The Week of July 4, 2021 by CoenM

The Taliban began to occupy more ground in northern Afghanistan, causing more than 1000 Afghan troops to flee into what NEIGHBORING COUNTRY? Its president, Emomali Rahmon, would later send 20,000 reservists to fortify its border with Afghanistan.

Four people were arrested in Denver after several guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in their hotel rooms, which were located near several venues for what UPCOMING EVENT? The US Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that they knew of no threat to the event, and did not believe the people involved were planning to attack it.

What PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY said it was seeing reduced protection from Covid in some people who received its vaccine, and planned to request emergency use authorization for a booster shot in August? While US regulators were cool to the idea, Israel announced it would offer the booster.

What FORMER POLICE CAPTAIN AND BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT was named the winner of New York City's Democratic primary for mayor?

The EU passed a non-binding resolution urging member states and the European Commission oppose what COUNTRY's law that prohibits materials with LBGTQ content from being used in schools?

Statues of what TWO CONFEDERATE GENERALS were removed from public spaces in Charlottesville, Virginia? A third statue representing Merriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea was removed later the same day.

Japanese Olympic officials announced that most venues for the Summer Games will not admit spectators due to Covid-19, but fans will be allowed in Miyagi and Ibaraki prefectures to watch what SPORT? Both hosted the same sport for an international competition earlier in the century.

The Alaska Republican State Central Committee endorsed Kelly Tshibaka, who formerly ran the state's Department of Administration, in her primary challenge against what SITTING US SENATOR, who had previously been censured by the committee for voting to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial?

The Ever Given was finally allowed to leave what WATERWAY, after its owner and the authority that runs the waterway agreed to compensation for the ship's blocking of the waterway in March?

Your HallR mini-theme of the week: An Assassination. Jovenel Moïse, the president of what CARRIBEAN COUNTRY, was assassinated in his home?

Seventeen people were arrested in connection with the assassination, with at least a dozen of the suspects being former members of what SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY's military? The country denied involvement with the killing, and the suspects claimed that they were hired by private security firms.

What FORMER US PRESIDENT filed a lawsuit against Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, saying the companies illegally censored him and his followers?