Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara self-isolates after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
Rocket attacks on Israel Three rockets are fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, sparking fires near Kiryat Shmona; the Israel Defense Forces responds with artillery and airstrikes. (i24 News) (The Times of Israel)
The British government announces that France will be removed from England's "amber plus" category, meaning that fully-vaccinated travellers will no longer need to quarantine. Additionally, seven other countries will be added to the "green list" category. These changes will be in effect beginning August 8 at 4:00 a.m. (ITV News)
The Chinese immigration authority suspends the issuing of ordinary passports and other documents needed for exiting the country for "non-essential and non-emergency" reasons as the country restricts overseas travel in order to prevent the spread of the Delta variant. (Radio France Internationale)
The Sudanese government unanimously approves a draft bill to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. (Al Jazeera)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games confirms the first COVID-19 cluster infection since the Games began, after four athletes and one team official from the Greek artistic swimming group test positive. The five individuals, in addition to the seven other members of the team who tested negative, were moved away from the Olympic village and isolated. (United Press International)
Aftermath of the 2020 Belarusian protests The trial of Maria Kalesnikava, one of the main organizers of the anti-Lukashenko protests, opens in Minsk. Kalesnikava faces up to 12 years of imprisonment if she is found guilty on charges of extremism. (BBC News)
August 2021 Gulf of Oman incident Oman says the hijacking of the Asphalt Princess, a Panama-flagged ship, is over. The United Kingdom also confirms this report. The vessel was hijacked yesterday in the Arabian Sea in as-of-yet undetermined circumstances amidst rising tensions between some nations and Iran. (Reuters)
British Columbia reports 342 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since May 27. (CBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil surpasses 20 million COVID-19 cases. (Al Arabiya)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports 342 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since May 27. (CBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports 342 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total since May 27. (CBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Guadeloupe The French overseas territory of Guadeloupe enters a three-week partial lockdown that closes all bars, gyms, stadiums, and swimming pools; and restricts restaurants to only offer lunchtime service. A curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. is also enforced while the travel of individuals is restricted to a radius of 10 km (6.2 mi) from their residence except for urgent reasons. The new partial lockdown comes amid a "catastrophic" increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issues a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, as well as a mask mandate for schools and indoor sporting events. (Patch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Associated Press)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran surpasses four million cases from COVID-19 after a record 39,957 new cases were reported for the third consecutive day. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports a record 14,207 new cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 971,904. (NHK) Tokyo reports a record 4,166 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana Louisiana reports 2,247 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate)
COVID-19 pandemic in Macau Macau launches compulsory COVID-19 testing for all 680,000 people at 41 testing centres and will close all cinemas, gyms, bars, and other entertainment venues beginning midnight after the first local cases were reported in the city in more than 16 months. Four members of a family were infected with the Delta variant. (Bloomberg News) (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 19,819 new cases and 257 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,183,110 and the nationwide death toll to 9,855. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand New Zealand surpasses two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administrations, with almost 770,000 people having been fully vaccinated. (The New Zealand Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon Oregon Governor Kate Brown announces that healthcare workers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or otherwise undergo testing. (Portland Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 672,385 and the nationwide death toll to 5,503. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issues a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, as well as a mask mandate for schools and indoor sporting events. (Patch) COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana Louisiana reports 2,247 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate) COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon Oregon Governor Kate Brown announces that healthcare workers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or otherwise undergo testing. (Portland Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine receives 509,400 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by Denmark. (Ukrinform)
COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand New Zealand surpasses two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administrations, with almost 770,000 people having been fully vaccinated. (The New Zealand Herald)
