NO risk of Listeria spread in Ratnapura – DHS

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in January 2023, there were 5.6million people across Scotland, England and Wales, receiving financial support through Universal Credit, a benefit intended to help those out of work or on a low income with daily living costs.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka to the United States, working in collaboration with renowned American humanitarian donor organizations, has achieved a significant milestone in provision of free medicine and medical supplies to Sri Lanka from July to present date. Eight consignments have already been sent to the Ministry of Health. The total value of the 8 consignments is approximately US Dollars 27 million. At current exchange rate, this is worth nearly Sri Lankan Rupees 10 billion. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, who reached out to US donor organizations last year, has conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the three donors, Heart to Heart International, Hope Worldwide and Americares for their generosity which has proved timely and potentially lifesaving for hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans in dire need.The Ambassador intends to continue working with humanitarian organizations and agencies to provide assistance to vulnerable segments of the population.

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister Indika Anuruddha commended the efforts made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a media briefing convened by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.He told reporters that it was Basil Rajapaksa who recommended that Wickremesinghe be handed over the task of taking the IMF program forward. "The initial step was taken during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. We had a few people in the Viyath Maga who were dragging the president's feet.

MP Gamini Lokuge was appointed as Chair of the Committee on Public Petitions on 21.03.2023 at the Committee meeting held in Parliament.Yadamini Gunawardena proposed the name of Gamini Lokuge whilst Jayantha Katagoda seconded it.Addressing the committee, the newly appointed Chairman said that he will pay special attention to cases where the recommendations given earlier by the Committee on Public Petition were not implemented and take further action for that. The chair who recalled that he had previously served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, which plays a very important role in achieving justice for the public, said that he would dedicate himself to that in the future as well.

China that has been granted for emergency use," wrote CSPC in a statement. According to the company, the vaccine “adopts advanced technology with independent intellectual property rights, with the advantages of achieving higher production capacity, better process reproducibility, large-scale production and scale-up more easily…The Product is stable and can be stored at 2-8°C for a long time." Also Read: China Has a New Vision for Itself: Global Power The new MRNA vaccine comes at a critical time for China, as the country has recently rolled back strict Covid restrictions to stimulate its struggling economy.

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant, which is widely regarded as safe for healthy adults at about 400 milligrams per day, or roughly the equivalent of four or five cups brewed at home.Coffee has been associated with multiple health benefits and even a lower risk of dying, based on large studies that observed participants’ behavior. Despite research that has shown moderate coffee consumption doesn’t raise the risk of heart rhythm problems, some professional medical societies still caution against consuming caffeine.The latest research:Researchers outfitted 100 healthy volunteers with gadgets that continuously monitored their heart function, daily steps, sleep patterns and blood sugar.

PHILADELPHIA - Quite the sight in Center City Wednesday night as the Parkway Corporation prepares to move an historic Gulf Station to Fairmount Park.The antique gas station has been sitting on the corner of 20th and Arch streets for almost 95 years. Residents came out to say goodbye to a building that some got to know and appreciate. "I've always liked having it in the neighborhood. Such a strange item unless you really kind of tracked it down, you really didn't know what it was," said Jay Meadway, who lives nearby. The old filling station is a historically protected building and since it is on the site where the Parkway Corporation is building a new office for Chubb Insurance, it’s being relocated near the Sedgley Porter House in Fairmount Park.MORE HEADLINES Parkway CEO Rob Zuritsky says it will cost over $1 million to move the piece of history—slowly and carefully—to its new home just two miles away."This is the first time we've ever been involved with anything like this," said Zuritsky.

A Lanarkshire local is set to play the Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow this weekend to wrap up a month of promoting women’s mental health.

A petroleum tanker stands while being built at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. The shipyard, the largest manufacturing business in Philadelphia, employs up to 1,200 workers and generates PHILADELPHIA - A horrifying fall at the shipyard in Philadelphia has left a young man fighting for his life.Police say the 26-year-old fell from a scissor lift at the Philly Shipyard on Kitty Have Avenue around 10 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India Smt.

Selena Gomez attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic/Getty Images) Selena Gomez has added a new feat to her list of accomplishments.The entertainer is the first woman to reach 400 million followers on Instagram and surpassed Kylie Jenner as the most-followed woman on the photo-sharing platform.

