No Secretaries, no new posts – President to State Ministers

PHILADELPHIA - Law enforcement sources tell FOX 29 that an SUV believed to have been used in a deadly ambush shooting near Roxborough High School has been found. Police have not reported any arrests in the shooting that erupted after a joint high school football scrimmage Tuesday afternoon, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four others.SkyFOX flew over a police impound lot in Southwest Philadelphia where a light-colored SUV matching the description of the one connected to the shooting was spotted.The discovery comes hours after the Philadelphia Police Department shared video that shows five shooters emerge from a "light-colored SUV," firing more than 60 shots at a group of teens as they walked down Pechin Street following a football scrimmage.Authorities have released surveillance footage that shows five suspects running down as they fired more than 60 shots at the group of teens.According to police, one of the shooters stood over a victim and continued to fire his weapon, but the gun had run out of bullets. The victims in the shooting range in age from 14-17-years-old. Police on Wednesday identified Nicholas Elizalde, 14, as the only victim in the shooting who died from his gunshot wounds.

ROXBOROUGH - The Roxborough neighborhood is shaken, after the shooting of five teens at Roxborough High School, one of whom died."We just put a candle out, a blue candle, because blue and white is for the football team," Jerome Rockeymore said.Rockeymore doesn’t live in Roxborough, where the five teens were ambushed following a football scrimmage. He didn’t even know the 14-year-old boy who died, but he and his friends still wanted to come pay their respects.RELATED COVERAGE:"I was just giving my condolences in the neighborhood. I lost a lot of people.

Also Read: Heart dysfunction, COVID-19 booster vaccines in India have no links, say experts The public service honour went to Lauren Gardner, an engineer who studies the spread of diseases. Her lab team developed the COVID-19 tracker when the coronavirus began to spread internationally in January 2020. The dashboard evolved into a useful tool that today tracks cases, deaths, immunizations, and other things on a global scale.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill September 20, 2022 in Washington, DC. Greene discussed her legislation named the Protect Childrens Innocence Act, which would prohibit gender-affirming healthcare to t ROME, Ga. - Perry Greene, the husband of Rep.

New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) hits his 61st home run of the season in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays play at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, Sept. 28, 2022. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) NEW YORK - All rise! Slugger Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has tied the American League season home run record.Judge hit his 61st home run of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday evening, tying him with fellow Yankee great Roger Maris, who set the record in 1961.

Jeremy Mackenzie, a far-right livestreamer and founder of the de-facto group “Diagolon,” has been arrested on a Canada-wide warrant, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia RCMP have confirmed to Global News.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Meteorology says that showers will occur at times in Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.Several spells of showers will occur in Western and North-Western provinces and Galle and Matara districts.Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Uva province and Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers will occur at times in the sea area off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo.Winds:Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at times the sea area off the coast extends from Puttalam to Kankasanturai via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota. Wind speed may increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the other sea areas around the Island.State of Sea:The sea area off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough. The sea area off the coast extending from Kankasanturai to Matara via Mannar, Colombo, and Galle will be rough at times and the other sea areas around the Island may be fairly rough at times.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Six people were injured in a shooting on an Oakland school campus. Oakland police said the shooting happened on the King Estate campus, which is comprised a cluster of schools — Rudsdale Continuation School, Newcomer high schools, BayTech Charter School, and the headquarters of Sojourner Truth Independent Study.Authorities said two of the victims were found inside Rudsdale Continuation School.According to a spokesman for Highland Hospital, three of the shooting victims were brought to the trauma center. The other three victims were taken to other local hospitals.Authorities said two of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries, a third had non-life-threatening injuries.

