Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Former President Jacob Zuma appeared to have won a reprieve from imminent imprisonment on contempt of court charges after the country’s most senior judges agreed to hear his challenge to a 15-month jail sentence awarded last week.
- AMERICAS: Thousands of people took to the streets against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s pandemic policies after the Supreme Court allowed investigations into Bolsonaro over corruption allegations related to vaccine orders.
- ASIA: More than 1,000 Japanese soldiers, firefighters, and police searched through a giant mudslide that ripped through the town of Atami, killing at least two people, and leaving 20 missing as it swept away houses and cars.
- EUROPE: The French far-right opposition party National Rally (RN) plans to end its party conference in the southern city of Perpignan.
- MIDDLE EAST: The deputy director-general of the UN’s nuclear watchdog will travel to Iran next week.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: U.S. President Joe Biden directed U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate a cyberattack that has affected hundreds of American businesses.
Top Story
- Philippines: Military plane crash leaves over a dozen people dead, with rescue efforts underway.
- The plane, a C130 Hercules, was trying to land at Jolo airport when it overshot the runway, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated.
- A military plane crashed in the Sulu province in the southern Philippines, carrying at least 85 people, with at least 40 people rescued after the crash.
- The crashing of a Philippine air force C-130 aircraft carrying troops has led to at least 17 deaths.
- The military thinks an attack did not cause the crash, but the focus now was on rescuing survivors and not investigating the cause,
- Reporting: BBC, Reuters, AP, Reuters2,
Africa
- Ethiopia: The nation recorded 45 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 276,368. (Xinhua)
- Nigeria: At least seven people were killed in multiple gunmen attacks on communities in the northwestern Kaduna state. (Xinhua)
- Nigeria: The arrest of Ipob separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu has dealt a serious blow to his group, causing disruptions that even spell the end of his movement. (BBC)
- South Africa: Former President Jacob Zuma appeared to have won a reprieve from imminent imprisonment on contempt of court charges after the country’s most senior judges agreed to hear his challenge to a 15-month jail sentence awarded last week. (The Guardian)
Americas
- Brazil: Thousands of people took to the streets against President Jair Bolsonaro’s pandemic policies after the Supreme Court allowed investigations into Bolsonaro over corruption allegations related to vaccine orders. (DPA)
- United States: Former president Donald Trump lashed out at Manhattan prosecutors for indicting his organization and its chief financial officer for tax fraud. (AP)
- United States: President Biden earned a high approval for handling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the government’s effort to vaccinate as many Americans as possible continues to face challenges, including resistance among people who identify as Republicans, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. (AP)
Asia
- Australia: New South Wales state reported a fall in new daily COVID-19 cases, following two days of record 2021 infections. (Reuters)
- Japan: More than 1,000 soldiers, firefighters, and police searched through a giant mudslide that ripped through the town of Atami, killing at least two people, and leaving 20 missing as it swept away houses and cars. (AP)
- Malaysia: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is in stable condition and is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon after undertaking treatment for a digestive system infection. (Reuters)
- South Korea: The nation’s new virus cases stayed in the 700s for the second straight day, while authorities work to reduce virus resurgence in the greater Seoul area. (YNA)
Europe
- France: The far-right opposition party National Rally (RN) plans to end its party conference in the southern city of Perpignan. (DPA)
- Turkey: Economic problems push President Erdogan’s approval rating to an all-time low. (FT)
- Ukraine: The Defense Ministry has been criticized after female soldiers marched in high heels during rehearsals for a parade next month to celebrate 30 years of independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. (RFE)
Middle East
- Bahrain: The economy contracted 2.11% in the first quarter from a year earlier due to the decline in the non-oil economy as COVID-19 restrictions were in place for most of the quarter. (Reuters)
- Egypt: Tourism revenues were between $3.5 billion to $4 billion during the first half of 2021, and the country received about 3.5 million tourists from January to June. (Reuters)
- Iran: The deputy director-general of the UN’s nuclear watchdog will travel to the nation next week. (RFE)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: U.S. President Joe Biden directed U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate a cyberattack that has affected hundreds of American businesses. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Location:18.1N 75.5W
- Movement: WNW
- Wind:65 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 04JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 183,505,842
- Deaths: 3,971,956
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 04JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (05JUL21)
- Global: Sister Cities International Annual Conference.
- Europe: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session hybrid plenary session.
- Europe: European Parliament plenary session opens.
- Armenia: Constitution Day.
- Guyana: CARICOM Day.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Carnival Monday.
- Venezuela: Independence Day.
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