France seeks strategy change to reduce troops in West Africa

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila told Parliament on Wednesday (23) that importing fuel has become a challenge.“Over 50% of our export revenue is used to purchase fuel for the country,” he said, adding that at the Emergency Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday (22) the Treasury Secretary instructed the Bank of Ceylon to release funds for a tanker with Diesel.He admitted there is a shortage of Diesel in the country as the CPC restricted its Diesel supplies to the filling stations over the past 5 days, due to the payment issue for the tanker with Diesel at the Colombo Port.“Since December 20th, the global crude oil prices have increased by 38%. However, Sri Lanka did not increase prices.

Alabama man who was arrested last month for littering after he placed a box of flowers at his fiancée’s grave in Auburn, according to reports. Winchester Hagans lost his fiancée, Hannah Ford, in a car crash on January 17th, 2021, the same day the couple visited their future wedding venue in Notasulga, about 12 miles southwest of Auburn.Hagans said he remembered kissing Ford good-bye as she prepared to drive home to Montgomery, about 45 miles away, WRBL-TV reported. Ford, 27, died in a three-vehicle car crash shortly after. It was roughly one month after he popped the question. "The last things I heard her say were, I love you, and I hate leaving you," Hagans told the station.After her death, Hagans built a flower box filled with her favorite flowers and covered it with engagement pictures for placement at Hannah’s grave at Auburn’s Memorial Park Cemetery.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Samagi Jana Balavegaya, one of the main opposition factions in Sri Lanka has filed a special petition with the Supreme Court challenging the proposed Surcharge Tax Bill that was presented to Parliament.The Government on Tuesday (22) presented the proposed Surcharge Tax Bill to Parliament.The special application challenging the Bill was submitted by the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and it seeks a Supreme Court ruling to term the Bill as inconsistent with the constitution.The Bill, which imposes a retrospective one-time surcharge tax of 25% on persons and companies with a taxable income over Rs. 2 billion for the year 2020/2021, was presented by Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Tuesday (22).The Bill was drafted in keeping with the proposal in the 2022 Budget to impose a one-off 25% surcharge tax on individuals or companies earning taxable income more than Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has thanked Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for highlighting the fact that power cuts are severely affecting the students sitting for the G. C.

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Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard has said how his colleague Kate Garraway will "never give up" on her husband Derek Draper as he battles to cope with the effects of severe Covid on his body.Derek, 54, was admitted to hospital in March 2020 and placed into a coma after being infected with Covid-19.After spending an entire year in hospital he has now returned home but is unable to properly move or communicate after suffering damage all over his body and requires round-the-clock care.Kate's close friend and fellow presenter on Good Morning Britain Ben appeared on ITV documentary Caring For Derek, which charts Derek's slow recovery and his wife's struggle caring for him.In the documentary Ben said Kate will always stand by her man despite her admitting he’s almost a "stranger" now.He said: "Derek has undoubtedly changed from the man I knew a couple of years ago, and certainly from the person that Kate fell in love with."He admitted Kate will find trying to accept what the future might look like "really difficult"."One thing everybody knows about Kate is that she hates letting anybody down," Ben said."The idea that she would think that people might think she’s given up would so far removed from who she is, what motivates her and what drives her on."I don’t think she ever will [give up]."Kate discussed her life with Derek before he fell ill in the documentary, saying she "married someone who was loud and fast-talking, challenging and loving and all of those things"."And the person he is now in many ways is a stranger," she added.She said that while he may never "command a room with a thesis on modern psychology again", she wondered if that is "the be-all and end-all".Kate said: "If we have a love and he can be a dad

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled sanctions against Russia after it ordered its military into Donetsk and Luhansk, two of Ukraine’s rebel-held regions.

Herd immunity is an elusive concept and doesn’t apply to coronavirus," says Dr. Don Milton at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate allegations against the Anti-corruption Committee and its Secretariat will commence recording evidence from the 28th of February 2022.The Department of Government Information said recording of evidence will commence at 10:30 AM on the 28th of February 2022 at the BMICH premises.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed the Special Presidential Commission on the 28th of January 2021, as per provisions of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act No.

Nicola Sturgeon announced in the Scottish Parliament yesterday that the majority of covid restrictions would be dropped next month.

