Family's financial security becomes 'top life goal' post- Covid pandemic: Survey

COLOMBO (News 1st); FIFA has upheld a decision to maintain the suspension on Sri Lanka strip the island nation of its voting rights.Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were suspended from voting during FIFA elections.

COLOMBO (News 1st); MP Udaya Gammanpila has filed requests with the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Katunayake Airport seeking information on the US diplomats who recently visited Sri Lanka.The requests were filed under the Right to Information Act.MP Udaya Gammanpila noted that the US diplomats had arrived in Sri Lanka on the 17th of February, onboard two C-17 Globe master aircraft.Gammanpila via his requests seek confirmation for the presence of the Director of the Federation Bureau of Investigation among the delegation.MP Udaya Gammanpila also requested information on whether any official from Sri Lanka had instructed that the US delegation not be subject to a check by Immigration and Emigration officials and Sri Lanka Customs officials. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan health authorities claimed there is no risk of Listeria (Listeriosis) spreading across the Ratnapura District.Director of Health Services for the Ratnapura District Dr.

The debate over the origins of the Covid pandemic has been going around for a very long time. Now an international team of virus experts stated that the Covid origin may have started by raccoon dogs from China's Wuhan market, as reported by the Atlantic.  The analysis by the experts said the virus could have been ignited by an infected animal that was being dealt through the illegal wildlife trade.  As per the report, in January 2020, swabs from within and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market were used to collect the genetic data.

One of the police officers killed in Edmonton was about to be a father for the first time and the other was called a “snow angel” for going beyond the call of duty to help people.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Professionals Trade Union Collective will meet with the President's Secretary on Friday (17) morning. The PTCU is a collective of over forty trade unions that is against the government's new tax regime.Friday's (17) meeting is to be held ahead of the meeting the Professionals Trade Union Collective will have with the President.Spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs said that the program to install solar panels at places of religious worship is underway.Minister Vidura Wickramanayake told News 1st that such solar power systems were installed at four temples.He said that the government of India has made available USD 10 Million for this project.The Minister said that all places of religious worship that also serve as educational institutes will be provided with solar power system in the first phase of the project.He said that solar power systems will be installed across all places of worship within a year.

PHILADELPHIA - A young man is fighting for his life after police say he was stabbed twice near Temple University's besieged North Philadelphia campus. Investigators say the 25-year-old man was stabbed in the neck and back on the 1200 block of Diamond Street around 8 p.m. Responding officers from the Philadelphia Police Department rushed the victim to Temple University Hospital where he was placed in critical condition. No arrests were reported immediately following the stabbing.

Whale washes up in Cape May County. (Grassy Sound Marina)WILDWOOD, N.J. - Republican congressmen called Thursday for a halt to all offshore wind power projects amid a spate of whale deaths on the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - A man and a woman were both shot Thursday evening in Philadelphia, according to police. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 600 block of South 53rd Street around 6:30 p.m. for reports of gunshots. Police found a 20-year-old man shot five times, including once in the back and chest.

he drug Paxlovid against Covid-19 from the manufacturer Pfizer is lying on a table. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa (Photo by Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images) Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill Paxlovid won another vote of confidence from U.S.

LIMERKICK, Pa. - The business partner of a Montgomery County mother who was later found dead after being reported missing will be head to trial on charges including murder, a judge ruled Thursday. The body of 43-year-old Jennifer Brown was found partially buried next to a business in Royersford two weeks after she was reported missing. Blair Watts, a friend and business partner charged with the murder of Brown, first reported her missing on Jan.

PHILADELPHIA - A volunteer discovered vandalism at the African American History Trail at Iron Hill in Newark, Delaware earlier this week."We had tremendous vandalism over the weekend. We had someone destroy all of the signage that we had along the trail," said Robin Broomall, President of the Board of Directors for the Delaware Academy of Science.

