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The season’s first heavy rains and snowfall ended a prolonged dry spell but triggered flash floods in several areas of Afghanistan, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s national disaster management authority said Thursday.

The dead included five members of a family in a property where the roof collapsed on Thursday in Kabkan, a district in the Herat province, according to Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor. Two of the victims were children.

Most of the casualties have occurred since Monday in districts hit by flooding, and the severe weather also disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions, according to Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.

Hammad said the floods also damaged infrastructure in the affected districts, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families, worsening conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities.

Hammad said the agency has sent assessment teams to the worst-affected areas, with surveys ongoing to determine further needs.

Afghanistan, like neighboring Pakistan and India, is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, particularly flash floods following seasonal rains.

Decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, deforestation, and the intensifying effects of climate change have amplified the impact of such disasters, especially in remote areas where many homes are made of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges.

The United Nations and other aid agencies this week warned that Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026. The UN and its humanitarian partners launched a $1.7 billion appeal on Tuesday to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need in the country.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

Police report that an elderly woman has succumbed to critical injuries following an alleged attack by her husband in the Delpawatta area of Agalawatta. The incident is said to have occurred on January 1 after a domestic argument escalated.The victim, a 79-year-old resident of Mahagama, Delpawatta, was reportedly struck with a wooden door pole during the altercation. She was later pronounced dead despite medical attention.

After the completion of the post-mortem examination, the woman’s body was released to her family, authorities confirmed. The 84-year-old suspect has been arrested, and Agalawatta Police are continuing further investigations into the case.

Growing unrest in Iran is reported to have claimed more lives on a fifth day of protests over the soaring cost of living.

Both the semi-official Fars news agency and human rights group, Hengaw, said two people had died during clashes between protesters and security forces in the city of Lordegan, in south-western Iran. Three more people were killed in Azna and another in Kouhdasht, Fars reported, all in the west of the country.

On Thursday videos posted on social media showed cars set on fire during running battles between protesters and security forces.

Many protesters have called for ending the rule of the country’s supreme leader. Some have also called for a return to the monarchy.

As the day wore on more reports came in of unrest up and down the country, on the fifth day of the protests, sparked by a currency collapse.

Videos verified by BBC Persian show protests in the central city of Lordegan, the capital Tehran and Marvdasht in the southern Fars province taking place on Thursday.

Fars reported that in Lordegan two people were killed, citing an informed official. The report did not specify whether those killed were protesters or members of the security forces. It also reported the three deaths in Azna, in neighbouring Lorestan province, without specifying if there were protesters or security officials.

Rights group Hengaw said the two killed in Lordegan were protesters, naming them as Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh.

BBC Persian has not been able to independently verify the deaths.

Separately state media said a member of the security forces linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) was killed in clashes with protesters on Wednesday night in the city of Kouhdasht, in the western Lorestan province.

The BBC has not been able to verify this and protesters say the man was one of their number and was shot dead by the security forces.

A further 13 police officers and Basij members were injured by stone throwing in the area, the state media report said.

Schools, universities and public institutions were closed across the country on Wednesday after a bank holiday was declared by authorities in an apparent effort to quell the unrest.

It was ostensibly to save energy because of the cold weather, though it was seen by many Iranians as an attempt to contain the protests.

They began in Tehran - among shopkeepers angered by another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency against the US dollar on the open market.

By Tuesday, university students were involved and they had spread to several cities, with people chanting against the country’s clerical rulers.

The protests have been the most widespread since an uprising in 2022 sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was accused by morality police of not wearing her veil properly. But they have not been on the same scale.

To prevent any escalation, tight security is now reported in the areas of Tehran where the demonstrations began.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his government will listen to the “legitimate demands” of the protesters.

But the prosecutor general, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, has also warned that any attempt to create instability would be met with what he called a “decisive response”.

(Source:Adaderana.lk)

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that there will be no extension of school hours this year, taking into account the challenges faced by schools and public transport networks in the aftermath of recent disasters.

Education officials said the decision was made after assessing the impact such a move could have on students, teachers, and transport services, particularly in areas still recovering from damage and disruptions. Extending the school day under these conditions could further burden already strained systems.The Ministry noted that maintaining the current school timetable would help ensure continuity of education while minimizing additional difficulties for families and school communities across the country.

A 20-year-old youth was killed in a shooting incident in the Menikgara area of Korathota, Nawagamuwa in Kaduwela last night (01), according to police. 

