US President Donald Trump tells reporters that the country faces a choice to either make a deal with Iran or “blow them up”.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has told military leaders at the Quantico Marine base outside Washington, DC, that American forces have “destroyed” Iran’s navy, air force, defence systems, leadership and military-industrial capacity, while also crippling its nuclear ambitions.

Iran says it has received a US counterproposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as part of diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock over the ongoing conflict.

(Aljazeera)

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 01 OCTOBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 01 October 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The atmospheric conditions are getting favorable for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island from today (01).

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces during the early hours of the morning.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at most part of the island after 1.00 p.m. Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North central provinces and in Mannar district.

Senior DIG among those slated for transfer

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The National Police Commission (NPC) is expected to take up Police Headquarters recommendation to transfer a group of police officers responsible for a major ‘Ice’ bust at the Colombo port recently.

NPC sources told The Island that recommendation in respect of transfers was received last week. Sources said that though the NPC was scheduled to meet today (01), whether IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya’s recommendation would be discussed and decided today was not known.

Members of the NPC are retired High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake (Chairman), K. Karunaharan, Dilshan Kapila Jayasuriya, A.A.M. Illiyas and Jayantha Jayasinghe

The IGP directed the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to probe those who carried out the 31 August, 2026 raid that resulted in the detection of 463 kgs of ‘Ice’ concealed in a container that arrived from Pakistan.

The US Embassy declined to comment on the probe though it declared that the largest ever narcotics detection was made on intelligence made available by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The officers investigated for what an authoritative Headquarters source called shortcomings and lapses on the part of the raiding party, belonged to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku who, on behalf of the CCIB, received information directly from the DEA, is among those Police Headquarters wanted to transfer.

CCIB carried out the raid after having obtained a search order from the Aluthgama Magistrate court. Among the suspects taken in this connection are three Pakistani nationals.