Those Who Play With Fire Eventually Get Burned: Xi Tells Biden On Taiwan

BEIJING, July 28: President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held "candid" phone talks on Thursday, with Xi warning the US leader not to "play with fire" on Taiwan, according to Chinese state media.

The virtual summit lasting over two hours took place as Beijing and Washington increasingly risk open conflict over the self-ruling island, which China considers part of its territory.

"Those who play with fire will eventually get burned," Xi was quoted as telling Biden in reference to Taiwan, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency -- using the same language he had employed when they spoke last November.

"I hope the US side fully understand that," Xi told Biden.

"The position of the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan issue is consistent,'" Xi was quoted as saying. "It is the firm will of the over 1.4 billion Chinese people to firmly safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

While this was Biden's fifth talk with Xi since becoming president a year and a half ago, it's getting hard to mask deepening mistrust between the two countries amid a trade war and tensions over Taiwan.

The latest flashpoint is a possible trip by Biden ally and speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to the island, which has its own distinct democratic government.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had said "tensions over China's aggressive, coercive behavior in the Indo-Pacific" would be high on the agenda -- using the US administration's term for the Asia-Pacific region.

Although US officials frequently visit Taiwan, separated by a narrow strip of water from the Chinese mainland, Beijing considers a Pelosi trip as a major provocation. She's second in line to the US presidency and given her position may travel with military transport.

Washington will "bear the consequences" if the trip, which Pelosi has yet to confirm, goes ahead, China warned Wednesday.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters that if Pelosi asks "for military support, we will do what is necessary to ensure a safe, safe conduct of their business."

And the dispute around Pelosi is the tip of an iceberg, with US officials fearing that Xi is mulling use of force to impose control over democratic Taiwan.

Once considered unlikely, an invasion, or lesser form of military action, is increasingly seen by China watchers as possible -- perhaps even timed to boost Xi's prestige when he moves later this year into a third term.

Biden's contradictory comments on whether the United States would defend Taiwan -- he said in May that it would, before the White House insisted there was no change in the hands-off "strategic ambiguity" policy -- have not helped the tension.

Biden prides himself on a close relationship with Xi going back years but -- in large part due to Covid travel restrictions -- the two have yet to meet face-to-face since he took office.

According to the White House, Biden's chief goal is to establish "guardrails" for the two superpowers.

This is meant to ensure that while they sharply disagree on democracy, and are increasingly rivals on the geopolitical stage, they can avoid open conflict.

"He wants to make sure that the lines of communication with President Xi on all the issues, whether they're issues again that we agree on or issues where we have significant difficulty with -- that they can still pick up the phone and talk to one another candidly," Kirby said.

Where to place the guardrails, however, is challenging amid so many unresolved disputes, including a simmering trade war begun under Donald Trump's presidency.

Asked whether Biden could lift some of the 25 percent import duties placed on billions of dollars of Chinese products by Trump, Kirby said there was still no decision.

"We do believe... that the tariffs that were put in place by his predecessor were poorly designed. We believe that they've increased costs for American families and small businesses, as well as ranchers. And that's, you know, without actually addressing some of China's harmful trade practices," Kirby said.

But "I don't have any decision to speak to with respect to tariffs by the president. He's working this out."

US Will 'Bear The Consequences': China Ahead Of Pelosi's Taiwan Visit

BEIJING, July 27: China warned Wednesday that Washington would "bear the consequences" if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan, with tensions soaring ahead of an expected phone call between the two countries' leaders.

Beijing has hit back hard against the United States after reports emerged last week that Pelosi, a Democrat who is second in line to the presidency, could visit the self-ruled island of Taiwan in August.

The potential visit is likely to dominate a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Joe Biden, which the US leader has said he expects will take place this week.

Ties between the two global superpowers have continued to deteriorate under Biden's presidency, over issues including Taiwan, human rights and technology sector competition.

Beijing this week warned that it was "getting ready" for a possible visit by Pelosi, which would be the first to Taiwan by a sitting US House speaker since 1997.

"We are firmly opposed to Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference Wednesday.

"If the US pushes ahead and challenges China's bottom line... the US side will bear all the consequences," he added.

A possible visit by Pelosi -- yet to be confirmed by the senior Democrat -- has stirred alarm in Biden's administration, which fears the trip may cross red lines for China.

It also comes at an especially fraught time as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to cement his rule later this year at a major party meeting amid economic headwinds.

Last week Biden said the US military thought a visit was "not a good idea right now".

Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of being invaded by China, which views it as part of its territory to be seized by force if necessary.

China's air incursions near Taiwan have risen sharply this year as Beijing works to isolate the island on the international stage.

Pelosi told reporters last week it was "important for us to show support for Taiwan", while denying Congress was pushing for independence for the island.

In 1979 Washington switched relations from Taipei to Beijing, and successive administrations have been careful to recognise only "one China" by not sending top-ranking officials to Taiwan.

Washington has had a long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity on whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on the island.

Biden recently said the United States was ready to defend Taiwan militarily in an invasion -- going beyond just providing weapons -- although the White House has walked back his remarks.

The US State Department in April approved the potential sale of equipment, training and other items to support Taiwan's Air Defense System in a deal valued at up to $95 million.

But Taiwan enjoys bipartisan backing in divided Washington and China's warnings have only fuelled calls for Pelosi to go ahead.

She has long been an outspoken critic of Beijing's human rights record, in 1991 outraging her hosts by unfurling a banner in Tiananmen Square in memory of pro-democracy demonstrators killed there two years earlier.

