Consignment of essential medicines and medical equipment arrive from China

FILE - An elderly man sits on his electric scooter in the city park. (Ronny Hartmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)Loneliness may make our biological clock tick faster.Being lonely and feeling unhappy can accelerate the aging process more than smoking, according to a recent article published in Aging-US."We demonstrate [that] psychological factors, such as feeling unhappy or being lonely, add up to one year and eight months to one’s biological age," said lead author Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the need at the moment for the island nation is an agreement with its three main creditors – India, China, and Japan."We've had discussions with the IMF. We have come to a staff-level agreement.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency is asking Canadians to keep an eye out for an invasive bug that could spell disaster for the country’s wineries and fruit growers.The spotted lanternfly is a pest native to China that has been making inroads in the United States since 2014.Thus far, the small grey-and-red insect with spotted wings has not been found alive in Canada. Avian flu outbreaks confirmed on B.C., Alberta farms after brief pause in cases But in early September, hundreds of adults were found in a residential area in Buffalo, N.Y., just 45 km away from the Canadian border.The reports set off alarms at the CFIA, which in a tweet last week asked Canadians to report any sightings of the pest on this side of the border “immediately.”The insect feeds on sap, mainly from fruit trees, and can cause serious harm to orchards and vineyards.“We’re becoming more and more concerned about the proximity to Canada, and particularly our grape-growing industries, because this is a pest that has had significant impacts on the grape and fruit industry in the United States,” said Diana Mooij, a specialist in the invasive alien species program within the CFIA.The first North American sighting of the pest was in Pennsylvania in 2014, and since then, a tracking program monitored by Cornell University has documented the pest in 14 U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say two men are fighting for their lives after they showed up at a Philadelphia hospital Monday afternoon suffering from lethal gunshot wounds. According to investigators, a 35-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest and a 28-year-old man shot in the head arrived at Penn Presbyterian Hospital in a private vehicle around 5:30 p.m.Police believe the men were shot on the 1800 block of South Ringgold Street shortly before they arrived at the hospital. Three men and a woman were taken into custody immediately following the shooting, according to police. Authorities have not said what sparked the double shooting, but the investigation reportedly spans several crime scenes. 

COVID-19.Transport Canada said the existing rules for masks will come off Oct. 1"We are able to do this because tens of millions of Canadians rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated," Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said.Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the negative attitudes of some passengers have made it hard for airlines and crews to enforce the mask mandate in recent months, and cited that as a factor in the decision.Government officials also confirmed Canada is dropping the vaccine requirement for people entering the country at the end of the month.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 16: President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel speaks during the annual shout of independence (Grito de Independencia) as part of the independence day celebrations on September 16, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Chinese Government handed over eight state-of-the-art CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) Screening Vehicles (mobile labs) worth Rs. 660 million to the Ministry of Health on Monday (26).QI Zhenhong, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, officially handed over the mobile laboratory buses to the Minister of Health, Dr.

