Ukraine and NATO forces launch joint naval drills in the Black Sea codenamed Sea Breeze 2021. Russia has condemned the drills, with the Russian Defence Ministry saying that they would closely monitor the drills. (AP)
Ukraine–NATO relations Ukraine and NATO forces launch joint naval drills in the Black Sea codenamed Sea Breeze 2021. Russia has condemned the drills, with the Russian Defence Ministry saying that they would closely monitor the drills. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports a record 5,251 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to extend the curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. beginning from July 1. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe imposes a curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., bans inter-city travel, and reduces business hours to 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in response to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports a record 5,251 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to extend the curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. beginning from July 1. (Reuters)
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announces that Germany has completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, thereby ending its involvement in the war. (Sputnik News)
In an interview with the Serbian division of Euronews, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says that any hopes of his country reclaiming Kosovo is unrealistic, and that he is willing to enter a "rational and compromise solution" regarding recognition of Kosovo's independence. However, he says that any agreement reached between the two countries needs to ultimately be decided by referendum. (Exit.al)
Intense fighting between Taliban insurgents and government forces kills 28 civilians and injures another 290 during the past week, according to the head of a hospital in Kunduz, with the majority of the dead being children, women and elderly people. The Taliban has moved beyond its southern strongholds and has intensified the fighting in the north, according to military experts. (Reuters)
Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visits the United Arab Emirates, making it the first visit to the country by an Israel government official since the two countries normalized relations nine months ago. (Al Jazeera)
Israel–United Arab Emirates relations Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visits the United Arab Emirates, making it the first visit to the country by an Israel government official since the two countries normalized relations nine months ago. (Al Jazeera)
Kosovo–Serbia relations In an interview with the Serbian division of Euronews, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says that any hopes of his country reclaiming Kosovo is unrealistic, and that he is willing to enter a "rational and compromise solution" regarding recognition of Kosovo's independence. However, he says that any agreement reached between the two countries needs to ultimately be decided by referendum. (Exit.al)
Taliban insurgency Intense fighting between Taliban insurgents and government forces kills 28 civilians and injures another 290 during the past week, according to the head of a hospital in Kunduz, with the majority of the dead being children, women and elderly people. The Taliban has moved beyond its southern strongholds and has intensified the fighting in the north, according to military experts. (Reuters)
The Constitutional Court of South Africa finds former President Jacob Zuma guilty of contempt of court over his refusal to answer questions on corruption charges and sentences him to 15 months' imprisonment. (DW)
The last Italian troops leave Afghanistan after handing over their base in Herat to Afghan security forces, thereby ending Italy's involvement in the war. (Euronews)
Tunisia reports a record 5,251 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to extend the curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. beginning from July 1. (Reuters)
2021 Eswatini protests Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku denies reports that King Mswati III has fled the country amid ongoing nationwide protests. (News24) (Swaziland News)
A study shows that the vaccine developed by Moderna is effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (CNBC)
Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku denies reports that King Mswati III has fled the country amid ongoing nationwide protests. (News24) (Swaziland News)
After seizing the regional capital, Tigray People's Liberation Front spokesman Getachew Reda states that Tigrayan forces would invade the neighbouring Amhara Region and Eritrea to "destroy the enemy", claiming that the enemy, "whether from the Eritrean side or Amhara side or Addis Ababa, doesn't have the capability to threaten the security of our people anymore". (BBC News)
Bangladesh surpasses 900,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Financial Express)
Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announces that by 2035, all new cars and light trucks sold in the country have to be zero-emission. The target, previously set for 2040 for all passenger vehicles, was moved up after a recent report by the International Energy Agency said that to achieve net zero-emissions by mid-century, all new light vehicle sales had to be electric. (Financial Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Argentina further closes its borders, allowing only 600 entries per day, in an attempt to reduce the spread of the Delta variant as the country has so far reported over 4.4 million cases and more than 93,000 deaths from COVID-19. (ADN Digital)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh surpasses 900,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Financial Express) COVID-19 pandemic in India, COVID-19 vaccination in India The Drugs Controller General of India grants emergency use approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine imported by Cipla. (Livemint) COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with more than 10 people detected in Mashhad. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Perth, Brisbane and their respective surrounding towns enter lockdown as coronavirus spreads from the Sydney cluster. People will only be allowed to leave home for essential work or study, medical or compassionate reasons, essential shopping, or outdoor exercise (with restrictions), and masks must be worn outdoors. (ABC News Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh surpasses 900,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Financial Express)
COVID-19 pandemic in India, COVID-19 vaccination in India The Drugs Controller General of India grants emergency use approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine imported by Cipla. (Livemint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with more than 10 people detected in Mashhad. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record 652 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 134,545. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe imposes a curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., bans inter-city travel, and reduces business hours to 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in response to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
Eritrean troops withdraw from the towns of Adwa, Axum, and Shire. (CTV News)
Iran reports its first cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant with more than 10 people detected in Mashhad. (Anadolu Agency)
Perth, Brisbane and their respective surrounding towns enter lockdown as coronavirus spreads from the Sydney cluster. People will only be allowed to leave home for essential work or study, medical or compassionate reasons, essential shopping, or outdoor exercise (with restrictions), and masks must be worn outdoors. (ABC News Australia)
Russia reports a record 652 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 134,545. (The Moscow Times)
The Drugs Controller General of India grants emergency use approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine imported by Cipla. (Livemint)
The temperature reaches 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) in Lytton, British Columbia, breaking the all-time record for hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada for the third day in a row. The temperature reached 47.6 °C (117.7 °F) in Lytton on June 28 and 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) on June 27, both records. (CBC)
