Protestors set up camp in Galle Face to continue protests

ANI.

Scots will no longer be legally required to wear face masks on public transport or in indoor settings as Covid guidance officially changed on Easter Monday.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has called on the Sri Lankan Government to desist from taking any steps whatsoever to disrupt what is a legitimate exercise of the freedom of dissent of the people.In a statement, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said it received credible information from its members of a number of police trucks being moved into the vicinity of Galle Face Green, where there is an ongoing mass protest.‘The trucks have now been removed after it was highlighted in social media and brought to the notice of the authorities,’ said the statement.The BASL views with grave concern any attempt to disrupt in whatever manner, what is a peaceful protest by the people of this country, and any such attempt will have grave repercussions for the country, democracy, its economy, and the rule of law. 

There are 735 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals across Ireland this morning. That is 74 fewer than yesterday.

A Catholic cleric carries a wooden cross during the Good Friday celebrations and the third anniversary of the Notre-Dame fire in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France on April 15, 2022. (Photo by Jiro Mochizuki/Anadolu Agency via Getty I PARIS - On the third anniversary of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, which also falls on the Christian holiday of Good Friday, the race to reconstruct the Paris landmark continues — as well as the investigation into the exact cause of the flames.Notre Dame, a monument that has withstood centuries of wars and revolutions, was ravaged by a massive fire on April 15, 2019, as it was undergoing renovations.

ANI report.

The Conservative Party is moving to ban the use of pre-paid credit cards to purchase memberships after Pierre Poilievre warned they could be used to fraudulently buy the leadership.

Coronavirus infection rates continue to plummet in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. A total of 8,479 people tested positive for covid across the region in the week which ended April 10.

Ottawa convoy organizer Pat King is expected to face two new charges, the day after his bail review hearing came to an abrupt and unexpected halt when his lawyer’s computer appeared to be hacked.

Europa League tie against West Ham United this evening despite reportedly testing positive for Covid-19 this morning.It's understood that the 24-year-old took another test this afternoon which came back negative, but his inclusion in the match-day squad raises all manner of questions and health concerns.Reports indicate that Paqueta first tested positive on Wednesday and was subsequently sent home to isolate, but after a change in fortune a few hours ago Lyon decided to roll the dice and reverse their decision, naming him on the bench.Naturally, Hammers fans have been up in arms on social media since the news broke."Paqueta magically recovered for covid an hour before the game, no point in even having squad lists if the club can just change it last minute," one fan tweeted."How is Paqueta involved? The guy literally tested positive for Covid this morning," wrote another.A third said: "This is ridiculous, no one gives a s*** about Covid safety anymore do they? Thought Paqueta was positive."Should Paqueta be allowed to play? Let us know what you think in the comments section.David Moyes' side head into tonight's clash with everything still to play for after drawing 1-1 during a tense encounter at the London Stadium last week.Jarrod Bowen initially gave the home side the lead before former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele hit back a few minutes later to level the tie, and the Hammers were frustratingly denied a late chance by a pitch-invader who brainlessly stormed the field while they were counter-attacking.Victory tonight would see the east London side head into their first proper European semi-final in 46 years, so here's hoping Paqueta doesn't infect them all out there!

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sinhala and Tamil New Year, traditionally a joyous period of celebration and festivities, dawned this year amidst many challenges faced by Sri Lankans. The shortage of fuel, gas, essential medicine and food all accumulated to formulate the Economic Crisis which Sri Lanka is currently undergoing, which had left the population reeling, the Cabinet Ministers in charge of critical subjects resigning, and nobody to take accountability for the crisis as the Parliament, which convened for several days, also concluding their sessions without any resolutions with regard to the people’s problems. This had led to masses engaging in protests in front of the Presidential Secretariat for the sixth day in a row today (14), as the farmers mark the New Year, traditionally celebrated in line with bountiful harvests, this time, without fertilizer, rice being purchased at low prices, and paddy fields abandoned with weeds. However, amid crises, Sri Lankans still managed to welcome the New Year by wishing prosperity to the country and all of Sri Lanka’s children. The ritual of ‘boiling milk’ was held at the Independence square and Galle Face both amid protests, while the protestors also engaged in the New Year ritual of ‘visiting relatives’ by walking from Independence Square to Galle Face, and proceeded to greet the Police who were guarding the Presidential Secretariat with betel leaves. Moreover, many avurudu celebrations such as avurudu games were held with a twist at Galle Face, which were creatively designed to convey the thoughts and complaints of the protesting public at the venue. One such youth, speaking to News 1st, stated that “They have decided to ruin our Avurudu, therefore we are ruining them for Avurudu”

Anyone visiting a hospital, care home or GP practice across Forth Valley will still be required to wear a face covering.

