Belarus protests: Rights groups compile torture evidence

Human rights groups are preparing hundreds of testimonies to be sent to the UN committee against torture.

Human rights groups in Belarus say last week’s police violence was planned, systematic and ordered by the country’s leadership.

They have compiled 500 cases of torture during the protests that followed the recent disputed election.

But while victims demand justice, they have no court to turn to, as Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Minsk.

Beirut explosion: Injured Syrians struggling to survive

Hundreds of Syrians who worked or lived near Beirut’s port were injured in the explosion.

Lebanese citizens were not the only victims of the Beirut port explosion earlier this month.

Hundreds of Syrians were among the thousands who have been injured.

The United Nations and aid agencies are providing help but they have not been able to reach everyone.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports.

US elections: Democratic nominees reveal policy positions

Donald Trump dismissed this week’s Democratic National Convention and outlined his line of attack against Biden and Harris.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have given their first joint television interview since being formally confirmed as the Democratic Party nominees for November’s election.

They revealed how they would approach the coronavirus pandemic in the US, and what they think of President Trump’s insults.

Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi reports.

Ice Cube Ties Upcoming Political Votes To Endorsement Of A ‘Contract With Black America’

Actor/rapper Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson) has released a Twitter video manifesto, But what’s in it for us? The video and its attached three-age “Contract with Black America” asks for specifics commitments in such areas as bank lending, prison reform, and mandatory licensing of black content for the airwaves.

Politicians are being asked to sign the pledge in return for black voting support. The manifesto seeks to “redress past wrongs systematically imposed on Black Americans economically throughout many generations that has resulted in a “wealth gap” where the average White family has 10x the wealth of a Black Family.”

Read the complete letter: IceCubManifesto

The letter calls on the signees to “support and demand an open debate and a clear and fair vote within
the first 100 days of the 117th Congress in 2021.”

As part of the contract, the manifesto calls on “Our entertainers should be persuaded to deliver more positive content that leads our youth to make better choices in life. A new pride must develop with these new opportunities and we must fight against negativity, frustration, hopelessness, depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, crime and violence.”

The video version is below.

California wildfires: Governor asks Australia, Canada for help

Firefighters are battling day and night, from air and land in an attempt to limit the destruction.

In the United States, California’s governor has appealed to Australia and Canada for help to fight hundreds of wildfires.

Nearly 560 fires are burning across the state after the number doubled in a single day.

At least six people have been killed, with dozens of others injured.

Al Jazeera’s Laura Burdon-Manley reports.

Trump Will Travel to Charlotte Monday for RNC Convention

President Donald Trump will attend the first day of the Republican National Convention in North Carolina on Monday, where he’s expected to deliver remarks at the scaled-down event.

Most of the four-day RNC meeting will be held virtually, but delegates are meeting in Charlotte, the original site of the convention before worries about the coronavirus shut it down, to formally nominate Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term.

Trump in June shifted part of the meeting to Jacksonville, Florida, after failing to receive an assurance from North Carolina’s Democratic governor that he would ease restrictions on masks and social distancing. He later abandoned plans for the Florida events as Covid-19 cases spiked there.

Trump will arrive in Charlotte on Marine One, the presidential helicopter, at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Monday, according to the White House. His movements in the city haven’t been announced.

Later, Trump travels to the small town of Mills River to deliver remarks at Flavor 1st Growers & Packers, an owner-operated farm and repacking facility. He’ll arrive at Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher at 2:20 p.m. EDT and speak about an hour later.

Trump is expected to accept the Republican nomination at the White House on Thursday. Other speeches will be held around Washington and at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where the 1812 battle that inspired the “Star Spangled Banner” occurred.

Nuggets guard Gary Harris upgraded to doubtful for Game 4

Nuggets shooting guard Gary Harris was upgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s Game 4 after weeks spent nursing a right hip strain.

Harris has yet to play in a game in Orlando, and his potential return could immediately improve Denver’s perimeter defense. If he was able to play, it would be Harris’ first game in more than five months.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone recently expressed optimism about Harris’ eventual return.

The Nuggets desperately need help on defense, where the Jazz have combined for 38 3-pointers in back-to-back blowout wins. The Jazz lead 2-1 after Friday’s Game 3 rout.

‘Poisoned’ Kremlin critic Navalny arrives at Berlin hospital

Navalny’s wife believes the delay was to allow whatever substance is in his system to degrade and to make identifying it more difficult.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been transferred to a hospital in Berlin to receive emergency treatment for suspected poisoning.

Russian doctors had initially said he was too sick to be moved from a hospital in the Siberian City of Omsk, but they changed their position late on Friday.

Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reports from Berlin.