Top news of week: Beirut blast, Air India crash and more

 | Updated: Aug 09, 2020, 01:08 PM IST

From Juan Carlos fleeing the country to Israel's air strike on Syria, here's what happened this week.

A huge explosion near the centre of Beirut killed at least 10 people, injured hundreds and sent shock waves across the Lebanese capital

A huge explosion near the centre of Beirut killed at least 10 people, injured hundreds and sent shockwaves across the Lebanese capital, shattering windows and causing apartment balconies to collapse, witnesses and security sources said.

The blast occurred in the city's port area, where there were warehouses housing explosives

Read full story: How years of dysfunction, corruption and incompetence led to Beirut explosion

(Photograph:Reuters)

Israeli aircraft attacked targets in Syria on Monday, the military said, describing the strikes as retaliation for an attempted bombing of the border fence by an enemy squad.

Israeli aircraft attacked targets in Syria on Monday, the military said, describing the strikes as retaliation for an attempted bombing of the border fence by an enemy squad.

Israeli helicopters rocketed Syrian army positions near Quneitra in the south but caused only material damage. It also said air defences had gone into action near the Syrian capital.

Read full story: Israel launches air strikes on Syria after thwarted border attack

(Photograph:AFP)

The Boeing 737, on a special flight from Dubai to bring back Indians stranded by the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the runway at Kozhikode in Kerala state, plunged down an embankment and broke up.

The Boeing 737, on a special flight from Dubai to bring back Indians stranded by the coronavirus pandemic, overshot the runway at Kozhikode in Kerala state, plunged down an embankment and broke up.

Almost 18 people lost their lives to the crash, including the two pilots, with 16 people seriously injured.

Read full story: Black boxes of crashed Air India plane recovered, says Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

(Photograph:Reuters)

US President Donald Trump has issued executive orders banning any transactions with ByteDance, starting in 45 days.

US President Donald Trump has issued executive orders banning any transactions with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns video-sharing app TikTok, and Tencent, owner of the WeChat app, starting in 45 days.

"The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order... any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd," he said.

Read full story: Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days

(Photograph:AFP)
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Spain's former king Juan Carlos

Spain's former king Juan Carlos

(Photograph:Reuters)