News Scan for Aug 22, 2022

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The first consignment of rice from an Australian donation totaling AUD22 million (approximately USD15 million) arrived in Sri Lanka and will soon be distributed to those most affected by the ongoing economic crisisThe consignment, consisting of 600 metric tonnes of rice, forms part of a larger consignment of rice, pulses and cooking oil, due to arrive in the country soon.“Australia and Sri Lanka share many decades of friendship, and this latest contribution is an extension of our goodwill during this unprecedented crisis,” said Paul Stephens, Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. “We are supporting WFP to provide life-saving food to people who are struggling with price increases, job losses and reduced incomes”. “Australia was the first to contribute to WFP’s emergency response, enabling us to kick-off much needed assistance to those hard-hit by the ongoing crisis,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, WFP Sri Lanka’s Representative and Country Director.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police made public the images of four suspects wanted for unlawfully entering the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on the 9th of July 2022, and causing damage to its property.The suspect are wanted for the investigations carried out by the Cinnamon Gardens Police.Police is seeking public support to arrest the four men pictured below, and information can be provided directly or via Whatsapp on  0718 591 588. 

SAN JOSE, CA - JUNE 28: Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith speaks to the media about the 1974 killing of Arlis Perry at the Sheriff's office in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, June 28, 2018. (Nhat V.

Two men were killed in the 3100 block of Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. Sept.

CHICAGO - Two people have come forward to claim the $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot almost eight weeks after the drawing.The winners, who agreed to split the prize if they won, have elected to remain anonymous but said they are "over the moon" with their huge victory."They stopped into the Speedway in Des Plaines and grabbed a Mega Millions ticket while they were there," Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays said. "That turned out to be an absolutely life changing decision when a $3 line of Mega Millions with Megaplier turned into a $1.34 billion jackpot win." SUBSCRIBE TO THE FOX 32 YOUTUBE CHANNELThe winners have opted to take the lump sum payment of $780.5 million.

fall foliage and all things pumpkin spice. The autumnal equinox of 2022, also known as the September equinox or fall equinox, arrives on Thursday, Sept. 22, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The date marks the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere — and the equinox occurs at the same moment worldwide.FILE - A person looks out at the fall foliage next to the Pond in Central Park on November 9, 2021, in New York City.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has tested positive for Covid-19 upon her return home from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday. Margrethe travelled over to London for the historic state funeral, and in light of her positive test has cancelled all her upcoming activities for the rest of the week while she recovers. It’s believed that this is the second time this year the 82 year old royal has contracted the virus.

As Canada’s loonie falters against the surging U.S. dollar, experts say the effect could worsen inflation on some goods imported from south of the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, in a measure that appeared to be an admission that Moscow’s war against Ukraine isn’t going according to plan after nearly seven months of fighting.

As we approach colder months it will naturally get a bit more chilly, but in some cases it may not be the weather that's making you shiver.

producing heavy rainfall and gusty winds on the islands in the southwest Atlantic. Fiona became the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season Wednesday and the already-deadly storm is forecast to intensify even more as it tracks toward Bermuda.Fiona has been steadily strengthening and could reach Category 4 intensity by late Wednesday as it eyes Bermuda later this week.Even with Hurricane Fiona pulling farther away from the Caribbean, its outer bands will continue to produce heavy rain over isolated portions of the Dominican Republic.

(Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday via Getty Images) MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - A Pennsylvania prosecutor announced charges in juvenile court Tuesday against 10 students in connection with alleged hazing of high school football players that prompted cancellation of the team's season.Dauphin County prosecutors said two Middletown players will face attempted sexual assault charges and eight others face other counts in connection with hazing that authorities said targeted at least six players from ages 14 to 17.PREVIOUS: Pennsylvania district investigates hazing, cancels high school's football season"This investigation did not involve just hazing or ‘boys will be boys’ conduct," Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle said in a news release from the office of District Attorney Fran Chardo.

FILE - Shawn Parcells speaks during a news conference on Aug. 18, 2014, in St.

TRENTON, N.J. - The new year is bound to be a bit richer for some workers in New Jersey!On Tuesday, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced that minimum wage would increase to $14.13 for most hourly employees starting January 1, 2023.Workers will see a $1.13-increase on their paychecks from the current statewide minimum wage, which stands at $13.MORE HEADLINES:Minimum wage was previously only expected to reach $14 an hour next year, however inflation added on an additional 13 cents."The Governor and Legislature had the forethought to account for the possibility of rising costs in their historic minimum wage law, which helps low-wage workers better provide for themselves and their families," said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. Wages are set to increase to $15 an hour by 2024, according to legislation signed by Gov.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The World Food Program said that more than one-third of the population which is 37 percent is now facing acute food insecurity.Around eight in ten households are regularly turning to food-based coping strategies such as sacrificing meals, borrowing food, and reducing the number of meals eaten. July saw a particularly steep spike in reliance on coping strategies (19 percentage points), which persisted into August.The crisis is causing disproportionate impacts across different segments of society. This was seen across a range of divides – female-headed households are faring worse than male-headed households, while those in estate and urban areas are also faring worse than those in rural areas.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Patricia Scotland QC yesterday (20), during his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the State Funeral Service of the Late HM Queen Elizabeth II.They discussed Sri Lanka’s engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat and matters of mutual interest.President Wickremesinghe also attended a reception hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs the Rt.

