Thursday, July 29th, 2021 

A U.S. government watchdog charged with monitoring events on the ground says that the Afghan government will be “fighting for its life” and could well fall under the Taliban once the withdrawal of foreign troops is completed. The report states that Afghan “unprepared forces” are facing an “existential crisis” to the increasing Taliban attacks. (Voice of America) 

Fighting escalates in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region as Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) continue an offensive. Federal forces as well as Amharan militiamen are fighting the TDF on three fronts. Clashes are also reported in the Afar Region, to the east, with Ethiopian officials accusing Tigrayan forces of attempting to seize the N’Djamena–Djibouti Highway. (BBC) 

Eight Syrian soldiers, seven rebel fighters and eight civilians are killed in clashes across the Daraa Governorate. (SOHR) 

Tokyo reports a record for the third consecutive day of 3,865 new cases of COVID-19, while the number of new cases across Japan reaches 10,000 for the first time. (The Asahi Shimbun) 

Russia reports a record 799 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours for the third time in a month amid an ongoing surge of the Delta variant, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 156,277. (The Moscow Times) 

Local human rights activists in Uganda petitions President Yoweri Museveni not to sign a controversial bill against gay sex into law as it could increase discrimination and hate crimes and incite violence against gay men. The bill further criminalizes homosexuality by punishing “penetration of another person’s anus” with up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Richard Lusimbo, a 34-year-old activist, says that even people suspected of being gay will be attacked if the bill comes into effect. (PLM Daily) 

Sammarinese shooter Alessandra Perilli gets third place in the Women’s trap event, winning San Marino its first Olympic medal and making it the least populous nation to have won a medal. (CNN) 

Wave of new mask mandates issued following CDC guidance change  The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging people to wear masks indoors prompted a flurry of new mask mandates in cities, states, schools, and businesses. Nevada and Kansas City, Missouri, were among the jurisdictions that brought back mandates following the CDC’s Tuesday announcement. The attending physician in the House of Representatives announced that the chamber was reinstating its mask mandate as the virulent Delta variant of the coronavirus drives the latest surge of infections. Some Americans, weary of pandemic precautions, objected. Jamie Reinhold of suburban Atlanta said she was considering removing her children from school if their district insists on masks. “It’s my child,” she said. “It’s my choice.” CNN 

Fed chair says Delta variant poses little risk to economy, for now Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday at the close of a two-day policy meeting that the Delta variant of the coronavirus poses only a limited threat to the U.S. economy. “What we’ve seen is with successive waves of COVID over the past year and some months now,” Powell said, “there has tended to be less in the way of economic implications from each wave. We will see whether that is the case with the Delta variety, but it’s certainly not an unreasonable expectation.” The Fed said in its statement following the meeting that the economy was moving closer to the “substantial further progress” necessary to justify reducing its $120 billion economy-boosting monthly bond purchases. It held interest rates near zero as expected. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Former N.Y. state Senate candidate arrested over Jan. 6 attack Daniel Christmann, a Brooklyn plumber who unsuccessfully ran for the New York state Senate last year, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Christmann, 38, was detained on charges including disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building, the Department of Justice said. The FBI received tips from people who saw videos Christmann posted to his “dannyforsenate” Instagram account showing people inside the Capitol. The criminal complaint states that Christmann wrote messages online confirming he was involved in the riot, and surveillance footage captured him climbing through a window to get into the Capitol building. After two of his friends were arrested in connection with the riot, federal authorities say Christmann messaged people and asked them to delete photos and videos showing him inside the Capitol. NBC NEWS 

Tsunami warning issued after 8.2 magnitude earthquake off Alaska An 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska late Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning covering parts of the state’s coast that was lifted after about two hours. A buoy near Old Harbor on Kodiak Island measured an eight-inch rise in water level. Hawaii also was briefly placed under a tsunami watch. The earthquake was centered about 75 miles southeast of Chignik, Alaska, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center. Police in Kodiak, the largest town on Kodiak Island, urged people to seek high ground. There have been just 17 earthquakes of magnitude 8.2 or higher since 1990, according to United States Geological Survey data. CNN 

Dusty Hill of ZZ Top dies at 72 ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill died in his sleep at his Houston home, the blues-rock band announced on its website Wednesday. He was 72. “We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’,” surviving band members Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons said in a statement. Hill joined the band, instantly recognizable for its members’ long beards, shortly after it was formed in 1969. He, Beard, and Gibbons released 15 studio albums that included hits such as “La Grange,” “Tush” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.” CNN 



Wednesday, July 28th, 2021 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that United Nations reports of civilian deaths in Afghanistan are “deeply, deeply troubling” as the Taliban gains vital border crossings and territory. The armed group has said that, if they return to power, they will treat civilians well and will not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for international terrorism. (Reuters) 

An 8.2 magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Alaska, with at least two strong aftershocks (6.2 and 5.6) and prompting tsunami warnings. It is the strongest earthquake to hit the United States since the 1965 Rat Islands earthquake, which also occurred off the Alaskan coast. (CNN) 

