National

Apple and Google have deleted jailed Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny's tactical voting app from their app stores, per Reuters.

Why it matters: The tech companies removed the opposition-led Smart Voting app on the same day Russians head to the polls to elect a new parliament amid the largest crackdown of Kremlin critics in years.

The app, created by Navalny's allies, was designed to rally support for candidates who are most likely to defeat members of the country's ruling political party, United Russia.

The Russian government previously threatened to fine the tech companies if they did not delete the app, arguing they were interfering with the elections.

What they're saying: "Removing the Navalny app from stores is a shameful act of political censorship," Ivan Zhdanov, a top Navalny aide, said on Twitter. "Russia's authoritarian government and propaganda will be thrilled."

The big picture: Russian activists have used American tech companies, like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and Chinese-owned TikTok to organize anti-Kremlin rallies over Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power.

Apple, Google delete Navalny app as Russians go to polls

The tech companies deleted the app on the same day Russians head to the polls to elect a new parliament.

A smartphone screen displaying jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's app that aims to help Russians to vote out candidates from the ruling United Russia party in the upcoming polls.

Alexei Navalny's Smart Voting app is seen on a phone in Moscow. Photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Alexei Navalny

Russia

Apple and Google have deleted jailed Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny&#x27;s tactical voting app from their app stores, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per Reuters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/google-apple-remove-navalny-app-stores-russian-elections-begin-2021-09-17/" data-vars-content-id="27fbddd2-c473-4d05-a5a1-37dc923e49a6" data-vars-headline="Apple, Google delete Navalny app as Russians go to polls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/google-apple-remove-navalny-app-stores-russian-elections-begin-2021-09-17/" target="_blank">per Reuters</a>.Why it matters: The tech companies removed the opposition-led Smart Voting app on the same day Russians head to the polls to elect a new parliament amid the largest crackdown of Kremlin critics in years.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

France has suspended about 3,000 health workers without pay for failing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Reuters reports.

Driving the news: The suspensions came after Wednesday's government-imposed deadline for the country's 2.7 million health workers to get at least one dose of the vaccine. 

What they're saying: Health Minister Olivier Veran told French RTL radio that despite the suspensions, "it hasn't been chaos," per Reuters. 

He added that while some workers have resigned, "most of the suspensions are only temporary ... many have decided to get vaccinated as they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality."

France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers without pay

All health workers in France were required get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15.

A nurse tends to a patient at a hospital in France. Photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty images.

Coronavirus

France has suspended about 3,000 health workers without pay for failing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reuters reports" data-vars-click-url="&quot;Most of the suspensions are only temporary ... many have decided to get vaccinated as they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality,&quot; Veran said." data-vars-content-id="b0171d6a-1b3b-4bd4-8053-3290c80bb43c" data-vars-headline="France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers without pay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="&quot;Most of the suspensions are only temporary ... many have decided to get vaccinated as they see that the vaccination mandate is a reality,&quot; Veran said." target="_blank">Reuters reports</a>.Driving the news: The suspensions came after Wednesday&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="government-imposed deadline" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/france-vaccine-mandate-1ff85a0b-51bb-47ee-b3b8-39cd2288cd74.html" data-vars-content-id="b0171d6a-1b3b-4bd4-8053-3290c80bb43c" data-vars-headline="France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers without pay" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/france-vaccine-mandate-1ff85a0b-51bb-47ee-b3b8-39cd2288cd74.html" target="_self">government-imposed deadline</a> for the country&#x27;s 2.7 million health workers to get at least one dose of the vaccine.

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

Health

A United Nations report released Friday warned that the planet will likely warm by more than 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century unless governments take extra steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Why it matters: The report, released just months ahead of November's UN Climate Summit, highlights the growing pressure on global leaders to crack down on emissions to avert the worst effects of climate change.

Driving the news: For the report, 113 countries, including the United States, submitted new pledges that would add up to a 12% decline in emissions by 2030 compared with 2020 levels.

But dozens of countries, including China, India and Saudi Arabia, didn't make any new formal commitments.

The big picture: Taken together, the current climate pledges made by all 191 signatories of the Paris climate accord would result in a 16% increase in emissions over 2010 levels.

The report indicates that the world must sharply increase efforts to curb emissions to meet the chief goal of the Paris accord, which calls for warming to be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels.

What they're saying: "Today’s report ... shows that the world is on a catastrophic pathway to 2.7-degrees of heating," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement.

"This is breaking the promise made six years ago to pursue the 1.5-degree Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement. Failure to meet this goal will be measured in the massive loss of lives and livelihoods."

The UN chief added that the world has "the tools to achieve this target. But we are rapidly running out of time."

