COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila told Parliament on Wednesday (23) that importing fuel has become a challenge.“Over 50% of our export revenue is used to purchase fuel for the country,” he said, adding that at the Emergency Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday (22) the Treasury Secretary instructed the Bank of Ceylon to release funds for a tanker with Diesel.He admitted there is a shortage of Diesel in the country as the CPC restricted its Diesel supplies to the filling stations over the past 5 days, due to the payment issue for the tanker with Diesel at the Colombo Port.“Since December 20th, the global crude oil prices have increased by 38%.

However, Sri Lanka did not increase prices. The Cabinet decided that there should NOT be any price hike,” he told the Parliament.Also speaking in Parliament, Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe strongly advised the government to pay off all spot purchases, if not Sri Lanka will have to pay over $ 100 per barrel of oil in the near future.Energy Minister Gammanpila appreciating the Former Prime Minister’s comments said all tankers will be paid, and Sri Lanka has made long-term financial facilities from multiple nations, including those that produce oil.SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri brought the attention of the house to the fact that much-needed funds are released in the late hours in USD for payments, at the request of the Finance Minister. .

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BTS member J-Hope tests positive for COVID-19

BTS member J-Hope has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, according to his label Big Hit Music.Today, Big Hit Music confirmed the K-pop idol’s positive diagnosis in a statement to the group’s Weverse page. The label noted that the idol had begun experiencing symptoms of a sore throat on March 23, which prompted him to take a PCR test that same day as a precaution, before testing positive the day after.The label then went on to clarify that the 28-year-old rapper had been triple-vaccinated against the virus prior to his diagnosis.

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Singapore to lift virus travel curbs in 'milestone'

Singapore will lift restrictions for all vaccinated travellers from next week, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today hailing it as a "major milestone" in the aviation hub's efforts to live with Covid-19.

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Consumer Matters: Kitimat woman fights to get pandemic travel credits back

Consumer Matters reporter Anne Drewa has the story of a B.C. woman who was shocked when she discovered that her pandemic travel credits had disappeared.

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GIF inventor Steve Wilhite passes away due to covid complications

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Simple ways to save: Calgary home economist shares food tips

With the cost of groceries rising, there are some simple ways to save on food. A Calgary home economist shares some of her tips with Lauren Pullen.

Lauren Pullen

Ukrainian Holocaust survivor’s remains recovered after Russian bombing

Despite surviving the Holocaust, 96-year-old Boris Romanchenko was killed in Russia’s assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine. Mike Armstrong looks at Romanchenko’s remarkable life, and the tributes pouring in.

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Health insurance claims surge over 3.5 times in 2021: Study

₹69,259 and ₹68,919 respectively.

India Health Gap reports

Tom Hanks photobombs wedding party — again — leaving bride in ‘disbelief’

Weddings, just like life, are like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get.

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COVID-19 wastewater data shows cases are rising again across Canada

Surveillance of wastewater data is suggesting that COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Canada as provinces have eased public health restrictions.

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Organization provides free cameras for homes, businesses in West Philadelphia to fight crime

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia organization is doing its part to thwart crime and violence in local communities by giving out free cameras to residents and businesses. The Safe Corridors program focuses on neighborhoods in West Philadelphia that are far too often besieged by gun violence. More than 760 people have applied for a free camera, made possible through a $182k grant from the state with the help of Rep.

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Trooper reunites man with family who left him behind at New York rest stop

New York State Police said Trooper TJ Conklin helped a man stranded at a rest stop find his family, who accidentally left him behind. (Provided by New York State Police)ROSCOE, N.Y. - A family traveling in New York had been driving for three hours before they left something important behind at a rest stop: their own relative. The family had no idea they forgot their elderly relative until a New York State Trooper contacted them. New York State Police said Trooper TJ Conklin was called to check on a man at the Whitney Point Rest Area off Interstate 81. SUSPECT ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH SERIAL ATTACKS ON HOMELESS IN D.C., NEW YORKConklin learned the man's family accidentally left him behind after he stepped out of their car to stretch his legs.

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Three dead in Katugastota Fire; Cause for fire & deaths remain unknown

COLOMBO (News 1st); Three people were reported dead following a fire that broke out in a house in Menikkumbura, Katugastota on Thursday (24) morning.News 1st correspondents in the area said that the early morning fire caused serious damage to four other houses in the vicinity.Authorities said the cause for the fire remains to be ascertained while the cause of death is unknown.

