Public support needed to maintain peace – Defence Secretary

opened fire at around 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday outside Tops Friendly Market.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Reports on a planned LTTE attack on 18th May will be duly investigated and steps have been taken to strengthen security, the Ministry of Defence states in connection with reports published on media with regard to the revival of LTTE. Indian Newspapers have published a report quoting Indian intelligence that the LTTE was planning to launch an attack on Sri Lanka on May 18th.After inquiring with regard to the above information by the Sri Lankan intelligence services from the Indian intelligence services, it has been informed that this information has been given as general information and further action will be taken in this regard.Moreover, action will be taken to inform the Sri Lankan Government with regard to any further information as well.However, due to this information and all information received by the intelligence and security forces in connection with national security, due investigations will be carried out and the relevant security forces have been informed to take further steps to strengthen the security, Defence Ministry added.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Police has sought public assistance to identify suspects who were involved in violent acts in Kollupitiya and Galle Face areas on 09th May.Accordingly, below pictures have been obtained by the Criminal Investigations Department, and Police have requested the public to inform of any details regarding people on photos via the following numbers; 071-8594901 , 071-8594915, 071-8592087, 071-8594942, 071-2320145, 011-2422176. 

Queen has officially made a public appearance at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.The main event, which featured incredible music performances as well as parades from the King's Regiment, was shown live on ITV on Sunday (May 15) - and even featured the likes of American actor Tom Cruise.And the Queen arrived in her classic Range Rover, escorted by a parade of horses as she slowly made her way out of the backseat aided by a walking stick.The crowd went wild as her car arrived in the parade square.According to ITV's Chris Ship, the Queen proceeded to take a small elevator up to her seat from ground level, preventing her from being forced to climb steps.He posted on social media: "She used a small lift/elevator to navigate her way from her car in the area to her seat in the stand. As a 96 year old, it’s surprising and astonishing she hasn’t had to do this before."She later sat atop a velvet-lined throne with a blanket across her knees to watch the proceedings outdoors, as the mounted guards performed to music.She wore a grey cardigan encrusted with jewels around her shoulders, over a blue floral patterned top.It comes after her health woes left the monarch unable to appear at the opening of Parliament - an event she had only missed twice before, both times due to pregnancy.Prince Charles appeared in her place to provide the opening speech.Fans were loving seeing their monarch in public again, as they took to Twitter to air their thoughts.One penned: "Why am I smiling so sheepishly.

KYIV, Ukraine - Almost three months after Russia shocked the world by invading Ukraine, its military faced a bogged-down war, the prospect of a bigger NATO and a defending country buoyed by its win in a hugely popular pan-European music competition Sunday.Finland announced it would apply to join NATO, as top diplomats from the Western alliance, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, gathered Sunday in Berlin to discuss the war.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Reports on a planned LTTE attack on 18th May will be duly investigated and steps have been taken to strengthen security, the Ministry of Defence states in connection with reports published on media with regard to the revival of LTTE. Indian Newspapers have published a report quoting Indian intelligence that the LTTE was planning to launch an attack on Sri Lanka on May 18th.After inquiring with regard to the above information by the Sri Lankan intelligence services from the Indian intelligence services, it has been informed that this information has been given as general information and further action will be taken in this regard.Moreover, action will be taken to inform the Sri Lankan Government with regard to any further information as well.However, due to this information and all information received by the intelligence and security forces in connection with national security, due investigations will be carried out and the relevant security forces have been informed to take further steps to strengthen the security, Defence Ministry added.

exclusively to Daily Star on the issue, the blonde beauty said: "I used to be what people would consider to be 'really fit' and I built up my social media following based on that."But when the pandemic hit, school and that, I gained a lot of weight."When you're on the internet, it becomes obvious if you've put on weight and people tell you straight away."She continued: "When I put on a little bit of weight, some people said 'it looks good on you', but others told me I'd 'lost my shape'."However, when I gained a significant amount, it turned in to bullying."I couldn't post anything without at least ten comments targeting weight."Taya said people would sent profanities and there was even a Reddit threat tracking her weight gain.She continued: "People were accusing me of having a child without telling anyone."Others were asking if something had medically happened to me."It was mostly men, women rarely have a problem with it as they understand."I was getting death threats and people were telling me to stop eating so much.