Taipei has said it welcomes visits from any "friendly foreign guests" and Premier Su Tseng-chang on Wednesday said Taiwan was "very grateful to Speaker Pelosi for her support and friendliness... over the years".

A previous House speaker, Newt Gingrich, visited in 1997 but the Republican was from the rival party of the White House and Beijing's reaction was relatively muted.

CIA chief Bill Burns said last week that Xi appears committed to the option of using force against Taiwan, despite lessons from Russia's struggles in Ukraine.

"I wouldn't underestimate President Xi's determination to assert China's control" over Taiwan, he said.

Putin's Doctors Rush To His Bedside As Russian Leader Complains of 'Severe Nausea': Report

MOSCOW, July 27: Two teams of doctors reportedly rushed to Vladimir Putin's presidential quarters after the Russian leader complained of “severe nausea” early on Saturday.

Citing the Russian Telegram channel General SVR, Independent reported that Putin required “urgent medical care” which forced his paramedic team to call for additional doctors. The medical emergency lasted for about three hours following which the Kremlin leader's condition improved and the doctors left his chambers.

“Putin on the night of Friday, July 22 to Saturday, July 23 needed urgent medical care,” the channel stated, adding, “At about 1am, the medical workers on duty at [his] residence were summoned to the president.”

“Putin complained of severe nausea. Twenty minutes later, an additional team of doctors with the president's attending physicians was called. It is known that doctors provided assistance and were near Putin for three hours, and after the president's condition improved, they left his chambers,” the channel claimed.

According to New Zealand Herald, the telegram channel is run by a former Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) lieutenant general, using the pseudonym “Viktor Mikhailovich”.

Previously, the channel had also claimed that in the coming weeks Putin “will be replaced by a double” and even that deep-fake technology could be used for upcoming events.

Meanwhile, ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, it has been speculated that Putin has terminal cancer or Parkinson's disease. A number of public appearances and official meetings some months back even showed the Russian leader shaking and unsteady on his feet.

However, the Kremlin has dismissed these speculations and said everything is fine with the health of the Russian leader. “You know that Ukrainian information specialists, and American and British ones, have been throwing out various fakes about the state of the president's health in recent months - these are nothing but fakes,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as per the outlet.

Putin, who has been in power in Russia for over two decades, sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, sending shock waves around the world.

Several homeless people killed in 'targetted' Canadian mass shooting: Report

TORONTO, July 25: Several people were killed in a mass shooting early on Monday in the Canadian province of British Columbia, local media reported.

Police had earlier issued an emergency alert for multiple shootings in the city of Langley and asked residents to stay alert and away from the area of the incident.

"Multiple shooting scenes in the downtown core in the city of Langley with 1 incident in Langley township involving transient victims," an alert sent to B.C. residents' phones read.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that several people were killed, but did not specify how many.

The victims were homeless, and police believe the attack was targeted, according to the CBC.

Ukraine's Kherson To Be 'Liberated' From Russia By September: Official

KYIV, July 24: A Ukrainian official said Sunday that the country's southern region of Kherson, which fell to Russian troops early in their February invasion, would be recaptured by Kyiv's forces by September.

"We can say that the Kherson region will definitely be liberated by September, and all the occupiers' plans will fail," Sergiy Khlan, an aide to the head of Kherson region, said in an interview with Ukrainian television.

The Ukrainian army, emboldened by deliveries of Western-supplied long-range artillery have been clawing back territory in the southern Kherson region in recent weeks.

"We can say that a turning point has occurred on the battlefield. We see that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are prevailing in their most recent military operations," Khlan said.

"We see that our armed forces are advancing openly. We can say that we are switching from defensive to counteroffensive actions," he added.

He said that Ukrainian strikes on two key bridges in the region, as well as attacks on Russian arms depots and command posts were part of preparatory work for a ground offensive.

"Now the key issue is getting more precision artillery strikes on the frontline to knock out the orcs (Russians) from their current positions."

He added that Russian forces had not repaired the damaged Antonivka bridge and were experiencing difficulties as a result of moving heavy weapons towards Kherson city.

Russian forces seized the region's main city, also called Kherson, on March 3. It was the first major city to fall following the start of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine in late February.

The region, important for Ukrainian agriculture, lies next to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Russia, Ukraine sign deals with UN, Turkey for grain exports

ISTANBUL, July 22: Russia and Ukraine on Friday signed deals with the United Nations and Turkey clearing the way for key grain exports to world markets amid the conflict.

The United Nations said it expects the deal to resume Ukraine grain exports through the Black Sea to be fully operational in a few weeks and restore shipments to pre-war levels of five million tonnes a month. The deal comes amid the fighting between the two countries which will complete its fifth month on Saturday.

The deal was signed in Turkish capital Istanbul, seen as the first step forward in easing an international food crisis due to the war. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed separate deals with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. The ceremony was witnessed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said, “Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea . A beacon of hope, a beacon of possibility, a beacon of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.”

Russia and Ukraine happen to be among the world's top food exporters. The February 24 invasion of the eastern European country resulted in blockade of Ukrainian ports, stranding dozens of ships and leaving 20 million tonnes of grain stuck in silos and driving up world grain prices.

A UN official said that a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) will be set up as the world peace body is looking at a very quick rate of implementation. The official added that there were minor issues which needed to be worked out before the initiative is fully implemented.

As per the plan, the Ukrainian officials will guide ships through safe channels across mined waters to three ports, including the major hub of Odesa, where they will be loaded with grain.

These ships will then exit Ukrainian territorial waters in the Black Sea, transit the Bosphorus strait to a Turkish port for inspection and later head to their destinations. "We are aiming for a monthly export of about 5 million metric tonnes, which was the pre-war level from those three ports," the official said.