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IPL returns to India, but crowds remain under Covid curbs. 10 points

IPL 2022: 10 points to note

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Covid comeback seen in parts of US as BA.2 Omicron variant becomes dominant

Covid-19 deaths are running at around 900 per day -- with a total of one million deaths from the disease expected withing about a month.

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Covid-19 update: India reports 1,938 fresh Covid-19 cases, 67 deaths in last 24 hours

Covid-19 cases, India on Thursday reported 1,938 fresh Covid-19 cases, according to Union Health Ministry data. A total of 2,531 recoveries, taking the over all tally of Covid-19 recoveries at 4,24,75,588. Additionally, 67 Covid-19 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours, taking the country's death toll up to 5,16,672, the updated data revealed. The active Covid-19 cases stood at 22,427 on Thursday and the daily positivity rate at 0.29%, as per the data.

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Annual switch to summer-blend gasoline will make prices balloon again, experts say

PHILADELPHIA - Motorists have found some relief at the pump in recent weeks - albeit pennies worth - but experts believe gas prices will worsen in the coming months as pandemic-weary travelers plan to hit the road again. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has fluttered down to $4.23. Pennsylvania's average price sits a few cents above that at $4.31, and in neighboring New Jersey and Delaware drivers are paying around $4.Experts say the ongoing war in Ukraine is partly to blame for the high prices at the pump, but it's not the only reason driver's wallets will continue to get hammered.

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Temple University shares security enhancements amid spate of gun violence

PHILADELPHIA - Days after Temple's police union reported that it's facing a staffing crisis that has impacted campus safety, university officials announced a number of safety enhancements in response to a spate of recent shootings. "For Temple’s part, we are considering all options to protect the safety of our students, faculty, staff and neighbors in North Philadelphia," Temple University Chief Operating Officer Ken Kaiser said. "We have to be willing to continually think outside the box, and that is what we have done here with this grant program."In a statement posted to Temple's website, the university said the Temple Police Department will increase patrols.

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NATO to increase troops in Eastern Europe with 4 new battlegroups, chief says

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that NATO leaders are expected to agree at Thursday’s emergency summit to increase troops’ presence in Eastern Europe, with four new battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

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Top Putin aide quits, believed to have fled Russia over Ukraine war

Russia’s post-Soviet economic reforms, has quit his post as a Kremlin special envoy and left the country due to the war in Ukraine, two sources told Reuters, the highest profile protest by a Russian figure against the invasion.Chubais, who once served as former President Boris Yeltsin’s chief of staff, left his post as Vladimir Putin’s special representative for ties with international organizations, one of the sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Top ex-Kremlin official accused of ‘national betrayal’ quits post at foundation He was appointed to the post, which was charged with “achieving goals of sustainable development,” in 2020, days after resigning as the head of state technology firm RUSNANO, which he had run since 2008.The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Chubais left due to the conflict in Ukraine.

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Taron Egerton Tests Positive For COVID-19; Out Of Play For A Week in London

Taron Egerton will not be working in his London play, Cock, for a least a week, after testing positive for COVID-19.

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Medical marijuana does not help with anxiety, depression, doubles risk of addiction, study says

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Idaho Gov. Brad Little signs abortion ban modeled on Texas law

BOISE, Idaho - Idaho on Wednesday became the first state to enact a law modeled after a Texas statute banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and allowing it to be enforced through civil lawsuits to avoid constitutional court challenges.Republican Gov. Brad Little signed into law the measure that allows people who would have been family members to sue a doctor who performs an abortion after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo."I stand in solidarity with all Idahoans who seek to protect the lives of preborn babies," Little wrote in a letter to Lt.

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18,423 community cases; 913 hospitalisations; 28 in ICU; 11 deaths reported today

Today we are reporting 18,423 community cases, 913 hospitalisations and 11 deaths.

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Health Matters: Speeding up drug discovery & new COVID-19 variant now dominant in Alberta

Health Matters March 23: The University of Alberta is leading a national research network that’s studying glycomics – and how the science can accelerate drug discovery. Also, Alberta Health confirms the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in the province.

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Pandemic flux syndrome: the uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions

Public health restrictions are lifting, but there is, of course, the possibility they could return. So what does that uncertainty mean for our mental health? Jamie Mauracher looks at pandemic flux syndrome.