Ottawa convoy organizer Pat King‘s bail review hearing came to an abrupt and unexpected stop after only a few hours Wednesday.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankans protesting outside the most powerful building in Colombo – The President’s Office – demanding the resignation of the President and the Government, have rejected Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s offer for talks.“We did not come here for talks. We are here to demand that you and the government resign,” said one youth protestor at the protest site which is now known by them as GotGoGama.Almost all others echoed the same sentiment rejecting the offer for discussions.“I’m willing & prepared to meet with citizens currently engaged in the protests at Galle Face to hear their thoughts & complaints.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he is prepared to discuss with the people who are protesting opposite the President’s Office in Colombo.According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the views of the occupy Galle Face protestors will be taken up for discussion in order to overcome the challenges faced by the country at present.Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that if the protestors are ready for talks, we would extend an invitation for their representatives to meet for discussions.

Anderson Cooper is sitting out from his show.

Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to fall in all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, according to the latest figures. Rates have dropped by more than 40 per cent in some local authority areas.

Emmerdale from 1994 until 2015, after which her character decided to emigrate to Australia along with Sandy, whose death was announced on the show in 2020. Though Betty lives on in Soapland, actress Paula sadly died in December 2019, at the age of 89.

COLOMBO (News 1st); As the world watches in disbelief as the Sri Lankan economy slips from bad to worse at the rate of knots, ordinary young Sri Lankans facing the worst of the crisis have come up with one of the most peaceful, creative ways to protest in recent times. Mostly made up of Gen-Z youth, the protestors have over the past week created a township right in front of the President’s Office, in the middle of the bustling Colombo City.The town, now called ‘Gota-go-Gama’ (which incorporates the main slogan used by protestors and the word gama, which means village in Sinhalese) now functions with working toilets, phone charging points, entertainment, a shop, and even a library.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases are on the rise once again across Canada, according to public health data, as the reality of a sixth wave of the pandemic begins to take shape.As of Monday, the seven-day average of daily lab-confirmed cases sits just above 9,843, a nearly 50 per cent jump from just two weeks prior.Hospitalizations are also rising, with 4,876 people currently receiving care, up 17 per cent since last week and about 30 per cent above the number two weeks ago. Of those patients, 394 are in intensive care, a slight uptick since late March.Although every province except Ontario and Quebec has moved from reporting COVID-19 data daily to now posting weekly updates, a majority of jurisdictions in Canada is seeing a rise compared to last month.Canada’s chief public health officer Dr.

Ukrainian troops are preparing to fight Russian soldiers in the country’s eastern Donbas region as new satellite images show a 13-kilometre-long convoy approaching the territory.The photos taken on April 8, provided to Global News by American space technology company Maxar, show a large Russian military convoy consisting of hundreds of vehicles moving south through the Ukrainian town of Velykyi Burluk, which is just north of the Donbas.The convoy contained armoured vehicles, trucks with towed artillery and support equipment, Maxar said.The imagery adds to the growing reports Russia is preparing to begin a significant assault in the Donbas, a region that has seen ongoing fighting between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces since 2014.Moscow’s troop movements have been documented by western allies following the launch of the widespread war on Feb. 24.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia's indoor mask mandate could be returning after a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city. PREVIOUS: Philadelphia health department recommends indoor masking amid jump in COVID-19 infectionsLocal health experts have recommended a return to wearing masks in public indoor spaces to fight the growing number of COVID-19 infections.Last week, the Philadelphia Department of Health said coronavirus cases in the city increased by more than 50% in a ten-day span. "As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan protestors who occupied the Galle Face stretch since Saturday (9) against the President and his government have also now set up a camp named ‘Gota-Go-Gama’ (GotaGoGama).The camp was set up on Saturday (9) night with just a few tents, and the number shot up to over two dozen on Sunday (10) night.Gota-Go-Gama is like a small model village, it has all the basic requirements including free food, water, toilets, and even a make ship medical camp for health emergencies.Debt in billions due to years of accumulated borrowings, record inflation, lack of foreign currency, crucial sectors witnessing a sharp fall in demand thanks to the pandemic, and the alleged government mismanagement are among the reasons that have dragged Sri Lanka into not just an unprecedented economic crisis but also a massive political turmoil.Meanwhile, the ruling coalition led by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna lost the majority in the Parliament. The opposition rejected an offer by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had called to form a ‘unity government’ following the resignation of 26 ministers of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Cabinet amid violent protests.People are on the roads protesting against their government amid a severe shortage of fuel, essentials, and power outages.Gota-Go-Gama was set up by the protestors to strengthen their efforts to demand President Rajapaksa resign.

