President awarded ‘Sri Lankadheeshwara Padma Vibhushana’

HEALTH and Lamb of God make for a fearsome duo on "Cold Blood," a gargantuan collaboration between the L.A. trio and the metal band.

show proof of vaccination plus booster shot (if eligible) and proof of a negative COVID-19 test.“I want to apologize to y’all for not being at the Screen Actors Guild Awards,” Smith explained in a now-deleted video on his Instagram account. “I mean no offense to anyone. I’m not vaccinated, and it’s a requirement to be vaccinated.”The “Hell or High Water” actor then opened up further about his anti-vax beliefs.

This is exactly what Kim Kardashian didn’t want to happen…

BLOOMFIELD TWP, Mich. (FOX 2) - The Bloomfield Township Fire Departments and Southfield Fire Departments have been called to a massive fire at the Oakland Hills Country Club Thursday morning and, according to video from the scene, the fire is raging.The call for the massive fire came in around 10 a.m.

LEXINGTON, N.C. - An airplane crashed into a tractor-trailer on Wednesday along I-85 in Davidson County, North Carolina, killing the pilot and sparking a fire along the interstate, authorities said.A twin-engine Beechcraft Barron crashed into a 2016 Freightliner tractor-trailer on the southbound side of the interstate near the Davidson County Airport in Lexington just before 5:15 p.m., North Carolina state highway patrol said.The plane was taking off from the airport when it lost altitude "for unknown reasons" and crashed into the tractor-trailer, officials said. The tractor-trailer overturned and another vehicle, a 2019 Ford truck also headed southbound, was damaged from the debris of the initial collision.

COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be closing its doors in the coming months.The region announced on Thursday that stewardship of the Cambridge Pinebush vaccination clinic will be passed from Kitchener’s Grand River Hospitals to Waterloo Public Health on April 1. 2 more COVID-19 deaths reported in Waterloo Region, death roll reaches 387 It says that as demand for COVID-19 vaccinations from area residents continues to dissipate, the clinic will wind down operations over the next six weeks.“The staff and volunteers at the Cambridge Pinebush vaccination clinic have shown incredible dedication and commitment to the health and safety of our community,” Regional Chair Karen Redman stated.“With the support of staff from St.

Kanye West is back to calling out Pete Davidson on his Instagram account.

February long weekend is on the horizon and, as a result, it won’t be business as usual at every establishment on Monday, though some restrictions have loosened ahead of the holiday.The easing of some of the province’s COVID-19-related public health measures initially scheduled for Feb. 21 was moved up to Feb.

Marginal rise in new Covid cases in Mumbai:

Novak Djokovic stated he would skip the French Open and Wimbledon rather than get vaccinated against Covid-19, Serum Institute of India (SII) chief Adar Poonawalla took to Twitter to say that he hopes the tennis star changes his mind. 

Derren Brown had people blaming him for Covid. The mastermind illusionist has been keeping our mouths agape for more than two decades in TV shows like Apocalypse, The Heist, Pushed to the Edge and Russian Roulette.

Richard Daly is among the most experienced school principals in the country. In his 30 years at the helm at Athy Community College, he says the last two have been by far the most challenging.

#COVID19 variants of concern with @DrMikeRyan and Dr @mvankerkhove. #AskWHO https://t.co/fwQZYZkgGA

Suffering from Covid may make you more likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to a study.

Terminal V Festival is all set to welcome techno fans back through its gates after an extremely difficult and trying two years through the coronavirus pandemic.

West Chester , PA. May,18 : Eelction officials wait for voters in Ward 1 at the West Chester Borough Hall Tuesday morning.

Here are Ontario’s loosened restrictions, capacity limits as of Feb. 17 Meanwhile, Ontario also reported 2,327 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, though that is an underestimate of the true widespread transmission of the virus due to recent testing restrictions.

Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes will include almost as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. (Hostess) Now you can either drink your caffeine or eat it.For many Americans, grabbing a cup of coffee is an integral part of their morning.

