Taxes and permits to restrict imports in the short term

GOOD Morning Britain viewers were left heartbroken this morning as stricken The Bill star Chris Ellison struggled to speak on the show. The actor, best known for playing DCI Frank Burnside, is suffering from aphasia - the same speech debilitating illness as Hollywood action movie Bruce Willis.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisian NEW ORLEANS - Best. Comeback.

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COLOMBO (News 1st); It is time to abolish the Executive Presidency, says the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Making a statement at the Parliament today (05), the Opposition Leader said that although many are calling for the abolishment of the 20th amendment, however time has arrived to amend the Executive Presidency.He further stated that although the Executive Presidency may be abolished, an Executive Prime Minister who is able to do things according to his wishes is also unnecessary. Emphasizing that there should be a checks and balances system, the Opposition Leader said that a large amount of executive power should not be centralized on any person. Citing an incident which took place at the Parliament mere moments earlier, the Opposition Leader stated that with such acts, Premadasa said that such methods of bribery were used to gain allegiance with the 20th Amendment at Parliament. Therefore, he added, the entire Government, starting from the President, must resign.Proposal to abolish Executive Presidency must be brought to Parliament this week.Will not accept any ministerial position, and power will ONLY be obtained with the blessings of the people.– #Opposition Leader #Sajith Premadasa#lka #SriLanka #SLnews #News1st #Parliament— Newsfirst.lk Sri Lanka (@NewsfirstSL) April 5, 2022There should be no voice in Parliament, apart from the voice heard from the streets.The people want a change in government, the Parliament must understand it.– #Opposition Leader #Sajith Premadasa#lka #SriLanka #SLnews #News1st #Parliament— Newsfirst.lk Sri Lanka (@NewsfirstSL) April 5, 2022

China sends over 10,000 health workers to aid city

School pupils and students across Scotland have now entered into their Easter holidays this week.

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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he expects to be updated in a few weeks by the Chief Medical Officer on Covid-19 isolation periods.

Martha Stewart shared last evening that four of her dogs attacked and killed her cat, Princess Peony.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC has resigned from his portfolio 24 hours after taking oaths in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.Earlier, he was the country’s Justice Minister.

Kate Garraway has shared her husband's heartbreaking health update as she opened up about his ongoing speech battle following the effects of Covid-19.During Tuesday's (April 5) instalment of the popular ITV morning show Madeley joined TV star Chris Ellison and his wife Anita as they opened up about the actor's ongoing battle with aphasia.His wife explained how he described his condition as feeling "trapped" due to the fact that the TV star can fully understand what others are saying to him but struggles to find the words to reply.It comes after Hollywood star Bruce Willis stepped back from acting after he announced his devastating brain condition online.And now, Kate Garraway has revealed that her loving partner Derek also struggles to communicate following the drastic effects from the deadly virus Covid-19.While discussing the every day struggles with the crippling brain condition, Kate confessed her husband, who she now cares for, also finds it difficult to communicate with loved ones.She said: "In a sense Derek - because of Covid - has a version of this where he can understand, sometimes do odd words and but can't express himself.

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia health officials are recommending that people wear masks in public indoor spaces to help thwart a growing number of COVID-19 infections in the city. Philadelphia Department of Health said in a Monday press release that coronavirus case in Philadelphia have increased by more than 50% in the last ten days. This jump comes as COVID-19 infections in Philadelphia have been slowly rising over the last several weeks, according to officials."As we see more cases of COVID-19 in the city, everyone’s risk goes up," Health Commissioner Dr.

A family who lost their cat Kiki in Edmonton, before moving to Ontario, had accepted they might never see her again. But thanks to her microchip and a kind neighbour, they received the call they never expected.

Chinese authorities have extended the lockdown of Shanghai to cover all of the financial centre's 26 million people, after city-wide testing saw new Covid-19 cases surge to more than 13,000 amid growing public anger over quarantine rules.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa should be held responsible for the crisis in the country.Speaking in Parliament, the MP said he was the first person to oppose the decision to bring in Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate.“When his named was proposed, I opposed it,” he said adding that he suggested for seniority in the party to be considered for the post of Presidential Candidate.“However, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not listen to it and wanted to appoint a family member, and therefore Gotabaya Rajapaksa was selected. He made the wrong decision.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party announced that all SLFP MPs will remain independent in Parliament.He said the MPs will NO longer represent the government.Further, Former President Maithripala Sirisena called for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to be abolished and the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to be enforced with amendments.