News reports, citing North Korea's state media, said the country has reported six COVID-19 deaths, including at least one linked to the Omicron variant, amid explosive spread that has led to about 350,000 people being treated for fevers.

Supreme Court of Canada issued a major decision on Friday allowing criminal defendants in cases involving assault — including sexual assault — to use a defence known as self-induced extreme intoxication.Effectively, it means defendants who voluntarily consume intoxicating substances and then assault or interfere with the bodily integrity of another person can avoid conviction if they can prove they were too intoxicated to control their actions.“To deprive a person of their liberty for that involuntary conduct committed in a state akin to automatism — conduct that cannot be criminal — violates the principles of fundamental justice in a system of criminal justice based on personal responsibility for one’s actions,” wrote Justice Nicholas Kasirer in the unanimous nine-judge ruling.Under Section 33.1 of the Criminal Code, extreme intoxication — formally known as non-insane automatism — cannot be used as a defence in criminal cases where the accused voluntarily ingested the intoxicating substance.The court’s ruling declares that section is unconstitutional. Thomas Chan gets new trial after Supreme Court rules extreme intoxication can be used as defence The court found that, despite the “laudable purpose” of the criminal code provision, it runs afoul of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it is too broad.“The legitimate goals of protecting the victims of these crimes and holding the extremely self-intoxicated accountable, compelling as they are, do not justify these infringements of the Charter that so fundamentally upset the tenets of the criminal law,” the court said in the ruling.“With s.

NEW YORK - Frank James, who is accused of opening fire in an NYC subway train last month has pleaded not guilty to terrorism and other charges.James entered the plea Friday in federal court in Brooklyn.He's charged with committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Both counts carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.Ten people were shot in the incident.U.S, District Judge William F.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam confirmed to News 1st that the SLPP party would support the Wickremesinghe-led Government.He added that the SLPP parliamentary group would meet The President tomorrow, at 10:00 AM.The SLPP announcement comes in the wake of all main opposition parties announcing their decision to stay away from joining a government under Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Premiership.This would effectively mean that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe could end up as the head of a Government solely with Pohottuwa MP’s.

Placing a plant grown during the experiment in a vial for eventual genetic analysis. (Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS via NASA)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - For the first time, scientists have grown plants in soil from the moon collected by NASA’s Apollo astronauts.Researchers had no idea if anything would sprout in the harsh moon dirt and wanted to see if it could be used to grow food by the next generation of lunar explorers.

A former Health Secretary says she and her fellow female activists feel vindicated after calling in the police over Natalie McGarry’s embezzlement.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Both Secretary Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) and the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva have dismissed claims that Sri Lanka is heading towards a Military Rule.‘Sri Lanka has a constitution and the armed forces operate as per the constitution,’ he told reporters on Wednesday (11), adding that it is not possible for a military to take charge when a President exists.‘The military has not intention of taking control. The President is the Commander-In-Chief, so what does the army need to take control,’ said the Army Chief.The Defence Secretary also dismissed claims of a military rule, and recalled an incident in the 1960s where an attempt was made, but failed due to internal leaks.“It is impossible to do something like that in Sri Lanka,” he said while adding the armed forces have no such thought as wll.

NEW YORK - Brooklyn-based rapper Casanova, who was one of 18 people indicted in connection with a litany of gang-related crimes including racketeering, murder, drugs, firearms, and fraud offenses has pleaded guilty to various charges.Casanova, whose real name is Caswell Senior, admitted to a shooting and a robbery and being a gang leader in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang.He is the 13th person to plead guilty in the case.As part of the racketeering conspiracy offense, Senior admitted to participating in a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018, and conspiring to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana.According to the indictment, between 2004 and 2020, Senior was part of a racketeering conspiracy with the Gorilla Stone gang.He admitted that on or about July 5, 2020, while at a party in Florida that included gang members, he shot someone during a gambling dispute.He also said that as part of an August 5, 2018 robbery in Manhattan, a victim was restrained and suffered serious bodily injury. He also admitted to helping to traffic at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.Senior, 35, of Montville, New Jersey, is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Philip M.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY - JUNE 01: Visitors attempt social distancing as they watch Old Faithful geyser erupt when Montana gates opened for day trips on June 1, 2020 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The park's Montana entrances opened as YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - A 4.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Yellowstone National Mark in Wyoming Wednesday, according to the Wyoming Geologic Association.Geologists said the epicenter struck at 7:32 a.m.

