Coca-Cola Launches Its First Alcoholic Drink

A fizzy lemon-flavored alcoholic drink that went on sale in Japan on Monday marked Coca-Cola Co.’s KO 0.19% first fling at selling alcohol in its 132-year history.

At a sampling event in Fukuoka on Saturday, hundreds of people lined up for a taste, including some who didn’t expect to find the U.S. company experimenting with Japanese-style booze.

Hiroshi Tsukano, 59 years old, a financial planner, thought one of Coca-Cola’s competitors was relaunching an old favorite. “I’m a bit surprised that this is a Coca-Cola brand,” he said. “It’s nice, but I would add a splash of grapefruit or more lemon to it.”

Canned drinks known as chuhai have long been popular in Japan. They are often made with a distilled grain-based alcohol called shochu and carbonated water flavored with fruit juice or other flavorings.
Coca-Cola, a big competitor in nonalcoholic drinks in Japan, is entering the fray with a lemon-flavored version of chuhai called Lemon-Do. It will be available with 3%, 5% and 7% alcohol, including a salty-lemon version and another that is flavored with honey and lemon. The drink doesn’t include any Coke.

The company enters a highly segmented and competitive market, where others such as Suntory Holdings Ltd., Kirin Holdings Co. andAsahi Group Holdings Ltd. dominate supermarket and convenience-store shelves. Coca-Cola launched the foray on the southern island of Kyushu; its plans for the rest of Japan or other countries aren’t set yet.

“We’ve started to experiment because, in the end, we are trying to follow the consumer. And, in the case of Japan, this is a relatively well-developed segment of low alcohol,” Coca-Cola Chief Executive James Quincey said at a shareholder meeting on April 26. He observed that rival companies already make both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages

Saudi crown prince shot, injured in last month’s incident near palace: opposition activist

A Saudi activist has revealed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has not been seen in public over the past few weeks, was actually shot and injured in heavy gunfire reported from outside the royal palace in the capital Riyadh late last month.

Mohammed al-Mas’ari, the secretary-general of the Islamic Revival Party, citing reliable sources, said in a recent interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV that bin Salman was hit by bullets during the late April attack

He said the news of bin Salman’s injury was leaked by sources within the royal family before widely circulating on social networking websites such as Twitter.

Elsewhere in his remarks, al-Mas'ari said the crown prince now plans to appear before the media in order to deny reports of a coup.

A number of journalists in Riyadh reported heavy fire outside the palace compound on April 21. Although Saudi Arabia’s state news agency claimed it was a shooting down of a toy drone that had gotten too close to the royal property, some wondered if the gunfire was in fact a coup led by royals against King Salman.

Saudi activists said the shooting had nothing to do with the drone, but it was an attack from vehicles carrying heavy machine guns and shooting randomly.
It was claimed that bin Salman had been evacuated to a nearby bunker at a military base for his safety.

The incident happened just after the young heir to the throne wrapped up a whirlwind global tour meant to advertise himself as the new power in the kingdom. Back home, the crown prince faced tension within the royal family.

No new photo or video of bin Salman were released by state media. Bin Salman was not even seen on camera when US Secretary of State Mike Popmeo paid his maiden visit to Riyadh in late April. The long disappearance had raised speculation about the fate of the crown prince.

A photo widely circulating on social media shows an attack on Saudi royal palace in Riyadh on April 21, 2018.
Bin Salman’s month-long disappearance from the media limelight contrasts his high-profile tour in the United States and Europe.

The attack on palace came after a self-promoting campaign at home, which saw hundreds of royals and businessmen detained and tortured. Most of them were later released after reaching financial settlement deals with the kingdom.

AL Jazeera Exposure - The match-fixers then made large sums of money from betting. We can make pitch do whatever we want

Reporter films Indian fixer boasting of bribing Sri Lankan groundsman to doctor pitch in Test matches.
Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit has revealed how criminals fixed two Test matches - the highest level of international cricket - and were planning to fix a third.
The two fixed matches were Sri Lanka versus India in July last year and Sri Lanka versus Australia in August 2016.
Both matches were played at Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka.
In secretly filmed meetings, the match-fixers also said that they were planning to fix England's game against Sri Lanka, also at Galle, in November this year.
The world cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), has launched an investigation into Al Jazeera's findings.
Robin Morris, a match-fixer from Mumbai, told undercover reporters that he bribed the groundsman at Galle to doctor the pitch to ensure guaranteed outcomes.
The match-fixers then made large sums of money from betting.

