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A rapidly spreading Covid strain has been dubbed the Nightmare Variant after it was found to double infections in a matter of days.

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.

₹1.4 crore. A 28-year-old Bangladeshi man's death in 2021 was probably brought on by the vaccine, Singapore said. The revelation comes after reports of its first fatality associated with the Covid-19 vaccine as the Ministry of Health (MOH) spoke about the death of the young man.

Given the fresh surge in infections some countries, RT-PCR tests have been made mandatory for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from 1 January NEW DELHI: India reported 170 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said in an update on Monday. The country’s active caseload has declined to 2,371, with total reported cases since the pandemic hit in 2020 stands at 4,46,80,094 and death toll at 530,721. Active cases comprise 0.01% of the total infections, and the recovery rate has risen to 98.80%, according to the health ministry.

The civil aviation ministry has asked the airlines to modify check-in systems ahead of new Covid norms for travellers from China, 5 other countries The civil aviation ministry on Friday asked airlines to modify their check-in systems for international passengers coming into India as part of the revised Covid guidelines, which makes a negative Covid test report a must for travellers coming from China and five other countries from Sunday. The ministry's direction comes a day after the health ministry decided to make RT-PCR negative test reports compulsory for passengers coming on all international flights from six high-risk countries --China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it continues to monitor the progress of the passengers of Sri Lankan origin who were rescued and bought to the Port of Vung Tau in Viet Nam on 08 November 2022.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Sri Lanka Navy that they had received information about a vessel carrying approximately 303 persons believed to be Sri Lankans which was in distress in the waters between the Philippines and Viet Nam on 07 November 2022.  Sri Lanka Navy having contacted the vessel, informed that the crew had abandoned the vessel with the passengers onboard. On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Missions in the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam together with the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) based in Singapore, the rescue efforts were coordinated, said the Foreign Ministry.Subsequently, the Japanese-flagged vessel, “Helios Leader”, having been contacted by the Singapore MRCC, rescued the passengers from the distressed vessel. The passengers were handed over to Viet Nam authorities at Vung Tau Port in South Viet Nam.The screening of the passengers will be done by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Viet Nam authorities and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Viet Nam.

Covid-19 cases between 10 -16 October compared to the previous week. XXB was discovered in Singapore in August. It is a hybrid of Omicron's BA.2.75 and BJ.1 sub-variants.

Singapore is transparent about the adverse reactions due to the vaccination and its Health Science Authority publishes all reported adverse reactions every three months. He also warned about the evolving nature of the Covid-19 virus which may turn up into any other variant and increase the level of threat. "Come December, we don't know what kind of variant will come up or what kind of variant will arrive in Singapore.

 tOKYO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on Tuesday (27), and said that his priority was to bring into effect the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore.During the discussions President Wickremesinghe informed the Singaporean Prime Minister that an international trade office was being established in the President’s office.Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed the news, and stated that Singapore was looking forward to investing in Sri Lanka once again.President Wickremesinghe invited the Singaporean Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka next year when the country celebrates its 75th Independence Anniversary.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two players from the Sri Lanka Navy, namely Woman Leading Seaman, Deepika Abeykoon (WVS 66974) and Woman Able Seaman Hasitha Mendis (WV 76519) represented the victorious Sri Lanka team that went on to win the Asian Netball Championship title. In recognition of their stellar performances, which ultimately brought much glory to the Navy and the Nation, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne felicitated the players and advanced them to the next respective rates during a brief ceremony held in this regard at the Navy Headquarters yesterday (15). In addition, the 02 players were also presented with cash rewards worth Rs. 250,000.00 each, motivating them to bring out the best from the sportspersons in the Navy.Sri Lanka won the Championship undefeated on 11th September 2022 by edging out the host Singapore 63-53 in the finals of the 12th Asian Netball Championship held in Singapore, with the participation of 11 Asian countries.After the arrival of the champion team on the island, the 02 Navy players called on Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne at the Navy Headquarters yesterday (15). During the brief interaction, the Commander of the Navy congratulated the 02 athletes on this significant feat, which brought much credit to the Navy and pride to the Nation. Fittingly, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne advanced the two athletes to their subsequent rates in service and presented them with cash incentives worth Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday (11) congratulated the unbeaten Sri Lankan Netball team after they were crowned Asian Netball Champions having defeated Singapore.Sri Lanka beat hosts Singapore 63 – 53 to clinch the Asian Netball Championships 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake says that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is to be accorded entitlements provided to a former President.He will receive the benefits mentioned in the President's Entitlement Act.Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka from Thailand on Friday (2) night. The duty manager of Katunayake International Airport said that the former president arrived in the country at around 11.30 PM on Friday (2) aboard a Singapore Airlines flight.On July 13, Gotabaya fled to the Maldives in a Sri Lanka Air Force jet and from there to Singapore from where he announced his resignation.On a request made by Sri Lanka government led by new President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Gotabaya was given a 90-day visa by the Thailand government.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka from Thailand on Friday (2) night. The duty manager of Katunayake International Airport said that the former president arrived in the country at around 11.30 PM oj Friday (2) aboard a Singapore Airlines flight.The former president, who left the presidential palace due to public protests on July 9, left for the Maldives on July 13 in a plane belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force.Thereafter he flew to Singapore where he stayed for several days, before heading to Thailand.

