Sunday, September 5th, 2021 

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain says that around 100 Americans remain in Afghanistan following the August 31 withdrawal deadline. He also says that the Biden administration will still try to rescue them. (Politico) 

Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi says that Taliban forces have entered Bazarak, the capital of Panjshir Province, after gaining more territory in the surrounding areas. (Reuters) 

Mohammad Fahim Dashty, a chief and spokesperson of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, is killed by the Taliban during a fight. (The Week) 

Heavy gunfire is heard in Conakry, Guinea, as soldiers seal off and block the main bridge connecting to the Kaloum neighborhood, which houses the Presidential Palace. President Alpha Condé is arrested and taken away by special forces soldiers but appears to be unharmed. Three soldiers are reportedly killed. (BBC) (Reuters) (Europa Press)(The Economist) 

The military seizes state television and announces on air that the government has been dissolved and that all land borders are closed. (ABC News) 

Contradicting the military’s claims, the Guinean Defense Ministry claims that the coup was thwarted by members of the presidential guard. (BBC) 

Three soldiers are killed and 15 more are wounded as a suicide bomber blows himself up at a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility for the attack. (Al Jazeera) 

Twelve police officers are killed and three others are wounded as ISIL militants open fire and bomb a security checkpoint in Kirkuk. (Al Jazeera) 

Violence intensifies during a four-day clash in the Mapuche Araucanía Region in Chile, between Chilean forces and the Mapuche people. A presidential delegate has called on the Congress to speed the arrest and prosecution of what he called “terrorists”. (MercoPress) 

Police fire tear gas and remove barricades in Cetinje, Montenegro, as anti-Serb Montenegrin nationalist protesters attempted to impede the enthronement of Joanikije II to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church. (Deutsche Welle) 

The qualification match between Brazil and Argentina at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo is suspended after officials from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency entered the pitch and attempted to deport four Argentine players whom they allege to have violated pandemic-related self-isolation guidelines. (The New York Times) 

Kabul airport reopens for domestic flights Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport has reopened for domestic flights after a technical team from Qatar repaired parts of the air traffic control system, Ariana Afghan Airlines and a Taliban commander in charge of airport security said. Several flights resumed between the capital and three other major provincial cities on Saturday, while a humanitarian aid flight from the United Arab Emirates landed at the airport, which was the site of a chaotic evacuation process over the last few weeks as the United States and other Western nations withdrew from Afghanistan after the Taliban took Kabul. Although the airport is up and running again, it’s reportedly still operating without radar or navigation systems. NBC NEWS 

Taliban, resistance continue to clash in Panjshir The Taliban said Saturday they have entered Panjshir, the last Afghan province holding out agains their rule, and a spokesman said the group’s forces seized five of seven districts following clashes with resistance fighters. Opposition forces led by Ahmad Massoud, known as the National Resistance Front, have officially denied that the Taliban had made inroads, claiming Sunday to have surrounded “thousands of terrorists” and captured hundreds of Taliban troops, Al Jazeera reports. On Saturday, U.S. Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Miller said he expects the clashes to develop into a “civil war.” Separately, in Kabul, the Taliban reportedly violently broke up a women’s rights protest, one of several that have taken place in different parts of Afghanistan in recent days. AL JAZEERA 

Death toll from Ida rises to 12 in Louisiana The death toll from Hurricane Ida has risen to 12 in Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said during a news conference on Saturday. Edwards warned the numbers could still increase, citing the fact that many people are still relying on power from generators, which were blamed for four carbon monoxide deaths among the 12 fatalities. He added that 718,500 customers are still without power in the state, but the number is decreasing — 1.1 million people dealt with outages in the immediate aftermath of the powerful storm. Meanwhile, President Biden, who toured damaged areas in Louisiana on Friday, will travel next week to areas in New York and New Jersey that dealt with severe and fatal flooding after Ida passed through, the White House said. REUTERS 

