IMF Bailout: President to make special statement, and will table agreement in Parliament

Kinetic Content is speaking out against allegations they disregarded “Love is Blind” contestants’ mental health.

Koller auction house director Cyril Koller gestures next to the skull of 'Trinity' prior to the sale of the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus-Rex (T-Rex) by Koller auction house in Zurich, on April 18, 2023. -8.7 million). (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP One of the most spectacular Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in existence sold for millions of dollars Tuesday at a Switzerland auction.The well-preserved and brilliantly restored fossil fetched 5.5 million Swiss francs ($6.18 million), including the "buyer’s premium" and fees, Koller Auctions’ marketing director, Karl Green, told FOX Weather.

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is billing as “one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history,” more than 155,000 federal workers have walked off the job with many now on the picket lines.The strike kicked off Wednesday 12.01 a.m. Eastern, with nearly a third of the country’s public servants halting work after the union representing them failed to reach an agreement with the government.Picket lines are being set up in more than 250 locations across the country, according to PSAC.

pioneering experiment with legalized magic mushrooms took a step closer to reality as the first "facilitators" who will accompany clients as they experience the drug received their state licenses, authorities said Tuesday.Voters approved the regulated use of psilocybin in a 2020 ballot measure, and anticipation has been building over the past 2 1/2 years for the day — expected to come later this year — when people can gain access to the drug that studies indicate has therapeutic value.Hundreds of people have invested thousands of dollars apiece in this budding industry, and some worry that the rollout is proceeding too slowly."We thank you for your dedication to client safety and access as we move closer to opening service centers," Oregon Psilocybin Services Manager Angie Allbee said in a statement Tuesday to three people who received the state's first facilitator licenses.But to date, no service centers — where customers would access psilocybin in controlled, calm environments with music, eye masks and mats — have been licensed. Nor has any laboratory where the products must be tested for potency.

Nasyrova is shown on an Interpol alert before her arrest. FOREST HILLS, N.Y. - Back in 2016, Olga Tsvyk was found unconscious and surrounded by pills in her bed.

NEWARK, Del. - Delaware State Police say a teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with a violent shooting that sent shoppers running for safety at the Christiana Mall earlier this month. Authorities say the incident occurred on April 8 at 6:43 p.m. at the food court entrance to the mall. Troopers say an investigation revealed three male suspects began physically assaulting an 18-year-old as he was leaving the food court.

Aaron Carter accidentally drowned in his bathtub after taking prescription pills and inhaling gas used in spray cleaners, a coroner’s report revealed on Tuesday.The Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner said Carter, 34, had recently taken alprazolam, the generic form of Xanax, and inhaled difluoroethane, a gas commonly used in cans of compressed air, before his death. Difluoroethane was identified by the coroner as a substance that “can induce feelings of euphoria when inhaled.” Read more: Morgan Freeman — ‘Black History Month,’ ‘African American’ are insulting terms As per TMZ, the first outlet to report the news, Carter reportedly became “incapacitated while in the bathtub due to the effects” of drugs and inhaled gas.

General view of campus life at Temple University, in Philadelphia, PA, on a frisk early spring day of March 27, 2019. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - The results of an audit examining public safety at Temple University have been released, revealing a need for improved community relations, assertive leadership and city-wide collaboration. According to the university's Public Safety Department, 21CP Solutions conducted an "external, independent review" of campus safety services from the Temple University Police Department.

NEWARK, Del. - What began as a simple hunt for a parking spot, ended with an elderly man being sent to the hospital, and another man in police custody.The violent incident unfolded in the parking lot of a medical complex at 700 Prides Crossing in Newark, Delaware, Tuesday morning.Both the 71-year-old and suspect, identified as 39-year-old Dimitri Taylor, tried to pull into the same parking spot, sparking an argument.As the victim tried to find another spot, police say the suspect chased him around the lot punching his window.MORE HEADLINES:Pleading with Taylor to stop, the victim parked his car and called the police.Taylor then punched the 71-year-old causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, according to authorities.He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.Police say Taylor later turned himself in, and has since been charged with assault.

