CONMEBOL announces that Argentina will no longer host the Copa América tournament, two weeks before its commencement, due to the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (The Seattle Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan Afghanistan reports a record of 929 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 71,690. (Big News Network)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya Kenya extends its nightly curfew and ban on political gatherings and processions that could turn into superspreader events for 60 days as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (News24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain King Felipe VI receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Royal Central)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Bangkok Post)
Cruz Azul defeat Santos Laguna in the final of the Guardianes 2021 championship, ending the second-longest championship drought in the top flight of Mexican soccer. Cruz Azul's drought lasted for 23 years and 6 months, while the current longest drought belonging to Atlas F.C. has been ongoing for 66 years. (Diario AS)
Hélio Castroneves wins the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500. It is Castroneves' fourth victory in the race, becoming only the fourth driver to accomplish this feat. (CNN)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football 2021 Copa América, COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina CONMEBOL announces that Argentina will no longer host the Copa América tournament, two weeks before its commencement, due to the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (The Seattle Times)
Kenya extends its nightly curfew and ban on political gatherings and processions that could turn into superspreader events for 60 days as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (News24)
King Felipe VI receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Royal Central)
Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority announces that it will take legal action against the owners of the Singaporean container ship X-Press Pearl for the marine pollution caused by the ship's fire off the coast of Colombo on May 20. The authority reports that plastic granules from spilled cargo had been washing up on the Sri Lankan coast since May 27. (Dawn)
Stresa–Mottarone cable car crash Three people arrested for the cable car crash that killed 14 people in Mottarone, Piedmont, Italy, are released by a court order. A technician who worked on the Stresa–Alpino–Mottarone Cable Car line which operated the cable car remains under house arrest and has been named the party responsible for the accident. (Euronews)
Swiss professional motorcycle racer Jason Dupasquier dies following a collision with Ayumu Sasaki at a qualifying race for the 2021 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, Italy. (Sky News)
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States decide to suspend Mali's membership in the organization until the end of February 2022 or when the country appoints a civilian prime minister. (TRT World)
Three people arrested for the cable car crash that killed 14 people in Mottarone, Piedmont, Italy, are released by a court order. A technician who worked on the Stresa–Alpino–Mottarone Cable Car line which operated the cable car remains under house arrest and has been named the party responsible for the accident. (Euronews)
Two people are killed and 20 more are wounded in a mass shooting at a hall near Hialeah, Florida, United States. The three perpetrators remain at large. (CNN International)
Israel–United States relations U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem amidst speculation that a new government will be formed in Israel. During the meeting, both men discussed protecting Israel from future Hamas attacks. (The Hill) (The Jerusalem Post)
2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks At least 50 people are killed as suspected Allied Democratic Forces on seven trucks attack the villages of Boga and Tchabi in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)
At least 50 people are killed as suspected Allied Democratic Forces on seven trucks attack the villages of Boga and Tchabi in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The government approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15, becoming the first vaccine to be approved used for children in Japan. (Kyodo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Peru Peru announces a sharp increase in the COVID-19 death toll from 69,342 to 180,764 following a government review that reflects the severity of the pandemic. (Associated Press)
Fabio and Nicola Riva, the former owners of the Ilva steelworks in Taranto, Italy, are sentenced to 22 and 20 years in jail respectively for allowing their company to discharge harmful pollution. The carcinogenic dioxins and mineral particles discharged by the steelworks caused an increase in cancers in the city of Taranto. Several other people are also sentenced, including former President of Apulia Nichi Vendola, who was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. (Reuters)
Ituri conflict, Allied Democratic Forces insurgency 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks At least 50 people are killed as suspected Allied Democratic Forces on seven trucks attack the villages of Boga and Tchabi in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)
Peru announces a sharp increase in the COVID-19 death toll from 69,342 to 180,764 following a government review that reflects the severity of the pandemic. (Associated Press)
The government approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15, becoming the first vaccine to be approved used for children in Japan. (Kyodo News)
2021 French Open Tennis player Naomi Osaka, ranked Number 2 by the Women's Tennis Association, withdraws from the ongoing French Open, citing her mental health. (CNN International)
2021 Malian coup d'état The Economic Community of West African States suspends Mali in response to last week's coup d'état. (Al Jazeera English)
China announces that it will replace their existing two-child policy with a new three-child policy, allowing couples to have three children, in order to increase the country's declining birth rates. China's fertility rate is currently 1.3, which is below the level needed to maintain a stable population. (The Guardian)
