Trial of Catalonia independence leaders The nine Catalan separatists pardoned on Tuesday leave prison after their pardons were ratified by King Felipe VI and after the Supreme Court set their imminent release. (RTVE)
American businessman John McAfee is found dead in his Barcelona prison cell, believed to be caused by suicide after the Spanish High Court authorized an extradition request for tax evasion earlier in the day. (Reuters)
China–United States relations The U.S. Department of Commerce places sanctions on five Chinese companies, some of them major producers of solar panel parts, for using forced Uyghur labor. (Al Jazeera)
Clallam County in Washington reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 Gamma variant in an unvaccinated resident who traveled out of the state. (Peninsula Daily News)
COVID-19 pandemic in California COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco will require all 35,000 of their city employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses 30 million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the United States. (Hindustan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco will require all 35,000 of their city employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco will require all 35,000 of their city employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine. (The New York Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state) Clallam County in Washington reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 Gamma variant in an unvaccinated resident who traveled out of the state. (Peninsula Daily News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state) Clallam County in Washington reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 Gamma variant in an unvaccinated resident who traveled out of the state. (Peninsula Daily News)
India surpasses 30 million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the United States. (Hindustan Times)
San Francisco will require all 35,000 of their city employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine. (The New York Times)
The United Nations votes 184-2 on a resolution ending the embargo on Cuba, with the United States and Israel being the lone no votes. (Reuters)
January 6 commission, United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces that the House will create a select committee to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. (NBC News)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces that American actors Samuel L. Jackson and Danny Glover, American writer and director Elaine May, and Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann are the next recipients of the Governors Awards for their lifetime contributions to filmmaking. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan It is announced that around 650 American forces will remain in the country of Afghanistan to provide security for workers at the Kabul embassy after most troops withdraw from Afghanistan. (Politico)
A 12-story condominium in Surfside, Florida, U.S., partially collapses overnight, killing ninety-eight people and injuring eleven others. (NPR)
It is announced that around 650 American forces will remain in the country of Afghanistan to provide security for workers at the Kabul embassy after most troops withdraw from Afghanistan. (Politico)
Surfside condominium building collapse A 12-story condominium in Surfside, Florida, U.S., partially collapses overnight, killing ninety-eight people and injuring eleven others. (NPR)
United States Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that over 500 people have been arrested for their role in the Capitol riot, including 100 for assaulting Capitol Police officers. Garland also announces that the Department of Justice has arrested the first suspect involved in assaulting media reporters during the events of January 6. (Forbes)
Tigray War Three Doctors Without Borders staff are found dead near their vehicle in Tigray, Ethiopia. (MSF) The United States Agency for International Development announces it estimates as many as 900,000 in the Tigray Region are facing a man-made famine, corroborating months-long reports from citizens and international observers that the Ethiopian Army have been obstructing and looting farmers. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed continues to claim there is "no hunger" in Tigray. (Associated Press on MSN)
Canadian Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announces that American militia group Three Percenters, British Neo-Nazi group Aryan Strikeforce, the Congolese division of ISIL, and American neo-Nazi James Mason have been added to Canada's list of terror groups. (CBC)
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. During the sentencing, Chauvin expressed condolences to Floyd's family. (CNBC)
The United States Agency for International Development announces it estimates as many as 900,000 in the Tigray Region are facing a man-made famine, corroborating months-long reports from citizens and international observers that the Ethiopian Army have been obstructing and looting farmers. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed continues to claim there is "no hunger" in Tigray. (Associated Press on MSN)
Three Doctors Without Borders staff are found dead near their vehicle in Tigray, Ethiopia. (MSF)
Trial of Derek Chauvin Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. During the sentencing, Chauvin expressed condolences to Floyd's family. (CNBC)
A 28-year-old white supremacist hijacks a truck in Winthrop, Massachusetts, before crashing into an unoccupied home, causing extensive damage. He then fails to hijack another vehicle before opening fire on black bystanders, killing a woman and a man. Police exchange gunfire with the attacker, killing him at the scene. White supremacist rhetoric is found in the gunman's handwriting. (BBC News)
2021 Albuquerque hot air balloon crash Five people are killed in a hot air balloon crash in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. (Albuquerque Journal)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa Ottawa reports six new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the region's lowest daily total since August 23, 2020. (CTV News Ottawa) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant in a fully vaccinated person from Ottawa County. (WEYI-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant in a fully vaccinated person from Ottawa County. (WEYI-TV)
Five people are killed in a hot air balloon crash in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. (Albuquerque Journal)
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava orders an audit of older buildings in the county following the collapse of the condominium in Surfside, Florida, United States. (Forbes)
