Voters in Russia overwhelmingly approved a set of constitutional amendments that would allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036 (WaPo), according to official results. But critics alleged that the vote was rigged (Guardian).
 
The amendments reset the current presidential term limits (WSJ), allowing Putin to run for office two more times after his current term expires in 2024. The new laws also give the president greater authority over the courts and prosecutors and expand the role of the State Council, an advisory body headed by Putin, which could allow him to retain power even if he gives up the presidency. The changes did not technically need voter approval as they had already been ratified by Russia’s legislature, but analysts said public support was symbolically important for Putin (NYT).

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government is moving forward with a plan to grant millions of Hong Kong residents the ability to settle in the United Kingdom (Guardian) after China imposed a new national security law for the city. Australia also plans to offer safe haven visas (SMH) to Hong Kong residents. Beijing condemned Johnson’s offer, saying the UK would “bear all the consequences.”
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Japan: Tokyo reported 107 new coronavirus cases, the city’s highest number in two months (Japan Times). Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will not declare a state of emergency at this time.

Officials in Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have reimposed coronavirus-related restrictions (RFE/RL) as cases surge in the region. The number of cases is unclear due to a lack of testing and accusations of underreporting.
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Myanmar: At least 113 people are dead and dozens are missing after a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar (NYT).

Saudi Arabia began a new military operation in Yemen (Al Jazeera), where its coalition forces conducted dozens of air raids against the Houthi rebels. Rebel forces launched missiles toward Riyadh last week, the first such attack since a cease-fire was declared due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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This CFR Backgrounder explains the crisis in Yemen.

Turkey: The trial of twenty Saudi officials accused of killing Jamal Khashoggi (Reuters), a columnist for the Washington Post, will begin tomorrow in a Turkish court.

At least eighty-one people were killed during two days of protests in Ethiopia (AFP) over the murder of Hachalu Hundessa, a popular musician and activist from the country’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo.
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Nigeria: Former Irish President Mary Robinson will lead an investigation of African Development Bank leader Akinwumi Adesina, who has been accused of corruption (Vanguard). He was cleared by an internal investigation, but the United States called for an independent probe.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump approved plans to withdraw 9,500 of the roughly 34,500 troops stationed in Germany. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers announced efforts to block the move by withholding funds (DW) needed for the reduction.
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CFR’s Philip H. Gordon explains the danger in Trump’s plan.

A federal judge struck down a Trump administration policy barring Central Americans and other migrants from seeking asylum at the southern U.S. border (WaPo). The policy requires migrants to apply for asylum in countries they passed through, such as Guatemala and Mexico, rather than in the United States.
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Venezuela: A British judge refused to give Caracas access to more than $1 billion in gold (AP) held in a Bank of England vault because the UK does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s president.

Celebrations have been canceled and officials urged residents to stay home (NYT) on the nation’s Independence Day after the country reported fifty thousand coronavirus cases yesterday, the highest number ever reported in one day.