Key Storylines
- AFRICA: After an attack that injured 12 German soldiers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants to increase the mission in Mali.
- AMERICAS: The American government has promised support for the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on seven Chinese government officials.
- ASIA: South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-Kun summoned the Japanese Ambassador to the nation to protest his deputy’s “undiplomatic, rude” remarks disparaging President Moon Jae-in’s efforts to improve ties between Seoul and Tokyo.
- EUROPE: The number of people who have died from intense flooding in western Germany reached more than 130 people.
- MIDDLE EAST: A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit southwestern Iran, with a government official blaming the death on “opportunists and rioters.”
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: NASA reports that U.S. coastlines will face increasing flooding in the mid-2030s thanks to a regular lunar cycle that will magnify rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Top Story
- United States: The country tries to increase vaccinations to deal with the Delta Variant as COVID-19 cases increase.
- President Joe Biden says social media platforms such as Facebook “are killing people” for allowing disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines to be on its platform, as the administration continued criticizing the company.
- According to CDC data, the seven-day-average number of COVID-19 daily cases is now more than 26,000, more than twice its June low of around 11,000 cases.
- “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated,” President Biden said, repeating comments made earlier in the day by Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- According to White House pandemic coordinator Jeff Zients, just four states made up 40% of Covid-19 cases in the past week, “with one in five cases occurring in Florida alone.”
- Reporting: The Guardian, Reuters, AP, CNN,
Africa
- Region: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 6,120,888. (Xinhua)
- Botswana: The government, through its Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan, has set aside 700,000 U.S. dollars to purchase bucks and rams for farmers across the country. (Xinhua)
- Mali: After an attack that injured 12 German soldiers, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants to increase the mission in the West African nation. (DPA)
- Uganda: The defense ministry stated that a soldier was among seven people killed in fighting between government forces and gunmen near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (AFP)
Americas
- Region: U.S. firm WhiteWater Midstream LLC is under investigation in Mexico and the United States for possible corruption in its dealings with Mexico’s state-run power utility. (Reuters)
- Peru: The Police announced the arrest of the suspected killer of an Italian missionary in the country’s north, a crime Pope Francis stated was an “unjustifiable episode of violence.” (AFP)
- United States: The government has promised support for the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on seven Chinese government officials. (DPA)
- United States: Alaska’s highest court ruled that political foes of its Republican governor can pursue their campaign to remove him from office through a recall election, (Reuters)
Asia
- China: The foreign ministry branch in Hong Kong said new U.S. sanctions on government officials in the city are “extremely rude” and “extremely unreasonable” bullying acts with “despicable intention.” (Reuters)
- India: The nation recorded 38,079 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 31.06 million. (Reuters)
- Japan: Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto understands concerns about COVID-19 cases at athlete villages and wants to ensure everyone feels safe. (Reuters)
- South Korea: Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-Kun summoned the Japanese Ambassador to the nation to protest his deputy’s “undiplomatic, rude” remarks disparaging President Moon Jae-in’s efforts to improve ties between Seoul and Tokyo. (YNA)
Europe
- Belarus: The exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will meet with White House officials during her US trip next week. (AFP)
- Germany: The number of people who have died in intense flooding in the western states reached more than 130 people. (DPA)
- Ukraine: The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said 33% of citizens already have immunity to the COVID-19 infection. (Interfax)
Middle East
- Iran: A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in the drought-hit southwest, with a government official blaming the death on “opportunists and rioters.” (AFP)
- Iraq: President Joe Biden will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi later this month in Washington. (AP)
- Qatar: Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban are expected to meet in Doha for talks while fighting rages and foreign forces work towards completing their withdrawal. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Space: NASA reports that U.S. coastlines will face increasing flooding in the mid-2030s thanks to a regular lunar cycle that will magnify rising sea levels caused by climate change. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Felicia
- Location:14.5N 123.9W
- Movement: WSW
- Wind:130 mph
- Map
- Hurricane Felicia
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 17JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 189,542,986
- Deaths: 4,075,541
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 17JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (18JUL21)
- Global: Nelson Mandela International Day
- Chile: Primary presidential elections
- São Tomé e Príncipe: Presidential Elections
- Switzerland: Opening of the biennial meeting of the International AIDS Society, considered the world’s most influential gathering on HIV science (held online through July 21)
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