NEW DELHI : The union health ministry’s central procurement agency--- HLL Lifecare Limited formerly Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) unearthed a company from Singapore who tried to dispatch millions of substandard Chinese KN95 masks in 2021 to India by forging third party inspections certificate, two senior officials of the health ministry said on Tuesday.  A central procurement agency i.e. HLL Lifecare Limited was finalized in February, 2020 to accelerate emergency procurement of essential medical commodities during the covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccines offered protection against severe COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant for at least 6 months, and three doses of China's inactivated vaccines were more protective than two doses but not as protective as three doses of mRNA vaccines, finds a study from Singapore published today in JAMA Network Open.

COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccines offered protection against severe COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant for at least 6 months, and three doses of China's inactivated vaccines were more protective than two doses but not as protective as three doses of mRNA vaccines, finds a study from Singapore published today in JAMA Network Open.

Singapore’s new mandatory mask rules will be applicable from August 29. COVID-19 social mixing restrictions in Singapore will be removed and masks would no longer be required in indoor settings, except in a few places, as per a notification on August 24.

(Bangkok Post); Ousted former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is staying at a hotel in the heart of Bangkok, where police are advising him not to leave for security reasons, a source said on Friday, reported the Bangkok Post.Rajapaksa arrived with three other people on a chartered flight from Singapore at Don Mueang International Airport around 8pm on Thursday.According to the source, the group had planned to land in Phuket but concerns about a possible information leak resulted in the flight being redirected to Bangkok. On arrival, he was escorted by Thai police and military personnel.At the hotel, the location of which was not disclosed, plainclothes police officers from the Special Branch Bureau have been deployed to ensure safety.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Scientists are tracking a new, animal-derived virus in eastern China that has infected at least several dozen people.The novel Langya henipavirus (LayV) was found in 35 patients in the Shandong and Henan provinces. Many had symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and a cough.They are thought to have contracted the virus from animals.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka's ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14, via the Maldives, following unprecedented unrest triggered by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence and office.The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to quit mid-term.The former president is expected to leave Singapore and go to Thailand's capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named.Sri Lanka's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thai government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek told Reuters “no comment”.Rajapaksa has not made any public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Singapore's government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity. A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defence secretary.During his time as defence secretary government forces finally defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 to end the Sri Lankan civil war.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (L) meets Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong on Aug. 1 2022 in Singapore.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled his country amid massive protests against his government last month, was not being provided any privileges, immunity, or hospitality, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said.Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on July 13 and reached Singapore the next day in the face of public revolt against his government's mishandling of the economy.The 73-year-old leader emailed his resignation letter to the Parliament Speaker on July 14, soon after he was allowed by Singapore to enter the city-state on a "private visit"."In general, the Singapore government does not accord privileges, immunity, and hospitality to former heads of state or heads of government," Balakrishnan said in a written reply to a question in parliament on Monday."Consequently, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not accorded any privileges, immunity or hospitality," he wrote in response to the question from parliamentarian Gerald Giam of the opposition Workers' Party.Replying to a question from ruling People's Action Party parliamentarian Yip Hon Weng on concerns that Singapore will become a "destination for political fugitives", Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said, "Foreigners who possess a valid travel document and meet entry requirements will be allowed to come into Singapore.