Bloomberg:  Sri Lanka’s bailout by the International Monetary Fund will help the bankrupt nation lower its borrowing costs, thanks in part to a change in how the cash can be used, central bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, reported Bloomber.

Cases of a drug-resistant infection caused by the fungus Candida auris are on the rise in the United States, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The fungal infection has proved deadly, especially for those with compromised immune systems, and has demonstrated an ability to spread easily in health-care settings.

Jason Manford has been flooded with messages of support from fans and celebrity pals as he issued a 'heart-breaking' health update about his grandmother on social media. Taking to Instagram on Monday (March 20), the comedian and actor kept his 375k followers in the loop after many were asking how Nana Manford has been getting on after he recently revealed she's in hospital. Just a day after Mother's Day on Sunday, Jason says he and his family are all "trying to stay strong" as Nana Manford continues to battle with dementia.

The annual rate of inflation cooled to 5.2 per cent in February, Statistics Canada says, though Canadians continued to feel the pain of surging costs at grocery stores.

Jason Manford has been showered with support after he admitted his latest family update was 'heartbreaking'. Last month the comedian shared how his Nana had been taken into hospital.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - Rapper Rick Ross's unusual pets are upsetting some of his Georgia neighbors.The family, who lives near the "Hustlin'" rapper's estate in Fayetteville, say his pet buffalo are roaming onto their property.The neighbor shared footage of the animals, which can weigh up to a ton, with TMZ, saying that the two buffalo have wandered onto her property twice last week.In the footage, the buffalo walk through her front yard and graze on the grass near her driveway.She said she's concerned the animals could hurt her two small children.The woman reportedly tried calling police, but they told her it's a civil dispute and did not file a report.Rick Ross attends the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) Ross had been gifted the two buffalo from his partners at a clothing company last year.He also has four horses and a bull living on the property.In an Instagram story, the rapper responded by saying, "when you see my buffalo, give them a carrot.

FILE IMAGE - Chinas President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders summit in Samarkand on Sept. 15, 2022.

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to follow a five-fold strategy of test, track, treat and vaccinations as these states witness a rise in Covid-19 cases.  

COLOMBO (News 1st); Over 250 female athletes arrived in Sri Lanka for the challenging 'Raid Amazones' adventure event that will take place in March 2023 in Sri Lanka.Raid Amazones will hit the fabled streets of the hill capital, Kandy with the participation of over 250 female athletes. Raid Amazones is a coveted annual destination adventure event originating from France, which features female athletes competing their way through a range of challenges such as orienteering, mountain biking, canoeing, riding, running and archery. Sri Lanka was chosen over rival destinations by the event’s founders due to the unparalleled warmth of its people and support on ground to pull off a successful event.

COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.8 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,59,182, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent, the data said.

Ruby Rose has sparked fears for her mental health by announcing she is taking a break from social media due to her traumatic 37th birthday. The ‘Orange is the New Black’ actress, who has tried to take her life several times, is due to turn 37 on Monday (20. 03.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of Arkansas, speaks while unveiling the Arkansas LEARNS education bill at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Gov.

Vladimir Putin visited the occupied port city of Mariupol, his first trip to the Ukrainian territory that Moscow illegally annexed in September in a show of defiance after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges.Putin arrived in Mariupol late Saturday after visiting Crimea, southwest of Mariupol, to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. He was shown chatting with Mariupol residents and visiting an art school and a children’s center in Sevastopol, Crimea.Mariupol became a worldwide symbol of resistance after outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian forces held out in a steel mill there for nearly three months before Moscow finally took control of it in May.

Canada’s ambassador to the United States says she’s seen a change of tone in how Washington views its northern ally’s commitment to defence thanks to a slew of new investments — reducing a potential thorny point of discussion ahead of this week’s presidential visit to Ottawa.

MIAMI - Jose Altuve left Venezuela’s 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States on Saturday night with a possible broken right thumb after getting hit by a pitch in another injury setback at the World Baseball Classic.The Houston Astros second baseman, an eight-time All-Star and the 2017 American League MVP, fell to the field after he was struck by the 95.9 mph sinker from Colorado reliever Daniel Bard in the fifth inning. He grimaced as he walked off with an athletic trainer, and Altuve was replaced by Luis Rengifo."The Astros will provide an update tomorrow after further evaluation," the club said in a statement.A Houston athletic trainer was concerned Altuve’s thumb was broken but had not received a scan to confirm a break, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced a diagnosis.Altuve’s injury occurred three days after New York Mets All-Star closer Edwin Díaz sustained a season-ending knee injury during the postgame celebration of Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic.MORE ASTROS NEWSAltuve did not answer questions from media after the game, saying only in Spanish: "All is good.""It didn’t look good," said Venezuela manager Omar López, the Astros first base coach.

