British police said on Sunday they had arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offences and Army bomb disposal experts were examining a number of vehicles in a "major incident" near an air base used by the US in southwest England.&nbsp;Police said nearby residents had been evacuated from their homes.&nbsp;The British government gave authorisation to the US to use RAF Fairford to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards ⁠warned in July that any base used in strikes would be a legitimate target.&nbsp;A Reuters eyewitness said armed police had blocked access to the main gate of the base, while equipment had been positioned in front of access points and residents of a nearby village were evacuated to a leisure centre.&nbsp;Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were stationed in the village of Fairford near the base.&nbsp;"A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act," Gloucestershire police said in a statement, referring to a village near the air base.&nbsp;“The ⁠Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles.”&nbsp;Police said they believed the incident was now contained.&nbsp;The British government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being updated about the incident, adding “it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing.”&nbsp;A spokesperson for the US Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures.&nbsp;"The 501st Combat Support Wing and ⁠our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;“We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or ⁠modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”&nbsp;Britain said in July its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the UK not to allow US bombers to fly ⁠from Fairford.&nbsp;British ministers have also briefed providers of critical infrastructure on the threat posed by Russia, with the government increasingly concerned about possible sabotage operations and cyberattacks. Russia denies mounting hybrid attacks on Western nations.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Several men arrested in major incident at UK air base used by US

Pope Leo XIV has praised the "enthusiasm, energy and commitment" young people bring to the Catholic Church as dense crowds attended an open-air Mass in Paris.&nbsp;An estimated 700,000 people had gathered for the Mass celebrated by the Pope from a special altar on the Place de la Concorde, on the second day of his four-day visit to France.&nbsp;It began after the pontiff rode down the Champs-Élysées Avenue waving to crowds from his open-topped popemobile.&nbsp;Many senior politicians attended the Mass. On Friday, the Pope met French President Emmanuel Macron.&nbsp;During Saturday's Mass, the Pope told worshippers that Catholics should not keep their faith to themselves but "let it overflow so that those you meet may be refreshed".&nbsp;The leader of the Catholic Church also addressed young people in his speech, describing them as "today's Church".&nbsp;"How beautiful it is to see your enthusiasm, energy and commitment, and the joy you bring to Christian communities," he said.&nbsp;After being welcomed by Macron on Friday, the Pope was joined by 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in northern Paris.&nbsp;Macron did not attend Saturday's event and will not be at any of the Pope's Masses during his visit, largely to avoid appearing to breach France's strict rules on the separation of Church and state.&nbsp;But the Mass was attended by Macron's wife Brigitte and French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.&nbsp;Several candidates for next year's presidential election also attended.&nbsp;Marine Le Pen of the hard-right National Rally party and conservative Bruno Retailleau were both pictured at the Place de la Concorde ahead of the event, while centrists Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal were also spotted.&nbsp;Earlier on Saturday, the Pope met migrants and volunteers as he visited the Maison Bakhita centre, an association supporting refugees, and praised the organisation for inviting "us to see those who are invisible".&nbsp;He also stressed the "fundamental role of women in building a civilisation of love".&nbsp;The Pope issued a warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) at the start of his visit to France on Friday.&nbsp;Leo cautioned against "losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines" in wide-ranging remarks to Church and state officials at the Élysée Palace.&nbsp;Large crowds are expected throughout the remainder of the pontiff's trip, which the Church believes reflects a growing spirituality among the French and other Europeans.&nbsp;Late on Saturday the Pope flew to south-western town of Lourdes. He prayed at its famous sanctuary, where he will celebrate a Mass on Sunday which 150,000 people have signed up to attend.&nbsp;The Pope will be in the north-eastern city of Metz on Monday to pay tribute to Robert Schuman (1886-1963), a founding father of the European Union and a fervent Catholic who is a candidate for beatification - a formal recognition that a person is believed to have entered heaven.&nbsp;Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV was originally called Robert Prevost – a French name.&nbsp;His paternal grandmother was born in Le Havre in Normandy in 1894. When she married in the US many years later, she and her Italian husband took the name Prevost, which had been her mother's maiden name.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Pope praises young people's 'energy and commitment' at huge open-air Mass in Paris