Singapore; Sri Lanka’s former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to extend his stay in Singapore.The Straits Times in Singapore reported that his short-term visit pass, which was issued when he arrived here on a private visit two weeks ago, has been extended by another 14 days.This development comes as Sri Lanka’s Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told reporters on Tuesday (July 26) that he was expected to return home.He added that he was not aware of when the former president was returning but emphasised Mr Rajapaksa was not in hiding, neither was he in exile.Another Sri Lankan government official who asked not to be identified said Rajapaksa wanted to return home as soon as possible and was keen to live again at his private residence in the outskirts of Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo.On July 14th, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived at Changi Airport on a Saudia flight from the Maldives.He had fled Sri Lanka amid a deepening economic crisis and widespread protests against his government as soaring inflation affected the prices of basic necessities such as food and fuel.Shortly after he arrived in Singapore, Rajapaksa tendered his resignation, which was officially announced by the Sri Lanka parliament on July 15.His ally and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was voted in by lawmakers as the new president last week.The Straits Times reported that the new visa Rajapaksa has been issued will expire on Aug 11.Gotabaya Rajapaksa initially stayed at a hotel in the city centre, but is believed to have moved to a private residence.He has kept a low profile since he arrived, and has not been seen in public.Shortly after he arrived on July 14, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(THE HINDU); Former Sri Lanka President was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived in Singapore on July 14, reports the Hindu.Singapore has granted a 14-day short-term visit pass to former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa as he entered the country on a “private visit” on July 14, according to immigration authorities in Singapore.Rajapaksa, 73, on July 13 left Sri Lanka to the Maldives and then Singapore and resigned after a popular uprising against his government for mismanaging the economy.In a statement released in response to media queries about Rajapaksa’s visit to Singapore, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that he was granted a short-term visit pass (STVP) on arrival, reported the Hindu.Rajapaksa was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived in Singapore on July 14, according to a report by The Straits Times newspaper.A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said last week that Mr.

In 5- to 11-year-old children, two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were 36.8% effective in preventing all SARS-CoV-2 infections, 63.5% against test-confirmed cases, and 82.7% against hospitalization amid the Omicron variant surge in Singapore, finds a real-world study published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).Researchers in Singapore analyzed data from 255,936 children aged 5 to 11

(CNN) Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Maldives on board a flight for Singapore, a high-ranking security source in Colombo told CNN, as anger grows in his home country over his refusal to formally resign.He is expected to arrive at Singapore’s Changi Airport on Thursday night, the security source said. Rajapaksa had been waiting to secure a “private jet” from a close family member in Colombo, but that had “not materialized,” the source added.Rajapaksa left the capital of the Maldives, Malé, on board a “Saudi flight,” the source said.CNN believes the source was referring to Saudia flight 788, which left Malé at 11:30 a.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Foreign Ministry of Singapore confirms that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit.The Foreign Ministry Further adds that he has neither asked for asylum and nor has Singapore granted any.Singapore generally does not grant asylum, the statement by the Singapore Foreign Ministry adds.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is yet to submit his letter of resignation, said Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.On Wednesday (13) the Parliament Speaker said that the President in a telephone conversation had informed that he would tender his letter of resignation during the day, before midnight.Speaking to EXCLUSIVELY News 1st Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that he informed the President to submit his letter of resignation as soon as possible, citing that he too is under pressure.He said that since an Acting President has been appointed, the Office of the Speaker is exploring the legal provisions to consider the option of ‘have vacated his post’ if the President does not tender in his letter of resignation.A Spokesperson from the Sri Lanka Parliament said that given that the President had not yet tendered his letter of resignation, it is uncertain if Parliament would be convened tomorrow (15).The Prime Minister’s Media Division on Wednesday (13) said that the Acting President has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the Government and Opposition.Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was expected to head to Singapore after fleeing to the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday, a government source in Sri Lanka told Reuters, as protests continued in Colombo.The source, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the subject, said Rajapaksa could send his resignation to the speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament after landing in Singapore.An aide to Rajapaksa and the Singapore government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Reuters); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was expected to head to Singapore after fleeing to the Maldives in the early hours of Wednesday, a government source in Sri Lanka told Reuters, as protests continued in Colombo.The source, who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the subject, said Rajapaksa could send his resignation to the speaker of Sri Lankan parliament after landing in Singapore.An aide to Rajapaksa and the Singapore government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Migrant workers in Singapore no longer need special permission to leave their dormitories from today, after two years of coronavirus curbs, but campaigners have criticised a decision to maintain some "discriminatory" restrictions.

Importance of India Goh highlighted India as a key growth area, saying it is expected to become the world’s third-biggest aviation market by the middle of this decade, if not before.  Singapore Airlines teamed up with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons Pvt. to form full-service carrier Vistara, which started flying in 2014.

If you are planning to visit  

Two studies published yesterday in The Lancet Public Health detail how COVID-19 restrictions moderately affected adults' mental health in 15 nations, with one finding that the type of lockdowns were linked to the level of distress and opinion of the government, and the other suggesting that mental health declined slightly but significantly under lockdown—especially among women.

