At least 20 dead in Daesh-claimed assault on Afghan prison and NASA astronauts return home in first splashdown in 45 years

*) Deadly jailbreak in Afghanistan as Daesh militants battle Afghan forces

An attack on a prison in Afghanistan holding hundreds of Daesh members raged on Monday after at least 21 people died in fighting overnight.

More than 75 prisoners escaped as Afghan security forces battled Daesh militants in Jalalabad, officials said.

The attack began late on Sunday when a suspected Daesh suicide bomber slammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the prison entrance.

*) Global virus cases top 18 million as curfews come back

New Covid-19 cases continue to surge as officials across the world consider stricter measures to stymie the spread of the virus.

Covid-19 has claimed more than 687,000 lives and infected more than 18 million people since it first emerged in China late last year.

As some countries struggle to rein in their first outbreak, others where the disease abated are now trying to avert a second wave.

*) New arms shipments arrive for Haftar forces: Libyan army

Russian-made cargo planes have delivered new military shipments to warlord Khalifa Haftar’s militia, according to the Libyan Army.

The cargo planes made seven flights between Sirte, Jufra airbase and Benghazi, a military spokesman for Libya’s UN-backed government said.

The general said Russian aircraft flew in ammunition and mercenaries to support Haftar's militia.

*) Microsoft says it will keep exploring TikTok purchase

Microsoft has decided to continue talks with TikTok to purchase the Chinese video app's US operations.

Microsoft said it took the decision after discussions with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has threatened to ban TikTok in the United States over security concerns.

And finally,

*) NASA astronauts return home in 1st splashdown in 45 years

America's first crewed spaceship to fly to the International Space Station in nearly a decade has returned safely to Earth.

It was the first splashdown by US astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit.

The mission, carried out jointly by SpaceX and NASA, clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.