The Department of Meteorology has warned of heavy rainfall across several parts of Sri Lanka over the next few days due to a low-level atmospheric disturbance over the Bay of Bengal. Rainfall of 100–150 mm is possible in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Central, Uva and Southern provinces. Some other areas may receive more than 75 mm. Showers or thundershowers are also expected in the Western, Northern and Southern provinces. The public has been urged to take precautions against lightning and temporary strong winds, while misty conditions are possible in parts of Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the early morning.

Heavy rainfall of up to 150 mm expected in several provinces

The Cabinet has approved awarding the contract to supply liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Litro Gas Lanka for 2027 to OQ Trading Limited. The contract covers the supply of 420,000 metric tonnes of LPG over 12 months from 1 January 2027, with a 20% variation allowed. A minimum supply of 336,000 metric tonnes has been guaranteed. Four bids were received through an international competitive bidding process. The supply will be priced on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis, at US$133.93 per metric tonne above the Saudi Aramco contract price.

Cabinet approves OQ Trading contract to supply LPG to Litro in 2027

The Cabinet has approved a Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for 1.5 million schoolchildren for the 2027 academic year. Funds will be credited directly to the bank accounts of parents of one million children from families registered under the Aswesuma welfare benefits programme. A further 500,000 children identified by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education will receive Rs. 6,000 vouchers for stationery purchases. The programme has been in operation since 2025, with the Government planning to continue it in 2027.

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for 1.5 mn schoolchildren in 2027

One person has died and several others were injured after an incident on a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, an amusement park in the US state of Georgia.&nbsp;The Cobb County Police Department said it was investigating the incident at the park, about 15 miles (24km) from Atlanta, according to the BBC's news partner CBS.&nbsp;The agency did not specify what ride was involved, but aerial footage from news helicopters showed the Goliath roller coaster stuck on the railway, with riders being helped off by workers.&nbsp;Six Flags Over Georgia said it was "deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones."&nbsp;Officials have not said how the person was killed. The BBC has contacted local police and fire authorities.&nbsp;A park spokesperson said in a statement that its team and local authorities responded immediately, and they are cooperating on an investigation into the incident.&nbsp;Six Flags is the largest amusement park operator in North America, operating 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resorts across Canada, the US and Mexico.&nbsp;The incident comes just weeks after one of its parks in Southern California announced it would close its popular X2 roller coaster after more than 100 people alleged brain injuries from the ride.&nbsp;Six Flags said the ride had passed a range of safety tests, but that it had decided to retire it because it was "the right thing to do".&nbsp;Source: BBC

One dead and several hurt after rollercoaster incident at amusement park in US

US actor RJ Mitte, best known for his role as the defiant son of drug kingpin Walter White in the drama series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34.&nbsp;"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte," his representative told the BBC.&nbsp;He died in Brownsville, Texas. No immediate cause of death was provided.&nbsp;Mitte, who lived with cerebral palsy, drew on his own experience for his role as Walter White Jr in the Emmy-winning drama series starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. He earned a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2014 for his work on the series.&nbsp;"Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion," his representative Sean Reilly said in a statement to the BBC.&nbsp;Mitte also served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's.&nbsp;He created The Mitte Foundation as well, to support philanthropic efforts and community initiatives, using his platform "to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation for people with disabilities", Reilly said.&nbsp;The Brownsville Police Department confirmed the actor's passing in a statement to the BBC, saying the cause and manner of death have not been determined and the investigation remains ongoing. No "foul play" was suspected, according to police.&nbsp;The actor was declared dead on 12 October at what was believed to be his home, Cameron County Justice of the Peace, Cyndi Hinojosa, told the Associated Press, adding that an autopsy would be performed.&nbsp;Breaking Bad aired on US cable broadcaster AMC for five seasons from 2008 to 2013.&nbsp;The anti-hero drama created by Vince Gilligan earned a whopping 58 Primetime Emmy nominations and won 16, including two for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014. It is widely credited as being one of the best US TV series of the 21st century.&nbsp;Cranston plays a high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico who turns to a life of crime to support his family after a cancer diagnosis. As he descends deeper into the underbelly of the meth trade, he drifts further from his son, Walt Jr, who makes his displeasure known with levity through much of the series.&nbsp;In a statement shared with the Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Paul, who played one of the show's lead characters, Jesse Pinkman, said he was at a loss and heartbroken.&nbsp;"RJ, I love you my friend. You will be missed," he said. "And to whoever happens to be reading this, please know you are loved, and you are not alone. Always remember that."&nbsp;Dean Norris, who played Mitte's uncle, Hank Schrader, posted that although "RJ didn't play my TV son, I always looked out for him as a young kid on set".&nbsp;"He was a sweetheart of a young man and will be greatly missed," Norris wrote.&nbsp;Mitte, who grew up in Louisiana, was a young teen when he auditioned for the breakthrough role after moving to Los Angeles to support his younger sister's acting career in 2005.&nbsp;He has previously said that his first audition in Los Angeles was for a California state public service announcement for an anti-meth commercial.&nbsp;"Fast forward to auditioning for Breaking Bad, which is still, in my opinion, an anti-meth thing because it doesn't end well for anyone," he said on the Joe Vulpis Podcast earlier this month.&nbsp;His character was based on Gilligan's late friend with a more severe case of cerebral palsy who used forearm crutches, which Mitte did not require.&nbsp;He played the role with honesty and accessibility, cracking jokes as a teen whose health condition was never mentioned in the series.&nbsp;After rising to prominence with the series, Mitte fought for more varied roles and complex depictions of characters with disabilities, both visible and invisible.&nbsp;"Whenever awards season rolls around, we always hope to see a diverse group of projects that reflect all of us, in body and mind," he told the BBC in 2021.&nbsp;"Watching the awareness grow around disability representation has been great to see, but breakthroughs sometimes come in pieces and moments instead of larger change," he said.&nbsp;Mitte's other on-screen credits include Hannah Montana, Switched at Birth, Westhampton and his latest project, Talking to Strangers, which came out earlier this year.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34