Hair experts will tell you that the hair is “very boring”. It likes routine and a steady lifestyle. If you’re a busy mother like me, juggling a family and a career, the reality is that there often isn't enough time left in a day to give hair the TLC it needs.

Donald Trump of raping her in a department store dressing room intends to file another lawsuit against him under a new New York law letting sexual assault victims sue over attacks that happened decades ago.A lawyer for the columnist, E. Jean Carroll, notified a federal judge of her intent to sue in an August letter entered in the public record Tuesday. The suit would allege sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.In the letter, the lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, also said she plans to depose Trump in the defamation case that Carroll already had pending against the former president.

PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES - 2020/11/02: An official election ballot of Pennsylvania of 2020 featuring Biden / Harris, Trump / Pence and Jorgensen / Cohen ahead of the presidential elections.2020 elections are close and will involve voting via absente HARRISBURG, Pa. - Former President Donald Trump and his allies seized on the drawn-out vote processing and counting in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election to fuel his false claims that fraud cost him victory in the battleground state — and election officials worry that a replay could be on the horizon in November's crucial Senate and governor's races.And it's not just Pennsylvania. Michigan and Wisconsin are other crucial swing states that allow no-excuse mail-in ballots but give local election offices no time before Election Day to process them.Election workers' inability to do that work ahead of time means many of the mailed ballots may not get counted on Election Day, delaying results in tight races and leaving a gaping hole for misinformation and lies to flood the public space."That time between the polls closing on election night and the last vote being counted is really being exploited by people who want to undermine confidence in the process," said Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia election commissioner during the 2020 presidential election who is now president and CEO of the good-government group Committee of Seventy.The first step in processing mailed ballots, or pre-canvassing, is a routine but crucial administrative task that allows election workers to verify voters’ signatures and addresses, or spot problems that could be fixed by voters.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 28: Baseballs are shown stacked before the Little League World Series consolation game between the Asia-Pacific Region team from Taipei City, Chinese Taipei and the Southeast Region team from Nolensville, Ten PHILADELPHIA - A Utah boy who suffered a serious head injury after falling from a bunk bed during last month's Little League World Series in Pennsylvania has returned home from the hospital and his family is suing the league and the company that made the bed.Easton Oliverson, 12, of Saint George, Utah, suffered a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain in the Aug. 15 fall at a players dormitory in Williamsport.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva gave instructions to the relevant officials in Parliament, to expand the operations of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and other institutions under the ministry to increase efficiency. The Minister said that like in many countries of the world, in Sri Lanka too, women are already working as crane operators in the port and steps will be taken to recruit more in the future.The Minister stated the above at the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports, Shipping and Aviation held on Tuesday (20).The committee also agreed to the regulation under Civil Aviation to be submitted to Parliament for approval on the 22nd. The purpose of this is to correct a printing error in the Civil Aviation Services (Issue of Licenses to Personnel and Training Institutions) orders published by Extraordinary Gazette.

#pandemic has taught every human being is that "Life is Priceless."#COVID is a nasty disease- at the time & after. Even a mild COVID infection increases your risk of a heart attack & stroke (½)https://t.co/Dyh2obBf5B She further urged everyone to get a comprehensive health check up.

Vaccination and long COVID There could be other reasons for the positive trend that we’ve witnessed, but the timing suggests that vaccination is the most likely explanation. The decrease in referrals begins in August 2021, around five months after the British population started receiving second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Headspace.

The new Activ Health + Multiply Fit Combo will enable ABHICL customers to integrate the benefits of an all-inclusive health insurance cover and fitness, along with wellness solutions in their daily lives NEW DELHI: Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited. (ABHICL),a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL),on Wednesday announced the launch of Activ Health + Multiply Fit Combo, an industry-first, 4-in-1 health insurance plan.

NHS 24 have highlighted the importance of knowing where to get the right health advice for Lanarkshire students.

