WHO warns of more ‘dangerous COVID variants’ in coming days. Read here

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.

The country’s active caseload has declined to 39,583 with the total number of covid cases recorded at more than 4.45 crores New Delhi: India reported nearly 3,974 covid cases and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry data said on Friday. The country’s active caseload has declined to 39,583 with the total number of covid cases recorded at more than 4.45 crores. As many as 528629 deaths have been reported in the last two years due to covid.

.Deferring the end date ensured that employers had sufficient time to develop commercial relationships with identity service providers, make the necessary changes to their pre-employment checking processes and carry out responsible on-boarding of their chosen provider.It has also ensured that the right to work scheme has continued to support long-term, post-pandemic working practices, providing sufficient time to put measures in place to enable face to face document checks if employers do not wish to adopt digital checks for British and Irish citizens with a valid passport (or Irish passport card).From 1 October 2022, employers must carry out one of the prescribed checks before employment commences, as set out in guidance.These checks are:a manual right to work checka right to work check using IDVT through the services of an identity service provider (IDSP)a Home Office online right to work checkConducting any of these checks will provide employers with a statutory excuse which is a defence against a civil penalty.Further information for employers on how to conduct these checks is available on the .Where a right to work check has been conducted using the , the information is provided in real time directly from Home Office systems and there is no requirement for employers to see or check the individual’s documents.Employers cannot insist individuals use this service or discriminate against those who choose to use accepted documents to prove their right to work.The has a list of acceptable documents.Employers do not need to carry out retrospective checks on those who had a COVID-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022 (inclusive).

Tokyo, Japan (Kyodo) – Japan is prepared to "do its part" over Sri Lanka's debt issue, but other creditors, such as China and India, should also be involved in efforts to resolve it, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Thursday (29).Suzuki made the remarks after meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, president of Sri Lanka, which has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $2.9 billion loan as the Asian nation needs to restructure its massive debt.Suzuki said he urged Sri Lanka during Thursday's meeting to provide the necessary information, make its own efforts to get China, India and other creditors involved and boost transparency."Japan will do its part if such preconditions are met," Suzuki told reporters without elaborating in the Philippine capital Manila, where he attended a meeting of the Asian Development Bank.During his visit to Japan, the Sri Lankan president met Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the debt issue. The leaders recognized the importance of "fair and transparent" debt restructuring that involves all creditor nations, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.Sri Lanka defaulted on its debt earlier this year.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Iranian government has expressed its willingness to supply Fertilizers to Sri Lanka.The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to obtain fertilizer from Iran, following a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador recently.However, importing fertilizer from Iran has become an issue given international sanctions imposed on the middle-eastern country.The Agriculture Minister said the necessary applications will be made via the Foreign Ministry.

A higher rate of illness benefit for people who miss work due to Covid-19 comes to an end today.

(With inputs from PTI)

Britain’s Royal Mint has unveiled the first coins to feature the portrait of King Charles III.

