McLean (United States) (AFP) – US President Joe Biden says unvaccinated Americans are “sowing confusion” after being asked about potential uncertainty regarding the recent mask mandate. People fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in high-risk parts of the United States have been advised to resume wearing masks, a major reversal in guidance that underscored the country’s struggle to suppress the Delta variant.
Warsaw (AFP) – A new playground prototype in central Warsaw uses algae which feast on pollutants and carbon dioxide to provide a bubble of clean oxygen in the city.
Beirut (AFP) – Workers construct a 25-metre-tall steel sculpture dubbed “The Gesture” by Lebanese artist Nadim Karam made from debris from the August 4 blast at Beirut’s port. The explosion that thundered through the city levelled entire neighbourhoods, killed more than 200 people, wounded 6,500 others and pummelled the lives of survivors. Beirut is still struggling following the deadly explosion, with the country facing an accelerating financial crisis branded by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern times.
Berdigestyakh (Russia) (AFP) – Wildfires burn through the forests of north-east Siberia, normally one of the world's coldest regions. The blazes have destroyed more than 1.5 million hectares (3.7m acres) with more than a month still to go in Siberia's annual fire season.
Berdigestyakh (Russia) (AFP) – Wildfires burn through the forests of north-east Siberia, normally one of the world’s coldest regions. The blazes have destroyed more than 1.5 million hectares (3.7m acres) with more than a month still to go in Siberia’s annual fire season. Devastating forest fires have ripped across the region with increasing regularity over the past few years, which Russian weather officials and environmentalists have linked to climate change and an underfunded forest service.
Flight attendants are getting self-defense training as the number of unruly passengers is on the rise. CNN's Pete Muntean reports.
Oakland (United States) (AFP) – A shootout is taking place at the Oakland Police Station – virtually. The Californian police department is using a simulator to train new and veteran officers on de-escalation and use of force, by putting them through 12 different scenarios, such as coming face to face with a man armed with a machete.
Oakland (United States) (AFP) – A shootout is taking place at the Oakland Police Station – virtually. The Californian police department is using a simulator to train new and veteran officers on de-escalation and use of force, by putting them through 12 different scenarios, such as coming face to face with a man armed with a machete. The programme has been created in a bid to avoid further incidents like the murder of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin in May 2020 after he knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
This biologist-turned-surfer builds boards made out of plastic waste and uses them for expeditions that highlight global issues around plastic pollution.
Interpreting the motion of athletes, these 1.3 tonne robots create daily unique artworks in a gravel garden inspired by ancient Japanese traditions. The installation has come from the UK as part of a city-wide art festival in Tokyo.
Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title. The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday's all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. (July 28)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is taking a mainstream view that the current surge in inflation in the global economic environment is temporary due to several transitory factors, an economist said Tuesday as IMF upgraded the World Economic Outlook (WEO) on the same day.
