World roundup: July 27 2022

Stories from Afghanistan, Mali, Russia, and more

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

The death toll after two days of fighting between pro- and anti-government factions in southern Syria’s Suwayda province now stands at 17 with at least 40 more wounded, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. All of those killed seem to have been combatants. Clashes began on Tuesday after two prominent anti-government figures were abducted the previous day. Anti-government fighters on Tuesday reportedly surrounded the headquarters of the pro-government faction that abducted them and both of them have now been released. That may be enough to end the fighting though it’s probably too soon to say for sure.