Blinken agrees to promote investments to Sri Lanka once the IMF negotiations are over

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Public Security says that the members of the armed forces who are deployed in the vicinity of filling stations may have to be removed from those duties.The Ministry stated that the Tri-forces members may have to be removed on requests received by various parties seeking to remove them in view of the distressing conditions observed around fuel stations.The Secretary to the Ministry, S. Hettiarachchi said that although a final decision has not yet been taken to withdraw the members of the armed forces from their duties, such a situation may arise in the future.The Secretary of the Ministry also mentioned that it has been discovered that clashes have taken place involving some political activists, underworld groups and subversive groups in the vicinity of filling stations.The Ministry of Public Security points out that the assistance of members of the armed forces was sought in view of the insufficient deployment of police officers for the security of filling stations.Ministry Secretary S.

Celebrity Gogglebox star Rylan Clark has shared an update on his mum Linda Clark's health following their much-anticipated return to the Channel 4 show. A fan tweeted the former The X Factor star to enquire about how Linda was doing after they noticed she had a TPN line as the two settled down to share their thoughts on the week's top telly.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Litro Gas Company states that the company is currently in possession of about 4 million empty gas cylinders.A senior official of the company mentioned that a ship carrying gas will also arrive in the country on 9th July.The quantity of gas aboard the relevent ship is 3,700 metric tons.The official stated that two more ships are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on the 11th and 16th July.Meanwhile, the Litro Company also stated that the daily sale of gas, which is currently limited, will resume from 11th July.In the meantime, Litro company officials have been called before COPE today (05) to probe into any irregularities detected in the purchase of gas.

Down from yesterday's 16,135 fresh infections, the country reported over 3,000 less daily COVID cases in the last 24 hours India on Tuesday witnessed a dip in daily COVID cases by a margin of over 3,000 infections. Down from yesterday's 16,135 fresh infections, the country reported 13,086 fresh COVID cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Union Health Ministry today. The number of active COVID cases went past the 1.14 lakh mark.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Members of the Opposition at the Parliament took steps today (05) to express their disappointment with the President, while the President was on visit to the Parliament. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also took steps to brief the Parliament on the current status of the International Monetary Fund’s assistance program. Following the Opposition MPs protest, the Speaker adjourned Parliamentary sittings for a period of 10 minutes.

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker enjoyed ajoyride in a vintage orange truck with her two youngest kids Penelope, nine, and Reign, seven, on the Fourth of July.Just days after her husband's scary hospitalization due to a'life-threatening' case of pancreatitis' that developed following a routine endoscopy, the reality star, 43, shared footage of herself cruising around the highway without a care in the world.In a recording, posted to her Instagram Story on Monday, the mother-of-three wore a wide-brimmed black Prada hat, matching shades, a plain white t-shirt and jeans. Having a blast:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker enjoyed a joyride in a vintage orange truck with her two youngest kids Penelope, nine, and Reign, seven, on the Fourth of JulyHer little girl, who she shares with exScott Disick, looked peaceful as she sat by her younger brother while sporting a beige hoodie, matching sweatpants and white sneakers.

A study of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) suggests that antibiotic decisions made in the emergency department (ED) have a significant impact on inpatient antibiotic use, researchers reported today in Pediatrics.The study also found and that nearly a third of children without ra

TORONTO – Julia Budzinski, the 17-year-old daughter of first-base coach Mark (Bud) Budzinski, died in a tubing accident in Virginia on the weekend.Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources spokesperson Paige Pearson said in a statement that two girls fell off a tube being pulled behind a boat on the James River on Saturday.As the boat operator returned to get them out of the water, the boat hit a wave causing it to be pushed on top of a 17-year-old victim, striking her with the propeller.“It was a very happy, fun last day on earth for her,” Budzinski’s mother Monica, who says she was with her daughter at the boat, said at a vigil at Julia’s Virginia high school Sunday night. “Sadly obviously … but it was happy, laughing, having a good time, and that’s the way I’m going to remember her, that’s the way everybody needs to remember her.