CRESCENTVILLE - A 17-year-old girl was killed after she was struck by a vehicle while trying to run from a disturbance, in Philadelphia's Crescentville section.Officials said the victim was at the 4600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard, on the grounds of Excel Academy South, Wednesday afternoon, just before 2 p.m., when the accident took place.The girl was reportedly trying to run away from an assault when she was struck by the driver of a gray Chrysler.Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Small stated police received numerous 911 calls for a large fight and accident at the scene.Fire crews and medics responded to the calls and found the 17-year-old victim laying in the parking lot, unresponsive.Medics rushed her to Einstein Medical Center, but she succumbed to her injuries and died a short time later.The driver of the vehicle, an 18-year-old female, did remain at the scene and is talking with police.Inspector Small said police believe the 17-year-old and 18-year-old did attend the school.Detectives are investigating the accident.

President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, Sept. 28, 2022.

Covid-19 cases seem to be on the rise in Russia with its tally rising by 40,017 over the past day, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis centre.On Wednesday (September 28) it was reported that Russia is now tackling over 20million Covid cases as the numbers rack up, as over 36,000 cases were recorded the previous day.Despite the high cases, there are less people hospitalised with the virus, as an estimated 3,300 people were admitted to hospital with Covid-19 over the past day, down 9.6% from a day earlier.READ MORE:Conspiracy lover pundit Matt Le Tissier insists his views are actually 'very moderate'While the number of hospitalised patients has increased in 34 regions of the country, that figure has decreased in 49 other regions.The anti-coronavirus crisis centre reported that the nation's capital's Covid cases had risen by 4,041 over the past day, compared to the 2,089 cases a day earlier, reaching a total of over 3million cases in Moscow.While in St.

COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 137 to 980 total. The last time Alberta hospitals were this full of COVID-19 patients was May 27.COVID ICU numbers saw a 50 per cent increase from the week prior, up 13 to 39 – matching mid-May numbers.A total of 4,905 Albertans have had their death attributed to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, a number that increased by 33 over the past week.

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - A middle school in Upper Darby that was briefly placed on lock-in is now in the clear, according to police. Authorities say the Beverly Hills Middle School on Garrett Road in Upper Darby was in a "lock-in" status due to an ongoing police investigation. According to officials, no one was allowed to exit or enter the school grounds. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAfter less than one hour, the lock-in was lifted.

PHILADELPHIA - An armed carjacker accused of ambushing a mother and her teenage daughter in the driveway of their Northeast Philadelphia home has been captured, according to a source. Investigators say the pair were leaving their home on the 8900 block of Maxwell Place around 6 a.m. Monday morning when the suspect ran up to them armed with a gun. "It appears he was laying in wait," Captain John Ryan told FOX 29's Dawn Timmeny. The disturbing video of the carjacking to posted Instagram shows the mother pleading with the suspect as he threatens her and her daughter with a gun.The suspect took the woman's purse and drove off in the family's Hyundai Santa Fe, according to police.

