WHO chief's warning amid ‘most dangerous time’ for COVID. All you need to know

LOS ANGELES - Could the pumpkin spice craze possibly have taken it too far with a $10,000 engagement ring? You be the judge. Angelic Diamonds has entered the pumpkin spice chat with the world’s first ever Pumpkin Spice Latte ring.Coming in at a whopping $11,300, you can’t even drink it. But your bank account is sure to be sucked dry. The fall-themed ring may not smell like cinnamon and cozy fall weather, but it does have a "whipped cream-shaped" center diamond that’s surrounded by white diamonds and orange sapphires encased in a claw that resembles a cup. White diamonds, orange sapphires and emerald shoulder stones decorate the rose gold band. The ring box is made up of a cardboard coffee cup wrap.

AUSTIN, Texas - There are unconfirmed reports of a possible active shooter on the Ascension Seton Northwest Hospital campus.ATCEMS says no patients have been located, treated, or transported, but the scene is active.The Austin Police Department says it responded to a shots fired call at the hospital and as a precaution, the hospital has been placed on lockdown.Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted out about a critical incident at 11113 Research Boulevard service road northbound at around 12:32 p.m.ATCEMS says five ambulances, five commanders, and multiple single-unit response resources have responded.  People are asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to allow responders to work the incident. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.

Uganda's health ministry on Twitter today reported four more lab-confirmed Ebola Sudan cases, as well as one more death in a patient with a confirmed infection. The developments push the country's overall total to 54 cases, 35 of them confirmed and 19 listed as probable. The latest death brings Uganda's fatality count to 25, 7 in confirmed patients and 18 in people who had probable infections.Officials said 427 contacts have been ident

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: PnB Rock attends the BET Awards Radio Broadcast Center at Microsoft Theater on June 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for BET) LOS ANGELES - Chilling new details about the final moments of rapper PnB Rock’s life were revealed in court documents as a family of three, including a 17-year-old boy, has become the center of the homicide investigation.Now, authorities are seeking a fourth suspect who may have tipped off the family about the rapper’s whereabouts.The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Allen, was robbed and shot inside Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles in broad daylight in front of his girlfriend, terrified patrons and staff on Sept.

Strictly Come Dancing recruit Kym Marsh has opened up about her hidden health issue as she prepares to perform the Viennese Waltz with Graziano Di Prima on the show.On Friday night, ballroom fans tuned in for the latest instalment of the popular BBC Two spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two.Beloved TV presenter Rylan Clark welcomed viewers back onto the blue sofa where he caught up with two couples on the show to discuss how their training has been going so far.READ MORE:Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin opens up on 'tough week' for partner Ellie SimmondsJoining the 33-year-old on the show was the Waterloo Road star who shared her secret health battle which she has kept quiet throughout her dancing journey.During the candid interview, the mum-of-four confessed that she suffered an ear infection more than six years ago which has permanently affected her balance and has since been diagnosed with visual vertigo.According to the NHS, visual vertigo is a disorder characterised by symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, disorientation and general discomfort induced by visual triggers.The starlet is set to perform a beautiful routine to the song Runaway by The Corrs tomorrow night and it’s fair to say she is beyond nervous.One of the biggest reasons she has been struggling with this routine is because of the amount of spins which trigger the blonde bombshell to feel extremely dizzy due to her condition.She explained: “Well, you see, I’ve got visual vertigo.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

FILE - Flowering field of industrial hemp. ( John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)Vermont dispensaries are set to begin selling marijuana for recreational use, though only three will be ready to do so on opening weekend.FLORA Cannabis in Middlebury, Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland and CeresMED in Burlington will all open on Saturday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) released an image of the human smuggling plane stopped at the Mid Valley Airport in Weslaco, Texas. (Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) ) Texas state police disrupted a human smuggling attempt by plane, leading to the apprehension of six illegal immigrants, including a deported felon wanted in Wisconsin for sexual assault on a child. Three other individuals, including a female U.S.

Mugshot of Joseph Oberlies, who has been charged with burglary and desecrating human remains. (Al Cannon Detention Center) A 33-year-old South Carolina man out on bond told officers he was "black-out drunk" when he broke into his ex-girlfriend's home and dumped the ashes of her deceased child into the trash, according to a police report.Joseph Oberlies was charged with first-degree burglary and destruction of human remains upon being booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, last Thursday morning, according to local ABC News 4.

A research letter today in JAMA Network Open shows that, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, US hospitals dealing with patient surges held emergency-department (ED) patients in places like hallways while awaiting an inpatient bed for a median of 6.6 hours, far longer than the Joint Commission's 4-hour standard.