Navy declares 5 missing sailors dead after helicopter crash The United States Navy on Saturday declared five missing sailors dead after a multi-day search following a helicopter crash in the Pacific Ocean about 70 miles off the coast of San Diego. The helicopter was operating on the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, before it crashed while conducting “routine flight operations.” One sailor was rescued from the helicopter and was reportedly in stable condition as of Wednesday, while five sailors aboard the aircraft carrier were also injured — the Navy did not say how — and were likewise reported to be in stable condition. An investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boeing’s Dreamliner deliveries delayed until at least late October New deliveries of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners likely won’t begin until at least October because the company has not been able to persuade air-safety regulators to approve its proposal to inspect the aircraft, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Deliveries were initially halted earlier this year when the Federal Aviation Administration said some undelivered 787s have a new manufacturing quality issue that Boeing needs to fix before shipment. The model has had an excellent safety record and the planes already in-service have continued to be used heavily, but the impasse on the new deliveries has prevented Boeing from moving more than $25 billion worth of planes. THE WALL STREET 

Saturday, September 4th, 2021 

The leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, Ahmad Massoud, announces that resistance against the Taliban will continue despite reports indicating that the Panjshir Valley fell to Taliban control yesterday. Yesterday, Massoud’s ally Amrullah Saleh denied leaving the country and also vowed to continue to resist the Taliban. (Deutsche Welle) 

Two ballistic missiles that were targeting the cities of Najran and Jizan are intercepted by Saudi Arabia. A third missile is intercepted over the city of Dammam, with shrapnel from the third missile injuring two children and damaging 14 homes. (Al Jazeera) 

Syria welcomes Lebanon’s request to import energy through Syrian territory. The energy would be generated in Jordan using Egyptian gas before being transmitted to Lebanon through Syria’s power grid. Lebanon has been dealing with shortages of energy due to its ongoing economic crisis. However, the deal is complicated by sanctions against Syrian officials. (Reuters) 

The Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul reopens to domestic flights and aid after it was closed due to the evacuation. (NBC News) 

A heavy-duty semi-trailer collides with a four-wheel tractor in Boli County, Heilongjiang, China, killing 15 people. (Thepaper) 

New Zealand reports its first death from the Lineage B.1.617.2 Delta variant and its first COVID-19-related death since February in a woman in her 90s with underlying health conditions who died in the North Shore Hospital in Takapuna. (New Zealand Herald) 

Washington’s vaccine mandate will move forward following an agreement between the Washington Federation of State Employees union agency and Governor Jay Inslee. However, the agreement will need to be ratified and employees will still be required to be vaccinated by October 18. (Seattle Times) 

Brazilian federal health regulator Anvisa suspends the use of over 12 million doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine that were produced in an unauthorized plant. (Reuters) 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says that the country is ready to resume nuclear talks and to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Raisi also called on the U.S. to lift its sanctions against Iran. (Middle East Eye) (VOA) 

Thousands of protesters take to the streets of Cetinje, Montenegro. President Milo Đukanović urged protesters to disrupt the enthronement of Joanikije II to the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, alleging that the Serbian Orthodox Church is undermining the nation’s independence. (BBC) 

White House may need to scale back booster shot plan Top health officials are urging the White House to scale back the COVID-19 booster shot plan because more time is needed to review the data, The New York Times reported. CNN also reported that the Biden administration is discussing whether to scale the plan back, citing an official as saying the FDA doesn’t currently have enough data to recommend a third dose of the Moderna vaccine. A White House spokesperson told the Times that “we always said we would follow the science, and this is all part of a process that is now underway.” When announcing the booster rollout last month, health officials said all Americans would be eligible for an extra shot starting Sept. 20, with individual appointments taking place sometime around six to eight months after the last dose. THE NEW YORK TIMESCNN 

Latest jobs report falls short of expectations The Labor Department said Friday the U.S. economy added just 235,000 jobs in August. That was down from the 1.1. million jobs that were added in July and under the 720,000 jobs that economists were expecting, CNBC reports. The unemployment rate declined to 5.2 percent, the report said. “That is what one would call a big, big miss,” CNN’s Phil Mattingly wrote. The latest numbers came as the Delta variant of COVID-19 has sparked a surge in coronavirus cases in the United States, and experts had their eye on how this would affect the hiring numbers last month. The Labor Department said that in August, “employment in leisure and hospitality was unchanged,” whereas it had increased by an average of 350,000 monthly for the last six months. Additionally, there was a loss of 42,000 jobs in food services and drinking places.  LABOR DEPARTMENTCNBC 

