Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Morocco’s government denied reports that it may have used the Pegasus spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group to spy on French President Emmanuel Macron and other people’s phones.
- AMERICAS: Life expectancy reduced by a year and half in 2020 in the United States, marking the biggest one-year decline since World War II, and the decrease for both Black and Hispanic Americans was more than the average at three years.
- ASIA: The United States, Japan and South Korea reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on North Korea’s denuclearization.
- EUROPE: The French government’s new COVID-19 health pass for attending most museums and cinemas took effect.
- MIDDLE EAST: One police officer was killed in the ongoing unrest and demonstrations over water shortages in Iran’s southwest.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Hong Kong authorities arrested the former editor of the city’s the now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper.
Top Story
- China: At least 16 dead in Henan province after heavy rains.
- At least 16 people have died due to severe flooding in China’s Henan province.
- The flooding was caused by record-breaking rainfall, in what weather watchers called the heaviest rains in a thousand years.
- Henan province’s capital city Zhengzhou and a dozen other cities in the province have reported floods which have displaced more than a million people.
- Zhengzhou is reporting the highest number of deaths currently, where the torrential rain flooded the city’s subway and train carriages.
- Reporting: Reuters, BBC, DPA, NYT, AFP, WaPo
Africa
- Mali: Interim President Assimi Goita, who helped orchestrate two coups over the last year, escaped a stabbing attempt unharmed. (Reuters)
- Morocco: The government denied reports that it may have used the Pegasus spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group to spy on French President Emmanuel Macron and other people’s phones. (AP)
- Somalia: The United States, in coordination with the country’s government, launched an air strike against Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab jihadists. (AFP)
- Tanzania: The leader of the country’s main opposition party was arrested along with ten other party members. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro said he will veto a proposed billion-dollar electoral fund. (Reuters)
- Colombia: The government tabled a $3.95 billion tax reform bill to Congress amid attempts by unions and student groups to revive protests against the bill’s original iteration. (Reuters)
- Haiti: Ariel Henry was sworn-in as the country’s new prime minister. (AFP)
- Peru: President-elect Pedro Castillo pledged to appoint a representative and politically diverse cabinet. (DPA)
- United States: Life expectancy reduced by a year and half in 2020 marking the biggest one-year decline since World War II, and the decrease for both Black and Hispanic Americans was more than the average at three years. (AP)
Asia
- Region: The United States, Japan and South Korea reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on North Korea’s denuclearization. (AP)
- Australia: The country’s two largest states reported a large number of new coronavirus cases. (Reuters)
- Japan: The Finance Ministry said the country’s exports increased by 48.6% from the year before, marking the fourth straight month of growth. (AP)
- Myanmar: The Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport said it was closely cooperating on the supply of military hardware with the country’s military junta. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: France called the decision by Turkish Cypriot authorities to partially reopen an abandoned town in Cyprus a “provocation”. (Reuters)
- Region: British Brexit minister David Frost will propose new trade arrangements for Northern Ireland today, in a move that is likely to stoke UK-EU tensions. (AP)
- France: The government’s new COVID-19 health pass for attending most museums and cinemas took effect. (BBC)
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with her Cabinet today to approve a massive relief package for the country’s regions affected by the recent floods. (AFP)
- Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a referendum on a controversial anti-LGBTQ law after the European Commission took legal action against the law. (AFP)
Middle East
- Iran: One police officer was killed in the ongoing unrest and demonstrations over water shortages in the country’s southwest. (AP)
- Jordan: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen encouraged King Abdullah to continue economic reforms in the country. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Hong Kong authorities arrested the former editor of the city’s the now-defunct Apple Daily pro-democracy newspaper. (AP)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 21JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 190,966,751
- Deaths: 4,097,219
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 21JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (22JUL21)
- Global: The Environment Ministers of G20 countries will meet. (to 23JUL)
- Europe: US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Ambassador John Kerry will visit the United Kingdom and Italy. (to 26JUL)
- Europe: The European Central Bank will make an interest rate decision.
- Europe: An Azerbaijani court will hear the criminal case against Russian citizen Eduard Dubakov, who was charged with participating in 2020’s Nagorno-Karabakh hostilities for Armenia.
- Lebanon: The UN Security Council will hold consultations on the country.
- Norway: The tenth anniversary of Anders Behring Breivik’s attack on government buildings and a youth camp.
- United States: Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani will visit and meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
END
