Prisoners free. Hoping to shake up the Political Landscape in batteries and unexpected candy that is vying to push out europes longest serving challenger. Moving this enflaming tension between washington and beijing a top trump official is in taiwan the highest level give us visit in 40 years. But leaders are trying to work out ways to help rebuild lebanons capital but in beirut theres a growing clamor to reshape the political system as well the information minister became the 1st Senior Member of government to resign since tuesdays port blast minal abdullah some mad says theres little hope for change 5 m. P. s have quit and there are reports that more may soon follow at least a 158 people were killed when a monium nitrate exploded. Causing billions of dollars worth of damage around 300000. 00 people homeless Video Conference events actual day as is underway with french president calling for efficient action to get aid to the lebanese people as quickly as possible well this off to a mass demonstrations on saturday denouncing government corruption and demanding regime change but the information minister has apologised for the pot the government has played in lebanons economic and stability in the hammock that allow this is the point of no return people are starving the economy has deteriorated the economic crisis is heightening our families children friends have just been left behind fear and disappointments lives within them in this fateful moments we cannot just sit behind we have to stand in dignity together as a nation i feel that i need to send an apology to the libyan people because we failed to achieve their ambitions due to the difficulties i have worked with my colleagues in the cabinet according to the directions of the Prime Minister who is following all the details with a lot of wisdom in order to respond to the demands of the people but no way does the reality go parallel with the ambitions after the barrier earthquake that has shaken the nation and due to the displaced the martyrs those who are still hungry i respect all of this and i submit my resignation to the government and i wish all the best to lebanon and stability and unity long live lebanon. Has more now from. Beirut. This is a blow to the Prime Minister has son who has been struggling for his government to have credibility and legitimacy not just at home but abroad but what we understand is that the Prime Minister as we speak is holding a meeting with his ministers and the possibility of a resignation is on the table so you mentioned the information minister resigning earlier this morning there were unconfirmed reports that other ministers are going to tender their resignation the government has not been able to cope with this disaster just look behind me the desperation among people theyve come to Martyrs Square just to get any help that they can receive from volunteers from n. G. O. S from Civil Society groups the government is absent the government is cash strapped so you can see water sandwiches people have lost so much 300000 people were made homeless by this blast and calls for a government resignation are growing louder now the optics may look good if the government indeed does resign i mean this is the demand of the people who have been demanding this for some time now even before the blast but many believe that behind the scenes a political deal is in the making especially after the visit of the french president to beirut he did talk about a Political Initiative and the french president was not just speaking on behalf of france he came here on behalf of the International Community so it seems behind the scenes there are negotiations possibly to form of what is known in lebanon as a National Unity government what that means Political Parties from across the political spectrum come together but thats exactly what protesters dont want and for him holloway is a member of the Opposition Group and f t hes also Teaching Fellow well Holloway University of london he says its time for an overhaul of lebanons political system. We do believe that early elections is not really the answer because the regime the power sharing arrangement which kept the sectarian parties in power for decades they are the ones that authority in the taking the rules of the elections and therefore they have it realty to devise they look for a law that would ensure their reproduction of the same regime so elections itself is not an answer when i would assessment is the state itself has collapsed and therefore what we believe is the answer is to continue to decide together with the ruling parties on a transitional process that can save society when we are in the midst of overlapping and emerging and urgent. Crisis be it fiscal or economic or now as we can see also humanitarian and one hand we do need help psyche at large needs help and it is very much commendable that states that would be providing this help are suggesting that this can be done directly to society rather than going through the channels the vertical up channels of the states this is something that at least on the short term is much needed however we cannot really rely on it on states be it regional to national to give us that sort of sustainable solution which is the formation of a civil state which every society really needs at the under and under the way. Thats why we think that the solution has to come from the people unfortunately the site at largest still very much divided and sectarian parties are a large stake in how communities perceive the crisis and where the blame game basically. How is it strange how the blame game is right. Afghanistans president has backing the release of 400. 