Lonely tunes: Fewer humpback whales wail as population grows, study finds

Colombo (News 1st) – Royal College Colombo have won the 144th edition of the Battle of the Blues with a comprehensive 181 run win against S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia.This is the 36th time that Royal College have won the Battle of the Blues.Royal, who were put into to bat first in the match held at the Colombo SSC ground, declared their 1st innings on 326 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.In reply, S.

#Arcturus variant has now been detected in at least 12 countries. Highest cases in India followed by the US, Brunei, Singapore and the UK. In India, there is a 281% increase in cases 17% increase in deaths over the past 14 days.

#Arcturus could succeed to wade through the ‘sturdy’ population immunity of Indians that successfully resisted the onslaught of variants like BA.2.75, BA.5, BQs, XBB.1.5, then whole world must be seriously worried!! pic.twitter.com/PZYuM7hD7Q Though XBB.1.16 is capable of turning off both innate & adaptive responses, I wud be surprised if it cud generate a major surge here. All will depend on how well population immunity would resist this at the backdrops of differentially imprinted immunity & its waning overtime! he also tweeted.  Meanwhile, Dr Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director and the chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Director-Medical Education at Medanta, and former AIIMS director said that the rise in COVID cases seems to be driven by the XBB 1.16 variant, but most cases are not severe, so there is no need to panic as of now.

Officials in Minnesota are monitoring the cleanup of a massive spill of radioactive water from a nuclear power plant just outside Minneapolis. About 1.5 million litres (400,000 gallons) of nuclear wastewater leaked from the plant back in late November, but the incident wasn’t made public until Thursday.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Marcus Mariota #1 of the Atlanta Falcons drops back to pass against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on November 27, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with a new backup quarterback for the upcoming season.According to reports, QB Marcus Mariota and the Eagles agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal that could be worth up to $8 million. Mariota, who spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, is expected to serve as the backup to Jalen Hurts.

Gogglebox star Ellie Warner has given her fans a pregnancy update, revealing she's been diagnosed with a health condition. The Channel 4 star, 32, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Nat and has been keeping Gogglebox viewers updated with her pregnancy journey on the hit TV show. During Friday evening's episode, Ellie sat down with older sister Izzi to watch a new instalment of The Apprentice and shared that she'd been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Colombo (News 1st) – It is of "utmost importance" that the next Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka "should be an officer whose service in the police force is exemplary and free of any blemish and able to restore public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police," stated the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The BASL letter has been issued in response to news that the office of the IGP is due to fall vacant on the 23rd of March, 2023."It is of utmost importance that the best possible appointment be made to that office" the BASL urged the President."During the last few decades there has been a serious erosion of public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police. The lack of independence, politicisation, police brutality, custodial deaths, lack of professionalism have all contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the Police.

Also Read: Getting less than 6 hours of sleep? How Covid-19 negatively impacted our sleep pattern With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. Meanwhile, as per news reports, the new variant XBB 1.16 is likely to cause the next coronavirus wave.

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

Colombo (News 1st) – The Bar Council of England and Wales in a press release stated that it hopes "parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka will reconsider most carefully the appropriateness of questioning Supreme Court Judges before a parliamentary committee, and we similarly hope that the Sri Lankan government will consider most carefully whether it can be ever be right to encourage disobedience to court orders.”The release refers recent statements made by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Premnath Dolawatte MP, referring to an ongoing case in the Supreme Court pertaining to the Local Authorities elections.The release, quoting the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Nick Vineall KC, said: “An independent judiciary is an essential and integral part of the rule of law.

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

John Wick movies and HBO’s The Wire, has died at the age of 60.Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. His death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.com.

PHILADELPHIA - Hours after a batch of recruits graduated the police academy to join Temple's police force, two incidents happened on campus that underscored the safety challenges facing the school. According to Temple police, a person with a gun was spotted by a security officer inside the cafeteria of Morgan Hall and was arrested by responding officers. Around the same time, police responded to a report of two individuals firing pellet guns at people near the intersection of Willington and Berks streets. Authorities have not reported any arrests. Temple University added eight new officers to its force on Friday.