Files on Tamil Tigers and MI5 in Sri Lanka erased at Foreign Office-The Guardian says.

Destruction of 1978-1980 files means there is no record of UK government’s work at the time

Britain’s Foreign Office destroyed almost 200 files on Sri Lanka dating from the start of a Tamil Tiger uprising during which MI5 and the SAS secretly advised the country’s security forces, it has emerged.

The loss of the files means that there is almost no record of the British government’s work with the Sri Lankan authorities at the start of a famously brutal civil war.

The destruction of the files raises fresh concerns about the Foreign Office’s attitude towards handling historic files on sensitive subjects. An official review in 2012 found that the department had destroyed thousands of documents detailing British counter-insurgency operations in Kenya and other colonies as the empire came to an end.

Under the Public Records Act 1958 government departments are obliged to preserve historic records. But, in response to a Freedom of Information request from the Guardian asking for information about the destruction of the files, the Foreign Office stated that it was not required to preserve the documents. It said the files’ content “may be of a policy nature but might also be administrative or ephemeral”.

The Foreign Office has now confirmed that it destroyed 195 files on Sri Lanka, dating from 1978 to 1980, three decades after the country became independent from Britain. The department would not say exactly when, where, or how the destruction occurred.

UAE will change labour law, minister tells FNC

Emiratis must account for 5% of private sector workforce and 6% of total UAE workforce

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Labour Law will be changed to live up to the ambitions of the leadership, citizens and private sector, and to fit the post-oil era, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.

Al Hameli was speaking as the human resources policy was discussed, but he did not give a time frame as to when the new law would be issued.

The minister stressed that the goal is to achieve the national agenda indicators, especially to have citizens in five per cent of the private sector jobs. “The new law will address all basic requirements of the post-oil era,” Al Hameli said.

Johann Peries second Sri Lankan to summit Mt. Everest

 Sri Lanka's Johann Peries successfully summited the 29,030 feet of Mount Everest at 5.55 a.m in Nepal time today.

This was his second attempt and Mr. Peries now has become the second Sri Lankan to summit Mt. Everest after Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala in 2016.

He left the Camp at 4.00p.m last evening.

His earlier attempt in 2016 was unsuccessful when his oxygen tank failed 400 metres from the summit.

Posting a Twitter message the Foreign Employment Bureau had wished their warmest congratulations.

daily mirror

Some can't identify difference between soldiers and terrorists - MS

President Maithripala Sirisena saya that our security forces have not been accused of war crimes in the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council as certain media and extremist parties falsely depict.

President Sirisena said that  today such accusations are made by the parties who support the L.T.T.E. and living abroad and those who are against the government and security forces.

The President stated this addressing the” National War heroes day ” held near the war heroes monument in parliament grounds today (19).

The President who speaking on this occasion said that it is a shame some have failed to identify the difference between the soldier and the terrorist.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry marry as millions watch

Couple exchange vows in Windsor Castle chapel before celebrity-studded congregation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become husband and wife after exchanging their wedding vows before an altar that has sealed royal unions for centuries, and a global television audience of millions.

Markle, 36, a former actor, also exchanged her Ms prefix for the style HRH and the title Duchess of Sussex as her marriage to the 33-year-old prince made her an official member of the royal family.

The couple emerged into the sunshine, her long train covering the chapel steps, and kissed in front of a cheering crowd.

Then the new Her Royal Highness Princess Henry, Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel, and her husband, were driven through Windsor and up the Long Walk back towards the castle in a horse-drawn Ascot Landau. 

The service was conducted before a congregation of 600 in the 15th-century St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, a key symbol of the British monarchy from which the modern royal family has taken its name.

Army commander tells the Hindu newspaper :sri Lanka is the only country that eradicated terrorism.

