Scathing criticism, calls to resign after Premier Kenney’s ‘Sky Palace’ dinner with cabinet members

COLOMBO (News 1st); The report on Sri Lanka compiled by the Human Right’s High Commissioner will be debated at the 49th sessions of the Human Rights Council Sessions  due to be held on 3rd of March.According to an article published on the Sunday Times, the UNHRC report has scrutinized the conduct of the Attorney General’s Department in Sri Lanka.The report was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (14).Ministry officials had then studied the reports and sent to Geneva the Government’s observations and explanations on several issues raised.The article on the Sunday Times highlights that this year’s report delves at length with the Government’s failure to make changes to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to meet international standards.It adds that the UNHRC is not pleased with the amendments that are now pending before Parliament and is displeased that necessary changes have not been effected despite repeated assurances by the Government.According to the Article, another area dealt with in the report is the April 21st attacks.It also includes a call for the Attorney General’s Department to function independently.There will be no voting at the UNHRC’s 49th sessions which begin on February 28th. However, the meeting is a precursor to another Resolution on Sri Lanka in September, due this year.

One of Canada’s busiest commercial truck border crossings was closed again Saturday as anti-mandate protesters swarmed the route leading to the Pacific Highway crossing in Surrey. Kamil Karamali reports.

Ukraine has received a plane load of machine guns, surveillance gear and rifles as part of a Canadian military assistance package, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted Saturday the province will file a court challenge of the federal government’s Emergencies Act in the wake of convoy protests in Ottawa.

A protest that closed the main crossing between Alberta and the United States may have ended this week, but there’s some concern it has created a different kind of division in the border community caught in the middle of the dispute.

Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to updated data by Union Health Ministry. The number of recoveries reported in the last 24 hours stood at 48,847, taking the total recoveries to 4,20,86,383. The number of Covid-19 deaths reported in last 24 hours stood at 673, taking the total death toll to 5,11,903. 

COLOMBO (News 1st): It is important to introduce ethics for social media usage, Shehan Semasinghe, the State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment, and Business Development said. He pointed out that social media is being used to circulate misinformation.“Certain people have taken the lead in tarnishing Sri Lanka’s reputation with regard to Human Rights, every time the Geneva Human Rights Council session is there. This is because they cannot stand the revival of a collapsed economy,” State Minister Semasinghe emphasized.Thereby, he highlighted the need to introduce social media ethics, since the use of social media for personal gains may negatively impact the country on the diplomatic front.He shared these remarks at an event held in Anuradhapura.

Police officers appeared to be shifting strategy Saturday in Ottawa as they worked to clear the remaining protesters from the area, arresting 170 over two days. The slow methodical approach that we saw from police Friday seemed to be replaced with a much tougher line today.

The streets in Ottawa are starting to look more bare and normal. Police warned demonstrators in the evening that it is “unsafe to stay.” “Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity.

Police and protesters faced off for a second straight day in the nation’s capital and at times those tensions erupted into violence, but tonight it appears the Ottawa occupation is into its final hours. Police and protesters are accusing each other of abusive behaviour after a day that saw officers reclaim the street in front of Parliament Hill.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - A fire in West Philadelphia home Saturday afternoon sent a child to the hospital badly burned.Fire officials investigate a cause of the fire, but the child’s grandparents tell FOX 29 they believe a faulty extension cord started the fire. And, Saturday, they were asking for support and prayers for their grandson.The fire broke out in a house on Filbert Street near 42nd Street.

EAST FRANKFORD - Philadelphia Police are investigating after three men were shot multiple times in East Frankford.Officials say the shooting happened Saturday evening, around 6 p.m., on the 5300 block of Glenloch Street, in Philadelphia’s East Frankford section.Responding officers found two men, ages 18 and 19, suffering from gunshot wounds in their legs. The 18-year-old was taken to St Christopher’s Hospital for Children by medics and the 19-year-old was taken to Frankford-Torresdale Medical Center, also by medics.

COVID-19 public health measures descended on Quebec City on Saturday for the second weekend this month.Inspired by the so-called Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, horns could be heard as several dozen vehicles, including trucks and tractors, arrived outside the provincial legislature late Saturday morning.It was a mostly festive atmosphere, as some people were dressed up in cartoon character costumes, stuffed animals were handed out to children and music played.It was the second large demonstration against public health measures in the province in two weeks.Since the last one in early February, the Quebec government announced it is phasing out its vaccine passport system and intends to get rid of most COVID-19 health measures by March 14.But protest organizers, addressing the crowd outside the legislature, said they wanted more concessions from the provincial government.Organizer Bernard Gauthier called the tone of the protest “peaceful,” adding he hoped the provincial government would return the favour without specifying any demands.Meanwhile, others called for an end to the provincially-declared health emergency and mandatory masks for school-aged children.Demonstrator Christian Martel said he wanted to see an end to mandatory masking in classrooms.“The pandemic is over, we have to end everything. We’re tired, it’s enough,” said Martel.Some demonstrators said they would also like assurance that the vaccine passport system would not return.Last week, Quebec announced it would be phasing out vaccine passports, but Health Minister Christian Dubé warned it would reimpose the passport system if it’s needed during a new wave of COVID-19.