MANHATTAN, New York - A civilian helped catch an armed suspect Thursday, who was fleeing from police in New York City. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York, the suspect, Jason Fleming, was arrested on March 16 after brandishing loaded weapons following a dispute in a crowded bodega in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.Surveillance video shows Fleming, 39, outside the bodega pulling back his coat momentarily to reveal a rifle that had been swung over his shoulder.Police officers then approached the suspect after a witness called 911, and Fleming took off running down the sidewalk. In the footage, the citizen pushes the suspect into a nearby fence.

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GettyImages-1266078450 "There is a lot of disintegration of families, there is a lot of individualism, there is a lack of love, of brotherhood, of hugs and embraces," López Obrador said of the U.S. crisis. "That is why they (U.S.

A 55-year-old woman fought to get the gun away from her son and was shot herself after he killed two Edmonton Police Service officers who were responding to a domestic violence call in their home overnight Thursday.

Nature photographer Mathew Nichols spent a few chilly nights this winter in the woods of Washington's Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, documenting the surreal formation of "hair ice" – also known as "needle ice" or "beard frost" – which can be found when cold conditions are just right.Nichols, who spends quite a bit of time outdoors, has seen these odd-looking branches that have icy needles protruding from the branch. How did they get there? You need the right kind of wood and the right kind of fungus."Hair Ice is caused by a fungus that lives within the decaying wood, and this fungus 'breathes' or releases its spores through the night, pushing the moisture harnessed within the wood out of the wood's pores, causing it to immediately freeze with contact of the below freezing temperatures," Nichols said.As the fungus' "breath" continues to freeze through tiny pores, long, thin strands of ice form, which in the aggregate, appear to look like hair.Nichols wanted time-lapse video to show how they form and melt, but this was no easy photo shoot."Hair Ice" grows on a dead branch in the woods of northwestern Washington in March.

PHILADELPHIA - Concerns about gun violence are mounting for residents in two Philadelphia neighborhoods where police say teens were injured in shootings that involved attempted car thefts. Carlian Burns lives near the intersection of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue where police say a 16-year-old old and an 18-year-old were shot during a suspected car theft Friday morning."It’s wild because something is always happening," Burns said. Both shooting victims were found by police and taken to Temple University Hospital where the 18-year-old who suffered multiple gunshot wounds was placed in critical condition. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESHours earlier, police in Philadelphia's Tacony section said a shootout erupted in broad daylight when the owner of a Toyota sedan caught two teens attempting to steal the car.An 18-year-old was shot multiple times in the exchange of gunfire with the vehicle's owner, who police say is licensed to carry a firearm and is cooperating with the investigation. The second suspect who was inside the driver's seat when the gunfight erupted managed to drive the stolen car about a block before he crashed and fled on foot, according to police. "I feel like we're living in the Wild, Wild, West right now, with no laws and no honor," Sherron Weeks said. A Philadelphia neighborhood is left shaken after police say a gun battle erupted in broad daylight between a car thief and the owner of the vehicle.She's experienced the violence plaguing North Philadelphia first-hand, telling FOX 29's Eddie Kadhim that she was attacked in her neighborhood over a month ago."They're hurting us around here, I just got stabbed in my head and my arm by a woman who took my coat right there on 23rd and Ridge," Weeks said. Rita Henderson from

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man is facing murder charges after police say he stabbed two people blocks apart in less than a week.DShawn Crawford, 28, was arrested Friday and charged with murder, attemper murder, aggravated assault, and related charges. Police believe on Feb. 24 Crawford stabbed a man in the head and body around 5:30 a.m.

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

COVID-19 pandemic have been complicated by factors including the massive surge of human infections in the pandemic's first two years and an increasingly bitter political dispute. It took virus experts more than a dozen years to pinpoint the animal origin of SARS, a related virus. Goldstein and his colleagues say their analysis is the first solid indication that there may have been wildlife infected with the coronavirus at the market.

FILE-A health worker takes a swab sample from a woman to be tested for COVID-19 at a testing site in Beijing on March 23, 2022. (JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images) BEIJING - Genetic material collected at a Chinese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, suggesting the pandemic may have originated from animals, not a lab, international experts say.Other experts have not yet verified their analysis, which has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal.

four-day workweek in the U.K. show showed significantly reduced rates of employee stress and illness while maintaining productivity.The six-month trial, billed as the world’s largest of its kind, included 61 companies that committed to a 20% reduction in working hours for all staff — with no drop in wages.

