In the latest blow to press freedom in the Philippines, lawmakers voted to shut down ABS-CBN (Rappler), the country’s largest TV network, which President Rodrigo Duterte had attacked for its critical coverage. Global media and human rights watchdogs condemned the move, and it marks a further regression in freedoms in a country once seen as one of Asia’s vibrant democracies.
 
Duterte was incensed by ABS-CBN’s coverage of the country’s war on drugs (Al Jazeera). The House of Representatives, dominated by Duterte’s allies (AP), overwhelmingly voted to reject a new twenty-five-year license for the network. The government has also cracked down on the news website Rappler (Guardian) after CEO Maria Ressa was found guilty of cyberlibel. ABS-CBN has been able to maintain a smaller news presence, but thousands of employees could lose their jobs. The last time the network shut down was in 1972 at the beginning of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s martial rule; it reopened in 1986.

The body of Park Won-soon was discovered (NYT) days after a secretary from his office accused him of sexual harassment. City authorities revealed a note Park left (Yonhap) apologizing to his family for “causing only pain.”

Kazakhstan’s health ministry denied the Chinese embassy’s claim that the country has a pneumonia outbreak more deadly than the coronavirus (AFP). The ministry said it had classified some cases as pneumonia where a patient had symptoms of COVID-19 but tested negative. 

Pakistan: U.S. authorities revoked Pakistan International Airlines’ permission (Dawn) to operate special direct flights to the United States after it was revealed that many of its pilots had “dubious” licenses.

The Idlib Governorate in Syria recorded its first coronavirus case (BBC), raising fears about the disease spreading in crowded camps for displaced persons.

This CFR In Brief looks at the humanitarian crisis in Idlib. 
​
Iran: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected a UN expert’s findings (RFE/RL) that the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was unlawful. Pompeo said the United States had been transparent about the drone strike that killed Soleimani and that it was done in self defense.

The U.S. State Department warned Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger that security assistance could be at risk (Reuters) if the countries do not address alleged human rights abuses by state security forces.
​
Sudan: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced a sweeping shake-up (Al Jazeera) of his government, removing seven senior cabinet officials. The move followed protests demanding faster reform and greater civilian rule.

Denmark approved resuming construction of the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline (WSJ), potentially clearing the way for its completion. The United States has objected to the pipeline, which will deliver gas from Russia to Germany, fearing it will give Moscow greater leverage over Europe.

This CFR In Brief looks at the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
​
Serbia/Kosovo: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti are set to meet online today ahead of a European Union–supervised summit aimed at reviving stalled talks to normalize relations (RFE/RL).

Bolivian President Jeanine Anez announced that she had tested positive for the coronavirus (NYT), becoming the second Latin American leader to do so this week. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro disclosed his infection on Tuesday.
​
Mexico: Data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows the number of migrants detained by the United States at the Mexican border increased by 40 percent in June despite a crackdown by the Donald J. Trump administration.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump had no right to block the release of his tax returns (NYT) sought by New York prosecutors, a major statement on the limits of presidential power. In a separate landmark ruling, the court said that much of eastern Oklahoma is an Indian reservation (NYT), which could have profound implications for the state’s criminal justice system.