European Union

Calm has not returned to Lebanon even after the government's resignation on Monday. In a speech made shortly before stepping down, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the political system was partially responsible for the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut. Observers expect the protests to continue and warn of the risks of radical reforms.

The British government plans to take steps to ensure that fewer migrants enter the country via the English Channel. Around 4,000 people have already made the crossing this year - twice as many as in the whole of 2019. Home Secretary Priti Patel has complained that France was doing too little to stop the crossings. Royal Navy ships are to be deployed to force small boats carrying migrants to turn back. The national press is divided on the issue.

Andrej Kiska, Slovak President from 2014 to 2019, has announced that he is leaving politics at the age of 57 for health reasons. Kiska never shied away from confrontation with the Fico leadership and many Slovaks consider him to have considerably advanced the rule of law in the country. Commentators discuss how lasting his legacy will be.

EU states have urged foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell to call emergency foreign ministers talks on potential Belarus and Turkey sanctions.

The European Commission said some 23 new research projects into Covid-19 will receive €128m in EU funding. The 23 projects shortlisted for funding involve 347 research teams from 40 countries, including 34 participants from 16 countries outside of the EU. The new projects include new ways to quickly produce medical supplies to the behavioural and socio-economic of government responses in areas like mental health.

The European Commission said Croatia will get some €88.9m in aid to help recover from an earthquake that hit Zagreb and nearby areas in late March. "Croatia and its capital city have suffered one of the most severe natural disasters in more than a century, causing heavy damage and disruption," said Elisa Ferreira, EU commissioner for cohesion and reforms. The money is sourced from the EU Solidarity Fund.

Regional authorities have mandated that facemasks must now be worn throughout all of Brussels' 19 districts in an effort to stem the rise of Covid-19 infections, reports Belgian newspaper Le Soir. The decision was made after the threshold of infections per 100,000 inhabitants reached 50. The mask must cover both the nose and the mouth and is required for anyone over the age of 12.

The European Union is demanding Mexico delay upcoming health warnings on processed food and drinks, reports Reuters. Mexico wants to slap labels on junk food packages that warn of health risks, starting in October. But the European Union is seeking a two-year delay on those labels, according to a World Trade Organization document. The EU is home to some of the world's largest food producers.

Just a few weeks ago, as Europeans in several countries put their furious debates about masks and corona appsinto higher gear, Turkey and Greece almost came to blows in the Aegean Sea.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday (12 August) picked Senator Kamala Harris as his choice for vice president, making her the first Black woman on a major-party US presidential ticket.

Russia claimed Tuesday (12 August) it has developed the world's first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus, despite mounting scepticism about its effectiveness as fears grow over a second wave of infections across the globe.

Britain plans to tighten rules around online campaigning to make political parties and campaigners state more clearly who they are, the government said on Wednesday (12 August), seeking to allay fears about interference in its democracy.