The United States and China both conducted naval exercises (SCMP) in the disputed South China Sea over the weekend. Experts say both countries rarely hold major military exercises in the same region at the same time.

In one of its biggest displays of naval power in the region (WSJ), the United States deployed two aircraft carriers and completed hundreds of launches of jets, surveillance planes, and helicopters. China held its own exercises around the disputed Paracel Islands, which Vietnam and Taiwan also claim. A U.S. Navy official said the exercises were routine and preplanned (NYT), but the Pentagon recently said it was monitoring China’s exercises near the Paracels. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said the United States held the exercises to “show off its muscle” and accused it of having “ulterior motives.”

A South Korean court denied the United States’ request to extradite Son Jong-woo, who ran one of the world’s largest child pornography sites. The court said extraditing him could hinder Seoul’s efforts to combat child pornography (Yonhap).

India and Pakistan accused each other of violating a cease-fire agreement in the disputed Kashmir region over the weekend. Pakistan’s foreign office summoned a senior Indian diplomat (Dawn) to protest alleged cease-fire violations that injured five civilians; meanwhile, an Indian army spokesperson accused Pakistan of initiating an “unprovoked cease-fire violation” (Hindustan Times). 

This CFR In Brief explains what to know about Kashmir. 
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Afghanistan: Kabul is hosting a virtual meeting with representatives of nineteen countries and organizations today to discuss the Afghan peace process (TOLO). The Afghan government said one factor delaying intra-Afghan peace talks is its refusal to release nearly six hundred Taliban prisoners.

Tehran acknowledged that a fire at a major nuclear fuel–enrichment site (NYT) on Thursday caused significant damage, setting back the country’s nuclear program. A Middle Eastern intelligence official told the New York Times that Israel was behind the attack on the Natanz nuclear complex. 
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UAE: The United Arab Emirates began a sweeping reorganization of its government (FT), consolidating some of its ministries and departments. Three ministers were appointed to handle the economic portfolio as part of the restructuring.

More than 166 people were killed during protests in Ethiopia (Reuters) following the killing of a popular musician. The government shut down the internet and deployed the military. 

CFR’s Michelle Gavin looks at Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s agenda and the future of Ethiopia.  
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Mali: President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita met with Imam Mahmoud Dicko (Al Jazeera), a leader of the country’s protest movement, on Saturday. Frustration with armed attacks and interethnic violence contributed to the protests, which drew thousands of participants in June.

Croatia’s conservative ruling party overwhelmingly won (AP) the country’s parliamentary elections on Sunday and will likely form a coalition government. Turnout for the election, held amid a spike in coronavirus cases, was the lowest in the country’s history. 
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France: President Emmanuel Macron shuffled his cabinet, replacing popular Prime Minister Edouard Philippe with the relatively unknown Jean Castex, as he seeks to reinvigorate his government (NYT) amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Opposition leader Luis Abinader claimed victory in the Dominican Republic’s presidential election (AFP) held Sunday. His rivals, including the outgoing president, conceded, bringing an end to the center-left Dominican Liberation Party’s sixteen years in power.
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Canada: Ottawa suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong (SCMP) after China imposed a new national security law on the region. Hong Kong officials condemned the move.

The seven-day average of new coronavirus cases reached a new high for the twenty-seventh day in a row on Sunday, according to the Washington Post’s tracking. Major hot spots are in parts of Arizona, Florida, and Texas, as well as in Los Angeles.

More than two hundred scientists from over thirty countries urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to more seriously address the possible airborne transmission of the coronavirus (WaPo). They say there is growing evidence that the virus can be spread through the air indoors and that public health agencies such as the WHO have not fully appreciated the risk.