DADEVILLE, Ala. - Law enforcement officials have arrested two teenagers and charged them with murder for the mass shooting during a Sweet 16 birthday party in eastern Alabama that killed four and injured more than 30 people.Members of the press from all over the country gathered on the steps of the Tallapoosa County Courthouse nearly 84 hours after the shots were fired at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, located just one block away. Investigators say 18-year-old Phil Dowdell, 23-year-old Corbin Holston, 19-year-old Marsiah Collins, and 17-year-old KeKe Smith were killed in the gunfire.

This car landed on the roof of a home in Placer County. Photo: Cal Fire CAPE HORN, Calif. - The internet was brimming with questions after a white Subaru Outback landed on the second-story roof of a home in Northern California. "How does this even happen?" Amy White wrote on Cal Fire's Facebook page.According to the Cal Fire Placer County unit, firefighters and the California Highway Patrol responded Sunday to a home on Robbers Ravine. Crews worked to rescue the driver of the car, which had somehow launched itself up on the roof of the home.

A Nevada-based developer has submitted plans and applications for a 50-story mixed used structure in San Franciscos Outer Sunset District. (Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB))SAN FRANCISCO - A Nevada-based developer has submitted plans for a 50-story ocean view high rise in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset District, in what's shaping up to be a heated battle with the city's planning department. The plans and applications were submitted to the city last week by developer CH Planning LLC.The mixed-use structure, near Ocean Beach, calls for 712 apartments, including 115 affordable units.

Australia has been found.Ines Zepcan was only 8 years old when she and her siblings sent the bottle off a pier in Portland, Victoria.Her message was simple and sweet, "Whoever finds this bottle will have good luck for life, from me and my family."Rosalind Evans, a beachcomber with Warrnambool's Beach Patrol 3280, was excited after she found the intact yet battered plastic bottle at Fitzroy River estuary during a March 25th cleanup. The group searched for Zepcan on social media and sent her a message.BOTTLE FULL OF MESSAGES WASHES ASHORE ON A FLORIDA BEACHRosalind Evans, a beachcomber with Warrnambool's Beach Patrol 3280, was excited after she found the intact yet battered plastic bottle at Fitzroy River estuary during a March 25th cleanup.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is in critical condition after several shots were fired in a morning shooting on a North Philadelphia street Tuesday.Police responded to the shooting on the 2900 block of North Stillman Street around 8 a.m.The victim, a 43-year-old man, was found shot twice in the neck, once to the back and multiple times in the lower body.MORE HEADLINES:He was transported to a local hospital, and placed in critical condition.No arrests have been made, and no weapons recovered.

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - A woman's shopping trip could have ended in a carjacking, but luckily she was able to safely drive away.Police say three teen suspects approached the woman as she sat in her car in the Walmart parking lot on Route 38 Monday night.They opened her door, demanded she get out, and displayed a handgun, according to authorities.She drove away and immediately notified police.MORE HEADLINES:All three suspects were still at the Walmart when officers arrived and took them into custody.

NEW DELHI : The 3rd day of the 2nd Health Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency being organised in Goa witness series of technical sessions on digital health innovations, healthcare technology and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) to emphasie India’s commitment to “healthcare for all" through vibrant global and local collaborations.  The first session focused on “Innovations in Healthcare" during which health experts pushed for a lifecycle-care framework where open-source software can enable data innovations.  “Suggestions such as a central organization or coalition in the world to guide national governments, along with regional implementation hubs, paradigm shift towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and AGI-enabled Digital public goods were put forward.

NEW DELHI : In view of the rise in the number of covid-19 cases across India, Dr. P.K.

booster doses can still reduce the severity of the disease, experts are of the opinion that it may be time for governments to start thinking about second-generation vaccines. I think a booster dose is not really going to hurt while as such. Again, you know, it can still reduce the severity of the disease.

Once upon a time, Chrystia Freeland attempted to relate to Canadians’ cost-of-living concerns with a personal anecdote – and it didn’t produce a fairy-tale ending.

Americans seeking messenger RNA vaccines for Covid-19 for the first time will get one, updated shot targeting both the Omicron variant and the original strain of the virus under new moves rolled out Tuesday by federal health officials. The Food and Drug Administration also authorized a second booster of the updated shots for people at high risk of Covid-19, specifically people 65 years and older or people who have weak immune systems. The agency’s actions mark the latest tweaks to Covid-19 vaccines, and could be followed up by further efforts to simplify the complicated vaccination regimen, perhaps by enshrining plans for a once-a-year shot for most people.