The French government announces that beginning on August 9, the parliament-approved “Health Pass” will be compulsory for people who want to visit a café, gym, bar or other public place, as well as travel on an airplane or by inter-city rail. However, the legislation needs to be validated by the Constitutional Council on August 5. (Connexion France) 

The number of people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Germany reaches 41.1 million, which is nearly half the country’s population. (MedicalXpress) 

The Italian Medicines Agency approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, making it the second vaccine to be approved for use in teenagers in Italy after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. (ANSA) 

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issues a mask mandate for indoor public spaces to combat the spread of COVID-19. (WAGA-TV) 

Lawmakers in Ghana propose a bill that would criminalize displays of same-sex affection and the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights with up to ten years in prison. In May, 21 LGBTQ+ activists were arrested under charges of promoting an LGBTQ+ agenda and unlawful assembly. Human rights organizations and local LGBTQ+ groups condemn the proposed bill. (Washington Post) 

Imprisoned Australian publisher Julian Assange is stripped of his Ecuadorian citizenship due to issues with his application forms and outstanding fees. (The Guardian) 

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the White House. Biden reiterates his support for the Belarusian opposition activists for “[their] quest for democracy and universal human rights” as Tsikhanouskaya thanks Biden and says that “Belarus will be a success story”. (DW) 

Tunisian President Kais Saied sacks Mohamed al-Dahach as head of the national television network and installs a temporary replacement, following an incident in the afternoon when al-Dahach forbade a group of journalists and human rights advocates from appearing on a show allegedly on orders from the military. (Reuters) 

The Washington Nationals postpones their game against the Philadelphia Phillies after 12 people within the organization test positive for COVID-19. (CNN) 

The End Thursday

Armenia reports that three of its soldiers were killed in clashes with Azerbaijani forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia says that Azerbaijan “is deliberately escalating the situation as its forces remain illegally on Armenia’s sovereign territory” while Azerbaijan rejects the accusation and blames Armenian forces for opening fire first towards Azerbaijani forces in the district of Kelbajar. (DW) 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that United Nations reports of civilian deaths in Afghanistan are “deeply, deeply troubling” as the Taliban gains vital border crossings and territory. The armed group has said that, if they return to power, they will treat civilians well, and that they will not allow Afghanistan to be used as base for international terrorism. (Reuters) 

Argentina announces and is set to pay today $250 million to the Paris Club and $350 million to the International Monetary Fund to avoid default. Economy minister Martín Guzmán asks both entities to restructure the debts to make payment viable. The IMF has expressed its willingness after months of negotiations on a $45.000 million debt acquired by the previous administration. (Ámbito) 

Mount Sinabung in the North Sumatra region of Indonesia begins billowing ash up to 4,500 metres (14,800 ft) into the air. Though not yet erupting, authorities warn of lava flows and an evacuation order is put in place for all those within 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of the volcano. (Associated Press) 

South Korea reports a record 1,896 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 193,427. (The Korea Herald) 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will require COVID-19 vaccines or negative COVID-19 tests for state workers, making New York the second U.S. state to do so after California. (The New York Times) 

Imprisoned Australian publisher Julian Assange is stripped of Ecuadorian citizenship due to issues with his application forms and outstanding fees. (The Guardian) 

Socialist rural teacher Pedro Castillo is sworn-in as President of Peru during its bicentenial. (Andina) 

House panel launches Jan. 6 investigation with officers’ testimony The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of then-President Donald Trump’s supporters held its first hearing on Tuesday. Four police officers who defended Congress testified about their experiences. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn said rioters wearing Trump paraphernalia called him the n-word. Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell, who underwent surgery to address his injuries from the insurrection, described the attack as “a medieval battle” his Army and police training didn’t prepare him for. Committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and dismissed as a “Pelosi Republican” by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), said the committee’s mission is “ensure accountability.” Republicans opposed to the investigation called it a “sham.” POLITICO 

CDC recommends wearing masks indoors, even if vaccinated The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday issued a new guidance advising people to wear masks in public indoor settings, even if they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The recommendation marked a step back from the trend of easing restrictions intended to curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. The change, which critics called unnecessary, came as the virulent Delta variant fuels a surge of new infections, especially in Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and other states with low vaccination rates. The CDC also urged schools to require that all students, teachers, and staff wear masks when schools reopen in the fall. “Children should return to full-time, in-person learning in the fall with proper prevention strategies in place,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a press briefing. STAT 

Simone Biles drops out of Olympic gymnastics team final Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics team final on Tuesday after a disappointing vault performance, saying she was “still struggling” with stress and other emotional issues, and was not in the right place mentally for the final. “After the performance that I did, I didn’t want to go into any of the other events second guessing myself, so I thought it was better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do the job and they did just that,” Biles said. The U.S. team won a silver medal behind the Russian team. Biles cheered on her teammates from the sidelines. She later withdrew from the individual all-around competition to “focus on her mental health,” USA Gymnastics said. USA TODAY 

