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Opening ceremony director fired over Holocaust joke on Games eve

Sports · 4:19 AM UTC

On the eve of the Tokyo Games, organisers fired the director of the opening ceremony over a joke he made about the Holocaust, while media reported former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a memorable advocate for the Tokyo Games, would skip the showpiece event.

ChinaTens of thousands evacuated as China storms spread northwards
ChinaChina rejects WHO plan for study of COVID-19 origin
TechnologyFacebook decided faith groups are good for business. Now, it wants your prayers
EnvironmentFrom China to Germany, floods expose climate vulnerability
Asia PacificAustralia cautions COVID-19 cases to rise despite weeks-long lockdown
United StatesRepublicans abandon Capitol riot probe after Pelosi rejects Jordan, Banks
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Talking Points

Olympics

Olympics · 1:19 AM UTCSwimming-Terminator v dominator is Tokyo's pool duel

American Katie Ledecky can become the most successful female Olympian of all time with another golden haul in Tokyo but Australia's Ariarne Titmus could be the dasher of dreams.

OlympicsOpening ceremony director fired over Holocaust joke on Games eve
OlympicsSoftball-Olympic softballers hunt roaming bear, no luck finding it so far
OlympicsOne-time backwater Brisbane turns Olympic Cinderella
OlympicsAbout 950 people to watch opening event at stadium, official says

China

ChinaTens of thousands evacuated as China storms spread northwards
ChinaChina rejects WHO plan for study of COVID-19 origin
ChinaFour Apple Daily staff due in Hong Kong court on national security charges
ChinaDeath toll in China flooded highway tunnel rises to 13

Business

BusinessTesla will 'most likely' restart accepting bitcoin as payments, says Musk
BusinessWhat, me worry? Fed chief's emotional tone can drive markets, study suggests
BusinessStocks shrug off virus worries; ECB in focus
BusinessCoca-Cola leans on early pandemic lessons to prepare for Delta variant hit

Health

HealthBiden says CDC will advise unvaccinated kids to mask up in school this fall
HealthU.S. state officials urge support for landmark $26 bln opioid settlement
HealthCIA probe of 'Havana syndrome' to be led by Bin Laden search veteran -source
HealthDelta variant taking hold of Indonesia's Papua as hospitals near capacity

United States

United StatesRepublicans nix U.S. infrastructure debate, which could resume next week
United StatesBiden says CDC will advise unvaccinated kids to mask up in school this fall
United StatesPandemic goes on for the unvaccinated, Biden tells Trump-area town hall
United StatesTop U.S. senator demands inquiry into Justice Dept grants system

United Kingdom

United KingdomEU rejects UK demand for new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
United KingdomBritain, free of COVID curbs, could see revival of local stores - Barclays
United KingdomUK pay awards plateau at 2% after early 2021 rise - XpertHR
United KingdomParliamentary inquiry urges UK-wide minimum standard protocol for head injuries

Europe

EuropeCyprus appeals to UN Security Council over Varosha; Turkey defiant
EuropeU.S., Germany strike Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal to push back on Russian 'aggression'
EuropeEU rejects UK demand for new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland
EuropeGermany counts cost of floods as hopes of finding survivors fade

Americas

AmericasVenezuela's Maduro calls Vatican letter a 'compendium of hatred'
AmericasNew self-defense militia appears in Chiapas, Mexico to fight organized crime
AmericasProtests rock northern Haiti city ahead of president’s funeral

Unrest roiled the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien on Wednesday as demonstrators set up road blocks in protest against the assassination earlier this month of President Jovenel Moise, whose body will be laid to rest there on Friday.

AmericasU.S. extends travel curbs at Canada, Mexico land borders through Aug. 21

Asia Pacific

Asia PacificAustralia cautions COVID-19 cases to rise despite weeks-long lockdown
Asia PacificDelta variant taking hold of Indonesia's Papua as hospitals near capacity
Asia PacificAngry Indian farmers to protest near parliament
Asia PacificAustralian regulator to probe Amazon.com, eBay and other online markets

Technology

TechnologyFacebook decided faith groups are good for business. Now, it wants your prayers
TechnologyUK citizen arrested in Spain for role in 2020 Twitter hack
TechnologySocial audio app Clubhouse is no longer invite-only
TechnologyAfter $27.7 bln deal, Salesforce aims to connect companies via Slack

Environment

EnvironmentFrom China to Germany, floods expose climate vulnerability
EnvironmentAbsent crowds, Tokyo Olympics have a shot at being green
EnvironmentLightning found to have ignited Oregon's mammoth Bootleg fire
EnvironmentTens of thousands evacuated as China storms spread northwards

Sustainable Business

Sustainable BusinessCentral banks, wealth funds going greener and more activist -survey
Sustainable BusinessRussia's Sakhalin island set for carbon capture deal with Japanese firm
Sustainable BusinessRich nations 'must consign coal power to history'-UK COP26 president
Sustainable BusinessFloods wreck towns, but Europe's wind power goals tangled in red tape

Energy

EnergyU.S., Germany strike Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal to push back on Russian 'aggression'
EnergyCalifornia's PG&E to bury 10,000 miles of power lines to prevent wildfires
EnergyEXCLUSIVE Mercuria bulks up energy transition team with BP, Shell hires -sources
EnergyGas lobbyists ramp up efforts as EU mulls sustainability label

Lifestyle

LifestyleGun that killed U.S. outlaw Billy the Kid to be sold
LifestyleBritain's Prince George marks eighth birthday with a grin
Lifestyle'Fight!': Japan cheerleaders root for athletes as Games set to open
LifestyleSwiss hiker defies Parkinson's, plans new challenge

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