DREXEL HILL, Pa. - Crozer Hospital in Delaware County will lay off more than 200 employees amid what hospital leaders call "growing financial pressures on hospitals and health systems." Crozer, located in Drexel Hill, closed its emergency room last year and claims It's still losing millions of dollars each month. As other hospitals and healthcare systems wade through treacherous waters to stay afloat, local leaders and concerned residents are wondering why Crozer can't also shoulder the burden. "They have consistently made poor financial decisions, and then these latest layoffs are really just another example of how they are unable to operate a functioning hospital system," Francis Sheehan of Foundation for Delaware County said. Sheehan asserts that nearby non-profit hospital chains are managing to get by with under massive oversight, but Crozer - which is under practically no oversight - is struggling. "It doesn't make any sense, because in the case of a not-for-profit system like Penn or CHOP or Jefferson or Main Line, do you have a community board over seeing things," Sheehan said. "You have to disclose your financial operation in engage the community in your work."Meanwhile, Crozer is laying off roughly 4% of its workforce under newly announced restructuring plans.

PHILADELPHIA - Federal authorities are searching for a man who they say threatened to blow up a Philadelphia bank during a robbery.Investigators say the suspect, described as a 5-foot-7 heavyset white man, entered the PNC Bank on the 1001 block of East Erie Avenue around 6 p.m. Wednesday. The suspect, dressed in dark clothes with a face covering and gloves, handed the bank teller a note that authorities say threatened to detonate a concealed explosive device. The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money and the suspect fled the bank, police said.

PHILADELPHIA - A teenager is fighting for his life after police say he was shot multiple times in Philadelphia's Tacony neighborhood on Thursday afternoon. The broad daylight shooting happened on the 7100 block of Cottage Avenue just after 3:30 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Responding officers found the 18-year-old victim suffering from four gunshot wounds throughout the body and rushed him to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital where he was placed in critical condition. No arrests were reported immediately following the shooting.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kari Lake and Rep.

Three Generations Of Cloned Mice. The Second Level Combines Both The Second And Third Generations, Demonstrating The Magnitude Of The Process, A Result Of A New And Relatively Simple Cloning Technique Discovered By Scientists At The University Of Haw For the first time, scientists have created baby mice from two males.This raises the distant possibility of using the same technique for people – although experts caution that very few mouse embryos developed into live mouse pups and no one knows whether it would work for humans.Still, "It’s a very clever strategy," said Diana Laird, a stem cell and reproductive expert at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the research.

HALTOM CITY, Texas - A 17-year-old who killed an Uber Eats driver in Haltom City accepted a plea deal in court on Thursday and apologized to the family of the victim.Police say Ryan Munsie Graham was stabbed to death by two teens who were attempting to rob her while she delivered food to an apartment complex on Northern Cross Boulevard in 2021.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 juveniles arrested for the murder of Haltom City Uber Eats delivery driverThe teens, who were 14 at the time of the killing, were charged with capital murder.On Thursday, 17-year-old Zakariya De Wayne Marshall accepted a plea deal to downgrade his charge from capital murder to murder.Marshall was sentenced to 45 years behind bars. He is eligible for parole after 22 years.After the plea deal was announced, Graham's family addressed Marshall directly on Zoom. Family members say Graham had four different jobs at the time of her death."The night of January 27, 2021 was the worst day of my life," said Donna Munsie, Graham's relative who now looks after her children.

according to a new study, times have changed and $100,000 simply isn’t quite what it used to be in many cities. Financial technology company SmartAsset compared the after-tax income in 76 of the largest U.S. cities and then adjusted those figures for the cost of living in each place. Shocker: If you live in New York or California, $100,000 may not go very far. The city of Memphis may be known for the blues, but Memphis’ low cost of living surely won’t make you sing them. According to the survey, a $100,000 salary is worth more ($86,444) than in any other city after subtracting taxes and adjusting for the cost of living.And $100,000 also goes a long way in Texas. In one U.S.

