“Current tax policy is a rescue operation” – President

PHOENIX - A man who police say was in illegal possession of a tiger cub and tried to sell the animal has been indicted.Phoenix Police say 25-year-old Carlos Eduardo Castro Alcaraz was arrested on Jan. 23. An investigation began after officers received a tip that Alcaraz was trying to sell a baby tiger on social media for $25,000.

Savannah Guthrie has tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday's broadcast of, the 51-year-old anchor began the show at the 7 a.m. hour.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A Bay Area nonprofit said thieves had stolen a bus that carries supplies to cancer patients.The bus has been recovered. But it's damaged, and almost everything inside was stolen."This is our mobile resource center.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the daily morning press conference at the National Palace on Feb. 27, 2023, in Mexico City, Mexico.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Minister granted approval for the establishment of National Contributory Pension Fund.According to a document released by the Department of Government Information, the Cabinet has recognized that is appropriate to establish a fund named National Contributory Pension Fund to ensure an appropriate environment is created for public sector employees to spend their retired life without being a burden to the country as well as to provide a pension with a certain profit for the retired life of the state sector pensioners. Accordingly, 8% from the basic salary of the employee and 12% from the employer should be credited to the proposed fund when a state employee is recruited in the state service, it added.An independent entity governed by a board of management to manage the proposed contributory pension fund will be established and a fund manager with special skills will be appointed for management of the funds. The proposed national contributory pension scheme will be applicable to the individuals newly recruited  to the government service, said Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunwardena on Tuesday (28).Those recruited to government service after the month of January  2016 can contribute to the proposed national contributory pension scheme as per their consent, said the statement from the Departmnet of Government Information."Since 2000, all public sector appointment letters carry the clause that they would be moved to the National Contributory Pension Scheme in the future. Therefore, this National Contributory Pension Scheme applies to all those who were recruited since 2016.

Chinese laboratory leak, the White House on Monday asserted that there is no definitive conclusion on the origin of Covid-19, according to the news agency ANI.  Speaking to media persons at a daily White House news conference, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that the intelligence community and the government are still looking at the Covid-19 origin theory.  “There's not been a definitive conclusion, so it's difficult for me to say, nor should I feel like I should have to defend press reporting about a possible preliminary indication here," he said.  Kirby was responding to questions on the findings of the Department of Energy that a lab leak most likely caused the Covid-19 pandemic, which was first reported in The Wall Street Journal over the weekend. He further said that President Joe Biden made trying to find Covid origin a priority right when he came into office.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed a Gazette notification on Monday (27) night declaring transportation services as essential services.Accordingly, public transport services for passengers or goods, discharge, carriage, landing, storage, delivery & removal of articles of food or drink, or coal, oil, fuel from vessels within any port as defined for the purposes of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), the provision and maintenance of facilities for transport services by road, rail or air, including roads, bridges, culverts, airports, ports & railway lines, have been declared as essential services with immediate effect.   

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have launched an investigation after a student found a gun in her backpack at a North Philadelphia school Monday morning. "As school began this morning, a student communicated to her teacher that a firearm was present in her backpack. This young student was keenly aware that this weapon was dangerous and should not be in school with her," said the statement from Bryan Carter, Gesu School President. Carter said the student's backpack and gun were confiscated immediately, and the police were notified.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - Investigators say small amounts of fentanyl and heroin were found during further testing of THC products seized from three Pennsylvania smoke shops following two non-fatal overdoses. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele on Friday called an emergency press conference to warn the public about Strictly Delta brand of ‘Delta 8 THC 600 MG Happy Cubes’ sold at Tobacco Hut stores that may be tainted with illicit drugs. "Urb Extrax" and "Pinewood Coned," which were also sold at the stores, tested positive for fentanyl, according to the District Attorney's Office. Authorities launched an investigation into the Tobacco Hut after two people who consumed tainted THC gummies overdosed on fentanyl and recovered. Authorities in Montgomery County are warning of THC gummies tainted with heroin and fentanyl after two non-fatal overdoses were traced back to three county tobacco stores."Individuals should not consume any flavors of these Strictly Delta brand of CBD gummies, if anyone has any of these gummies, do not eat them," DA Steele said at Friday's press conference.The products were seized for testing during a search warrant executed last Thursday night.

