NO scheduled power cuts until 1st February – PUCSL

Assam government had tightened Covid curbs to contain the transmission of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The state prohibited the entry of non-vaccinated people to public places, except hospitals. It said that all people are required to carry proof of being fully vaccinated while visiting public places/spaces.

Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from 21 February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced, ending some of the world's strictest and longest-running pandemic travel restrictions.

In Fredericton, one developer is helping people experiencing homelessness find a permanent place to live. At least three of the first four houses now have residents. Nathalie Sturgeon sat down with two of its community members.

Canada’s Isabelle Weidemann won the bronze medal in the women’s 3,000-metre speedskating race at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Saturday.

BHUBANESWAR :

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Ministry says the Kelanitissa Power Plant will remain without fuel until a diesel tanker reaches the country on Monday (7).The country’s hydropower generation has already dropped to 32 percent.Data published by the Ceylon Electricity Board said there is limited fuel in thermal power plants.Power cuts were reported in many areas although the Ceylon Electricity Board had not made any announcement to that effect on Thursday (3).Although Sri Lanka’s power demand at nightstands at 2650 Megawatts, the CEB had been able to generate only about 2276 Megawatts.The CEB said that the Kelanitissa and Baththala power stations had not generated power as they had run out of fuel.The energy ministry’s secretary K.D.R. Olga said fuel had been supplied to the CEB as agreed.The secretary added that the power plants had run out of fuel before as more fuel had been used compared to the initial calculations.She added that the West Coast Power Plant had run out of fuel in 8 days despite being given fuel for 11 days.The Kelanitissa Power Plant was given fuel to run until Friday (4).The energy ministry says that the Kelanitissa Power Plant will remain without fuel until a diesel tanker reaches the country on Monday (7).It added that providing more fuel to the Kelanitissa Power Plant before that would create a shortage of diesel.

Manitoba’s COVID-19 numbers for February 3 show seven more people have died from the virus while the number of hospitalizations has dropped slightly.

MENLO PARK, Calif. - Facebook's daily active users dropped by roughly 1 million last quarter — a first in its history.Facebook parent company Meta posted a weak fourth-quarter earnings report on Wednesday due to a sharp increase in expenses. Forecasting revenue for the current quarter — which fell below analysts’ expectations — also sent its stock plunging 24.5% on Thursday, erasing more than $220 billion in market value and marking the largest drop in history.The fourth-quarter earnings report also revealed a drop in its daily active users (DAUs) — or the total number of people that engage in some way with the product on a given day. The social network’s daily active users fell from 1.93 billion in the third quarter of 2021 to 1.929 billion in the fourth, which a company spokesperson confirmed is the first quarter-to-quarter decline for the app in the company’s history.Facebook's daily active users rose 5% in 2021 compared to the year prior, while monthly active users increased by 4% in the same year-over-year period. CEO Mark Zuckerberg warned of slowing revenue growth due in part to increased competition from TikTok and other rival platforms vying for people’s attention.

BENGALURU :

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that the Ceylon Electricity Board has not requested approval for scheduled power cuts.The PUCSL on Thursday (3) said that if such power cuts take place, the PUCSL will be forced to act based on the provisions of the Electricity Act.

Lt. Col.

Top stories: Toronto residents are bracing for another snowstorm. Toronto City Council will not Toronto Paramedics staffing issues any further. And, Peel Regional Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl.

Black Health and Wellness," set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The theme not only commemorates African Americans who made contributions to medicine but also highlights ongoing issues within the Black community, including mental health."Black Health and Wellness not only includes one’s physical body, but also emotional and mental health," the organization said on its website.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Kelanithissa Combined Cycle Power Station went on a complete shutdown on Wednesday (2) night after it ran out of fuel, said the Ceylon Electricity Board.“KCCP Shutdown at20:03 hrs due to Diesel fuel pressure low. Since GT-7 Diesel fuel pressure was also zero it was shutdown.

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - Police in Upper Darby are looking for a pair of males who have allegedly conducted armed robberies at area Wawa stores. The first incident happened on Jan. 29 at approximately 4:48 at a Wawa on State Road. Police say two males entered the store armed with handgun and demanded cash.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal has decided that it would announce an order with regard to granting bail to Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah, on the 7th of February.The decision was made by Justices Menaka Wijesundara and Neil Iddawela on Wednesday (2).On the 28th of January, the Puttalam High Court refused to grant bail to detained lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah.On 14 April 2020, Hizbullah was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).Hizbullah was being investigated for allegedly “aiding and abetting” the Easter Sunday bombers and for engaging in activities deemed “detrimental to the religious harmony among communities”.

