People were killed and injured in a serious incident that ​resulted in a fire on one of Canada's busiest ‌military bases in Alberta, Defense Minister David McGuinty said on Saturday.

The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, US President ‌Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.

The Satyagraha campaign commenced by a group of Buddhist monks at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, continued for a third consecutive day today (18).

At least 17 people have been killed and many more injured in a crush at an event in the Indian city of Kolkata to mark the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, officials say.

Two individuals have been killed in separate accidents reported in Galewela and Trincomalee within the past 24 hours, Sri Lanka Police said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Saturday said two oil tankers were on fire in Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines in the waterway at the heart of the Middle East war. Tehran seized control over Hormuz after the start of the war in late Feb, choking

Violence broke out across France on Saturday during the latest day of demonstrations against hardship in schools and the cost of living.

US President Donald Trump's decision to ​waive sanctions on Russia and tariffs on its goods days before they were to take effect will embolden Moscow to keep attacking Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said ‌on Saturday, predicting even more US sanctions relief.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (18), the Department of Meteorology said.

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was fired after ​less than a week on the job, two US officials said on Friday, after a rocky start as President Donald ‌Trump's top spokesperson.

The National System Operator (NSO) announced that the electricity supply has been fully restored across the island following the nationwide power outage reported earlier today (17).

Ministry of Defence has stated that a contingent of 218 personnel, comprising 173 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel and 45 Special Task Force (STF) personnel, departed Sri Lanka on October 16 to join the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) mission in Haiti.

Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero, who was participating in a Satyagraha campaign at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo demanding the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, has reportedly been hospitalised.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an “Amber” advisory for heavy rains affecting the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and Badulla District.

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the landslide early warnings issued for several districts amid the prevailing rainy weather conditions.