Parliament must approve/disapprove Emergency Proclamation – Sumanthiran

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved $800 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defenses against an intensified Russian offensive in the country’s east.Biden announced the aid after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to coordinate the delivery of the assistance, which he said included artillery systems, artillery rounds, and armored personnel carriers, as well as helicopters."This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine," Biden said in a statement.Biden said the U.S. will continue to work with allies to share additional weapons and resources as the conflict continues.Advertisement"The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion," Biden said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ex-Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that if Sri Lanka wants some form of stability, the Prime Minister and the Government must resign paving the way for a new administration.“They are completely wrong if they assume that they can overcome the economic crisis by forming a majority of 113 MPs by any means,” he told reporters.He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday (13) at a briefing organized by the ‘Taking The Nation On The Correct Path’ movement in Colombo.He said Basil Rajapaksa is still attempting to take control of the administration, and also slammed the appointment of a new State Minister at a time when the country facing a crisis.

A South Ayrshire MSP has called for the heads of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak - after they were hit with police fines.

FILE - A person holds a stack of masks. (FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV))PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health announced the reinstatement of the city’s mask mandate for indoor public spaces on Monday after a rise in COVID-19 cases. Last week, the Philadelphia Department of Health said coronavirus cases increased by more than 50% in a ten-day span in the city where there's now an average of 142 new cases per day, according to Health Commissioner Dr.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases are on the rise once again across Canada, according to public health data, as the reality of a sixth wave of the pandemic begins to take shape.As of Monday, the seven-day average of daily lab-confirmed cases sits just above 9,843, a nearly 50 per cent jump from just two weeks prior.Hospitalizations are also rising, with 4,876 people currently receiving care, up 17 per cent since last week and about 30 per cent above the number two weeks ago. Of those patients, 394 are in intensive care, a slight uptick since late March.Although every province except Ontario and Quebec has moved from reporting COVID-19 data daily to now posting weekly updates, a majority of jurisdictions in Canada is seeing a rise compared to last month.Canada’s chief public health officer Dr.

Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge.The State Department said the order is an upgrade from the “authorized” departure issued last week that made the decision voluntary.The order covers “non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members from U.S.

coronavirus rules to prevent a "brutal" Easter as pressure mounts on the NHS, health leaders have warned. NHS bosses issued the stark warning as they pointed out that the service is facing the same pressure this spring as it would in the midst of a "bad winter."The government has been urged to review its Living with Covid plan as high rates of Covid-19 infections are having a "major impact" on the healthcare system.

Health leaders have warned that the NHS is facing the same pressure this spring as it would during a “bad winter”. Very high rates of coronavirus infections are having a “major impact” and leading to both more patients and staff absences.

WASHINGTON - A new study finds most dog owners are improperly feeding their pets according to guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration. Researchers from North Carolina recently published their findings in PLOS ONE. They conducted a survey of 417 dog owners to gather data on their pets including their pet’s signalment, health status and diet.

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Chrystia Freeland says there is no better source of extra funds for Ukraine‘s recovery from the Russian invasion than from the assets of those backing the war.In an interview with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson, Freeland emphasized the proposal in the budget she tabled last week that would allow Canada’s minister of foreign affairs to not only freeze Russian assets, but seize them, too.“Right now, we can freeze assets. What we need to do is have the power to seize those assets,” she said.“Ukraine is going to need to be rebuilt.

COLOMBO (News 1st): A young Sri Lankan girl offered a rose to police officers who were manning the barricade leading to Parliament on Friday (8) afternoon.The parliament premises was heavily guarded as over the past few days Sri Lankans have been protesting around the premises against the President and the Government, and even all members of Parliament.The rose was offered at a time when a large group of people was in fact protesting at the same place against the President, and the government.

Nova Scotia RCMP have cancelled an emergency alert issued after shots were fired in two communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality.Mounties say on Twitter that two suspects have been arrested and no injuries have been reported.11:25 p.m. Two suspects arrested & investigation ongoing.

A couple walks on a dark street in San Juan, Puerto Rico after a major power outage hit the island on April 6, 2022. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Shuttered businesses.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The European Union has requested Sri Lankan authorities to start in-depth discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the reforms needed to bring the Sri Lankan economy back to a sustainable path.They issued a joint statement on the recent developments in Sri Lanka together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States and with the diplomatic missions of Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, & the United Kingdom.

Vulnerable people are waiting days for emergency Covid medicine when they should be contacted within 24 hours, a patient said. The 37-year-old dad from Heaton Chapel claims he was forced to chase the treatment multiple times after reporting his positive test to the NHS on the same day.

Following the arrest of The Flash actor Ezra Miller in a Hawaii karaoke bar, Warner Bros. and DC executives held a meeting to discuss the actor’s future involvement in movie projects.

COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP Leader & Opposition Lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament on Thursday (7) that the opposition is prepared to consider any government proposal to address the present crisis, under one single condition, that is for the President to resign.“There are two main points centered around the struggle of the common people in Sri Lanka. One is that the present President must step down.

the current surge in COVID-19 cases to get provinces to bring back serious restrictions — but none are willing to divulge exact figures of just how much worse things would have to get.Multiple provinces, including Ontario, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Alberta said a major factor they consider when it comes to deciding whether to re-impose restrictions is whether a wave threatens their region’s health-care capacity.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a visit to the Parliament on Thursday (7).The President was welcomed with applause from the government MPs who were present in the house. The visit by the Head of State came when Parliament was debating the present crisis situation for the second day.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s State Ministry of Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals said that government hospitals are running short of 40 different medicines due to the present crisis.Secretary to the State Minister Dr. Saman Ratnayake told News 1st that stocks of 60 different medicines will only last for another week, and less than a month.However, facilities have been arranged for pharmaceutical importers to import medicines under the Indian Credit Line.In addition, The Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank have decided to open Letters of Credit valued at USD 7 Million each.However, health professionals have warned that the entire health system would collapse within the next week if the crisis is not resolved.Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); TNA Parliamentarian M. A.

China has reported more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases, the highest daily tally given since the start of the pandemic, as millions in locked-down Shanghai began a new round of testing.

FILE-"All Boys Aren't Blue" is one of the books on a list of the 10 most challenged books in school libraries. (Stephen M.

COLOMBO (News 1st):  Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has revoked the proclamation on Public Emergency with effect from midnight on 5th April 2022.

NEW DELHI :

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Police Chief has ordered for an immediate independent investigation over a confrontation that had taken place between several police officers and a team of Army Riders during a protest opposite Parliament on Tuesday (5).The Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva has requested the Inspector General of Police to immediately conduct an inquiry into the ‘unethical and ill-mannered behaviour’ of two Police officers and initiate disciplinary action against them when a four -member team of Army Riders on the directions of the Director Operations of the Army HQ arrived at the road entrance to the Parliament complex.Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) has also already informed the IGP and the Secretary to Ministry of Public Security in regard to the incident and requested them to inquire into the unacceptable conduct of those Police Officers.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police confronted 6 armed men dressed in military attire on off-road motorbikes during a protest opposite the Parliament premises on Tuesday (5).These three motorbikes reportedly arrived from the direction of the parliament and did not have any registration number on them.Police officers were seen confronting them and questioning them, and even taking the keys off the bikes.

The continuing mayhem at Manchester Airport is an example of the damage the re-emergence of Covid is doing to our working age population, Wigan’s director of public health has said.

BUCHA, KYIV PROVINCE, UKRAINE, APRIL 04: Tanya Nedashkivska, 57, grieves next to the tomb of her husband buried on the backyard of her house in Bucha, Ukraine, April 4th, 2022. Tanya alleges her husband was tortured and executed by Russian soldiers i BUCHA, Ukraine - Ukraine's president planned to address the U.N.'s most powerful body on Tuesday after even more grisly evidence emerged of civilian massacres in areas that Russian forces recently left.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has stepped down.In a letter to the President, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said he decided to resign from the position following a decision made by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Parliamentary Group to remain independent.The SLFP, a party that forms the ruling coalition, quit the government on Monday (4).

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has approved for power cuts that would last for six hours and thirty minutes from the 5th to the 8th of April 2022.GROUPS ABCDEFGHIJKL:4 hrs from 8 am to 5 pm2 hrs & 30 min from 5pm to 10pmGROUPS PQRSTUVW:4 hrs from 10 am to 6 pm2 hrs & 30 min from 6pm to 11pmGROUP CC1:3 hrs & 30 min from 6.00 am to 9.30 am

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government states that the Public Emergency & the Curfew were declared to ensure that the peace, normal way of life, as well as public & property, is protected.A statement from the Department of Government Information noted that the Sri Lankan Government is bound to protect public peace, as well as public and private property, whilst ensuring the right to speech, expression, and protest peacefully.It added that the government had pledged to protect and promote all democratic rights including the Right to Freedom of Expression, Speech, and Protest Peacefully.It went on to note that after the incumbent President was elected to power, water cannons, tear gas, and baton charges were not enforced on any peaceful protest or demonstration.It added that on some occasions the representatives of protestors were allowed to enter the President’s Office for talks and solutions were provided to the issues.The Department of Government Information said that on the 31st of March 2022, a group acted in an unruly manner during a protest and cause serious damage to public and private property, while some were also injured.It stressed that Public Emergency and Curfew were imposed in accordance with the accepted legal provisions, and to protect the lives of the people, public peace, as well as public and private property.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Bar Association of Sri Lanka states that it is of the view that a declaration of a state of emergency is not the answer to the present situation in the country, and had called upon the President to revoke the Emergency proclamation.In a statement, the BASL states that unfortunately, those in authority have until very recently failed to understand the gravity of the situation and the grave impact the crisis has on the life of the people and the community.

