'We have been hung out to dry': Market traders' anger as they're told to pay full rent - despite it being shut for three months in lockdown

COLOMBO (News 1st): The foreign exchange shortage experienced in Sri Lanka will be short-lived, said the country’s Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.Speaking to officials at the Finance Ministry of Friday (11), Rajapaksa said the government expects to minimize the effects the forex shortage might have on the people.On Monday (7) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the officials to take steps to immediately release the containers containing essential items at the custody of Customs.The President also appointed a committee headed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities including food, and this committee met for the first time on Friday (11).A statement from the Finance Ministry noted that though there is a shortage of Milk Powder, Gas, Wheat Flour, and Cement in the local market, there are sufficient stocks of all other essential items and there will be no shortage.In addition, the tax reliefs granted by the government for essential food items not being enjoyed by the people were discussed and it was revealed at the meeting that errant traders abuse the concessions granted by the government and sell goods at exorbitant prices.The implementation of a new mechanism to expedite the release of essential commodities including food to the market, and to regulate and oversee this matter, was also discussed.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating after they say six people were stabbed inside if a Kensington home as they slept Friday morning.The incident happened around 4 a.m. on the 3000 block of North Front Street. Police say a family member went from bedroom to bedroom stabbing the six victims with two different knives that were described as kitchen knives.FOX 29’s Steve Keeley reports that all six of the stabbing victims are between the ages of 26 and 46. A 46-year-old woman is in critical condition after suffering stab wounds to the head and neck during the incident.

From symptoms to subvariants, UN health agency explains all that you need to know about Omicron

PARIS :

France will deploy thousands of police in and around Paris and set up checkpoints at toll stations on major roads leading into the capital to keep so-called "Freedom Convoy" motorists out, the city's police force said.

₹9.57 lakh crore for the economy was far sharper than ₹2.12 lakh crore in GDP growth that was lost in 2008-09 global financial crises, yet the government was able to contain consumer price inflation (CPI) to within 6.2% as opposed to CPI ballooning to 9.1% during the global financial crisis.

Britain without taking any coronavirus tests starting Friday after the government scrapped one of the final restrictions imposed over the past two years in response to Covid-19.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Thousands of Sri Lankan health workers continued their strike action for the fifth consecutive day on Friday (11), despite a court issuing an order against a nurses trade union that is also taking part in the strike.Health workers in Sri Lanka have been staging demonstrations and strikes since November 2021 to draw attention to the issue of salary anomalies.Their major demands include the rectification of salary anomalies, higher allowances, and an increase in overtime rates.Supplementary and paramedical services, nursing services, and professionals from 16 health services including medical laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiologists, public health inspectors, and family health officers are participating in the indefinite strike.Thousands of poor patients who visited government hospitals were turned away, as a result.A Sri Lankan court on Thursday (10) issued two enjoining orders preventing the strike action by the Government Nursing Officer’s Association from continuing.The Attorney General filed an action against the Government Nursing Officer’s Association and its president Saman Rathnapriya, seeking an enjoining order from the court to immediately suspend the trade union action of the said union.The Attorney General appraised the court of the present deplorable conditions in hospitals due to patient care being severely affected.District Court Judge of Colombo Aruna Aluthge issued two enjoining orders preventing the union from continuing the said trade union strike endangering the lives of the patients.As a result of the strike, over this week the activities at the Colombo General Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, 24 Teaching Hospitals, 26 General Hospitals, 46 Base Hospitals, 410 District

Prince Charles getting Covid again should be "ringing royal alarm bells," according to an expert who warns of some "regal whiplash". The 73-year-old is set to snatch an almost 200-year record by becoming the oldest person to be crowned monarch.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Withdrawal of restrictions

Boris Johnson ending Covid isolation rules is a "distraction" from the PM's lockdown party scandal, according to a Scots health expert.

SYDNEY :

