The United States passed a grim milestone as it reported over two million coronavirus cases (NPR) on Wednesday. More than 112,000 people have died.
​
New infections are rising in at least twenty states, though lockdown measures continue to ease. A similar dynamic is playing out worldwide (NYT) as infections soar in developing countries, including India and Mexico, which are lifting restrictions in an effort to resuscitate their economies. U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that he will resume his campaign rallies, including in states that have seen spikes in cases (WaPo). Meanwhile, protests against police brutality continue to draw large crowds, which infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warns could lead to new infections (ABC).

A North Korean official issued a veiled threat to interfere in the U.S. presidential election (Korea Times) if Washington “pokes its nose” into Pyongyang’s dispute with Seoul over anti-North Korea leaflets sent across the border.
​
Taiwan: Taiwan is preparing to welcome people fleeing Hong Kong (Reuters) as Beijing tightens its control of the city despite fears that the island might not be able to keep out Chinese spies.

The Taliban has not met the conditions (AP) for the United States to withdraw its troops in Afghanistan by next May, the commander of U.S. forces in the country said. The withdrawal is part of a deal the Trump administration negotiated with the Taliban.
​
India: New Delhi denied visas (Indian Express) to a U.S. government panel seeking to evaluate religious freedoms in India. The minister of external affairs said the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom had no standing to comment on Indian citizens’ rights.

In a joint statement with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Germany and Jordan’s foreign ministers called Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank a violation of international law and said stopping it is a priority (Haaretz). German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that other nations could sanction Israel or recognize a Palestinian state if he moves forward with annexation.

In Foreign Affairs, CFR’s Martin S. Indyk questions whether Israel’s new government can resolve the dilemma of annexation.
​
Libya: The United Nations said Libya’s warring parties engaged in productive peace talks (Al Jazeera). But Turkey, which backs Libya’s UN-recognized government, rejected an Egyptian cease-fire proposal, claiming it would benefit rebel commander Khalifa Haftar.

Sudanese militia leader Ali Kushayb, who has been charged with fifty war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict in Darfur (AP), arrived at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after surrendering to authorities. The ICC chief prosecutor urged Sudan to hand over former President Omar al-Bashir and two others wanted by the court.
​
Ethiopia: The country’s Parliament is allowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to remain in office beyond his term (Al Jazeera) after elections were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Brussels has accused Beijing and Moscow of spreading disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic (Guardian). It is the first time the bloc has publicly leveled such an accusation against China.
​
UK: The European Union has proposed accelerating Brexit talks and holding weekly meetings (Politico) as the EU and the United Kingdom try to negotiate a future trading relationship.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said his government will seek to improve its offer to creditors (Buenos Aires Times) as it seeks to restructure more than $65 billion in debt. Friday’s deadline for negotiations has already been extended multiple times and could be pushed back again, he said. 
 
Brazil: Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest was 34 percent higher in 2019 than in the previous year, according to revised government data. Ten thousand square kilometers of deforestation was recorded, an area roughly the size of Lebanon (Reuters).
​
This CFR InfoGuide looks at deforestation in the Amazon.