Low taxes for tobacco & alcohol amidst high food inflation? Sajith questions

Amanda Todd to 13 years in prison — more than prosecutors had asked for.Justice Martha Devlin took the unusual step of handing down a longer sentence than what Crown counsel had argued for in the case of Aydin Coban, who is already serving a nearly 11-year term in the Netherlands for similar crimes.“Ruining Amanda’s life was Mr. Coban’s expressly stated goal and was sadly one that he achieved,” Devlin said in delivering her reasons from her New Westminster courtroom.Mr.

PHILADELPHIA - Leonard Castellanos says it has been wonderful to watch his grandson Nick Castellanos play for the Philadelphia Phillies. That's what he told FOX 29's Chris O'Connell at Truist Park in Georgia ahead of the National League Division Series second game, where the Phillies took on the Atlanta Braves. As Chris navigated the stadium in the rain, he encountered Leonard, a lone Phillies fan in a sea of Braves gear. Leonard then identified himself as the relative of a player before detailing what the experience has been like watching his grandson. "He's one of several grandkids, but at this level, this is unbelievable," he said.

PHILADELPHIA - Nick Castellanos drove in three runs and made a potentially game-saving catch in the ninth inning, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies over the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves 7-6 in the opener of their NL Division Series on Tuesday.The Phillies have won three straight games to begin these playoffs, hardly looking like a team making its first postseason appearance since 2011. They followed up their wild-card sweep of the St.

Ohio are pleading for help in the state's Senate contest, afraid they may lose a winnable election unless national party leaders make major investments in the coming days.So far, the most powerful groups in Democratic politics have prioritized Senate pickup opportunities in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania over Ohio, once a perennial swing state that veered right in the Trump era. But on the eve of the 2022 midterms, some public polls suggest Ohio is as competitive as the other swing states, leaving many Democrats here wondering why their party isn't backing Senate contender Tim Ryan more forcefully."Ohio’s just not a priority anymore.

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker, will meet Friday night for their only debate in Georgia's marquee Senate contest, just days before in-person early voting begins.The 60-minute session, which will take place before a live audience, comes in the wake of reports that Walker paid for a girlfriend to have an abortion in 2009 before later fathering a child with her.

CENTER CITY - Nurses from Temple University Hospital have authorized a strike and they held a rally Friday afternoon outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, with the Magnet Conference happening inside, which celebrates nursing excellence."Safe staffing is our number one priority," Janet Eaton said.Eaton has 40 years of nursing experience with 17 of them at Temple. She says safe staffing, or the ratio of patients to nurses, needs to be lower."It is just unbearable.

HARRISBURG - Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania's Democratic nominee for governor, has smashed the state’s 2-decade-old campaign spending record as he competes against Republican Doug Mastriano, who was on track to spend less than a tenth as much.The race between Shapiro and Mastriano may test how powerful that campaign spending is in one of the nation’s highest-profile races for governor. One candidate has spent more money than any other gubernatorial nominee ever in Pennsylvania, and the other has spent less than any other in at least the past two decades.The money raised by Shapiro has enabled him to run TV ads every day dating to April, helping him lead in polling since the race began.

FILE - Boxes of Eggo Waffles sit for sale at the Metropolitan Citymarket on Feb. 19, 2014, in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.

consumer advocacy group has sent legal notices to 11 sports apparel brands for allegedly selling sports bras and athletic shirts with high levels of BPA, a chemical that can cause health problems if exposure is too high.According to the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), an advocacy group focused on toxic chemicals in products, testing showed the bras and shirts contained more than 22 times the amount of BPA considered safe under California standards. BPA is used to make certain types of plastics and is widely used in almost every industry.The sports bra brands listed are Athleta, PINK, Asics, The North Face, Brooks, All in Motion, Nike and FILA.

NEW YORK (FOX NEWS) - Dane Partridge, an Idaho father and U.S. Army veteran, died this week while "fighting for freedom in Ukraine," his family announced. His father, Dennis Partridge, wrote on Facebook on Saturday that his son was in a coma after being critically injured by a Russian tank blast. Partridge was being treated at Kyiv military hospital and was taken off life support on Tuesday, his family announced. TWO AMERICANS DEAD IN UKRAINE, OFFICIALS SAY"He was a fine soldier who fought with valor and bravery on the battlefield," his family wrote on Facebook.

