Bamako and the Presidential Palace is reportedly under the control of coup forces with tanks and other military vehicles on the streets. Anti-government protesters set fire to a Ministry of Justice building, while hundreds of opposition supporters gather on the streets to celebrate the coup. (BBC News)
14 rockets strike Kabul, wounding ten people. The rockets mostly struck the diplomatic "Green Zone", which is home to several embassies and the NATOResolute Supportheadquarters. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, which the Taliban has denied responsibility for. (Reuters)
France is slated to make face masks mandatory for all shared spaces in offices and factories where there is more than one employee present. The measure is set to begin on September 1. (BBC News)
Ireland "significantly" tightens restrictions after a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks. All businesses are told to let employees work from home, new limits are placed on outdoor gatherings, and the government warns people to avoid public transport. The new rules will be in place until at least September 13. (Sky News)
Prime MinisterScott Morrison announces that his country has signed a deal with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to manufacture a vaccine against COVID-19 that the company is developing with the Oxford Vaccine Group. The vaccine is currently in Phase III efficacy trials and AstraZeneca says it is targeting a formulation of results by the end of the year. Morrison states that the deal also allows citizens to receive immediate and free access to the vaccines, if successful. (AFP via SCMP)
Police in Mauritius arrest the Captain of the ship which spilled huge amounts of petrol off the coast of the country, causing a major environmental disaster. (Reuters)
U.S. Postmaster GeneralLouis DeJoy, in response to politicians' criticism that proposed changes to U.S. mail services could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, suspends all mail service changes until after the November election. He also said there will be no changes to retail hours at post offices, mail collection boxes will remain where they are, and no mail processing facilities will be closed. A number of states, including Washington and New York, said they are planning legal moves to block the Postal Service changes. (Reuters)