Falls Twp. man found guilty of repeated sexual assaults of 2 girls

PHILADELPHIA - An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection with chaos that erupted on the streets of Old City earlier this month. On October 2, chaos unfolded near the FOX 29 studio at the intersection of Market and 4th Streets. Around 10 p.m. crowds began to gather, blocking traffic in all directions as hundreds of people formed a large circle to watch drag racing, car tricks and fireworks that were set off. The Philadelphia Police Department says officers assigned to a detail responded to Broad and York Streets around 12:30 a.m.

Troy Fletcher, 15 (Philadelphia Police Department)PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have issued a warrant for another suspect in the shooting outside of Roxborough High School that killed a 14-year-old boy late last month. On Friday, police identified Troy Fletcher, 15, as a suspect in the case. He faces multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the shooting. Fletcher is now the fourth suspect to be identified by police following the Sept.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Prosecutors in the case of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are calling for an investigation after a juror said she felt threatened by another member of the jury during deliberations that ended with a life sentence for Cruz’s murder of 17 people.The motion calls for law enforcement to interview the unnamed juror after she told the state attorney’s office about what "she perceived to be a threat from a fellow juror while in the jury room." No further details were given. A hearing was held Friday afternoon, where the judge said the matter should be in the hands of law enforcement.The jury foreman said three of the jurors ultimately voted for life in prison, with one of them being a "hard no" on the death penalty and another two ultimately choosing to vote against it as well.A divided jury spared Cruz the death penalty and instead decided to send him to prison for the rest of his life in a decision that left many families of the victims angered, baffled and in tears.

Vincent van Gogh‘s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London, England, on Friday.The young activists from Just Stop Oil, a U.K.-based climate campaign group, threw the canned soup over the painting, which is protected by glass, and glued their hands to the wall underneath the iconic artwork. Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait discovered on the back of earlier painting Phoebe Plummer, 21, and Anna Holland, 20, removed their jackets to reveal their “Just Stop Oil” T-shirts just before the protest, The Guardian reported.Spectators in the room were audibly shocked by the display, with some in the gallery calling for security.

SKYFOX over Vineland High School after a threat prompted a police investigation.  VINELAND, N.J. - Police departments in multiple southern New Jersey towns are investigating threats against schools that prompted lockdowns on Friday morning. In Toms River, police said they received a call regarding a "potential shooting" at Toms River North High School. Authorities say the school was locked down, but the call was later deemed to be an unfounded threat. Police are investigating it as a swatting incident, which occurs when a prank call is placed to draw a large police presence at a specified location. In Vineland, police say they are also investigating a threat. RELATED: 'A cry for help': Public safety officials, mental health experts weigh in on school threatsOfficers responded on scene and checked the school, saying no danger is present to the students and staff. Barnegat High School also received a threat Friday, according to police. Officials say officers responded to the building and found "no indications reports of anything occurring." Bengal Boulevard will remain closed as officers investigate. Surrounding schools in Barnegat were placed in a shelter-in-place status when the threat was reported. Schools in Barnegat are now under normal operations, but Stafford Township Schools have issued a shelter-in-place as a precaution. This is a developing story.

TRICARE, the health care program for active-duty service members, military retirees, reservists and their families, will drop more than a quarter of the pharmacies in its current network later this month, a move that will force an estimated 400,000 beneficiaries to find new pharmacies. The program said nearly 15,000 independent, community pharmacies will no longer be in the TRICARE network as of October 24.The network will still include more than 40,000 pharmacies across the country.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Irrigation Department has issued flood warnings for the Kelani, Kalu & Attanagalu Oya river basins. According to the Departement, a considerable rainfall has been occurred in these areas, and warns that by analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels there is a possibility of occurring a minor flood situation in the following areas; 1. Lowline areas of Kalu Ganga valley situated in Palinda Nuwara and Bulathsinhala D/S Division within 3 to 48 hours2.

