Britain: Latest News

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lankan Writer Shehan Karunatilaka won the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction on Monday (17) for “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida,” a satirical “afterlife noir” set during Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war.Karunatilaka, one of Sri Lanka’s leading authors, won the 50,000 pound ($57,000) award for his second novel. The 47-year-old, who has also written journalism, children’s books, screenplays and rock songs, is the second Sri Lanka-born Booker Prize winner, after Michael Ondaatje, who took the trophy in 1992 for “The English Patient.”Karunatilaka received the award from Camilla, Britain’s queen consort, during a ceremony at London’s Roundhouse concert hall.The judges’ unanimous choice, “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” is the darkly humorous story about a murdered war photographer investigating his death and trying to ensure his life’s legacy.Karunatilaka said Sri Lankans “specialize in gallows humor and make jokes in the face of crises”.“It’s our coping mechanism,” he said, and expressed hope that his novel about war and ethnic division would one day be “in the fantasy section of the bookshop.”Former British Museum director Neil MacGregor, who chaired the judging panel, said judges chose the book for “the ambition, the scope and the skill, the daring, the audacity and the hilarity of the execution.”“It’s a book that takes the reader on a rollercoaster journey through life and death, right to what the author describes as the dark heart of the world,” MacGregor said.

recent trial results, said experts as quoted by news agency AFP. The initial testing of the nasal-spray version of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers and AstraZeneca Plc, on human beings did not yield the desired protection.

Lisa Murray-Lang and her pet hamster, Spud. (Credit: Lisa Murray-Lang) Panoramic view of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, Hawaii as seen from the Summit of Diamond Head Crater on February 20, 2022.

Sore throat, congestion, fatigue, cough and runny nose continue to be the most reported symptoms Covid has been surprising us with a new variant every few months. Of course,  Omicron has changed the course of COVID pandemic. Following the emergence of this variant, the symptoms related to it have become much milder, but in terms of how they spread, each one seems to be fitter than its predecessor.  And the newest cousins in the block are BA.5.1.7 and BF.7., again which are said to have greater transmissibility which brings concerns of a new wave during Diwali.  The latest Omicron subvariant BF.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The Paris Club has assured its fullest support to Sri Lanka in its ongoing efforts to find an early resolution to its debt crisis.Paris Club is a group of officials from major creditor countries whose role is to find co-ordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that he meet with William Roos, Co-Chairman of the Paris Club during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings."Mr. Roos assured The Paris Club’s fullest support for Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to find an early resolution to its debt crisis," he tweeted.What Is the Paris Club?The Paris Club is an informal group of creditor nations whose objective is to find workable solutions to payment problems faced by debtor nations.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The Paris Club has assured its fullest support to Sri Lanka in its ongoing efforts to find an early resolution to its debt crisis.Paris Club is a group of officials from major creditor countries whose role is to find co-ordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that he meet with William Roos, Co-Chairman of the Paris Club during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings."Mr. Roos assured The Paris Club’s fullest support for Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to find an early resolution to its debt crisis," he tweeted.What Is the Paris Club?The Paris Club is an informal group of creditor nations whose objective is to find workable solutions to payment problems faced by debtor nations.

Milk prices are displayed in a supermarket in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2022. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) The latest environmentalist trend is here: pouring out milk in grocery stores. All across the United Kingdom, teenagers concerned about the environment are doing "milk pours." The new trend involves going into grocery stores, picking up cartons of cow-produced milk, and pouring out their contents, according to the animal rights group Animal Rebellion. Videos that have popped up on social media show teens pouring milk onto the floor, over sales counters, and elsewhere in the store."The dairy industry is incredibly environmentally destructive.

DECLAN Donnelly flashed a smile as he enjoyed some fresh air with his family days after being struck down with Covid. The telly favourite, 47, and presenting pal Ant McPartlin, 46, were forced to scrap their NTAs appearance and a Britain's Got Talent special after testing positive for the virus.

Covid infections in the UK have jumped 31 per cent in 10 days, according to the latest data, with most of the country now seeing a steady increase in virus levels. Experts are warning that the rise is particularly notable among the elderly population.

