India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology writes to all social media companies asking them to remove content referring to an "Indian variant" of COVID-19. (Reuters)
The European Union bans all Belarusian airlines from using its airports and airspace in response to the hijacking, and places sanctions on the officials believed to be involved in the operation. (Al Jazeera)
Austrian Airlines cancels a passenger flight from Vienna to Moscow after the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency denied a reroute request to avoid Belarusian airspace. The request was made on the recommendation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for EU carriers to avoid the airspace in response to the hijacking and arrest of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich on May 23. (The Moscow Times)
Ryanair Flight 4978, Austria–Russia relations Austrian Airlines cancels a passenger flight from Vienna to Moscow after the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency denied a reroute request to avoid Belarusian airspace. The request was made on the recommendation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for EU carriers to avoid the airspace in response to the hijacking and arrest of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich on May 23. (The Moscow Times)
Russia denies entry to European airlines for a second consecutive day. Air France and Austrian Airlines flights were rejected by Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency amid the continuing fallout over Ryanair Flight 4978 and the subsequent flight ban in Belarusian airspace. (BBC News)
Russia–European Union relations, Belarus–European Union relations Russia denies entry to European airlines for a second consecutive day. Air France and Austrian Airlines flights were rejected by Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency amid the continuing fallout over Ryanair Flight 4978 and the subsequent flight ban in Belarusian airspace. (BBC News)
Australian and Chinese researchers announce the discovery of two new, distinct species of woolly flying squirrel in the Himalayas: the Tibetan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus tibetensis) and the Yunnan woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus nivamons). (Mirage News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Vietnam suspends all inbound international flights to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport until June 7 following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (France 24)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Vietnam suspends all inbound international flights to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport until June 7 following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (France 24)
Vietnam suspends all inbound international flights to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport until June 7 following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Vietnam reverses an international flight suspension imposed in Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, which was originally supposed to end on June 7, and in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which was originally supposed to end on June 14. (The Straits Times)
Vietnam reverses an international flight suspension imposed in Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, which was originally supposed to end on June 7, and in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which was originally supposed to end on June 14. (The Straits Times)
Researchers from the University of Strathclyde and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay announce that they have developed a low-cost, portable sensor that can detect fragments of the virus responsible for COVID-19 within wastewater in concentrations as low as 10 picograms per microlitre using the Polymerase Chain Reaction test. (The New Indian Express)
A group of scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of New Mexico announces that water clouds are discovered on TOI-1231 b, a Neptune-like exoplanet that is located 90 light-years away from Earth. (CBS News)
Discoveries of exoplanets A group of scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of New Mexico announces that water clouds are discovered on TOI-1231 b, a Neptune-like exoplanet that is located 90 light-years away from Earth. (CBS News)
Censorship in India, Violence against Muslims in India The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology strips Twitter of legal protection from prosecution after the social media site refuses to take down a tweet featuring a video of an elderly Muslim man in Ghaziabad being assaulted by a Hindu mob and being forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram". Uttar Pradesh police, who demanded the removal of the tweet, alleges the video was "misleading". (NDTV)
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology strips Twitter of legal protection from prosecution after the social media site refuses to take down a tweet featuring a video of an elderly Muslim man in Ghaziabad being assaulted by a Hindu mob and being forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram". Uttar Pradesh police, who demanded the removal of the tweet, alleges the video was "misleading". (NDTV)
China launches the Shenzhou 12 spacecraft carrying three astronauts on the first flight to the Tianhe core module. (El País)
British billionaire Richard Branson travels into space aboard the VSS Unity, a spaceplane owned and operated by the space flight company Virgin Galactic. At the age of 70, he is the second oldest person to travel to outer space. (BBC News)
Virgin Galactic Unity 22 British billionaire Richard Branson travels into space aboard the VSS Unity, a spaceplane owned and operated by the space flight company Virgin Galactic. At the age of 70, he is the second oldest person to travel to outer space. (BBC News)
A study conducted by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology shows that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is effective against all variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta variant. (Mint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia COVID-19 vaccination in Russia A study conducted by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology shows that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is effective against all variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta variant. (Mint)