Frustration is growing in China’s largest city of Shanghai, where residents are living under a sweeping COVID-19 lockdown. Cases are rising here in Canada as well, but as Heather Yourex-West shows us, the sixth wave here isn’t likely to see broad public health restrictions re-imposed.

Climbing COVID numbers are impacting our health system in BC. Health officials have been warning that confirmed cases would climb once health restrictions were relaxed.

COLOMBO (News 1st); TNA Member of Parliament M. A Sumanthiran commenting on the Proclamation of Emergency, noted that such notification must be placed in Parliament and approved/disapproved at the earliest possible opportunity.Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (5) he informed the government to place the said notification in Parliament on Wednesday (6) for Parliament to decide whether Parliament will approve it or not.“Otherwise they are misusing the powers by allowing it to remain for 14 days, and then lapse,” he told the house, adding that anything done within those 14 days would be deemed legal, and that is an abuse of the process, the public security ordinance, and the provisions of the constitution.“As the constitution has mandated, even now, we can suspend the standing orders and place the proclamation of emergency for a vote in this Parliament now,” said the MP.

Jenny Nguyen owns The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon. (Credit: Dorothy Wang) PORTLAND, Ore. - Anyone can find a bar that shows men’s sports, but Jenny Nguyen wanted to change that when she opened a bar in Portland, Oregon, that only shows women’s sports."The Sports Bra" opened its doors this month in Northeast Portland with a "mission to make great food and delicious drinks, and provide a space that supports, empowers, and promotes girls and women in sports and in the community.""When I first set out on this journey to open up, I had no idea the impact it would have on so many so quickly," said Nguyen.

Today marks the end of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

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The federal government will consider whether to include booster shots in the next version of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its workers, the Treasury Board said as it reviews the rules.

A B.C. woman was hit with a $400 U.S. smoking fee from a car rental company even though she is a non-smoker. Consumer Matters reporter Anne Drewa has more.

As the violence in Ukraine continues, more families are seeking safety in Edmonton. Sarah Reid spoke to a family that arrived in Alberta’s capital over the weekend.

As Canada heads towards a sixth wave of COVID-19 with rising cases and hospitalizations across the country, health experts are stressing the need to continue masking and boosting the population.

Accountant and Turbo Tax Canada spokesperson Susan Watkin has timely advice to help make the most of your tax returns, especially if you’re a recent post-secondary graduate.

A new observational follow-up study in six European countries published in The Lancet Public Health links severe COVID-19 to long-term depression and anxiety.

Take a closer look at survey findings:

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia couple is reunited after the wife escaped war torn Ukraine where she was trapped while caring for her sick mother when Russia's army invaded over three weeks ago. Sean Moir and Valentyna Levytsky traveled to Ukraine in January, 6 months after the couple was married at a summer ceremony in Kyiv. Valentyna stayed behind to take care of her mother, Nadiah, who was ill with late-stage Parkinson's disease. Nadiah's condition got progressively worse just as Russia started its long-threatened invasion of Ukraine, Moir explained.

Ontario government plans to provide $673 million to long-term care homes this year to help “hire and retain staff” across the province.The government issued a press release on Tuesday, saying the money would help to hire and retain up to 10,000 staff members across the province and will lead to “more direct care for residents.”“This is part of the province’s $4.9 billion commitment to hire more than 27,000 long-term care staff over four years and ensure that residents receive on average four hours of direct care per day by 2024-25.” Many Ontario long-term care homes keeping COVID vaccine mandates as province lifts policy According to the release, before the provincial investments, residents were receiving “an average of only two hours and 45 minutes of direct care from nurses and personal support workers.”The government says the next funding increase will push the daily average in the province to three hours and 15 minutes per resident, every day by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year.Included in the funding is also $106.76 million for homes to increase the direct care provided by allied health care professionals who the government says are “key to ensuring quality care for residents (such as physiotherapists and social workers) by 10 per cent by the end of the fiscal year.”The provincial government said the $4.9 billion will be delivered over four years:According to the release, the province’s plan to provide residents with four hours of direct care will be enshrined into law via the Fixing Long Term Care Act 2021, which received royal assent in Dec. 2021.

NEW DELHI :

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Former Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has called on the government to slash the taxes imposed on fuel and provide relief to the People.He told reporters on Monday (14) that the reason for the recent fuel price hike in Sri Lanka was not prompted by the rise in global oil prices.Gammanpila said that mismanagement of Sri Lanka’s reserves, as well as the forced controls on the rupee, was instrumental in causing the present crisis, including a fuel price hike.He further slammed the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, MP Sagara Kariyawasam for calling for his resignation when prices were increased earlier, but is mum when fuel prices were increased in a record hike.“During my tenure as the Energy Minister, I increased the prices of diesel by Rs. 7 as per the recommendations of the Prime Minister and President.

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Thousands showed their support for Ukraine on Saturday at the Ukrainian Food Festival in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The event was held at the St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church. According to organizers, more than 2,000 people stood in long lines in the snow and wind to show their support. "It's a challenge because every person that is in my congregation, they are living the events happening in Ukraine differently," said Pastor Andriy Rabiy.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The All Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association has said that the prices of rice packets, Kottu, and Short Eats will be increased from Friday (10)The Price of a rice packet will go up by Rs. 20/-, Kottu up by Rs.

PHILADELPHIA - The husband of a Ukrainian woman shared the story of his wife's harrowing escape from her war-torn homeland as Vladimir Putin's Russian army commenced a full-fledged invasion two weeks ago.Sean Moir and Valentyna Levytsky traveled to Ukraine in January, 6 months after the couple was married at a summer ceremony in Kyiv. Valentyna stayed behind to take care of her mother, Nadia, who was ill with late-stage Parkinson's disease. Nadia's condition got progressively worse just as Russia started its long-threatened invasion of Ukraine, Moir explained.

The rules around visiting loved ones in long-term care have changed many times throughout the pandemic. The provincial government made the most recent change in February and announced every resident would be allowed two approved visitors.

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.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Government has issued an extraordinary gazette notification restricting the imports of a series of non-essentials.The Department of Government Information said that the Sri Lankan Government decided to restrict imports for a short period to manage the present economic situation.In the first method, taxes will be imposed on selected imports.In the second method, it would be made mandatory to obtain permits for selected imports.In the third method, it would be made mandatory to obtain permits for selected imports, and such products will be subject to taxes.The import restriction gazette will be published by the government on Wednesday (9). 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Several Parliamentarians from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya, Sri Lanka’s main opposition faction, visited the Central Bank on Wednesday (9) to meet with Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.“Our meeting was strictly professional and not political,” said Dr. Harsha De Silva who attended the meeting, adding that the main focus was highlighting the suffering of the people in the present day.The Central Bank officials believe that the issue is short-term, and had no intention of moving towards the International Monetary Fund or other agencies to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt, said the MP.“The Central Bank officials are of the view that the issues will be short-lived and can be solved by obtaining more loans from China and other lending countries,” he added.Dr.

WHO) has said that it strongly supported "urgent and broad access" to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, capping a reversal of the UN agency's repeated insistence last year that boosters weren't necessary for healthy people and contributed to vaccine inequity. 

With Russia intensifying its war on Ukraine, killing civilians and triggering a mass refugee crisis, President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a U.S. ban on imported Russian oil. Critics of Russia have said that sanctioning its energy exports would be the best — perhaps only — way to force Moscow to pull back.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter."We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S. ports," the president announced on Tuesday.The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion.

PHILADELPHIA - The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine deepened Monday as Russian forces intensified their shelling and food, water, heat and medicine grew increasingly scarce, in what the country condemned as a medieval-style siege by Moscow to batter it into submission.A third round of talks between the two sides ended with a top Ukrainian official saying there had been minor, unspecified progress toward establishing safe corridors that would allow civilians to escape the fighting. Russia’s chief negotiator said he expects those corridors to start operating Tuesday.Meanwhile, many families with loved ones trapped in Ukraine are praying for their safety as intense battles continue.

Taron Egerton is «completely fine» after passing out during his first performance of his new play, , at the Ambassadors Theatre in London on Saturday night.The 32-year-old actor took to his Instagram Story to address the incident, sharing they he'd be back in action for Sunday night's show.«As some of you may have heard, I passed out during the first performance of COCK last night,» he began. «I am completely fine.

The opening night of Taron Egerton’s new play didn’t go so well.