Amid a reform of the country's Islamist laws, Sudan lifts the death penalty for homosexuality and ends flogging as punishment for homosexuals. (CGTN)
Policy brutality in France Protesters mark the anniversary of the death of Adama Traoré. (The Guardian)
Second Libyan Civil War; Libya-Sudan relations Sudanese forces arrest about 160 people on the border with Libya who were en-route to enter the neighboring country to operate as "mercenaries". A General for the Rapid Support Forces says that "sending Sudanese to fight in Libya as mercenaries is unacceptable". (AFP via Al Arabiya)
China–United Kingdom relations, Hong Kong–United Kingdom relations UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab announces that the United Kingdom will "immediately and indefinitely" suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong over the controversial national security law. (BBC News)
UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab announces that the United Kingdom will "immediately and indefinitely" suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong over the controversial national security law. (BBC News)
Aftermath of the Sudanese Revolution Sudan's former president Omar al-Bashir goes on trial for several charges, including fomenting a coup in 1989 that overthrew the government of Sadiq al-Mahdi. The trial is adjourned to a bigger courtroom. If convicted, 76-year-old al-Bashir could face the death penalty. (Al Jazeera)
Sudan's former president Omar al-Bashir goes on trial for several charges, including fomenting a coup in 1989 that overthrew the government of Sadiq al-Mahdi. The trial is adjourned to a bigger courtroom. If convicted, 76-year-old al-Bashir could face the death penalty. (Al Jazeera)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict, Operations Claw-Eagle and Tiger Turkish troops have now advanced 40 km (25 miles) inside northern Iraq and established over 30 "temporary bases" in its ongoing military offensive against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), according to a Turkish official. An unnamed Turkish official tells Reuters the unprecedented advance is a prelude to an assault on the Qandil Mountains, the PKK's main stronghold in Iraq. (Ahval News)
The Alor Setar High Court in Kedah State, Malaysia, suspends a caning sentence for 27 Rohingya refugees, citing their current status and no prior history of crime. They were sentenced with 13 other refugees to seven months in jail and caning last month for illegally entering the country. (Reuters)
2019 Samoa assassination plot The Supreme Court of Samoa denies a bid by two of the three defendants in the case to be able to return to Australia, where they have permanent residencies. The Court argued that, aside of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "no amount of surety bond would overcome the risk of the men not returning for their trial", which is set for November. (RNZ)
Censorship in Malaysia Malaysian Communications Minister Saifuddin Abdullah retracts his announcement yesterday that video producers on social media would require a license per the 1981 National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) Act, following public outcry. The initial proposal was made following the government's dispute with Al Jazeera over a documentary concerning the discrimination migrant workers faced in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. (South China Morning Post)
Malaysian Communications Minister Saifuddin Abdullah retracts his announcement yesterday that video producers on social media would require a license per the 1981 National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) Act, following public outcry. The initial proposal was made following the government's dispute with Al Jazeera over a documentary concerning the discrimination migrant workers faced in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. (South China Morning Post)
The Supreme Court of Samoa denies a bid by two of the three defendants in the case to be able to return to Australia, where they have permanent residencies. The Court argued that, aside of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "no amount of surety bond would overcome the risk of the men not returning for their trial", which is set for November. (RNZ)
China says the UK is violating international law by allowing a path to British citizenship for Hong Kong residents with a BNO passport, and threatens to stop recognising the BNO. (Reuters)
China–United Kingdom relations China says the UK is violating international law by allowing a path to British citizenship for Hong Kong residents with a BNO passport, and threatens to stop recognising the BNO. (Reuters)
Israeli MPs pass a bill to begin the process to outlaw conversion therapy, being the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The bill was passed as two of the main coalition parties joined the opposition in supporting it. It must pass two more approvals to become a new law. (BBC News)
LGBT rights in Israel Israeli MPs pass a bill to begin the process to outlaw conversion therapy, being the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The bill was passed as two of the main coalition parties joined the opposition in supporting it. It must pass two more approvals to become a new law. (BBC News)
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signs a law banning various forms of chokeholds. (The Hastings Tribune)
