Public Holiday on Sept 19th over Queen’s passing

Also Read: Be prepared for a more dangerous Covid that beats vaccines BF.7 can escape the antibodies from earlier illnesses or vaccinations better than the many other omicron sub-variants, according to two studies. The new variation known as the "Omicron spawn" is growing quickly and might take over within a few weeks, researchers warn. The prevalence of BF.7 has doubled in the United States over the past two weeks, rising from 0.8% to 1.7%.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Railways said that steps have been taken to increase the security of trains that are in operation.Railways General Manager W. A.

Shanghai reported 38 new infections, all of which were found in its quarantine system. The country that first reported Covid-19 cases in December 2019, now remains the only major government that is still grappling to control the spread of the fatal virus.  Several schools across the city have suspended in-person classes as the fear of Covid-19 infection spread grows.  At least five districts have closed entertainment venues, including cinemas, bars and gyms, in an effort to stamp out transmission, according to statements issued by Covid prevention offices.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lanka Police Illegal Assets Investigations Division arrested one person over a money scam of over Rs.11.6 million.According to the Police, the suspect has used social media to scam people across the country, to obtain gifts and cash deposits.The 30-year-old suspect is a resident of Angoda.He will be produced to the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today (12).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, North-Western, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, said the Department of Meteorology adding that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in Uva, Eastern, Northern, North-central, and Central provinces. Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm may occur at some places in these areas.There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 9.6 million Sri Lankans have been affected by poverty, revealed a new study by the University of Peradeniya.Professor Wasantha Athukorala of Peradeniya University's Department of Economics and Statistics says that 9.6 million Sri Lankans are currently suffering from poverty.In 2019, nearly 3 million people lived below the poverty line, but that number has increased to 9.6 million in October 2022.Professor Wasantha Athukorala further stated that the study revealed that 42% of the people living in Sri Lanka are currently suffering from poverty.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A country’s security is not only ensured militarily but is also secured through food and economic security, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized.The President said this during the progress review meeting of the National Food Security and Nutrition Assurance Program held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (11).Emphasizing that urgent measures should be taken to provide the country with fuel and food, the President said that if necessary, he could intervene through state security regulations.The President also noted that if the implementation of the food security and nutrition assurance program is hampered due to the collapse of the state machinery, he is ready to intervene at any moment to resolve these issues.President Ranil Wickremesinghe also pointed out the need to modernize agriculture and enact legislation on food security through this program.The multi-sectoral joint mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centres to ensure food security and nutrition was recently implemented across the island under the theme “No citizen should be allowed to starve due to the lack of food”, on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Also, the progress of the program at the district level was examined during this discussion and it was stated that rural economic revitalization committees have been established at the village level in all districts and programs have been initiated to ensure food security and nutrition.Discussions also centred on the issues that could arise during the cultivation process in the relevant districts, while special attention was placed on the supply of fertilizer, land issues, unavailability of seeds and the crop damage caused by wild animals.President

COVID-19 has finally caught up with Ryan Seacrest.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The movement to protect the rights of pensioners filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.The movement to protect the rights of the pensioners claims in its complaint that the government had suspended the gratuity payment for pensioners for more than a year.They say delayed payments have posed economic and social risks to pensioners at large.

States have been asked to continue monitoring incoming international travelers, undertake constant genome sequencing and step-up vaccination. NEW DELHI: India reported 2,139 fresh covid infections in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said in an update on Wednesday.

The startup was founded in January 2021 by Samarth Sindhi. It provides solutions for patients with conditions like hair fall, sexual health, and weight loss, among others. Hyderabad-based direct-to-consumer (D2C) startup Good Health Company (Clinic) has secured $10 million in a Series A funding round, led by New York-based venture capital firm Left Lane Capital.

COLOMBO (News 1t) – Sri Lanka will go for power cuts of 2 hours and 20 minutes from 12th – 14th October, said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW:1-hour during daytime 1-hour and 20-minutes during the night

A brazen Ayrshire business chief has been banned from being a company director for ten years after spending the majority of a Covid loan on herself.