Two others had also sustained injuries and were initially admitted to the Oruwala Regional Hospital in Athurugiriya and were later transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital for further treatment, police said.

According to police, the shooting targeted a group linked to underworld figure ‘Borella Kudu Duminda,’and it is suspected that the attack was carried out by the faction of ‘ Borella Kudu Chathu.’

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Nawagamuwa Police have revealed that the attack targeted three individuals who were inside a rented house at the time.

The suspects had arrived on a motorcycle and a three-wheeler, allegedly opened fire and fled the scene immediately after the incident.

The police said that the two shooters had entered the house after cutting a fence in the garden and had used a pistol to carry out the killing. 

The deceased youth, identified as ‘Sankalpa,’ is a 20-year-old resident of Borella, police stated. 

According to police, the deceased, together with another person, had allegedly chopped off a woman’s hand with a sharp weapon on November 14, 2025 in the Sarana Road area of Borella.

Investigations have revealed that the said woman is a close associate of ‘Kudu Chathu’ and that, on his instructions, the shooter and the motorcyclist involved in the shooting incident in the Borella area on June 24, 2025, had reportedly arrived from her residence.
Police said the intended target of that shooting managed to escape unharmed. Subsequently, he and the youth who was killed last night allegedly carried out the attack on the woman.

Both individuals are said to be close associates of ‘Kudu Duminda,’ who belongs to the rival faction of ‘Kudu Chathu,’ police added. 

Accordingly, the police said operations had been carried out to arrest the two suspects involved in the earlier incidents, however, they had evaded arrest.

Meanwhile, police believe the latest murder was carried out based on information that a youth affiliated with ‘Kudu Chathu’s’ faction was present at the location. 

One of the injured persons is reportedly the brother-in-law of the individual who survived the June shooting incident, police said. 

In response to an inquiry made by Ada Derana, a senior police officer said that special security was deployed in the Borella area based on information received that ‘Kudu Duminda’ was preparing for the murder.

It is noteworthy that this is the first shooting incident reported in Sri Lanka in the year of 2026.

(Source:Adaderana.lk)

The United States sharply lowered proposed new duties on several Italian pasta makers following a preliminary review of their alleged anti-dumping activities, the Italian foreign ministry said on Thursday.

A U.S. Commerce Department official said an updated analysis showed Italian exporters had addressed many of the concerns raised in an initial assessment.

In October, the United States said 13 Italian pasta companies would face an extra 92% duty, on top of the regular 15% tariff on most EU imports, accusing two producers in particular, La Molisana and Garofalo, of selling pasta at unfairly low prices.

Following its updated assessment, the U.S. decided to cut the tariff for La Molisana to 2.26%, while Garofalo’s rate was set at 13.98%, the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement. The remaining 11 producers, which were not individually examined in the review, face a tariff of 9.09%.

“The recalculation of the duties is a sign that U.S. authorities recognise our companies’ constructive willingness to cooperate,” the foreign ministry said.
A U.S. Department of Commerce official said in an email Washington was committed to a “fair, transparent process.”

“(Our) post-preliminary analysis indicates that Italian pasta makers have addressed many of Commerce’s concerns raised in the preliminary determination,” the official said. “Commerce will continue to engage with interested parties to take into account all information before issuing the final determination.”

This is scheduled for March 12, although the deadline could be extended by up to 60 days. The new duties on imports will only change once the full results are analysed, meaning there has been no increase in duties so far.

The 13 companies under review account for about 16% of U.S. pasta imports from Italy.

The threatened pasta tariffs had been an embarrassment to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had hoped her close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump would shield Italian companies from any additional tariffs.

Italy’s total pasta exports were worth over 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) in 2024, according to data from national statistics agency ISTAT. The U.S. market was worth almost $800 million to Italian firms.

Margherita Mastromauro, president of the pasta makers sector of Unione Italiana Food association, welcomed the move to slash the proposed new tariffs.

“The decision by U.S. authorities confirms that the United States is a country attentive to Italy and the fate of our economy,” she said in a statement.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 11 Indian fishermen on allegations of illegal fishing in the country’s territorial waters near Jaffna.

Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddika Sampath stated that the arrests took place during a special search operation in the Karainagar sea area last night . Authorities also confiscated the vessel and fishing equipment used by the suspects.The arrested fishermen have been brought to the Kankesanturai Navy Base and are scheduled to be transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) for further investigation.