FOX Forecast Center expects the storm to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by Monday night as it approaches western Cuba. A Hurricane Watch has been issued along Florida's Gulf Coast ahead of the expected wind, rain and storm surge from Hurricane Ian later this week.Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone's (tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane) maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period, according to the National Hurricane Center.Florida Gov.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Power and Energy noted that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will respond legally to the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on the accusation of quality of Crude oil.Minister Kanchana Wijesekera tweeted that the CPC has adequate stocks of Diesel & Fuel Oil.Further, the extended Power Cuts were requested by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) due to a breakdown at Lakshapana, and insufficient funds at CEB for diesel & fuel oil & Hydro management.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security Nalin Fernando says the prices of essential goods will be reduced once a week.He said that attention will be paid to the price of chicken and fish.He pointed out that although the prices of many essential goods have reduced considerably compared to previous months, the prices of Chicken and Fish have NOT been reduced yet. According to the Minister, Eggs are now been sold in the market between Rs. 43 to Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently.Wang Yi expressed, China and Sri Lanka are each other's, strategic cooperative partners. The two countries have always shared weal and woe and sincerely helped each other. This year, which marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact, is of great significance for inheriting the past and ushering in the future. China is ready to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate strategic mutual trust and deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation. Congratulations to Sri Lanka on its initial results in stabilizing the situation and easing difficulties. China has provided medicines, rice, fuel, and other emergencies humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, and will continue to offer assistance within our capacity to help Sri Lanka overcome temporary difficulties.Sabry said that the Sri Lanka-China friendship has a solid foundation. China has provided strong support for Sri Lanka's economic and social development for a long time. In particular, China has offered timely help to Sri Lanka when it encountered difficulties. Sri Lanka will never forget that.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The UK is providing urgent food and farming support to Sri Lankans hit hardest by the economic crisis.More than one-third of people are struggling to eat and are suffering from shortages of fuel, power, and medicines. Sri Lanka has the fifth largest food price inflation in the world, up 93.7% last month, with rice costing 150% more than this time last year.In a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry at the UN General Assembly, Lord Ahmad will set out the UK’s package of £3 million in lifesaving support.The funding will be delivered through Red Cross and UN partners. It will provide access to food, seeds, and tools to help grow crops as well as mental health care, including for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. UK Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and the UN, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said:The UK stands by the people of Sri Lanka who are facing such a challenging time. The ongoing crisis is deeply concerning with so many in dire need of help. We are providing £3 million of lifesaving support to the most vulnerable and will continue to work with international partners to help Sri Lanka.This new funding is just part of the UK’s ongoing support to Sri Lanka.

Also Read: Covid-19: India logs nearly 5,000 new infections, active cases drop below 45k In the last ten years or so, India has developed numerous digital public platforms, each of which is distinctive in its own way. Examples include Aadhar, UPI electronic KYC, digital lockers, etc. According to Sharma, India is creating service-level registers for doctors, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, health records, etc.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 08: Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the National Baptist Convention on September 08, 2022 in Houston, Texas. The National Baptist Convention was formed in 1886, and gathers church members and leaders from around the WASHINGTON (AP) - Attending funerals on behalf of the United States is normally a straightforward assignment for a vice president, but Kamala Harris will confront controversy at nearly every turn as she visits Asia for the memorial honoring former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.American allies are seeking clarity after mixed messages over whether President Joe Biden would send troops to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, a potential conflict that could swiftly engulf the rest of the region.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Four out of the seven Sri Lankans who were held captive by Russian forces in Ukraine have been identified as medical students in the city of Kupiansk, while the other three were identified as workers.This information is being revealed in contrast to the rumors circulating with regard to the captured Sri Lankans being illegal immigrants, and the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's brief about the seven Sri Lankans being medical students.A report by the Associated Press citing a press conference held at Kharkiv Police states that the Sri Lankans were tortured at a factory in the area which was captured by Russian forces, and were beaten, mainly because they could not understad the language.The former captives include Nilojan Vasanthakumar, 20, Uthayakamar Mary Edid Prema, 50, Sharujan Gianeswaran, 25, Thinees Jokenthhiran, 34, Dilukshan Robertclive, 25, Dilujan Paththinajakan, 20 and Ainkaranathan Ganesamoorthi, 38.According to the captured Sri Lankans, six among the group were held in a large upstairs room, while the seventh, the only woman, was kept in a dark cell by herself. On 17th September, the Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy in his briefing noted that seven Sri Lankan students were found in 'torture chambers' where civilians were abused by Russian soldiers in areas of the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. One man said he was shot in the foot by the Russian captors. Another had a toenail ripped off after the soldiers repeatedly bashed it with the butt of a rifle.“Every day we were cleaning toilets and bathrooms,” Dilukshan Robertclive, one of the former captives, said in English.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The United States Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, Ambassador Cindy McCain will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday (25).Her visit will span from September 25-28 to highlight U.S. food assistance programs in Sri Lanka and reinforce the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Japan, one of Sri Lanka's main creditors, will back the South Asian nation as it seeks to restructure about $30 billion of its foreign debt and find a way out of a crippling economic crisis, Tokyo's envoy to the country said on Friday.Reaching an agreement with creditors is key to Sri Lanka securing a $2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."Japan stands by Sri Lanka in support of the debt restructuring negotiation process so that Sri Lanka can reach the final agreement with the IMF," Ambassador Hideaki Mizukoshi said in an interview.Japan holds around $3.5 billion of Sri Lanka's total bilateral debt of about $10 billion, amounting to 4.4% of the island's GDP, according to government and IMF data.Japan is also a major trading partner."Japan intends to play a constructive role with other creditor countries, including China and India," Mizukoshi said.Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with severely depleted foreign exchange reserves leading to prolonged shortages of essentials, including fuel and food.The financial turmoil is the result of economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that upended Sri Lanka's lucrative tourism industry.Although Japan will support the debt negotiation process, Mizukoshi said that talks on large infrastructure projects will only be resumed after Sri Lanka's economy recovers."In the future, when this economic crisis is over and the economic conditions are in good shape, we can restart that kind of discussion," he said.Sri Lanka suspended a $1.5 billion Japanese-funded light rail project for the commercial capital Colombo in 2020, citing financial problems.Regional rival China has built ports,