President Donald Trump's envoys told Ukrainian officials on Friday that a deal to allow Russian diesel exports is part of a ​bid to draw Russia back to negotiations after the failure of previous efforts to launch sustained talks to end the war, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters.﻿&nbsp;Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve ‌Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner told the Ukrainians in a meeting in Miami that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared to negotiate an end to his 4 1/2-year-old war in Ukraine and that the deal announced last week could help restart trilateral talks, said two of the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;The third person said the US relayed to the Ukrainians that the diesel deal could help "soften" Moscow's position in part because it "sends a signal that Trump is open to do things" with Russia.&nbsp;That deal, under which Russia will supply more than 2.25 million barrels of ​diesel to US and global markets, has triggered a backlash from some US lawmakers, who say it will give Moscow cash to pursue its war without forcing Putin to make concessions to end the conflict. On Monday, ​Trump publicly defended the deal, calling it "the right choice for the American people."&nbsp;Trump says the agreement will lower US energy prices, which have become a political headache for his Republican Party ahead ⁠of pivotal midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.&nbsp;Trump also wanted the Ukrainians to stop striking Russian refineries, Kushner said in the meeting, reiterating that the administration had made that request several times, the two people said. Trump has said ​Ukraine’s attacks are increasing global fuel prices, but most experts say the war in Iran is the main driver of the high costs.&nbsp;“The idea was that the US could go back to Russia and say ‘See, the Ukrainians stopped striking and we gave you ​this deal. Now it’s your turn to do something,’” one of the people said.&nbsp;Trump on Sunday announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine days after unveiling the diesel deal. The warring sides have not confirmed the ceasefire, though, and Russia struck energy targets inside Ukraine on Monday as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected a Zelenskiy proposal for a full 60-day truce.&nbsp;The Russian Embassy in Washington and the presidential office in Kyiv did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A person close to the Kremlin said the diesel deal "is a way to bring Russia ​back" to the negotiations.&nbsp;One of the people familiar with the meeting said the diesel agreement is just one part of a larger conversation about how to bring Ukraine and Russia back to the negotiating table and end the war. The meeting ​also touched on security guarantees for Ukraine, the person said, without elaborating.&nbsp;DOUBTS ABOUT MOSCOW'S WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE&nbsp;Trump has repeatedly said Putin wants to reach a settlement to end the war — a claim he repeated on Saturday. Ukrainian and European officials have expressed doubts that the ‌Russian leader is ⁠willing to end the military campaign soon.&nbsp;The envoys' comment that Putin is not prepared to end his war suggests that Trump's view is not uniformly held within the administration.&nbsp;Some experts have said the diesel agreement will do little to lower prices in the US. The additional amount provided to the market will be less than a day's supply for the US transport sector alone.&nbsp;The Ukrainian officials attending the meeting were skeptical of the US approach, which they see as using business deals to appease Russia, the two people briefed and one person in the meeting said.&nbsp;The Trump administration has previously tried to entice Putin, including through sanctions relief proposals as well as potential mineral deals. Neither has substantially changed Russia’s core demands or persuaded it to accept ​a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;The person close to the Kremlin said ​Putin will only return to the table when "he gets ⁠the remaining 11% of Donbas, which he can present domestically as victory." Ukraine has said it will not hand any more territory to Russia, but that freezing the conflict on the existing battle lines could be the basis for a peace deal.&nbsp;NO THREAT TO WITHHOLD US SUPPORT FOR KYIV&nbsp;In the Miami meeting, Kushner and Witkoff stressed to the Ukrainian officials “all that the ​US has done for Ukraine,” one of the people said, including providing military and intelligence support to its forces.&nbsp;The Americans did not threaten to cut off that support if ​Ukraine did not agree to stop ⁠striking Russian refineries, the two people briefed and the person in the meeting said.&nbsp;The meeting in Miami, which also included European officials and virtual appearances by representatives from the World Bank, came after Witkoff and Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv in September. Witkoff said then that the sides had created “new momentum” and that a new round of talks could soon begin.&nbsp;The World Bank declined to comment.&nbsp;Tensions between the US and Ukraine have spiked since the announcement of the US-Russia diesel deal. Zelenskiy called it a "weak decision" by the US ⁠and a “gift to ​Putin.” Trump said on Saturday that Zelenskiy “could have settled this war many times” and Ukrainians needed to “get a new president.”&nbsp;Part of the meeting in Miami, ​which spanned several hours, focused on reconstruction funds for Ukraine and a need for Kyiv to formalize plans for investment in the country, the people briefed on the meeting said.&nbsp;The Ukrainians left the meeting without agreeing to anything formally, but signaled that they would be willing to agree to an energy ​ceasefire so long as Russia did.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

