Putin blames West for Ukraine war, defends invasion in major speech

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seize 4,055 pills of Xanax and Klonopin in Philadelphia on March 14, 2023, that arrived gift-wrapped from Kosovo and were destined to an address in Hancock County, Maine.

Actress Shalani Tharaka was adjudged the Most Popular Woman at 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' The women who made the Top Five at 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' were Actress Shalani Tharaka, Actress Dusheni Mayurangi, Musician Kanchana Anuradhi, Actress Ruwangi Ratnayake, and Female Cricketer Chamari Atapattu.Grand Finale of 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' – powered by News 1st and NDB to empower Sri Lankan women took place on Thursday (16) evening at the Stein Studios in Ratmalana.The Gala evening was graced by women representing various fields and distinguished guests. 'Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana 2022' is a program organized to empower the women of Sri Lanka and to recognize them for their achievements.Vanithabhimana 2022 was an island-wide program that spanned across a year to locate Sri Lankan Women entrepenuers living in the most remote areas.On Thurday (16) evening these women walked on the Red Carpet to the Stein Studios for the Grand Finale.A panel of expert judged led by Director General Department of Manpower & Employment Anusha Gokula Fernando selected the best from the best at  Vanithabhimana 2022.Women who braved the challenges in multiple sectors including, Sports, Entrepreneur – Micro Scale, Entrepreneur – Small Scale, Upcoming Entrepreneur, Voluntary Services, Art, Education Services, and Young Leader were recognized at the event.Women who excelled in the  Provincial Level competitions under 10 categories qualified for the National Level Competition.10 women who excelled in those fields were also recognized at Vanithabhimana 2022.Further, 10 women who excelled at Industrial and Professional level were also recognized.Veteran Actress Anoja Weerasinghe, the First Female Aviator of Sri Lankan Airlines Captain

Coronation Street star Simon Gregson has given fans an update on his real-life injury after Steve McDonald appeared on screen last year in a wheelchair. In an episode of the ITV soap aired on November 29, the character returned from a trip to Spain. He got sympathy from his pals in the boozer, with the exception of his wife Tracy, as he explained that he had broken his leg while chasing a mugger.

Read more: 4 deaths among rash of violent crimes over New Year’s weekend in Edmonton Neighbours told Global News police arrived at around 1 a.m.Police have not provided details about the call.EPS Chief Dale McFee and other officials are scheduled to make an address at 10 a.m. Their statements will be livestreamed in this post.In messages shared on Twitter, other police departments and police unions offered condolences after two officers were killed.With immense sadness and heavy hearts we mourn the tragic loss of two @edmontonpolice officers killed in the line of duty.We share in the profound grief and loss of the fallen officers.

RICHMOND, Va. - Seven Virginia sheriff's office employees have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental hospital last week, a local prosecutor said Tuesday.Henrico County Sheriff's Office personnel took the victim, Irvo Otieno, to Central State Hospital on March 6 to admit him as a patient, according to the prosecutor, Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. Otieno, who was physically restrained, died during the intake process, Baskervill said in a statement."Mr.

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man serving out a 400-year sentence has just walked out of prison a free man after three decades thanks to a re-examination of his case. "As prosecutors, our only agenda is to promote public safety in our community and to ensure that justice is served," Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said in a statement.

PHILADELPHIA - A shooting in North Philadelphia has left a man critically injured and fighting for his life. According to police, officers responded to the 2700 block of North Orkney Street in the city's North Philadelphia section for reports of a person with a gun early Thursday morning at 6:45 a.m. Authorities say a 43-year-old man was shot seven times in the upper part of his body. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESMedics transported the man to Temple University Hospital, where he is in critical condition, per police. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and active, according to authorities. 