The Centre has directed states and union territories to continue monitoring incoming international travellers as part of the revised surveillance strategy in context of covid-19 NEW DELHI: India reported 4,510 new covid cases and related 33 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per an update by the Union health ministry on Wednesday. The country’s active caseload now stands at 46,216 while the total number of reported covid infections so far has exceeded 4.45 crore, with fatalities at 528,403.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lanka Freedom Party leadership has decided to remove SLFP MPs, who accepted positions in the government, from all party positions and the Central Working Committee membership.The decision was taken by the Former President and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena, and the decision has been communicated to the 14 SLFP MPs who are represented in Parliament.MPs Mahinda Amaraweera, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Shantha Bandara, Dr.

(THE HINDU) – China has offered Pakistan’s visiting Army Chief technical help as the country deals with record floods but did not announce any substantial financial assistance that its “all-weather” ally has been seeking.Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, facing financial stress, have been engaged in long-running talks with Beijing for assistance, but with negotiations in both cases having made little headway, both countries have turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Their new IMF commitments are now likely to impact their owed payments to China, which has lent the two countries more than $26 billion in the past five years.Following talks in Xi’an between Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe, the Chinese side expressed willingness to provide technical assistance for flood relief work, Pakistan’s official Inter-Services Public Relations said.Chinese State media quoted Gen.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is investigating scores of cases handled by a disgraced former B.C. immigration lawyer, in a probe that could lead to deportations.

Several days of protests have erupted in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman who was arrested and in police custody for allegedly breaking hijab rules.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Around three hundred Public Sector employees have traveled overseas for employment after the government of Sri Lanka issued a circular granting five-year no-pay leave for public officers to be spent in or out of the country, without affecting their seniority and pension.The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, and Provincial Councils said that among those who left the country are employees attached to Ministries, Departments, as well as Statutory Bodies.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Private Maheesh Theekshana who was part of Sri Lanka Cricket Teram that won the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai was elevated to the rank of Sergeant by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army.The Army-groomed sportsmen and sportswomen who shone distinctively in the field of international sports were invited this morning (20) to the Commander’s office at the Army HQ to receive appreciative compliments and cash incentives.Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army after meeting those sport stars who brought fame to the country and the Army alike commended their achievements and talked to each one of them in the presence of the Director Sports of the Army.Those international achievers included Sergeant M.M Theekshana, a member of the Sri Lankan Cricket team who won the Asia Cup Championship – 2022, Corporal T.T Algama, Corporal K.B.Y De Silva and Corporal M.A.I.J Perera, all of them in the Sri Lankan National Netball team who won the Asian Netball Championship – 2022 and the Bodybuilder, Corporal R.A.D.P Rajapaksha who won the Bronze Medal in the Asian Bodybuilding Championship – 2022.At the same time, the Army Chief in recognition of their achievements instructed respective authorities to promote the above achievers in rank in an attempt to stimulate them further.Accordingly, Private M.M Theekshana was elevated to the rank of Sergeant, Private T.T Algama, to the rank of Corporal, Private K.B.Y De Silva to the rank of Corporal and Private M.A.I.J Perera to the rank of Corporal during the same occasion.The Commander of the Army, appreciative of their international achievements afterwards awarded financial incentives to Sergeant M.M Theekshana, Netball Team Members and Bodybuilder

An exterior view of a Family Dollar store near Bloomsburg. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Dozens of items have been recalled by Family Dollar because they were stored outside of temperature requirements. The items included are various over-the-counter medical products, such as condoms, pregnancy tests, toothpastes, and denture cleaners.

India reported 4,510 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to an update by the Union health ministry on Wednesday. As a result, active cases currently stand at 46,216. The active caseload comprise 0.10 per cent of the total infections.

Also Read: US tourist visa waiting period goes over 2 years for India The removal of the vaccine requirement, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Andrew Morris, should have been done way back. According to him, there is no value to making sure individuals are immunised because it neither prevents cases nor variants from spreading.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Agriculture says that a bundle of urea fertilizer will be sold for Rs.10,000/- in the Maha season as well as in the Yala season.The Ministry said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe approved the request made by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.Also, 50kg of Urea fertilizer will be sold at Rs.15,000/- for tea cultivation and maize cultivation.Arrangements have been made to provide Bandi fertilizer apart from Urea fertilizer.In the meantime, Minster Amanraweera has also advised that after the paddy cultivation of the Yala season is completed, districts such as Ampara, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, and Monaragala should immediately provide the fertilizer needed for the Maha season.The paddy cultivation activities of the Maha Season in the above districts are to commence at the beginning of October.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Health Ministry noted that it has made arrangements to conduct tests to determine the existence of heavy metals in imported food items including rice.The Director of the Environmental & Occupational Health and Food Safety Unit Dr.Thilak Siriwardana says that previously, selected food items had to undergo the testing process.He further says that fifteen containers of rice were recently shipped back as they were unfit for human consumption.