Syrian civil war A bombing at an outdoor market in Ras al-Ayn, al-Hasakah, Syria, kills at least eight people and injures 19 others. Turkey, which occupies the border town, blames Kurdish insurgents for the attack. (AP)
2020 Nova Scotia attacks Following massive public backlash, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announces a public inquiry will be held over the law enforcement response to the rampage in Nova Scotia, Canada, last April, which left 23 dead, including the gunman. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko tests positive for COVID-19. (DW) COVID-19 pandemic in Malta Malta's health ministry states that of 94 migrants rescued from the sea yesterday, 65 have tested positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is found guilty by the Malaysian High Court and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and fined RM210 million (US$47 million). The High Court convicted Najib on all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over misappropriating over RM42 million (US$ 10 million) from 1Malaysia Development Berhad's former subsidiary SRC International to his personal bank accounts. (Malay Mail) (BBC News) (Channel News Asia)
A woman and her brother-in-law are arrested in Essen and Hildesheim, Germany, respectively, after they travelled to Syria to join ISIL. The woman also travelled with her four young children. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malta Malta's health ministry states that of 94 migrants rescued from the sea yesterday, 65 have tested positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
Following massive public backlash, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announces a public inquiry will be held over the law enforcement response to the rampage in Nova Scotia, Canada, last April, which left 23 dead, including the gunman. (Global News)
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is found guilty by the Malaysian High Court and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and fined RM210 million (US$47 million). The High Court convicted Najib on all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over misappropriating over RM42 million (US$ 10 million) from 1Malaysia Development Berhad's former subsidiary SRC International to his personal bank accounts. (Malay Mail) (BBC News) (Channel News Asia)
Hong Kong legal scholar and pro-democracy activist Benny Tai is fired from his tenured position as associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong, due to his prior arrest for coordinating the Umbrella Revolution. Tai in a Facebook post called it the "end of academic freedom" in the city. (Reuters)
Malta's health ministry states that of 94 migrants rescued from the sea yesterday, 65 have tested positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
Three Sudanese migrants are killed and four others injured after Libyan authorities opened fire against them during landing operations in the city of Al-Khums. (La Repubblica)
A man accused of blasphemy under a new controversial law is shot dead by a gunman in the courtroom while he was standing trial for allegedly insulting Islam. The victim was part of the Ahmadiyya faith, a minority Islamic sect that Pakistan declared non-Muslim in 1974 for regarding its founder as a prophet. The suspect was a former member. (DW)
Blasphemy in Pakistan A man accused of blasphemy under a new controversial law is shot dead by a gunman in the courtroom while he was standing trial for allegedly insulting Islam. The victim was part of the Ahmadiyya faith, a minority Islamic sect that Pakistan declared non-Muslim in 1974 for regarding its founder as a prophet. The suspect was a former member. (DW)
A court in Uganda sentences a poacher who killed a rare gorilla named Rafiki to 11 years in prison. Rafiki, a 25-year-old silverback who was the head of a gorilla group in the southwestern Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, was killed with a spear in early June. (Al Jazeera)
2020 Chaman border clash Twenty-two people are killed in clashes between Afghan civilians and Pakistani military forces. Fifteen people died and 80 others injured in Kandahar after Pakistani soldiers attacked civilian areas, while seven people were killed and 31 others injured in Pakistan when a crowd trying to enter Afghanistan became unruly and attacked military installations. The Afghan government warns of action if Pakistan "continues its rocket attacks", while the Pakistani military says it opened fire in self-defense, returning fire to the Afghan side. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Queensland closes its border with Greater Sydney at 1 a.m. (AEST) after its premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared all of Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot on July 29. (9 News) Australian COVID-19 death toll reaches 200. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the media of instigating anti-corruption protests against him and downplaying incidents of violence by the protesters. Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court ordered his son Yair to take down a Tweet doxing the leaders of the protests. (Times of Israel) (Al Jazeera)
Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents during the Syrian Civil War, Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War Israeli Air Force helicopters strike Syrian military observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft batteries and command-and-control bases in Quneitra Governorate, in response to yesterday's incident along the Purple Line border fence in the Golan Heights, in which four militants were killed after attempting to plant an IED where Israeli soldiers patrol. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Queensland declares all of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory to be COVID-19 hotspots and will close its border with both regions on Saturday August 8 at 1 a.m. (AEST). (9 News) Victoria reports 725 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths in the last 24 hours. It is the highest number of reported cases and the deadliest day since the pandemic started in the state itself and Australia in general. (The Age)
Former Saudi Ministry of the Interior official Saad bin Khalid Al Jabry accuses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of attempting to assassinate him in Canada, where he currently lives in exile, two weeks after the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The would-be assassins, believed to be the Tiger Squad, were stopped at Toronto Pearson International Airport after Canadian border officials became suspicious of them following interviews. (BBC News)
2020 Thai protests, Lèse majesté in Thailand Anon Nampha, a leading lawyer who gave a speech on monarchy reforms, is arrested for "creating chaos" and "spreading untrue matters". (Khaosod) (Bangkok Post)
Anon Nampha, a leading lawyer who gave a speech on monarchy reforms, is arrested for "creating chaos" and "spreading untrue matters". (Khaosod) (Bangkok Post)
Protesters storm the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants building in Achrafieh, Beirut. The building was badly damaged in the August 4 explosion. (BBC News)
McDonald's files a US$40 million lawsuit against former CEO Steve Easterbrook, equal to the worth of his severance package, for allegedly lying to investigators about the extent of his sexual relationships with three employees. (CNN)
Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Three men are fined by a court in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, for hijacking the oil tanker MV Elobey VI off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and holding the crew hostage for US$200,000 in March. They are the first people to be convicted under Nigeria's new anti-piracy law. (Reuters)
Three men are fined by a court in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, for hijacking the oil tanker MV Elobey VI off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and holding the crew hostage for US$200,000 in March. They are the first people to be convicted under Nigeria's new anti-piracy law. (Reuters)
Operations Claw-Eagle and Tiger, Iraq–Turkey relations Iraq cancels a ministerial meeting and summons the Turkish ambassador as Iraq blames Turkey for a drone strike that killed two high-ranking Iraqi military officers. Officials called it a "blatant Turkish drone attack" in the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. (Al Jazeera)
Jordan announces it will close its only trade land border crossing with Syria for a week beginning on Thursday morning after a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases coming from its northern neighbour. (TRT World)
Jordan–Syria relations, COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, COVID-19 pandemic in Syria Jordan announces it will close its only trade land border crossing with Syria for a week beginning on Thursday morning after a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases coming from its northern neighbour. (TRT World)
2019–2020 Lebanese protests, aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosions Parliament approves a state of emergency in Beirut and grants the military sweeping powers, such as declaring curfews, preventing public gatherings and censoring the media, as well as referring civilians to military courts over alleged security breaches. Human rights groups criticize the decision. (AP)
Parliament approves a state of emergency in Beirut and grants the military sweeping powers, such as declaring curfews, preventing public gatherings and censoring the media, as well as referring civilians to military courts over alleged security breaches. Human rights groups criticize the decision. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Georgia Governor Brian Kemp drops his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city's mask mandate. (ABC News)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Georgia Governor Brian Kemp drops his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city's mask mandate. (ABC News)
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp drops his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over the city's mask mandate. (ABC News)
In a defiant speech, Alexander Lukashenko addresses supporters in Independence Square, Minsk, where he claims Belarus would "die as a state" if new elections were held, and accuses NATO of "massing on the border". Opposition critics say most of those at the rally were coerced into attending and had been bussed in from other parts of the country. (Sky News)
A court in Malaysia jails a teenager until the King's decision for starting a fire that killed 23 people in 2017. He was not eligible for the death penalty due to being a minor at the time of the arson, the court explained. (Reuters)
Hong Kong national security law Pro-democracy activist Sunny Cheung reportedly flees to the United Kingdom after reporting fears of imprisonment. (HK Free Press)
The European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell condemns the attempted coup, rejecting any anticonstitutional change and calls for dialogue. He also announces that contacts are being made to decide the international community's response. (European Union)