Professor Manjula Vithanapathirana, Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), has decided to temporarily withdraw from her role while an investigation is carried out into a controversial Grade 6 English supplementary module.

Sources within the education sector said the move was made to ensure an impartial and unhindered inquiry following concerns over an inappropriate web link included in the learning material developed by the NIE. Subsequent examinations by officials revealed that the incorrect reference led users to a website intended for a gay audience.

In response to the issue, the Ministry of Education has initiated an internal investigation and has also filed a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to pursue further inquiries.As an immediate measure, the Ministry has suspended the circulation of the printed Grade 6 English module. Education authorities noted that appropriate corrective actions would be implemented based on the outcome of the investigations to avoid similar lapses in future curriculum development.

Litro Gas has announced that the prices of its domestic LP Gas cylinder refills will remain unchanged for January 2026. A company spokesperson explained that, although global market conditions could justify a price increase, the decision was made with Sri Lanka’s current economic situation in mind.

The current pricing for Litro domestic cylinders is as follows:

• 12.5 kg cylinder: Rs. 3,690

• 5 kg cylinder: Rs. 1,482

• 2.3 kg cylinder: Rs. 694

In contrast, Laugfs Gas implemented a price increase starting January 1, 2026. Under the new rates, a 12.5 kg cylinder now costs Rs. 4,250, up by Rs. 150, while the 5 kg cylinder has risen by Rs. 65 to Rs. 1,710.Authorities are expected to announce the monthly fuel price revision later this week, which may influence domestic energy costs further.

The Department of Meteorology has forecast an intensification of showery weather across multiple regions of Sri Lanka in the coming days, driven by the formation of a low-level atmospheric disturbance to the east of the island.

According to the forecast, persistent showers are expected in the Eastern, Central, North-Central, and Uva provinces, as well as in the Hambantota district. Parts of the Central and Uva provinces, along with the Batticaloa and Ampara districts, may experience fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 millimetres.The Northern Province is likely to receive several rounds of showers throughout the day, while other areas of the country may see showers or thundershowers during the afternoon and evening, particularly after 2.00 p.m. In these regions, rainfall amounts could exceed 50 millimetres in certain locations.

Meanwhile, isolated showers are forecast for coastal areas of the North-Western and Western provinces, in addition to the Galle and Matara districts. Early morning misty conditions are also expected in parts of the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, as well as in Galle and Matara.

The Meteorology Department has advised the public to remain vigilant and take appropriate measures to reduce potential damage caused by localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced that more than Rs. 285 million was recovered in fines following large-scale inspection operations conducted across the country in 2025.

According to the authority, around 21,000 raids were carried out islandwide during the year, targeting traders found to be in breach of consumer protection regulations. Alongside these enforcement activities, the CAA also tested 223 samples of both food and non-food products to assess whether they met mandatory quality and safety standards.

The items examined included steel wire, coconut oil, cosmetics, rice, canned fish, chilli powder, milk products, hair dyes, cordials, and syrups, the authority said in a statement.In addition, the CAA reported receiving 5,002 complaints through its ‘1977’ consumer hotline over the past year. Of these, approximately 79 percent have been successfully resolved, reflecting continued efforts to enhance consumer protection and regulatory compliance nationwide.

Sri Lanka’s National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued a warning over declining air quality in several parts of the country, noting that pollution levels have crossed into the “slightly unhealthy” range in key urban centres.

Monitoring data from the past 24 hours shows Air Quality Index (AQI) readings exceeding 100 in areas including Colombo 07, Vavuniya, Kandy, Kegalle, Galle, Embilipitiya, and Puttalam.The NBRO forecasts that air quality conditions will persist over the next 24 hours, with AQI values nationwide expected to range between 44 and 112. While most cities are likely to remain within moderate levels, Galle and Puttalam are projected to continue experiencing slightly unhealthy air. In contrast, Nuwara Eliya is expected to maintain good air quality.

Health officials have advised residents—especially children, senior citizens, and individuals with respiratory illnesses—to limit exposure during peak pollution hours, wear face masks when necessary, and seek medical advice if breathing discomfort occurs.

The NBRO added that air pollution is likely to be most intense between 8:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–5:00 p.m., urging the public to exercise extra caution during these periods.