What are some of the takeaways from the last two and a half years? We discuss more recent happenings on our latest podcast! CLICK HERE to listen now at PerezPodcast.com

The Comptroller & Auditor General has described a figure of 8% in overpayments of job seekers allowances as "high".

A general view from the site after Hurricane Ian left Florida on Thursday following making landfall as a devastating Category 4 hurricane, on September 29, 2022 in Florida. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - When Ian's winds swept into this Gulf coast trailer park, they howled with such force that residents felt they would be lifted off the ground, even blown away.Now many homes in this community in North Fort Myers are crumpled and splintered.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Embassy of Sri Lanka to the United States, working in collaboration with renowned American humanitarian donor organizations, has achieved a significant milestone in the provision of free medicines and medical supplies to Sri Lanka from July to October 2022.Three consignments have already been sent to the Ministry of Health and a fourth is expected to land on 2nd October.The total value of the 4 consignments is over US Dollars 12,645,150. At today’s exchange rate, this is worth approximately SL Rupees 4.6 billion (exactly LKR 4,588,925,697).Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, who reached out to US donor organizations earlier this 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 assist vulnerable segments of the population.Commencing in July 2022, Heart to Heart International has sent two consignments worth USD 9.131 million.The consignment from Americares arrived in Colombo earlier in September and is valued at over USD 773,000.

COLOMBO (News 1st)  – Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa revealed on Friday (30) that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna cooked up a plan to destroy his political career by appointing him as the country's Prime Minister.Sajith Premadasa told reporters that Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a request for him to take up the post of Prime Minister."He did not off me the post for the benefit of the people or the country. I became aware that they planned to bring forward a motion of no-confidence against me after I am made the Prime Minister," he said adding that at the time the SLPP had a majority of the MPs."134 votes were cast in favor of the main protector of the Rajapaksas, the current president.

Thursday's view of a marina in downtown Fort Myers, contrasted with a photo from before Hurricane Ian. (NOAA) We’ve already seen the frightening scenes that Hurricane Ian brought to southwest Florida, but the full extent of the storm’s impact is becoming more detailed now that the federal government is publishing aerial photos taken during recent survey flights. Imagery posted on an interactive map was taken by NOAA’s Remote Sensing Division "to support homeland security and emergency response needs" after the storm.  The photos – taken during long sweeps by the agency's Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350CER plane starting on Thursday – cover a 50-mile swath from Cayo Costa, where the storm’s eye made landfall, down to Sanibel and then up the Caloosahatchee River to Fort Myers.A second 15-mile stretch covers the coast west of Cape Coral.LINK: See NOAA's damage mapAFTER: The Sanibel Causeway (NOAA) One of the most obvious features visible in the photos is the destruction of the Sanibel Causeway.

Experts have revealed the most common Covid symptoms as cases continue to rise across England.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday Ukraine was formally applying for fast-track membership of the NATO military alliance and that Kyiv was ready for talks with Moscow, but not with President Vladimir Putin.

EWING, N.J. - Firefighters were on scene at the Ewing Senior and Community Center battling a three-alarm fire that broke out early Friday morning. Authorities say the fire broke out around 5 a.m., while the facility was closed. According to fire officials, the roof of the building collapsed as crews worked to put out the flames. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESSKYFOX flew over the scene of the fire as several crews continued to respond. Officials have not reported any injuries at this time. Parkway Avenue is closed from Scotch Road to Farrell Avenue as crews remain on scene fighting the flames. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation. SKYFOX flew over the scene of the Ewing Senior and Community Center as crews work to put out a 3-alarm fire.

West Reading, PA - June 15: A photo illustration of tap water in a clear glass drinking glass in West Reading, PA Tuesday afternoon June 15, 2021. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images) NORRISTOWN, Pa. - More than 11,000 customers in parts of Montgomery County have been advised to boil their water before consumption due to the increased risk of contamination. According to Pennsylvania American Water, loss of positive water pressure was experienced after a water main break in Norristown. "The loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back siphonage," the agency said.

PHILADELPHIA - A retired Philadelphia police officer has been charged with indecent assault of minors and investigators are urging any other potential victims to come forward. Patrick Heron, 52, is in custody and being held on $2 million bail for a number of charges District Attorney Larry Krasner says relate to unlawful sexual contact with young girls. Heron is also accused witness retaliation, harassment, and stalking of both adults and juveniles related to alleged cover-up efforts.  "The alleged crimes for which this individual is charged are honestly some of the worst I’ve ever seen against an ex-law enforcement official," Krasner said during a Friday morning press conference. Patrick Heron, 52 (Philadelphia Police Department)Heron is charged with unlawful contact with minors involving sexual offenses, computer sex acts with children, indecent assault of a person less than 13, and related offenses. "The conduct alleged includes unlawful sexual contact with minors - some of them quite young – electronic messages that appear to be efforts at grooming young girls or coercion of young girls to meet with this defendant in person, to send him intimate photographs.

