Ali Sabry meets Bangladesh PM

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

The covid-19 surge in China has triggered concern among Indian exporters as it may add to the softening of demand from Western countries The covid-19 surge in China has triggered concern among Indian exporters as it may add to the softening of demand from Western countries. China, India’s largest trading partner, reported an 11% decline in imports in November, and the latest outbreak could further hit exports of Indian goods. While experts noted that the impact on Indian exports from the outbreak in China would not be immediately visible, as orders for the next quarter have been received, China’s decision to stop publishing daily covid-19 data has created significant uncertainty about the severity of the spread.

A Lanarkshire mum campaigning for better mental health services once again had her petition heard in Scottish Parliament.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left for the United States of America on Monday (26) morning.He had left for Dubai via the VIP Terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport, and thereafter will fly to the US.He was accompanied by former First Lady Ayoma Rajapaksa, son Daminda Rajapaksa, daughter-in-law S. D.

Masks will be mandatory to celebrate the New Year in pubs, restaurants & bars. Masks have been made mandatory inside movie theatres, schools & colleges.

The Nainital High Court on Monday made masks mandatory inside the courtroom amid fear of a surge in Covid-19 cases. In an official notification, the high court said, "In view of the danger of spreading of Covid-19, it will be possible to enter the courtroom only by wearing a mask in the Nainital High Court". On the instructions of Nainital High Court Chief Justice Vipin Shanghvi, the Registrar of the High Court issued a notification that all officers, staff, lawyers, and parties will be able to enter the court only by wearing masks.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A two-minute silence will be observed across Sri Lanka on Monday (26) to remember the victims of the massive tsunami that struck the island nation in 2004.The two-minute silence will be observed from 9.25 a.m. to 9.27 a.m., said the Government Information Department.On Boxing Day 2004 a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck in the deep seas off the coast of the Indonesian Island of Sumatra.Moments later strong waves made their way towards the coast of the country and claimed the lives of more than 30,000 people within a matter of minutes.What was termed as the world's worst train disaster, the wreckage was evident from among the debris caused by the massive waves.1,270 people who aboard the train when the waves struck Peraliya died while another 141 remain unaccounted for.Fourteen coastal districts of Sri Lanka were affected by the tsunami disaster and approximately 35,000 people died while about 5000 others disappeared. Every year since 2005, the 26th of December has been declared as "National Safety Day" and on the day, with the participation of the political leadership and public National Safety Day events are held as nationally in remembrance of all those who died in the country due to the Tsunami disaster and various other natural disasters.

PHILADELPHIA - Santa Claus may have already made his rounds, but plenty of helpful elves in the form of volunteers are making sure everyone gets a Christmas in Philadelphia."The important thing now is to take care of the children, and really give them the joy of Christmas," said Brian Jenkins, executive director of Chosen 300 Ministries. The local non-profit handed out warm meals and over 500 wrapped gifts to families and children in need on Christmas Day."This is about Jesus Christ being born, bringing joy to the world, and giving his ultimate gift to us," Jenkins said. "We are simply reciprocating it and extending that love."MORE HEADLINES:Volunteers come together every year to lend a helping hand and provide a Christmas to as many families as possible.

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to take precautionary measures, such as wearing masks and washing hands, amid rising cases of covid-19 across the world. Addressing the nation through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi wished people on the occasion of Christmas, but suggested celebration of festivals with caution. “At this time many people are also in the mood for holidays.

HONG KONG : China’s central health authority has stopped publishing daily Covid-19 data, ending a three-year effort that has drawn mounting criticism for massively underreporting the surge in infections now sweeping the country. In a one-line announcement Sunday, China’s National Health Commission said it would no longer issue its daily report on Covid infections and deaths.

AP “China has a population that is very large and there’s limited immunity. And that seems to be the setting in which we may see an explosion of a new variant." “When we’ve seen big waves of infection, it’s often followed by new variants being generated," Ray said. Experts said a partially immune population like China’s puts particular pressure on the virus to change.

Colombo (News 1st) – The depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal has entered through the east coast of Sri Lanka and it is moving across the country. It is likely to move to the western sea area of Sri Lanka by Monday (26).Accordingly, showers or thunder showers will occur at times over Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-Western and Northern provinces.

