NewsAFP NewsTwo huge Beirut explosions kill 73, injure thousands
Two enormous explosions devastated Beirut's port on Tuesday, leaving at least 73 people dead and thousands injured, shaking distant buildings and spreading panic and chaos across the Lebanese capital. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that 2,750 tonnes of the agricultural fertiliser ammonium nitrate that had been stored for years in a portside warehouse had blown up, sparking "a disaster in every sense of the word". Bloodied and dazed wounded people stumbled among the debris, glass shards and burning buildings in central Beirut as the health ministry reported 73 dead and 3,700 injured across wide parts of the country's biggest city.
SportAFP NewsFulham return to Premier League promised land after play-off glory
Fulham made an instant return to the Premier League on Tuesday, beating Brentford 2-1 at Wembley in what is regarded as the most lucrative game in world football. Defender Joe Bryan was the unlikely hero for Scott Parker's side in the Championship play-off final, scoring two goals in extra time after the London clubs were locked at 0-0 at the end of a cagey 90 minutes. Henrik Dalsgaard scored a late consolation for Brentford but it was too little too late for Thomas Frank's team, who have not played in the English top-flight for 73 years.
SportAFP NewsRahm says No. 1 will be ruled by a committee
Jon Rahm recently got his first taste of being No. 1 in the world and now he's eager to feel what it's like to win his first major championship title. Rahm won the Memorial two weeks ago to overtake Rory McIlroy and climb atop the rankings, becoming the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to hold the top spot. Rahm was overtaken on the weekend by Justin Thomas, who won the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis.
SportAFP NewsHundred hero Stirling kept faith as Ireland stun world champions England
Paul Stirling insisted he always believed Ireland could beat England after his brilliant century inspired a record Irish run-chase in a shock seven-wicket win over the world champions during the third one-day international at Southampton on Tuesday. Both Stirling, with 142, and Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie (113), scored centuries during Ireland's ultimately successful pursuit of 329. It was Ireland's highest successful chase in ODIs, after they reached a target of 328 in a dramatic 2011 World Cup win over England in Bangalore.
EntertainmentAFP NewsDisney's 'Mulan' to skip big screen with September streaming launch
Disney's much-delayed blockbuster "Mulan" will skip the big screen and premiere on streaming platform Disney+ next month, it was announced Tuesday, as coronavirus keeps theaters shut across much of the United States. The unprecedented decision -- described by CEO Bob Chapek as a "one-off" for a Disney blockbuster -- is the latest major blow for movie theater chains already reeling from the pandemic. "Mulan," a mega-budget live action remake of the tale of a legendary Chinese warrior, will be available from September 4 in homes to Disney+ subscribers for an additional $29.99.
NewsReutersKashmir under strict lockdown on anniversary of lost autonomy
With a heavy deployment of troops and barricades of barbed wire, India put Kashmir under the strictest lockdown in several months on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the Himalayan region's loss of autonomy. Streets in the Kashmir's main city of Srinagar were deserted, with armed paramilitary and police manning roadblocks to enforce a lockdown that was initially imposed on Tuesday to prevent any violent protests. Top police officer Vijay Kumar said security agencies had received intelligence reports of a suicide attack or attempts to target politicians, and that restrictions would be further tightened on Wednesday.
NewsAFP NewsSuspected US teen mastermind pleads not guilty to Twitter hack
The suspected teenage mastermind of a huge Twitter hack pled not guilty Tuesday to allegations he hijacked celebrity accounts to swindle people out of more than $100,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme. The 17-year-old Tampa, Florida resident pled not guilty before a state court, during a short hearing conducted via videoconference, according to the Tampa Bay Times newspaper. Investigators viewed the 17-year-old as the mastermind behind the mid-July cyberattack that rocked Twitter.
PoliticsAFP NewsNeil Young to sue Trump over campaign songs
Neil Young is suing Donald Trump's re-election campaign to try to stop the US president playing his songs at campaign rallies, according to a lawsuit posted on the rocker's website. The suit, which seeks damages of up to $150,000 for each infringement, is undated but the text indicates Young's attorneys planning to file it with a federal court in New York. Young has repeatedly voiced disdain for Trump's use of his classic hits at rallies, asking him to stop.
