UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE SUBDUES RUSSIA AND DEALS A BLOW TO THE WAR

Ukraine has struck a blow just 200 days into the Russian invasion. The blitzkrieg offensive to the east, hatched by the Ukrainian army since early September with the help of US intelligence and Western arms shipments, has served to recapture at least thirty positions in the Kharkov region and dislodge Russian troops, who are now fighting a retreat. A new tactical "reorganisation" of forces, according to the contested Russian Defence Ministry.

The reality is that the Ukrainian counter-attack is devastating. In just a few days, Kiev's forces have pocketed 2,000 km of territory, according to President Volodymir Zelensky's account. Among the towns recaptured are Kupiansk and Izium, two strategic enclaves that have served Russia as a logistical centre for supplying its forces. In Izum, in fact, the Russians had their main base of operations, now in Ukrainian hands.

"The Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkov oblast is overwhelming Russian forces and collapsing the Russian axis in northern Donbas," certifies the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the US military research centre that has been monitoring the Russian invasion of Ukraine since 24 February, when hostilities began. Satellite and network images, as well as drip-feed reports from the local population, confirm the latest movements unreservedly.

What the Ukrainian forces have achieved in the last few hours is historically unprecedented. The magnitude of the advance, pending further results, marks a 180-degree turn in the course of the conflict. Ukrainian troops have confirmed that, while maintaining fluid Western arms and military support, they have the capacity to dislodge the invading forces. The facts also indicate that the Russian army is depleted. Although the scenario is unpredictable and could change in a matter of days or weeks, the Ukrainian side's chances of victory have skyrocketed.

"The Russian Defence Ministry's inability to admit the failures in the Kharkov oblast and to effectively establish reporting conditions is collapsing the Russian news space," the ISW stresses. The events have caught the Kremlin unawares and it still lacks any halfway credible justification. The unmitigated defeat has eroded Vladimir Putin's leadership, which is beginning to be questioned domestically. His exposure as the main architect of the 'special military operation' on Ukrainian soil, which he has led from minute one, prevents him from apportioning blame.

The Ukrainian gesture is forcing the Kremlin to move fast. Russian media claim that reinforcements are already being sent to Kharkov to reverse the gains. In any case, Russian troops maintain their occupation over a fifth of Ukraine, over the Donbas, from where they intend to gain a foothold. The coming weeks will be decisive.

ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT HALTS OPERATIONS IN UKRAINE AMID FEARS OF DISASTER DURING RUSSIAN INVASION

Operations at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have been fully stopped as a safety measure, Energoatom, the state agency in charge of the plant, said on Sunday.

The plant "is completely stopped" after the agency disconnected the number 6 power unit from the grid at 3:41 a.m. (0041 GMT), it said in a statement. "Preparations are underway for its cooling and transfer to a cold state."

Kyiv on Wednesday called for residents of Russian-occupied areas around the plant, Europe's largest, to evacuate for their own safety.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of shelling the nuclear plant, risking a nuclear disaster.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for the surrounding area to be demilitarized.

Energoatom said that on Saturday it restored to operational capacity a communications line to the power system, which it said had been damaged by Russian shelling, allowing the plant to be powered by Ukraine's energy system.

"Therefore, a decision was made to shut down power unit No. 6 and transfer it to the safest state - cold shutdown," it said. It said the risk of further damage to the line "remains high", which would force the plant to be "powered by diesel generators, the duration of which is limited by the technological resource and the amount of available diesel fuel."

QUEEN EMBARKS ON FINAL JOURNEY

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin has been brought to Edinburgh following a six-hour journey from Balmoral.

Mourners lined the streets as the hearse travelled from Aberdeenshire to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where her coffin will rest overnight.

A respectful silence fell as people waited for the procession to pass by before they burst into polite applause and cheers.

Crowds also gathered to hear King Charles III proclaimed across the UK.

He will travel up to Scotland on Monday and will be joined by members of the Royal Family as he accompanies his mother's coffin to the cathedral in the Scottish city.

The Queen's cortege left her home at Balmoral at around 10:00 BST, winding through Aberdeen and Dundee among other villages and towns, on its way to Edinburgh.

Her coffin will lie under vigil in St Giles' Cathedral on Monday before heading to London ahead of her funeral on Monday 19 September.