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A plane transporting essential medicines is scheduled to arrive in the country from China today (23).Medical Technical Services Director at the Ministry of Health Dr. Anwar Hamdani said the stock of medicines includes rabies vaccines for a period of six months.Essential medicines for kidney patients and cancer patients are also included in the consignment.Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Lanka Sathosa has decided to drop the prices of five essential items with effect from the 22nd of September 2022.Sathosa has revised the prices of the following products:1. Imported Big Onions (1 kg)New Price: Rs. 150/- Old Price: Rs.

Japan has announced that it will lift tough Covid restrictions on foreign tourists, reopening the borders after two-and-a-half years.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said that it made a payment for a shipment of 41,000 MT of Diesel.The shipment reached Sri Lanka on the 7th of September 2022.In the meantime, the CPC further noted that the unloading of a petrol shipment will commence on Thursday (22) evening.Moreover, the Corporation said that payments have been made to the Crude oil vessel scheduled to arrive in the country in November.There are sufficient reserves in the country, CPC adds.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Americares, one of the world’s leading nonprofit providers of donated medicine and medical supplies, has generously donated more than $773,000 USD worth (an estimated 279,476,100.28 LKR) of urgently needed medical supplies for the people of Sri Lanka. The donation was made consequent to the request made by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C., and under the purview of Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe.This donation consists of essential medicines, including prenatal and lactation vitamins, chronic disease medications, intravascular catheters, syringes, and gloves that are urgently required from the Ministry of Health. As a result of facilitating this kind deed, an MOU was signed between the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka and Americares enabling future donations to take place. A formal certificate handover ceremony took place at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C.

(Photos courtesy: Dr. Carl Allamby/Cleveland Clinic) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Many people have taken interesting paths to the field of medicine.

After a 5-week drop, global COVID-19 cases stabilized last week, though deaths continued to decline, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its weekly update on the pandemic.

Her Majesty's funeral earlier this week.But the monarch, 82, is better known for her laid-back lifestyle that reportedly includes scoffing hot dogs and shopping at Lidl - not the usual behaviour you'd expect from royalty.One of her most famous attributes is her love of smoking - according to some reports she has even been known to light up as many as 60 a day.READ MORE: Royal tests positive for Covid days after attending Queen's funeralSeveral years ago the royal was snapped leaving a Lidl supermarket, sipping on a carton of apple juice and smoking, all the while clutching a hot dog.A tweet at the time read: "The Danish Queen: The only queen in the world who walks straight out of Lidl drinking an applejuice, eating a sausage while smoking at the same time. Yep, we love our queen Margrethe."The beloved Queen also had a bizarre passion for archaeology and speaks a whopping five languages - English, French, German, Danish and Swedish.Born in 1940, Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid is the great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria - making her Queen Elizabeth II's third cousin.The two reportedly shared a tight bond for decades, both loving dogs and calling each other by the adorable nicknames "Daisy" and "Lilibet".Margrethe came to the throne in 1972 and her ascension was historic, as previously only men had been allowed to rule.As a princess she was extremely popular and married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat in 1967.

China has long been a coveted assignment for business executives and diplomats, a prestigious posting in a rising power and a valuable addition to one’s résumé.

