Sri Lanka’s Basil Rajapaksa meets Indian Prime Minister Modi

AFP, quoting the group's head.

The national capital on Wednesday recorded 299 new coronavirus cases in a span of 24 hours – a rise of almost 50% since yesterday (202). Delhi showed a significant increase in new infections over the last week.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania House voted Tuesday after a tense debate to approve a bill that would prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls' school sports.All but one Republican and four Democrats voted for the proposal to restrict players on K-12 school teams, college sports, intramurals and club teams sponsored by school entities to male or female teams based on their reproductive organs, biology or genetics at birth."Identities do not play sports, bodies do," argued the measure's prime sponsor, Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland.

Rafiq Thompson of Philadelphia was charged with the murder of a pregnant woman in Upper Merion after turning himself in to authorities.  PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man who was wanted for the murder of a pregnant woman in Upper Merion on Friday has been charged after turning himself in, the Montgomery County District Attorney announced. According to officials, 38-year-old Rafiq Thompson is facing first-degree murder and related charges connected to the shooting death of 31-year-old Tamara Cornelius last week. Police say the shooting took place at an Exxon gas station before 11 p.m. on North Gulph Road and West Dekalb Pike. Officers arrived on scene and found Cornelius lying in the gas station parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities say. PREVIOUS: $5K reward offered in search for suspect accused of killing pregnant woman in Upper MerionShe was transported to Paoli Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m., according to investigators. Officials say the investigation revealed that Cornelius and the suspect were in a prior relationship and had met up briefly before she went to have dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. According to investigators, Thompson followed Cornelius as she left the restaurant at 10:15 p.m., walked to the parking garage and then drove to the Exxon gas station. Police say as she was pumping gas when Thompson got out of the car, spoke to her and shot her. He continued to shoot her as she tried to get away, authorities say. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of Rafiq Thompson.

The Department of Health has been notified of 4,728 new cases of Covid-19, including 2,098 PCR-confirmed cases of the virus and 2,630 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal.

The major storm Manitobans have been preparing for over the last two days blew into the province overnight, and is expected to keep blowing until Friday.

An emotional reunion for one family, who left their home in Mariupol and look forward to starting a new life in BC. Catherine Urquhart reports.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas placed greater emphasis on regulating the importation of medicines and health technologies. The country has relied increasingly on the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), a regional effort that provides recommendations to authorize medical products to Caribbean countries.

Bank says it is prepared for higher credit losses related to economic challenges and its exposure to Russia

COVID-19.A letter issued to St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School parents and caregivers says that the school will be closed until at least Tuesday.

Authorities say a triple shooting in Hunting Park is under investigation.  PHILADELPHIA - Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department are looking into a triple shooting that took place in Hunting Park Tuesday night. According to police, three people were shot on the 4300 block of North Carlisle Street around 10:15 p.m. Police say the victims are critical but expected to survive. No arrests have been made, according to authorities. ___MORE LOCAL HEADLINES___DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP | FOX 29 WEATHER AUTHORITY APPSUBSCRIBE: Good Day Digest Newsletter | FOX 29 Philly on YouTubeAdvertisementFOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

NEW YORK - Frank James, the man the NYPD identified as a person of interest in connection with the Brooklyn subway attack Tuesday morning, posted a string of antagonistic video rants to a YouTube channel for years. Wednesday morning New York Mayor Eric Adams announced that James was considered a suspect, and no longer a person of interest, in Tuesday's shooting. Using titles like "DOMESTICATED AVERAGES" and "SENSIBLE VIOLENCE," James posted hour-long, profanity-laced rants about race, politics and current events.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sinhala & Tamil New Year will dawn on Thursday (14).Several crises and difficulties have affected the people at large, however, as one nation the people are waiting to celebrate the Sinhala & Tamil New Year 2022.The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the most significant holidays in the Sri Lankan calendar.Usually celebrated on the 13th or 14th of April, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year marks the beginning of the traditional calendar according to astrology and is a national festival of the country.Sinhala and Tamil New Year marks the end of the harvest season and also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka.The Sinhala and Tamil New Year prioritize varied beliefs, customs, and religious practices associated with agriculture.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankans protesting outside the most powerful building in Colombo – The President’s Office – demanding the resignation of the President and the Government, have rejected Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s offer for talks.“We did not come here for talks. We are here to demand that you and the government resign,” said one youth protestor at the protest site which is now known by them as GotGoGama.Almost all others echoed the same sentiment rejecting the offer for discussions.“I’m willing & prepared to meet with citizens currently engaged in the protests at Galle Face to hear their thoughts & complaints.

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

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COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Navy in an updated statement said that the haul of Heroin & Crystal Meth seized in the southern seas on Wednesday (13) is valued at over 6.7 Billion.Accordingly, the Navy seized about 330kg and 532g of heroin in 300 packages worth over Rs. 6610 million and 09kg and 818g of crystal methamphetamine in 10 packages worth over Rs.