Australia’s largest city in a flood emergency that was impacting 50,000 people, officials said Tuesday.Emergency response teams made 100 rescues overnight of people trapped in cars on flooded roads or in inundated homes in the Sydney area, State Emergency Service manager Ashley Sullivan said.Days of torrential rain have caused dams to overflow and waterways to break their banks, bringing a fourth flood emergency in 16 months to parts of the city of 5 million people. Thousands evacuated from Australia’s Sydney amid heavy rains, floods The New South Wales state government declared a disaster across 23 local government areas overnight, activating federal government financial assistance for flood victims.Evacuation orders and warnings to prepare to abandon homes impacted 50,000 people, up from 32,000 on Monday, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said.“This event is far from over.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association says due to the fuel crisis the bus service will be completely disrupted on Tuesday (5).The Chairman of Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Gemunu Wijeratne said that this situation has arisen because SLTB Depots are not issuing sufficient fuel for private buses.He also said that at present around 10,000 buses are waiting in queues near the depots in hope of purchasing fuel.Meanwhile, the General Secretary of Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Association Anjana Priyanjith says that the Government has failed to provide fuel to private buses.The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) says that nearly 4,800 buses will operate on Tuesday (5).The Chief operating officer of SLTB A.S.B Weerasuriya said that inter-provincial services and provincial services are expected to be operated as usual.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Railways noted that trains are operating on Tuesday (5) as usual.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say two police officers were shot during 4th of July fireworks in Philadelphia.A large police presence swarmed the 2400 block of Spring Garden Street just before 10 p.m. Authorities say a Philadelphia police officer assigned to highway patrol suffered a graze wound to the head.

Today we are reporting 9,629 community cases and 493 current hospitalisations.

Beachgoers watch as a boat sails across the horizon on an overcast evening at Santa Monica beach in Santa Monica, California on June 21, 2018, on the summer solstice. The U.S.

CHICAGO - A gunman on a rooftop opened fire on an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago on Monday, killing at least six people, wounding at least 30 and sending hundreds of marchers, parents with strollers and children on bicycles fleeing in terror, police said.Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen said a police officer pulled over 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo III about five miles north of the shooting scene, several hours after police released the man's photo and an image of his silver Honda Fit, and warned the public that he was likely armed and dangerous.Police declined to immediately identify Crimo as a suspect but said identifying him as a person of interest, sharing his name and other information publicly was a serious step.FBI released photo of Robert E.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Meteorology announced that showers will occur at times in Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, and Matara districts.Several spells of showers will occur in Western and North-western provinces.Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times in the western slopes of the Central hills, Western, Southern, and North-Western provinces.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with Former President Maithripala Sirisena this afternoon for a special discussion at the Opposition Leaders Office in Colombo.The office of the Opposition Leader said that this meeting is part of the ‘National Reforms & Future’ program.Several political leaders and civil activists are also at the meeting, suggested reports.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a double shooting that left one man critically injured in Mayfair on Monday night.Police say they responded to the 3000 block of Princeton Avenue at 4:59 p.m. for reports of a shooting.A 33-year-old man was shot once in the thigh and transported to Jefferson Frankford Hospital where he was placed in stable condition, according to authorities. MORE HEADLINES 1 hurt in July 4th road rage shooting blocks from Independence Hall, police sayPolice: Man with woman, baby in car shot near Penns LandingWoman found shot to death on living room floor in Frankford, police sayPolice say, the other victim, a 23-year-old man, was shot once in the stomach and taken to Nazareth Hospital, according to police.

Air Canada’s sudden cut to its summer flight schedule fuelled another chaotic long weekend at Canadian airports and left many customers stranded and frustrated.

An SH-60 Seahawk helicopter from the USS Monterey flies above a stateless dhow, a type of  sailing vessel, in the Arabian Sea, May 6, 2021. The Navy said sailors found thousands of illicit weapons on board.

NEWTOWN, Pa. - Firefighter in Bucks County rescued a man from the roof of a burning condo fire that erupted Fourth of July morning.Emergency crews responded to Nathan Court in the Newtown Gate Townhomes community for reports of a two-story fire at an end unit. Firefighters from the Newtown Fire Department said when they arrived they found a man standing on the roof of the burning home. Deputy Chief Liz Ellis told reporters the firefighters quickly stretched a ladder to the roof and helped guide the man down. He was brought to a local hospital with burns, FOX 29's Joann Pileggi reports. A neighbor who witnessed the Independence Day blaze first thought the sirens were from a local parade, then smelled the smoke. "I was actually hearing sirens going on like nearby I thought they were passing by the highway maybe Fourth of July related but then my Ring door alarm said there’s a fire, and it gave my street name, and then I smelled smoke and ran outside," Devrim Eren said.The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Child-care operators have until the provincial deadline of Sept. 1, to confirm their intentions to participate in the $10-a-day child-care program.Once approved, an operator has 60 days to refund families 25 per cent of fees paid retroactive to April 1 for eligible children.

SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. - Two beaches on Long Island reopened for swimming on Monday after a shark attacked a lifeguard over the weekend. Lifeguards at the beaches at Smith Point County Park and Cupsogue Beach County Park started their shifts an hour early on Monday morning to scan the water for signs of sharks, Suffolk County spokesperson Nicole Russo said. The beaches reopened at 10 a.m. Lifeguards on paddle boards patrolled the shoreline.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a shooting that they say left one man dead on Monday afternoon in West Oak Lane.At 4:32 p.m., on the 2000 block of East Washington Lane, police say a 39-year-old man was shot multiple times in the chest. Medics pronounced the man dead on scene at 4:33 p.m., according to police. MORE HEADLINES1 hurt in July 4th road rage shooting blocks from Independence Hall, police sayPolice: Juvenile's failed robbery attempt in Old City turns violent after man shot with woman, baby in carPolice: 6-year-old and 7-year-old hospitalized after being shot in WilmingtonNo arrest was made in this incident and police are actively investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police. 

PHILADELPHIA - Crowds of people in Philadelphia feel as though the Fourth of July is not a day to celebrate as many gathered for pro-choice rallies to protest the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.Protesters demanded that the government restore nationwide legal abortion rights outside of Independence Mall in Old City on the Fourth of July.

latest climate change ruling could dampen efforts by federal agencies to rein in the tech industry, which went largely unregulated for decades as the government tried to catch up to changes wrought by the internet.In the 6-3 decision that was narrowly tailored to the Environmental Protection Agency, the court ruled Thursday that the EPA does not have broad authority to reduce power plant emissions that contribute to global warming. The precedent is widely expected to invite challenges of other rules set by government agencies."Every agency is going to face new hurdles in the wake of this confusing decision," said Alexandra Givens, the president and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington-based digital rights nonprofit.

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - A teenager is being sought in connection to a deadly shooting in the basement of a Delaware County home that claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy. Jermaine Young, 16, is wanted on several charges, including third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, according to an affidavit. Officer from the Upper Darby Police Department were called to a home on the 6900 block of Ruskin Lane shortly before 7 p.m. Friday night. According to investigators, police found the 14-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

MUMBAI : The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) on Monday agreed to look into the Covid-19 policy claims that were rejected by insurance companies.  This comes after a public interest litigation was filed by a Manav Seva Dham (petitioner), a social services’ trust against various insurance companies before the Bombay High Court.  According to the petition, it has been alleged that various insurance providers engaged in a number of offences, misusing policyholder funds, rerouting funds through additional businesses, and paying exorbitant overriding commissions to banks and their agents.  “The insurance companies are unjustly denying their Covid-19-related claims, it claimed, even in the midst of the ongoing pandemic Covid-19, in which the country’s residents have not only lost their jobs but also depleted their money", it said.  Additionally, the petitioner submitted that Insurance companies have caused wrongful losses to the policyholders.  Essentially the petitioner asked the court to ass an order to ensure that the insurance claims submitted by the policyholders due to Covid-19 pandemic were not arbitrarily rejected.  The petition stated that due to the widespread pandemic the general insurance companies received a significant lot of claims from the policyholders. More than 80, 000 claims were received by the non-life insurance industry.

ongoing mobility issues. But now her job has officially been scaled back amid those health concerns.The monarchy’s annual report, which was released last week, revealed that Queen Elizabeth II’s role as head of state has been tweaked from 13 bulleted points to a less specific description.

Authorities say a man was shot during an apparent road rage shooting on Fourth of July in Old City, Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA - One person was injured during a Fourth of July road rage shooting that happened just blocks away from Independence Hall, according to police. FOX 29's Chris O'Connell reports that a ‘traffic altercation’ happened at the intersection of 2nd and Market streets around 3 p.m. The alleged shooter is accused of throwing a drink at the victim's car, then shooting a man in the leg.The victim was taken by police to a Jefferson Hospital, but police have not shared information on his condition. The suspect was taken into custody by responding officers, according to O'Connell.