Also read: Suffering from fever and cough? How do you know its H3N2 or new COVID variant “In the past few weeks a rise in cases has been noted specifically in certain parts of the country with a total of 2,082 cases reported in the week ending March 8, 2023, which rose to 3,264 cases in the week ending March 15," the letter said. With this, the active caseload has now risen to 4,623.

video posted to Twitter on Tuesday, the son of Gatineau hockey great Daniel Briere was caught on a surveillance camera shoving an unoccupied wheelchair down a flight of stairs at a bar in Erie, Pa.The video was posted to Twitter by Julia Zukowski, who said she works at Sullivan’s Pub where the incident happened, and knows the person whose chair was damaged. She wrote that she made the footage public because she “just can’t stomach the thought of this kid getting away with it.” Read more: ‘The Last of Us’: All the Alberta locations that got a dramatic makeover The video shows Carson Briere, 23, walking up to the entryway of a dance floor with three other people when he notices an unoccupied wheelchair in the stairwell.

The spike in covid cases in India can be attributed to the emergence of the new XBB The spike in covid cases in India can be attributed to the emergence of the new XBB.1.16 variant, said Rajesh Gokhale, secretary of the department of biotechnology and chief of India’s SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium. The variant has been found in Maharashtra and among Indian travellers, according to the World Health Organization. In an interview, Gokhale noted that the widespread exposure to covid-19 has made the population susceptible to various viruses, including the seasonal flu.

PHILADELPHIA - A woman and a dog were both transported to medical centers for treatment after an incident in Philadelphia, according to police. Authorities say on Thursday morning, just before 10:40 a.m., police responded to the 5700 block of North Park Avenue in the Fern Rock section of the city.  According to police, a 61-year-old woman was attacked by a pit bull and sustained several bite marks. Officials say a 62-year-old man with a license to carry witnessed the attack and shot the dog a single time. MORE HEADLINES: Medics transported the woman to Albert Einstein Medical Center for treatment, according to police. Authorities say the dog was transported to an animal hospital.Police have not released information about the condition of the woman or dog. The Department of Public Health was notified about the incident, and police say the investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story.

Coronation Street and the actor has admitted he been "driven mad" by an injury. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he gave an update on his broken leg, explaining it will be months before he is back to full health. Simon joined Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard to talk about his haunted house and celebrating 34 years on Coronation Street.

Justin Bieber has shared a positive health update with fans, after revealing he has Ramsay Hunt Syndrome last year. The singer, 29, announced his diagnosis in June as he said he was suffering with “full paralysis” on one side of his face, and was forced to cancel a series of shows at the time. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome occurs when a shingles outbreak affects facial nerves near the ear, and can cause deafness as well as immobility in the face.

escaped pet monkey was shot and killed in southern Oklahoma after it reportedly mangled a woman’s ear and slapped a man across the face.Video filmed by Ardmore, Oklahoma, resident Randal Flinn shows the primate snacking on an orange as it sat at Flinn’s doorway."What’s a monkey doing in Oklahoma?" Flinn asks while taking video of the monkey through a screen door.When the monkey left the porch and started approaching Flinn’s dog in the yard, video shows him open the door and yell for the dog to get away.That’s when the monkey turned around and charged aggressively at the door where Flinn stood. Flinn managed to slam the door just in time. READ MORE: Ohio zebra badly mauls man's arm, deputies put it down: 'I think he tore my arm off'Flinn wasn’t the only person the monkey went after, according to police.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Rick Allen of Def Leppard performs onstage during The Stadium Tour at Truist Park on June 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation) Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was assaulted by a teenager outside a hotel in South Florida last week, according to media reports.Allen was in town to perform a show with at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and was staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach, according to WSVN and TMZ.According to the Fort Lauderdale Police arrest report, obtained by FOX 35, Allen – who is not mentioned by name in the report – was in the valet area of the hotel smoking a cigarette when a 19-year-old man, identified as Max Hartley, ran at him at full speed and struck him, knocking Allen backwards, causing him to hit his head.A woman ran to help Allen and was then attacked by Hartley.

GEORGETOWN, Del. - A Delaware school resource officer arrested a student at a high school after the teen was found with a gun, state police say. According to authorities, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning around 9:00 a.m.

