Tuesday’s massive explosion in Beirut’s strategic port has many questioning why large quantities of a lethal chemical would be stored unsafely for 6 years in the center of the capitol and so close to homes, businesses and a major highway.

With more than 100 dead and 4000 injured after a massive explosion in Beirut Tuesday, international aid is on the way to those in need. We take a look at how the disaster compounds an already tough situation. Plus, Egypt and Sudan suspend talks with Ethiopia on the Blue Nile Dam. And, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar will visit Taiwan.

As Europe contemplates additional lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, the United Nations Secretary-General says that school closures during the pandemic in more than 160 countries has affected more than 1 billion students. Plus where's Spain's former king and what's the broader implications of Hong Kong issuing arrest warrants to those not living there?

A gun battle between Islamic State fighters and Afghan security forces has ended at a prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad Monday. The attack left at least 29 dead and hundreds of escaped prisoners. Plus, the World Health Organization gave an update on COVID-19 vaccine research, but said there would be no "silver bullet." And we take a look at the iconic VOA Jazz hour.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carry Lam announced the Special Administrative Region would postpone its September 6 election by a year. While she said the decision went beyond the concerns of public safety, and was intended to ensure free and fair elections. But Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers have accused the government of using the pandemic as an excuse.

The U.S. economy suffered its biggest blow since the Great Depression in the second quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic shattered consumer and business spending, and a recovery is under threat from a resurgence in new cases of coronavirus. The bulk of the deepest contraction in at least 73 years reported by the Commerce Department on Thursday occurred in April when activity almost ground to an abrupt halt after restaurants, bars and factories among others were shuttered in mid-March to slow the spread of coronavirus.