US hopes diesel deal can 'soften' Russia on peace talks – reports

The global economy will still manage to top 3% real GDP growth this year as strong AI investment offsets the energy ​shock from the war in the Middle East, but downside risks are mounting and more countries are being left behind and vulnerable to rising debt loads, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.&nbsp;Despite a more protracted ‌conflict that has kept oil prices above $100 a barrel, the IMF is forecasting 2026 global growth at 3.1%, a slight uptick from the 3.0% it predicted in July.&nbsp;The World Economic Outlook forecast, released as global economic and finance leaders gather in Bangkok for the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, is about even with the most optimistic scenario issued in April but below 2025 global growth of 3.5%.&nbsp;For 2027, the IMF predicts 3.4% global growth, flat with the July forecast and up 0.2 percentage point from April.&nbsp;The slight improvement is largely due to continued strong investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, prompting growth upgrades for key advanced economies building ​AI platforms and especially for countries supplying AI hardware, including South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand, which is hosting the meetings this week.&nbsp;"The global economy has been resilient, but that resilience is reaching its limits, so we need to move ​from just coping to rebuilding," the IMF's chief economist, Silvana Tenreyro, told a news conference. "We need to restore fiscal space. We need to rebuild supply-side resilience."&nbsp;She said major downside risks ⁠to growth include a prolonged, intensified war in the Middle East that spikes inflation pressures, rising bond yields that raise government borrowing costs, El Nino-driven extreme weather events and a reassessment of AI profitability that craters investment and asset prices.&nbsp;Countries and companies ​moved quickly to mitigate the oil price shock, drawing down reserves, substituting other suppliers and energy sources and cutting oil demand, Petya Koeva Brooks, the IMF's deputy research director, told Reuters in a separate interview. She said global growth would have fallen to 2.5% this year ​without these measures, but their effect is fading as the war drags on.&nbsp;The IMF noted a growing divergence between countries benefiting from AI and those bypassed by it. Just 32 countries now account for 95% of global growth, compared to 54 countries in April.&nbsp;Downward growth revisions have become more widespread, with the IMF downgrading 47% of economies since the April forecasts were issued, including several energy importers outside AI value chains.&nbsp;Hardest hit by downgrades were the Gulf countries directly impacted by the US-Israeli war against Iran, with Saudi Arabia's GDP now forecast to contract 3.3% this year compared with the ​1.7% growth predicted in July.&nbsp;Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to fall into deep recessions, with 2026 contractions of 7.6%, 16%, 16.7%, 15.6% and 3.9%, respectively.&nbsp;UNITED STATES FLAT, IMPROVEMENT IN EUROPE&nbsp;Among major economies, the IMF forecast US ​growth of 2.3% for both 2026 and 2027, unchanged for this year and 0.1 percentage point higher for next year. The US economy is expected to be supported by robust private consumption, tax cuts and AI investment, though the boost from AI will be offset by its large ‌import content.&nbsp;Euro zone ⁠growth for 2026 was upgraded to 1.1% from 0.9% in July due to stronger investment in AI, participation in AI value chains such as chemical production in Germany, and higher defense spending in EU countries. Britain's 2026 growth forecast also was upgraded by 0.3 percentage point from July to 1.3% due to larger AI investment.&nbsp;The IMF forecast China's growth at 4.5% for 2026 and 4.0% for 2027, both down 0.1 percentage point from July, as higher oil prices exacerbate weak domestic demand despite strong exports.&nbsp;India remains the world's fastest-growing major economy at 7.0% for both 2026 and 2027, up 0.6 percentage point this year and 0.3 percentage point next year compared with the July forecasts amid robust domestic demand, services activity and AI investment.