Author: News Desk

Beirut explosion: 250,000 homeless as officials deflect blame for the explosion Hundreds of thousands of people in Beirut are facing another night of uncertainty following the massive explosion that destroyed their homes and prompted a two-week state of emergency.  The massive port explosion in the Lebanese capital has displaced some 250,000 people and caused up to  $5bn in damage, Governor Marwan Abboud told local media.  As of Wednesday, the confirmed death toll had topped 130 people with some 5,000 others wounded.  Lebanon has asked the international community to support the country which is already in a major economic crisis and…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,979,672 DEATHS: 711,271 RECOVERED: 12,171,222 …………………………………… Ethnic minorities ‘overexposed’ to Covid-19 BBC News says ethnic minorities in Britain “face greater barriers” when trying to protect themselves from coronavirus, according to a report. The Runnymede Trust, a race equality think-tank, said Bangladeshi and black African people were most vulnerable. Jobs, households and using public transport are all said to be risk factors. The government said it is working to help ethnic minorities, who have been disproportionately harmed by Covid-19. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Facebook, Twitter remove Trump posts after he says children…

India’s top crime agency to investigate Bollywood star’s death  India’s top crime agency will be taking over the investigation into the death of movie star Sushant Singh Rajput, whose suicide has shaken Bollywood.  The star, 34, was found dead in June in his apartment in Mumbai after police said he took his own life, a debate started over mental health in the multi-billion-dollar industry.  His former girlfriend petitioned the Supreme Court Wednesday after Rajput’s family disputed reports he had suffered from depression and accused her of stealing his money and harassing him.  She has strongly denied the allegations and asked…

Beirut wakes to scenes of devastation after a horrific port explosion, over 100 dead, thousands wounded Wednesday morning sees residents of Beirut waking to utter devastation, a day after a massive explosion at the port, residents begin to mourn the deaths of at least 100 people and the thousands wounded.   Smoke was still visible from the port where a towering grain silo had been shattered. The streets littered with debris, building facades have been blown out and damaged vehicles scattered around. At hospitals across the city, people have been waiting all night to hear news of loved ones who had…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,708,865 DEATHS: 704,438 RECOVERED: 11,925,744 …………………………………… UK ‘made serious mistake’ over border policy BBC News says the spread of Covid-19 in the UK could have been slowed if quarantine restrictions on arrivals had been introduced earlier, a group of MPs has said.  The Home Affairs committee said a lack of border measures earlier in the pandemic was a “serious mistake.” It added ministers had underestimated the threat of importing the virus from Europe as opposed to Asia. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Global death toll passes 700,000 as Europe faces second wave…

Portia de Rossi supports wife Ellen DeGeneres following toxic workplace allegations  Ellen DeGeneres’s wife Portia de Rossi has spoken out in support of the TV star, posting on Instagram “I stand by Ellen” following reports of a toxic workplace environment on the set of her show.  DeGeneres has issued an apology in a memo to workers, while distributor Warner Bros said it would be making staffing changes after an internal investigation found “deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management.”  Amid calls for the 62-year-old presenter to step down, De Rossi, 47, has now shared a message of support for her…

Millions back in lockdown in the Philippines after surge in Covid-19 cases and WHO issues vaccine warning The Philippines has found itself back in lockdown, with millions ordered to stay home on Tuesday, following a surge in global Covid-19 cases and the WHO has warned against relying on a vaccine “silver bullet” to end the pandemic.  More than 18 million people worldwide have been recorded to be infected with the virus since it first emerged in China late last year, and it shows no signs of slowing down.  The Philippines – desperate to contain the spread and relieve pressure on…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,447,723 DEATHS: 697,244 RECOVERED: 11,680,369 …………………………………… GCSE students allowed to drop topics in 2021 exams BBC News says GCSE students in England will be able to drop subject areas in history and English literature 2021 exams. It follows concern that schools may not be able to cover all the topics after teaching was disrupted by the pandemic. But headteachers said the proposal only amounted to “tinkering at the edges” when students could face “widespread ongoing disruption”. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Pubs likely to be spared new Covid-19 restrictions, No 10 says…

Lebanon’s foreign minister steps down amid economic crisis Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti has resigned, becoming the first cabinet minister to quit his post amid the severe economic and financial crisis crippling the country.  Hitti submitted his resignation to the prime minister and left without making any comments. He was reportedly unhappy with the government’s performance and lack of movement on promised reforms.  Local media reports said Hitti was also angered by PM Diab’s criticism of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian following his visit to Beirut last month. Diab has said Le Brian “did not bring anything new” and…

Data leak reveals Iran covered up Covid-19 deaths Iran has covered up the true number of deaths from Covid-19 a BBC Persian service investigation has found. The number of actual deaths is nearly triple what the Iranian government is claiming.  The government’s own records appear to show almost 42,000 people died with Covid-19 symptoms up to 20 July, versus 14.405 reported by its health ministry.  The number of those infected is also almost double its official figure: 452,024 as opposed to 278,827. Iran has been one of the worst-hit countries outside of China.  In the last few weeks, it has…