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For the first time in the war, Russian bombs fell in the heart of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, Monday. The development cam as Ukraine’s president prepared to address Parliament Tuesday morning.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa leading a protest opposite the President’s Office in Colombo on Tuesday (15) said that the government that promised relief, has only brought about the burden to the people.Sajith Premadasa was clear in his message to the government “Go home or allow the people to decide at a Presidential Election.”“The government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa must leave if they cannot do what they were elected to do, and let us carry on with governance,” he told the protestors.“We cannot bear this suffering anymore,” Premadasa told a gathering of thousands of protestors in Colombo, adding that the Rajapaksa Government, the Rajapaksa Family are responsible for the suffering and the time is now to send them home.“We are here to tell the government that ruined this country, to go home,” he said.Heavy security was experienced around the President’s Office when the protest was taking place, with protestors also making attempts to break through the police cordon to make their way into the premises.He said the Samagi Jana Balavegaya led government will bring back the Sri Lankan identity that was lost as a result of the actions of the present government.Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told the protestors that it is time to be prepared to save the country from the brink of destruction.“Thousands have come here with no fear of bullets, tear gas, bombs, water cannons, and even baton charges,” he said in a message aimed at the government.Commenting on the fuel crisis, Premadasa said that three middle-eastern governments have promised to supply fuel for two years with no up-front payment to a Samagi Jana Balavegaya led government.He said

A day after Unifor president Jerry Dias announced his sudden retirement, the union has revealed it has been investigating him since January.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s main opposition faction, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya blocked the road opposite the Presidential Secretariat venting their anger against the government that has increased the prices of many goods.The SJB says that the government has increased the cost of living to an unbearable level..Protestors from many parts of the country marched to Colombo and stationed themselves opposite the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (15) evening demanding the President bring down the prices of goods.The protest movement was led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The President has appointed a 14-member advisory committee to assist the National Economic Council.The list of appointed officials is as follows;Meanwhile, the composition of the Economic Council is as follows.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 02, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) CLEARWATER, Fla. - Bryce Harper wants the Philadelphia Phillies to add another big bat for the lineup.The reigning NL MVP said Monday it would be a "downer" if the Phillies didn’t sign Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos or Kyle Schwarber. The teams needs a left fielder and President Dave Dombrowski said Sunday ownership hasn’t given him any limitations on spending money."I think all three are winners," Harper said during a 10-minute chat with reporters in front of his locker.

WASHINGTON - Gas prices are not going up because of the Keystone Pipeline cancelation or because the Biden administration paused oil extraction permits. The real reasons are more complicated than that.Last year, with the U.S. and much of the world shut down for the pandemic, driving and travel cratered – and with it, the demand for oil and gas.

U.S. Congress members Eric Swalwell, Jackie Speier and Karen Bass – all Democrats from California – got a private walk-through of FCI Dublin. March 14, 2022 DUBLIN, Calif. - A trio of Congressional leaders on Monday toured a federal Dublin prison embroiled in a national scandal after four correctional officers – including the former warden – were charged with sex crimes and one of the formerly incarcerated women is now alleging that one of guards preyed on her by digging into her confidential files, too. U.S.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s finance minister held talks with a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official on Monday, two sources said, as the island nation seeks help to deal with its plunging reserves, a sliding currency, and surging inflation, according to Reuters.It was reported that IMF’s Asia Pacific Director had led a delegation to Sri Lanka.It was earlier reported that a Senior Official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will pay a visit to Sri Lanka on Monday (14) and Tuesday (15) to brief Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the IMF assessment of the current economic crisis.

Tesla founder Elon Musk has fighting words for Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Elon Musk Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME) (Vladimir Putin photo by Massimo Di Vita/Archivio Massimo Di Vita/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images) NEW YORK - Tesla founder Elon Musk, 50, has fighting words for Russian President Vladimir Putin, 69.

FILE IMAGE - Maryland Governor Larry Hogan holds a news conference on the state's COVID-19 situation, at the Maryland State Capitol on Aug. 5, 2021, in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - Maryland Gov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference for selected media at his official residence the Maryinsky Palace on March 3,2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Laurent Van der Stockt for Le Monde/Getty Images) Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will virtually address members of the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Twitter-sphere is abuzz with two new #hashtags that have started to trend among pro & anti-government activists.The two hashtags are #WeAreWithGota and #GoHomeGota.According to the local newswire website, several Government officials have extended their support to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa can resolve the current economic crisis of Sri Lanka, the Additional Director General of the Government Information Department Milinda Rajapaksa assured on Monday (14).

The visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdulla Al Saud paid a courtesy calls on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa followed by a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.

KYIV, Ukraine - Russian troops kept up the pressure on Ukraine's capital city on Monday and air raid sirens were heard across the besieged country overnight, even as both nations were expected to resume diplomatic talks.The attacks around Kyiv came a day after Russia escalated its offensive by shelling areas close to the Polish border. The Ukrainian military said Monday that Russian troops had not made great strides over the past day.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to address the nation on 16th March, said the President’s Media Division on Monday (14).

A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard on a street in front of a damaged church in the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on March 13, 2022. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - A U.S. official said Russia asked China for military equipment to use in its invasion of Ukraine, a request that heightened tensions about the ongoing war ahead of a Monday meeting in Rome between top aides for the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Monday (14) commenced the examination of 12 petitions that were filed seeking a ruling that their Fundamental Rights were violated as authorities failed to prevent the 2019 April 21st Attacks despite having intelligence information on the attacks.The applications were taken up for examination in the presence of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Buwaneka Aluviharare, Murdhu Fernando, L.T.B. Dehideniya, S.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Fox News Sunday that they are seeing “some signs of willingness” from Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in peace talks.

Former US President Barack Obama attends a round table meeting at the University of Strathclyde on November 8, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Former President Barack Obama announced on Sunday that he’d tested positive for COVID-19. "I just tested positive for COVID.

AAA reported the price fell by about a half-cent to $4.325 after hitting a record $4.326 on Saturday. It’s not a significant decrease by any means, but after days of a continued price hike at the pump, the news may signal a sign of relief for drivers. Prices at the pump were rising long before Russia invaded Ukraine but have spiraled faster since the start of the war.The average price of gasoline in the U.S. hit a record $4.17 a gallon on March 8 as President Joe Biden banned imports of Russian oil, gas and coal in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. The average price per gallon continued to soar from there, hitting $4.326 on March 12.

Another deadly day in Ukraine on Saturday, as Russian forces inched closer to the capital of Kyiv and claimed new territory in the south. U.S.

It was another deadly day in Ukraine on Saturday, as Russian forces inched closer to the capital of Kyiv and claimed new territory in the south. Ukraine’s president says some 1,300 Ukrainian troops have died.

Boards cover broken windows at the Russia House restaurant and lounge in Washington, DC, on March 8, 2022.  "We’re getting some hate phone calls," owner Aaron McGovern told the Washington Post.McGovern said he thinks that "people just shouldn’t start vandalizing property" for hostile assumptions of what they believe to be the political views of the business owners.Beloved Los Angeles-based independent record store Stellar Remnant announced on Instagram that they were served an eviction notice from their landlords following a stream of threats and hateful messages. RELATED: List of Russian goods that are banned, boycotted in US"As the violence escalates in Ukraine so is hatred towards Russian-speaking immigrants around the globe, we believe we became targeted individuals and businesses. With our cry out for Love we still receive threats and hate and people are asking us to take down and do not sell any Russian artists regardless of their political views just by simply being or associated with Russia," The store wrote on its Instagram page. They believe they have been targeted for being a Russian-immigrant-owned business.Sveta, a New York City restaurant also told Business Insider that they’ve been forced to remove any mention of Russian food from their online presences including their website, social media, Yelp, and changing it to "European."The assault on small Russian-owned businesses comes as President Joe Biden announced Friday the U.S.

A Ukranian serviceman walks towards the front line in the city of Irpin, northern Ukraine, on March 12, 2022. - Russian forces are positioned around Kiev on March 12, 2022 and are "blocking" Mariupol, where thousands of people are suffering a devasta The West has ramped up economic pressure on Russia, as the U.S.

KENOSHA, Wis. - Kenosha police released video and pictures of the Kyle Rittenhouse rifle on Friday, March 11 – which was destroyed at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab in Milwaukee on Feb. 25.The Wisconsin State Crime Lab shredded the Kyle Rittenhouse rifle on Feb.