The bottom line: "It is time for leaders to stand and deliver, or people in all countries will pay a tragic price," he said.

Go deeper: UN climate summit warning signs are adding up

UN warns of "catastrophic" climate change failure without more emissions cuts

A new UN report warns of a harrowing, warmer future unless governments make more ambitious pledges to reduce emissions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a news conference. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Climate change

Energy & Environment

The Maryland Zoo announced Tuesday that it will begin vaccinating certain animals that have been proven to be vulnerable to COVID-19.

Details: The vaccine, which has been specifically modified for animals, will be administered to "North American river otters, the chimpanzees and our cat species – Amur leopard, cheetah, bobcat, and lion," according to the announcement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state veterinarian have permitted vaccine use on animals on a case-by-case basis.

None of the animals at the zoo have tested positive for COVID-19 but "the vaccine will add another layer of protection for the animals in our care," said Dr. Ellen Bronson, the  zoo's senior director of animal health, conservation, and research.

The big picture: Several zoos throughout the country have already administered vaccines to animals, including the San Diego Zoo and the Oakland Zoo.

Maryland Zoo to vaccinate certain animals against COVID

The experimental vaccine was made to be used specifically for animals.

One-month-old white Bengal tiger is vaccinated with syringe.

One-month-old white Bengal tiger is vaccinated on July 29, 2021 in Nantong, Jiangsu Province of China. Photo: Xu Peiqin/VCG via Getty Images.

Public health

The Maryland Zoo <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.marylandzoo.org/news-and-updates/2021/09/maryland-zoo-prepares-to-vaccinate-animals-against-covid-19/" data-vars-content-id="e3d825d9-0a82-477e-bf78-81ddc609e132" data-vars-headline="Maryland Zoo to vaccinate certain animals against COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.marylandzoo.org/news-and-updates/2021/09/maryland-zoo-prepares-to-vaccinate-animals-against-covid-19/" target="_blank">announced</a> Tuesday that it will begin vaccinating certain animals that have been proven to be vulnerable to COVID-19.Details: The vaccine, which has been specifically modified for animals, will be administered to &quot;North American river otters, the chimpanzees and our cat species – Amur leopard, cheetah, bobcat, and lion,&quot; according to the announcement.

Pope Francis said Wednesday that Catholic bishops should not let politics influence pastoral decisions in an apparent criticism of clergy members who want to prevent pro-choice politicians from receiving Communion, AP reports.

Why it matters: President Biden's support for abortion rights has divided Catholics in the U.S. over whether he and other pro-choice politicians should be denied Communion.

The big picture: On his way from the Vatican to Slovakia, Francis declined to give reporters a "yes" or "no" answer on Biden's case specifically, the AP reports. But he warned against politics entering the debate over receiving Communion.

“And what should pastors do? Be pastors, and not go condemning, condemning,” Francis said.

Francis added that he considers abortion to be equivalent to “homicide.”

What they're saying: “Whenever the church, in order to defend a principle, didn’t do it pastorally, it has taken political sides,” Francis said. “If a pastor leaves the pastorality of the church, he immediately becomes a politician.”

Flashback: In June, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly voted, 168-55, to draft a document that they hope will prevent Biden and other Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion rights from receiving Communion.

The Vatican has previously warned against denying politicians Communion if they support abortion rights.

Francis also said Wednesday he didn't understand why so many are hesitant to get the coronavirus vaccine since “humanity has a history of friendship with vaccines"

"As children [we were vaccinated] for measles, polio. All the children were vaccinated and no one said anything," he added.

Pope Francis condemns politics in Biden Communion debate

President Biden's support for abortion rights has divided Catholics over whether he should be denied Communion.

Photo: Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Corbis

Pope Francis

Joe Biden

Pope Francis said Wednesday that Catholic bishops should not let politics influence pastoral decisions in an apparent criticism of clergy members who want to prevent pro-choice politicians from receiving Communion, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AP reports" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-joe-biden-communion-d58f0eec9ac1a1ff576e38fb85bf532f" data-vars-content-id="f31c19a3-bf81-471e-884f-47ac2385a310" data-vars-headline="Pope Francis condemns politics in Biden Communion debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-joe-biden-communion-d58f0eec9ac1a1ff576e38fb85bf532f" target="_blank">AP reports</a>.Why it matters: President Biden&#x27;s support for abortion rights has divided Catholics in the U.S. over whether he and other pro-choice politicians should be denied Communion.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Matt Lavietes

Stories

UN warns of "catastrophic" climate change failure without more emissions cuts

Apple, Google delete Navalny app as Russians go to polls

France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers without pay

Pope Francis condemns politics in Biden Communion debate

Maryland Zoo to vaccinate certain animals against COVID