🛫 Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, flees the country on military jet

The 73-year-old president arrived in the capital of the Maldives, amid mass protests over its economic crisis. His departure ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for decades as he earlier pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July.

The news of the president's departure filtered through, noisy celebrations broke out among demonstrators at Galle Face Green, the main protest site in the capital city, Colombo. The people of Sri Lanka blame President Rajapaksa's administration for their worst economic crisis in decades.

For months they have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines.

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⚡️ LIVE UPDATES | Ukrainian forces shell Donetsk Republic using Grad rockets, DPR says

⚡️ An Estonian court has declared that the search of the home and former office of Sputnik Media's ex-employee Elena Cherysheva was illegal

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton admits that he has helped plan coups in other countries:

🗣 "As somebody who has helped plan coups d'etat, not here, but, you know, other places, it takes a lot of work," he said

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🛫 US President Joe Biden has left America for Israel to begin his Middle East tour

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📹 Footage of combat work carried out by the Uragan MLRS of the Western Military District during the special operation in Ukraine

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Elon Musk has responded to Twitter's announcement that it intends to sue the billionaire $44Bln for backing out of buying the platform. Although Musk's tweet did not mention the lawsuit, it was obvious he was referring to it, given that, back in April, Twitter reportedly did not even want to go through with the deal

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⚡️⚡️ Sri Lanka president reportedly appoints prime minister as acting president

Watch: Russian forces strike Ukrainian troop positions using Uragan MLRS near the city of Seversk, DPR

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⚡️⚡️🇱🇰 Thousands have reportedly mobbed the PM's office in Colombo after Sri Lanka's president fled to the Maldives.

Police are said to be using tear gas to disperse the rioters.

⚡️ WATCH: The situation near the PM's office in Colombo, according to Sri Lankan media.

📹🎞 Footage of a night attack on Lugansk by Ukrainian forces

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⚡️📹🇱🇰WATCH: A revolutionary speaks on state broadcaster Rupavahini.

"Until the struggle is over, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation will only telecast programs of the Jana Aragalaya," a protester reportedly said.

⚡️Protesters in Colombo broke into the office of the Prime Minister, RIA Novosti correspondent reports

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LIVE | Boris Johnson answers questions from HoC members after resignation as UK PM

🎥 A heated discussion has erupted between Berkeley Law Professor Khiara Bridges, who is famous for her pro-abortion position, and Josh Hawley, a Republican Senator from Missouri during the Senate hearing on abortion rights.

▪After asking Bridges why she was using the phrase “people with a capacity for pregnancy” instead of saying “women”, Hawley was accused of "opening trans people up to violence";

▪The two also tried to figure out "if a man can get pregnant"

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A question for Professor Bridges from Republican senator for Texas, John Cornyn III: "Do you think that a baby that is not yet born - do you think that baby has value?"

"I think that the person with the capacity for pregnancy has value," Bridges answered.

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