Over a month after Russia launched its first missiles at Ukraine on Feb. 24, 40-year-old Olha Rudenko and her two children have begun to ease into their new life in Canada after fleeing from the western city of Lutsk.

COLOMBO (News 1st); People are continuing to protest opposite the President’s Office as of currently.According to News 1st reporters, the protesters have completely blocked the Galle road, while a group of Red Cross officials have also arrived at the protest site.Moreover, a special Ambulance service organized by Sarvodaya is also stationed in Galle Face premises, to support the protestors if the need arises. 

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Big news for those flying out of Philadelphia International Airport. $13.00 parking is coming back.

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking an incredible toll on hospitals and the people who work inside them. Many have faced burnout and experts say they need support.

BETHESDA, Maryland - White House medical adviser and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said he expects another increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks in the United States, with a more serious surge that could arrive in the fall."I would not be surprised if we see an uptick in cases," Fauci said during an exclusive interview with Bloomberg Television on Wednesday.Fauci noted that the increase could come "over the next couple of weeks," potentially fueled by the high transmissibility of BA.2 — a subvariant of the omicron variant.Fauci, who is also the director of the U.S.

FILE IMAGE - Visitors wait in line to take a tour bus in midtown New York on Dec. 5, 2021. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - Life expectancy in the United States continued to decline in 2021 despite the availability of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new analysis.The findings, published this week on the preprint server medRxiv — meaning it has not yet been peer-reviewed — analyzed provisional government statistics.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phillies will start their hunt for October baseball on Friday as they look to snap a postseason drought. The Phillies will take on the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park at 3:05 p.m. as they look to build on last season, their first winning season since 2011 that saw Bryce Harper named NL MVP. Over the offseason, the team spent $179 million on Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, surrounding reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper with two more powerful bats.  The lineup is long and strong with All-Star catcher J.T.

Coronavirus infection rates have dropped by more than 20 per cent according to the latest week on week data, as they continue to fall across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Download the App to get 14 days of unlimited access to Mint Premium absolutely free!

Narendra Modi took to Twitter on Thursday and shared," greetings on World Health Day. May everyone be blessed with good health and wellness. Today is also a day to express gratitude to all those associated with the health sector. It is their hardwork that has kept our planet protected."

Covid-19 infection rates have fallen in all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. Trafford now has the highest coronavirus infection rate in Greater Manchester, replacing Stockport.

KYIV, Ukraine - Western governments prepared Wednesday to toughen sanctions against Russia and send more weapons to Ukraine, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointedly accused the world of failing to end Moscow’s invasion of his country and what he said was a campaign of murders, rapes and wanton destruction by Russian forces.In scarred and silent streets of ruined towns around Ukraine’s capital, investigators collected evidence documenting what appeared to be widespread killings of civilians. Specialists cleared mines from devastated towns near Kyiv that Russian troops have left, as Moscow regrouped its forces for a new assault on Ukraine’s east and south at the end of the war's sixth week.In Andriivka, a small village about 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of the capital, two police officers from the nearby town of Makariv came to identify a dead man, whose body was left in a field, next to tracks of a Russian tank left in the area.Capt.

Clay Conaway, 23, was previously indicted on six counts of second-degree rape. DOVER, Del. - Delaware prosecutors have reached plea agreements resolving several rape cases against a former University of Delaware athlete already serving a six-year prison sentence for sex offenses. A judge scheduled a plea hearing Wednesday in Sussex County for former UD baseball player Clay Conaway. He's facing five counts of second-degree rape involving four women.

British Columbians will no longer be required to show proof of COVID-19 immunization to attend a concert, eat at a restaurant or go to the gym as of Friday, April 8.

CLEMENTON, N.J. - A woman is facing charges after authorities in Camden County say she made a bogus 911 call about a shooting in an effort to distract an officer who had pulled her over. On Monday afternoon, authorities say the Gloucester Township Police Communications Center received a 911 call about a shooting at the Millbridge Garden Apartment Complex in Clementon.Authorities say when officers were responding to the area, they did not observe a shooting scene, and they made several calls to the residents of the complex. Investigators traced the cell phone number back to Katelynne Hunter-Fisher, which dispatchers were able to recognize from a motor vehicle stop that was in progress at the time the 911 call was made.Responding officers verified that there was no shooting at the apartment complex, and they were able to locate the Hunter-Fisher in Lindenwold. Police determined that Hunter-Fisher called in the false shooting report in an attempt to distract the officers from completing the motor vehicle stop. Hunter-Fisher, 35, was arrested for filing a false police report and obstruction of justice. ___MORE LOCAL HEADLINES___DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP | FOX 29 WEATHER AUTHORITY APPSUBSCRIBE: Good Day Digest Newsletter | FOX 29 Philly on YouTubeAdvertisementFOLLOW: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Coronavirus infection rates are now falling in all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. It follows on from the trend across the UK, which is also seeing cases fall - however cases across the region still remain lower than the national average.

