July 1 – East Asia: CHINA / HONG KONG
New National Security Law for Hong Kong
China’s legislature unanimously passes a new controversial national security law and imposes it on Hong Kong. The law criminalizes four types of activity — secession, subversion of state power, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The law carries a penalty of up to life in prison. The critics of the law say it ends once and for all any remaining autonomy the region has had under Chinese rule.[1]
More about the law and what it means for Hong Kong

July 2 – World
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide surpasses 11 million.[2]
COVID-19 Basics

July 7 – North America / International Organizations:
UNITED STATES / WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
U.S. withdrawal from WHO
The Trump Administration officially notifies the Congress and the United Nations of the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Lawmakers from both parties criticize the move in the middle of the public health crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump justifies the withdrawal over WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics say the move could interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines, further undermine the U.S.’s international standing, and make it harder to work with other countries to stop viruses before they get to the United States. The withdrawal is expected to take effect July 6, 2021.[3]

July 7 – North America: UNITED STATES
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
While the United States has surpassed three million coronavirus cases, many cities and states are still struggling with testing (article below).[4] States that were first to reopen before May 1, such as South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia, are experiencing a spike in new cases, while those that reopened later see a significant decrease in new infections. Daily cases in New York are down 52 percent, and down 83 percent in Massachusetts.[5] On the other hand, Florida coronavirus cases hit 200,000 as the state adds over 40,000 cases in just four days. The critics blame the state’s Governor Ron DeSantis for his response to the virus, including his early refusal to shut down beaches before they were flooded by crowds during a spring break, and his refusal to issue a statewide face mask order.[6]
(Jul 8): Puerto Rico’s economy has been badly impacted by the pandemic with 30 percent of the labor force filing for unemployment. The percentage of people out of work is much higher as Puerto Rico has an extensive informal economy.[7]
(Jul 30): The pandemic shutdowns have caused the U.S. economy to shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter of the year, the fastest rate since at least the 1940s. This drop wipes away nearly five years of economic growth. Also, the expiration of expanded jobless benefits creates a new risk for the economy. [8]
(July 31): More than 150,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus. The U.S. records 1,429 deaths, the highest one-day total since May 27, and a 7-day average of over 60,000 new cases.[9]
U.S. Cities Still Lack Testing Capacity
Pandemic Plunges Puerto Rico Into Yet Another Dire Emergency

July 7 – Latin America: BRAZIL
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
After months of downplaying the coronavirus, Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro announces he has tested positive for the virus.[10]

July 7 – Europe: EUROPEAN UNION
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
Three months into the coronavirus pandemic, Sweden records 5,420 deaths; however, per million people, Sweden has had 40 percent more deaths than the United State, 12 times more than Norway, seven times more than Finland and six times more than Denmark. At the same time, the country has not registered any economic gains, with the economy contracting and unemployment growing. Unlike its neighbors that imposed strict lockdowns, quarantines, banning large groups, and closing shops and restaurants, Sweden had a different approach to the pandemic. It allowed life to go on unchanged relying on individual responsibility[11] and hoping the strategy would lead to the population developing herd immunity.[12]
(Jul 21): European leaders agree to create an $887 billion recovery fund to rebuild EU economies devastated by the coronavirus. The European Union will borrow the money in the financial markets and hand it out as budgetary support to member states, some in grants and some in the form of loans. Allocations of recovery money will be tied to the economic harm done by the pandemic in individual member-states.[13]
More on Sweden’s approach to Covid-19
Did Sweden’s coronavirus strategy succeed or fail?

July 7 – East Asia: SINGAPORE
Elections
Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), in power since 1965, wins another general election and a parliamentary majority, but with fewer votes than in previous elections. PAP receives 61 percent of the vote (down from 70 percent in 2015) and 83 out of 93 seats in the parliament. This election was a referendum on the governing party, its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and an economic recession caused by Covid-19. The PAP victory means that current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will serve another term in office, while its two-third majority will allow him to easily pass legislations. Supporters of the opposition Workers’ Party celebrate its best election result so far winning 10 seats in the parliament.[14]
City of the Future: Singapore – video: 44:24 min

July 8 – Middle East
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are more than one million coronavirus cases across the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, stretching from Morocco to Pakistan. More than 80 percent of all deaths in the region were reported in five countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Qatar, the energy-rich Gulf state with a population of about 2.8 million people, has one of the world’s highest per capita numbers of confirmed cases. These cases spread mainly among low-income migrant workers (only about 12 percent of Qatar’s population are Qatari nationals) who live in crowded quarters and cannot leave the country due to movement restrictions.[15]

July 17 – North America: UNITED STATES
Passing of John Lewis
Congressman and Civil Rights icon John Lewis dies at 80. He was one of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders that also included Martin Luther King Jr., the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington. As a Democrat, he was first elected to Congress from the state of Georgia in 1986 serving 17 terms in the House of Representatives. His involvement in the civil rights movement that ended racial segregation in the United State was critical. Since then he continued his fight for justice, equality, and freedom.[16] In 2011, Lewis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which together with the Congressional Gold Medal, is the highest civilian awards of the United States.
Obituary: John Lewis, US civil rights champion

July 21 – South Asia: INDIA
Global Health: Coronavirus, or Covid-19
India performs an antibody test on a random sample of people in New Delhi, which shows that nearly one in four of them have Covid-19 antibodies. This kind of test helps the authorities understand the spread of the virus and it will help provide better distribution of testing facilities and area-specific containment policies. Delhi has been one of the worst hit cities in India with coronavirus, but the situation has improved including the sharp fall of the number of new cases and fatalities. The change is due to increased testing, tracing, containment, and isolation.[17] 

July 26 – North America: UNITED STATES
Protests
After President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal law enforcement troops to Portland, OR to suppress protests over police brutality that have continued for the last 50 days spark even more protests and clashes in Portland and other cities across the country in solidarity. People who join the protests say they are outraged with the federal government sending its agents to Portland despite the clear message from the city’s leaders opposing the move (read article below).[18]
Cities in Bind as Turmoil Spreads Far Beyond Portland
Who Are The Protesters Who Make The Anti-Police Movement Not Entirely Peaceful?

