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Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, as heightened concerns surrounding Iran and potential supply disruptions outweighed the prospect of increased crude supply from Venezuela.

Brent futures gained 28 cents, or 0.4 per cent to $64.15 a barrel by 0101 GMT, hovering near a two-month high struck in the previous session.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 28 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $59.78, its highest since December 8 hit earlier in the session.

Iran, one of the biggest producers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is facing its biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, drawing a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump of possible military action over lethal violence against protesters.

Trump is expected to meet senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options on Iran, a U.S. official told Reuters.

The U.S. president said on Monday that any country that does business with Iran will be subjected to a tariff rate of 25 per cent on any business conducted with the United States.

The developments matter for oil markets as Iran is a major sanctioned producer and any escalation could disrupt supply or add a geopolitical risk premium.

“Unrest in Iran has added about $3-4/barrel in geopolitical risk premium in oil prices, in our view,” Barclays said in a note.

Markets are also grappling with concerns of additional crude supply hitting the market due to Venezuela’s anticipated return to exports. Following the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro, Trump said last week the government in Caracas is set to hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil, subject to Western sanctions, to the U.S.

Global oil trading houses have emerged as early winners in the race to control Venezuelan crude flows, getting ahead of U.S. energy majors.

Elsewhere, geopolitical tensions escalated as Russian forces launched attacks on Ukraine’s two largest cities early on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said, killing one person in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

In the United States, the Trump administration renewed its attacks on the Federal Reserve, underscoring concerns in markets about the central bank’s independence and adding to uncertainty about future economic conditions and oil demand.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Sri Lankan Rupee has shown a marginal strengthening against the US Dollar at commercial banks today (12 January), with the overall selling rate remaining broadly stable compared to last week.

At Seylan Bank, the US Dollar buying rate has declined to Rs. 306.65, while the selling rate has eased to Rs. 311.40. NDB Bank also reported a reduction, with the buying rate now at Rs. 306 and the selling rate at Rs. 312.50.

People’s Bank indicated that the Dollar buying rate has decreased to Rs. 305.74, with the selling rate recorded at Rs. 312.48. Meanwhile, Commercial Bank has kept its exchange rates unchanged, maintaining the buying rate at Rs. 304.24 and the selling rate at Rs. 312.75.

Similarly, Sampath Bank reported no change in its rates, with the US Dollar buying at Rs. 305.75 and selling at Rs. 312.25.

#neOverall, the Dollar selling rate across major commercial banks continues to hover around Rs. 312, reflecting relative stability in the foreign exchange market.

Alyssa Healy, the Australia captain and one of the most successful players of all time with eight World Cup titles, will retire from all cricket after the multi-format home series against India in February-March 2026.

Healy, who was named Meg Lanning’s full time successor as captain in late 2023, won’t feature in the T20I leg of the India series so Australia can start building towards the T20 World Cup later in the year, but will play the ODIs before finishing her career with an 11th Test cap in the day-night encounter at the WACA from March 6-9.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Healy said on Willow Talk, the podcast she’s a regular panelist on. “The last few years has been probably more mentally draining than anything else. A few injuries. I’ve got to dive into the well, and the well is getting less and less full of water. Getting harder to dive back in there.

“I’ve always felt like I’ve had a competitive edge in that I want to compete, I want to win and I want to challenge myself on the park. I’ve felt as I’ve got a little bit older, I’ve not necessarily lost all of it, but I’ve lost some of that.

“I think the WBBL [last year] was probably a bit of a wake-up call. Not being able to hold the bat with two hands didn’t help either but waking up and going, ‘just another day of cricket’, really surprised myself because I still thought I loved playing the game.”

While thoughts had started to turn to when Healy may call time on her career, the somewhat sudden nature of the announcement was a surprise. But had been partly been forced by her decision not to play through to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June. Healy said trying to reach that tournament would not have been “doing the right thing” by her team-mates.

“There might be a little bit of change within that series [against India] leading into the World Cup, and some leadership stuff. But for me, the opportunity to play at home, still captain the team in that series is going to be really special,” Healy said

“I never wanted to announce it, wanted to get to the end of the Test match [against India, starting March 6 in Perth], but with me not going into the T20 World Cup, it’s forced a little bit of change. Not a lot of T20 cricket leading into that for the girls, so it’s probably the place for me to make a decision on that format and give the girls an opportunity to prepare for that World Cup knowing that I’m not going to be there.

“It has forced an announcement of sorts, but it has given me some peace as well because I’ve known this in the back of my mind for probably six months. But to finally say it and get it out there, would be ideal for everyone to just clap it and move on.

“At the end of the day, to have an opportunity to finish at home against India, which is on the calendar one of the biggest series for us. I thought that would be a really cool way to finish with some of my team-mates and some family around as well. It would’ve been nice to do it in India with a World Cup, but doing it at home will be something special.”