A student attends the proclamation ceremony for the graduation of the VUB and ULB universities, at the Grote Markt, in Brussels, on October 10, 2022. - Belgium OUT (Photo by BENOIT DOPPAGNE / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Belga WASHINGTON (AP) — - The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments over President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan, which impacts millions of borrowers who could see their loans wiped away or reduced.So far, Republican-appointed judges have kept the Democratic president’s plan from going into effect, and it remains to be seen how the court, dominated 6-3 by conservatives, will respond.

FILE - Students walk to class at Rice University on Aug. 29, 2022, in Houston, Texas.

FILE - Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is pictured over the Cooper River to Charleston, South Carolina.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Two bicyclists are dead and 11 others have been hospitalized after a pickup truck struck a group of bicyclists in Goodyear, police said Saturday.The collision happened near MC-85 and Cotton Lane just before 8 a.m. on Feb.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: An entrance sign near the main gate at Howard University October 25, 2021 in Washington, DC. Students have complained about mold and poor conditions in some dorm rooms and over 100 students have been staging a weeks-long WASHINGTON - A White student at Howard University’s law school is suing the institution for racial discrimination, alleging the school created a "hostile education environment."Michael Newman, the plaintiff, attended Howard University School of Law starting in the fall semester of 2020 and remained there for just two years until he was expelled in September 2022.

File Image of a clinical support technician extracting swab samples. (Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images) The U.S.

NEW DELHI : Consumer-tech major Apple will continue to focus on the consumers’ personal health and fitness features on Apple Watch and iPhone, instead of tapping into governments’ health information infrastructure, and medical records, worldwide. In an interview, Sumbul Desai, vice president, Health, Apple said it is not looking to transform medical records but yearns to help consumers gain more insights into their own health. It is also looking to work with researchers and startups in India to further its health efforts.

Colombo (News1st) – 28 people have been hospitalised following the protest march organised by the Jathika Jana Balavegaya in Colombo on Sunday (26).Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protest march which commenced at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.The injured have been admitted to the National Hospital for treatment.The protest was held citing several concerns including delays in conducting the Local Government Election.Earlier in the day, the Fort Magistrate Court issued an order preventing a group of 26 including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from entering areas around the President's Office, President House and Galle Face from 01 pm – 08 pm on Sunday (26).This was in reponse to a request made by the Fort, Kompannavidiya and Colpetty Police.The Police had made the request taking into consideration the inconvenience to the public owing to the JJB protest to be held in Colombo on Sunday (26) afternoon.Similarly, the Maligakanda Magistrate Court issued an order preventing a group including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from protesting or marching around the Colombo Hospital Square.This was in response to a request made by the Maradana Police OIC.The Maradana Police had made the request considering the possible inconvenience to patients and people visiting the hospitals including the National Hospital and Eye Hospital.According to the court order, the protesters were prevented from marching from the Lipton Roundabout to Deans Road, as well as blocking the road and pavement leading upto the Seamans Road Junction.The court order applies to 26 including JJB Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Tilvin Silva, Vijitha Herath, Nalinda

Sally Field of 'Dispatches from Elsewhere' speaks onstage during the AMC Networks portion of the Winter 2020 TCA Press Tour on January 16, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) Oscar-winning actress Sally Field’s career has spanned nearly 60 years, from the time she started playing the precocious teenager Gidget on TV to her new comedy "80 for Brady."On Sunday, the 76-year-old will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild."She has an enduring career because she is authentic in her performance and always projects likability and humanity — she just connects," SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in a statement.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Fort Magistrate Court has issued an order preventing a group of 26 including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from entering areas around the President's Office, President House and Galle Face from 01 pm – 08 pm on Sunday (26).This was in reponse to a request made by the Fort, Kompannavidiya and Colpetty Police.The Police had made the request considering the inconvenience to the public owing to a JJB protest to be held in Colombo on Sunday (26) afternoon. The protest will be held citing several issues including the rise in electricity tariffs, unjust tax regime and delay in the local government election. 

