July 23, 2021 (Friday)

Gunmen open fire on a civilian convoy that was returning from a weekly market in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 16 people.

Azerbaijan reports that one of its soldiers was killed by an Armenian sniper in Kalbajar District near the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.

Gunshots are heard at Jovenel Moïse’s funeral, with U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield cancelling the remainder of her visit to Haiti as a result of the incident.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen says that the Islamist group "does not want to monopolize" Afghanistan, pointing to past failed attempts by countries to do so. Shaheen also says that women's rights under the Taliban would now be respected, although women would still need to wear a headscarf or hijab and have a male relative as a companion in order to leave their house. Shaheen also accused President Ashraf Ghani of being a "warmonger" and said that "no one wants a civil war in Afghanistan".

Burundian Minister for Mining Ibrahim Uwizeye suspends the operations of several international mining companies, including one running the only rare-earth mine in Africa, saying they were not properly sharing the profits and that the mining contracts signed were "unbalanced".

Pakistan surpasses one million cases of COVID-19.

The National Capital Region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro revert to the stricter "General Community Quarantine with Heightened Restrictions" due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will remain in effect until July 31.

The Philippines announces an entry ban for all travelers from Malaysia and Thailand due to the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. These restrictions will take effect on July 25.

Fiji isolates 87 crew and passengers on an inter-islands ship due to COVID-19. The ship's people have been the latest of around 4,000 people infected with COVID-19 who have been turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds.

St. Louis and St. Louis County will reimpose their mask mandate for residents in indoor public places and on transportation as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 Delta variant. The order will be in effect on July 26.

Tennessee will resume their COVID-19 vaccine outreach to minors following a suspension of advocacy earlier this month.

The European Medicines Agency approves the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 17, becoming the first time the vaccine has been authorised for people under the age of 18.

Indonesia reports a record 38,988 recoveries and 1,566 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 2.43 million and the nationwide death toll to 80,598.

Thailand reports a record for the third consecutive day of 14,575 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 467,707.

Vietnam reports a record 7,307 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 81,678.

Cuba reports a record for the second consecutive day of 7,784 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 316,383.

Malaysia reports a record 15,573 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 980,491.

New South Wales declares a "national emergency" of their state COVID-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant after 136 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours.

The Biden administration announces that the United States has purchased 200 million extra doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, including doses intended for children under the age of 12 years old.

Montenegro closes all discos and nightclubs as well as bans all indoor gatherings and music festivals due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Nightclubs could be reopened on August 2, but only for those who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from COVID-19.

Germany's Robert Koch Institute declares the Netherlands and Spain as "high-incidence areas", which means that most people arriving from those countries who are unvaccinated will have to go into quarantine beginning on July 27.

Following U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong Liaison Office executives, China announces retaliatory sanctions on the Hong Kong Democracy Council and several Americans, including former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Madagascar officials announce that two French citizens arrested over a plot to kill President Andry Rajoelina are former members of the French Armed Forces. The Government of France says that it is working with its consulate in Madagascar as the French military says that it has no comments on the arrests.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone unanimously votes to repeal the death penalty. The country had a moratorium on its use since 1998, after the government executed 24 soldiers for allegedly plotting a coup d'état the year prior.

The U.S. Department of Justice announces that it will not open a civil rights investigation into government-run nursing homes in New York. Similar letters were sent to officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Guatemala's Attorney General María Consuelo Porras removed the anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval. Sandoval collaborated in investigations against former President Otto Pérez Molina and some members of his cabinet.

The Court of Appeal of Samoa declares Naomi Mataʻafa as the nation's new prime minister, ending a months-long political crisis.

Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns.

The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated.

The Cleveland Indians announce that the team's name will be changed to the Cleveland Guardians after the conclusion of the 2021 season.