Vietnam reports a record 6,194 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 74,371. (Viet Nam News)
2021 Taliban offensive Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan". (Al Jazeera)
Madagascar officials announce that two French citizens arrested over a plot to kill President Andry Rajoelina are former members of the French Armed Forces. The Government of France says that it is working with its consulate in Madagascar as the French military says that it has no comments on the arrests. (Reuters)
Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan". (Al Jazeera)
Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan". (Al Jazeera)
The Parliament of Sierra Leone unanimously votes to repeal the death penalty. The country had a moratorium on its use since 1998, after the government executed 24 soldiers for allegedly plotting a coup d'état the year prior. (The Guardian)
War in Afghanistan Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan". (Al Jazeera)
2020 Summer Olympics Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns. (AP)
Allied Democratic Forces insurgency; 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks Gunmen open fire on a civilian convoy that was returning from a weekly market in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 16 people. (Al Jazeera)
Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns. (AP)
Guatemala's Attorney General María Consuelo Porras removed the anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval. Sandoval collaborated in investigations against former President Otto Pérez Molina and some members of his cabinet. (AP)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care facilities New York COVID-19 nursing home scandal The U.S. Department of Justice announces that it will not open a civil rights investigation into government-run nursing homes in New York. Similar letters were sent to officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania. (ABC News)
2021 Samoan constitutional crisis The Court of Appeal of Samoa declares Naomi Mataʻafa as the nation's new prime minister, ending a months-long political crisis. (AFP)
Burundian Minister for Mining Ibrahim Uwizeye suspends the operations of several international mining companies, including one running the only rare-earth mine in Africa, saying they were not properly sharing the profits and that the mining contracts signed were "unbalanced". (Africanews) (Xinhua)
COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines The National Capital Region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro revert to the stricter "General Community Quarantine with Heightened Restrictions" due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will remain in effect until July 31. (ABS-CBN News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia New South Wales declares a "national emergency" of their state COVID-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant after 136 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba Cuba reports a record for the second consecutive day of 7,784 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 316,383. (Xinhuanet)
COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji Fiji isolates 87 crew and passengers on an inter-islands ship due to COVID-19. The ship's people have been the latest of around 4,000 people infected with COVID-19 who have been turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Germany's Robert Koch Institute declares the Netherlands and Spain as "high-incidence areas", which means that most people arriving from those countries who are unvaccinated will have to go into quarantine beginning on July 27. (ABC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 38,988 recoveries and 1,566 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 2.43 million and the nationwide death toll to 80,598. (detikNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 15,573 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 980,491. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri St. Louis and St. Louis County will reimpose their mask mandate for residents in indoor public places and on transportation as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The order will be in effect on July 26. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro Montenegro closes all discos and nightclubs as well as bans all indoor gatherings and music festivals due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Nightclubs could be reopened on August 2, but only for those who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from COVID-19. (N1)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Australia New South Wales declares a "national emergency" of their state COVID-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant after 136 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (ABC Australia) COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji Fiji isolates 87 crew and passengers on an inter-islands ship due to COVID-19. The ship's people have been the latest of around 4,000 people infected with COVID-19 who have been turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds. (RNZ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan surpasses one million cases of COVID-19. (Business Recorder)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee Tennessee will resume their COVID-19 vaccine outreach to minors following a suspension of advocacy earlier this month. (The Tennessean)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record for the third consecutive day of 14,575 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 467,707. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam reports a record 7,307 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 81,678. (Vietnam Plus)
Cuba reports a record for the second consecutive day of 7,784 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 316,383. (Xinhuanet)
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic The European Medicines Agency approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 17, becoming the first time the vaccine has been authorised for people under the age of 18. (Euronews)
Fiji isolates 87 crew and passengers on an inter-islands ship due to COVID-19. The ship's people have been the latest of around 4,000 people infected with COVID-19 who have been turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds. (RNZ)
Germany's Robert Koch Institute declares the Netherlands and Spain as "high-incidence areas", which means that most people arriving from those countries who are unvaccinated will have to go into quarantine beginning on July 27. (ABC)
Gunmen open fire on a civilian convoy that was returning from a weekly market in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 16 people. (Al Jazeera)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, 2021 NFL season The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated. (AP)
Indonesia reports a record 38,988 recoveries and 1,566 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 2.43 million and the nationwide death toll to 80,598. (detikNews)
Malaysia reports a record 15,573 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 980,491. (Malay Mail)
Montenegro closes all discos and nightclubs as well as bans all indoor gatherings and music festivals due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Nightclubs could be reopened on August 2, but only for those who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from COVID-19. (N1)
New South Wales declares a "national emergency" of their state COVID-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant after 136 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours. (ABC Australia)
