Mahinda Rajapaksa takes oath as Sri Lankan PM for 4th time

Rajapaksa is highly popular among the ethnic majority Sinhalese for ending the country’s 25-year civil war against Tamil rebels in 2009

Lebanese protesters storm ministry buildings, set up symbolic nooses for politicians

'Resignation or hang,' read a banner held by protesters, who also planned to hold a symbolic funeral for the dead

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the first victims of atomic age

The twin bombings dealt the final blow to imperial Japan, which surrendered on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II

Afghan mega gathering approves release of 400 Taliban prisoners

The move also looks to bring the United States a little closer to bringing its troops home and ending its longest military engagement

Nagasaki hopes for a 'nuclear-free world' on 75th anniversary of atomic bombing

On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki was flattened in an atomic inferno three days after the first US atomic bombing in Hiroshima

Rajapaksa brothers secure landslide victory in Sri Lankan elections

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

How the Rajapaksa clan is the most powerful political dynasty in Sri Lankan politics

The powerful clan has held sway over the island nation's politics for decades, as well as having a major influence in key state institutions

Canadian citizen sentenced to death over drug charges in China

China has similarly sentenced two other Canadians to death last year on drug trafficking charges as a diplomatic row escalated with Canada

New disease caused by tick-borne virus kills seven, infects 60 in China

Virologists believe that the infection may have been passed on to humans by ticks and that the virus can be transmitted between humans

China vows to retaliate if Chinese journos forced to leave US

The U.S. should immediately correct its mistake and stop its actions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said

US health chief will visit Taiwan to learn from its COVID-19 success story

The trip is a geopolitical chess move in US' contentious relationship with China, which considers Taiwan part of its national territory

US imposes sanctions on pro-China leader Carrie Lam, other HK officials

The officials are accused of cooperating with Beijing’s effort to undermine autonomy and crack down on freedom in Hong Kong

Doctors strike over plan to boost medical student numbers in South Korea

Doctors maintain South Korea already has enough medical professionals, but they should be better paid to encourage working in rural areas

North Korea also issues flood alert as South reports 16 dead

North Korea is particularly vulnerable to sustained heavy rain as many mountains and hills have long been stripped of vegetation

North Korea's strict measures raise fear of outbreak despite virus-free claim

An exchange between the country and the United Nations provides new clarity about what might be happening in North Korea

Iran urges UN to hold US accountable for plane interception

Iran's UN ambassador say a Mahan Airlines Airbus A310 en route to Beirut on July 23 was intercepted by two US F-15 fighter jets

Lebanon president rejects international probe into Beirut port blast

'There are two possible scenarios for what happened: it was either negligence or foreign interference through a missile or bomb,' he said

The ship with ammonium nitrate cargo was not meant to stop at Beirut

The chemicals came to Beirut on a leaky Russian-leased cargo ship that, according to its captain, should never have stopped there

Afghan council meets to decide on release of 400 Taliban prisoners

The decision will be the last step towards starting negotiations between Kabul’s political leadership and Taliban under a peace deal with US

Saudi Arabia's nationalist netizens now a headache for the government

Their posts frequently tag Saudi security agencies, and their collective roar often leads to detentions, sackings and harassment

'This is not marijuana': US hemp farmers battle a tough market and thieves

Hemp looks and smells like marijuana but contains very little tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what gets users high

Trump signs coronavirus relief orders after talks with Congress fail

The orders could face legal challenges questioning the US president’s authority to spend taxpayer money without express approval of Congress

New York schools to open for start of school year

Many NY districts have planned to start the year with in-person classes only a few days a week, while learning at home the rest of the time

Russia acting against Biden, China opposes Trump: US Intelligence

The statement is believed to be the most pointed declaration by US Intelligence community linking Kremlin to efforts to get Trump reelected

Virus aid talks fail as US’ death toll touches new milestone

Democrats agreed to reduce their $3.4 trillion proposal but Republicans wouldn’t agree to more than double their $1 trillion counter-offer

Youngsters flow to unauthorised rave parties as virus shuts nightclubs in Paris

Licensed nightclubs have been closed in France since March under measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic

France doesn’t want to run Lebanon: Emmanuel Macron

He said he was asked by people in the street to 'return to the mandate' when Lebanon was a French protectorate a century ago

Russia’s Putin expected to visit India in October

India has time-tested strategic ties with Russia especially in the defence sector but Russia also has close ties with China

Fugitive merchant Nirav Modi's trial in UK will start in September

Modi's judicial remand is further extended to August 27 and next month's trial will deal with a second extradition request made by India

COVID-19 vaccine: WHO asks Russia to follow established guidelines

Russia had announced that it will launch vaccine mass production by September and turn out 'several million' doses per month by next year

Mauritius declares environmental emergency as stranded ship spills fuel

A military transport aircraft with pollution control equipment and a navy vessel to be sent by France for Mauritius’ aid

Rwandans sent to all-night lectures as punishment for breaking COVID rules

Every evening, public health messages are blared through loudspeakers to spectators seated at least a metre apart in the stadiums

South Africa sees dip in new coronavirus cases

More than 24,000 healthcare workers have been infected by the coronavirus in South Africa which is five percent of country's total caseload

WHO warns of 'lengthy' pandemic that could lead to response fatigue

The agency also said the effects of the pandemic 'will be felt for decades to come' in an emergency WHO committee reviewing the pandemic

South Africa is marred by COVID corruption

Corruption allegations are raised against South Africa’s $26 billion economic relief package

New Zealand marks 100 days without virus transmission

There are still 23 active cases but all were detected at the border when entering the country and are held in managed isolation facilities

Jacinda Ardern launches re-election bid riding high on COVID success

The polls had pointed to a cliffhanger election this September, but the story has since changed because New Zealand's coronavirus response

'Mystery cases' worry Australia despite hope for stabilisation

Cases with unknown sources of infection could mean that there is more widespread transmission than already identified

Australian authorities warn against panic buying in hotspots

Production of beef, lamb and pork has been reduced by one third to reduce chances of virus spread in meat processing plants

Cases continue to surge in Melbourne even after month-long lockdown

The virus has spread rapidly through nursing homes in the city, with almost 1,500 active infections now linked to the facilities