WORLD
Boris Johnson touted as potential new NATO boss
Allies of the Prime Minister have suggested he could replace Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of the military alliance when, as expected, the Norwegian steps down in September next year, Daily Mail reported. The lure of the high-profile post might be attractive to the PM, but he would need to quit as an MP to take it. It comes as other supporters continue a grassroots campaign to allow him a chance to stay in No 10.
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court extends overseas travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil
The order was passed during hearing of a petition filed by former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Chandra Jayaratne, seeking an overseas travel ban on Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa and an investigation against the individuals responsible for the current economic crisis, Colombo Gazette reported.
Pakistan Taliban don't trust Pakistani ulema in the absence of military assurance
The 13-member delegation includes religious scholars belonging to all sects of the Deobandi school of thought from across the country, including Karachi, Lahore, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. They met with TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali and other Taliban leaders from the erstwhile Fata. They urged the TTP leadership to withdraw their demand for the reversal of the FATA merger, but they refused to budge, The Express Tribune reported.
Nawaz Sharif wants early elections
Nawaz Sharif has discussed this several times with top leaders of the party including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), The News reported. He suggested that staying in the government any longer looked set to create more problems than resolving the issues in the absence of genuine support the government should have received from all state organs, said sources.
US will react appropriately to any NKorean nuclear test: Kirby
ohn Kirby, NSC coordinator for strategic communications, also noted the North may continue to be ready to conduct a test, a National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said on Tuesday. "We have been very clear that North Korea could be ready to conduct a nuclear test. That is something we said very, very openly," Kirby said in a press briefing, held virtually.
Sri Lanka's former president to extend stay in Singapore: local reports
Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said on Tuesday at a press conference in Colombo that Rajapaksa is expected to return to the country from Singapore, the Straits Times reported on Wednesday. Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore from the Maldives on July 14, and he was issued a 14-day visit pass when he arrived at the Changi Airport.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return to Sri Lanka: Minister
When asked by reporters on Rajapaksa fleeing Sri Lanka, Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena refuted that the former leader was hiding in Singapore and said that he would return. "I don't agree that the former President is in hiding in Singapore because he had followed the official procedure and gone to Singapore obtaining an legitimate visa," the Minister said.
India slams Pakistan, China over move to add more countries in CPEC projects
External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi said that such activities under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are "inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable", and will be treated accordingly by India. "India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan," he said.
Liz Truss beats Rishi Sunak in TV debate in poll of electoral college
Forty-seven per cent of respondents to pollster Opinium sounding them out felt Truss performed better versus 38 per cent who thought likewise about Sunak. However, Sunak marginally defeated Truss, again according to Opinium, in a poll of regular voters who watched the debate. Thirty-nine per cent said Sunak won, while 38 per cent stated Truss did.
US asks China to condemn Myanmar after execution of activists
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said China could influence Myanmar more than any other country, the BBC reported. "We are calling on countries around the world to do more. We will be doing more as well," he said. He said the US was considering "all options" to cut off the regime's revenue, BBC reported.
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