A former school teacher who became the top torturer for Cambodia's genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, overseeing the deaths of around 15,000 people, died Wednesday at the age of 77.&nbsp;

Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his alias Duch, had served as the head of the infamous Tuol Sleng prison and was later convicted of crimes against humanity&nbsp;by a UN-backed war crimes tribunal for his role in the "Killing Fields" regime.

Born in 1942, the former mathematics teacher became the Khmer Rouge's top interrogator when the ultra-Maoist regime was in power from 1975-1979.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/cambodia-diary-khmer-rouge-tragedy-rural-gulags-188313">Cambodia diary: Khmer Rouge, tragedy &amp; rural gulags</a>

Duch oversaw the torture of thousands of men, women and children in a neighbourhood high school that was converted into a detention centre, extracting false confessions from his victims and sending them to their deaths on the outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh.

After the Khmer Rouge's fall from power, he maintained posts within the communist movement as it battled Vietnam-backed troops.

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The jailer turned to Christianity in his later years, and was working for an aid agency in western Cambodia under a false name at the time of his arrest in 1999, when many had long assumed he was already dead.

Duch was the first member of the Khmer Rouge to face judgement before a war crimes tribunal in Cambodia, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012.

His death was "a reminder that justice is a long and difficult" process, said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which conducts research on the Khmer Rouge regime.

"Perhaps it can bring some satisfaction to the living, and the fallen can now rest in peace," Youk told AFP.

Milestone of justice

Duch's testimony at the tribunal served as an important milestone for millions of Cambodians who had suffered under the brutal regime, which killed up to two million during the brief four-year period.

He had maintained a huge archive of photos, confessions and other documents with which UN prosecutors traced the final horrible months of thousands of inmates' lives.&nbsp;

It revealed facets of the regime's secretive workings,&nbsp;such as the repeated purges driven by paranoia from the leadership that its enemies were within its ranks.&nbsp;

Duch became a cadre in 1970 "in order to transform society, to oppose the government, to oppose torture", he said during the trial, and helped to oversee a series of jungle prisons.

After the regime seized power in 1975, he was installed as head of Tuol Sleng,&nbsp;referred to as S-21 by the Khmer Rouge,&nbsp;which he staffed with uneducated teenage boys.&nbsp;

He said they could be easily indoctrinated because they were "like a blank piece of paper".&nbsp;

While he had begged for forgiveness for crimes committed at the jail, he later dismayed survivors by asking to be acquitted on the grounds that he was not a senior member of the Khmer Rouge hierarchy.

"I respectfully and strictly followed the orders," Duch said in one of his final public statements to the court.

Duch had been in and out of hospital for years and had serious respiratory problems towards the end of his life.

He was admitted for treatment again this week and died shortly after midnight on Wednesday, tribunal spokesman Neth Pheaktra told AFP.&nbsp;

The work of the court that Duch faced has long been tainted by its limited scope and the age of its defendants. Only two other people have been convicted by the tribunal.

One of them, "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea,&nbsp;considered the chief ideologue and architect of the murderous regime, died last year at the age of 93.

A former school teacher who became the top torturer for Cambodia's genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, overseeing the deaths of around 15,000 people, died Wednesday at the age of 77.

A former school teacher who became the top torturer for Cambodia's genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, overseeing the deaths of around 15,000 people, died Wednesday at the age of 77. Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his alias Duch, had served as the head of the infamous Tuol Sleng prison and was later convicted of crimes against humanity by a UN-backed war crimes tribunal for his role in the "Killing Fields" regime. Born in 1942, the former mathematics teacher became the Khmer Rouge's top interrogator when the ultra-Maoist regime was in power from 1975-1979. Also read: Cambodia diary: Khmer Rouge, tragedy & rural gulags Duch oversaw the torture of thousands of men, women and children in a neighbourhood high school that was converted into a detention centre, extracting false confessions from his victims and sending them to their deaths on the outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh. After the Khmer Rouge's fall from power, he maintained posts within the communist movement as it battled Vietnam-backed troops. The jailer turned to Christianity in his later years, and was working for an aid agency in western Cambodia under a false name at the time of his arrest in 1999, when many had long assumed he was already dead. Duch was the first member of the Khmer Rouge to face judgement before a war crimes tribunal in Cambodia, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012. His death was "a reminder that justice is a long and difficult" process, said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which conducts research on the Khmer Rouge regime. "Perhaps it can bring some satisfaction to the living, and the fallen can now rest in peace," Youk told AFP. Milestone of justice Duch's testimony at the tribunal served as an important milestone for millions of Cambodians who had suffered under the brutal regime, which killed up to two million during the brief four-year period. He had maintained a huge archive of photos, confessions and other documents with which UN prosecutors traced the final horrible months of thousands of inmates' lives. It revealed facets of the regime's secretive workings, such as the repeated purges driven by paranoia from the leadership that its enemies were within its ranks. Duch became a cadre in 1970 "in order to transform society, to oppose the government, to oppose torture", he said during the trial, and helped to oversee a series of jungle prisons. After the regime seized power in 1975, he was installed as head of Tuol Sleng, referred to as S-21 by the Khmer Rouge, which he staffed with uneducated teenage boys. He said they could be easily indoctrinated because they were "like a blank piece of paper". While he had begged for forgiveness for crimes committed at the jail, he later dismayed survivors by asking to be acquitted on the grounds that he was not a senior member of the Khmer Rouge hierarchy. "I respectfully and strictly followed the orders," Duch said in one of his final public statements to the court. Duch had been in and out of hospital for years and had serious respiratory problems towards the end of his life. He was admitted for treatment again this week and died shortly after midnight on Wednesday, tribunal spokesman Neth Pheaktra told AFP. The work of the court that Duch faced has long been tainted by its limited scope and the age of its defendants. Only two other people have been convicted by the tribunal. One of them, "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, considered the chief ideologue and architect of the murderous regime, died last year at the age of 93.

Khmer Rouge prison commander Comrade Duch dies aged 77

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly ordered the country's top customs official to shoot and kill drug smugglers in one of his most overt threats during a deadly four-year campaign that has been the centerpiece of his presidency.

Duterte has steadfastly denied authorising extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly and openly threatened drug dealers with death.

He and the national police, which has led enforcement of his anti-drug campaign, have said most of the suspects killed by police during the campaign fought back and threatened the lives of law enforcers.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-protesters-rally-against-dutertes-anti-terrorism-bill-305381">Philippines: Protesters rally against Duterte's anti-terrorism bill</a>

Duterte gave the order to Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero in televised remarks from a Cabinet meeting on the coronavirus pandemic Monday night.

Guerrero, a retired army general and former military chief of staff, was not around when Duterte spoke, but the president said he met Guerrero and two other officials earlier Monday at the presidential palace in Manila.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-philippines-president-duterte-is-playing-into-the-hands-of-xis-china-304890">How Philippines President Duterte is playing into the hands of Xi's China</a>

''Drug is still flowing inside the country through customs,''&nbsp;Duterte said, adding he has earlier approved Guerrero's request for firearms.

''I approved the purchase of firearms and until now you haven't killed even one.''

''I told him to shape up as drugs are&nbsp;still flowing in. I'd like you to kill there ... Anyway, I'll back you up and you won't get jailed. If it's drugs, you shoot and kill. That's the arrangement,''&nbsp;Duterte said without elaborating.

More than 5,700 mostly poor drug suspects have been killed under Duterte's anti-drug crackdown, which has alarmed human rights groups and Western governments and sparked an examination of alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Duterte has vowed to continue the deadly crackdown in his remaining two years in power.