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating a stabbing that stemmed from an argument in the parking lot of a city casino.Authorities say the incident occurred on Wednesday night at 11:15 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Two people died following a tragic collision between a speeding train and a car at the Magaltota Level Crossing in Koggala, Galle.The tragic accident involving a car and a speeding train took place on Thursday (16) afternoon at the Railway Crossing located close to the Fertilizer Storage Facility in the Habaraduwa Police Jurisdiction in Galle.It was evident via CCTV footage that when the car moved on to the tracks, the warning signals were already on.A 35-year-old man from Ahangama, and an 80-year-old woman died on the spot.Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the train operating from Colombo to Beliatte collided with the car at around 12:30 in the afternoon.Locals who gathered at the crash site were seen making great efforts to retrieve the bodies from the ill-fated vehicle.The car was dragged 300 meters away from the crash site.

KYIV, Ukraine - The Pentagon has released footage of what it says is a Russian aircraft conducting an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.The 42-second video, released Thursday, shows a Russian Su-27 approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone and beginning to release fuel as it passes, the Pentagon said.The U.S.

Waze said the new EV charging station feature would be available starting this week and rolling out globally "over the coming weeks." (Credit: Provided / Waze) SAN FRANCISCO - Waze, the Google-owned navigation app, is hoping to make it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to find a charging station.The company announced in a blog post on Tuesday that users will now be able to enter their electric vehicle (EV) and plug type into the Waze app to find relevant charging stations along their route. "Charging station information is often inconsistent, outdated or unreliable, creating a major pain point for EV drivers who may navigate to a charging station only to discover they can’t find it or use it," the company said in a statement. "By adding up-to-date EV charging information to the Waze map, it’s even easier to charge your car and get help finding where or when you’ll come across the next station."Waze said the EV data will be reviewed and updated in real-time by its community map editors to ensure accuracy. Waze said the feature was available starting this week and roling out globally "over the coming weeks."But a report published on Wednesday by Electrek noted how the EV Charger finding feature was still showing nearby gas stations instead of chargers for one user.

States have been asked to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters New Delhi: With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. India has seen a rise in covid cases over the past few weeks.

Fans of Ben & Jerry’s can get a free scoop of ice cream between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The ministry has urged top private hospitals across the country to provide quality, affordable medical education by setting up their medical colleges New Delhi There has been an increase of 71% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 till date, the health ministry said on Friday. The government said that there has also been an increase of 97% in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 101,043.

pic.twitter.com/BO5DARv6b2 Symptoms of the H3N2 subtype include fever, cough, breathlessness, wheezing, and clinical signs of pneumonia. ICMR reports that out of hospitalized SARI patients with H3N2, 92% suffer from fever, 86% from cough, and 27% from breathlessness. In some cases, patients may require oxygen or ICU care.

Eamonn Holmes has said he is "trying so hard" to walk again after recent health struggles left him needing a wheelchair. The GB News host, 63, has been going through some health struggles which have left him unable to walk and move properly, as well as suffering with chronic pain. In a new Instagram post, the TV host can be seen being strapped up in a harness as he relearns how to walk.

PHILADELPHIA - The son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere has been suspended from his college hockey team pending an investigation launched after a video posted on social media showed him pushing an unoccupied wheelchair down a staircase.Mercyhurst University's athletic department Wednesday night said Carson Briere and two other athletes involved in the incident had been placed on interim suspension. A spokesperson for Mercyhurst, a school of about 3,000 students in Erie, Pennsylvania, said earlier in the day the process of looking into Briere's conduct had just begun.PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 14: Danny Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni reacts following his second period goal against Bryan Trottier #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins Alumni on January 14, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Penn Carson Briere apologized in a statement released through the NHL's Flyers."I am deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday," he said.

PHILADELPHIA - The lights on the iconic Boathouse Row in Philadelphia are set to go dark for eight months for lighting system renovations, according to the City of Philadelphia's Department of Parks and Recreation. The city says the lights will go dark on March 20 and will be out for several months while the lighting system upgrades. According to city officials, the Fairmount Park Conservancy is partnering with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to replace the system for $2.1 million. The lighting, introduced in 1979, has become an iconic stable along the Schuylkill River. Boathouse Row lights up in red for Phillies opening dayThe lights were last upgraded in 2016 and the city says the rising maintenance costs sparked the need for a full replacement. "Boathouse Row is a Philadelphia icon.

