No-deal Brexit planning 'undermined preparation for coronavirus pandemic', adviser claims

COVID on Wednesday, with 364 in intensive care units as overall figures continue to trend downwards.This is down by 147 hospitalizations but a decrease of 20 in ICUs since the previous day. Last Wednesday, there were 2,059 hospitalizations with 449 in ICU.The province recently began distinguishing between those who were admitted to hospital directly because of COVID, and those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Of the 1,403 people in hospital with COVID-19, 54 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 364 people in ICUs with the virus, 82 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 18 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia officials have announced that the city would be ending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor dining under a new, tiered system of safety standards and protective measures.  City leaders and health officials announced the new standards during their weekly briefing on Wednesday as case counts have dropped significantly over the past several weeks.

Statistics Canada says annual pace of inflation topped five per cent for the first time in more than 30 years.The agency says the annual inflation rate rose to 5.1 per cent in January compared with a gain for 4.8 per cent in December.Driving much of the increase in January were prices for housing, gasoline and groceries.

Charles Hamelin added to his Olympic legacy on Wednesday after helping Canada win gold in the men’s 5,000-metre relay speed skating final in Beijing.Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion took home the top prize with a time of six minutes 41.25 seconds. South Korea finished with silver after skating 6:41.69, and Italy clocked in at 6:43.431 for bronze.The short-track event was the last Olympic competition for 37-year-old Hamelin, and the medal win places him alongside Cindy Klassen as the most decorated winter Canadian Olympian.“I just think if you put the work in, anything is possible,” Hamelin told reporters after the win.“Finishing on top of the podium with these guys, it is living your dream.”A five-time Olympian, the Sainte-Julie, Que., native has now won six Olympic medals, including four gold, making him Canada’s most decorated male winter Olympian.

Motorists in traffic drive south on Highway 101 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Anyone who has ever been temporarily blinded by high-beam headlights from an oncoming car will be happy to hear this.U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after he was stabbed multiple times inside a Kensington home. The incident happened at approximately 4:39 a.m. on the 2900 block of Ruth Street. Police say a 30-year-old man was stabbed to the forehead, abdomen, left shoulder, and both thighs. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. An arrest has been made and a weapon was recovered.

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SYDNEY - A swimmer off of a Sydney beach in Australia died on Wednesday after suffering "catastrophic injuries" from a great white shark — the first fatal shark attack in the area since 1963.The attack was reported at about 4:35 p.m. local time near Buchan Point, Malabar, where Little Bay Beach is located, according to a statement from New South Wales police.

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PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a man that was stabbed to death early Wednesday in North Philadelphia. The incident happened just after 1 a.m. on the 700 block of Huntington Street.Police say the man was stabbed one time in the back and was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.There is no word on any arrests yet.

Data on alcohol drinking is unreliable

Mumbai, taking the cumulative tally to 10,54,732, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday.

Ottawa is getting sweeping new powers after triggering the Emergencies Act to end Canada’s disruptive protests against COVID mandates.

Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 64,40,371, according to the state health department. 

UK on Delta-Omicron recombinant variant of SARS-COV-2

PTI on Wednesday. 

BEIJING - Minutes after failing to score in the shootout as the Americans’ last chance to stay alive at the Olympics, captain Andy Miele took off his gloves to wipe the tears coming out of his eyes."I’m just sad it’s over," he said.With one bad bounce in the final minute of regulation that became the tying goal and an unsuccessful shootout, the United States is out of the men’s hockey tournament at the Beijing Games after a shocking 3-2 loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The previously unbeaten U.S. that earned the top seed in the knockout round and looked poised for a deep run instead was dealt the same result as the 2018 group in the last Olympics without NHL players."This one’s going to sting for a little bit," veteran defenseman Steven Kampfer said.

NEW YORK - Police say they have found a little New York girl who had been missing for nearly three years.Paislee Shultis, then 4 years old, was reported missing from Cayuga Heights in Tompkins County on July 13, 2019.  At the time of her disappearance, police thought that she might have been abducted by her non-custodial parents, Kimberly Cooper and Kirk Shultis Jr.On Monday, police in Saugerties say they had a warrant to search the home of Paislee's grandfather after receiving a tip. The girl's biological father was one of the residents.

