coming under a spotlight due to blatant prohibition in wearing unethical logos. “We are widening the scope, in such a way that this committee will be empowered to investigate other allegations as well. We have to first look into the facts and figures.”“In one-and-a-half months they will give an interim report about the Australian tour (World Cup).
Source:Sunday Times
December 11, 2022 08:02 UTC
Unpopular decisions, the need of the hour - President
One hundred twenty three MPs voted in favour and 80 MPs against Budget 2023 while two MPs abstained from voting. Premadasa was speaking during the last day of the Committee Stage debate on the 2023 Budget proposal on Thursday. Abeywardena said “It is also the intention of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to achieve such an agreement through the Budget 2023. The notable feature was three to four SJB MPs who vehemently criticise the President and the Government were among them. He told a group of Opposition MPs on Thursday evening “Tell your boss to do politics during the time of elections.
Source:Sunday Observer
December 11, 2022 02:16 UTC
Mindset Change and Ethics: The Themes at the 5th Graduation Ceremony of ICMA (Australia & New Zealand)
Mr. Viraj Dayaratne PC, Chairman – Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest at the event organized by the Academy of Finance – the exclusive partner. The overall theme of his message was that those in Sri Lanka, especially professionals, entrepreneurs and those working the land need a 'Change in Mindset' and need to develop a ‘Can-do’ attitude. He was confident that our graduands have over their studies and career had such a mindset change. The Chief Guest, Mr. Viraj Dayaratne PC, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka was introduced by Mr Ashan Nissanka, President of the ICMA Sri Lanka Region. It is only when ethics have been upheld and prioritized that professions and professionals could work towards the ultimate benefit of society.
Source:Sunday Observer
December 10, 2022 06:26 UTC
Looting Russian troops seen poaching GEESE from farm - before Ukrainian forces pound their position
A video has been released showing Russian troops poaching geese from a farm in Ukraine in preparation for a feast - before Kyiv's forces shower their position with artillery fire. Footage, captured in the Donetsk region, begins with one of three Russian soldiers shooting a goose, while another can be seen with a dead bird already at his feet. The soldiers are then seen returning to a building they appear to be occupying with the dead animals slung over their shoulders. A military vehicle that was reportedly transporting a local Russian commander is then seen approaching the house via a nearby road. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'.
Source:The Nation
December 05, 2022 16:06 UTC
Elon Musk says Twitter's actions were the 'definition of election interference'
Elon Musk has claimed that Twitter's censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal was tantamount to interference in the 2020 election. 'If Twitter is doing one team's bidding before an election shutting down dissenting voices on a pivotal election that is the definition of election interference,' said Musk. Musk did not directly answer the question, and admitted 'I have not read the Twitter Files so that's why my understanding is limited.' He said three of the tweets the Biden camp demanded be deleted contained 'Hunter Biden porn' and photos of Biden's genitalia, from the laptop. And he says the second tweet was a link to Hunter Biden weighing and using drugs, and another link to a Hunter Biden sex tape.
Source:The Nation
December 04, 2022 15:58 UTC
How to save money on groceries: Queenie Tan shares top tips
Scroll down for videoQueenie Tan (pictured) shared how to save money on groceries every time you shop. The 26-year-old from Sydney revealed the tips in an Instagram videoFirst Queenie suggested planning your weekly meals based on what's on special at the supermarket. At Coles Queenie claims customers can ask for a rain check if a sale item has run out of stock. Customers can also download Flybuys app to activate and receive 'bonus offers' on your shop at Coles. How to save money on groceries: Queenie Tan shares top tips1.