The plan will be initially active for 120 days but will be renewable, the officials said, adding they "do not anticipate to stop it any time soon". The UN official said that representatives from all parties would work to oversee operations, vessel inspections and possible incidents. Both Ukraine and Russia have agreed not to attack any vessels involved in the initiative. "This centre in Istanbul is going to be the heartbeat of the operation and is very similar to... ceasefire monitoring," said the official.

Ukraine has sought international guarantees that the Kremlin wouldn’t use the safe corridors to attack the Black Sea port of Odesa. Ukrainian authorities have also accused Russia of stealing grain from eastern Ukraine and deliberately shelling Ukrainian fields to set them on fire. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s president insisted that no Russian ship would escort vessels and that there would be no Russian representative present at Ukrainian ports. Ukraine also plans an immediate military response “in case of provocations,” he said.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Friday that Kyiv trusts the United Nations, not Russia, to uphold a deal struck in Istanbul to unblock grain exports disrupted by Moscow's invasion. "Ukraine doesn't trust Russia. I don't think anyone has reasons to trust Russia. We invest our trust in the United Nations as the driving force of this agreement," Kuleba said.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the U.S. welcomes the agreement in principle. “But what we’re focusing on now is holding Russia accountable for implementing this agreement and for enabling Ukrainian grain to get to world markets. It has been for far too long that Russia has enacted this blockade,” Price said.

After Satellite Pics Show China's Inroads Near Doklam, India's Response

NEW DELHI, July 21: India today said it keeps an eye on all developments having a bearing on national security, days after NDTV accessed new satellite images that indicate that a Chinese village - constructed 9 km east of Doklam plateau where Indian and Chinese forces faced off in 2017 - is now fully inhabited with cars parked at the doorstep of every home.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters the government then takes measures accordingly. "Please be assured that the government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard the same," Bagchi said in reply to a question on the new satellite images.

Significantly, the village, which Beijing calls Pangda, lies squarely within Bhutanese territory, details of which were first reported by NDTV in 2021.

Alongside Pangda is a neatly marked all-weather carriageway, part of China's extensive land-grab in Bhutan. This cuts 10 km into Bhutanese territory, along the banks of the fast-flowing Amo Chu river.

For India, construction along the Amo Chu means that Chinese forces could end up getting access to a strategic ridge in the adjacent Doklam plateau. This would give them a direct line-of-sight to India's sensitive Siliguri corridor, the narrow sliver of land that connects the northeast states with the rest of the country.

In 2017, Indian soldiers had physically prevented Chinese workers from getting to this ridge in Doklam called the Jhamperi. There is now a concern that China is trying to bypass Indian defences to the West by approaching the same ridge through this alternate axis.

"Pangda village and the ones to its North and South are classic examples of the Chinese trying to establish their legitimacy over the Jhamperi ridge and the Doklam plateau," says Lt General Praveen Bakshi (retired), who was India's Eastern Army Commander when the Doklam face-off took place in 2017. Widespread Chinese efforts at constructing villages along frontiers that it disputes is "essentially a manner of giving legitimacy to its territorial claims."

Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss Final 2 Candidates In Race For UK PM

LONDON, July 20: It is official - Rishi Sunak is now the closest anyone of Indian origin has ever been to take charge as British Prime Minister, after his Conservative Party colleagues voted overwhelmingly in his favour with 137 votes in the final round today.

The 42-year-old former Chancellor is not assured a similarly easy ride as he faces a much tougher electorate of the Tory membership base, which has shown favouritism for his rival Liz Truss in most recent surveys.

However, with another head-on televised debate scheduled on the BBC for Monday between the final two contenders and a series of hustings to be held up and down the UK, there is time for the MPs' favourite to try and replicate that result at the end of postal ballots on September 5.

"This leadership contest is about more than just being the leader of our party, it's about becoming the custodian of our United Kingdom," said Sunak, in one of a series of debates and interviews since he launched his leadership bid earlier this month.

He has tried to strike a balance between the personal and professional, from the launch of his bid with the story of his Indian family that emigrated from east Africa in the 1960s.

Boris Johnson announced on July 7 he was quitting as Conservative leader after a government rebellion in protest at his scandal-hit administration.

"My mum studied hard to get the qualifications to become a pharmacist. She met my dad, an NHS [National Health Service] GP, and they settled in Southampton. Their story didn't end there, but that is where my story began," he shared, with reference to his general practitioner father Yashvir and mother Usha.

That personal story recently also extended to a visibly emotional reference to his parents-in-law - Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty - as he hit back at attacks on his wife Akshata's family wealth.

During a live TV debate, he said: "There is commentary about my wife's family's wealth. So, let me just address that head on because I think it's worth doing, because I'm actually incredibly proud of what my parents-in-law built.

"My father-in-law came from absolutely nothing, just had a dream and a couple of hundred pounds that my mother-in-law's savings provided him, and with that he went on to build one of the world's largest, most respected, most successful companies that by the way employs thousands of people here in the United Kingdom. It's an incredibly Conservative story, actually it's a story that I'm really proud of and as Prime Minister I want to ensure that we can create more stories like theirs here at home," Sunak said.

Rishi Sunak faces a much tougher electorate of the Tory membership base, which has shown favouritism for his rival Liz Truss in most recent surveys.

As a devout Hindu, Sunak is a regular at the temple where he was born in Southampton and became the first Chancellor to light Diwali diyaas outside his office-residence of 11 Downing Street in November 2020.