COLOMBO (News 1st)-  Former Norwegian government minister Erik Solheim has been appointed as a International Climate Adviser together to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed.He called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (12) and tweeted that the President has a great vision for green economic revocery and for Sri Lankan climate leadership.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.2355 Sell 369.9682GBP Buy 394.4249 Sell 410.2474EUR Buy 345.6770 Sell 360.3244JPY Buy 2.4481 Sell 2.5509AUD Buy 223.1069 Sell 233.9068

COLOMBO (News 1st)- Sri Lanka Police is seeking public assistance to locate and arrest the main suspect responsible for the brutal triple murder in Minuwangoda on 6th October 2022.Police said the suspects is currently in hiding, and his details are as follows:Name: Jayagodage Sanjeewa Don Sanjeewa Lakmal Age: 39 years NIC: 833214292 V Address: 10, Mahindarama Road, Sri Jayawardenapura KotteSri Lanka Police is requesting the public with any available information to contact the following the numbers:SSP Gampaha: 0718 591 608 ASP Gampaha: 0718 591 610 OIC Minuwangoda: 0718 591 612Minuwangoda Triple Murder:A triple homicide was reported from the Minuwangoda on the 6th of October 2022, and reports suggested that these murders are linked to an incident involving a kite and a argument between two boys dating back to 2017.A 51-year-old man and his two sons 23-years-old, and 24-year-old were brutally murdered adding more bodies to a string of murders.Multiple shooters had visited their residence on a motorcycle, and a car and carried out the murder.Unconfirmed reports said that the shooters were impersonating law enforcement personnel, and T-56 assault rifles were used for the murder.The shooters have chased away the mother and sister of the two young men out of the house before carrying out the shooting. 51-year-old Pushpakumara Silva alias Ralahamy died upon admission to the hospital, and his two sons 23-year-old Roshan Maduwanta and 24-year-old Suresh Jeewantha died on the spot.Sri Lanka Police and neighbours revealed to News 1st that a dispute incident involving a kite and a argument between two boys dating back to 2017.The 1st & 2nd Murders:On the 25th of August 2017, a young man was flying a kite in a field in Minuwangdoa

Covid-19: The death toll climbed to 5,28,835 with 13 fatalities which includes four deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. India reported 2,139 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,46,18,533, while the active cases declined to 26,292, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

Danielle Smith, sworn in Tuesday as Alberta’s new premier, said she will shake up the top tier of the health system within three months and amend provincial human rights law to protect those who choose not to get vaccinated.

A now-former San Antonio police officer was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer for shooting and gravely wounding a teen who was eating a hamburger in his car in a McDonald’s parking lot.

Canada will fare better in the year ahead than some other global economies amid dire warnings Tuesday from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about a looming downturn, according to economists who spoke to Global News.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe had attended the G24 Ministerial Meeting during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.The meeting discussed a variety of new fiscal and economic issues emerged since the Covid 19 pandemic, along with renewed risks and financing burdens on many developing countries.At a time when Sri Lanka together with many other developing nations are facing multiple crises including high food inflation, debt problems and balance of payments issues and it is important to work together with the international community to raise the common voice of developing nations and secure necessary assistance from global financial institutions.The Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development (G-24) coordinates the position of developing countries on monetary and development issues in the deliberations and decisions of the IMF and the World Bank.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Monetary Board, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, has promoted Mrs. K M A N Daulagala, Assistant Governor and the Secretary to the Monetary Board, to the post of Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) with effect from 07 October 2022. K M A N Daulagala has over 31 years of service at CBSL in different capacities in the areas of supervision and regulation of non-bank financial institutions, macroprudential surveillance, finance, international operations, risk management, regional development, human resource management and training and development. She has served as the Chief Accountant and Director of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Financial System Stability and has contributed towards strengthening the legal framework and governance in the non-bank financial institutions sector. Prior to the appointment as a Deputy Governor, Mrs.

PHILADELPHIA - A fire quickly consumed a string of row homes in West Philadelphia on Tuesday, putting over a dozen people out of their homes. Velice Hids, who lives on the 200 block of North Hobart Street, says she smelled smoke and heard a loud smack before running to the window to see where the startling noise could have come from. As soon as she looked out her window, she says she saw flames shooting from the row home across the street. "It was jumping from house to house.

