U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Michael A. Hammer announces that the U.S. government will assist in training Congolese forces and with intelligence sharing.
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July 1, 2021 (Thursday)
3.6 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
Arts and culture
Indigenous protesters tear down the Statue of Queen Victoria in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as protests grow over the mass graves of indigenous children discovered at former Canadian Indian residential schools. A smaller statue of Queen Elizabeth II was also toppled nearby. Multiple Catholic Churches on or near indigenous grounds have been burned down.
Business and economy
President Nayib Bukele requests a minimum wage increase of 20% due to poor Salvadorans suffering from an "onslaught of global inflation". Bukele also orders more food handouts to combat hunger during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The country recently had a government reshuffle, which has put in doubt negotiations for a potential $1 billion financing program from the International Monetary Fund.
Uganda imposes a new tax rate for using the internet as the government orders a 12% excise duty on mobile data. President Yoweri Museveni defends the tax as he says that social media users are "endlessly donating money to foreign telephone companies through chatting or even lying" and described the use of social media as a "luxury". This tax proposal, which takes effect immediately, resulted in protests in 2018 and 2019.
Disasters and accidents
The village of Lytton, British Columbia, is evacuated after a wildfire destroys 90% of the village amid an unprecedented heat wave caused by a rare "heat dome" event over the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. The village recently recorded Canada's highest ever temperature of 49.6 °C (121.3 °F).
UN agencies report that due to the food insecurity that has affected around one million people in Madagascar, the population has been surviving by eating ashes mixed with tamarind and shoe leather, as the United States and South Korea pledge economic aid to Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raises the alert status of Taal Volcano to level 3 after the volcano emitted a kilometer-high ash plume, forcing authorities in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite to evacuate thousands of people.
Health and environment
Thailand reports a record 57 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,080.
The United Kingdom reports 27,989 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of cases since January 25.
Bangladesh imposes a lockdown that suspends all public transport and only allows people to leave their house for emergency reasons due to a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Soldiers are deployed to enforce the lockdown.
Turkey begins to giving a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers and people aged above 50 years old.
Indonesia reports a record 24,836 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.2 million.
Russia reports a record for the third consecutive day of 672 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the nationwide death toll to 135,886.
President Joko Widodo announces emergency community restrictions in 122 regencies and cities in Java and Bali, including the capital Jakarta from July 3 to 20 which would require non-essential businesses and places of worship to close.
Fiji reports a record of 431 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the national total of cases to 4,849. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services also reports two deaths, bringing the death toll to 24, with 22 of these deaths having occurred since the current outbreak began in April.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announces a month-long vaccination raffle in which residents can win a total of $5 million in cash (one grand prize of $2 million or three prizes of $1 million) and $500,000 total in college scholarships for children aged 12 to 17 years old (nine prizes of $55,000). On the first day, 464,698 people had applied, including 23,978 eligible children. The winners will be drawn on August 4.
President Julius Maada Bio announces a nationwide curfew in the country to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The European Union launches the EU Digital COVID Certificate that contains a proof of vaccination, a negative test, or proof of recovery from COVID-19, which designated to allow Europeans to resume travel across the bloc without quarantine in order to boost tourism.
International relations
The United States adds Turkey to its list of governments that are implicated in the use of child soldiers, saying that the country has provided "tangible support" to the Neo-Ottoman Sultan Murad Division, in Syria and Libya, which uses child soldiers. It is the first time that a NATO member state has been included in the Trafficking in Persons Report.
Law and crime
Rwanda legalizes the medical use of cannabis. However, recreational use of cannabis remains illegal.
Politics and elections
CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a speech in which he specifically announced the realization of the first goal of the Two Centenaries goal set.
Science and technology
The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization confirms that a record high temperature of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) has been recorded in Antarctica at the Esperanza Base.
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