READ MORE: Will Liz Truss last longer than Daily Star's 60p lettuce takes new turn as bookies reactPreviously experienced ailments are not necessarily a good guide, as the various strange often present different symptoms.Here are the top 20 symptoms that Brits with Covid are currently experiencing and should watch out for, according to the ZOE Symptom Tracker:Sore throat - 63.55%Runny nose - 53.04%Headache - 53.02%Blocked nose - 52.47%Cough no phlegm - 52.06%Sneezing - 47.02%Cough with phlegm - 45.79%Hoarse voice - 43.86%Muscle pain aches - 29.46%Fatigue - 22.97%Dizzy light headed - 21.11%Altered smell - 19.82%Swollen neck glands - 17.72%Eye soreness - 16.41%Chest pain tightness - 16.26%Shortness of breath - 15.9%Loss of smell - 14.45%Earache - 13.96%Chills or shivers - 12.98%Joint pain shoulders - 11.08%On Friday, official data from the Office of National Statistics revealed that 1.7million Brits currently have the bug.That marked an increase from 1.3million last week.There are an additional 235,829 daily symptomatic cases according to figures from the team at ZOE.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.With testing no longer free, fewer people are seeking clarification as to whether their illness is Covid or not.With a sore throat being the most common symptom, there is a high chance that could represent a Covid infection – although without testing it is impossible to know and it could be a cold, flu, or even a rarer infection like laryngitis, tonsillitis, strep throat or glandular fever.Health chiefs have advised anyone feeling unwell with potential Covid symptoms to steer clear of elderly friends and relatives.Director of Public Health Programmes at the UK

A study of 30 million people in the United Kingdom finds that 0.4% of people who completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series had severe breakthrough infections, compared with 0.2% of booster recipients, during Omicron variant predominance.The study, published today in The Lancet, also shows that older adults

Robbie Coltrane, who played a crime-solving psychologist on TV series Cracker and the beloved half-giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, has died.He was 72.Coltrane’s agent Belinda Wright said he died Friday at a hospital in Scotland. She did not provide a cause.Coltrane came to fame as a hard-bitten detective in the 1990s series Cracker, for which he won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running.

Total Covid-19 infections in the UK have risen 31 per cent, the biggest percentage jump since June. Most of the country is now seeing a steady increase in virus levels.

An analysis of 11 longitudinal UK studies published today in The Lancet Psychiatry links symptomatic COVID-19 to psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction that didn't abate by 3 months.

LONDON - Climate protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" in London’s National Gallery on Friday to protest fossil fuel extraction.The group Just Stop Oil, which wants the British government to halt new oil and gas projects, said activists dumped two cans of Heinz tomato soup over the oil painting, one of the Dutch artist’s most iconic works.London’s Metropolitan Police said officers arrested two people on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.The group has drawn attention, and criticism, for targeting artworks in museums.

The people who carry the gene are less likely to experience a breakthrough infection Vaccines are the best way people can protect themselves against Covid but experts said that ones with a particular gene have a bigger antibody response following vaccination than others. Pointing out at a gene called HLA-DQB1*06, scientists say ‘About 30 to 40% of the UK population have this type.’ The people who carry this gene are less likely to experience a "breakthrough infection" over this time period.

Kate Garraway and her husband Derek Draper have been through hell over the last two years, but their battle isn't over.When Derek was hospitalised in March 2020, he became the UK's longest suffering Covid patient after spending 13 months in hospital.Kate and former political advisor Derek have been married for 17 years and doting parents share two children, 16-year-old Darcey and 12-year-old William.READ MORE: Kate Garraway in emotional plea as she says there's 'no end' to Derek Draper's careGMB star Kate documented their heartbreaking health journey in her ITV film Finding Derek, which won Best Documentary at the National Television Awards last year.Now, Kate has won for a second year, taking the Authored Documentary category at the 2022 National Television Awards, showing just how much their story has moved the nation.Daily Star has taken a look back at the couple's heartbreaking health journey.Derek was rushed to hospital on March 30 2020 with serious Covid symptoms - but it wasn't until April 3 when Kate shocked viewers with the news.She explained Derek had experienced headaches, numbness in his hand and severe breathlessness where he struggled to hold his breath for longer than ten seconds.The presenter turned to her colleague Dr Hilary Jones for help and he urged her to phone an ambulance, after which he was rushed to intensive care.He was then placed in a medically-induced coma and remained unconscious for 13 weeks while being treated by hospital staff.Kate stayed by her husband's side and kept her viewers updated about his condition on Good Morning Britain.Derek finally woke up from his coma in July 2020, but he would remain in hospital for many more months.Kate was warned by medics that Derek still had a long