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - The New Jersey Attorney General's Office said it's investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting Tuesday night in Cherry Hill. Officials say the deadly shooting happened around 2 p.m.

student safety and environmental benefits, according to a new study released Tuesday.Applied Information, a developer of connected, intelligent transportation system solutions, hooked up two school buses, one diesel, and the other propane powered, with Connected Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in Alpharetta, Georgia.The technology allowed the school buses to request green light priority at 62 traffic signals along their routes as they each served students in the Fulton County School System.Data showed that both school buses had "a clear and measurable reduction" in travel time, according to firm Kimley-Horn, which prepared the study report."These solutions applied across the national fleet of approximately 500,000 school buses would prove significant time and fuel savings as well as substantial reductions in CO2 emissions," said Bryan Mulligan, President of Applied Information.Officials also say the technology can help improve student behavior aboard the buses and address the school bus driver shortage that about 86% of the nation’s school districts are experiencing."The pilot showed we can use this technology to make our fleet more efficient and serve more students safely in a shorter amount of time, all while reducing our fuel bill and helping the environment," said Trey Stow, Director of Transportation – Operations for Fulton County Schools.Stow said that the district school buses use roughly around 25,000 gallons of fuel a week.

PHILADELPHIA - A judge threw out murder charges Tuesday against a former Philadelphia police officer accused of fatally shooting a Black man in the back as he ran. Ryan Pownall, 40, was facing third-degree murder charges in the 2017 shootingof 30-year-old David Jones. Pownall is accused of shooting Jones in the back as he ran from a traffic stop. Court records show that the third-degree charge, as well as reckless endangerment and weapons counts, were ‘quashed’ Tuesday after a motions hearing before a common pleas court. RELATED COVERAGE:FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby responded to the dropped charges in a statement, reading in-part: "We promised a vigorous defense against all the charges and happy to see that all criminal charges were dismissed...

Police say a man is dead after he was shot inside a property in Stenton on Tuesday night.  PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead in Stenton on Tuesday night. Just after 8 p.m., police say they responded to the 1400 block of East Sharpnack Street for reports of a shooting inside a property.Upon arrival, police say they found a 58-year-old man who had been shot one time in the back. Medics transported the victim to Albert Einstein Medical Center where authorities say he was pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m. Weapons were recovered in this incident and one male is in custody, according to police. 

Warning: Some of the details in this story may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department said it will be open on 19th September ONLY to cater to those who have made appointments to obtain passports under the One-Day and Normal services.The announcement came as the Sri Lankan Government announced a special public holiday for the 19th of September, over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The press notice from the department said that services will NOT be provided to anyone with NO prior appointment on that day, under any circumstances.

COLOMBO (News 1st) The Sri Lankan Government has decided to grant a Special Holiday to all Government, and Government approved private school on 19th September.The day was declared a Day of Mourning over the passiong of Queen Elizabeth II.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration announced that the 19th of September has been declared as a special holiday for all Government agencies as a day of mourning has been declared for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

LONDON (AP) - Officials in charge of the park outside Buckingham Palace have told people to stop leaving marmalade sandwiches as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II because of the "negative impact on the park’s wildlife."Some mourners have left the snacks alongside floral tributes at Buckingham Palace and neighboring Green Park. The sandwiches are a reference to a comedy sketch featuring the queen and an animated Paddington Bear filmed for the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee earlier this year.EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: A toy Paddington Bear and a marmalade sandwich, a nod to the Queen's association with the children's book character at the Royal Jubilee, is laid outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse on September 12, 2022 in Edinbur In the video, the queen said that like Paddington Bear she also favors marmalade sandwiches and hides them in her purse "for later."The Royal Parks organization said Monday people should not leave the snacks but could leave teddy bears and other items if they wished.Meanwhile, St.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday, Sept. 8, setting into motion a series of changes expected in the days to come. A new monarch has been named, her son, King Charles III, who now sits on the British throne.

Queen Elizabeth II has died — so what happens now?Specific dates have yet to be nailed down and planning is still underway, with answers expected in the coming days. But established procedures and early press releases can help clear some of the fog from the commemorations to come.

