Government: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka signed an agreement with India to extend the USD 1 Billion credit line to import essentials for a period of one year.State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the signing of the agreement to extend the US$ 1000 million assistance scheme for the import of essential materials for a further period of one year was done on Tuesday (30). The officials of the State Bank of India participated the event virtually.He said that the initial agreement was signed in 2022 March & out of the 1000 million US dollars allocated materials were imported for $ 576.75 million.The agreement is extended for the remaining $ 423.25 million, said the State Minister adding that the government will prioritize the import of essential medicines till March 2024.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) annual report for 2022-23 released on Tuesday broadly confirms wider assessments that the economy is expanding healthily but not all is well. It sees output having grown 7% in the year gone by. That makes it the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden says he feels good about the debt ceiling and budget deal negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the White House and congressional leaders work to ensure its passage this week in time to lift the nation's borrowing limit and prevent a potentially disastrous U.S. default.Signaling the tough days still ahead, McCarthy urged skeptical colleagues to "look at where the victories are."The Republican speaker said Tuesday he will be sitting down and talking with lawmakers as they return to Washington from the long Memorial Day weekend."This is just the first step," McCarthy said of his agreement with Biden.RELATED: Debt ceiling deal: Here's what's in, what's out of the bill to avert US defaultIn an appearance on "Fox & Friends," he sought to shore up support amid rising opposition from conservatives in his party.

A union representing teachers in Dumfries and Galloway has warned that levels of pupil anxiety and depression have “greatly increased” since the Covid-19 pandemic.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka's National Security Council was recently informed that various groups are carrying out a very organized agenda to spread racial tension using social media, said Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister Bandula Gunawardena on Tuesday (30).Speaking at the weekly briefing to announce cabinet decisions, he said that the government has learned lessons from the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks, and will take the necessary measures to address the issues.The Minister said the government will not allow for any event or incident that would disturb the unarmed, innocent people, to take place in Sri Lanka.

Dutch national Joran Van der Sloot is pictured during a hearing at the Lurigancho prison in Lima on January 13, 2012. Van der Sloot, who pleaded guilty earlier this week to the murder of a young Peruvian woman in 2010, will hear the sentence today.

Mint study of Airports Authority of India (AAI) data showed. Twelve out of these 29 airports, including Kolhapur, Hubli, Darbhanga and Gaya, have seen traffic swell much beyond 100,000. Bihar’s Darbhanga airport, opened under the government’s Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme for regional connectivity, served over 600,000 passengers in FY23.

FILE - A female stocks food on a shelf at a Publix grocery store. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) A tight labor market is increasing demand for teenage workers and boosting their wages to higher-than-usual levels as many teens around the country look for jobs during their summer breaks.The proportion of Americans between the ages of 16 and 19 who have jobs has trended up in recent years, as nearly 34% of Americans in that age group had jobs in April compared to 30% in 2019, the last pre-pandemic summer, according to government data.Hourly pay has also trended up in the sorts of industries that typically employ teens, such as restaurants, retailers and amusement parks.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today approved a $350 million special policy-based loan to provide budget support to Sri Lanka for economic stabilization. The program is part of a broader package of financial assistance anchored by the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility for the country, which aims to stabilize the economy and lay the foundation for economic recovery and sustained growth.Sri Lanka is facing a severe and unprecedented economic crisis.

COLOMBO: Food security in Sri Lanka is improving across all provinces, according to the Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) report jointly carried out in February/March 2023 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).The report estimates 3.9 million people or 17 percent of the population is in moderate acute food insecurity which is nearly a 40 percent decrease from June/July last year. Nearly 10,000 people are severely acute food-insecure, down from 66,000 people last year.The improvement in food security stems from better food consumption, which could be attributed to reduced food prices and improved incomes among farming communities during the harvesting period when the mission was carried out.Despite this positive trend, food insecurity remains high in certain districts, especially Kilinochchi, Nuwara Eliya, Mannar, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, and Jaffna.

WASHINGTON (AP) - With days to spare before a potential first-ever government default, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached final agreement Sunday on a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling and worked to ensure enough Republican and Democratic votes to pass the measure in the coming week.The Democratic president and Republican speaker spoke with each other Sunday evening as negotiators rushed to draft the bill text so lawmakers can review compromises that neither the hard-right or left flank is likely to support. Instead, the leaders are working to gather backing from the political middle as Congress hurries toward votes before a June 5 deadline to avert a damaging federal default."Good news," Biden declared Sunday evening at the White House.RELATED: What's next on debt ceiling: Congress has little time to approve deal before default deadline"The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis, a default, for the first time in our nation’s history," he said.