Ringo Starr has cancelled the last five dates of his current North American tour, after contracting COVID-19 for a second time in the span of a fortnight.First testing positive for the virus at the start of October, the Beatle was forced to cancel seven shows between Michigan and British Columbia. He returned to the road on Tuesday (October 11) – flanked by the All-Starr Band – performing in Seattle then and in Portland the following night (October 12).It appears that his comeback was premature, though, as Starr has now confirmed he’s again returned to being COVID-positive.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia performing arts school hosted a fundraiser Thursday night for Ukrainian students who need help getting to school after fleeing their war torn homeland and settling in the area. "With Love To Ukraine, a benefit performance by children for children" took place at String Theory Charter School on the 1600 block of Vine Street. The concert included young students performing pieces from Uranian composers, including David Kozyrkov who fled his homeland two months ago. "I absolutely love this school," Kozyrkov said. "This is the school that welcomed me from Ukraine."Iryna Mazur organized the even and is an honorary consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia.

KATE Garraway was on the brink of tears after winning a National Television Award for her documentary Caring For Derek. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, was accompanied by her 16-year-old daughter to the annual event at London's Wembley Arena on Thursday evening. Caring For Derek was nominated alongside Katie Price: What Harvey Did Next, Tom Parker: Inside My Head, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, and Paddy and Christine McGuinness: Our Family and Autism.

Kate Garraway, 55, has revealed her husband Derek Draper is back in hospital again fighting sepsis.The 57-year-old first developed the condition earlier this year, two years after doctors fought to save him from coronavirus.In an update on his health, the Good Morning Britain presenter said she is once again trying to get him back home.Kate has been a carer for her spouse since he left hospital last year following a year-long battle with Covid-19.Of being his first-hand support, she told The Sun: "We all clapped for carers with vigour during the pandemic because they were saving lives right before our very eyes, but the trouble is, when the direct fear of life-or-death passes, this celebration gets quickly forgotten, but the caring goes on."It’s not sexy or the stuff of movies, like pulling someone from a burning building or giving mouth to mouth, but it’s no less vital to life."Nicola Adam's partner Ella hits back over lingerie breastfeeding picThe mother-of-two went on to say that she still remains "constantly inspired" by those who have cared for her husband during his health battle.She also told readers that doctors had left him a special message in his birthday card as Kate praised them for going above and beyond their duty.The presenter continued: "On his birthday they wrote in a card, 'We celebrate every day your braveness and strength to keep going through the pain, struggles and setbacks'."And then added, 'But today on your birthday, we want to celebrate you, Derek, the man, not the trauma, but you as a person'."The presenter said such a gesture was "care" to her "in its purest form".Sepsis is life threatening and can be hard to spot, as stated by the NHS.It happens when your immune system overreacts to an

AN EMMERDALE star has fallen sick with coronavirus just days after filming with The Chase, Love Island and Loose Women stars. The soap actress took to her social media to update fans that she had caught Covid-19, admitting to fans that she felt "rotten". Lisa, 46, who is best known for playing Mandy Dingle on the ITV soap, shared the health update to her Instagram fans on Thursday.

TV's Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have both contracted Covid-19 which means they won't be able to present their Britain's Got Talent magic spin-off show and they won't be at tonight's (October 13) National Television Awards 2022.The humorous pair, 46 and 47, posted images of their positive Covid tests to their Instagram (which they also share) saying "we even get ill together". They added they are "so sorry" to be missing the NTAs and said: "After feeling unwell a few days ago we both tested and we're positive for Covid...

‘Most discriminated against group’: Alberta premier pledges to protect unvaccinated “Yesterday, I made comments regarding the discrimination unvaccinated individuals have suffered through over during the past two years. My intention was to underline the mistreatment of individuals who chose not to be vaccinated and were punished by not being able to work, travel or, in some cases, see loved ones.“I want to be clear that I did not intend to trivialize in any way the discrimination faced by minority communities and other persecuted groups both here in Canada and around the world or to create any false equivalencies to the terrible historical discrimination and persecution suffered by so many minority groups over the last decades and centuries.“We need to actively work together as Albertans and Canadians to end all discrimination against all minority communities,” Smith said.“I am committed to listening, learning and addressing the issues affecting minority communities.

PETERBOROUGH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM - 2022/03/12: A father holding a Lithuanian flag arrives at the prayer ceremony with his children with Lithuanian flags painted on their cheeks. At a time when Ukraine is under attack from Vladimir Putin's VILNIUS, Lithuania - Vilnius, the capital of the eastern European nation of Lithuania, is celebrating its 700th birthday this January by doing what Lithuanians do best — being cheeky. It may sound extremely meta, but the nation’s tourism department knows many people around the world don’t think much about its capital, let alone be able to find it on a map.

