Police clash with anti-government protestors enraged by Beirut explosion and Mexico bans junk food to combat childhood obesity

*) Police clash with protestors enraged by explosion in Lebanon

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse dozens of anti-government demonstrators angered by the deadly blast in Beirut.

Already suffering from prolonged political and economic crises, public anger has been mounting after the explosion.

Aid from around the world also began flowing into the country following the blast that killed at least 149 people and injured 5,000 others.

*) Rajapaksa brothers win by landslide in Sri Lanka's election

Sri Lanka’s powerful Rajapaksa brothers secured a landslide victory in the country’s parliamentary elections.

The ruling group won a two-thirds majority enabling it to restore full executive powers to the presidency.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to be sworn in the same position by his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.


*) India coronavirus cases pass two million

India’s official coronavirus case tally passed two million after a daily jump of more than 60,000 infections.

The South Asian giant becomes only the third country to reach the figure, after the United States and Brazil.

The rate of infection in the world’s second-most populous country also appears to be increasing.

*) Trump order targets Chinese internet giants TikTok, WeChat

US President Donald Trump ordered sweeping restrictions against Chinese-owned social media giants TikTok and WeChat.

The twin executive orders, which take effect in 45 days, bars anyone under US jurisdiction from doing business with the owners of TikTok or WeChat.

Trump's order cites a threat to "national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."

And finally,

*) Southern Mexico state bans junk food sales to children

Legislators in southern Mexico have approved a ban on selling high-calorie snack food to children to combat high rates of childhood obesity.

The UN Children’s Fund considers childhood obesity to be a health emergency in Mexico, as children get 40 percent of their total caloric intake from junk food.

A Mexican government health survey found that 75 percent of Mexican children were overweight or obese in 2018.

*) Port officials under house arrest over deadly Lebanon blast

Several of Beirut’s port officials are under house arrest over Tuesday's deadly explosion.

At least 135 people are dead and thousands injured as Lebanon’s government vows to hold those responsible to account.

Initial investigative findings point to inaction and neglect around the storage of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in a Beirut port warehouse.

*) US to push UN to extend Iran arms embargo

The US says it will push the UN Security Council to extend an arms embargo on Iran.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will table the resolution at the council meeting next week, where it needs nine out 15 votes to make it happen.

The embargo is part of the nuclear deal that Iran signed in 2015, but the US pulled out of it three years later.

*) Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll nears 100,000

The death toll in Brazil from Covid-19 is fast approaching 100,000.

The country reported 1,437 deaths in its daily figures release, bringing the total to 97,256.

Brazil has over 2,8 million infections as it struggles to contain the world's worst outbreak after the US.

*) Japan marks 75th anniversary of Hiroshima atomic bombing

Hiroshima is marking the 75th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing.

On August 6, 1945, the US dropped a bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” above Japan’s Hiroshima, killing around 140,000 people.

It was followed by a second bomb three days later in Nagasaki, killing another 75,000 people.

And finally,

*) Instagram moves to fill void if TikTok gets banned in US

Instagram is moving quickly to fill the void if TikTok gets banned in the US.

It introduced its new Reels feature which works like TikTok, where users can create 15-second videos using effects and music.

The US is threatening to ban China-based TikTok and is giving the company until mid-September to work out a takeover deal with Microsoft or find another suitor.

*) Death toll expected to rise after explosion in Lebanon

Lebanese rescue workers are digging through rubble looking for survivors of a powerful explosion at a warehouse in the capital, Beirut.

At least 100 people were killed and nearly 4,000 injured, with officials expecting the death toll to rise.

Lebanon’s government has called for an urgent meeting to find out why 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored for six years at a port warehouse without any safety measures.

*) Kashmir under strict lockdown on anniversary of lost autonomy

Today marks one year since India revoked Kashmir's autonomy.

New Delhi imposed a strict two-day curfew ahead of the one-year anniversary, which locals have called to be marked as a #BlackDay.

Kashmir is technically split between India and Pakistan, but both countries claim the entirety of the Himalayan region as their own.

