News in Brief (2023-06-03)

Joe Biden 'fine' after fall on stage in Colorado

WASHINGTON, June 02: President Joe Biden is "fine" after tripping and falling over at an event in Colorado, White House officials say. He stumbled on a sandbag while handing out diplomas at a graduation ceremony for the US Air Force Academy. Mr Biden, who is the nation's oldest serving president at 80, was helped back onto his feet and appeared to be unhurt after Thursday's fall. "I got sandbagged!" the president joked to reporters as he arrived back at the White House that evening. — BBC

Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi over China

WASHINGTON, June 02: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of relations with China, saying Beijing was "occupying our territory," while also taking a dig at the Hindu nationalist leader over the country's religious polarization. "The fact of the matter is China is occupying our territory. It's an accepted fact," Gandhi, who belongs to the opposition Congress party, said in remarks at The National Press Club in a visit to Washington. "It's absolutely unacceptable. Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise." India's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — Reuters

Harry to become first British royal in 130 years to give evidence in court

LONDON, June 02: Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies next week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour. Harry, King Charles' younger son, will appear in the witness box at London's High Court as part of the case he and more than 100 other celebrities and high-profile figures have brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People. — Reuters

Japan demographic woes deepen as birth rate hits record low

TOKYO, June 02: Japan's birth rate declined for the seventh consecutive year in 2022 to a record low, the health ministry said on Friday, underscoring the sense of crisis gripping the country as the population shrinks and ages rapidly. — Reuters