Headlines

• The fear of a Russian military intervention pushed Brussels to organize an extraordinary summit by videoconference.
• Sanction those responsible for violence and electoral fraud: this is one of the lines of action confirmed by the leaders of the Twenty-Seven. 

Brussels, Aug.19.– Gestures and words are not confusing. Gathered, virtually, for an extraordinary summit, European leaders are increasing the pressure on Alexander Lukashenko. The August 9 presidential elections in Belarus “were neither free nor fair. We do not recognize the results ”, said the Presidents of the European Council and of the European Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. In unison, the Twenty-Seven condemn “disproportionate and unacceptable violence” and call for a “full and transparent investigation” .

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel on Thursday announced an agreement that will lead to a full normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two states. 

Dubai, Aug.16.– Telephone lines between the UAE and Israel were open on Sunday, calls made by Reuters reporters showed, after the two countries moved to normalise diplomatic relations last week.

Tens of thousands march in a show of anger in Belarus
over the brutal police crackdown.

Tallinn, Aug.12.– Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu on Wednesday made a speech at an open high-level virtual sitting of the UN Security Council on the pandemic and the challenges of sustaining peace, in which he raised the issue of post-election demonstrations in Belarus. 

"At the outset, please allow me to say few words about very worrying situation in Belarus," Reinsalu said. "The presidential elections in Belarus on Sunday cannot be considered free, fair and democratic. As a result we are now witnessing unprecedented nationwide protests and excessive use of force by the government. Let me underline that violent crackdown of peaceful protests is unacceptable."

 Authorities have hinted at poor storage of explosive material left after a ship was seized in 2014.

Beirut, Aug.5.– The timer was ticking from six years ago, when 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were taken from an impounded ship and stored in the port of Beirut. It was a massive bomb just waiting to go off; a disaster equivalent to an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale.

At least 100 are dead and an astonishing 4,000 are injured in a catastrophe in one of the Middle East’s greatest cities. About 300,000 more are homeless.