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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday there had been no assessment that mainland Britain was being targeted by Iran.

“We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep ⁠us safe, and there’s no assessment that we’re being targeted in that way,” Starmer told reporters.

He was asked if Britain could be targeted by Iran after reports at the weekend that Iran ⁠had fired two ballistic missiles at the U.S.-U.K. military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Starmer also ⁠said that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz needed careful ⁠consideration and a viable plan, and that his number ⁠one priority was to protect British interests and de-escalate.

Source:adaderana.lk

French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron on Monday held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Macron reaffirmed to him France’s solidarity and commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia’s air defences.

In a post on X, he said, ‘‘I have just held a conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I reaffirmed to him France’s solidarity and our commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia’s air defenses, at a time when the Kingdom is subjected to repeated and unacceptable attacks by Iranian missiles and drones.’‘
Macron stressed the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

‘‘In the face of the risk of escalation spiraling out of control, it has become more necessary than ever for all warring parties to agree to a temporary halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, and for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,’‘ he said.

Macron called for responsibility and restraint.

‘‘The current phase calls for responsibility and restraint, in order to create the conditions for resuming dialogue, which alone can guarantee peace and security for all. At this critical juncture, the G7 and the Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen their coordination. France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are working together in this direction."

Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Tehran, as per Al Jazeera.

Iran’s Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi on Monday asserted that Iran is not the Islamic Republic, adding that the regime here must be dismantled.

In a post on X, he said, ‘‘Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran’s civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic’s infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled."

Source:adaderana.lk

A top official from the United Arab Emirates has criticized “major” Arab and Islamic nations for failing to support Gulf Arab countries in “times of hardship.”

“Where are the Arab and Islamic working institutions, chief among them the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Corporation whilst our people and nations are facing this treacherous Iranian aggression?” Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE president, posted on X. “Where are the ‘major’ Arab and regional countries?”

He said that “in this absence and incapacity, it is unacceptable later to speak of the decline of the Arab and Islamic role or to criticize the American and Western presence.”

“The Arab Gulf states were a support and partner to all in times of prosperity … so where are you today in times of hardship?” he added.

Gargash earlier wrote that Iran’s attacks would “solidify our security partnerships with Washington,” adding that “this is the cost of Iran’s misguided calculations.”

Source: adaderana.lk

Hawaii remains under a statewide flood watch after a severe storm hit the state and prompted officials to order evacuations.

The potential for flash floods threaten the island of Oahu and parts of Maui County, Governor Josh Green said on Saturday.

The storm that struck this weekend is the second severe weather event to hit the archipelago in the last week.

Some parts of the state received 40 to 50in (127cm) of rain in the last 10 days, according to Green. Oahu could receive four to six more, while parts of Maui could experience between four to 12in, he said.

“Don’t take this storm lightly,” Green said in a video statement. No deaths had been reported, he said, but there have been few serious injuries.

The state has activated a programme for people displaced by the storm that allows them to get discounted hotel rates.

In a subsequent post, the governor warned that, because the ground had already been saturated by the earlier rainfall, “it will take much less rain to trigger flooding, road closures and damage”.

The damage from the storms could exceed $1bn (£745m), according to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

More than 230 people have been rescued so far, Blangiardi told a news conference on Friday.

The authorities warned that a dam in Oahu, the state’s most populous island, was at risk of collapse. Blangiardi urged residents to “stay safe” and “take the storm as seriously as you can”.

Speaking at Friday’s news conference, he praised the emergency workers working to keep people safe.

Rising floodwaters lifted homes and cars and triggered evacuation orders for some 5,500 people north of the state’s capital city, Honolulu. Roads have been closed across the islands.

Honolulu Department of Emergency Management has issued multiple flash flood warnings and urged residents to move to higher ground and avoid flooded areas.

Flood watch warnings have also been issued for Maui, Molokai and The Big Island.

Green has said the storm would have a “serious consequence for us as a state” because it had caused enormous damage to airports, schools, roads and hospitals, as well as people’s homes.

“This is the largest flood that we’ve had in Hawaii in 20 years,” he told the news conference on Friday.

The governor urged residents to seek out shelters and assembly areas across the state.

The island was in the grip of a “Kona Low”, a slow-moving area of low pressure that pulls in warm, moisture-rich air across the Hawaiian islands, bringing heavy rain and flash flooding.

Some areas received more than 10in of rainfall and winds of up to 100mph (160km/h).

The storm is the latest challenge for the island, which frequently deals with the fallout of natural disasters such as the 2023 Lahaina wildfires, which left more than 100 people dead.

