The Lebanese government has announced the two-week state of emergency in Beirut and ordered a number of officials at the port under house arrest after Tuesday's devastating explosion. Officials say the storage of some 2,700 tons of ammoniumnitrate at a warehouse in the port was what caused the blast. Here's Sebastian Usher.
At an emergency session, the Lebanese cabinet agreed that officials at Beirut's port, who oversaw storage and security there since 2014, will be placed under house arrest while investigations into the blast are carried out. From information so far made public by Lebanese officials, the storage of a vast quantity of ammonium nitrate at a warehouse is what caused the blast. The move is clearly an attempt by the government to show the Lebanese that it is serious about enforcing accountability, but many will dismiss it. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, says he will travel to Lebanon on Thursday to meet the country's political leaders. France, which was formerly the colonial power in Lebanon, is sending three planeloads of rescuers and relief supplies to the country. There's been a quick response from other countries, too. The World Health Organization is also taking part in the efforts. Tarik Jasarevic is its spokesperson.
Based on the request of the Ministry of Health of Lebanon, WHO is airlifting today medical supplies from our humanitarian hub in Dubai. We expect the supplies to arrive tonight. Israel, too, has offered assistance despite the two countries still being technically at war.
The United States has imposed sanctions on a prominent Zimbabwean businessman, accusing him of corruption. The Treasury Department said it would freeze all US assets of Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his company Sakunda Holdings. It accused him of using what it described as opaque business dealings to rake in millions of dollars. The Treasury said the businessman had used his relationship with Zimbabwean officials, including the president, to gain state contracts. In return, he provided items, including expensive cars to the officials. There's been no word so far from Mr. Tagwirei.
The Somali doctor and human rights activist, Hawa Abdi has died. She was in her seventies. Mary Harper reports.
Hawa Abdi used family land outside the capital Mogadishu to build a hospital, school and feeding center. The compound served as a place of refuge for tens of thousands of people displaced by years of fighting. She chose to stay in the country during three decades of conflict. In 2011, 750 Islamic militants stormed her hospital. She stood her ground and the insurgents eventually withdrew, following a protest by hundreds of local women.
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