Barney the dinosaur performs during the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's 10th Annual Kids Day 2004 show on August 18, 2004 at Hollywood and Highland's grand ballroom in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images) Behind the large smile of the popular purple dinosaur Barney, lies a shocking dark side. The new two-part "Barney" docuseries "I Love You, You Hate Me," uncovers alleged death threats, rumors and violence toward the beloved character created by Sheryl Leach in 1992."What color is happier than purple? No color," Bill Nye said in Peacock’s newly released trailer. What became a cultural television phenomenon continued to receive negative criticism nationwide. BARNEY THE DINOSAUR ACTOR IS NOW A TANTRIC SEX THERAPIST"'I Love You, You Hate Me' is a limited series chronicling the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur’s furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate," the docuseries synopsis read.Barney the dinosaur greets the audience during the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's 10th Annual Kids Day 2004 show on August 18, 2004 at Hollywood and Highland's grand ballroom in Hollywood, California.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating several shootings that left four people injured, three critically, early Friday morning. Police say the first shooting took place just after 1 a.m. on the 6100 block of Market Street. According to authorities, an 18-year-old was shot in the leg and was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was placed in stable condition. A 25-year-old man sustained multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body in the same shooting, officials say.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – UNICEF welcomes the contribution of US$ 500,000 from the Japanese Government to support the provision of nutrition services for children and families affected by the current crisis that Sri Lanka faces.In coordination with the Ministry of Health and partners, the funding will be used to procure micronutrients urgently needed to care for children, carry out screening and provide the necessary follow-up, including counseling for malnutrition. 

(PTI) Indian RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that it was only India which helped Sri Lanka and Maldives when these countries were in distress while other countries were interested in finding business opportunities.Spirituality is the "soul of India", he said, addressing a program organized by Bharat Vikas Manch, an organization associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He said that countries like China, United States and Pakistan turned their attention to Sri Lanka when they saw business opportunities there.The RSS Chief added that now when Sri Lanka is in trouble, it is only India that is extending support.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved power cuts of 2 hours and 20 minutes for 01st & 02nd October as follows;Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW: 1-hour during daytime 1-hour and 20-minutes during the night

Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia’s annexation of a swath of Ukraine on Friday in a speech at the Kremlin but the event was overshadowed by one of Russia‘s worst battlefield defeats of the war, with one of its main garrisons surrounded.“People living in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia region are becoming our compatriots forever,” Putin told a crowd of officials in a ceremony in an ornate hall.“We will defend our land with all our strength and all our means,” he said, calling on “the Kyiv regime to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiation table.” Assaults on annexed Ukrainian territory will be an attack on Russia: Kremlin Putin’s proclamation of Russian rule over 15 per cent of Ukraine – the biggest annexation in Europe since the Second World War- has been firmly rejected by Western countries and even many of Russia’s close allies. UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres called it an illegal violation of the UN charter.It comes as Russian forces have faced setbacks on the battlefield, with one of the worst so far looming even as Putin spoke.

Hurricane Ian are beginning to reopen.Here are a few of those parks, each with its own approach to reopening:A Disney World hotel guest took video of the flooding outside the Swan and Dolphin Resort as Hurricane Ian lashed Orlando, Florida. Ian has since downgraded to a tropical storm. (Credit: JaiHawkFly)Walt Disney World Resort will resume theme park and Disney Springs operations in a phased approach beginning on Friday, Sept.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The family of a 93-year-old woman who was poisoned and died at an assisted living facility in San Mateo filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging elder abuse and wrongful death.Trudy Maxwell was one of two residents who died in this incident.Maxwell's daughter, Monica, said the purpose of the lawsuit is to shed light on her mother's case.She hopes to prevent this from happening to anyone else."She was a strong woman having had 9 children, the matriarch of the family," Maxwell said as she described her beloved mother as a well-respected member of the community.She said her mom was resilient, bouncing back when she fell and suffered bruises."She would heal from this stuff," Monica Maxell said. "We called her Wolverine because she'd heal herself all the time.

The total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic incurred by the State is estimated to be almost €30bn.

Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health and while most of us feel we get enough hours, the time we got to bed may also impact wellbeing.