Ant and Dec have been forced to pull out of the NTAs due to contracting Covid-19.The Geordie double-act are usually a big staple of the night with them winning best presenters for twenty years in a row.The pair confirmed on Instagram on Wednesday (October 12) as they told their fans the sad news.READ MORE: Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly's jaw-dropping net worth unveiled after 30-year careerThey wrote: "Sadly, it's true... We even get ill together!"After both feeling unwell a few days ago we both tested and we're positive for Covid."We're resting up at home and are so sorry we can't be at the @officialntas."Best of luck everyone and get well soon to anyone else in the same boat."This comes after they had to pull out of a scheduled hosting gig for a special episode of Britain's Got Talent.Britain's Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician is bringing together the most memorable acts who specialise in magical tricks.The winning act will be able to take home a whopping £50,000.However, the hosts won't able to attend the event, along with head judge Simon Cowell.The X Factor boss won't be able to make it due to filming commitments across the pond.Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller will be stepping in as a guest judge in Simon's absence.Talking about his new role, Penn said: "Being a guest judge on BGT is going to be the cushiest job ever.

TV favourites Ant and Dec have taken to Twitter to share a joke with fans after falling ill with Covid-19. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly posted a joint message on their official Ant&Dec account with a picture of their positive tests.

Scores on the ACT college admissions test by this year's high school graduates hit their lowest point in more than 30 years — the latest evidence of the enormity of learning disruption during the pandemic. The class of 2022's average ACT composite score was 19.8 out of 36, marking the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20.

Coronation Street actor Rob Mallard, 30, has shared in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk that the slight tremor that he developed in his hand at the age of 14 is in fact an essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking. And since first speaking publicly about it back in 2018, the condition has continued to worsen.The star, who has played Daniel Osbourne in the ITV soap since 2016 has experienced a rise to fame in the role, having won a British Soap Award for Best Newcomer back in 2017.Over the years, some beady-eyed viewers have picked up on Rob’s slight shake, which is down to an essential tremor he developed as a child.Speaking to Express.co.uk about his condition, which was diagnosed when the actor was in his mid-20s, Rob shared: “I first noticed I had a slight tremor in my hand when I was 14 and it steadily got worse as I got older.“I went to the doctors and they said it is an essential tremor but that there was nothing they could do.

Only Fools and Horses star Sir David Jason has revealed he recently collapsed after contracting "seriously bad" Covid-19.The TV legend, 82, was speaking to BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay about his new book, when he revealed that he recently collapsed while getting out of bed one night when he had covid-19 during the Summer.The Open All Hours star said: "I got it seriously bad."Because all the muscles weren't working, I collapsed and I fell against the radiator... I was so weak, I couldn't get up."READ NEXT: Only Fools, Skins and Gavin and Stacey - British TV remakes that flopped in the USSaying that he tried to get out of bed to go to the toilet, Sir David explained that he had to use the bed to try and stand up as his muscles "weren't working.""I crawled to the bed.

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%.

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.

Now that King Charles III has taken the role of monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he will be crowned on May 6, 2023, in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, according to the Buckingham Palace.

Orlando Bloom is opening up about a dark period in his life.

King Charles III will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a ceremony that will embrace the past but look to the modern world after the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.Tuesday’s announcement from Buckingham Palace comes amid speculation that the coronation will be shorter and less extravagant than the three-hour ceremony that installed Elizabeth in 1953, in keeping with Charles’ plans for a slimmed down monarchy. While the palace provided few details, British media reported that the guest list would be pared to 2,000 from 8,000.Charles will be crowned in a solemn religious ceremony conducted by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, the palace said in a statement.

Japan has reopened its doors to tourists after two-and-a-half years of tough Covid-19 restrictions, with officials hoping an influx of travellers enticed by a weak yen will boost the economy.

nasal-spray version of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University researchers and AstraZeneca Plc, on human beings did not yield the desired protection, according to the news agency Reuters. The University of Oxford, in an official statement, said that the antibody response in the respiratory mucous membranes was seen in only a minority of participants in the trial, which was in the first of usually three phases of clinical testing.

Media gather outside the Countess of Chester Hospital on July 3, 2018 in Chester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) LONDON (AP) - A hospital neonatal nurse in Britain accused of killing seven babies and trying to kill 10 others poisoned two infants deliberately with insulin, a British prosecutor said Monday.Lucy Letby, 32, has been charged with murder in the deaths of five baby boys and two girls, and the attempted murder of five boys and five girls, while she worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between 2015 and 2016.Letby earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.Opening her trial at Manchester Crown Court, prosecutor Nick Johnson said beginning in 2015, the hospital saw a significant rise in the number of babies who were dying or suffering "serious catastrophic collapses.""Babies who had not been unstable at all suddenly deteriorated.

