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Lanka imposes price controls to tackle food shortages
Sri Lanka yesterday imposed price controls on key foods as the government stepped up the use of emergency powers to counter shortages. Queues formed outside state-run supermarkets even before they opened to sell sugar seized from private dealers at less than half the price being charged on the open market 24 hours earlier. "There is no sugar available elsewhere," moaned K Perumal, 62, at the Sathosa store in Colombo's Maligawatte area where he waited for his two kilogram (2.2 pound) quota. The government, which declared a state of emergency this week, imposed a maximum price of 125 rupees (62 US cents) for a kilo of sugar and 95 rupees for a kilo of white rice. But there have also been sharp price rises for onions and potatoes, while milk powder, kerosene oil and cooking gas are also in short supply. Experts have blamed the food crisis on a shortage of foreign exchange to import and maintain stocks.
Islamic State 'Beatle' pleads guilty to murdering US hostages
A British-born man who was a member of a team of Islamic State militants in Syria nicknamed "The Beatles" and accused of beheading American hostages pleaded guilty on Thursday to eight US criminal charges including lethal hostage taking and conspiracy to support terrorists. London-born Alexanda Kotey is one of two Islamic State members who were held in Iraq by the US military before being flown to the United States to face trial on terrorism charges. Appearing before US District Judge T.S. Ellis at a hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, Kotey pleaded guilty to the murders of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig. The charges carried potential death sentences, but US authorities have advised British officials that American prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Kotey. He was a citizen of the UK, but the British government withdrew his citizenship. He belonged to a four-member Islamic State cell nicknamed "The Beatles" because of their British accents. The cell was suspected of taking part in graphic Islamic State videos posted online showing beheadings of foreign hostages.
Thai PM faces confidence vote
Several thousand people gathered in Bangkok to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday, one day before lawmakers hold a no-confidence vote over his government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Protests against Prayuth have gathered steam since late June as university students who sought his removal last year return with broader support from other political groups and people angered by a worsening coronavirus situation. Speaking in parliament on the last day of a house censure debate, in which lawmakers challenged the premier and five ministers over their handling of the crisis, Prayuth yesterday said that he would neither resign nor call a snap election. A big rally is planned for today when parliament is due to hold the censure vote. This is expected to go Prayuth's way because of his coalition's clear majority in the house.
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