Just weeks after being sent home sick from her own show, it appears Lorraine Kelly's health woes have returned. The presenter was due back at the helm of her self-titled ITV show on Thursday (March 16), however, there was a major problem when she appeared for her usual appearance on Good Morning Britain.

Mint. TCPL, which sells packaged beverages under brands such as Tata Tea Premium, Tata Tea Chakra, Tata Grand coffee and bottled water under Himalayan, reported a 5% dip in volume growth in the December quarter in its India beverage business on account of price corrections as well as demand slowdown in key markets. Das said while demand had softened in the December quarter, the trends in the months of December and January were relatively better.

Covid variants stated that India reported the highest number of XBB 1.16 variant cases, currently, the tally stands at 48. Singapore and the US detected 14 and 15 cases respectively, according to a report by The Times of India.  “Thee India states--Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra--are having a high prevalence of XBB 1.16 Covid variant," a top genome expert said.  Speaking to TOI, Dr Vipin M Vashishtha, a member of WHO’s Vaccine Safety Net who has been tracking new Covid variants, said the previous XBB.1 descendant, XBB.1.5, had become dominant across the globe but not in India.  “There is some worry about XBB.1.16 globally because it has certain mutations in the non-spike region of the virus: two ORF9b mutations.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Federation of University Teachers Associations said that its members will continue to strike against the conduct of the government.Activities across state universities were crippled on Thursday (16), and FUTA said it would refrain from taking part in evaluating the answer scripts of the G. C.

STARS Air Ambulance Lottery grand prize winner has seen firsthand how the life-saving organization’s funds are spent, after he went from supporter to patient earlier this year.Neil Lund and his wife Mona Cardinal have purchased STARS lottery tickets for 25 years and in 2014, they won a Calgary dream home worth $1.3 million.Lund says they never missed a year since 2008 when buying tickets, because someday he “might need” medical help from the organization.That day came on Jan. 26, 2023.“We just came back from uptown,” says Lund, “And I went in (to the garage) and sat down and (Mona) was out shoveling snow because I couldn’t, and about 10 minutes after I sat down, that’s when the heart problems started.”Cardinal says Lund started to yell for her.“He said ‘Mona, I don’t feel good,’ so I ran into the garage to see what was going on and by that time he had fallen over,” Cardinal said.

Trevor Pierce of Williams Lake, B.C., died following a freak accident while trying to load a snowmobile onto a truck for an upcoming trip.An outdoor enthusiast, the 33-year-old was riding up the ramp when it fell down and then snapped back up, hitting him in the head. Read more: Snowmobiler airlifted to hospital following crash in Algonquin Highlands: OPP Noting that the accident was akin to stepping on a rake, Shanelle said she was told Trevor was mortally injured.

PHILADELPHIA - Some neighbors and families in South Philadelphia want to get to the bottom of dog waste that is being left behind daily."Watch out for the dog poop! Watch out for the dog poop!" said one parent who wishes to remain anonymous. "Parents are always talking about how their kids are stepping in dog poop every day. It’s just hard to always dodge it.

It sounds like the stuff out of a horror film: a giant, blob-like blanket of seaweed that is so big it can be seen from outer space.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is warning about a significant vulnerability impacting Microsoft email users that allows threat actors to steal victims’ identities.

The woman who went on stage topless at the Juno Awards in Edmonton on Monday said she did it to bring attention to the loss of natural carbon-capturing areas across Canada.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Professionals Trade Union Collective says that the on-going strike will be called off at 8 AM on Thursday (16), as the President had noted that their demands will be taken into consideration. Spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers' Association Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe told reporters on Wednesday (15) that the strike will be temporarily called off at 8 AM on Thursday (16), and it does not mean the GMOA has withdrawn from the trade union action. The Professionals Trade Union Collective had declared a nation-wide day of strikes and protests with effect from midnight on Tuesday (14).Government, Semi-Government and Private Trade Unions supportrf the strikes.Government Medical Officers, Specialist Doctors, University Teachers, Faculty of Medicine Teachers, CEB Engineers, Bankers, Petroleum Workers, Water Supply Workers, Road Development Officers, Education Administrative Officers, Surveyors, Inland Revenue Officers are among the 40 Trade Unions that support this move.Their main demand is to amend the unjust tax policy implemented by the government.The PAYE tax between 6% to 36% imposed on monthly earnings over Rs.

