Housing minister Malthouse withdraws from race to become PM

LONDON (Reuters) – British housing minister Kit Malthouse withdrew from a race to replace Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday, saying he was a “realist” who saw that there was an appetite for the contest to be over as quickly as possible.

“The last few days have demonstrated that there is an appetite for this contest to be over quickly and for the nation to have a new leader in place as soon as possible,” Malthouse, who was not a frontrunner, said in a statement on Twitter.

“As such, it seems right to me that I withdraw my candidature.”

China warns tourists, companies about risks in US

BEIJING (REUTERS) – China’s Foreign Ministry has warned companies operating in the United States they could face harassment from US law enforcement agencies, state media reported on Tuesday (June 4).

The Tourism Ministry also warned Chinese tourists of potential threats such as robbery and gun violence while visiting the United States, state media said.

They are the latest warnings issued by Beijing amid a bitter trade war and tension between the two countries.

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UK Conservative Party agree leadership election rules to reduce numbers – Sky

LONDON, June 4 (Reuters) – Britain’s governing Conservative Party agreed its rules for a new leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday, Sky News reported, including measures to eliminate candidates more quickly from a crowded race.

May is due to resign as leader of the Conservatives on Friday, but will remain prime minister until a successor is appointed – a process which the party has said should be completed by the end of July. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by William James)

Trump says Britain's health service not on table for trade talks

LONDON, June 4 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump rowed back comments that Britain’s health service could be involved in any future trade deal on Tuesday, after his remark that everything was on the table in talks sparked controversy in Britain.

“I don’t see it being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today and I say everything is up for negotiation, because everything is,” Trump said in an interview broadcast on ITV News.

“That’s something that I would not consider part of trade. That’s not trade.” (Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Grant McCool)

Kashmir: Dal Lake houseboats to be removed

Houseboats in Kashmir draw tourists by the thousands but a court ruling is threatening their future.

Dal Lake in Indian-administered Kashmir draws thousands of tourists every year who come to see its colourful houseboats.

But a high court sees them as a threat to the environment and has ordered that unregistered boats be removed.

Al Jazeera’s Raheela Mahomed reports.