&nbsp;The AI investment surge is projected to keep upward pressure ​on prices, with global headline consumer price inflation forecast at 4.7% ​in 2026 and 4.1% for 2027.&nbsp;ENERGY PRICE, AI RISKS&nbsp;Participants at ⁠the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok will be assessing a precarious outlook. The IMF forecasts are based on assumptions that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen in March 2027 with a broad return to pre-war shipping conditions occurring by October 2027. The IMF assumes an average oil price of $96 per barrel for 2026 and $87 in 2027.&nbsp;But under an adverse scenario highlighted in the ​report, in which a worsening war pushes oil prices to $130 per barrel through the first quarter of 2027, growth would be reduced by 0.2 percentage point in 2026 and 0.5 percentage ​point in 2027. Inflation in 2027 ⁠would surge by another 1.1 percentage point to 5.2%.&nbsp;AI is also a huge source of uncertainty, with major downside and upside risks, the IMF report said. Under a scenario of faster adoption of the technology and accelerated investment, global GDP could rise a further 0.6% by 2029, with the bulk of the benefits going to the US and China.&nbsp;But if productivity gains from AI fail to materialize, prompting a sharp decline in investment, US GDP could fall by 0.8% directly, causing spillovers to Asian technology exporters with a total direct GDP impact of as ⁠much as 0.4% ​by 2028.&nbsp;This shift would also trigger a sharp reduction in asset prices and tighter financial conditions that cause a major drop in consumption, particularly in the ​US, the IMF said. Higher global bond yields would further reduce activity, with a combined global output reduction of 1.1% by 2028, including a 1.8% drop in US output.&nbsp;The IMF also warned that elevated public debt levels, particularly in advanced economies, increase the risk of sharply higher borrowing costs that can weigh on growth ​prospects. It urged governments to stop delaying action to rebuild fiscal buffers and articulate credible medium-term plans to bring debt back to sustainable levels — advice that IMF officials plan to push at the Bangkok meetings.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

AI investment props up global growth, but war and debt threaten outlook, IMF says

President Donald Trump said ‌late on Monday he did not believe that China and Russia were helping Iran "at all," adding that Moscow and Beijing had "too much to lose" if they enabled Tehran.&nbsp;Trump said on Truth Social that he ​had seen comments from his critics and opponents that China and Russia were ​helping Iran.&nbsp;"If they are, it's at a very low level, but I ⁠don't believe they are at all. They have too much to lose, and we ​would know about it, and know about it very fast," Trump wrote.&nbsp;Trump said in July ​he trusted China and Russia not to help Tehran in the Iran war, but warned that if they did get involved "it would be very bad for them."&nbsp;The United States and Iran have been at war ​since February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran responded with ​its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and ‌Israeli ⁠attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands and displaced millions.&nbsp;Trump has previously described Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "neutral" during the Iran war.&nbsp;Moscow and Beijing maintain close ties with Tehran. Russia has said the Iran war could lead to a nuclear arms race in the ​Middle East. Beijing has ​condemned Washington's attacks ⁠on Tehran as a brazen violation of Iran's sovereignty.&nbsp;Last month, Trump warned Xi against providing support to Iran when the Chinese leader ​visited Washington, and received assurances that China would not do so, ​the US ⁠ambassador to China said at the time.&nbsp;The warning came amid reports that China had supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers and that Tehran had found ways to evade sanctions on ⁠its ​oil sales with Chinese help.&nbsp;In September, Trump brushed aside a ​report that Iran acquired satellite images of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack that killed ​three US troops there in July.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Trump says he does not believe China and Russia are helping Iran 'at all'