His daughters, Anoushka and Krishna, are also rooted in the Indian culture and he recently shared how Anoushka performed Kuchipudi with her classmates for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Westminster Abbey last month.

But beyond the personal, he has had to face down attacks from his opponents over his record as Chancellor until his resignation precipitated the exit of his former boss, caretaker Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He has stood firm on his focus on inflation rather than any vote-winning tax cut promises to woo a traditionally low-tax favouring Conservative Party membership base.

"I will get taxes down in this Parliament, but I'm going to do so responsibly. I don't cut taxes to win elections, I win elections to cut taxes," he declared.

His self-made credentials of working his way through a non-scholarship place at one of the UK's best schools, Winchester College, to a coveted Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University and then an MBA from Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar are seen as ticking all the right boxes for the country's highest political office.

Britain saw sky-rocketing inflation, which on Wednesday hit a new 40-year high of 9.4 per cent in June.

His private sector experience at Goldman Sachs and as a hedge fund manager seem to lend him the aura of someone who can be trusted in the face of harsh economic headwinds.

His political career began by with winning a safe Tory seat of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015 and from junior roles in the Treasury he was suddenly catapulted to the post of Chancellor of Exchequer when his former boss, Sajid Javid, resigned in February 2020.

He proved the doubters who feared his inexperience of high office would see him overpowered by his new boss, Boris Johnson, wrong as he credibly led the economic response to the COVID pandemic.

The furlough scheme to protect jobs and several grants for struggling businesses won him praise from all sides of the political spectrum. He was constantly touted as the heir apparent to Johnson as the next Tory leader and Prime Minister, until that took a beating with some of his less popular tax hike policies in the wake of the pandemic and a partygate fine for attending a birthday event for his ex-boss in breach of lockdown rules.

The former finance minister will be hoping his natural ease before the cameras, which helped firm up his lead in the race so far, will be replicated in the hustings in the weeks ahead. However, that road is unlikely to be a smooth ride as he sets about to woo an estimated 160,000 Conservative Party voters to cast their postal ballots in his favour.

Ranil Wickremesinghe Elected New Sri Lanka President

COLOMBO, July 20: Ranil Wickremesinghe was today elected new Sri Lanka President amid the massive economic crisis in the island nation. Wickeremesinghe had been serving as acting President after Gotabaya Rajapakasa had to resign.

Official results showed Wickremesinghe polled 134 votes. His main opponent Dullas Alahapperuma got 82 and leftist front's leader Anura Dissanayake just three. Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, was being considered a frontrunner as he is backed by the Rajapaksas' SLPP, the largest bloc in the 225-member parliament.

The 73-year-old is despised by the protesters, who see him as a Rajapaksa ally and had also demanded his resignation as prime minister. Observers believe that Wickremesinghe will crack down hard on the protests.

As acting president, he extended a state of emergency in the country that gives police and security forces sweeping powers. This came after the protesters barged into the President's official residence.

Ahead of the vote, an opposition MP said Wickremesinghe's hardline stance against demonstrators went down well with MPs who had been at the receiving end of mob violence. "Ranil is emerging as the law-and-order candidate," said Tamil MP Dharmalingam Sithadthan.

Wickremesinghe's main opponent, SLPP dissident and former education minister Dullas Alahapperuma, was supported by the opposition. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa had withdrawn from the presidential race in favour of Alahapperuma.

Pix Expose China's Inroads Near Doklam

NEW DELHI, July 19: New satellite images accessed by a TV channel indicate that a Chinese village, constructed 9 km East of the Doklam plateau where Indian and Chinese forces faced off in 2017, is now fully inhabited with cars parked at the doorstep of virtually every home.

Significantly, the village, which Beijing calls Pangda, lies squarely within Bhutanese territory, details of which were first reported by the TV channel in 2021.

Alongside Pangda is a neatly marked all-weather carriageway, part of China's extensive land-grab in Bhutan. This cuts 10 km into Bhutanese territory, along the banks of the fast-flowing Amo Chu river.

For India, construction along the Amo Chu means that Chinese forces could end up getting access to a strategic ridge in the adjacent Doklam plateau. This would give them a direct line-of-sight to India's sensitive Siliguri corridor, the narrow sliver of land that connects the northeast states with the rest of the country.

In 2017, Indian soldiers had physically prevented Chinese workers from getting to this ridge in Doklam called the Jhamperi. There is now a concern that China is trying to bypass Indian defences to the West by approaching the same ridge through this alternate axis.

"Pangda village and the ones to its North and South are a classic examples of the Chinese trying to establish their legitimacy over the Jhamperi ridge and the Doklam plateau," says Lt General Praveen Bakshi (retired) who was India's Eastern Army Commander when the Doklam face-off took place in 2017. Widespread Chinese efforts at constructing villages along frontiers that it disputes is "essentially a manner of giving legitimacy to its territorial claims."

Sources in the Army Headquarters told NDTV, "The Army maintains a continuous and seamless vigil on all activities along its borders, especially those that impinge upon the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation. For this, necessary mechanisms and safeguards to meet any contingencies are in place."

The new satellite images, sourced from Maxar, indicate that a second village in the Amo Chu river valley is now virtually complete while China has stepped up construction of a third village or habitation further South. A bridge across the Amo Chu has been constructed at the site of this third village with excavation activity clearly visible. The foundations of six buildings here are visible.

"The speed and development of this remote area is noteworthy, underlining how China is extending its borders uncontested," says Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab who has analysed the latest images. "The road construction activity in this distant, isolated sector highlights efforts taken by China to ensure all weather, uninterrupted connectivity to remote, new habitats across its frontier," he adds.