Hurricanes Ian and Fiona could have grocers that source food from Atlantic Canada and the southern United States passing higher costs on to Canadian consumers, experts say, as some businesses on the east coast begin to rebuild their battered industries.Any disruption to supply chains, which have seen major improvements in shipping costs and reliability over the past six months, is thankfully expected to be brief.“The effects of things like hurricanes tend to be short-lived,” Fraser Johnson, professor of operations management at Ivey Business School, tells Global News.That could be cold comfort to Atlantic Canada’s fishing industry, which was devastated when Fiona, classified then as post-tropical storm, hit the east coast this past weekend.Entire harbours in Newfoundland’s Port aux Basques were washed off the coast as two-metre-high storm surges hit the shore and will need to be rebuilt. Others have seen fishing equipment and entire ships washed out to sea or beached on land.Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray said Thursday that it will take more time to assess the full extent of the damage to the fishing industry, but added she’s willing to work with fish harvesters across the region on requests for a season extension.Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax, experienced the damaging winds and torrential rain from Fiona first hand, recalling in an interview with Global News how the storm hit in the middle of the night and left his home without power for five days.For residents in Atlantic provinces, lengthy power outages mean short shelf lives for food in fridges and freezers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The suspect who stabbed a man during a snatch and grab incident in Pahalagama, Gampaha on the 20th of September, was killed in police fire on Thursday (29) night.The wife of the suspect was arrested by Sri Lanka Police.Police Officers had visited the Maduruwita area in Gampaha to arrest the suspects, and during the arrest, he had attempted to stab a police officer.Police officers had opened fire on the suspect, and he was rushed to the Gampaha Hospital where he died upon admission.The deceased was identified as Janaka Lasantha, a resident from Kosowita, Ganemulla.Investigations revealed that the deceased was a drug peddler, and was involved in snatch and grabs with his wife.The mugging incident that went wrong: Rasika Vinod, a 29-year-old mid-level employee at a State Bank in Sri Lanka was brutally killed while he tried to prevent a mugging attempt recently.On Tuesday (20) night, Vinod tragically died when he attempted to foil a snatching attempt at his doorstep, in Pahalagama in the Gampaha District.According to reports, this is how the tragedy had taken place: His wife and her friend were returning home from work on Tuesday (20) night.When his wife was close to their home, a couple in a motorbike approached them and attempted to snatch a handbag.According to Sri Lanka Police, Rasika was waiting at the doorstep for his wife to return home, along with his father.The duo immediately attacked the motorcycle thieves, and also toppled the two-wheeler onto the ground.During the tussle, the motorcycle rider attacked Rasika with a sharp weapon.The victim of the mugging attempt detailed her ordeal to News 1st's Naveksha Gunasekera who visited the scene of the crime on Wednesday (21)."A motorcycle crossed my

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The 'National Council' decided to form two sub-committees related to national policies and economic stabilization at the inaugural meeting held with the participation of the ruling party and the opposition.The purpose of setting up the Sub-Committee on National Policy is to set the common priorities of Parliament to guide the formulation of medium and long-term national policies. Also, the purpose of establishing the Sub-Committee on Economic Stabilization is to reach agreement on the short- and medium-term programs related to economic stabilization.These decisions were taken at the inaugural meeting of the 'National Council' held at the Parliament complex on Thursday (29) under the chairmanship of Speaker  Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha, Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Minister  Tiran Alas were presented for the meeting.In addition, Members of Parliament Asanka Navaratne, Rauf Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mano Ganesan, Palani Digambaram, Jeevan Thondaman, Sisira Jayakodi, Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Sagara Kariyawasam, Ali Sabri Rahim, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Vajira Abeywardena, Sivaneshthurai Chandrakanthan, Champika Ranawaka and several members of Parliament were present.Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake was also present at this meeting.Prime Minister Hon.

WILMINGTON, Del. - A high school athlete turned hero. He didn’t hesitate to act when his opponent suffered an emergency. He runs cross country and he’s a wrestler, but on that race day, the athlete in him took a back seat to the genuine human being that he is."It could have been a way worse situation if I didn’t stop, so it didn’t matter about the race, at all," Zakary Ettien said.

PHILADELPHIA - A candlelight prayer vigil was held for victims of a deadly quintuple shooting that erupted following a joint scrimmage at Roxborough High School on Tuesday. Community members and loved ones of the victim's gathered at Gorgas Park where local clergy members lead prayers and remembrance for 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde.Elizalde, according to police, was killed when a group of gunman unleashed over 60 shots on a group walking on Pechin Street Tuesday afternoon. Four other teens were hurt in the hail of gunfire."As a mom its terrifying, you don’t think it's going to happen in your own backyard, but when it does you have a whole different perspective on how quick a life can be taken," Dyann Berry said.RELATED COVERAGEThe Philadelphia Police Department shared disturbing surveillance video of the shooting that showed a group of gunman get out of a light-colored SUV and open fire. According to police, one of the shooters stood over a victim and continued to fire his weapon, but the gun had run out of bullets.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi VOULE for Freedom of Association says that they are very concerned with the declaration of

