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Biden West Asia visit

The Palestinian resistance front is criticizing an upcoming visit by US President Joe Biden to the region for serving the interests of the Israeli regime. Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, says Biden’s visit to the Middle East is detrimental to the Palestinian cause, because it is meant to support Israel’s expansionist policies and protect the Zionist project. The Islamic Jihad movement has also reacted. It says the purpose of the trip is to strengthen the Zionist American domination over Arab countries. Hours ago, the US president departed for Israel. The three-day visit will also take him to Saudi Arabia. Biden’s decision to visit Riyadh goes against his pledges to make the Arab country pay for the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But he has said that human rights will be on his agenda. 

Sri Lanka in turmoil

In Sri Lanka, social unrest is far from over, with protesters storming the Prime minister’s residence, demanding his resignation. The latest tensions come just hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to neighboring Maldives onboard a military aircraft. The president's departure without handing in his resignation has further angered the protesters. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has now declared a nationwide state of emergency in his role as the acting president. The country has been the scene of widespread protests against a paralyzing economic crisis. On Saturday, people stormed the presidential palace in anger. The president had promised to resign on Wednesday. The protesters say they are not quitting until both officials step down.

US deadly school shooting

Public anger is boiling over in Uvalde, Texas, with residents demanding answers over why -S police hesitated for more than an hour before responding to a tragic school shooting. Surveillance camera video of the incident shows officers huddling around the school hallway for 77 minutes, without making any attempts to enter the classroom. An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers during that time. Texas public safety chief says the police response was an abject failure. He believes there were enough officers to stop the shooter three minutes after he entered the school, but they waited for a classroom key that was never needed. Over 70 people have been killed in US gun shootings this year. This has led to an increase in public pressure on the government. Last month, President Joe Biden signed a law that calls for tougher background checks on carrying guns. But many believe the symbolic gesture has failed to stop the lethal shootings.

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