NEW DELHI :

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne has urged the general public to refrain from causing damage to public property when engaged in peaceful demonstrations.In a televised statement he appealed to the public to refrain from engaging in acts of violence.“Although some protests and demonstrations are organized stating that they would be peaceful, and would demonstrate the democratic rights of the people, it is observed that two groups are operating these protests,” said the Defence Secretary.He said that one group is engaged in peaceful protests, whereas the other group is deliberately causing damage to public and private property while inconveniencing the general public at public roads and public places.“The second group is engaged in organized acts of violence,” said the Defence Secretary.“In some areas, the protestors on motorbikes move from place to place and launched attacks on residences and businesses using petrol bombs and stones,” he noted, while adding that another group is engaged in the looting of property.Further, the defense secretary noted that robbers have broken into the residence of protestors and committed theft as well.The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and the three-armed forces with Sri Lanka Police are monitoring these protests and have no objection to the peaceful protests.He, however, noted that necessary measures will be taken to prevent acts of violence, while legal action will be instituted against those responsible for these actions.He also requested the general public NOT to be deceived by those who incite violence.

PHILADELPHIA - If you regularly park your car in Philadelphia, chances are you're going to want to know when the street sweeper is coming around. Officials say drivers who do not move their parked car when the sweeper comes by will be subject to a small fine. Philadelphia will start Phase 2 of its Mechanical Street Cleaning program on Monday, and it will run through early November.

U.S.

Warning: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some. Reader discretion is advised.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Several groups banded together on Monday (4) morning to protest against the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka in Galle.According to News 1st correspondents, lawyers and other social groups converged opposite the Galle Bus Station and commenced the protest.At the same time, a massive protest took place in the Polonnaruwa Town calling for the resignation of the government.Protests have increased across Sri Lanka after thousands decided to protest on the road leading to the President’s private residence on the 31st of March 2022.Meanwhile, Sri Lankans also defied the nationwide curfew to protest on Sunday (3).

XE could be the most transmissible variant yet. It is estimated to spread 10% more easily than BA.2, which itself was more transmissible than the original omicron famous for its ease of penetration. 

PHILADELPHIA - April showers are on the way as models show Monday as the only dry day of the week. Monday's conditions will be seasonable with temperatures set to reach the mid to upper 50s and some sun before clouds move in during the evening. A system in the west will make its way to the Delaware Valley bringing days of rain. Wet weather will move in Tuesday at noon and continues until Thursday when another system moves in. Forecasters have their eyes on Friday and Saturday when another system could bring continued wet weather to the area. Although conditions will be wet, temperatures will be seasonable in the high 50s and 60s all week. ___MONDAY: Sun to clouds. High: 58TUESDAY: Clouds to PM rain.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Protests have erupted across Sri Lanka since the weekend against the government’s failure to properly manage the economy and over the shortage of essentials.These protestors have been demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa leave and that his government also resign.On Monday (4), Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had offered to award ministerial positions to all political parties, urging them to come together to solve the crisis that has plagued the nation.His offer came a day after one of his former ministers, Wimal Weerawansa, proposed to form an all-party interim government to solve the crisis.On Sunday (3), one of the main political parties in the ruling coalition, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party warned that if a caretaker government is not appointed, all SLFP MPs would resign from their posts and remain independent in Parliament.However, late Sunday (3) night, Sri Lanka’s cabinet ministers resigned en masse after protests over the government’s handling of the worst economic crisis in decades.Massive nationwide protests were planned via social media with ZERO political affiliation or support, and the government on Saturday (2) imposed a social media blackout that was lifted on Sunday (3) evening.However, the Public Emergency proclamation made by the President is still in effect.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa even issued an extraordinary gazette declaring that no person shall be on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground, or other public ground or the seashore in such areas, during the period of the curfew.However, protestors defied the curfew and took the streets on Sunday (3) to voice their anger and frustrations.Sunday (3) saw massive protests in several parts of the