21 Roads in Colombo closed on Independence Day

Covid-19 lifts night curfew:

READ MORE: Russia threatens response to Canadian sanctionsIn this context, concerns that were previously voiced about the future of Arctic security following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea republic in 2014 have heightened enormously in the past 72 hours.In a chilling attempt to justify Russia’s invasion of its neighbour last week, Putin concocted an imaginary history of Ukraine as an illegitimate state on territory integral to Russia’s national identity. Putin is similarly known to view Russian control over the Arctic as a vital expression of the country’s mythic destiny.The idea that Russia might soon be pressured to halt or reverse its imminent conquest of Ukraine — in response, say, to harsh economic sanctions and unified condemnation among Western countries — seems naïve.That makes it equally hard to imagine a world in which Russia will continue to comply with the genteel terms of the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the Law of the Sea convention, or with various security, environmental and cultural agreements struck with Canada and other members of the eight-nation Arctic Council — currently chaired by Russia.In flouting the international rules-based order with its unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, Russia can no longer be counted upon as a constructive partner in any of its multilateral involvements with Canada in the Arctic or elsewhere.READ MORE: Ukrainian Canadians denounce Russian invasion; cities raise Ukrainian flagLong-time Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is one of Putin’s key lieutenants in the war on Ukraine.

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covid wave in mid to late June, and the surge is to continue for about 4 months, a recent study by a team of IIT Kanpur scientists has suggested. The severity, however, will depend on the nature of the variant, the vaccination status across the country. 

Royal Family are 'terrified' and 'holding their breath' over the Queen's Covid struggles.The 95-year-old monarch tested positive for the virus last week and has not been seen in public since.In that time, the Queen's virtual engagements were also all postponed while she fought off the virus, something that a source close to the family says has left Royals deeply worried.Speaking to OK magazine, a source close to the family said that the Queen may have been diagnosed with Covid at the worst possible time. They said: “Everyone in the family is praying that Her Majesty is going to be okay.

Omicron, a new study has revealed that those who have been infected with COVID subvariant BA.1 are less likely to get infected with BA.2. subvariant. This is because BA.1 version of the Omicron coronavirus variant provides strong protection against the latter. The study also indicates that widely circulating BA.2 is unlikely to cause a major wave of infections in countries that have already witnessed an Omicron peak led by the previously identified subvariant. 

Kyiv curfew extended as Russian troops pound on Ukrainian capital “We have not supported what Russia has done. We have abstained.

From tomorrow, most Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted in Ireland. It comes a day before the second anniversary of the country's first case of the virus, which was announced by NPHET on Saturday 29 February, 2020.

Ukraine has been pushing international allies to provide more support and it appears financial assistance will be coming soon, as well as pressure on Russia to end the war with Ukraine. As Jennifer Johnson reports, the move comes as people globally call for more aid from countries as the death toll for both countries climbs.

The Ukrainian government says at least 200 people have been killed on its soil during the invasion by Russia. Crystal Goomansingh is in Poland with more on the ongoing developments. Amid the siege on the Ukrainian capital, residents of Kyiv remain under a curfew as battles continue between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

The Ukrainian government says at least 200 people have been killed on its soil during the invasion by Russia. The country’s president wants peace and to get it through negotiation, not death, and would be willing to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not willing to bow to any Kremlin ultimatums.

Protests are taking place across the globe in support of Ukraine as the invasion by Russia continues, and many are taking to the street right here in Canada with the crisis bringing out a range of emotions. As Mike Drolet explains, it seems like many are trying to do whatever they can to show they’re on Ukraine’s side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Saturday that he welcomes moves by various countries to disconnect Russia from “global financial civilization” by cutting the country off from the SWIFT international payment system. Russia still has access to SWIFT, but more countries are pushing for it to happen, including Canada.

Saturday Night Takeaway. ITV launched the campaign in 2019 on Britain's Got Talent by pausing the show for 60 seconds, encouraging people to start a conversation with a loved one.

Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including cutting off a number of Russian banks from the SWIFT interbank payments system.SWIFT is the world’s main international payments network. Here is more about what it does and why it matters:SWIFT, or the “Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication”, is a secure messaging system that facilitates rapid cross-border payments, making international trade flow smoothly.Banks which connect to the SWIFT system and establish relationships with other banks can use SWIFT messages to make payments.Kyiv curfew extended as Russian troops pound on Ukrainian capitalThe messages are secure so that payment instructions are typically honoured without question.

