The island’s presidential election on Saturday emphasises the importance of its strategic location, world-leading chip industry and other geopolitical factors.

Constable Dayaratne was sent to protect the presidential residence the day it was stormed by protesters who forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country. Instead he played songs a grand piano in the building.

There is a long history of leaders prosecuted before, during and after holding power with representation across continents.

Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, had been on holiday at the Sea of Galilee on Friday during a heatwave, his office said. It was not immediately clear who might replace Netanyahu in the event of an emergency succession.

Rising youth joblessness in China is one of Beijing’s biggest headaches, threatening the top leadership’s bottom line of ensuring social stability, with the figure rising to a record high of 20.4 per cent in April.

The anti-corruption agency was ordered to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan from its custody, following his arrest on Tuesday that sparked deadly and widespread protests.

Industry Minister Reza Fatemi Amin failed to garner enough support in a vote of confidence and a major factor in the impeachment was the rising price of domestic vehicles after foreign imports dried up because of sanctions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Entering politics in the South American country has been tough for women – only 15 per cent of lawmakers are female, about a third below the regional average.

The former prime minister’s bid for snap elections is evolving into a constitutional crisis that’s raised concerns about the future of the country’s democracy.

Fawad Chaudhry was arrested after the Election Commission of Pakistan accused him of threatening its head and other officials. He is a supporter of Khan who was ousted by a no-confidence vote in April.

Tension mounts as Fiji waits for president to recall parliament so new PM can be voted in after no party won general election, though Prime Minister Bainimarama is accused of stoking fears of ethnic trouble as a pretext to cling to power.

About 3,000 officers searched 130 sites in 11 German states against adherents of the so-called Reich Citizens movement – some members reject Germany’s post-war constitution and have called for the overthrow of the government.

The country’s first female prime minister recited the ritual oath of office, pledging to be faithful to Italy’s post-war republic and to act ‘in the exclusive interests of the nation’.

The country’s Election Commission said Khan committed ‘corrupt practices’ and didn’t properly disclose money earned from selling gifts given by foreign dignitaries. He will appeal the order.

Mallikarjun Kharge is to replace Sonia Gandhi as president of the party that helped win India’s independence 75 years ago but has been discredited and crushed under the electoral juggernaut of PM Narendra Modi’s BJP.

The ousted former premier sent a written apology stemming from his outburst against a female judge that was seen as a threat, court officials and a defence lawyer said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said price hikes, particularly for energy and food items, are having a ‘huge impact’ so he will implement relief steps ‘seamlessly’.

A former rival for the top job says Britain’s foreign secretary has the ‘resolution, determination, and passion’ to be prime minister. Endorsement is a blow to ex-treasury chief Rishi Sunak, the other finalist in the race.

He wanted to resign because he didn’t have the backing of parties in his coalition, which are unhappy about his reference to fiscal reform, freeing up beach concessions and his pledge of military aid to Ukraine.

Customers at four rural banks in Henan province and one in neighbouring Anhui have been cut off from their savings since April, leading to protests and promises from authorities that some of the money will be repaid.

The former finance minister is the second from the influential family to step away from government amid the country’s worst economic crisis and prolonged protests.

At hospitals and the health ministry, staff brandished placards that read, ‘Hire more and pay us more, it’s urgent!’. Some have warned that a heatwave or new Covid-19 flare-up could be chaos and prove deadly.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party is certain to sail to easy victory again following what UN Human Rights Office calls a pattern of ‘threats and obstruction’.

The incoming economic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan says he will target at least 6 per cent annual growth throughout President Marcos’ term; priorities will be farming and industry, currently less than 40 per cent of GDP.

Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, hits out at ‘countries that pursue unilateralism in the name of multilateralism’.

Landslide election triumph comes 36 years after dictator father was ousted in pro-democracy uprising after accusations of human rights violations and plunder; Vice-President running mate, Sara Duterte, also won by a wide margin.

Ban came hours after a policeman was killed when a supporter of the ousted premier opened fire as officers entered his home; Khan vowed to carry on with the rally in Lahore, insisting he was not afraid of death.

Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Imran Khan announced a plan to topple the new government, with his supporters converging on Islamabad on May 25 for a protest that he hopes will prompt the dissolution of parliament.