Indian Government is offering over 150 scholarships to Sri Lankan students; Here’s how to apply

KENSINGTON - A youth program in Kensington is working to get young people off the street and on the ice, by making a popular winter sport more accessible to everyone.Scanlon Figure Skating is giving kids a safe and affordable option to hit the rink. Skaters there are more than friends – they’ve become family."Honestly, if I didn’t have this sport, I have no idea where I’d be today," skating coach Channely Valverde said.Valverde learned to skate at the Scanlon Rec Center when she was just 6-years old.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - About 20 cars of a Norfolk Southern cargo train derailed near Springfield Saturday evening, the second derailment of the company's trains in Ohio in a month, officials said. But unlike the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a company spokesperson said there were no hazardous materials aboard the train, The Columbus Dispatch reported.The CEO of the railroad company behind the toxic derailment in Ohio will face lawmakers next week in both Pennsylvania and DC.The train, which did not have passengers, derailed around 5 p.m.

Also Read: Holi 2023: Holi parties in Delhi-NCR that you cannot miss A day ahead of Holi, the state government will distribute laptop and scholarship cheques among 608 children who lost both their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic in the district. These orphaned children will also be covered under the Chief Minister Bal Sewa scheme and will be provided with an assistance of ₹4,000, reported HT.

CENTER CITY - Were you able to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Philadelphia Flower Show, once again, back inside the Philadelphia Convention Center?The nearly two-centuries old event has been a staple in Philadelphia, hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, since 1829, putting its first floral display at the Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street.This year's nine-day event kicked off Saturday at the Convention Center in Center City. It was held in FDR Park, in South Philadelphia, for the last two years, due to COVID-19 concerns.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 20: Zach Pascal #3 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field after a win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver, and Prince George's County native, Zach Pascal was robbed at gunpoint in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Friday morning.According to Prince George's County Police, the robbery happened around 2:25 a.m.

Matt Hancock expressed concern that a flagship Rishi Sunak policy was contributing to the spread of Covid-19 as the latest set of leaked messages reveal how the pair were at odds during the pandemic.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Parliamentarian Rauff Hakeem challenged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to conduct General Elections, speaking at an event on Saturday (4).“The President says the Local Government Election is not useful and that a Parliamentary Election is required to change a government. If so, hold a General Election.

global health agency also added that the information about the origins of Covid 19 virus is not about blaming someone, but more about advancing our understanding of how this pandemic started. “...and the international scientific community – not so as to apportion blame, but to advance our understanding of how this pandemic started, so we can prevent, prepare for and respond to future epidemics and pandemics" the tweet added.

Also read: Bird Flu outbreak in Jharkhand: Nearly 4,000 birds to be culled in Bokaro According to reports, samples from Jail More under the Ranchi Municipal Corporation - presumed to be the epicentre of the outbreak - have been found positive for H5N1 avian influenza.  The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has directed the Jharkhand government to take immediate measures to tackle the situation. This includes declaration of infected and surveillance areas, restricting access to infected premises, destruction of birds and disposal of dead birds and infected material.

Maharashtra in the last 24 hours and one reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The country's infection tally stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,87,496).

A second B.C. company has said Heath Canada has given it the green light to possess, produce, sell and distribute cocaine, among other substances, to “bring a safer supply of drugs to the global market.”

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated on Saturday (4) that the government will honour the Supreme Court's interim order preventing funds allocated by the budget for the 2023 Local Government election from being witheld. He stated, accordingly, appropriate steps will be taken.Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

Hindustan Times.  Gates said that with the breadth of talent, the scale, if you’re going to track vaccination for these many people, a digital system was the only way to do that. “I was in the health ministry and they were showing how they did that with a digital system. That is something we want to have people from other countries to come and see," he noted.

EGG HARBOR TWP. N.J. - There’s a battle over pigs and chickens going on in Egg Harbor Township. A family with four rescued pigs and several chickens has been given a notice to get rid of them because they are a violation of township ordinances.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The IMF Mission in Sri Lanka says that the decision taken by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to raise the policy rate is appropriate and in line with its objectives set under the inflation targeting framework.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it reflects CBSL’s commitment to the inflation target and is an important part of the disinflation strategy in the EFF program, which is fully committed by the Sri Lankan authorities and supported by the IMF.   Sri Lanka’s inflation is declining but remains at a very high level, which has been disproportionally hurting the poor, the statement added. "Upside inflation risks could reverse the trend and lead to persistently high inflation which is extremely costly to the economy," they further added.Therefore, CBSL’s decision to raise the policy rate shows its commitment to reduce inflation more quickly and firmly towards the single-digit target. Durable disinflation would help boost market confidence, reduce excessive risk premia and ease the financing conditions for the corporates, especially the small and medium enterprises, which supports recovery.Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr.