*) Anti-govt protests continue in Zimbabwe despite crackdown

Anti-government protests in Zimbabwe continue despite a crackdown.

Several high-profile people have been arrested during protests, including a member of the opposition party, an award-winning writer and several prominent journalists.

Tensions have been rising over Zimbabwe's 700 percent inflation rate, which has made it impossible for people to meet their basic needs.

*) Storm Isaias pounds US East Coast

Tropical Storm Isaias continues to bring high-speed winds and torrential rain as it moves up the US East Coast.

The storm has killed at least six people and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands people from New York to North Carolina.

Isaias slammed into the coast of North Carolina on Monday with hurricane strength, before being downgraded to a tropical storm.

And finally,

*) SpaceX completes test flight of Mars rocket prototype

SpaceX has successfully completed a test flight for its future Mars rocket ship.

The so-called hop test lasted for under a minute and claimed a distance of 150 metres before landing.

Previously, several prototypes had exploded during testing.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said after the test that journeys to Mars were now looking real.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 4:

*) WHO: There may never be a 'silver bullet' to defeat coronavirus

The World Health Organization is warning there is no "silver bullet" for the coronavirus crisis despite the rush to find a vaccine.

There are more than 18.4 million confirmed infections around the world and close to 700,000 people have died.

Renewed case surges and fresh clusters are being reported just as countries are starting to lift restrictions and rebuild their economies.

*) Israel strikes Syrian military bases in Quneitra

Israel's military says it has struck several military outposts of the Syrian regime forces near the capital Damascus.

This comes a day after Israel said it killed four men for planting explosives near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Tensions have been high between Damascus and Tel Aviv after an apparent Israeli strike killed a Hezbollah fighter in Syria two weeks ago.

*) UN: North Korea 'probably' has miniature nuclear warheads

A confidential UN report says North Korea has “probably” developed nuclear devices to fit ballistic missiles.

The interim report was submitted to the UN Security Council North Korea sanctions committee by independent experts monitoring UN sanctions.

It said several countries believe North Korea's recent nuclear tests have likely helped it develop tiny miniaturised nuclear devices.

*) Pompeo aides subpoenaed over probe into Saudi arms deal

Four former aides to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been subpoenaed for obstructing the probe into an $8 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

The aides are accused of resisting interviews with a US State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, who was investigating arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2019.

Democratic lawmakers say Pompeo wanted Linick out of the State Department.

And finally,

*) Google unveils cheaper Pixel smartphone as virus curbs spending

Google has unveiled a new, more affordable Pixel 4a smartphone

At a starting price of $349, the Pixel 4a is about half that of the flagship model and a $50 discount from a cheaper version released last year.

Google also said it would launch models tailored for super-fast 5G networks later this year.

At least 20 dead in Daesh-claimed assault on Afghan prison and NASA astronauts return home in first splashdown in 45 years

*) Deadly jailbreak in Afghanistan as Daesh militants battle Afghan forces

An attack on a prison in Afghanistan holding hundreds of Daesh members raged on Monday after at least 21 people died in fighting overnight.

More than 75 prisoners escaped as Afghan security forces battled Daesh militants in Jalalabad, officials said.

The attack began late on Sunday when a suspected Daesh suicide bomber slammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the prison entrance.

*) Global virus cases top 18 million as curfews come back

New Covid-19 cases continue to surge as officials across the world consider stricter measures to stymie the spread of the virus.

Covid-19 has claimed more than 687,000 lives and infected more than 18 million people since it first emerged in China late last year.

As some countries struggle to rein in their first outbreak, others where the disease abated are now trying to avert a second wave.

*) New arms shipments arrive for Haftar forces: Libyan army

Russian-made cargo planes have delivered new military shipments to warlord Khalifa Haftar’s militia, according to the Libyan Army.

The cargo planes made seven flights between Sirte, Jufra airbase and Benghazi, a military spokesman for Libya’s UN-backed government said.

The general said Russian aircraft flew in ammunition and mercenaries to support Haftar's militia.

