Briefly

INDIA

Johnson eyes deals in talks with Modi

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to set aside his political troubles and focus on economic ties and the conflict in Ukraine during a long-delayed official trip to India. Johnson landed in the western state of Gujarat on Thursday, kicking off a two-day visit that will see him meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. Johnson hopes to strike new economic deals between Britain and its huge former colony India away from Russia in response to the special military operation in Ukraine. Johnson indicated he was ready to offer more visas to Indians in return for an upcoming free trade deal that could boost annual bilateral trade by billions of pounds.

TIMOR-LESTE

Ramos-Horta declares victory in election

Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has declared victory in Timor-Leste's presidential election, saying on Thursday that he had secured "overwhelming" support and would now work to foster dialogue and unity, according to The Associated Press. Data from the country's election administration body STAE with all votes counted showed that Ramos-Horta secured a decisive 62 percent win in Tuesday's ballot, well ahead of his opponent, incumbent President Francisco Guterres, with 37 percent.

MIDDLE EAST

Militants trade fire in Gaza as tensions rise

Palestinian militants fired several rockets into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip early on Thursday and Israeli aircraft hit militant targets in Gaza, part of an escalation that was eerily similar to the run-up to last year's Israel-Gaza conflict. The cross-border strikes came against the backdrop of Israeli-Palestinian tensions that have been boiling in Jerusalem. Police closed the main road leading to the Damascus Gate of the Old City, the center of last year's unrest preceding an 11-day conflict.

Agencies - Xinhua