SJB protests the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister

A TPM Arms LLC California-legal featureless AR-15 style rifle is displayed for sale at the company's booth at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Costa Mesa, California. (PATRICK T.

NEW DELHI :

NEW DELHI :

Austin St John of the 1990s hit TV series Might Morphin Power Rangers was arrested at his luxury home in Texas this week.According to TMZ,the 47-year-old actor - who played Red Ranger Jason Lee Scott on the show - was handcuffed and arrested after federal agents showed up at his homein the upscale neighborhood of McKinney holding AR-15 guns.It was added that the agents 'raided' his residence.St John was allegedly charged with wire fraud in a very large federal criminal case about COVID relief loans for small businesses, it was claimed, with the actor being accused of scamming the government out of $3.5 million.If convicted he could go to prison for a maximum of 20 years.He was arrested along with 17 other people in what was a very large and organized scam. No peace now:Austin St John of the 1990s hit TV series Power Rangers was reportedly arrested at his home in Texas this week.

Ellen Barkin tell it, Johnny Depp was a controlling, jealous and angry man even back in the 1990s, when the two dated.“Where are you going?” Barkin said Depp would ask her. “Who are you going with? What did you do last night?”Barkin added: “I had a scratch on my back once that got him very, very angry because he insisted it came from me having sex with a person who wasn’t him.” TikTok creators take aim at Amber Heard with degrading memes amid Johnny Depp trial Barkin recalled her relationship with Depp during a previously taped deposition that was played in a Virginia courtroom Thursday by lawyers for Depp’s ex-wife, Amber Heard.Heard’s attorneys are trying to undermine Depp’s libel lawsuit against her.

Two types of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been newly classified as variants of concern in the UK.

Gas prices have been hitting fresh records for the past 11 consecutive days amid the energy supply crunch in the U.S., according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which noted that the stretch of record-high prices as the pump is "unprecedented."Speaking with Fox News Digital, Andrew Gross, the national spokesman for AAA Inc. revealed that drivers should expect elevated prices throughout the summer, especially if the war in Ukraine rages on. The national average for a gallon of gas was $4.59 on Friday, a slight increase from the day before and a new record high.Thursday’s record was 16 cents higher than the week before, nearly 50 cents higher than the month before and $1.55 more compared to the same time last year. All 50 states had a national retail price over $4 a gallon on Thursday, according to AAA, with Oklahoma offering the cheapest gas at $4.03 a gallon and California offering the most expensive gas with an average of $6.06.Tighter supply and increased demand have pushed gas prices higher, according to the association."Demand is up," Gross told Fox News Digital as he explained what is contributing to the elevated prices."Typically this time of year we are in a little bit of a lull.

THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - A child is in a hospital after Hillsborough County first responders saved him from an overnight house fire.The fire ripped through the home on Joe Ebert Road in Thonotosassa – almost burning it to the ground. After sunrise, the remnants of the home were seen scorched and scattered around the property: burned-out beams, ash, and a barely-standing house that is no longer livable.Late Thursday night, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue received a 911 call stating that not only was there a fire raging, but there was a young boy trapped inside.

Takeaway giant Domino’s has confirmed that they’ve brought back a fan-favourite pizza just in time for the weekend. It comes after it was taken off the menu during the pandemic due to staff shortages.