LONDON :

Premier Jason Kenney said on Tuesday he is optimistic Alberta will be able to ease public health restrictions and scrap the restrictions exemption program vaccine passport by the end of the month. Quinn Ohler explains.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins will be joined by Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Ministry of Health Chief Science Advisor Ian Town to make an announcement on booster vaccines at 1.30pm.

Seven more Manitobans have died from COVID-19, according to provincial data.

More snow is expected for southern Ontario later this week to start off the month of February. About 10-20 centimetres is forecast for the city of Toronto, while cities like Windsor and London could get 20-30 centimetres.

COVID-19 pandemic.Leading the challenge are the Church of God in Aylmer and Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo, both of which have faced a variety of charges, including findings of contempt, for repeatedly defying restrictions.“It will be our submission that both the indoor and outdoor gathering restrictions are over-broad, unreasonable and arbitrary limits that violate the charter of rights and cannot be demonstrably justified,” said Lisa Bildy, one of several lawyers representing the churches, toward the beginning of the hearing.“Accordingly, we’ll ask this court to declare the restrictions to be of no force and effect and to set aside the restraining orders imposed to enforce them.” Woolwich pastor faces fine of up to $100,000 for Sunday service ignoring COVID-19 lockdown The multi-day hearing for the challenge is being held virtually by the Superior Court of Justice in St. Thomas with Justice Renee Pomerance presiding over the matter.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: Former NHL player Willie O'Ree attends the NHL and the Los Angeles Kings unveiling of renovated indoor and outdoor spaces at the Crenshaw Family YMCA as part of the 2017 NHL All-Star Legacy Project at the Crenshaw Family Willie O’Ree, the first Black player to appear in an NHL game, will be receiving a Congressional Gold Medal. President Joe Biden signed the bill Monday, saying O’Ree will receive the award "in recognition of his extraordinary contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity."The honor for O’Ree comes one day before the start of Black History Month, an annual celebration honoring achievements by Black Americans. Sixty-four years ago, O’Ree became the first Black player to play in the NHL and has since worked for several decades as a diversity ambassador to the league.He suited up on Jan.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge has assured there would be NO power cuts until April 2022, following a special meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (31).The Minister said from Tuesday (1) 270 MW of electricity will be added to the grid from the Norochcholai Power Plant, and fuel is being delivered to the other power plants in Kelanithissa, Sapugaskanna, and the Barge-mounted power plant, and therefore, there will be no issue in supplying electricity.The Minister said authorities will prepare an electricity generation plan until April 2022, and hydro-power generation will have to drop as water needs to be released for irrigation and agriculture purposes.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The existing COVID-19 prevention guidelines were extended to the 28th of February 2022, by the Ministry of Health.The Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr.

said senior author Axel Krieger, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering.RELATED: First wild case of bird flu detected in US in 5 yearsThe STAR has high repetitive motion and precision capability. Along with high precision imaging for accuracy, researchers say it can adjust to soft-tissue changes in real-time.

MIAMI - Floridians living in Miami will be waking up Sunday to the city’s coldest temperatures in more than 11 years. Temperatures Saturday evening into Sunday morning are expected to drop into the 30s in South Florida, with a low of 39 degrees expected in Miami.In this aerial view from a drone of Ocean Drive in Miami, Florida. (Credit: Joe Raedle via Getty Images) According to FOX Weather meteorologists, the last time temperatures dropped below 40 degrees in Miami was on Dec.

A pair of studies in yesterday in Science show the substantial benefit of COVID-19 vaccination to household contacts in Israel, including unvaccinated children. But one of the studies highlighted waning protection over time.

A pair of studies in yesterday in Science show the substantial benefit of COVID-19 vaccination to household contacts in Israel, including unvaccinated children. But one of the studies highlighted waning protection over time.

winter storm is headed your way, you'll want to be prepared for the possibility of long-duration power outages.Here's what to have inside your home when the power goes out and temperatures drop.FILE - Plastic bottles with drinking water are shown in a file image dated July 19, 2021. (Photo by Fabian Strauch/picture alliance via Getty Images) You'll want to stock up on bottled water. Get a gallon of water, per person/per day, for a minimum of 3 days.FILE - An assortment of donated items that need to be sorted are shown in a file image dated Sept.

