Lionel Messi will not remain with FC Barcelona, football club says

Barcelona said in a statement that a deal between the club and the player had been reached but financial “obstacles” made it impossible for the player to remain with the club.

Birthplace of Olympics threatened as Greece battles forest fires

The archaeological site at the birthplace of the modern Olympics in Greece was being threatened by one of the major forest fires burning in Greece.

Beirut explosion: Lebanon marks 1 year since blast with mourning, anger

The Beirut explosion killed at least 214 people and injured thousands. Lebanon is marking one year since the blast with a national day of mourning.

UK scientists say variant that can evade COVID-19 vaccines ‘almost certain’

Scientists in the U.K. said a COVID-19 variant with the ability to evade current vaccines is highly likely and will most likely require a new vaccine, possibly in the form of a yearly booster.

Tokyo's daily COVID-19 cases exceed 3,000 in day for 1st time

Tokyo reported 3,177 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, another all-time high just days after the start of the Tokyo Olympics.

German chemical explosion: 1 dead, 4 missing in Leverkusen complex blast

An explosion at a complex of chemical companies in Leverkusen, Germany, killed at least one person. Another 31 were hurt and four are still missing.

France mandates COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers amid protests

France passed a new law requiring health care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as setting up a health pass for restaurants and other venues.

India’s COVID-19 death toll estimated in the millions, study finds

Most experts believe India’s official toll of more than 414,000 dead is a vast undercount, but the government has dismissed those concerns as exaggerated and misleading.

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes Philippines

The Philippines was struck by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

China rejects WHO's terms for further study of COVID-19 origins

A senior Chinese health official said he was “taken aback" that the WHO plan includes further investigation of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

Pfizer vaccine will be made at South African firm, a first for Africa

This is the first time Pfizer's vaccine will be produced in Africa, in a move to help address the continent's desperate need for more doses amid a recent surge of cases.

India's pandemic deaths could be 10X official toll, researchers say

India's deaths during the pandemic could be 10x the official COVID-19 toll, likely making it modern India’s worst human tragedy, researchers said.

CDC raises UK travel warning to highest level amid COVID-19 surge

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control raised its travel alert for the United Kingdom to the highest level amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Canada to open U.S. border to fully vaccinated citizens Aug. 9

Those that wish to cross the border will need to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of crossing the border, as well as showing proof of a full series of vaccines at least two weeks prior to crossing the border.

Prince Harry working on memoir, expected in 2022

The book by the Duke of Sussex, currently untitled, is expected to come out late in 2022.

Biden to host King Abdullah II of Jordan amid Middle East tensions

President Joe Biden is set to host King Abdullah II of Jordan during one of the most difficult moments of the Jordanian leader's 22-year rule and at a pivotal time in the Middle East for Biden.

Video: Dogs rescued from deadly European floodwater

A video shows some people in Belgium rescuing a pair of dogs that were trapped in the floodwater that’s devastated Western Europe and killed nearly 200 people.