COVID-19 vaccines is struggling to place more than 300 million doses in the latest sign the problem with vaccinating the world is now more about demand than supply.Last year, wealthy nations snapped most of the available shots to inoculate their own citizens first, meaning less than a third of people in low-income countries have been vaccinated so far compared with more than 70% in richer nations.As supply and donations have ramped up, however, poorer nations are facing hurdles such as gaps in cold-chain shortage, vaccine hesitancy and a lack of money to support distribution networks, public health officials told Reuters.In January, COVAX, the global vaccine program run by Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), had 436 million vaccines to allocate to countries, according to a document published in mid-February.

A new Angus Reid poll reveals Canadian families have had to switch up their food menus, as the cost of food continues to rise. Grace Ke reports.

RCMP have released video of individuals involved in the alleged attacks on the Coastal GasLink camp near Houston, B.C., on Feb. 17, 2022. It appears one employee captured part of the incident on a smartphone from inside a truck.

Tamara Lich, a key organizer of the “Freedom Convoy” has been denied bail, leaving her behind bars until her trial.

As the Russian military advances into Donetsk and Luhansk, which the U.S. calls the start of an invasion, anxiety is growing among people in Ukraine. But as Crystal Goomansingh reports, a sense of national unity is also rising.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne who is currently in Pakistan on an official visit, called on the Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, Admiral M Amjad Khan Niazi at the Pakistan Navy Headquarters on 22nd February 2022.At the invitation of his Pakistan Navy counterpart, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne left for Pakistan on 21st February on a formal visit and he is accompanied by the President of Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Chandima Ulugetenne in this official visit.Beginning his itinerary, the Commander of the Navy visited the Pakistan Navy Headquarters where he was warmly received by the Pakistan Navy Chief in accordance with naval traditions.The ensuing discussion between them focused on several matters of regional security and bilateral importance.The Pakistani Naval Chief highlighted Pakistan Navy initiatives for ensuring maritime security and peace in the region through Regional Maritime Security Patrols.The visiting Admiral appreciated and acknowledged the Pakistan Navy’s efforts and commitments in support of collaborative maritime security in the region.The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy was also briefed on Pakistan Navy operational capabilities.It is expected that the ongoing visit of the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy will further enhance bilateral collaboration between the two countries.The cordial discussion came to an end with an exchange of mementos, marking the significance of this occasion.

Texas Starbucks employees are being credited for their quick thinking after they helped a local teenager feel safe when she was being bothered by a man she didn’t know.

The investigation into an alleged attack on a natural gas pipeline worksite in northern B.C. continues, say the Mounties, who released three video clips on Tuesday of the incident.

Jane Marczewski, the America’s Got Talent contestant known by her artist name “Nightbirde,” died Saturday after four years of living with breast cancer. She was 31.

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PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia community is rallying together to try to curtail crime and violence that has gripped their once peaceful neighborhood. Melissa Brannon, a 10 year resident of Fairmount, organized a town watch and for that last month has gathered with neighbors to strategize about how to make their community safer.  She was inspired to make a change after a recent spike in crime that included four broad daylight carjackings and a shooting in front of a popular neighborhood bar. Brannon recruited Anthony Murphy, the Executive Director of Town Watch Integrated Services, to lead the training. Fairmount neighborhood watch participants gathered to learn special training.

Cell Tower PHOENIX - For a number of Americans, their current smartphones will stop working this year, as major cell service providers say they will switch off their 3G network, also referred to on some websites as the 3G sunset.Here's what you need to know to plan ahead.According to officials with the FCC, mobile carriers "periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G.""Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands," read a portion of the FCC website dedicated to the pending 3G shutoff.FCC officials say similar network transitions have happened before, such as the switchoff of 2G networks by some mobile carriers when their networks were being upgraded to support 4G services.Officials with AT&T say their 3G network has been phased out, effective Feb. 22.T-Mobile has a more complicated schedule in their 3G network switchoff.

PHILADELPHIA - A heartbroken Philadelphia mother is begging for justice after her son died in a broad daylight street shooting a week ago in Germantown. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were dispatched to the 500 block of East Duval Street around noon on Feb. 15 for reports of a shooting. Police found 26-year-old Kadene Bryant lying on the street with three deadly gunshot wounds to the head. Mignon Bryant, the victim's mother, said Kadene was the father of a 4-year-old and soon-to-be fiancé. Police say 26-year-old Kadene Bryant was shot and killed in broad daylight in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood.

