What triggered the recent violence in South Africa? Days of unrest in South African have exposed issues of poverty and inequality. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/7/14/what-triggered-the-recent-violence-in-south-africa

Leading a comfortable life in South Africa's coastal city of Durban, John - not his real name - risks running out of food for the first time ever following the mass looting and burning of supermarkets and shops after protests over the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma spiralled out of control. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57835756

The South African government plans to deploy 25,000 troops after days of widespread looting and violence.
The military deployment - to counter riots sparked by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma - would be the biggest since the end of apartheid.
At least 117 people have died and more than 2,000 have been arrested in South Africa's worst unrest in years. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/13/africa/south-africa-violence-protests-intl/index.html

At least 46 people have died due to severe flooding in western Europe, caused by what experts described as the heaviest rainfall in a century.
Up to 70 people are missing in Germany after flash floods swept across western and southern parts of the country, causing buildings to collapse, police said Thursday. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/15/europe/germany-deaths-severe-flooding-intl/index.html

Authorities have said at least 50 people have been killed
At least six houses collapsed and up to 25 more are in danger of caving in
Helicopters from several states are rescuing people stranded on the top of buildings https://p.dw.com/p/3wUtw

More than 70 people have died after demonstrators took to the street of South Africa to protest the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. It rapidly escalated into looting and riots.

Authorities say hospitals are running out of oxygen, drugs and food as continued rioting disrupts supply chains. More than 70 people have been killed in some of the worst violence the country has seen in years, following the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. https://p.dw.com/p/3wUUY

Armed South African police officers are protecting deliveries of food and supplies to supermarkets after days of widespread looting and violence.
Riots were sparked by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma.
An estimated $1bn (£720m) worth of stock was stolen in KwaZulu-Natal with at least 800 retail shops looted, a mayor in the province said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his government would not allow "anarchy and mayhem" to prevail.
He also suggested that the violence had been deliberately provoked. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57863558

The COVID-19 comeback across the U.S. is putting pressure on hospitals at a time when some of them are busy just trying to catch up on surgeries and other procedures that were put on hold during the pandemic.
With the highly contagious delta variant spreading rapidly, cases in the U.S. are up around 70% over the last week, hospital admissions have climbed about 36% and deaths rose by 26%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
Some hospitals are reporting record or near-record patient volumes. But even for those that aren’t, this round of the pandemic is proving tougher in some ways, hospital and health officials said. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated-burdens-busy-u-s-hospitals

In an address to the nation on Friday night, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa used strong words to describe the unrest of the past week and the consequences for those responsible for instigating it. Acknowledging that authorities were unprepared for the violence, he pledged economic support for those affected. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-07-16-this-attempted-insurrection-has-failed-president-cyril-ramaphosa/

Good job by manager!!! At the 15,000m2 Tugela Ferry Mall — the only shop that wasn’t looted was the Shoprite, thanks to quick-witted managers who grabbed bottles of oil from the shelves and poured it outside the store as the looters approached. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/consumer-live/2021-07-15-they-saved-the-whole-shop-with-cooking-oil-but-three-other-centres-lost-to-looters/

Canada has overtaken the US in second dose vaccination rates, after months of lagging behind its southern neighbour.
As of 16 July, 48.45% of Canadians are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, compared with 48.05% of Americans. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57869947

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb joins Morning Joe to discuss the rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations across the U.S., why he says the virus is now an epidemic among the unvaccinated and what he thinks about booster shots. https://youtu.be/qlAhPUHtsHw

Ramaphosa says he won't allow 'anarchy'
Security agencies in South Africa say they have identified the alleged instigators of the violence in the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will visit the worst-hit province as violence in the country eases. https://p.dw.com/p/3wZCG

Coronavirus infections are on the rise again in the United States. While more than 99% of deaths are among those unvaccinated, anecdotal reports abound of breakthrough infections, or cases of fully vaccinated people who still test positive for Covid-19 — including several New York Yankee baseball players.
How worried should vaccinated people be of contracting Covid-19? If you're vaccinated, are you still able to transmit coronavirus to others, such as young children too young to get the vaccine themselves? Does the more transmissible Delta variant change the equation, and what precautions should vaccinated people still be taking? https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/22/health/breakthrough-covid-infections-wellness/index.html

A shocking car crash in Yuba City was caught on a truck's dashcam video which shows a vehicle flying through the air before slamming into the road below. https://youtu.be/Ciu5WcFZ7_k

South African firm to produce BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine
The Biovac Institute reached a deal with Pfizer to prepare and deliver vaccine doses for the continent. It comes amid an increase of cases in Africa, where just 2% of the population have received a first dose. https://p.dw.com/p/3xo2B

What lessons have been learned from unrest in South Africa?
South Africa is still trying to come to terms with days of looting and violence that left death and destruction. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/7/22/what-lessons-have-been-learned-from-unrest-in-south-africa

ICU doctor says Florida is ‘back to getting crushed’ by Covid and virtually all patients wish they’d got vaccine
Vaccination rates in the state are declining as coronavirus cases explode https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/florida-covid-vaccine-icu-doctors-b1889614.html

Sean Penn will not return to the set of his new show "Gaslit" until the entire cast and crew have received Covid vaccinations, the star's representative confirmed on Friday.
Penn plays the role of Attorney General John Mitchell in the political drama, which is a modern-day take on the Watergate scandal. Julia Roberts portrays John's wife Martha in the show, which is due to air on Starz later this year. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/23/entertainment/sean-penn-gaslit-vaccination-intl-scli/index.html