Neighbours star Alan Fletcher was forced to address concerns about his health after he appeared in a recent episode with a shaved head.The 65 year old explained that he was "fit and healthy" and the cause of his hair loss was due to alopecia areata - an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. In a video shared to the official Twitter account for the soap Neighbours, which is set to come to an end this summer, Alan spoke of his health after receiving worried messages from fans.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. - A Delaware County school bus driver is now facing charges after authorities say he was found to have been taking 'upskirting' photos of female students. Bruce Garner, a 70-year-old bus driver who worked for the Marple Newtown School District, is facing 139 counts of invasion of privacy, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children and related offenses.Authorities say their investigation began on May 17, when Upper Providence Township police were called to investigate a report inappropriate conduct involving a school bus driver. After speaking with a female student and her mother, detectives say they determined that the school bus driver was taking pictures up the skirts of teen and pre-teen girls with his cell phone on his route. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Garner's phone and conducted forensic analysis on the device. An arrest warrant was approved by the District Attorney's Office based on the evidence recovered from the phone. Authorities in Delaware County say they are investigating allegations that a Marple Newtown School District bus driver took 'upskirt' photos of young female students.Officials say there is no evidence to suggest that Garner had physical contact with any of the teenage victims.Garner was taken into custody at his Lansdowne home and was arraigned.Delaware County's Special Victims Unit went on to identify three teen victims.

monkeypox in Africa say they are baffled by the disease's recent spread in Europe and North America.Cases of the smallpox-related disease have previously been seen only among people with links to central and West Africa. But in the past week, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, U.S., Sweden and Canada all reported infections, mostly in young men who hadn’t previously traveled to Africa.France, Germany, Belgium and Australia confirmed their first cases of monkeypox on Friday."I’m stunned by this.

COVID on Friday, with 163 in intensive care.This is down by 42 for hospitalizations and a decrease of five for ICUs since the previous day. Last Friday, there were 1,453 hospitalizations with 168 in ICU.According to latest data for hospitalizations, 61 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths rise as hospitalizations drop in Manitoba In recent weeks, the number of Manitobans hospitalized with the virus has decreased, but COVID-19 deaths in the province are on the rise, with 16 new deaths reported between May 8 and 14, up from 11 announced the previous week.Global News will stream the press conference on this page. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balavegaya has decided to suspend the party membership of Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara who obtained Cabinet positions on Friday (20).The Samagi Jana Balavegaya earlier said it would institute disciplinary action against its members who obtained ministerial positions in the government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickrmesinghe.SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament that is it against the policy of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and its alliance, to join with the government.“We decided to engage with the government positively from the opposition, without joining the government,” the MP said on Friday (20).SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara obtained Ministerial positions on Friday (20).Harin Fernando was sworn in as the new Minister of Tourism and Lands.Manusha Nanayakkara was sworn in as the new Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment.

COLOMB0 (News 1st); Sri Lanka appointed 9 new Cabinet Ministers of Friday (20).1. Nimal Siripala De Silva – Ports, Naval and Aviation Services2.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has recommended that Litro distribute 60% of its daily output of LP Gas Cylinders to the Colombo and Gampaha Districts.The large population and limited access to alternatives were cited as reasons for the recommendation, a statement noted on Friday.The management of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd has been summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on Friday (20) to inquire into the current gas shortage and related solutions.While expressing views in Parliament on Thursday (19) on the need to expedite the gas distribution process Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed to summon the Litro Gas before the COPE to look into the matter.Chairman of Litro Eng. Vijitha Herath told COPE that there is a shortage of 3.5 Million gas cylinders in the local markets, and from two gas tankers that reached the country 80,000 gas cylinders are being distributed daily via a network of 42 Chief distributors and Sub-agents.He said the inclement weather made it difficult to connect the buoy in Muthurajawela, and thus the vessel was moved to the Colombo Port resulting in a delay in the distribution process.The Litro Chairman also said that USD 160 Million from the Indian Credit Line was allocated for gas purchases, and Litro will be using USD 120 Million of that amount.He said another USD 80 Million will be available from the World Bank, and that will be used for Term Tender purchases of LP Gas.COPE had recommended the Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, and the Finance Secretary explore the possibility of using SLIC reserves to provide financial support to Litro, considering the fact that Litro comes under the purview of SLIC.

HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A New Jersey man's seven-year journey to walk around the world is nearing its conclusion is his home state. Good Day Philadelphia first met 26-year-old Tom Turcich back in April 2015, when he set out to travel the world by foot. At the time, the now 33-year-old Haddon Township native explained how he decided to embark on the trip after the death of his friend, Ann Marie, who was just 16. His goal was to walk across seven continents by 2020, but he hit some speed bumps after he came down with a bacterial infection while traveling through South America. The infection kept him off his feet through the fall of 2016 as he returned to New Jersey. "I lost about 45 pounds and was just in agony all of the time," Tom recalled.

Adult Video News: AVN.“He passed away at the hospital and doctors did everything they could,” West, 32, said. “He was sick with pneumonia at the hospital and didn’t make it.”The bereaved skin flick star continued, “I loved Logan with all my heart and his family and I are grieving. … It is devastating that Logan is gone.”Born February 7, 1988 in Toluca Lake, California, Long entered the adult entertainment in 2016.

FILE IMAGE - Actress Marnie Schulenburg attends the NHL and Esquire season launch party at Esquire North on Oct. 2, 2007, in New York City.

Emma Heming Willis is opening up about her mental health.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are looking to identify and locate multiple suspects in a series of robberies that occurred late last week and over the weekend. Police believe the incidents may have been carried out by the same group of suspects who were targeting watches and other high-end valuables. The first incident occurred just before 11 p.m. on May 12, on the 100 block of South 30th Street. Police say the victim was walking down the block when three male suspects got out of a gray 2013-2022 BMW 530i and pushed him against a wall.

The restaurant chain is offering an extra $10 bonus gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card through June 26, and the bonus gift card expires on Aug. 7, 2022.

The Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JVCI) has recommended that the government provides an autumn Covid-19 booster programme in preparation for winter.

Bruce Willis – has reflected on her family life, and the importance of satisfying her own ‘basic baseline needs’.‘I struggle with making the time for self-care every day. I put my family’s needs above my own, which I found does not make me any kind of hero,’ she said.‘That amount of care for everyone else within my household had taken a toll on my mental health and overall health, and it served no one in my family.’Her comments come after Hollywood legend Bruce was diagnosed with aphasia, which is a language disorder that affects ‘the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write’.Meanwhile, Emma noted that she finds comfort in exercise, even if she isn’t able to ‘mother herself perfectly’.She told The Bump: ‘Someone told me not long ago that when you over-care for someone, you end up under-caring for yourself.

Huawei and ZTE from the country’s 5G telecommunications network will be a blow to an already tense relationship with China, experts warn.Although it’s not yet clear if China will retaliate beyond strong condemnation of Canada’s decision, experts say the possibility exists that the risk has increased for Canadian travellers and businesses in China.“This will be seen as a slap in the face to the Chinese government,” said Christopher Parsons, a global security and cybersecurity researcher with the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.“If I were a Canadian company and had a lot of business in China right now, I’d be calling my accountants and figuring out what my exposure was, with some concern that there might be the prospect … of a retrospective ban on one of our companies as well.” Canada formally bans China’s Huawei, ZTE from 5G networks The decision was also largely expected, even though it took years for the government to act.

FILE IMAGE - Elon Musk attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating "In America: An Anthology of Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) SpaceX CEO Elon Musk denied a sexual assault claim from a former flight attendant, whom the company reportedly paid $250,000 as part of a severance agreement in 2018.Musk, in a Thursday tweet following the story, claimed the story should be "viewed through a political lens."The attendant worked on a contract basis in the cabin crew for SpaceX's corporate jet fleet.

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea - President Joe Biden is opening his trip to Asia with a focus on the computer chip shortage that has bedeviled the world economy, touring a Samsung computer chip plant that will serve as model for a $17 billion semiconductor factory that the Korean electronics company plans to open in Texas.The visit Friday is a nod to one of Biden's key domestic priorities of increasing the supply of computer chips. A semiconductor shortage last year hurt the availability of autos, kitchen appliances and other goods, causing higher inflation worldwide and crippling Biden's public approval among U.S.

