Sabtu, 09 Juli 2022

Sri Lanka protesters storm president's house - swimming in his pool - and clash with police - Sky News

Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president's official residence.

In one of the largest anti-government marches in the country this year, the demonstrators are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced he would quit on Saturday afternoon.

"To ensure the continuation of the government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the party Leaders today, to make way for an all-party government," he said.

He stepped down after thousands of people descended on the government district in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach his house.

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the residence.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters
Image: Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters

At least 39 people including two police officers have now been hurt by the unrest, hospital sources said.

More on Sri Lanka

Protestors also assembled outside the Presidential Secretariat - the office of the president - and the home of prime minister.

Both Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Wickremesinghe have both been moved to a secure location as a safety precaution, defence ministry sources said.

Hundreds of flag-bearing protestors were seen packed inside the president's sea-front property and using the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.

Mr Wickremesinghe, who was appointed in May, resigned after summoning political party leaders for an emergency meeting in the wake of the violence.

He also requested parliament to be recalled by the speaker, a statement from his office said.

US ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to protest peacefully and for police to give demonstrators space - as she warned "chaos and force will not fix the economy".

Sri Lanka, home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades since it achieved independence in 1948.

Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
Image: Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters
Image: People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters

The country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the decline on Mr Rajapaksa, who has faced ongoing calls to resign.

Protestor Sampath Perera, 37, criticised the president for "clinging on to power" and warned: "We will not stop until he listens to us."

Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP
Image: Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP

Anger intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments dwindled, leading to petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services.

The British Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in financial turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID pandemic.

In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a foreign currency shortage.

A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Image: A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP
Image: Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP

It has accumulated debts of £42.4billion - of which around half, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027.

The crisis has severely dented the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.

Mr Rajapaksa has so far held onto power after his brother resigned as prime minister in May and two other brothers and a nephew quit their cabinet posts earlier this year.

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2022-07-09 12:17:02Z
1485373155

Sri Lanka protesters storm president's house and clash with police - Sky News

Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president's official residence.

In one of the largest anti-government marches in the country this year, the protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Thousands of people descended on the government district in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach his house.

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the residence.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters
Image: Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters

At least 39 people including two police officers have now been hurt by the unrest, hospital sources said.

The president was moved from his official premises to a secure location as a safety precaution, according to two defence ministry sources, ahead of a planned rally at the weekend.

Hundreds of flag-bearing protestors were seen packed inside the sea-front property and using the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.

More on Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe - who has also been moved to a secure location - summoned political party leaders for an emergency meeting in the wake of the violence.

He has also requested parliament to be summoned by the speaker, a statement from his office said.

US ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to protest peacefully and for police to give demonstrators space - as she warned "chaos and force will not fix the economy".

Sri Lanka, which is home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades, since it achieved independence in 1948.

Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
Image: Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters
Image: People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters

The country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the decline on Mr Rajapaksa, who has faced ongoing calls to resign.

Protestor Sampath Perera, 37, criticised the president for "clinging on to power" and warned: "We will not stop until he listens to us."

Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP
Image: Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP

Anger intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments dwindled, leading to petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services.

The British Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in financial turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID pandemic.

In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a foreign currency shortage.

A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Image: A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP
Image: Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP

It has accumulated debts of £42.4billion - of which around half, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027.

The crisis has severely dented the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.

One of Mr Rajapaksa's brothers resigned as prime minister last month, and two other brothers and a nephew quit their cabinet posts earlier, but Mr Rajapaksa has held on to power.

Mr Wickremesinghe, who took over as prime minister in May, is also facing calls to quit for failing to plug the gaps in the country's finances.

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2022-07-09 10:24:26Z
1485373155

Sri Lanka protesters 'storm president's house' and clash with police - Sky News

Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president's official residence.

In one of the largest anti-government marches in the country this year, the protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Thousands of people descended on the government district in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach his house.

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the residence.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka and try the swimming pool
Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters
Image: Demonstrators pictured inside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house after he fled. Pic: Reuters

At least 39 people including two police officers have now been hurt by the unrest, hospital sources said.

