Pierre Balanian

The Azeris have been targeting the capital of pro-Armenian separatists for four days. The drama of the local population. Karabakh forces respond with offensive against an Azerbaijani airport. The role of Turkey. Journalists on the ground also targeted.

In addition to Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan also support Azerbaijan against "Armenian aggression". For the second consecutive day, the Armenian inhabitants of Stepanakert spent the night in the basement. Armenia and Azerbaijan blame each other for starting the attacks. Social media full of racial slurs and religious warfare.

The news is confirmed by AsiaNews sources and by the Observatory for Human Rights in Syria. Ankara hired them for $ 1800 a month for three months. "It is a holy war of Muslims against Christians". Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinian: If the war in the Caucasus does not stop soon, it will destabilize world peace.

Azerbaijani bombings in the Marduni region (Karabakh): at least 10 dead. The Armenians shot down two helicopters and 14 attack drones. State of emergency proclaimed. The destabilizing factor of Turkey. Karekine II's Message to the Armenian Nation.

A ship with some 50 Lebanese migrants drifted in the Mediterranean waters for seven days without food, water or baggage. Since July, human traffickers have been exploiting a new sea route to reach Europe (Cyprus), charging a thousand dollars per person per trip. Due to the tragic state of Lebanon’s economy, almost everyone wants to emigrate, starting the country’s fourth mass exodus.

According to the official version, the fire was caused by workers welding a hangar roof. It is the same version given for the August 4 explosions. The doubts of the population and of Walid Joumblatt. Yesterday people in shock and crying, trembling with fear, fled the city. The firefighters, Lebanese and Palestinian, heroes of the day.

People fear a new explosion, like the one of 4 August that devastated the port area. For the army it is a controlled fire of debris. The Port director has his doubts, wondering who put tyres next to engine oil. Firefighters are at work to contain the flames. British media claim Hezbollah controlled the nitrate that caused last month’s explosion. The port has become the symbol of the country's corruption. The “Help devastated Beirut” campaign continues.

Chilean rescuers and their dog found signs of the presence of "lives" under some rubble, 29 days after the explosions. Many are sceptical, but many others hope. Rubble is being removed hoping for a miracle. AsiaNews continues its campaign to “Help devastated Beirut”.

To mark the centennial of Greater Lebanon, the French president is visiting the country for a second time in a month. As soon as his plane landed, he went to see the singer, the most loved and listened voice in the Arab world. Lebanon’s new prime minister, Mustafa Adib, was also appointed yesterday.

Turkish soldiers control and block the supply of water from the Alluk plant. Thirst as a weapon of war, in a period when temperatures reach 40 °. The effects on crops and animals are also of concern. Appeals to the international community and to Pope Francis.

Several sources say that Lebanon’s Central Bank has enough reserves for only another three months. After this, subsidies for food and other basic necessities like bread, flour, fuel, and medicine would then end. About 55 per cent of the population could become destitute with 22 per cent sliding into poverty. Just before the recent Beirut explosions the Pm and the central bank’s governor discussed the issue. Hunger haunts the country as it did a hundred years ago. AsiaNews’ ‘Help devastated Beirut’ campaign continues.

A UN study published yesterday says that the poverty rate has doubled in one year; the number of people at risk of extreme poverty has tripled. Yesterday, in the space of one day, there were 589 new infections from Covid-19 and two deaths. The total number of positive cases is 10347. People prefer to buy bread and not surgical masks. The "In aid of devastated Beirut" campaign continues.