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'You are worthy': Ketanji Brown Jackson tears up amid Sen. Cory Booker speech

WASHINGTON - Sen. Cory Booker cut through a tense third day of hearings on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Wednesday with a speech on racial progress that drew tears from the nominee and held the rapt attention of colleagues.Booker, a Black Democrat from New Jersey, said he could no longer hold back his emotion over how Jackson has conducted herself in the face of combative questioning about her handling of child pornography cases, her representation of accused terrorists and her views on anti-racism teaching in schools."You faced insults here that were shocking to me," Booker said, speaking directly to Jackson, who is nominated to become the first Black woman on the high court."Nobody’s taking this away from me," Booker continued, choking up as he spoke.

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National Puppy Day: Top dog names, adopted breeds by state

LOS ANGELES - Having a "pawsome" day? It’s about to get better, because March 23 is National Puppy Day, and to celebrate, the company Top Data has revealed some doggone fantastic facts you may not know. According to the consumer insights company, the team collected data from 500,000 adopted dogs, utilized Google Search traffic volume and surveyed 1,000 dog owners across the U.S. to figure out the top dog names and adopted breeds by state.

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James Amabile: Skeletal remains found in Ridley Township believed to be man missing since 2003, divers say

The skeletal remains found in Ridley Township are believed to be of a man missing since 2003, authorities say. RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Divers from Adventures with Purpose Underwater Dive and Recovery believe skeletal remains found last week in Ridley Township are a match to a Pennsylvania man missing for nearly 20 years. Police say officers responded to the Ridley Township Municipal Marina at 401 S. Swarthmore Avenue around 3 p.m.

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Stephen Wilhite, creator of GIF, dies of COVID-19 at 74

FILE - Steve Wilhite, inventor of the GIF file, poses with an award backstage at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the massively popular GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) and chief architect of America Online, died of COVID-19 at the age of 74 on March 14, according to The Verge. Wilhite was an avid camper and loved to travel, according to his obituary.

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Fox News Poll: Voters want the US to do more to help Ukraine against Russia

following news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and want to help. By a 63-32% margin, voters think the U.S. should be doing more for Ukrainians in their fight against Russia. Fully 82% are concerned about the invasion and 76% approve of how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responding to it. The new Fox News national survey also finds a growing portion say the Russia-Ukraine conflict matters to life in the United States: 85% feel that way, up from 76% last month.RELATED: Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv remains under fire as Biden arrives in EuropeIt’s an issue Democrats and Republicans largely agree on: 90% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans think what happens in Ukraine makes a difference here at home, about 8 in 10 Democrats and Republicans approve of Zelenskyy, and two-thirds in each party want to do more for Ukraine. Journalist Mark Savchuk joins LiveNOW from FOX from Kyiv, Ukraine to share the latest on the invasion.What do voters mean when they say the U.S.

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Hamilton’s West End Urgent Care Clinic reopens as COVID-19 cases decline in local hospitals

COVID-19 Omicron wave is set to resume normal operations on Thursday.Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) says the West End Urgent Care Clinic on Main Street East at Macklin Street South will go back to offering seven-day a week care again on March 24.“If you’re experiencing an illness or injury that isn’t an emergency but can’t wait for an appointment with a family doctor, an urgent care centre is a good option for you,” emergency medicine chief Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu said in a statement.The clinic had been shuttered for close to ten weeks after five emergency-trained physicians, 10 nurses and other staff (clerks, environmental aides, etc.) were moved to other emergency departments (EDs) and other high priority facilities in the network.

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'It's concerning': SEPTA addressing safety concerns as crime, homelessness impact ridership

PHILADELPHIA - When you walk cross into a septa transit subway station, do you feel safe? For many riding the Septa lines, that answer is no."During the day time, up until like 3:30, 4:00, not bad. After that I do not get on the train," Septa rider Jeffrey Brown told FOX 29.

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Rate of burnout in doctors doubled since before pandemic: survey

The threat posed by COVID-19 may be lessening, but the toll it has taken on the mental health of physicians in Canada is severe. Caryn Lieberman reports.

Canada covid-19 pandemic doctor

Suiting up: Workwear business making a comeback in a work-from-home world

Delta Cleaners co-owner Donovan Bisharat said.“It kind of felt like we weren’t making much headway in the last couple of years, until just recently, really.”Bisharat says dry-cleaning business is once again starting to pick up. He says they’re seeing more office wear coming in, as more people return to working in offices, but it was yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.“We definitely started to see people that we didn’t see for maybe two years or a year and a half, they would come and say well, I haven’t needed my shirts or I haven’t needed my suits or whatever,” Bisharat told Global News.“Some people are coming back, we’re still not seeing the frequency that they would normally have been pre-pandemic.” Canadians favour hybrid work amid COVID-19.