Biden orders Justice Department to review 9/11 documents President Biden on Friday signed an executive order directing the Justice Department and other government agencies to review documents related to the FBI’s 9/11 investigation, which could potentially lead to declassification. Biden promised to declassify the documents during his presidential campaign last year, and has faced pressure to do so from victims’ family members and others directly affected by the terrorist attacks as the 20th anniversary approaches. Many of the people involved in the effort particularly want the federal government to reveal whether there’s information possibly suggesting Saudi involvement in financing the attacks. THE NEW YORK TIMESPOLITICO 

New Zealand aims to strengthen anti-terror laws after supermarket attack After a “known violent extremist” stabbed seven people, three of whom are in critical condition, in an “ISIS-inspired terrorist attack” at an Auckland, New Zealand, supermarket this week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed to strengthen the country’s anti-terror laws. The attacker, who was shot dead by police, had been under constant police surveillance for a while, but a judge reportedly turned down charges against him because New Zealand law does not criminalize planning a terror attack if the person has not taken action. Ardern is confident that parliament will back proposed changes to that by the end of September. The attack comes more than two years after a white supremacist terrorist killed 51 worshippers at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. THE GUARDIANBBC 

Former Cardinal McCarrick pleads not guilty to sexual assault Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick on Friday pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy during a wedding reception in Massachusetts decades ago. The 91-year-old, who was defrocked by the Vatican in 2019 in the wake of sex abuse allegations, did not speak at the hearing at suburban Boston’s Dedham District Court; the court entered the not guilty plea on his behalf, set bail at $5,000, and ordered him to stay away from the victim and have no contact with minors. A former archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, McCarrick is the first American Catholic cardinal, current or former, to be criminally charged with child sex crimes. NPRCNN 

‘QAnon Shaman’ pleads guilty to Capitol riot charge A Capitol rioter known as “QAnon Shaman” pleaded guilty Friday to felony obstruction of Congress on Jan. 6. Jacob Anthony Chansley, who infamously donned red, white, and blue face paint while wearing a fur-lined headdress with horns while standing on the Senate dias after lawmakers had abandoned the chamber, could face at least three years in prison. Chansley, as his nickname suggests, has acknowledged he’s a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Chansley submitted his plea by video-teleconference from a low-security prison complex in Littleton, Colorado, where he was taken for psychiatric evaluation in July. He’s one of more than 50 people who have pleaded guilty to charges connected to the Capitol riot among 600 people who have been charged so far. THE WASHINGTON POSTABC NEWS 

Osaka hints at extended leave from tennis after early U.S. Open exit Naomi Osaka on Friday lost her third-round U.S. Open match 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 to Leylah Fernandez. The earlier-than-expected exit prompted the 23-year-old Osaka, one of tennis’ best players, to weigh stepping away from the sport for an extended period. “I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match,” she said during a press conference after the loss. “I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.” Osaka said she has only felt relief, not happiness, when winning lately, while losing makes her “feel very sad,” a dichotomy she said she doesn’t think is “normal.” Earlier this year, she withdrew from the French Open and skipped Wimbledon to focus on her mental health, but decided to return for the Olympics in her home country, Japan, as well as the U.S. Open. ESPN 

Friday,  September 3rd, 2021 

The Taliban says that it now controls the Panjshir Valley, and thus all of Afghanistan. Resistance leader Amrullah Saleh denies leaving the country and says that the resistance, also led by Ahmad Massoud, continues. (Reuters) 

Six people are injured, three critically, in a mass stabbing at a supermarket in LynnMall, Auckland, New Zealand. The attacker, a man who had been under surveillance since 2016 for following ISIL online, is shot dead by police. (BBC) (RNZ) 

Rival armed groups clash in Tripoli, in what is described as the worst confrontation since the ceasefire reached in 2020 between the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army forces. (Reuters) 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un demands that officials wage a tougher epidemic prevention campaign in “our style” after he rejects a donation of three million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the U.N. COVAX initiative. (NBC News) 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends that healthy children between the ages of 12 and 15 should not be given a COVID-19 vaccine due to children being at low risk for COVID-19 and the vaccine only offering a marginal benefit. (BBC) 

The European Union says that it will not currently recognize a Taliban government in Afghanistan and that the government will be “subjected to conditions”. However, the EU also states that it will still engage the group in diplomatic talks. (Reuters) 