Former Latvian president Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga said Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin has become “notably unhinged,” adding that his invasion of Ukraine is “not the actions of a sane man interested in the welfare of his country.” Vīķe-Freiberga says Putin is a “megalomaniac with really strong paranoid tendencies.”

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (front L) and China's President Xi Jinping (C) arrive for a banquet for leaders in Beijing, China. (Nicolas Asfouri - Pool/Getty Images) BANGKOK - As Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine, it is getting a helping hand from China in spreading inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims that the U.S.

was - President Joe Biden will announce Friday that, along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke "most favored nation" trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.That's according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement. Each country would have to follow its own national processes, the person said.

Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its third week, Russian forces appeared to expand the offensive by striking new areas in the west and President Vladimir Putin approved the recruitment of "volunteer" fighters from Syria and elsewhere.The war has forced more than 2.3 million people to flee Ukraine as others try to seek refuge in basements, subway stations and underground shelters.Ukraine's president said 100,000 people were evacuated over the past two days in the north and center of the country. Humanitarian corridors to facilitate the exodus were agreed to by Russia and Ukraine during ceasefires in those areas.More evacuations are expected Friday, though repeated attempts to reach the besieged city of Mariupol in the south have failed under continued Russian shelling.On Friday, Russia appeared to be pushing its offensive westward with authorities in Ukraine saying airstrikes hit two cities that had been far from Russia’s main targets elsewhere.Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with his Belarus counterpart at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 11, 2022.

Russia has reoccupied abandoned Cold War bases in its Far North.Speaking at a defence conference in Ottawa, Gen. Wayne Eyre said defending NATO’s northern flank “is a key area of concern” for the Canadian military.Eyre said the threat of a Russian incursion into Canada’s Arctic from the North is very low at the moment.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), stated with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the projects that have been implemented with the assistance of the ADB have made significant strides and he pledged to support Sri Lanka’s development efforts continuously.Asakawa made these remarks when he met with President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, on Thursday (10).The ADB President also said that special attention will be paid to support small and medium scale enterprises as well as private sector entrepreneurial development.The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided US $ 750 million as concessional loans last year. Asakawa said that loans worth US $ 2 billion would be allocated for operational projects this year.The ADB President assured assistance in the efforts to revive the tourism sector in Sri Lanka and the development of human capital, which has suffered a setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The President thanked the ADB for providing nearly US $ 600 million worth of loans and financial assistance to Sri Lanka to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.The President said Sri Lanka seeks the assistance of the Asian Development Bank for green agriculture, renewable energy generation and foreign direct investment in industrial zones.The government aims to achieve 70% of the total energy generation from renewable sources.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a joint news conference with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday. “(Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to know that the consequences for his actions, already, will be severe.

WARSAW, Poland - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the "atrocities" of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.Speaking alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, where she is demonstrating U.S.

allergies are driven by the pollen in the air.The AAFA released its annual list of so-called "allergy capitals" in the U.S. for 2022.

Ukraine as Russia wages war, and some U.S. citizens are ready to ship off to join the battle.Fox News correspondent Douglas Kennedy spoke with New Yorkers like former Marine Dennis Diaz who’s prepared to channel his military background in Iraq and Afghanistan."We’re going to go out there, and we’re going to straighten it out," he said. "There’s a lot of similarities between what we did in Iraq and Ukraine."Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a plea last month, offering up citizenship to foreign fighters who are willing to defend Ukraine from Russian attacks.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at The Rosen Shingle Creek on February 26, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.

WASHINGTON (AP) - With gas prices at record highs across the U.S., an increasing number of governors and state lawmakers are calling for the suspension of gas taxes to provide relief to motorists who are facing the prospect of even higher pump prices as the country cuts off Russian oil imports.Proposals for a "gas tax holiday" to counter inflation had been moving slowly in Congress and state capitols before Russia invaded Ukraine, but they have gained momentum this week amid surging prices that averaged $4.25 a gallon on Wednesday, according to AAA.Republican legislative leaders in Michigan and Pennsylvania announced proposals Wednesday to suspend or reduce state gas taxes. That came after the Republican governor of Georgia and Democratic governor of California both called for relief from state gas taxes Tuesday, when President Joe Biden ordered a ban on Russian oil imports.Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin sent a joint letter to congressional leaders urging them to support legislation suspending the federal government's 18.4-cent-a-gallon gas tax through 2022.Critics of the proposals say there is no guarantee the savings would get passed on to consumers and worry that suspending gas taxes could hurt funding for road projects.

FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 8, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Efforts are ongoing to coordinate safe routes of escape for Ukrainian civilians out of besieged cities as the Russian invasion rounds out its second week.In the days since Russia launched a war on Ukraine, some 2 million people have fled the country, nearly half of them children. Russian troops have captured swaths of territory in the south, but have faced fierce Ukrainian resistance in other regions.Ukrainian officials say women who are pregnant or with children, the elderly and those with disabilities will be given priority to leave besieged or occupied cities on Wednesday through a humanitarian corridor Russia and Ukraine agreed to.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa says that Sri Lankans should work patiently in the difficult times that have arisen.Participating in the International Women’s Day celebrations in Colombo, the Prime Minister also inaugurated a program to introduce 10 foreign languages ​​to school children in line with international standards.The Prime Minister addressing the event stated that while acknowledging that the country is in a very difficult situation today, the women in the country are affected when there is a shortage of electricity, diesel and gas.When the country was closed down and garment factories remained open, a certain group demanded for the factories to be closed because it would lead to a ‘garment cluster’, the Prime Minister stated.“The President closed down the country while warning that it would lead to people suffering even more. But today it has come true.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued an extraordinary gazette amending the Duties and Functions of the State Minister of Defence, State Minister of Disaster Management, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation. 

Co-host Dolly Parton speaks onstage during the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium on March 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sometimes even Dolly Parton has a hard time keeping up with the legend of Dolly Parton."I often go into my museum in Dollywood, you know, because I’m in the mood to be there or we’re in there doing something or putting something new in. And I look at all that stuff and think 'When, how did that happen?'" she says.

report from Castellum.ai, a global sanctions-tracking database. Russia has now become the target of nearly 3,000 new sanctions after dozens of nations condemned President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to overthrow the Ukrainian government. With the combination of sanctions against Russia that had already been put in place before the invasion as well as the latest penalties, Russia has racked up a historic 5,532 sanctions.Russian sanctions even surpassed Iran who faces over 3,600 sanctions mostly for its continued efforts to manufacture a nuclear program as well as its financial support of well-known terrorist organizations. The United States and its allies have retaliated against Russia with a series of financial penalties, reflecting a massive change in how conflicts can be waged in a world that is globalized, digital and highly dependent on accessing money electronically.There have been economic targets in the past that depended on military maneuvers such as factory bombings, blockades and the capture of strategic resources.

PHILADELPHIA - The price of gas across the country will likely continue to balloon after President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports Tuesday to turn the screws on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's assault of Ukraine. "We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S.

Ukrainian servicemen captured from Zmiinyi Island, or "Snake" Island, were brought to Sevastopol in Crimea, Feb. 26, 2022.

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - A South Florida elementary school teacher who had to be hospitalized after she was attacked by a 5-year-old student in her classroom was so severely injured, she had to be intubated and will need surgery, her union says.The attack happened Wednesday morning at Pines Lakes Elementary School.According to the police report, "The incident began when two students in the classroom, 4 and 5 years old, began throwing things around the classroom and at the teachers along with flipping the chairs."Several faculty members split up the students, and teacher Trisha Meadows brought the 5-year-old into another room.That's when the boy attacked Meadows, Broward Teachers Union President Ana Fusco says."He actually ran and attacked and jumped on her with his whole body weight. She fell and hit her head, which caused the severe injury and other bodily injuries where she is going to need surgery," Fusco told WSVN.PREVIOUS: South Florida teacher hospitalized after 5-year-old attacked her in classroom, police sayStaff members then heard the teacher using her school radio, saying she needed help.

McDonald's restaurant in St. Petersburg, Russia (Photo by Sergei Mikhailichenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) DETROIT - McDonald’s said Tuesday it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia "who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald’s brand." But in an open letter to employees, McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempckinski said closing those stores for now is the right thing to do."Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine," Kempczinski said.RELATED: Mastercard, Visa suspend operations in Russia amid Ukraine invasionKempczinski said it’s impossible to know when the company will be able to reopen its stores."The situation is extraordinarily challenging for a global brand like ours, and there are many considerations," Kempczinski wrote in the letter.