COATESVILLE, Pa. - Officials with Coatesville Area School District announced the school has received numerous threats within the last week.According to authorities, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, as well as Caln Township police officers are actively investigating at least four different threats to the school.On October 13, the school was put on lockdown after three separate threats regarding weapons were received by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and then passed on to the school.RELATED COVERAGE:The Chester County Sheriff’s Department searched the school for weapons, but found nothing and school was dismissed.Another threat was received by the school Friday, forcing administrators to cancel school for the day. Officials are investigating the threats.Coatesville was forced to cancel their homecoming football game against Downingtown due to credible threats of violence.

A study of 30 million people in the United Kingdom finds that 0.4% of people who completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series had severe breakthrough infections, compared with 0.2% of booster recipients, during Omicron variant predominance.The study, published today in The Lancet, also shows that older adults

US COVID-19 indicators continue to slowly fall, but multiple new Omicron lineages are steadily cutting into the dominance of BA.5, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest update.

FILE-Mark Wahlberg. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images) Mark Wahlberg has left Hollywood behind and moved out of the state to put his family first.Wahlberg, 51, revealed on Tuesday’s "The Talk" that he and his wife moved their four children to Nevada to give them a "better life."During the episode, Wahlberg discussed how he balances his career while also being a present father and husband."That is the biggest challenge," he said.

TROUP COUNTY, Ga. - A Georgia woman is facing charges after authorities say her dogs violently attacked her mother, which resulted in her death.The incident happened the evening of Oct. 7 on Terrace Drive in Troup County.According to Sheriff James Woodruff, 911 dispatchers received a call around 7:45 p.m.

FILE - Voters go to the polls at Sara Smith Elementary polling station, in the Buckhead district, on Jan. 5, 2021, in Atlanta during the Georgia Senate runoff elections. (VIRGINIE KIPPELEN/AFP via Getty Images)The United States has been notoriously known to have one of the lowest voter turnouts of any developed nation in the world.

Robbie Coltrane, who played a crime-solving psychologist on TV series Cracker and the beloved half-giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, has died.He was 72.Coltrane’s agent Belinda Wright said he died Friday at a hospital in Scotland. She did not provide a cause.Coltrane came to fame as a hard-bitten detective in the 1990s series Cracker, for which he won best actor at the British Academy Television Awards three years running.

Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane has passed away at age 72 - following years of ongoing health problems.The Hagrid star touched the hearts of many in his wizarding role but unfortunately suffered his fair share of health issues.No official cause of death has been released to the public.In a statement released on Friday (October 14), his agent Belinda Wright confirmed the news of his passing and said: "My client and friend Robbie Coltrane OBE passed away on Friday October 14.READ MORE: Harry Potter's Tom Felton gushes about 'secret love' for co-star Emma Watson in new book"Robbie was a unique talent, sharing the Guinness Book of Records’ Award for winning three consecutive Best Actor Baftas for his portrayal of Fitz in Granada TV’s series Cracker in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with Sir Michael Gambon."He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years."James Bond fans write too to applaud his role in GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough."For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client. As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him."He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell.

The state of West Virginia is receiving around $1.7 million in federal funding over five years for a behavioral health program treating adults with serious mental illness. The money will be used to serve people living with mental illness who are also living with a physical health condition, chronic disease or substance use disorder, according to a West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources news release.

Total Covid-19 infections in the UK have risen 31 per cent, the biggest percentage jump since June. Most of the country is now seeing a steady increase in virus levels.

On national television, Biden administration spokesperson John Kirby mounted a feeble attempt to explain the president’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military. Kirby, a retired Navy admiral, had no acceptable answers when pressed about the administration’s "folly" and the perilous impact the mandate is already having on our national security. Remarkably, Kirby perpetuated the narrative that the military’s mandate must remain in place while admitting with a straight face that he was quarantined for 10 days due to his current bout with COVID-19, despite being vaccinated and double boosted.

The U.S. extended the public health emergency status for the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday, weeks after President Biden's controversial remarks declaring the pandemic was "over."  The move extends the order through Jan.

Tayla Burke has been working in the world of wellness since 2019 when she first became a health coach. The businesswoman entered the space after embarking on her own self-care journey and finding out what really works. «In my college years, I very quickly realized that I felt my absolute best when I took the time to slow down, listen to what my body was asking for and give it what it needed.… That feeling is what inspired me to dedicate my life to wellness and start a business with the sole mission of helping other women reach the other side that has been so good to me,» she tells ET.The company Burke created, My Girl Wellness, is a community that provides everything from gut health solutions, relatable wellness tips and more. «The inspiration behind My Girl came from my own personal experiences navigating everything it means to be a woman from the good, the bad, and the not so cute parts. For as long as I can remember, I craved a safe space where I could connect with like-minded women, share my most intimate experiences and questions, and even learn from others,» she explains.The brand's debut line, The Better Belly System, made up of three supplements to help with gut health, was also influenced by Burke's personal struggles. «I was the girl who was always bloated, sluggish, and constipated no matter how healthy I ate.… It wasn’t until I crossed paths with a world renowned microbiologist, that I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

An analysis of 11 longitudinal UK studies published today in The Lancet Psychiatry links symptomatic COVID-19 to psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction that didn't abate by 3 months.