Bhutan, a small land-locked nation, has virtually no ability to prevent China's 'salami-slicing' of its territory. Bhutan's Ambassador to New Delhi, Major General Vetsop Namgyal, declined to comment on the state of China's construction in the Amo Chu Valley, indicating that Thimpu was involved in protracted border talks. India's Ministry of External Affairs also had no comment on the new developments.

China's village and road construction activity in the Amo Chu river valley lies approximately 30 km south of Beijing's biggest land grab, which has been noticed in the last one year. Six settlements have been constructed in a previously uninhabited area in a 110-square km tract of land which Beijing contests. All of these settlements put pressure on Indian defences in Sikkim.

China is stepping up construction of villages, roads and security installations on territory that belongs to Bhutan, thereby strengthening its offensive military capability against India," says Dr. Brahma Chellaney, one of India's leading China-watchers. "Through such build-up, China is militarily positioning itself to threaten a particularly vulnerable section of India's border overlooking a narrow corridor known as the 'Chicken Neck'," he says.

The developments on the Bhutan front come at a time when India continues to try to persuade China to withdraw from positions it has occupied in Ladakh since May 2020. There have been 16 rounds of talks so far with no substantial headway reported in the last round held on Sunday.

'Back Anyone But Rishi Sunak,' Boris Johnson Tells Allies: Report

LONDON, July 15: As the race to become Britain's next prime minister gained pace, caretaker premier Boris Johnson has reportedly told his allies to back "anyone but Rishi Sunak", according to a media report on Friday.

Johnson, who resigned as the leader of the ruling Conservative Party on July 7, has been urging defeated Tory leadership candidates not to back former chancellor Sunak, who is widely blamed for Johnson's loss of support among his own party members, The Times newspaper reported.

Johnson, who has said he will not endorse any leadership candidates or publicly intervene in the contest, is believed to have held conversations with failed contenders to succeed him and urged that Sunak should not become the prime minister.

A source close to one of the conversations said the current prime minister appeared most keen on Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, endorsed by his fiercest cabinet allies, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries.

Johnson is also reportedly open to Penny Mordaunt, the junior trade minister, succeeding him instead of Sunak.

According to the report, caretaker Prime Minister Johnson and his camp are running an "anyone but Rishi" hidden campaign after feeling betrayed over the former Chancellor's resignation which precipitated his exit from 10 Downing Street.

"The whole No.10 [Downing Street] team hates Rishi. It's personal. It's vitriolic. They don't blame Saj [Sajid Javid] for bringing him down. They blame Rishi. They think he was planning this for months," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

Sunak, who was the winner of the first two rounds of voting by Tory members of Parliament, will appear for a series of televised debates over the weekend with his remaining opponents -- Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, former minister Kemi Badenoch and Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat.

An ally of Johnson rejected the claim that he wants "anyone but Rishi" to win but admitted that the outgoing prime minister harboured resentment over Sunak's "betrayal".

Sunak's camp has, meanwhile, played down suggestions that his strong support does not extend beyond the Tory MPs.

"I think he really will start to connect and hopefully we can move away and offer a positive vision rather than this Conservative-on-Conservative attacks, which I really don't like," said Richard Holden, a Tory backbench MP backing Sunak.

Ranil Wickremesinghe Bans 'His Excellency', Abolishes Presidential Flag

COLOMBO, July 15: Sri Lanka's interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday decided to prohibit the use of the word 'His Excellency' to address the President and abolished the presidential flag, as he underlined his commitment to protecting democracy and the Constitution of the crisis-hit country.

"Rather than protecting individuals, protect the country," Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the prime minister, said after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's acting president until Parliament elects a successor to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned after protests against his government for mishandling the economy that bankrupted the country.

He said as the acting President he decided to prohibit the use of the word 'His Excellency' when addressing the President.

He also said that the presidential flag will be abolished as the country must gather around only one flag, which is the national flag.

"I will never pave the way for, or aid in any unconstitutional act," he said in a special televised statement, adding the collapse in law and order will negatively impact the country's economy.

He warned that the supply chain of food, electricity, and water may be disrupted, and the people must understand the dangerous situation ahead.

He said a special committee has been appointed with the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Commanders of the three-armed forces to maintain law and order in the country with zero political intervention.

He called on the politicians to cast aside their ambitions, and think about the country.

Commenting on the protests that have been taking place in the country, Wickremesinghe said that immediate measures will be taken to maintain the law and peace in the country.

"Peaceful protests are accepted, however, there are some engaged in acts of sabotage...There are fascist groups that are trying to incite violence in the country. Such groups snatched weapons and ammunition from the soldiers recently. 24 soldiers have been injured and two of them are in critical condition," he said.

Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, is under the grip of an unprecedented economic turmoil, the worst in seven decades, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essentials.

The citizens protested for months to press for the resignation of the government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

All-Party Meet Asks Lanka PM To Go, Curfew Till Morning

COLOMBO, July 13: A student has died in the protests in Sri Lanka, where curfew has been extended till 5 am. The Lankan leaders opted for a takeover by the Speaker as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been asked to resign.

All the ministers who participated in the meeting today were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party government, they will hand over the responsibilities to that government.

Accordingly, the ruling party and the opposition must form an all-party government, acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said. He has also informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency today as massive protests engulfed Colombo after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives. An indefinite curfew has been imposed across the Western Province, including Colombo, to contain the escalating protests.

Tear gas shells were fired as thousands of people mobbed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, took over his residence and pushed against the gates of the Lankan parliament.