Source: adaderana.lk

Iran’s high-level security body Defence Council has said in a statement that the ‘‘only way for non-hostile countries’‘ to pass through Strait of Hormuz is ‘‘coordination with Iran’‘.

The Council has also said in the statement published by Iranian outlets that ‘‘any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands’‘ will lead to ‘‘all access routes’‘ in the Gulf [they have said Persian] and coastal areas getting ‘‘mined with various types of naval mines, including drifting mines deployable from the shore’‘.

In the case of such an attack, in ‘‘addition to the Strait of Hormuz, the whole (Persian) Gulf would in practice be blocked, with ‘‘responsibility belonging to the aggressor’‘, the statement adds.

Source:adaderana.lk

An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York’s LaGuardia airport on Monday evening, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, in an incident that closed the airport.

The CRJ-900 plane, which was coming from Montreal, struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph), Flightradar24 said. The jet was ⁠operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada’s regional partner.

 An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York’s LaGuardia airport on Monday evening, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, in an incident that closed the airport.

The CRJ-900 plane, which was coming from Montreal, struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph), Flightradar24 said. The jet was ⁠operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada’s regional partner.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport until 0530 GMT, according to a notice from the regulator.

The FAA notice showed that the reason for the halt at the airport was an emergency and there was a high probability of an extension, without specifying any details.

LaGuardia’s website showed arriving planes ⁠had been diverted to other airports or returned to their point of origin.

Air Canada and the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Source: adaderana.lk

Iranian Member of Parliament Alaeddin Boroujrrdi has claimed on state TV today that some of the ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz are being charged ‘‘with a $2 (£1.5) million fee’’ by Iran.

He has said that a ‘‘new governing regime’’ is being imposed in the Strait and ‘‘war has costs’’, adding this shows the ‘‘authority and right that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses’’.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify the claim of the toll by the Iranian MP.

Source:adaderana.lk

The US State Department has issued an updated caution to Americans across the world due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Writing on X, the department calls on Americans “worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution”.

“Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” it says.

“Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”

Source:adaderana.lk

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that six of the seven people reported missing after a helicopter crash in the country’s territorial waters have been found dead.

A ministry statement said that ongoing search and rescue operations led to the recovery of six individuals who had been aboard the aircraft, confirming their deaths.

Authorities said specialized teams are continuing intensive efforts to locate the remaining missing person.

The ministry did not provide further details on the cause of the crash or the identities of those on board.

Earlier Sunday, Qatar’s Defense Ministry said a helicopter suffered a ‘‘technical malfunction’‘ during a routine mission and crashed in the country’s regional waters.

No immediate information was available on the cause beyond the technical malfunction, and there was no indication that the crash was the result of hostile action.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Qatar has faced repeated Iranian drone and missile strikes since the start of US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, with the country’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s largest LNG production hubs, struck multiple times.

Source:adaderana.lk

Health authorities in Sri Lanka have advised parents to be vigilant about protecting children from dehydration as extreme temperatures continue to affect the country.

Dr. Deepal Perera, a consultant paediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, emphasized the importance of ensuring that children consume adequate amounts of water and natural fluids throughout the day.

He noted that symptoms such as unusual tiredness, reduced appetite, and body aches could indicate dehydration, and children showing these signs should be encouraged to increase their fluid intake immediately.

Dr. Perera also highlighted that hot weather conditions can lead to a rise in skin-related issues, including rashes and infections. To minimize such risks, he recommended bathing children at least twice daily, adding that allowing them to spend some time in water can help keep the body cool and maintain skin health.

The paediatrician further warned that children participating in outdoor activities, particularly school sports events, face a higher risk of dehydration and heatstroke if they do not stay properly hydrated. He explained that heatstroke can severely impact vital organs such as the heart and brain, potentially causing symptoms like fainting and seizures.

In severe cases, these conditions may lead to life-threatening complications. Therefore, parents and guardians have been urged to closely monitor children’s health and ensure they remain well-hydrated during periods of intense heat.

Around 90% of privately operated buses are set to be withdrawn from service today (22), according to the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association.

Association President Gemunu Wijeratne stated that the decision was taken in response to the latest fuel price increase announced yesterday (21), which he described as the highest percentage hike recorded so far.

He explained that bus owners have collectively decided to suspend operations for the day as a result of the increased operating costs.

Wijeratne further noted that normal bus services are expected to resume once a revision of bus fares is implemented.