The human rights groups have said their investigations showed some suspects were killed mercilessly then police officers altered the scene and placed firearms in the victims' hands to make it appear that they fought back. Police have said the rights groups and critics should file criminal complaints in court if they have evidence against officers.

Duterte had placed the corruption-plagued customs bureau temporarily under military control in 2018 after two large shipments of illegal drugs slipped past the agency through the port of Manila.

A congressional investigation into how the large shipments of suspected methamphetamine slipped through the tightly watched port ended with recommendations of charges against some customs officials and internal reforms in the customs bureau.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly ordered the country's top customs official to shoot and kill drug smugglers in one of his most overt threats during a deadly four-year campaign that has been the centerpiece of his presidency.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly ordered the country's top customs official to shoot and kill drug smugglers in one of his most overt threats during a deadly four-year campaign that has been the centerpiece of his presidency. Duterte has steadfastly denied authorising extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly and openly threatened drug dealers with death. He and the national police, which has led enforcement of his anti-drug campaign, have said most of the suspects killed by police during the campaign fought back and threatened the lives of law enforcers. Also read: Philippines: Protesters rally against Duterte's anti-terrorism bill Duterte gave the order to Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero in televised remarks from a Cabinet meeting on the coronavirus pandemic Monday night. Guerrero, a retired army general and former military chief of staff, was not around when Duterte spoke, but the president said he met Guerrero and two other officials earlier Monday at the presidential palace in Manila. Also read: How Philippines President Duterte is playing into the hands of Xi's China ''Drug is still flowing inside the country through customs,'' Duterte said, adding he has earlier approved Guerrero's request for firearms. ''I approved the purchase of firearms and until now you haven't killed even one.'' ''I told him to shape up as drugs are still flowing in. I'd like you to kill there ... Anyway, I'll back you up and you won't get jailed. If it's drugs, you shoot and kill. That's the arrangement,'' Duterte said without elaborating. More than 5,700 mostly poor drug suspects have been killed under Duterte's anti-drug crackdown, which has alarmed human rights groups and Western governments and sparked an examination of alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Duterte has vowed to continue the deadly crackdown in his remaining two years in power. The human rights groups have said their investigations showed some suspects were killed mercilessly then police officers altered the scene and placed firearms in the victims' hands to make it appear that they fought back. Police have said the rights groups and critics should file criminal complaints in court if they have evidence against officers. Duterte had placed the corruption-plagued customs bureau temporarily under military control in 2018 after two large shipments of illegal drugs slipped past the agency through the port of Manila. A congressional investigation into how the large shipments of suspected methamphetamine slipped through the tightly watched port ended with recommendations of charges against some customs officials and internal reforms in the customs bureau.

Philippine's Duterte orders customs chief to 'shoot and kill' drug smugglers

President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday&nbsp;invoked India's independence hero Mahatma&nbsp;Gandhi&nbsp;to explain the pardon of more than 100 opposition lawmakers and associates of opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Venezuela's announcement of the pardons on Monday came a day after Maduro claimed to be supporting measures to bring "reconciliation" and "dialogue" to the deeply polarized South American country ahead of December legislative elections.

The opposition figures, including more than 20 legislators who had been accused of conspiring against Maduro, were pardoned as the country heads toward parliamentary elections in December.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-accuses-united-states-of-plotting-coup-297298">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accuses United States of plotting coup</a>

Maduro said the pardons were a path towards peace.

Those pardoned via a presidential decree include legislator Freddy Guevara, who sought asylum in the Chilean diplomatic residence, as well as Roberto Marrero, who had served as chief of staff to opposition leader and congress chief Juan Guaido.

Many of those mentioned participated in a failed 2019 rebellion that sought to persuade the military to drop their backing for Maduro but ultimately failed to sway top commanders. Some of those pardoned are imprisoned, while others have sought diplomatic asylum or are in exile.

Opposition leaders say Maduro's 2018 re-election was fraudulent, and have recognised Guaido as the legitimate president. More than 50 other countries, including the United States, followed suit.

US dismisses pardoning

The United States on Tuesday downplayed&nbsp;Maduro's pardon warning not to be fooled by the "token" measures.

"Neither the Venezuelan people nor international community will be fooled by these token &amp; transparent acts," tweeted Michael Kozak, the acting assistant secretary of the Western Hemisphere division at the US State Department.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Let's not forget that Maduro continues to arbitrarily detain 100's of political prisoners. Neither the Venezuelan people nor international community will be fooled by these token &amp; transparent acts. Democracy can only prevail when all conditions for free &amp; fair elections are met.
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Kozak emphasized: "Let's not forget that Maduro continues to arbitrarily detain 100's of political prisoners."

Guaido and leading opposition figures have already vowed to boycott those polls over a lack of transparency.

In January 2019, National Assembly speaker Guaido challenged Maduro's authority by declaring himself acting president, quickly receiving the backing of more than 50 countries including the United States.

US President Donald Trump has been a staunch Guaido ally, and has increased pressure on the leftist Maduro regime with a series of sanctions.

Washington has also accused Maduro of "narcoterrorism" and placed a $15 million bounty on his head.

President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday invoked India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi to explain the pardon of more than 100 opposition lawmakers and associates of opposition leader Juan Guaido.

President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday invoked India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi to explain the pardon of more than 100 opposition lawmakers and associates of opposition leader Juan Guaido. Venezuela's announcement of the pardons on Monday came a day after Maduro claimed to be supporting measures to bring "reconciliation" and "dialogue" to the deeply polarized South American country ahead of December legislative elections. The opposition figures, including more than 20 legislators who had been accused of conspiring against Maduro, were pardoned as the country heads toward parliamentary elections in December. Also read: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accuses United States of plotting coup Maduro said the pardons were a path towards peace. Those pardoned via a presidential decree include legislator Freddy Guevara, who sought asylum in the Chilean diplomatic residence, as well as Roberto Marrero, who had served as chief of staff to opposition leader and congress chief Juan Guaido. Many of those mentioned participated in a failed 2019 rebellion that sought to persuade the military to drop their backing for Maduro but ultimately failed to sway top commanders. Some of those pardoned are imprisoned, while others have sought diplomatic asylum or are in exile. Opposition leaders say Maduro's 2018 re-election was fraudulent, and have recognised Guaido as the legitimate president. More than 50 other countries, including the United States, followed suit. US dismisses pardoning The United States on Tuesday downplayed Maduro's pardon warning not to be fooled by the "token" measures. "Neither the Venezuelan people nor international community will be fooled by these token & transparent acts," tweeted Michael Kozak, the acting assistant secretary of the Western Hemisphere division at the US State Department. Let's not forget that Maduro continues to arbitrarily detain 100's of political prisoners. Neither the Venezuelan people nor international community will be fooled by these token & transparent acts. Democracy can only prevail when all conditions for free & fair elections are met. — Michael G. Kozak (@WHAAsstSecty) September 1, 2020 × Kozak emphasized: "Let's not forget that Maduro continues to arbitrarily detain 100's of political prisoners." Guaido and leading opposition figures have already vowed to boycott those polls over a lack of transparency. In January 2019, National Assembly speaker Guaido challenged Maduro's authority by declaring himself acting president, quickly receiving the backing of more than 50 countries including the United States. US President Donald Trump has been a staunch Guaido ally, and has increased pressure on the leftist Maduro regime with a series of sanctions. Washington has also accused Maduro of "narcoterrorism" and placed a $15 million bounty on his head.