Corleonesi Mafia hitman Giovanni Brusca is released from prison after serving his 25-year sentence. He was convicted for his role in the Capaci bombing, which killed anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone alongside four other people. His release is condemned by the leaders of the ruling Italian Democratic Party and the right-wing Lega Nord. (Al Jazeera English)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic France begins implementing a seven-day quarantine and pre-departure testing for EU nationals, French residents, and anyone travelling to the United Kingdom for essential reasons in order to prevent the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India as all non-essential travel to the UK is currently banned. (Evening Standard)
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic China reimposes travel restrictions in Guangdong province that require anyone travelling by plane, train, bus, or private vehicle after 10:00 p.m. to present nucleic acid test results from within the past 72 hours amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Voice of America)
COVID-19 pandemic in Palau Palau announces their first recorded case of COVID-19 in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Guam on May 9 and tested positive after 21 days in quarantine. (RNZ International)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City implements social distancing measures for the next two weeks following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city. (VnExpress International)
France begins implementing a seven-day quarantine and pre-departure testing for EU nationals, French residents, and anyone travelling to the United Kingdom for essential reasons in order to prevent the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India as all non-essential travel to the UK is currently banned. (Evening Standard)
Ho Chi Minh City implements social distancing measures for the next two weeks following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city. (VnExpress International)
Hong Kong national security law, 2021 arrests of Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries participants The court proceedings against 47 pro-democracy activists accused of subversion will continue on July 8. After being presented with evidence, the defendants will be able to enter a plea before the case is moved to the High Court. Most of the activists have been denied bail recently, with the latest case being that of Claudia Mo, who was denied bail due to her WhatsApp messages with foreign journalists. (Reuters)
Palau announces their first recorded case of COVID-19 in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Guam on May 9 and tested positive after 21 days in quarantine. (RNZ International)
Tennis player Naomi Osaka, ranked Number 2 by the Women's Tennis Association, withdraws from the ongoing French Open, citing her mental health. (CNN International)
The court proceedings against 47 pro-democracy activists accused of subversion will continue on July 8. After being presented with evidence, the defendants will be able to enter a plea before the case is moved to the High Court. Most of the activists have been denied bail recently, with the latest case being that of Claudia Mo, who was denied bail due to her WhatsApp messages with foreign journalists. (Reuters)
The Economic Community of West African States suspends Mali in response to last week's coup d'état. (Al Jazeera English)
The World Health Organization announces a new system of naming the COVID-19 variants using the Greek alphabet in order to avoid stigmatizing countries where variants are first detected. According to the new system, B.1.1.7 becomes Alpha, B.1.351 becomes Beta, and P.1 becomes Gamma. Meanwhile B.1.617, which split into sub-lineage B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, is called Kappa and Delta respectively. (France 24)
Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reports that the National Intelligence Organization arrested the nephew of exiled Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen in an overseas operation, for alleged membership in a terrorist organization. While the agency did not state where he was captured, he was believed to be residing in Kenya, where a local court on May 6 blocked Turkey's extradition request for him. (Al Jazeera English)
United States–European Union relations, United States intelligence operations abroad Denmark's public service broadcaster DR reveals that the Danish Defence Intelligence Service helped the American National Security Agency spy on European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014. Intelligence was also collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. (BBC News)
Variants of SARS-CoV-2 The World Health Organization announces a new system of naming the COVID-19 variants using the Greek alphabet in order to avoid stigmatizing countries where variants are first detected. According to the new system, B.1.1.7 becomes Alpha, B.1.351 becomes Beta, and P.1 becomes Gamma. Meanwhile B.1.617, which split into sub-lineage B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, is called Kappa and Delta respectively. (France 24)
Norbert Hofer, chairman of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, resigns following weeks of infighting with former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl over their conflicting approaches to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Hofer says that he will remain as one of the deputy presidents for the National Council until the next parliamentary elections. (France 24)
American food processing company JBS USA is hit by a massive ransomware attack, temporarily shutting down its operations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre claims the attack is Russian in origin, and the FBI is currently investigating. (BBC News)
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announces his government's support for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile. (Reuters)
LGBT rights in Chile Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announces his government's support for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan 2021 Afghanistan attacks June 2021 Kabul bombings Two bombs explode in a Hazara district in western Kabul, killing ten people and injuring twelve others. (Al Jazeera English)
2021 Afghanistan attacks June 2021 Kabul bombings Two bombs explode in a Hazara district in western Kabul, killing ten people and injuring twelve others. (Al Jazeera English)
