Washington, D.C. – September 4, 2025
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American military forces killed 11 alleged narcoterrorists in a missile strike on a drug smuggling vessel operating in international waters.
Trump shared footage on social media showing what he described as a precision strike on the vessel, which he said was carrying members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA).
“Earlier this morning, on my orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” Trump said.
He claimed that the gang members were transporting narcotics bound for the United States when the strike occurred.
The former president described Tren de Aragua as a designated foreign terrorist organization “responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere.”
The U.S. Department of Defense has not independently confirmed the strike or provided further details.
Tren de Aragua, originally formed in Venezuela’s prisons, has expanded its operations across Latin America and has been increasingly linked to transnational crime networks.
Former Member of Parliament Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero has been remanded until September 12 after appearing before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court this afternoon (29).
The National Milad-Un-Nabi commemoration ceremony was held this afternoon (05) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Masjidul Aroosiya Jumma Mosque premises in the Malay Colony village, Ambalantota. The event was organised by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, together with the Department of Muslim Religious And Cultural Affairs, to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. A special feature of the commemoration was the active participation and support extended by people of all faiths in the area, including members of the Maha Sangha. On this occasion, the President was presented with the commemorative postage stamp issued to mark the 2025 National Milad-Un-Nabi celebrations. He was also presented with a book titled The History and Development of the Muslim Community in Hambantota District, compiled to highlight the cultural and historical value of the Muslim community in Hambantota. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also awarded prizes and certificates to the winners of an art competition held across all schools in Hambantota District. The competition, open to students of all communities, aimed at fostering ethnic harmony among schoolchildren. In recognition of his participation in the 2025 National Milad-Un-Nabi commemoration, the President was presented with a commemorative gift, while the Muslim community of Hambantota and the Board of Trustees of the Jumma Mosque also offered him a special memento. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, stated that discussions were already underway to further increase Sri Lanka’s quota for Hajj pilgrimages. He noted that this would help reduce costs for local devotees and enable a greater number of pilgrims to perform the Hajj in future. The Minister also conveyed the condolences of the President and the government to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic bus accident that occurred on the Ella–Wellawaya main road last night (04). Deputy Minister of National Integration, Muneer Mulaffer, in his address, emphasised that peace, unity and mutual respect were the core teachings of Prophet Muhammad. He further noted that the present government aspires to build a beautiful nation founded on peace and coexistence among all people. Recalling the strong participation of local communities in making the 2025 National Milad-Un-Nabi commemoration a success, he said that such unity reinforced confidence in building a harmonious nation. The ceremony was attended by members of the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders, Deputy Speaker (Dr.) Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath, Hambantota District Development Committee Chairman Nihal Galappaththi MP, other parliamentarians, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs W.P. Senadheera, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs M.S.M. Nawas, state officials, foreign diplomats, schoolchildren and members of the public.
Chennai: Actor Sivakarthikeyan's latest psychological action thriller, 'Madharaasi,' directed by AR Murugadoss, has made a decent start at the Tamil Nadu box office, grossing an estimated ₹10 crore on its opening day. Produced by Sri Lakshmi Movies, the film features Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role, alongside Vidyut Jammwal and Rukmini Vasanth. 'Madharaasi' marks Sivakarthikeyan's return to the big screen following his blockbuster military drama, 'Amaran'. The film, which registered average advance sales, received a mixed initial response from both audiences and critics. The performance of 'Madharaasi' is particularly significant for director AR Murugadoss, as his previous directorial ventures, including the Salman Khan starrer 'Sikandar,' had reportedly failed to meet expectations. A strong showing for 'Madharaasi' over the weekend and into the weekdays is crucial for the film to achieve a positive theatrical verdict. Despite the mixed initial reactions, the film has shown promising trends in advance bookings for its second day in Tamil Nadu. 'Madharaasi' has polled approximately ₹4.60 crore from over 380 cinemas, indicating an encouraging 85 percent hold from its opening day advance sales. For sustained success, the action thriller will need to demonstrate better leg on weekdays and attract more audiences.
The Department of Meteorology has forecast a few showers in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara districts today. In addition, showers or thundershowers may occur in certain areas of the Uva Province and in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m. Elsewhere across the island, mainly fair weather is expected to prevail, the Met. Department said. The public has been advised to take necessary precautions to minimize potential damages from temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Donald Trump will order that the Pentagon be called the Department of War as it "conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve". An executive order will be signed by the US president on Friday, in which he will call for the Department of Defense to use the new name as a secondary title. He will also direct that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth be known as Secretary of War. The text of the executive order reads: "The name 'Department of War' conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to 'Department of Defense,' which emphasizes only defensive capabilities." The Pentagon oversees the US armed services and is the successor to the War Department, which was established in 1789 and ran until 1947.
London: Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, wife of the late Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent, has died at the age of 92, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. The Palace confirmed that Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at her Kensington Palace home, surrounded by her family. Buckingham Palace issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow," noting that "The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess's life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people". As a mark of respect, the union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast at midday. The Prince and Princess of Wales also paid tribute, praising her for working "tirelessly to help others" and describing her as a "much missed member of the family". Katharine, 92, was widely known for consoling losing Wimbledon finalists, most notably a tearful Jana Novotna in 1993, and presented trophies at the championships for many years. She preferred to be known as Mrs. Kent, dropping her HRH style, and retreated from royal life to spend over a decade teaching music in a state primary school in Hull. A devout follower of the Roman Catholic faith, the Duchess made history in 1994 by becoming the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism in over 300 years. Consequently, she is expected to have a Catholic funeral, which will be attended by senior royals, including the King and Queen, marking the first such service for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Beyond her royal duties, the Duchess was a dedicated humanitarian and a skilled musician. She volunteered for the Samaritans, toured countries as a Unicef ambassador, and in 2004, founded the charity Future Talent. This organisation, whose ambassadors include musician Sting, aims to provide children from low-income backgrounds with equal opportunities to excel in music by assisting with instrument purchases and funding music lessons. A talented pianist, organist, and singer, she secretly taught music in state primary schools in East Yorkshire and West London, spending 13 years at Wansbeck Primary School in Hull. Born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley on February 22, 1933, she came from an aristocratic background. She married Edward, Duke of Kent, King George V's grandson, in 1961. They have three surviving children: George, Earl of St Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Duchess faced personal tragedies, including a pregnancy termination due to German measles in 1975 and the stillbirth of her son Patrick two years later. She also battled depression, nervous strain, and various health issues throughout her life. For many years, the Duchess led a separate life from the Duke, though they never divorced. It was reported they became closer than ever after Edward suffered a stroke in 2013, with Katharine moving back to their Wren House home. The Duchess, who became the oldest member of the royal family following Queen Elizabeth II's death, made a rare public appearance in October 2024, seen in a wheelchair. She attended the wedding of the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and the Sussexes' nuptials in 2018, but did not participate in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, her funeral, or the King’s coronation