MIAMI - Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine narrowly missed a beer can that was thrown at him at the World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and Puerto Rico in Miami, Florida, Friday. The incident was filmed by Aram Leighton.The video showed the rapper facing and yelling at the crowd while waving a Mexican flag. That was when a beer can is seen flying past him. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Tekashi 6ix9ine on prison, snitching, new music and moreSeveral people were also seen giving the rapper the middle finger gesture.MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 17: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine performs during the MiamiBash 2021 at FTX Arena on December 17, 2021 in Miami, Florida.

pic.twitter.com/HvaLtE7nTh The guidelines also urges patients to 'consider Remdesivir for up to 5 days) in moderate or severe cases that have a high risk of progression. "Consider Tocilizumab preferably within 24-48 hours of onset of severe disease or ICU admission," the guidelines urge for those with rapidly progressing moderate or severe disease.

PHILADELPHIA - What started as a passion for one Philadelphia woman, has given promise to dozens of girls in need of a loving, supportive home.Naima Powell has worked to change the lives of young people in Philadelphia for 20 years, and Saturday she unveiled her first center - a home for girls ages 10 to 17.The 3-bedroom house on Regent Street in Southwest Philadelphia will soon be home to six children whose families are unable to care for them.Powell, the found and director of Lighthouse Family Youth Agency, is determined to provide young girls with the comfort and security of knowing they are loved and supported. "Youth will come in through the welfare system, and our goal is to teach them and advocate with them to be the best versions of themselves," Powell said.She's been a foster mom for 20 years, providing a loving home for 15 years."My mom raised me since I was two months old after my biological mother wasn't really there for me, and built me into the person I am," said Divine Cannedy, Powell's daughter.As a social worker, Powell says her lifelong goal is to help children reach their full potential."Children between the ages of 10 to 17 need the guidance, need the support, they need people who are accepting of them," she said.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine on Saturday, the day after the International Criminal Court’ issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes.Putin visited an art school and a children’s center, locations that appeared to have been chosen in response to the court's action on Friday.The court specifically accused him Friday of bearing personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion of the neighboring country that started almost 13 months ago.Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world denounced as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded that Russia withdraw from the peninsula as well as the areas it has occupied since last year.Putin has shown no intention of relinquishing the Kremlin’s gains.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Education Minister Susil Premajayanth said that from the 23rd of March school text books will be distributed to all students across all schools in the country.He was speaking at the school books and stationery distribution program named 'Divi Saviya' organized by the LOLC Holdings on Friday (17).The 'Divi Saviya' program organized by LOLC Holdings will distribute school books and stationery material to all students.Friday's (17) program took place at the Ganemulla Sri Sumangala Prime School, and it was attended by Education Minister Susil Premajantha.This event was also attended by Kithsiri Gunawardena, Chief Operating Officer of LOLC Holdings PLC and Gampaha Zonal Education Director P. D.

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar has been handed nearly two months of additional jail time on top of his existing 12 and a half year sentence, as per prison records.Duggar, 35, was convicted of child pornography charges in 2021.Duggar’s extended sentence comes after he was caught with a contraband cellphone last month. As a result, the 19 Kids and Counting ex-castmate was reportedly placed in solitary confinement.

NEW YORK - The Manhattan District Attorney's office has asked for a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump next week, according to a court source.According to the source, the meeting was requested Thursday and hasn't been set. The meeting is to "discuss logistics for some time next week, which would mean that they are anticipating an indictment next week," the source familiar with the planning said.Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reacted to the news by ripping district attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling his investigation a "witch hunt" and accusing him of being in the pocket of President Biden and "radical Democrats."NEW YORK PROSECUTORS SIGNAL TRUMP MAY FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FROM STORMY DANIELS SCANDALFormer President Donald Trump greets guests following an event at the Adler Theatre on March 13, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa.