Before “Everything Everywhere All at Once” hit the big screen last year, bringing nothing but praise and success to Ke Huy Quan and his co-stars, the actor was faced with a few setbacks.

General views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, celebrating '100 Years of Wonder' celebration on January 28, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) ANAHEIM, Calif. - Do the crime, do the time - even at Disneyland apparently! Actress Rebel Wilson recently revealed she was banned from the Happiest Place on Earth for 30 days over a selfie she took in a "secret bathroom," which of course is prohibited.Wilson spilled the tea on The Daily Show with comedian Hasan Minhaj, recalling how the Anaheim theme park has "Met Gala rules.""They called me up and said, ‘Rebel what 30 days did you not want to come to Disneyland because you’ll be filming a movie or something?'" she explained to Minhaj, who was guest hosting the show. Ramona Agruma and Rebel Wilson on January 21, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DNA they collected and the contents of his phone, experts say."If any of those kids' DNA or the dog's DNA was either in his apartment or in the car, his goose is cooked," said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "There's no way you're going to explain that away."Four University of Idaho students — Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20 — were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, in the early hours of Nov.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Opposition alleges that MP Vajira Abeywardena had been appointed as the Acting Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance during Thursday's (2) COPF meeting, and that eight gazettes have been approved at the meeting.MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, and Chandima Weerakkody had opposed this move and walked out of the meeting.There was controversy surrounding the post of Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, as MP Mayantha Dissanayake was appointed as Chair based on a proposal by the ruling faction, while the opposition had already proposed the name of Dr. Harsha De Silva for the post.Thereafter, MP Dissanayake resigned from the post, and the opposition once against proposed for Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on Friday (3) during the Monetary Policy Review."When we negotiated the staff level agreement with the IMF and finalized the agreement on the 1st of September, we had inflation projections from both the IMF and the Central Bank," he told reporters."At that time we were hoping to get the program unlocked somewhere in December (2022), and the end-year IMF inflation target was 70% and we had a little over that.

Economic Research Department to ensuring price and economic stability, and financial system stability, thereby assuring the normalisation of the interest rate structure no sooner the price pressures are sufficiently contained in the period ahead. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a change of government can only be brought about through a parliamentary election and the streets is not an option for parliament.He made this comment on Friday (3) while participating in the Air Force cadets and other officers Passing Out Parade at the Trincomalee Air Force Base today."When you passed out today, you had to take an oath under the constitution. You also undertook an oath of the Sri Lanka Air Force in public. These two oaths underline your primary responsibility.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission will meet on Friday (3) to decide on the Local Government Election.The 2023 Local Government Election was scheduled to take place on the 9th of March, however, it was postponed indefinitely due to various issues, including the lack of funding.However, the Election Commission is expected to announce the next date of the Local Government Election following Friday's (3) meeting.

a study published in 2022, more than a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. That can include being in loud bars, at concerts or sporting events, or even just listening to music in headphones or earbuds that are turned up too loud."We need our physicians to be talking about it.

SEASIDE PARK, N.J. - As dead whales continue to wash ashore on the U.S. East Coast — and particularly the Jersey Shore — officials and academics are planning a wide array of monitoring and research aimed at preventing or minimizing harm to whales and other marine life during construction and operation of offshore wind farms.A dead whale washed ashore Thursday in New Jersey, a day after another was found in New York amid a continuing wave of whale deaths along the East Coast.

PHILADELPHIA - Students at a Philadelphia high school were abruptly moved to remote learning when the presence of asbestos was found in the building during a Tuesday night inspection. The Building 21 School in the city's West Oak Lane section will remain closed for the rest of the week after asbestos was found in stairwells and the auditorium. The School District of Philadelphia says it's working to clear the hazardous material, but they did not offer a timetable about when the job will be complete.Before the coronavirus pandemic, a dozen Philadelphia schools closed between 2019 and 2020 due to the presence of asbestos. District teachers say it's a health hazard that must be addressed. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"You come in here, and you try to teach the kids, but you've got to worry about your own health, and their health, and there ain't nothing being done," Robert Smith said. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan says a lack of funding for school maintenance has caused problems like asbestos to keep reoccurring. "Our buildings have been neglected because of the lack of budget to keep them in good repair, this unfortunately happened," Jordan said.A recent court decision in Pennsylvania called state funding of Philadelphia school unconstitutional, but Senator Vincent Hughes has crafted a bill that he believes will provide appropriate funding."It provides $1B to fix up toxic and broken schools, it provides $2.15B – the largest increase in equity and adequacy funding in Pennylvania's history – to make our schools in compliance with the state's constitution," Senator Hughes said. He was optimistic that he could get newly-elected Pennsylvania Gov.

