The
Finnish Air Force Command formally ends the use of the
swastika in its imagery, according to the Air Force Command. However, the swastika will remain on some Air Force unit flags and decorations.
(BBC News)
The
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, responding to recent criticism about the lack of
racial diversity among the nominees in major
Oscar award categories, invites 819 people to become new members. Of the invitees, 49% are from outside the US, 45% are women, and 36% are non-white.
(BBC News)
The
UN Security Council demands "immediate cessation of hostilities" in conflict zones around the world, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These "durable humanitarian pauses", which do not apply to military operations against
ISIL and
Al-Qaeda, should begin immediately and be for at least 90 consecutive days to allow for delivery of humanitarian assistance and medical evacuations. This is the first resolution related to the COVID-19 pandemic that the council has passed.
(NPR)
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson says up to three million
Hong Kong residents will be offered citizenship in the
United Kingdom, following the passing of a controversial new
national security law by
China. Under the British government's plans, Hong Kongers will be able to settle in the UK for five years under political asylum, and after a further year will be able to apply for citizenship. Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab says there will be "no limits on numbers or quotas", due to the UK's "historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong".
(BBC News)
Taiwan announces it will mutually establish representative offices with the unrecognized
breakaway state of
Somaliland. While relations are not diplomatic at this point, further establishment of
diplomatic relations would make Taiwan the first
sovereign state to recognize Somaliland and the first new diplomatic ally that Taiwan has gained in 13 years.
(Bloomberg News)
PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan vows tighter control over "immoral"
social media following alleged insults to his daughter and son-in-law when they announced the birth of their fourth son on
Twitter. Erdoğan specifically mentioned Twitter,
YouTube and
Netflix. Interior Minister
Süleyman Soylu announced the arrest of a number of social media users for "insulting tweets".
(Al Jazeera)