7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes want customers to "BYOC" and get a Slurpee drink for just $1.99 on April 29, 2023. (Credit: 7-Eleven) IRVING, Texas - 7-Eleven is ushering in the warm weather months with its "Bring Your Own Cup Day" returning to stores this month. The day, happening on Saturday, April 29, encourages customers to "tap into their creativity" and bring in their favorite cup, helmet, beer stein, watering can, or any other unconventional container and fill it with a Slurpee drink for just $1.99.The deal is at all participating U.S.

FILE - Netflix sign-in page is seen displayed on a laptop screen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland, on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO - Netflix has revealed a new timeline to crack down on password-sharing among customers in the United States as streaming platforms proliferate and more people share services.The streaming giant previously indicated in January that tougher password restrictions would be imposed by the end of March for customers, but that didn’t happen in several key markets, including the U.S. In a shareholder letter released Tuesday with its first-quarter performance, Netflix said it was "pleased with the results" of a paid password-sharing program it launched in four countries and said it plans to introduce a "broad rollout" – including the U.S.

People walk through the Sadar Bazaar in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Photo: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg via Getty Images NEW DELHI - India is on track to become the world's most populous nation, surpassing China by 2.9 million people by mid-2023, according to data released by the United Nations on Wednesday.The South Asian country will have an estimated 1.4286 billion people against China's 1.4257 billion by the middle of the year, according to U.N.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is deciding whether women will face restrictions in getting a drug used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, while a lawsuit continues.The justices are expected to issue an order on Wednesday in a fast-moving case from Texas in which abortion opponents are seeking to roll back Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug, mifepristone.The drug first won FDA approval in 2000, and conditions on its use have been loosened in recent years, including making it available by mail in states that allow access.The Biden administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, the maker of the drug, want the nation’s highest court to reject limits on mifepristone’s use imposed by lower courts, at least as long as the legal case makes it way through the courts. They say women who want the drug and providers who dispense it will face chaos if limits on the drug take effect.

SAN FRANCISCO - Netflix is poised to shut down the DVD-by-mail rental service that set the stage for its trailblazing video streaming service, ending an era that began a quarter-century ago when delivering discs through the mail was considered a revolutionary concept.The DVD service, which still delivers films and TV shows in the red-and-white envelopes that once served as Netflix's emblem, plans to mail its final discs on Sept. 29.RELATED: 'Incredibly sorry': Netflix keeps 'Love Is Blind' fans waiting for live reunionNetflix ended March with 232.5 million worldwide subscribers to its video streaming service, but it stopped disclosing how many people still pay for DVD-by-mail delivery years ago as that part of its business steadily shrank.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating an incident that began at FDR Park and ended with lane closures on I-76 West. Authorities say police responded to a report of a shooting on Pattison Avenue in the area of FDR Park in the South Philadelphia section of the city just before 3 a.m. Officers who responded to the scene did not find anything initially, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. Small told reporters officers found a scene on the westbound lanes of I-76, where a Ford SUV and Infiniti Sedan were involved in a crash. According to authorities, the Ford had eight bullet holes and a 27-year-old victim in the back seat with a gunshot wound to the neck. Small says the shooting victim, who was unable to move due to the gunshot injury, was transported to Presbyterian Hospital, where he is in critical condition. Police say a 32-year-old woman was the driver of the Ford SUV. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESA 22-year-old man was driving the Infiniti and a gun was found on the vehicle's floorboard, authorities say. Investigators say a preliminary investigation revealed the drivers of both vehicles got into an altercation on the 1900 block of Pattison Avenue. According to Small, that's where crime scene technicians found 19 spent shell casings from the shooting. Officials say a PennDOT driver witnessed the incident and told authorities the two cars then drove at a high rate of speed the wrong way on I-76 West. The two vehicles eventually crashed on I-76 as police responded to the scene, police say. The 22-year-old driver of the Infiniti was taken into custody, according to Small. Lanes on I-76 West were closed for several hours but have since reopened. Police respond to lanes on I-76

