Covid-19 and no-deal Brexit could cost UK $174 billion a year: Baker & McKenzie

Private schools were not prioritised in Manchester's Covid vaccination programme, the organisation responsible for the rollout has confirmed.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) states that 5 ships carrying fuel will arrive in the island within the upcoming week.Its Chairman, Sumith Wijesinghe stated that diesel, petrol and jet fuel will be brought to Sri Lanka by these ships.Accordingly, he assured that there are sufficient stocks of fuel in the country while adding that the CPC is ready to provide the necessary stocks of fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board as well.However, Wijesinghe stated that the CEB must pay in rupees for the stocks of fuel.Meanwhile, the daily fuel demand has reported a rapid increase within the last few days.The Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation stated that the average daily fuel demand in the country is 6,000 metric tons, however, on Saturday (19) the demand recorded an increase of 9,000 metric tons.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The report on Sri Lanka compiled by the Human Right’s High Commissioner will be debated at the 49th sessions of the Human Rights Council Sessions  due to be held on 3rd of March.According to an article published on the Sunday Times, the UNHRC report has scrutinized the conduct of the Attorney General’s Department in Sri Lanka.The report was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (14).Ministry officials had then studied the reports and sent to Geneva the Government’s observations and explanations on several issues raised.The article on the Sunday Times highlights that this year’s report delves at length with the Government’s failure to make changes to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to meet international standards.It adds that the UNHRC is not pleased with the amendments that are now pending before Parliament and is displeased that necessary changes have not been effected despite repeated assurances by the Government.According to the Article, another area dealt with in the report is the April 21st attacks.It also includes a call for the Attorney General’s Department to function independently.There will be no voting at the UNHRC’s 49th sessions which begin on February 28th. However, the meeting is a precursor to another Resolution on Sri Lanka in September, due this year.

One of Canada’s busiest commercial truck border crossings was closed again Saturday as anti-mandate protesters swarmed the route leading to the Pacific Highway crossing in Surrey. Kamil Karamali reports.

Ukraine has received a plane load of machine guns, surveillance gear and rifles as part of a Canadian military assistance package, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted Saturday the province will file a court challenge of the federal government’s Emergencies Act in the wake of convoy protests in Ottawa.

A protest that closed the main crossing between Alberta and the United States may have ended this week, but there’s some concern it has created a different kind of division in the border community caught in the middle of the dispute.

Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to updated data by Union Health Ministry. The number of recoveries reported in the last 24 hours stood at 48,847, taking the total recoveries to 4,20,86,383. The number of Covid-19 deaths reported in last 24 hours stood at 673, taking the total death toll to 5,11,903. 

COLOMBO (News 1st): It is important to introduce ethics for social media usage, Shehan Semasinghe, the State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment, and Business Development said. He pointed out that social media is being used to circulate misinformation.“Certain people have taken the lead in tarnishing Sri Lanka’s reputation with regard to Human Rights, every time the Geneva Human Rights Council session is there. This is because they cannot stand the revival of a collapsed economy,” State Minister Semasinghe emphasized.Thereby, he highlighted the need to introduce social media ethics, since the use of social media for personal gains may negatively impact the country on the diplomatic front.He shared these remarks at an event held in Anuradhapura.

Police officers appeared to be shifting strategy Saturday in Ottawa as they worked to clear the remaining protesters from the area, arresting 170 over two days. The slow methodical approach that we saw from police Friday seemed to be replaced with a much tougher line today.

The streets in Ottawa are starting to look more bare and normal. Police warned demonstrators in the evening that it is “unsafe to stay.” “Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity.

Police and protesters faced off for a second straight day in the nation’s capital and at times those tensions erupted into violence, but tonight it appears the Ottawa occupation is into its final hours. Police and protesters are accusing each other of abusive behaviour after a day that saw officers reclaim the street in front of Parliament Hill.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - A fire in West Philadelphia home Saturday afternoon sent a child to the hospital badly burned.Fire officials investigate a cause of the fire, but the child’s grandparents tell FOX 29 they believe a faulty extension cord started the fire. And, Saturday, they were asking for support and prayers for their grandson.The fire broke out in a house on Filbert Street near 42nd Street.