Jake Angeli, also known as Jacob Chansley and “the QAnon shaman”, pleads guilty to obstruction of the electoral college vote count during the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. His sentencing is scheduled for November 17. (CBS News) 

The European Union and AstraZeneca reach a settlement to end a legal battle over slow delivery of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, with an agreement that requires AstraZeneca to deliver the remaining 200 million doses of its vaccine to the EU countries at the end of March 2022. (Euronews) 

The president of Vanuatu, Obed Moses Tallis, pardons former prime ministers Charlot Salwai, Joe Natuman and Serge Vohor, all of whom were convicted of political and financial crimes, including bribery and corruption. (RNZ) 

Yoshihide Suga, the Prime Minister of Japan, announces that he will not seek re-election after one year in office. Suga had replaced former Prime Minster Shinzo Abe who resigned for health reasons in September 2020. (CNN) 

Biden orders federal effort to counter Texas abortion law  President Biden on Thursday slammed the Supreme Court for declining to block Texas’ new law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, saying the court’s conservative majority’s ruling “unleashes unconstitutional chaos” by defying long-established precedent guaranteeing broader abortion rights. Biden said he had directed a gender-focused White House policy council, the Office of the White House Counsel, and both the Health and Human Services and the Justice departments to “launch of a whole-of-government effort” to see how the administration could respond to the decision and protect existing constitutional abortion rights. The Texas law gives individuals the right to sue anyone involved in an abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, typically around six weeks. The landmark Roe v. Wade decision established the right to abortion until fetal viability at 22 to 24 weeks. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Japan prime minister to step down after just 1 year Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced Friday that he would not seek re-election as leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in late September. The decision signals the end of his term after only one year following rising criticism over his government’s handling of a coronavirus surge fueled by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Suga’s support has fallen below 30 percent in recent polls, dropping even after the Tokyo Olympics ended without pandemic-related disasters some had feared. Japan’s next leader isn’t expected to change basic policies or close ties to the U.S., but Suga’s departure brings political uncertainty as the Biden administration works on restoring alliances in the region that were strained by former President Donald Trump’s “America first” focus. THE WALL STREET JOURNALTHE WASHINGTON POST 

EPA report warns people of color face disproportionate harm from climate change People of color will face disproportionate harm from climate change, including disproportionate deaths from extreme heat and property loss from flooding, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday in a new analysis. Joe Goffman, acting head of the EPA Office of Air and Radiation, said the comprehensive review was the “first of its kind.” The report looked at the possible impacts of a global temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial levels. American Indians and Alaska Natives are 48 percent more likely than other groups to live in areas that would face flooding from sea level rise. Latinos are 43 percent more likely to live in areas where intense heat would reduce work hours. Black people would have elevated death rates. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Former Georgia DA indicted over handling of Ahmaud Arbery killing Former Georgia prosecutor Jacquelyn Lee Johnson was indicted Thursday by a grand jury for allegedly “showing favor and affection” for the white men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was running through their neighborhood last year. Arbery was fatally shot after Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, his son, followed Arbery in their pickup. They said they thought he was a burglar. Arbery’s family said he was jogging. Johnson, who was Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney when Arbery was killed in February 2020, was indicted on charges of violation of oath of public office and obstruction of a police officer by saying Travis McMichael should not be arrested, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced. She lost re-election in November. NBC NEWS 

Virginia Supreme Court clears way for removing Lee Monument The Virginia Supreme Court on Thursday rejected appeals seeking to block Gov. Ralph Northam’s 2020 order to take down Richmond’s iconic but divisive Lee Monument. The justices unanimously rejected appeals to preserve the statue made by five nearby property owners and an heir of the family that donated the land for the monument to the Confederate general. Northam called for moving the statue last year as racial justice protests erupted in Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy, after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police. Northam’s office said preparations for removing the 130-year-old, 60-foot-tall statue of Lee on a horse began months ago, and the ruling cleared the way for the Department of General Services to get started. NBC NEWS 

Judge orders Capitol riot defendant back to jail A judge on Thursday ordered Capitol riot suspect Doug Jensen to return to jail because he violated the conditions of his release by using the internet to watch conspiracy theory content, including some on presidential election recounts from MyPillow guy Mike Lindell. Jensen wasn’t supposed to use the internet after his release. He is accused of leading a mob that chased a Capitol Police officer in the Jan. 6 riot by former President Donald Trump’s supporters aiming to overturn Trump’s election loss to President Biden. His lawyer had argued that he has since recognized that he “bought into a pack of lies,” according to BuzzFeed News. But District Judge Timothy Kelly said Thursday it was “clear that he has not experienced the transformation that his lawyer previously described.” CNN

