Mexico reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in a 65-year-old male patient at a hospital in the state of Morelos. (Anadolu Agency)
Myanmar reports a record 7,089 cases and 145 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the national total of cases to 208,357 and the national total of deaths to 4,181. (Reuters)
Russia reports a record 786 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 145,278. (Anadolu Agency)
Scientists at the European Southern Observatory announce the discovery of isotopes of carbon-13 on TYC 8998-760-1 b, an exoplanet located 300 light-years away from the Musca constellation. The discovery was made via the Very Large Telescope in Chile. (Phys.org)
Senegal reports a record 733 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 45,796. (Agence de Presse Sénégalaise)
Swedish rapper Yasin is sentenced to 10 months in jail for conspiring to kidnap a rival artist. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom reports 42,302 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since January 15. (Sky News)
Vietnam reports a record 2,924 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 37,343. (VN Express)
Interim Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri resigns after both failing to form a new government in the past eight months and reaching an impasse with President Michel Aoun on adopting some constitutional amendments. Supporters of Hariri and his party Future Movement subsequently protest in Beirut, where they clashed with riot police, and blocked roads in Tripoli and Tyre. (Al Jazeera)
War in Afghanistan Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive The Taliban proposes a three month ceasefire to the Afghan government in exchange for the release of 7,000 captured fighters. Nader Nadery, an Afghan government negotiator, says that it is a "big demand" and that it will be evaluated. This move comes after major territorial gains by the insurgent group. The Taliban also demands that they be removed from a United Nations blacklist. (BBC News)
2021 Taliban offensive The Taliban proposes a three month ceasefire to the Afghan government in exchange for the release of 7,000 captured fighters. Nader Nadery, an Afghan government negotiator, says that it is a "big demand" and that it will be evaluated. This move comes after major territorial gains by the insurgent group. The Taliban also demands that they be removed from a United Nations blacklist. (BBC News)
Amidst a rise of cases in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards reports that 50% of adults in the state have received a dose of the vaccine. (KATC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana Amidst a rise of cases in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards reports that 50% of adults in the state have received a dose of the vaccine. (KATC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda The Rwandan government announces a lockdown in its capital Kigali and eight other districts from July 17 in an attempt to curb the increase in cases. (Anadolou Agency)
Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive The Taliban proposes a three month ceasefire to the Afghan government in exchange for the release of 7,000 captured fighters. Nader Nadery, an Afghan government negotiator, says that it is a "big demand" and that it will be evaluated. This move comes after major territorial gains by the insurgent group. The Taliban also demands that they be removed from a United Nations blacklist. (BBC News)
The Rwandan government announces a lockdown in its capital Kigali and eight other districts from July 17 in an attempt to curb the increase in cases. (Anadolou Agency)
The Taliban proposes a three month ceasefire to the Afghan government in exchange for the release of 7,000 captured fighters. Nader Nadery, an Afghan government negotiator, says that it is a "big demand" and that it will be evaluated. This move comes after major territorial gains by the insurgent group. The Taliban also demands that they be removed from a United Nations blacklist. (BBC News)
2021 European floods Severe floods occur in western Germany, killing 59 people. Eleven more people are also killed in floods in Belgium. (BBC News)
A Food and Drug Administration official says that a vaccine for children under the age of 12 years is expected to be approved by midwinter. (NBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in California Los Angeles County will restore their indoor mask mandate amid the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (MarketWatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 791 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 146,069. (Armenpress) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports 48,553 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since January 15. (ITV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 13,215 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 880,782. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announces that the state has administered seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (WBOC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Mauritius reopens its borders to vaccinated tourists after being closed for 16 months as part of a two-phase strategy to attract tourists in order to revive the economy from the impact of the pandemic. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues a hotspot advisory in several counties in southwest Missouri amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. (WDAF-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in a 65-year-old Filipino who is the captain of a cargo ship which departed from Indonesia on June 26 and arrived in the country almost two weeks later. (SBS)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 791 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 146,069. (Armenpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka reports a new single-day record of 384,763 vaccine doses administered. (Adaderana)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 98 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,032. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports 48,553 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since January 15. (ITV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam The Ministry of Health issues an emergency use authorization for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the sixth vaccine to be approved in Vietnam. (The Times of India) Vietnam surpasses 40,000 cases of COVID-19 after a record 3,416 cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (Viet Nam News)
COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka reports a new single-day record of 384,763 vaccine doses administered. (Adaderana)
COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam The Ministry of Health issues an emergency use authorization for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the sixth vaccine to be approved in Vietnam. (The Times of India)
Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries dies in an Amsterdam hospital from complications of gunshot wounds. De Vries had been shot five times outside of an Amsterdam TV studio nine days earlier. Two of the suspects in the shooting are in custody. (Al Jazeera)
Indonesia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 56,757 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.72 million. (detikNews)
Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem F.C. cancels a planned match with FC Barcelona after the latter refused to hold the match in Jerusalem, following a complaint sent by the Palestinian Football Association earlier this month. The planned location of the match would have been in Malha, which was a Palestinian Arab village prior to the establishment of Israel. (Al Jazeera)
Killing of Peter R. de Vries Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries dies in an Amsterdam hospital from complications of gunshot wounds. De Vries had been shot five times outside of an Amsterdam TV studio nine days earlier. Two of the suspects in the shooting are in custody. (Al Jazeera)