Only a "negotiated solution" can end the conflict between the US and Iran, Tehran's foreign minister has said, after President Donald Trump publicly rejected a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Trump told reporters at the White House that Iran's proposal was not "acceptable" and that Tehran wanted to make a deal to open the strait to commercial shipping within seven days because "they're losing so badly".&nbsp;In a post on Telegram, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged Trump's rejection, but said Iran would wait for a "definitive" official US response.&nbsp;He said the president had made contradictory statements in the past.&nbsp;Araghchi said the conditions to open the strait were the same that had been included in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the US and Iran that was signed in June.&nbsp;Iran said it had raised reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this past week.&nbsp;The vital waterway through which around a fifth of the world's gas and oil supply usually flows has been effectively closed since the outbreak of war in February.&nbsp;"I'm rejecting their deal," Trump said on Saturday, adding that the US already had "total control" of the strait, with "massive amounts of oil" passing through it, causing massive rises in global oil prices and steep fuel cost increases for consumers.&nbsp;Araghchi wrote on Telegram that Trump "has made many good statements, as well as many contradictory ones, which unfortunately we hear frequently".&nbsp;He continued: “We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them.”&nbsp;Separately, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, who travelled to New York for the UN general assembly, told the BBC's US news partner CBS that "distrust created by this war needs to be overcome" in order for talks to be successful.&nbsp;He said the Iranians were open to talks on implementing the MOU in stages in order to end the impasse, but that the "US needs to show it does not intend to overthrow our government".&nbsp;Pezeshkian said Trump had "tore up" the MOU when the US resumed its bombing campaign, adding: “If we don't abide by what we have written down, can we really resolve it by dialogue?”&nbsp;He was also asked about Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in the US strike which killed his father in February and has not been seen in public since. Reports have claimed he suffered serious injuries to his legs and face.&nbsp;Pezeshkian said he had met the supreme leader on two occasions, telling CBS he had "no specific ongoing health issues or challenges" and had been well enough to hold seven hours of talks.&nbsp;Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, called for all parties to continue having open dialogue to resolve the crisis.&nbsp;Oman's foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, told the UN General Debate that "all parties" should cooperate with Oman in efforts to safeguard navigation in the strategic waterway.&nbsp;Trump's rejection of Iran's proposal was backed by US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker.&nbsp;Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, Whitaker said that Iran had offered "half measures" and "illusory deals to make themselves look good on the world stage".&nbsp;"President Trump's right to reject it," he said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Saturday that economic sanctions imposed by the US were taking a toll on Iran.&nbsp;Posting on X, Bessent said Turkey, Oman and the United Arab Emirates had halted flights from various Iranian airlines, and some banks in the UAE and Turkey had stopped transactions with Iran.&nbsp;The Trump administration has dubbed an economic blockade on Iran "Operation Economic Outcast", with the White House attempting to use economic pressure to force Tehran to stop attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;But some economists have questioned whether the latest sanctions will be effective, as this depends on the reaction from Iran's major trading partners.&nbsp;These include China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, which has ignored previous US sanctions and continued to do business with Tehran.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Iranian Minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump rejects Hormuz deal

Tens of millions of people across the north-eastern US are in the path of a powerful storm bringing coastal flooding, power cuts, travel chaos and cancelled stadium events.&nbsp;The so-called nor'easter is bringing "dangerous coastal flooding and beach conditions, strong winds and heavy rainfall" to areas including New York City and Boston on Saturday, the US National Weather Service (NWS) said.&nbsp;States of emergency have been declared in New York and New Jersey, both of which faced a coastal deluge in some areas. Rain and strong winds are forecast from Virginia to Maine.&nbsp;Ed Sheeran's much-awaited Boston concert was among events called off due to the weather.&nbsp;The nor'easter caused widespread power cuts. More than 100,000 households, nearly all in the northeast US, have lost electricity, according to tracker PowerOutage.&nbsp;The Federal Aviation Administration recommended air passengers check with airlines about their flight status. More than 2,400 flights have been delayed and another 1,199 grounded, according to FlightAware.&nbsp;Saturday's full moon is projected to worsen coastal flooding. Streets and homes were inundated with floodwater in the coastal New Jersey communities of Surf City and Manasquan on Saturday.&nbsp;"I urge all New Jerseyans to take this storm seriously, stay alert and follow local guidance," Governor Mikie Sherrill said.&nbsp;NWS said in its alert: "Prepare immediately for significant inundation in low-lying areas near the shore, including roads underwater and impacts to homes and businesses."&nbsp;In New York, officials are warning of wind gusts of up to 55mph (86km/h) throughout the weekend, leading to downed trees and power lines.&nbsp;"Don't travel if you don't have to," NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani told residents in a video message. "Do not drive or walk through floodwater."&nbsp;In the Boston area, the Red Sox moved the last game in their series against the Chicago Cubs to Sunday afternoon in Florida.&nbsp;A professional football match between Red Bull New York and St Louis City SC was also cancelled.&nbsp;Nor is the Global Citizen Festival concert in New York City's Central Park, which was to be headlined by Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and John Legend, going ahead.&nbsp;Sheeran's concert at the Gillette Stadium in the Boston area was cancelled for safety reasons, the venue said.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Nor'easter brings flooding as New York and New Jersey declare emergency