Police officers stand at the scene after three officers were shot and wounded at a home on Oct. 12, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Credit: FOX 29 Philadelphia) It was a violent week across the United States, notably for police officers, after at least 12 in law enforcement were shot in cities spanning coast to coast — leaving at least five of them dead in Connecticut, Mississippi, Nevada, and North Carolina. "We are seeing violence against law enforcement skyrocket," the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the country’s largest police union, said Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA -  Philadelphia police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two suspects wanted in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this month. The incident happened back on Oct. 1, on the 900 block of Marcella Street.Police say the victim, a 42-year-old man, was sitting on his front porch when two male suspects approached him just before midnight.Both men opened fire from the sidewalk, and continued firing as they made their way up the porch stairs, according to police. MORE HEADLINES: Investigators told FOX 29 following the shooting that the suspects continued to fire as the victim laid on the ground.

recession is on the cards as they look ahead to 2023.Though plenty of Canadians remember living through a recession or two, for millions of others it will be the first major downturn in their adult lives. Some are in their late 20s, perhaps thinking of buying a house or already homeowners.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - While self-exams are important to help identify signs of breast cancer, not all forms begin with a lump, including a particularly aggressive type of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.In fact, most women are unaware of the unusual signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, which can include redness of the breast, thickening of the skin, or one breast feeling warmer and heavier than the other, according to a new national U.S. survey conducted just ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The deadly yet rare form of the disease doesn’t look like typical breast cancer because it frequently doesn't cause a breast lump, and it is not commonly picked up by a mammogram, according to the American Cancer Society and the IBC Network Foundation, which offers research and support for patients. It also tends to grow and spread more quickly compared to other types of cancer, often in a matter of days or weeks.FILE - A woman with the help of a nurse gets a mammogram on International Breast Cancer Day on Oct.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka approved power cuts of 1 hours and 20 minutes on 15th and 16th and 2 hours and 20 minutes on 17th October.Accordingly, power cuts will take place as follows;15th & 16th – Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW  – 1 hour and 20 minutes during night17th – Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW  – 1 hour during daytime and 1 hour and 20 minutes during night.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Foreign Minister Ali Sabry made a startling revelation on Friday (14) that the previous Cabinet was not fully aware of the dire situation that the economy was falling into.Speaking at the launch of the book ' Poverty to prosperity: A review of the Korean development model ', the Minister spoke about a number of topics including government responsibility for the prevailing economic crisis and Sri Lanka's foreign policy. Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the Government learned the hard way that the economy is the heart of the country, and if it fails, all else fails. Pointing out that unfortunately, the Ministers of theprevious Cabinet were focusing on their specific areas, such as himself holding the portfolio of the Minister of Justice, Minister Sabry said that he was looking forward to new plans with regard to law reform, digitization, improved infrastructure and more recruitments in the sector, however, confessed that he was unaware of the country's deep economic troubles. Pointing out that if the country's Cabinet's economic literacy is a minimum, then the normal people should be worse in their case, the Minister said that without taxation, there is no future for the country."In 1981, 21% of our GDP was taxes. Today it has come down to 8.3%. So we can point fingers.

PHILADELPHIA - As the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans are celebrating the team's first playoff appearance since 2011, they are also mourning the loss of one of their Minor League players. Corey Phelan joined the Phillies organization in August 2020 and was expected to move up through the Minor League quickly. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2021 and he revealed in May that his diagnosis evolved into Leukemia. A statement from the team was released on the Phillies Player Development Twitter account, saying, "The Phillies family is extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Corey Phelan. Corey's positive presence and selflessness influenced everyone around him.

Omaha, Nebraska public schools are employing $460,000 in federal funding allocated for COVID-19 relief to invest in social emotional learning (SEL) throughout the district, a practice that is popping up across the state and the country, Parents Defending Education found. "The pandemic’s impact has taken a toll on students in particular, contributing to an increase in mental health problems since 2020, according to statewide and national data," the Omaha World-Herald reported earlier this month.

