Duty Editor: Karl Malakunas Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + Tens of thousands rally in latest Belarus protest + New Zealand PM delays election after virus return + US Democrat convention begins with focus on Biden + India virus deaths hit 50,000, Modi touts vaccine + China's 'Greta' faces lonely climate change fight Belarus-vote-unrest,WRAP MINSK Tens of thousands of Belarusian opposition supporters gather for the largest protest rally in recent history in Minsk as President Alexander Lukashenko rejects calls to step down in a defiant speech. 800 words moved by Tatiana Kalinovskaya. Picture. Video. Graphic Health-virus,WRAP WELLINGTON New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern postpones the nation's election to focus on fighting a coronavirus second wave, as data shows Japan's economy has endured an historic contraction. 650 words 0530 GMT by Neil Sands and AFP bureaus. Picture. Video. Graphic US-politics,WRAP MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin As Democrats open an unprecedented virtual nominating convention, the party's disparate factions are projecting a united front behind Joe Biden -- brought together by a shared determination to oust Donald Trump. 700 words 0530 GMT by Elodie Cuzin, with Brian Knowlton in Washington. Picture. Video Health-virus-India,2ndlead NEW DELHI India's coronavirus death toll soars past 50,000 and total cases head towards three million, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government claims the mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. 600 words 0700 GMT by Bhuvan Bagga. Picture. Video China-environment-climate,PROFILE GUILIN, China While most of her peers are preparing for university or enjoying summer vacation, 17-year-old Howey Ou is braving intimidation and criticism in China to save the world from climate catastrophe. 750 words moved by Laurie Chen. Picture. Video -- AMERICAS -- US-politics-vote-Democrats-Trump,FOCUS WASHINGTON This week the eyes of US voters turn to Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the Democratic convention -- unless they swivel first to Republican distracter-in-chief Donald Trump. 700 words moved by Sebastian Smith. File picture Also moved: US-politics-vote-guide,FACTS US-politics-vote-Democrats-Biden,PROFILE US-politics-Trump-brother,WRAP -- MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA -- Qatar-parkour,FOCUS DOHA Three friends perform synchronised backflips off a dry stone fountain near one of Doha's top luxury hotels -- an unusual sight in the normally staid Gulf city. 500 words moved by Gregory Walton. Picture. Video Israel-UAE-diplomacy-Saudi,FOCUS RIYADH The UAE's decision to normalise ties with Israel could propel Saudi Arabia to deepen its furtive relations with the Jewish state as Riyadh seeks to entice investments to fund an ambitious economic transformation, analysts say. 850 words moved by Anuj Chopra -- AFRICA -- Somalia-conflict,WRAP MOGADISHU Ten civilians and one police officer are killed in a gun and bomb attack by Al-Shabaab fighters on an upscale beachfront hotel in Somalia's capital, an official tells AFP. 600 words moved. Picture. File picture. Graphic Mauritius-Japan-shipping-environment-pollution,WRAP PORT LOUIS A ship that has leaked more than 1,000 tonnes of oil off the coast of Mauritius splits in two, sparking warnings of a lengthy clean-up effort. 750 words moved. Video. Picture. Graphic -- EUROPE -- Health-virus-France-tourism,FOCUS ST TROPEZ, France French resorts and holiday destinations are buzzing at the height of the season despite the pandemic but it is no ordinary summer with foreigners staying away and the shadow of the coronavirus looming large. 750 words moved by Alice Lefebvre with Julie Pacorel in Avignon. Picture. Video. Health-virus-Italy-cruises,2ndlead GENOA, Italy The first major cruise ship to set sail in the Mediterranean since the pandemic hit departs from Genoa, as Italy's struggling travel industry tries to regain ground after a bruising hiatus. 650 words moved by Francesco Gilioli with Alexandria Sage in Rome. Picture. Video -- ASIA -- Health-virus-NZealand-vote,3rdlead WELLINGTON Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delays New Zealand's looming election by four weeks to October 17 after a resurgent coronavirus threat hampers campaigning. 550 words moved by Neil Sands. Picture. Video. Japan-economy-GDP,WRAP TOKYO Japan's economy shrinks by a record 7.8 percent, the worst contraction in the nation's modern history and confirmation that the coronavirus has deepened the country's economic woes. 600 words moved by Hiroshi Hiyama. Picture -- SPORTS -- Fbl-Eur-C3-Sevilla-ManUtd,2ndlead COLOGNE, Germany Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Manchester United face a busy few weeks in the transfer market after losing a third semi-final this season as Sevilla reach the Europa League final by coming from behind to win 2-1 in Cologne. 650 words moved by Kieran Canning Also moved: Fbl-EUR-C3-ENG-ESP-ManUtd-Sevilla,REAX Auto-Prix-ESP-Hamilton BARCELONA Lewis Hamilton says he is in a "beautiful" trance as he races to another record-breaking triumph to open up a 37-point lead in this year's Formula One world championship at the Spanish Grand Prix. 500 words moved. Picture Moto-Prix-AUT-Rossi SPIELBERG World motorcycling superstar Valentino Rossi says a rival's stray bike, travelling "like a bullet" at around 300 kph (187mph), almost "killed me" in a horrifying near-miss at the Austrian Grand Prix. 600 words moved afp