GERMANTOWN - A 44-year-old man was shot in the head and killed in Germantown and police are searching for his killer.According to officials, the shooting happened Thursday afternoon, just after 4:30, on the 200 block of West Queen Lane, in Philadelphia’s Germantown section.Responding officers found the unconscious man lying in the street with a gunshot wound to his head.MORE HEADLINES:He was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he died a short time later.Police are actively investigating a motive for the shooting, but did not release any details regarding suspects. They say no arrests have been made.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847).

LONDON - Britain's domestic intelligence agency didn't act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in northwest England, an inquiry found Thursday.Retired judge John Saunders, who led the inquiry into the Manchester Arena attack, said that one MI5 officer admitted they considered intelligence about suicide bomber Salman Abedi to be a possible national security concern but didn't discuss it with colleagues quickly enough."I have found a significant missed opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack," Saunders said.In a rare televised statement, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum, who normally keeps a low public profile, said he was "profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.""Gathering covert intelligence is difficult, but had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma," McCallum said.Abedi, 22, set off a knapsack bomb in the arena’s foyer at the end of the May 22, 2017 concert, as thousands of young fans, including many children, were leaving the pop star’s show. More than 100 people were injured.

An investigation into over 20 Covid-19 related deaths at a HSE-run nursing home in Dublin during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020 has outlined "significant concerns" regarding the management of preparations and the initial response to the outbreak of the virus at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund Mission in Sri Lanka says that efforts to increase tax revenues should be pursued in a growth-friendly manner while protecting the poor and most vulnerable. Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it is however also important that those who can most afford it, make commensurate contributions to the financing of the necessary government expenditures. The tax package the authorities have introduced, including the new tax rate schedule for the personal income tax, helps to meet these objectives, the statement added.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, also noted that the tax rates proposed under the authorities’ program are also in line with international comparison.In response to recent media questions around income tax hikes in Sri Lanka, the statement noted that Tax reforms are needed to correct this imbalance. "Only with appropriate tax receipts will the Government will be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing of critically important outlays. These reforms will also help regain confidence of creditors," it added."The current economic crisis has a number of origins, including the government’s inability to meet government spending needs through its revenue collections.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board said that Russia has put forward a proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, and has also put forward an agreement for this purpose.Professor S.R.D. Rosa, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, said this is a government to government program.Cabinet approval was given to consider nuclear energy as an alternative to meet Sri Lanka's future energy needs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) ; The first group of Chinese tourists to arrive via direct flight to Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Katunayake Airport on Wednesday (1) night.Accordingly, 125 Chinese tourists reached Sri Lanka from Guangzhou aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight at 11:10 PM.Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong welcomed them to Sri Lanka.From the 1st of April, 9 direct flights will operate between China and Sri Lanka per week.China was a leading source market for inbound tourism to Sri Lanka and one of SriLankan’s premier leisure traveller segments before the pandemic, and SriLankan is positioning for a strong comeback in China upon its return.With Chinese travellers eager to make up for lost time in globetrotting, SriLankan will be working closely with the local travel trade to reignite enthusiasm for Sri Lanka as a leisure destination in China. 

The 14th contingent of the Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) left for Lebanon early this morning on Thursday (02) amidst greetings and best wishes.The 14th SLFPC contingent, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D.P.I.T Kaluaggala and 2nd in Command, Major W.M.C.K Wanninayake is composed of 125 Army personnel, including 10 Officers and 115 Other Ranks and four sniffer dogs, ‘Frank’ – (German Shepherd), Jupiter’ (Golden Retriever), ‘Tiger’ (German Shepherd) and Leena’ (German Shepherd) who have been well-trained for detection of narcotics, explosives and mines.Major General Asanga Perera, Director General Overseas Operations with few more senior officers was at the airport to extend best wishes on behalf of the Commander of the Army and to see them off to Lebanon.The Sri Lankan FPC is mandated to provide protection to the Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura and VIPs as required by the UNIFIL. The first group of the 13th SLFPC contingent returned home on Wednesday (1).

COLOMBO; Sri Lanka Air Force Proudly Celebrates its 72nd Anniversary today (2). In the seven decades that ensued, the Sri Lanka Air Force has come under the leadership of 17 commanders. Today, its leadership is in the able hands of its 18th Commander, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The Sri Lanka Air Force has come a long way since its first flight in a humble Chipmunk and de Havilland DC 1, passing through Mig 27s, Kfir C7s, and F-7s today.