Venezuela's Maduro invokes Gandhi after pardoning opposition politicians

A Black cyclist was fatally shot by&nbsp;Los&nbsp;Angeles&nbsp;County police, the latest instance of police killing a Black man, as the county Sheriff's Department and a lawyer representing the man's family gave diverging accounts of the shooting on Tuesday.

The cyclist, 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee, was shot more than 20 times in the back after two sheriff's deputies tried to stop him for a bicycle code violation, said Benjamin Crump, who said he is representing Kizzee's family.

The&nbsp;Los&nbsp;Angeles&nbsp;Sheriff's Department said Kizzee, whose identity was confirmed by the county Medical Examiner-Coroner, was shot fewer than 20 times.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-arrest-19-protesters-in-portland-as-political-divide-hardens-324598" hreflang="en">Police arrest 19 protesters in Portland as political divide hardens</a>

The killing renewed protests in the city by demonstrators angered at deadly violence against Black people by police departments around the country.

Kizzee was riding his bike on Monday afternoon in&nbsp;Los&nbsp;Angeles&nbsp;County's Westmont neighborhood when two sheriff's deputies who had been driving by tried to stop him.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-acts-of-peaceful-protest-but-domestic-terror-says-trump-in-kenosha-324610">Not acts of peaceful protest but domestic terror, says Trump in Kenosha</a>

Kizzee abandoned his bike and ran for a block with the deputies in pursuit, Brandon Dean, a sheriff's department spokesman, told reporters on Monday evening. Kizzee then punched one of the deputies in the face, dropping a bundle of clothing he had been carrying, the department said.

The deputies said a semi-automatic handgun was in the dropped bundle, and both of them began shooting Kizzee, the department said.

Dean said he did not know what part of the bicycle code Kizzee was suspected to have violated or how many times the deputies shot him, other than saying it was fewer than 20. His office declined to answer questions about the shooting and the status of the two deputies on Tuesday.

The county's coroner was due to conduct an autopsy on Kizzee on Tuesday.

However, Crump, a civil rights lawyers known for representing Black victims of police violence around the country, in a Twitter post, said: "They say he ran, dropped clothes and handgun. He didn't pick it up, but cops shot him in the back 20+ times then left him for hours."

Crump asked on Twitter for people to send him any videos of the incident, saying that sheriff's deputies are not required to wear body cameras.

Angry demonstrators faced off with deputies outside a sheriff's department building on Monday evening, and a march was planned for Tuesday from the site of the shooting to the department building.

A Black cyclist was fatally shot by Los Angeles County police, the latest instance of police killing a Black man, as the county Sheriff's Department and a lawyer representing the man's family gave diverging accounts of the shooting on Tuesday.

A Black cyclist was fatally shot by Los Angeles County police, the latest instance of police killing a Black man, as the county Sheriff's Department and a lawyer representing the man's family gave diverging accounts of the shooting on Tuesday. The cyclist, 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee, was shot more than 20 times in the back after two sheriff's deputies tried to stop him for a bicycle code violation, said Benjamin Crump, who said he is representing Kizzee's family. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said Kizzee, whose identity was confirmed by the county Medical Examiner-Coroner, was shot fewer than 20 times. Also read: Police arrest 19 protesters in Portland as political divide hardens The killing renewed protests in the city by demonstrators angered at deadly violence against Black people by police departments around the country. Kizzee was riding his bike on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles County's Westmont neighborhood when two sheriff's deputies who had been driving by tried to stop him. Also read: Not acts of peaceful protest but domestic terror, says Trump in Kenosha Kizzee abandoned his bike and ran for a block with the deputies in pursuit, Brandon Dean, a sheriff's department spokesman, told reporters on Monday evening. Kizzee then punched one of the deputies in the face, dropping a bundle of clothing he had been carrying, the department said. The deputies said a semi-automatic handgun was in the dropped bundle, and both of them began shooting Kizzee, the department said. Dean said he did not know what part of the bicycle code Kizzee was suspected to have violated or how many times the deputies shot him, other than saying it was fewer than 20. His office declined to answer questions about the shooting and the status of the two deputies on Tuesday. The county's coroner was due to conduct an autopsy on Kizzee on Tuesday. However, Crump, a civil rights lawyers known for representing Black victims of police violence around the country, in a Twitter post, said: "They say he ran, dropped clothes and handgun. He didn't pick it up, but cops shot him in the back 20+ times then left him for hours." Crump asked on Twitter for people to send him any videos of the incident, saying that sheriff's deputies are not required to wear body cameras. Angry demonstrators faced off with deputies outside a sheriff's department building on Monday evening, and a march was planned for Tuesday from the site of the shooting to the department building.

Los Angeles: Protests erupt after police fatally shoots black man following altercation

September 2 in history: Vietnam gains independence, Tibetan Parliament's first election and more

French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon's embattled leaders had pledged Tuesday to form a crisis cabinet within two weeks to push forward with key reforms, as he visited the disaster-hit country.&nbsp;

Macron is&nbsp;in Beirut for a second time since an August 4 explosion there which killed more than 180 people, laid waste to entire city districts and fuelled popular rage against the country's political elite.

He attended muted celebrations marking the centenary of Greater Lebanon, shortly after political leaders settled on a new prime minister, Mustapha Adib, to form a cabinet and lead the country out of political turmoil and an economic crisis that was already crippling the country before the portside blast.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-warns-lebanese-leaders-of-sanctions-if-reforms-are-not-swift-324479" hreflang="en">Macron warns Lebanese leaders of sanctions if reforms are not swift</a>

"What all political parties without exception have committed to this evening right here, is that the formation of this government will not take more than 15 days," he said.

Macron had set himself an ambitious goal for his return visit:&nbsp;to push for deep change, but without being seen as meddling in the former French mandate.

"This is the last chance for the Lebanese system," he warned earlier.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-from-devastating-beirut-blast-to-new-lebanese-government-324543" hreflang="en">Timeline: From devastating Beirut blast to new Lebanese government</a>

Macron spoke to the press after meeting top Lebanese politicians, while clashes erupted in central Beirut between security forces and protesters rejecting the new prime minister.

One held a poster aloft urging Macron: "Do not cooperate with the corrupt and criminal."

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New conferences&nbsp;

The French leader arrived Monday, just hours after Adib, a little-known 48-year-old academic and former ambassador to Germany, was designated to form a&nbsp;government.&nbsp;

Macron said it was not his place to "approve" the designation of Adib, whom he met late Monday and again on Tuesday.

The premier designate "has to be given all the tools to succeed... so he can implement reforms" long demanded by the international community, Macron said.

The Beirut explosion compounded Lebanon's worst economic crisis since the war, which has reached the point where the UN has warned that more than half of the population risk food shortages by the end of the year.

On August 9, international donors pledged over&nbsp;$300 million&nbsp;in emergency aid, during a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations.

Macron said he was ready to host a second Lebanon aid conference in the second half of October.

He added he had also invited the president, the prime minister and parliament speaker to a second political conference at the same time.

Macron had kicked off his trip not by visiting political leaders, but by spending more than an hour Monday with singing legend Fairuz, who at 85 is a rare unifying figure in Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Macron attended a series of events to mark 100 years since French mandate authorities proclaimed the creation of Greater Lebanon.

In the Jaj forest northeast of Beirut, he planted a cedar tree,&nbsp;Lebanon's national symbol, to express "confidence in the future of the country," his office said.