00 taliban prisoners ashraf ghani made his decision after the loya jirga and cellcept body approved fraying the socalled hardcore prisoners their release has been a precondition for the armed group to hold peace talks with the government that has more. For centuries of understands traditional grand assemblies known as jurors solve problems by consultation within 3000. 00 elders and Community Leaders joint politicians to decide on the final stumbling block for the negotiations with the taliban with some reluctance president danny has honored the agreement between the Us Government and the armed group decided 5000 prisoners must be released before incra of one dialogue can begin most inmates have been released the ago was called to decide about the final 400 prisoners have been government says these 400 are wanted for major crimes and some even face the Death Penalty they want to ensure that these men do not return to the battlefield the ban. Today i will sign the decree that i did not have the authority to sign before now i will sign the decree to authorize the release of the 400 taliban prisoners based on the request of the loya jirga and they will be released. In a complex power sharing structure is the chairman of the loya jirga as he leads the high council for national reconciliation. After the declaration of the loya jirgah has removed all of europes tickles to start the entrance afghan talks we are on the cusp of starting the negotiation we do have respect for all your decisions and the Afghan Government will be committed to implementing all of them. Despite temporary cease fires 3 and a half 1000 Afghan Security personnel have been killed since february when the landmark deal was signed between leaders and the Us Government us troops are supposed to leave of want to stand by april 2021 and if one. I mean divided over the u. S. Could draw or. It would be better that the us does stay here that will also help our security and reconstruction of our country. The withdrawal of foreign troops is good for us as they were against our culture. It will definitely have a positive impact. For almost all of the security remains there for most concern but. Regarding the release of prisoners we need peace in afghanistan and we will need to pay a price for that therefore we are obliged to release the taliban prisoners of them and say their rights and safety is nonnegotiable regardless of who wields power on it it has been disenchanted i continued my University Studies despite losing many of my classmates to suicide attacks we still have faith stands government will need to bring security in all the places where we do not have security at the moment. The u. S. Government has acknowledged the release of prisoners isnt popular but leaning president danis government to hold direct talks to facilitate a Peace Agreement the release of prisoners is a 1st step for all of them factions to sit across the table but they remain multiple challenges and wide ranging differences to overcome for peace can be achieved. There. People are voting in the president ial election with Alexander Lukashenko facing a tough test to win a 6 consecutive term hes almost certain to win despite a wave of protests against him his main challenger. Has also voted after reports she went into hiding. Several activists were detained during a recent government crackdown has been at one of the polling stations in the capsule minsk. The main opposition candidates. Came out of hiding to cast a vote amidst a cheering and clapping of her supporters who had gathered at a polling station never before election in distance and never before has the rule of president alexander. Been under such pressure and been faced with such large opposition his popularity went down because he was accused of mishandling the crisis saying that wasnt a real problem and people should just simply drink also his mishandling of the economy has basically turned people away to the opposition camp but the opposition as worried that the similar to previous elections a huge fraud will happen during this election and president will claim victory in large margins after the polls will be closed. As president of the misses Scientific Research center thats a think tank he says regardless of who wins or loses the country has changed forever. 7080 percent of the receivers want change we have people of culture Business People people from different areas supporting quote change but the authorities that really are quite in bad and we have this number of about 22 percent of earlier poems sounds different it will be falsified in favor of look a sham the tension is very very high end im sure that people will come out and try to do their best to support their vote i dont know whether it will be tonight told the day after tomorrow d. Well it was will never be the same again as before this parliament or the actual action and thank the previous elections the. Old observer was no democratic and did not prevent the west from dealing with the question and direct way so that would be like moral psychological support but its not likely to influence deliberations between the rebel the russian regime and the world. Still has had on aljazeera. Im wayne hay in bangkok where the government is facing the double threats of a collapsing economy and a protest group much of its value into intensified. The yet in. The sentencing for a company thats found a way to keep performing joint cave at 19. Commissions still remain very unpleasant across much of the Korean Peninsula in particular tools the south more cloud is these jamie and and there is a very heavy rain in the full cost but this is the conditions in the southwest this huge and deadly landslide a mudslide occurred of course because as a result of these continuing heavy rains there is more this in the