GOTABAYA REFUTES ACCUSATIONS OF STAGING BOMBINGS FOR ELECTION VICTORY

Colombo : Dismissing allegations from a British TV program, former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has firmly denied any involvement in a plot where IS-inspired extremists carried out suicide bomb attacks in 2019 to create turmoil in the country and potentially secure his election victory later that year. Rajapaksa has labeled the claim of Islamic extremists orchestrating attacks for his presidency as utterly ludicrous, characterizing the documentary aired on Britain's Channel 4 as primarily an anti-Rajapaksa tirade.

In his public statement, Rajapaksa clarified that he had no interactions with the intelligence officer mentioned in the documentary from the time of his resignation as defense ministry secretary in 2015 until assuming the presidency in 2019. He asserted that the said official had no affiliation with any intelligence agency during that period, and allegations of their involvement with the bombers were entirely fabricated.

US SUPPLIES UKRAINE WITH DEPLETED URANIUM ANTI-TANK AMMO

In a move following Britain's decision to send controversial munitions to aid Ukraine in its arduous counteroffensive against Russia, the United States has announced its intention to provide Kyiv with depleted uranium anti-tank rounds. These 120 mm rounds will equip the 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks set to be delivered to Ukraine during the upcoming autumn.

Originally developed by the US during the Cold War to effectively neutralize Soviet tanks, including the T-72 tanks that Ukraine now confronts in its counteroffensive, these armor-piercing rounds are derived from depleted uranium, a byproduct of uranium enrichment essential for nuclear weapons creation. While these rounds possess residual radioactive properties, they are incapable of triggering a nuclear reaction, as affirmed by RAND nuclear expert Edward Geist.

In response to this decision, the Kremlin has voiced its concerns, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicating that the US must bear responsibility for the potential adverse consequences of its actions. Peskov pointed to Nato's extensive use of such ammunition during the 1999 bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, which, according to him, led to an increase in cancer and other health-related cases.

DANUBE PORT HIT 4TH TIME IN 5 DAYS, GRAIN INFRA DAMAGED

Russia carried out its fourth drone attack in five days on Ukrainian port facilities on the Danube River on Thursday, damaging grain silos and other infrastructure on a vital export route for Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said. The attack on Izmail district in southern Odesa region lasted three hours, governor Oleh Kiper said. The Ukrainian military reported shooting down 25 of 33 drones it said were launched by Russia overnight.

BLASTS ROCK AREA AROUND RUSSIA’S KEY MILITARY HUB

Explosions rocked the area around one of Russia’s largest military hubs before dawn on Thursday, as Russian officials said that air defences shot down two drones in the southern region of Rostov, home to a command centre for Moscow’s forces in Ukraine. The source of the drones was not clear. The Ukraine military had no comment. The city of Rostov-onDon, where at least one of the blasts occurred, is home to Russia’s southern military HQ .

CHINA MAY BE USING AI TO SWAY U.S. VOTERS, SAYS MICROSOFT

Microsoft researchers said on Thursday they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence U.S. voters by using artificial intelligence.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said that such accusations were “full of prejudice and malicious speculation”.

In a new research report, Microsoft said the social media accounts were part of a suspected Chinese information operation. The campaign bore similarities to activity which the United States Department of Justice has attributed to “an elite group within [China’s] Ministry of Public Security,” Microsoft said.

CANADA LAUNCHES PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO ‘FOREIGN MEDDLING’ BY CHINA, RUSSIA

Ottawa : Canada has taken a significant step in addressing concerns of foreign interference by appointing Quebec court of appeal Justice Marie-Josee Hogue to lead an independent public inquiry. This move comes in response to opposition parties' persistent demands for an inquiry into the government's handling of intelligence regarding potential foreign influence, particularly from China, in Canadian elections and policies. Beijing has consistently denied any involvement in such activities.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's public safety minister, announced the appointment of Justice Hogue, emphasizing that the terms of the inquiry had received unanimous approval from opposition parties. The investigation will encompass both foreign state and non-state actors.

Earlier, in March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had appointed a special investigator to examine alleged election interference. However, the investigator resigned prematurely, citing widespread opposition to his appointment and his work. The opposition Conservative Party expressed its skepticism, vowing not to allow the issue to be concealed.

Justice Hogue's mandate includes investigating foreign interference and assessing the information flow to senior decision-makers, including elected officials. She is expected to deliver an interim report by February 29, with a final report scheduled for December 2024.