Macron also returned for a second visit to Beirut port, ground zero of the colossal blast.

French air force jets flew overhead, leaving trails of red, white and green smoke, the colours of the Lebanese flag.

Some on social media criticised the aerial manoeuvre, saying it could trigger traumatic memories among people who experienced the port blast and the 1975-1990 civil war.

Hezbollah has 'popular base'

Activists have blamed the country's entrenched political class for the August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate after languishing unsafe in the port for years.

They have rejected the choice of Adib as premier, over being too close to established political circles.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters called for the proclamation of a secular state, to replace the multi-confessional country's sectarian power sharing system.

Clashes erupted in the evening, sparking condemnation from activists who denounced the police for beating protesters and alleged that French tear gas had been used.

Representatives of the powerful Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement, designated by the US as a terrorist group, were among those who met Macron Tuesday.&nbsp;

Macron said Hezbollah, which is part of a bloc that has a majority in parliament, "is probably in parliament because of intimidation but also because other forces have failed to run the country well," but it also had a "popular base".

The issue of the disarmement of the group's military would eventually need to be broached, he said, though not immediately.

"This is exactly the discussion we had an hour ago... It should not be a taboo," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon's embattled leaders had pledged Tuesday to form a crisis cabinet within two weeks to push forward with key reforms, as he visited the disaster-hit country.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon's embattled leaders had pledged Tuesday to form a crisis cabinet within two weeks to push forward with key reforms, as he visited the disaster-hit country. Macron is in Beirut for a second time since an August 4 explosion there which killed more than 180 people, laid waste to entire city districts and fuelled popular rage against the country's political elite. He attended muted celebrations marking the centenary of Greater Lebanon, shortly after political leaders settled on a new prime minister, Mustapha Adib, to form a cabinet and lead the country out of political turmoil and an economic crisis that was already crippling the country before the portside blast. Also read| Macron warns Lebanese leaders of sanctions if reforms are not swift "What all political parties without exception have committed to this evening right here, is that the formation of this government will not take more than 15 days," he said. Macron had set himself an ambitious goal for his return visit: to push for deep change, but without being seen as meddling in the former French mandate. "This is the last chance for the Lebanese system," he warned earlier. Also see| Timeline: From devastating Beirut blast to new Lebanese government Macron spoke to the press after meeting top Lebanese politicians, while clashes erupted in central Beirut between security forces and protesters rejecting the new prime minister. One held a poster aloft urging Macron: "Do not cooperate with the corrupt and criminal." New conferences The French leader arrived Monday, just hours after Adib, a little-known 48-year-old academic and former ambassador to Germany, was designated to form a government. Macron said it was not his place to "approve" the designation of Adib, whom he met late Monday and again on Tuesday. The premier designate "has to be given all the tools to succeed... so he can implement reforms" long demanded by the international community, Macron said. The Beirut explosion compounded Lebanon's worst economic crisis since the war, which has reached the point where the UN has warned that more than half of the population risk food shortages by the end of the year. On August 9, international donors pledged over $300 million in emergency aid, during a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations. Macron said he was ready to host a second Lebanon aid conference in the second half of October. He added he had also invited the president, the prime minister and parliament speaker to a second political conference at the same time. Macron had kicked off his trip not by visiting political leaders, but by spending more than an hour Monday with singing legend Fairuz, who at 85 is a rare unifying figure in Lebanon. On Tuesday, Macron attended a series of events to mark 100 years since French mandate authorities proclaimed the creation of Greater Lebanon. In the Jaj forest northeast of Beirut, he planted a cedar tree, Lebanon's national symbol, to express "confidence in the future of the country," his office said. Macron also returned for a second visit to Beirut port, ground zero of the colossal blast. French air force jets flew overhead, leaving trails of red, white and green smoke, the colours of the Lebanese flag. Some on social media criticised the aerial manoeuvre, saying it could trigger traumatic memories among people who experienced the port blast and the 1975-1990 civil war. Hezbollah has 'popular base' Activists have blamed the country's entrenched political class for the August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate after languishing unsafe in the port for years. They have rejected the choice of Adib as premier, over being too close to established political circles. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters called for the proclamation of a secular state, to replace the multi-confessional country's sectarian power sharing system. Clashes erupted in the evening, sparking condemnation from activists who denounced the police for beating protesters and alleged that French tear gas had been used. Representatives of the powerful Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement, designated by the US as a terrorist group, were among those who met Macron Tuesday. Macron said Hezbollah, which is part of a bloc that has a majority in parliament, "is probably in parliament because of intimidation but also because other forces have failed to run the country well," but it also had a "popular base". The issue of the disarmement of the group's military would eventually need to be broached, he said, though not immediately. "This is exactly the discussion we had an hour ago... It should not be a taboo," he said.

Lebanon leaders have promised cabinet within two weeks, says Macron

A Russian influence operation posed as an independent news outlet to target left-wing voters in the United States and Britain, including by recruiting freelance journalists to write about domestic politics, Facebook said on Tuesday.

Facebook Inc&nbsp;said the operation, which partly focused on US&nbsp;politics and racial tensions in the run-up to the November&nbsp;3 presidential election, centred around a pseudo media organisation called Peace Data.

The website operated 13 Facebook accounts and two pages, which were set up in May and suspended on Monday for using fake identities and other forms of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour," the company said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-reportedly-raised-300-million-in-august-highest-ever-for-a-us-presidential-candidate-324595" hreflang="en">Joe Biden reportedly raised $300 million in August, highest ever for a US presidential candidate</a>

Facebook said its investigation "found links to individuals associated with past activity by the Russian Internet Research Agency", a St Petersburg-based company which US&nbsp;intelligence officials say was central to Russian efforts to sway the 2016 presidential election.

Twitter said it had also suspended five accounts as part of the operation which it could "reliably attribute to Russian state actors."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerberg-says-facebooks-failure-to-remove-militia-page-an-operational-mistake-323884" hreflang="en">Zuckerberg says Facebook's failure to remove militia page an 'operational mistake'</a>

Peace Data did not respond to an emailed request for comment and Russian officials were not immediately available after normal working hours in Moscow. Russia has previously denied US&nbsp;allegations of trying to sway elections and says it does not interfere in the domestic politics of other countries.

Investigators at social media analytics firm Graphika studied the operation and said Peace Data predominately targeted progressive and left-wing groups in the United States and Britain, but also posted about events in other countries including Algeria and Egypt.

It said in a report that the website pushed messages critical of right-wing voices and the centre left, and in the United States "paid particular attention to racial and political tensions", including civil rights protests and criticism of President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

Graphika said only around 5 per cent&nbsp;of Peace Data's English-language articles directly concerned the US&nbsp;election, but that "this facet of the operation suggests an attempt to build a left-wing audience and steer it away from Biden's campaign."

The findings support an assessment by the United States' top counterintelligence official last month, who said Moscow was using online disinformation to try to undercut the Biden campaign, and could stoke fears about further Russian efforts to interfere in the November vote.

A spokesman for the Trump campaign said the president would win re-election "fair and square and we don’t need or want any foreign interference." The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The US&nbsp;Office of the Director of National Intelligence referred questions to the FBI. In a statement, the FBI said it had flagged the activity to Facebook.

"The FBI provided information in this matter to better protect against threats to the nation's security and our democratic processes," the statement said.

Information provided by FBI

Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said his team acted on the FBI's tip and suspended the accounts before they gathered a large online following. Only 14,000 people followed one or more of the suspended accounts, he said.