Renaissance hedge fund executives to pay billions in back taxes A group of current and former executives at pioneering hedge fund Renaissance Technologies have agreed to pay up to $7 billion in back taxes, interest, and penalties, the company told investors Thursday. The tax settlement, possibly the largest in U.S. history, ends a long dispute with the Internal Revenue Service over how Renaissance’s key Medallion fund booked short-term gains for tax purposes. Among those paying the IRS are Renaissance founder and quantitative-investing pioneer James Simons, a mathematician who used algorithms to exploit lucrative short-term patterns in financial markets, and former co-CEO Robert Mercer. Simons, 83, is a longtime Democratic donor. Mercer, 75, was former President Donald Trump’s largest financial backer in 2016, and helped found Cambridge Analytica, the consulting firm embroiled in scandal for harvesting Facebook data to aid Trump’s campaign. THE WALL STREET JOURNALTHE NEW YORK TIMES 

Ohio man arrested over confrontation with NBC News correspondent Authorities on Thursday arrested Benjamin Eugene Dagley, the Ohio man who aggressively accosted NBC News’ Shaquille Brewster as he was reporting on Hurricane Ida’s aftermath. Dagley, 54, was taken into custody at a shopping plaza in Dayton, Ohio, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement. A warrant was issued for Dagley’s arrest on two counts of assault, one count of disturbance of the peace, and one count of violation of emergency curfew after the confrontation in Gulfport, Mississippi, officials said. “This violent fugitive was attempting to flee from his charges in Gulfport but the swift work of our task force members resulted in a timely arrest,” Elliott said. Brewster was doing a live MSNBC shot on the coast when a man later identified by police as Dagley pulled up in a white pickup truck and got in Brewster’s face, shouting at Brewster to “report accurately.” NBC NEWS 

ABBA to release first studio album in 40 years ABBA, the iconic 1970s Swedish group known for huge hits like “Dancing Queen,” is returning to release its first studio album in 40 years, Variety reported on Thursday. The group also will launch a concert set for London in May 2022 called “ABBA Voyage.” It will feature singers Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and instrumentalists/songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus performing as digital avatars designed by George Lucas’ visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic. “We’re going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs on a stage in a custom-built arena in London next spring,” the group said on its website. “Weird and wonderful!” VARIETY 

Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 

Former Royal Military Police soldier Ben Slater is arrested by the Taliban while trying to evacuate 400 Afghans and 50 staff members. (The Independent) 

The Taliban enters the Panjshir Valley and clashes with Panjshir resistance forces led by Ahmad Massoud. The Taliban reports gaining some territory as both sides also claim heavy casualties. (Reuters) 

Israeli soldiers open fire on rioting Palestinians during violent demonstrations on the Gaza Strip border, killing one person and injuring 5 others. (The Times of Israel) 

Indian authorities deploy security forces in the Kashmir Valley in order to restrict public movement and impose a near-total internet blackout following the death of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. (France 24) 

Taiwan receives its first shipment of 932,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (The Asahi Shimbun) 

Prime Minister Erna Solberg announces that children aged 12 to 15 years old in Norway will be offered the single-dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that is currently recommended for this age group. (Norwegian Institute of Public Health) 

Poland declares a state of emergency on its border with Belarus amid an increase in illegal migration. The Polish Border Guard says that there were around 3,500 attempts to illegally cross the border in August, 2,500 of which were not successful. (Reuters) 

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces that there is no “foreseeable recognition” of the Taliban government in Afghanistan although he asserts that the United Kingdom will nevertheless directly engage the group in necessary talks. (Al Jazeera) 

The End Friday 

The Taliban enters the Panjshir Valley and clashes with Panjshir resistance forces led by Ahmad Massoud. The Taliban reports gaining some territory as both sides claim heavy casualties. (Reuters) 

Indian authorities deploy security forces to clampdown on public movement and impose a near-total internet blackout in Kashmir Valley after the death of senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. (France 24) 

