Amid the surge of COVID-19 cases across the world, Sri Lanka is in the grip of a rising financial and humanitarian crisis, with predictions that it could declare bankruptcy in 2022 as inflation reaches new highs, along with food prices soaring Since the beginning of the outbreak, the World Bank has estimated that 500,000 individuals have slipped…

As of January 4th, any phones or tablets running BlackBerry’s own software — that’s BlackBerry 7.1 or earlier, BlackBerry 10, or its tablet operating system BlackBerry PlayBook — will “no longer reliably function,” says the company. Whether on Wi-Fi or cellular, there’ll be no guarantee you can make phone calls, send text messages, use data, establish…

The United Arab Emirates will ban non-vaccinated Emirati citizens from travelling abroad from Jan. 10, according to the state news agency WAM reported, citing the foreign ministry and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority on Saturday. The report said that fully vaccinated citizens would also require a booster shot to be eligible to…

CTV – U.K. bank Santander got into the Christmas spirit this year by paying out a total of 130 million pounds (C$224 million) to customers by mistake on December 25. The total payment was split over 75,000 transactions for around 2,000 corporate and commercial customers, Santander said in a statement published Thursday. “We’re sorry that…

(AFP) — At least 5,700 flights have been cancelled worldwide over the long Christmas weekend and thousands more were delayed, a tracking website reported Saturday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday travel headaches to millions. According to Flightaware.com, more than 2,500 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Christmas Day, including more than…

British Airways is offering cabin crew up to £225 per day in overtime payments to work on their rest days over the busy Christmas and New Year travel periods. The airline is struggling with Omicron-induced staffing woes and is trying to persuade crew who aren’t sick to pick up additional trips to head off a…

SOURCE CTV – The operator of Ghana‘s main international airport will fine airlines US$3,500 for every passenger they fly in who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 or who tests positive for the coronavirus upon arrival, it said on Dec. 13. The rule comes into effect on Tuesday at Kotoka International Airport in the capital Accra,…

New York Times — The United Arab Emirates, a hub of international commerce, announced Tuesday that it would shift its weekends to bring them more in line with the Western calendar and global markets, once again showing its willingness to part ways with its Arab neighbours. The government declared a four-and-a-half day workweek, moving the…

BBC – Global supply shortages have hit toy shops in the US and coffee producers in Brazil. In Canada, the country’s liquid gold – maple syrup – is running low. The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) – the so-called Opec of maple syrup – has released about 22m kg from its emergency larder, nearly half…

On Monday, December 6, all individuals travelling to the United States, regardless of vaccination status or nationality, must show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 viral test taken no more than one day before boarding their flight to the United States. This new regulation, announced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), applies to…