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The mystery illness ‘Russian flu’

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Addressing the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting being held virtually, Sitharaman urged for a need to evolve methodologies to plug funding gaps between multilateral institutions as low and middle income countries did not have enough resources to face these challenges on their own. Sitharaman emphasized on addressing structural bottlenecks to reduce the pandemic’s scarring effects and building resilience.She suggested that the economic recovery measures be built around a long term vision. Sitharaman pressed for a need for a pool creation so a future pandemic wouldn't make it worse for middle or low income countries.Emphasizing multilateral support, Sitharaman said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) needed to augment its capacity and mobilise global resources, especially as low and middle income countries had limited fiscal space to fund health and climate issue related matters.The Finance Minister said that it was crucial to address the gaps in global pandemic preparedness and said that the work of the G20 Joint Finance and Health Task Force should progress in that direction.However, Sitharaman pointed out that India prioritized spend and allocated $29 billion towards health infrastructure mission, where health insurance was assured for the poor and for the low income groups.

#COVID19 were reported to WHO. Dr @mvankerkhove elaborates on Omicron and its sub-lineages transmission and severity ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/w53Z25npx2

Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Ontario’s vaccine certificate system is ending March 1, when proof of vaccination will no longer be required in public settings, though businesses may choose to keep it in place on their own. But those are very different places than institutions caring for vulnerable patients, Gaskin said.“It’s also a choice,” he said.

Wednesday night all eyes were on Ottawa as new measures were put in place to remove protesters from the capital. Earlier in the day, police were warning protesters they faced arrest, if they continued their occupation next to Parliament Hill.

The Scottish Government have confirmed 22 people have died from coronavirus in the last 24 hours.

Ottawa‘s interim police chief says officers will clear the streets of people who oppose the government and COVID-19 restrictions in the next few days, warning they are ready to use methods people are not used to seeing in the capital.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are searching for a suspect they say tied up delivery truck driver and drove off in his truck with the driver still inside. The incident occurred back on Feb. 10, around 11 a.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The 8-year-old boy who was kidnapped from Horana was found on Thursday (17) evening and was handed over to the Horana Police HQI, said Sri Lanka Police.A police operation was launched on Thursday (17) afternoon after the boy was abducted by his own father.The man who abducted his own son from Horana was shot dead in a shootout with police on Thursday (17) afternoon.Sri Lanka Police announced that the man who was gunned down during a shootout with the Police Special Task Force was identified as Neelanka Sandaruwan alias Neela.Sri Lanka Police said the suspect had abducted his 8-year-old son from his mothers’ residence in Horana., after firing several rounds into the air.Police Spokesperson Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa speaking to News 1st said police officers received a tip-off that the man was in hiding in Walpita, Anguruwatota.Sri Lanka Police had launched a search operation to locate the kidnapper and based on the investigation police officers had surrounded a house in Wellapitiya, Horana.According to Sri Lanka Police, the suspect had opened fire at the officers.Police Officers then immediately called in the support of the Police Special Task Force.The STF’s Motor Cycle Attack squad Quick Reaction Team reached the location and they too were fired upon by the suspect, said Sri Lanka Police adding the STF personnel then returned fire, eventually killing the suspect.A T-56 Assault Rifle and several bullets that were in the possession of the suspect were seized from the crime scene.However, the suspect’s son was not at the house where the shooting took place, said the Police Spokesperson, adding a special operation is underway to locate him.The suspect had recently attacked his wife using a sharp

Mumbai today reported 259 fresh infections, though no deaths were reported in the megacity. With this, the active case tally in the state stands at 1,945. Today's Covid cases are slightly more than yesterday when Mumbai recorded 255 Covid infections.

LOWR OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A Lincoln University student has died and two others were injured after a stabbing inside of a dorm Wednesday. Officers responded to the campus in Lower Oxford Township for a report of a stabbing around 9:30 p.m. Police say three Lincoln University students were stabbed inside of a dormitory.

As the Emergencies Act aims to end occupying protests in the capital, Ottawa police began issuing paper pamphlets to lingering protesters, warning them to leave the city or face possible arrest. But as Abigail Bimman reports, despite the stern messages, many occupiers refuse to budge.