PHILADELPHIA - An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection with chaos that erupted on the streets of Old City earlier this month. On October 2, chaos unfolded near the FOX 29 studio at the intersection of Market and 4th Streets. Around 10 p.m. crowds began to gather, blocking traffic in all directions as hundreds of people formed a large circle to watch drag racing, car tricks and fireworks that were set off. The Philadelphia Police Department says officers assigned to a detail responded to Broad and York Streets around 12:30 a.m.

Troy Fletcher, 15 (Philadelphia Police Department)PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have issued a warrant for another suspect in the shooting outside of Roxborough High School that killed a 14-year-old boy late last month. On Friday, police identified Troy Fletcher, 15, as a suspect in the case. He faces multiple charges, including murder, in connection with the shooting. Fletcher is now the fourth suspect to be identified by police following the Sept.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Prosecutors in the case of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are calling for an investigation after a juror said she felt threatened by another member of the jury during deliberations that ended with a life sentence for Cruz’s murder of 17 people.The motion calls for law enforcement to interview the unnamed juror after she told the state attorney’s office about what "she perceived to be a threat from a fellow juror while in the jury room." No further details were given. A hearing was held Friday afternoon, where the judge said the matter should be in the hands of law enforcement.The jury foreman said three of the jurors ultimately voted for life in prison, with one of them being a "hard no" on the death penalty and another two ultimately choosing to vote against it as well.A divided jury spared Cruz the death penalty and instead decided to send him to prison for the rest of his life in a decision that left many families of the victims angered, baffled and in tears.

Vincent van Gogh‘s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London, England, on Friday.The young activists from Just Stop Oil, a U.K.-based climate campaign group, threw the canned soup over the painting, which is protected by glass, and glued their hands to the wall underneath the iconic artwork. Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait discovered on the back of earlier painting Phoebe Plummer, 21, and Anna Holland, 20, removed their jackets to reveal their “Just Stop Oil” T-shirts just before the protest, The Guardian reported.Spectators in the room were audibly shocked by the display, with some in the gallery calling for security.

SKYFOX over Vineland High School after a threat prompted a police investigation.  VINELAND, N.J. - Police departments in multiple southern New Jersey towns are investigating threats against schools that prompted lockdowns on Friday morning. In Toms River, police said they received a call regarding a "potential shooting" at Toms River North High School. Authorities say the school was locked down, but the call was later deemed to be an unfounded threat. Police are investigating it as a swatting incident, which occurs when a prank call is placed to draw a large police presence at a specified location. In Vineland, police say they are also investigating a threat. RELATED: 'A cry for help': Public safety officials, mental health experts weigh in on school threatsOfficers responded on scene and checked the school, saying no danger is present to the students and staff. Barnegat High School also received a threat Friday, according to police. Officials say officers responded to the building and found "no indications reports of anything occurring." Bengal Boulevard will remain closed as officers investigate. Surrounding schools in Barnegat were placed in a shelter-in-place status when the threat was reported. Schools in Barnegat are now under normal operations, but Stafford Township Schools have issued a shelter-in-place as a precaution. This is a developing story.

TRICARE, the health care program for active-duty service members, military retirees, reservists and their families, will drop more than a quarter of the pharmacies in its current network later this month, a move that will force an estimated 400,000 beneficiaries to find new pharmacies. The program said nearly 15,000 independent, community pharmacies will no longer be in the TRICARE network as of October 24.The network will still include more than 40,000 pharmacies across the country.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Irrigation Department has issued flood warnings for the Kelani, Kalu & Attanagalu Oya river basins. According to the Departement, a considerable rainfall has been occurred in these areas, and warns that by analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels there is a possibility of occurring a minor flood situation in the following areas; 1. Lowline areas of Kalu Ganga valley situated in Palinda Nuwara and Bulathsinhala D/S Division within 3 to 48 hours2.