CRANFORD, N.J. -  Police in New Jersey are hoping to identify a "person of interest" who was caught on video leaving a dead cat in a resident’s mailbox. The incident was reported on March 12 just after 10 p.m. at a home in Cranford and was reported the next morning, according to authorities. The Cranford Police Department shared video footage from a home security camera on social media, which shows the person – who appears to be male – walking with something in their hand up the driveway.The person is then seen walking away from the home, and down the sidewalk. In footage shared by the Cranford Police Department, the individual is seen walking down the sidewalk and up the resident’s driveway before leaving a dead cat in the mailbox.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seize 4,055 pills of Xanax and Klonopin in Philadelphia on March 14, 2023, that arrived gift-wrapped from Kosovo and were destined to an address in Hancock County, Maine.

Actress Shalani Tharaka was adjudged the Most Popular Woman at 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' The women who made the Top Five at 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' were Actress Shalani Tharaka, Actress Dusheni Mayurangi, Musician Kanchana Anuradhi, Actress Ruwangi Ratnayake, and Female Cricketer Chamari Atapattu.Grand Finale of 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' – powered by News 1st and NDB to empower Sri Lankan women took place on Thursday (16) evening at the Stein Studios in Ratmalana.The Gala evening was graced by women representing various fields and distinguished guests. 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' is a program organized to empower the women of Sri Lanka and to recognize them for their achievements.Vanithabhimana 2022 was an island-wide program that spanned across a year to locate Sri Lankan Women entrepenuers living in the most remote areas.On Thurday (16) evening these women walked on the Red Carpet to the Stein Studios for the Grand Finale.A panel of expert judged led by Director General Department of Manpower & Employment Anusha Gokula Fernando selected the best from the best at  Vanithabhimana 2022.Women who braved the challenges in multiple sectors including, Sports, Entrepreneur – Micro Scale, Entrepreneur – Small Scale, Upcoming Entrepreneur, Voluntary Services, Art, Education Services, and Young Leader were recognized at the event.Women who excelled in the  Provincial Level competitions under 10 categories qualified for the National Level Competition.10 women who excelled in those fields were also recognized at Vanithabhimana 2022.Further, 10 women who excelled at Industrial and Professional level were also recognized.Veteran Actress Anoja Weerasinghe, the First Female Aviator of Sri Lankan Airlines Captain

Coronation Street star Simon Gregson has given fans an update on his real-life injury after Steve McDonald appeared on screen last year in a wheelchair. In an episode of the ITV soap aired on November 29, the character returned from a trip to Spain. He got sympathy from his pals in the boozer, with the exception of his wife Tracy, as he explained that he had broken his leg while chasing a mugger.

Read more: 4 deaths among rash of violent crimes over New Year’s weekend in Edmonton Neighbours told Global News police arrived at around 1 a.m.Police have not provided details about the call.EPS Chief Dale McFee and other officials are scheduled to make an address at 10 a.m. Their statements will be livestreamed in this post.In messages shared on Twitter, other police departments and police unions offered condolences after two officers were killed.With immense sadness and heavy hearts we mourn the tragic loss of two @edmontonpolice officers killed in the line of duty.We share in the profound grief and loss of the fallen officers.

RICHMOND, Va. - Seven Virginia sheriff's office employees have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental hospital last week, a local prosecutor said Tuesday.Henrico County Sheriff's Office personnel took the victim, Irvo Otieno, to Central State Hospital on March 6 to admit him as a patient, according to the prosecutor, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. Otieno, who was physically restrained, died during the intake process, Baskervill said in a statement."Mr.

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man serving out a 400-year sentence has just walked out of prison a free man after three decades thanks to a re-examination of his case. "As prosecutors, our only agenda is to promote public safety in our community and to ensure that justice is served," Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said in a statement.

PHILADELPHIA - A shooting in North Philadelphia has left a man critically injured and fighting for his life. According to police, officers responded to the 2700 block of North Orkney Street in the city's North Philadelphia section for reports of a person with a gun early Thursday morning at 6:45 a.m. Authorities say a 43-year-old man was shot seven times in the upper part of his body. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESMedics transported the man to Temple University Hospital, where he is in critical condition, per police. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and active, according to authorities. 