TAMPA, Fla. - A ride designed to use momentum to keep riders in their seats without restraints suddenly shut down at the Florida State Fair in Tampa.Dubbed the "Enterprise," those at the Tampa fair were recording when the ride stalled. One fairgoer told Storyful people were getting sick, and the staff stopped the ride."Oh my God.

COVID-19? It has been a challenging and polarizing decision for parents in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic.A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Tuesday sheds light on the concerns parents have and what they consider when deciding whether or not to vaccinate their kids against COVID-19. Read more: More Canadians trusting governments as COVID pandemic fades: poll Read next: How rising food prices make eating healthy a big-time struggle for some Canadians “Parents’ experiences making decisions regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for their children were complex, even for those who were supportive of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations,” the study states.Researchers at the University of Toronto surveyed 20 parents in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario (GTA) between February to April 2022.They found there were four main factors that parents looked at for their children in the age range of 5-18 years: Newness of the COVID-19 vaccines, politicization, social pressure and individual versus collective benefit.“Vaccine decision-making is actually complex at the best of times and then with such a new vaccine, it’s just that much more complex,” said Dr.

Cleveland-area metal factory injured at least 13 people and prompted multiple fire crews to respond Monday. Witnesses said an explosion occurred at the I Schumann & Co. metal and paint plant in Oakwood Village just after 2 p.m, Fox 8 reported.

Ralphie is described as an "adorable Frenchie with the attitude." (Credit: Niagara SPCA) NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - An animal shelter is not mincing words when it comes to one dog who’s looking for a forever home after being returned three times.Ralphie is described as an "adorable Frenchie with the attitude."The Niagara SPCA in New York said it remains committed to helping Ralphie find a home but they are warning potential owners and not holding back."We don't actually have too many nice things to say so we're just going to come out with it," the shelter wrote on its Facebook page. "He's a whole jerk- not even half.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) New York Mets owner Steven A. Cohen attends the Tom Seaver statue unveiling ceremony before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on April 15, 2022 in New York City.

Looking to return a dress that you bought online, or a home décor item that doesn’t quite match with the rest of your room? Returning them may not come free as retailers struggle with financial and logistical squeeze. While some are introducing charges, others are on the hunt for alternatives.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest at Technical Junction, Colombo on Monday (20) afternoon.The Samagi Jana Balavegaya led protest was met with police force at Technical Junction in Maradana.The protest march was organized against the current state of affairs. 

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - The suspect who barricaded himself inside a Brooksville home after a shooting and barn fire has been shot by Hernando County deputies, the sheriff said. This comes after two victims were taken to nearby trauma centers with gunshot wounds earlier Friday evening. Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the suspect, identified as 64-year-old Steve Rosa, barricaded himself inside a home. Deputies looking for Steve Rosa after shooting and fire in Brooksville Investigators began trying to get Rosa out of the home, but they said he refused to come out and did not acknowledge them.

NORTH PORT, Fla. - Police are investigating after they say a 6-year-old accidentally shot her grandmother while she was driving on Thursday afternoon. According to the North Port Police Department, officers were called to the 4200 block of Tollefson Avenue around 3 p.m. after a woman called to say that her granddaughter shot her. Police say the 57-year-old woman told them that the child got ahold of a gun that was in the backseat of the vehicle and accidentally fired a single shot through the driver seat, striking her in the lower back.According to officers, the gun was originally located in a holster, tucked in the back pocket of the driver seat, beneath a seat cover.READ: Woman arrested after Tampa toddler accidentally shoots 5-month-old baby, police sayThe grandmother drove home and got help.

omicron. However, such patients were able to avoid hospitalization with omicron, and death, almost 90% of the time over the same period. The findings are derived from a meta-analysis of 65 studies from 19 countries.

Covid, people still had an 88 percent lower risk of reinfection, hospitalisation and death. That makes this natural immunity "at least as durable, if not more so" than two doses of Pfizer or Moderna's vaccines, the study said. The authors nevertheless emphasised that their findings should not discourage vaccination, which remains the safest way to get immunity.

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning truck is shown after winning the NACTOY 2023 North American Truck of The Year Award on January 11, 2023 in Pontiac, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - Firefighters are working to protect a nursery in Kissimmee after a massive fire nearby broke out early Thursday morning.According to Osceola Fire officials, a call came in around 2 a.m. about the fire burning behind Nursery Supplies, Inc.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers coach Aaron Morehead looks on during the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by G PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles' makeover is already underway.