At least 15 people are killed by flash flooding and tornadoes in New York and New Jersey as the remnants of Ida pass over the Northeastern United States. (BBC) 

 
A sharply split Supreme Court refuses to block Texas abortion law A sharply divided Supreme Court late Wednesday ruled 5-4 against blocking Texas’ new law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law, which took effect Wednesday, lets people file lawsuits against any clinic or doctor who provides abortions after six weeks, effectively banning 85 percent of abortions. The conservative majority said the challenge by abortion providers “raised serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the Texas law at issue,” but failed to justify blocking it. The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the Texas law was a “flagrantly unconstitutional” attempt to “circumvent” the court’s precedents, which clearly establish the right to abortion up to fetal viability at 22 to 24 weeks. USA TODAY 

3 Colorado police officers, 2 paramedics indicted over Elijah McClain’s death Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Wednesday that three suburban Denver police officers and two paramedics were indicted on manslaughter and other charges over the death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, after he was put into a chokehold and injected with a powerful sedative when he was stopped walking home from a convenience store in Aurora, Colorado, two years ago. Police body camera video showed McClain, described by family and friends as a kind, gentle introvert, pleading with officers not to hurt him, saying, “I’m just different.” Stories about the gentle nature of McClain, a massage therapist who volunteered to play violin to comfort cats at an animal shelter, spread quickly on social media, fueling outrage over the case and making it a focus of protests against racial injustice and police brutality. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

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California’s Caldor Fire pushes toward Nevada state line The fast-growing Caldor Fire, which has already forced thousands of people to evacuate the Lake Tahoe basin in California, pushed toward the Nevada state line on Wednesday. A red flag warning of potential fire danger remained in effect in the area. The National Weather Service said low humidity and wind gusts as strong as 45 miles per hour could produce new flames on Sierra ridge lines. The fire now covers about 320 square miles, and is only 20 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Nevada authorities opened evacuation centers to accommodate the 22,000 South Lake Tahoe residents and others forced to flee their homes. USA TODAY 

Poll: Most vaccinated people want COVID-19 booster shot Most vaccinated Americans want to get a coronavirus booster shot when they become available, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday. The Biden administration hopes to launch a national campaign to make an additional dose available to eligible people starting Sept. 20, provided health regulators give their approval. Studies show protection against COVID-19 infections gradually wanes, but a booster shot after six to eight months can dramatically increase protection, although some scientists argue the need hasn’t been proven. The Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 76 percent of adults who have received at least one dose want to get a booster. Six percent didn’t want one, and 18 percent were undecided. The government has already started offering third shots to immunocompromised adults. REUTERS 

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma dissolved in settlement Purdue Pharma was dissolved Wednesday as part of a bankruptcy settlement requiring the company’s owners to hand over $4.6 billion as payback for the drug maker’s role in the opioid epidemic. The settlement, which still requires minor adjustments, included the controversial condition that it essentially absolves the owners — the Sackler family — and Purdue Pharma of further liability related to opioid addictions and deaths. The agreement will end thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments, tribes, hospitals, and individuals over the role of Purdue Pharma, maker of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin, in a crisis that has resulted in the deaths of more than 500,000 people nationwide. Judge Robert Drain of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York, called the result “bitter,” saying he had expected a higher settlement. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Air travel falls to lowest level since May The number of people passing through airport security has fallen to a four-month low as summer travel season ends and rising coronavirus cases reduce demand at airlines. The Transportation Security Administration screened just under 1.35 million people on Tuesday, falling to the lowest point since May 11. Business travel normally picks up after summer vacation season ends and schools reopen, but airline executives at Frontier, Southwest, American, and Spirit airlines last month warned that their revenue and profit could be weaker than previously forecast as rising coronavirus cases fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant resulted in weakening bookings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaders this week urged unvaccinated people not to travel over the coming Labor Day weekend. CNBC 

