2021 Russian wildfires Smoke from wildfires in Siberia is detected in the Geographic North Pole for the first time in recorded history, according to NASA. The space agency says that as of August 6 "most of Russia" is covered in smoke, while Russia's weather monitoring institute Rosgidromet says that the situation "continues to deteriorate" in the far-eastern Sakha region with around 3.4 million hectares (8.4 million acres) of land currently on fire.
Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro The Brazilian government announces that President Jair Bolsonaro will attend a military parade featuring tanks and armored vehicles in Brasília tomorrow, as a preparation for military exercises. The parade is expected to pass near the National Congress building as a controversial bill reinstating paper ballots and ending electronic voting, which is supported by the government, is set to be voted. As the bill is widely expected not to pass, critics argue that Bolsonaro is using the parade as a show of force and intimidation against the Congress.
Pope Francis A barely legible letter to Pope Francis regarding the Vatican's financial scandals, which contained three bullets and is believed to have originated from France, is intercepted by postal workers in Peschiera Borromeo, near Milan. The letter is being treated by authorities as a possible death threat against Francis.
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre A priest is murdered at a church in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, France, by the same person who committed the arson at the Nantes Cathedral in July 2020. He is arrested after confessing to the killing.
Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot Federal prosecutors say that five men who were accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also discussed Ohio Governor Mike DeWine as a potential target.
Egypt–Russia relations Direct commercial flights between Russia and Egypt resume for the first time since the Metrojet Flight 9268 bombing in 2015, which killed 224 people, most of whom were Russian tourists. A Rossiya Airlines passenger plane landed in Sharm El Sheikh carrying 518 passengers, and was welcomed with a water cannon salute, roses and flags.
Foreign relations of Nicaragua Nicaragua recalls its ambassadors to Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia for "consultations" after those countries recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua over a crackdown on the opposition in Nicaragua.
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Canada reopens their border to Americans and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for non-essential travel. All travellers must present a negative COVID-19 test result from the previous 72 hours in order to enter the country.
Guinea Guinea reports West Africa's first death from the Marburg virus after a person died from viral hemorrhagic fever.
COVID-19 pandemic Egypt receives their first shipment of 261,000 doses of the single-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces that all service members will be required to be vaccinated by mid-September.
Palau reaches herd immunity as 80% of its 12-and-over population are vaccinated against COVID-19. Plans to vaccinate teenagers are underway as tourism reopens in the country.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration grants provisional approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the fourth vaccine to be approved for use in Australia.
Nepal begins administering second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine dose for nearly 1.4 million elderly people following a months-long delay due to India suspending exports of vaccines due to a substantial increase in the number of cases there. The vaccines were donated by Japan and Bhutan.
Iran reports a record for the second consecutive day of 40,808 new cases and 588 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 4.199 million and the nationwide death toll to 94,603.
Brunei reports a record 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours after reporting their first local infections in 15 months, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 406.
Scotland moves to level zero and removes most of the remaining COVID-19-related restrictions, allowing all hospitality venues, including nightclubs, to reopen at full capacity and to remove most legal social distancing requirements. However, face masks remains mandatory in indoor public settings and on public transport, and must be worn by pupils and teachers at school for the first six weeks of the semester.
France begins to require people who want to enter shopping centres, cafés, restaurants, or travel by long-distance bus, train, and airplane, to show a health pass generated by a QR code, which contains either proof of full vaccination, a negative test result from the previous 72 hours, or that the person has recovered from COVID-19.
2021 Algeria wildfires Seven people are killed and two others are injured by wildfires in Tizi Ouzou Province, Algeria.
17 October Revolution Violence occurs in Lebanon due to the severe fuel shortages that are affecting the country, leaving three people dead.
Taliban The Taliban captures Samangan (Aibak), the provincial capital of Samangan Province, making it the sixth capture of a provincial capital by the Islamist group in the past four days.