COLOMBO (News 1st) – On a day when a father sacrificed his life to feed his children, and multiple robberies were reported across the country, a proposal was submitted to the Parliament regarding the privileges and benefits enjoyed by the parliamentarians and ministers. One of the proposals was presented to the Cabinet by the President and the Minister of Justice. The proposal states that the parliamentarians whose houses and offices were attacked during the period from the 31st of march to the 22nd of June have been unable to carry out their duty to the country since then. Therefore the proposal suggests compensating 50% of the estimated loss until the full compensation is paid. The proposal also requested the permission of the cabinet to release funds for this from the treasury. Meanwhile, instructions were issued recently to provide the necessary facilities for MPs who function as chairmen of District Coordinating Committees. A letter sent by the Secretary to the president to the secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government states that chairmen of District Coordinating Committees should be allocated an official vehicle and be given a fuel allocation of 300 liters. The letter states that in addition to this, they must be provided with a staff allocation of 7 members and also an office within the District Secretariat. The staff of the Chairman of the District Coordination Committee includes 4 development officers already attached to the district secretariat, a personal assistant, an office assistant, and a driver. 16 MPs from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna function as the Heads of the District Coordination Committees.

(With inputs from ANI)

COLOMBO (News 1st) – More details have surfaced about a headless corpse that was dragged away by a crocodile in Akuressa, in Sri Lanka's south.The presence of Crocodiles in Hulandawa, Akuressa doesn't usually shock the local residents, however, what they saw in the Nilwala River on Wednesday (28) evening, had sent shivers down their spines.Residents of Pathovita in Hulandawa were shocked when they saw this crocodile dragging the headless corpse of a man in the Nilwala river. The crocodile with a headless corpse between its teeth had attempted to come ashore on Wednesday (28) evening, however, it went swam back into the depths of the river after seeing a large crowd on the river bank.Attempts by the area residents to locate the body on Thursday (29) were unsuccessful. The area residents identified the clothes on the corpse being dragged around by the crocodile as those belonging to Palanisamy Aarumugam who was reported missing on Wednesday (28).Palanisamy a father of two was a daily wage earner at a Katupol Plantation. Since his daily income of between  700 to 800 rupees was not sufficient to feed his children he had taken up fishing to make ends meet.What is even more unfortunate was that he had not gone to work on Wednesday (28) due to an injury, and decided to go fishing as he had no other way to feed his children, since his wife too had left them.Arumugam who went fishing to feed his kids never came back.Arumugam was well aware of the threat posed by crocodiles in the river but was desperate as he had no other way to feed his children. The loss of this single parent has now left two small children all alone in this world, with no one to take care of them.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Archeology has completed the investigation into the President's House, which was occupied by the protesters on 9th June 2022.The Department said it would hand over the report to the Police as soon as possible.The Department of Archeology further said that during the investigations special attention was paid to the structure of the President's House, and the historic artifacts, and paintings that were placed there.In the meantime, the Department of Archeology added that reports have been given to the Police on its inquiry into Temple Trees and the Prime Minister's Office.

HAVERFORD, Pa. - The suspected ringleader of a group of Delaware County teenagers accused of assaulting other teens in videos posted to the internet has been charged. FOX 29's Kelly Rule reports that unnamed teen was sent to juvenile detention Thursday on a number of charges, including robbery, assault, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint.The charges come after a video showing a group of teens surrounding and assaulting a freshman boy near the Skatium on Darby Road on Sunday night."It hurts me, because, ten on one is a bad situation," said Joe Walker, a parent of the assaulted teen. "He got out of it unscathed, not hurt, but you know the ‘what ifs,’ what could have happened?"MORE LOCAL HEADLINESHaverford Township Police say they are also investigating similar group assaults last Friday near the Wawa on Darby Road.

