Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) urged the African continent to increase compliance with the public health and social measures as COVID-19 continues to spread across the continent.
- AMERICAS: White House negotiators and Democratic lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on a new stimulus package, as the economy reels from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ASIA: A traditional Afghan council is planning to meet again on August 8 in Kabul to decide if the government should release 400 Taliban prisoners that have been convicted of involvement in high-profile attacks in the country.
- EUROPE: France and Germany have quit talks on reforming the World Health Organization in frustration at attempts by the United States to lead the negotiations, despite its decision to leave the WHO, three officials told Reuters.
- MIDDLE EAST: President Donald Trump will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in Washington, the White House announced, hopefully showcasing a turnaround in relations since the US-friendly premier came to power.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Facebook Inc reported that it recently removed a small network of accounts operating from Romania that had been promoting President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign with stories about his support from conservatives, Black Americans, Christians, and followers of the QAnon web of baseless conspiracy theories.
Top Story
- Lebanon: The International community is rallying to give aid in the aftermath of the explosion in Beirut.
- U.S President Donald Trump said that he told President Aoun that three large aircraft filled with medical supplies, food, and water is being sent for assistance.
- More than 60 people are still missing in Beirut, four days after a massive explosion at the port left more than 150 people dead, a health ministry official said Saturday.
- Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit announces he will seek to mobilize Arab efforts to support Lebanon after a massive explosion in the port of Beirut destroyed parts of the capital this week.
- French President Emmanuel Macron will host a donor conference for Lebanon via video-link on Sunday, his office said, as countries mobilize to help rebuild Beirut after this week’s massive blast.
- Reporting: AP, AFP, Reuters, Reuters
Africa
- Region: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) urged the African continent to increase compliance with the public health and social measures as COVID-19 continues to spread across the continent. (Xinhua)
- Burkina Faso: Twenty people were killed, and many others injured as gunmen randomly fired on a crowd in a livestock market in the east, official news agency AIB reported. (Xinhua)
- Morocco: The country recorded 1,018 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 30,666. (Xinhua)
Americas
- United States: U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration will watch closely for possible interference in the upcoming November presidential election by Russia, China, and Iran, but he said he believes the last thing that any of the three countries would desire is for him to win a second term. (RFE)
- United States: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) traveled to Delaware to meet with Joe Biden to be interviewed as a candidate while the democratic nominee is deciding on a running mate. (WaPo)
- United States: White House negotiators and Democratic lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on a new stimulus package as the US economy reels from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (DPA)
- Venezuela: A domestic court sentenced two former U.S. special forces soldiers to 20 years in prison for participating in a failed beach attack aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro from power, prosecutors announced. (AP)
Asia
- Afghanistan: A traditional tribal council is planning to meet again on August 8 in Kabul to decide if the government should release 400 Taliban prisoners that have been convicted of involvement in high-profile attacks in the country. (RFE)
- China: Director at the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Luo Huining, said U.S. sanctions showed him that he was doing what he “should be doing for my country and Hong Kong,” a statement on the liaison office’s website noted. (Reuters)
- South Korea: The total deaths from weeklong heavy rains in the nation rose to 21, officials noted. (YNA)
- Thailand: Dozens of protesters gathered in front of a Bangkok court to demand the release of activist leaders, promising to escalate anti-government demonstrations with a call for a protest in the Thai capital. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: France and Germany have quit talks on reforming the World Health Organization in frustration at attempts by the United States to lead the negotiations, despite its decision to leave the WHO, three officials told Reuters. (Reuters)
- Ireland: The country announced its first localized reimposition of some COVID-19 restrictions seeking to control outbreaks in three of the country’s 26 counties, one of which borders the most populous, Dublin. (Reuters)
- The United Kingdom: The nation is facing an “unacceptable” rise in the number of small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel from France and would act to send “illegal” entrants back to France, immigration compliance minister Chris Philp noted in an opinion piece for The Telegraph newspaper. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Egypt: The nation registered 141 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total infections in the country to 95,147, said the Egyptian Health Ministry. (Xinhua)
- Iraq: President Donald Trump will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in Washington, the White House announced, hopefully showcasing a turnaround in relations since the US-friendly premier came to power. (AFP)
- Syria: The nation reported 61 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally of infections to 1,060 in the country, the health ministry announced. (Xinhua)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Facebook Inc reported that it recently removed a small network of accounts operating from Romania that had been promoting President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign with stories about his support from conservatives, Black Americans, Christians, and followers of the QAnon web of baseless conspiracy theories. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 08AUG20: 19,387,937
- Total Recovered Cases as of 08AUG20: 11,748,567
- Deaths as of 08AUG20: 721,549
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 188
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
- Confirmed Cases as of 26JUL20: 63
- Probable Cases as of 26JUL20: 4
- Deaths as of 26JUL20: 31
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (09AUG20)
- China: National People’s Congress Standing Committee to meet in Beijing.
- Belarus: Belarus presidential elections, opposition protests likely to follow.
- Taiwan: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to travel to the disputed island.
END
