Global gymnastics star Simone Biles withdraws from all-around competition

Simone Biles has withdrawn from the Olympic gymnastics all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following Global gymnastics star Simone Biles withdraws from all-around competition [Simone Biles, of the United States, waits to perform on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo.] Credit: Gregory Bull/AP Simone Biles Simone Biles, arguably one of the most talented and gifted athletes on the global stage, [has withdrawn from the Olympic gymnastics all-around competition]( to focus on her mental well-being. Biles posted on social media about the pressure of being in the international spotlight. While vaulting during team finals, she lost herself in midair and completed 1 1/2 twists instead of 2 1/2, feeling the “twisties” — [a terrifying and potentially dangerous situation]( known in gymnastics circles. Biles’ withdrawing from the all-around, which drew immediate comparison to Naomi Osaka who dropped out of the French Open in the spring, also citing mental reasons, will likely bring more attention to the mental health of athletes and the pressures they face and is being [widely applauded as an act of bravery](. China A [new report]( from the Federation of American Scientists suggests that China is [potentially expanding its nuclear arsenal]( in its western deserts near the city of Hami in Xinjiang province. The report, using satellite imagery, identified the construction of a second field that could eventually include as many as 110 missile silos. These silos add to another 120 silos that appear to be under construction identified recently [that could constitute]( “the most significant expansion of the Chinese nuclear arsenal ever.” Delta variant With infections continuing to spread, pushed by the delta variant, health officials in Australia have extended the lockdown in the country’s largest city [by another four weeks](. The more contagious variant is wreaking havoc around the world — killing more than [100 people a week in Indonesia]( — and prompting the US State Department to [caution Americans from traveling]( to several European countries and Israel. 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