NORTH PHILADELPHIA - A parent of a Temple University student is putting an investment in her student’s safety.For the past week, JNS Protection Services has been doing foot and car patrols three days a week. Parent Jennifer Hedberg said this isn’t to step on the school’s toes, but they wanted to add another layer of security for nearby off-campus housing."It helps with peace of mind and I feel like if anything ever did happen to him, at least I’ll know I did everything I could," Hedberg explained.

#COVID19 cases, 20,439 recoveries, and 243 deaths in the last 24 hours.Active case: 1,11,472 (0.26%)Daily positivity rate: 1.00%Total recoveries: 4,22,90,921Death toll: 5,13,724 Total vaccination: 1,77,44,08,129 pic.twitter.com/Qtyuy9lm72

covid cases are on a decline, all are thinking is it the indicator of the end of this pandemic? Will this pandemic end now or if not now when is it going to end? Seeing the waning cases, countries have started opening up their borders and relaxing curbs that were in force to contain the spread of the virus.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Director-General of Health Services has announced that fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the country are exempted of a pre-departure COVID-19 test.This measure will come into effect from the 1st of March 2022.Read the latest guidelines for travellers below : 

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board has suggested an increase to the electricity charges.The CEB Spokesperson, Additional General Manager Andrew Navamani said that the proposal was made to bridge the gap between the cost of generating electricity in comparison to the cost of fuel.Spokesperson Navamani stated that the relevant proposal is expected to be forwarded to the Government by the Public Utilities Commission soon.He further pointed out that at present, although a unit of electricity costs around Rs. 16, the CEB has to bear a higher cost to produce a unit of electricity.Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission stated that there will be no power cuts today and tomorrow at night.The commission said it would reduce daytime power cuts to three hours today (26) on A,B,C, groups only and up to two and a half hours in other areas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada will be placing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Covid-19 cases, the Delhi Metro will allow passengers in standing position in trains from Monday onwards.

More than two thirds of eligible New Zealanders have now had their booster, a huge step in the fight against the spread of Omicron in our communities.

PERKASIE, Pa. - Officials have released the identities of the two men killed in when a single-engine plane crashed in a Perkasie neighborhood.The men were identified as 74-year-old Alfred George Piranian, of Chalfont, and 55-year-old Brian Fillippini, of Philadelphia. Both men died as a result of injuries sustained during the crash. It was revealed Friday that a report from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the small plane with the two men aboard took off from Doylestown Airport with a destination of Gunden Airstrip. An NTSB investigator told reporters Thursday that the plane was a commercial instructional flight with one person onboard training for their commercial pilot's license. No one on the ground was hurt, but the crash sent flying debris through the wall of a home and into a second-floor bedroom. Hilltown Township Police Officer Christopher Englehart called the pilot a hero for managing to avoid homes that dotted the residential neighborhood. Residents recalled hearing the plane's engine cut out as it made its deadly descent.

People took shelter in a bowling alley in Cherkasy, Ukraine as Russian strikes continued around Ukrainian cities. Cosmos Bowling posted this footage on Feb. 25 on Instagram of people gathered inside the bowling alley and around snooker tables.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 26: A protester holds a banner calling for imminent help for Ukraine during a demonstration against Russia's invasion of Ukraine held in front the building of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the E.U. on February 26, 20 The Rev.

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis police say two people were shot and wounded at a Jewish community center on Hoover Road on Saturday afternoon.Both people were hospitalized in stable condition, police announced at 2:30 p.m. ET. About 30 minutes later, police said they had ruled out a possible hate crime or religious motivation in the incident.Police shut down the area surrounding the JCC at 6701 Hoover Road, but said there was "no ongoing threat."RELATED: Israeli, Palestinian representatives propose 2-state confederation to work towards peace efforts"A perimeter has been set up nearby [and] residents can expect police activity in that area," the Indianapolis Metro Police Department tweeted. "Drivers are asked to avoid the area."Additional information about the suspect and victims was not immediately available. The JCC is a 108-year-old community center.

COVID-19 cases in Alberta grew last year after the province’s Open for Summer restrictions relaxation went into effect. When asked how to avoid a repeat of that situation in 2022, Premier Jason Kenney said the province is looking at data from places where Omicron hit earlier than in Alberta when making decision on moving forward.

PHILADELPHIA - A woman has been hospitalized after a shooting in North Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. The shooting happened shortly after 1 p.m. at 25th and Thompson Streets. Police say the 29-year-old woman was shot once in the right shoulder and was rushed to a local hospital.

