October 24, 2022

*) Live blog: Ukraine, US reject Russia's 'false' dirty bomb allegations Top US and Ukrainian diplomats have rejected Russia's claims of preparing to use a "dirty bomb" by Ukrainian authorities on its own territory. Separately US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement underlining Washington's continued support to Ukraine. Britain and France also dismissed Russian claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb and warned Moscow against using any pretext for escalating the conflict. *) Ex-UK leader Boris Johnson announces dropping out of PM contest Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he will not run to lead the Conservative Party, ending intense speculation about his comeback. Johnson said although he believed he was well-placed to deliver another Conservative victory in the 2024 general election, he was standing aside in the interests of party unity. Johnson was ousted in July amid ethics scandals. He was widely expected to run to replace Liz Truss, who quit last week. *) North, South Korea trade fire over violation of maritime border The rival Koreas have exchanged warning shots along their disputed western sea boundary amid heightened tensions over North Korea’s recent barrage of weapons tests. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that its navy fired warning shots to repel a North Korean merchant ship that it says violated the Northern Limit Line. North Korea’s military said it has responded by firing 10 rounds of artillery shells as a warning to South Korea. It accused a South Korean navy ship of intruding into North Korean waters. *) Erdogan: Western human rights defenders ignore PKK terror victims Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed the failure of Western human rights defenders to do anything to help families whose children were kidnapped by the PKK terrorist group. Since September 3, 2019, families whose children were allegedly abducted or forcibly recruited by the PKK have camped outside offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in