Police officers stand at the scene after three officers were shot and wounded at a home on Oct. 12, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Credit: FOX 29 Philadelphia) It was a violent week across the United States, notably for police officers, after at least 12 in law enforcement were shot in cities spanning coast to coast — leaving at least five of them dead in Connecticut, Mississippi, Nevada, and North Carolina. "We are seeing violence against law enforcement skyrocket," the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the country’s largest police union, said Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA -  Philadelphia police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two suspects wanted in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this month. The incident happened back on Oct. 1, on the 900 block of Marcella Street.Police say the victim, a 42-year-old man, was sitting on his front porch when two male suspects approached him just before midnight.Both men opened fire from the sidewalk, and continued firing as they made their way up the porch stairs, according to police. MORE HEADLINES: Investigators told FOX 29 following the shooting that the suspects continued to fire as the victim laid on the ground.

recession is on the cards as they look ahead to 2023.Though plenty of Canadians remember living through a recession or two, for millions of others it will be the first major downturn in their adult lives. Some are in their late 20s, perhaps thinking of buying a house or already homeowners.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - While self-exams are important to help identify signs of breast cancer, not all forms begin with a lump, including a particularly aggressive type of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.In fact, most women are unaware of the unusual signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, which can include redness of the breast, thickening of the skin, or one breast feeling warmer and heavier than the other, according to a new national U.S. survey conducted just ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The deadly yet rare form of the disease doesn’t look like typical breast cancer because it frequently doesn't cause a breast lump, and it is not commonly picked up by a mammogram, according to the American Cancer Society and the IBC Network Foundation, which offers research and support for patients. It also tends to grow and spread more quickly compared to other types of cancer, often in a matter of days or weeks.FILE - A woman with the help of a nurse gets a mammogram on International Breast Cancer Day on Oct.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka approved power cuts of 1 hours and 20 minutes on 15th and 16th and 2 hours and 20 minutes on 17th October.Accordingly, power cuts will take place as follows;15th & 16th – Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW  – 1 hour and 20 minutes during night17th – Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW  – 1 hour during daytime and 1 hour and 20 minutes during night.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Foreign Minister Ali Sabry made a startling revelation on Friday (14) that the previous Cabinet was not fully aware of the dire situation that the economy was falling into.Speaking at the launch of the book ' Poverty to prosperity: A review of the Korean development model ', the Minister spoke about a number of topics including government responsibility for the prevailing economic crisis and Sri Lanka's foreign policy. Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the Government learned the hard way that the economy is the heart of the country, and if it fails, all else fails. Pointing out that unfortunately, the Ministers of theprevious Cabinet were focusing on their specific areas, such as himself holding the portfolio of the Minister of Justice, Minister Sabry said that he was looking forward to new plans with regard to law reform, digitization, improved infrastructure and more recruitments in the sector, however, confessed that he was unaware of the country's deep economic troubles. Pointing out that if the country's Cabinet's economic literacy is a minimum, then the normal people should be worse in their case, the Minister said that without taxation, there is no future for the country."In 1981, 21% of our GDP was taxes. Today it has come down to 8.3%. So we can point fingers.

PHILADELPHIA - As the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans are celebrating the team's first playoff appearance since 2011, they are also mourning the loss of one of their Minor League players. Corey Phelan joined the Phillies organization in August 2020 and was expected to move up through the Minor League quickly. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2021 and he revealed in May that his diagnosis evolved into Leukemia. A statement from the team was released on the Phillies Player Development Twitter account, saying, "The Phillies family is extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Corey Phelan. Corey's positive presence and selflessness influenced everyone around him.

Omaha, Nebraska public schools are employing $460,000 in federal funding allocated for COVID-19 relief to invest in social emotional learning (SEL) throughout the district, a practice that is popping up across the state and the country, Parents Defending Education found. "The pandemic’s impact has taken a toll on students in particular, contributing to an increase in mental health problems since 2020, according to statewide and national data," the Omaha World-Herald reported earlier this month.

The closing date for the acceptance of the applications to identify the families and individuals who require benefits under Welfare Benefits program initiated on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe under the theme of ‘Leave No One Behind’ is extended for October 28.The Welfare Benefit Board earlier had announced October 15 as the closing date for the application. Hence the opportunity is still remains open for those who are expecting subsidies and yet failed to submit their applications.The Welfare Benefit Board emphasizes that it is mandatory for all families or individuals receiving benefits under Samurdhi, Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons and Kidney Disease Assistance Program and people who are on the waiting list expecting subsidies to submit their applications under the new project.The relevant application form can be downloaded from the official website of the Welfare Benefits Board (www.wbb.gov.lk).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Navy says that a vessel with six sailors, who were engaged in search operations along the southern coast for suspicious vessels, has been missing for about 20 days.Navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva said that the sailors left from the Southern Coast on 16th September for the search operation.However, all communication with the naval vessel in question have been broken since 17th September, the Navy spokesperson said.The missing group were identified as sailors attached to the Southern Naval Command.No information about the missing sailors have been received in the operations carried out by the Navy so far