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A Detroit rapper's role in a $27 million tax fraud scheme landed her a prison sentence.Sameerah Marrell, also known as Sameerah Anderson, Sameerah Pickett, Crème, and Loren Boyd, was sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison and three years of supervised release. The 42-year-old must also pay the remaining restitution – $7,979,041.71.According to federal authorities, Marrell had successfully stolen $8.5 million, and the amount owed in restitution has been reduced by money, cars, and jewelry seized by the federal government and the states from Marrell during the course of this investigation.Between 2014 and April 2022, Marrell worked with others to file 122 false income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service and Minnesota, Georgia, Maryland, Arizona, Connecticut, and Colorado state treasuries.

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Friday marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, reducing entire cities to rubble and the death toll still unknown. Additionally, more than 8 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country.

MANCHESTER, Connect. - A middle school teacher in Connecticut is being praised by firefighters after she pulled an unconscious driver from a burning vehicle on Thursday. Manchester Fire Rescue EMS says Heather Sica Leonard, a teacher at Illing Middle School in Manchester, almost certainly saved the driver’s life. According to the fire department, the driver, John, has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair."While driving his van down Main Street he smelled smoke, then moved a cup holder to find flames coming from his dash. He stopped the vehicle on the side of the ramp, suddenly finding himself in a burning car," Manchester Fire Rescue EMS said, adding that the fuel tank of his van had ruptured.Helmet camera provided by the fire department shows firefighters responding to the scene on Feb.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Friday directed federal agencies to go door-to-door in East Palestine, Ohio, to check on families affected by the toxic train derailment that has morphed into a heated political controversy.Under Biden's order, teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit homes beginning Saturday. Workers will ask how residents are doing, see what they need and connect them with appropriate resources from government and nonprofit organizations, the White House said.The "walk teams" are modeled on similar teams following hurricanes and other natural disasters.Biden directed employees to get to as many homes as possible by Monday.

California Prop. 31 was approved on Election Night, banning flavored tobacco products. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Some California lawmakers want to eventually ban all tobacco sales in the nation’s most populous state, filing legislation to make it illegal to sell cigarettes and other products to anyone born after Jan.

SEA ISLE, N.J. - Officials say a rescue operation is now a recovery operation for a worker trapped under a concrete balcony that collapsed at an apartment building in Sea Isle City. Emergency crews responded to the building on the boardwalk between 36th and 37th streets around 2:20 p.m. for reports of a collapse.Officer Jim McQuillen from the Sea Isle City Police Department said two construction workers were on the 8th floor when the balcony collapsed onto a worker on the 7th floor. Cape May County Urban Search and Rescue Team member Matt Johnson estimated the balcony weighs between 11,000 and 15,000 pounds, causing structural concerns. The two workers on the upper floor were treated for minor injuries, according to police.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - Authorities in Montgomery County are warning of THC gummies tainted with heroin and fentanyl after two non-fatal overdoses were traced back to three county tobacco stores. District Attorney Kevin Steele and police chiefs from Montgomery Township, Hatfield Township and Whitpain Township abruptly called a Friday morning press conference to warn the public.Investigators say heroin and fentanyl were found in some of the Strictly Delta brand of ‘Delta 8 THC 600 MG Happy Cubes’ sold at three Tobacco Hut stores in Montgomery County. "Urb Extrax" and "Pinewood Coned," which were also sold at the stores, tested positive for fentanyl, according to the District Attorney's Office.MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"Individuals should not consume any flavors of these Strictly Delta brand of CBD gummies, if anyone has any of these gummies, do not eat them," DA Steele said. Undercover detectives went to the Tobacco Hut store after two people who consumed products sold at the store overdosed and recovered, according to authorities. Several flavors of Delta 8 THC 600 MG Happy Cubes were purchased by detectives and later tested for illegal drugs. Authorities say ‘Juicy Pineapple’ tested positive for fentanyl and ‘Blue Lemonade’ was found to contain heroin, fentanyl and methyl fentanyl. District Attorney Kevin Steele said the gummies tested positive for fentanyl and heroin.