CHICAGO - Two people have come forward to claim the $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot almost eight weeks after the drawing.The winners, who agreed to split the prize if they won, have elected to remain anonymous but said they are "over the moon" with their huge victory."They stopped into the Speedway in Des Plaines and grabbed a Mega Millions ticket while they were there," Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays said. "That turned out to be an absolutely life changing decision when a $3 line of Mega Millions with Megaplier turned into a $1.34 billion jackpot win." SUBSCRIBE TO THE FOX 32 YOUTUBE CHANNELThe winners have opted to take the lump sum payment of $780.5 million.

As Canada’s loonie falters against the surging U.S. dollar, experts say the effect could worsen inflation on some goods imported from south of the border.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 28: Baseballs are shown stacked before the Little League World Series consolation game between the Asia-Pacific Region team from Taipei City, Chinese Taipei and the Southeast Region team from Nolensville, Ten PHILADELPHIA - A Utah boy who suffered a serious head injury after falling from a bunk bed during last month's Little League World Series in Pennsylvania has returned home from the hospital and his family is suing the league and the company that made the bed.Easton Oliverson, 12, of Saint George, Utah, suffered a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain in the Aug. 15 fall at a players dormitory in Williamsport.

Instagram Story last night to share the happy news with his 1.3 million followers.Sharing a picture of his arm while doctors drew blood, Mark announced: "Very grateful today."My scan came back clean and I'm cancer-free."Thankful for every day I get to be here. Love you all."Mark has been taking to social media to give fans regular updates on his health battle since he was diagnosed last year.He initially disclosed accidentally on social media that he had received the news he had stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.The bassist later deleted the post and shared a statement explaining he had been undergoing cancer treatment.He wrote: "For the past three months I've been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer."I have cancer.

He went on, explaining that the tragic death of his father in 2020 put him in fear of taking on drastic new challenges. Speaking to Hello! he added: “Doing anything like this scared me. “I was worried if it would have a negative impact on my acting career, or anything like that, and then I lost my dad in 2020 and my mindset completely changed.” Will said the experience made him realise the need to “grab life” and say “yes to more things.” However, it’s not the first time the actor has been plagued by health worries during work.The star also did a small stint on Coronation Street, where he portrayed drug lord Harvey Gaskell. Will said he developed a head cold and chronic sinusitis while filming the dramatic scenes. The soap star feared the worst after experiencing pain between his head and eyes. Speaking to Ralf Little on their Two Pints with Will & Ralf podcast in October last year, he explained: "I've had it for ages now.

(THE HINDU) – China has offered Pakistan’s visiting Army Chief technical help as the country deals with record floods but did not announce any substantial financial assistance that its “all-weather” ally has been seeking.Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, facing financial stress, have been engaged in long-running talks with Beijing for assistance, but with negotiations in both cases having made little headway, both countries have turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Their new IMF commitments are now likely to impact their owed payments to China, which has lent the two countries more than $26 billion in the past five years.Following talks in Xi’an between Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe, the Chinese side expressed willingness to provide technical assistance for flood relief work, Pakistan’s official Inter-Services Public Relations said.Chinese State media quoted Gen.

An exterior view of a Family Dollar store near Bloomsburg. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Dozens of items have been recalled by Family Dollar because they were stored outside of temperature requirements. The items included are various over-the-counter medical products, such as condoms, pregnancy tests, toothpastes, and denture cleaners.

NEW DELHI : Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report released on Tuesday showed that the Gini coefficient for India hit a peak of 82.3 in 2020 and remained the same at the end of 2021. The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality with a higher figure denoting higher levels of inequality. The Gini remained unchanged in 2021 from 2020 even as the household wealth in India saw a sharp jump for the same period.

TikTok trend targeting children and teens.The social media dare encourages minors susceptible to peer pressure to make what has been called “sleepy chicken,” a meal likely as dangerous as it is disgusting. Viral video shows live frog found in London, Ont.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Health says that the medicines ordered for the hospitals are currently being received.The Secretary of the Ministry of Health Janaka Sri Chandragupta said that despite the shortage of medicine, the operations at hospitals have not been hampered.The Director of the National Hospital Dr.

