WORLD
N.Korea hails ties with China as 'unbreakable'
An article carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, spoke highly of the bilateral relations while commemorating the "DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance" signed in 1961. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Yonhap news agency reported. The article also took aim at the US and other "hostile forces", which it said regard North Korea and China as a "thorn in their eyes", claiming that they have been scheming to undermine the friendly relations and unity of the people of the two countries.
3 dead, 2 injured in shooting at house party in California
Officers responded to a report of gunshots on early Sunday morning in Downey, a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by KABC-TV. The officers found four men and a woman had been shot, the report said. Three men were pronounced dead at the scene, it said, adding that the injured were transported to a hospital. The circumstances that prompted the shooting were unknown, but authorities described it as an "isolated incident," said the report.
Trump's Chief Strategist Bannon ready to testify before Jan 6 Committee
Strangely, former President Trump, facing flak before the committee for his alleged involvement in inciting the mob to attack Capitol Hill on January 6 and trying to overturn the 2020 verdict with falsification of accounts of stolen ballot boxes, says he is ready to waive Bannon's executive privilege if he is willing to testify. The nation is keenly watching if Cipollone is willing to corroborate the explosive statements made by former top White House aide in Trump's administration Cassidy Hutchinson that Trump was ready to lead the mob, tried to take the wheel and ring the neck of his security detail on January 6 chaotic day.
Protesters take dip in SL President's pool, others take WWE battles to PM's bed
Hundreds have occupied the houses of the President and PM and seen cooking and freely using the facilities there. Since Saturday night, people from far-away areas have been visiting both the President's House and the Temple Trees. The protesters, who recovered several millions of (Sri Lanka) rupees from the President's house, have handed the cash over to police. Protesters asserted on Sunday that they would not vacate the houses they have taken over until and unless the President and the PM step down immediately.
Amidst public protest, SL President decides to resign on July 13
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced that President Rajapaksa had informed him about his decision to resign. People set off fire-crackers as soon as the news broke. Following a massive public march to Colombo on Saturday morning and forcible occupation of the President's House, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked the Speaker to summon the leaders of all political parties and decide on the way to resolve the crisis.
China employed 'Debt Trap Diplomacy' to gain strategic edge over SL: Think tank
"In response to Sri Lanka's financial crisis, China employed its devious 'Debt Trap Diplomacy' to gain a strategic edge over the nation and hold its economy hostage. The port cities of Hambantota and Colombo have been leased to China for 100 years. China is now the second largest lender to Sri Lanka, holding more than 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's outstanding foreign debt in 2019," Red Lantern Analytica said in a statement.
Quad leaders mourn assassination of co-founder Abe
In a joint message on Friday, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Anthony Albanese of Australia, and US President Joe Biden said the former Japanese prime minister "played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific". They said that they were "shocked at the tragic assassination" of Abe, "a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries".
Watch | Angry protesters set fire to Sri Lanka PM's private house
The protesters, who marched to Colombo on Saturday morning demanding resignation of President Gotobaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, stormed the President's official residence, braving police, and later occupied the Prime Minister's official resident, the Temple Trees. Later, the protesters marched to Wickremesinghe's private residence in Colombo 7 and surrounded it, demanding that he step down.
Sri Lanka crisis: Jayasuriya joins anti-govt protest; Sangakkara, Jayawardene also lend support
Thousands of protesters in Colombo broke through police barricades and stormed President Rajapaksa's official residence in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit country this year. In the visuals, protesters, holding Sri Lankan flags and helmets were seen breaking into the President's residence, tearing down security cordons placed by police, taking a dip in the swimming pool and romping through his kitchen and home.
Speaker to take over as Sri Lankan President until all-party govt is formed
The party leaders who met on Saturday evening decided to appoint Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena as the temporary President until an all-party government is formed. However, Wickremesinghe has not agreed to step down immediately, as he told the media that he would resign once the all-party government is formed and majority in the Parliament is proved by any group which wants to take over.
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