Colombo (News 1st) – Heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc across Sri Lanka on Christmas Day, killing at least two people as the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal began moving across Sri Lanka.Police said two people died and three were injured as a boulder fell on a house in an earth slip at Alawathugoda in the Kandy District.The Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa and Giant’s Tank in Mannar begin spilling over due to heavy rain, Irrigation Dept officials said.

India's Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,77,106). Covid-19 cases in India are increasing with a slight margin. The country has recorded 227 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases increased to 3,424, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

Colombo (News 1st) – The depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal is located 350km to the northeast of Trincomalee and is very likely to cross Sri Lanka by tomorrow (25 December), according to the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology.Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places, it added.Strong gusty winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over the Northern, Eastern Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

Colombo (News 1st) – Former Presidential Advisor Ashu Marasinghe has complained to the Criminal Investigation Department with regard to a controversial video leaked on social media purportedly of the Prof. Marasinghe sexually abusing a pet dog."This false incident is now in the hands of the courts.

Colombo (News 1st) –  The recent actions of Professor Ashu Marasinghe, Former Advisor to the President, ''requires immediate punitive action by the President and his government,'' said Rescue Animals Sri Lanka's Anusha David."Abuse of any sort is reprehensible. Abuse of a hapless animal who has no voice is even more deplorable.

Colombo (News 1st) – The online service to settle electricity bills through the official website of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) continues to be disrupted.Several online services have been unavailable on the ceb.lk website for nearly a month, due to ongoing maintenance.The CEB Bill Payments, CEB PIV Payments, CEB Bill Payments via CEBCare App, and the EV Charging Top-up services are currently unavailable. When contacted by News1st, the CEB said it is working to restore the services as soon as possible.The CEB official said customers can settle the bills by using bank mobile applications and at supermarkets.

Colombo (News 1st) – "69 armed Police teams have been deployed to maintain law and order in the South," said Senior DIG in charge of the Southern Province Ajith Rohana."Shooting incidents have claimed the lives of 15 people in 2022, while 18 were arrested over the incidents," he said.The latest incident was reported from Elpitiya on Friday night (23).Sri Lanka Police said a 26 year old was injured in the shooting that took place at the Yakkaduwa Junction in Elpitiya.Two men on a motorcycle carried out the shooting and fled the scene.The injured man was admitted to the Elpitiya Hospital for treatment and was later transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.The Galle Crime Division has launched investigations into the incident.

Colombo (News 1st) – The date for the local government election will be announced before the 5th of January 2023."The announcement was delayed by a few days due to several factors, although the NEC previously said the date will be announced before the end of December," said Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Nimal Punchihewa."The calling of nominations will begin 14 days after the announcement," he added.In the meantime, Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said, "I will resort to administrative action against the Election Commission if the date isn't announced before the 5th of January."

 

The public have been thanked for their ‘heart-warming’ thoughts and sentiment as health and social care services contend with unyielding pressures.

The vaccine can be administered to individuals who have received primary doses of Covaxin and Covishield Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday approved Bharat Biotech International Ltd’s intranasal covid-19 vaccine, iNCOVACC, for emergency use in adults for both primary and booster shots. The vaccine can be administered to individuals who have received primary doses of Covaxin and Covishield, the two most used vaccines against covid-19 in India. “We have given approval to the intranasal covid vaccine.

₹8.33 trillion of investor wealth, driven by concerns about more aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve Indian benchmark indices saw their biggest drop in three months, wiping out ₹8.33 trillion of investor wealth, driven by concerns about more aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and the resurgence of covid cases in China and other parts of the world. The National Stock Exchange’s Nifty index fell 1.77% to close at 17,806.8, while the Sensex plunged 1.6% to 59,845.29. This is the sharpest daily drop in the Nifty since 16 September and 23 September for the Sensex.

NEW DELHI : Amid an explosion of covid-19 cases in China and a sharp rise in cases in the US, among other countries, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday directed state governments to conduct mock drills in all hospitals to ensure that covid-appropriate infrastructure is in place to ward off any threat of a fourth wave. The recent spike in cases in China is being attributed to the more virulent and contagious Omicron BF.7 variant, which is a sub-lineage of BA.5. China National Health Commission said the R0, or reproduction rate, of the variant was at 16, indicating a high transmissibility rate.

