Headlines
  • After an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the weekend that set it on fire and left a crew member missing, the United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran on Sunday.
  • Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, voiced his "deep concern" over the escalating attacks in Iran and warned "catastrophic consequences" on a global scale if parties resume "full-scale hostilities."
  • Iran has denounced the latest wave of American attacks on its territory, claiming that they have "rendered futile" all of the past few months' diplomatic efforts..
  • In order "to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships" in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday that its forces had carried out more strikes against Iran.
  • A bar fire in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, claimed at least 27 lives and injured over 60 more.

Month: August 2020

August 7, 2020

Once Again, Lebanon Picks Up the...

Lebanon’s Chernobyl. That is how some are describing the mammoth blast that shook the capital city Beirut and left thousands injured. At least 300,000 people lost their homes and a number of hospitals also bore the brunt. Among the signs of international support was a visit by French President Emmanual Macron, who got a firsthand look at the worst-affected neighborhood

North Korea State Media Modernization

From high-definition TV broadcasts to shiny new on-screen graphics to laid-back video blogs…North Korean state media have been getting a makeover. But the cosmetic changes won’t be able to alter North Korea’s perception as one of the world’s most censored and isolated countries

Scallops And Solitude: Life In Russia’s...

The Gamov Peninsula is an isolated region in Russia’s Far East , with influences from neighboring Japan, China, and North and South Korea. But the hardy few who live there cherish their solitude and are glad to be off the authorities’ radar

August 6, 2020

Smart Glasses Could Be Next Big...

The advent of the smartphone has changed human behavior.  Will smart glasses be the next big intelligent technology? Google tried it more than six years ago with the Google Glass. It did not take off, largely because of privacy concerns. But companies big and small in several countries are still working on smart glasses, including …

Lebanon: Beirut Explosion Must be Independently...

Responding to the devastating explosion in Beirut on 4 August that killed scores of people and left thousands more injured, Julie Verhaar, Acting Secretary General of Amnesty International, said,“The horrific scenes in the aftermath of the explosion on 4 August were devastating for a country already suffering under the strain of multiple crises. Our thoughts …

Zimbabwe: RSF and MISA Concerned About...

Since the onset of the health crisis, which affected more than a million people and caused more than 21,000 deaths in Africa, RSF has already recorded more than a hundred press freedom attacks in connection with the coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic across the entire African continent. Zimbabwe alone has a quarter of the violations recorded, including a dozen arbitrary arrests , and ranks among the most repressive countries in this area

What Makes This Texas Community COVID-Free?

Texas ranks third in the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. While most of the state is fighting the disease, one county in northwest Texas has no cases among its residents. But life is still not completely normal there

Lions in Masks

The distance between the two large stone lions that have been guarding the entrance to NYC’s Public Library for over a century is way over two meters. The iconic felines traditionally wear wreaths at Christmas time, but this year, their accessories – face masks

UNIFIL Assessment Team Visits Explosion Site...

The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) sent a team from the Force Commander Reserve to assess the magnitude of yesterday’s explosion at Beirut port. As a result of a huge explosion at Beirut Port yesterday evening, one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured, some of them seriously. UNIFIL is supporting the affected peacekeepers from Bangladesh, who have been injured by the explosions

Myanmar Villagers Flee Into China to...

The RCSS/SSA-S (Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South) is one of seven ethnic armies operating in the state, and though the group has signed a cease-fire agreement with the central government, tensions have recently reignited over movements by both armies into each other’s territory

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