Sri Lanka's economy shrank 7.8% in 2022 from the previous year, government data showed on Wednesday, as the country struggled with its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades.The island's fourth-quarter GDP contracted 12.4%, according to the figures.Sri Lanka's growth is expected to shrink by 3% this year, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday but growth is expected to rebound in 2024.Economic mismanagement coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic left Sri Lanka severely short of dollars for essential imports at the start of last year tipping the country into the worst financial crisis since Independence from the British in 1948.Sri Lanka is waiting for a $2.9 billion bailout program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be finalised on March 20.“These numbers are broadly in line with expectations.

Chorley, has had a long health battle after contracting the virus at the start of the pandemic in 2020. The 55-year-old was hospitalised for over a year and did not return home until April 2021. During the height of the pandemic, the former Southlands High School and Runshaw College pupil became the UK's longest inpatient in a hospital to be treated.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Election Commission will meet on Thursday (16) for talks on the upcoming Local Government Election.Chairman of the Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the meeting is scheduled for 10:30 AM at the Election Secretariat. It is reported that the meeting will focus on the delay in releasing funds for the Local Government Election on the part of the Ministry of Finance, and the relevant measures that need to be taken on the matter.The Government Printer said that a second letter was sent to the Treasury seeking funds for the printing process related to the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the Collective of Election Monitoring Organizations has decided to inform international agencies including the International Monetary Fund over the delay in securing funds for the Local Government Election, and the obstacles put forth by the government in delaying the election.Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that all international missions in the country would also be informed of the same in the coming days. 

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - A Camden County boy made an emotional plea for help at a recent school board meeting after he and his family claimed constant bullying and torment on the school bus has gone unaddressed.Ayden, a 12-year-old student at Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill, said the ridicule from students has included questions about his sexuality and gender identity. "I feel upset, angry, sad," Ayden told FOX 29's Dawn Timmeny. He claims one of his tormenters lunged at him when he used his cell phone to record the incessant bullying during a bus ride to school. "I mean, I'm very proud of myself, I think it's very important if any other kids are going through this," Ayden said. "I also hope this ends, like, I don't want to go through this." MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAyden, who is in 6th grade, spoke at a recent school board meeting and detailed the torment that he and his parents claim has since gone unaddressed. His parents say they reported everything to school administrators and filed a ‘Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying’ report.

UPPER MORELAND, Pa. - Authorities in Montgomery County are searching for an armed robbery suspect who they believe could be behind a rash of similar crimes. The Upper Moreland Police Department shared video of a masked man entering the Sunoco on Easton Road in Willow Grove around 1 p.m. Thursday. Investigators say the man used a handgun to force the store clerk to hand over $400 in cash and fled the gas station in a Nissan Rouge with tinted windows and a roof rack. Police in Upper Moreland and neighboring townships are investigating if the suspect is responsible for other recent gunpoint robberies. "Our concern is that somebody is going to get hurt before we can catch him," Lt.

PHILADELPHIA - A young man is expected to recover after police say he was shot inside a Philadelphia KFC restaurant on Wednesday night. Investigators say the 20-year-old man was shot once in the arm while in the dining area of the popular fried chicken chain on the 300 block of North Broad Street. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department brought the victim to Temple University Hospital where he was placed in stable condition. Police have not said if there were any other customers in the dining area when the shooting happened. No arrests have been reported.

COVID-19 pandemic is a window into how entrenched people have become over their views of the pandemic and resulting public health measures.“Early on, I think we saw that most people thought the government was doing about the right thing. Some thought it was too fast, some thought it was too slow.

A Norfolk Southern Corp. freight train sits parked during a crew change in Burnside, Kentucky, U.S., on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014.