A Scots family have been left fearing for the health of their son and premature baby after a chronic mould problem in their council flat has made their lives a 'nightmare'.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Customs on Friday (23) seized Rs. 165 Mn worth of narcotics sent to the country by from Spain, UK, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.A total of seven parcels that were not claimed for weeks were inspected in the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Post, and the Police Narcotic Bureau.These parcels had contained toys and food cans, and concealed inside these items were drugs worth Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Presidential Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs Proffessor Ashu Marasinghe has resigned from his post with immediate effect .According to the President's Media Division he had taken the decision citing personal reasons.

Don Cheadle has opened up about his pandemic wedding to longtime partner Bridgid Coulter after publicly revealing his marital status in June 2021.'It was just me and her and our kids and our dogs and the pastor in the backyard,' Don, 58, told People in its latest issue as he promoted his latest film White Noise.Don shares children Tai, 28, and Imani, 26, with 54-year-old Bridgid. Pandemic wedding: Don Cheadle, shown in May in Los Angeles, has opened up about his pandemic wedding to longtime partner Bridgid Coulter after publicly revealing his marital status in June 2021When asked what was the best part of being married, Don joked: 'The tax break.''Our accountant proposed to us, really.

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in August 2022 there were 5.6 million people across the UK receiving financial support through Universal Credit, a benefit intended to help those out of work or on a low income with daily living costs.

Covid-19 update: The country's active cases declined to 3,380. India logged 163 new coronavirus infections, taking the cumulative tally to 4.46 crore (4,46,76,678), according to the Union Health Minister data updated on Friday.  The country's active cases declined to 3,380, that comprises of 0.01% of the total infections. A decrease of 22 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the official launch of a planned 5-year project in Sri Lanka and Maldives to reduce environmental plastics by decreasing industrial use of plastic and improving integrated solid waste management practices in Sri Lanka and Maldives.The project’s consortium, led by Research Triangle International (RTI) works alongside local partners to target system inefficiencies and areas of reliance on virgin plastics. The project’s overall goal is to increase participation in solid waste management and reduction programs, preventing thousands of tons of plastic from leaking into the environment.“USAID is proud to partner with the governments of Sri Lanka and Maldives, the private sector, civil society, and communities to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic products, which threaten the health and environment of the Sri Lankan and Maldivian people” stated Gabe Grau, the USAID/Sri Lanka and Maldives Mission Director.  “Combatting plastic pollution will reduce threats to marine ecosystems and livelihoods, food security, and ultimately, human health.”Ocean plastic pollution threatens the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, the fishing and tourism sectors, food security, and human health.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – At least 11 people were injured and hospitalized following an accident on the Southern Expressway.The accident involved a private bus and a lorry and took place between Baddegama and Kurundugaha-Hethekma on the Southern Expressway.Sri Lanka Police said that heavy vehicle movement on the Southern Expressway between Baddegama and Kurundugaha-Hethekma was disrupted due to the accident.News 1st correspondent reported that the private bus was on an excursion with a group travelling from Wathugedara, Ambalangoda.The bus had crashed on a lorry that was parked on the side of the Southern Expressway.The injured were admitted to the Karapitya and Elpitiya hospitals.

NEW DELHI : Amid a sudden surge in covid cases globally due to the Omicron BF.7 variant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed state governments to ensure operational readiness of hospital infrastructure, stressed on precaution dose vaccination for the elderly and vulnerable population, and instructed strengthening of surveillance, genome sequencing and testing. Modi, on Thursday, virtually chaired a high-level meeting to assess the covid-19 situation in the country, preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of vaccination campaign and the emergence of new covid-19 variants and their public health implications.

NEW DELHI : To minimize the risk of new covid variants, the union health ministry has requested slew of covid-19 preventive measures to be followed at all the airports. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written a letter to Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation to coordinate with airport operators and ensure random sampling of passengers‘ post arrival at the airport.

Someday Western societies may face a virus a lot deadlier than this one What did we learn from China’s Covid experiment?

Haywire immune response in the nose that lingers after infection could cause smell loss, study finds The nose knows why some people still can’t smell long after recovering from Covid-19. A haywire immune response in the olfactory system was found to explain why some people still can’t smell long after symptoms of the disease have abated, according to a small, peer-reviewed study published Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine. In some cases, the immune or inflammatory response was detected in patients with smell loss up to 16 months after recovery from Covid-19.

