A set of explosions rocked Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut, devastating a country already staggering under the weight of an economic crisis, mass protests, and a rising coronavirus caseload. The blasts, which Prime Minister Hassan Diab attributed (National) to exploding agricultural fertilizer, killed at least one hundred people, injured more than four thousand, and left up to three hundred thousand homeless (Al Jazeera). They also damaged half of Beirut (DW), including a silo at the city’s port that helped supply grain to the food-insecure country.
 
Cash-strapped Lebanon appealed for international help, and several countries have pledged aid (BBC). Meanwhile, the United Nations says it is “actively assisting” (UN) in the recovery. Nonetheless, the blast has raised fears (Bloomberg) of looming regional instability.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will travel to Taiwan (SCMP) to bolster economic and public health cooperation in the highest-level U.S. visit to the island since 1979. Taiwan’s government welcomed Azar’s visit, which China called a threat to U.S.-China ties.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains China-Taiwan relations.
 
Malaysia: Police and communications authorities raided the offices (Straits Times) of media outlets Al Jazeera, Astro, and Unifi TV over an Al Jazeera documentary depicting the detention of undocumented migrants in Malaysia. Al Jazeera called the incident a “troubling escalation in the authorities’ crackdown on media freedom.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone (Hindustan Times) for a Hindu temple in Ayodhya at a site formerly occupied by a mosque. Modi’s participation has drawn criticism (Scroll) from some Indians who viewed it as a threat to the country’s secularism.
 
Sri Lanka: The country held parliamentary elections today, with voters observing coronavirus containment measures. Analysts predict an increase (FT) in the ruling party’s power, which could lead to rising authoritarianism and closer ties to China.

U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien condemned the involvement (RFE/RL) of foreign forces in Libya, arguing that their actions threaten stability and commerce. Several foreign countries back opposing sides in Libya’s civil war, and the United States has accused Russia of using mercenaries to establish a foothold in the region.
 
This CFR In Brief explains who’s who in Libya’s civil war.

Egypt will withdraw (Al Jazeera) from discussions with Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam over concerns about Ethiopia’s proposed guidelines for filling the dam. Sudan threatened to follow suit, citing Ethiopia’s attempts to renegotiate a deal on sharing the Blue Nile river to which Egypt and Sudan claim a “historic right.”
 
Cape Verde: A Cape Verdean court agreed to extradite Alex Saab (VOA), an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to the United States to stand trial for money laundering. Saab’s defense team intends to appeal the decision to Cape Verde’s Supreme Court.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused Russia (BBC) of lying when it said alleged Russian mercenaries detained in Belarus last week were en route to a third country. He also said a second “unit” has entered Belarus and warned of a revolution plot (Reuters) ahead of the country’s August 9 election.
 
Belgium/France/Germany: France’s top scientific body warned that the country is likely to experience a second wave of the coronavirus (Reuters) this fall or winter. Caseloads are rising across Europe as countries relax restrictions, and experts in Belgium and Germany say those countries are already fighting (Politico) second waves.

Colombia’s Supreme Court has placed senator and former President Alvaro Uribe on house arrest (NYT) as authorities investigate him for bribery, fraud, and witness tampering. The move could deepen the country’s political divide and erode support for President Ivan Duque, who sees Uribe as a mentor.
 
Argentina: After months of tough talks, the government struck a deal (FT) with its major investors to restructure $65 billion in foreign bonds. If bondholders vote to approve the agreement, Argentina can begin negotiations regarding its debt to the International Monetary Fund and work on repairing its beleaguered economy.

Democratic lawmakers and the Donald J. Trump administration agreed to a timeline for addressing lapsed coronavirus relief measures in the most concrete progress since negotiations began. The two sides aim to reach a deal (WaPo) this week and hold a congressional vote next week.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at how different countries have responded to the economic crisis.