The president was moved from his official premises to a secure location as a safety precaution, according to two defence ministry sources, ahead of a planned rally at the weekend.

Hundreds of flag-bearing protestors were seen packed inside the sea-front property and using the swimming pool on a Facebook livestream.

More on Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe - who has also been moved to a secure location - summoned political party leaders for an emergency meeting in the wake of the violence.

He has also requested parliament to be summoned by the speaker, a statement from his office said.

US ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called on people to protest peacefully and for police to give demonstrators space - as she warned "chaos and force will not fix the economy".

Sri Lanka, which is home to 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades, since it achieved independence in 1948.

Inflation hit a record 54.6% in June and is expected to soar to 70%, piling pressure on the cash-strapped population.

Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Image: Protesters storm presidential palace in Sri Lanka. Pic: News Cutter
Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
Image: Protestors pictured in the garden of the president's home in Colombo. Pic: Reuters
People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters
Image: People stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's living quarters in protest over the economic crisis. Pic: Reuters

The country has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the decline on Mr Rajapaksa, who has faced ongoing calls to resign.

Protestor Sampath Perera, 37, criticised the president for "clinging on to power" and warned: "We will not stop until he listens to us."

Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: Crowds assembled outside the president's office in Colombo. Pic: AP
A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Image: A tear gas shell fired by police lands in the crowd of protestors in Colombo. Pic: AP
Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP
Image: Sri Lankan authorities attempt to disperse protestors in Colombo on Saturday, 9 July Pic: AP

Anger intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments dwindled, leading to petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services.

The British Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel to the country, which has been left in financial turmoil due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the COVID pandemic.

In April this year, Sri Lanka announced it was suspending repayment of foreign loans, blaming a foreign currency shortage.

A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Image: A man covers his face after tear gas is fired in the Sri Lankan capital. Pic: AP
Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP
Image: Protestors wear gas masks after tear gas is dispersed Pic: AP

It has accumulated debts of £42.4billion - of which around half, £23.3bn, must be repaid by the end of 2027.

The crisis has severely dented the reputation of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.

One of Mr Rajapaksa's brothers resigned as prime minister last month, and two other brothers and a nephew quit their cabinet posts earlier, but Mr Rajapaksa has held on to power.

Mr Wickremesinghe, who took over as prime minister in May, is also facing calls to quit for failing to plug the gaps in the country's finances.

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2022-07-09 09:00:00Z
1485373155

Biden signs order to protect abortion rights | World - The Times

President Biden signed an executive order yesterday to bolster some abortion rights in the US, marking the White House’s first attempt to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v Wade.

Biden’s move will not restore a woman’s right to a termination in those states where it has been made illegal or almost impossible since the court’s decision. Instead it will ring-fence access to abortion medication, making abortion pills as “widely accessible as possible”.

In his address, Biden renewed his attack on the court and its decision. “This court has made it clear it will not protect the rights of women. I will. That’s why today I’m signing an executive order to protect access to reproductive health care.

“The [supreme] court and its allies

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2022-07-09 00:25:00Z
1495363195

Jumat, 08 Juli 2022

Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe assassinated at rally - BBC News - BBC News

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2022-07-08 21:27:49Z
1495218475

Biden signs executive order aimed at protecting abortion access - Financial Times

US president Joe Biden on Friday announced a range of measures designed to maintain access to abortion and urged women to vote in November’s midterm elections, as his administration looks to limit the fallout of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade.

Biden spoke from the White House about how he intends to make sure Americans can still get abortions even after the country’s highest court struck down the decades-long precedent that guaranteed a right to an abortion, paving the way for multiple states to ban or restrict the procedure.

He has not backed more drastic steps being proposed by progressive activists, such as increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court in an effort to rebalance it away from the conservative majority.

The president on Friday said Roe’s fall “wasn’t a constitutional judgment. It was an exercise in raw political power”.

Biden added: “We cannot allow an out of control Supreme Court working in conjunction with extremist elements of the Republican party to take away freedoms and our personal autonomy.”

Vice-president Kamala Harris, who was present at the event, will later on Friday meet state legislative leaders who are advocating for abortion rights in states where tighter restrictions are looming.