COVID-19 cases in the UK, which has again reached record levels, with about 1 in 13 people estimated to be infected with the virus in the past week, Britain's official statistics shows. So what do we know about this new Covid variant and how infectious is it? Let's talk about it in details.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a Public Emergency in Sri Lanka with effect from the 1st of April 2022.

WHO's Bruce Aylward pointed out, "If more groups move away from the 70% target, we have more #COVID19 transmission in the world, more people that get sick, more people that die & eventually more variants that emerge & possibly frustrate all the progress that's has been made so far"

The requirements for flying into Canada just took another step towards “normal.” But as Tomasia DaSilva reports, there are still some rules and advice you should follow.

CAMDEN, N.J. - Emergency teams responded to the Early Childhood Development Center in Camden on Wednesday after sanitizer was discovered in milk cartons, according to the school district. The facility, which is for preschool and kindergarten students, is located at 1602 Pine Street. According to tweets released by Camden Schools, it was determined that some of the cartons contained a "non-toxic consumable sanitizer that runs through the vendor machines prior to milk." "Unfortunately, many cartons were filled with the sanitizer, sealed and then shipped out with the milk," officials announced on Twitter.

World Health Organization on Wednesday released an updated plan for COVID-19, laying out three possible scenarios for how the pandemic will evolve this year.“Based on what we know now, the most likely scenario is that the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, but the severity of disease it causes reduces over time as immunity increases due to vaccination and infection,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing.However, the WHO head cautioned that periodic spikes in cases and deaths may occur as immunity wanes, which may require periodic boosting for vulnerable populations.Talking about the other two potential scenarios, Tedros said either less severe variants will emerge and boosters or new formulations of vaccines will not be necessary, or a more virulent variant will emerge and protection from prior vaccination or infection will wane rapidly.

oil and gas industry will need to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 42 per cent from current levels by 2030 if the country is to meet its new targets.The emissions reduction plan tabled in the House of Commons today by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault forecasts that electricity emissions will be almost zero by the end of the decade but it will take longer to see real progress from the transportation sector.The plan is a legislated requirement under the net-zero emissions law the government passed last year.

Luz Ortega receives a COVID-19 vaccination shot at a vaccination site at Stevenson Family Health Center in the Bronx on February 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The U.S.

Ontario didn’t replenish PPE stockpiles before COVID-19, long-term care commission says The plan includes new legislation that would, among other measures, make permanent a $3-an-hour wage enhancement for PSWs that the government has been extending for a few months at a time since 2020.The legislation would also require annual reporting on supplies of personal protective equipment, and require the province to have a provincial emergency plan that is updated every five years.The government is also announcing $81 million over two years to expand a program in which nursing graduates can receive full tuition reimbursement in exchange for committing to practice in an underserved community for two years.

Style expert Suzie Wall has a full breakdown of the top trends from the red carpet during the 94th Annual Academy Awards.

Hollyoaks after the school bus to the camping trip crashed injuring many of the passengers on board.John Paul' McQueen's (James Suttons) alcohol withdraw symptoms caused the accident following his recent drinking problem.He tried covering this up by claiming that a bird flew towards the windscreen of the vehicle, distracting him from the road and causing him to lose control.The accident has left schoolgirl Freya with life-changing injuries as she waits to find out if she'll ever be able to walk again.Hollyoaks viewers have watched many of their favourites die in tragic circumstances over the years, with many wishing the characters had not been killed off at all.As fans wait to find out more from the fall out of the school bus crash, Daily Star takes a look at some of the Channel 4 soap's most tragic deaths.Sylver McQueen became one of the first deaths of Hollyoaks 2022, after he was caught up in an explosion at Marnie Nightingale's patisserie.Another of Mercedes McQueen's husbands tragically lost their life after he was left to die by stepson Bobby Costello, leaving Hollyoaks viewers in shock and disbelief.Speaking about his exit from the soap, Sylver actor David Tag said he was proud of the way the character was written out of the programme, telling Digital Spy: "When I was told how I was leaving, I thought that was much better. If you go out in a taxi, the option is there for you to go back, but I wanted to go out all guns blazing in an explosion with a big dramatic death as a hero."He also predicted the fan reaction that was to come, adding: "I think people are going to be pretty upset because there isn't much to hate about Sylver.

recombinant variant that's mostly delta but contains the spike protein of omicron. "So a good chunk of the virus' spike protein is omicron but the body of the virus is still delta," Nguyen says. 

Residents queue at a Covid-19 testing facility in Shanghai, China, on Friday, March 25, 2022. Shanghais Covid cases jumped more than 60% in a single day, hitting a record 1,609 on Friday, even as authorities widened restrictions that have limited acc BEIJING (AP) - China began locking down most of its largest city of Shanghai on Monday as part of its strict COVID-19 strategy, amid questions over the policy's economic toll on the country.Shanghai's Pudong financial district and nearby areas will be locked down from early Monday to Friday as citywide mass testing gets underway, the local government said.