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating a stabbing that stemmed from an argument in the parking lot of a city casino.Authorities say the incident occurred on Wednesday night at 11:15 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Two people died following a tragic collision between a speeding train and a car at the Magaltota Level Crossing in Koggala, Galle.The tragic accident involving a car and a speeding train took place on Thursday (16) afternoon at the Railway Crossing located close to the Fertilizer Storage Facility in the Habaraduwa Police Jurisdiction in Galle.It was evident via CCTV footage that when the car moved on to the tracks, the warning signals were already on.A 35-year-old man from Ahangama, and an 80-year-old woman died on the spot.Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the train operating from Colombo to Beliatte collided with the car at around 12:30 in the afternoon.Locals who gathered at the crash site were seen making great efforts to retrieve the bodies from the ill-fated vehicle.The car was dragged 300 meters away from the crash site.

KYIV, Ukraine - The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.The 42-second video, released Thursday, shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said.The U.S.

Waze said the new EV charging station feature would be available starting this week and rolling out globally "over the coming weeks." (Credit: Provided / Waze) SAN FRANCISCO - Waze, the Google-owned navigation app, is hoping to make it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to find a charging station.The company announced in a blog post on Tuesday that users will now be able to enter their electric vehicle (EV) and plug type into the Waze app to find relevant charging stations along their route. "Charging station information is often inconsistent, outdated or unreliable, creating a major pain point for EV drivers who may navigate to a charging station only to discover they can’t find it or use it," the company said in a statement. "By adding up-to-date EV charging information to the Waze map, it’s even easier to charge your car and get help finding where or when you’ll come across the next station."Waze said the EV data will be reviewed and updated in real-time by its community map editors to ensure accuracy. Waze said the feature was available starting this week and roling out globally "over the coming weeks."But a report published on Wednesday by Electrek noted how the EV Charger finding feature was still showing nearby gas stations instead of chargers for one user.

States have been asked to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters New Delhi: With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. India has seen a rise in covid cases over the past few weeks.

Fans of Ben & Jerry’s can get a free scoop of ice cream between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The ministry has urged top private hospitals across the country to provide quality, affordable medical education by setting up their medical colleges New Delhi There has been an increase of 71% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 till date, the health ministry said on Friday. The government said that there has also been an increase of 97% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 101,043.

pic.twitter.com/BO5DARv6b2 Symptoms of the H3N2 subtype include fever, cough, breathlessness, wheezing, and clinical signs of pneumonia. ICMR reports that out of hospitalized SARI patients with H3N2, 92% suffer from fever, 86% from cough, and 27% from breathlessness. In some cases, patients may require oxygen or ICU care.

Eamonn Holmes has said he is "trying so hard" to walk again after recent health struggles left him needing a wheelchair. The GB News host, 63, has been going through some health struggles which have left him unable to walk and move properly, as well as suffering with chronic pain. In a new Instagram post, the TV host can be seen being strapped up in a harness as he relearns how to walk.

PHILADELPHIA - The son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere has been suspended from his college hockey team pending an investigation launched after a video posted on social media showed him pushing an unoccupied wheelchair down a staircase.Mercyhurst University's athletic department Wednesday night said Carson Briere and two other athletes involved in the incident had been placed on interim suspension. A spokesperson for Mercyhurst, a school of about 3,000 students in Erie, Pennsylvania, said earlier in the day the process of looking into Briere's conduct had just begun.PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 14: Danny Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni reacts following his second period goal against Bryan Trottier #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins Alumni on January 14, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Penn Carson Briere apologized in a statement released through the NHL's Flyers."I am deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday," he said.

PHILADELPHIA - The lights on the iconic Boathouse Row in Philadelphia are set to go dark for eight months for lighting system renovations, according to the City of Philadelphia's Department of Parks and Recreation. The city says the lights will go dark on March 20 and will be out for several months while the lighting system upgrades. According to city officials, the Fairmount Park Conservancy is partnering with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to replace the system for $2.1 million. The lighting, introduced in 1979, has become an iconic stable along the Schuylkill River. Boathouse Row lights up in red for Phillies opening dayThe lights were last upgraded in 2016 and the city says the rising maintenance costs sparked the need for a full replacement. "Boathouse Row is a Philadelphia icon.