*) Microsoft says it will keep exploring TikTok purchase

Microsoft has decided to continue talks with TikTok to purchase the Chinese video app's US operations.

Microsoft said it took the decision after discussions with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has threatened to ban TikTok in the United States over security concerns.

And finally,

*) NASA astronauts return home in 1st splashdown in 45 years

America's first crewed spaceship to fly to the International Space Station in nearly a decade has returned safely to Earth.

It was the first splashdown by US astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit.

The mission, carried out jointly by SpaceX and NASA, clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, July 31st:

*) US President Trump floats delayed elections

President Trump has drawn a rare GOP rebuke for floating a delay in US presidential elections over Covid-19 and unsubstantiated voter fraud claims.

Trump’s Republican party abruptly dismissed the idea, saying polls “should go forward” as planned.

The date of the US election is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change.

*) At least 18 killed in Afghanistan bombing

At least 18 people, including Afghan security forces personnel, have been killed in a suspected car-bombing in eastern Afghanistan.

The attack happened on Thursday, hours before a three-day ceasefire was to begin in the country for the Muslim festival of Eid al Adha.

Violence has continued to plague Afghanistan even after US-brokered peace talks between the Taliban and a government-mandated committee.

*) Protests continue in Israel

Demonstrations outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence are continuing, calling for him to step down.

The protests have been going on for the past few weeks, sparked by what critics see as the government's failure to handle the coronavirus crisis.

Netanyahu has also come under growing criticism for staying in office while on trial for corruption.

*) Belarus accuses Russians, president’s critics of plotting unrest

Belarus authorities say they've arrested 33 Russian nationals who they accuse of being mercenaries to disrupt next month’s presidential election.

But Russia says the group of men who were detained outside of the capital Minsk are wrongly accused and are demanding an explanation.

President Lukashenko is seeking a sixth term and has accused Russia of trying to force Belarus to abandon its post-Soviet independence.

And finally,

*) Mars rover runs into technical trouble after blast off

NASA's latest rover Perseverance has launched for Mars, blasting off from Florida on schedule.

Its mission is to look for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet.

The spaceship appeared to run into technical difficulties after the launch, NASA confirmed, adding it was running on safe mode for the time being.

*) Tech titans under fire in Congress over monopoly allegations

Tech giants have “too much power” and need to be regulated.

That was the conclusion of Washington lawmakers after they grilled the CEOs of Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple virtually at a congressional hearing.

Despite the committee’s concerns over privacy, competition and the content allowed online, there were few new revelations or major confrontations.

*) China's Sinopharm to test potential Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil

Chinese drug company Sinopharm and Brazil’s Parana state have agreed to launch the fourth major Covid-19 vaccine trial in the country.

They will seek regulatory approval in the next two weeks, the Brazilian partners said.

Sinopharm's candidate vaccine is already being tested in the United Arab Emirates with 15,000 volunteers.

*) US to withdraw around 12,000 troops from Germany

The US will be withdrawing nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, with plans to reposition almost half of them in Europe.

US President Trump accused Germany of taking advantage of the US and being “delinquent” in paying the two percent NATO fee.

Pentagon officials say the plan is costly and will take years to execute while US lawmakers fear it will weaken the military against Russia.

*) US federal forces to start conditional pullout from Portland

Staying with US troop pullouts, the Trump administration has agreed to withdraw federal forces from the US city of Portland.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the forces would begin their phased pullout on Thursday.

But a Homeland Security official indicated that officers will withdraw only if local police can ensure the federal courthouse will be secured.

Trump's administration earlier this month sent the federal tactical teams to intervene after weeks of protests against racism and police brutality.

And finally,

*) Scientists solve mystery of the origin of Stonehenge megaliths

Scientists have solved a mystery about Stonehenge, determining the place of origin of many of the megaliths that make up the monument in Wiltshire, England.

Geochemical testing indicates the sandstone megaliths share a common origin about 25 km away at a site called West Wood.

This is thanks to a core sample that had been kept in the United States for decades.