View source for Portal:Current events/2021 July 14

{{Current events|year=2021|month=07|day=14|content=
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'''Armed conflicts and attacks'''
*[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
**[[Taliban insurgency]]
***[[2021 Taliban offensive]]
****[[Afghanistan–Tajikistan relations]]
*****[[Tajikistan]] says that over 350 citizens from [[Afghanistan]] have crossed the [[Afghanistan–Tajikistan border|Afghan–Tajik border]]. [https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/hundreds-of-afghans-flee-to-tajikistan-as-taleban-advances (''Straits Times'')]
****The [[Taliban]] claims to have captured the strategic city of [[Spin Boldak]], [[Kandahar Province]], on [[Afghanistan-Pakistan border|the border]] with [[Pakistan]]. One of the group's spokesmen, [[Zabihullah Mujahid]], says that the city was "under [[mujahideen]] control". Pakistan confirms the capture, saying that the Taliban removed the [[Flag of Afghanistan|Afghan flag]] and raised theirs. The [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] [[Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan)|Ministry of Defense]] says that they were checking information. If this is confirmed by the [[Afghan government]], it would be the latest territorial gain by the armed group. [https://www.dw.com/en/taliban-capture-key-afghan-border-point-reports/a-58258412 (DW)]
****Afghan special forces claim that 1,369 Taliban fighters have been killed in recent operations, including key commanders. [https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-173518 (TOLO)]
***[[Chinese people|Chinese]] [[Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]] asks the Taliban during a conference in [[Dushanbe]], [[Tajikistan]], to make a "clean break" with all [[terrorist]] forces, especially the [[al-Qaeda]]-backed [[East Turkestan Islamic Movement]], and to return to mainstream Afghan politics. [https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-asks-taliban-to-make-clean-break-from-all-terrorist-forces-2486319 (NDTV)]
**[[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2021)|Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan]]
***The [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]] announces that it will launch [[Operation Allies Refuge]], an operation that will evacuate Afghan [[interpreter]]s who aided [[United States Armed Forces|American troops]] during the war. The operation will begin by the end of July. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/07/14/afghanistan-us-relocate-interpreters-who-worked-military/7965239002/ (''USA Today'')]

'''Disasters and accidents'''
*A bus explodes and crashes in [[Kohistan District, Pakistan|Kohistan]], [[Khyber Paktunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]], killing 12 people, nine of whom were [[Chinese people|Chinese]] nationals; the bus was carrying a group of over 30 Chinese workers. Pakistan says that it was an accident, whereas [[China]] alleges that it was an attack. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/14/chinese-nationals-among-several-killed-in-pakistan-blast-report (Al Jazeera)]

'''Health and environment'''
*[[COVID-19 pandemic]]
**[[COVID-19 pandemic in Asia]]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia]]
****[[Indonesia]] reports a record for the third consecutive day of 54,517 new cases of [[COVID-19]], thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.67 million. [https://www.beritasatu.com/kesehatan/800447/pecah-rekor-lagi-positif-covid19-tembus-54517-kasus (BeritaSatu)]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia]]
****[[Malaysia]] reports a record for the second consecutive day of 11,618 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 867,567. [https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/14/covid-19-new-high-for-second-day-running-11618-new-cases-recorded (''The Star'')]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar]]
****[[Myanmar]] reports a record 7,089 cases and 145 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the national total of cases to 208,357 and the national total of deaths to 4,181. [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-sees-record-coronavirus-deaths-infections-2021-07-14/ (Reuters)]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea]]
****[[South Korea]] reports a record 1,615 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the [[Government of South Korea|Government]] to raise its [[social distancing]] measure to "Level 2" for most of the country outside the [[Seoul Capital Area]] beginning tomorrow, where gatherings of more than eight people will be banned and bars and restaurants must close by midnight. [https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-reports-record-high-1615-new-covid-19-daily-cases (''The Straits Times'')]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam]]
****[[Vietnam]] reports a record 2,924 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 37,343. [https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-s-daily-covid-19-tally-nears-3000-4309512.html (VN Express)]
**[[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe]]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Russia]]
****[[Russia]] reports a record 786 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 145,278. [https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/russias-coronavirus-deaths-cases-keep-rising-/2304156 (Anadolu Agency)]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Spain]]
****[[Catalonia]] imposes a curfew between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. in municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 and with an incidence of more than 400 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants following an "explosion of cases". The curfew will last for one week beginning July 17. [https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20210714/govern-aprobacion-toque-de-queda-catalunya-aval-tsjc-11909845 (''El Periódico'')]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]]
****The [[United Kingdom]] reports 42,302 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since January 15. [https://news.sky.com/story/amp/covid-19-uk-daily-coronavirus-cases-exceed-40-000-highest-since-mid-january-12355797 (Sky News)]
**[[COVID-19 pandemic in North America]]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]]
****[[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)|COVID-19 pandemic in Washington]]
*****[[Washington (state)|Washington]] reports that the state has vaccinated more than 70% of people over the age of 16 years. [https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/70-of-washington-residents-16-and-older-have-received-at-least-one-covid-vaccine-shot/ (''Seattle Times'')]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti]]
****[[Haiti]] receives 500,000 doses of the [[COVID-19 vaccine]], its first since the start of the [[pandemic]]. [https://apnews.com/article/business-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-haiti-0b632dd3dab61f9a76059860a158ef12 (AP)]
***[[COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico]]
****[[Mexico]] reports its first case of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]] in a 65-year-old male patient at a hospital in the state of [[Morelos]]. [https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/mexico-registers-1st-case-of-delta-coronavirus-variant/2304884# (Anadolu Agency)]
**[[COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina]]
***[[Argentina]] surpasses 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, after reporting 614 deaths in the past 24 hours. [https://www.a24.com/actualidad/argentina-llego-los-100-mil-muertos-coronavirus-cronologia-una-pandemia-que-sigue-doliendo-n844724 (A24)]
**[[COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal]]
***[[Senegal]] reports a record 733 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 45,796. [http://aps.sn/actualites/environnement/article/un-record-de-733-nouveaux-cas-de-coronavirus (Agence de Presse Sénégalaise)]