KYIV, Ukraine - Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia's initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching, potentially decisive, battle for Ukraine's contested Donbas region. Yet the Russian military is making little headway halting what has become a historic arms express.The U.S.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - A trial over libel allegations by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, will likely turn into a six-week, mudslinging soap opera, Heard's lawyers warned a Virginia jury Tuesday."You're going to see who the real Johnny Depp is — behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes," Heard lawyer J. Benjamin Rottenborn told the jury during opening statements in the civil trial.

PHILADELPHIA - Officials with the Philadelphia Police Department say they are monitoring SEPTA after Tuesday's shooting at a New York subway station left dozens injured. According to authorities, the shooting happened during the height of the morning rush hour and began on a crowded subway train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. At about 8:24 a.m., a man aboard a northbound N train tossed two smoke bombs onto the floor, and opened fire inside the train as it approached the 36th Street station, Chief James Essig said. The gunman fired at least 33 times, striking 10 people. RELATED: NYC Subway Shooting: Philadelphia man identified as renter of U-Haul van connected to shooting, police sayMore than a dozen other people were hurt in the subsequent chaos. Some other victims suffered smoke inhalation, injuries from falling, and panic attacks, Essig said.A Philadelphia man, 62-year-old Frank R.

This photo from the activist group shows their member, identified as Alicia Santurio, on the court as Patrick Beverley walks past. (Direct Action Everywhere)MINNEAPOLIS - A woman had to be escorted off the floor at Target Center during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ play-in game Tuesday night after apparently trying to glue herself to the baseline under a basket.The incident happened during the second quarter, as the Timberwolves were trying to recover from a slow start.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has openly hit out at Ex-Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa for attempting to ‘buy’ MPs from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya.In a tweet on Wednesday (13), Sajith Premadasa said ‘Cheap power is when you have to buy it.’

Greece has said that pandemic restrictions such as mask-wearing indoors and Covid certificates will be lifted throughout the summer tourism period and authorities will consider reinstating them in September.

Poonawalla was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

vaccine, called CoVac-1, induced T-cell immune responses in 93% of patients with B-cell deficiencies, as per news agency PTI report.

The Bank of Canada is likely to hike its key overnight rate by half a percentage point on Wednesday, the Conference Board of Canada’s chief economist says, as the think tank’s economic forecast predicts home prices could start to drop next year.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Navy, State Intelligence Service, and the Police Narcotic Bureau in a joint operation seized 300kg of heroin and Crystal Meth from a fishing vessel in the Southern Seas on Wednesday (13).According to Sri Lanka Navy, the total value of drugs is Rs. 6.2 Billion.11 suspects were taken into custody by the Navy along with a fishing vessel, a dinghy, a cab, and a three-wheeler.Based on accurate intelligence provided by the State Intelligence Service, the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard conducted a two-week continuous search operation covering both local and international seas.Accordingly, on 12 April 2022, a Sri Lankan Navy vessel inspected a Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessel that was sailing in the seas off Dodanduwa, Galle.The Navy recovered about 300kg of Heroin and 25kg of ICE concealed inside 13 sacks in the multi-day fishing vessel.Sri Lanka Navy seized the multi-day fishing vessel and arrested 6 suspects on board along with the drugs.Investigations into the incident led to the arrest of 5 other suspects along with a dinghy, a cab, and a three-wheeler.The multi-day fishing vessel seized by the Navy with the drugs had left the Beruwala fishing harbor on March 26, 2022, under the guise of conducting fishing activities.Further, it is believed that the gross street value of the drugs seized by the Sri Lanka Navy during this operation is over Rs.

DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - APRIL 02: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs back to the dugout after the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League spring training game at TD Ballpark on April 02, 2022 in Dunedin, Florida. PHILADELPHIA - Alec Bohm might find it easier in Philly to make up for errors in the field than one with his mouth.The three E-5s were nothing compared to one F-bomb he dropped in frustration.Lip-readers ran wild when cameras caught Bohm having some choice words after his second error."I (expletive) hate this place," he said.Maybe a rally he ignited with a leadoff walk — and owning up to his mistake — soothed some hard feelings.J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius followed with run-scoring doubles that helped the Philadelphia Phillies rally past the New York Mets 5-4 on Monday night.The Phillies trailed 4-0 before they scored five runs in the eighth against two Mets relievers.

New Zealand welcomed hundreds of travellers from Australia with emotional scenes as it opened its borders to its trans-Tasmanian neighbour for the first time since mid-2021.

We’re learning today the Gastown building destroyed by fire Monday was the scene of another fire just days earlier. Dozens of residents and businesses have been impacted.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balawegaya signed a no-confidence motion against the government and an impeachment motion against the President on Tuesday (12).Thus, the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, with his group of parliamentarians, signed them at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, according to a Facebook post.The Leader of the Opposition said that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya stands together with the people fighting on the streets against the government and will work for all possible democratic victories in Parliament to realize it.He added that, in addition to the no-confidence motion and the impeachment, they will continue a fight for the reversal of the 20th Amendment and re-enactment of the 19th Amendment and for all democratic victories by constitutional means.