COLOMBO; The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is working together with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the productivity and resilience of the rice-based ecosystems in the Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka.Seventy-five percent of the 890,000 hectares of agricultural land used for Paddy farming in Sri Lanka is under smallholder farmers. Despite the country’s potential, the productivity in major growing ecosystems in Sri Lanka (the Dry and Intermediate Zones) has been stagnant or declining over the last 10 years. This is in contrast to the increase in productivity seen in other paddy-growing countries in Asia.If paddy productivity is increased by just 10 percent in the Dry and Intermediate zones, Sri Lanka will produce an extra 0.5 million tonnes.

The annual Kachchativu Feast is set to take place on the 03rd and 04th of March 2023 on the Kachchativu Island. Kachchativu is a small islet belongs to Sri Lanka, located near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) of Sri Lanka and India. The main mass of the annual feast will be conducted by the Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Rt.

3 min read The Australian Government’s announcement of $26 million of investment in LGBTIQA+ health research, announced at Sydney WorldPride 2023 Human Rights Conference has been welcomed by many rainbow groups.

COLOMBO (News 1st); China says it will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate its current situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday (28) said the Export-Import Bank of China provided a financing support document to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka, saying the Bank is going to provide an extension on the debt service due in 2022 and 2023 to help relieve Sri Lanka’s short-term debt repayment pressure. "The Bank also noted that it will support Sri Lanka in its loan application to the IMF and continuously call on commercial creditors (including the International Sovereign Bondholders) to provide debt treatment in an equally comparable manner, and encourage multilateral creditors to do their utmost to make corresponding contributions," she added."What China did is first based on China’s existing policy and position on debt issue. At the same time, as a special arrangement, it also reflects the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission said it would be conducting a special investigation over the delay in conducting the Local Government Election. A spokesperson said that several complaints have been filed with the HRCSL over the matter, and thus an investigation will be carried out.The spokesperson said that members of the National Election Commission would be summoned to inquire in to the matter.

cancer (CRC) cases are on the rise and the disease is being discovered among younger patients more frequently, according to Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2023, a new report on cancer facts and trends by the American Cancer Society (ACS), which is headquartered in Atlanta. Although deaths related to CRC are continuing to decline, the report indicated the disturbing trend within the landscape of fighting this disease.Notably, this includes the advanced stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and the patient’s age at which it's diagnosed. INDIANA PRIEST SAYS HE'S CURED OF BRAIN CANCER AFTER TRIP TO LOURDES: ‘THANKS BE TO GOD’The incidence of advanced stage CRC disease now occurs in three out of five people, while one out of every five CRC diagnoses are made in people under 55 years old, according to the study's investigators.Also, people who are natives of Alaska had the highest rate and mortality — almost four times higher than those of non‐Hispanic White individuals, according to the report.FILE - The United In Blue installation on the National Mall to raise awareness f the need for more colorectal cancer research, treatment options, and funding on March 16, 2022 in Washington, D.C.  (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fight Colorectal Cancer)It was published on Wednesday, March 1, in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and in the publication Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025 on cancer.org. "We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population," Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report said

Saint Mary’s University in Halifax no longer requires masking in common areas, despite them still being “encouraged.”Masking will, however, still be needed in classrooms and labs.Margaret Murphy, the associate vice-president of external affairs, says the school has taken a “measured approach” so far, helping get to a point where the university could “gradually ease the conditions, lessen the conditions as time goes on.”She says the decision came from the Return to Campus Advisory Team, which includes student and faculty representation.“Usually, I don’t wear the mask, so I don’t really care about that,” says student Ayako Nakajima. “Some of the students or the teachers really care about that.”“It would be nice if we could go without masking because sometimes they get annoying,” admits Jillian MacEwan, another student.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Railroads like the one involved in last month's fiery crash and toxic chemical release in Ohio would be subject to a series of new federal safety regulations and financial consequences under bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday by the state's two U.S. senators.The Railway Safety Act of 2023, co-sponsored by U.S.

FILE - A view of shipping containers at Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, a major component of the Port of New York and New Jersey, on Feb. 17, 2023.

EpiPens don’t work in space.“It was pretty cool,” said student Hannah Thomson. “NASA didn’t know.”Hannah is one of several students in grades four to six at St.

FILE - This photograph taken with a fish-eye lens in Paris on March 1, 2023 shows the social media application logo TikTok. (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images) TikTok said Wednesday that every account held by a user under the age of 18 will have a default 60-minute daily screen time limit in the coming weeks.

U.S. suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have been triggered by a virus that leaked from a Chinese laboratory.Responding to comments by FBI Director Christopher Wray, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the involvement of the U.S.

The Batch No. H29 of Artificial Eye Ointment, distributed by Delsam Pharma, is pictured in a provided photo.