                                                                          Pic :army.lk

The Sri Lankan Army Chief on the army’s role and challenges in the post-war context, efforts towards resettlement, and on international scrutiny

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake took over as the 22nd Commander of the Sri Lankan Army in June 2017. The conduct of the army in the past, during the island’s civil war that it ended by defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in 2009, and its contentious presence and role in the country’s Tamil-majority north and east since then continue to dominate the discourse around post-war resettlement and reconciliation. Amidst growing calls from the Tamil political leadership and the people for demilitarization of the war-scarred areas, what is the army’s role and vision as Sri Lanka tries transitioning into peace? Excerpts from an interview in Colombo:

It is nine years since the civil war ended. The period has witnessed some crucial political developments, including a regime change in 2015. The current government came to power on the promise of strengthening democracy. In this post-war context, how do you see the role of the army?

The Sri Lankan army had been a traditional army, a ceremonial army, back in the 1970s, early 1980s. Due to the negative incidents that took place in the early 1980s, the army was expanded to face the challenges and threats that came in the way of the country’s territorial integrity and internal security. The army put in the main effort to ensure there is peace that the people aspired for, making many sacrifices. In recent history, Sri Lanka is the one and only country on the world map that has eradicated terrorism from its soil. We are a victorious army

Once the combat is over, it is the responsibility of the army itself to understand its role and task. The last nine years were very critical to understand what happened 30 years ago. What must this government and army do to ensure that we don’t go back to the roots of the conflict that began 30 years ago? We have to find a mechanism, a commitment within the country to satisfy our own people more than the people outside. Today, we are closer to a better solution. Democracy was restored, elections were held [in 2015], good governance was brought in.

In this context, we are right-sizing and building a capacity-based army. We have to give back to the people by right-sizing and ensuring that the war will not recur. We are engaging with the people in the north and east to identify our responsibility. The 30 years of war were brutal, many lives were lost on both sides. This is a sort of testing period for us. Maybe till 2020. I believe that will be the time to take a good jump. As Chief of the Army Staff, I can say that the army is the only organisation which has the biggest capacity, be it human resource or anything else.

Govt should prevent LTTE ideologies from resurfacing - Warnasinghe

How sex toys are being redesigned to help survivors of sexual assault

A healthy sex life can feel unattainable for survivors of sexual assault. But new products, from brushes to non-penetrative tools, are giving women a powerful way to reclaim their bodies

For many survivors of sexual assault, a happy sex life feels out of reach. While much of the treatment on offer is focused on emotional and psychological healing, people are often left to work out for themselves what sex after trauma looks like for them.

But some people are working to change that, and are reconfiguring and reappropriating sex toys as tools for healing. Last year, the Dutch designer Nienke Helder created a range of objects to help survivors reprogramme how they deal with physical sensations. Drawing on her own experience, she wanted to redress what she saw as the “clinical” approach to recovery currently employed. “The tools are an opportunity to explore your personal sexual recovery,” she says. Her collection, titled Sexual Healing, includes a horsehair brush to explore touch and tickling, a mirror designed to help you better view your vulva, as well as a pelvic device that vibrates when your muscles are too tense, and a bean-shaped sensor that lights up if you’re breathing too fast, to remind you to slow down and relax. “By getting biofeedback through the tools, you can visualise what kind of processes are happening inside your body, which can help you understand in which situations your body reacts with a reflex.”

U.S. Embassy to open in Jerusalem soon

104 Year-Old Biologist Dies in Assisted Suicide

Mahathir Mohamad becomes prime minister of Malaysia

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has scored a historic victory in the general election.

At the age of 92, Mr Mahathir defeated the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has been in power 60 years.

He had come out of retirement to take on his former protege Najib Razak, who has been beset by allegations of corruption and cronyism.

Mr Mahathir told reporters: "We are not seeking revenge, we want to restore the rule of law".

The election commission said Mr Mahathir's opposition alliance had won 115 seats, over the threshold of 112 seats needed to form a government.

He said he hoped a swearing-in ceremony would be held on Thursday. Mr Mahathir will become the oldest elected leader in the world.

