Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The owners of the Ever Given ship that blocked Egypt’s Suez Canal earlier this year reached an agreement to settle a financial dispute with the canal’s authority.
- AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden hosted more than 1,000 service members, first responders and other guests for a July Fourth celebration and urged people to get COVID-19 vaccinations.
- ASIA: More than a thousand Afghan troops fled to neighboring Tajikistan after clashes with the Taliban.
- EUROPE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce plans on how the country will “learn to live with” the new coronavirus, including plans to scrap mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing in the near future.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israel’s Parliament will today vote on whether to renew a temporary law that prevents the country’s Arab citizens from extending citizenship or residency to spouses from the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban became the first leader of a European Union country to be named in Reporters Without Borders’ “Press freedom predators” list which includes a total of 37 leaders from across the world.
Top Story
- Philippines: Military transport crashes, at least 50 dead.
- At least 50 people died after a military plane crashed in the country’s Sulu province.
- Authorities ordered an investigation into the crash of the Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft.
- The plane crashed as it overshot a runway at the Jolo airport.
- The plane was carrying reinforcements for the country’s battle against Islamist militants such as the Abu Sayyaf group.
- Most of the dead are military personnel, but three civilians on the ground at the Jolo airport were also killed.
- Reporting: Reuters, WaPo, BBC, NYT
Africa
- Egypt: The owners of the Ever Given ship that blocked the Suez Canal earlier this year reached an agreement to settle a financial dispute with the canal’s authority. (AP)
- Nigeria: An unidentified group kidnapped at least eight medical center employees in the country’s northwestern region. (AFP)
- South Africa: Supporters of former President Jacob Zuma formed what they called a human shield outside Zuma’s home to prevent his arrest. (BBC)
Americas
- Chile: University professor Elisa Loncon, who is also a member of the country’s Mapuche indigenous community, was chosen to lead efforts to draft a new constitution. (AFP)
- Cuba: Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to make landfall on the country’s central coastal region today. (AP)
- United States: President Joe Biden hosted more than 1,000 service members, first responders and other guests for a July Fourth celebration and urged people to get COVID-19 vaccinations. (AP)
- Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro threatened an ultimatum if the WHO’s Covax facility does not send the country’s share of coronavirus vaccines this week. (Reuters)
Asia
- Region: More than a thousand Afghan troops fled to neighboring Tajikistan after clashes with the Taliban. (AFP)
- Bangladesh: The government extended its coronavirus lockdown for another week to counter a rise in COVID-19 infections. (DPA)
- China: Beijing’s cyberspace watchdog began investigating online recruiter Zhipin.com, and truck-hailing apps Huochebang and Yunmanman, in a crackdown on tech companies amid data security concerns. (Reuters)
- Indonesia: Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the government will provide telemedicine services for self-isolating COVID-19 patients. (DPA)
- Japan: Rescue workers continued to search for dozens feared missing after a giant landslide in the Atami seaside resort. (AP)
Europe
- Azerbaijan: A strong explosion occurred in the Caspian Sea region where the country has extensive offshore oil and gas fields. (AP)
- Georgia: Protesters stormed and ransacked the office of LGBT+ campaigners in capital city Tbilisi ahead of a planned pride march. (Reuters)
- The Holy See: Pope Francis was “in good condition, alert and breathing on his own” following his colon operation, the Vatican said. (AP)
- Luxembourg: Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was admitted to hospital after a positive COVID-19 test. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce plans on how the country will “learn to live with” the new coronavirus, including plans to scrap mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing in the near future. (AP)
Middle East
- Iran: The Bushehr power plant – the country’s sole nuclear power plant – was back online after a two week downtime amid a power shortage in the country. (AFP)
- Israel: Parliament will today vote on whether to renew a temporary law that prevents the country’s Arab citizens from extending citizenship or residency to spouses from the occupied West Bank and Gaza. (AP)
- Oman: The state owned Energy Development Oman company is reportedly holding negotiations with banks to raise $1.5 billion in debt financing. (Reuters)
- Syria: The US military denied that “US forces in Syria were attacked by rockets” after reports emerged of a rocket attack on a facility housing US troops in the country’s eastern region. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi airport authorities reportedly canceled a consortium’s contract for the construction of a new terminal at the emirate’s main airport. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban became the first leader of a European Union country to be named in Reporters Without Borders’ “Press freedom predators” list which includes a total of 37 leaders from across the world. (Deutsche Welle)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Location: 110 miles E-SE of Cayo Largo, Cuba
- Wind: 65 mph
- Movement: NW at 12 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 05JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 183,825,470
- Deaths: 3,977,903
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 05JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (06JUL21)
- Austria: The bribery trial of former Vice Chancellor and far-right politician Heinz-Christian Strache will begin.
- Belarus: A verdict is expected in the case of jailed opposition politician Viktor Babariko, who sought to compete in the 2020 presidential election against Alexander Lukashenko.
- Canada: The Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly will be held virtually. (to 08JUL)
- China: A Hong Kong court is expected to deliver a sentence to American lawyer Samuel Phillip Bickett, who is convicted of assaulting a policeman.
- Comoros: Independence Day – 1975
- Germany: Dutch King and Queen Willem-Alexander and Maxima will visit and meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel. (to 07JUL)
- Germany: A demonstration against US nuclear weapons will reportedly be held at the at Buechel airbase.
- Indonesia: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit.
- Malawi: Independence Day – 1964
- United States: Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng will visit and meet with Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
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