Summary:

• Mass protests, the likes of which have not been seen in Cuba for 30 years, are currently surging across the country as thousands demand action from the government to address economic and social turmoil.
• Cuba is known for quickly squashing any dissent, so the development of this tremendous anti-government demonstration is both astonishing and dangerous. Cubans risk jail time or worse for their participation is such a protest.
• Many Cubans are frustrated with the country’s economic collapse, food and medicine shortages, and the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In order to demand solutions to these issues and express their discontent with the government’s lack of action thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets. 
• Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has blamed US President Joe Biden for the unrest, stating that Biden’s sanctions on Cuba are a “policy of economic suffocation” and claiming that the protesters are hired mercenaries sent by the US to destabilize Cuba.
• Díaz-Canel has even issued an order to “fight” the protesters. Social media images show security forces detaining, beating, and pepper-spraying some protesters.
• Despite the pushback, protesters across the country can be heard shouting “freedom” and “down with the dictatorship” as they attempt to bring about revolutionary change on the island.
• President Biden commended the protests stating that the US stands “with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom”. Biden went on to address the Cuban regime directly, asking them to “hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.”

Sources:

• NYT
• BBC

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South Africa Deploys Military After Violent Protests and Looting

Copyright World Economic Forum www.weforum.org / Matthew Jordaan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

• South Africa’s military has been deployed after days of protests against the imprisonment of South Africa’s former leader, Jacob Zuma. Hundreds of people have been arrested at the protests, and at least ten killed.
• Shops and businesses have been ransacked and burned, and even vaccination centers have faced violence. Video footage shows police officers using rubber bullets against the protesters.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke against the violence, stating that security forces will “not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who perpetrate these actions.”
• Zuma was sentenced to jail by South Africa’s Constitutional Court in June for contempt in court after not appearing at his anti-corruption inquiry. He served as president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018.

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Unopened Super Mario 64 Cartridge Sells for $1.56 Million

Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

• A 1996 unopened Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 sold for $1.56 million, marking the highest price paid for a single video game. Heritage Auctions stated that “the cultural significance of this title and its importance to the history of video games is paramount.”
• Two days prior, an unopened Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000, breaking the Heritage Auctions’ previous record.
• Video game collectible firm Wata rated the Super Mario 64 cartridge at a 9.8 A++ rating, which is almost perfect condition. Heritage Auctions stated that less than five copies existed that were in such good condition.

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Players on England’s Euro 2020 Final Match Face Racist Abuse 

johnthescone, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

• Three Black English players faced an outpour of racial abuse and harassment on social media following their team’s loss to Italy in the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament – the game was England’s first appearance in the finals in more than 50 years.
• The abuse was aimed at the players who missed their penalty kicks – a flood of hateful messages was sent to the players and a mural celebrating the charitable work of one was defaced in what police say was a racially charged crime.
• Prince William and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have condemned the racist bigotry directed at the players – the England team’s manager has called the abuse “unforgivable.”
• The players’ union, the Professional Footballers Association released a statement urging the British government to take action against online harassment and criminalize the behavior; the union has also urged social media companies to take a stand against abusive users.

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Israel Begins Distribution of Pfizer Booster Shot for At-Risk Adults

U.S. Secretary of Defense, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Israel has begun administering third doses of the Pfizer vaccine as booster shots to immunocompromised and at-risk individuals in an effort to wane a rising number of Delta variant infections in the country.
• The new measure to combat the pandemic was introduced as reports in the country indicated reduced efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine for Delta variant infections – a previous 97% efficacy dropped to 64% and a recent study indicated just 18% of heart transplant patients developed antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
• The Pfizer two dose vaccine is still found to be highly effective at preventing severe illness from the disease – a drop of efficacy from 97% to 94% was reported from infections with the Delta variant.
• U.S. federal health officials have cautioned on the need for a booster shot, with Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden saying it is too early to make the call.

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