Biden set to announce vaccine requirement for federal workers President Biden plans to announce Thursday that his administration will require all federal employees and contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing and mitigation, CNN reported Tuesday, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Biden also is expected to announce incentives and other steps to get more Americans vaccinated against the coronavirus as the virulent Delta variant drives a new infection surge. Biden said those who have declined to get vaccinated were to blame for the need for vaccine requirements and renewed mask recommendations. “If those other hundred million people got vaccinated, we’d be in a very different world,” Biden said. CNN 

Man sentenced to life in prison for 4 Asian spa murders Robert Aaron Long, 22, pleaded guilty to four of the eight killings he was accused of committing at Atlanta-area massage businesses in March. Long was sentenced to life in prison. Cherokee County prosecutors worked out the plea deal instead of seeking the death penalty because they wanted swift justice without lengthy appeals because that was what victims and their families wanted, District Attorney Shannon Wallace said. Long still could face the death penalty for the other murders, which are being prosecuted in another county. Most of the victims were women of Asian descent. Investigators have said Long was motivated by a sex addiction, not racial hatred. Asian American community leaders disagreed, saying Long “intended to target Asian people, specifically Asian women.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Ex-Air Force analyst sentenced to 45 months for drone program leaks Former Air Force intelligence analyst Daniel Hale was sentenced to 45 months in prison on Tuesday for leaking top-secret information about deadly U.S. drone strikes. Hale, 33, once helped find drone targets. He told U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady that he felt he had to provide information on the program to a journalist because of the guilt he felt for civilian casualties in Afghanistan. “It is wrong to kill,” Hale said in a statement. “It is especially wrong to kill the defenseless.” O’Grady told Hale there were other ways he could have chosen to express his concerns, and imposed a sentence more severe than the 12 to 18 months Hale’s attorneys sought but lighter than prosecutors wanted. “You could have resigned from the military,” or told “your commanders you weren’t going to do this anymore,” O’Grady said.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Apple reports record spring-quarter profit  Apple on Tuesday reported its biggest spring-quarter profit in its 45-year history, thanks partly to strong iPhone sales. Apple earned $21.7 billion in profit on better-than-expected revenue of $81.4 billion, which was up by 36 percent from a year earlier. Apple was not the only tech giant to reap record earnings despite the latest surge in coronavirus cases. Google-parent Alphabet said its quarterly profit more than doubled to $18.5 billion as pandemic-driven online shopping boosted its digital advertising business. Microsoft reported record sales thanks to an increase in customers for its could-computing business. Despite the strong earnings, Apple and Microsoft shares fell in after-hours trading. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Shkreli’s one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album sold to cover debts Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that a one-of-a-kind album recorded by the Wu-Tang Clan purchased at auction by disgraced pharmaceutical executive and hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli had been sold to an anonymous buyer to cover Shkreli’s debts. There is one known copy of the album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” Prosecutors seized it three years ago. The identity of the buyer and the price were not immediately disclosed. Shkreli’s lawyer, Brianne E. Murphy, said she was pleased that Shkreli was “closing this chapter” by covering the balance of his debts. Shkreli became notorious in 2015 after dramatically hiking the price of a drug used to treat a life-threatening parasitic infection. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Ledecky wins gold in 1st Olympic women’s 1500-meter race U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky won the gold medal in the Olympic debut of the women’s 1500-meter freestyle race on Wednesday, about an hour after she fell short of a medal for the first time in her Olympic career. Ledecky led the 1500 for the whole race. Her teammate Erica Sullivan finished second, taking the silver medal. It was Ledecky’s first gold of the Tokyo Olympics. Shortly before the 1500 race, she failed to make the medal podium in the 200-meter freestyle. Australia’s Ariarne Titmus won that race. Titmus also narrowly beat Ledecky on Monday in the 400-meter freestyle. “It hasn’t really set in,” Titmus said when asked how it felt to win two golds. “Now that I have the afternoon off, it’s going to be nice to kind of let it settle in a bit.” NBC NEWS 

Tuesday,  July 27th, 2021 

According to the government of Ethiopia‘s Somali Region, militants from the Afar Region attack for the fourth day the Somali town of Garbaiisa, killing up to 300 people. In response, protesters set up roadblocks along a highway leading to Djibouti and damaged parts of the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, threatening Ethiopia’s economy. This comes after multiple days of fighting between Afar and Somali militants in Garbaiisa. (Reuters) 

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York orders American handicraft chain Hobby Lobby to forfeit a 3,600-year-old tablet containing a portion of The Epic of Gilgamesh to the federal government, after the company illegally purchased it in a private auction in 2014. The Justice Department had been looking to claim the tablet since 2013, as it was suspected to have been stolen from an Iraqi archeological site in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, so it could be repatriated back to Iraq. (CNN) 

The Dixie Fire grows to 208,206 acres, which is larger than the size of New York City. (San Francisco Chronicle) 

Tokyo reports a record 2,848 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (CBS News) 

Saudi Arabia will require COVID-19 vaccinations for people to access workplaces and attend social events. The order will come into effect on August 1. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Over 8,900,000 people in Cuba have received a dose of the Abdala and Soberana 02 vaccine. (Radio Cadena Agramonte) 

The White House issues an indoor mask mandate for staff amid the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (Axios) 