FILE - President Joe Biden delivers remarks on ending the war in Afghanistan, on Aug. 31, 2021, in front of the Cross Hall of the White House.

ATLANTA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added a number of places to an advisory list that warns against travel due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus and its contagious omicron variant.According to the CDC, 15 new destinations were cited Monday as a level four — meaning "very high risk" — for Americans. Those cities include Columbia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Jamaica, Kuwait, Mongolia, Peru, Romania, Saint Martin, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and the Dominican Republic. Countries are given a "Level 4" designation when more than 500 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents are registered in the past 28 days.Travel to the 15 new destinations has been discouraged by the health agency. Those who must travel to these destinations are encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their trip."Do not travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated," the advisory said.

Sarah Palin was spotted dining at a New York restaurant on Wednesday (January 26) after it was revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 just two days earlier. The 57-year-old former Alaska governor, who is not vaccinated against the coronavirus, ate outdoors with a group of friends at the Italian hot spot Elio’s, making it her second visit to the establishment since Saturday, when she dined indoors without presenting a vaccination card. On Tuesday, she also dined at another eatery called Campagnola, per the Daily Mail. With the two most recent outings, the failed VP candidate appeared to be flouting local health and safety measures, which call for positive coronavirus cases to isolate for at least five days.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - Donations are pouring in for a New Jersey boy who was badly burned during a bonfire accident Monday night in Mount Laurel.Authorities say 11-year-old Ryan Jastrzembski was at his mother's house on Ramblewood Parkway around 6:30 p.m. when he poured gasoline onto a bonfire. Mount Laurel Fire Department Deputy Chief Todd Evans told reporters that the flames traveled up the gas can and caused an explosion. Ryan Jastrzembski burned over 90% of his body when he poured gasoline onto an bonfire.

WASHINGTON - The Navy said Tuesday that it has discharged 23 active-duty sailors for refusing the coronavirus vaccine, marking the first time it has thrown currently serving sailors out of the military over the mandatory shots.The discharges came as the Navy released new COVID-19 guidance that requires all deployed sailors and air crew to be vaccinated, but relaxes some quarantine practices on ships based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Navy leaders said all operational units — meaning those involved in deployments out to sea — must be 100% vaccinated, and any sailors who have approved medical or administrative exemptions are shifted to shore duty. A significant majority of the Navy's force is in operational units, and the requirement rules out the use of any unvaccinated sailor — such as a Navy SEAL — on a deployed ship, even if they have an approved exemption or are in the process of seeking an exemption.

The Scottish Government has published a Bill which would make some of its emergency coronavirus powers permanent.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose on Tuesday is believed to be the first city in the nation to approve liability insurance and a fee for San Jose gun owners. The gun control ordinance, introduced by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was approved in a virtual meeting. The meeting included discussion portions by the mayor, city council and public comment. The San Jose City Council overwhelmingly approved the measure despite opposition from some gun owners who said it would violate their Second Amendment rights. There were two separate votes; one on the insurance mandate, which passed 10 to one, and a second on the annual fee, which passed 8 to 3.

A Paisley politician has hit out at Health Minister Humza Yousaf over his failure to visit the under-pressure Royal Alexandra Hospital.

COVID-19 was reported in Toronto.It involved a man in his 50s who had recently travelled to Wuhan, China — the epicentre of the outbreak at the time.The man was being treated at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital and his condition was reported to be stable, officials said.The case was later confirmed through secondary testing and it marked the beginning of an unprecedented period in Ontario and Canada as a whole. Canada’s 1st ‘presumptive’ case of new coronavirus discovered in Toronto News of the first “presumptive” case broke late on a Saturday afternoon.A hastily organized press conference with health officials was held not long after at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto.It comprised of Ontario’s then-chief medical officer of health Dr.