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine The European Commission signs an agreement with Novavax to purchase 200 million doses of its protein-based COVID-19 vaccines, including an option to purchase another 100 million doses through 2023. (Politico Europe)
Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker issues a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, as well as a mask mandate for schools and indoor sporting events. (Patch)
Iran surpasses four million cases from COVID-19 after a record 39,957 new cases were reported for the third consecutive day. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Japan reports a record 14,207 new cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 971,904. (NHK)
Louisiana reports 2,247 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate)
Macau launches compulsory COVID-19 testing for all 680,000 people at 41 testing centres and will close all cinemas, gyms, bars, and other entertainment venues beginning midnight after the first local cases were reported in the city in more than 16 months. Four members of a family were infected with the Delta variant. (Bloomberg News) (France 24)
Malaysia reports a record 19,819 new cases and 257 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,183,110 and the nationwide death toll to 9,855. (CNA)
Milavče train crash Two passenger trains collide head-on near Milavče, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic, killing three people and injuring 58 others. (Reuters)
New Zealand surpasses two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administrations, with almost 770,000 people having been fully vaccinated. (The New Zealand Herald)
Oman says the hijacking of the Asphalt Princess, a Panama-flagged ship, is over. The United Kingdom also confirms this report. The vessel was hijacked yesterday in the Arabian Sea in as-of-yet undetermined circumstances amidst rising tensions between some nations and Iran. (Reuters)
Oregon Governor Kate Brown announces that healthcare workers will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or otherwise undergo testing. (Portland Tribune)
Seventeen people are killed in northern Bangladesh during a lightning strike on a boat celebrating a wedding. (CNN)
Thailand reports a record 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 672,385 and the nationwide death toll to 5,503. (Bangkok Post)
The European Commission signs an agreement with Novavax to purchase 200 million doses of its protein-based COVID-19 vaccines, including an option to purchase another 100 million doses through 2023. (Politico Europe)
The French overseas territory of Guadeloupe enters a three-week partial lockdown that closes all bars, gyms, stadiums, and swimming pools; and restricts restaurants to only offer lunchtime service. A curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. is also enforced while the travel of individuals is restricted to a radius of 10 km (6.2 mi) from their residence except for urgent reasons. The new partial lockdown comes amid a "catastrophic" increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Euronews)
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide surpasses 200 million. (The New York Times)
The trial of Maria Kalesnikava, one of the main organizers of the anti-Lukashenko protests, opens in Minsk. Kalesnikava faces up to 12 years of imprisonment if she is found guilty on charges of extremism. (BBC News)
Three rockets are fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, sparking fires near Kiryat Shmona; the Israel Defense Forces responds with artillery and airstrikes. (i24 News) (The Times of Israel)
Tokyo reports a record 4,166 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (The Hill)
Two passenger trains collide head-on near Milavče, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic, killing three people and injuring 58 others. (Reuters)
Ukraine receives 509,400 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine donated by Denmark. (Ukrinform)
President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador announces that the country would host talks between the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition. (Reuters)
Venezuelan presidential crisis President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador announces that the country would host talks between the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition. (Reuters)
2020 Summer Olympics Burkina Faso at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
2021 Turkish wildfires Hundreds of workers and residents are evacuated as a wildfire nears a coal-powered power plant in Muğla Province. More than 36,000 people have been evacuated in the province, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declares the wildfires to be the worst in Turkey's history. (Reuters)
At least 20 Chadian soldiers are killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants during a routine patrol near Lake Chad. (Reuters)
Boko Haram insurgency At least 20 Chadian soldiers are killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants during a routine patrol near Lake Chad. (Reuters)
Burkina Faso at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
