Headlines- US President Donald Trump has called off envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff's planned visit to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran.
- The town of Kunin, located in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon, has been the target of three consecutive airstrikes by Israeli airplanes.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistan army chief Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday.
- An Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday, according to Iran's embassy in Pakistan.
- Iran still has time to "choose wisely," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, but he cautions that if Tehran doesn't reach an agreement with the United States, its economy will "collapse under the unrelenting pressure" of a U.S. naval blockade that will last "as long as it takes."
- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, says that "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US."
- Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon resulted in six deaths and two injuries, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.
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