Hong Kong reports 118 new COVID-19 cases, a new record in two consecutive days. The new cases include 111 cases that were locally transmitted. (Reuters)
The United States condemns Wednesday's airstrikes against the Taliban in Herat which resulted in 45 deaths, many of them civilians. The U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said that children were killed and also condemned recent Taliban attacks. The Afghan government defends the airstrikes as an operation against the group. (Reuters)
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)
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is tear-gassed in the city's downtown, according to video from a New York Times journalist. The video shows Wheeler, wearing goggles and a face mask amid a crowd of people, holding his nose and closing his eyes in distress as a cloud of tear gas drifts by him. It is unknown at this time who is responsible for deploying the tear gas and there is nothing to indicate the mayor was targeted. (CNN)
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)
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)
The general election is postponed until October 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, which has infected more than 64,000 people, and killed more than 2,300. This is the second time the Interim Government has delayed the elections since the 2019 Bolivian political crisis late last year that forced the resignation of former president Evo Morales. (Reuters)
The Washington Redskins change their name to the Washington Football Team for the rest of 2020. The new name is a placeholder, and a permanent name will be announced in the future. (The Washington Post)