Lebanon imposes new partial lockdown to fight COVID-19 - Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon imposed a partial lockdown for two weeks starting on Friday in an effort to counter COVID-19 infections which have doubled since the catastrophic explosion at the Beirut port.

A woman wearing a face mask walks past an "I love Beirut" sign, near a shopping district, as Lebanon imposed a partial lockdown for two weeks starting on Friday in an effort to counter the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which have spiralled since the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port,

China's Yin wins Zhuhai event in maiden pro start - Reuters

(Reuters) - Yin Ruoning sank a 12-foot putt on the final hole of the Zhuhai Hollywood Mansion Challenge on Friday to card a final-round six-under 66 and seal a one-stroke victory over Du Mohan in her first start as a professional.

The first tournament of the China LPGA Tour season since the COVID-19 hiatus was reduced to 36 holes after Typhoon Higos forced the cancellation of play on Wednesday.

China’s Yin, 17, led by one stroke heading


Egypt's Sisi welcomes ceasefire calls by Libyan warring parties - statement - Reuters India

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed ceasefire calls of Libyan warring parties on Friday, the presidency said in a statement.

Tripoli-based, internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) announced a ceasefire on Friday and the Eastern-based Libyan parliament called for an immediate ceasefire.

Sisi praised both ceasefire calls as “an important step on the road to achieving a political settlement”.

Writing by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Alison Williams


Energy stocks push TSX lower as oil prices weaken - Reuters Canada

FILE PHOTO: A logo for TMX Group, which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange, is seen after the company announced it was shutting down all markets for the rest of the day after experiencing issues with trading on all its exchange platforms in Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 27, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

* The Toronto Stock Exchange’s TSX falls 0.54 percent to 16,517.85

* Leading the index were Ballard Power Systems Inc 


Three arrested in Portland amid scuffles with police - Reuters

Protesters confront with the police near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement centre in Portland, Oregon, U.S., August 20, 2020, in this still image from a video obtained from social media. TWITTER/GRAVEMORGAN via REUTERS

(Reuters) - About 100 people blocked traffic, vandalized an immigration building, set fires to dumpsters, and threw rocks and glass bottles at police in the Oregon city of Portland on Thursday night, police said, adding they had arrested three people.

The gathering


Singapore to allow New Zealand, Brunei visitors in first border easing - Reuters

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore on Friday said it would reopen its borders to visitors from New Zealand and Brunei from next month, in the city-state’s first steps towards resuming leisure travel since it sealed its borders to control COVID-19 outbreaks.

The city-state, which currently only allows official and business travel to selected countries, also said it would allow students to travel for study overseas if distance-learning was not available.

The measures would take effect on Sept. 1, with various restrictions


Bosnia's fruit growers prove resilient amid pandemic downturn - Reuters India

BRCKO, Bosnia (Reuters) - Plum season is upon us, and in the orchards of northern Bosnia fruit growers are busy with the harvest, most of which will be processed at local factories and shipped to buyers in the European Union and Russia.

A worker processes plums at the Bosnaplod fruit company in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Despite being in urgent need of reform, Bosnia’s agricultural sector has weathered the global pandemic better than others, and was


COVID-19 era highlights U.S. 'black hole' compensation fund for pandemic vaccine injuries - Reuters

(Reuters) - A U.S. government program that compensates people who say they have been harmed by an emergency vaccine has paid out on fewer than 10% of claims, raising questions whether the process should be used to address any potential side effects from a coronavirus shot, according to some lawyers who have filed such claims.

FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken April 10, 202

UPDATE 2-Europe's bond yields limp lower as recovery splutters - Reuters

* Bund yields sit back at 0.5% after weak PMI data

* Longest run of falls for Bunds since Jan

* Italian and Spanish yields shrug off rising virus numbers

* Inflation expectations dip again

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr (Updates at European markets close)

By Elizabeth Howcroft

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Core European government bond yields fell further on Friday, with Germany’s 10-year Bund rate pushed back to -0.5%


After Hagia Sophia, Turkey's historic Chora church also switched to mosque - Reuters

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reconverted the historic Chora church, one of Istanbul’s most celebrated Byzantine buildings, into a mosque on Friday, a month after opening the famed Hagia Sophia to Muslim worship.

FILE PHOTO: Turkish police officers stand guard atop the Kariye (Chora) museum, the 11th century church of St. Savior, during a visit by Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla in Istanbul, November 28, 2007. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas

The