Two soldiers patrol the area as the first anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine nears in Irpin, Ukraine on February 22, 2023. (Ignacio Marin Fernandez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) TAIPEI, Taiwan - One year into Russia's war against Ukraine, China is offering a 12-point proposal to end the fighting.The proposal follows China's recent announcement that it is trying to act as mediator in the war that has re-energized Western alliances viewed by Beijing and Moscow as rivals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the media during the joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, (not pictured) on February 21, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Roman Pilipey/Getty Images) KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s president pledged to push for victory in 2023 as he and other Ukrainians on Friday marked the somber anniversary of the Russian invasion that he called "the longest day of our lives."As morning broke on a day of commemorations and reflection, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a tone of grim defiance and used the Feb.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said it is the duty of the sitting President to hold the election.However, he noted that if there are no funds with the state, an election cannot be held as well. The Former President said that his party is ready for an election at any given moment.Mahinda Rajapaksa said because he knew he would secure a win, he never delayed a single election during his time as the President.He said the present government is uncertain if it would win or not, thus the election too is uncertain.He said when an election is called for, it is possible to understand the pulse of the people. Commenting on the IMF funds, he said the government should be able to secure the funds.

FILE-The United States two-dollar bill ($2) is a current denomination of U.S. currency. A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (1801–09), is featured on the obverse of the note.

MAGNOLIA, N.J. - The future of a Little League organization in South Jersey could be in jeopardy after a thief stole a critical piece of equipment. Now the team is asking for help."I’ve been playing for a long time, so, to me, it means a lot more than anyone could know," Magnolia Little League player, Nasier Damicoslegaitis, said.And, because of kids like Nasier and his teammates, the president of Magnolia Little League, in Camden County, is so upset someone stole their commercial riding mower from their equipment shed last August."I’m not mad for me.

STRAWBERRY MANSION - Seven people were shot in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, police say, including five teens, a 2-year-old and the mom of two of those victims, as an after school program was just wrapping up.Philadelphia police commissioner Danielle Outlaw speaks at the scene of a mass shooting in Strawberry Mansion that left seven injured including five teens and a toddler.Officials say the shooting happened at the intersection of 30th and Norris streets Thursday evening, just before 6 p.m., near the school yard of the James Blaine School.The victims ranged in age from 31 to 2. Their injuries are:1. 31-year-old female shot two times in her leg.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission will meet on Friday (23) to reach a final decision on the 2023 Local Government Election due to the lack of financing and support from state agencies.Earlier, the Election Commission decided to conduct the Local Government Election on the 9th of March 2023.However, the Government Printer had refused to deliver the ballot papers owing to a payment issues, and this led to the National Election Commission to postpone the postal voting process that was scheduled for this wekk.The Chairman of the National Election Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the Local Government Election was called for legally as per the country's constitutions and the election law.He told News 1st on Thursday (23) that all members of the National Election Commission consented to the Local Government Election Process.He said that given that funds were not being provided to continue with the election process, the National Election Commission will meet on Friday (24) to reach a final decision on the Local Government Election 2023. The statement came from the Elections Chief after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed.The President said the proposed Parliament Select Committee must be appointed to inquire into the Election Commission and the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

PHILADELPHIA - Temple University announced it will pay the funeral costs for slain officer Sgt. Chris Fitzgerald and pay for the tuition's of his five children if they attend Temple.Fitzgerald, 31, was shot to death on Saturday night during a struggle with a suspect later identified as 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer. The teen was arrested at his mother's house less that 24-hours after the deadly shooting and faces a slew of charges, including murder. "It's unfathomable how his joy has led to so much pain for all who knew and loved him," Temple University President Jason Wingard said.

Los Angeles hotel room about a decade ago.Defense attorneys argued in their court filing that evidence involving Jane Doe No. 1 -- the victim in the three counts on which he was convicted - - was wrongly excluded from the trial and that the jury was not properly instructed.Deputy District Attorneys Paul Thompson and Marlene Martinez wrote in a court filing last week that Weinstein is serving a 23-year prison sentence for his convictions for sexually assaulting two women in New York and called his attack on Jane Doe No.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke is ending his time on the council after more than a decade of service. According to the City Council, he served as the president for 12 years and announced Thursday that he would not seek re-election. "I'm extremely proud of the collective work of this legislative body so far during my term as its President," he said. "From making the largest single investment in affordable housing and neighborhood preservation in Philadelphia history, to a comprehensive program to begin moving 100,000 Philadelphians out of poverty, to the work we're doing to invest in community-based violence prevention to make Philadelphia safer, City Council has led the way in taking action to make our city a better, cleaner and safer place to live and work." Clarke began serving on the City Council as a Councilmember for the 5th District in 1999.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited East Palestine, Ohio, on Thursday to tour the site where a train wrecked nearly three weeks ago as the government faces growing criticism over the federal response to the derailment.The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report Thursday on the derailment. NTSB officials have scheduled a news conference at 1 p.m.

