Israel said on Wednesday it had killed Hamas’s newly appointed armed wing chief in Gaza, days after it killed his predecessor, while intensifying military pressure in Gaza and expanding operations in Lebanon. The Israeli military said Mohammad Odeh was killed in an operation in Gaza on Tuesday. A relative of Odeh confirmed his death to Reuters and said the funeral would take place after noon prayers in Gaza City. Hamas has yet to issue an official statement, but a statement from his family said he was killed along with his wife and son. Gaza health officials said six people, including at least one woman, were killed and more than 20 others were wounded in the same Israeli strike that destroyed an upper floor of an apartment building in the Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City. Rescue ⁠workers were still at the scene looking for more possible casualties. ISRAEL SAYS ODEH WAS INVOLVED IN 2023 ATTACK Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Odeh had headed Hamas’ intelligence division at the time of the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack into Israel that triggered the Gaza war and was appointed about a week ago to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the group’s chief armed commander, who was killed by Israel on May 15. Sources close to Hamas did not confirm Odeh’s appointment as the new military chief but agreed he was seen as Haddad’s possible successor, as the group’s chief of military intelligence and possibly the last remaining living member of the armed wing’s higher leadership council. Hours before the attack, Israel announced it had expanded ground operations in Lebanon, where it has been fighting Iran-allied Hezbollah militants since it launched attacks on Iran with the United States at the end of February. Israel is also intensifying its military activities in ⁠the West Bank. Israel and Hamas are deadlocked in indirect talks over implementing the second phase of a ceasefire deal, which includes the group’s disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals. The ceasefire agreed in October left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, with Hamas controlling a sliver of coastal territory. ‘VOLUNTARY MIGRATION’ FROM GAZA IS PLANNED, ISRAEL SAYS In a statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Hamas would no longer exercise civilian or military control over Gaza and that a plan for what he described as “voluntary migration” ⁠from the enclave would also be implemented “at the right time and in the right way”. Some 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce came into effect, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period, the country’s military ⁠has said. Israel has killed dozens of Hamas leaders and military officials since the start of the Gaza war, and has vowed to kill or capture anyone who it says was involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks. Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters. Israel says its post-ceasefire strikes are ⁠aimed at preventing attacks or stopping people from approaching its armistice line with Hamas. More than 72,000 Gazans have been killed since the war started in October 2023, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel says it takes extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Source: Reuters

Israel says it killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief in Gaza

The United National Party (UNP) has questioned the absence of a public condolence message from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following a major mining disaster in China that has reportedly killed at least 82 people. In a statement issued yesterday, former Director of International Affairs to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and current UNP Working Committee member Dinouk Colombage said the President’s silence raised concerns given the close relationship between Sri Lanka and China. The statement noted that China had extended emergency assistance to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah last year and argued that Colombo should have publicly expressed solidarity with Beijing following the incident. “Shortly after the mining accident in China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly extended his condolences to both the President and the people of China,” Colombage said. He added that several other world leaders, including the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, had also issued public messages of condolence. The UNP further claimed that the absence of a message from Sri Lanka reflected weaknesses in the foreign policy direction of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government. “The silence of the President is a demonstration of the mismanaged foreign policy pursued by the NPP Government, which fails to recognise and nurture the broad spectrum of international relations Sri Lanka has developed since Independence and before,” the statement added. The President’s Office had not publicly issued a statement regarding the disaster at the time of publishing.

UNP questions President’s silence over China mining disaster

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the government will promptly introduce necessary legal amendments to maintain discipline among Buddhist monks. Addressing the National Vesak Festival today, the President noted that steps are being taken to amend the Vihara and Devalagam Act of 1931 and re-establish a ‘Dharmadhikaranaya’ with powers to handle disciplinary matters concerning Buddhist monks. He further stated that the measures are being introduced following requests made by the Mahanayake Theras.The President made these remarks while addressing the State Vesak Festival held at the Midellawala Temple.

