Year of Variants: Stubborn virus marks momentous 2021 (July)

ANKARA (AA) – The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, EU's extension of economic sanctions against Russia, and more discovery of unmarked children's graves on the grounds of a former residential school in Canada marked the top news stories globally in July.

JULY

July 1

- Princes William and Harry unveil a new statue of their late mother Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday.

July 2

- Kartal Tibet, a distinguished Turkish actor and screenwriter, dies at the age of 83.

- The EU's Single-Use Plastic Directive takes effect, banning common items made with single-use plastics.

July 3

- The Iraqi government says at least seven people are killed and 11 others injured in attacks on power plants.

July 4

- Azerbaijan hands over 15 Armenian detainees in exchange for maps of 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines planted during the occupation in the Fuzuli and Zangilan regions.

July 5

- A Philippine military plane carrying 96 people on board crashes, killing at least 50.

July 6

- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms lifting of nearly all remaining coronavirus restrictions in the country, despite a surge in cases and warnings from senior scientists.

- Canada appoints first Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon, in its 154-year history.

July 7

- Haitian President Jovenel Moise is assassinated at his residence while the first lady is injured.

July 8

- The US military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31, says President Joe Biden.

July 11

- British billionaire Richard Branson and five crewmates complete a much-hyped trip to the edge of space.

July 12

- For the first time in Cuba's history, thousands of people demonstrate in Havana and other cities of the island against severe blackouts, food shortages, the coronavirus outbreak, and an economic crisis exacerbated by US sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump.

- The EU extends economic sanctions against Russia for six more months, accusing Moscow of destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.

July 13

- Serbia joins the Russian-anchored Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) trade bloc, opening the country to a market of 180 million people for about 99% of its goods of domestic origin.

- More than 160 children's graves are found on the grounds of a former residential school in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.

July 14

- The United Arab Emirates opens an embassy in Israel.

July 15

- Death toll from Germany's worst floods in more than 200 years reaches at least 58 as dozens of people remain missing.

July 17

- The global weather office World Meteorological Organization says Scandinavian heatwaves, lethal Western European rainfall, Siberian smoke, and record North American heat causing devastating wildfires top catastrophes that include "human-made climate change."

- France imposes stricter measures on unvaccinated travelers from European countries where the delta variant of coronavirus is spreading fast, along with recognizing the efficacy of an Indian-manufactured vaccine.

July 18

- More than 500 Israeli settlers force their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex amid tensions over a planned settler incursion into the flashpoint site.

July 19

- Half of Spain's population have been fully immunized against the coronavirus, the government says.

- Many Muslim countries mark the first day of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday.

July 20

- Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his crew blast off into space on a successful visit.

July 21

- Death toll in South Africa rises to 276 after riots and looting break out over the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma and his beginning to serve 15 months for contempt of court.

- Germany's worst flooding in decades claim 171 lives, injure more than 760 people while causing widespread devastation in the western states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

July 22

- Iran inaugurates oil terminal in the Sea of Oman, bypassing the restive Strait of Hormuz, to neutralize the impact of US sanctions on oil shipments overseas.

- The US sanctions Cuban Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera and Havana's Special Forces Brigade for efforts to quell pro-democracy protests on the island nation.

July 24

- EU countries adopt new measures and tighten existing restrictions to stem COVID-19.

July 26

- Tunisian President Kais Saied announces fully assuming executive authority in addition to suspending parliament.

- Scientists discover traces of water vapor in the atmosphere of Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, for the first time.

July 28

- Pedro Castillo takes office as president in Peru after waiting for election results for more than a month.

July 30

- First flight evacuating Afghan nationals who aided the US military and diplomats during the 20-year war arrive on the US soil with over 200 people on board.