The closing date for the acceptance of the applications to identify the families and individuals who require benefits under Welfare Benefits program initiated on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe under the theme of ‘Leave No One Behind’ is extended for October 28.The Welfare Benefit Board earlier had announced October 15 as the closing date for the application. Hence the opportunity is still remains open for those who are expecting subsidies and yet failed to submit their applications.The Welfare Benefit Board emphasizes that it is mandatory for all families or individuals receiving benefits under Samurdhi, Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons and Kidney Disease Assistance Program and people who are on the waiting list expecting subsidies to submit their applications under the new project.The relevant application form can be downloaded from the official website of the Welfare Benefits Board (www.wbb.gov.lk).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Navy says that a vessel with six sailors, who were engaged in search operations along the southern coast for suspicious vessels, has been missing for about 20 days.Navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva said that the sailors left from the Southern Coast on 16th September for the search operation.However, all communication with the naval vessel in question have been broken since 17th September, the Navy spokesperson said.The missing group were identified as sailors attached to the Southern Naval Command.No information about the missing sailors have been received in the operations carried out by the Navy so far

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A rescue operation has been initiated to find three victims who were trapped under a mound of earth after it collapsed on a two-storey house in Tumbaliyadda area of ​​Warakapola Anguruwella Road.Accordingly, a joint operation with the collaboration of the Police, the Police special task force and the Army has been initiated in this regard, and one person has been rescued so far.The Kegalle District Disaster Management Center said that the mound collapsed due to heavy rain on Friday (14) afternoon.Anushka Chamila, Assistant Director of Kegalle District Disaster Management Center stated that even in the midst of the rain, operations are continuing to search for people trapped in the debris.Meanwhile, landslide warnings have been issued to Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura Districts.Red alerts about landslides were issued to Palindanuvara, Barallavita, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala divisional secretariat divisions in Kalutara District.The other divisional secretariat divisions where red alerts were issued are Ambagamuwa in Nuwaeliya district and Kalawana and Aheliyagoda in Ratnapura district.The National Building Research Organization stated that the people in those areas should be very careful about landslides, landslides, rockfalls and land subsidence.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Trincomalee District Strategic Development Plan is not targeting elections, but a project that has been initiated to benefit future generations.The President said that Sri Lanka values India’s assistance in implementing the Trincomalee district development project, as our closest neighbour.He made this statement by joining the special discussion on the Trincomalee District Development Plan, held today (14) at the grounds of Trincomalee Orr’s Hill.He recollected the objections raised when the Trincomalee oil tanks were to be handed over to India, adding that the country would not have faced a fuel crisis if the decision to provide the oil tanks had received the green light to be fully implemented.Prior to the commencement of the discussion, President Wickremesinghe inspected several places proposed to be developed under the Trincomalee District Development Plan.The President was able to view the locations proposed under the Trincomalee District Development Plan from the Orr’s Hill vantage point.Further, following the discussion, the President also inspected the proposed project to develop the beach and recreation facilities near the Trincomalee Gandhi Roundabout, as a tourist attraction.Meanwhile, the President who also met a group of Trincomalee District regional journalists and had a cordial discussion.President Ranil Wickremesinghe, further commenting in the discussion regarding the Trincomalee District Development Plan said,“We are not initiating this project targeting the next election, but for the benefit of the next generation. In 2023 we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

PHILADELPHIA - Four people are recovering after they were shot in Kensington early Friday morning, according to authorities. Officials say officers responded to the 800 block of East Willard Street for a report of a person with a gun. Responding officers found four gunshot victims, according to police. Authorities say a 30-year-old man was shot in the ankle, a 43-year-old man was shot in the left foot, an 18-year-old female suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and a graze wound to the back, and a 29-year-old man was shot in the hand and ankle. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAll four victims were transported to Temple University Hospital, where they are in stable condition, according to police. Officials say there have been no arrests and that the investigation is ongoing with the department's Shooting Investigation Group. 

LONDON - Climate protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" in London’s National Gallery on Friday to protest fossil fuel extraction.The group Just Stop Oil, which wants the British government to halt new oil and gas projects, said activists dumped two cans of Heinz tomato soup over the oil painting, one of the Dutch artist’s most iconic works.London’s Metropolitan Police said officers arrested two people on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.The group has drawn attention, and criticism, for targeting artworks in museums.

Dennis Kim of Pruitt's Seafood sorts Alaska Snow Crabs (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Alaska officials have canceled the fall Bristol Bay red king crab harvest, and for the first time, have also scrapped the winter harvest of smaller snow crab.The move is a double whammy to a fleet from Alaska, Washington and Oregon chasing Bering Sea crab in harvests that in 2016 grossed $280 million, The Seattle Times reported. According to CBS News, an estimated 1 billion crabs have disappeared, a 90% drop in population.The closures reflect conservation concerns about both crab species following bleak summer populations surveys.

Ottawa residents who lived through the convoy blockade in late January and February told the inquiry probing the invocation of the Emergencies Act that they felt “terrified” and felt they had “no escape” from the blaring horns, diesel fumes and fireworks pinging off their windows.

With employment insurance premiums set to rise in the new year, both employers and workers are calling on the federal government to step in and rescue the program from the considerable amount of debt it has fallen into since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The people who carry the gene are less likely to experience a breakthrough infection Vaccines are the best way people can protect themselves against Covid but experts said that ones with a particular gene have a bigger antibody response following vaccination than others. Pointing out at a gene called HLA-DQB1*06, scientists say ‘About 30 to 40% of the UK population have this type.’ The people who carry this gene are less likely to experience a "breakthrough infection" over this time period.

FILE IMAGE - Adderall is pictured in a pharmacy on Sept. 19, 2012 (Photo by Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - The U.S.

FILE - A customer shops in a Kroger grocery store on July 15, 2022, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Two of the nation's largest grocers have agreed to merge in a deal they say would help them better compete with Walmart, Amazon and other major companies that have stepped into the grocery business.Kroger on Friday bid $20 billion for Albertsons Companies Inc., or $34.10 per share. Kroger will also assume $4.7 billion of Albertsons' debt.Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter.

LOS ANGELES - Video streaming platform Netflix on Thursday announced the launch date and pricing for its upcoming ad-supported subscription option. The ad-supported plan, called Basic with Ads, will become available in the U.S. and 11 other countries starting Nov.

Ringo Starr shared a heartbreaking update with fans on Thursday, announcing he was diagnosed with COVID-19 for a second time and therefore would be canceling the rest of his tour. "I'm sure you'll be surprised as I was.

Sir Ringo Starr has axed the rest of his North American tour after testing positive for Covid for a second time in two weeks. The legendary Beatles drummer, 82, had only just announced earlier this week that he would be ‘on the road again’ after testing negative.

on Twitter Thursday night, revealing the remaining dates of his North American tour with his All Starr band have been scrapped.“I’m sure you’ll be as surprised as I was I tested positive again for Covid the rest of the tour is off I send you peace and love Ringo,” Starr wrote alongside a selfie.The shows affected by the news include a handful of California gigs starting Oct. 14 in San Jose, Paso Robles and Los Angeles as well as two dates in Mexico City on Oct.

a video as she broke down in tears. “It’s the worst thing that you could have.

Health bosses are being asked to give 'clear and unambiguous signals' that NHS services at Altrincham General Hospital are 'there to stay'. The call has come from the chair of Trafford council's health scrutiny committee, Coun Michael Whetton.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd, the Network that owns and operates Sirasa TV, Shakthi TV, TV-1, News 1st, and Stein Studios has been appointed as the Official Television Rights Holders in Sri Lanka for the long-awaited ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13.Every one of the 45 exciting matches will be telecast live on Sirasa TV, along with special telecasts on Shakthi TV and TV-1, for the benefit of cricket lovers in Sri Lanka where hopes are high that the island nation’s team will bring home the trophy.The world’s most coveted T20 title has been won twice by West Indies and once each by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and current defending champions Australia. The eighth edition of the tournament will be played out across seven cities – Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart,  Perth, Sydney and Melbourne which will host the final.“We are delighted to be able to offer all Sri Lankans the opportunity to enjoy the World Cup on Sirasa TV. CMG has a deep history of strengthening cricket in Sri Lanka, led by our late Chairman Mr.