In this photo illustration, the Entain plc logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A New York City man is suing an Atlantic City casino, its parent company and its online betting partner, alleging he was repeatedly disconnected while gambling online, and was given payments to prevent him from reporting the malfunctions to New Jersey gambling regulators during a nine-month span in which he wagered over $29 million.Sam Antar says he is a compulsive gambler — a fact he says was well-known to defendants in the case including the Borgata casino, MGM Resorts International, and its online partner Entain.In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state Superior Court in Middlesex County, Antar accuses the defendants of fraud, racketeering and other transgressions.

PERKASIE, Pa. - The Pennridge School District has adopted a new controversial policy surrounding advocacy for specific causes and movements. The new policy instructs all teachers to remove crosses, political signs, materials discussing abortion, whether pro or against, and LGBTQ+ pride flags and materials from their classrooms. The school board was supposed to have further discussion on the policy, but on Tuesday night, they voted to fast-track its approval. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESJoan Cullen, the president of the Pennridge School District School Board, says the policy does not target one specific group but rather is focusing on the removal of all symbols from classrooms. "This applies to all symbols. I think we are getting drawn into this idea that it's targeted at one thing.

EWING, N.J. - Firefighters are on scene at the Ewing Senior and Community Center battling a three-alarm fire that broke out early Friday morning. Authorities say the fire broke out overnight on Friday when the facility was closed. According to fire officials, the roof of the building has collapsed. The roof of the Ewing Senior and Community Center has collapsed as crews battled a three-alarm fire that broke out Friday morning.MORE LOCAL HEADLINESSKYFOX flew over the scene of the fire as several crews continued to battle the flames. Officials have not reported any injuries at this time. Parkway Avenue is closed from Scotch Road to Farrell Avenue as crews remain on scene fighting the flames. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. SKYFOX flew over the scene of the Ewing Senior and Community Center as crews work to put out a 3-alarm fire.

Sweden's Public Health Agency has said it was no longer recommending that children aged 12 to 17 get vaccinated against Covid-19, citing the "very low risk" for the group.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Food Inflation had spiked to 94.9% in September 2022, said the Deaprtment of Census and Statistics on Friday (30).It also said that Year on Year Inflation was measured at 69.8% in September 2022.        

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - The NFL and firefighter communities are mourning the loss of one of their own.Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar was one of the two rock climbers found dead in Riverside County.Escobar, 31, was identified by the Riverside County sheriff's coroner's office after he and 33-year-old Chelsea Walsh were found dead near Idyllwild Wednesday afternoon.Escobar played five seasons in the NFL – four with the Cowboys and one with the Baltimore Ravens – after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played 64 games in the NFL, starting in seven of the games, and hauled in eight total touchdown receptions.Prior to his pro career, he starred with San Diego State and Santa Margarita Catholic.IRVING, TX - MAY 10: Gavin Escobar #89 walks back to the locker room concluding the afternoon practice of the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters Valley Ranch in Irving on May 10, 2013 in Irving, Texas.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – JICA has decided to provide additional support to procure medicine, responding to serious medicine shortages in Sri LankaJICA will provide additional support to procure medicine as part of the “Project for Strengthening COVID-19 Response”.Original Input from JICA for this project was to provide Rs.300mn worth essential equipment for the base hospitals in Teldeniya, Warakapola, Walikanda, Pimbura, Nawalapitiya, Hingurakgoda, Karawanella, and Avissavella (for mainly treatment) and District General Hospital Hambantota (for particularly PCR tests) and to provide online training, for strengthening capacities in the preparedness and development for diagnostics and treatment services to combat infectious diseases including COVID-19.JICA has decided to provide additional support to procure medicine under this project, responding to the serious medicine shortages in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka is still facing serious shortages of medicine due to the ongoing crisis. Some hospitals need to suspend their surgeries because of lack of medicines and surgical equipment. The prices of medicines are rapidly increasing, which are mostly imported but unable to import because of the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Daniel Johnston‘s 1983 album ‘Hi, How Are You?’ will feature conversations around mental health with musicians performing at Austin City Limits Music Festival.The series is being presented by the Hi, How Are You Project, a non-profit organisation established with the support of Johnston’s family in 2018 to create “thoughtful media, events and peer-to-peer training programs that encourage open and ongoing dialogue on mental well-being”.The podcast is hosted by students from the University of Texas in Austin, with additional commentary provided by clinical advisors from the American Psychological Association, the Texas Psychological Association and Dr. Sonia Krishna from the Hi, How Are You Project.New episodes will air Tuesdays and Thursdays through mid-October, and guests will include indie-pop band Mother Mother, Dayglow, rapper Toosii, singer-songwriter Charley Crockett, and more.The first two episodes of the podcast have been released on Spotify.

Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro will sit out the band’s forthcoming tour with Smashing Pumpkins, as the musician is continuing to suffer from the effects of long COVID.In a message to fans posted on the band’s social media, Navarro confirmed he will not be performing on the tour, as he is still experiencing a “continued battle” with long COVID he has been fighting since December of last year.The guitarist said that while he had hoped for a full recovery by the time the tour started in Dallas this weekend, he is still “very fatigued” and, as such, “will not be able to join this leg”.Navarro added that he was particularly “gutted” about not being able to take part in the tour as original bassist Eric Avery has returned to the fold and the tour would have seen the band’s original lineup reunite. “That will have to wait until I am recovered,” Navarro said.Filling in for Navarro will be Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, whose other projects have included Failure and A Perfect Circle.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed to establish an International University on Climate Change in Sri Lanka with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in order to enable students from any country in the world to engage in educational activities.President Wickremesinghe made this proposal during a meeting with the President of the Asian Development Bank Masatsugu Asakawa, held this morning (30) at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Manila.The ADB President welcomed President Wickremesinghe upon his arrival at the ADB Headquarters.President Wickremesinghe, who expressed his gratitude to the President of the Asian Development Bank for the emergency assistance provided to Sri Lanka in the past, discussed the further strengthening of the long-standing relationship between Sri Lanka and the ADB.The ADB President assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe that he would continue to cooperate with Sri Lanka.President Wickremesinghe also briefed the President of the Asian Development Bank on Sri Lanka’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund.Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also engaged in a discussion with professionals working at the Asian Development Bank.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – SJB MP S. M.

Eligible groups across Lanarkshire are now being invited to get their flu vaccination or their flu and Covid autumn booster.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says that the operations at the Kelanitissa power plant have resumed. The CEB says that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had taken the necessary steps to provide the required diesel and furnace oil for the operations of the Kelanitssa Power Plant.Repairs have begun on Generator 3 at the Norocholai Power plant following the breakdown that took place on 27th September, and the CEB says that it will be added to the main grid by next Monday (3).On the 27th of September 2022, Sri Lanka's energy regulator approved for the Ceylon Electricity Board to purchase power from Private Plants until Norochcholai Power Plant is restored.Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said on that day that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will provide the necessary Diesel, Naphtha, and Furnace Oil requirements to the CEB to maintain power generation without extending the power cuts.This announcement came after Generator 3 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant failed.The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that the Generator failed due to a fault.Generator 2 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plan is already out for repairs.Accordingly, only 300 MW of a total of 900 MW is being generated from the Norochcholai Power Plant.The Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant has also recommenced its operations to generate electricity after being provided with the necessary stocks of furnace oil.The Ministry of Power and Energy said that 300 MW of electricity will be added to the National Grid.It added that the reactivation of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant will allow authorities to limit power cuts to two hours and twenty minutes without extending them,

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant has recommenced its operations to generate electricity after being provided with the necessary stocks of furnace oil.The Ministry of Power and Energy said that 300 MW of electricity will be added to the National Grid.It added that the reactivation of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant will allow authorities to limit power cuts to two hours and twenty minutes without extending them, despite issues at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.On the 27th of September 2022, Sri Lanka's energy regulator approved for the Ceylon Electricity Board to purchase power from Private Plants until Norochcholai Power Plant is restored.Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will provide the necessary Diesel, Naphtha, and Furnace Oil requirements to the CEB to maintain power generation without extending the power cuts.This announcement came after Generator 3 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant failed.The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that the Generator failed due to a fault.Generator 2 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plan is already out for repairs.Accordingly, only 300 MW of a total of 900 MW is being generated from the Norochcholai Power Plant.

At the global level, COVID-19 cases declined for the fourth week in a row, which the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said is encouraging, though not a guarantee that the trend will persist in the months ahead.

iNCOVACC vaccine for emergency use on Tuesday. Maria Van Kerkhove the WHO's technical lead on Covid-19, while welcoming the news said, "We look forward to seeing the data to see how this could be incorporated into the response for Covid-19." Van Kerkhove says it could not yet be predicted that the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind Covid-19 disease would settle down into a seasonal pattern.

Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, & the risk of even more transmissible & more dangerous variants remains," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the weekly media briefing regarding COVID on Wednesday."Subvariants of Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, & the risk of even more transmissible & more dangerous variants remains. Meanwhile, vaccination coverage among the most at-risk people remains too low, especially in low-income countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19 He further alerted that the cases are likely to rise again in the coming months. “We are now seeing a welcome decline in reported COVID deaths globally.