Afghanistan's defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 in the eastern province of Nuristan after a group it said included Islamic State militants crossed from Pakistan.&nbsp;The ministry alleged Pakistani militias had supported the fighters and that most of them were former Afghan government security personnel. Pakistan's information ministry rejected the allegations, describing them in a post on X as "frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth". In the same post, it denied that its security forces ⁠or intelligence agencies were involved in clashes in Nuristan, had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel, or had facilitated Islamic State or other militant groups in Afghanistan.&nbsp;Kabul's claim that Pakistani intelligence trained and sent former Afghan security personnel across the border is a direct allegation of state involvement in an armed incursion. It comes less than a week after Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan, saying it had targeted militants.&nbsp;Reuters could not independently verify the ministry's account or its casualty figures. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of sheltering fighters who attack its territory, a charge Kabul denies.&nbsp;Afghanistan's defence ministry said the group crossed into Kamdesh, ⁠a district of Nuristan near the Pakistani border, on Saturday with the intention of carrying out attacks. Afghan forces launched an operation and the surviving fighters fled back across the border towards Pakistani militia positions, it said.&nbsp;It alleged that Pakistani armed personnel and militia members had coordinated with the fighters but withdrew when fighting began. The ⁠ministry also accused Pakistani intelligence of taking former Afghan security personnel to Pakistan under the pretext of offering them assistance, training them and sending them towards Nuristan.&nbsp;Pakistan's information ministry said Afghanistan had produced no evidence of Pakistani involvement. ⁠It disputed a video circulating on social media that it said was being used to support the allegations, describing the footage as staged. Reuters could not independently verify the video.&nbsp;The incident follows Pakistani airstrikes ⁠in Afghanistan on Sept. 21 that Islamabad said killed 28 militants. Afghan officials said civilians were killed, and the U.N. mission in Afghanistan confirmed three civilian deaths.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Afghanistan says 28 fighters killed after crossing from Pakistan; Islamabad denies ties

Sri Lanka has ranked 10th globally for the fastest improvement in the Travel and Tourism Development Index between 2024 and 2026. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2026 index, Sri Lanka’s score increased by 4.33% compared to 2024. Albania ranked first, followed by Vietnam and Laos.

Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 global risers in tourism

Landslide warnings remain in effect across seven districts amid continued heavy rainfall, the National Building Research Institute stated. The warnings will remain until 4.00 p.m. tomorrow (28). Level Two warnings are in effect for selected areas in Galle and Kegalle, while Level One warnings cover areas in Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura.

Landslide warnings remain in effect across seven districts

Concerns and proposals on Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT) were raised during a meeting between Deputy Finance Minister Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and banking and financial sector representatives. The discussions were held at the Ministry of Finance and also covered Sri Lanka’s economic progress and the distribution of economic benefits. The need to finalise collective agreements for state banks covering 2027–2029 was also discussed.

APIT concerns raised in talks between Government and banking sector

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government aims to attract four million tourists annually and generate US$8 billion in tourism revenue by 2030. Speaking at the 2026 World Tourism Day celebrations today (27), she noted that Sri Lanka welcomed 2.36 million tourists in 2025, generating around US$3.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings. She added that Rs. 6 billion has been allocated in the 2026 Budget for international digital tourism promotion.

Several men arrested in major incident at UK air base used b ...

Pope praises young people's 'energy and commitment' at huge open-air M ...

Pope praises young people's 'e ...

Iranian Minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump re ...

Iranian Minister says only neg ...

Nor'easter brings flooding as New York and New Jersey declare emergenc ...

Nor'easter brings flooding as ...

Afghanistan says 28 fighters killed after crossing from Pakistan; Isla ...

Afghanistan says 28 fighters k ...

Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 global risers in tourism

Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 ...

Landslide warnings remain in effect across seven districts

Landslide warnings remain in e ...

APIT concerns raised in talks between Government and banking sector

APIT concerns raised in talks ...

Sri Lanka targets 4 million tourists, US$8 billion revenue by 2030

Sri Lanka targets 4 million to ...

Pope praises young people's 'energy and commitment' at huge open-air M ...

Pope praises young people's 'e ...

Iranian Minister says only negotiation can end conflict after Trump re ...

Iranian Minister says only neg ...

Nor'easter brings flooding as New York and New Jersey declare emergenc ...

Nor'easter brings flooding as ...

Afghanistan says 28 fighters killed after crossing from Pakistan; Isla ...

Afghanistan says 28 fighters k ...

Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 global risers in tourism

Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 ...

Landslide warnings remain in effect across seven districts

Landslide warnings remain in e ...

APIT concerns raised in talks between Government and banking sector

APIT concerns raised in talks ...

Sri Lanka targets 4 million tourists, US$8 billion revenue by 2030

Sri Lanka targets 4 million to ...

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Sri Lanka ranked among top 10 global risers in tourism

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Landslide warnings remain in effect across seven districts

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