forecast on monday in fact some very heavy amounts of rain to the east of there across into japan want to scout a chance and then really through much of central and western china again we have these areas of scottish some thunderstorms say that rain will continue across the Korean Peninsula eventually late in the day it should begin to ease but all the while back into china those rains again fairly heavy but also some heavy rain across into the south as well and the rains very widespread across much of south asia the next couple of days are going to see much more on the way of rain across much of these coastal areas you can see the waynes just really pushing across the bay of bengal so really pushing those rain showers in but also very heavy downpours across much of pradesh and eventually extend you cross into iraq just as well similar story radio and she is dead all the while the rains very heavy across the north extensive through much of the pole boutin to the much of the northeast but again the western gas really picking up some heavier downpours as we head into tuesday. Image can change the way we see the womb if we had not seen this we would be talking about it it can spark mass action or serve the interests of the powerful he created this moment for a photo opportunity that can obscure the truth this is a legitimate news story but this clips and the turkey coins are pretty i dont see how it can forge narratives right through the listening post gives you the full picture. Well again you want to get into their heads reminder of our top stories this hour World Leaders are holding a Donor Conference to discuss how to help rebuild lebanons capital beirut theres a growing demand to rebuild the political system as well information minister has quit after 5 other m. P. s resigned. Afghanistans president is backing the release of 400. 00 taliban prisoners ashraf ghani says he respects the decision of the loya jirgah consultative body to approve bring socalled hardcore taliban fighters. And voting is underway in the bell a recent president ial election with Alexander Lukashenko facing a tough challenge to clinch a 6 consecutive term his main challenger to kind of a skier as voted after reports that she went into hiding over night and her top aides were detained. And maimed or rajapaksa has been sworn in as Prime Minister for the 4th time as ruling party won wednesdays parliamentary election by a landslide the 2 thirds majority means he now has the power to make promised. The constitution critics fear that will lead to an autocracy a Prime Minister was appointed by his brother and president by japan are Puerto MiguelFernandez Warsi inauguration ceremony in the capital colombo. And Mahinda Rajapaksa is Prime Minister of sri lanka once again his 4th time around in the job obviously he swept the general elections concluded on the 5th of august with one of the highest number of preferential votes for a candidate ever over 5000000 votes now this paves the way for the s. L. P. Be led by the rajapaksa to carry on with the Work Programme set out by president gautami rajapaksa in his election bid in 2019 its called the stars for prosperity and aims to take sri lanka forward dealing with some of the pressing issues that this country faces now obviously the consolidation of the rajapaksa hold on power has been confirmed with the swearing in of my in the rajapaksa as we saw here at the calorie temple a little while ago but it also shows the kind of dynamic the family is now in charge and even when we saw the swearing in of the Prime Minister you had the president go to a beer or park say his younger brother who went around the table and actually worshiped his brother once he saw him in as Prime Minister these are some of the kind of ways the family operates obviously a number of siblings all of them involved in sri lankan politics now there have been some concerns about a potential reversal of some of the Democratic Institutions the achievement of the last constitution because the right boxes have said that with control of parliament in a 2 thirds majority one of their targets is going to be the constitution that theyre going to bring changes that allows them to get on with the business of government as they map it out so its going to be Interesting Times for sri lanka as the new government takes power. A trip to taiwan by the u. S. Health sex trade is angering china. On a 3 day visit to discuss coronavirus but its the highest level guest allegation in more than 40 years and china says it threatens peace and stability in the region so a clock reports. Its a much anticipated visit Us Health Secretary alex as i was leading a delegation to taiwan to learn from the island success in fighting the coronavirus the United States has recorded 5000000 cases taiwan has fewer than 500 but analysts say the trip is not just about the pandemic its definitely more the the optics and the message being sent to the taiwan government and the people of taiwan as well as to the government in china as far as what what level the u. S. Wants the relationship with taiwan to be obviously the health secretarys doctor learned much during a 3 day visit china claims sovereignty over taiwan and the island is a main irritant in the troubled relationship between the worlds 2 largest economies is due to made taiwanese president clinton during his 3 day visit thats angut chinas leaders who object to all official contact between taiwan and the u. S. Chinese government misses a warning the United States delegation to stick to the one china principle. I want to stress that the one trying to principle is universally recognized by the International Community any attempt to ignore deny or challenge the one trying to principle