The Tigray People's Liberation Front and Tigray Defense Forces pledge to "drive enemies out" of the regional capital Mekelle after a unilateral ceasefire was declared by Ethiopia on Monday. Tigrayan forces say that the city of Mekelle is completely under the control of their forces. (Al Jazeera)
Zimbabwe imposes a curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., bans inter-city travel, and reduces business hours to 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in response to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
Hundreds of protestors march in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and call for the resignation of the transitional government after the government reduced bread and fuel subsidies in order to fulfill its obligations with the International Monetary Fund. (Al Jazeera)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, COVID-19 vaccine Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledges help to the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue and Tonga to strengthen their health systems while vowing to the leaders of those nations to host a "safe and secure" 2020 Summer Olympics. (Kyodo News)
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledges help to the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue and Tonga to strengthen their health systems while vowing to the leaders of those nations to host a "safe and secure" 2020 Summer Olympics. (Kyodo News)
President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune appoints Minister of Finance Aymen Benabderrahmane as the new Prime Minister. (Al Jazeera)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport bans Bahraini 400 m-runner Salwa Eid Naser from participating in the sport for two years, thus banning her from the Tokyo Olympics, for not taking doping tests between March 2019 and January 2020. This overturns the ruling made by the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal last October, who absolved her based on a technicality. (Al Jazeera)
The head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, warns of a "biblical" famine due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and says that the disaster already exists in Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan and Yemen, while also warning that conditions are of "particular concern" in Nigeria and Burkina Faso. (Deccan Herald)
The last Polish troops leave Afghanistan, thereby ending Poland's involvement in the war. Around 33,000 Polish troops have served in Afghanistan during the war, with 44 being killed in action. (AP)
UK Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan announces that due to a move towards a "much larger mix of renewables", the use of coal for electricity production will end a year earlier than planned, in October 2024. (Sky News)
War in Afghanistan, Afghanistan–Poland relations The last Polish troops leave Afghanistan, thereby ending Poland's involvement in the war. Around 33,000 Polish troops have served in Afghanistan during the war, with 44 being killed in action. (AP)
2021 Canadian Indian residential schools gravesite discoveries The discovery of 182 unmarked graves at the site of the Kootenay Indian Residential School near Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, is announced, weeks after the remains of 215 children were found at a similar residential school. (CTV News Vancouver)
2021 College World Series In college baseball, the Mississippi State Bulldogs win the College World Series for the first time in their 126-year history following a 9-0 victory against the Vanderbilt Commodores. (ESPN)
American chess player Abhimanyu Mishra becomes the youngest Grandmaster (GM) in the world, at age 12, after defeating Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca in Budapest. (ESPN)
An Alabama man becomes the third member of the Oath Keepers to plead guilty for his role in the Capitol riot. (NBC News)
Cambodia reports a record 1,130 new cases and 27 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 50,385 and the nationwide death toll to 602. (Khmer Times)
China is declared malaria-free by the WHO, following an eradication effort that began in 1950. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The Northern Territory lockdown extends to the town of Alice Springs as cases of COVID-19 spread from the Darwin cluster. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia Over five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in British Columbia. (CHEK News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia Cambodia reports a record 1,130 new cases and 27 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 50,385 and the nationwide death toll to 602. (Khmer Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia Over five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in British Columbia. (CHEK News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 669 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 135,214. (Barron's) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports 26,068 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of cases since January 29. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 21,807 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.18 million. (detikHealth)
COVID-19 pandemic in Laos Laos reports its first three imported cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Thai migrant workers from Champasack. (The Laotian Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska Nebraska will end their COVID-19 response dashboard after the state exits their state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. tonight. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un berates the Politburo for the country's failed COVID-19 pandemic response which resulted in an unspecified "great crisis". (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 669 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 135,214. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen says that the Singapore Armed Forces will reach “herd immunity” status by mid-July after 92% of their troops have been vaccinated. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 53 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,023. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports 26,068 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of cases since January 29. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska Nebraska will end their COVID-19 response dashboard after the state exits their state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. tonight. (AP)
COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen says that the Singapore Armed Forces will reach “herd immunity” status by mid-July after 92% of their troops have been vaccinated. (The Straits Times)
Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen says that the Singapore Armed Forces will reach “herd immunity” status by mid-July after 92% of their troops have been vaccinated. (The Straits Times)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland U.S. fashion retailer Gap announces that it will be closing all of its 81 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company will continue to provide an online store for British and Irish customers. (BBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland U.S. fashion retailer Gap announces that it will be closing all of its 81 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company will continue to provide an online store for British and Irish customers. (BBC News)
In a joint statement, UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and his German counterpart Heiko Maas call for Germany to permanently join the United Nations Security Council, after outgoing German UN ambassador Christoph Heusgen said earlier in the day that this needs to happen in order to reflect the shifting global power balance. (DW) (Reuters)
In college baseball, the Mississippi State Bulldogs win the College World Series for the first time in their 126-year history following a 9-0 victory against the Vanderbilt Commodores. (ESPN)
Indonesia reports a record 21,807 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.18 million. (detikHealth)
Laos reports its first three imported cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Thai migrant workers from Champasack. (The Laotian Times)
Nebraska will end their COVID-19 response dashboard after the state exits their state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. tonight. (AP)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un berates the Politburo for the country's failed COVID-19 pandemic response which resulted in an unspecified "great crisis". (The Guardian)
