| Merkel's succession | The Wirecard scandal is emerging as a significant factor in the battle to control Germany after Chancellor Angela Merkel steps down. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats is in pole position to lead his party into next year's election, but he's under fire for the government's failure to heed warnings about the fintech payment company's books. He'll face questions from lawmakers at the finance committee this afternoon. Tech showdown | The chief executives of Amazon, Facebook, Google parent Alphabet and Apple testify virtually before a U.S. congressional panel today in the highest-profile face-off yet between the captains of tech industry and lawmakers over allegations that they unfairly dominate the market. All are facing federal antitrust investigations and a House probe that will likely end with recommendations to change competition laws. Deadly coalition | An alliance of militant groups aimed at destabilizing peace in South Asia is emerging in Afghanistan as U.S. troops pull out of the war-ravaged nation. Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as the Afghan Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan have already carried out raids on Indian sites in Kabul and also attacked a Sikh temple in the city, and security officials warn there's more violence to come. Still, a three-day ceasefire for the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival should provide some respite. Virus dilemma | Hong Kong is going its own way as it grapples with its worst Covid-19 outbreak to date. Its unique makeup makes a full lockdown all but impossible, and Hong Kong, unlike other international hubs, has hesitated to mandate stay-at-home orders or close nonessential business. Instead, restrictions in the densely packed city — where thousands live in communal-style housing — are getting incrementally stricter, going against what's been proven to work to stem the virus.  Customers at a wet market in Hong Kong's Sham Shui Po district on July 24. Photographer: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg Simmering resentment | Before the coronavirus epidemic, Algeria was already home to peaceful weekly protests against a political system rife with cronyism and a deteriorating oil-dependent economy. While the North African country has defied many expectations of public disorder, observers say pro-democracy rallies will resume with renewed vigor once the health crisis subsides. The authorities appear uncertain how to respond to anger that won't go away. What to Watch - Joe Biden says he'll reveal his vice presidential running mate in "the first week of August," while Democrats notched two victories in lawsuits aimed at making it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic.
- Yemen's internationally recognized government and southern separatists agreed on a Saudi proposal to implement a peace deal aimed at closing one front in the five-year conflict.
- Sydney has been declared a coronavirus hotspot, with the northern Queensland state announcing it will close its borders Saturday to all visitors from Australia's most-populous city.
And finally ... Islam's annual hajj pilgrimage starting today will be unlike any other, with Saudi Arabia downsizing the ritual due to the pandemic, testing visitors and cutting their numbers from the usual 2 million to around 1,000. As Vivian Nereim and Reema Alothman report, they'll get sterilized pebbles to throw at pillars symbolizing the devil, drink holy water from single-use bottles and — instead of jostling shoulder to shoulder — will circle Mecca's grand mosque with 1.5 meters of space between them.  Social distancing markers surround the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, on July 28, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Photographer: AFP via Getty Images | 
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