Two protestors interrupt the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in which competitive eater Joey Chestnut wins his 15th title eating 63 Nathan's hot dogs at the 2022 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Islan NEW YORK - Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, who gobbled his way to a 15th win Monday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, was seen putting an interloper in a brief chokehold mid-event. The 37-year-old hot dog eating champion sucked down 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes eclipsing the event’s closest competitor, Geoffrey Esper, by 20 hot dogs. But Chestnut’s performance was briefly disrupted by an animal-rights protestor who rushed the stage as Chestnut was still chomping down on dogs. The strange disturbance only lasted a few seconds as Chestnut was seen throwing the protestor down to the floor."Only Joey Chesnut can demolish 63 Glizzies and take down a protestor at the same time. Greatest athlete who has ever lived," wrote one user on Twitter who posted a video of the incident. Monday also marked the contest's return to its traditional location outside Nathan’s flagship shop in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood.

Fourth of July parade in the Chicago-area suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, according to local officials. Police are actively looking for the shooter.At a press conference on Monday, law enforcement officials told media that the shooting was “very random” and “very intentional,” and it appears the shooter was on a roof with a high-powered rifle.

CHICAGO - A mass shooting suspect who opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, remained at large on Monday, with police warning residents that the individual should still be considered armed and dangerous. The parade began around 10 a.m. local time and was suddenly halted about 10 minutes later after shots rang out, killing at least six people and wounding 24 others. The suspect likely fired on the festivities from a rooftop, police said. HIGHLAND PARK, IL - JULY 04: First responders work the scene of a shooting at a Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2022 in Highland Park, Illinois.

asthma attack. The star has struggled with asthma his entire life. An eyewitness of the show told Page Six at the time: "Coolio was having problems with his asthma, but someone from the audience provided him with their inhaler that he used between verses of 'Gangsta's Paradise,' and his other songs.

More than 1,200 cases of monkeypox have been reported across the UK as the outbreak continues to grow. While the majority of suspected cases so far have been identified in London, there is a contingent of cases being reported by GPs and patients in the North West - and a handful of suspected cases in Greater Manchester.

COVID-19 vaccine doses.Interim Leader Peter Tabuns says details are needed now that a federal immunization panel is recommending the shots and Quebec has moved ahead with fourth doses for all adults.He says the NDP want easy and equitable access to the shots, including community clinics and availability in doctors’ offices.

ITV This Morning star Holly Willoughby today hosted the show with a "hoarse voice" after a weekend spent shouting. Holly, aged 41, a mum of three, was hosting with Phillip Schofield. She said: "I was down at my parent's house because it was my dad's 70th birthday party this weekend.

Unearthing the evidence of Russia’s war crimes in east Ukraine The incident is among thousands under investigation by Ukrainian authorities, who are treating Russia’s invasion not only as a war but also as a series of war crimes.But it reveals the challenges of that approach, especially during a large-scale armed conflict like the Ukraine war.An investigation by Global News has found that overwhelmed prosecutors failed to conduct basic groundwork before publicly announcing their findings and their suspect, a Russian commander.The family was not interviewed. Captured Russian soldiers who were prosecution witnesses were allowed to leave the country in prisoner swaps.

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - The Highland Park Fourth of July parade was suddenly halted when shots were fired about 10 minutes after the parade kicked off at 10 a.m. Monday, striking an unknown number of parade-goers and sending hundreds of people running for safety.A law enforcement source tells Fox 32 News that one person was fatally shot and there are multiple other people who were wounded in the shooting.A Chicago Sun-Times reporter saw blankets covering three bloodied bodies and five other people wounded and bloodied near the parade’s reviewing stand. Several witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police on Monday (4) revealed that the criminal gangster gunned down during a shooting with police was wanted for multiple crimes including murder dating back to 2004.Sri Lanka Police said the Colombo Crimes Division was conducting an investigation into an incident where one man was gunned down and another was injured at the Bastian Mawatha Private Bus Terminal in Colombo on the 30th of June 2022.Thereafter, detectives received a tip-off that the suspect who carried out the shooting was hiding in a house in Ihalagama, Gampaha.Based on the information CCD officers had visited the premises early morning on Monday (4), and the suspect upon seeing the approaching police officers had fled using a motorcycle.Sri Lanka Police said that CCD officers chased after the suspect and discovered the motorcycle abandoned.Thereafter, the suspect opened fire at the police officers, and police officers returned fire injuring the suspect.The suspect was 41-year-old Ihala Vithanage Joseph alias Josa, and he died upon admission to the Gampaha Hospital.Police officers recovered a T-56 Assault Rifle used by the suspect to fire at police officers, a magazine, 5 live rounds, 4 bullet casings, a motorcycle, a helmet, and a traveling bag from the location where the suspect was shot and injured.Detectives have uncovered that the slain gangster had committed multiple crimes on the instructions of notorious underworld gangster Stanley Kennedy Fernando alias Bumma.In addition, he also shot dead a woman opposite the Welikada Prison on the instructions of slain underworld leader Makandure Madush.Sri Lanka Police said the suspect Josa had committed multiple crimes including murder, attempted murder, heroin possession,

