Democratic presidential contender and former Vice President Joe Biden selected (NYT) Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and first person of Indian descent to be chosen for a major party ticket. The former prosecutor has spoken out about criminal justice reforms, describing herself as a “progressive prosecutor” (CFR), though some have criticized her record (NYT).

On foreign policy, Harris has called for ratcheting up pressure on China over human rights abuses, criticized Russian election interference, and vowed to limit the U.S. military presence abroad. She has also rebuked (CFR) President Donald J. Trump’s approach to foreign policy, arguing that he “seems intent on inflicting further damage to U.S. credibility” and pledging to “revitalize” the United States’ international alliances.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will decide (New Zealand Herald) by Monday whether to postpone the country’s September 9 general elections after she delayed the dissolution of Parliament amid a coronavirus outbreak. Ardern also reinstated restrictions (Straits Times) on the city of Auckland after four members of the same family were found to be infected, the country’s first locally transmitted cases of the virus in more than three months.
 
Hong Kong: China’s highest legislative body passed a resolution to extend the term (SCMP) of Hong Kong’s current Legislative Council by at least one year following the postponement of the city’s parliamentary elections. The decision comes amid a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, and raises questions including whether opposition lawmakers recently banned from reelection can remain in office.
 
This CFR Backgrounder explains democracy in Hong Kong.

Violent protests erupted (Reuters) in the Indian city of Bengaluru over a Facebook post offensive to Muslims, with demonstrators attacking a police station and setting fire to a politician’s home and vehicles. Three people died after police used batons, tear gas, and firearms on the crowd, according to the city’s police commissioner. More than one hundred people were arrested.
 
Kazakhstan: A court in the city of Almaty convicted civil rights activist (RFE/RL) Asya Tulesova of assaulting and verbally insulting law enforcement officers at an unsanctioned June 6 rally. Though released, Tulesova was sentenced to eighteen months of parole-like limitations and fined.

A U.S. State Department inspector general report found the department (Politico) did not adequately consider the possibility of civilian casualties when authorizing the 2019 transfer of more than $8 billion worth of arms to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The report also cast doubt on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claims that Iranian threats existed, allowing the United States to make the sales despite lawmakers’ objections.
 
Iran: Authorities arrested five Iranians (Al-Monitor) for allegedly spying for Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom, sentencing at least two to prison, according to state media. Tensions are rising between Iran and its adversaries as the United States continues to petition UN Security Council members to extend an arms embargo on Iran.

The United Nations said at least seventy people were killed (Al Jazeera) and dozens more wounded in South Sudan’s Warrap State during confrontations between soldiers and civilians. The violence broke out after residents refused to relinquish their guns, a requirement of the country’s recent peace agreement, and rapidly spread to multiple villages, according to South Sudanese officials. The United Nations dispatched a peacekeeping patrol to the area.
 
Somalia: The country’s lower house of Parliament suddenly sidelined a bill (Reuters) to criminalize various types of gender-based violence and instead drafted one that allows child and forced marriage. The move triggered backlash, including from the UN Mission in Somalia, which said the proposed legislation would be a “step backwards” for the rights of Somali women and girls.

The European Union announced an emergency meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers and threatened new sanctions (Guardian) against Belarus following the country’s disputed presidential election. Authorities have arrested more than six thousand people since Sunday, according to Belarus’s interior ministry, amid what is widely viewed as an authoritarian crackdown by the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.
 
Czech Republic: Secretary Pompeo kicked off (AP) his five-day, four-country tour of Eastern and Central Europe with a visit to the Czech Republic, where he warned of authoritarianism in China, Iran, and Russia. Pompeo is expected to address various topics during his travels, including Chinese and Russian influence and the United States’ recent decision to reduce its military forces in Germany.

Former Mexican oil chief Emilio Lozoya Austin accused former President Enrique Pena Nieto of taking campaign bribes (WaPo) from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and using them to buy support from lawmakers. Pena Nieto has previously denied receiving illegal campaign donations.
 
CFR’s Shannon K. O’Neil discusses corruption in Mexico.
 
Brazil: The governor of Parana state will meet with Russia’s ambassador (MercoPress) to Brazil today to discuss production of the coronavirus vaccine Russia approved yesterday. Some experts questioned the Parana Technology Institute’s capacity to produce the Russian vaccine, which would require Brazilian regulatory approval.