The Arkansas Children’s Hospital reports 24 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (KTHV-TV) 

The Chicago Department of Public Health adds Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming to their travel advisory amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Newsweek) 

Mississippi Department of Corrections commissioner Burl Cain announces that the state will suspend visits to prisons as part of an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Mississippi Today) 

U.S. CDC director Rochelle Walensky announces that residents, including vaccinated Americans, are recommended to wear masks in indoor public spaces amid the spread of the Delta variant. (NPR) 

The United Kingdom eases its quarantine rules for essential workers in many fields who no longer need to quarantine for 10 days if they are fully vaccinated and only need to receive a COVID-19 test after the previous rules led to a shortage of workers. (The Hill) 

A court in Hong Kong found 24-year-old Tong Ying-kit, the first person to be charged under the national security law, guilty of terrorism and secession after driving his motorcycle into police. (DW)  

The trial against Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu and ten others for financial crimes opens in the Holy See. Becciu and a monsignor are the only two to appear in court in person. Becciu denied any wrongdoing and the trial was adjourned. Pope Francis had previously stripped Becciu of his immunity and approved his indictment. Becciu’s lawyers asked the court not to order the Cardinal’s arrest. (Reuters) 

Bermudian triathlete Flora Duffy wins the Women’s event, making Bermuda the least populous nation to have won a Summer Olympic gold medal. (Reuters) 

Turkmen weightlifter Polina Guryeva gets second place in the Women’s 59 kg event, winning Turkmenistan its first Olympic medal. (AP News) 

The End Wednesday 

The End Wednesday post

Tuesday,  July 27th, 2021 

The Cuban embassy in Paris, France, is attacked with three molotovs, resulting in a fire outside building but without any injuries. The identities of the perpetrators of the attack are unknown. (Al Jazeera) 

South and North Korea restore hotlines between the two countries, more than a year after Pyongyang had cut the ties in June 2020. The move comes after months of correspondence by letters of negotiations between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries. (Reuters) 

A court in Hong Kong finds 24-year-old Tong Ying-kit, the first person to be charged under the national security law on July 1, 2020 (one day after its approval), guilty of terrorism and secession. He faces a sentence from seven-to-life in prison. The ruling also marked a limit to free speech for the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times“, which Tong carried when he committed the offense. The judges stated that the slogan could “incite others to commit secession”. (DW) (Bloomberg) 

Bermudian triathlete Flora Duffy wins the Women’s event, making Bermuda the least populous nation to have ever won a Summer Olympic gold medal. (Reuters) 

Biden announces formal end of U.S. combat mission in Iraq President Biden on Monday announced the formal end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq “by the end of the year.” Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in the Oval Office, and said that American troops would shift their focus to training and assisting Iraq forces fighting the Islamic State. “Our shared fight against ISIS is critical for the stability of our region and our counterterrorism cooperation will continue, even as we shift to this new phase we’re going to be talking about,” Biden said. Iraq’s U.S. ambassador, Fareed Yasseen, told ABC News last week that Iraq’s military would continue to request U.S. assistance as needed for intelligence, surveillance, and other purposes. Several U.S. officials said that the 2,500 U.S. troops still in Iraq already were largely concentrating on assisting their Iraqi counterparts. ABC NEWS 

Medical groups call for mandating vaccinations for health workers Nearly 60 major medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association, said it was an ethical obligation to make sure that all health-care workers were vaccinated against the coronavirus as the virulent Delta variant drives a new surge of infections. In a joint statement, the organizations called for health-care and long-term care employers to enforce the requirement. “This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health-care workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being,” the statement said. Many hospitals and health-care systems have announced in recent weeks that they would require vaccinations for their workers, just as many do with flu shots. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Biden administration recognizes long COVID as a disability The Biden administration announced Monday that it was issuing a guidance recognizing long COVID-19, which leaves people with coronavirus symptoms for extended periods after the virus has been cleared from their systems, as a disability under civil rights laws. “We’re bringing agencies together to make sure Americans with long COVID who have a disability have access to the rights and resources that are due under the disability law,” President Biden said in a White House Rose Garden ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some “long-haul” COVID-19 patients suffer from fatigue, chronic pain, and other symptoms. The recognition of the condition as a disability would ensure these patients accommodations in workplace, school, and health-care settings. POLITICO 

White House maintains travel restrictions as Delta variant spreads The White House will maintain current coronavirus restrictions affecting travelers from many countries, largely due to the need to curb the rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. The decision, which triggered some criticism, came despite pressure from the travel industry and U.S. allies to ease restrictions on travel by foreigners to the United States. The restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic have essentially halted tourism from abroad and applications for asylum in the U.S. Psaki said the Biden administration would always be guided by the recommendations of public health experts. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s chief medical adviser, said Sunday that the U.S. was “going in the wrong direction” as COVID-19 cases surged, particularly among the unvaccinated, as inoculation rates slowed. CNN 

