European Parliament lawmakers have finally approved a coronavirus stimulus package in a compromise that allows EU funds to be made conditional on respect for European values. Argentina moved toward legalizing abortion, a step closer to honoring a promise made by President Alberto Fernández. And the US Supreme Court ruled Muslim Americans included on the no-fly list after refusing to become informants can sue federal officials.
The United States has surpassed 250,000 deaths from the coronavirus — the highest death toll by far in the world — and is turning the corner into what public health experts say will be the worst phase yet of the pandemic. And, a new report shows that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war in Afghanistan. Also, young climate activists around the world have staged a mock COP26 virtual gathering in place of the actual UN conference that was delayed from this month until November 2021 because of the coronavirus.
Prior to the pandemic, Venice, Prague and Amsterdam had become so saturated with visitors that locals no longer recognized their hometowns. But with COVID-19 restrictions, residents are breathing a sigh of relief while many businesses face unprecedented losses.