Summary: 

• Covid continues to paralyze a return to normality across the world.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. has strongly recommended vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors.
• Examination of COVID positive tests suggests that the viral load for vaccinated and non vaccinated individuals is similar. 
• The high viral load raises concerns about the high transmission of the variant.
• More and more athletes are testing positive at the Tokyo Olympics.
• Wuhan, China is again experiencing rising rates of COVID positive tests, with all 9.3 million city residents expected to be tested.
• Countries such as Kenya have postponed in-person meetings as the variant spreads unchecked.

Sources:

• BBC
• Vox
• NPR

Tweets:

ICMR study says real extent of COVID spread is FAR MORE than reported numbers. In states like Bihar UP,MP, majority of COVID cases weren’t counted

Govt failed in preventing 2nd wave, then deserted Indians in need. Forget providing treatment, it didn’t even care to COUNT properly pic.twitter.com/BruDMnddEx

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 31, 2021

Anyone who points to COVID cases coming down in India as an example of how "natural immunity" works has no idea what they are talking about. Or are callous about lives lost.

Millions died. That's price they paid. And they are not out of the woods. https://t.co/SFik4jGMow

— Vincent Rajkumar (@VincentRK) July 31, 2021

When you're surrounded by a pro-death cult.
https://t.co/1NKQgitT4O

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) July 31, 2021

OTHER STORIES:

New Rules Placed On China IPOs

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=china&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

• Chinese companies seeking to raise money in the U.S. will have to go through additional hurdles before clearance by the SEC.
• Companies will have to give broader disclosure of investors.
• The administrative requirements are in part to ensure greater transparency about companies that are in actuality based in China but operated offshore.
• The ultimate goal is to protect US investors from holding shares in companies that may be subject to government oversight by China.

Tweets:

“⁦@SECGov⁩ has stopped processing registrations of U.S. initial public offerings & other sales of securities by Chinese companies while it crafts new guidance for disclosing to investors the risk of a new regulatory crackdown by #China..” #compliance https://t.co/ZCrLJGpaAR

— Mark Warner (@MAAWLAW) July 30, 2021

Glad to see @SECGov taking a step in the right direction to protect investors from Communist China. For years I’ve been calling for more transparency and disclosure of the risks posed by Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. https://t.co/pRCLqTrsta https://t.co/uKkiB8kplp

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) July 30, 2021

Iran Suspected In Attack Against MV Mercer Street Tanker

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=tanker&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

• A tanker operated by an Israeli company was attacked on Thursday.
• Two people were killed by the drone initiated attack.
• Iran is suspected in the maritime incident, in which two people were killed.
• Iran has yet to respond on its culpability.

Tweets:

The #Oman News Agency confirms an oil tanker was attacked outside Omani territorial waters.https://t.co/F0AFtXKIZ4 pic.twitter.com/v55wAttJbT

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 30, 2021

Iran-Israel tensions in the open waters.
Israeli oil tanker attacked off Oman with suicide drone, two crew members killed. Israel suspects Iran. No one has claimed it.https://t.co/lFMiCNpNC9

— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) July 30, 2021

Tokyo Olympics: USA Leading in Medal Count, China Leading in Golds

Carine06 from UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

• China has won the most gold medals so far at 19, with Japan and USA trailing closely. The United States has won the most medals overall at 41, with China one medal away from catching up.
• Women’s soccer has reached the semifinals, with the USA facing off against Canada and Sweden against Australia.
• In the men’s Tennis semifinals, Alexander Zverev lost to Novak Djokovic in a surprise twist. Djokovic was bidding to win a Golden Slam, which requires four grand slams and an Olympic gold medal in one year.
• Three USA fencing athletes wore pink masks to stand against sexual assault, while their teammate who is being investigated for sexual assault, Alen Hadzic, wore a black mask. 
• Germany’s gymnastics team has opted for more modest uniforms amidst Norway’s beach volleyball uniform controversy.
• A man was arrested by the Hong Kong police for booing during the Chinese national anthem inside a shopping mall.
• Track and field athletes from Nigeria staged a protest after they were declared ineligible to compete due to non-compliance of the Out of Competition Testing (OCT) requirement.

Tweets:

WHAT A GAME! WHAT A TEAM!
To the semis we go! 🇺🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pkn4NTMM9i

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 30, 2021

“Rules are rules”—which is why Sha’Carri Richardson is suspended from the Olympic Team for 1 pot violation, but Alen Hadzic gets to compete despite his suspension for investigations into his repeated sexual assault

“Rules” seem magically absent for some🤔https://t.co/JtJBp8IwIf pic.twitter.com/uSzR6gKSj8

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) July 24, 2021

Recent Tech graduate weighs in on Nigeria's (lack of a) drug-testing program that got 10 of the country's track and field athletes banned from the Olympics. Two of the 10 are Tech's two-time NCAA champion Ruth Usoro and Tech signee Rosemary Chukwuma from South Plains College. https://t.co/jQ6oCZhY1T

— Don Williams (@AJ_DonWilliams) July 29, 2021

President Duterte Restores Agreement Allowing US Troop Presence in Philippines

PCOO EDP, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

• Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte decided to keep the The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), allowing US troops to conduct war drills and combat exercises between US and Philippine forces. 
• Presence of US troops is even more significant given China’s proximity and recent disputes in the South China Sea. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin thanked the President for restoring the agreement in a joint press briefing.
• Duterte stated last year that he was going to terminate the agreement, but continued to push back the date of termination. Defense secretaries from both countries stated the importance of strengthening ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Tweets:

The U.S. welcomes Pres. Duterte's decision to recall the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) following his meeting with @SecDef Austin as announced by SND @del_lorenzana. The secretaries also discussed further enhancing 🇺🇸-🇵🇭 security cooperation. #USPHThrivingAt75 pic.twitter.com/0o4olTasWE

— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) July 30, 2021

Thank you, Secretary @del_lorenzana, for discussing a range of defense topics, including President Duterte’s decision to fully restore the Visiting Forces Agreement. Today underscored the vital nature of our treaty alliance with Philippines, our oldest treaty alliance in Asia. pic.twitter.com/GCeac7D781

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) July 30, 2021

Hong Kong Sentences Protester to Nine Years in Prison Under New Security Law

Thomas Au, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Hong Kong charged Tong Ying-kit to nine years in prison under the new security law, setting the harsh tone for future cases. The law enables a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
• Ying-kit waved a flag last year stating “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”. He also rode a motorcycle into police officers during a protest. He was given six and a half years for the flag’s message and eight years for “deliberate challenge against the police”.
• According to China, the law is to help stabilize Hong Kong, but critics believe it is an easy way to punish activists. The law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.

Tweets:

Political convict #TongYingKit,found guilty by a trio of judges with terrorism and inciting secession, is now in the courtroom about to be sentenced. His crime?Carrying a flag with the protest slogan "#LiberateHongKong, #RevolutionofOurTimes”. He was denied bail and a jury trial.

— Hong Kong Liberty 攬炒團隊 (@HKLiberty_Team) July 29, 2021

Today Tong Ying-kit became the first person to be convicted and sentenced under the National Security law. This law is being used to stifle political pluralism and the exercise of human rights and political freedoms in Hong Kong. (1/2)

— Nabila Massrali (@NabilaEUspox) July 30, 2021

An unlawful court in #HongKong has criminalized the most popular slogan used by pro-democracy protesters in 2019.
The phrase "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times!" has been shouted and displayed on flags by millions of protesters in the city over the past two years. pic.twitter.com/Bkit7q00kW

— alpнacenтaυrι😷 (@alphacentauriii) July 29, 2021

Four Deaths in Turkey as Wildfires Continue

Cameron Strandberg from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Thousands of firefighters are fighting wildfires in Turkey, which have killed four people and injured more than fifty people. Around twenty neighbourhoods, villages, and hotels have been evacuated.
• The fires occurred in coastal towns that feature resorts popular among tourists. Mehmet Oktay, the mayor of Marmaris, has not ruled out potential sabotage for the cause of the fire. Turkey has launched investigations into the fires’ cause, and many believe it is arson.
• Around fifty different fires have been reported in Turkey, with most of them contained. However, around 1,500 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed, and more than 1,000 animals killed.

Tweets:

It's heartbreaking to see that fires destroying many areas in Turkey. My prayers are with the firefighters, rescue workers and civilians who are fighting the fire.#PrayForTurkey pic.twitter.com/H22bisIAej

— Ferhad E. Huseynov (@Farkhaad) July 30, 2021

All of Turkey’s wildlife and animals are being burned alive due to artificial wild fires. This is what the internet should be used for; spreading awareness. Not spreading hate. #PrayForTurkey

— C9 Naughty (@StayNaughtyy) July 30, 2021