Beirut explosion: Lebanon’s president tries to calm anger

In Tunisia, journalists protest against anti-terror laws used to jail journalists. Also, gay rights activists in Namibia welcome a ruling recognising foreign same-sex marriages, although such unions are still forbidden in the country. And Morocco celebrates its ancestral sport of "sand hockey", known locally as "mokhacha".

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Belgrade for a third time to protest over violence. Protesters are calling for the resignation of the interior minister and the head of intelligence.

Clashes broke out as demonstrators tried to prevent a newly elected ethnic Albanian mayor from entering his office in the Kosovar town of Zvecan. A police car was set on fire and tear gas was used to disperse the crowd.

Tensions between ethnic Serbs and Albanians are escalating in Kosovo, with NATO-led peacekeepers injured in clashes with Serb protesters. Previously, Kosovo deployed heavy police forces to Serb-populated areas.

Clashes have erupted between protesters and police in southwest China over plans to raze parts of a mosque. The authorities are now asking the demonstrators to turn themselves in.

Food prices have almost doubled within a year, and increasing numbers of retired people are falling below the poverty line. Meanwhile, the government continues to invest heavily in the arms industry.

The majority of Germany's pharmacies have shut their doors in protest as their work becomes more demanding, without becoming more rewarding.

The display of solidarity comes after Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior was subjected to racial abuse while playing for his club Real Madrid at away games.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was charged with disobeying police orders at a protest in Malmo, in southern Sweden, last month. She said she had acted out of necessity to fight the "climate crisis."

A top court in the semi-autonomous territory has turned down an effort to ban the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong." The anthem emerged from the city's widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Supporters of Niger's junta planned a march in the capital Niamey on Thursday to protest sanctions and demand the departure of French troops, which are stationed in Niger to help it fight an Islamist insurgency.

A nationwide strike called by Nigeria's labor unions to protest against the removal of a petrol subsidy and demand a new minimum wage got off to a slow start on Wednesday as most businesses were open, though with reduced traffic in some spots.