From Libya ceasefire to Mount Disappointment survivor: the non-coronavirus news you might have missed

Supporters of Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar, celebrate on top of a Turkish military armored vehicle, which LNA said they confiscated during Tripoli clashes, in Benghazi. ReutersShow less

Turkey dismisses Egyptian proposal for Libya ceasefire

Turkey on Wednesday dismissed Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire in Libya, Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Turkey supports Fayez Al Serraj's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), whose forces have in recent weeks repelled a 14-month assault on Tripoli by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA).

Egypt called for a ceasefire starting on Monday, as part of an initiative which also proposed an elected leadership council for Libya. Russia and the UAE welcomed the plan, while Germany said UN-backed talks were key to the peace process.

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu dismissed the proposal.

"The ceasefire effort in Cairo was stillborn. If a ceasefire is to be signed, it should be done at a platform that brings everyone together," Mr Cavusoglu told Hurriyet.

Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey will continue talks with all parties for a solution in Libya, but that such a solution would require the agreement of both sides.

Joy as searchers find Aussie teen lost on Mount Disappointment

An autistic teen lost for two days in Australian bushland was reunited with his family Wednesday, after a hundreds-strong volunteer search than involved using Vegemite and the Thomas the Tank Engine theme tune as lures.

Will Callaghan, a teen with non-verbal autism, became separated from his family on the summit of Mount Disappointment near Melbourne on Monday, but was found by a volunteer after two nights exposed to freezing temperatures.

"I am really overwhelmed, he's as well as can be expected" said visibly relieved mother Penny Callaghan after the 14-year-old was discovered. "Thank you everyone! I'm so grateful!"

Residents living nearby joined the manhunt and had been asked to barbeque bacon and onions and to leave out his favourite foods in hope his favourite smells would draw the boy out of the bush.

Police inspector Christine Lalor had called for Vegemite and feta to be left out as officers set up three loudspeakers in the area to play songs from Thomas the Tank Engine.

CrossFit CEO resigns over insensitive George Floyd tweet

The CEO of CrossFit is stepping down after his tweet about George Floyd sparked a social media backlash and led to affiliated gyms and Reebok cutting ties with the exercise brand.

Greg Glassman said in a statement posted on CrossFit Inc.'s website late Tuesday that he decided to retire. Mr Glassman had apologised earlier for tweets that sparked online outrage by connecting Floyd, a black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the coronavirus pandemic. He said he had made a mistake and should have been more sensitive, but denied being racist.

"On Saturday I created a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally hurt many of its members," he said. "I cannot let my behavior stand in the way of HQ's or affiliates' missions."

Mr Glassman had angered many with his glib response to a tweet by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a health research group, which said, "Racism is a public health issue."

"It's FLOYD-19," he replied on Saturday, and in a second tweet criticized the group's "failed" quarantine model and accused it of attempting to "model a solution to racism."

Sri Lanka sets parliamentary election on August 5

Sri Lanka's Election Commission set August 5 as the new date for parliamentary elections after postponing it twice over the Covid-19 pandemic.

Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole said the date will give the body sufficient time to prepare under health guidelines.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament in March. The first two election dates — April 25 and June 20 — had been postponed as the Election Commission sought assurances from health authorities that it is safe to hold the vote.

Sri Lanka is currently in a constitutional uncertainty because it is now past a three-month period allowed by law to operate without a sitting Parliament.

Last week the Supreme Court rejected petitions by opposition parties and civil activists seeking an annulment of Mr Rajapaksa's order dissolving Parliament.

Mr Rajapaksa was elected last November and used his constitutional powers to dissolve Parliament six months ahead of schedule hoping to secure for his party a majority of lawmakers. Although he is allowed to use his discretionary power to reconvene the dissolved Parliament in an emergency, he refused to do so when Covid-19 made elections uncertain.