2 Trump Organization employees expected to testify to grand jury Two Trump Organization employees are set to testify before a grand jury this week in Manhattan prosecutors’ investigation into the business practices of former President Donald Trump’s company, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. One of the employees is Matthew Calamari Jr., corporate director of security and son of the Trump Organization’s chief operating officer. Calamari received an apartment from the company, and prosecutors are examining how he reported this on his taxes, the Journal reported. The other, Jeffrey McConney, is a senior financial executive who prepared Calamari Sr.’s personal tax returns. The Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, were charged with tax fraud in July for allegedly failing to report employee perks like apartments and private school tuition.THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Joe Rogan says he’s taking ivermectin for COVID-19 Joe Rogan, host of the nation’s most popular podcast, announced Wednesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was taking numerous treatments, including the human version of the horse dewormer ivermectin. The comedian, who has downplayed the importance of coronavirus vaccines on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, said he returned home from the road Saturday and experienced a headache and fever. A test confirmed he had COVID. He said he “immediately threw the kitchen sink” at the virus, including taking ivermectin, which is used to kill parasites in animals and humans but unproven as a treatment for COVID-19. Poison control centers have reported a spike in calls about illnesses from ivermectin exposure after conservative media figures and some doctors pushed it as a COVID treatment despite FDA warnings.  THE WASHINGTON POST 

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price announces that 23,876 Afghan refugees have arrived in the United States. He also says that the efforts did not end on August 31 and that Americans who are still in Afghanistan will be provided with “tailored” evacuation plans. (CNBC) 

Taliban senior member Amir Khan Muttaqi says that the group has now surrounded the Panjshir Valley, the last stronghold of anti-Taliban resistance, and calls for the rebels to “put down their weapons” saying that the Taliban wants an Islamic Emirate for all Afghans and adding that there is “no need to fight”. The Panjshir resistance is led by self-proclaimed president Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud. (Reuters) 

The Taliban holds a military parade in the Afghanistan city of Kandahar showing equipment used by the U.S. military. A Black Hawk helicopter is also shown at the parade. (Business Insider) 

Seventy-three children are abducted by armed men at a rural secondary school in Zamfara State, Nigeria. The government of Zamfara State has closed all public schools in order to prevent similar attacks. (Reuters) 

India’s economy rebounded at a record rate of 20.1% in the three months from April to June even as the country was affected by a devastating second wave of COVID-19. (BBC) 

An oil spill that originated from Syria‘s largest refinery is growing and spreading across the Mediterranean Sea, and could reach the island of Cyprus by Wednesday. Syrian officials said last week that a tank filled with 15,000 tonnes of fuel had been leaking since August 23 at a thermal power plant in the Syrian coastal city of Baniyas. Satellite imagery analysis now indicates that the oil spill was larger than originally thought, covering around 800 square kilometers and is approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the Cyprus coast. (9 News) 

Over 2.4 million children in Israel return to school on the start of the new academic year with mandatory masks and COVID-19 testing aimed at reducing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the highly-vaccinated country primarily caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant. (Israel Today) (Al-Arabiya English) 

The head of Israel’s Biological Institute, Professor Shmuel Shapira, reveals that midway through vaccine development, its office was requested by the government of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend development of a locally developed vaccine. (Ynet News) 

Moderna, the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Spanish drug maker Rovi issue a joint statement indicating that they have found particles of stainless steel in some vaccine vials, but that the particles did not pose any additional health risks. The companies also state that they are working with the Japanese government to recall three suspended batches of the vaccine. (Reuters) 

France begins to administer booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to people over the age of 65 and people with underlying health conditions, provided that they have received both doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago. People who received the single-dose Janssen vaccine can also receive a booster dose of either of the two other vaccines at least four weeks after they first received a vaccine. (Euronews) 

Italy expands the mandatory usage of “Green Pass” health certificates to some forms of public transport, including long-distance trains, domestic flights and ferries. The pass is now also mandatory for school and university staff, as well as university students. (The Local Italy) 

Spain reaches a target of fully vaccinating 70% of the population. (El País) 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation announces a recommendation that 500,000 people with severe immunosuppression should receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (The Daily Telegraph) 

Pope Francis defends the dialogue with China via the appointment of new Catholic bishops. Francis says that uneasy dialogue is better than no dialogue at all and compared the talks with China with those with Eastern European countries during the Cold War. The Vatican and China have had strained relations since the communist party took power in 1949. (Reuters) 

The U.S. Department of Justice secures its 50th guilty plea in its criminal investigation of the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. (CNN) 

Protests occur in front of hospitals across Greece to oppose compulsory vaccination for healthcare workers which takes effect today and could result in the dismissal of up to 10,000 unvaccinated workers. (Daily Sabah) 

