Mitsubishi Heavy Industries successfully launches Hope, a United Arab Emirates space probe to Mars, from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. It is the first mission to Mars from the Arab world. (The Independent)
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler renews calls for federal troops to leave the city, accusing them of "using abusive tactics against protesters." (BBC News)
Second Libyan Civil War, Egypt–Libya relations In a closed-door session, the Parliament of Egypt authorizes the military to intervene in neighbouring Libya. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said Sirte is a "red-line", and that any attack on the strategic Libyan city would prompt Egyptian military action. (ABC News)
In a closed-door session, the Parliament of Egypt authorizes the military to intervene in neighbouring Libya. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said Sirte is a "red-line", and that any attack on the strategic Libyan city would prompt Egyptian military action. (ABC News)
Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War Syrian air defenses respond to a strike over Damascus attributed to Israel, state media reports, in the latest wave of attacks that Western intelligence sources have said were Israeli strikes on a major Iranian-backed ammunition depot on the edge of the capital. According to a Syrian military sources, at least seven soldiers were wounded in the attack which also inflicted "heavy material damage". (Haaretz)
2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia Democratic Party of Georgia Chair and State Senator Nikema Williams is selected by the party's Executive Committee to replace the name of the late incumbent John Lewis on the ballot for Georgia's 5th congressional district for the November 3 general election. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Democratic Party of Georgia Chair and State Senator Nikema Williams is selected by the party's Executive Committee to replace the name of the late incumbent John Lewis on the ballot for Georgia's 5th congressional district for the November 3 general election. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Syrian air defenses respond to a strike over Damascus attributed to Israel, state media reports, in the latest wave of attacks that Western intelligence sources have said were Israeli strikes on a major Iranian-backed ammunition depot on the edge of the capital. According to a Syrian military sources, at least seven soldiers were wounded in the attack which also inflicted "heavy material damage". (Haaretz)
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)
Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
Citizenship Minister Onyx Lorenzoni and Education Minister Milton Ribeiro test positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Citizenship Minister Onyx Lorenzoni and Education Minister Milton Ribeiro test positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Citizenship Minister Onyx Lorenzoni and Education Minister Milton Ribeiro test positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Popular music magazine Q announces it is ceasing operations after 34 years in print amid an accelerated downturn in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic The EU meeting on a post-coronavirus recovery fund enters deadlock on its fourth day. Complicating matters, the group is also negotiating a deal for the bloc's next long-term budget. Today's early talks over a proposed €750bn ($857bn / £680bn) recovery package have reportedly been testy. Resumption is scheduled for 14:00 GMT. (BBC News)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Cinema of China, COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai Cinemas in Shanghai and Chengdu reopen after a six-month closure. (Reuters)
King Salman of Saudi Arabia, 84, is admitted to a hospital due to an inflammation of the gall bladder. The hospitalization prompts Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to cancel his scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
Popular music magazine Q announces it is ceasing operations after 34 years in print amid an accelerated downturn in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
The EU meeting on a post-coronavirus recovery fund enters deadlock on its fourth day. Complicating matters, the group is also negotiating a deal for the bloc's next long-term budget. Today's early talks over a proposed €750bn ($857bn / £680bn) recovery package have reportedly been testy. Resumption is scheduled for 14:00 GMT. (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)
2020 Bulgarian protests The government survives a motion of no confidence by 124 votes against, 102 votes in favour, amidst ongoing large-scale anti-government protests. (Reuters)
Greece–Turkey relations Greece accuses Turkey of encroaching on its territorial waters after a NAVTEX was issued by the Turkish Naval Forces for "seismic surveys" off Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Crete from July 21 to August 2. (Reuters) The government places the Hellenic Armed Forces on high alert after Turkish Air Force fighter jets entered Greek airspace over Strongyli Megistis. (Ekathimerini)
Iran–Iraq relations Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi meets Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani where he says that "Iraq is a country that won’t allow any aggression or challenge to Iran from its territory", in the first trip abroad by Kadhimi. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi meets Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani where he says that "Iraq is a country that won’t allow any aggression or challenge to Iran from its territory", in the first trip abroad by Kadhimi. (Reuters)
