China’s rubber-stamp legislature approved a new national security law (SCMP) for Hong Kong, setting up a clash with the United States and other countries that warned Beijing against the move.

The law is expected to take effect tomorrow, the twenty-third anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China. Critics fear the law will allow Beijing to crack down on dissent (WaPo) in Hong Kong; an opposition party founded by activist Joshua Wong has already disbanded. The United States and its allies had urged China to change course (NYT). The Donald J. Trump administration announced visa restrictions on Chinese officials last week and on Monday began rolling back Hong Kong’s preferential trade status, restricting exports of defense equipment and high-tech products.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged to spend nearly $1 billion for Australia’s cyber defenses over the next decade. The country has been hit by a wave of cyberattacks (SMH) believed to be from China, though Canberra has not officially blamed Beijing.

The Indian government banned fifty-nine mostly Chinese apps (Hindustan Times), including the popular video-sharing platform TikTok, following a deadly border clash between the countries earlier this month.
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Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan said he urged the United Nations and world leaders (News International) to oppose India’s decision to grant domicile certificates to twenty-five thousand Indian nationals in Kashmir. Pakistan views the move as illegal.

Tehran issued an arrest warrant (NYT) for President Trump and dozens of other people it believes were involved in the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian prosecutor said. Iran also reportedly sent a request for cooperation to Interpol, an international police organization, which said it would not consider such a request.

Lebanon: The long-serving director of the finance ministry resigned in protest (Al Jazeera) over the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis.
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CFR’s Amir Asmar explains what’s driving Lebanon’s midpandemic protests.

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye unveiled a fifteen-member cabinet that includes two people, the prime minister and interior minister, who are under U.S. and European sanctions (Reuters) for allegedly crushing protests. Ndayishimiye succeeded Pierre Nkurunziza, who died earlier this month.
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Sudan: Mass protests are planned today to commemorate protesters killed (Radio Dabanga) in the uprising that led to the 2019 ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on the same day last year; ten died.

The European Union extended sanctions on Russia (AP) for six months because it failed to abide by a peace agreement with Ukraine. The sanctions target Russia’s energy, defense, and finance sectors, as well as goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
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Kosovo: President Hashim Thaci said he would resign immediately (RFE/RL) if The Hague confirms war crimes charges against him. He said there was no evidence against him.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the EU’s ambassador to leave (AP) the country after the bloc imposed sanctions on officials loyal to him. The EU and the United States recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president.

Brazil: The World Health Organization (WHO) urged the country to do more to integrate the federal and state response (MercoPress) to the coronavirus pandemic. Brazil has the second-highest number of reported cases and deaths after the United States.
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This CFR In Brief looks at how Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has clashed with governors over the pandemic.

U.S. health officials, including infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, will testify before Congress today (NYT) about the coronavirus, which is surging in at least thirty states.