The Democratic National Convention began on Monday night with the usual cheering crowds replaced by video speeches as the party unified behind Joe Biden’s candidacy for president. Actress Eva Longoria Bastón served as host and guests included the family members of George Floyd, whose death sparked nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.

Al-Shabaab extremists set off a car bomb on Sunday afternoon that destroyed the security gates to the Elite Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. Gunmen then stormed the hotel and began a nearly five-hour siege. Government spokesman Ismael Mukhtaar Omar confirmed the end of the siege after special forces killed the last attacker. At least 16 people died, 11 victims and five attackers, and troops rescued more than 200 people from the hotel.

Embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko rejected calls to step down or hold another presidential election at a rally attended by tens of thousands in the capital city of Minsk on Sunday. Less than 2 miles away from the square, 200,000 opposition demonstrators staged an eighth straight day of anti-government rallies, holding placards and chanting “Resign.” The opposition also called for a general strike to begin on Monday.

The Gamaleya Research Institute in Moscow reportedly modified the adenovirus, which causes the common cold, to help the human body recognize and fight the novel coronavirus. Russia on Tuesday announced it approved the vaccine after fewer than two months of study, and President Vladimir Putin said one of his adult daughters has received two doses and experienced mild side effects.

Opposition protesters crowded the streets in the capital city of Minsk and at least 20 other cities on Sunday evening after an early vote count suggested a landslide victory for authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Riot police used flash grenades, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the crowds. At least one person died and police detained hundreds of others.

Hundreds of protesters clashed with security forces on Sunday night as they tried to gain access to the heavily fortified Parliament in Beirut. They also broke into the housing and transport ministry offices on the second day of large-scale protests fueled by last week’s explosion. So far, nine members of Parliament and two government ministers have resigned under mounting pressure.

Protesters calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation gathered outside his official residence and his beach house in central Israel while thousands flooded intersections across the country last weekend. Some held signs that read, “Crime Minister,” and, “Make Israel Free Again,” and many pledged to return to the streets this weekend. Police said they detained at least 12 demonstrators and cleared out others from the prime minister’s residence.