'''International relations'''
*[[Israel–United Arab Emirates relations]], [[Israel–United Arab Emirates normalization agreement]]
**The [[United Arab Emirates]] opens its embassy in [[Israel]], marking another milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two countries since signing a [[Israel–United Arab Emirates normalization agreement|normalization agreement]]. The opening ceremony is attended by [[President of Israel|Israeli President]] [[Isaac Herzog]], UAE Minister for Food and Water Security [[Mariam Almheiri]], and UAE Ambassador to Israel [[Mohamed Al Khaja]]. [https://amp.khaleejtimes.com/news/uae-inaugurates-embassy-in-tel-aviv (''Khaleej Times'')]
*[[China–United States relations]]
**The [[United States Senate]] unanimously votes to pass the [[Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act]], a bill that would ban products from [[Xinjiang]] in [[China]], unless they are certified as not from the [[Xinjiang internment camps]]. [https://www.reuters.com/world/us-senate-passes-bill-ban-all-products-chinas-xinjiang-2021-07-15/ (Reuters)]

'''Law and crime'''
*[[Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack]]
**[[Criminal proceedings in the January 6 United States Capitol attack]]
***An [[Idaho]] man who was seen hanging on the [[United States Senate]] balcony during the [[2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6 riot]] at the [[United States Capitol]], pleads guilty to obstruction of Congress, and agrees to help prosecutors. A former [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] employee pleads guilty to demonstrating in the Capitol building, and is fined $500. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/guilty-plea-senate-balcony-capitol-riot/2021/07/14/b5e060d4-e4d5-11eb-8aa5-5662858b696e_story.html (''The Washington Post'')] [https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/563115-former-oklahoma-city-thunder-employee-pleads-guilty-to-illegal (''The Hill'')]
*[[COVID-19 pandemic in Spain]]
**The [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Court]] rules that the general lockdown decreed by the [[government of Spain|Government]] in March 2020 is partially unconstitutional because it considers that the restrictions exceeded those covered by the state of alarm. The appeal of unconstitutionality against the decree was filed by the [[far right]] party [[Vox (political party)|Vox]]. [https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2021/07/14/60ed7a8ae4d4d860208b4571.html (''El Mundo'')]
*[[2019 Bolivian political crisis]]
**[[Bolivia|Bolivian]] authorities say that weaponry that were found stored were sent clandestinely by the [[Government of Argentina]] led by [[President of Argentina|President]] [[Mauricio Macri]] in November 2019 to support the ousting of [[Evo Morales]] and that they were used to repress Morales' supporters. Aside from Macri, his ministers [[Patricia Bullrich]], [[Oscar Aguad]] and [[Jorge Faurie]] are also accused of aiding the Bolivian interim government of [[Jeanine Áñez]]. [https://www.tvpublica.com.ar/post/bolivia-la-policia-encontro-las-armas-argentinas-enviadas-por-macri-y-bullrich (TV Pública)]
*[[United States Attorney|United States federal prosecutors]] charge four Iranian intelligence operatives with plotting to kidnap journalist and human rights activist [[Masih Alinejad]]. [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-iranians-charged-plotting-kidnap-author-living-brooklyn-n1273890 (NBC)]
*Swedish rapper [[Yasin (rapper)|Yasin]] is sentenced to 10 months in jail for conspiring to kidnap a rival artist. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57839517 (BBC News)]

'''Politics and elections'''
*[[2021 Cuban protests]]
**[[President of Cuba|Cuban President]] and [[First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba|First Secretary of the Communist Party]] [[Miguel Díaz-Canel]] admits that his administration has failed to handle the shortages and neglected certain sectors. However, he also urges protesters not to be “hateful”. [http://globalnews.ca/news/8029302/cuba-protests-president-remarks/ (Global News)]
**[[Cuba]] temporarily lifts restrictions on food and medicine imports following the protests. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57844864 (BBC News)]
*[[2021 Peruvian general election]]
**Supporters of [[Popular Force]] leader and former presidential candidate [[Keiko Fujimori]] attempt to reach the [[Government Palace (Peru)|Government Palace]] in [[Lima]] to call for an audit of the election. [[Ministry of Health (Peru)|Minister for Health]] [[Óscar Ugarte]] and [[Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation (Peru)|Minister for Housing, Construction and Sanitation]] Solangel Fernández were attacked during the protests, and protesters clash with the [[National Police of Peru|National Police]]. [https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2021/07/15/60efa2aefdddffd0aa8b45db.html (''El Mundo'')] [https://rpp.pe/lima/actualidad/fuerza-popular-simpatizantes-fujimoristas-se-enfrentaron-a-la-policia-para-llegar-a-palacio-de-gobierno-noticia-1347486 (RPP)]

'''Science and technology'''
*[[Discoveries of exoplanets]]
**Scientists at the [[European Southern Observatory]] announce the discovery of [[isotope|isotopes]] of carbon-13 on [[TYC 8998-760-1#Planetary system|TYC 8998-760-1 b]], an [[exoplanet]] located 300 light-years away from the [[Musca]] constellation. The discovery was made via the [[Very Large Telescope]] in [[Chile]]. [https://phys.org/news/2021-07-isotopes-atmosphere-exoplanet.html (Phys.org)]
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