CAPE COD, Mass. - The National Park Service is offering proposals from prospective lessees for eight historic dune shacks along the Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown and Truro, Massachusetts. And while the government has said the fair market value for the shacks is between just $2,000 and $16,000 a year, depending on the size of the dwelling. The shacks are extremely rustic, most with limited running water and electricity, and most of current lessees use outhouses. The remote buildings are open to all bidders "as-is with all faults" and the lessees are expected to maintain the shacks and pay for repairs. Maintenance often includes sand removal, as the shifting dunes can cover a shack. The shacks have an illustrious history and were used for decades as retreats for writers and artists like Jack Kerouac, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams and Jackson Pollock.BEST PLACES TO BUY A BEACH HOUSE IN THE US RANKED NPS's release on the leasing opportunity adds: "The dune shacks are small, weathered, and often built on pilings to adjust for the ever-moving sand dunes surrounding these properties.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waves to supporters as he claims victory in the Turkish presidential election runoff outside the presidents residence in kisikli on May 28, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection Sunday, according to unofficial results, in a victory that extends his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade as the country reels from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities.A third term gives Erdogan an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond Ankara.

A man crosses the dry and cracked bed of a dam in India on May 26, 2023. India is facing a severe drought and water crisis.

FILE - The Nobska Point Light, famed lighthouse that the Coast Guard is putting up for sale. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images))BOSTON - Ten lighthouses that for generations have stood like sentinels along America's shorelines protecting mariners from peril and guiding them to safety are being given away at no cost or sold at auction by the federal government.The aim of the program run by the General Services Administration is to preserve the properties, most of which are more than a century old.The development of modern technology, including GPS, means lighthouses are no longer essential for navigation, said John Kelly of the GSA's office of real property disposition.

Seperated by gender, here Native American students sit down to a meal. The United States Indian School in Carlisle Pennsylvania opened in 1879. Its director, Captain Richard H.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Former Mayoress of Colombo Rosy Senanayake was appointed as the Advisor to the President on Local Government Affairs.The appointment was made by the President, and the appointment letter was issued by the Secretary to the President.

FILE - Smith & Wesson handguns are seen for sale in a gun store on Sept. 09, 2022, in Houston, Texas.

Drivers with certain medical problems must declare them to the DVLA or risk being hit with hefty fines - and a possible licence surrender.

The Pakistan High Commission, Colombo organized the Jinnah Scholarship ceremony, at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), to award scholarships to bright and deserving A-Level students of Sri Lanka. These scholarships have been awarded by the Government of Pakistan to Sri Lankan students of A Level since 2006. So far, more than 2400 Sri Lankan students have benefitted from this program, named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the revered founding father of Pakistan.Vidura Wickramanayaka, Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka graced the occasion as Chief Guest and highly appreciated the gracious gesture from the people and Government of Pakistan. He added that such efforts will be very fruitful in strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. He further added that the youth is our future and through such scholarship programs, we strengthen our future generations.In his remarks, Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M) emphasized upon the importance of the relationship that both the countries enjoy and the fact that Pakistan aims at strengthening these strong ties manifolds. He added that the Jinnah Scholarship is a testament to the strong bond between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and it reflects our commitment to enhancing the capabilities of youth with better educational opportunities.He also informed the audience that Government of Pakistan has been awarding the Jinnah Scholarship for bright Sri Lankan students since 2006. Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki HI (M) mentioned that the students who qualified for this prestigious scholarship came from all provinces of the island.During the Jinnah scholarship awarding ceremony, certificates were awarded

