GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA RESIGNS; PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has submitted a letter of resignation to the speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament, a spokesperson for the speaker said, hours after he fled to Singapore. Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore earlier on Thursday after first flying to the Maldives on Tuesday night. Reports say he is accompanied by his wife and two bodyguards.

The speaker of parliament in crisis-hit Sri Lanka, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has accepted the resignation letter, having verified its authenticity after it was flown from Singapore late on Thursday, he told reporters.

The announcement triggered jubilation in the commercial capital Colombo where protesters massed outside the presidential secretariat, defying a city-wide curfew.

Protesters who had stormed government buildings, including the President’s residence and PM’s office, in the past week vacated them, saying they did not want to damage public property, following which Sri Lankan military troops moved in to reinforce security.

Abeywardena confirmed that, according to the constitution, the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, would be sworn in as an interim president on Friday and will hold the role until a new vote is held by MPs in parliament next week. The process of voting in and confirming a new president is likely to take seven days, said the speaker.

Abeywardena requested that all political party leaders “extend their support” for a smooth selection of a new president, and to “uphold democracy” during the transiiton.

Parliament will now reconvene on Saturday, to begin the process of installing a new all-party “unity” government, made up of a multitude of political parties.

Singapore’s foreign ministry confirmed Rajapaksa had been allowed to enter the city-state, but insisted it was for a “private visit”. The Singapore government also confirmed that Rajapaksa had not sought asylum in their country. His final destination remains unknown.

RISHI SUNAK LEADS PACK IN TIGHTENING CONTEST

Tory leadership rivals are scrambling to catch former chancellor Rishi Sunak after he won the second round of voting to choose Boris Johnson's successor.

Five candidates remain after Attorney General Suella Braverman was knocked out in Thursday's vote.

Mr Sunak won 101 votes, Penny Mordaunt gained ground on him, with 83 votes, and Liz Truss came third with 64.

Ms Truss's chances were boosted on Thursday evening when Ms Braverman backed the foreign secretary.

Former Brexit minister Steve Baker has also endorsed Ms Truss, and the BBC understands most of the 27 Tory MPs who voted for Ms Braverman are expected to do the same.

Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch - who came fourth with 49 votes in Thursday's vote - and foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat - who was fifth on 32 - both say they are determined to stay in the contest.

The next round of voting, when the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, takes place on Monday.

The five remaining candidates will take part in televised debates on Friday.

Tory MPs are aiming to whittle down the field to two by the end of next week, when it will be thrown over to a postal ballot of Tory members to choose the winner, who will become prime minister.

The result will be announced on 5 September, when Boris Johnson will leave office.

U.S. VOWS TO USE ALL MEANS TO STOP IRAN NUCLEAR BOMB

The U.S. and Israel signed a new security pact on Thursday reinforcing their common front against Iran, as President Joe Biden pledged to use “all” American power to stop the Islamic republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The Jerusalem Declaration on joint security was inked by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Biden, as the U.S. leader was making his first trip to West Asia as President.

It commits the United States to “never to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”, stating that it “is prepared to use all elements of its national power to ensure that outcome”.

A landmark deal that imposed curbs on Iran’s suspect nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief was torpedoed in 2018 by former U.S. president Donald Trump. Efforts to revive the accord have been stalled since March.

Asked on Thursday how long the U.S. was prepared to give those efforts, Mr. Biden said “we’re not going to wait forever” for a response from the Islamic republic.

Israel, which has West Asia’s sole but undeclared nuclear arsenal, is staunchly opposed to the deal with Iran, which has always denied seeking the bomb.

Mr. Lapid warned “words” and “diplomacy” were not enough to thwart Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions.

“Diplomacy will not stop them. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear programme the free world will use force. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table,” Mr. Lapid told reporters alongside Mr. Biden.

Reacting to the pact, Iran warned the United States and its allies on Thursday against undermining regional security.

“I tell the Americans and their regional allies that the Iranian nation will not accept any crisis or insecurity in the region, and that any mistake made in this region will be met with a harsh and regrettable response,” Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said in televised remarks.

IMF AGREES TO RESUME PAK. LOAN AFTER FUEL, TAX HIKES

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it had agreed with Pakistan to resume a suspended loan programme that will inject $1.17 billion into the struggling economy.