A court in Iran upholds the sentences of five Christian citizens who were charged with spreading Christianity and acting against national security by organizing and running house churches. (Al Arabiya)
At least 45 migrants, including five children, die in a shipwreck off Libya. In addition, 37 other people are rescued by local fishermen. (BBC News)
Christianity in Iran A court in Iran upholds the sentences of five Christian citizens who were charged with spreading Christianity and acting against national security by organizing and running house churches. (Al Arabiya)
COVID-19 pandemic in Finland Finland imposes "Europe's tightest" border restrictions on several countries which it had considered safe destinations to stop the spread of COVID-19. Travel from most EU member states, as well as Japan and Iceland, will be limited to essential trips starting August 24, with people returning from those countries required to self-quarantine for two weeks. (Yle) (Reuters)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Finland Finland imposes "Europe's tightest" border restrictions on several countries which it had considered safe destinations to stop the spread of COVID-19. Travel from most EU member states, as well as Japan and Iceland, will be limited to essential trips starting August 24, with people returning from those countries required to self-quarantine for two weeks. (Yle) (Reuters)
Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union, English Channel migrant crossings (2018–present) The European Union rejects a request from the British government to negotiate a migration deal replicating the Dublin Regulation that would grant the deportation of undocumented migrants in the UK to EU member states. (CNA) (The Guardian)
The European Union rejects a request from the British government to negotiate a migration deal replicating the Dublin Regulation that would grant the deportation of undocumented migrants in the UK to EU member states. (CNA) (The Guardian)
A court in Zimbabwe denies, for the third time, bail to opposition politician and activist Jacob Ngarivhume after ruling he "could be a danger to the public if released", over protests he organized last month. His lawyer says he is "stunned" by the court's decision. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announces on state radio that he will tighten border crossing rules in Hungary on September 1 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the number of new infections rises in neighbouring countries. (Reuters)
Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok says that Sudan is ready to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to facilitate the international body access to alleged war criminals over the Darfur War, including former ruler Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Christchurch mosque shootings Perpetrator Brenton Tarrant begins his sentencing before the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand. He faces an unprecedented sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, having been convicted in March for murder involving multiple deaths. (AP via The Hindu) (UPI)
Perpetrator Brenton Tarrant begins his sentencing before the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand. He faces an unprecedented sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, having been convicted in March for murder involving multiple deaths. (AP via The Hindu) (UPI)
Manchester United captain and England international Harry Maguire is given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison by a Greek court for repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery of police, violence against public employees and insult, following his arrest on the island of Mykonos. (BBC Sport)
The High Court of Hong Kong denies release for the first person arrested under the Hong Kong national security law. The 23-year-old man had driven a motorbike into several policemen knocking them down on a narrow street before falling over and getting arrested. (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Catholic Church, COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City The Holy See announces that Pope Francis will resume public audiences in September for the first time in nearly six months. However, the events will be limited to 500 people, held in a closed courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. (AFP via The Korea Times)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Catholic Church, COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City The Holy See announces that Pope Francis will resume public audiences in September for the first time in nearly six months. However, the events will be limited to 500 people, held in a closed courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. (AFP via The Korea Times)
The Holy See announces that Pope Francis will resume public audiences in September for the first time in nearly six months. However, the events will be limited to 500 people, held in a closed courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. (AFP via The Korea Times)
Delta Air Lines has banned 240 passengers for refusing to wear masks since a policy requiring them went into effect in June. (CNN)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Delta Air Lines has banned 240 passengers for refusing to wear masks since a policy requiring them went into effect in June. (CNN)