In a televised statement, the Prime Minister said he had instructed the military and police to do "what is necessary to restore order". The demonstrators "want to stop me from discharging my responsibilities as acting president", he said, adding, "We can't allow fascists to take over."

Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will send his resignation later in the day as promised. He also said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has been appointed as the acting President of the country.

Sri Lanka's state-run TV network, Rupavahini Corporation, briefly suspended its telecast after protesters entered the TV station. The channel resumed the broadcast later.

Defence officials of the island nation saud that Rajapaksa requested a plane last night and insisted they were "obligated" to provide him with one. As President, Rajapaksa continues to be the supreme commander of the defence forces.

On their arrival in the Maldives, President Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards were driven to an undisclosed location under police escort, an airport official in Male said. Reports claim the President's younger brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa has also left the country.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka today dismissed reports claiming that India had helped President Rajapaksa and his brother Basil flee.

After Round 1, Rishi Sunak Leads In Race To Be Boris Johnson's Replacement

LONDON, July 13: Rishi Sunak, former chancellor of the UK, won the most votes in the first round of voting to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and UK Prime Minister. Rishi Sunak scored 88 votes, ahead of Penny Mordaunt (67 votes) and Truss Liz (50 votes), reports said. Finance minister Nadhim Zahawi and former cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt were eliminated.

Also in the race is another Indian-origin member of Parliament - Attorney General Suella Braverman.

Under the election schedule, Boris Johnson's successor as Conservative leader is meant to be announced on September 5, as the party seeks to rebuild its popular support after he was felled by non-stop scandal.

Since declaring his intention to run for party leadership last week, Rishi Sunak has maintained a steady lead among his party's parliamentary colleagues. But the Conservative Party membership base which will have the final say seems to be building momentum behind Penny Mordaunt.

At this early stage of the contest, the race seems to be narrowing down into a three-way Sunak, Mordaunt and Liz Truss clash, but the field is still seen as wide open.

The next round of voting by the 358 Conservative members of Parliament to pick their favourites left on the ballot paper is scheduled for Thursday, when the field of candidates will be narrowed down even further to a shorter list of finalists.

Lankan President Considering Escape By Sea After Airport Standoff: Report

COLOMBO, July 12: Sri Lanka's president was considering using a navy patrol craft to flee the island Tuesday following a humiliating standoff with airport immigration, official sources said.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to resign on Wednesday and clear the way for a "peaceful transition of power" following widespread protests against him over the country's worst economic crisis.

The 73-year-old leader fled his official residence in Colombo just before tens of thousands of protesters overran it on Saturday. He then wanted to travel to Dubai, officials said.

As president, Rajapaksa enjoys immunity from arrest, and he is believed to want to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained.

But immigration officers refused to go to the VIP suite to stamp his passport, while he insisted he would not go through the public facilities, fearing reprisals from other airport users.

The president and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main Bandaranaike International airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the United Arab Emirates.

Rajapaksa's youngest brother Basil, who resigned in April as finance minister, missed his own Emirates flight to Dubai early Tuesday after a similar standoff with airport staff.

Basil -- who holds US citizenship in addition to Sri Lankan nationality -- tried to use a paid concierge service for business travellers, but airport and immigration staff said they were withdrawing from the fast track service with immediate effect.

"There were some other passengers who protested against Basil boarding their flight," said an airport official. "It was a tense situation, so he hurriedly left the airport."

Basil had to obtain a new US passport after leaving his behind at the presidential palace when the Rajapaksas beat a hasty retreat to avoid mobs on Saturday, a diplomatic source said.

Official sources said a suitcase full of documents had also been left behind at the stately mansion along with 17.85 million rupees in cash, now in the custody of a Colombo court.

There was no official word from the president's office about his whereabouts, but he remained commander-in-chief of the armed forces with military resources at his disposal.

A top defence source said the president's closest military aides were discussing the possibility of taking him and his entourage overseas aboard a naval patrol craft.

A navy boat was used on Saturday to take Rajapaksa and his aides to the northeastern port city of Trincomalee, from where he was helicoptered back to the international airport on Monday.

"The best option now is to take the sea exit," the defence official said. "He could go to the Maldives or India and get a flight to Dubai."

Another alternative, he added, would be to charter a plane to fly him from the country's second international airport at Mattala, opened in 2013 and named after the president's elder brother Mahinda.

It is widely considered a white elephant, with no scheduled international flights and described as probably the world's least-used international airport.

Rajapaksa is accused of mismanaging the economy to a point where the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, leading to severe hardships for the 22 million population.

If he steps down as promised, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will automatically become acting president until parliament elects an MP to serve out the presidential term, which ends in November 2024.

Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51-billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the IMF for a possible bailout.

The island has nearly exhausted its already scarce supplies of petrol. The government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools to reduce commuting and save fuel.

$50,000 In Crisp New Notes Found By Protesters At Lankan President's Home

COLOMBO, July 11: Millions of rupees in cash left behind by Sri Lanka's president when he fled his official residence was handed over to a court Monday after being turned in by protestors, police said as a succession battle got under way.

Protesters discovered 17.85 million in Sri Lankan rupee (about $50,000) in crisp new banknotes but turned it over to police following Saturday's takeover of the Presidential palace.

"The cash was taken over by the police and will be produced in court today," a police spokesman said.

Official sources said a suitcase full of documents had also been left behind at the stately mansion.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took up residence at the two-century-old building after he was driven out of his private home on March 31 when protesters tried to storm it.

The 73-year-old leader escaped through a back door under escort from naval personnel and was taken away by boat, heading to the northeast of the island, official sources told AFP.

His exact whereabouts were not known Monday morning, but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said Rajapaksa had officially informed him of his intention to resign, without specifying a date.