"I think it's very important that we know about this," Gleicher said. "I want people to know that Russian actors are still trying and their tactics are evolving, but I wouldn't want people to think that this was a large, successful campaign."

Peace Data publishes in English and Arabic and says on its website it is a non-profit news organisation seeking "the truth about key world events".

But the three permanent staff listed online are not real, according to the Graphika analysis, which found the profiles used computer-generated photographs of non-existent people and were linked to fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and business-networking site LinkedIn.

The fake personas advertised for writers on freelance journalism websites and Twitter, offering up to $75 for an article, screenshots of the adverts seen by Reuters showed.

Peace Data's website lists 22 "contributors", mostly freelance journalists in the United States and Britain. Facebook and Graphika said there was no indication the writers knew who was behind the website.

Peace Data "staff" then shared the articles, covering a wide range of political issues, in left-wing social media groups, Graphika said. The website published over 700 articles in English and Arabic between February and August this year.

Ben Nimmo, head of investigations at Graphika, said co-opting real people made it easier for political influence operations to remain undetected.

"What we've seen recently has been much smaller and much lower profile," he said. "It looks like they're trying harder and harder to hide."

A Russian influence operation posed as an independent news outlet to target left-wing voters in the United States and Britain, including by recruiting freelance journalists to write about domestic politics, Facebook said on Tuesday.

A Russian influence operation posed as an independent news outlet to target left-wing voters in the United States and Britain, including by recruiting freelance journalists to write about domestic politics, Facebook said on Tuesday. Facebook Inc said the operation, which partly focused on US politics and racial tensions in the run-up to the November 3 presidential election, centred around a pseudo media organisation called Peace Data. The website operated 13 Facebook accounts and two pages, which were set up in May and suspended on Monday for using fake identities and other forms of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour," the company said. Also read: Joe Biden reportedly raised $300 million in August, highest ever for a US presidential candidate Facebook said its investigation "found links to individuals associated with past activity by the Russian Internet Research Agency", a St Petersburg-based company which US intelligence officials say was central to Russian efforts to sway the 2016 presidential election. Twitter said it had also suspended five accounts as part of the operation which it could "reliably attribute to Russian state actors." Also read: Zuckerberg says Facebook's failure to remove militia page an 'operational mistake' Peace Data did not respond to an emailed request for comment and Russian officials were not immediately available after normal working hours in Moscow. Russia has previously denied US allegations of trying to sway elections and says it does not interfere in the domestic politics of other countries. Investigators at social media analytics firm Graphika studied the operation and said Peace Data predominately targeted progressive and left-wing groups in the United States and Britain, but also posted about events in other countries including Algeria and Egypt. It said in a report that the website pushed messages critical of right-wing voices and the centre left, and in the United States "paid particular attention to racial and political tensions", including civil rights protests and criticism of President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Graphika said only around 5 per cent of Peace Data's English-language articles directly concerned the US election, but that "this facet of the operation suggests an attempt to build a left-wing audience and steer it away from Biden's campaign." The findings support an assessment by the United States' top counterintelligence official last month, who said Moscow was using online disinformation to try to undercut the Biden campaign, and could stoke fears about further Russian efforts to interfere in the November vote. A spokesman for the Trump campaign said the president would win re-election "fair and square and we don’t need or want any foreign interference." The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence referred questions to the FBI. In a statement, the FBI said it had flagged the activity to Facebook. "The FBI provided information in this matter to better protect against threats to the nation's security and our democratic processes," the statement said. Information provided by FBI Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said his team acted on the FBI's tip and suspended the accounts before they gathered a large online following. Only 14,000 people followed one or more of the suspended accounts, he said. "I think it's very important that we know about this," Gleicher said. "I want people to know that Russian actors are still trying and their tactics are evolving, but I wouldn't want people to think that this was a large, successful campaign." Peace Data publishes in English and Arabic and says on its website it is a non-profit news organisation seeking "the truth about key world events". But the three permanent staff listed online are not real, according to the Graphika analysis, which found the profiles used computer-generated photographs of non-existent people and were linked to fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and business-networking site LinkedIn. The fake personas advertised for writers on freelance journalism websites and Twitter, offering up to $75 for an article, screenshots of the adverts seen by Reuters showed. Peace Data's website lists 22 "contributors", mostly freelance journalists in the United States and Britain. Facebook and Graphika said there was no indication the writers knew who was behind the website. Peace Data "staff" then shared the articles, covering a wide range of political issues, in left-wing social media groups, Graphika said. The website published over 700 articles in English and Arabic between February and August this year. Ben Nimmo, head of investigations at Graphika, said co-opting real people made it easier for political influence operations to remain undetected. "What we've seen recently has been much smaller and much lower profile," he said. "It looks like they're trying harder and harder to hide."

Russian influence campaign targeted left-wing voters in US and UK, says Facebook

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin&nbsp;will visit Belarus on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday, after weeks of protests in Minsk against a disputed presidential election.

"Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to Minsk will take place literally tomorrow," Lavrov said at the start of a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-vows-military-support-for-belarus-lukashenko-323552">Russian President Putin vows military support for Belarus' Lukashenko</a>

Belarus&nbsp;is Russia's closest ally among former Soviet states, and its territory is integral to Moscow's European defence strategy.&nbsp;The two are also joined by a treaty that, at least on paper, proclaims a "union state," which Putin has sought to develop into more of a political and economic reality.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said he had set up a reserve police force to support Lukashenko if necessary, but he saw no need to deploy them for now.

Russia has signalled its willingness to prop up Lukashenko's government and the two countries are discussing the refinancing of&nbsp;Belarusian debt.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-protests-in-belarus-as-opposition-squabbles-us-weighs-sanctions-324702" hreflang="en">New protests in Belarus as opposition squabbles, US weighs sanctions</a>

Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of rallies and protests against veteran President Alexander Lukashenko.

Lukashenko faces the biggest challenge of his 26-year rule since claiming victory in an election last month that opponents say was rigged. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and shows no sign of backing down despite the threat of Western sanctions.

The United States is considering sanctions on seven individuals it says were involved in falsifying the election and in violence against protesters, a senior US&nbsp;State Department official said.

"It is a minimal effort to ... not just name and shame but to show that when people both steal elections and commit violence against peaceful protesters exercising fundamental freedoms of assembly and speech that there needs to be some accountability," the official said.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Belarus on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday, after weeks of protests in Minsk against a disputed presidential election.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Belarus on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday, after weeks of protests in Minsk against a disputed presidential election. "Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to Minsk will take place literally tomorrow," Lavrov said at the start of a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported. Also read: Russian President Putin vows military support for Belarus' Lukashenko Belarus is Russia's closest ally among former Soviet states, and its territory is integral to Moscow's European defence strategy. The two are also joined by a treaty that, at least on paper, proclaims a "union state," which Putin has sought to develop into more of a political and economic reality. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said he had set up a reserve police force to support Lukashenko if necessary, but he saw no need to deploy them for now. Russia has signalled its willingness to prop up Lukashenko's government and the two countries are discussing the refinancing of Belarusian debt. Also read: New protests in Belarus as opposition squabbles, US weighs sanctions Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in Belarus on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of rallies and protests against veteran President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko faces the biggest challenge of his 26-year rule since claiming victory in an election last month that opponents say was rigged. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and shows no sign of backing down despite the threat of Western sanctions. The United States is considering sanctions on seven individuals it says were involved in falsifying the election and in violence against protesters, a senior US State Department official said. "It is a minimal effort to ... not just name and shame but to show that when people both steal elections and commit violence against peaceful protesters exercising fundamental freedoms of assembly and speech that there needs to be some accountability," the official said.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to visit Belarus on September 3

Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of rallies and protests against veteran President Alexander Lukashenko.