ELVERSON, Pa. - A Chester County high school is feeling a strong push to change its mascot that many argue is an offensive characterization of Native Americans. More than 50 people showed up to a meeting Tuesday night and many joined online as Twin Valley High School Senior Arden Wolfe continued her two-year campaign to switch the school's ‘Raider’ mascot. "It just kind of portrays harmful stereotypes of Native Americans," Wolfe said. "I think it is really important to represent Native Americans in a good way and not use people as mascots."She isn't alone, Wolfe has collected thousands of signatures on an online petition that moves to upend the Raider namesake and the imagery associated with it. A Twin Valley High School Senior is leading the charge to get the school's Raider mascot changed.

PHILADELPHIA - As more states continue to drop mask mandates amid a steady decline in COVID-19 cases, schools are also deciding if students and teachers can ditch the mask to bring normalcy back to the classroom. Garnett Valley School District became the latest local district to make masks optional for students and faculty members effective immediately. Radnor Township School District is also expected to make masks optional after officials heard over 3 hours of public comment on Tuesday mostly in favor of dropping the requirement."I’m ready to take it off because I’m ready to see people's faces again and I think they’ll make personal connections more meaningful again," said Jordan Paszamant, a 12th grader at Friends Central. According to Johns Hopkins University data over the weekend, total confirmed cases of COVID-19 barley exceeded 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 five weeks ago on Jan. 16.COVID-19 hospitalizations are down from a national seven-day average of 146,534 on Jan.

COLOMBO (News 1st); All the volumes, including the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks and related witness records, were tabled in Parliament on Wednesday (23).The complete 88-volume report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry was handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by the Director-General of Legal Affairs of the Presidential Secretariat, Harigupta Rohanadeera on Tuesday (22).The final report of the PCoI into the Easter Sunday attacks was handed over to Parliament on April 8, 2021 but the witness records were not released due to legal reasons.The relevant files were handed over to Parliament on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry should be communicated to the public and for further perusal by the Members of Parliament.Accordingly, the Members of Parliament will now be allowed to peruse the report.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the Major League Baseball logo atop the Philadelphia Phillies dugout during the Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 20, 2020 at Citizen JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - Another day ran off the clock on talks to salvage opening day when locked-out baseball players proposed what they considered a small move forward in drawn-out labor negotiations and management termed it a third straight step backward.Management again proposed a federal mediator enter the negotiations, but the union immediately turned down that idea, leaving Major League Baseball on track to lose regular-season games to a labor dispute for the first time since 1995.Less than a week remains until the sides reach what management says is a Monday deadline for a deal that would allow the season to start as scheduled on March 31.

Gloria Reyes PHOENIX - Court documents show police in Phoenix have arrested a homeless woman for allegedly shooting and killing her own father.The suspect, identified in court documents as Gloria Loreal Reyes, was arrested on the morning of Feb. 21.

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Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

COLOMBO (News 1st): The supply of electricity will be disrupted for over 4-hours on Wednesday (Feb. 23), as requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.Accordingly, Groups A, B, and C will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 40 minutes.All other groups will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 30 minutes.The PUCSL announced the power cut schedule for today (23)…The Ceylon Electricity Board pointed out that this situation has arisen due to the lack of sufficient fuel stocks for the generation of 541 MW of power at plants.According to the CEB, the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant has been inactive since yesterday afternoon, due to the shortage of Diesel.The Kelanitissa Power Plant also halted operations due to the Diesel shortage, Andrew Navamuni, the spokesperson for the Ceylon Electricity Board told News 1st.Furnace Oil was pumped to the Sapugaskanda Power Station yesterday, adding that this fuel stock will be used to generate electricity today (23), he noted.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has announced a power cut schedule for Wednesday (23).Groups A, B, and C will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 40 minutes.All other groups will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 30 minutes.Find out what time your local area will experience a power cut following the tables below:

A 43-year-old man was shot and killed at a storage facility in Crescentville. PHILADELPHIA - Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Tuesday night near a storage facility in Philadelphia's Crescentville section. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 6200 block of Oxford Avenue around 6:30 p.m.