A government spokesman later declared nationwide public holidays for Thursday and Friday.

Gajaman (ගජමෑන් ) Movie Official Trailer - Studio 101 first full 3D moves in sri lanka

Investigative journalist shot and injured in Montenegro

Olivera Lakić wounded outside her home in the country’s second attack on a journalist in a month
An investigative reporter who covers crime and corruption in Montenegro has been shot and injured in an attack that prompted calls from the European Union and the US to protect journalists in the Balkan country.

Olivera Lakić, a journalist for the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti, was wounded in the right leg outside her home in the capital, Podgorica. She was taken to a hospital and was reported out of danger.

Police said the attack happened around 9pm. A search for the attackers was underway, including increased controls throughout the city and a review of surveillance cameras in the area, police said.

Vijesti’s chief editor, Mihailo Jovović, said Lakić told him a man approached her and shot her, while two other men ran away.

Abnormal Activities

World Press Freedom Day — “No Democracy without Investigative Journalism”

At a time when the news media is under unprecedented attack, and the need for watchdog reporting has never been greater, we hope you will join GIJN today in marking World Press Freedom Day (#WorldPressFreedomDay). This is the 25th celebration of WPFD, but despite the years of meetings and proclamations by its sponsors UNESCO and others, conditions are getting worse, not better, for journalists around the world. 

This year’s WPFD theme is “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law,” a fitting topic for a time when the rule of law is failing in much of the world, censors rule the airwaves, and oligarchs seek “state capture” of major media

Still, we’re not dead and finished — far from it. Seen from GIJN’s perspective, we have more journalists digging harder in more places with better tools than ever before. No wonder we’re under attack when autocrats find there’s a watchdog media exposing their offshore investments, wasteful spending, and abuses of power. This may explain the backlash we’re facing in so many countries — even those in which we thought we were relatively safe. Serious, watchdog reporting has spread far and wide, from Peru and Pakistan to Uganda and Ukraine.

Over 100 Dead After Storm, Rain Hit Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan: 10 Points

In Agra, 43 people died following the intense dust storm. In Rajasthan, 36 people died, Bharatpur was the worst affected area.

NEW DELHI:  A dust storm, accompanied by rain, wreaked havoc across Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan yesterday, killing more than 100 people, uprooting trees and flattening houses. In Uttar Pradesh, 73 people died -- 43 of them in Agra alone. In neighbouring Rajasthan, the figure was 36. The storm swept across Delhi too, but no loss or damages have been reported from the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences and said the states have been offered help to deal with the crisis.

Agra bore the brunt of the storm, with 43 people dying in the district. Bijnore reported three deaths and Saharanpur two, officials said.

In eastern Rajasthan, where 36 people died, Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur were the worst-affected districts. The maximum damage was reported from Bharatpur district, where 19 people died. At least 100 people have been injured across Rajasthan.

The intense storm and lightning uprooted trees, snapped power cables and led to the collapse of many thatched houses. Most of the people who died, were sleeping when their roofs collapsed in the storm.

Dust storm and heavy rains hit Delhi as well on Wednesday evening. The sudden gust of wind lasted for not more than a few minutes, but it was enough to derail airport operations. Fifteen flights, including two international flights, had to be diverted.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

The storm hit western Uttar Pradesh after 6.30 pm. While it was not of very high intensity, local factors played a role in the impact, officials said. "It was quite intense for Saharanpur, even though the damage there was relatively less than other areas," Mr Kumar said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officers to personally monitor the relief work and provide medical aid to affected. He also warned that no laxity will be tolerated on part of the officials.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje said the storm has been declared a disaster, and relief and rescue operations are being carried out in all three districts.

The chief ministers of both states have announced compensation of up to Rs.4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs.50,000 for each of the injured.

More thunderstorms and strong winds are expected in Uttar Pradesh over the next two days. especially in the northern parts of the state, met officials have said.

NDTV NEWS

ON THE WAY DUBAI TO SAJA

Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack

Renuka Amarasingha, who worked at Toronto District School Board, died in Monday's attack

A single mother of a young son is the latest person to be identified as a victim of Monday's van attack in Toronto. 

