Aug 10 Lebanese PM steps down in wake of Beirut explosion, protests By Associated Press In a brief televised speech after three of his ministers resigned, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that he is taking “a step back” so he can stand with the people “and fight the battle for change alongside them.”… Continue reading
Aug 10 Lebanon health minister: Cabinet resigns over Beirut blast By Associated Press The minister, Hamad Hassan, spoke with reporters at the end of a Cabinet meeting on Monday, which came after two days of demonstrations over the weekend that saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters. Continue reading
Aug 10 Alex Azar visit to Taiwan adds to mounting U.S.-China tension By Associated Press From the South China Sea to TikTok, Hong Kong and trade, China and the U.S. find themselves at loggerheads just three months ahead of the American presidential election. Continue reading
Aug 10 Hong Kong newspaper raided, media tycoon detained under new law By Associated Press Hong Kong authorities broadened their enforcement of a new national security law on Monday, arresting media tycoon Jimmy Lai, searching the headquarters of his Next Digital group and carting away boxes of what they said was evidence. Continue reading
Aug 09 World donors demand change before money to rebuild Beirut By Sarah El Deeb, Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press Donors on a teleconference discussing emergency aid to Beirut warned that the money would not be made available until Lebanese authorities “fully commit themselves to timely measures and reforms expected by the Lebanese people.”… Continue reading
Aug 09 Tensions rise as Belarus holds presidential vote; aide flees By Yuras Karmanau, Associated Press Tensions were high in Belarus as the country held a presidential election Sunday. Eight staff members for the main challenger to the authoritarian president were reportedly detained by police and one of the campaign’s leading figures fled the country. Continue reading
Aug 08 Brazil makes grim milestone — 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 By Marcelo de Sousa, Associated Press Brazil passed the grim milestone of 100,000 dead from the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Aug 08 Watch 6:48 Violent protests, anger in Beirut over blast By Leila Molana-Allen Protests in Beirut over the Lebanese government’s response to the deadly blast on Tuesday, which killed at least 158 people and injured 6,000, turned violent with security forces firing several rounds of tear gas as some demonstrators set fires and… Continue watching
Aug 08 Watch 6:29 Tensions with Russia rise as Belarus heads to the polls By Simon Ostrovsky Belarus voters will go to polls on Sunday in what has turned out to be a surprisingly competitive presidential election with longtime authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko facing a challenge from a political novice. Over the last few weeks, the country’s… Continue watching
Aug 08 Mauritius scrambles to counter oil spill from grounded ship By Cara Anna, Associated Press A Japanese ship carrying 4,000 tons of fuel has run aground, spilling oil into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius. Continue reading