Sri Lanka Elects New President

Sri Lankan MPs have elected prime minister and acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's new president following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapakas. The six-time prime minister polled 134 votes in a three-cornered parliamentary vote, with his main opponent Dullas Alahapperuma getting 82 and leftist Anura Dissanayake just 3, giving him an absolute majority on first preferences.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shot Dead

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has been shot on the street in the Western prefecture of Nara, Japan, on Friday morning. Abe was making a speech for an election campaign in the city when he suffered a shot to the chest. He collapsed at around 11:30 a.m. after people on the scene heard what sounded like a gun going off twice. Police have arrested a man in his 40s, Yamagami Tetsuya in Nara on suspicion of attempted murder and retrieved what appeared to be a homemade gun, local media reports. Abe is the longest-serving Japanese Prime Minister in history. He stepped down as leader in 2020, for health related reasons.

Turkey: UN Confirms Country’s Change Of Name

The United Nations (UN) has approved the official change of name of the Republic of Turkey following the country’s request, which has been processing the name change since December last year. The Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu formally requested the use of “Türkiye”, pronounced “tur-key-YAY”, in a letter addressed to the U.N and other international agencies.

Sri Lanka's President Flees As Protesters Storms Palace

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence on Saturday shortly before angered protesters stormed his compound and nearby office in the capital of Colombo. Thousands of anti-government protesters from all over the country marched to Colombo demanding his resignation after months of protests over the mismanagement of the country's economic crisis.

Earthquake: Afghanistan Seeks Aid As Death Toll Reaches 1000

Taliban-led government of Afghanistan has called for aid from international agencies as it struggles the devastating magnitude 5.9 earthquake that reportedly claimed the lives of at least 1,000 people. Unknown numbers were buried in the rubble of ruined, mud-build homes particularly the Eastern part Afghanistan which is worst hit by the powerful earthquake. The Taliban authorities while seeking aid said communication networks are also badly hit. "We can't reach the area - networks are too weak," a Taliban spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. The magnitude 5.9 quake struck during the early hours of Wednesday near the city of Khost by the Pakistan border. At least 1,500 people have been reported injured, but officials warn the toll is likely to rise as many families were sleeping in flimsy housing structures when the quake hit.

Just In: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Has Died

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has passed on Friday 13th May, 2022, at the age of 73, leaving behind a £120billion fortune. According to a state media report, the leader had been battling an illness for several years. A statement from the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said it "condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE".