Lukashenko: I need to contact Putin, protests not just threat to Belarus - Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko chairs a meeting on construction industry in Minsk, Belarus August 14, 2020. Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via REUTERS

MINSK (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday he wanted to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning street protests were not just a threat to Belarus.

Mass unrest followed Lukashenko’s re-election victory last week, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets accusing him of rigging the vote.

“There is


Thai student released on bail vows to continue anti-government protests - Reuters

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai student activist vowed on Saturday to continue to protest against the government and demand reform of the monarchy after being detained overnight on charges related to a demonstration last month and released on bail.

Parit Chiwarak, a pro-democracy student, one of the leaders of Thailand's recent anti-government protests, reacts as he is being send to the court, at the police station in Bangkok, Thailand, August 15,2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Parit “


Russian city holds sixth anti-Kremlin protest over detained governor - Reuters

People take part in an anti-Kremlin rally in support of former regional governor Sergei Furgal arrested on murder charges, in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk, Russia August 15, 2020. REUTERS/Evgenii Pereverzev

MOSCOW (Reuters) - About 2,000 people joined another march in the Russian far eastern city of Khabarovsk on Saturday in protest over President Vladimir Putin’s handling of a local political crisis.

Residents of Khabarovsk, around 6,110 km (3,80


Afghan women's rights advocate, negotiator injured in attack - Reuters India

KABUL (Reuters) - A prominent women’s rights advocate and member of the Afghan team tasked with negotiating with the Taliban sustained minor injuries in an attack in Kabul by unknown gunmen, officials said on Saturday.

FILE PHOTO: Fawzia Koofi speaks during an interview in Kabul April 12, 2012. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail/File photo

They described the attack on Fawzia Koofi, a former lawmaker, as an assassination attempt. It was condemned by Afghanistan’s president as well as senior politicians involved in


Russia produces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine: Interfax - Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A handout photo provided by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) shows samples of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, in Moscow, Russia August 6, 2020. Picture taken August 6, 2020. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has produced the first batch of its new vaccine for COVID-19, the Interfax news


Ireland to return 5.5 mln euros in Abacha loot to Nigeria - statement - Reuters Africa

Nigeria flags seen raised at the MKO Abiola National stadium, Abuja, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

LAGOS (Reuters) - Ireland has reached a deal to give back to Nigeria 5.5 million euros ($6.5 million) looted by former military dictator Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s justice minister said in a statement.

The money is the latest Abacha-linked cash reclaimed by Nigeria. Corruption watchdog Transparency International estimates that Abacha, who ruled Africa’s biggest oil producer from 1993 until his


Iran's president says UAE made 'huge mistake' with Israel deal - Reuters

(Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has made a “huge mistake” in reaching a deal toward normalising ties with Israel, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech furiously condemning what he called a betrayal by the Gulf state.

FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

The Iranian hardline daily Kayhan, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Supreme Leader


China's CATL is developing new EV battery with no nickel, cobalt, exec says - Reuters

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), a Tesla supplier, is developing a new type of electric vehicle (EV) battery that contains no nickel or cobalt, a company executive said on Saturday.

Nickel and cobalt are key ingredients in the batteries that power EVs. Battery makers from Japan’s Panasonic Corp to South Korea’s LG Chem are lowering the use of expensive cobalt in their nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) batteries or nickel-cobalt-manganese (


Sancho going nowhere, says Dortmund chief Watzke - Reuters India

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund v Hertha BSC - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - June 6, 2020 Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho reacts, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS/File photo

(Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says the Bundesliga club will not be making any major signings this summer but ruled out the possibility of winger Jadon Sancho departing


Swimming: India's Olympic hopeful trio to train in Dubai - Reuters India

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Three of India’s top swimmers will begin two months of training in Dubai next month, sports officials said on Saturday, ending an agonising wait that drove one of them to the verge of retirement ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

FILE PHOTO: Swimming - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games - Men's 50m Butterfly - Heat 5 - Optus Aquatic Centre - Gold Coast, Australia - April 5, 2018. Virdhawal Khade of India competes