NEW YORK - It's just a simulation, but it feels real, as the employee carrying out the demonstration inside Actuate offices in Midtown Manhattan walks in carrying a mock AR-15 rifle.In a matter of seconds, after the employee is visible in the office space, a surveillance camera in the room goes into action.A green flash pulsates across the monitor set up in another corner of the room after the video management system recognizes a potential threat in the room."As you can see it's pulsing green within about a second or two. That means an alert has been registered," says Actuate CEO and co-Founder Sonny Tai.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Zoo family has expanded yet again! Three Ankole-Watusi cattle have taken up residence on the zoo's African Plains. The so-called "Cattle of Kings" can grow horns up to 40 inches long!Their names are typically based on coloration, according to the zoo.

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

Anita Anand says the world is “growing darker.”Speaking at a conference of defence experts organized by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Tuesday, Anand emphasized the more “chaotic” state of the world means Canada will need to take a more “bold and aggressive” look at its own continental defence.“We do live in a world at the present time that appears to be growing darker,” she said in a keynote speech to the conference.“In this new world, Canada’s geographic position no longer provides the same protection that it once did. And in this new world, the security environment facing Canada is less secure, less predictable and more chaotic.” Canada must be ready for ‘all scenarios’ as Russia continues nuclear threats: Joly Uncertainty has become the word du jour over recent years marked by the global economic calamity of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing supply chain struggles, coupled with societal unrest.Then there’s the ongoing crisis of climate change and natural disasters, as well as geostrategic threats they pose to countries like Canada.

Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group, which was established in November 2021 and has been charged with finding and identifying UFOs in restricted airspace.  The House Intelligence Committee’s subcommittee over counterterrorism, counterintelligence and counterproliferation will hold the hearing on May 17, according to a tweet from the subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. André Carson, D-Ind. "Congress hasn't held a public hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena (UFO's) in over 50 years.

COLOMBO (News 1st);The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka condemned the violence directed at peaceful protests by a group of people who made it very clear that violence was their intention.The failure of the police to prepare for this eventuality and prevent and manage the violence and destruction is a gross failure of public order, said the Human Rights Commission.“There must be an immediate inquiry into this matter. The inaction of the police to prevent the clash is condemned,” it added.

GENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday (10) called on the authorities in Sri Lanka to prevent further violence, and urged restraint and meaningful dialogue to address the grievances of the population amid the severe economic crisis in the country.“I am deeply troubled by the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka after supporters of the Prime Minister attacked peaceful protestors in Colombo yesterday (9 May) and the subsequent mob violence against members of the ruling party,” Bachelet said.Seven people have died during the incidents – including a Member of Parliament and two local officials, over 250 were injured, and the properties of others were destroyed by arson throughout the country.“I condemn all violence and call on the authorities to independently, thoroughly and transparently investigate all attacks that have occurred. It is crucial to ensure that those found responsible, including those inciting or organising violence, are held to account.”The High Commissioner also called on the authorities to prevent further violence and to protect the right to peaceful assembly.“Authorities, including military personnel deployed in support of security forces, should exercise restraint in policing the situation and ensure that measures adopted in the context of the state of emergency comply with international human rights norms and are not used to stifle dissent or hinder peaceful protest,” she stressed.The State has a responsibility to ensure the right to life and to exercise due diligence to protect the lives of individuals against violence by private individuals or entities.The severe economic crisis has made daily life a struggle for most Sri Lankans.

Public satisfaction in Scotland's health service has plummeted as fewer patients are seen by GPs in person and the system struggles to recover from the covid pandemic.

Gogglebox star Lee Riley has issued an update on close friend Jenny being in hospital. He said: "She has had an operation but it's been on the waiting list for two years, and it came BAFTA week. I was totally gutted she couldn't be by my side last night, and she was as well.