NEW YORK - Have you ever experienced meeting someone who is unaware of either a popular song or food dish? Their ignorance is palpable. It’s a feeling that leaves those in the know both infuriated and jealous at the same time. The internet is experiencing that right now, after excerpts from a local New York City news article went viral in which the reporter, who writes about the opening of a new Panda Express location, makes it seem through their writing, that they’ve never actually heard of Panda Express before. The article was so baffling to one Twitter user, Alex Lasker who tweeted snippets of the piece on Twitter writing the caption "absolutely losing my mind at this article about the new east village Panda Express written by someone who has never heard of Panda Express in their life."The screenshots show an article from local Manhattan newspaper The Village Sun, in which the reporter describes their interest in a new restaurant they describe as "a self-described ‘fast-casual’ Chinese restaurant.""As for Panda Express, it describes its fare as ‘Chinese Flavors With American Tastes,’ if that makes sense.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, passed away at Balmoral aged 96 on the 8th of September, after reigning for a period of 70 yearsAfter days of lying in state, the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II has begun its final journey as a part of the grand state funeral.President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who travelled to Westminster to attend the funeral, paid his respects on Sunday (18).Since it opened last Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of people have gone to pay their respects to the late monarch – with many standing for more than 10 hours in a queue that stretched across central London.Today, the Lying-in-State will end and the Coffin will be taken in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place.Following the State Funeral, the Coffin will travel in Procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From Wellington Arch, the Coffin will travel to Windsor and once there, the State Hearse will travel in Procession to St.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Several ministries which were under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe have been assigned to five acting Ministers.The relevant ministries have been reassigned for the period during which the President will remain away from the island for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.Accordingly, Pramita Bandara Tennakoon has been appointed as Acting Minister of Defense, Ranjith Siambalapitiya as Acting Minister of Finance, and Geeta Kumarasinghe as Acting Minister of Women and Children Affairs.Moreover, Kanaka Herath will  function as the Acting Minister of Technology while Dilum Amunugama will be functioning as the Acting Minister of Investment Promotion.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that cricket team captain Dasun Shanaka and the team took advantage of their defeats and made themselves stronger to advance forward to the Asian Cup.The President, speaking further, said that it is not difficult to lead the country towards victory in the face of the world if the team continues to think in the same way.The President also pointed out that working together as a team helped them to win.President Ranil Wickremesinghe was addressing the felictation ceremony held for the Sri Lankan athletes who won their respective Asia-level wins; the Cricket team and the team which won the Asian Netball Championship, in addition to the medalists of Commonwealth Games.Meanwhile, at the request of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka Cricket took steps to present Rs. 2 million to each player in the Netball team symbolizing its support towards the sport.Sri Lanka won 4 medals in the 22nd Commonwealth Games held recently in Birmingham, Britain.Palitha Bandara won the silver medal in the discus throw event in the para sports category, while Yupun Abeykoon won the 100m event, Nethmi Ahimsa Poruthota in the women's 57kg wrestling competition and Dilanka Isuru Kumara won the bronze medals in the weightlifting 55kg category.The silver medalist was awarded Rs.10 million from the sports fund, each bronze medalist was awarded Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has been appointed the Acting Minister of Finance.The MP has been appointed to this position due to the departure of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Minister of Finance, to attend the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.MP Siyambalapitiya, who entered the Parliament representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna national list, is currently also the State Minister of Finance.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe left the island on Saturday (17) to attended the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II. Officer in charge of the Bandaranaike International Airport said that a group including the President left for Dubai this morning on an Emirates Flight.From Dubai the entourage including the president will go to London.This marks President Ranil Wickramasinghe's maiden visit abroad.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that a majority of the country wants him to solve the crisis.Speaking to ABC Australia's Foreign Correspondent program Ranil Wickremesinghe said "I'm the one who said the correct thing, go to the IMF. That's why there is confidence backing me.