Pfizer, Moderna to test vaccine effects on more children Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, at the request of federal regulators, are expanding clinical trials on their coronavirus vaccines to include several thousand children ages 5 to 11, a change intended to help determine whether a rare heart inflammation seen in a small number of vaccinated young adults also affects kids. The Food and Drug Administration asked the drugmakers to expand their studies to provide more information before they submit applications for emergency approval for the vaccines to be administered to children in the age group. The FDA reportedly told the companies that the scope of their trials was not broad enough to detect such rare side effects. The addition of 3,000 children to each trial reportedly will roughly double their size. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Senators, White House continue infrastructure talks after deadline passes Democratic and Republican senators and the White House held high-stakes negotiations on Monday, hoping to save a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal. The bipartisan group of senators has been conducting closed-door discussions for weeks, but failed to finalize an agreement before a Monday deadline. Sticking points include how much to spend on public transit and water infrastructure, and whether projects to upgrade roads, bridges, broadband, and other priorities would be covered under federal wage requirements. The two sides also have disagreed over whether some of the money can come from unspent COVID-19 funds. “This is heading in the right direction,” Republican negotiator Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

California, NYC to mandate vaccines for government employees California and New York City on Monday announced that they would require government workers to get coronavirus vaccines or be tested for COVID-19 weekly. The moves mark the “opening of the floodgates,” with more governments and companies expected to follow with their own vaccine mandates as the national vaccination push stalls due to widespread resistance, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday became the first major federal agency to impose a vaccine mandate on health-care workers. St. Louis became the second major city, after Los Angeles, to order a new mandate requiring people to wear face masks indoors, whether they are fully vaccinated or not. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Former Sen. Barbara Boxer assaulted, robbed in Oakland Former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was assaulted and robbed in Oakland, California, on Monday, a representative said on Twitter. Boxer was in the Jack London Square neighborhood when the assailant “pushed her in the back, stole her cell phone, and jumped into a waiting car,” the tweet stated. “She is thankful that she was not seriously injured.” Boxer, 80, served in the Senate from 1993 to 2017. She was succeeded by now-Vice President Kamala Harris. Before her time in the Senate, Boxer served as a member of the House of Representatives. The early afternoon incident is under investigation, with police officers gathering surveillance footage taken in the area, the Oakland Police Department said. CNNBARBARA BOXER 

Lydia Jacoby wins Olympic gold in an upset U.S. swimmers added to their Olympic medal haul, with Alaska teen Lydia Jacoby giving U.S. women their first swimming gold in Tokyo with her upset victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. Teammate Lilly King, the favorite and defending Olympic champion, took the bronze, behind silver-medal-winner Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa. Team USA also took two bronze medals in the 100m backstroke, with Regan Smith picking up the medal on the women’s side and Ryan Murphy following with a third-place finish for the men, behind two Russian swimmers. Katie Zaferes of the United States took the bronze in the women’s triathlon, 1:27 behind winner Flora Duffy, who won the first gold medal ever for Bermuda. USA TODAYESPN 

Monday,  July 26th, 2021 

United Nations representative for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons implores the Afghan government and the Taliban to protect civilians as a UN report shows a sharp increase in civilians being killed. 1,300 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed so far this year. (DW) 

Forty-six Afghan National Army soldiers, including five officers, flee into neighbouring Pakistan after abandoning their military posts on the border amid Taliban advances. (The Express Tribune) 

U.S. President Joe Biden announces that U.S. combat forces will leave Iraq by the end of the year, although some troops will remain to “train and advise” the Iraqi military. (BBC) 

The army surrounds the parliament and prevents its Speaker Rached Ghannouchi from entering. President Kais Saied earlier dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and froze the activities of the parliament for 30 days. (Reuters) 

Police storm and raid the headquarters of news outlet Al Jazeera in Tunis, as clashes continue outside the building. (Al Jazeera) 

The main opposition Islamist Ennahda Movement accuses President Saied of staging a coup as clashes between the President’s supporters and Islamist protesters continue in the capital Tunis. An Ennahda office is burned down in the city of Tozeur. (BBC) 

USAID announces a $7.5 million donation to be used for feeding people and treating children and pregnant women suffering from malnutrition in southern Madagascar. The country is experiencing its worst drought for the past 40 years, with more than one million people on the verge of famine. (US embassy Madagascar) 

Thirteen people are killed and 45 others are injured when a long-distance bus rolls over on the G22 Qingdao–Lanzhou Expressway in Jingchuan County, Gansu, China. (Xinhua News Agency) 

A dust storm causes a 20-vehicle pileup on Interstate 15 in the U.S. state of Utah, killing eight people and injuring several others, some of whom are in critical condition, according to a statement from the Utah Highway Patrol. (CNN) (The Guardian) 

South Korea begins vaccinations for people between the ages of 55 and 59 as the country experiences a fourth wave of COVID-19. (CNA) 

Pubs and restaurants are allowed to resume their indoor service across Ireland for the first time since March 2020, although customers must have official proof that they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 180 days. (BBC) 

Russia approves the clinical trial of the combined AstraZeneca and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. (Yahoo! News) 

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs announces that they will require vaccinations for healthcare workers, becoming the first agency to do so. (The New York Times) 

Bars and nightclubs in San Francisco will require COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test for customers as a effort to combat the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. (KPIX-TV) 