common respiratory illness that can cause severe breathing problems, could be approved by August. Pfizer, the maker behind the new RSV vaccine candidate referred to as RSVpreF, announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had accepted its application for review and has set an action date of deciding whether to approve or not by August 2023. "If approved, RSVpreF would help protect infants at their first breath from the devastating effects of this infectious disease, which though well-known, has been particularly evident throughout this RSV season," Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chairman of the National Election Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the Local Government Election was called for legally as per the country's constitutions and the election law.He told News 1st on Thursday (23) that all members of the National Election Commission consented to the Local Government Election Process.He said that given that funds were not being provided to continue with the election process, the National Election Commission will meet on Friday (24) to reach a final decision on the Local Government Election 2023. The statement came from the Elections Chief after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed.The President said the proposed Parliament Select Committee must be appointed to inquire into the Election Commission and the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

₹5 lakh to Rs1 crore for the age bracket of 18 years to 65 years. Let's check the key features under ReAssure 2.0: ReAssure “Forever": In this benefit the base sum insured will be triggered after the first claim and once triggered it will remain forever. This means that the customer will always have a sum-insured equal to his base sum insured available to him after the customer has made his first claim, that too unlimited times in a policy.

In a bid to maximize the use of government funds and ensure that resources are utilized efficiently, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has issued a directive on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, requiring officials purchasing airline for official travel abroad to be on Economy Class.This directive will take effect from March 1, 2023, and supersedes all previous circulars and instructions related to this subject.According to the new directive, officials such as the Hon. Chief Justice, Hon.

COLOMBO (News 1st); U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is urging other leading economies to move faster in resolving debt crises that threaten a growing number of countries.Yellen made the comments in a meeting Thursday with India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on the sidelines of a meeting of financial leaders of the Group of 20 major economies, the Treasury Department said in a statement.U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed."The Election Commission had gone to court and said that it cannot conduct an election. However, an affidavit was provided. It states that the Commission has been informed by the Secretary of the Treasury that he is unable to provide the necessary funds to conduct the election.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka and Japan singed Exchange Notes for a humanitatrian grant of USD 46 Million.Mahinda Siriwardena, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, and Mizukoshi Hideaki, the Ambassador of Japan, signed an Exchange of Notes to secure a humanitarian grant of USD 46 million. The purpose of the grant is to provide diesel fuel to public hospitals throughout Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony took place at the President's Office, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in attendance.Under this agreement, the Government of Japan has committed to supplying 20 million litres of diesel fuel.

Gurugram police has rescued a woman and her son who had locked themselves in a house for three years to avoid the Covid-19 virus. As per the details, the 33-year-old woman locked herself with her minor son in a rented house in Chakkarpur area. A team of police, health department officials, and members of the child welfare department broke open the main door of the house and rescued Munmun Majhi and her 10-year-old son.

WASHINGTON - Proud Boys leaders plotted to violently prevent President Joe Biden from taking office because they were trying to "save the country" from what they feared would be a tyrannical government, a former member of the far-right extremist group told a jury on Wednesday.FILE - Enrique Tarrio (C), leader of the Proud Boys, uses a megaphone while counter-protesting people gathered at the Torch of Friendship to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2021, in Miami, Florida. (Phot Jeremy Bertino, a key government witness in the seditious conspiracy case against former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio and four associates, said he believed an "all-out revolution" was brewing in the days before a mob of Donald Trump supporters attacked the U.S.

Kate McKenna starts her days much like the other parents on her street. She drives her kids to school and returns to her bungalow on a cul-de-sac south of Vancouver.