Covid-19 cases, India has been warned to keep the guards up. Just as China battles with a rise in daily cases driven by the highly infectious 'stealth Omicron variant'. Additionally, the World Health Organization has sent out a warning this week, with several nations across the world witnessing a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases yet again.

People who received a different brand of COVID-19 vaccine booster than they did in the primary series had lower rates of infection than those who received the same brand, according to a study in Singapore published late last week in JAMA.The study also found that participants who received a booster of

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation says it will import 90,000 metric tons of fuel on credit from a supplier in Singapore next month.Ceylon Petroleum Corporation chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said 90,000 metric tons of crude oil are due to arrive on January 23rd or 24th.The consignment will be imported from a Singaporean supplier, and the CPC Chairman noted that a total 540,000 metric tons of crude oil will be imported during the next six months.These purchases would be made on credit through Letters of Credit opened by a State Bank, he said. The CPC also stated that the date of making the payment would be decided based on the conditions listed in the Letters of Credit.Meanwhile, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has requested

COLOMBO (News 1st); The supplier of Chinese Organic Fertilizer says that the tests conducted by SGS Testing & Control Services Singapore confirmed that the product does not contain any pathogens, including Erwinia.Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, the Chinese organic fertilizer manufacturer, said that the Hippo Spirit bulk-carrier with 20,000 MT of Organic Fertiliser reached Singapore for tests to be carried out by SGS Testing & Control Services Singapore Pte Ltd.The Hippo Spirit ship carrying Chinese organic fertilizer that was rejected by Sri Lanka reached Singapore on the 10th of September.The Hippo Spirit carrying the rejected Chinese fertilizer left Sri Lankan waters on the 4th of December, after more than 70 days of moving around

Whole genome sequencing has now detected a further four cases of Omicron in recent international arrivals. There are now a total of eight cases with the Omicron variant isolating in MIQ facilities, none have been in the community.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers was presented with a proposal to make the necessary payments for the rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer, ensuring there is no loss to both parties.However, it is unclear as to how Sri Lanka to would be making the payment ensuring there is no loss, given that the Chinese company had already sought for arbitration in Singapore.Arbitration:China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd has sought compensation of 8 million US dollars over its organic fertilizer deal with Sri Lanka.The compensation has been sought from Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd.

SINGAPORE :

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Hippo Spirit vessel which is carrying tonnes of rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer is sailing to Singapore.Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd, the supplier of fertilizer, EXCLUSIVELY told News 1st that the ship is sailing to Singapore for arbitration in Singapore.In addition, the ship is sailing to Singapore for sampling and arbitration, said Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd.The Bulk Carrier – Hippo Spirit:The Hippo Spirit is carrying tonnes of rejected Chinese Fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd to Sri Lanka.Earlier, it is reported that the Hippo Spirit, the ship carrying Chinese Organic Fertilizer, did not return to China after the first samples were rejected by Sri Lanka.Instead, the

India's COVID-19 vaccination certificate, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed late on Thursday. These 15 new countries include Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Philippines, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine

Singapore soon by just presenting two negative COVID-19 tests - one within 48 hours of departure and another on arrival in Singapore.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Former Cabinet Minister of Petroleum & Petroleum Gas, Chandima Weerakkody said it is more profitable for Sri Lanka to refine crude oil, rather than importing refined fuel products.“Singapore that does not have a single oil well, has eight refineries, because of this,” he said adding that Sri Lanka imports most of its crude from Singapore.Noting that Keronese and Jet Fuel are of the same kind, the Parliamentarian who represents the ruling faction noted that if Sri Lanka starts importing Kerosene, the country will have to import at Kerosene at the same cost of importing Jet Fuel.Further, he warned that the absence of furnace oil could affect the country’s energy sector during the dry season, as at present

SINGAPORE :

Singapore is to start charging Covid-19 patients 'unvaccinated by choice' for healthcare services, the country's government has said.

LOS ANGELES - Singapore’s government announced that beginning Dec.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Hippo Spirit, the vessel carrying rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer, is now moving towards the western region of the Sea of Sri Lanka, confirmed marine traffic websites.The Hippo Spirit is carrying tonnes of rejected Chinese Fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd to Sri Lanka.On the 22nd of September, the Hippo Spirit ship carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer left for Colombo from China’s Qingdao Port.But the ship was diverted to Singapore after harmful bacteria was detected in the samples of this fertilizer shipment.The Hippo Spirit ship that didn’t return to China had left Singapore declaring it would be heading to the Colombo Port.But on the 14th of this month, the automatic