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An Iranian missile has hit the Israeli town of Dimona, home to a nuclear facility, in what Iran said was retaliation for strikes on its own nuclear site at Natanz.

Dimona hosts a facility just outside the main town widely believed to possess the Middle East’s sole nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons.

Iran’s atomic energy organisation earlier accused the US and Israel of hitting the Natanz enrichment complex, but noted there was ‘‘no leakage of radioactive materials reported’’.

The Israeli army told AFP there had been a ‘‘direct missile hit on a building’’ in Dimona, with Magen David Adom first responders saying their teams had treated 33 people injured at multiple sites, including a 10-year-old boy in serious condition with shrapnel wounds.

‘‘There was extensive damage and chaos at the scene,’’ paramedic Karmel Cohen said.

The Israeli military said ‘‘interception attempts were carried out’’ after the missiles were detected.

Images shared by Israeli media showed an object hurtling out of the sky at high speed before crashing into the town.

Iranian state TV said the attack was a ‘‘response’’ to the earlier strike on Natanz.

After that attack, the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, repeated a ‘‘call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident’’.

The Natanz facility hosts underground centrifuges to enrich uranium for Iran’s disputed nuclear programme and was already damaged in last year’s June war.

Asked about Natanz, the Israeli military said it was ‘‘not aware of a strike’’.

The Israeli military also said Saturday it had struck a facility embedded within a Tehran university ‘‘utilised by the Iranian terror regime’s military industries and ballistic missiles array to develop nuclear weapon components and weapons’’.

Three weeks of heavy US-Israeli bombardment appear to have done little to blunt Iran’s ability to retaliate with missile and drone attacks across the region.

The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday it had faced aerial attacks after Iran warned it against allowing attacks from its territory on disputed islands near the strategic strait of Hormuz.

Iran has choked off the vital waterway, which is used for a fifth of global crude trade during peacetime.

Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said US warplanes had dropped 5,000-pound bombs on an underground facility on Iran’s coast that was storing anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile launchers and other equipment, leaving Iran’s ability to threaten the waterway ‘‘degraded’’.

‘‘We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements,’’ Cooper said in a video statement, revealing details of a strike first announced on Tuesday.

A statement from the leaders of mainly European countries, including the UK, France, Italy and Germany, but also South Korea, Australia, the UAE and Bahrain, meanwhile condemned the ‘‘de facto closure of the strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces’’.

‘‘We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait,’’ they said.

Donald Trump has called Nato allies ‘‘cowards’’ and urged them to secure the strait.

The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran had only imposed restrictions on vessels from countries involved in attacks against Iran, and would offer assistance to others that stayed out of the conflict.

The standoff in the strait has sent crude oil prices soaring, with a barrel of North Sea Brent crude up more than 50% over the past month and now comfortably more than $105 (£79).

Analysts say Iran’s Islamic government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more durable than expected.

‘‘They’re showing a lot of resilience that we didn’t perhaps expect, that the US didn’t expect, when it took this on,’’ Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the London-based thinktank’s podcast, adding that Iran had deep roots.

Tehran, meanwhile, marked the end of Ramadan as the war was entering its fourth week.

Iran’s supreme leader traditionally leads Eid al-Fitr prayers, but Mojtaba Khamenei, who came to power earlier this month after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed, has remained out of the public eye.

Instead, the head of the judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran’s overflowing Imam Khomeini grand mosque.

‘‘The atmosphere of the new year was spreading through the city,’’ said Farid, an advertising executive reached by AFP through an online message.

But ‘‘the thought that some people could be dying right at the new year dinner table was painful’’, he added.

Shiva, a 31-year-old painter, told AFP that the ‘‘only common feeling these days is uncertainty’’.

‘‘The only night we felt genuinely happy was the night Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed,’’ she said.

Source: adaderana.lk

Iranian Member of Parliament Alaeddin Boroujrrdi has claimed on state TV today that some of the ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz are being charged ‘‘with a $2 (£1.5) million fee’’ by Iran.