The UK Government recently published the Health and Disability White Paper, which lays out proposed reforms to the benefits system. As part of its shake-up, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to encourage people who need to claim benefits back into work.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A group of Opposition MPs in Sri Lanka have requested the speaker of parliament to take disciplinary action against fellow MP Ali Sabri Raheem, who was earlier detained for illegally carrying 3.5 kg of gold and over 90 mobile phones.The MPs claim that the Puttlam District lawmaker had used his parliamentary privileges and diplomatic passport to smuggle the goods via the via lounge of the Katunayake Airport.They also noted that the parliament approved “Code of Conduct” for Members of Parliament on 07th of March 2018 was violated by the conduct of Ali Sabri Raheem.MP Ali Sabri Raheem who was detained by Sri Lanka Customs for illegally carrying gold and mobile phones was released, and he visited parliament on Wednesday (24) for a crucial legislative vote.The MP who previously extended his support to the government, voted against the resolution moved by the government.Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to News 1st that MP said that he saw nothing wrong with Janaka Ratnayake, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, but he voted against the resolution as the government did not step into clear him with regard to his detention by Sri Lanka Customs."I faced an incident recently. I did nothing wrong. The goods were in the possession of an associate.

By the end April 2023, Sri Lanka had fulfilled 25% of its trackable commitments under the IMF program. Two critical commitments, however, remains unfulfilled. According to PublicFinance.lk there appears to be three major issues affecting the progress of this commitment:Firstly, there is a significant lack of information available.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Janaka Ratnayake, the Former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, said on Wednesday (24) that he is read to enter Sri Lankan Politics."Now I have the freedom to work for the people and undo political distortion," he told reporters after Parliament voted to remove him from the post of Chairman and member of the PUCSL.Janaka Ratnayake watched the live broadcast of the Parliamentary debate and vote held to remove him from the Public Utility Commission of Sri Lanka, with his children.The resolution to remove Janaka Ratnayake from the post of Chairman and Member of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka was passed in Parliament on Wednesday (24).123 votes were cast in favor, while 77 MPs votes against it.The resolution to remove Janaka Ratnayake from the post of Chairman and Member of the Public Utilities Commission was supported by the MPs from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, MPs and Ministers from opposition parties that support the government, and MPs who remain independent within the opposition.Duminda Dissanayake from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Independent MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, and Kumara Welgama supported the resolution in Parliament.Vadivel Suresh and A.H.M Fowzie who were elected to Parliament from the SJB also supported the resolution.24 MPs including those from the TNA and the Tamil National People's Front were not in parliament for the vote.The Samagi Jana Balavegaya, Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya, Freedom People's Congress and the Jathika Janabalavegaya voted against the resolution.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka is expecting foreign direct investment inflows to rise by a fifth to $1.3 billion this year, a government official said on Wednesday, with India likely to play a lead role despite the Sri Lankan economy facing its worst crisis in decades.Although it was pushed to the brink last year by power cuts, chronic shortages of fuel and food and soaring inflation, Sri Lanka managed to raise its FDI by 38% to $1.08 billion, data from the Board of Investment (BoI) showed.Part of the bump came from India, which wants to keep China's expansion in its neighbour in check. India's Adani group signed up for two wind power plants worth $442 million last year.In the first quarter, Sri Lanka has already received proposals worth $600 million, said BoI Director General Renuka Weerakone, with 22 new projects and six expansions."The acid test is really in what comes in, that is what really helps the economy," she told Reuters.Sri Lanka is banking on information technology, solar and wind, bunkering and mineral processing to attract investments.India's MCS Group has signed a $20 million deal for mineral processing, the largest Sri Lanka has received so far in 2023, Weerakone said.Other countries are also keen."Japan is very interested in minerals, so is China," she said.

ATLANTA - Perhaps it should go without saying that any official government identification, one should be, well, properly attired, if not at very least wearing clothes.A post on the verified Georgia Department of Driver Services’ Facebook page on Tuesday seems to suggest some folks do not know that.The post features a graphic meme of a Neil deGrasse Tyson cutout with his hands up.The graphic reads "Please wear clothes when taking your selfies for your Digital Driver’s License and IDs."The post itself expands on that message reading:"Attention, lovely people of the digital era! Please take pictures with your clothes on when submitting them for your Digital Driver’s License and IDs. Let’s raise our virtual glasses and toast to the future.

By Jehan PereraColombo (News 1st) – The discussions that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has commenced with the Tamil parties in the north and east were seen as a possible precursor to elections in those two provinces.  The president has an interest in holding some form of elections as the government’s moral legitimacy has been undermined by its refusal to conduct the local government elections on schedule.