COVID-19 pandemic in Chile The Chilean government announces that they will begin administering booster doses for those who have received the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine beginning on August 11 for people over the age of 55 using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and in September for people under the age of 55 using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in order to protect the population from the Delta variant. (Bloomberg News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Finland Finland restricts the operating hours in Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, and the Helsinki metropolitan area to until 10 p.m. for bars and until 11 p.m. for restaurants and also bans karaoke and indoor dancing beginning on August 8 due to the worsening situation in those regions. The government also announces that vaccination of children between the ages of 12 and 15 will begin next week. (Yle)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy The Italian government announces that the usage of a "Green Pass" will be mandatory for teachers and university students to enter educational institutions and will also be mandatory for use in long-haul air, rail, ferry, and intercity bus services beginning on September 1. (Swissinfo)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports a record 15,263 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including a record 5,042 cases in Tokyo, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 987,163. (NHK World-Japan) (Associated Press) The Japanese government announces the expansion of the quasi-state of emergency to eight prefectures from August 8 to August 31. (The Mainichi)
Finland restricts the operating hours in Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kymenlaakso, and the Helsinki metropolitan area to until 10 p.m. for bars and until 11 p.m. for restaurants and also bans karaoke and indoor dancing beginning on August 8 due to the worsening situation in those regions. The government also announces that vaccination of children between the ages of 12 and 15 will begin next week. (Yle)
Hong Kong national security law LGBT organizations and Amnesty International ask Hong Kong to release detained activist Jimmy Sham, who has been repeatedly denied bail since his arrest in February. Amnesty says that Sham has been held in prison "simply for speaking out for his community and LGBTQIA+ rights in Hong Kong." These organizations also warned of Sham's upcoming trial along with 46 others where he could face many more years in prison for "subversion." (Star Observer)
Hundreds of workers and residents are evacuated as a wildfire nears a coal-powered power plant in Muğla Province. More than 36,000 people have been evacuated in the province, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declares the wildfires to be the worst in Turkey's history. (Reuters)
LGBT organizations and Amnesty International ask Hong Kong to release detained activist Jimmy Sham, who has been repeatedly denied bail since his arrest in February. Amnesty says that Sham has been held in prison "simply for speaking out for his community and LGBTQIA+ rights in Hong Kong." These organizations also warned of Sham's upcoming trial along with 46 others where he could face many more years in prison for "subversion." (Star Observer)
The Chilean government announces that they will begin administering booster doses for those who have received the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine beginning on August 11 for people over the age of 55 using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and in September for people under the age of 55 using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in order to protect the population from the Delta variant. (Bloomberg News)
The Colombian government announces that it has foiled an alleged bomb plot in Bogotá by FARC dissidents. (Reuters)
The Italian government announces that the usage of a "Green Pass" will be mandatory for teachers and university students to enter educational institutions and will also be mandatory for use in long-haul air, rail, ferry, and intercity bus services beginning on September 1. (Swissinfo)
The Japanese government announces the expansion of the quasi-state of emergency to eight prefectures from August 8 to August 31. (The Mainichi)
Tigray War The Tigray Defense Forces capture the town and UNESCO heritage of Lalibela in the Amhara Region. (National Post)
2021 Ghana gay arrests A court in Ghana drops a case against 21 LGBT activists who were arrested in May. The 16 women and five men were arrested at a hotel in the Volta Region for an alleged unlawful assembly, of which the court said that there was not enough evidence to prove the charges. The other charges were dismissed, as promoting LGBT rights is not a crime in Ghana. (Reuters)
2021 Greek wildfires People in Athens are told to remain indoors due to smoke from wildfires burning on the outskirts of the city. More than 500 firefighters are fighting a wildfire on Mount Parnitha, while the suburb of Varympompi is evacuated. (EU Reporter)
A court in Ghana drops a case against 21 LGBT activists who were arrested in May. The 16 women and five men were arrested at a hotel in the Volta Region for an alleged unlawful assembly, of which the court said that there was not enough evidence to prove the charges. The other charges were dismissed, as promoting LGBT rights is not a crime in Ghana. (Reuters)
Apple Inc. announces that it will begin to continuously scan its smartphone and tablet devices for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Before an image is stored on the iCloud, the new system will search for matches of already known CSAM. The company claims the system has an "extremely high level of accuracy", and will be included in iOS and iPadOS updates later this year. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The state of Victoria enters a lockdown for the sixth time since the beginning of the pandemic, joining New South Wales and Queensland, after a currently unexplained increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (ABC News Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec The province of Quebec announces that it will implement vaccine passports. (CBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan reports a record 7,792 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 610,744 (Kazinform)
