Morning Digest | China steps up LAC air drills as talks stall; Sri Lankan Parliament to directly elect President today, and more
The Hindu
A select list of stories to read before you start your day
China steps up LAC air drills as talks stall
China on Tuesday defended its stepped-up military activity near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as “normal”, amid concerns from India on Chinese aircraft flying close to the contested areas even as border talks remain in a stalemate. After Chinese aircraft flew close to contested areas along the LAC, India scrambled aircraft in response and also raised the matter with the Chinese side, according to reports.
Sri Lanka to witness three-way contest for Presidency
Sri Lanka will witness a three-cornered race for Presidency on Wednesday, as the island awaits a new leader and government after an astounding people’s uprising ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe; the formerly Rajapaksa-aligned, and now independent Dullas Alahapperuma; and the leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake were on Tuesday nominated by parties in Parliament, a day ahead of the poll through a secret ballot.
Rishi Sunak tops new vote to edge closer to final spot in British PM race
Former U.K. Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, held on to his lead in the Tory contest after the fourth round of voting on Tuesday sent former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch out of the race with 59 votes from fellow Tory MPs. Mr. Sunak (42) won 118 votes, a gain of three since the third round of voting on Monday night. Trade minister Penny Mordaunt came in second with 92 votes, a gain of 10 votes since Monday, followed by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss who got 86 votes.
Sri Lanka failed to show fiscal prudence, India’s help unprecedented: Jaishankar
A crowd comprising farmers, researchers, professors, students, and horticulture enthusiasts thronged the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, on Friday for the inaugural ceremony of the Triphal Diversity Show which showcased 300 mango, 100 jackfruit, and 100 banana genotypes in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli.
The State government on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director-General of Police, Manish Kharbikar of the Economic Offences division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the alleged multi-crore scam in the government-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
The Deputy Commissioner and the Election Officer for Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency M. P. Mullai Muhilan said here on Friday that over 600 staff will be involved in the counting of votes cast in the April 26 elections, at the counting centre at the National Institute of Technology – Karnataka, Surathkal, on June 4.