EntertainmentReutersDisney's 'Mulan' to skip most movie theaters for streaming
Walt Disney Co's live-action version of "Mulan" will skip most of the world's movie theaters and go directly to its streaming platform in September, the media giant said on Tuesday. The decision follows uncertainty about when big movie theater chains in the United States will be able to reopen after being shuttered since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. "Mulan" will cost a premium price of $29.99 on the Disney+ streaming service in the United States, Canada, Australia and parts of Western Europe, Disney's chief executive, Bob Chapek, said on a call with investors after Disney reported quarterly earnings.
HealthAFP NewsNovavax reports promising early trial results of COVID-19 vaccine
US biotech company Novavax on Tuesday announced its experimental COVID-19 vaccine elicited a robust immune response, producing more antibodies than are present in recovered patients, and with generally tolerable side-effects in its early-stage trial. The company was given $1.6 billion by the US government last month to develop and fund the drug under Operation Warp Speed -- but in terms of timeline it is behind other firms including Moderna and AstraZeneca which have entered the final stages of their trials. It reported in a press release that the phase one stage of its placebo-controlled trial involved 131 healthy adults aged 18-59 and two dose groups of five and 25 micrograms.
BusinessAFP NewsStock markets gain support from US stimulus optimism
Stock markets recovered from early weakness on Tuesday as optimism about a fresh US economic stimulus package crept back into trading rooms. Democrats and Republicans are battling to hammer out a new package to help the US economy recover from the ravages of the pandemic, with analysts pointing to reports claiming good progress has been made.
NewsAFP NewsArgentina secures deal on 'impossible' debt
Recession-hit Argentina announced on Tuesday it has reached an agreement with three major creditors over the restructuring of a $66 billion debt, which the IMF described as a "very significant step" to solving its latest sovereign default crisis. The government of President Alberto Fernandez had set an August 4 deadline to complete a deal but it has now pushed the date to August 24 "to give effect to the agreement," which came after months of wrangling and extensions. "We resolved an impossible debt in the biggest economic crisis in memory and in the midst of the pandemic," said a delighted Fernandez.
NewsAFP NewsPompeo vows to protect Hong Kong activists sought abroad
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday vowed to protect Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners who have fled the city and denounced China after Beijing said that police had ordered the arrests of overseas activists. "The Chinese Communist Party cannot tolerate the free thinking of its own people, and increasingly is trying to extend its reach outside China's borders," Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States and other free nations will continue to protect our peoples from the long arm of Beijing's authoritarianism."
NewsAFP NewsPompeo offers US help to Lebanon after 'horrible tragedy'
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday offered US assistance to Lebanon after Beirut was rocked by massive blasts. "We are monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this horrible tragedy," Pompeo wrote on Twitter. "Our team in Beirut has reported to me the extensive damage to a city and a people that I hold dear, an additional challenge in a time of already deep crisis," said Pompeo, who has spoken in the past of his personal interest in Lebanon.
NewsAFP NewsColombia ex-president says he'll be arrested over witness tampering
Former president Alvaro Uribe said Tuesday that Colombia's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant against him for witness tampering. "Being deprived of my freedom is very sad for me, my wife, my family and for the Colombians who still think I did something good for the homeland," Uribe wrote on Twitter. The court itself has not published its decision but local media say Uribe, now a senator, is to be held under house arrest.
NewsAFP NewsCrowd gathers ahead of Nobel laureate John Hume's funeral
A socially distanced crowd gathered as the body of Nobel laureate John Hume arrived in Londonderry on Tuesday, ahead of a funeral set to laud his life as a peace broker in Northern Ireland. Members of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) he led for two decades formed a guard of honour in black face masks, holding lit candles as his cortege arrived at St Eugene's Cathedral in his native city. Hume -- who died Monday aged 83 -- will be remembered as a key architect of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement ending "The Troubles" of Northern Ireland which killed 3,500.