Charles III's red and swollen fingers.Dr Gareth Nye has spoken out on Charles's hands following the death of the monarch's mother Queen Elizabeth II.Images of the new ruler's hands have been circulating online since the Queen passed away yesterday (Thursday, September 8), aged 96 at her residence in Balmoral.READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children Archie and Lilibet are now prince and princessThe Queen's advanced age when she passed meant that her son and heir Charles was far from a young man when he ascended to the throne aged 73.Taking to Twitter, user @Anaiishhh1said: "Have y’all ever seen Charles’s fingers".Meanwhile, @leahgaraas added: "A reminder that these are King Charles III’s fingers". Adding authority to the debate, Dr Gareth Nye, Senior Lecturer at the University of Chester, has spoken to the Daily Star to offer some expert advice on what the King's swollen fingers could really say about his health.

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.

King Charles III on Thursday following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. No date has been set for his coronation.After an apprenticeship that began as a child, Charles embodies the modernization of the British monarchy.

LONDON - President Joe Biden has ordered the White House flags at half staff following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who died at age 96. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also ordered flags at the U.S. Capitol to be flown at half-staff to honor the monarch. "Speaker Pelosi has ordered the flags at the U.S.

Elizabeth II, Queen of England. (Photo by Library of Congress / Corbis / VCG via Getty Images) As the world mourns Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, one can’t help but reminisce about the extraordinary evolution and historic moments humans have witnessed since the queen’s birth. RELATED: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, dies at 96Born on April 21, 1926, Queen Elizabeth lived through many life-changing events such as World War II, the Great Depression and several U.S.

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth’s love of the corgi is well known. Her father, George VI, introduced the breed to the royal family in 1933 when he bought a corgi called Dookie.

LONDON - On a rainy day in London, as the world learned of the passing of England's longest-reigning monarch, a brilliant double rainbow appeared outside of Buckingham Palace.Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, died at the age of 96 after she was placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, when doctors became "concerned" for her health. Throughout the day on Thursday, mourners gathered in and around Buckingham Palace where the Union Jack was flying in all different manners including, of course, umbrellas.As news of the Queen's death was released by Buckingham Palace, a photo taken by Getty photographer Samir Hussein was shared that shows a double rainbow forming in the overcast sky.A man looks on holding a Union flag umbrella as a rainbow is seen outside of Buckingham Palace on September 08, 2022 in London, England. Buckingham Palace issued a statement earlier today saying that Queen Elizabeth was placed under medical supervisi The photo, and variations from the same angle, will likely be remembered for years to come.Mourners were gathered in front of Buckingham Palace throughout the day and the photo captures the rainbow appearing over the Victoria Memorial.But that wasn't the only rainbow to appear.

Prince Harry traveled to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be by Queen Elizabeth II's side as doctors express concern for the 96-year-old British monarch's health. Though it was originally reported that he was joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, for the trip to Scotland, ET has now learned that the Duchess of Sussex stayed behind in London. Royal reporters have noted that Meghan will not attend the previously planned WellChild Awards.Other members of the royal family are also making the trip to Scotland, including Harry's older brother, Prince William, and his father, Prince Charles.

Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral." Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, along with his wife, Camilla, and sister, Princess Anne, were with the queen at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland. Members of the royal family traveled by plane to Scotland.

The recent photos of Queen Elizabeth II, taken on Tuesday (September 6), sparked concern for her health and went viral this week.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are traveling to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be by Queen Elizabeth II's side as doctors express concern for the 96-year-old British monarch's health. ET can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be traveling together to Scotland, while other members of the royal family are also making the trip out there, including Harry's older brother, Prince William, and his father, Prince Charles. Kate Middleton has stayed home to be with her and William's three children — Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4 — as Thursday marks their first day of school at Lambrook School. Elizabeth's other children, including Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, are all heading to Scotland, as are Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex. This comes after Buckingham Palacereleased a statement on Thursday, saying, «Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

Queen Elizabeth and have recommended the 96-year-old remains under medical supervision, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral,” the palace said in a statement.A palace source said immediate members had been informed and played down speculation that the monarch had suffered a fall.

More to follow...