Marvel actor Vachik Mangassarian has died aged 78 due to complications with his health brought on by Covid-19, it has been reported.He died on Saturday in Burbank, Los Angeles, his manager Valerie McCaffrey of McCaffrey Talent Management has said. The actor starred in Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Curb Your Enthusiasm, NCIS and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.The Hollywood actor was born in Iran in 1943.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has taken steps to make recommendations to resolve the power crisis in the country.Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Janaka Ratnayake stated that the CEB has requested the PUCSL for permission for daily power cuts from the 25th of Januray until the 04th of February.He noted in confidence that accordingly, there will not be a need for no long lasting power cuts in the future.Presently, State and private sector companies are in possession of several 3,000 MW generators, he pointed out, adding that these generators could produce electricity which would assist the production of electricity in the country.The PUCSL Chairman added discussions were carried out with the companies that own such generators, adding that private companies have agreed to provide their assistance to rectify the power crisis.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila says the government had decided to make a USD payment to two oil tankers anchored at the Colombo Port.“Therefore, there will be no power cuts,” said Minister Gammanpila on Monday (24).He said at a meeting with respective stakeholders it was agreed that if payment is made to one of the oil tankers, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will be able to deliver Diesel to the WestCoast Power Plant instead of Furnace Oil, and deliver Furnace Oil to the Sapugaskanda Power Plant.Therefore, we can deliver the Diesel and Furnace Oil for electricity Generation.Further, the President had instructed the Treasury to release necessary funds to the Ceylon Electricity Board to settle its Rs. 93 Billion debt to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, he said.The Minister further added that the Sapugaskanda Power Plant will be able to recommence generating electricity by the 30th of January 2022.

I request all those who have been in contact with me in the past few days to get themselves tested and take all necessary precautions.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24).Dhammika Wimalaratne, the Secretary of the CEB Engineers Association stated that if this fuel shortage continues, steps will be taken to cut off one hour of power on Monday (24) and about two hours of power off the next day.Accordingly, the power cuts will be taking place between 6.30 and 9.30 in the evening, and under four categories.

COLOMBO (News 1st): It is impossible to supply Furnace Oil to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) until the 9th of February and the CEB has been informed in this regard, Udaya Gammanpil, the Minister of Energy has said. “Another shipment of Furnace Oil will reach Sri Lanka on the 9th of February and until then, we are unable to supply any more fuel to the CEB,” he emphasized.Whilst pointing out that the CEB requested for Furnace Oil only until the 22nd of January, the Minister noted that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) took the relevant measures to ensure the required stocks are supplied.He further noted that 10,000 Metric Tonnes of Diesel was also supplied to the CEB adding that as per the agreements reached, another 600 tonnes of Diesel is supplied to private power stations daily.The CPC cannot supply any more fuel to the CEB at the moment since the remaining stocks of Furnace Oil must be supplied to factories, Minister Gammanpila added.“As promised we have supplied Furnace Oil to the CEB. If we allocate the remaining Furnace Oil also to the CEB, instead of providing it to the factories and industries, that would mean thousands of people will lose their jobs.

WASHINGTON - The country’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, predicted Sunday that COVID-19 cases induced by the omicron variant will peak next month.Fauci said he was "as confident as you can be" that states will hit their highest point of infections in February to ABC News’ "This Week." However, he noted cases should start dropping off after that, as seen in other countries, but that the virus is still unpredictable. "You never want to be overconfident when you're dealing with this virus," he said.

Ontario Hockey League postponed two games from its Sunday schedule. OHL postpones five games due to Storm, Battalion entering COVID protocols The Windsor Spitfires-Kitchener Rangers game was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Spitfires.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association on Sunday (23) warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24). However, it is due time to examine the different views of parties involved in the power crisis.What is the current fuel status of power plants?Sapugaskanda has come to a standstill due to lack of oil, and according to the trade unions, the power plant has less than 24 hours to run on fuel.Meanwhile, the Yugadanavi power plant has fuel for only 10 days.What does the Minister of Energy say about this?The Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila stated on Sunday (23) that the stocks of fuel have been depleted due to a weakness in the CEB’s calculations.The Minister said that the CEB had requested the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply only enough fuel for 10 days.Minister Gammanpila also stated that the stock of fuel was handed over to the CEB last week as agreed during the discussion held with the President’s participation.Moreover, Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that a ship carrying 37,500 metric tons of diesel has arrived near the Sri Lankan sea border.He also said that fuel could be supplied to the CEB if the relevant stock of diesel is released after obtaining dollars.What does the Minister of Power say?Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the CEB is currently managing the fuel stocks it has received so far.The Minister of Power and Energy also stated that due to this, there will be no need for a power cut from next Tuesday (25) onwards.However, the Unions state something completely different.Ananda Palitha, the  Media Spokesperson of the United Trade Union Force revealed that the Petroleum Corporation is the sole supplier to supply on demand.