Water flowing off Horsetail Fall glows orange while backlit by the setting sun during the "Firefall" phenomenon in Yosemite National Park, California on Feb. 15, 2023.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday (15) arrested four suspects for sexually abusing a ten-year-old school girl in Weligama.Sri Lanka Police said that the victim of the abuse was heading to a tuition class on Friday (10), and was sexually abused by the suspects.In addition to abusing the victim, the suspects had also threatened her with death, said Sri Lanka Police.The victim had notified her mother over the injuries suffered to her genital area, and thereafter the mother had filed a complaint with the local police.The four suspects in their twenties were arrested on Wednesday (15) evening.The victim of the abuse was admitted to the Matara General Hospital for an examination, and Sri Lanka Police is conducting an investigation over the crime against a minor.

Emmerdale episode, it was his daughter April (Amelia Flanagan) who came home and found him lying on the floor. He wasn’t hurt, but April was badly shaken after at first thinking that her dad was having another stroke. Marlon was told just to take it easy for a few days, but with the rest of the family organising a search party to look for missing Paddy (Dominic Brunt), Marlon quickly became frustrated that he wasn’t doing anything to help.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - More than half a dozen whales have washed up dead on Jersey beaches since last fall and, according to NOAA. Skeptical shore residents are calling into question the underwater surveying going on in preparation for the offshore wind farm.

FILE - A woman walks through the city on April 11, 2019, in Binghamton, New York. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Some 17% of the American population — or more than 1 in 6 people — were age 65 or older in 2020, and the aging population is projected to continue growing in the coming years. A report published in late 2022 by the Administration on Aging, which operates under the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Hambantota High Court on Wednesday (15) sentenced four Police Officer to death over the murder of an individual back in 2005.The Crimes OIC of the Humangama Police, a Retired Police Constable, a Police Constable attached to the State Intelligence Service and currently at the Hambantota Harbor Police, and Former Police Constable attached to the Tissamaharama Police who was dishonorably discharged from service, were sentenced to deaht by the Hambantota High Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage.The accused had carried out a raid on the 29th of June 2005 to arrest a suspect responsible for three robberies in Matarawatte, Debarawewa in Tissamaharama.Initial police investigations revealed that the accused had surrounded the house of the suspect at midnight on that day, and following his arrest had instructed him to run off and then opened fire at him.The deceased was identified as Loku Hennadige Amila Mahesh, a resident of Matarawatte.This is incidentally the first time in Sri Lankan history that four police officers were sentenced to death at the same time.

face masks and hand wash, limited the spread of respiratory diseases.  “Wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people)," the review stated as quoted by Fox News.  The review compared medical/surgical to N95 respirators and found that wearing N95 respirators probably makes little to no difference in how many people have confirmed flu (five studies; 8407 people); and may make little to no difference in how many people catch a flu-like illness (five studies; 8407 people), or respiratory illness (three studies; 7799 people). The study authors stated that data was collected during the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, non-epidemic flu seasons, epidemic flu seasons up to 2016, and the Covid-19 pandemic, Fox News reported.  Initially, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claimed that face masks are not necessary, however, it then asked people to mask up in 2020.

face masks and hand wash, limited the spread of respiratory diseases.  “Wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people)," the review stated as quoted by Fox News.  The review compared medical/surgical to N95 respirators and found that wearing N95 respirators probably makes little to no difference in how many people have confirmed flu (five studies; 8407 people); and may make little to no difference in how many people catch a flu-like illness (five studies; 8407 people), or respiratory illness (three studies; 7799 people). The study authors stated that data was collected during the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, non-epidemic flu seasons, epidemic flu seasons up to 2016, and the Covid-19 pandemic, Fox News reported.  Initially, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claimed that face masks are not necessary, however, it then asked people to mask up in 2020.

train derailment released toxic chemicals into the environment nearly two weeks ago. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned contaminated soil may not have been disposed of properly.A broken axle sent nearly 50 train cars, including 10 carrying vinyl chloride spiraling off the tracks on Feb. 3.

FILE IMAGE - Hamburger and fries in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Jan. 5, 2023.