Renuka Amarasingha was one of 10 people killed when a white rental van mounted the curb of busy Yonge Street and drove forward, striking pedestrians, friends said. She was a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) employee.

The accused driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. 

Due to the complexity of the investigation, Ontario's chief coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer, said Tuesday it will be several days before his team officially confirms victims' identities. 

But family, friends and employers have begun reaching out to news outlets and posting online about the people who have died. 

Renuka Amarasingha

On Wednesday morning, Renuka Amarasingha, a single mother, was confirmed by the TDSB as having died in the attack.

"It is with heavy hearts that we are learning of the death of a TDSB staff member whose life was tragically cut short," wrote John Molloy, director of education, in a statement.

He said Amarasingha was a former TDSB adult student who had worked as a nutrition services staff member at a number of schools since 2015. 

India will be the 6th largest economy in the world.

India has been declared the sixth largest economy in the world with a GDP of 2.6 trillion in 2017, as per the recently released report by Indian Monetary Fund (IMF). India displaced France to stand firm on this position, while the United States of America, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom are ahead in the race.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM IMF REPORT:

India has made progress on structural reforms in the recent past, including through the implementation of the GST, which will help reduce internal barriers to trade, increase efficiency, and improve tax compliance. "While the medium-term growth outlook for India is strong, an important challenge is to enhance inclusiveness," the report said.

India's high public debt and recent failure to achieve the budget's deficit target call for continued fiscal consolidation into the medium term to further strengthen fiscal policy credibility, the report said.

The main priorities for lifting constraints on job creation and ensuring that the demographic dividend is not wasted are to ease labour market rigidities, reduce infrastructure bottlenecks, and improve educational outcomes, the IMF said.

Raúl Castro Prepares to Resign as Cuba’s President, Closing a Dynasty

 Raúl Castro, who took over from his brother Fidel 12 years ago and led Cuba through some of its biggest changes in decades, is expected to step down on Thursday and hand power to someone outside the Castro dynasty for the first time since the Cuban revolution more than half a century ago.

During his two terms as president, Mr. Castro, 86, opened up his Communist country to a small but vital private sector and, perhaps most significantly, diplomatic relations with the United States. It was a notable departure from his brother’s agenda, yet it was possible only because he, too, was a Castro.

His handpicked successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, 57, is a Communist Party loyalist who was born a year after Fidel Castro claimed power in Cuba. His rise ushers in a new generation of Cubans whose only firsthand experience with the revolution has been its aftermath — the early era of plenty, the periods of economic privation after the demise of the Soviet Union, and the fleeting détente in recent years with the United States, its Cold War foe.

Officials started gathering here in Havana on Wednesday morning and put forward Mr. Díaz-Canel as the sole candidate to replace Mr. Castro, all but assuring his selection by the Communist Party.

Though Mr. Díaz-Canel’s path to the top office has been forecast for years, many an heir apparent before him has fallen by the wayside in the search for a successor to lead the country, whether because of party disloyalty, snide remarks or projecting too much power for the Castros’ liking.

Putin: Russia strongly condemns attack against Syria

By its actions, the United States is increasingly exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe in the country, Vladimir Putin stated

Russia strongly condemns the attack on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

"Russia strongly condemns the attack on Syria where Russian servicemen are helping the legitimate government in the war on terrorism," the Kremlin press office quoted Putin as saying.

"Through its actions, the United States is increasingly exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria and bringing suffering upon civilians, and actually collaborating with terrorists who have been tormenting the Syrian people for seven years and provoking a new wave of refugees from that country and the region as a whole," Putin said

Form UNP Govt. to end political crisis- Keerthi Tennakoon

As Sri Lanka was confronted with a huge political crisis, it should form a Government comprising one party, the United National Party (UNP), Campaign For Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) did not have the Parliamentary majority, the UNP had the potential to form a new Government and find solutions independently.

“Confrontations can be seen within the Government due to the coalition Government. It was evident from the recent No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that it was impossible to run a Unity Government. 

“There are no proper consensuses within the Government. Two parties have incompatible ideas. This can’t go on in this manner. The incumbent Government is not stable. Therefore, we are in a position to say that a Government consisting of one party is necessary to the country,” Tennakoon said.