Police officers in Ottawa have arrested dozens more protesters on Saturday. Sean O’Shea is in the thick of things and brings us the latest.

Jammu and Kashmir.

From Monday morning, rapid antigen tests will be made available at all Auckland testing sites to those who fit the appropriate clinical criteria. The site will determine which test  (PCR or a rapid antigen test) is best for you Access to rapid antigen t

COVID-19 vaccine lottery early Monday afternoon.Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Tyler Shandro are scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m. about the “Open for Summer Lottery” to encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine.Global News will live stream the announcement in this story post.Over the weekend, the premier took to social media to share some details about the provincewide lottery.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province is looking at possible incentives to get Albertans who are hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, to get a shot.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Monday he is sorry for breaking COVID-19 rules at a dinner party caught on camera. As Tom Vernon explains, the admission of fault comes amid mounting criticism.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney apologizes for hosting a working dinner that was captured in photos at the Federal Building in Edmonton.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is under fire from within his own party, after he was seen having a business dinner with a small group of staffers, brushing the boundaries of his province’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Alberta’s Dr. Deena Hinsaw said “all of us sometimes make mistakes” when responding to a question about photos showing Premier Jason Kenney with cabinet members on the patio of the Federal Building eating dinner together without masks.

Alberta’s top doctor Dr. Deena Hinshaw responds to a photo that appears to show Premier Jason Kenney and other MLAs, including Health Minister Tyler Shandro, eating dinner together outside without masks.

Alberta’s Dr. Deena Hinshaw says she understands there is frustration over “what appears to be the case” in photos of Jason Kenney and cabinet members eating dinner on the Federal Building patio, but that she is focussed on her job of keeping Albertans safe during the pandemic.

When responding to a question regarding a photo showing Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and other cabinet members eating together outside without masks, Dr.

Jason Kenney and a number of his cabinet ministers were seen dining on the balcony of the so-called “Sky Palace” in Edmonton on Tuesday night.

Questions are being raised after photos circulated on social media showing Premier Jason Kenney and some cabinet ministers dining on the balcony of the “Sky Palace” in Edmonton while Alberta continues to enforce COVID-19 restrictions on dining and outdoor gatherings.

When responding to a question regarding a Calgary school changing its name after the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at an unmarked burial site at a former residential school, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney took aim at cancel culture, saying “we should learn from our history.”

Premier Jason Kenney announces the rollout plan to get second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Albertans by the end of the summer.

Alberta’s premier is raising the idea of incentives for vaccination — something being done in the United States. It comes as the province is days away from step one of the reopening plan, and as Canada’s advisory committee on immunization pushes for second doses sooner.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds to a question about the possibility of significant COVID-19 hesitancy in the province.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says an announcement on the province’s plans to roll out second-dose COVID-19 vaccines will be coming next week after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) update saying second doses should be offered as soon as possible with increased supply.

Premier Jason Kenney asks Albertans who are getting their COVID-19 vaccine information from “what people posted on Facebook” to look at the official sources.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces the government will be providing up to $45 million in new funding to support students who require help with literacy and numeracy after impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jason Kenney and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange are scheduled to announce supports for students amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday morning.The two are scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. and their news conference will be streamed live in this story post.

One day after unveiling a three-stage relaunch plan for the province, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney joined Gord Steinke to talk about the plan to reopen businesses and lift COVID-19 health restrictions.

Premier Jason Kenney responds to criticism regarding how Alberta’s plan to relax COVID-19 restrictions is tied to vaccination rates.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds to criticism of the province’s “Open For Summer” plan.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds to a question regarding a statement calling the Alberta NDP anti-vaxxers.

says the province’s plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions is “aggressive to the point of recklessness” and is setting the province up for a fourth wave.“The timing is really aggressive and going to a third stage with 70 per cent (of the population vaccinated) on a single dose, in which basically the province is completely open, is irresponsible,” said Dr. James Talbot, who is the co-chair of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association’s COVID-19 committee.“Aggressive to the point of recklessness… I’m not surprised but I’m extremely disappointed.”Earlier Wednesday, Premier Jason Kenney revealed the province’s “Open for Summer” plan, which could see the majority of public health restrictions lifted by early July.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney details Stage 2 of the province’s “open for summer” plan, which he described as a “big step forward.”

Premier Jason Kenney answers a question about what can be expected at the Calgary Stampede if public health measures are relaxed.

Premier Jason Kenney says the province estimated that about 14 per cent of the population has natural immunity to COVID-19 when drafting the “open for summer” plan.

Premier Jason Kenney responds to a question about how fast Alberta’s plan to relax COVID-19 health restrictions in the province could happen.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces the province’s “open for summer” plan; a three-step approach that will relax most COVID-19 health restrictions.

Premier Jason Kenney outlines Stage 1 of Alberta’s “open for summer” plan, which includes increasing capacity limits for worship services and retail, limited outdoor social gatherings and reopening of personal services.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney unveiled the three stages the province will go through as it lifts the various COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place since last year. Tom Vernon has the details on the noon news.

It’s expected Jason Kenney will provide an update on Alberta’s strategy for safely easing COVID-19 restrictions during a Wednesday morning news conference. Sarah Offin has details.