COLOMBO (News 1st);The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has urged the general public to exercise calm following Monday’s (9) violence.President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka speaking exclusively to News 1st said the BASL will institute legal action against the perpetrators who incited violence.He said the BASL vehemently condemns the violence, and also appealed the public not to attack or harass any person, or even cause damage to any form of property.A normal Monday morning turned in to a scene of chaos, after pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees following a meeting chaired by Ex-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, where he announced he is willing to make any sacrifice for the people.The meeting at Temple Trees was organized by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Local Government Members Forum and saw hundreds in attendance.Following this meeting, the pro-government supporters attacked the MynaGoGama protest site near Temple Trees and dismantled the camp.Thereafter, they moved to the main protest site in Galle Face known as GotaGoGama and destroyed several tents and assaulted peaceful protestors.Sri Lanka Police, the Riot Police, Sri Lanka Army and other law enforcement agencies were called in to control the situation and Sri Lanka Police eventually imposed an island wide curfew to control the unrest.On Friday, the Sri Lankan President after a special cabinet meeting declared a state of emergency. This is the second time that an emergency was declared in Sri Lanka in the span of over a month.The island nation faces its worst economic crisis, since its independence.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Mahanayake Theros of the Siyam, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikaya’s or Sects have strongly condemned the violent attacks on peaceful protestors on Monday (9).In a statement, the Mahanayake Theros said the attack on peaceful protestors is a blow to democracy and humanity at large.The Mahanayake Theros called on Sri Lanka Police and other agencies to strictly enforce the law against all those responsible.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy states that the limitations to the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms are only acceptable when exceptional, proportional and justified. Taking to Twitter, she stated that peaceful expression of dissent is not an emergency, while root causes for dissent must be tackled first.Limitations to the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms are only acceptable when exceptional, proportional and justified.

Sharon Osbourne has been flooded with support as she shared a fresh health update. The star shared a gorgeous video on Instagram of a flock of birds flying. Sharon O said: "Still not feeling great, but manifesting this.

The rapid spread of Omicron cases in South Africa:

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to extend its assistance to proposals brought forward by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) which includes the abolishment of the Executive Presidency. 

A wave of retirements is about to crash down on Canada’s already tight construction jobs market, putting at risk ambitious plans to build more homes over the next decade.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks to the press after a campaign rally at The Trout Club on April 30, 2022 in Newark, Ohio. Former President Donald Trump recently endorsed J.D.

Theresa Tam says the government is trying to find out how many Canadians are suffering from long COVID as researchers work to learn more about the prolonged effects of the virus.The Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada have launched a survey to try to get a broad idea of how common it is for people to feel lingering effects after COVID-19 infection, which can be difficult to identify and even harder to track.Relatively little is known about the effects of long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 condition, including how to diagnose it.

WASHINGTON - Temporary changes to the troubled U.S. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program have helped over 113,000 people get student debt relief, totaling around $6.8 billion in forgiveness. The U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Thousands of Sri Lankans are taking part in a Harthal campaign on Friday (6) by joining the biggest protests for decades against the nation’s President, Prime Minister, and the government.State, Semi-Government, and Private sector workers in thousands will be taking part in this Harthal campaign named ‘Bow Down to the People’s Mandate & Send the Government Home.’Transport Sector:Private bus owners and railway workers launched a strike from midnight on Thursday (5) supporting the Harthal campaign.However, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board Kingsley Ranawaka told News 1st that SLTB buses will operate as usual.Health Sector:Multiple health sector trade unions have decided to join the Harthal campaign.All Ceylon Medical Officers Association General-Secretary Dr.

Nova Scotia’s Mattea Roach has won her 23rd Jeopardy! game, but not without giving her fans a big scare.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre conducts a daily press briefing at the White House on February 14, 2022 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - Karine Jean-Pierre will be the next White House press secretary after incumbent Jen Psaki leaves on May 13, President Biden announced Thursday."Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people," Biden said in a statement. "Jill and I have known and respected Karine a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this administration."Jean-Pierre is the current White House principal deputy press secretary and deputy assistant to the president.