Charli XCX has said that the criticism she’s received on social media lately has taken a toll on her mental health.The singer-songwriter, who releases her fifth album ‘Crash’ on March 18, issued a statement on Twitter yesterday (February 10) to explain that she’s temporarily stepping back from the platform due to the “negativity” surrounding her current campaign.“I’ve always had a pretty open dialogue with you guys and so I just wanna mention a few things that have been on my mind recently,” Charli began.“I have been feeling like I can’t do anything right at the moment.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The new University of Vavuniya was declared open by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday (11).The University of Vavuniya is the 17th State University in Sri Lanka and was established with effect from the 1st of August 2021 via an Extraordinary Gazette on the 8th of June 2021 that elevated the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna, to a separate state university in Sri Lanka.The new state university was established for the purpose of providing, promoting, and developing higher education in the branches of learning of Business Studies, Applied Science, and Technology Studies.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of he World Health Organization (WHO), Buti Manamela, Deputy Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of South Africa, Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health of South Africa and Meryame Kitir, Minister of Development Cooperation and Urban Policy of Belgium today visit a number of public and private sector partners that are collaborating to develop and build WHO’s global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Protester numbers outside New Zealand's parliament have increased as police scaled back efforts to clear anti-vaccine demonstrators involved in violent clashes a day earlier.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has warned against the use of fake vaccination cards to avoid being vaccinated against COVID-19.Dr. Anwar Hamdani, attached to the Health Ministry said information on all those who have been vaccinated are with the Health Ministry, and it is a futile attempt to evade being vaccinated.“Getting vaccinated is a social responsibility and therefore everyone must get vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said.At the same time, the Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services Dr.

Despite key party figures expressing support and posing for pictures with protesters, the Conservative Party is joining pleas to end disruptive blockades against COVID restrictions.

Disruptive blockades protesting COVID-19 mandates are escalating in Ontario, prompting more calls for the province to take action. So why has Ontario Premier Doug Ford been mostly absent over the unrest? Eric Sorensen explains the possible strategy behind keeping a low-profile, as concerns grow over potentially politicizing pandemic strategy.

Ottawa police on Thursday provided an update on their ongoing enforcement measures against trucker protests demonstrating against COVID-19 vaccine mandates throughout parts of the city.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a meeting with leaders of opposition parties Thursday evening, where he said he briefed them on the latest developments of the trucker convoy protests and blockades.

Unhappy Olympic athletes are calling out organizers of the Beijing Games with a litany of complaints about everything from COVID-19 protocols to inadequate catering.

Camilla Parker-Bowles has broken her silence after she was handed the future title of 'Queen Consort' by the Queen on the eve of the Platinum Jubilee last weekend.The Duchess of Cornwall, 74, said she was "very, very honoured" and "very touched" to be bestowed the honour by Her Majesty while on a royal visit to Nourish Hub community food centre in West London.She went ahead with the public appearance after testing negative for Covid despite spending the previous evening with husband Prince Charles, who remained in self-isolation after contracting the virus for the second time yesterday (February 10).Charles, who is said not to be experiencing any symptoms of the virus, was forced on Thursday to cancel his visit the Great Hall at Winchester Castle and the unveiling of a statue of Jewish-British historical figure Licoricia of Winchester.It was also revealed that he had seen his mum the Queen two days before testing positive.Describing the situation, Camilla told Willie Hartley Russell, high sheriff for Berkshire: "He’s diagnosed now. Luckily (she’s negative).

Simon Cowell has been forced to pull out of Britain's Got Talent auditions after testing positive for Covid.The ITV entertainment show is back this year after being cancelled in 2021 because of the pandemic and auditions have been under way at the London Palladium.Due to his positive test result, the 62-year-old TV personality could not take his seat at the judge's table. Simon's spokesperson exclusively told Mail Online that the star is currently isolating at his London home after contracting the virus.His spokesperson said: "Simon was unable to attend filming today as he was isolating at home after testing positive for Covid-19." Simon was scheduled to be on the set of the talent competition on Thursday alongside his fellow judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.A week before testing positive and withdrawing from the audition process, Simon was rushed to hospital after being caught in a horrific e-bike accident near his home in West London.The incident which happened last Thursday night saw Simon fall off his e-bike while reaching speeds of 20mph.This is the second e-bike accident the father-of-one experienced, just 18 months after breaking his back on an e-bike in Los Angeles.

PHILADELPHIA - Bob Saget's shocking cause of death has caused many to wonder how likely it is that an accidental blow to the head can turn fatal.The 65-year-old entertainer and Philadelphia native was found on his hotel bed at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando on Jan. 9.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

COLOMBO (News 1st); A wanted drug traffickers knowns as ‘Abba’ was killed in a shootout with the Police Special Task Force on Thursday (10) night in Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa.The Police Special Task Force told News 1st that a raid was carried out at around 10 PM on Thursday (10) night after receiving a tip-off that a house in Egoda Uyana contained drugs.During the raid, a man had opened fire from inside the house and the Police Special Task Force had returned fire.The Police in a statement said, “One suspect opened fire at an STF Officer with a pistol, and the STF officer returned fire.”In the exchange of fire, a 27-year-old male identified as ‘Abba’ (Thelge Dilan Sameera Peiris) was killed and he is a known associate of a notorious drug trafficker operating from Dubai.One STF member was injured in the incident.Sri Lanka Police said two bullets fired by the suspect had hit the protective vest worn by the STF Officer, and he was rushed to the Panadura Hospital for treatment.Six other people who were inside the house were arrested by the Police Special Task Force.The Office of the Police Spokesperson said that ‘Abba’ had a murder case filed against him, as we as a case over stabbing a woman and causing serious injury.Further, another 31-year-old man was arrested from Moratuwa upon inspecting the residence of another suspect.Police said that this man has a case filed against him for transporting drugs along the expressway.