Islam in Germany The Landtag of Baden-Württemberg announces a full ban on face coverings in schools, including burqas and niqabs worn by Muslims. Previously, the ban only applied to teachers in Baden-Württemberg. Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann says that full-face veiling "does not belong in a free society". (DW)
The government places the Hellenic Armed Forces on high alert after Turkish Air Force fighter jets entered Greek airspace over Strongyli Megistis. (Ekathimerini)
The government survives a motion of no confidence by 124 votes against, 102 votes in favour, amidst ongoing large-scale anti-government protests. (Reuters)
The Landtag of Baden-Württemberg announces a full ban on face coverings in schools, including burqas and niqabs worn by Muslims. Previously, the ban only applied to teachers in Baden-Württemberg. Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann says that full-face veiling "does not belong in a free society". (DW)
Censorship in Pakistan Pakistan blocks Bigo Live and threatens a similar move with the app TikTok over "immoral, obscene and vulgar" content. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority says in a statement that the two platforms could have "extremely negative effects on the society in general and youth in particular", without elaborating. (AP)
Fifteen people are injured, six seriously, in a mass shooting at a funeral home in Chicago, Illinois. One person is in custody, but a motive remains unclear. (NBC News)
Greece accuses Turkey of encroaching on its territorial waters after a NAVTEX was issued by the Turkish Naval Forces for "seismic surveys" off Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Crete from July 21 to August 2. (Reuters)
Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) churches meet with Zimbabwe's political leaders to discuss pressing issues affecting the country. The southern African nation of 14.3 million is 72% Protestant and 11% Catholic, with 15% adhering to ethnic religions. (Vatican News)
Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is arrested for bribery. (NBC News)
Oxford City Council overwhelmingly passes a motion to establish sister city relationships with an as-yet-undetermined Taiwanese city due to Taiwan's strong human rights record and success at keeping the COVID-19 pandemic under control. This will be Taiwan and the UK's first sister city relationship and the first sister city in East Asia for Oxford. (Taiwan News)
Pakistan blocks Bigo Live and threatens a similar move with the app TikTok over "immoral, obscene and vulgar" content. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority says in a statement that the two platforms could have "extremely negative effects on the society in general and youth in particular", without elaborating. (AP)
Taiwan–United Kingdom relations Oxford City Council overwhelmingly passes a motion to establish sister city relationships with an as-yet-undetermined Taiwanese city due to Taiwan's strong human rights record and success at keeping the COVID-19 pandemic under control. This will be Taiwan and the UK's first sister city relationship and the first sister city in East Asia for Oxford. (Taiwan News)
Twitter bans 7,000 accounts and places restrictions on a further 150,000 that promote QAnon-related content. The social media site also announces that terms connected to the conspiracy theory will be barred from appearing on its trending topics and search feature. (NBC News)
Twitter suspensions Twitter bans 7,000 accounts and places restrictions on a further 150,000 that promote QAnon-related content. The social media site also announces that terms connected to the conspiracy theory will be barred from appearing on its trending topics and search feature. (NBC News)
2020 Atlantic hurricane season, 2020 Pacific hurricane season Two tropical storms, one in the Atlantic Ocean (Gonzalo) and the other in the Pacific (Douglas), are expected to become hurricanes Thursday. Gonzalo, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, is east of Barbados in the Windward Islands, moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h), leading Barbados to issue a Hurricane watch. Douglas's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h), and landfall on Hawaii is expected Sunday. (USA Today) (The Washington Post)
A Hezbollah militiaman is killed by an Israeli airstrike, apparently on Monday night, near Damascus International Airport, Syria, the group reports. It is their first casualty since they warned that if it suffered further killings, they would retaliate. (Reuters)
Israeli involvement in the Syrian Civil War A Hezbollah militiaman is killed by an Israeli airstrike, apparently on Monday night, near Damascus International Airport, Syria, the group reports. It is their first casualty since they warned that if it suffered further killings, they would retaliate. (Reuters)
Two tropical storms, one in the Atlantic Ocean (Gonzalo) and the other in the Pacific (Douglas), are expected to become hurricanes Thursday. Gonzalo, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, is east of Barbados in the Windward Islands, moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h), leading Barbados to issue a Hurricane watch. Douglas's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h), and landfall on Hawaii is expected Sunday. (USA Today) (The Washington Post)