Healy conceded the injury late in the ODI World Cup was “a real body blow” and had severely hindered her during the WBBL but added she was currently feeling good fitness-wise ahead of her final months in the game.

“I think I’ve been doing this for a really long time and competed at the highest level for that amount of time, [so announcing retirement] wasn’t a sad thing,” she said at a press conference in Sydney. “I’ve always enjoyed the perspective of there’s so much more to life than just cricket. I’m really blessed with that perspective throughout my life.

“I guess when it comes to retirement, it’s quite daunting for a lot of people, but standing here right now, I’m really excited for the future come the end of March.

“I’ll obviously be excited to run back out there a couple more times for Australia, but what happens after that I think is going to be really exciting and I’m looking forward to that next chapter. It was just probably one of those moments where you know that one door closes and another one might open.”

Healy made her Australia debut as a 19-year-old in February 2010 and has scored more than 3500 runs in ODIs. In T20Is she will finish with 3054 runs at 25.45 including a career-best 148 not out, the highest individual score among Full Member teams. She has since played the second most T20I matches for Australia and currently holds the record for the most T20I dismissals (men’s or women’s).

She won the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023 and the ODI World Cup in 2013 and 2022. Healy was also ICC’s T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

“Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career,” Todd Greenberg, the Cricket Australia CEO, said. “On behalf of Australian Cricket, I’d like to thank Alyssa and congratulate her on an incredible career that has inspired so many and changed the game for the better. We look forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.”

Healy is expected to feature in the WNCL for New South Wales over the coming weeks in preparation for the India series but has played her last game for Sydney Sixers in the WBBL.

“Alyssa leaves behind an incredible legacy, inspiring a generation of young cricketers, both boys and girls,” Leah Poulton, Cricket NSW head of female cricket, said. “She’s an entertainer in every sense of the word and an absolute joy to watch.

“I feel fortunate to have witnessed her journey from start to finish, and to watch her grow into such an accomplished leader and figure in the game. Cricket will miss her on-field presence, but I know she won’t be lost to the sport.”

Rachael Haynes, Sydney Sixers’ general manager and Healy’s former team-mate, said: “Midge is a larrikin, a leader and the ultimate team-mate whose impact has pioneered change in our game, especially for female athletes.”

(newswire.lk)

The Department of Meteorology has released a special advisory warning of severe lightning activity affecting the Western, North-Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara districts.

According to the advisory, which remains in effect until 11.00 p.m. today (12 January), red-level warnings have been issued for nine districts, while amber-level alerts have been declared for five additional districts.

Meteorologists caution that thundershowers in these areas could be accompanied by temporary localized strong winds, increasing the risk of damage.Members of the public are strongly advised to take necessary safety measures to reduce potential harm caused by lightning and adverse weather conditions.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday, prior to her departure from the country on January 16, which will mark the conclusion of her diplomatic assignment.

During the meeting, President Dissanayake conveyed his gratitude for Ambassador Chung’s efforts to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties between Sri Lanka and the United States throughout her tenure.

The President also acknowledged her contribution in facilitating U.S. support for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, as well as her engagement in discussions related to Sri Lanka’s programme with the International Monetary Fund.

Ambassador Julie Chung has served as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka since assuming office in February 2022.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has drawn attention to the country’s growing popularity as a surfing destination, citing her own experience during a recent visit to the southern coast.In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ambassador Chung revealed that she had never attempted surfing before, despite being from California. She noted that with guidance from a patient instructor, she was able to overcome her initial hesitation and successfully ride a surfboard for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Expressing her enthusiasm, the Ambassador said she looks forward to returning to the island as a tourist to continue learning the sport. She also described Sri Lanka’s southern coastline as outstanding, commending its scenic beauty and surf-friendly beaches.

Her comments reflect Sri Lanka’s increasing recognition on the global stage as an attractive surfing destination, with the southern coast in particular drawing surfers of all skill levels from across the world.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (12) on a brief visit during a transit stop en route to China following an official visit to South Africa and has reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

Minister Yi has also assured that he would personally intervene to assist in rehabilitating critical infrastructure, including roads, railways, and bridges affected by the disaster.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath met Yi, and commenting on the meeting, Herath said that while welcoming Minister Wang Yi, he had extended his sincere appreciation to the Government and the people of China for their timely and generous support to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. 

“I was pleased to meet H.E. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, during his brief visit to Sri Lanka this morning (12/01/26). Our discussions focused, among others, on further advancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, development cooperation and tourism. The discussions also focused on rebuilding Sri Lanka post Cyclone Ditwah,” Minister Herath stated in a post on ‘X’.

Herath further said that in this regard, he particularly requested the assistance of the Chinese government in infrastructure development, including reconstruction of identified roads, railways and bridges which were affected.

“Minister Wang Yi assured his personal intervention to the said request and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka is on the right track for early recovery, and reaffirmed the Chinese Government’s fullest support,” he added. 