LGBT rights in Hungary, LGBT rights in Poland The European Commission launches legal challenges against Hungary and parts of Poland due to their anti-LGBT+ laws. The Commission adds that "Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatized". (DW)
Los Angeles County will restore their indoor mask mandate amid the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (MarketWatch)
Malaysia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 13,215 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 880,782. (CNA)
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announces that the state has administered seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (WBOC-TV)
Mauritius reopens its borders to vaccinated tourists after being closed for 16 months as part of a two-phase strategy to attract tourists in order to revive the economy from the impact of the pandemic. (Bloomberg)
Papua New Guinea reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in a 65-year-old Filipino who is the captain of a cargo ship which departed from Indonesia on June 26 and arrived in the country almost two weeks later. (SBS)
Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 791 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 146,069. (Armenpress)
Severe floods occur in western Germany, killing 59 people. Eleven more people are also killed in floods in Belgium. (BBC News)
Sri Lanka reports a new single-day record of 384,763 vaccine doses administered. (Adaderana)
Thailand reports a record 98 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,032. (Bangkok Post)
The European Commission launches legal challenges against Hungary and parts of Poland due to their anti-LGBT+ laws. The Commission adds that "Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatized". (DW)
The Food and Drug Authority grants an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (CNN Indonesia)
The Ministry of Health issues an emergency use authorization for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the sixth vaccine to be approved in Vietnam. (The Times of India)
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues a hotspot advisory in several counties in southwest Missouri amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. (WDAF-TV)
The United Kingdom reports 48,553 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since January 15. (ITV)
Vietnam surpasses 40,000 cases of COVID-19 after a record 3,416 cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (Viet Nam News)
2021 Madagascar food crisis Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina pleads to world leaders and the international community to help combat climate change amid a situation of food insecurity with some people on the verge of famine in the southern region of Madagascar. Rajoelina highlights the "urgency" in addressing the issue. (Madagascar Tribune)
Argentina begins a five-day mourning period, decreed yesterday by President Alberto Fernández, to honor the more than 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the country. All flags are ordered to fly at half-mast. (MercoPress)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Argentina begins a five-day mourning period, decreed yesterday by President Alberto Fernández, to honor the more than 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the country. All flags are ordered to fly at half-mast. (MercoPress)
Human rights organizations file criminal complaints against 25 Salvadoran soldiers for the killings of four Dutch journalists during the country's civil war in 1982. The journalists worked for the Dutch broadcaster Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland. (SwissInfo)
Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina pleads to world leaders and the international community to help combat climate change amid a situation of food insecurity with some people on the verge of famine in the southern region of Madagascar. Rajoelina highlights the "urgency" in addressing the issue. (Madagascar Tribune)
Pakistan rejects accusations by the Afghan first vice-president Amrullah Saleh that the Pakistani Air Force provides air support to the Taliban. Pakistani authorities rebuffed the accusation on Friday, saying that the Air Force limits itself to safeguarding Pakistani territory. (Al Jazeera)
The Eiffel Tower reopens to tourists after a nearly nine-month closure due to the second wave of the pandemic and renovations, which is the longest closure since World War II. However, all visitors over 18 years of age will need to show a Health Pass proving that they have been fully vaccinated, tested negative, or recovered from COVID-19 beginning July 21. (AP)
The Hubble Space Telescope is successfully brought back online after a hardware failure with its payload computer on June 13, which left it unable to perform scientific operations for more than a month. (Space.com)
2021 European floods The death toll from the severe floods in western Germany increases to 133. Ninety people died in Rhineland-Palatinate and 43 died in North Rhine-Westphalia. The death toll in Belgium also increases to 27. (Al Jazeera)
Authorities in Papua New Guinea urge people to get vaccinated as the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was confirmed yesterday in the Filipino captain of a ship which was docked in Port Moresby. Currently less than 1% of Papuans are vaccinated. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia Namibia receives a shipment of 250,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine from China. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports a record 205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 17,214 deaths. The country also faces shortage of oxygen as hospital struggle with collapse. (Al Jazeera) COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 86 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,418. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The state of Victoria enters a lockdown for the fifth time since the pandemic began, after experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases spreading south from the New South Wales outbreak. (The Guardian)
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)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 1,205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 345 of them from East Java, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 71,397. (Liputan6)
COVID-19 pandemic in Israel Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic The Ministry of Health announces that all travel to Spain and Kyrgyzstan will be banned amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The order will be in effect on July 23. (Trend)
COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia Namibia receives a shipment of 250,000 doses of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine from China. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The state of Victoria enters a lockdown for the fifth time since the pandemic began, after experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases spreading south from the New South Wales outbreak. (The Guardian) COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea Authorities in Papua New Guinea urge people to get vaccinated as the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was confirmed yesterday in the Filipino captain of a ship which was docked in Port Moresby. Currently less than 1% of Papuans are vaccinated. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea Authorities in Papua New Guinea urge people to get vaccinated as the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was confirmed yesterday in the Filipino captain of a ship which was docked in Port Moresby. Currently less than 1% of Papuans are vaccinated. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 799 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 146,868. (The Times of India)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Queen consort Letizia and heir presumptive Leonor, Princess of Asturias receive the first dose of the vaccine. (El Mundo)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka receives its first shipment of 1.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from the United States. (Daily News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 9,692 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 381,907. (CNA)