UNITED NATIONS - In an alarming assessment, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders Tuesday that nations are "gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction" and aren’t ready or willing to tackle the major challenges that threaten the future of humanity and the fate of the planet.Speaking at the opening of the General Assembly’s annual top-level meeting, the U.N.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – It’s not a secret that we are all broke as a country, and we have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, said Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing a meeting with the Sri Lankan Diaspora.President Ranil Wickremesinghe who visited the United Kingdom to attend the funeral ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II had met with the Sri Lankan Diaspora in Britain on Monday (19) afternoon." We have already started discussions with the IMF and staff level agreement is there. We have to talk to India, China and Japan and to the private creditors.

(ANI / New Delhi); Sri Lanka High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda on Monday (19) referred to remarks of Mahinda Rajapaksa about the island nation's relations with India and said that the former President of the country used to say that "China is a close friend but India is our brother and sister".Moragoda described the relationship between the two countries as "special" and said India's security interests are "our own security interests"."Rajapaksa used to always say China is a very, very close friend but India is our brother and sister…. Within a family you can have quarrels but finally, it is your family," he said during an interaction at the Indian Women's Press Corps."From Ramayan to Buddhism today, Sri Lanka and India have a long historical relationship.

GREAT FALLS, Mont – The 36th Contingency Response Squadron assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, organized a Mobile Training Team event between the Sri Lanka Air Force and the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, Sept. 8-12.Airmen from the 120th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 120th Maintenance Squadron showed 15 members of the Sri Lanka Air Force how to use aircraft loading and refueling equipment they will receive next year from the Department of Defense under the Building Partner Capacity Program.The program builds partnerships with foreign nations by providing military and equipment training to enhance their capabilities.During the four-day Mobile Training Team event, the 120th AW Airmen worked with the Sri Lanka Air Force members on pallet buildup, refuel/defuel procedures, forklift operations, weight and balance calculation, loading and unloading aircraft.“We brought a mix of pilots, loadmasters, crew chiefs, fuel specialist, maintenance officers and logistics officers on this Mobile Training Team,” said Danushka Premadasa, Sri Lanka Air Force wing commander.

Also Read: COVID-19 lockdown, mass testing in China despite minor cases - here’s why "Previous research has shown face mask wearing can reduce the risk of spreading and contracting the disease. So, we wanted to create a mask that can detect the presence of virus in the air and alert the wearer," says Yin Fang, the study's corresponding author and a material scientist at Shanghai Tongji University.

FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden arrives for an event in the Rose Garden of the White House Sept. 15, 2022, in Washington, DC.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Hanaa Singer, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka, has made more requests for aid in support of Sri Lanka in the face of the country's economic crisis.The appeal states that according to UNICEF, 70% of households have reduced their food consumption, primarily due to the rising cost of food, and 73% of households have had their incomes either curtailed or reduced.

WASHINGTON : President Biden said the Covid-19 pandemic was over, while reiterating comments that U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry will deliver the Sri Lanka statement at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2022 in New York.During the visit, he will address several Ministerial levels meetings, such as the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Conference on Interaction & Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Group of 77 & China, the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, and the NAM Foreign Ministers Meeting. He will also have bilateral discussions with the Foreign Ministers of UN Member States. In addition, he will also meet with the highest level of UN Officials in New York. The Sri Lanka delegation will consist of Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York Mohan Pieris, as well as a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in New York. The High-level segment of the Session will be held from 20 – 26 September 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The initial executive council meeting of the 'Uththara Lanka Coalition' is due to be held on Sunday (18).Sri Lanka Communist Party Vice President and Member of Parliament Weerasumana Weerasinghe stated that it will be held today at 2 pm at the Communist Party headquarters, and future plans of the coalition will be discussed at the meeting.The coalition also aims to meet with Ambassadors and religious leaders in the near future.On September 5th, several independent Parliamentarians including MP Wimal Weerawansa, MP Udaya Gammanpila, MP Prof.

HOUSTON - A Houston-area family says a medical mistake has cost their infant child everything.Attorneys for the family of 5-month-old Milagro Torres say the baby was given the wrong medication after a procedure at Memorial Hermann Health System. RELATED: Houston mom delivers baby in same hospital that saved her life as a childIn May, at 22 days old, Torres was admitted to the downtown location for a procedure on two veins near her heart. The surgery was successful, but her mother Maria was told by the hospital the infant was given the wrong medication. 5-month-old Milagro Torres (Family photo) "She was told a terrible mistake, a horrific mistake had been made," says Attorney Tony Buzbee.