The head of a far-reaching UK inquiry into the government's handling of the Covid pandemic is threatening legal action to obtain former prime minister Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages and diaries, according to correspondence released Wednesday. Heather Hallett's demand for the unredacted documentation came after Johnson was embroiled in new drama about alleged breaches of his own government's Covid lockdowns, which police are now investigating.

the Supreme Court can do to "adhere to the highest standards" of ethical conduct, an acknowledgment that recent reporting about the justices' ethical missteps is having an effect on public perception of the court.Speaking at a law dinner Tuesday where he was honored with an award, Roberts provided no specifics but said the justices "are continuing to look at the things we can do to give practical effect to that commitment."He said he is "confident there are ways to do that consistent with our status as an independent branch of government and the Constitution’s separation of powers."The court has resisted adopting an ethics code of its own, and Roberts has raised questions about whether Congress could impose a code of conduct on the court.All nine justices recently signed a statement of ethics that Roberts provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee. His remarks Tuesday suggested he knows that statement is not enough to quiet critics.Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attends President Joe Bidens State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); MP Ali Sabri Raheem who was detained by Sri Lanka Customs for illegally carrying gold and mobile phones was released, and he visited parliament.The MP who previously extended his support to the government, voted against the resolution moved by the government.Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to News 1st that MP said that he saw nothing wrong with Janaka Ratnayake, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, but he voted against the resolution as the government did not step into clear him with regard to his detention by Sri Lanka Customs."I faced an incident recently. I did nothing wrong. The goods were in the possession of an associate.

WASHINGTON - Like the blue and yellow flags that popped up around the U.S. when Russia invaded Ukraine 15 months ago, U.S. popular support for Washington's backing of Ukraine has faded a little but remains widespread, a survey by the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy and NORC shows.It found that half of the people in the U.S.

Governor of Delaware John C Carney Jr. speaks at the Delaware Memorial Day Ceremony, in New Castle, DE on May 30, 2019.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament is scheduled to convene at 9.30am on Wednesday (24).The proposal to remove Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Janaka Ratnayake will be debated in Parliament on Wednesday (24).Janaka Ratnayake was appointed as the PUCSL Chairman on March 14, 2021, by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.Although the PUCSL proposed alternative solutions to the electricity crisis that arose in 2022 with the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, they were not implemented.The conflict with the PUCSL Chairman worsened due to his opposition to proposals to increase electricity tariffs in August 2022 and January.Janaka Ratnayake on both occasions said according to the scientific method of calculating the rates, the tariff can be increased by a lower percentage than the percentage proposed by the government, to provide relief to the people.However, the proposal regarding the removal of the PUCSL Chairman will be debated in Parliament on Wednesday (24), following which a vote will be held in Parliament.Many opposition parties have already announced that they will vote against removing the Chairman from office, while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna said it will vote in favour of the proposal.

New Delhi: India reported 513 fresh covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours, leading to a decline in active cases to 6591 nationwide, the union health ministry data showed on Wednesday. Over the span of three years, the country has seen in excess of 44.9 million infections and lost over 531,849 individuals to virus-related complications. Health specialists are noting that current hospital admissions predominantly involve elderly individuals with pre-existing health conditions, reinforcing the need for people to receive their booster shots if they haven’t done so already.

AUSTIN, Texas - Attorney General Ken Paxton is calling on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign, saying the Republican from Beaumont was "in an obviously intoxicated state" while presiding over the House.But Paxton's call for Phelan's resignation comes as a House committee revealed it's investigating Paxton and his office over a push to use taxpayer money to pay off his settlement with a group of whistleblowers.So far, the attorney general is the highest state official calling for Phelan to resign. Phelan's office fired back, saying a committee is investigating Paxton's office, and they said his comments were an attempt to "save face."Video from the House floor at the end of a 14-hour session on Friday night showed Phelan appearing to slur his words on the House floor while debating an amendment to a Senate bill. The video quickly went viral online over the weekend.Paxton, who is also a Republican, issued a statement on Tuesday about the incident:"After much consideration, it is with profound disappointment that I call on Speaker Dade Phelan to resign at the end of this legislative session.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images) LONDON (AP) - A London judge rejected Prince Harry's bid to pay for his own police protection Tuesday, denying the royal's request to challenge the U.K.