It’s difficult to tell the difference but there are clues to look for, doctors say You’re sneezing, coughing and feeling a scratch in your throat. Do you have the flu? RSV? Covid-19? Strep throat? The stew of illnesses swirling through the population right now has many of us sick, sometimes for weeks, but unsure what, exactly, we have. If you’re having symptoms, how can you tell which virus or infection you have? Because flu, Covid, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, have virtually indistinguishable symptoms, doctors say, it’s almost impossible to know without a test.

SHANGHAI/BEIJING : A Shanghai hospital has told its staff to prepare for a "tragic battle" with COVID-19 as it expects half of the city's 25 million people will get infected by the end of next week, while the virus sweeps through China largely unchecked. After widespread protests against strict mitigation measures, China this month began dismantling its "zero-COVID" regime, which had taken a great financial and psychological toll on its 1.4 billion people.

(With inputs from agencies)  

In view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations, states also need to focus on ensuring effective awareness on adherence to covid appropriate behaviour, Mandaviya said New Delhi: With covid-19 cases surging in China, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday urged all members of Parliament to help spread community awareness about the pandemic and the need to remain alert. Delivering a suo-motu statement in Parliament on the present covid situation and steps taken by the government to check the pandemic, Mandaviya said, “In the last few days, we have seen an increasing trajectory of covid-19 cases across the world.

 Colombo (News 1st) – Monday (26) has been declared a special government holiday, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Colombo (News 1st) – The water supply will be suspended for several areas in the Gampaha district for 12 hours on Thursday (22), said the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).The water supply will be suspended for the areas of Uswetakeiyawa, Pamunugama and Taldiyawatta.The water supply will be suspended for 12 hours starting from 06 pm Thursday (22) and will be restored at 06 am on Friday (23).

Colombo (News 1st) – Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera believes Sri Lanka will not need to import rice again, given that the country is not affected by a natural disaster."Farmers will be cultivating 800,000 hectares of paddy lands this Maha season, and 748,000 hectares have already been cultivated," he said."This will be a successful season for the farming community," the Minister added.

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health encourages people to celebrate the holidays safely by taking simple steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.“The past few years COVID-19 illness increased during the holidays after people got together to celebrate,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP.

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway is making sure this Christmas is one to remember as her husband Derek Draper continues his health battle.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen has underscored the need for setting up direct shipping connectivity with Sri Lanka to boost trade relations between Bangladesh and the South Asian nation.He also emphasised the resumption of negotiations for the early conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries.Bangladesh's foreign minister put the importance while holding a meeting with his visiting Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry on Wednesday on the eve of the 22nd ministerial meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in the capital, a foreign ministry press release said on Thursday.During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the wide spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed hope to work closely together for the betterment of the two peoples and inclusive development of the region.Momen urged Sri Lanka to increase the import of agricultural products and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh at an affordable price.Sri Lankan foreign minister said that his country is keen to work in close partnership with Bangladesh.The two leaders agreed to expedite the completion of the formalities to form an institutional platform to hold regular and comprehensive dialogues between the two countries at the level of foreign minister.The issue of mutual support for each other's candidature at various international fora was also discussed with due importance.Momen also sought support from Sri Lanka in repatriating the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sustainably.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry told the Indian Ocean Rim Association session in Bangladesh on Thursday (24) that Sri Lanka is poised and is well positioned to be one of the major trading hubs of the Indian Ocean, addign that the country has demonstrated manifestly significant openness to trade and commerce.He emphasised the significance and necessity of actively engaging with the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim to mutually advance the economic and commercial interests of Sri Lanka as well as to maintain peace and stability in the region of Indian Ocean. He further stressed that Sri Lanka’s commitment to the matters that concern the Indian Ocean region remains one of the key cornerstones of the current economic and foreign policy of Sri Lanka. Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka is strategically positioned at the centre of one of the busiest sea lanes of the world, adding that Sri Lanka’s traditional and ancient links with the countries of the IORM go back many centuries and empirical evidence reveals that Sri Lanka’s geographical centrality markedly facilitated and aided maritime commerce and trade over the centuries.Given its progression as an Indian Ocean Hub, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the most pivotal shipping lanes since two-thirds of the petroleum products and half of the container shipments of the world criss-cross close to the Southern coast of the Island.The Minister apprised the member states at the Council of Ministers of the IORA concerning Sri Lanka’s efforts in sustainable and efficacious usage of maritime resources and immense ocean pollution challenges as well as projects and programs implemented to safeguard the coastal belt and the Indian Ocean. This is to