France reports 2,846 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, as well as more than 12,300 new cases this week, making it the highest number of cases since the lockdown was eased in May. (The New York Times)(The Telegraph)
The government declares Paris and Marseilles as "active zones", or high-risk zones. The move allows local authorities in those designated areas to impose restrictions. (DW)
Amid an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, the government of Spain closes all nightclubs and bans smoking in public sites in the event that the social distancing is not assured. (CBS News)(Politico)
Greece announces that they would limit public gatherings to 50 people and impose a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants in Athens and other areas. This measure is to last until August 24 in parts of the country where infection numbers have risen. (Greek Reporter)
Germany declares all of Spain except for the Canary Islands a high risk region following a spike of COVID-19 cases in the country. Designations as risk regions are typically followed by the German Foreign Ministry warning against touristic travel to those areas and mean people returning from those areas face a test or two weeks' compulsory quarantine. (France 24)
The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a United States bid to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In a Security Council vote, United States only got support from the Dominican Republic for its resolution to indefinitely extend the arms embargo on Iran, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption. Eleven members on the 15-member body, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained while Russia and China opposed extending the ban but did not need to use their vetoes. (Al Jazeera)(The Guardian)
Amnesty International says "widespread torture" is taking place inside detention centres in Belarus, with more than 6,700 people detained since protests against Lukashenko broke out following the disputed presidential election result. Amnesty International says detainees described being stripped naked, beaten and threatened with rape. The BBC also reports evidence of torture, including at the Okrestina detention centre in Minsk. (CNN)(BBC News)
Thai police arrest a student leader over an anti-government protest last month. The student was arrested in the outskirts of Bangkok while traveling to a protest. Human Rights Watch reports that he will be charged with breaching multiple laws. Police declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. (Reuters)
Prime MinisterFrancisco Pascual Obama Asue presents his resignation and that of his entire government without making public the reason. President Teodoro Obiang claims that "he has not met the programmatic objectives, which has undoubtedly caused this crisis situation that today requires us to take urgent measures". (La Vanguardia)