While Cuny will continue to be employed at Pernod Ricard, the company said it has begun the process to identify someone to head India. In the interim, Philippe Guettat, chairman and CEO, Pernod Ricard Asia will hold charge of the region NEW DELHI: Thibault Cuny, managing director and chief executive, Pernod Ricard South Asia, including India, will step down from his role on health grounds, the company said in a statement.

Kate Garraway and her husband Derek Draper have been through hell over the last two years, but their battle isn't over.When Derek was hospitalised in March 2020, he became the UK's longest suffering Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.Kate and former political advisor Derek have been married for 17 years and doting parents share two children, 16-year-old Darcey and 12-year-old William.READ MORE: Kate Garraway in emotional plea as she says there's 'no end' to Derek Draper's careGMB star Kate documented their heartbreaking health journey in her ITV film Finding Derek, which won Best Documentary at the National Television Awards last year.Now, Kate has won for a second year, taking the Authored Documentary category at the 2022 National Television Awards, showing just how much their story has moved the nation.Daily Star has taken a look back at the couple's heartbreaking health journey.Derek was rushed to hospital on March 30 2020 with serious Covid symptoms - but it wasn't until April 3 when Kate shocked viewers with the news.She explained Derek had experienced headaches, numbness in his hand and severe breathlessness where he struggled to hold his breath for longer than ten seconds.The presenter turned to her colleague Dr Hilary Jones for help and he urged her to phone an ambulance, after which he was rushed to intensive care.He was then placed in a medically-induced coma and remained unconscious for 13 weeks while being treated by hospital staff.Kate stayed by her husband's side and kept her viewers updated about his condition on Good Morning Britain.Derek finally woke up from his coma in July 2020, but he would remain in hospital for many more months.Kate was warned by medics that Derek still had a long

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Reservoirs near hydropower plants have received considerable rainfall.The spokesperson of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Andrew Nawamuni said that the reservoirs associated with Victoria, Randenigala, Rantabe, Castle Ree, and other power plants have received heavy rainfall in recent days.He said the water levels of the reservoirs have reached 77% of the total capacity. The Ceylon Electricity Board said that Hydropower generation serves for 50% of electricity added to the national grid.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe met with the World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region, Martin Raiser, and a World Bank delegation during the World Bank Annual Meetings 2022, to discuss options available to recover Sri Lanka's economy.The discussions were focused on the current creditworthiness of Sri Lanka, which is no longer entitled to source funding through the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), instead to work with the International Development Association (IDA) rating, which will grant Sri Lanka to obtain concessional loans. This process, which will entail a "reverse graduation" to IDA, will move Sri Lanka from an IBRD-only country to an IDA country.However, Sri Lanka will remain listed as a middle-income country.The IMF/WB also emphasized that access to this potential new concessional funding remains linked to deep reforms, an IMF program, and progress with a comprehensive debt treatment the process by the authorities of Sri Lanka. The VP and the WB Delegation said that sustained improvements in economic and social conditions by the Sri Lankan government could pave the way for Sri Lanka to graduate from IDA in the future.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says that the IMF is pressing for a more effective debt resolution mechanism. "We want the Common Framework to become more predictable with guidelines and able to bring equality of treatment for all creditors, public and private," she told a news briefing.She said that the IMF is also looking for ways in which it can expand that kind of donor coordination to middle-income countries, such as Sri Lanka."So, we have a lot to do during this week.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.6987 Sell 370.4261GBP Buy 396.6406 Sell 412.3276EUR Buy 346.5025 Sell 361.3682JPY Buy 2.4316 Sell 2.5351AUD Buy 223.7340 Sell 234.5339