Lukashenko faces the biggest challenge of his 26-year rule since claiming victory in an election last month that opponents say was rigged. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and shows no sign of backing down despite the threat of Western sanctions.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vladimir-putin-agrees-to-meet-belarus-president-lukashenko-soon-324399/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The United States is considering sanctions on seven individuals it says were involved in falsifying the election and in violence against protesters, a senior US&nbsp;State Department official said.

"It is a minimal effort to ... not just name and shame but to show that when people both steal elections and commit violence against peaceful protesters exercising fundamental freedoms of assembly and speech that there needs to be some accountability," the official said.

In a rare public reproach, Lukashenko's main challenger, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, issued a statement criticising the strategy of another opposition group with which she formed an alliance during the election campaign.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protesters-hold-candlelight-vigil-outside-belarus-embassy-in-brussels-324584/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile two days after the Aug. 9 election. From her new base in Lithuania, she declared herself the rightful winner and launched an opposition council with the stated aim of ensuring a peaceful transfer of power.

Tsikhanouskaya said the council "should not be dominated by any political party", after opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova and the team of jailed presidential candidate Viktor Babariko announced the creation of a party called 'Together'.

The declared aim of Babariko and Kolesnikova's camp to enact constitutional reform was a distraction from the goal of removing Lukashenko and holding new elections, Tsikhanouskaya said.

Kolesnikova's camp later said it did not wish to disrupt the council's work, and that it backed Tsikhanouskaya's call for new elections and her electoral programme.

"Not a single&nbsp;Belarusian doubts Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's victory, and that her victory was stolen," it said.

'Eventful summer is over' 
 
Many state-run schools were used as polling stations and teachers helped count ballots in the election, which the election commission said Lukashenko won with an 80 per cent&nbsp;vote share.

Answering a call from Tsikhanouskaya, students waving opposition flags staged marches and collected signatures outside several colleges in Minsk calling for Lukashenko to step down.

Video footage showed students, some wearing rucksacks, being dragged away from a crowd and detained by masked security forces. Police also detained seven journalists covering the protests for what the government said were document checks.

There were also new protests at two of the large industrial plants that underpin Lukashenko's Soviet-style economic model, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and the Minsk Tractor Works, local media reported. Workers at the&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;Hi-Tech Park on the outskirts of the capital also protested.

Thousands of people were detained after the election and United Nations human rights investigators said on Tuesday they had received reports of hundreds of cases of torture, beatings and mistreatment.

The government has denied abusing detainees.

Lukashenko sought to draw a line under the protests as he visited a vocational training college.

"The president emphasized that the eventful summer is over," the official Belta news agency said.

Lukashenko has described the protesters as "rats" backed from abroad. On Monday, a third member of the opposition council was detained.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has imposed travel bans on Lukashenko and 29 other officials. The European Union has been working on a list of individuals to target with sanctions but is expected to exclude Lukashenko.

Belarus&nbsp;is Russia's closest ally among former Soviet states, and its territory is integral to Moscow's European defence strategy.

Russia has signalled its willingness to prop up Lukashenko's government and the two countries are discussing the refinancing of&nbsp;Belarusian debt, Interfax news agency reported.

Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in Belarus on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of rallies and protests against veteran President Alexander Lukashenko.

Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in Belarus on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of rallies and protests against veteran President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko faces the biggest challenge of his 26-year rule since claiming victory in an election last month that opponents say was rigged. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and shows no sign of backing down despite the threat of Western sanctions. The United States is considering sanctions on seven individuals it says were involved in falsifying the election and in violence against protesters, a senior US State Department official said. "It is a minimal effort to ... not just name and shame but to show that when people both steal elections and commit violence against peaceful protesters exercising fundamental freedoms of assembly and speech that there needs to be some accountability," the official said. In a rare public reproach, Lukashenko's main challenger, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, issued a statement criticising the strategy of another opposition group with which she formed an alliance during the election campaign. Tsikhanouskaya fled into exile two days after the Aug. 9 election. From her new base in Lithuania, she declared herself the rightful winner and launched an opposition council with the stated aim of ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. Tsikhanouskaya said the council "should not be dominated by any political party", after opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova and the team of jailed presidential candidate Viktor Babariko announced the creation of a party called 'Together'. The declared aim of Babariko and Kolesnikova's camp to enact constitutional reform was a distraction from the goal of removing Lukashenko and holding new elections, Tsikhanouskaya said. Kolesnikova's camp later said it did not wish to disrupt the council's work, and that it backed Tsikhanouskaya's call for new elections and her electoral programme. "Not a single Belarusian doubts Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's victory, and that her victory was stolen," it said. 'Eventful summer is over' Many state-run schools were used as polling stations and teachers helped count ballots in the election, which the election commission said Lukashenko won with an 80 per cent vote share. Answering a call from Tsikhanouskaya, students waving opposition flags staged marches and collected signatures outside several colleges in Minsk calling for Lukashenko to step down. Video footage showed students, some wearing rucksacks, being dragged away from a crowd and detained by masked security forces. Police also detained seven journalists covering the protests for what the government said were document checks. There were also new protests at two of the large industrial plants that underpin Lukashenko's Soviet-style economic model, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and the Minsk Tractor Works, local media reported. Workers at the Belarus Hi-Tech Park on the outskirts of the capital also protested. Thousands of people were detained after the election and United Nations human rights investigators said on Tuesday they had received reports of hundreds of cases of torture, beatings and mistreatment. The government has denied abusing detainees. Lukashenko sought to draw a line under the protests as he visited a vocational training college. "The president emphasized that the eventful summer is over," the official Belta news agency said. Lukashenko has described the protesters as "rats" backed from abroad. On Monday, a third member of the opposition council was detained. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has imposed travel bans on Lukashenko and 29 other officials. The European Union has been working on a list of individuals to target with sanctions but is expected to exclude Lukashenko. Belarus is Russia's closest ally among former Soviet states, and its territory is integral to Moscow's European defence strategy. Russia has signalled its willingness to prop up Lukashenko's government and the two countries are discussing the refinancing of Belarusian debt, Interfax news agency reported.

New protests in Belarus as opposition squabbles, US weighs sanctions

From Pakistan to Lebanon,&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia is scaling back its famed chequebook diplomacy, a longstanding policy of splashing petro-dollars in exchange for influence, which observers say has yielded few tangible gains.

For decades, the wealthy kingdom funnelled billions in aid to its allies, and to its enemies' enemies,&nbsp;in a bid to bolster its position as an Arab powerhouse and leader of the Muslim world.

But as plummeting demand has sapped its oil revenues, the kingdom is rethinking old alliances that&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;observers say have swallowed their cash while offering little in return, at a time when its quest for regional supremacy is increasingly challenged by rivals Iran, Turkey and Qatar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-crown-prince-mohammad-bin-salmans-favourite-weapon-corruption-charges-324573" hreflang="en">Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's favourite weapon - corruption charges!</a>

A swathe of regional countries, from Jordan and Lebanon to Egypt, Palestine and Pakistan, have been the top recipients of&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;aid over the past decade, said Middle East expert Yasmine Farouk.