NASA says. As a bonus, the full moon will appear low on the west-northwestern horizon near Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Regulus is the brightest star seen in the constellation Leo, which is typically best seen in the Northern Hemisphere's late winter and spring, according to the space agency.February’s snow moon reaches peak illumination at 11:59 a.m.

iPhones always work like a dream when we buy them. Then, like any other device, it starts slowing down.However, following one simple advice can help improve your iPhone’s performance, make sure it operates for longer and even increase its worth if you choose to resell it later.All you need to do is preserve your phone’s battery health. This is a common piece of advice that most iPhone users have probably heard but taken for granted often.Here are eight handy tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to ensure that your iPhone battery remains healthy and efficient for longer.

Volunteers from around the UK are being recruited to take part in a new study for an Omicron booster jab.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For Los Angeles Rams' Van Jefferson, Sunday was a night full of emotional highs mixed with even more highs.Not only did the second-year wide receiver played part in the Rams' 23-20 Super Bowl LVI win, but the 25-year-old and his wife, Samaria, made national headlines after the game after it was revealed that the couple was about to welcome their second child on Super Bowl Sunday.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rams WR Van Jefferson's wife rushed to hospital after going into labor during Super Bowl LVIAs Samaria was reportedly rushed to the hospital in the middle of Sunday's game, which Van didn't know at the time, NFL Films captured the dramatic moment the Rams wide receiver found out his wife was in labor."Your wife is giving birth right now," a Rams staff member told Van in the video."Oh my gosh!" Van exclaimed.As soon as Van heard the news, he turned to his daughter to tell him that they need to leave SoFi Stadium."Mommy's finna have a baby," Van calmly explained to his daughter. "We gotta go!"Below is the video of the dramatic but wholesome exchange between the dad and soon-to-be big sis.Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.The Rams wide receiver eventually took to social media to give the announcement fans had anxiously waited: the birth of the couple's second child!On Valentine's Day, the day after the birth of their newborn baby, Van took to Twitter to pay tribute to Samaria with the caption reading, "MVP."Jefferson finished the game with four catches and 23 receiving yards in Sunday's historic win.Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.Advertisement

MOSCOW - Russia said Wednesday it was returning more troops and weapons to bases, but NATO declared it saw no sign of a drawdown as fears that Moscow could invade Ukraine soon persisted.Russia has massed about 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine, sparking Western concerns it was planning an attack. Moscow denies it has any such plans and this week said it was pulling back some forces and weapons, though it gave few details.

LOS ANGELES - California will soon move on from the indoor mask mandate.This comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced earlier in February that the state's indoor mask mandate will expire after Tuesday, February 15. But before you start to consider ditching the masks, a major caveat Californians must take into account is that local governments can continue to continue their own version of the indoor mask mandates. Here are notable counties that announced it will not align with the state's decision to ditch the indoor mask mandate:As for Southern California counties, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties are aligning with the state's decision to part with the indoor mask mandate starting Wednesday, February, 16. In Los Angeles County, all indoor public settings are still required to have everyone mask up, regardless of their vaccination status.Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka says it supports the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.Calls have been mounting from human rights bodies to amend the law ahead of this month’s UN human rights council sessions.The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has told diplomats this week that it supports the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.It said terrorism should be investigated under the general law by making necessary amendments.In a statement, the HRCSL said it is also advocating amendments to the Human Rights Commission Act, to achieve greater transparency.It added that it will implement a national preventive mechanism under which there will be regular visits of suspects to prevent torture.The commission also said it is also advocating for re-trials of rejected appeals instead of presidential pardons.It noted that a project is being designed to address issues of plantation workers.

NEW YORK - A Long Island La-Z Boy furniture store on Sunrise Highway went up in flames Wednesday after a gasoline tank truck slammed into the buildingThe roughly 13,000-gallon truck struck the empty store in Rockville Center at about 1:15 a.m. and spread to another building and the street.