Biden has pledged to push for a national law protecting abortion rights, but it is unclear whether he has the votes in Congress to pass such a bill.

On Friday, he urged Americans to vote in November’s midterm elections, where Democrats are expected to suffer significant defeats, to help boost the number of pro-choice members of Congress in order to have sufficient backing to codify Roe into federal law.

“This is the fastest route available [to restore Roe],” Biden said. “The court now practically dares the women of America to go to the ballot box and restore the very rights they’ve just taken away.”

Passing a federal law would require sidestepping the Senate filibuster, which usually requires a supermajority of 60 votes to overcome.

Biden, who has in the past been reluctant to overhaul Senate rules to pass legislation along party lines, said he would back over-ruling the filibuster in this case. Doing so would still require the votes of Democratic senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who have previously opposed any such attempt.

Friday’s order, which will largely have to be carried out by Xavier Becerra, the health secretary, includes expanding access to abortion pills, demand for which has jumped since the ruling last month. Some Republican states have limited their use by requiring a doctor to be present when they are taken, which prohibits them being prescribed via telehealth.

Biden also said his administration would convene panels of volunteer lawyers to help fight legal cases on behalf of people seeking reproductive healthcare. The administration has previously threatened to sue any state that attempts to block a woman travelling across their borders to get an abortion.

He has asked the Federal Trade Commission to look at ways to protect the privacy of people who research abortion services online, amid concerns that online data could be used against abortion seekers in any prosecution.

Many in the Democratic party want Biden to be more combative. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, this week asked the administration for clarity on whether people in her state would be allowed to bring abortion pills over the border from Canada.

Polls suggest the Supreme Court’s decision has galvanised Democrats ahead of November’s midterms. “It is my hope and strong belief that women will in fact turn out in record numbers to reclaim the rights that have been taken from them by the court,” Biden said on Friday.

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2022-07-08 18:00:36Z
1495363195

Live news updates from July 7: Boris Johnson resigns, makes appointments despite impending departure - Financial Times

© Getty Images

Levi Strauss reaffirmed its financial outlook for the year after a forecast-beating second quarter, but remained wary of potential risks including supply chain disruptions and a strong dollar.

The jeans maker continued to benefit from actions over recent quarters to raise prices on its products and reported strong year-on-year growth in several of its apparel categories.

That helped offset foreign exchange effects, the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns in China and its suspension of business in Russia earlier this year, financial chief Harmit Singh told the Financial Times.

“The state of the consumer, generally, in the US continues to be healthy,” Singh said of the company’s biggest market, but they had observed some “softness . . . in the lower-end consumer.”

Singh said the strength of the Levi’s brand allowed the company to selectively increase prices “without materially impacting demand”. In the second half of the year, “we’ve taken pricing up about mid-single digits to offset cost pressures, including commodities. This will vary around the world, depending on our competitive position, and we’ll evaluate as needed if the consumer situation generally deteriorates.”

Still, Levi’s stuck with its full-year forecast for adjusted earnings of $1.50 to $1.56 a share on revenue of $6.4bn to $6.5bn. Given concerns about a potential recession, which Singh was confident Levi’s could “weather better than a lot of others”, the “right call, right now” was to reaffirm guidance.

The company is “generally feeling optimistic” about supply chain disruptions easing, but Singh warned they would have to continue using air freight until 2023 in order to meet demand. The relatively high cost of that method took about 80 basis points off of gross margin in the second quarter, which was about flat year on year, he added. In the first quarter of this year, air freight costs took about 20 basis points off of margins.

Part of the caution is also due to the appreciation of the US dollar, which is now around 20-year-highs against the euro. Levi’s generates at least 40 per cent of its revenue outside the US. Singh conceded “foreign exchange is hurting us”, but was optimistic the company would be able to offset those costs.

For the second quarter that ended May 29, Levi’s reported a 15 per cent jump in revenue to $1.47bn, beating analysts’ estimates of $1.43bn, while adjusted earnings of 29 cents a share topped forecasts by 6 cents.

Investors welcomed the result and the reaffirmed outlook and pushed Levi’s shares about 4 per cent higher in after-hours trading on Thursday.

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2022-07-07 23:17:08Z
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