International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.The ICC said in a statement on Friday that Putin is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of children, and that of unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia since Feb. 24, 2022 – the day Putin ordered a wide-scale invasion in the neighbouring country.The ICC cited the charges under articles in the Rome Statute of the ICC.

THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court said on Friday it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine.The court said in a statement that Putin "is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."It also issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, on similar allegations.Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the congress of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), March,16,2023, in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images) The court’s president, Piotr Hofmanski, said in a video statement that while the ICC’s judges have issued the warrants, it will be up to the international community to enforce them.

FILE-Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose during their meeting in Beijing, on February 4, 2022. (ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday, in an apparent show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid sharpening East-West tensions over the war in Ukraine.Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine is expected to dominate Putin and Xi's discussions.

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.

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.

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.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is warning about a significant vulnerability impacting Microsoft email users that allows threat actors to steal victims’ identities.

protests against the queer community has risen sharply across North America in recent months and groups that study online hate believe they know why.“The data shows an uptick in anti-LGBT+ demonstrations in Canada alongside the larger increase in the United States,” said Sam Jones, communications lead for the Armed Conflict Location and Data Project. “More anti-LGBT+ demonstration events have already been recorded in Canada so far this year than in all of 2021 and 2023 is on track to exceed 2022.”Canadian Anti-Hate Network executive director Evan Balgord says Canada is seeing the protests happening right across the country with multiple events happening every week.

(Staff photo by Brianna Soukup/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) PHOENIX - As gas prices rose across the country in 2022 amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more people began to show interest in electric cars as an answer to higher gas prices.According to the website MarketWatch, searches for new and used EVs jumped 112% from Feb. 24 to March 8, 2022 on cars.com, at around the same time as the Russian invasion began. Here's what you should know about electric cars, as well as some of the terms that are unique to this category of cars.According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, which is part of the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Strong wind gusts will continue to whip across the region on Wednesday and influence temperatures that will start to turn milder as the week continues. Forecasters picked up wind gusts that reached over 50 MPH in Philadelphia and areas along the New Jersey shore on Tuesday, as a powerful nor'easter scraped past the Delaware Valley. FOX 29's Kathy Orr says those strong wind gusts will continue overnight Tuesday and make temperatures in the 30s and 20s feel like the teens by morning. Daytime temperature in Philadelphia and surrounding areas will stay below 50 degrees with wind gusts of 40 MPH to make conditions feel colder. Winds will die down on Thursday and temperatures will approach the 60s with a mix of sunshine and clouds. A pleasant St. Patrick's Day is in store for the Delaware Valley on Friday as temperatures will reach the low 60s with cloudy skies. An early look at the weekend shows a round of showers on Saturday, followed by sunshine and cooler temperatures in the 40s and 50s. ___ WEDNESDAY: Windy, cool.

A Russian fighter jet collided into an American Reaper surveillance drone over the Black Sea in international airspace on Tuesday, according to the U.S. European Command.

KYIV, Ukraine - A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed gratitude to the Paris Club, Japan, India, and China for enabling cooperation required to reach an IMF facility for the country.In an open letter to Sri Lanka's Official Bilateral Creditors, President Wickremesinghe noted that the government deployed all efforts to demonstrate our commitment to the EFF program and relentlessly engage on the path to reforms. He said the administration has already implemented major reforms by way of prior actions agreed with the IMF.The President said his government introduced a robust  reform agenda aimed at achieving debt sustainability, strengthening governance, widening the social safety nets supporting the most vulnerable and ensuring we can grow an inclusive  economy attractive to international business. He said this is how Sri Lanka will improve the lives of its people and ensure they are first in line to benefit from improvements in our economic conditions.The President has requested creditors to maintain and even enlarge and strengthen official bilateral creditor coordination in the context of Sri Lanka's forthcoming engagement. He called on the Paris Club  bilateral partners, in particular Japan, together with all our other official bilateral partners,  including India and China, to garner and foster coordination as you best see fit.The Presidnet noted that Sri Lanka is committed to communicate transparently with all on any debt treatment terms that are agreed with any creditor or group of creditors, before being formalized. The President in his letter has also committed not to resume debt service to any creditor unless that creditor agrees on a comprehensive debt treatment in line with IMF-supported

China will reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in the three years since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted by allowing all categories of visas to be issued from tomorrow.