In this photo illustration, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) logo is seen displayed on an Android mobile phone. WASHINGTON (AP) - The CIA has a secret, undisclosed data repository that includes information collected about Americans, two Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee said Thursday. While neither the agency nor lawmakers would disclose specifics about the data, the senators alleged the CIA had long hidden details about the program from the public and Congress.Sens.

LONDON (AP) - AstraZeneca recorded a big jump in revenue on Thursday as it begins to take a profit from its coronavirus vaccine for the first time.The company recorded full-year revenues of $37.4 billion, an increase of 38% from the year before at constant exchange rates. Part of the boost came from $4 billion in sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford.Despite rising revenue, AstraZeneca reported a pre-tax loss of $265 million due to costs from its purchase of U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say an armed carjacker hopped into a running vehicle with three children inside and later let the kids out and ditched the car. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the children's mother left the car running on the 5300 block of Willow Street around 6 p.m.

Shaun White of Team United States reacts during the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Final on day 7 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 11, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. BEIJING (AP) - In Shaun White’s farewell performance on Friday, Ayumu Hirano of Japan won an elusive Olympic gold in the halfpipe with a boundary-pushing final run.There was no doubt about the winner after Hirano's electric performance as the last rider to go. His run included an intricate and unprecedented series of flips and spins that pushed a sport obsessed with progression to new heights.

The language of the UCP has seen a significant shift this week as it moves to drop COVID-19 restrictions in the province, with words like “damaging” and “freedom” being used much more often in public communications.

The University of Alberta is reviewing a letter from the advanced education minister, detailing expectations for post-secondary students to return to school in March — including dropping vaccine and mask mandates.

Global’s Keith Baldrey looks a how B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers have improved since January.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

FILE - Police lights are shown in a close up image. (Credit: FOX TV Stations) BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A Pennsylvania father and son were arrested after law enforcement agents uncovered a stockpile of unregistered fully automatic firearms during a search of the family's home. U.S.

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks traded for center Serge Ibaka from the Los Angeles Clippers in a four-team trade that also includes the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings.To complete the deal, the Bucks traded guard Donte DiVincenzo to the Kings and forwards Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye to the Clippers. Milwaukee has also acquired a second-round draft pick from Sacramento, a second-round draft pick from Detroit and cash considerations from Los Angeles.In his 13th season, Ibaka is a three-time All-NBA Defensive First Team selection who has appeared in 884 career games (695 starts) with the Thunder, Magic, Raptors and Clippers.

Crystal Hefner has shared a new update in her mental health journey.

B.C. health officials release a written report Thursday, Feb. 10, with the latest COVID-19 case numbers. Legislative bureau chief Keith Baldrey has analysis.

Valentine’s Day. Some believe the holiday is just a marketing tactic spread by greeting card companies or is only for people who are romantically involved.Cue the solution to those worries: Galentine’s Day. But what is this unofficial holiday, who can celebrate the occasion and when is it? Gather up your gal pals, and find out the details below.According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Galentine’s Day is a "day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends." Essentially, the meaning of Galentine’s Day is Valentine’s Day for your gals.

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Many New Jersey children may soon have to experience snow days from the inside looking out if some state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle get their way.Legislation before the state would give school districts the option of using snow days during inclement weather. But if the districts choose not to take a snow day, then the day away from the physical school building would be a remote learning day and it would count toward the state's 180-day education requirement.There's no denying that the unfettered joy of waking up to word of a snow day is a rite of passage for many kids.

The Ontario government says it has successfully petitioned a court to freeze access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa and at several border crossings.

Despite 50 Cent and Chelsea Handler’s past relationship, the “In da Club” rapper still “cares” about the comedian. After the 56-year-old former late night talk show host was hospitalized following an undisclosed health scare on Feb. 4, 50 Cent – whose real name is Curtis Jackson – reached out to check up on his former flame.