Siege of Libya’s Sirte behind Turkey-Russia talks delay: Turkish official
Russia and Turkey postponed talks on Libya due to discord over the Ankara-backed Tripoli government’s push to retake the key coastal city of Sirte from Russian-backed eastern forces, a Turkish official said on Monday.
Nigerian doctors strike for better benefits during coronavirus crisis
Resident doctors in Nigerian public hospitals went on strike on Monday to demand better benefits, including the provision of more protective equipment, as they battle the coronavirus, the union said.
Sudan war crimes charges are untrue, suspect says
A Sudanese war crimes suspect said on Monday that charges mentioned on his arrest warrant are untrue, during an initial appearance at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Kremlin says Russia will not tolerate unfriendly gestures amid Czech diplomacy row
The Kremlin on Monday said it would not tolerate unfriendly gestures, when asked about Moscow’s expulsion of two Czech diplomats, a reciprocal move in response to two of Russia’s diplomatic staff being expelled from Prague earlier in June.
Russia expels two Czech diplomats in tit-for-tat move
Russia declared two Czech diplomats persona non grata on Monday in what it said was a response to an unfriendly move by Prague earlier this month to expel two of Russia’s diplomatic staff.
Japan halts deployment of Aegis Ashore missile defence system
Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono said on Monday that he had suspended plans to deploy two U.S.-made Aegis Ashore air defence radar stations designed to detect and counter North Korean ballistic missiles.
U.S. fighter plane crashes off coast of northeast England
A U.S. fighter plane crashed in the North Sea off the coast of northeast England on Monday with the fate of the pilot and the cause of the crash unknown, the Sun newspaper reported, citing a U.S. Air Force statement.
Chinese capital reinstates curbs as coronavirus resurfaces
Several districts of the Chinese capital put up security checkpoints, closed schools and ordered people to be tested for the coronavirus on Monday after an unexpected spike of cases linked to the biggest wholesale food market in Asia.
U.N. rights body to examine ‘systemic’ U.S. racism and police brutality
The top U.N. human rights body agreed on Monday to hold an urgent debate on allegations of “systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests” in the United States and elsewhere on Wednesday.
Beirut’s nightlife on the brink as pandemic compounds financial crisis
Beirut loves to party, even when the going gets tough. Which is often. The city and its nightlife has weathered wars, bombing campaigns and assassinations, and prides itself on always bouncing back.