Pakistan surpasses one million cases of COVID-19. (Business Recorder)
St. Louis and St. Louis County will reimpose their mask mandate for residents in indoor public places and on transportation as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The order will be in effect on July 26. (The Hill)
Tennessee will resume their COVID-19 vaccine outreach to minors following a suspension of advocacy earlier this month. (The Tennessean)
Thailand reports a record for the third consecutive day of 14,575 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 467,707. (Bangkok Post)
The Cleveland Indians announce that the team's name will be changed to the Cleveland Guardians after the conclusion of the 2021 season. (ESPN)
The Court of Appeal of Samoa declares Naomi Mataʻafa as the nation's new prime minister, ending a months-long political crisis. (AFP)
The European Medicines Agency approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 17, becoming the first time the vaccine has been authorised for people under the age of 18. (Euronews)
The National Capital Region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro revert to the stricter "General Community Quarantine with Heightened Restrictions" due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will remain in effect until July 31. (ABS-CBN News)
The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated. (AP)
The Philippines announces an entry ban for all travelers from Malaysia and Thailand due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will take effect on July 25. (GMA News)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic The Philippines announces an entry ban for all travelers from Malaysia and Thailand due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will take effect on July 25. (GMA News)
Vietnam reports a record 7,307 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 81,678. (Vietnam Plus)
War in Afghanistan Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive The government imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. in 31 of the country's 34 provinces in an attempt to reduce both the level of violence as well as the surveillance of the Taliban and its movements. (Al Jazeera)
2020 Summer Olympics Yang Qian of China's women's 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year's Olympics. (Reuters)
2021 Taliban offensive The government imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. in 31 of the country's 34 provinces in an attempt to reduce both the level of violence as well as the surveillance of the Taliban and its movements. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, COVID-19 vaccination in Tanzania Tanzania receives its first shipment of 1 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine donated by the U.S. government. (Bloomberg) COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports a record 799 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 18,369. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, COVID-19 vaccination in Tanzania Tanzania receives its first shipment of 1 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine donated by the U.S. government. (Bloomberg)
Fourteen people are killed and 26 more injured during a warehouse fire in the Jingyue High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Changchun, Jilin province, China. (Xinhua News Agency)
LGBT rights in Hungary Thousands of people join the pride march in Budapest, which was also in protest of the newly passed law that prohibits teachings about homosexuality in schools. Organizers criticized the government and said that the ruling party was making "laws to make members of the LGBTQ community outcasts in their own country". (Reuters)
Taliban insurgency 2021 Taliban offensive The government imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. in 31 of the country's 34 provinces in an attempt to reduce both the level of violence as well as the surveillance of the Taliban and its movements. (Al Jazeera)
The government imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. in 31 of the country's 34 provinces in an attempt to reduce both the level of violence as well as the surveillance of the Taliban and its movements. (Al Jazeera)
Thousands of people join the pride march in Budapest, which was also in protest of the newly passed law that prohibits teachings about homosexuality in schools. Organizers criticized the government and said that the ruling party was making "laws to make members of the LGBTQ community outcasts in their own country". (Reuters)
Yang Qian of China's women's 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year's Olympics. (Reuters)
2021 Henan floods Thirty-three more people are killed during the heavy floods in Henan, China, bringing the death toll to 58. (South China Morning Post)
2021 Iranian protests Protests continue to occur in Iran for the tenth consecutive day as people in Tabriz also take to the streets. (Iran International)
A seaplane incident involving the French power grid causes a blackout affecting more than one million users in 9 regions, mostly in Spain, but also in some regions of Portugal. (El Mundo)
Boko Haram insurgency Six soldiers are killed and four more are wounded as Boko Haram militants open fire against a military base in Sagme, Cameroon. (France 24)
Climate change in Australia The World Heritage Committee rejects calls from UNESCO to list the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site "in danger" due to the effects of anthropogenic climate change and ocean acidification, in line with scientific consensus on the Reef's health. Australia lobbied a number of oil-rich countries, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, to reject the proposal. (The Guardian)
Colombia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in an international traveller who arrived in Cali from the United States. (CNN Español)
COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia Colombia reports its first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in an international traveller who arrived in Cali from the United States. (CNN Español)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 39,767 recoveries from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 2.47 million. (detikNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Laos Laos reports a record 278 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4,620. (Xinhuanet)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 15,902 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 996,393. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic New Zealand suspends its quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for at least eight weeks amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. However, there will be managed return flights for the next seven days for New Zealand citizens who wish to return home. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan says that he tested positive for COVID-19 during the UEFA Euro 2020 Final. (Plymouth Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports a record 799 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 18,369. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam's strictest social distancing measures are imposed in Hanoi for the next 15 days under "Directive 16" which requires people to stay home except for essential reasons in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19. (Vietnam Net) Vietnam reports a record 7,978 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 90,934. (Reuters)