Winnipeg Children’s Hospital Book Market say the fundraiser remains on hold and Winnipeggers are being asked to hold off on donating books for the normally-annual event.The book sale, traditionally held this time of year, has been on hiatus since the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 was first detected in Manitoba. Donating gifts to Children’s Hospital a different process this year, foundation says In a release Wednesday organizers say donations have been piling up ever since.“Volunteers have been unable to gather to sort and organize donated items,” reads the release.“Thanks to generous community members, there are still many donated books in storage and new ones cannot be accepted.”Winnipeggers are being asked not to drop books off at firehalls or Dufresne Furniture and Appliances stores until further notice.

Chrissy Metz is opening up in a new interview for VeryWell Mind, sharing her thoughts on the upcoming end of “This Is Us” in a cover story for the work-life issue.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) notes that there is an escalation of the situation in the vicinity of Parliament where protesters have gathered.“We are informed that there is a heavy presence of police and service personnel in the vicinity. We have also reports of persons attending the protest being subject to arrest and detention in the vicinity,” said the BASL in a statement.The Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls upon all concerned including the Government, the Inspector General of Police and all police officers and the armed forces to act with utmost restraint.It should be noted that those engaged in lawful exercise of their right to protest cannot be arrested.

TurboTax products sit on display at Costco on January 28, 2016 in Foster City, California. (Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images for TurboTax) NEW YORK (AP) - The company behind the TurboTax tax-filing program will pay $141 million to customers across the United States who were deceived by misleading promises of free tax-filing services, New York's attorney general announced Wednesday.Under the terms of a settlement signed by the attorneys general of all 50 states, Mountain View, California-based Intuit Inc.

There was a deficit in the public finances of €1.1 billion at the end of April.

Popular BBC presenter Simon Reeve has been given the ‘all clear’ during a heart scan, after he picked up an ‘exotic illness’ during his travels.The 49 year old took to his social media accounts to post a scan of his heart ‘beating and flapping away’ after he was tested for ‘vegetation growth’ after contracting the illness. He seemed delighted as he announced the ‘all clear result’. He wrote: “My heart(!).

Pro-life and pro-choice demonstrators during a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - Abortion rights have been a divisive issue for decades.

NEW YORK - In the wake of the leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would strike down Roe v.

Denise Welch opened up about her "heartbreaking" health battle that shocked her followers.The Loose Women panellist, 63, took to social media where she revealed that she suffered from severe post-natal depression following the birth of her first child, Matt Healy. The TV personality posted a throwback 80s snap showing her pregnancy bump with her first born, Matty, who's now 33.In the throwback photo, the former Waterloo Road actress can be seen with her bump on display as she pulls a timid smile for the camera.In the caption, the 63-year-old explained the on-going depression and "panic" she felt following the birth of her son.Denise raised that during the time she didn't "eat for weeks" and was "almost catatonic" following a panic attack.She started off by saying: "It's maternal mental health week. This is two days before Matty was born, April 1989.

COVID-19 hospitalizations connected with current wave of the pandemic will likely peak in early May and remain high until the end of June.The latest Scarsin forecasting for Hamilton, presented during the city’s Board of Health meeting on Monday, was characterized as a “good news story” with the potential for just 20 intensive care (ICU) admissions from just under 300 hospitalizations between now and the end of the August.“Overall new hospital admissions of Hamiltonians are predicted to peak at approximately six per day in early May, which is earlier than we previously forecast,” HPHS epidemiologist Ruth Sanderson told board members. Ontario COVID numbers: 1,423 people in hospital, 211 in intensive care “There is … some uncertainty of the trajectory and admissions could peak at nearly eight per day or down to where we are now … four hospitalizations per day.”The peak of the current wave, fueled by the Omicron subvariant BA.2, is expected to be about half of what the initial Omicron wave was in mid-January.The new scenario is based on the continuation of the province’s mask requirements in high-risk settings and rollout of fourth COVID vaccine doses between now and the end of the year.HPHS revised their April prediction on what age group will most likely be hospitalized in the next three months shifting from just those aged 60 to 79 to people aged 60-plus.“So in total, those 60 and older will make up over 85 per cent of new hospital admissions between now and the end of August,” Sanderson said.The Scarsin data suggests that 64 per cent of those admitted to ICUs will be aged between 60 and 79.Most of the estimated 42 COVID-related deaths expected between May 2 and Aug.