California announces that the state will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, becoming the first U.S. state to do so. (Los Angeles Daily Times) 

Algeria closes gyms, cultural and leisure venues, beaches and used car markets, reimposes a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and bans all gatherings in 35 provinces, amid the rapid spread of the Delta variant. (Reuters) 

Venezuela enters a “radical quarantine” for a week in order to reduce the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. (El Confidencial) 

The Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea announces the closure of the country’s embassy in London, United Kingdom after the British government sanctioned Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue over his “lavish lifestyle”. The Minister said that Equatorial Guinea “will not allow interference in internal affairs”. (Reuters) 

The French Parliament approves a law that requires all healthcare workers to receive a vaccine by September 15 as well as the adoption of a “Health Pass” that will allow residents to travel on trains and airplanes, and enter restaurants and some public venues. The law can be applied until November 15 depending on the COVID-19 situation and will also apply to children over the age of 12 beginning on September 30. (France 24) 

Protests against water shortages and deteriorating economic condition have spread to capital Tehran, as protesters openly display discontent with the country’s leadership. (Radio Farda) 

Najib Mikati is designated by the Lebanese parliament to be the new prime minister, succeeding caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab. (Reuters) 

The Dutch rowing team self-isolates after rower Finn Florijn and team coach Josy Verdonkschot tested positive for COVID-19. (Barron’s) 

Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins the Women’s 55 kg event, receiving the Philippines‘ first-ever Olympic gold medal. (Reuters) 

The End Tuesday 

It is reported that Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play for the Green Bay Packers amidst tensions surrounding the organization. (NFL.com) 

Fauci warns U.S. is heading in ‘wrong direction’ on pandemic The United States is “going in the wrong direction” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. Fauci said he was “very frustrated” over the “unnecessary predicament” the nation faces with COVID-19 cases soaring as the virulent Delta variant spreads rapidly in regions with the highest percentages of unvaccinated people. Fauci said public health officials were actively considering recommending that even vaccinated Americans wear masks to help prevent new infections. “This is an issue predominantly among the unvaccinated, which is the reason why we’re out there, practically pleading with the unvaccinated people to go out and get vaccinated,” Fauci said. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Pelosi names 2nd Republican to Jan. 6 select committee House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday named a second Republican, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) to serve on the select committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Pelosi said Kinzinger, an outspoken Trump critic, “brings great patriotism to the committee’s mission: to find the facts and protect our democracy.” Kinzinger, a 43-year-old Air Force veteran, was one of seven House Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to impeach Trump in January for inciting the insurrection. Another of those Republicans, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), has already been appointed to the panel by Pelosi. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) withdrew his five nominees after Pelosi rejected two of them. REUTERS 

French lawmakers require virus passes for restaurants, travel France’s parliament on Monday approved a law requiring special virus passes in order to enter restaurants and travel domestically. Lawmakers also required that all health workers be vaccinated. President Emmanuel Macron said the measures were needed to protect vulnerable populations and hospitals, and avoid new lockdowns as coronavirus infections surge. He appealed for national unity, and criticized “people who are in the business of irrational, sometimes cynical, manipulative mobilization” against vaccination. But the passing of the laws sparked protests and deepened political tensions over the pandemic response. The “health passes” — which indicate full vaccination, a recent negative COVID test, or recent recovery from infection — initially will apply to adults, but will be extended to cover everyone 12 and up starting Sept. 30. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

California’s Dixie Fire threatens thousands of buildings 

California’s largest wildfire, the Dixie Fire, threatened more than 10,700 buildings as it continued to spread through its 12th day. The fire, the largest among dozens burning in the West, has already destroyed 16 structures, including homes and businesses, and scorched more than 190,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. Firefighters were being hampered by the remote location of the blaze and steep terrain, officials said. The fire on Saturday jumped Highway 70 and Highway 89, forcing fire crews to focus on protecting the communities of Paxton and Indian Falls. “It’s scary,” said Cindy Pierson, who was forced to evacuate her home. “I’ve never been through anything like this.” 

CNN 

U.S. men win 4×100-meter freestyle relay; Ledecky settles for silver 

Dominant male swimmer Caeleb Dressel led the U.S. to a gold medal in the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. Dressel sprinted the U.S. to an early lead. Blake Pieroni, Bowen Becker, and Zach Apple kept the team ahead with a time of 3:08.97, edging out silver medalist Italy and bronze medalist Australia. Defending Olympic champion and world-record holder Katie Ledecky led the women’s 400-meter freestyle by a body length at the midway point, but Australia’s Ariarne Titmus chased her down to win the gold in 3:56.69, the second-fastest time in history. Ledecky won the silver in 3:57.36, the fourth-fastest time ever in the event. CBS SPORTSESPN 

Thunderstorms causes flash flooding in London 

Severe thunderstorms caused “significant flooding” in London on Sunday, disrupting public transportation, a Transport for London spokesperson said. Flash floods caused “severe” problems on the North Circular Road, one of the major thoroughfares surrounding Britain’s capital. Multiple stations on the subway network known as the Tube were closed. “With multiple bus routes on diversion and some Tube and rail services affected and stations closed, we strongly advise that customers check for the latest information before they travel to ensure they have a safe and smooth journey,” the TfL spokesperson said. The heavy rains also caused problems at hospitals in flooded areas, with a spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust encouraging patients to “attend alternative hospitals where they can.” CNN 