MEDFORD, N.J. - A dispute over a beloved mural on the exterior wall of a New Jersey sweets shop has the community rallying around a small business owner. Candy Thibeau, owner of Maggie Moose Bakery in Medford, said she received a letter from the township on Monday that claimed the mural violates local sign codes due to its artwork. The bright pink wall adorned with sprinkles and the shop's moose mascot is considered a sign, not artwork, according to the township officials.Thibeau was given two choices to rectify the mural in order to bring it up to the township's standards, including one option that involves painting over the moose mascot.MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"Medford is saying the pink wall is fine, and the sprinkles are fine to leave up," Thibeau told FOX 29's Hank Flynn. "Our mascot is part of our signage, they consider it part of our signage because it's in our logo."Thibeau could hire a lawyer and spend money on legal fees for the possibility of a variance, but she believes everyone's time and energy is best spent on something more meaningful than a playful drawing of a cartoon moose. "It just seems so silly," Thibeau said.

ASTON, Pa. - Parents of students at a Delaware County high school are demanding action from school leaders after they say fights and bullying have spiraled out of control. Just days into the new school year, videos of brutal beat downs at Chichester High School have been posted to social media. One of the recordings shows a 9th grader being pummeled on the school bus, other fights have erupted inside school stairwells and classrooms. Jennifer Frazier, a mother of two at Chichester High School, told FOX 29 that her daughters are currently being bullied by classmates.

PHILADELPHIA - A large group gathered in North Philadelphia on Tuesday night to say goodbye to a sister, daughter, friend, and mother of two, who lost her life in a double shooting on Sunday morning."Her little boys are gonna miss her. Her family, you know, so sad," says Serena Stokes, of Mount Airy. Police say a fight broke out just after 5:30 Sunday morning on Lehigh Avenue. Authorities say someone opened fire, critically wounding a man in his 30s. Then, the fight spilled over to 17th and York Streets where investigators say 32-year-old Jones lost her life.Jones’ sister, Vanessa, said she wanted to honor her sister in a way that she would be proud of, so friends and family gathered, bearing white and yellow balloons."I know everybody loved her.

PHILADELPHIA - As recovery efforts resume in Puerto Rico after a direct hit from Hurricane Fiona, natives in Philadelphia are nervously awaiting to hear from family and loved ones. Hurricane Fiona dumped nearly 30 inches of rain on Puerto Rico over a two-day period. Over the weekend, the storm knocked out power and water to most of the island, and National Guard troops rescued hundreds of people who got stranded."I was watching the news and see the one bridge they just fixed, and it washed away," Joe Jarvis, a North Philadelphia resident with family in Puerto Rico, said.

PHILADELPHIA - Two Philadelphia business owners woke up shocked on Sunday morning when they realized their three-week-old food truck had vanished. Philadelphia police say at around 5:30 Sunday morning, someone drove a U-Haul truck onto a private lot in Bridesburg and left with the Lui's Kitchen Food Truck attached to its trailer. Kris and Trisha Dogiewicz, owners of the food truck, say they poured money, time, and energy into their mobile restaurant for months until it came to fruition just three weeks ago. "We're trying to make some good Philly food with a southern twist," said Kris Dogiewicz.Lui's Kitchen Food Truck, named after Kris and Trisha's one-year-old daughter, is a popular stop among locals as the couple says they sold out of all their food at an event the day before it was stolen. "It was very, very promising. We were on a high on Saturday night, and we were like, 'This is great." Then, Sunday morning it came crashing down on us," said Trisha Dogiewicz.MORE HEADLINES: Gloucester County man, 51, arrested for animal cruelty, police sayPennsylvania man caught selling baby kangaroo for $5,000 on Facebook, officials sayPolice: Wawa offering $5,000 reward after armed robberies in Philadelphia neighborhoodsA surveillance video obtained by FOX 29 shows the U-Haul truck drive onto the private lot of the Arsenal Campus on Tacony Street.

WASHINGTON - A man is in custody after vandalizing the Washington Monument. FOX 5's Katie Barlow took pictures of the damage Tuesday night. There is red paint splashed on the side of the monument with words painted next to it. U.S.

Authorities say a woman was hit by gunfire when she unknowingly drove through a street shootout between two groups. PHILADELPHIA - Police say they are investigating a shooting that left one woman injured as she was driving home from work in North Philadelphia on Tuesday night. At around 7:10 p.m., police say they received a call about a shooting on the 3100 block of North 22nd Street. After arriving to the scene, police say they located a woman in a car who was suffering a gunshot wound. Authorities say the victim was traveling north down 22nd Street when she came across large crowds of people running in the area.

FILE - Actor and co-founder of Water.org, Matt Damon, speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2022 Meeting on Sept. 20, 2022, in New York City.