Minister Yi, accompanied by a 17-member delegation, was returning from Durban when the group had stopped in Sri Lanka. 

(Source:pulseline.lk)

Australia has tightened checks for student visa applicants from India as it moved India into the ‘highest-risk’ category along with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. 

The new categorization came into effect from January 8 2026, as these four South-Asian countries have been moved from Evidence Level 2 to Evidence Level 3 under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF).

The re-rating of the countries was out of cycle, the Australian media reported, while the administration said this was triggered by “emerging integrity risks”.

“This change will assist with the effective management of emerging integrity issues, while continuing to facilitate genuine students seeking a quality education in Australia,” the administration said. 

“The Australian government wants all students to have a positive study experience during their stay in Australia and receive a high-quality education. It is important that Australia’s international education system and Student Visa Program has the right settings to provide international students with confidence they are investing in the best possible education,” they said.

What does this re-rating mean for Indian students?

Indian students applying for a visa in Australia will be screened meticulously. They may be asked for more documents, and there might be rigorous background checks. Bank statements will be manually verified, additional English language evidence may be requested and the officers will have the authority to call institutions, referees.

The process time of applications will lengthen from three to eight weeks.

Why India moved to ‘highest- risk’ category?

Though the administration did not cite any specific reason for which India had been assigned to a new category, the move came after reports of fake degree busts in India, which created a ripple in the international media. India alone accounts for almost 140,000 of Australia’s 650,000 international students, and the four nations represent nearly one-third of 2025 enrolments.

According to experts, Australia remains the only option now among the ‘big four’ student destinations, as the US, UK and Canada are shutting their doors to foreign students. 

“It recently became obvious that student applicants who couldn’t get into those other three countries are increasingly applying to come to Australia, and in many cases we’ve seen an increase in fraudulent financial and academic documents,” Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said.

“By placing a number of these countries into the highest risk rating level then it automatically enhances any filtering of the student visa applicants to ensure bona fide study motivation.”

Source:adaderana.lk

The Department of Meteorology has forecast several periods of showers across the Northern, North-Central, Uva, Eastern and Central provinces today (13 January).

In addition, showers or thundershowers are expected to develop after 1.00 p.m. in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts.

According to the Met Department, certain locations may experience fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres during the day.

Misty conditions are also likely during the early morning hours in some areas of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces, along with the Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts.Authorities have urged the public to take necessary safety precautions to reduce potential damage from temporary localized strong winds and lightning associated with thundershowers.

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake early this morning (12 January) on a short transit visit while en route to China following an official visit to South Africa.

The Foreign Minister was accompanied by a 17-member Chinese delegation and arrived in Sri Lanka after concluding his engagements in Durban.

The visiting delegation was received at the airport by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, together with senior officials from the Chinese Embassy. On behalf of the Sri Lankan government, Director General of the East Asia and Oceania Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Savitri Panabokke, along with other ministry officials, were present to welcome the delegation.

According to official sources, Minister Wang Yi and his delegation are scheduled to depart Sri Lanka later today to continue their journey back to China.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had imposed a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, a move that could put pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter a third week.

Trump said on social media that the tariff was “effective immediately”, without offering details of what constituted “doing business” with Iran.

China is Iran’s largest trading partners, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.

The new tariff comes after Trump threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that military options including air strikes were still “on the table”.

“Any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

“This Order is final and conclusive,” he added.

The White House did not share additional information about the tariffs, including which countries’ imports will be hit hardest.

Anger over the plummeting value of the Iranian currency, the rial, sparked protests in late December, which have grown into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified the deaths of nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel in Iran, while sources tell the BBC the death toll could be much higher. Thousands more have reportedly been arrested.

However, an internet blackout since Thursday evening has made it difficult to obtain and verify information. The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report from inside Iran.

Trump has threatened to intervene, and said on Sunday that Iranian officials had called him “to negotiate” - but added “we may have to act before a meeting”.

International sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme have had a severe impact on the country’s economy, which has also been weakened by government mismanagement and corruption.

On 28 December shopkeepers took to the streets of Tehran to express their anger at another sharp fall in the value of the rial against the US dollar on the open market.

Iran’s currency has sunk to a record low over the past year while inflation has soared to more than 40%, resulting in sharp price rises for everyday items like cooking oil and meat.

Source:adaderana.lk

One of the generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant that was previously taken offline for maintenance has now been successfully restored, according to official sources.

Despite the completion of restoration work, the electricity produced by this unit has not yet been synchronized with the national power system. Relevant authorities have indicated that the process to connect the generator to the national grid is expected to be completed in the coming days.

The Norochcholai Power Plant has an overall generation capacity of 900 megawatts, delivered through three separate generators. Currently, only one generator is actively supplying power to the national grid.

Another unit at the plant remains non-operational, while technical teams continue efforts to repair and return it to service.