He said the Unity Government had created the atmosphere for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to support the Government.

The TNA, the official Opposition should act its due role as the Opposition party rather than extending its consent to anything done by the Government,” he added.
(Sheain Fernandopulle) dailymirror

The country is heading towards anarchy - Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero

Algerian military plane crash kills 257 people

At least 257 people were killed on Wednesday when a military plane crashed near the Algerian capital, Algiers, state media reported.

The plane crashed shortly after taking off from the Boufarik air base, between Algiers and the city of Blida. Ten of those killed were the plane crew, according to state-run Radio Algérie. It was not immediately clear whether there were any survivors.

Wednesday's plane crash was the deadliest since 2014, when 298 people were killed when a Malaysian airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine.

The plane was supposed to go from Boufarik to Tindouf, and then on to Bashar, which are both towns on the Algerian-Morocco border, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

One Country Is Making Sure All Employers Offer Equal Pay to Women

Iceland is credited for being the first country in the world to legalize abortion and the first to elect a woman as head of state in a national election. Now the progressive island nation in northern Europe will also be the first to ensure that all employees receive equal pay for equal work from employers.

On Wednesday—fittingly, International Women’s Day—Iceland’s government announced it would soon introduce legislation requiring that employers with at least 25 workers obtain a certificate proving they offer equal pay regardless of the gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or nationality, the Associated Press reported.

Court orders 24 years in jail for former President Park

A lower court in Seoul sentenced former President Park Geun-hye, 66, to 24 years in prison and fined her 18 billion won ($16.8 million) on corruption charges Friday.

This makes her the nation's third ex-president to be criminally convicted. 

The decision by the Seoul Central District Court came almost a year after she was removed from power. 

Park was not in the courtroom to hear the verdict and sentencing. 

She submitted her absence note earlier Friday, citing health problems, according to the court.

She has been boycotting hearings since last October. 

"As the head of state, Park ignored her responsibility and abused her power to destabilize the country, which is a total disrespect to citizens who elected her as president. Making it worse, she only denied all charges, which is not appropriate," judge Kim Se-yoon said.

Park has one week to appeal. Park's lawyers condemned Friday's ruling and said they'll consult with Park on what to do.

The prosecution which requested a 30-year prison sentence and a fine of 118.5 billion won ($110 million) in the final hearing in February did not have an immediate response. 

The judge found her guilty of pressuring major conglomerates to donate 77.4 billion won to the Mir and K-Sports foundations, organizations controlled by her key confidant Choi Soon-sil. Choi received a 20-year jail sentence in the lower court for taking bribes.

Park was also guilty of pressuring SK Group and Lotte Group to make separate donations to the K-Sports Foundation for projects and granted them business favors in return. 

Brazil's Lula given 24 hours to start prison sentence

Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, once one of the most popular politicians on the planet, was given 24 hours to surrender to police Thursday and start a 12 year prison sentence for corruption.

The timing of the order from Judge Sergio Moro, head of Brazil's huge "Car Wash" anti-graft probe, came as a complete surprise, given that lawyers said earlier that the leftist former two-term president had at least until next week before going behind bars.

Lula, 72, easily leads polls in Brazil's October presidential election and his apparent downfall will throw the race completely open. Currently, hard-right former army officer Jair Bolsonaro, who openly praises Brazil's 1964-1985 dictatorship, is in second place.

Moro's order said that in view of Lula's stature as a former president, he would have "the opportunity to present himself voluntarily" to police in the city of Curitiba, where the "Car Wash" probe is based, by 5:00 pm (2000 GMT) Friday.

A special cell "was prepared in advance... in which the ex-president will be separated from other prisoners, with no risk for his moral or physical integrity," Moro wrote.

There was no immediate reaction from Lula, who had been described earlier by supporters as facing his jailing calmly.

However, Senator Lindbergh Farias, from Lula's Workers' Party, issued a defiant call for supporters to congregate in front of Lula's house in Sao Bernardo do Campo, a suburb of Sao Paulo, on Friday.