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka – India Free Trade Agreement would be revived and upgraded into a comprehensive economic and technological partnership.The President noted that he would establish an international trade office which will deal with all the international trade negotiations.He pointed out Sri Lanka and India gradually have to wean themselves out of the barriers to investment and the non-tariff barriers to trade specially in relation to Sri Lanka Indo economic relations.He made these observations addressing the Sri Lanka India Society (SLIS) get together held at the in Colombo on Thursday (15) evening to mark the 75th anniversary of independence of India."We will revive and upgrade the Free Trade Agreement into a comprehensive economic and technological partnership. We started that in 2018 and 2019. Then I found recently that it has been stuck somewhere in the department of Commerce with a large number of committees.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two newly appointed Ambassadors to Sri Lanka handed over their credentials to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (16).Her Excellency Mrs. Bonnie Horbach, the Dutch Ambassador to Sri Lanka and His Excellency Mr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka will NOT participate in any military alliance, and certainly does not want the problems of the pacific coming in to the Indian Ocean, said President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on Wednesday (14).Wickremesinghe speaking on Sri Lanka's position in the geo-political stage said the country's importance has appreciated and depreciated.However, he said that the geo-politics of the Indian ocean has unfortunately made Sri Lanka the punching bag for Hambantota. "It is not a military port. Though we are a commercial port it shows our strategic importance that many people come to conclusions which are unwarranted," he said.The President said that he hopes the next agreement Sri Lanka come to with China will not cause such speculation and such agreements will only be about debt reduction for Sri Lanka. "We don't participate in military alliance, and we certainly do not want the problems of the pacific coming in to the Indian Ocean.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A preliminary round of discussions were held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens to explore the opportunities for investment in  renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.The discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (14) with the participation of a group of Australian investors.President Wickremesinghe has emphasized priority for encouraging new investments in the renewable energy sector as a solution to the current electricity crisis and to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a national plan should be implemented to ensure food security and nutrition in Sri Lanka.He made this observation addressing the inaugural program of the establishment of the Multi-sector Combined Mechanism for empowering Rural Economic Revitalization Centers to ensure food security and nutrition.The program was held at the President's Office on Tuesday(13).The president pointed out that agriculture should be made a foreign exchange earning sector by way of enhancing production and competitiveness through the modernization of agriculture.The President who emphasized the need to work in an organized and collective manner to solve the food issue in the face of the global food crisis said that everyone should join hands with the government's new program to ensure food security and nutrition.The President’s statement is as follows;-The government has got to face the challenge of provision of food to all since the country experienced a minus seven economy.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces granted approval to appoint Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, with effect from 12 September 2022.Accordingly, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa today.Air Vice Marshal RAUP Rajapaksa RSP and two Bars, USP, MSc (MOA) USA, MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MA in IS&S (UK), BSc (Def Stu), MIM (SL), rcds, psc joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1988. Having undergone his Basic Combat Training at Kotelawala Defence Academy, Basic Flying Training at No.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The multi-sector mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centres to ensure food security and nutrition was initiated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday (13).The vision of the Food Security Programme of the Government is to ensure every citizen has access to enough food at a reasonable price to lead an active and healthy life, at any given situation of the country.The government has initiated this program with the view of achieving dual objectives of ensuring that no citizen of the country should starve due to lack of food and no child should be a victim of malnutrition.In order to achieve these dual objectives, it is required to protect all families in the country from being victims of poverty.The relevant mechanism has been implemented through seven committees while the National Food Security and Nutrition Council will function under the chairmanship of the President.The National Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will function under the Chairmanship of the President’s Secretary whereas the Technical Advisory Committee on Food Security and Nutrition will be chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary.The Provincial Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will function under the chairmanship of the Provincial Governors while the District Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will be chaired by the District Secretaries.