PALM COAST, Fla. - A Palm Coast man is accused of beating his nine-year-old son after he and his younger brother made several iPad app purchases. Deputies said Andrew Atkerson picked up his son and threw him against the walls and closets in their home on Feb 3. The alleged beating left bruises under both of the boy's eyes, his left hip, and his upper back right shoulder. According to the Flagler Sheriff's Office, the child's mother reported the incident after picking him up from school and seeing the bruises. When Atkerson was questioned about the bruises, he told the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), "I might have over punished them a little bit."Since 2004, Atkerson has faced 20 different charges in California and Florida, according to authorities.

Rylan Clark has opened up about his mental health struggles, admitting that his “crisis” hit him “like a baseball bat”.The now-BBC Radio 2 presenter shot to fame when he finished in fifth place on Simon Cowell’s talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2012.He has since gone on to work in television and the media, and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, as well as becoming the host of Supermarket Sweep.Rylan broke up with his husband Dan Neal after a six year marriage in June last year, and admitted that he had been “going through a tough time” earlier this year.Now, Rylan has opened up on his ‘Ry-Union’ podcast about his struggles with mental health.The star’s guest Ella Henderson was talking about the honesty involved in creating her new album when the pair got onto the topic of mental health.“Mental health is so prevalent, it’s one of those things that people are talking more and more openly about,” Rylan said.“I’ve never in my life thought that I would ever go through a crisis like that, but I did ultimately.“It literally hit me round the face like a baseball bat, because I thought that I was too strong for it, like I’m never going to let anything like that happen to me.“But then it does, and it’s really really hard to deal with.”The showbiz star took some time out after his breakup, and recently updated his Instagram followers when he reassured fans that he would be back soon after he pulled out of his radio show because of illness.The 33 year-old posted a picture of a cannula in his arm, but didn’t elaborate on his condition.In an interview with The Guardian earlier this year, Rylan admitted that he had lost weight rapidly after splitting with Dan, reportedly shrinking to 9 stone despite his lanky 6ft 4in frame.To get more

BBC Radio 2 presenter admitted that the breakup “hit him round the face” as he “never thought’ he would experience something like it.Speaking on his podcast Ry-Union, the Strictly: It Takes Two host confessed the split was “really hard to deal with”.He explained: “I’ve never in my life thought that I would go through a crisis like that."But I did, ultimately, and it literally hit me round the face like a baseball bat, because I always thought I was too strong for it."Like, I’m never going to let anything like that happen to me, but then it does and it’s really, really hard to deal with.”Earlier this month, Rylan sparked concerns over his health after being rushed to hospital over a bout of ill health.The reason for his hospitalisation was not confirmed, but he previously told his fans he had come down with the flu and was bedridden for a few days.Due to his health issue, Rylan could be set to miss his Rylan On Saturday radio show for the second week in a row.He has been temporarily replaced on the BBC Radio 2 show by presenter OJ Borg.It has not yet been confirmed whether Rylan will be well enough to host the show this weekend.But yesterday the TV star shared a new update to let fans know he will be “back soon”.In an Instagram post, Rylan gave his 1.5 million followers an insight into how he is keeping his spirits up while he receives treatment.He uploaded a picture of a huge jar filled with Kinder Happy Hippos with a tower of boxes of the popular chocolate visible in the background.The snap also showed a pile of Nutella and breadsticks.Rylan captioned the post: “Whenever I feel ill I turn into such a child.“Resting up be back sooooooon.” (sic)Fans promptly took to the post’s comments section to send Rylan their

GENEVA :

Craig David has postponed his BRITs Week show for War Child this week after testing positive for COVID.The singer and rapper was set to play a gig at London’s Under The Bridge venue tomorrow (February 17) as part of a series of charity shows in the capital surrounding the 2022 BRIT Awards, which were held at The O2 last Tuesday (February 8).Taking to his social media accounts to reveal the diagnosis and postpone the show, David wrote: “I’m so sorry, but I woke up feeling a touch funky this morning so I did some tests and unfortunately tested positive for COVID. I’m feeling ok and just taking it easy in isolation.“Apologies to anyone coming to my BRITs War Child show this coming Thursday, it has been rescheduled and will now happen on Thursday 10th March… I hope you can all still make it!”A post shared by Craig David (@craigdavid)Later this year, Craig David is set to release a new album called ’22’.