A statement from the IMF said a “staff level agreement” — which is still subject to board approval — will bring to $4.2 billion the amount dispersed under an extended fund facility (EFF) that could increase to $7 billion and stretch until June next year.

An original $6 billion bailout package was signed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019, but repeatedly stalled when his government reneged on subsidy agreements and failed to significantly improve tax collection.

The new agreement follows months of deeply unpopular belt-tightening by the government of Shehbaz Sharif, which took power in April and has effectively eliminated fuel subsidies and introduced new measures to broaden the tax base. “Pakistan is at a challenging economic juncture,” Nathan Porter, who headed the IMF team, said in a statement, adding external factors and domestic policies were to blame.

ZELENSKY URGES ‘SPECIAL TRIBUNAL’ FOR RUSSIA

Russian missiles struck Vinnytsia in central Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 20 people, including three children, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called “an open act of terrorism”.

The midday attack on the city hundreds of kilometres from the frontlines and invading Russian troops came as EU officials convened in The Hague to discuss war crimes in Ukraine.

The charred remains of upturned cars surround by burnt debris were seen in images distributed by officials next to a business gutted by a fire with brown smoke billowing nearby.

“There were eight rockets, two of which hit the centre of the city. Twenty people have died, including three children. There a large, large number of wounded,” Mr. Zelensky said during an address European official at The Hague.

The Ukrainian leader led a moment of silence before urging European and International Criminal Court officials during an address to open a “special tribunal” into Russia’s invasion.

“I believe it is inevitable that International Criminal Court will bring accountability to those guilty of crimes under its jurisdiction: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide.”

DRAGHI’S RESIGNATION REJECTED

Italian Premier Mario Draghi offered to step down on Thursday after a populist coalition ally refused to support a key government Bill, but the nation’s President rejected the resignation, telling Mr. Draghi to see if he can still find a majority in Parliament willing to support him.

Mr. Draghi’s broad unity coalition government — which includes parties from the right, the left, the centre and the populist 5-Star Movement — was designed to help Italy recover from the coronavirus pandemic. He took office in February 2021.

Hours earlier, Mr.Draghi and his government won a confidence vote, 172-39, in the Senate despite the refusal by the 5-Star Movement to back the Bill, which earmarked 26 billion euros to help consumers and industries struggling with soaring energy prices. But the snub, orchestrated by 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte, Mr. Draghi’s predecessor, did its damage.

Shortly before heading to the Quirinal presidential palace to tender his resignation, Mr. Draghi declared: “The majority of national unity that has sustained this government from its creation doesn’t exist any more.”

SAUDI ARABIA OPENS AIRSPACE TO 'ALL CARRIERS' IN GESTURE TO ISRAEL

Saudi Arabia announced Friday it was lifting restrictions on "all carriers" using its airspace, an apparent gesture of openness towards Israel ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival.

The US leader welcomed the "historic" decision, the latest conciliatory move by Riyadh concerning the Jewish state, which it has refused to recognise despite intensive efforts by the Israelis to establish ties with Arab countries.

The Saudi civil aviation authority "announces the decision to open the Kingdom's airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirements of the authority for overflying", it said in a statement on Twitter.

The decision was made "to complement the Kingdom's efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents".

"This decision is the result of the President's persistent and principled diplomacy with Saudi Arabia over many months, culminating in his visit today," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in the statement, adding that Biden "commends" it.

KISHIDA BLAMES INADEQUATE POLICE PROTECTION FOR ABE DEATH

Japanese PM Fumio Kishidaon Thursday blamed inadequate police protection for the death of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot while giving an outdoor campaign speech. Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was assassinated last Friday in western Japan, shocking a nation known for its low crime rate. Photos and videos of the shooting show the gunman was able to come close to Abe.

Officials at the National Public Safety Commission and National Police Agency are investigating what went wrong and will come up with measures, Kishida said.

Kishida also announced plans to hold a state funeral for Abe later this year, noting his contributions at home and in boosting Japan's security alliance with the United States.

Police say the suspect, 41year-old Tetsuya Yamagami who served briefly in the navy, told investigators that a rumoured link between Abe and a religious group he hated was the reason he killed the former PM .