COLOMBO (News 1st): A preliminary discussion was held on Monday (12) between the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka focusing on several areas where the ADB can provide support and bilateral cooperation to the Government of Sri Lanka to overcome the current crisis, said the President's Media Division.The discussion was held at the President's Office in Colombo.The discussion was held with a group of representatives including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Director General of the South Asian Department of the Asian Development Bank Kenichi Yokoyama.This discussion was attended by Chen Chen, Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, Utsav Kumar, Deputy Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, and Sagala Ratnayake, Chief of Staff to the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungon who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (11) for a two-day official visit, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena today (12).The Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Dhammika Dasanayake is also scheduled to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungon is scheduled to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow (13).The officer in charge of the airport said that Dhammika Dasanayake came to the Katunayake Airport special guest room to welcome him.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given an ultimatium to the political parties to decide on electoral reforms."I'm going to call the parliament to say once and for all that they must agree on electoral reform. This has been going on. The parties are arguing among themselves.

COLOMBO (News 1st); USAID Administrator Samantha Power told Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesighe that political reform agenda and the economic agenda go hand in hand.She said that the United States trying to engage the business community to look at Sri Lanka now and to see the opportunities that exist here.She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s vibrant private sector and said measures should be taken to unleash the potential of the private sector. "You have such an incredible private sector, such entrepreneurship.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday (11) congratulated the unbeaten Sri Lankan Netball team after they were crowned Asian Netball Champions having defeated Singapore.Sri Lanka beat hosts Singapore 63 – 53 to clinch the Asian Netball Championships 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be attending the fueneral of late Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom, the Presidential Media Division stated.President Ranil Wickramasinghe expressed his condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickramasinghe who arrived at the British High Commission met British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton and extended his condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickramasinghe was welcomed by the British High Commissioner.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Several Opposition MPs have taken to questioning the President on his decision taken to appoint 37 new State Ministers, and MP Ajith P. Perera pointed out that although President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that he has learned his lessons from the People's Protests; the 'Aragalaya', he has now appointed 37 State Ministers. Speaking to media, MP Ajith P.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former minister Namal Rajapaksa announced that a new coalition will be established under the leadership of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.Speaking at an SLPP meeting held in Dedigama, the MP said that the situation today would have proven to be different if former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa implemented law against those who incited violence via social media.However, MP Rajapaksa said that he is happy that the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe is implementing the law against them, as there is a challenging period ahead of Sri Lanka. Stating that his political camp collapsed in an unexpected manner, MP Rajapaksa said that the mistake which they made was that they changed the people after promising to change the system, however let the newly appointed people function with the unchanged, old system. "There is no purpose if the President travels in a single car, if the children at villages are still travelling on bicycles.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe advised officials to revise the circulars immediately if it impedes on the implementation of development projects.The President chaired a discussion at the President's Office on Friday (09) to examine the progress of several development projects in the country based on Indian investment cooperation, said the President's Media Division.Deputy Indian High Commissioner Vinod K.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The outgoing Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yury Materiy called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (08).Yury Materiy, who has ended his term in Sri Lanka, said that he will continue to work to strengthen the relations with Sri Lanka. He further stressed the need to enhance ties and develop the tourism industry between the two countries. President Wickremesinghe thanked Ambassador Materiy for his service rendered to Sri Lanka as the Ambassador of Russia. Ambassador Yury Materiy for his part pledged to do his utmost to foster bilateral relations between the two countries even though he is leaving Sri Lanka after completing his tenure. He also wished President Wickremesinghe the strength to take Sri Lanka out of the economic crisis and establish a stable country. President Wickremesinghe wished Ambassador Yury Materiy success in all his future undertakings and thanked him for all the assistance rendered during his tenure in Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has declared the 19th of September 2022 a Day of Mourning in view of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued the directive to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs on Friday (9).The President's Media Division also noted that the National Flag will be flown at half-mast until the 19th of September 2022.President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "She was a symbol of stability and endurance, and she will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth" tweeted the President.Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.She died peacefully on Thursday (8) afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer.The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" around the world.He said: "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother."I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."During the coming period of mourning, he said he and his family would be "comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held".The King and his wife, Camilla, now Queen Consort, will return to London on Friday, Buckingham Palace said.

COLOMBO (News 1);  Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that all public buildings must lower the National Flag to Half-Mast in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday (8).The President had given the instructions to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs.The President's Media Division said a period of mourning will be announced in due course.President Ranil Wickremesighe said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "She was a symbol of stability and endurance, and she will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth," tweeted the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed concern over the ill-health of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who is also the Head of the Commonwealth. The President has wished Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth her a speedy recovery, said the President's Media Division.The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace has said.All the Queen's children are either at, or are travelling to, her Scottish estate near Aberdeen."Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision," a statement said.The Queen is comfortable, it added.Prince Charles has travelled there with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.The Duke of York and the Count and Countess of Wessex are travelling to the Scottish estate, about 40 miles (64km) west of Aberdeen.The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, was already in Scotland undertaking engagements.The Duke of Cambridge is also on his way, with the Duchess of Cambridge remaining in Windsor with their children.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had been in Germany, are travelling to Balmoral, a spokesperson for the couple said.The announcement comes after the Queen, 96, pulled out of a meeting of her Privy Council on Wednesday, with doctors advising her to rest.There are clearly pressing concerns for the Queen's health – much more explicitly put than before and without any reference to this only being about difficulties with mobility.There are also warnings against unfounded speculation, such as that she might have had a fall.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka appointed over 30 new Ministers of State on Thursday (8) at the President's Office in Colombo. The State Ministers took oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Jagath Pushpakumara – State Minister Foreign Employment Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – State Minister of FinanceLasantha Alagiyawanna – State Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama – State Minister of Investment PromotionKanaka Herath – State Minister of TechnologyJanaka Wakkumbura – State Minister of Provincial Councils, and Local GovernmentShehan Semasinghe – State Minister of FinanceMohan Priyadarshana De Silva – State Minister of Agriculture Thenuka Vidanagamage – State Minister of Urban Development and HousingPramitha Bandara Tennakoon – State Minister of SecurityRohana Dissanayake – State Minister of Sports and Youth AffairsArundhika Fernando – State Minister of Urban Development and Housing Vijitha Berugoda – State Minister of Piriven Education Lohan Ratwatte – State Minister of Plantation Industries Tharaka Balasuriya – State Minister of External Affairs Sanath Nishantha- State Minister of Water Supply Indika Anurudhdha – State Minister of Power and Energy Siripala Gamlath – State Minister of HighwaysShantha Bandara – State Minister of Media Anuradha Jayaratne  – State Minister of Justice and Prisons AffairsS.