NEW DELHI: Vaccination centres are not allowed to ask for proof of travelling abroad from those seeking a booster, or precautionary, dose, the health ministry said on Friday.

PHILADELPHIA - A woman has died after an ATV crash in the city's Holmesburg neighborhood late Thursday night. The incident occurred on the 7700 block of State Road near Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility around 9 p.m.Police say a 29-year-old woman was on an ATV when she collided with a driver in a Kia sedan. The collision knocked the woman off of the ATV and onto the street.The driver of the sedan stopped and attempted to help her, according to police.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested public servants who do not belong to essential services to refrain from reporting to work on Friday (20), given the shortage of fuel that exists in the country.Speaking in Parliament, the Prime Minister also requested the general public to avoid all non-essential travel on Friday (20).“Petrol and Diesel will be available during the weekend, and the shortage will be addressed. We will have fuel until June,” the Prime Minister said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Today’s the first day that Parliament convenes after the appointment of the new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.The primary task of the day is to select a suitable candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker.

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

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balavegaya’s Parliamentary Group has unanimously decided extend support to the Government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on decisions taken for the betterment of the country and to uplift the country.The SJB said it would provide its support towards the Parliamentary process on the said matters, and would NOT obtain any position in government. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a special televised address commented on how he proposes to confront the current economic crisis.“Sri Lanka’s economy is in a perilous position at present. At the beginning of 2022, the budget of the former government showed Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has voted in Parliament to support the ruling faction to defeat a motion on moving forward the motion expressing displeasure against the President.The proposal to suspend Parliament Standing Orders and debate the Motion expressing displeasure over the President as a matter of urgency, rejected in Parliament by a majority vote on Tuesday (17).TNA Parliamentarian M. A.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Independent MP Udaya Gammanpila said that the Group of 10 Parties that quit the SLPP-led Government have decided to support Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government.However, he said that the group will NOT accept any ministerial position, but will get involved in the 15 committees proposed by the Prime Minister to discuss the issues of the people, and provide solutions to them.The Former Minister speaking to reporters following a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (16) said the Prime Minister called for everyone to cast aside their party differences and engage in a collective effort to solve the crisis.“We informed the Prime Minister that it was our group that called for an All-Party Government in a letter to the President dated the 8th of April 2022,” said the MP.The Prime Minister had noted that the need to form a National Council comprising of all the party leaders, said Gammanpila adding that 15 committee will be appointed and those committees will be chaired by the political parties that refuse to accept ministerial positions.Gammanpila said the Group of 10 Parties will NOT accept any ministerial position, but will support the efforts made on economic recovery.“The Prime Minister said the current status will be assessed. A new budget is to be presented where a program until December 2022 will be prepared,” said Gammanpila.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Ranil Wickremesinghe who returned to the political sphere as Prime Minister for the sixth time, assumed duties on Friday (13).Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in on Thursday (12) as the island nation faces political and economic crises.The appointment was made days after Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, vacated the position after violence was triggered by attacks on peaceful protests by pro-government supporters.Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on five occasions before.He was first appointed as PM from 1993 – 1994 after the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa.Subsequently, from 2001 to 2004 he was elected as the Prime Minister to lead the United National Front Government during the presidency of President Chandrika Bandaranayake.In January 2015, he was appointed as the Prime Minister of the coalition government on the election of President Maithripala Sirisena.His appointment was sanctioned by the Sri Lankan people at the general election of August 2015.Once again, in December 2018, then-President Sirisena was compelled to appoint him as PM after having dismissed him in October 2018.In November 2019, after the defeat of the UNP presidential candidate, he resigned from his position of Prime Minister.Newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the GotaGoGama struggle must continue, and he will not intervene with the struggle.“Police would not do anything to them, and the struggle must continue,” said the Prime Minister during his visit to the Walukaramaya Raja Maha Viharaya in Colombo after taking oaths as the Prime Minister.He said he will show majority from both sides in parliament.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided NOT to be part of any government led by newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.The SLFP will NOT accept any position in government, and will NOT be a part of the government, said Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, & Former President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday (13).The President and the Prime Minister have extended invitations to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to join the new government that will be formed under the leadership of Wickremesinghe.The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party had discussed the invitation and the current status of the country at length, and thereafter had reached the decision NOT to join Wickremesinghe’s government.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Leader of the National Freedom Front Wimal Weerawansa said that the Independent Parliamentarians have no faith that the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe to the post of Prime Minister will bring about stability.“Ranil Wickremesinghe is also responsible for this crisis. During his 4 year administration USD 12 Bn worth of loans were obtained at premium interest rates,” he added.If then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has stepped down weeks ago, he would not be forced to go into hiding, said Wimal Weerawansa, the Leader of the National Freedom Front.“Had he stepped down before, his loyalists would not have been victims of violence,’ he said adding that individuals like Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Sanath Nishantha did not allow Rajapaksa to step down in a peaceful manner.“We called for him to step down, because we knew that this situation would occur,” he noting that, the former Prime Minister did not understand their concerns.He went on to note that PM Rajapaksa refused to step down and the crisis continued, leading to a the most horrible decision that they could make, which was to amass crowds at Temple Trees and incite them to attack peaceful protestors in Galle Face.Weerawansa said the Independent Parliamentarians held discussions with almost all political parties to form a new interim government, however unfortunately, none of those parties responded in the positive.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed four Special Committees to obtain proposals to provide relief to the people while eliminating the shortage of essential goods and services.Vajira Abeywardena and Palitha Range Bandara were appointed to obtain proposals by consulting the relevant divisions, in order to provide essential food items to the public without any shortage.Ruwan Wijewardena has been tasked with obtaining information relating to the medicine shortage.Akila Viraj Kariyawasam will be reporting on the fertilizer shortage in the country.Sagala Ratnayake will be reporting on the petroleum crisis.This committee is expected to meet with all the stakeholders and identify the real issues, and obtain their proposals.

COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the decision taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, is one that was made with zero regard to the voice of the people.“All the citizens in unison called for the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and the Government. They all called for recovery of the economy, recover the public funds that were looted, and also institute legal action against those who are responsible for those acts,” he said on Friday (13).The leader of the JVP ridiculed the decision, adding that the appointment has no letigimacy and has no democratic value.“Ranil Wickremesinghe is a person who held the post of Prime Minister, formed governments, and yet could not even win a single seat at the last General Election.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the GotaGoGama struggle must continue, and he will not intervene with the struggle.“Police would not do anything to them, and the struggle must continue,” said the Prime Minister during his visit to the Walukaramaya Raja Maha Viharaya in Colombo.Further, he said he has not decided on the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers.“There is one, that is GotaGoGama,” he stressed while noting that a solution will be achieved.He said he will show majority from both sides in parliament.

COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the solution that Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa believe will solve the crisis, will not be believed or accepted by anyone in the country.“The only thing that will happen is Ranil believes Gotabaya, and Gotabaya believes Ranil. Not a single citizen will believe what they do,” he told reporters on Thursday (12).He alleged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ex-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have reached decisions without paying heed to the mandate of the people.“Ranil Wickremesinghe is the savior of the Rajapaksa’s, and he obtains power for their own protection.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for talks today (11) in Colombo.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Professor Channa Jayasumana resigned on Monday (9) after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo, especially near the two main peaceful protest sites against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.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 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.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan Minister Johnston Fernando said that if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns it would create a political crisis in the country.He stressed that the Prime Minister must NOT step down.The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Local Government Members Forum led hundreds of Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters to Temple Trees on Monday (9) to urge Rajapaksa NOT to step down from the post of Prime Minister.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to the President on Monday (9) after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo, especially near the two main peaceful protest sites against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the premier.Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his letter said that he is stepping down to pave way for the All-Party Interim Government to be formed.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 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.