JAPAN LAUNCHES MOON LANDER MISSION, ISRO SAYS CONGRATS

Joining the global race for the moon, Japan on Thursday launched a rocket carrying a ‘smart lander’ for investigating moon (SLIM) along with an Xray telescope that will explore the origins of the universe.

Soon after the successful liftoff of the HII-A rocket of Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Isro posted on X, “Congratulations JAXA on the successful launch of the SLIM lander to the moon. Best wishes for another successful lunar endeavour by the global space community.” India, which recently became the first country to land its Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander on the moon’s south pole, will next launch a moon mission, Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, in partnership with JAXA aimed at exploring lunar polar region suitability for establishing a lunar base.

SLIM has been nicknamed ‘Moon Sniper’ because it is designed to land within 100 metres of a specific target. Just like Chandrayaan-3, SLIMwill take aroundabout journey of at least four months and is expected to reach the moon by February.

ASEAN SUMMIT ADDRESSES RIVALRIES AND SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSIONS

Leaders at the ASEAN summit in Jakarta received a warning against escalating rivalries from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who chaired the event. The summit brought together leaders such as U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Concerns lingered over issues like Taiwan, Moscow relations, and competition in the Pacific.

Vice-President Harris addressed several issues, including Russia's actions in Ukraine, maritime challenges in the South and East China Seas, and North Korean missile programs. This marked the first meeting between top U.S. and Russian officials since tensions rose over Ukraine.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, during the summit, called for resistance against using "coast guard and maritime militia vessels" in the South China Sea, an area disputed by multiple Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

President Marcos expressed concerns about military facilities on reclaimed features and international law violations in the South China Sea. In a recent incident, Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannons at a Filipino ship during a resupply mission. President Marcos emphasized the importance of preventing further tensions and urged restraint from all parties.

COPS BATON-CHARGE HINDUS IN PAK’S SINDH OVER PROTEST AGAINST ABDUCTIONS

Karachi : Several members of Pakistan’s Hindu community and other faiths were injured on Thursday after the police in Sindh province baton-charged them as they held a sit-in against the increasing cases of kidnappings of Hindu traders and others from minority communities for ransom. The members of the minority communities have been staging the protest since September 1 over the abductions by bandits in riverine areas in Sindh’s Kashmore.

On Thursday, the police baton-charged and injured some of them after they refused to end the protest despite the intervention of an influential leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party that has governed the Sindh province for over a decade. Dr Chand Mahar, one of the organisers of the protest, said that a total of 5 Hindus, including a nine-year-old boy, had been kidnapped by the dacoits in recent days. Only a few days back a seven-year-old Hindu girl was also abducted from near Sanghar. He said the spate of incidents had spread fear in the community and they were afraid to even send children to school.

FRENCH COURT BACKS ABAYA BAN IN SCHOOLS

France’s top administrative court on Thursday upheld a government ban on traditional over-garments worn by some Muslim women in schools and rejected complaints it was discriminatory and could incite hatred.

President Emmanuel Macron’s government announced last month it was banning the abaya in schools as it broke the rules on secularism in education. Muslim headscarves have already been banned.

An association representing Muslims filed a motion with the State Council, France’s highest court, for an injunction against the ban on the abaya.

But after examining the motion, it said wearing the abaya “follows the logic of religious affirmation”, adding that the decision was based on French law which did not allow anyone wearing visible signs of any religious affiliation in schools.

AUSTRALIA PM CONFIRMS CHINA VISIT, LI SAYS READY TO RESUME EXCHANGES

JAKARTA: Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Thursday he will visit China later this year after talks with China’s premier, who said Beijing was ready to resume bilateral exchanges after years of friction. The announcement came after a years-long break in relations over political and economic issues.

ARMENIA PM SAYS AZERBAIJAN PREPARING ‘MILITARY PROVOCATION’

YEREVAN: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused Azerbaijan of preparing a military provocation against its forces by concentrating troops along the arch-foes’ shared border and near the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. The ex-Soviet republics have been locked in a decades-long conflict.

SUDAN’S ARMY CHIEF TRAVELS TO QATAR FOR TALKS WITH EMIR AS CONFLICT RAGES

CAIRO: Sudan’s Army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan travelled to Qatar on Thursday for talks with the country’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, making his third international trip since fighting broke out between the military and a rival paramilitary force in April, Sudanese state media said.