"The dual economic impact of the coronavirus and low oil prices, however, may lead&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia to restructure and rationalise its aid," said Farouk, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"The country is already seeking to end the perception of being 'an ATM'."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saudi-arabia-planning-to-stop-funding-mosques-in-foreign-countries-report-276940">Saudi Arabia planning to stop funding mosques in foreign countries: Report</a>

The kingdom has contributed billions to Lebanon's post-civil war reconstruction, but it has voiced frustration over its failure to rein in Hezbollah, a powerful group backed by its arch-enemy Iran.

"Saudi&nbsp;Arabia will not continue to pay Hezbollah's bills, and the Lebanese have to shoulder their responsibilities towards their country,"&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;columnist Khalid al-Sulaiman wrote recently for the pro-government Okaz newspaper.

"It is no longer possible for&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia to continue paying billions to Lebanon in the morning and receive insults at night.&nbsp;

"This situation is no longer compatible with the new&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;foreign policy, as&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;money does not fall from the sky or grow in the desert."

&nbsp;'Party is over'

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia also appears frustrated with Pakistan after the longstanding ally pushed Riyadh to take a firm stand on the disputed region of Kashmir and threatened to take the issue to other Muslim forums.

Such a threat is particularly disconcerting for&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sites and views itself as the leader of the Muslim world.

The kingdom recently recalled $1 billion of a $3 billion loan from cash-strapped Pakistan, and an expired multi-billion dollar oil credit facility to Islamabad has not been renewed, a diplomatic source told AFP.

"Pakistani elites have a bad habit of taking&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;support for granted, given what&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;has done for Pakistan over the decades," tweeted Ali Shihabi, a&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;author and analyst.

"Well the party is over, and Pakistan needs to deliver value to this relationship. It's no longer a free lunch or a one-way street."

Riyadh's ties with Pakistan have historically been "very warm" but the relationship has been lopsided, said&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;prince Talal bin Mohammad al-Faisal.

"It (has) only benefited one side in 'real world' terms," he tweeted.

"That side is Pakistan."

'Take their money'

Pakistan and Egypt, another ally which has received billions in aid, rebuffed calls for ground troops to support the&nbsp;Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen against Iran-linked Huthi rebels.

Further stirring consternation in Riyadh, a leaked 2015 audio recording showed Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi allegedly mocking Gulf powers including&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia, saying they were rolling in money "like rice".

That sentiment was echoed in 2018 by US President Donald Trump when he hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office and held up a chart listing military hardware sales worth billions to Riyadh.

"Take their money," Trump told NBC News the following year, justifying backing the kingdom's rulers after journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder sparked global uproar.

With so many of its relationships rendered transactional, Riyadh is struggling to win respect and its once-leading role in the Muslim world is increasingly challenged by its rivals, observers say.

The Saudis are increasingly resentful of "ungrateful" allies, said Farouk.

States that have traditionally benefited from&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;largesse, including Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, have "already seen instances in which aid was frozen, decreased or cut off", she added.

From Pakistan to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is scaling back its famed chequebook diplomacy, a longstanding policy of splashing petro-dollars in exchange for influence, which observers say has yielded few tangible gains.

From Pakistan to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is scaling back its famed chequebook diplomacy, a longstanding policy of splashing petro-dollars in exchange for influence, which observers say has yielded few tangible gains. For decades, the wealthy kingdom funnelled billions in aid to its allies, and to its enemies' enemies, in a bid to bolster its position as an Arab powerhouse and leader of the Muslim world. But as plummeting demand has sapped its oil revenues, the kingdom is rethinking old alliances that Saudi observers say have swallowed their cash while offering little in return, at a time when its quest for regional supremacy is increasingly challenged by rivals Iran, Turkey and Qatar. Also read: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's favourite weapon - corruption charges! A swathe of regional countries, from Jordan and Lebanon to Egypt, Palestine and Pakistan, have been the top recipients of Saudi aid over the past decade, said Middle East expert Yasmine Farouk. "The dual economic impact of the coronavirus and low oil prices, however, may lead Saudi Arabia to restructure and rationalise its aid," said Farouk, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "The country is already seeking to end the perception of being 'an ATM'." Also read: Saudi Arabia planning to stop funding mosques in foreign countries: Report The kingdom has contributed billions to Lebanon's post-civil war reconstruction, but it has voiced frustration over its failure to rein in Hezbollah, a powerful group backed by its arch-enemy Iran. "Saudi Arabia will not continue to pay Hezbollah's bills, and the Lebanese have to shoulder their responsibilities towards their country," Saudi columnist Khalid al-Sulaiman wrote recently for the pro-government Okaz newspaper. "It is no longer possible for Saudi Arabia to continue paying billions to Lebanon in the morning and receive insults at night. "This situation is no longer compatible with the new Saudi foreign policy, as Saudi money does not fall from the sky or grow in the desert." 'Party is over' Saudi Arabia also appears frustrated with Pakistan after the longstanding ally pushed Riyadh to take a firm stand on the disputed region of Kashmir and threatened to take the issue to other Muslim forums. Such a threat is particularly disconcerting for Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sites and views itself as the leader of the Muslim world. The kingdom recently recalled $1 billion of a $3 billion loan from cash-strapped Pakistan, and an expired multi-billion dollar oil credit facility to Islamabad has not been renewed, a diplomatic source told AFP. "Pakistani elites have a bad habit of taking Saudi support for granted, given what Saudi has done for Pakistan over the decades," tweeted Ali Shihabi, a Saudi author and analyst. "Well the party is over, and Pakistan needs to deliver value to this relationship. It's no longer a free lunch or a one-way street." Riyadh's ties with Pakistan have historically been "very warm" but the relationship has been lopsided, said Saudi prince Talal bin Mohammad al-Faisal. "It (has) only benefited one side in 'real world' terms," he tweeted. "That side is Pakistan." 'Take their money' Pakistan and Egypt, another ally which has received billions in aid, rebuffed calls for ground troops to support the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen against Iran-linked Huthi rebels. Further stirring consternation in Riyadh, a leaked 2015 audio recording showed Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi allegedly mocking Gulf powers including Saudi Arabia, saying they were rolling in money "like rice". That sentiment was echoed in 2018 by US President Donald Trump when he hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office and held up a chart listing military hardware sales worth billions to Riyadh. "Take their money," Trump told NBC News the following year, justifying backing the kingdom's rulers after journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder sparked global uproar. With so many of its relationships rendered transactional, Riyadh is struggling to win respect and its once-leading role in the Muslim world is increasingly challenged by its rivals, observers say. The Saudis are increasingly resentful of "ungrateful" allies, said Farouk. States that have traditionally benefited from Saudi largesse, including Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, have "already seen instances in which aid was frozen, decreased or cut off", she added.

Spurned by allies, Saudi Arabia rethinks chequebook diplomacy

Fed up with being confused for China amid the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing's stepped-up efforts to assert sovereignty, Taiwan said on Wednesday it would redesign its passport to give greater prominence to the island's name.