New Delhi: More than 2.32 children in the age group of 12-14 years have received covid-19 vaccine doses so far, taking the total vaccination doses provided to 186.07 crore, the union health ministry said on Wednesday.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he is prepared to discuss with the people who are protesting opposite the President’s Office in Colombo.According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the views of the occupy Galle Face protestors will be taken up for discussion in order to overcome the challenges faced by the country at present.Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that if the protestors are ready for talks, we would extend an invitation for their representatives to meet for discussions.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says Sri Lanka will suspend Normal Debt Servicing and start negotiating debt restructuring.Speaking at a media briefing which was held at the Finance Ministry premises this morning, Dr.

NEW DELHI :

Ultra low-cost carrier Flair Airlines could lose its right to fly in Canada over concerns that too much of its operations are controlled by a U.S.-based partner, according to a preliminary review from the country’s transportation watchdog obtained by Global News.

Citing safety concerns, Canada Post has stopped delivering mail to businesses along a two-block stretch of East Hastings Street, with those items being diverted to a depot 15 blocks away. Rumina Daya reports.

Nova Scotia RCMP say one man who was pulled from the waters around Peggy’s Cove has died and another taken out of the ocean has suffered life-threatening injuries. Alexa MacLean reports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has entered into a war of words with Alberta’s UCP government about how the province is handling a drug-poisoning crisis. Tom Vernon has the details.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is taking a toll on health-care workers across the country.As provinces grapple with a sixth wave of the pandemic, a growing number of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff are calling in sick with COVID-19, raising concerns about the availability and quality of care for patients.Dr. Gerald Evans, infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., said hospitals across the province are struggling with staffing levels, despite government officials, including Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliot, saying the province is equipped to handle the surge.

Easter is on its way and as you prepare the kids’ chocolate treats, you should take a look at some of the labels on them because 10 different Kinder chocolate products are being recalled over possible salmonella contamination, including Kinder Surprise Eggs. The items were sold with best before dates between June 19 and Nov.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has extended the import restrictions imposed on 367 non-essential goods via an extraordinary gazette dated the 9th of April 2022. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); No conditions have been underlined for the USD 1 billion loan given by India, however, the amount will have to be paid back in installments after three years, said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.The President is acting on a very prudent and a long-term plan, says Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on repaying the country’s loans after his entourage returned from India this afternoon. The Finance Minister returned to the country after signing agreements for a US $ 1 billion financial assistance from India. In addition to this $ 1 billion, India has already provided a $ 400 million loan, a $ 500 million loan to purchase petroleum and another $ 500 million via the Asian Clearing Union.Accordingly, the value of loans and relief facilities provided by India to overcome the current economic crisis is about US $ 2.4 billion in total. The Minister of Finance, speaking to media stated that Sri Lanka’s neighbor India has proven that it stands by Sri Lanka with this action, especially with Prime Minister Modi mentioning that all the support that Sri Lanka needs is being provided directly, both economically and socially.The Finance Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has learned of the organic farming and the interest shown by the President with regard to it, and although a shortage of nano fertilizer exists in India, they agreed to provide Sri Lanka with the required quantity.Rajapaksa also stated that India gave Sri Lanka a loan of US $ 1 billion to purchase food and other necessities for the people, especially for the upcoming Sinhala Tanil New Year, and the relevant loan has been in operation since yesterday (17).I urge all business communities to make it very transparent, giving priority to things which

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Senior Sri Lankan Government Official said Sri Lanka will make a documented request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon, for assistance.He said the necessary plans will be drafted following the return of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Finance Secretary S. R.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa called on Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s CEB and India’s largest integrated energy company, NTPC signed the agreement for the joint development of the 100 MW Sampur Solar Power Plant yesterday (11).The Indian High Commission stated that the High Commissioner attend the signing of the agreement, along with 4 Ministers including the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the newly-appointed Minister of Energy, Pavithra Wanniarachchi.In a press release, the Indian High commission noted that during the visit of Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa to India last year, both sides had resolved to enhance investments from India in various sectors in Sri Lanka that would contribute to growth and expand employment, and the Sampur Solar Power Project is an important step in this direction.The Ministers attested to the strength of India-Sri Lanka economic partnership for mutual prosperity, including through cooperation in renewable energy, the High Commission added.Moreover, the High Commission noted that cooperation with Sri Lanka in this domain will only become stronger with the implementation of the US$ 100 million Line of Credit offered by India to Sri Lanka for development of solar power projects in Sri Lanka. Similarly, there is significant interest among private sector on both sides for cooperation in renewable energy which is likely to increase in the coming years.High Commissioner was delighted to attend the signing of the JVSHA between @ntpclimited & @CEB_lk today for the joint development of a solar power plant at Sampur.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka will begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next month on a plan to help the crisis-hit country, including assistance with debt restructuring and managing its foreign exchange shortage, three sources said on Friday.Sri Lanka is facing its worst financial crisis in years. With foreign exchange reserves standing at a paltry $2.31 billion, the country is struggling to pay for critical imports including fuel, food and medicines.The move to approach the IMF for help comes after months of resistance from Sri Lanka’s government and central bank, despite calls from opposition leaders and experts to seek a bailout package.Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will travel to Washington D.C.