A report released by the World Bank warns that the current economic crisis in Lebanon risks becoming one of the three most severe since the mid-19th century if its "bankrupt economic system, which benefited a few for so long" isn't reformed. (Al Jazeera English)
Algeria partially reopens its borders for international flights for the first time in 14 months. Travellers who arrive in Algiers must present a negative PCR test from within the past 36 hours before boarding and must also undergo a five-day quarantine in a hotel requisitioned by the government. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Algeria partially reopens its borders for international flights for the first time in 14 months. Travellers who arrive in Algiers must present a negative PCR test from within the past 36 hours before boarding and must also undergo a five-day quarantine in a hotel requisitioned by the government. (The Washington Post)
Lebanese liquidity crisis A report released by the World Bank warns that the current economic crisis in Lebanon risks becoming one of the three most severe since the mid-19th century if its "bankrupt economic system, which benefited a few for so long" isn't reformed. (Al Jazeera English)
The Vanuatuan opposition files a no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Bob Loughman over allegations of excessive spending for self-interest in times of national crisis. The country's economy has been severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of Cyclone Harold last year. This motion is the first attempt to oust Loughman since he formed a government last year. (RNZ International)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Algeria partially reopens its borders for international flights for the first time in 14 months. Travellers who arrive in Algiers must present a negative PCR test from within the past 36 hours before boarding and must also undergo a five-day quarantine in a hotel requisitioned by the government. (The Washington Post)
Attempted assassination of Katumba Wamala Four gunmen on a car open fire against a convoy carrying Ugandan Minister of Transport Katumba Wamala, injuring him and killing his daughter and driver. (Deutsche Welle)
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)
China reports its first human case of a rare strain of bird flu known as H10N3 in a 41-year-old man from Jiangsu province. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany lowers its COVID-19 alert level from "very high" to "high" as the number of new infections continues to decline. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China In Guangzhou, hundreds of flights at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport are canceled and the Liwan District is placed under lockdown following an outbreak of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, believed to be the first community outbreak of this variant in the country. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysian movement control order Malaysia begins phase one of its 14-day total lockdown that only allows essential economic sectors and manufacturing services to operate in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 following a sharp increase in the number of cases since April. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan lifts several face mask restrictions at outdoor gatherings and loosens restrictions at indoor gatherings and businesses. Fully vaccinated people are allowed to not wear masks in public, but unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people are still required to do so. (MLive)
COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore Singapore begins a vaccination rollout for more than 400,000 students over the age of 12 in schools and institutes of higher learning amid concerns about COVID-19 infections in children. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom records no daily deaths from COVID-19 within 28 days of a positive test for the first time since March 2020. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan lifts several face mask restrictions at outdoor gatherings and loosens restrictions at indoor gatherings and businesses. Fully vaccinated people are allowed to not wear masks in public, but unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people are still required to do so. (MLive) COVID-19 vaccination in the United States Moderna says that it has requested full approval for its vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, it has only been approved for emergency use. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey partially reopens restaurants, gyms and cafés as well as shortens its nightly curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. as part of a gradual normalization plan, although a full lockdown remains imposed on Sundays. Primary school students also return to classrooms and movie theatres are allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. (Hürriyet Daily 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)
COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore Singapore begins a vaccination rollout for more than 400,000 students over the age of 12 in schools and institutes of higher learning amid concerns about COVID-19 infections in children. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 vaccine The World Health Organization issues an emergency use authorization for Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine, becoming the second Chinese-made vaccine to be approved on an emergency basis after BBIBP-CorV and thereby making it eligible for use as part of the COVAX initiative. (BBC News)
eBay prohibits sellers from using PayPal, now mandating that all funds will be transferred directly to and from their bank accounts. (BBC News)
Four gunmen on a car open fire against a convoy carrying Ugandan Minister of Transport Katumba Wamala, injuring him and killing his daughter and driver. (Deutsche Welle)
Germany lowers its COVID-19 alert level from "very high" to "high" as the number of new infections continues to decline. (Reuters)
In Guangzhou, hundreds of flights at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport are canceled and the Liwan District is placed under lockdown following an outbreak of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, believed to be the first community outbreak of this variant in the country. (The Guardian)
June 2021 Kabul bombings Two bombs explode in a Hazara district in western Kabul, killing ten people and injuring twelve others. (Al Jazeera English)
