World Report (9-16 July): A war zone: South Africa... Lebanon is running out of time and money...

South Africa looting: Government to deploy 25,000 troops after unrest

The South African government plans to deploy 25,000 troops after days of widespread looting and violence. The military deployment - to counter riots sparked by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma - would be the biggest since the end of apartheid. At least 117 people have died and more than 2,000 have been arrested in South Africa's worst unrest in years.

More than 200 incidents of looting and vandalism were recorded on Wednesday, the government said, as the number of troops deployed doubled to 5,000. Citizens are arming themselves and forming vigilante groups to protect their property from the rampage.

Lebanon electricity crisis: The country is running out of time and money

Lebanon’s electricity sector is again on the verge of total failure, and the government has once more continued to throw money at it, instead of fixing it. State-run producer Électricité du Liban (EDL) ran out of funds to purchase fuel, so the government issued a letter to the central bank for an advance from its withering reserves.

The advance is worth $200m. The central bank’s subsidies, estimated at more than $15bn, are depleting rapidly, and Lebanon’s expensive and ineffective electricity sector is partly to blame.

In addition, other stopgap measures have failed or stalled, most notably a fuel-for-medical-services deal with Iraq.

Norwegian terrorist is trying to sell rights to film and book about his life for 10 million $

A mass murderer, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, has been trying to sell the rights to a film and book about his life for 10 million dollars. Norwegian Anders Breivik, now 42, has sent 20 letters to filmmakers begging them to re-tell his story on screen as well as posting invites to be interviewed in prison. The terrorist is serving 21 years.

Breivik’s intention sparked controversy in the country since this is considered an insult to his victims and their families.

The killer has never said sorry for his wicked crimes and is known for Nazi salutes during court sessions.

After 10 days of hiccups, Brazil’s impeached president Bolsonaro may need surgery

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been transferred to a hospital in Sao Paulo for tests on a potentially obstructed intestine, his office said on Wednesday, after the far-right leader endured a 10-day bout of chronic hiccups. The 66-year-old had been complaining publicly about the hiccups following surgery on a dental implant on July 3. “I thank everyone for their support and prayers,” Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter.

Bolsonaro’s health has been an issue for much of his presidency, after he was stabbed in the intestines on the campaign trail in 2018 and nearly died. The attack has required multiple follow-up operations.

Pope Francis released from hospital returns to Vatican after 10 days

Pope Francis left the hospital in Rome on Wednesday where he had planned intestinal surgery 10 days ago, the Vatican said in a statement.

The pontiff, who is 84 years old, was released at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET) from Gemelli Polytechnic hospital. On his way home to Casa Santa Maria in Vatican City, he stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. During his time in the hospital, he held his traditional Sunday Angelus address from the 10th floor balcony

Francis had the surgery for a severe narrowing of his large intestine on July 4, his first major surgery since he became pope in 2013.