KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop

               World    3,71,105              /             40,55,256            /             6,104     /             1,19,98,500        /             520.3

1             USA        11,837   /             6,22,998              /             110        /             48,66,066            /             1,871

2             Brazil     17,031   /             5,34,311              /             765        /             9,06,006              /             2,496

3             UK          34,471   /             1,28,431              /             6             /             6,63,954              /             1,882

4             Russia    25,140   /             1,43,712              /             710        /             4,48,113              /             984

5             India      27,404   /             4,09,287              /             495        /             4,39,563              /             294

6             Indonesia            40,427   /             67,355   /             891        /             3,80,797              /             244

7             Mexico  3,779     /             2,34,969              /             62           /             3,14,113              /             1,803

8             Iran        20,829   /             86,041   /             182        /             2,66,697              /             1,011

9             Argentina            14,989   /             99,255   /             474        /             2,62,859              /             2,176

10           Spain     11,310   /             81,020   /             5             /             2,41,666              /             1,732

11           South Africa       11,182   /             64,509   /             220        /             1,98,759              /             1,074

12           Honduras             776        /             7,259     /             9             /             1,72,828              /             721

13           Poland   44           /             75,160   /                            /             1,53,128              /             1,988

14           Colombia             18,650   /             1,13,335              /             509        /             1,40,810              /             2,203

15           Bangladesh         13,768   /             16,639   /             220        /             1,36,797              /             100

16           Iraq        9,149     /             17,592   /             44           /             1,07,367              /             428

17           Malaysia              8,574     /             6,260     /             102        /             91,272   /             191

18           Thailand               8,656     /             2,791     /             80           /             90,578   /             40

19           Tunisia  4,310     /             16,494   /             106        /             85,051   /             1,381

20           Turkey   5,404     /             50,278   /             49           /             81,831   /             590

27           Philippines           5,204     /             26,015   /             100        /             49,128   /             234

36           Pakistan               1,808     /             22,597   /             15           /             38,622   /             100

CUBA BLAMES UNREST ON US AS BIDEN SAYS HE STANDS WITH CUBANS

Cuba Monday blamed the historic protests that took place from Havana to Santiago over the weekend on the U.S. embargo with the Caribbean island nation.

Thousands chanted “freedom” and called on President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down in the biggest anti-government demonstrations on the Communist-run island in decades.

From the White house, U.S. President Joe Biden Monday threw his support behind the protesters.

"The United States stands firmly with the people of Cuba as they assert their universal rights and we call on the government of Cuba to refrain from violence and attempts to silence the voice of the people of Cuba."

At the same time, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel attacked what he called Washington's hypocrisy for expressing concern when it was fueling the crisis in Cuba with its trade embargo.

"Is it not very hypocritical and cynical that you block me and you want to present yourself as the big savior? Lift the blockade and then we will see what Cubans are capable of."

The United States had tightened sanctions on Cuba under Trump, Biden's predecessor, including restricting crucial remittances in the middle of the global health crisis.

Biden campaigned on easing sanctions but has yet to do so.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador backed Cuba, saying the U.S. economic embargo should be ended.

The protests erupted amid Cuba's deepest economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union and a surge in infections that has pushed some hospitals to the edge of collapse in a country that prides itself on its healthcare system.

SHER BAHADUR DEUBA TO TAKE OATH AS NEW NEPAL PM TODAY

Nepal Supreme Court on Monday reinstated the dissolved lower house of Parliament and issued a mandamus ordering the appointment of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister within two days.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to succeed KP Sharma Oli as Prime Minister of Nepal on Tuesday.

Deuba will take oath as second Premier of the Himalayan Nation after the apex Court reinstated the dissolved lower house and issued a mandamus naming the opposition leader as the successor.

"Tomorrow (July 13), as per the verdict of the Supreme Court honorable Sher Bahadur Deuba will form a new cabinet for which we would start consultations and discussions. This would be alliance government and we will be holding a discussion about further ways to make it more effective and working addressing concerns of the public that would cover the issues about Covid-19 management, vaccines, corruptions and others," Baburam Bhattarai, former Prime Minister and one of the leaders of opposition alliance told reporters on Monday evening.

Although the apex court's order has paved the way for Deuba to become a new prime minister, for now, Deuba will have to secure majority votes in the parliament to survive as prime minister for the remaining term of parliament.

MIXING AND MATCHING COVID-19 VACCINES ‘DANGEROUS TREND’: WHO’S CHIEF SCIENTIST SOUMYA SWAMINATHAN

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Monday warned against mixing and matching of Covid-19 vaccines by different manufacturers for the first and second doses, calling it a “dangerous trend” and saying that there was a lack of data about the impact of the process. “There are people who are thinking about mixing and matching. We receive a lot of queries from people who say they have taken one [dose] and are planning to take another one (doses). It’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone as far as mix and match,” Swaminathan said in an online briefing earlier in the day.

“There is limited data on mix and match. There are studies going on, we need to wait for that. Maybe it will be a very good approach. But, at the moment we only have data on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, followed by Pfizer. It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose,” she said.

Swaminathan also stressed the need for equal distribution of the vaccine globally.

She also said that there is no scientific evidence that a booster shot is definitely needed, especially immediately after the inoculation of the two doses. Instead, she said that the medicine needs to be distributed via the COVAX program to countries that are yet to immunise their front-line workers and the elderly and the vulnerable populations.

TEXAS DEMOCRATS FLEE STATE TO BLOCK REPUBLICAN VOTING LAW

Democrats in the Texas legislature have left their state en masse in an effort to prevent Republicans there from passing a law to tighten voting rules.

