Headlines- Two days after catastrophic flash flood struck the border between China and Nepal, rescue workers have resumed searching for hundreds of people who are still missing.
- At least 538 people killed and another 1,300 went missing on Wednesday after landslides caused by a glacial collapse unleashed a torrent of mud and water across Nepal and China's autonomous region of Tibet.
- Iran's President Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf met with Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister to discuss ongoing efforts to defuse the situation in the region.
- According to Iran's security chief, Moshen Rezaei, his country is preparing together a list of conditions to submit to the United States in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- In an attempt to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America," US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, further escalating his conflict with Canada and its prime minister.
- Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the now-dissolved Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been named presidential advisor by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Month: August 2020
Is Microsoft Buying TikTok?
Microsoft confirmed that it has held talks with Chinese technology company ByteDance to acquire its popular social app TikTok in the United States. Microsoft said it will work with the U.S. government on a deal that they hope to wrap by September 15
Kazakhstan: Authorities See COVID-19 Improvement, but...
Despite positive signals, the government has, after many months of complacency, moved to tighten up its rules on mask-wearing. On July 30, the chief sanitary state doctor Aizhan Yesmagambetova signed a decreerequiring the wearing of face coverings not only indoors, but also on the street, in order “to reduce the risk of infection among the population.” Offenders face a fine of up to 83,340 tenge ($200)
COVID-19: Russia Bars
The COVID pandemic has ruined much of the summer partying for which Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg, is known. Now, a new city law is adding to that by banning the sale of alcoholic beverages in small, informal bars
‘We Have The Same Ideals’: Protesters...
Two protest movements are 9,000 kilometers apart: one in Russia and one in Belarus — but they’re united by their desire for basic democratic norms. Current Time reporters tracked down the protesters in Khabarovsk, in Russia’s Far East, who reached out to their counterparts in Belarus, and the demonstrators in Minsk who responded
US Portland Protests
Recent protests on the streets of Portland, Oregon featured confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents deployed to the city by the Trump administration. Deborah Bloom reports, the departure of federal forces has de-escalated tensions and allowed protesters to refocus their message on demanding racial justice in America.
Lebanon’s Economic Collaps
Lebanon, for years was seen as a model of both economic progress and resilience in the Middle East, but mismanagement and corruption have led to prolonged protests and economic collapse. Now, the Lebanese currency has lost most of its value and an estimated 70 percent of its people need aid
Talk of Banning TikTok Sparks Calls...
U.S. President Donald Trump will take action “in the coming days” against TikTok, as it poses a national security risk, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Aug. 3, accusing the platform of “feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party.”
Pakistani Teacher Swaps Pupils For Pea...
A Pakistani schoolteacher is selling fried peas on the streets after the closure of his private school. Many private schoolteachers in the country are not receiving their salaries due to school closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic
Women in Blue
The death of African American George Floyd in May while in the custody of Minneapolis police has renewed conversations about whether having more women in law enforcement may lower the use of excessive force. “Women in Blue,” a recent documentary by Deidre Fishel showcases de- escalation skills by female police officers at the Minneapolis police department. It also presents challenges for women in a male dominated field
COVID-19: Brazil the Worst Scenario
After the United States, Brazil has the world’s highest number of COVID-19 deaths and confirmed cases – turning the South American nation into a coronavirus hotspot. Despite this grim situation, Brazil’s biggest cities – São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – have decided to reopen businesses, even as epidemiologists warn that the rising death toll from the pandemic could grow exponentially