Civil rights leader Bob Moses dies at 86 Bob Moses, a 1960s civil rights leader, died Sunday at his Florida home. He was 86. Moses was an organizer of the 1964 “Freedom Summer” in which hundreds of students went to the South to register voters. He was arrested and jailed many times, and survived beatings and an incident in which three Klansmen fired shots at a car he was in, hitting the driver. Moses later launched his “second chapter in civil rights work,” founding the Algebra Project in 1982 with the help of a MacArthur Fellowship. The project focused on teaching math to foster equality. “Bob Moses was a giant, a strategist at the core of the civil rights movement,” said the head of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson. “Through his life’s work, he bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice, making our world a better place.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Sunday, July 25th, 2021 

The man who tried to kill Malian President Assimi Goïta with a knife at a mosque in Bamako six days ago dies in custody. The cause of death is unknown. (Al Jazeera) 

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi reports that the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces are advancing in Cabo Delgado Province and gaining territory previously held by Daesh-affiliated groups. The insurgency has caused thousands of deaths as well as monetary losses Mozambique’s economy, primarily in the gas and oil industries. (Reuters) 

The Dixie Fire grows to 190,000 acres in Butte County and Plumas County after merging with the Fly Fire. Approximately 16 structures have been destroyed. (The Washington Post) (KCRA-TV) 

An uncontrolled fire in the Spanish Catalan counties of Anoia and Conca de Barberà burns more than 1,100 hectares of land. The ashes reach Barcelona, 100 kilometers away from the focus of the fire while a confinement order is issued for two municipalities. (El Periódico) (El Confidencial) 

Massive fires in the region of Sardinia, Italy, damage buildings, force the evacuation of 1,500 people and destroy 20,000 hectares of land. Italy has asked for help from other European countries to battle the fires. (The Guardian) 

Ten people are killed and 44 are injured in a bus crash near Slavonski Brod, Croatia. The bus, traveling on a regular route from Frankfurt, Germany, to Pristina, Kosovo, swerved off the highway after one of the drivers briefly fell asleep. The driver was arrested after the incident, while the second driver was killed in the crash. (Washington Post) 

Flash flooding in London leaves a number of Underground stations submerged with widespread damage reported. (The Independent) 

South Africa returns to adjusted alert level 3, which means that inter-provincial travel can resume, alcohol sales bans are lifted, non-essential businesses can reopen, and gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors are allowed. Additionally, schools can reopen from 26 July 2021. (Businesstech) 

A South Florida caravan heads to Washington, DC, to urge the Biden administration to take more action against Cuba and end the country’s communist regime. (WFOR-TV) 

Cuban dissidents in exile demonstrate in Madrid, Spain, with the leaders of the Spanish opposition political parties. (La Vanguardia) 

Japanese skateboarder Yuto Horigome wins a gold medal in skateboarding, making him the first athlete to do so. (NPR) 

Saturday, July 24th, 2021 

The government imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 pm and 4 am 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) 

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) 

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) 

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) 

Protests take place across Europe and Australia in response to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. (The Independent) 

Protests continue to occur in Iran for the tenth consecutive day as people in Tabriz also take to the streets. (Iran International) 

The National Football League announces that players not adhering to COVID-19 restrictions will be subjected to a fine of $14,650 during the season. (ESPN) 

Yang Qian of China‘s women’s 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year’s Olympics. (Reuters) 

The End Monday 

The End Tuesday Post 

Saturday, July 24th, 2021 

The government of Afghanistan imposes a nighttime curfew between 10 pm and 4 am in 31 of the country’s 34 provinces in an attempt to reduce both the amount of violence as well as the advance 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) 

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) 

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) 

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) 

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) 

Protests take place across Europe and Australia in response to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. (The Independent) 

Protests continue to occur in Iran for the tenth consecutive day as people in Tabriz also take to the streets. (Iran International) 

The National Football League announces that unvaccinated players will be subjected to a fine of $14,650 during the season. (ESPN) 

Yang Qian of China‘s women’s 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year’s Olympics. (Reuters) 

2020 Tokyo Games get underway The 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially began Friday following one of the strangest opening ceremonies in the history of the modern games. As the athletes walked through Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium they were greeted by mostly empty stands, a result of fans being barred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were spectators in the building, but the small crowd was mostly comprised of members of the media, dignitaries, and Olympic volunteers. Still, other traditions remained in tact, including the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, which was carried out by Japanese tennis star, Naomi Osaka. Meanwhile, outside the stadium, hundreds of people gathered to protest the International Olympic Committee for moving forward with the Games during the pandemic. The Games then got underway and several medals have already been won in events such as archery, cycling, judo, and fencing. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