He has said that a ‘‘new governing regime’’ is being imposed in the Strait and ‘‘war has costs’’, adding this shows the ‘‘authority and right that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses’’.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify the claim of the toll by the Iranian MP.

Source:adaderana.lk

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has announced a sharp increase in fuel prices, which will come into effect from midnight today (21).

Under the revised pricing, auto diesel has been raised by Rs. 79, bringing the new price to Rs. 382 per litre. Super diesel has seen a Rs. 90 increase, now priced at Rs. 443 per litre.

Petrol 92 octane has also been adjusted upward by Rs. 81, reaching Rs. 398 per litre, while petrol 95 octane has been increased by Rs. 90 to Rs. 455 per litre. In addition, the price of kerosene has gone up by Rs. 60, now set at Rs. 255 per litre.

Meanwhile, Lanka IOC has announced that it will implement the same price revisions in line with Ceypetco’s adjustments.

The across-the-board increase is expected to impact transportation and living costs, as fuel prices rise significantly across all categories.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that six of the seven people reported missing after a helicopter crash in the country’s territorial waters have been found dead.

A ministry statement said that ongoing search and rescue operations led to the recovery of six individuals who had been aboard the aircraft, confirming their deaths.

Authorities said specialized teams are continuing intensive efforts to locate the remaining missing person.

The ministry did not provide further details on the cause of the crash or the identities of those on board.

Earlier Sunday, Qatar’s Defense Ministry said a helicopter suffered a ‘‘technical malfunction’‘ during a routine mission and crashed in the country’s regional waters.

No immediate information was available on the cause beyond the technical malfunction, and there was no indication that the crash was the result of hostile action.

The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Qatar has faced repeated Iranian drone and missile strikes since the start of US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, with the country’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s largest LNG production hubs, struck multiple times.

Source:adaderana.lk

Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star, has died aged 86, his family has confirmed.

Norris was known for his role in the action crime series Walker, Texas Ranger and also appeared in The Delta Force, Missing in Action and and The Way Of The Dragon.

His family announced his death ‘‘with heavy hearts’‘ in a statement posted on Instagram.

‘‘He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,’‘ they said.

‘‘Through his work, discipline and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.’‘

The statement added: ‘‘To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength.

‘‘To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.’‘

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Oklahoma in1940, he joined the US Air Force as a teenager.

While stationed in South Korea, Norris began training in martial arts. He went on to win a black belt, winning karate championships in the 1960s.

His big screen break came after meeting martial arts film star Bruce Lee, who he fought in 1972’s Way Of The Dragon.
 
Source: BBC 

Around 90% of privately operated buses are set to be withdrawn from service today (22), according to the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association.

Association President Gemunu Wijeratne stated that the decision was taken in response to the latest fuel price increase announced yesterday (21), which he described as the highest percentage hike recorded so far.

He explained that bus owners have collectively decided to suspend operations for the day as a result of the increased operating costs.

Wijeratne further noted that normal bus services are expected to resume once a revision of bus fares is implemented.

The Second Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Brazil have been held today (20) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in Colombo, marking an important step in further strengthening the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary to the Ministry, Aruni Ranaraja and Ambassador Susan Kleebank, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 

The consultations provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved since the First Round of Bilateral Political Consultations held in 2022 and identify further areas for possible collaborations.

During the discussions, while acknowledging the steady growth in economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to elevate bilateral trade to USD 1 billion by 2030, the statement said. 

Both countries also emphasized the importance of broadening engagement in response to evolving global economic dynamics.

Recognizing the value of expediting the conclusion of pending MoUs and Agreements in key areas to further strengthen ties, the parties committed to finalizing outstanding legal instruments on defence, law enforcement, countering human smuggling and transnational organized crime, traditional and Ayurvedic medicine, and diplomatic training. 

The two sides expressed satisfaction that the Dairy Livestock Project and the Sugarcane Project under the framework of technical cooperation have been finalized and are expected to be signed in the near future, with the support of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), the statement said.