The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe will automatically become acting president in the event of Rajapaksa's resignation, until parliament elects an MP to serve until November 2024.

But Wickremesinghe has himself announced his willingness to step down if consensus is reached on forming a unity government.

Rajapaksa promised at the weekend to step down on Wednesday and clear the way for a "peaceful transition," according to parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana.

The succession process could take between three days -- the minimum time taken to convene parliament -- and a maximum of 30 days allowed under the statute.

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) party was huddled in talks with smaller political groups Monday to secure support for their leader Sajith Premadasa.

An SJB official said they reached a tentative agreement with dissidents in Rajapaksa's SLPP to support 55-year-old Premadasa, the son of a former president, for the top job, with an SLPP member to take the premiership.

Former Rajapaksa loyalist, Dullas Alahapperuma, 63, an ex-media minister, was tipped to be the new prime minister, according to an SJB legislator involved in the talks.

Five ministers resigned over the weekend and Wickremesinghe's office said the cabinet had agreed on Monday to resign en masse once an agreement was reached on an "all-party government".

On Monday, tens of thousands were still occupying the Presidential Palace, the nearby sea-front Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister's "Temple Trees" official residence.

"The demand is very clear, people are still asking for the resignation (of Rajapaksa), and full resignation, in a written confirmation," said protester Dela Peiris.

"So hopefully we will have this resignation from the government including the prime minister and president in the coming days."

Protesters captured Rajapaksa's sea-front office shortly after overrunning the palace on Saturday and have promised to stay on until he actually leaves office.

The premier's private home in Colombo was also set on fire on Saturday night.

Demonstrators had been camping outside the president's office for over three months demanding he quit over the country's unprecedented economic crisis.

Rajapaksa is accused of mismanaging the economy to a point where the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, leading to severe hardships for the 22 million population.

Wickremesinghe, an opposition legislator, was made premier in May to try and lead the country out of its economic crisis -- the sixth time he has been appointed to the post.

Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in April and is in talks with the IMF for a possible bailout.

Sri Lanka has nearly exhausted its already scarce supplies of petrol. The government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools to reduce commuting and save fuel.

Shinzo Abe Assassinated

TOKYO, July 8: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died today after being shot twice at a campaign event in the Nara region, the hospital treating him confirmed. Doctors who attended to him in the hospital say "bullet penetrated the heart".

"There was a gaping hole in the heart attributed to the gun wound," a doctor said. He was shot twice in the neck, doctors have said.

Former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot in Nara, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters earlier in the day as he abandoned his campaign trail and flew to Tokyo.
"It is absolutely unforgivable. I condemn this act in the strongest terms," he said.
One man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Local media identified the man as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, citing police sources. Explosives have been found at his house, say officials.

Shinzo Abe was delivering a speech at an event ahead of Sunday's upper house elections when gunshots were heard, NHK and the Kyodo news agency said.

"He was giving a speech and a man came from behind," a young woman at the scene told NHK. "The first shot sounded like a toy. He didn't fall and there was a large bang. The second shot was more visible, you could see the spark and smoke," she added.
"After the second shot, people surrounded him and gave him cardiac massage."
Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck, a source from the ruling party told the Jiji news agency. An official of Abe's faction of the party said he underwent transfusions, reports said.

Several media outlets reported that he appeared to have been shot from behind, possibly with a shotgun.

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to the debilitating bowel condition ulcerative colitis.

Japan has some of the world's toughest gun-control laws, and annual deaths from firearms in the country of 125 million people are regularly in single figures.
Getting a gun licence is a long and complicated process even for Japanese citizens, who must first get a recommendation from a shooting association and then undergo strict police checks.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Resigns

LONDON, July 7: Boris Johnson resigned on Thursday as leader of Britain's Conservative party, paving the way for the selection of a new Prime Minister after dozens of ministers quit his scandal-hit government.

"It is clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there should be a new leader of that party, and therefore a new prime minister," Johnson said outside 10 Downing Street.

Johnson, 58, announced that he would step down after a slew of resignations from his top team in protest at his leadership but would stay on as Prime Minister until a replacement is found.

The timetable for a Tory leadership race will be announced next week, he said, after three tumultuous years in office defined by Brexit, the Covid pandemic and non-stop controversy over his reputation for mendacity.

The leadership election will take place over the summer and the victor will replace Johnson by the party's annual conference in early October, the BBC and others reported.

He said he was "sad... to be giving up the best job in the world" and justified fighting on in the final hours to deliver the mandate he won in a general election in December 2019.

In the frenzied hours building up to Johnson's announcement, opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer had welcomed his impending departure.

But Starmer said "a proper change of government" was needed and demanded a no-confidence vote in parliament, potentially triggering a general election, rather than Johnson "clinging on for months and months".

Even while eyeing the exit, Johnson on Thursday sought to steady the ship with several appointments to replace the departed cabinet members.

They included Greg Clark, an arch "remainer" opposed to Britain's divorce from the European Union, which Johnson had championed.

Johnson had been clinging on to power despite a wave of more than 50 government resignations, expressing defiance late Wednesday.

But Thursday's departure of Education Minister Michelle Donelan and a plea to quit from Finance Minister Nadhim Zahawi, only in their jobs for two days, appeared to tip the balance along with warnings of a new no-confidence vote by Tory MPs.

Defence minister Ben Wallace and Rishi Sunak, whose departure as Finance Minister on Tuesday sparked the exodus, were among the early frontrunners to succeed Johnson, according to a YouGov survey of Conservative party members.