California’s Dixie Fire reaches “megafire” status Northern California’s Dixie Fire turned into a “megafire” late Thursday, officials said Friday. It has grown to more than 221 square miles, becoming the largest ongoing wildfire in California and forcing more mandatory evacuations in nearby communities. The fire is expected to “rapidly expand,” Cal Fire said in a statement because it’s “burning in a remote area with limited access.” Subsequently, “extended travel times in steep terrain are hampering control efforts.” Another California fire near Lake Tahoe, dubbed the Tamarack Fire, had burned through more than 78 square miles as of Friday morning and officials expected afternoon gusts and high temperatures to lead to extreme fire behavior. In Oregon on Friday, crews were making progress against the Bootleg Fire, the largest in the United States, which is now 40 percent contained. All told, there are 83 large, active fires in the U.S. CBS NEWS 

Biden approves $100 million to aid Afghan refugees President Biden on Friday approved up to $100 million from an emergency fund to aid Afghan refugees, as well as the release of $200 million in services and articles from the inventories of U.S. government agencies to meet the same needs. The United States is gearing up to evacuate thousands of Afghans who are applying for special immigration visas because they worked with the U.S. government during the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan and now face potential retaliation from the Taliban as the U.S. military withdraws from the country. The first group of evacuees are expected to be flown to the U.S. by the end of the month. They’re scheduled to arrive at Fort Lee, a military base in Virginia, where they’ll wait for their applications to process. REUTERSAL JAZEERA 

Protesters gather outside Haitian president’s funeral Hundreds of protesters reportedly clashed with police outside the private funeral for Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who was assassinated earlier this month, on Friday. Gunfire could reportedly be heard, and the United States delegation was among those to leave the ceremony early because of the potential violence, but there are no reports that anyone was hurt. The demonstrators reportedly directed their ire at officials, including Haiti’s National Police Chief León Charles, whom they believe deserve blame for Moïse’s death. Martine Moïse, the president’s widow who was injured in the attack at their private residence and was later treated at a Miami hospital, was at the funeral with three of her children. She reportedly arrived to cries of “Justice! Justice!” NPRBBC 

Tom Barrack released on $250 million bond Tom Barrack, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump who was indicted last week on charges of illegally lobbying Trump on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, was released from jail Friday on a $250 billion bail bond, which was secured with $5 million in cash, more than $21 million in securities, and Barrack’s California home. The federal judge who ordered the release mandated that Barrack wear a GPS location monitoring bracelet and barred him from transferring any funds overseas. Barrack’s travel is restricted to parts of Southern California and New York. He has a mandatory court appearance in Brooklyn on Monday for his arraignment and is expected to plead not guilty. CNN 

SpaceX wins contract to launch NASA’s Europa mission NASA on Friday announced that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy will be used to launch the space agency’s mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa in October 2024. The $4.25 billion exploratory endeavor, known as the Europa Clipper, will involve a spacecraft flying to Jupiter where it will conduct dozens of flybys of Europa, a particularly intriguing moon for NASA. Scientists believe Europa is home to a vast ocean beneath its icy surface, which could potentially harbor some form of aquatic life. SpaceX’s launch services contract is worth around $178 million, which is considered a discount for NASA. NASAARSTECHNICA 

Anti-lockdown protests take place across Australia Thousands of people gathered in Sydney, Melbourne, and other large Australian cities Saturday to protest lockdown measures, which were implemented several weeks ago in some areas due to the first continuous rise in COVID-19 cases in the country in nearly a year. Dozens of people were reportedly arrested, and a group in Sydney reportedly charged at mounted officers while throwing pots and bottles at them. In addition to the rising cases in Australia, which are still relatively low compared to other countries, just 11 percent of the population is fully vaccinated amid a slow rollout that has been blamed on the government for failing to provide adequate supply. FRANCE24THE GUARDIAN 

Cleveland Indians to change name to Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland Indians announced Friday the Major League Baseball team will change its name to the Cleveland Guardians. The Indians moniker will remain in tact for the rest of the 2021 season, after which the Guardians branding will then take full effect. It was previously reported in December 2020 that the team would be changing its name, which dates back to 1915, after years of criticism that it was racially insensitive. The Cleveland organization reviewed more than a thousand potential new nicknames, but ultimately settled on Guardians, which is a reference to statues that line the city’s Hope Memorial Bridge and are known as the “Guardians of Traffic.” ESPN 

2021 Friday,  July 23rd, 2021 

*x*x* 

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) 

Azerbaijan reports that one of its soldiers was killed by an Armenian sniper in Kalbajar District near the Armenia–Azerbaijan border. (Reuters) 

Gunshots are heard at Jovenel Moïse’s funeral, with U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield cancelling the remainder of her visit to Haiti as a result of the incident. (NBC News) 

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) 

The Biden administration announces that the United States has purchased 200 million extra doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, including doses intended for children under the age of 12 years old. (CBS) 

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) 

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) 

Following U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong Liaison Office executives, China announces retaliatory sanctions on the Hong Kong Democracy Council and several Americans, including former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. (Bloomberg) 

The U.S. Department of Justice announces that it won’t 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) 

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) 

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) 

The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated. (AP) 

Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns. (AP) 

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 End Saturday