BELLMAWR, N.J. - New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick J. Callahan says building and maintaining the public's trust means policing isn’t cut and dried.Situations like the recent police killing of Tyre Nichol in Memphis, where shocking body camera footage caused nationwide outrage, sets all departments back."That impacts us everywhere," Callahan said.

Asbestos forced Simon Gratz High School and Prep Middle School to close on Wednesday. PHILADELPHIA - Simon Gratz High School in Strawberry Mansion will reopen to students on Thursday, after it abruptly closed due to asbestos. In a letter to families, Mastery Charter Schools CEO Scott Gordon said "all findings that needed to be remediated in order for the school to reopen are now complete" and added that air quality samples came back negative for asbestos. Officials closed the school closed over a week ago when inspectors from the School District of Philadelphia found damaged asbestos on the campus of Simon Gratz High School, which also houses Simon Gratz Preparatory Middle School. Officials say the three-year reinspection of the district-owned building was in accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 20: Rapper Hurricane Chris attends the MP3waxx.com Deejays & Producers Honors Luncheon at Vibes Lounge on September 20, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ben Rose/Getty Images for MP3Waxx.com) SHREVEPORT, La. - A Louisiana jury has acquitted rapper Hurricane Chris, known for the hit "A Bay Bay," in the 2020 death of a man shot several times at a gas station in Shreveport.The panel late Tuesday found the 34-year-old artist, whose real name is Christopher Dooley, not guilty of second-degree murder in the slaying of Danzeria Farris Jr., 32, and illegal possession of stolen things, news outlets reported.A Caddo Parish Grand Jury indicted Dooley in October 2020 in connection with the June 19, 2020 slaying of Farris who was shot several times at a Texaco station. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.Dooley had been on trial in state district court for more than a week before Tuesday's verdict.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) asks a question of former FBI Director James Comey at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Two soldiers patrol the area as the first anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine nears in Irpin, Ukraine on February 22, 2023. (Ignacio Marin Fernandez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) TAIPEI, Taiwan - One year into Russia's war against Ukraine, China is offering a 12-point proposal to end the fighting.The proposal follows China's recent announcement that it is trying to act as mediator in the war that has re-energized Western alliances viewed by Beijing and Moscow as rivals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the media during the joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, (not pictured) on February 21, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Roman Pilipey/Getty Images) KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s president pledged to push for victory in 2023 as he and other Ukrainians on Friday marked the somber anniversary of the Russian invasion that he called "the longest day of our lives."As morning broke on a day of commemorations and reflection, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a tone of grim defiance and used the Feb.

Kate McKenna starts her days much like the other parents on her street. She drives her kids to school and returns to her bungalow on a cul-de-sac south of Vancouver.

WARSAW - President Joe Biden is wrapping up his whirlwind, four-day visit to Poland and Ukraine by reassuring eastern flank NATO allies that his administration is highly attuned to the looming threats and other impacts spurred by the grinding Russian invasion of Ukraine.Before departing Warsaw on Wednesday, Biden will hold talks with leaders from the Bucharest Nine, a collection of nations on the most eastern parts of the NATO alliance that came together in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.President Joe Biden challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "end the war" against Ukraine and warned that the U.S. and its allies around the world will continue to support Ukraine and push for new sanctions on the Kremlin.

Russian officials and state media downplayed President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, painting Kyiv as a U.S. puppet and maintaining Moscow’s forces will prevail despite Washington’s pledges to send more weapons to Ukraine.

President Joe Biden’s motorcade slipped out of the White House around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. No big, flashy Air Force One for this trip -– the president vanished into the darkness on an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used for domestic trips to smaller airports.The next time he turned up — 20 hours later — it was in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine.Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday was the first time in modern history that a U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine - President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.Speaking alongside Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace, Biden recalled the fears nearly a year ago that Russia’s invasion forces might quickly take the Ukrainian capital. "One year later, Kyiv stands," Biden said, jamming his finger for emphasis on his podium decorated with the U.S.