JAMA Pediatrics.Researchers from The University of Calgary examined more the 89,000 children. Their results revealed that 24.7% of children younger than 2 years avoided screen time altogether.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Fourteen people were shot before dawn Saturday morning at a hookah parlor and police said one person died and that two of the victims suffered critical injuries.Police Capt. Dori Koren said the shooting happened at about 3:15 a.m.

COVID-19 related deaths on Saturday and a drop in hospitalizations by 53.There are currently 100 people being treated in the intensive care unit, a drop of five.#COVID19 – En date du 25 février, voici la situation au Québec: https://t.co/pwoUoaBgaF pic.twitter.com/Zup7ydDZy4— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) February 26, 2022Health authorities are reporting 709 active outbreaks across the province.Over 16,985 PCR tests were administered in the last 24 hours, and 1,175 came back positive.The new deaths bring the provincial death toll to 13,969 since the start of the pandemic.This comes as Quebec gets ready to lift its work-from-home order this week.

Premier Jason Kenney said some people will be happy most public health restrictions are ending March 1, while other people will not, and said everyone will have to determine their own risk level and shift focus from a societal approach to personal responsibility when it comes to limits: “We cannot continue on as we have the past two years indefinitely — we are going to break society if we keep doing that.”

Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping shares details on the public health restrictions being removed when Alberta moves to Step 2 of its reopening plan come Tuesday, March 1.

The latest as of 2:20 p.m. ET Saturday:

After nearly two years of on and off COVID-19 health measures, Premier Jason Kenney said everyone had different levels of comfort when it comes to relaxing restrictions and asked citizens to be patient and compassionate as people make individual choices about things like continuing to wear masks in public.

COVID-19 “numbers continue to decline rapidly,” Premier Jason Kenney announced the province will move forward to Step 2 of its reopening plan come Tuesday, March 1.The announcement was made during the official opening ceremony of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital in northwestern Alberta.Step 2 of the government’s plan to reopen includes:“We are in a position to safely move to Step 2 of our path back to normal and remove the vast majority of remaining public health measures in Alberta,” Kenney said.According to a government news release issued on Feb.

Premier Jason Kenney announced on March 1, the province will move to Step 2 of the plan to lift public health measures, which will see remaining school-related measures lifted, venue capacity limits ended, limits on social gatherings removed, the provincial mask mandate scrapped and the mandatory work-from-home order rescinded.

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has decreased by 47, according to the Department of Health.

An undated file photo of a gas pump.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland delivers remarks at the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on November 15, 2021 in Washington, DC.

PHILADELPHIA - The Internal Affairs Headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia was the scene of a shooting Friday night. The incident happened at approximately 10:45 p.m.

In early November 2021, Crew-2 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet photographed the space station from above during the return trip home aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour (NASA/ESA/SpaceX) In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced new sanctions Thursday targeting the Russian economy and attempting to cut off access to emerging technology, which could impact the Russian space program, Roscosmos. "Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that will cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports and will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military," Biden said Thursday. "It'll degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program, and hurt their ability to build ships, reducing their ability to compete economically."While Russian and U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on Ukraine’s capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts. Ukraine’s leader, meanwhile, claimed the country’s forces had repulsed the Russian assault, and he vowed to keep up the struggle and appealed for more help from the outside world."The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message in which he accused Russia of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets."We will win," he said.RELATED: Who is the 'Ghost of Kyiv'? Tale of Ukrainian fighter pilot trends on social mediaCentral Kyiv appeared quiet on Saturday, though sporadic gunfire could be heard.

DECATUR, Ga. - A soldier who’s returning from a year-long deployment said unwanted guests have been living in his house.Duncan Fowler has spent the last year in Poland. He's expected to officially finish his deployment in about a week and was planning on returning to Decatur. Unfortunately, it's not the homecoming he expected. INTERNATIONAL AFFIARS EXPERT BREAKS DOWN RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT"In the last two years, I’ve only been home for about eight weeks.

Russian troops stormed the city, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said Saturday morning.The strike set the building on fire and left a massive hole and an evacuation was underway, the government said. There was no immediate word on any potential fatalities or injuries. RELATED: Ukraine crisis: Russian troops close in on Kyiv as residents fleeRussian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. Emergency services in Kyiv said six people were injured after a high-rise apartment building was damaged by shelling early on February 26, as the city faced increasing pressure from invading Russian forces. (Credit: Mykola Medinsky via Storyful)"Kyiv, our splendid, peaceful city, survived another night under attacks by Russian ground forces, missiles," Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

SAN DIEGO - A new study shows performing routine activities such as housework, gardening and cooking can significantly improve cardiovascular health for older women. Health officials said heart disease is the leading cause of death in U.S.