President assures legal amendments to handle disciplinary matters concerning Buddhist monks

British households will face higher energy bills averaging £1,862 a year from July after regulator Ofgem hiked its price cap by 13% on soaring wholesale gas prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The increase, up around £221 from the previous cap of £1,641 for April to June, will hit millions of households on variable tariffs, with analysts warning bills could climb further if disruption to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz persists. The rise piles further pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer as households struggle with rising living costs. “The rise in the price cap because of a war we did not choose ⁠is deeply unwelcome news for households across the country. We know people were under pressure before this crisis, and that’s why easing that burden is our number one priority,” Energy Minister Ed Miliband said in a statement. Wholesale British gas prices are around 45% higher than they were before the United States began military action against Iran on February 28, blocking the transit route for a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Wholesale costs are the biggest single driver of Ofgem’s quarterly price cap, which limits what suppliers can charge households and also reflects network costs and environmental levies. CALLS FOR MORE HELP Consumer groups urged the government to lay out plans to provide support for households. “Now is the time for the government to set out targeted interventions to help those on the lowest incomes afford their energy and to clear their ⁠debt,” National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer said. The government says its push to reduce reliance on gas and increase renewable capacity such as wind and solar will cut costs in the longer term. In April, it also shifted some levies to cut around £150 from an average bill. Even so, the new price cap is around 46% higher than in the winter of 2021/22, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a spike in global energy prices. FURTHER ⁠RISES EXPECTED With Iran-U.S. tensions unresolved, Cornwall Insight forecasts the cap rising further to £1,899 from October. Britain’s economy has struggled to grow in recent years and the higher energy prices could further weigh on confidence. Recent data shows Britons are the least willing to make big purchases in almost a year and a half, ⁠while shoppers are buying fewer items and hunting for cheaper deals when buying food. The BoE expects consumer price inflation to reach about 4% by the end of the year. British inflation has been above the BoE’s 2% target for all but a few months of the ⁠past five years. Ofgem said people are using less gas and electricity than before so its next typical household energy use figure will reflect that. The price cap on standard tariffs was introduced in 2019 and covers about two-thirds of households. Source: Reuters

Energy bills in Britain to jump 13% on impact of Iran war

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath met with Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, in Wellington this afternoon(27). In a post on X, Herath stated that the two sides held constructive discussions on bilateral matters including politics, trade, sports, governance and the Sri Lankan community in New Zealand. The Ministers also exchanged views on current regional and global developments and their impact. Minister Herath is currently on an official visit to New Zealand and Australia from May 26 to June 3 at the invitation of the two governments.

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Zealand’s Foreign Minister

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has recorded over one million international tourist arrivals before the end of May for the second consecutive year, according to Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment Minister Vijitha Herath. The Minister noted that the milestone follows the record-breaking tourism performance achieved in 2025 despite a slowdown in arrivals during March and April linked to global travel uncertainties stemming from the Middle East conflict. India remained Sri Lanka’s top tourist source market in 2026 with over 200,000 visitors, while the United Kingdom, Russia, China and Germany were among the other leading source markets. The Minister also thanked tourism industry stakeholders and foreign visitors for supporting the sector, which remains one of Sri Lanka’s key foreign exchange earners.

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn tourist arrivals before end of May 2026

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has warned the public against relying on unofficial guidance being circulated regarding the electronic system for submitting asset and liability declarations. In a statement, the Commission noted that certain external parties unaffiliated with the Commission are providing instructions on accessing and operating the online declaration platform, with some information found to be inaccurate and inconsistent with the approved process. The Commission stressed that any clarification related to the submission of declarations through the e-system should be obtained only through its Assets and Liabilities Declaration Division. The public has also been advised to seek assistance exclusively through the official hotline numbers 0767011954 and 0112587284 regarding the electronic declaration platform.

Bribery Commission warns against misleading information on e-asset declaration system

The case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundera over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings will be called again on 12 June following an order by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar. The two are facing charges including criminal negligence of duty for allegedly failing to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence warnings. The matter was taken up today before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya and Thilakaratne Bandara. The court subsequently ordered the case to be recalled on 12 June for the submission of arguments.

