*) US Covid-19 death toll tops 100,000 as new hotspots emerge

More than 100,000 people have died of Covid-19 in the US, the highest death toll in the world.

The pandemic has infected more than 5.7 million people in the world as countries struggle to contain the virus.

South America, the Indian subcontinent and Africa are now emerging as new areas of concern, with 118,000 coronavirus cases across the 54 nations of Africa.

*) China parliament adopts plan to impose security law on Hong Kong

China’s parliament has endorsed plans to impose a national security law on Hong Kong that critics say will destroy the city’s freedoms.

The law, once enacted, will punish secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and acts that endanger national security.

Hundreds of people were arrested in Hong Kong on Wednesday as thousands protested against pro-China laws.

*) Protests continue over US police killing black man

Demonstrators have filled the streets of Minneapolis for a second night to protest the death of an unarmed black man in police custody.

George Floyd died after being pinned down to the ground as a police officer drove his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly seven minutes.

Prosecutors say they have called in the FBI to help investigate the case, which could involve a federal felony and civil rights violation.

*) US ends waivers for nations in Iran nuclear deal

The US says it is ending waivers in sanctions clauses for nations that remain in the Iran nuclear accord.

The waivers allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue work on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Trump’s administration has been applying maximum pressure on Tehran since the US abandoned the 2015 Iran deal two years ago.

And finally…

*) SpaceX, NASA delay mission over lightning fears

SpaceX's landmark launch carrying two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station has been postponed due to poor weather.

The first crewed mission to blast off from American soil in nearly a decade is the first-ever manned space flight facilitated by a private company.

Another attempt will be made this weekend.