The first Jan. 6 committee hearing is today
  Tuesday 07.27.21
 A patient is attended to in the emergency area at AdventHealth hospital in Orlando.  Coronavirus
A growing number of places and groups are considering vaccine or mask mandates as Covid-19 cases continue to rise. California will require all state employees and health care workers to provide proof of vaccination status or get regular testing. New York City has a similar plan for its entire municipal workforce, including police officers and teachers. More than 50 major medical and health groups have issued a joint statement calling for all health care employers to mandate employees be vaccinated. Is it legal for places to impose such requirements? In short, yes. Justice Department lawyers have determined federal law doesn't prohibit public agencies and private businesses from requiring Covid-19 vaccines. Experts say if vaccination rates remain stagnant, the US could see as many as 200,000 cases a day in the coming weeks.
 Capitol riot
The House select committee charged with investigating the January 6 insurrection will hold its first public hearing today. The committee will hear testimony from four police officers who were on the front lines the day of the attack. This is the first big public step for the committee's investigation, which has seen strong GOP pushback. Currently, Republican leaders are hoping to zero in on security failures from the day of the attack to take attention away from former President Donald Trump's role. Only two Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, are on the committee. Their fellow party members are trying to chip away at their credibility to zing them for participating and undermine the committee's mission in general.  Iraq
President Joe Biden announced plans to formally conclude the US combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year, winding down another prolonged US military engagement. Unlike the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, this decision was made with Iraq's urging, and Biden made the announcement alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. This agreement will also not result in a troop withdrawal. Rather, the US and Iraq are expected to announce the US mission will fully shift to an advisory role. Meanwhile, White House officials have told lawmakers they will need $1 billion in emergency funds as the US works to evacuate and accommodate Afghan translators and other personnel who worked for the US in Afghanistan, and are now trying to leave the country amid the last phases of troop withdrawal there.  Hong Kong
The first person to be tried under Hong Kong's controversial national security law faces life in prison after being found guilty of inciting secession and terrorism. This trial was seen as a litmus test for how the law will be implemented and interpreted in court, and the landmark ruling will likely have profound implications for the city's legal system. The 24-year-old was found guilty of terrorism for crashing his motorcycle into a group of police officers last year. He was also found guilty of a second charge, incitement to commit secession, for carrying a large black banner emblazoned with the popular anti-government protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times."  Haiti
A cache of Internal Justice Ministry documents obtained exclusively by CNN reveal death threats and other roadblocks faced by those investigating the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise earlier this month. Multiple Haitian officials have received death threats since their investigation began, documents show. Some of these officials have gone into hiding. Sources close to the investigation also describe unusual restrictions and difficulty accessing crime scenes. Potential key witnesses, like presidential guards who were present at the time of the assassination, were allowed to leave the scene without being interviewed. The inconsistencies raise several questions: Is there a motive behind these obstacles, or are they consequences of Haiti's underfunded justice system? So far, there has been no public announcement of formal charges against any suspects in the case.  Paid Partner Content A Credit Card With All the Right Perks Like a $200 bonus after spending $500 within three months. Don't forget unlimited 1.5% cash back on literally every purchase, all with no annual fee.
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Unlock Your Exclusive Refinance Rates Now Lenders are competing for your business, which means you get the most competitive offers. Choose the loan that works best for you.  People are talking about these. Read up. Join in. Issa Rae is married Vera Wang? South of France? True love? That's a dream wedding right there!
Largest known comet has been traveling for millions of years
The "Dexter" revival trailer is here
An Argentinian fencer lost her match but did score a proposal of marriage
Still don't know what cryptocurrency is? Here's an explainer
CNN Business presents "Foreseeable Future: A Conversation About The Workplace Revolution"
The conversation streams live on Thursday, July 29 at 11 a.m. ET. Reserve your spot here!
Olympics update
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines' first Olympic gold medal ever. She also set an Olympic record, lifting a combined weight of 224 kilograms, to clinch the top spot in the women's 55-kg class.
  To put it clearly and unequivocally, our values as employees are not accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership.
An excerpt from a petition signed by more than 2,000 current and former employees at video game company Activision Blizzard. In the petition, employees slam the company's response to a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and harassment within the workplace.  Brought to you by CNN Underscored  11 blankets that will actually keep you cool this summer We went on a search for cooling blankets that can keep you cozy — but not sweaty. After weeks of testing top-rated options across various temperatures, we found some fantastic options for every type of sleeper.  Less "Aaaah!" More "Ahhhh."
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