Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter obtained by NBC News that the Department of State lacks answers for the cause of and treatments for unexplained health incidents that have affected U.S. diplomats working in multiple countries.
Why it matters: As many as 200 Americans who worked in overseas posts have said they experienced symptoms consistent with "Havana Syndrome," which has been used to describe mysterious brain injuries suffered by embassy staff.
A new report finds universities in China are producing more STEM doctoral students than those in the U.S. — and the gap is projected to only widen.
Why it matters: Creating pipelines of STEM-trained workers, including Ph.D.-level experts, is a national priority for both the U.S. and China as they compete in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and other fields.
The Italian government announced Thursday that proof of at least one dose of vaccine, a negative coronavirus test or recent recovery from COVID-19 will be required to access indoor dining, theaters, swimming pools, gyms, museums and other facilities starting Friday, according to AP.
Why it matters: Italy, which has been battered by the virus, has not yet mandated the vaccine for the general public, but the new requirements significantly tighten restrictions on unvaccinated people in the country.
The dominant Delta variant's ability to efficiently infect people and rapidly grow inside a person is enabling the coronavirus to regain its footing in the United States.
Why it matters: "The solution is right in front of us — get everybody vaccinated and we wouldn't even be talking about this," NIAID director Anthony Fauci tells Axios.
Ebrahim Raisi was sworn in as Iran's new president in Tehran on Thursday amid tensions with the West and economic pressure and unrest from U.S. sanctions.
Why it matters: Raisi's four-year presidency solidifies Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's anti-Western hold on all branches of Iran's government and positions Raisi as a leading candidate to succeed Khamenei.
Nearly 3,000 Latinoseach year have died from gunfire in the United States over the last two decades, making them twice as likely to be shot to death than white non-Hispanics, according to a study from the Violence Policy Center.
By the numbers: Almost 70,000 Latinos were killed with firearms between 1999 and 2019, 66% of them in homicides, according to the center’s data analysis.
President Joe Biden on Thursday directed the Department of Homeland Security to defer the removal of Hong Kong residents currently in the U.S. for 18 months, offering a "safe haven" to those who fear returning home.
Why it matters: The move, which could potentially extend the stay of thousands of Hong Kongers in the U.S., is the latest step the Biden administration has taken in response to Beijing's crackdown on democracy in the semi-autonomous territory.
11 people have been arrested in connection with online racial abuse towards England soccer players after their loss in the final of the European Championship last month, AP reports.
Driving the news: The U.K. Football Policing Unit requested data from social media companies to investigate the online abuse and passed on information to police, which made the arrests, per AP.
Day 13 of the Tokyo Olympic Games saw U.S. men's basketball team beat Australia 97-78 on Thursday to advance to the gold medal game.
The big picture: Kevin Durant led the charge with 23 points to help the U.S. secure a final spot against either France or Slovenia on Saturday local time. Elsewhere, the U.S. added to its gold medals count, with shot putter Ryan Crouser and canoeist Nevin Harrison both winning their events.
Nevin Harrison won gold for Team USA in the first-ever Olympic women's canoe single 200-meter sprint at the Tokyo Games on Thursday.
The big picture: The 19-year-old from Seattle is the only American canoe or kayak sprinter at the Tokyo Olympics. World record holder Vincent-Lapointe, of Canada, won silver and Ukraine's Liudmyla Luzan took bronze.
Ryan Crouser broke his own Olympic record to win gold in the shot put for Team USA on Thursday, with his best throw of 23.30 meters.
The big picture: The 28-year-old from Boring, Oregon, is the first American since 1956 to win back-to-back shot put Olympic events. U.S. teammate Joe Kovacs won the silver medal with a best throw of 22.65. New Zealand's Tom Walsh clinched bronze. Crouser is the current world record holder, throwing 23.37 at the U.S. trials.