The move will temporarily paralyse the state's House of Representatives, which requires at least two-thirds of lawmakers be present for a vote.

At least 50 House Democrats boarded flights to Washington DC on Monday, US media report.

The move comes amid a wave of voting restrictions in Republican-led states.

An important first vote on the sweeping voting legislation proposed by Texas Republicans had been planned for later this week.

The bill would outlaw 24-hour polling places and drive-through voting, ban ballot drop boxes and expand the authority of partisan poll watchers.

The House lawmakers took off from Austin on private planes on Monday afternoon - the first time since 2003 that state Democrats have left Texas to break quorum. They could stay in Washington for weeks, US media report.

In response to the exodus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican, said in a statement that the House would use "every available resource" to secure a quorum.

TOP US COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN STEPS DOWN AS 20-YEAR WAR NEARS END

The top commander of US troops in Afghanistan, General Austin Scott Miller, on Monday, relinquished his position during a ceremony in the country’s capital city of Kabul as the US’ two-decade-long war in Afghanistan is nearing its end and the Taliban forces continue to gain more territory. Miller has been the top commander in Afghanistan since his appointment to the role in 2018.

Marine Gen Frank McKenzie, another four-star general, took over from Miller and would operate from the central command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. He will assume command and continue the airstrikes in defence of the Afghan forces at least until the US pulls out all its troops by August 31, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

U.S. CITES CHINA, MYANMAR, ETHIOPIA IN GENOCIDE REPORT

The Biden administration on Monday renewed genocide allegations against China for repression of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in its northwest Xinjiang region.

It also warned Eritrea, Ethiopia, Myanmar and South Sudan of possible further sanctions for ethnic cleansing in conflicts they are involved in.

The administration sent the messages in the release of the State Department's annual report to Congress on genocide and atrocities prevention, which calls for the federal government to outline steps it is taking to prevent and halt such actions abroad.

“This administration will defend and protect human rights around the world, and recognises the prevention of atrocities is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility," it said.

The report said the US continues to believe that China's actions against the Uyghurs constitutes a “genocide.” That finding was first announced by former President Donald Trump's administration, as was a determination that Myanmar was engaged in “ethnic cleansing” against Rohyinga Muslims in its northern Rakhine state.

Elsewhere in Africa, the report cited deteriorating conditions in South Sudan, where it said the government “has perpetrated extrajudicial killings including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war.” “Those responsible for human rights violations in South Sudan must be held to account,” it said.

The report said the Biden administration would continue to support efforts to bring Islamic State militants to justice for atrocities committed against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. It also reiterated the U.S. commitment to holding Syrian President Bashar Assad and his government to account for abuses.

US OFFICIALS FLAG "SMALL" REACTION RISK WITH J&J’S COVID-19 VACCINE

Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine may pose a “small possible risk” of a rare but potentially dangerous neurological reaction, U.S. health officials said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement it has received reports of 100 people who got the shot developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, an immune system disorder that can cause muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis.

That number represents a tiny fraction of the nearly 13 million Americans who have received the one-dose vaccine. Most cases of the side effect were reported in men — many 50 years old and up — and usually about two weeks after vaccination.

The CDC said it would ask its panel of outside vaccine experts to review the issue at an upcoming meeting.

The government said the vaccines most used in the U.S., made by Pfizer and Moderna, show no risk of the disorder after more than 320 million doses have been administered.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have been monitoring side effect reports submitted by physicians, drugmakers and patients to a federal vaccine safety database.

COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATORY FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SAY FRANCE, GREECE

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ordered all French health care workers to get virus vaccine shots by Sept. 15 and urged all of his compatriots to get vaccinated as soon as possible, to fight resurgent infections that are threatening the country’s economic recovery.

In a televised address, Macron also mandated special Covid-19 passes for anyone who wants to go to a restaurant, shopping mall or hospital or get on a train or plane. To get a pass, people must have proof they’re fully vaccinated, or recently recovered from the virus, or have taken a fresh negative virus test.

The delta variant is driving France’s virus infections back up again, just as the country kicked off summer vacation season after a long-awaited reopening. Some 40% of France’s population is fully inoculated.

“Get vaccinated!" was the president's overall message. He even tweeted a GIF of himself repeating the phrase.

Macron said vaccination is essential for all workers in health care facilities or nursing homes, and all workers or volunteers who care for the elderly or ailing at home. Those who don’t get vaccinated by Sept. 15 will face potential sanctions or fines, he said.

Greece announced Monday that health care workers will be suspended if they refuse to get vaccinated. Italy made the coronavirus vaccination obligatory for health care workers and pharmacists, and those who opt out risk suspension from their jobs or a salary cut.

FLIGHTS CANCELLED, SCHOOLS CLOSED AS BEIJING HIT BY STORM

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in Beijing as schools and tourist sites were shut due to torrential downpours and gale-force winds on July 12.

City authorities issued warnings to residents to stay home as the Chinese capital faced its biggest storm this year.

As much as 100 millimetres of rain is predicted through the day in some areas, and aviation tracker VariFlight recorded some 700 flights cancelled at the city’s two airports.

Weather authorities warned of “extreme rainstorms” plus thunder and lightning from late Sunday to Monday evening in Beijing and neighbouring areas.

A landslide was recorded in one of the city’s northern districts, with state broadcaster CCTV showing pictures of a road blocked by fallen rocks. Heavy rain was holding up efforts to clear the road, according to state TV.