CHARLES III PROCLAIMED KING OF AUSTRALIA

King Charles III was officially named monarch in Australia and New Zealand on Sunday, in tandem ceremonies marking his ascension to the throne.

In Canberra, Australia, Governor-General David Hurley proclaimed “Prince Charles Philip Arthur George to be King Charles III, by grace of God, King of Australia”.

At a similar ceremony in Wellington, New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hailed Charles, saying he “has long had an affection for Aotearoa New Zealand, has consistently demonstrated his deep care for our nation”.

The two ceremonies were relative formalities. Both former British colonies have been independent for decades but retain the monarch as their head of state.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that September 22 would be a public holiday in Australia to mark her death.

TECH GLITCH OR BAD WEATHER? IMRAN ESCAPES PLANE CRASH

Gujranwala : A plane carrying former Pakistani PM Imran Khan escaped a crash as the aircraft made an emergency landing on Saturday due to technical glitch midair, according to local media.

Daily Pakistan newspaper citing a local TV channel report said that Imran was on his way to Gujranwala by a special plane to address a rally on Saturday. As per the publication, the pilot of the plane contacted the control tower and requested for permission to land the plane. He then managed to land the plane safely. Imran continued his journey to Gujranwala by road after the emergency landing.

Quoting PTI leader Azhar Mashwani, Daily Pakistan reported that Imran’s plane returned to Islamabad soon after takeoff due to bad weather. “Reports of any technical fault in the aircraft are incorrect,” he tweeted.

Since he was toppled by parliament five months ago, the former PM has organisedmassive rallies to force the government of PM Shehbaz Sharif to hold a snap election.

Speaking at the rally, Imran warned the government that it’ll be held responsible if the economy were to “plummet any further” under the incumbent government. “I am addressing the people who have the power. . . this nation will hold you responsible for the way the country is going down because you could have prevented the country getting mired in this swamp but you did not do anything,” he said.

LANKA PREZ UNDER FIRE OVER GOVT EXPANSION AMID ECONOMIC CRISIS

Colombo : Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has come under fire from the opposition over his government expansion with 37 state ministers and with moves underway to appoint at least 12 more Cabinet ministers soon at a time when the island nation is facing bankruptcy.

Wickremesinghe on Thursday appointed 37 junior ministers, largely representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The 37 new posts are in addition to the 20-member Cabinet. Talks are also underway to appoint at least 12 more Cabinet ministers soon. The opposition has condemned the president’s move, arguing that the government could ill afford the expansion at a time when the country is going through its worst economic crisis and the recent tax hikes have heaped burden on the people. “The president and the government have no regard for the suffering of the people who are facing high cost of living,” said Sajith Premadasa, leader of the main opposition party SJB.

KARZAI TWEETS SUPPORT FOR AF GIRLS PROTESTING FOR EDUCATION

Kabul : Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the ruling Taliban on Sunday to re-open girls’ high schools and applauded female students in the eastern province of Paktia who residents said have been publicly protesting against the measure.

“The voice of Paktia’s female students is the voice of all our girls and of Afghanistan,” tweeted Karzai. “We ask the acting Islamic government to open the schools,” he said. Taliban made a sudden U-turn on vows to open girls’ highschools in March. Authorities in Paktia said this week that girls’ high schools had reopened, though the move had not been officially approved. But three locals and three Taliban officials said schools were shut on Saturday. One person said the closure had prompted girls to protest. Video footage showed dozens of girls marching down a street while chanting.

MORE AID ARRIVES FOR FLOOD VICTIMS IN HARD-HIT PAK PROVINCE OF SINDH

Karachi, Pakistan : Twomore US military planes loaded with tonnes of aid for Pakistanis affected by flooding from deadly monsoon rains landed Sunday in southern Sindh province, one of the worst-affected regions in the impoverished country. Saif Ullah, spokesman for the country’s civil aviation authority, said each plane was loaded with about 35 tonnes of relief aid that would be distributed in the province by the World Food Programme. The aircraft landed at Sukkur Airport in Sindh and Ullah said the US operation that began Thursday would continue until September 16. Pakistan has suffered under heavy monsoon rains that started early this year —in mid-June. Multiple officials and experts have blamed the rains and resulting floodwaters on climate change. Ullah said Sunday that two more flights bringing relief goods from the United Arab Emirates landed at Karachiairport.