The Cuban embassy in Paris, France, is attacked with three molotovs, resulting in a fire outside the building but without causing any injuries. The identities of the perpetrators of the attack are unknown. (Al Jazeera)
Bangladesh reports a record for the second consecutive day of 258 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 19,779. (Dhaka Tribune)
Indonesia reports a record 47,128 recoveries and 2,069 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 2.596 million and the nationwide death toll to 86,835. (detikNews)
Iran reports a record for the second consecutive day of 34,951 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 3.758 million. (Gulf News)
Kazakhstan reports a record 6,797 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 542,703. (Azerbaijan Press Agency)
Kuwait announces that it will ban unvaccinated people from travelling internationally beginning on August 1. However, the rule exempts children under the age of 16, those with a health ministry certificate saying that they cannot be vaccinated, and pregnant women who have a proof of pregnancy certificate. (Reuters)
Uzbekistan reports a record 789 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 125,784. (AKIPress)
U.S. CDC director Rochelle Walensky announces that residents, including vaccinated Americans, are recommended to wear masks in indoor public spaces amid the spread of the Delta variant. (NPR)
Iceland begins to require international travellers who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 to present a negative PCR or Antigen test result from the previous 72 hours due to the spread of the Delta variant. (Schengen Visa Info)
The United Kingdom eases its quarantine rules for essential workers in many fields who no longer need to quarantine for 10 days if they are fully vaccinated and only need to receive a COVID-19 test after the previous rules led to a shortage of workers. (The Hill)
North and South Korea restore hotlines between the two countries, more than a year after Pyongyang cut ties in June 2020. The move comes after months of correspondence by letters of negotiations between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries. (Reuters)
A court in Hong Kong found 24-year-old Tong Ying-kit, the first person to be charged under the national security law, guilty of terrorism and secession after driving his motorcycle into police. (DW)(Bloomberg)
The trial against Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu and ten others for financial crimes opens in the Holy See. Becciu and a monsignor are the only two to appear in court in person. Becciu denied any wrongdoing and the trial was adjourned. Pope Francis had previously stripped Becciu of his immunity and approved his indictment. Becciu's lawyers asked the court not to order the Cardinal's arrest. (Reuters)