2019 Easter Attacks: Case against Hemasiri, Pujith to be called on June

Nasa has released details of robotic landers, hopping drones and vehicles it aims to send to the Moon as part of US plans to build a lunar base. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin is one of several companies picked to build the machines.The US wants to land Americans back on the Moon before President Donald Trump leaves office in 2028. But Nasa is competing with China to return humans to the lunar surface, meaning the space agency is under pressure to appear to be winning the new space race. China is forging ahead with its own plans to land humans on the Moon by 2030. On Monday it launched its Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, sending a crew of astronauts to the country’s Tiangong space station. In March, Nasa announced a $20 billion programme to construct a permanent base powered by nuclear and solar energy at the Moon’s south pole by 2032. Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday that the announcements mean the US will “never give up the Moon again”. A base would allow the US to carry out scientific experiments, potentially mine valuable resources, and travel to Mars more easily. But most experts agree that Nasa’s timeline is unrealistic. Despite the US’s success in sending four astronauts around the Moon in its Artemis II mission in April, some scientists believe China is likely to be the next country to land humans on the lunar surface. “It would not surprise me at all if China gets there first,” Dr Simeon Barber, Lunar Scientist at Open University, told BBC News, citing Nasa’s setbacks in securing a craft that can land humans on the Moon. Nasa’s Ignition Moon Base programme has three phases. Before humans travel there, the space agency wants to send robotic landers and hopping drones to explore and map the Moon’s challenging terrain. Delivery vehicles would also be taken that could drive astronauts over the lunar surface and carry communications and scientific instruments. On Tuesday, Nasa said companies including Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, and Astrobotic have been awarded the contracts to build the machines. Nasa wants Blue Origin’s lunar lander, called Endurance, to be able to carry out precise landings, as well as autonomous navigation and control. Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 lander is expected to land at Nobile Crater near the South Pole. The machines will also deliver scientific instruments for Nasa, including high-resolution cameras and tools that use reflected laser light to help the craft land. This robotic exploration should last until 2029, with 25 launches and 4 metric tonnes of cargo landed on the Moon, Carlos García-Galán, Moon Base programme executive said on Tuesday. Next, Nasa wants to build nuclear and solar power facilities on the Moon, including fission reactors. By 2032, the space agency wants humans to be able to live on the Moon in “semi-permanent” housing. Rovers would also enable astronauts to travel long-distance across the rocky surface. The Moon’s South Pole is particularly appealing because frozen water could be used for drinking water or to produce oxygen. However, Nasa’s plans rely on a spacecraft being ready that can safely transport humans to the Moon. Elon Musk’s company SpaceX is contracted to build a craft called Starship Human Landing System, but it has faced numerous setbacks and delays. “The limiting step is getting the astronauts down onto the surface,” explains lunar scientist Simeon Barber. “It sounds to me like [Nasa] feel they’re in a position where they have to start saying they’ve got plans. So I think there’s a lot of political drive behind this,” he says. Source: BBC

Israel says it killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief in Gaza

UNP questions President’s silence over China mining disaster

UNP questions President’s sile ...

President assures legal amendments to handle disciplinary matters conc ...

President assures legal amendm ...

Energy bills in Britain to jump 13% on impact of Iran war

Energy bills in Britain to jum ...

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Zealand’s Foreign Minister

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Ze ...

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn tourist arrivals before end of May 2026

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn touris ...

Bribery Commission warns against misleading information on e-asset dec ...

Bribery Commission warns again ...

2019 Easter Attacks: Case against Hemasiri, Pujith to be called on Jun ...

2019 Easter Attacks: Case agai ...

Nasa unveils next steps to build permanent Moon base

Nasa unveils next steps to bui ...

UNP questions President’s silence over China mining disaster

UNP questions President’s sile ...

President assures legal amendments to handle disciplinary matters conc ...

President assures legal amendm ...

Energy bills in Britain to jump 13% on impact of Iran war

Energy bills in Britain to jum ...

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Zealand’s Foreign Minister

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Ze ...

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn tourist arrivals before end of May 2026

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn touris ...

Bribery Commission warns against misleading information on e-asset dec ...

Bribery Commission warns again ...

2019 Easter Attacks: Case against Hemasiri, Pujith to be called on Jun ...

2019 Easter Attacks: Case agai ...

Nasa unveils next steps to build permanent Moon base

Nasa unveils next steps to bui ...

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UNP questions President’s silence over China mining disaster

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Energy bills in Britain to jump 13% on impact of Iran war

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FM Vijitha Herath meets New Zealand’s Foreign Minister

FM Vijitha Herath meets New Ze ...

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn tourist arrivals before end of May 2026

Sri Lanka surpasses 1mn touris ...

Bribery Commission warns against misleading information on e-asset dec ...

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