2020 NFL season The National Football League issues a mandate requiring all fans to wear face masks at stadiums during the upcoming season. (ESPN)
About 2,000 Israelis protest outside the residence of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis and alleged corruption. (The Guardian)
Aichi Prefecture reports its highest single day record of 53 new COVID-19 cases. (Mainichi Shimbun)
Australia reports the highest one-day increase of new cases since the pandemic began, with 502 new cases, surpassing the previous record set on March 28 at 469 cases. Victoria records 484 new cases and two deaths, the highest of any Australian state. (The Age) (ABC News (Australia))
Boko Haram insurgency ISWAP releases a video showing the execution of five kidnapped aid workers in Nigeria. The International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger confirmed the authenticity of the video and condemned the killings of their colleagues. (The Washington Post)
Brazil reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases days after WHO says the country reaches the plateau, with 67,860 new cases that pushes the nationwide total at more than 2.2 million. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa reports a record 572 new COVID-19 deaths. (Anadolu Agency) The number of cases in Africa reaches 750,000. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Australia reports the highest one-day increase of new cases since the pandemic began, with 502 new cases, surpassing the previous record set on March 28 at 469 cases. Victoria records 484 new cases and two deaths, the highest of any Australian state. (The Age) (ABC News (Australia))
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases days after WHO says the country reaches the plateau, with 67,860 new cases that pushes the nationwide total at more than 2.2 million. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California reports the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day, with 12,807 new cases that bring the statewide total to 413,576 cases, surpassing New York in the process. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases, with 113 new cases, 105 of which are locally transmitted. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths, with 139 new deaths bringing its death toll to 4,459. (detikNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Corruption in Israel About 2,000 Israelis protest outside the residence of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis and alleged corruption. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports a record of 795 new COVID-19 cases, surpass the previous single-day high set in April. (Kyodo News) Tokyo cumulative cases surpasses 10,000. (The Asahi Shimbun) Osaka Prefecture confirms its highest single day record of 121 new COVID-19 cases. (Kyodo News) Aichi Prefecture reports its highest single day record of 53 new COVID-19 cases. (Mainichi Shimbun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issues a statewide mandate requiring masks to be worn indoors and outdoors whenever social distancing isn't possible. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Romania The number of daily cases in Romania exceeds 1,000. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa reports a record 572 new COVID-19 deaths. (Anadolu Agency)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic South Korea's economy enters recession after exports plunge to their lowest levels since 1963. (Reuters)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issues a statewide mandate requiring masks to be worn indoors and outdoors whenever social distancing isn't possible. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announces that masks will be mandatory outside of homes to battle rising COVID-19 cases in the city. (The Hill)
Floods in Vietnam's Hà Giang province result in at least five deaths and damage more than 2,800 houses. (VnExpress)
Hong Kong reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases, with 113 new cases, 105 of which are locally transmitted. (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports 2020 NFL season The National Football League issues a mandate requiring all fans to wear face masks at stadiums during the upcoming season. (ESPN)
Indonesia reports its highest one-day increase in COVID-19 deaths, with 139 new deaths bringing its death toll to 4,459. (detikNews)
Indonesian security forces deny that two people they killed late last week were "innocent civilians". The Indonesian military is fighting the separatist West Papua Liberation Army in the region, which reported that the two killed were shot without provocation. (RNZ)
ISWAP releases a video showing the execution of five kidnapped aid workers in Nigeria. The International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger confirmed the authenticity of the video and condemned the killings of their colleagues. (The Washington Post)
Japan reports a record of 795 new COVID-19 cases, surpass the previous single-day high set in April. (Kyodo News)
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)
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issues a statewide mandate requiring masks to be worn indoors and outdoors whenever social distancing isn't possible. (Reuters)
Osaka Prefecture confirms its highest single day record of 121 new COVID-19 cases. (Kyodo News)
Papua conflict Indonesian security forces deny that two people they killed late last week were "innocent civilians". The Indonesian military is fighting the separatist West Papua Liberation Army in the region, which reported that the two killed were shot without provocation. (RNZ)