MADRID (AP) - Seven people accused of racially abusing Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior have been arrested in Spain, police said Tuesday.Three were detained in Valencia for alleged abuse against Vinícius in a Spanish league match on Sunday. Four were arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January.The arrests come after an outpouring of support for Vinícius after he said he was abused in Valencia.

Health chiefs and politicians in Trafford are warning that the government risks a major ‘public health crisis’ unless a scheme to help struggling families is improved. Trafford council leader Tom Ross, and Helen Gollins, Trafford council’s director of public health, are now calling on the government to update the Healthy Start Scheme as soon as possible.

NEW DELHI: India recorded 519 new COVID-19 cases nationwide in the past 24 hours, as announced by the union health ministry on Tuesday. Furthermore, the number of active cases has decreased to 7,104. Over the course of the three-year pandemic, India has reported a total of more than 44.9 million cases and 5,31,843 Covid-19-related deaths.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Cabinet has granted approval for the construction of a monument at a suitable location in Colombo to commemorate all those who died in armed conflict, and political & civil unrest.According to the Department of Government Information, the President had put forward a proposal to establish a monument at a suitable location in Colombo to symbolize reconciliation and to commemorate all civilians, armed forces personnel, police personnel and ex-combatants who had died in the armed conflict, political turmoil, and civil unrest in Sri Lanka. The proposal was approved by the Cabinet of Minister on Monday (22).

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Parliament will convene from 23rd to 26th May 2023.The Parliament will meet on Tuesday 23rd May at 9.30am and from 10.30am to 5.00pm the second reading of the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill, Order under the Port and Airports Development Levy Act published in Gazette No. 2312/67, Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act published under the Gazette No. 2312/68 67, Notification under the Excise Ordinance published in the Gazette Notification 2312/70 are scheduled to be taken up for debate.Moreover, Regulations under the Tobacco Tax Act published in the Gazette No.

TikTok Inc. filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to overturn Montana's first-in-the-nation ban on the video sharing app, arguing the law is an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights and is based on "unfounded speculation" that the Chinese government could access users' data.The lawsuit by TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, follows one filed last week by five content creators. They made similar arguments including that the state of Montana has no authority to take action on matters of national security.

A voter arrives at a polling place on March 3, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) The 2024 presidential election is still over a year away, but the field of hopefuls is beginning to fill up, with the Republican field expected to become especially crowded in the coming months.  The field already includes two former presidents hoping to win a second term – Joe Biden and Donald Trump – which has potential to bring about a Biden-vs.-Trump rematch after the last tumultuous presidential election. Here’s all the people who have launched campaigns to win the White House in 2024:Learn more about each candidate below: Tim Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, firmly won reelection in South Carolina by more than 20 points.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference following the G7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima on May 21, 2023.

PHILADELPHIA - Cherelle Parker, the Democratic nominee in the race for Philadelphia mayor, will hold her first press conference Monday, nearly a week after a health issue prevented her from speaking on election night. Parker, 50, was unable to attend her own victory celebration last Tuesday as she dealt with a dental emergency at the University of Pennsylvania. She spend the rest of the week resting, recovering, holding some meetings with staff. Monday's press conference will follow her meeting with Pennsylvania Gov.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet face to face Monday after a weekend of on again, off again negotiations over raising the nation's debt ceiling and mere days before the government could reach a "hard deadline" and run out of cash to pay its bills.The two sides are working to reach a budget compromise before June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the country could default.McCarthy and Republicans are insisting on spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt limit. Biden has come to the negotiating table after balking for months but says the GOP lawmakers will have to back off their "extreme positions."On Sunday evening, negotiators met again and appeared to be narrowing on a 2024 budget year cap that could resolve the standoff.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are set to meet at the White House at a pivotal moment as Washington works to strike a budget compromise and raise the nation's borrowing limit in time to avert a devastating federal default.The meeting Monday afternoon between the Democratic president and the new Republican speaker will be critical as they race to prevent a looming debt crisis. After a weekend of start-stop talks, both men appeared upbeat as they face a deadline, as soon as June 1, when the government could run out of cash to pay its bills.Biden and McCarthy spoke by phone Sunday while the president was returning home on Air Force One after the Group of Seven summit in Japan.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesighe said that the country's debt restructuring program will be completed by September 2023."A country becoming bankrupt means that it is a beggar nation. None of us want to become beggar nation.