Just because Mark Wahlberg got COVID, his family wasn’t about to give up their vacation.

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Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 64,49,026, said the health department on Thursday. 

A couple from Middle Sackville were surprised when their dog had eight puppies. That may have only been one more than they were anticipating, but the real shock came when they saw the last puppy… It caused them worry — but eventually a sense of pride.

KYIV, Ukraine - NATO allies accused Russia of misleading the world and disseminating "disinformation" by saying it was returning some troops to bases, charging that Moscow has instead added as many as 7,000 more troops near its tense border with Ukraine.With Western fears high that Russia is planning to invade, tensions also spiked Thursday along the line that separates Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed separatists in the country's east, with the parties accusing each other of intensive shelling.After a handful of positive signals from Russia that lowered the temperature in the crisis earlier in the week, the pendulum appeared to be swinging in the opposite direction again. With an estimated 150,000-plus troops massed near Ukraine, the Kremlin offered to keep pursuing diplomatic solutions — an overture the NATO chief welcomed, even as he and others warned that the U.S.-led alliance has still seen no sign of the military withdrawal that Moscow announced."We have seen the opposite of some of the statements.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says it is the fundamental duty of young officers to develop their skills and move forward in their careers.The President made these remarks addressing the Commissioning Parade of the Sri Lanka Air Force held at the Sri Lanka Air force Base – Katunayake, on Saturday (29).“You must work hard to continuously improve your knowledge, further develop your skills, and learn from the lessons imparted through your experience,” the President said.The President commended the Air Force for over 70 years of service to the motherland and for its service to the nation building as well as national security.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye has told President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that his government is keen on further promoting trade between the two nations.He made this observation when he met with President Rajapaksa on Friday (28), during his official visit to the island nation.The Turking Foreign Minister noted that the Turkish market is wide open for a plethora of Sri Lankan products through market diversification.Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had once again extended an invitation to President Rajapaksa to visit Turkey, said the President’s Media Division.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The renovated ‘Sirimathipaya,’ the Prime Minister’s Office at Flower Road, Colombo, was declared open by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday (20).President Rajapaksa inspected the photographs displayed in the renovated office and inspected the office premises as well.A first day cover and a commemorative postage stamp was also released marking the inauguration of the duties of the new office under the aegis of the President.The Sri Lanka Navy renovated the building under the supervision of former Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath as per the vision of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.This two-storeyed mansion was built by Albert Emmanuel de Silva in 1916 for his son Sir Albert Ernest de Silva.The mansion was handed over to the State by family members in 1960 following the demise of Sir Ernest de Silva.The Ministry of Education and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Construction were then established in Sirimathipaya.In 1978, the then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa established the Prime Minister’s Office in Sirimathipaya.Sirimathipaya, which is more than a hundred years old, has undergone a complete overhaul after 44 years.A book consisting of the history and photographs of Sirimathipaya was presented to the President by the President’s Secretary Gamini Senarath.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United Nations commended Sri Lanka’s green agriculture programme at a meeting held between UN Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (04).Wignaraja serves as the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.Wignaraja said Sri Lanka was ranked 87th out of 165 countries in the 2021 Sustainable Development Report, moving seven points ahead from the previous year’s ranking. The possibility of attracting foreign investors to the green agriculture programme by further developing these conditions was also discussed.The President pointed out the steps being taken by Sri Lanka to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while seeking solutions to the socio-economic impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The President said that a comprehensive mechanism has been set up for this purpose, including the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation and the Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka and Sustainable Solutions to climate change.UNDP Resident Representative Robert Juhkam, Deputy Resident Representative Malin Herwig, Secretary to the President P.B.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The adjournment debate on the Government’s Policy Statement presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is due to commence on Wednesday (19).The Head of State presented the Policy Statement on Tuesday (18) with the beginning of the 2nd session of the 9th Parliament.Earlier, it was decided that the Adjournment debate on the Statement of Government Policy presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, will be held on January 19th and 20th.During Tuesday’s (18) meeting, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando had requested for the debate to run until Friday (21) as most government MP’s had wanted to express their views.Accordingly, the Prime Minister had instructed to allocate Friday (21) for the debate after informing the Speaker.