Channel 4 television personality announced last year that he had received the devastating diagnosis after doctors discovered he had a 4. 5cm stage three tumour. In April, Merlin underwent surgery to remove the tumour but his health battle isn't over yet.

Alonzo Coleman is pictured in a provided image after winning $250,000 in Virginia’s Bank a Million game. (Credit: Virginia Lottery) A Virginia man won a $250,000 lottery prize after taxes using numbers that came to him in a dream.Alonzo Coleman, a retiree who lives in the Henrico, Virginia, area, played the state’s Bank a Million game, in which individuals pick six different numbers from 1 through 40.

A woman has been detained under the Mental Health Act after a fire broke out at a flat in Rochdale. Emergency services were called to the scene in Albion Street, Castleton, at about 11.30am on Sunday (July 3).

AUDUBON, N,J, - A routine grocery run turned violent when officials say an 80-year-old woman became the victim of a stabbing.Police responded to reports of a stabbing in the parking lot of Acme on West Nicholson Road in Audubon Sunday afternoon.An 80-year-old woman was loading groceries in her car when she was reportedly stabbed multiple times. She is still recovering at a local hospital in stable condition, according to officials.Altirik Higgins, 40, was taken into custody in connection to the stabbing.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions with Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, on Monday (20) at the Prime Minister’s office.The Minister expressed Australia’s continued support for Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to stabilize the economy.The Prime Minister explained that Sri Lanka was focussed on developing an export oriented economy which would be opened up to investments from overseas.Minister O’Neil said that the Australian Government was interested in promoting Australian investments in Sri Lanka, while also continuing to drive up Australian tourism to Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe commenced discussions with the IMF team a short while ago at the Prime Minister’s Office.The Ministry of Finance stated that the delegates are visiting the country to further expand the discussions regarding the funds to be obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The Ministry of Finance said that the IMF representatives are scheduled to meet the President, the Prime Minister, officials of the Ministry of Finance, and officials of the Central Bank.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The crisis in Sri Lanka has been of its “own making.” , says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in an interview with the Associated Press.He also said that Sri Lanka may be compelled to buy more oil from Russia, as Sri Lanka desperately needs fuel. He also said that the country is currently trying to get oil and coal from the country’s traditional suppliers in the Middle East, however if the traditional sources cannot provide fuel to Sri Lanka, the country will have to turn to Russia.The Prime Minister also said that while the Gulf nations are Sri Lanka’s main supply for fuel, officials are negotiating with private suppliers, and at times, “We may not know what oil we are buying,”, as fuel in the market can be traced back to Russia or Iran.Speaking on China, the Prime Minister said that it is necessary to identify the projects that are necessary for economic recovery and take loans for those projects, whether it be from China or from others.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A group of concerned professionals consisting largely of legal and medical practitioners under the banner of “Direction Sri Lanka – Independent Professionals for the Nation” have called the 21st Amendment to the Constitution must be passed with positive changes.Direction Sri Lanka proposes the following changes:a) The President to resign forthwith in response to the demands of the People. This is the primary demand of the people.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, M. Siriwardena, today (10), signed an agreement with the EXIM Bank of India to obtain a Dollar Credit Line.The Government requested a credit facility from the Government of India for the importation of Urea Fertilizer of 65,000 MT in order to cater the immediate requirement of Urea fertilizer demand during the Yala cultivation season.