Sri Lanka's president flees and protesters storm the prime minister's office

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The Reuters Daily Briefing Wednesday, July 13, 2022 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. Ukraine hopes for a grain exports breakthrough, China says it drove away a U.S. destroyer, and why Twitter may be a target for a non-Musk deal Today's biggest stories Demonstrators gather outside the office of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo, July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi WORLD Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and hundreds of protesters stormed the prime minister's office demanding his ouster, as a people's uprising over a devastating economic crisis overwhelmed security forces. As the Rajapaksa dynasty draws to a humiliating close, we explain how Sri Lanka spiraled into crisis. Ukraine said that a deal to resume grain exports blocked by Russia appeared very close as four-way talks prepared to resume, raising hopes of an end to a standoff that has exposed millions to the risk of starvation. Here's what you need to know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict right now. A U.S. destroyer sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing, which said its military had "driven away" the ship after it illegally entered territorial waters. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Israel to kick off a high-stakes trip to the Middle East dominated by efforts to persuade Gulf allies to pump more oil and bring Israel and Saudi Arabia closer together. Conservative lawmakers will vote today to narrow the field of eight candidates hoping to succeed Boris Johnson as party leader and prime minister, as rival camps trade barbs in an increasingly fractious contest for the leadership. A video of former President Donald Trump is played during a public hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Attack on the Capitol, July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz U.S. U.S. lawmakers accused Donald Trump of inciting a mob of followers to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a last-ditch bid to remain in power fueled by a chaotic meeting with some of his most ardent supporters. John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former White House national security adviser, said that he had helped plan attempted coups in foreign countries. Bolton made the remarks to CNN after the day's congressional hearing into the Capitol attack. The Justice Department unveiled a new task force that aims to protect women's reproductive healthcare freedom, after the Supreme Court last month overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which recognized women's constitutional right to abortion. A Texas newspaper posted video of police and federal agents responding to the shooting at an Uvalde elementary school in May, footage at the center of a debate among state and local officials as they investigate the actions of law enforcement in the rampage. Biden's public approval rating rose three percentage points this week to 39%, rebounding from a week earlier when it matched the lowest level of his presidency, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll found. BUSINESS & MARKETS U.S. June consumer prices data due today has market participants' undivided attention, standing as the last potentially market-moving catalyst before second-quarter earnings season hits full stride. South Korea's central bank raised its policy interest rate by an unprecedented half point, aiming to pull inflation from 24-year highs while balancing fear of a sharp economic downturn as business activity flounders. China's exports rose at their fastest pace in five months in June as factories revved up after the lifting of COVID lockowns, but a slowdown in imports, fresh virus flare-ups and a darkening global backdrop pointed to a bumpy road ahead for the economy. China's economic growth is likely to have slowed sharply in the second quarter, a Reuters poll showed. Britain's economy grew unexpectedly in May, driven by a rise in doctor appointments but also broader demand for things such as holidays, according to data that could reassure the Bank of England about its plans to keep on raising interest rates. Twitter sued Elon Musk for violating his $44 billion deal to buy the social media platform and asked a Delaware court to order the world's richest person to complete the merger at the agreed $54.20 per Twitter share. If Twitter's share price continues to fall, other buyers might be interested, says Breakingviews columnist Lauren Silva Laughlin. Major stablecoins must comply with the same safeguards as traditional forms of payments, global regulators said, tightening controls over a battered crypto sector. Stablecoins are designed to have a stable value relative to traditional currencies, or to a commodity. Quote of the day "This is an art piece that has been revealed by this telescope. It goes beyond my scientific mind." Rene Doyon Principal investigator NASA draws back curtain on Webb space telescope's first full-color images Video of the day Fighting Yosemite's wildfire Firefighters are using controlled burns and cutting down burnt trees to help protect Yosemite National Park. And finally… Two pig heart transplants succeed in brain-dead recipients Surgeons at New York University have moved a step closer to a long-term goal of using pig parts to address the shortage of human organs for transplant. 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