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A Colombian military transport plane that crashed on takeoff in the south of the country was carrying more than 100 personnel, according to Vice President Francia Márquez Mina.

The accident involved a C-130 Hercules aircraft and occurred in Puerto Leguízamo, a town in Putumayo department, bordering Peru. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said.

The plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, according to General Carlos Silva, commander of the Colombian Aerospace Force.

At least 48 people were rescued, he added.

A video geolocated by CNN shows the military plane taking off from Caucaya Airport and flying over a rural area moments before it went down. The footage indicates the crash happened less than two miles from the airport.

Images from the scene of the crash showed thick black smoke and flames rising from the wreckage.

Nicolas Ordoñez, an indigenous ranger involved in the search and rescue operations in Leguízamo, told CNN that several survivors had been taken to a local hospital.

Sánchez has sent condolences to the families of those affected.

President Gustavo Petro said the crash “should never have happened.” He lamented the lack of modernization of the armed forces, which he attributed to “bureaucratic difficulties.”

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

The US Embassy in Muscat has lifted a stay in place order for citizens in Oman’s capital.

The advice to take shelter had been issued at 20:42 local time (16:42 GMT).

The ministry says that while this advice has been lifted for the capital, ‘‘shelter in place guidance remains for the rest of Oman due to ongoing activity’‘.

The embassy tells citizens: ‘‘To the extent possible, remain in your residence, hotel, or another structure, and stay away from windows.’‘

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

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran on Monday threatened to attack Mideast electrical plants powering American military bases.

The statement from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard marks the latest attempt by Tehran to try and explain its attacks on the Gulf Arab countries.

Iranian state television read out the statement on air Monday morning.

“What we have done is to announce our decision that if the power plants are attacked, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to US bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares,” the statement said, referring to Israel as an “occupying regime.”

It added: “Do not doubt that we will do this.”

Trump warned early Sunday morning that the U.S. will target Iranian power plants in 48 hours if the strait remains effectively closed by Iranian fire on shipping.

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

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey said on Monday that the Congress and DMK surrendered India’s maritime rights by giving Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka.

Speaking to reporters outside Indian Parliament, he also celebrated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s record tenure days in public office as a Chief Minister and Prime Minister, describing it as a historic milestone for Indian democracy.

‘I have provided the documents; I have provided a copy of the agreement. The agreement copy states that the entire maritime area where India used to have rights. You might know about Katchatheevu. I will even give you the date that the agreement was made on June 26th, so June 26th is the date,’ he said.

Adding to this, he said, ‘In this, they joined hands with the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi ji, and made this agreement. We have the minutes of both agreements involving Karunanidhi ji from the Government of India meetings; I will provide those to whoever asks for them as well.’

He blamed governments from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh for harming fishermen’s interests and escalating tensions with Sri Lanka
‘Understand what happened after this. After the ‘76 agreement and the ‘74 Katchatheevu agreement, the situation that developed was that lakhs of fishermen would consistently go into our seas and Sri Lanka would capture and detain them.

And even that wasn’t enough; when Vajpayee ji tried to do something about this in 2002-2003, a joint statement was issued with Vajpayee ji, which was overturned again in 2008. Today, I have mentioned the 2008 joint statement as well as the agreement of March 23, 1976. Can anyone do anything more disgraceful? Our fishermen were reduced to beggars. In Tamil Nadu, the politics that DMK is playing with the Congress, they will have to answer to the public in the upcoming elections, said Dubey.

‘This will cause problems for fishermen in the future, and fishermen will go to jail because the entire sea area where India has control at the international border, that control will go to Sri Lanka. Setalvad wrote those Attorney General’s views in 1961-62. That’s what I said, the process that started with Nehru ji was furthered by Indira ji and completed by Manmohan Singh ji and Sonia ji in 2008,’ Dubey stated.

He also praised Indian PM Narendra Modi, calling his long tenure and rise from humble beginnings a matter of national pride and a symbol of growing public trust.

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

The pilot and co-pilot were killed and dozens of people injured at New York’s La Guardia Airport late Sunday night when an arriving Air Canada Express plane and firetruck collided on a runway, officials said.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said in a statement that the pilot and co-pilot were dead and 41 people were taken to hospitals — 39 from the aircraft and two PA Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers from the firetruck.

Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia told reporters Monday morning that initial indications were 32 people had been released but there were also serious injuries.

Garcia said Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, had 70 people on board. It wasn’t clear whether that included crew members.

CBS News Investigative Unit senior producer Pat Milton citeD a source as saying it appearED the collision was an accident and there was no foul play or terrorism suspected.

LaGuardia was closed. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the airport until at least 2 p.m. 

Jazz Aviation said in a statement that the truck was “responding to a separate incident” when the collision occurred.

CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that pilots of United Airlines Flight 2384 aborted its takeoff when an anti-ice warning light come on. They reported an odor in the cabin and requested assistance from firefighters. The pilots said flight attendants were feeling ill and declared an emergency when no gates were immediately available.

Van Cleave said the Air Canada plane, which was coming in from Montreal, had landed and was slowing down, going 24 mph, when it collided with the PA vehicle. He said the collision probably occurred as passengers were getting off at the back of the airliner.

The Air Canada plane suffered significant damage, Van Cleave said, adding that it was a CRJ 900 — a smaller plane.

Air traffic controllers apparently tried to stop the firefighting vehicle, recordings Van Cleave listened to revealed.

The big question, Van Cleave says, is what the communication breakdown was that allowed the vehicle to be on the runway as the plane was landing.

Significant delays and cancellations are expected as the morning goes on, Van Cleave pointed out.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was “launching a go team” to investigate the crash. Garcia said the first team members have arrived at the airport.

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.

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