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A rescue operation has been initiated to find three victims who were trapped under a mound of earth after it collapsed on a two-storey house in Tumbaliyadda area of ​​Warakapola Anguruwella Road.Accordingly, a joint operation with the collaboration of the Police, the Police special task force and the Army has been initiated in this regard, and one person has been rescued so far.The Kegalle District Disaster Management Center said that the mound collapsed due to heavy rain on Friday (14) afternoon.Anushka Chamila, Assistant Director of Kegalle District Disaster Management Center stated that even in the midst of the rain, operations are continuing to search for people trapped in the debris.Meanwhile, landslide warnings have been issued to Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura Districts.Red alerts about landslides were issued to Palindanuvara, Barallavita, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala divisional secretariat divisions in Kalutara District.The other divisional secretariat divisions where red alerts were issued are Ambagamuwa in Nuwaeliya district and Kalawana and Aheliyagoda in Ratnapura district.The National Building Research Organization stated that the people in those areas should be very careful about landslides, landslides, rockfalls and land subsidence.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Trincomalee District Strategic Development Plan is not targeting elections, but a project that has been initiated to benefit future generations.The President said that Sri Lanka values India’s assistance in implementing the Trincomalee district development project, as our closest neighbour.He made this statement by joining the special discussion on the Trincomalee District Development Plan, held today (14) at the grounds of Trincomalee Orr’s Hill.He recollected the objections raised when the Trincomalee oil tanks were to be handed over to India, adding that the country would not have faced a fuel crisis if the decision to provide the oil tanks had received the green light to be fully implemented.Prior to the commencement of the discussion, President Wickremesinghe inspected several places proposed to be developed under the Trincomalee District Development Plan.The President was able to view the locations proposed under the Trincomalee District Development Plan from the Orr’s Hill vantage point.Further, following the discussion, the President also inspected the proposed project to develop the beach and recreation facilities near the Trincomalee Gandhi Roundabout, as a tourist attraction.Meanwhile, the President who also met a group of Trincomalee District regional journalists and had a cordial discussion.President Ranil Wickremesinghe, further commenting in the discussion regarding the Trincomalee District Development Plan said,“We are not initiating this project targeting the next election, but for the benefit of the next generation. In 2023 we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

PHILADELPHIA - Four people are recovering after they were shot in Kensington early Friday morning, according to authorities. Officials say officers responded to the 800 block of East Willard Street for a report of a person with a gun. Responding officers found four gunshot victims, according to police. Authorities say a 30-year-old man was shot in the ankle, a 43-year-old man was shot in the left foot, an 18-year-old female suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and a graze wound to the back, and a 29-year-old man was shot in the hand and ankle. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAll four victims were transported to Temple University Hospital, where they are in stable condition, according to police. Officials say there have been no arrests and that the investigation is ongoing with the department's Shooting Investigation Group. 

LONDON - Climate protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" in London’s National Gallery on Friday to protest fossil fuel extraction.The group Just Stop Oil, which wants the British government to halt new oil and gas projects, said activists dumped two cans of Heinz tomato soup over the oil painting, one of the Dutch artist’s most iconic works.London’s Metropolitan Police said officers arrested two people on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.The group has drawn attention, and criticism, for targeting artworks in museums.

Dennis Kim of Pruitt's Seafood sorts Alaska Snow Crabs (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Alaska officials have canceled the fall Bristol Bay red king crab harvest, and for the first time, have also scrapped the winter harvest of smaller snow crab.The move is a double whammy to a fleet from Alaska, Washington and Oregon chasing Bering Sea crab in harvests that in 2016 grossed $280 million, The Seattle Times reported. According to CBS News, an estimated 1 billion crabs have disappeared, a 90% drop in population.The closures reflect conservation concerns about both crab species following bleak summer populations surveys.

Ottawa residents who lived through the convoy blockade in late January and February told the inquiry probing the invocation of the Emergencies Act that they felt “terrified” and felt they had “no escape” from the blaring horns, diesel fumes and fireworks pinging off their windows.

With employment insurance premiums set to rise in the new year, both employers and workers are calling on the federal government to step in and rescue the program from the considerable amount of debt it has fallen into since the COVID-19 pandemic.