NewsAFP NewsNew bridge in Genoa opens to traffic two years after deadly collapse
A gleaming new bridge in Genoa built after the deadly collapse of a viaduct opened Tuesday, but critics say not enough has been done since the 2018 disaster to overhaul Italy's crumbling infrastructure. The first cars crossed the sleek steel structure just after 2000 GMT, nearly two years to the day the Morandi highway gave way during heavy rain, hurling dozens of vehicles into the abyss and killing 43 people. The San Giorgio bridge, designed by famed Italian architect Renzo Piano, was inaugurated to much fanfare on Monday.
LifestyleAFP NewsNew York's Rockettes' Christmas show canceled
It's synonymous with Christmas in New York, like the Rockefeller tree all lit up and "Home Alone 2." Madison Square Garden Entertainment said in a statement Tuesday that the 2020 "Christmas Spectacular" at Radio City Hall has been canceled "due to continued uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic." "We are disappointed for everyone involved with the show, as well as for the many fans who make the Christmas Spectacular a cherished part of their holiday tradition," said MSG.
BusinessAFP NewsDisney sees big loss as pandemic hits parks, studios; subscriptions rise
The Walt Disney Company on Tuesday reported its quarterly earnings were hit hard as the pandemic emptied theme parks and cruise ships, while it hit a new milestone for streaming subscriptions. The entertainment colossus said it lost $4.7 billion on revenue that revenue of $11.8 billion -- about half of the amount of money it took in during the same period last year. "Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, we've continued to build on the incredible success of Disney+ as we grow our global direct-to-consumer businesses," Disney chief executive Bob Chapek said in an earnings release for the quarter ending June 27.
SportAFP NewsDefending champ Koepka seeks to recapture his magic at the PGA
When it comes to playing on the biggest stage in golf, the smart money is usually on Brooks Koepka. Koepka has a history of playing his best in the majors and after last week's performance in Memphis, he looks primed to make a run at the three-peat at the PGA Championship in San Francisco. Over the past five years, the 30-year-old American has been the most dominant player in the majors, winning two US Opens and the last two PGA Championships.
BusinessReutersMatch forecasts sales above estimates as pandemic boosts Tinder's appeal
Tinder added about 200,000 users in the second quarter, taking its average subscribers to 6.2 million, as restrictions to stop the spread of the pandemic limited face-to-face meetings and encouraged more people to use dating apps as an alternative. Total revenue rose 12% to $555.5 million in the second quarter, beating analysts' average estimate of about $533.7 million.
SportAFP NewsSolskjaer says Europa League trophy could be stepping stone to top
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says victory in the Europa League could be a stepping stone to a new era of success for Manchester United. United finished third in the Premier League after an impressive end to the coronavirus-interrupted season, meaning they will return to the Champions League next season. The Old Trafford club look certain to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Wednesday after winning the first leg of their last-16 tie against Austrian side LASK 5-0 in March Solskjaer said winning the first piece of silverware under his leadership would be "massive" in terms of forging a winning mentality.
NewsAFP NewsIs luxury Dominican resort the refuge for Spain's Juan Carlos?
Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic is a luxurious beach playground for the rich and famous from the worlds of politics, finance and entertainment. Now it's rumored to be where Spain's former king Juan Carlos, accused of corruption in his homeland, is heading into exile. An hour and a half by road from the capital Santo Domingo, the exclusive resort in La Romana is made up of tourist accommodations, luxurious family homes, a harbor, port, golf courses and even an international airport.
BusinessReutersDisney avoids pandemic disaster feared by investors
Walt Disney Co <DIS.N> on Tuesday reported financial results that avoided the unmitigated disaster some investors feared as it eked out an adjusted profit amid the coronavirus pandemic that shut down parks, movie theaters and sporting events globally. Disney's quarterly profit of 8 cents per share on an adjusted basis beat expectations of a 64 cents-per-share loss, sending shares up 5% in after-market trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The Disney+ streaming service, which now reaches 60.5 million customers as of Monday, has also been a bright spot in the quarter, Bob Chapek, Disney chief executive, told analysts on Tuesday.
NewsReutersFlorida teen pleads not guilty to masterminding Twitter hack
Graham Clark told Circuit Court Judge Christopher Nash in Tampa that he was not guilty of the 30 felony counts of fraud prosecutors have leveled against him, according to court records. Clark's attorney, David Weisbrod, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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