COVID-19 vaccination in Russia A study conducted by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology shows that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is effective against all variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta variant. (Mint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Greece Greece imposes new restrictions for access to the hospitality and entertainment sectors to those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, particularly for those who want to visit indoor spaces like restaurants, bars and cafés. (Greek Reporter)
Greece imposes new restrictions for access to the hospitality and entertainment sectors to those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, particularly for those who want to visit indoor spaces like restaurants, bars and cafés. (Greek Reporter)
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issues a mask mandate for indoor public spaces to combat the spread of COVID-19. (WAGA-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issues a mask mandate for indoor public spaces to combat the spread of COVID-19. (WAGA-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issues a mask mandate for indoor public spaces to combat the spread of COVID-19. (WAGA-TV) COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will require COVID-19 vaccines or negative COVID-19 tests for state workers, making New York the second U.S. state to do so after California. (The New York Times)
Lebanese Druze villagers confront the Hezbollah rocket-launch convoy after it fires at Israel, accusing the militant group of endangering them by firing projectiles near civilian houses. The Lebanese Army later confiscates the launcher and arrests four suspects. (The Times of Israel) (Reuters)
Climate change in the Arctic; 2021 Russian wildfires Smoke from wildfires in Siberia is detected in the Geographic North Pole for the first time in recorded history, according to NASA. The space agency says that as of August 6 "most of Russia" is covered in smoke, while Russia's weather monitoring institute Rosgidromet says that the situation "continues to deteriorate" in the far-eastern Sakha region with around 3.4 million hectares (8.4 million acres) of land currently on fire. (The Guardian)
Smoke from wildfires in Siberia is detected in the Geographic North Pole for the first time in recorded history, according to NASA. The space agency says that as of August 6 "most of Russia" is covered in smoke, while Russia's weather monitoring institute Rosgidromet says that the situation "continues to deteriorate" in the far-eastern Sakha region with around 3.4 million hectares (8.4 million acres) of land currently on fire. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon Oregon Governor Kate Brown reissues a mask mandate for indoor public spaces, making Oregon the 10th U.S. state to do so. (Newsweek)
COVID-19 pandemic in California COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco mayor London Breed issues a mandate requiring proof of full vaccination in indoor public spaces, making San Francisco the first major U.S. city to do so. (KTVU)
COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco mayor London Breed issues a mandate requiring proof of full vaccination in indoor public spaces, making San Francisco the first major U.S. city to do so. (KTVU)
The Pentagon announces it will send U.S. troops to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport to help evacuate staff from the U.S. Embassy while U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price states that the embassy will remain open. (The Wall Street Journal)
Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan The Pentagon announces it will send U.S. troops to Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport to help evacuate staff from the U.S. Embassy while U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price states that the embassy will remain open. (The Wall Street Journal)
Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan U.S. Marines begin arriving in Kabul to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport and evacuate U.S. embassy staff and allied Afghan interpreters. (CNBC)
Singapore announces the first giant panda cub in the city-state when the 12-year-old panda Jia Jia gave birth to a cub at River Safari after being artificially inseminated with frozen semen from 13-year-old Kai Kai. (The Straits Times) (Radio France Internationale)
A requirement for fully vaccinated people and people under the age of 18 to self-isolate is removed in England and Northern Ireland if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. These people are now advised to take a PCR test despite such tests being voluntary and also wear a face covering while in enclosed spaces. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in England, COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland A requirement for fully vaccinated people and people under the age of 18 to self-isolate is removed in England and Northern Ireland if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. These people are now advised to take a PCR test despite such tests being voluntary and also wear a face covering while in enclosed spaces. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England, COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland A requirement for fully vaccinated people and people under the age of 18 to self-isolate is removed in England and Northern Ireland if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. These people are now advised to take a PCR test despite such tests being voluntary and also wear a face covering while in enclosed spaces. (BBC News)
Operation Allies Refuge Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says that evacuations have resumed at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. (The Hill)
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says that evacuations have resumed at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. (The Hill)
Researchers at the Graubuenden University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland announce that they have calculated pi to 62.8 trillion digits, a new world record. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Washington Washington reimposes its indoor mask mandate, requiring people over the age of 5 to wear masks in indoor public spaces regardless of their vaccination status. (Patch)