Taiwan&nbsp;has complained during the outbreak that its nationals have encountered problems entering other countries, as&nbsp;Taiwanese passports have the words "Republic of China", its formal name, written in large English font at the top, with "Taiwan" printed at the bottom.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Times change &amp; so do passports. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TAIWAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TAIWAN</a>🇹🇼 is front &amp; center of the new design. Greater visibility equals easier recognition &amp; less confusion. The country's passport is the 33rd best worldwide, affording holders visa privileges in 170 countries &amp; regions! 
➡️<a href="https://t.co/BIDqHtGkMh">https://t.co/BIDqHtGkMh</a> <a href="https://t.co/vhe5Suwh62">pic.twitter.com/vhe5Suwh62</a>
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MOFA_Taiwan/status/1300995149942501376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The new passport, expected to come into circulation in January, removes the large English words "Republic of China", though the name in Chinese characters will remain, and enlarges the word "Taiwan" in English.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The design of the new Taiwan passport, due to apply from Jan 2021, is out. Sadly it does not feature any birds with bubble tea on their heads but does significantly enlarged the word “Taiwan” in English and relegate “Republic of China” to small text enclosing the national emblem. <a href="https://t.co/iBLoQewxAP">pic.twitter.com/iBLoQewxAP</a>
— Ryan Ho Kilpatrick 何松濤 (@rhokilpatrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1300992198800863232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Taiwan&nbsp;Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said new passports were needed to prevent their nationals being mistaken for Chinese citizens, especially with the stepped up entry checks many countries have begun since the pandemic began.

<img alt="Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2151abe9-2a08-4832-a53b-a522d29d5e03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2865%29_4.jpg" />

Taiwan&nbsp;Foreign Minister Joseph Wu&nbsp;unveils the new passport design in Taipei,&nbsp;Taiwan 
&nbsp;

"Since the beginning of the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak this year our people have kept hoping that we can give more prominence to&nbsp;Taiwan's visibility, avoiding people mistakenly thinking they are from China," Wu told reporters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/i-am-taiwanese-czech-speaker-channels-kennedy-in-taiwan-speech-324470">'I am Taiwanese': Czech speaker channels Kennedy in Taiwan speech</a>

China claims democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as its sovereign territory, and says only it has the right to speak for the island internationally, a position it has pushed strongly during the pandemic, especially at the World Health Organization.

Taipei says this has confused countries and led them to impose the same restrictions on&nbsp;Taiwanese travellers as on Chinese, and has minimised&nbsp;Taiwan's own successful efforts to control the virus and far lower case number.

Taiwan&nbsp;has been debating for years who it is and what exactly its relationship should be with China, including the island's name. But the pandemic has shot the issue back into the spotlight.

The government is also considering a name change - or at least a full redesign,&nbsp;for&nbsp;Taiwan's largest carrier, China Airlines, again to avoid confusion with China.

Fed up with being confused for China amid the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing's stepped-up efforts to assert sovereignty, Taiwan said on Wednesday it would redesign its passport to give greater prominence to the island's name.

Fed up with being confused for China amid the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing's stepped-up efforts to assert sovereignty, Taiwan said on Wednesday it would redesign its passport to give greater prominence to the island's name. Taiwan has complained during the outbreak that its nationals have encountered problems entering other countries, as Taiwanese passports have the words "Republic of China", its formal name, written in large English font at the top, with "Taiwan" printed at the bottom. Times change & so do passports. #TAIWAN🇹🇼 is front & center of the new design. Greater visibility equals easier recognition & less confusion. The country's passport is the 33rd best worldwide, affording holders visa privileges in 170 countries & regions! ➡️https://t.co/BIDqHtGkMh pic.twitter.com/vhe5Suwh62 — 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) September 2, 2020 × The new passport, expected to come into circulation in January, removes the large English words "Republic of China", though the name in Chinese characters will remain, and enlarges the word "Taiwan" in English. The design of the new Taiwan passport, due to apply from Jan 2021, is out. Sadly it does not feature any birds with bubble tea on their heads but does significantly enlarged the word “Taiwan” in English and relegate “Republic of China” to small text enclosing the national emblem. pic.twitter.com/iBLoQewxAP — Ryan Ho Kilpatrick 何松濤 (@rhokilpatrick) September 2, 2020 × Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said new passports were needed to prevent their nationals being mistaken for Chinese citizens, especially with the stepped up entry checks many countries have begun since the pandemic began. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu unveils the new passport design in Taipei, Taiwan "Since the beginning of the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak this year our people have kept hoping that we can give more prominence to Taiwan's visibility, avoiding people mistakenly thinking they are from China," Wu told reporters. Also read: 'I am Taiwanese': Czech speaker channels Kennedy in Taiwan speech China claims democratic Taiwan as its sovereign territory, and says only it has the right to speak for the island internationally, a position it has pushed strongly during the pandemic, especially at the World Health Organization. Taipei says this has confused countries and led them to impose the same restrictions on Taiwanese travellers as on Chinese, and has minimised Taiwan's own successful efforts to control the virus and far lower case number. Taiwan has been debating for years who it is and what exactly its relationship should be with China, including the island's name. But the pandemic has shot the issue back into the spotlight. The government is also considering a name change - or at least a full redesign, for Taiwan's largest carrier, China Airlines, again to avoid confusion with China.

Now, Taiwan unveils new passport design to resolve China confusion

The farmers of India have proved their mettle even during the COVID-19 pandemic and the sowing of Kharif crops has been seven per cent higher than the last year while cotton has been sown about three per cent higher, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

"There is a mantra in the Rig Veda which means...praise to the giver of food, praise to the farmer. Our farmers have proved their mettle even during this COVID-19 pandemic. Sowing of Kharif crops has been seven per cent higher than last year. Paddy has been sown 10 per cent higher, pulses 5 per cent, coarse grain oats cereals around three per cent, oilseeds about 13 per cent and cotton has been sown about three per cent higher," said the Prime Minister during his monthly "Mann ki Baat" programme.

"I congratulate farmers of our nation, bow down before their toil," he added.

The Prime Minister further pointed out that Onam is a festival linked with farming. It is the time of a new beginning for our rural economy. "Our lives and society are driven by the power of agriculture. Our festivals derive their colour only through the hard work of our farmers. Vedas have also gloriously described the life-giving energy of our farmers," the Prime Minister.

He said that the verve of Onam festival can be felt everywhere and it is turning out to be an international festival.

"The zest of Onam today has reached distant shores of foreign lands. Be it America, Europe or Gulf countries, the verve of Onam can be felt everywhere. Onam is increasingly turning out to be an international festival," the Prime Minister said.&nbsp;

The farmers of India have proved their mettle even during the COVID-19 pandemic and the sowing of Kharif crops has been seven per cent higher than the last year while cotton has been sown about three per cent higher, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The farmers of India have proved their mettle even during the COVID-19 pandemic and the sowing of Kharif crops has been seven per cent higher than the last year while cotton has been sown about three per cent higher, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. "There is a mantra in the Rig Veda which means...praise to the giver of food, praise to the farmer. Our farmers have proved their mettle even during this COVID-19 pandemic. Sowing of Kharif crops has been seven per cent higher than last year. Paddy has been sown 10 per cent higher, pulses 5 per cent, coarse grain oats cereals around three per cent, oilseeds about 13 per cent and cotton has been sown about three per cent higher," said the Prime Minister during his monthly "Mann ki Baat" programme. "I congratulate farmers of our nation, bow down before their toil," he added. The Prime Minister further pointed out that Onam is a festival linked with farming. It is the time of a new beginning for our rural economy. "Our lives and society are driven by the power of agriculture. Our festivals derive their colour only through the hard work of our farmers. Vedas have also gloriously described the life-giving energy of our farmers," the Prime Minister. He said that the verve of Onam festival can be felt everywhere and it is turning out to be an international festival. "The zest of Onam today has reached distant shores of foreign lands. Be it America, Europe or Gulf countries, the verve of Onam can be felt everywhere. Onam is increasingly turning out to be an international festival," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi lauds India's farmers for higher crop production amid COVID-19

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