Those members will decide the new leader once Tory MPs have whittled down the contenders to a final two.

Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis kicked off Thursday's frenzied events, becoming the fourth cabinet minister to resign and writing that Johnson was "past the point of no return".

Johnson late on Wednesday defiantly responded to calls from his loyalists and cabinet colleagues to step down by sacking minister Michael Gove, with a Downing Street source telling media that his former Brexit top ally was a "snake".

The Sun newspaper said Johnson had told colleagues they would have to "dip (their) hands in blood" to push him out of office, but Thursday's events forced his hand.

The shock resignations of Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid late Tuesday set off a chain of others.

They quit after Johnson apologised for his February appointment of senior Conservative MP Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip.

Pincher was forced to step down following accusations he drunkenly groped two men.

Days of shifting explanations followed the resignation, before Downing Street finally conceded that Johnson had known about Pincher's behaviour as far back as 2019.

Tory critics said the Pincher affair had tipped many over the edge, angry at having to defend what they saw as more lies by Johnson over his appointment of what Starmer called a "sexual predator".

Mr Johnson was confronted by members of his cabinet on Wednesday when he returned to Downing Street from a lengthy grilling by a parliamentary committee.

The delegation was said to include hardline interior minister Priti Patel.

Attorney General Suella Braverman told ITV that while she would not resign, "the balance has tipped now in favour of saying... it's time to go".

She became the first Tory to say she would stand in a leadership contest but is a rank outsider according to bookmakers.

A culture of scandal has dogged Johnson for months, including lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister, who received a police fine for the Covid lockdown-breaking "Partygate" affair, faces a parliamentary probe into whether he lied to MPs about the revelations.

He only narrowly survived a no-confidence vote among Conservative MPs a month ago, which ordinarily would mean he could not be challenged again for another year.

But the influential "1922 Committee" of non-ministerial Tory MPs is reportedly seeking to change the rules, with its executive committee planning to elect a fresh line-up of members next week.

In parliament on Wednesday, Johnson vowed to carry on, insisting the country needed "stable government".

But addressing MPs, Javid urged other ministers to resign.

"The problem starts at the top, and I believe that is not going to change," he told a hushed House of Commons.

Cries of "bye, Boris" echoed around the chamber at the end of his speech.

Germany critical of Govt on Mohammed Zubair's Arrest, India says 'internal matter'

NEW DELHI, July 7: Reacting sharply to the German foreign ministry's comments on fact-checker Mohammed Zubair's arrest, the government today called it "an internal issue" and said it was needless to comment on a case that is before the court.

"This is our internal matter. The matter is before the court. Our legal system is independent. Any comment on it is unhelpful. It's not right," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

The German foreign ministry had used sharp words on the detention of Mohammed Zubair.

"Free reporting is beneficial to any society and restrictions are a cause for concern. Journalists should not be persecuted and imprisoned for what they say and write. We are indeed aware of this specific case and our embassy in New Delhi is monitoring it very closely," a German foreign ministry spokesperson had said.

He said the European Union had an ongoing human rights dialogue with India and "the freedom of expression and freedom of the press" are a focus of those discussions.

"India describes itself as the world's largest democracy. So one can expect democratic values like freedom of expression and freedom of the press to be given the necessary space there," asserted the German spokesperson.

Mohammed Zubair, cofounder of fact-check website Alt News, was arrested in Delhi on June 27 over a 2018 tweet. Days before that, he had flagged suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad on a TV show.

On July 2, the police added an extra charge against Mr Zubair under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and he was kept in custody for 14 more days. On July 4, another case was filed in Uttar Pradesh against him for calling three hate-accused Hindu hardliners "hatemongers".

He was sent to 14 more days in custody today.

Zubair has approached the Supreme Court for bail citing death threats.

'Several Dead' In Copenhagen Mall Shooting: Police

COPENHAGEN, July 3: Danish police said Sunday that a shooting inside a Copenhagen shooting mall had left "several dead," and several wounded, adding that an arrested suspect was a 22-year-old Dane.

"We now know that there are several dead," Copenhagen police chief Soren Thomassen told journalists, describing the suspect, who they believed acted alone, as an "ethnic Dane."

Police reinforcements have been deployed around the large Field's mall in the Amager district between the city centre and the airport, Copenhagen police wrote on Twitter.

Images from the scene showed women carrying their children and ambulance personnel carrying people away on stretchers.

"Terrible reports of shooting in Fields. We do not yet know for sure how many are injured or dead, but it is very serious," Copenhagen's mayor, Sophie Andersen, said in a post to social media.

According to public broadcaster DR, at least three people were being treated in hospital.

Eyewitnesses quoted by Danish media said they saw more than 100 people rush towards the mall's exit as the first shots were heard.

"We could see that many people suddenly ran towards the exit and then we heard a bang. Then we ran out of Field's too," Thea Schmidt, who was in the mall at time of the attack told broadcaster TV2.

Police had urged people in the building to wait inside for their arrival and called on others to keep away from the area.

In addition, police asked that witnesses get in touch with them and called on those that had visited the shopping mall to contact their relatives.

"One person has been arrested in connection to the shooting in Fields. Currently we are unable to say anything else about their identity," Copenhagen police later said in a post to Twitter, but gave no details on a potential motive for the shooting.

At around 7:30 pm (1730 GMT), roads around the mall were blocked, the subway was stopped and a helicopter was flying above, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.

Heavily armed police officer prevented onlookers from approaching and locals from returning to their homes.

The shooting comes just over a week after a gunman opened fire near a gay bar in Oslo in neighbouring Norway, killing two people and wounding 21 others.