Ian made landfall in Florida Wednesday as one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the U.S., unleashing howling winds, torrential rains and a treacherous surge of ocean surf.Early video images of the storm’s fury on local TV and social media showed flood waters sweeping away cars, nearly reaching rooftops in some communities and the ruins of homes as palm trees were bent almost in half. ‘Historic’ hurricane Ian rips through Florida after making landfall on Gulf Coast The Associated Press reported a day later that the storm flooded homes on both of the state’s coasts, cut off the only bridge to a barrier island, destroyed a historic waterfront pier, and knocked out electricity to 2.67 million Florida homes and businesses.

ISLAND COUNTY, Wash. - Authorities say they’ve recovered 80% of a floatplane that crashed earlier this month near Whidbey Island that killed all ten people on board.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the US Navy are working together to recover the wreckage.Teams began a 24/7 operation Tuesday morning working until the wreckage is back above water. Crews are equipped with an underwater drone, a large crane and a team of specialists.Chair of the NTSB Jennifer Homendy told FOX 13 News on Thursday that they were making progress."Yesterday we were able to bring up the engine for the plane, and today we were able to bring up about 80% of the plane which is good progress," said Homendy.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee kindergarten teacher who police said was kidnapped during a pre-dawn run and then killed earlier this month died from a gunshot wound to the head, an autopsy report released Thursday showed.Eliza Fletcher, 34, had a gunshot wound in the back of the head and also had blunt-force injuries to her right leg and jaw fractures, according to the autopsy completed by the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center in Memphis."There are two semicircular defects to the skull consistent with a single gunshot to the head with the bullet travelling in a posterior to anterior (back to front) and right to left direction," the report said.Fletcher was running on the University of Memphis campus when she was forced into a vehicle after a struggle about 4 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say two young teenagers were shot while walking down a Philadelphia street Thursday night by a gunman who got out of a vehicle.Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the intersection of 54th and Willows streets around 5 p.m. for reports of a gunfire. Police found a 16-year-old boy shot once in the side of the head and a 14-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound to the body, according to investigators. The older teen was brought to Penn Presbyterian Hospital and placed in critical condition, police said.

A higher rate of illness benefit for people who miss work due to Covid-19 comes to an end today.

CENTER CITY - As more information comes to light regarding the Roxborough High School shooting, one thing is certain and that is too many kids are getting involved in crime across the area.One of the victims from that shooting had a connection to a carjacking case and kids as young as 14 keep getting arrested."The biggest thing is the lack of hope. They’re more afraid of living then they are to die,"RELATED COVERAGE:As Philadelphia approaches the staggering number of 1,000 murders in just two years, residents who grew up and live in the neighborhoods are trying to fight back against the unprecedented violence.Philadelphia police, earlier this year, flagged a disturbing trend – young people are increasingly becoming both the victim and the perpetrators in the crimes."Your prefrontal cortex, your frontal lobe, doesn’t develop until you’re 25 and that’s your decision-making tool," Taj Murdock explained.Murdock is the founder of Men of Courage, a non-profit aimed at helping 12 to 18-year-old young men find a purpose.Murdock himself was once a juvenile in jail.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that even as COVID cases and fatalities related to the infection continue to decline, it is still the ‘most dangerous time’. WHO chief said that it is ‘encouraging’ that COVID infection and deaths are declining but, still one person is dying of it every 44 seconds.  Explaining this, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, a downward trend can be the most dangerous time, if it opens the door to complacency.  The global decline in reported cases and deaths is continuing.

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.

At a World Health Organization (WHO) briefing today, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said COVID-19 deaths for 2022 alone passed 1 million this week, as he pressed countries to do more to vaccinate all healthcare workers, older people, and others at highest risk. Since the pandemic began in early 2020, 6,472,848 deaths have been reported, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.Tedros said countries in Africa with the lowest