EAST FRANKFORD - Philadelphia Police are investigating after three men were shot multiple times in East Frankford.Officials say the shooting happened Saturday evening, around 6 p.m., on the 5300 block of Glenloch Street, in Philadelphia’s East Frankford section.Responding officers found two men, ages 18 and 19, suffering from gunshot wounds in their legs. The 18-year-old was taken to St Christopher’s Hospital for Children by medics and the 19-year-old was taken to Frankford-Torresdale Medical Center, also by medics.

COVID-19 public health measures descended on Quebec City on Saturday for the second weekend this month.Inspired by the so-called Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, horns could be heard as several dozen vehicles, including trucks and tractors, arrived outside the provincial legislature late Saturday morning.It was a mostly festive atmosphere, as some people were dressed up in cartoon character costumes, stuffed animals were handed out to children and music played.It was the second large demonstration against public health measures in the province in two weeks.Since the last one in early February, the Quebec government announced it is phasing out its vaccine passport system and intends to get rid of most COVID-19 health measures by March 14.But protest organizers, addressing the crowd outside the legislature, said they wanted more concessions from the provincial government.Organizer Bernard Gauthier called the tone of the protest “peaceful,” adding he hoped the provincial government would return the favour without specifying any demands.Meanwhile, others called for an end to the provincially-declared health emergency and mandatory masks for school-aged children.Demonstrator Christian Martel said he wanted to see an end to mandatory masking in classrooms.“The pandemic is over, we have to end everything. We’re tired, it’s enough,” said Martel.Some demonstrators said they would also like assurance that the vaccine passport system would not return.Last week, Quebec announced it would be phasing out vaccine passports, but Health Minister Christian Dubé warned it would reimpose the passport system if it’s needed during a new wave of COVID-19.

Police officers in Ottawa have arrested dozens more protesters on Saturday. Sean O’Shea is in the thick of things and brings us the latest.

Jammu and Kashmir.

From Monday morning, rapid antigen tests will be made available at all Auckland testing sites to those who fit the appropriate clinical criteria. The site will determine which test  (PCR or a rapid antigen test) is best for you Access to rapid antigen t

Hebert was diagnosed in August 2021 as having long COVID, which refers to COVID-19 symptoms that persist well beyond two weeks — the time by which most people have recovered from the disease. With concerns being raised about the Omicron variant fuelling a spike in long COVID cases, health experts say Quebec does not have the resources to help people like Hebert or the many others who have survived the disease but remain seriously injured.Dr.

Provincial officials have loosened capacity restrictions this week in a number of settings. This, as vaccine passports are also soon going to be a thing of the past. Brittany Rosen reports.

The legal duty to self-isolate after testing positive for coronavirus will end next week, the Prime Minister is due to announce.

Prince Albert of Monaco is giving an update on his wife Princess Charlene’s health.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell has responded to a question about an incident involving police-mounted horses on Friday. Bell said “there was two members of the protesters who did collide with the horses.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell provided an update on operations to clear out anti-mandate protesters from the streets of Ottawa saying they’ve made “important progress,” arresting 47 demonstrators Saturday for a total of 170.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said on Saturday that police were documenting the protests with the intent of pursuing financial penalties and criminal charges against those who have participated.

Marcus Rashford today leads a roll call of heroes honoured for their part in the UK's response to coronavirus.

Boris Johnson will outline a new three-tiered system of coronavirus restrictions on Monday that is expected to cause pubs and restaurants to shut across the north of England.Mr Johnson will reveal the full details of the much-anticipated approach in a statement to the House of Commons, following criticism of the Government for not keeping MPs properly informed of changes.The news comes after the Prime Minister's chief strategic adviser Sir Edward Lister wrote to northern MPs following a meeting with leaders from the North on Friday to warn them it was "very likely" the region would be hit with tougher rules.Workers in pubs, restaurants and other businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two thirds of their

The average daily number of Covid-19 cases in England has doubled in a week, an infection survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), feeding concern that the epidemic is once again growing exponentially.

Boris Johnson plans to close pubs and restaurants in three major northern UK cities as parts of the country face tougher coronavirus lockdown measures.

LONDON : Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday promised to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst to build a stronger Britain led by private enterprise, and took aim at “potshot, snipeshot" opponents who want to prolong government bailout programs forever.In a sometimes combative speech to his Conservative Party, Johnson said simply defeating the virus wasn’t enough, because history has shown that "events of this magnitude" often lead to social and economic change.“We see these moments as the time to learn, and to improve on the world that went before, and that’s why this government will build back better," Johnson said in a video address to the annual party conference, which is being held online this year due to the pandemic.The speech

Boris Johnson promised on Tuesday to transform Britain rather than settle for the "status quo" after the coronavirus crisis by building more new homes, improving education, fighting crime and boosting the green economy.In a speech aimed at rallying his Conservative Party, which has become increasingly critical of its leader, Johnson laid out his vision for Britain, where deep-rooted inequality has been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic.Using his own battle with weight loss which made a bout of COVID-19 more difficult to overcome as a metaphor for changing Britain, he listed the areas he wanted to tackle - housing, education, jobs, climate change and crime.But he offered few clues on funding and opposition parties criticised the speech for

BRUSSELS – A top European Union official dealing with the United Kingdom said Tuesday that a cliff-edge rupture between the two without even a basic trade deal by the end of the year is becoming more likely by the day.

The weekly rate of new Covid-19 cases has increased in dozens of areas of England after an Excel spreadsheet error meant almost 16,000 cases went unreported.

Covid-19 virus test results – meaning social gatherings were limited to a maximum of six people. With no slow down in Covid cases in sight, it is feared such measures may still need to be in place for the remainder of the year as the battle against the deadly disease continued.

1. It won’t be over by ChristmasThe Prime Minister warned there could be “a very tough winter for all of us”, adding: “I tell you in all candour, it will continue to be bumpy through to Christmas and may even be bumpy beyond.”Previously Johnson boasted the virus would be under control by November and that the country would be back to normal for Christmas.The PM said people should behave “fearlessly” but with common sense as the UK struggles to both contain the virus and keep the economy going.2. But he still hopes for a miracle by SpringThe PM said he hoped the “scientific equation will change” would change in the coming months, with the prospect of mass testing and a vaccine.He hoped that by next spring things will be radically differentHe

Boris Johnson has admitted that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme may have contributed to the spread coronavirus - but insisted it was necessary to save jobs.

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced on Twitter that they were infected with COVID-19.But with one month left until the U.S. presidential election, it is unclear what — if any — effect that diagnosis could have on the divisive and unpredictable campaign playing out south of the border.

President Trump has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and in doing so, he joins a growing list of world leaders who have previously contracted the disease.Since the start of the pandemic, at least seven major world leaders have tested positive for the virus, the most notable ones being Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Trump's age, 74, places him within a category of people deemed to be at the highest risk of severe complications from the virus.RELATED: President Trump and first lady test positive for COVID-19"People in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness," the CDC says on its website.

coronavirus up North. This week the Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’s chief scientific and medical advisors set out the shocking statistics of Covid-19 cases across the UK – showing a clear North-South divide.

LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to speak to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday to “take stock” of negotiations on a post-Brexit free trade deal and to “discuss next steps,” a British government spokesman said. The U.K.

It is up to the police to decide if people who are caught breaking lockdown rules - like Stanley Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn - face fines, Downing Street has said.

A decision on further coronavirus restrictions for the Liverpool area in the UK is expected to be taken today.

Here are the five main points from the press briefing.1. We have to stick with itThe PM said the UK was at a “critical moment” with a rising number of cases and that he would not hesitate to a bring in new measures if required.He said: “If we put in the work together now then we give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding that outcome and avoiding further measures.”He went for a bit of Pound Shop Churchillian rhetoric for good measure.He called for “collective forbearance, common sense and willingness to make sacrifices” in the battle against coronavirus.He added: “I know some people will think we should give up and let the virus take its course despite the huge loss of life that would potentially entail.“I have to say I profoundly

Coronavirus admissions to hospital and intensive care units have spiked dramatically in recent weeks, shocking new figures show.

An amendment which sought to stop the Government changing coronavirus laws without first consulting MPs will not be debated.

Boris Johnson to hold a press conference about the coronavirus situation.

A last-minute bid has been launched to try and force Boris Johnson to reverse measures in the Coronavirus act which made it legal for councils to downgrade the support they gave to disabled people - including those in case homes