RELATED: Biden imposes sanctions against Russian oligarchs, banks for ‘beginning’ of Ukraine invasionNow it’s become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Russia to deter further military moves against Ukraine. THE RUNDOWN Nord Stream 2 is a 764-mile-long natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, running from Russia to Germany's Baltic coast. It runs parallel to an earlier Nord Stream pipeline and would double its capacity, to 110 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It means the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom can send gas to Europe's pipeline system without using existing pipelines running through Ukraine and Poland.WHY DOES RUSSIA WANT THE PIPELINE? State-owned gas giant Gazprom says it will meet Europe's growing need for affordable natural gas and complement existing pipelines through Belarus and Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 would offer an alternative to Ukraine's aging system that Gazprom says needs refurbishment, lower costs by saving transit fees paid to Ukraine, and avoid episodes like brief 2006 and 2009 gas cutoffs over price and payment disputes between Russia and Ukraine. Europe is a key market for Gazprom, whose sales support the Russian government budget.

, Delhi reported 498 fresh Covid-19 cases and one fatality, while the positivity rate remained below one per cent (0.96%), according to the daily health bulletin issued by the government.

Mackenzie County, Alberta’s largest and most northern county, says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy. Lisa MacGregor reports.

Tuesday’s throne speech was used as a rally cry for another convoy protest that converged on the Alberta legislature. As Dan Grummett explains, there was noticeably less honking than in recent weekend demonstrations, but still plenty of frustration in the air.

MEDIA, Pa. - Delaware County on Tuesday introduced the leaders of its newly formed health department nearly two years after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the county's public health weakness. The Delaware County Health Department will entrust Melissa Lyon to make health decisions for a county with a population of more than half a million residents. "Our job is to prevent illness, disease, death, so ultimately we’re working to keep people from using the emergency room, period," Lyon said. The department will operate with a $10M budget and use the money in part to inspect restaurants, test water and track disease. The ongoing fight against the COVID-19 virus will also be a big chunk of the department's purpose. "It’s still COVID," Lyon said.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Authorities in Tennessee are looking for a group of women who robbed a 78-year-old woman while she prayed in church.Clarksville police said the robbery happened Feb. 9 inside the sanctuary at Hilldale Baptist Church.Officers said the elderly woman was praying when two women approached her, asking for prayers as well.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Tonga's main internet connection to the rest of the world has finally been restored more than five weeks after a huge volcanic eruption and tsunami severed a crucial undersea cable.Three people in Tonga were killed by the Jan. 15 tsunami, dozens of homes were destroyed and drinking water was tainted.The fiber-optic cable is now fully operational again after being reconnected Tuesday, said Samiuela Fonua, the chairperson at Tonga Cable Ltd., the state-owned company that owns the cable."It's a huge relief when you know things have come to the end and are working well," Fonua told The Associated Press.

Iron Maiden will commemorate the 40th anniversary of their chart-topping album, "The Number Of The Beast," that catapulted them to international fame and success. (Credit: Iron Maiden) The English heavy metal band Iron Maiden will go old school and release its chart-topping third album "The Number Of The Beast" on cassette tape to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The band will release the tape on March 18 but it can be pre-ordered. The album was first released in the United Kingdom in March 1982, featuring Bruce Dickinson as the vocalist.

BOSTON, Mass. - The strange case of a New England college student who had both his legs amputated after eating leftovers is getting renewed attention thanks to a viral video. The 19-year-old man in question was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Massachusetts General Hospital as a result of "shock, multiple organ failure, and rash," according to a March 2021 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The YouTube channel "Chubbyemu," run by Dr. Bernard Hsu, a licensed toxicologist, posted a video of the case on Feb.

Despite Buckingham Palace saying she’s only experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, Queen Elizabeth has cancelled all her virtual engagements.

Alberta could be lifting its mask mandate as early as next Tuesday, but people in Edmonton might need to mask-up for a bit longer. Despite what the province does, the city still has its own face covering bylaw in place. Kim Smith explains.

A throne speech read by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani on Tuesday outlined an Alberta government plan to double the number of surgeries done in private facilities, increase the number of intensive care bed spaces and recruit more specialized health professionals.

PARIS – France is launching a new government service empowered to take money directly from the bank accounts of parents who fail to pay child support, aiming to help many families — the vast majority of whom are headed by single mothers — emerge from precarious financial situations.President Emmanuel Macron denounced in a tweet unpaid child support as “an unbearable situation for hundreds of thousands of single parents,” before visiting a benefits agency Tuesday in Tours, in central France, which is providing the new service. “Thank you” for the measure, a single mother of three told Macron, detailing at length her personal situation, involving domestic violence and harassment from her ex-husband and deep financial difficulties.