Russia's bid to reduce cross-border aid to Syria fails at UN and Facebook busts networks tied to Bolsonaro staff and a Trump ally

*) Russia's bid to reduce cross-border aid to Syria fails at UN

Moscow's attempt to halve humanitarian aid deliveries from Turkey to Syria was voted down at the UN Security Council.

In the absence of a veto, Russia needed nine votes to get its resolution passed but received only four votes. Seven countries voted against it and four abstained.

Russia and China earlier vetoed a resolution to extend cross-border aid into Syria from Turkey.

*) Foreign interference in Libya reaching 'unprecedented levels' UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned the conflict in Libya has entered a new phase "with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels".

Guterres added the United Nations would continue working with the parties to reach a ceasefire and resume a political process.

The oil-producing country descended into chaos after the NATO-backed overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

*) Virus cases jump in worst-hit trio US, Brazil and India

The US, Brazil and India account for more than 60 percent of new cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The three worst-affected countries reported 59,000, 45,000 and 25,000 new cases of Covid-19, respectively, in the last 24 hours.

Some 12.1 million people have contracted Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, with more than 4.5 million currently infected.

*) Heavy rain devastate Japan

Japanese emergency services and troops are scrambling to reach thousands of homes cut off by catastrophic flooding and landslides.

Torrential rains in the country have claimed dozens of lives and caused widespread damage during the past week.

Japan is in the middle of its annual rain season which often results in damaging floods and landslides. And finally

*) Facebook busts networks tied to Bolsonaro staff, Trump ally

Facebook has suspended fake accounts linked to Trump ally Roger Stone, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro and networks in Canada, Ecuador and Ukraine.

The accounts had violated Facebook rules against divisive political messages online and deceptive activity.

There was no evidence the politicians themselves had operated the accounts.