Key Storylines
- AFRICA: A person who allegedly attempted to kill Malian military strongman Assimi Goita, the figure behind two coups in Mali, died in custody.
- AMERICAS: The largest wildfire in the state of California merged with another smaller wildfire as multiple other fires gained strength in the US West.
- ASIA: China’s Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng accused the United States of creating an “imaginary enemy” to divert attention from domestic issues and suppress Beijing, as US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in Tianjin for high-level talks.
- EUROPE: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited the Japan-claimed Kuril Islands, which Tokyo lodged a protest against, as part of his tour of the country’s Far East and Siberia.
- MIDDLE EAST: US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi are expected to announce an agreement on ending the US mission in Iraq by the end of the year.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: China’s Industry Ministry launched a six-month campaign to deal with what it called serious problems with internet apps violating consumer rights, cyber security and “disturbing market order”.
Top Story
- Tunisia: Tensions after President Saied fires PM, suspends Parliament.
- Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi from his office and suspended parliament for 30 days, triggering the country’s biggest crisis in a decade of democracy.
- Security forces have surrounded the Tunisian parliament building and blocked parliament’s speaker from entering the legislative building.
- President Saied made the decision following violent mass protests across the country amid public unease due to the COVID-19 pandemic and general chronic political dysfunction and economic malaise.
- President Saied’s opponents called his decision a coup and vowed to protest it in the streets.
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, BBC, DPA, NYT, AFP, WaPo
Africa
- Region: Rwandan forces clashed with Islamist militants in Mozambique near the country’s border with Tanzania, marking the first-time foreign troops battled with Mozambique’s jihadist insurgency. (Guardian)
- Mali: A person who allegedly attempted to kill military strongman Assimi Goita, the figure behind two coups in the country, died in custody. (AFP)
- Nigeria: Security forces were tightly controlling access to an Abuja courthouse where the trial of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is set to resume today. (Reuters)
- South Africa: The government eased some of its coronavirus restrictions following a decline in COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: The United States backed Guatemala’s top anti-corruption investigator, Prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval, after he fled the country following his dismissal from office. (AFP)
- Argentina: A lagoon in the country’s Patagonia region turned pink, which experts and activists blamed on chemical pollution caused by the country’s prawn export industry. (AFP)
- El Salvador: Former President Salvador Sánchez Cerén and nine other former government officials were formally charged with illicit enrichment and money laundering. (AP)
- United States: The largest wildfire in the state of California merged with another smaller wildfire as multiple other fires gained strength in the West. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Pakistan said dozens of Afghan soldiers slipped into Pakistan after their border post near northwestern Pakistan was reportedly overrun by the Taliban. (AP)
- Afghanistan: The UN said the country witnessed a 47% increase in the number of all civilians killed and wounded in the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2020. (AP)
- China: Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng accused the United States of creating an “imaginary enemy” to divert attention from domestic issues and suppress Beijing, as US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in Tianjin for high-level talks. (Reuters)
- New Zealand: The government agreed to repatriate an alleged Islamic State militant and her two young children from Turkey. (AP)
- Philippines: President Rodrigo Duterte will give the final state of the nation speech Monday before Congress of his six-year term today. (AP)
Europe
- France: Parliament voted in favor of a bill mandating the requirement of a COVID-19 health pass to access restaurants, bars, trains and planes. (AFP)
- Russia: Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited the Japan-claimed Kuril Islands, which Tokyo lodged a protest against, as part of his tour of the country’s Far East and Siberia. (AP)
- United Kingdom: The government is reportedly exploring ways to remove China’s state-owned nuclear energy company China General Nuclear Power Group from future energy projects in the country. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: Israel attacked a Hamas base in the Gaza Strip overnight “in response to arson balloons launched toward” the country. (DPA)
- Region: Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani made an unannounced visit to Iran just days after his trip to the United States. (AFP)
- Iran: UNESCO added the country’s Trans-Iranian Railway onto its World Heritage List. (RFE-RL)
- Iraq: US President Joe Biden, and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi are expected to announce an agreement on ending the US mission in the country by the end of the year. (AP)
- Lebanon: President Michel Aoun briefly met with businessman Najib Mikati, who is expected to receive parliamentary backing later today to attempt the formation of a new government. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Internet: China’s Industry Ministry launched a six-month campaign to deal with what it called serious problems with internet apps violating consumer rights, cyber security and “disturbing market order”. (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 26JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 194,188,533
- Deaths: 4,159,321
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 26JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (27JUL21)
- Global: The World Trade Organization’s General Council will hold a meeting. (to 28JUL)
- Global: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will deliver the 40th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Fullerton Lecture in Singapore.
- Asia: French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the French Polynesian islands.
- Greece: Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will visit.
- The Holy See: Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu will appear in front of a financial wrongdoing tribunal.
- India: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit. (to 28JUL)
- Oman: US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman will visit.
- Pakistan: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud will visit.
- Sudan: The UN Security Council will hold meetings on the Darfur region.
- United States: A select committee will begin investigating the 06JAN storming of Capitol Hill.
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