LEONIA, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 17: The sun set behind EV charging stations on June 17, 2022 in Leonia, New Jersey. The Biden administration is revealing a new set of standards to help accelerate the installation of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers across TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey residents looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle won’t be able to get a government rebate — at least temporarily — because the state program is so popular that it's already running out of money, officials said.The Charge Up New Jersey program has disbursed an estimated $35 million for the fiscal year ending this July, according to the state's Board of Public Utilities.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the necessary steps will be taken to pass the best anti-Corruption Act in South Asia in Parliament soon.The President revealed that the cabinet approval for the Bill has already been granted and said that he will discuss it with the Opposition representatives in the future and present it to the Parliament.President Ranil Wickremesinghe said this during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (23) with the heads of media organizations.The President's Media Division released the comments made by the President:"Firstly, let me thank everyone of the media for your presence here today. As you know I have requested all of you to be present here to tell you about the IMF agreement.We became a bankrupt country a year ago. This is the first time we have had to restructure our debt with the support of the IMF and our creditors.And this is the first occasion we’ve had to restructure our debt with the support of IMF and our creditors.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that due to the public sector engaging in business activities, the money that was available for the construction of 100 projects similar to the Mahaweli during the past decades, was destroyed.He noted that in the future, the public sector will stop engaging in business and open it to the private sector to create a free and productive economy.President Wickremesinghe mentioned this at the 71st commemoration ceremony of the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake at Independence Square on Wednesday (22).Recalling that D.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister Indika Anuruddha commended the efforts made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a media briefing convened by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.He told reporters that it was Basil Rajapaksa who recommended that Wickremesinghe be handed over the task of taking the IMF program forward. "The initial step was taken during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. We had a few people in the Viyath Maga who were dragging the president's feet.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Wednesday (22) that he can only speak with the creditors, both multilateral and bilateral, and the private bondholders only if the Parliament is prepared to accept the IMF report.He urged the house to accept the report, and if there are any issues, it can be discussed with the IMF when the delegation returns to Sri Lanka.However, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa noted that the report and the presentation by the President is not means to agree to the program proposed by the IMF."We cannot agree without proper examination and scrutiny, and a proper parliamentary debate," he added while requesting to sit in parliament and listen to the proposals that the opposition puts forward during the debate on the IMF report.He said the opposition is not ready to approve anything without proper examination and scrutiny.However, the President said the house should respond to him by the third week of April whether the parliament would approve the report, so that he could engage in the second round of talks with the IMF.  

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the government will be introducing a serious of reforms after the IMF Executive Board granted approval for a bailout package of the country.Increasing Public Revenue:– Reduce the primary deficit to 2.3% of the GDP by 2025.– Increase the government’s revenue up to 15% of the GDP by 2026 through our measures.– Raised the standard corporate income tax rate to 30% without sectoral tax holidays.– PAYE tax rate was increased from 8% to 15%.– The measures required to reduce the existing tax exemptions on Value Added Tax (VAT) will come into effect by 2025. Further, necessary measures will be taken to remove the simplified VAT system and expedite its reimbursement.–  Steps have also been taken to introduce tax on awards / substitutes and to introduce Estate Duty as a property tax by 2025, while providing an appropriate tax exemption allowance at a minimum.–  Revamping the property tax system and introducing a wealth transfer tax – Introduce a gift and inheritance taxManaging Expenditure:– Increase the allocations provided to cover the expenses through proper management of expenditure.– Adjustments in certain salary scales and pension schemes as part of the impact of inflation within the primary deficit targets.State Enterprises and Energy Cost: – Fuel prices will be determined based on the 2018 Price Formula.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said the IMF bailout package has opened a new avenue to create a better future for the youth of the country."We have received an opportunity to uplift our motherland," he told the Parliament on Wednesday (22) adding that the bailout of US $3 Billion will be provided across four years. The President said that an immediate disbursement of US $330 Million was received by Sri Lanka from the IMF, noting immediate facilities to the tune of US $7 Billion will be available from the World Bank and other creditor agencies.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe tabled the agreement reached with the IMF for a bailout package, in Parliament on Wednesday (22). The President also made a special statement to the house. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday (21) said that Sri Lanka will lift import restrictions gradually after the Executive Board of the IMF approved the country's bailout package."Yesterday, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund approved the Extended Fund Facility for Sri Lanka. That approval sends a signal that Sri Lanka has the strength to restructure its debt.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The IMF Executive Board approved Sri Lanka’s program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) that will enable Sri Lanka to access up to $7 billion in funding, reported the President's Media Division.President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his gratitude for the support of the IMF and other international partners, said the PMD.It added that the President committed to full transparency in all discussions with financial institutions & creditors, & to achieve sustainable levels of debt through prudent fiscal management & an ambitious reform agenda.The IMF program is critical to achieving this vision & will help to improve Sri Lanka's standing in international capital markets, making it an attractive country for investors, talent, & tourists, said the President's Media Division.Earlier this month, Sri Lanka received IMF-compatible financing assurances from its official creditors, including Paris Club members, India and China, allowing the IMF to convene an Executive Board and consider Sri Lanka’s request for a loan.The program is expected to provide much-needed policy space to drive the economy out of the unprecedented challenges and instill confidence amongst all the stakeholders.President Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed the announcement:“In the 75 years of Sri Lanka’s independence, there has never been a more critical period for ou economic future. Our official creditors have declared their support following continuous and positive engagements over the last few months, and we are pleased that the IMF Executive Board approved our program, enabling Sri Lanka to access up to US$ 7 billion in funding from the IMF and IFIs.

PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the Royal College cricket team’s effective captaincy ultimately led to the team’s victory at a time when all of the matches were being lost and that his effort is to lift the defeated country to the path of victory similar to what the captain of the Royal College cricket team did.The President recalled that when he assumed office last July, the country was experiencing numerous crises such as shortage of fuel, food, and fertilizer. He compared this to the Royal team, which had suffered a string of defeats, and claimed that many people believed the country would not be able to recover.However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that his team was able to change that situation and create economic stability in the country in the last seven months and emphasized that Sri Lanka is no longer a bankrupt state.President Ranil Wickremesinghe made this statement while addressing the 32nd Interact District Conference held at Temple Trees on Sunday morning (19).He said that everyone would be able to witness a developing country in the next two years, and to make Sri Lanka the most prosperous country in the region, it is necessary to build the economy in addition to stabilizing it today.The President added that the 25-year plan to make Sri Lanka a successful nation by 2048 has already been implemented and it can only be achieved with the commitment of the current youth.This conference was organized by St.

Colombo (News 1st) – It is of "utmost importance" that the next Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka "should be an officer whose service in the police force is exemplary and free of any blemish and able to restore public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police," stated the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The BASL letter has been issued in response to news that the office of the IGP is due to fall vacant on the 23rd of March, 2023."It is of utmost importance that the best possible appointment be made to that office" the BASL urged the President."During the last few decades there has been a serious erosion of public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police. The lack of independence, politicisation, police brutality, custodial deaths, lack of professionalism have all contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the Police.

The “Satarawa Deepani” Felicitation Ceremony was held on Thursday (16) and it was held under the auspices of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The “Satarawa Deepani” Felicitation Ceremony, was organized as per a concept of Minister Bandula Gunawardena.During the event, tributes were paid to a group of artists who had contributed to the artwork created by Bandula Gunawardena. Veteran artists such as Dharmasiri Bandaranaike, Parakrama Niriella, and Cyril Wickramage were presented with awards by the President in recognition of their contributions.Veteran artists such as Professor Ariyaratne Athugala, Kumara Thirimadura and Sarath Kothalawala were also appreciated during this event.The book “Subandhu Cinema Watha,” which chronicles the cinematic career of Bandula Gunawardena, was launched at the event. During the event,  “Pragna Bandhu” scholarships were awarded to students who are currently pursuing the G.C.E.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chinese Embassy handed over a donation of material to the Government of Sri Lanka for the production of police uniforms.The donation was made by the Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, to the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles.This donation was made at the President's Office in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Railway operations were crippled on Wednesday (15) morning due to a strike launched by the Locomotive Operating Engineers' Association.The Locomotive Operating Engineers' Association of Sri Lanka Railways declared a 24-hour strike that come into effect at midnight on Tuesday (14).According to Sri Lanka Railways, around 20 trains operated on Wednesday (15) morning, compared to the over 60 trains that operate daily in the morning.Railways General Manager A. D.