Surfside condominium building collapse Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava orders an audit of older buildings in the county following the collapse of the condominium in Surfside, Florida, United States. (Forbes) The death toll from the building collapse increases to five. (WSVN-TV)
Colombian conflict Three gun attacks in Colombia result in multiple deaths. Three off-duty police officers are shot dead in Pailitas, five men are murdered in San Vicente del Caguán, and another officer is killed in Cali. (Al Jazeera)
Three gun attacks in Colombia result in multiple deaths. Three off-duty police officers are shot dead in Pailitas, five men are murdered in San Vicente del Caguán, and another officer is killed in Cali. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Western North America heat wave The temperature reaches 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) in Lytton, British Columbia, breaking the all-time record for hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada. The previous record was 45 °C (113 °F) in Yellow Grass and Midale, Saskatchewan, in 1937. (CBC)
2021 Samoan constitutional crisis The Supreme Court of Samoa rules that the swearing in of the FAST party-led government on May 24th was illegal. However, the court also orders that the Legislative Assembly of Samoa sit within seven days, giving the opposition FAST, led by Naomi Mataʻafa, the ability to form a new government. FAST currently holds 26 seats in parliament, while the caretaker HRPP government of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has 24 seats. (RNZI)
The Supreme Court of Samoa rules that the swearing in of the FAST party-led government on May 24th was illegal. However, the court also orders that the Legislative Assembly of Samoa sit within seven days, giving the opposition FAST, led by Naomi Mataʻafa, the ability to form a new government. FAST currently holds 26 seats in parliament, while the caretaker HRPP government of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has 24 seats. (RNZI)
American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war The U.S. military says that it conducted airstrikes on facilities purportedly used by Iranian-supported militias near the Iraq–Syria border. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi condemns the airstrikes as a "blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security". (Politico) (Al Jazeera) Syrian state media say that an air missile attack around 1 a.m. on residential houses in the countryside of al-Bokmal, presumably by American warplanes, killed a child and injured three civilians. (SANA)
Syrian state media say that an air missile attack around 1 a.m. on residential houses in the countryside of al-Bokmal, presumably by American warplanes, killed a child and injured three civilians. (SANA)
Tigray War Tigray Defense Forces capture the regional capital Mekelle after forcing Ethiopian troops to retreat. (The New York Times) The Ethiopian government declares an immediate unilateral ceasefire in Tigray following the withdrawal of troops from Mekelle. (BBC News)
The Supreme Court of Mexico decriminalizes the recreational use of cannabis for adults. (France 24)
2021 Western North America heat wave The temperature reaches 47.9 °C (118.2 °F) in Lytton, British Columbia, breaking the all-time record for hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada for the second day in a row. The temperature reached 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) in Lytton on June 27, which was the previous record. (The Vancouver Sun)
Police in Hong Kong ban a vigil to mark the anniversary of the British handover of the territory to China. In a letter addressed to the League of Social Democrats, police cite "great risk to citizens" due to COVID-19. Another letter was also sent to the Civil Human Rights Front whose former and current leaders, Jimmy Sham and Figo Chan, are both behind bars, the former on national security law charges and the latter convicted of unlawful assembly. (Euronews) (HKFP)
Tigray Defense Forces capture the regional capital Mekelle after forcing Ethiopian troops to retreat. (The New York Times)
Politics of Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman wins a confidence vote by the parliament after a no-confidence motion had been introduced to remove his government by opposition leader Ralph Regenvanu. However, Loughman's hold on power remains tenuous as the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the seats of 19 government MPs were to be declared vacant. Loughman's government has already appealed the ruling. (RNZ)
Prime Minister Bob Loughman wins a confidence vote by the parliament after a no-confidence motion had been introduced to remove his government by opposition leader Ralph Regenvanu. However, Loughman's hold on power remains tenuous as the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the seats of 19 government MPs were to be declared vacant. Loughman's government has already appealed the ruling. (RNZ)
2021 Western North America heat wave More than 130 people die in British Columbia, Canada, and six more across the United States due to the extreme hot temperatures that are affecting the country. (BBC News) The temperature reaches 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) in Lytton, British Columbia, breaking the all-time record for hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada for the third day in a row. The temperature reached 47.6 °C (117.7 °F) in Lytton on June 28 and 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) on June 27, both records. (CBC)
Argentina further closes its borders, allowing only 600 entries per day, in an attempt to reduce the spread of the Delta variant as the country has so far reported over 4.4 million cases and more than 93,000 deaths from COVID-19. (ADN Digital)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Argentina further closes its borders, allowing only 600 entries per day, in an attempt to reduce the spread of the Delta variant as the country has so far reported over 4.4 million cases and more than 93,000 deaths from COVID-19. (ADN Digital)
COVID-19 vaccine A study shows that the vaccine developed by Moderna is effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (CNBC) U.S. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announces that the Biden administration will ship 2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Peru and 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Pakistan. Additionally, the United States will also send vaccine doses to Bangladesh. (Reuters) (The Straits Times)
More than 130 people die in British Columbia, Canada, and six more across the United States due to the extreme hot temperatures that are affecting the country. (BBC News)
Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, House Resolution 3005 The U.S. House of Representatives votes 285–120 on a bill to remove Confederate statues from the United States Capitol, as well as replacing the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, known for the pro-slavery Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling, with one of Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice on the court. The bill will head to the U.S. Senate. (CNBC)
Aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack January 6 commission, January 6th Committee The U.S. House of Representatives votes 222–190 to establish a committee to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol, with Liz Cheney (WY-1) and Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) being the only two Republicans to vote for the committee. (NBC News) An Alabama man becomes the third member of the Oath Keepers to plead guilty for his role in the Capitol riot. (NBC News)
Bill Cosby sexual assault cases Former American comedian Bill Cosby is released from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturns his conviction. (AP)
Former American comedian Bill Cosby is released from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturns his conviction. (AP)
On the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état, Sudanese authorities arrest at least 200 members of deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party in the early morning for allegedly promoting instability. (Reuters)
2021 Western North America heat wave The number of sudden deaths due to the extreme hot temperatures in British Columbia, Canada, increases to 486. The death toll represents a 195% increase of the 165 sudden deaths that would normally occur over this period. While the official cause of death for each deceased person has not yet been established, many are linked to the hot temperatures. (BBC News) The deaths of 63 people in Oregon, United States, are also linked to the extreme hot temperatures that are affecting the region. (OPB)
A grand jury in Manhattan indicts the Trump Organization, as well as its CFO Allen Weisselberg. (The New York Times)
American chess player Abhimanyu Mishra becomes the youngest Grandmaster (GM) in the world, at age 12, after defeating Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca in Budapest. (ESPN)
American financial services company Robinhood is fined US$70 million by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for presenting misleading information to investors and failing to act on "systemic supervisory failures", making it the largest fine ever issued by the regulatory organization. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The Northern Territory lockdown extends to the town of Alice Springs as cases of COVID-19 spread from the Darwin cluster. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska Nebraska will end their COVID-19 response dashboard after the state exits their state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. tonight. (AP)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland U.S. fashion retailer Gap announces that it will be closing all of its 81 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company will continue to provide an online store for British and Irish customers. (BBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland U.S. fashion retailer Gap announces that it will be closing all of its 81 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company will continue to provide an online store for British and Irish customers. (BBC News)
January 6 commission, January 6th Committee The U.S. House of Representatives votes 222–190 to establish a committee to investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol, with Liz Cheney (WY-1) and Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) being the only two Republicans to vote for the committee. (NBC News)
LGBTQ rights in the United States U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces that the U.S. passport will include an option for a third gender, and that effective immediately, applicants can indicate their gender without having to provide medical proof. (NPR)
Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump A grand jury in Manhattan indicts the Trump Organization, as well as its CFO Allen Weisselberg. (The New York Times)
The deaths of 63 people in Oregon, United States, are also linked to the extreme hot temperatures that are affecting the region. (OPB)
The Northern Territory lockdown extends to the town of Alice Springs as cases of COVID-19 spread from the Darwin cluster. (The Guardian)
2021 Madagascar food crisis UN agencies report that due to the food insecurity that has affected around one million people in Madagascar, the population has been surviving by eating ashes mixed with tamarind and shoe leather, as the United States and South Korea pledge economic aid to Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina. (Metro UK)
The United States adds Turkey to its list of governments that are implicated in the use of child soldiers, saying that the country has provided "tangible support" to the Neo-Ottoman Sultan Murad Division, in Syria and Libya, which uses child soldiers. It is the first time that a NATO member state has been included in the Trafficking in Persons Report. (Reuters)
Turkey–United States relations The United States adds Turkey to its list of governments that are implicated in the use of child soldiers, saying that the country has provided "tangible support" to the Neo-Ottoman Sultan Murad Division, in Syria and Libya, which uses child soldiers. It is the first time that a NATO member state has been included in the Trafficking in Persons Report. (Reuters)
UN agencies report that due to the food insecurity that has affected around one million people in Madagascar, the population has been surviving by eating ashes mixed with tamarind and shoe leather, as the United States and South Korea pledge economic aid to Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina. (Metro UK)
2021 Western North America heat wave Lytton wildfire The village of Lytton, British Columbia, is evacuated after a wildfire destroys 90% of the village amid an unprecedented heat wave caused by a rare "heat dome" event over the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. The village recently recorded Canada's highest ever temperature of 49.6 °C (121.3 °F). (BBC News)
Bangladesh imposes a lockdown that suspends all public transport and only allows people to leave their house for emergency reasons due to a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Soldiers are deployed to enforce the lockdown. (Voice of America)