2,786 cases yesterday. The death toll due to the disease has gone up to 5,28,857 with 10 fatalities being recorded, including three reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Florida grandfather has been arrested and charged after he returned a rental car and employees later found his granddaughter — a toddler — in the backseat.According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, employees at Hertz car rental at Daytona Beach International Airport discovered the young child on Monday evening. She was locked in the car, which had been returned about 45 minutes earlier to an unshaded parking lot.

organ donations as they wait for their young daughter to get a liver transplant that could save her life.“She was having jaundice but it’s common for babies… And the doctors was assuring that, ‘Yeah, it’s okay, it’s not a concern,’ but at two months when it was not going away they did some tests and suddenly in the morning told us that she had to go to the hospital,” recalled Preetha Haque.The family learned baby Aliza has Biliary Atresia, a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. In babies with this condition, bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked and can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver, if not treated.

Ringo Starr has cancelled the last five dates of his current North American tour, after contracting COVID-19 for a second time in the span of a fortnight.First testing positive for the virus at the start of October, the Beatle was forced to cancel seven shows between Michigan and British Columbia. He returned to the road on Tuesday (October 11) – flanked by the All-Starr Band – performing in Seattle then and in Portland the following night (October 12).It appears that his comeback was premature, though, as Starr has now confirmed he’s again returned to being COVID-positive.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Sri Lanka has decided to waive demurrage fees of over 900 freight containers detained at the Colombo Port by Sri Lanka Customs for various reasons.During a recent meeting with Sri Lanka Customs State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya noted that over a million kilograms of rice is being held in 79 containers at the Colombo Port, and were not released due to demurrage not being settled.It was decided to release 950 freight containers that are being detained by Sri Lanka Customs, as it has created massive congestion at the Colombo Port. A cabinet paper with regard to waiving the penalties will be produced to the Cabinet soon, said minister Nimal Siripala during the same meeting.

Also Read: Do you have COVID cough? Here’s how to find out US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra announced on October 13 that the extension would be valid until January 11, 2023. Becerra’s statement says that “a public health emergency exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide". As better care, drugs, and vaccines have been more readily accessible, the COVID-19 pandemic's toll in the United States has dramatically decreased from early in Biden's term when more than 3,000 Americans were dying every day.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena requested the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to assist the government’s initiative to establish a digital database of the labor workforce in Sri Lanka. He pointed out that the Ministry of Labour has taken steps to establish a comprehensive digitalized database of the workforce and urged the ILO to assist in expediting the process.This was discussed when ILO Country Director Simrin C Singh and Senior Employment Specialist of ILO Headquarters, Sher Verick called on him at the prime Minister’s Office yesterday (13).The Prime Minister briefed them on the impact of the Covid pandemic and economic crisis on the labor workforce and the short-term and long-term steps taken by the government to recover the economy and to help the workers, especially the low-income labor force.Simrin Singh said despite some signs of positive trends, most developing countries including Sri Lanka are faced with difficulties due to the global recession, limited fiscal space, debt sustainability challenges, and rising inflation. She pointed out that these issues have resulted in a labor market crisis.Prime Minister Gunawardena stressed that the government was very keen to make the labor workforce upwardly mobile and explained the multitude of training programs launched for skill development. Increasing the quality and quantity of jobs is the surest way of moving people out of poverty, he said. Employment Specialist Sher Verick said that the founding principles of the ILO are concerned not only with ensuring sources of income, but also as a means for people to live a self-determined life, and for participating fully as citizens in their communities.Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment

CHESTNUT HILL - Excessive packaging for food and household supplies is a real problem for the environment. A local student has a plan to help cut down on the waste."This particular robot has the ability to pick up basketballs," Peter Randall, Chairman of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Engineering and Robotics Department, said.16-year-old Karina Chan-van der Helm and her advisor and mentor, Peter Randall, have a little fun in the robotics lab at the Academy.