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ceremonially declared open the 2nd Session of the 9th Parliament on Tuesday (18).The President will present the Government Policy Statement in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution.On the instructions of the President, arrangements were made to hold the ceremony in a very simple manner thus that there were no gun salutes or car parades.Instead, the President was received in front of Parliament with a cultural salute with the participation of the Police Cultural Division.Following the presentation of the Government Policy Statement by the President, the House will be adjourned. Afterward, a tea party is organized for the members of Parliament and invited guests.Foreign diplomats, former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Justice, Supreme Court Justices, and the Attorney General were invited to the ceremonial opening of the second session of the Ninth Parliament, Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.The Adjournment debate on the Statement of Government Policy scheduled presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, will be held on January 19th and 20th.Accordingly, the Adjournment debate by the Government will be held on January 19th from 1.00 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inspected the renovation work of the Ehelepola Walawwa, which is more than 400 years old, at Raja Veediya in Kandy on Thursday (06).The building, which was used as a prison during the British colonial period and then a remand prison, was taken over by the Urban Development Authority and developed under the supervision of the Department of Archeology.All renovation works of the building, which is of historical value, have been carried out without compromising the ancient design of the Walawwa.The President gave instructions to complete the renovation immediately.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited the Malwathu Vihara on Thursday (06) and received blessings from the Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Anunayake Thera.The Anunayake Thera chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the President. The Thera said that the Maha Sangha have faith that the aspirations of the people would be fulfilled by overcoming all obstacles.The President called on the Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera, the Anunayake of Malwathu Chapter, and engaged in a brief conversation.Ven.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa delivered the Government’s Policy Statement, after declaring open the 2nd session of the 9th Parliament on Tuesday (18).The President said that while successfully encountering short-term problems, the primary responsibility is to continue to implement the long-term development program presented by the government to the people and endorsed by a majority.“The sustainable future of the country is built on it,” said the President.Here’s are some of the key takeaways from the President’s speech:National Security:“Our Government has secured national security and the people have no fear of terrorism today,” said the President in his statement.He said the government has been able to change the situation concerning the underworld that terrorized people, during the past two years.The President further stated that Sri Lanka was becoming a hub for international drug traffickers and the situation today is largely under control due to the action taken by the security & intelligence services in the country.Human Rights:The President in his statement said Sri Lanka needs to correct the misconceptions that have been taken to the international community in the past with regard to Human Rights in the country.“During my tenure, the government did not support any form of human rights violations. We do not condone such actions in any manner,” he said.Electricity:“We will not approve the construction of coal power plants in the future for any reason,” said the President adding that “Our goal is to achieve the carbon-neutral target by 2050.

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will ceremonially declare open the 2nd Session of the 9th Parliament on the 18th January 2022.The President will present the Government Policy Statement on Tuesday (18) at 10:00 AM in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution.Prior to this, the second session of the Ninth Parliament will be ceremonially opened under the patronage of the President, Parliamentary Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake said.On the instructions of the President, arrangements have been made to hold the ceremony in a very simple manner thus that there will be no gun salutes or car parades.Instead, the President will be received in front of Parliament with a cultural salute with the participation of the Police Cultural Division.Following the presentation of the Government Policy Statement by the President, the House will be adjourned. Afterward, a tea party is organized for the members of Parliament and invited guests.Foreign diplomats, former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Justice, Supreme Court Justices, and the Attorney General have been invited to the ceremonial opening of the second session of the Ninth Parliament, Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.He also stressed that the second session of the Ninth Parliament will be ceremonially opened following all health guidelines.

Construction work on the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port commenced on Wednesday (12) under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.With the planned construction beginning today, the length of the Eastern Terminal will increase to 1,320 meters and has been scheduled to be completed in July 2024.Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, U. D.