COLOMBO (News 1st); 36 State Ministers will take oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (8) at the President's Office. According to a Senior Cabinet Minister, 36 new State Ministers will be sworn in. A Senior Cabinet Minister also said that several MPs representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are among the new State Ministers.

COLOMBO (News 1st); All the District Secretaries have been informed to make necessary preparations to face possible disaster situations.On the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, has instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to issue direct orders to the relevant ministries and departments.Accordingly, covering all the 25 districts, the district secretaries will coordinate the efforts while the Geology and Mines Bureau, Meteorology Department, and the Building Research Institutes will provide technical support.The Disaster Management Center under the Ministry of Defense will provide the necessary instructions to the relief service officers at the district disaster management coordination units and divisional secretariat level.All line ministries have been notified to take necessary measures to avoid emergency situations and maintain public life, as well as to provide the necessary support for the speedy implementation of necessary relief programs while maintaining the efficiency of the process at a high level, in the event of an emergency disaster situation.The 117 hotline will be operational round the clock while steps have also been taken to keep the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) operational 24 hours a day, the Disaster Management Center said.Those affected by disasters will be provided food, lodging, and other facilities through the NDRSC. 

(Reuters); Sri Lanka's International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout plan could be a turning point in its worst economic crisis, but far-from-stable politics and a need to get debt relief from competing powers China, India, and Japan mean some of the hardest work is still to come.President Ranil Wickremesinghe knows a lot of circles will need to be squared for IMF's $2.9 billion lifeline to become a reality.Spending cuts, tax hikes, and debt write-downs are a common formula for bankrupt countries, but crisis veterans say there are some uniquely difficult elements here.An impoverished population that forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee in July still needs to accept Wickremesinghe, seen by many as of the same political ilk and a man who faces a bristling opposition.The country's borrowings are so complex that estimates of the total range anywhere from $85 billion to well over $100 billion.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United National Party’s (UNP) 76th Convention will be held on September 6th at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo on the theme Ekwemu (Let’s Unite). The Convention will be held under the patronage of UNP Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The UNP will hold this year’s Convention under a President of the party after 28 years. The last time the UNP held an annual Convention under a UNP President was in 1993.It was founded by D.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and the people of Russia.The Presidential Media Division stated that the President had extended the condolence message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the passing of the late Soviet Union Leader Gorbachev.He had noted that the late Soviet Union Leader will be remembered as a preeminent world leader whose commitment to forging partnerships with other nations changed the course of history and paved the way for a new era in global relations.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Provincial Councillor of JVP, Wasantha Samarasinghe, demanded for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to released the conditions stipulated in the IMF agreement.Samarasinghe said that previously, while the preliminary discussions with the IMF were underway, President Wickremesinghe had questioned former CBSL Governor Ajit Nivaard Cabraal about the conditions. However, Samarasinghe added, today Wickremesinghe himself does not reveal them."We heard that the documents containing the conditions agreed to by the Government was signed.