Top leaders of India's "cockroach" youth movement were detained ​on Tuesday after they jumped barricades to enter the grounds of a historic observatory popular ‌for protests, chanting slogans demanding the chief election commissioner's resignation over a controversial revision of voter lists.&nbsp;Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition groups have held almost daily protests this month to demand commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the revisions critics say favour Prime ​Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).&nbsp;The Election Commission has denied favouring any party and said wrongly ​deleted voters can re-enrol, while the BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine ⁠democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes.&nbsp;Thousands joined a protest march by opposition groups on Monday, after a ​clampdown foiled CJP plans for a weekend demonstration, with police detaining thousands of protesters, including CJP leaders.&nbsp;Delhi Police ​announced on Monday that the Jantar Mantar open air observatory, in the national capital's central business district, was no longer designated as an official protest site, and said three new venues had been identified.&nbsp;The CJP said its leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, ​and Ajinkya Shinde were among about 20 volunteers who "sneaked" inside the observatory to "reclaim" it and were detained.&nbsp;"You ​cannot denotify the resistance," founder Abhijeet Dipke said on X after their detention.&nbsp;BIGGEST POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR MODI&nbsp;A CJP livestream showed about ‌a ⁠dozen volunteers jumping a gate and barricades to reach the site, where they waved the Indian flag and chanted slogans before police detained them.&nbsp;Delhi Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;The youth movement, which has mobilised protests in recent months against issues ranging from government school infrastructure to jobs, is among ​the biggest political challenges to ​Modi and his BJP ⁠in his 12 years in power.&nbsp;A weeks-long sit-in by its supporters at Jantar Mantar earlier this year forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper ​leaks.&nbsp;The latest protests erupted after the Indian Express newspaper reported last month that ​Kumar's two deputies ⁠raised several concerns internally about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems.&nbsp;The change, which started last year, removed over 130 million names – more than the population of Japan – from voter lists, including 28 million who died, 63 ⁠million ​who relocated, and 30 million who could not be traced.&nbsp;Opposition parties ​allege the deletions disproportionately affect Muslim voters and other minorities, who are unlikely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party — allegations the poll ​panel and BJP reject.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Heavy rainfall of up to 150 mm expected in several provinces

Cabinet approves OQ Trading contract to supply LPG to Litro in 2027

Cabinet approves OQ Trading co ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for 1.5 mn schoolchild ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 sta ...

One dead and several hurt after rollercoaster incident at amusement pa ...

One dead and several hurt afte ...

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte di ...

US hopes diesel deal can 'soften' Russia on peace talks – reports

US hopes diesel deal can 'soft ...

AI investment props up global growth, but war and debt threaten outloo ...

AI investment props up global ...

Trump says he does not believe China and Russia are helping Iran 'at a ...

Trump says he does not believe ...

Indian police detain 'cockroach' movement leaders demanding election c ...

Indian police detain 'cockroac ...

Cabinet approves OQ Trading contract to supply LPG to Litro in 2027

Cabinet approves OQ Trading co ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for 1.5 mn schoolchild ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 sta ...

One dead and several hurt after rollercoaster incident at amusement pa ...

One dead and several hurt afte ...

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte di ...

US hopes diesel deal can 'soften' Russia on peace talks – reports

US hopes diesel deal can 'soft ...

AI investment props up global growth, but war and debt threaten outloo ...

AI investment props up global ...

Trump says he does not believe China and Russia are helping Iran 'at a ...

Trump says he does not believe ...

Indian police detain 'cockroach' movement leaders demanding election c ...

Indian police detain 'cockroac ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Cabinet approves OQ Trading contract to supply LPG to Litro in 2027

Cabinet approves OQ Trading co ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for 1.5 mn schoolchild ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 6,000 sta ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

One dead and several hurt after rollercoaster incident at amusement pa ...

One dead and several hurt afte ...

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte dies aged 34

Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte di ...

US hopes diesel deal can 'soften' Russia on peace talks – reports

US hopes diesel deal can 'soft ...

AI investment props up global growth, but war and debt threaten outloo ...

AI investment props up global ...