Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, and Ron Wyden drafted legislation this week to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. Laws permitting either medical or recreational marijuana use have become increasingly common at the state level in recent years.

In COVID-19 news; Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, and Louisiana are the U.S. states to see the greatest increase in new cases of COVID in the last 14 days. The delta variant of the virus continues its spread through the country, especially in communities where vaccination rates are low.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, at least 212 people were killed this week as the country grapples with the worst political violence since the era of apartheid. Protesters began to mobilize following the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma. Now, the government has deployed some 25,000 troops to quell riots and looting.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the United States for encouraging the country's protests this week. He's also admitted his government mishandled the distribution of food, power, and medicine.

We cover all these stories and more during this week's News Roundup.

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