COLOMBO (News 1st): All possible steps will be taken to prevent Indian fishermen from illegal fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, by breaching the maritime boundaries, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries emphasized on Wednesday (Feb. 16).Discussions in this regard will be held with the Government of India in the coming weeks, Indu Ratnayake, the Secretary to the Fisheries Ministry told News 1st.The Indian Government has also agreed to hold discussions, according to Ratnayake.The authorities are focusing on future steps that could be taken with regard to the vessels and fishing gear seized by security forces, she further noted.

The President of the ASTI has said the union would be "cautious" about any changes to the current mask mandate in schools.

CNBC, he said, "I think that is a reasonable scenario." “There’s an 80% chance that as omicron evolves or SarsCov-2 virus evolves, we are going to see less and less virulent viruses," the Moderna CEO said.

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Before a civil trial could go ahead, Prince Andrew has reached an out-of-court settlement with Virgina Giuffre, who’s accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.

Rylan Clark has revealed that he felt as though he was "hit round the face" following his split from Dan Neal after six years of marriage.TV and radio presenter Rylan took four months off work on BBC Radio 2 and was later hospitalised after "losing" himself over the separation. Now, the 33 year old, who recently shared a health update after being rushed to hospital with a mystery illness, has opened up on his mental wellbeing on his podcast Ry-Union, where he explained the break up was "hard to deal with". “I’ve never in my life thought that I would go through a crisis like that," he shared.

EastEnders actress June Brown has turned another year older and marked her 94th birthday on February 16.The soap icon is beat known for playing Dot Cotton and joined the BBC One soap back in 1985.In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards and previously received the Lifetime Achievement award at the British Soap Awards.June was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to drama and to charity.In 2009, she was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, making her the second performer to receive a BAFTA nomination for their work in a soap opera, after Jean Alexander.It was announced in February 2020 that June had decided to leave EastEnders behind and quit her role as chain-smoking Dot permanently.To celebrate the birthday girl, Daily Star has taken a look back at her wild life from opening up about being "sick and tired" of having sex to her unexpected friendship with pop sensation turned Hollywood actress Lady Gaga.June was born on 16 February 1927 in Needham Market, Suffolk and was one of five children.Her younger brother John Peter died of pneumonia in 1932 at 15 days old, and her elder sister Marise died in 1934 aged eight from a meningitis-like illness. She was educated at St John's Church of England School in Ipswich and then won a scholarship to Ipswich High School, where she passed the school certificate examinations.During the Second World War, she was evacuated to the Welsh village of Pontyates in Carmarthenshire.

schools which have been conducting online classes, too, shifted to the physical mode today. "Making them adapt to a new atmosphere which is different from the familiar comforts of their homes will be our primary task. 

Gemma Collins has revealed she's had to have a nurse come to her home and administer an IV drip after struggling to recover from coronavirus. Former The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma, 41, opened up to fans on her Instagram stories as she filmed herself having a vitamin C drip put in and explained she's been feeling "exhausted" lately. As Gemma filmed herself with the cannula in her arm, which was being fixed on by her nurse, she explained to her followers: "So guys, today I am poorly.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Director General of Health Services has issued a circular with respect to the deaths reported in Sri Lanka.According to the circular, all deaths that take place in hospitals and residences or other locations are NOT subject to mandatory PCR tests.However, a PCR can be carried out on the remains of a deceased person at the discretion of the Judicial Medical Officer.

Senior civil servants will meet tomorrow ahead of NPHET's review on Thursday of mask wearing requirements in schools and other settings.

New Zealand Covid-19 infections reached a record high as anti-vaccine protesters claimed victory after police failed to clear vehicles blocking the streets around parliament.

For the first time in Canadian history, Ottawa granted itself extraordinary powers. Invoking the Emergencies Act, Monday, in a move designed to choke off the money keeping protesters across the country fueled and fed. Aaron McArthur reports.

A B.C. woman who claims she was sexually assaulted on a North Vancouver trail is criticizing RCMP for their delayed response to her report. Rumina Daya reports.

After 18 days of disrupting a Canada-U.S. border crossing, anti-COVID mandate protesters have dispersed their blockade near Coutts, Alberta.

COVID.