July 30 – South Asia: BANGLADESH
Environment
Torrential rains submerge at least a quarter of Bangladesh, flooding nearly a million homes and affecting 4.7 million people.[19] It happens just a few months after a widespread damage caused by Cyclone Amphan, one of the most powerful storms that hit the area in decades, forcing nearly three million people to evacuate, submerging villages along the coast, and washing away all their belongings. Experts say that as climate change increases, these kinds of disasters will become more severe and more frequent.[20]
Climate Change and Global Inequality
What’s the difference between hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons?

 

SOURCES:
[1] Emily Feng. “5 Takeaways From China’s Hong Kong National Security Law.” NPR. July 1, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2020 from https://www.npr.org/2020/07/01/885900989/5-takeaways-from-chinas-hong-kong-national-security-law
[2] Robin Muccari, Denise Chow and Joe Murphy. “Coronavirus timeline: Tracking the critical moments of COVID-19.” NBC News. July 8, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2020.
[3] Allan Smith and Elyse Perlmutter-Gumbiner. “Trump administration gives formal notice of withdrawal from WHO.” NBC News. July 7, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2020 from
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-administration-gives-formal-notice-withdrawal-who-n1233100
[4] Robin Muccari, Denise Chow and Joe Murphy. “Coronavirus timeline: Tracking the critical moments of COVID-19.” NBC News. July 8, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2020.
[5] Lazaro Gamio. “States that Ended Shutdowns Early are Leading the Surge in Infections.” The Ne York Times. Print. July 11, 2020.
[6] Doha Madani. “Florida surpassed 200,000 coronavirus cases as the state reported another 10,059 new positives on Sunday.” NBC News. July 5, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2020.
[7] Alejandra Rosa and Frances Robles. “Pandemic Plunges Puerto Rico Into Yet Another Dire Emergency.” The New York Times. July 8, 2020. Accessed August 27, 2020.
[8] Ben Casselman. “A Collapse That Wiped Out 5 Years of Growth, With No Bounce in Sight.” The New York Times. July 30, 2020. Accessed September 2, 20.
[9] “Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count.” The New York Times. Updated September 11, 2020. Accessed September 11, 20 from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200730&instance_id=20794&nl=the-morning&regi_id=116760350&segment_id=34737&te=1&user_id=0ef246d5969dc9d5afd9a72aa16cf7e2
[10] Robin Muccari, Denise Chow and Joe Murphy. “Coronavirus timeline: Tracking the critical moments of COVID-19.” NBC News. July 8, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2020.
[11] Peter S. Goodman. “Sweden Has Become the World’s Cautionary Tale”. The New York Times. July 7, 2020. Accessed August 27, 2020.
[12] Steven Reinberg. “Sweden’s COVID Policy Didn’t Create Herd Immunity.” WebMed. August 13, 2020. Accessed August 27, 2020.
[13] Jim Brunsden, Sam Fleming and Mehreen Khan. “EU recovery fund: how the plan will work.” Financial Times. July 21 2020. Accessed August 25, 2020 from https://www.ft.com/content/2b69c9c4-2ea4-4635-9d8a-1b67852c0322
[14] “Singapore ruling PAP party wins elections, but support falls.” BBC News. July 10, 2020. Accessed September 4, 2020.
[15] “Qatar coronavirus cases exceed 100,000; Kuwait tops 50,000.” AlJazeera. July 6, 2020. Accessed August 26, 2020 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/qatar-coronavirus-cases-exceed-100000-kuwait-tops-50000-200706132240959.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200708&instance_id=20110&nl=the-morning&regi_id=116760350&segment_id=32873&te=1&user_id=0ef246d5969dc9d5afd9a72aa16cf7e2
[16] “John Lewis: Civil rights icon and congressman dies aged 80.” BBC News. 18 July 2020. Accessed August 12, 2020.
[17] “India coronavirus: Nearly one in four in Delhi had Covid-19, study says.” BBC News. July 21, 20. Accessed September 1, 20
[18] Mike Baker, Thomas Fuller and Shane Goldmacher. “Cities in Bind as Turmoil Spreads Far Beyond Portland.” The New York Times. July 26, 2020. Accessed September 10, 20 from
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/us/protests-portland-seattle-trump.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200727&instance_id=20643&nl=the-morning&regi_id=116760350&segment_id=34448&te=1&user_id=0ef246d5969dc9d5afd9a72aa16cf7e2
[19] Somini Sengupta and Julfikar Ali Manik. “A Quarter of Bangladesh Is Flooded. M. illions Have Lost Everything.” The New York Times. July 30, 2020. Accessed September 2, 20.
[20] “Cyclone Amphan: India and Bangladesh face storm surges and Kolkata loses power.” BBC News. Newsround. 21 May 2020. Accessed September 10, 20 from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52743808