Source:The Nation
December 04, 2022 15:58 UTC
‘Malays of Sri Lanka’: Story of a vibrant culture, people
‘Malays of Sri Lanka’: Story of a vibrant culture, people View(s):From a language in which many Sinhala terms have originated to relished food including the likes of Nasi Goreng or Pittu, the minuscule Malay community of Sri Lanka has maintained its unique niche in the social fabric of the country for centuries, standing side by side with their brothers and sisters of other communities. Now the life and times of the Malays, whose origins come from the island of Java in Indonesia, are chronicled in a delightful 224-page coffee table book titled ‘Malays of Sri Lanka’ written by Alvin Sallay, a veteran journalist who has worked in Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. In 1505, the Portuguese arrived, establishing commerce and taking over territory with the help of Malay soldiers brought from Malacca. Of course, the country’s best known Malay leader was visionary statesman T.B. However, senior academic Dr. Romola Rassool, former head of the English Teaching Unit, University of Kelaniya, worries about the fading of the Sri Lanka Malay language.
Source:Sunday Times
December 04, 2022 14:15 UTC
Housemaid mum flown back from Kuwait after children abandoned by father
Housemaid mum flown back from Kuwait after children abandoned by father View(s):Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara AriyadasaTwo girls who were left alone to live in a ramshackle clay house at Melsiripura in Kurunegala were reunited with their mother on Friday. The two girls were left to fend for themselves after their father left them following their mother’s departure to Kuwait to make some earnings to repair the house in which the children were living in. The mother was identified as Nimali Nilushika who had flown to Kuwait 11 months ago to earn money for her family. However her husband, instead of taking care of the children, had begun drinking and had mistreated and assaulted the children before finally leaving them. In spite of the odds, the two girls stayed at their house without their father.
Source:Sunday Times
December 04, 2022 12:53 UTC
Elon Musk has surprise meeting with President Macron in New Orleans
By Claudia Aoraha, Senior Reporter For Dailymail.ComPublished: 12:40 EST, 3 December 2022 | Updated: 12:57 EST, 3 December 2022Elon Musk had a surprise meeting with French President Macron in New Orleans yesterday - where they discussed the billionaire's commitment to content moderation on Twitter. Macron said the pair had a 'clear and sincere discussion' about how Twitter must make the effort 'to comply with European regulations' surrounding freedom of expression. Following the meeting, Musk said: 'It was an honor to see you again. Macron added: 'Elon Musk has confirmed Twitter's participation in the Christchurch Call. There is no place for terrorist and violent extremist content anywhere.'
Source:The Nation
December 04, 2022 06:07 UTC
EMILY PRESCOTT: Rose Hambury's 'erotic, exotic and eccentric' teenage years
EMILY PRESCOTT: The 'erotic, exotic and eccentric' teenage years of Rose Hanbury detailed in a new bookBy Emily Prescott For The Mail On SundayPublished: 19:18 EST, 3 December 2022 | Updated: 23:51 EST, 3 December 2022She always looks prim and proper when spotted at Royal events with her pals and former neighbours the Prince and Princess of Wales – but it seems Rose Hanbury has a wild side. The book details the ‘erotic, exotic and eccentric’ parties there, describing rooms adorned with suspender belts doubled up as curtain pelmets, and it has a bizarre picture of a stuffed sea turtle in the downstairs loo. BindyAnother do, themed as ‘dangerous’, featured a game using a loo roll doused in petrol and set alight used as a hockey ball. Violet, who explores the homes of other socialites such as Lady Martha Sitwell and jewellery designer Sabine Getty in the book, has had her own risqué moments. The firm has previously created clothes using nettles from King Charles’s garden.
Source:The Nation
December 04, 2022 05:04 UTC
Unrivalled Aravinda to grace the show of shows
Another eight batsmen, including ex-Sri Lanka captains Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda de Silva have registered a century in each innings on two occasions each. Representing Sri Lanka in 308 ODIs, De Silva aggregated 9,284 runs averaging 34.90. In the flood-lit final, Australia made 241 for 7 in 50 overs after Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga called right and opted to field first. Unfortunately, both of them departed early in the final as Sri Lanka, chasing 242 in 50 overs, were reeling at 23 for 2 wickets. Group Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom and SLT Mobitel Rohan Fernando and CEO of Mobitel Chandika Vitharera have always played leading roles in making this show a resounding success.
Source:Sunday Observer
December 03, 2022 20:18 UTC