Fighting Slows In Afghan Offensive, Allies Say

This story was reported with support from the Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Whenever the growing pile of plastic waste in front of her door takes up too much space, Asinate Lewabeka has a simple solution. She sets it on fire. She prefers to do so at dawn when the air is still so that the smoke rises in a black column.

Hurricane Beryl is shattering storm records on its path through the Caribbean, having already killed several people as it leaves tremendous destruction in its wake. After it passed through Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said Beryl “flattened” the archipelagic nation’s small island of Carriacou and that, with communication and power lines cut and many roads made impassable, officials are having trouble reaching affected areas. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] In neighboring St.

Bangladesh is in talks with China for a loan of about $5 billion to bolster the nation’s dwindling foreign-exchange reserves, the central bank governor said, drawing the South Asian country closer to Beijing. The funds will be denominated in yuan and give exporters access to financing they can use to pay for much-needed raw material imports from China, Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder said in an interview in Dhaka on Tuesday.

LONDON — United Kingdom elections have a distinct vocabulary that draws on traditions of parliamentary democracy as well as modern political slogans and spin. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Read More: Midway Through the Ultimate Election Year: How the World Has Voted So Far As voters go to the polls Thursday to elect a new government, the Associated Press deciphers some key words and phrases: Battle bus Luxury coaches rented by the main political parties to whisk politicians and journalists around the country for campaign visits during the five-week campaign.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin may end a 52-year-old ban on afternoon alcohol sales after appeals from the tourism industry, which is struggling with rising costs and weak consumer spending. “PM Srettha is pleased to consider proposals from restaurant operators to change laws that ban sales of alcoholic beverages from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.,” according to a statement on the Royal Thai Government website. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Such a move would provide relief to many thirsty tourists in Thailand, which is sweltering in temperatures of almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and help bars, hotels and eateries.

Chinese and Philippine diplomats agreed to ease South China Sea tensions but stood firm on their nations’ claims during a meeting that followed one of their most serious maritime clashes. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had “frank and constructive” discussions at a regular bilateral meeting on the South China Sea in Manila on Tuesday, according to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs.