WORLD
Pedro Castillo sworn in as Peru's new President
"It is the first time that our country will be governed by a peasant, a person who, like many Peruvians, belongs to the sectors oppressed for so many centuries," Castillo said in his first speech as President on Wednesday after he was sworn in. A former Marxist village schoolteacher, he announced a series of reforms, including drafting a new Constitution, after receiving the presidential sash from the highest authority in parliament.
Unfortunate to blame Pak for Afghanistan's situation: Imran
Speaking to journalists and Afghan in Islamabad, Khan said Pakistan is not the spokesperson for the Taliban nor does it have anything to do with what the militant group is doing in Afghanistan. "What the Taliban are doing or not doing has nothing to do with us and we are not responsible, neither are we the spokesperson of the Taliban," he said, adding that "Pakistan has always desired for peace in Afghanistan".
Afghan forces kill 23 militants in Faryab
In the operations launched on Wednesday afternoon, a large number of arms and ammunitions as well as four motorbikes were also destroyed, the official said. According to the official, the government forces will continue to pursue the militants elsewhere in the restive province. Taliban militants are reportedly in control of major parts of Faryab province and have been fighting to overrun the provincial capital Maimana city.
WHO reports 'sharp' increase in Covid deaths
In a statement on Wednesday, the world body said that with over 69,000 fatalities, the number of Covid-19 deaths reported during the period increased by 21 per cent week-on-week, Xinhua news agency reported. Most of the new deaths were reported from the Americas and South-East Asia Regions, said the WHO. Meanwhile, the global number of new Covid-19 cases was also increase, with 3.8 million new infections confirmed in the above mentioned week.
UNESCO adds 5 more sites to World Heritage List
The additions made on Wednesday were decided the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held online and chaired from Fuzhou, China, which is examining nominations from both 2020 and 2021, according to a Unesco statement. In Russia, "Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea", containing 4,500 petroglyphs carved in the rocks during the Neolithic period dated 6,000 to 7,000 years ago.
China's Nanjing launches 3rd nucleic acid testing
The third citywide testing, launched on Wednesday, covers all residents, including those who are paying a short visit to Nanjing, reports Xinhua news agency. Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, has witnessed a resurgence of locally transmitted Covid-19 cases since a number of airport workers tested positive for the disease on July 20. The city now has classified four areas as high-risk and 42 others as medium-risk.
Afghan Civil War gets nastier--Afghan Army kills Abdul Haq Omari, son of a high profile Taliban negotiator
Afghanistan's news organisation https://kabulnow.af/ said in a series of tweets: "Anas Haqqani, a member of Taliban negotiation team, confirmed that Abdul Haq Omari, son of Mohammad Nabi Omari, a Taliban negotiator in #Doha, has been killed in direct firefight against Afghan security forces." Haqqani confirmed Omari's death today, July 27, on his twitter handle.
Americans' optimism about country's direction drops: Poll
The ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed that currently 45 per cent of those surveyed are optimistic about where the country is headed over the next year, while 55 per cent are pessimistic, reports Xinhua news agency. This marked a nearly 20-point decline in optimism from late April, the last time this question was asked. At that time, 64 per cent were optimistic about the year ahead.
Najib Mikati named Lebanon's new PM
Mikati gave a speech following his appointment on Monday, calling upon all political parties to cooperate with him on finding the right solutions to the country's crises, reports Xinhua news agency. "The vote of confidence by MPs is necessary for my appointment but I am keen to gain the confidence of the Lebanese population, every man and woman, and the youths," Mikati said at Baabda Palace.
Long Covid may qualify as disability under federal law: Joe Biden
"We're bringing agencies together to make sure Americans with long Covid who have a disability have access to the rights and resources that are due under the disability law, which includes accommodations and services in the workplace and school, and our health care system so they can live their lives in dignity," Biden said.
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