Preparations for President Anura Kumara Disanayaka’s forthcoming state visit to Brazil were also discussed at the meeting, it added. 

Noting the importance of enhancing parliamentary diplomacy and fostering closer ties between the legislatures, the two sides agreed to revive the Parliamentary Friendship Groups and exchange delegations. 

In this regard, a women parliamentary group from the Brazilian legislature is expected to visit Sri Lanka. The discussions also identified new avenues for cooperation in priority sectors, including agriculture, animal husbandry, agricultural research, ports and shipping, and sports, the statement added. 

Both sides also agreed to continue the close collaboration in bilateral and multilateral forums. Ambassador Susan Kleebank also called on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

(Adaderana.lk)

Iran threatened Sunday to strike all US and Israeli infrastructure across the region if its facilities came under attack, following an ultimatum from US President Donald Trump.

‘‘If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region will be targeted,’‘ a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the body overseeing Iranian military operations, said in a statement reported by Fars News Agency.

The threat came shortly after Trump issued an ultimatum Saturday, giving Tehran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants, ‘‘starting with the biggest one first.’‘

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran would show ‘‘zero restraint’‘ if its infrastructure was attacked.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March, pushing oil prices higher. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb. 28 and have reportedly killed at least 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Source:adaderana.lk

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Mar 21) gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

Since the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb 28, Iran has effectively closed the Strait in retaliation.

Around a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait during peacetime, with the closure sending countries reliant on the shipping lane scrambling for alternative routes and tapping reserves.

The hit to supplies from the Gulf has caused fuel prices to spike worldwide, threatening governments with widespread inflation the longer the war continues.

The US military said earlier on Saturday that it had damaged an Iranian bunker housing weapons threatening oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement appeared designed to calm the concerns of energy markets and of Washington’s skeptical international allies, more than 20 of whom issued a statement vowing to back efforts to reopen the key sea lane.

IRAN FIRES LONG-RANGE MISSILES

Iran launched two 4,000km ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said. 

The Israeli military said it was the “first time” Iran had used long-range missiles since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on Feb 28.

“These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals - Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range,” Zamir said in a statement.

Late on Saturday, Iranian missiles hit the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens of people, including children, in separate strikes. 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement early Sunday that they targeted “military installations” and security centres in southern Israel.

Israeli army spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said in a post on X that the country’s air defences were functioning but did not intercept the strikes. “We will investigate the incident and learn from it,” he said.

Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor is about 13km southeast of Dimona. Both cities lie near several military sites, including Nevatim Air Base, one of the country’s largest.

“This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office following the strike on Arad.

“We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts,” the statement said.

Source:adaderana.lk

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington is seeking talks with Iran but claimed there is ‘‘nobody to talk to’’ following weeks of US-Israeli strikes that he said decimated the country’s leadership.

Speaking during a trophy presentation at the White House, Trump said: ‘‘We’re having a hard time. We want to talk to them, and there’s nobody to talk to. We have nobody to talk to. And you know what—we like it that way.’’

‘‘Their navy’s gone. Their air force is gone. Their anti-aircraft is all gone. It’s all gone. Their radar is all gone. Their leaders are all gone,’’ he claimed.

‘‘Now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore.’’

Despite the remarks, Trump reiterated that Washington’s objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

‘‘We’re not going to let them have nuclear weapons, because if they had them, they’d use them,’’ he said, reiterating a justification for the war that his critics have said is not supported by the facts.

Trump also said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in the White House Situation Room during the event, noting that he had the option to attend but chose to remain there.

The president also claimed major battlefield gains, saying major Iranian naval assets had been wiped out in the space of days.

‘‘They had a navy two weeks ago. They have no navy anymore. It’s all at the bottom of the sea—58 ships knocked down in two days,’’ he said.

Regional tensions have surged since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. The attacks have reportedly killed some 1,300 people, including Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior official Ali Larijani, and over 150 children at a girls’ elementary school.

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and what it says are US-linked assets across the region, further escalating the conflict.

Source: Anadolu Agency