Liam Gallagher has shared a poignant new video for ‘Too Good For Giving Up’ and teamed up with mental health charity Talk Club.The new video was announced over the weekend, with Gallagher explaining how he’d teamed up with Talk Club for the release of the ‘C’mon, You Know’ track. Talk Club is an organisation that works to help support male mental health.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Following controversy over grounded aircraft by its government, Russia's Aeroflot resumed services to Sri Lanka on Monday (10).With the arrival of an Aeroflot Flight on Monday (10) to the Katunayake International Airpor the Moscow-Colombo route will be reinstated, on conditions being promised by the Sri Lankan government that none of its planes will be grounded or arrested.On 2nd June 2022, SU289, A330-343 aircraft was scheduled to depart from Colombo to Moscow with 191 passengers and 13 crew members, but it was not allowed, as the owner of the aircraft – Celestial Aviation of Ireland had filed a case against the airline, for a pending arbitration on the lease of the aircraft in London.Following the legal dispute, Aeroflot also announced that it was suspending commercial flights between Colombo and Moscow.Aeroflot is the oldest international airline that operated flights to Colombo, and it has been operating the Moscow-Colombo route since 1964.Russia remains the third largest tourism source market year-to-date with 51,300 arrivals, behind India and UK.The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow in September announced that Aeroflot, the national carrier of the Russian Federation, will resume flight operations to Sri Lanka with effect from the 09th October 2022.The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka played a pivotal role by making a diplomatic representation with the Government of the Russian Federation in order to resume Aeroflot’s flights on this route.Given that the Russian Federation could be regarded as an important tourist traffic source to Sri Lanka at this trying time, the Embassy was of the view that this flight resumption will be of vital importance to Sri

GLADIATOR star Russell Crowe has donated £5,000 to help save an independent book shop. The Oscar-winning actor contributed to a crowdfunding campaign launched this week.

COVID activity continued to rise in many European countries last week, up 14% compared to the previous week in people ages 65 and older, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said today in a regular update.

New research has revealed that hearing loss, tinnitus or feeling dizzy could signal that you are infected with Covid-19.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Workers’ remittances increased to US dollars 325 million during August 2022, in comparison to US dollars 279 million in the previous month, recording the highest monthly remittances thus far during 2022. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said that total departures for foreign employment were recorded at 29,072 during August 2022. Total departures of foreign employment comprised unskilled (9,685), skilled (8,590), and domestic aid (7,176) categories. Total departures for foreign employment during January – August 2022 were recorded at 192,594, compared to 45,899 in the corresponding period of the previous year, and a total of 117,952 in 2021.Tourist arrivals:Tourist arrivals moderated in August 2022 to 37,760, from 47,293 arrivals recorded in July 2022. The United Kingdom, India, Germany, and France remained the main source countries for tourist arrivals in August 2022.

A new Covid-19 wave appears to be brewing in Europe as cooler weather arrives, with public health experts warning that vaccine fatigue and confusion over types of available vaccines will likely limit booster uptake.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has said that heer husband Derek Draper “remains very damaged” amid his health battles following on from him contracting coronavirus in 2020. The former political advisor has been in and out of hospital many times in the last couple of years, after he contracted a serious case of coronavirus in March 2020. The virus caused damage to a number of Derek’s organs causing his health to decline after first falling ill over two years ago.

Kate Garraway has opened up on her husband’s illness on ITV’s new show DNA Journey and things took an emotional turn as she spoke about her partner.The Good Morning Britain presenter appeared on the show alongside her ITV colleague Alison Hammond and the pair set about retracing their ancestry.However, the topic soon turned to her husband’s ill health and Kate made herself very vulnerable for the programme.READ MORE: Kate Garraway says ITV star Alison Hammond 'texted her everyday' during 'difficult time'Garraway bravely spoke about Derek on DNA Journey and heartbreakingly said that “2020 was a devastating year”.She continued: “With Derek, he got very sick very early on in the pandemic and has remained very damaged.

Abbey Clancy has shown off the spectacular results of her new health regime in a series of social media posts. The model, 36, has reportedly started daily Pilates sessions followed by a regular collagen drink to keep herself in shape and retain her glowing complexion.