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Some not ready to embrace handshakes at the office again

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and people head back to the office, there is a tricky question of workplace etiquette that lingers. Brittany Rosen has more.

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COVID-19 update, 24 March 2022 1pm

The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Deputy Director-General of Māori Health John Whaanga will today host a media briefing to provide updates on the response to the Omicron outbreak.

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'Healthy' teen dies just days after suffering 'thunderclap headache' from Covid jab

A 'healthy' 18-year-old girl who suffered a 'thunderclap headache' after receiving her first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine died just days later, an inquest has heard.

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Toronto’s Little Jamaica community reacts to protests over royal visit

A royal tour through Caribbean countries has resulted in backlash against the British monarchy, with protests happening in Jamaica. Erica Vella has reaction from people in Toronto’s Jamaican community.

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Former Unifor National President charged with breach of union’s Constitution

An investigation has revealed that the former Unifor National President, Jerry Dias, breached Unifor’s Code of Ethics and Democratic Practices after he accepted a large sum of money from a supplier of COVID-19 rapid test kits and then, in turn, encouraged employers of union members to purchase the kits.

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Home Depot: Worksheet on privilege gone viral was not authorized

FILE: A view of The Home Depot logo in South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Home Depot said Wednesday that a worksheet about privilege that went viral is an unauthorized document from the company's Canada division.An anonymous Twitter account with the handle "Libs of TikTok," which has almost 600,000 followers and focuses on ridiculing liberals, posted a photo of the worksheet entitled "Unpacking Privilege," declaring the nation's largest home improvement retailer had gone "woke."The worksheet laid out different types of privilege, from social privilege and white privilege to heterosexual privilege."If while growing up, college was an expectation of you, not a dream, you have class privilege," it said.

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Two men shot in unrelated daytime shootings in Philadelphia, police say

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say two men were badly hurt in a pair of unrelated Wednesday afternoon shootings in Philadelphia. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 5200 block of Montour Street just before 2 p.m. for reports of gunshots.

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Cameras captured clear video of I-95 crash that killed 2 Pennsylvania State Troopers, sources say

PHILADELPHIA - Law enforcement sources on Wednesday shared new details about a deadly crash on I-95 in Philadelphia where an alleged drunk driver plowed into 2 Pennsylvania State Troopers and a civilian being helped off the busy highway. Sources tell FOX 29's Steve Keeley that a camera positioned on Lincoln Financial Field capture "crystal clear" recording of the crash that killed 29-year-old Martin F. Mack, 33, and Branden T.

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Hailey Bieber's Blood Clot Health Scare 'Elevated' Her Marriage To Justin & Solidified THIS About Their Relationship!

Justin and Hailey Bieber’s bond is stronger than ever after her recent health scare!

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Global COVID-19 cases climb for second week in a row

Led mainly by surges in Asian hot spots, COVID-19 cases last week increased for the second straight week, though deaths continued to fall, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in its weekly pandemic update.

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Govt to suspend 600 non-essential imports, Gazette tonight – Gammanpila

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has revealed that the government will be issuing a gazette on Wednesday (2) night suspending 600 non-essential imports.He said Sri Lanka is facing an issue in identifying its priorities, noting that if foreign reserves are limited, they need to be allocated for medicines, fuel, and raw materials for industries, respectively.Speaking at an event in Kotte, the Minister said Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the consequences of not discouraging imports, after allowing to import whatever was not essential.He said the Treasury Secretary was preparing to issue a gazette that would stop 600 non-essential imports to the country.“It’s too late. But we can be happy about that decision,” said Gammanpila.

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United States	Cases: 46 252 513 Deaths: 750 423 Recovered: 0
India	Cases: 34 321 025 Deaths: 459 652 Recovered: 0
Brazil	Cases: 21 835 785 Deaths: 608 235 Recovered: 0
United Kingdom	Cases: 9 215 683 Deaths: 141 607 Recovered: 0
Russia	Cases: 8 494 589 Deaths: 237 619 Recovered: 0

Gammanpila admits that Diesel supply was restricted

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