Romanian Prime Minister Florin Cîțu dismisses justice minister Stelian Ion. (Reuters) 

The End

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 

Biden defends Afghanistan withdrawal as a success As the Taliban celebrated the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Biden on Tuesday called the airlift of more than 120,000 Afghans, Americans, and other allies out of the country an “extraordinary success.” He also defended his decision to stick to the deadline for withdrawing all U.S. troops to end the longest war in U.S. history. “I was not going to extend this forever war,” Biden said in an address from the White House State Dining Room. “And I was not going to extend a forever exit.” Biden said it was inevitable that it would be difficult to leave Afghanistan after 20 years. The Biden administration has faced harsh criticism for the chaotic evacuation following the Taliban’s takeover of the country, and Congress is expected to hold hearings on what went wrong. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

U.S. reached secret deal with Taliban to get Americans to Kabul airport The U.S. negotiated a secret deal with the Taliban under which the Islamist group now running Afghanistan agreed to escort Americans to the gates of the Kabul airport so they could leave the country, CNN reported Tuesday, citing two defense officials. U.S. special operations forces established a “secret gate” at the airport and “call centers” to help the Americans navigate the evacuation arrangement, one of the officials said. The Americans reportedly were instructed to gather at pre-arranged “muster points” near the airport, where the Taliban would verify their credentials and take them to a U.S.-controlled gate. The process helped the Americans get through despite crowds of Afghans trying to get into the airport to escape Taliban rule. CNN 

Vaccination rates rose in August as mandates spread Vaccination rates rose in August as COVID-19 cases surged, driven by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeffrey Zients said Tuesday. About 14 million people in the U.S. got their first vaccine dose last month, an increase of 4 million over the July total. Zients credited the increase to vaccine mandates imposed by governments, schools, and businesses. He noted that Washington state saw a 34 percent rise in its vaccination rate after it started requiring shots for state employees and school staff. “Bottom line,” Zients said, “vaccination mandates work.” The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said regulators’ full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could push vaccination rates even higher. NPR 

Venezuelan opposition to end election boycott Venezuela’s opposition said Tuesday that it would participate in November elections, ending a three-year boycott. The main opposition parties said they would run candidates in elections for mayors and governors across the South American nation. Opposition leader Juan Guaido’s Popular Will party is among the parties expected to participate, as is the party led by former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who has urged candidates to run. The opposition declined to participate in 2018 presidential and 2020 congressional elections, and said they were fraudulent. Politicians have called on President Nicolas Maduro’s government to guarantee free and fair elections. The government has agreed to permit exiled politicians to run. BLOOMBERG 

Man who confronted NBC reporter on live TV faces arrest warrant Mississippi police on Tuesday issued a warrant for the arrest of an Ohio man who allegedly confronted NBC News’ Shaquille Brewster on live television. Brewster was reporting on former Hurricane Ida for MSNBC in coastal Mississippi when a man pulled up in a white pickup truck and ran toward him, shouting at him to “report accurately.” Gulfport police said the man was Benjamin Eugene Dagley, and he would face charges of simple assault, disturbing the peace, and violating an emergency curfew. He also could be charged with a probation violation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, if authorities determine that he traveled out of Ohio without authorization, police said. Ohio court documents indicate that Dagley, 54, once pleaded guilty to vandalism, inducing panic, and attempted assault. NBC NEWS 

Jury selection begins in Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes’ fraud trial Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes appeared in court Tuesday for jury selection on Day 1 of her criminal fraud trial. The onetime rising star of Silicon Valley is accused of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly making misleading statements to investors and patients about Theranos’ technology. Holmes has pleaded not guilty. The defense team and prosecutors have a pool of nearly 200 potential jurors to find 17 to serve in what is expected to be a four-month trial. Court documents disclosed over the weekend that Holmes might argue that she deferred to Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, her former boyfriend and Theranos’ onetime president, because she was in an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship with him. Balwani also was charged and pleaded not guilty. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Parents clash over mask mandate in Florida county Lee County, Florida, sheriff’s deputies had to break up fights between anti- and pro-mask parents outside a meeting where school board members reversed an earlier decision and reinstated a mask mandate for teachers and the 90,000 students in local public schools, local TV station NBC-2 reported Tuesday. Until the change, about 14,000 students were opting out of wearing face coverings by invoking a medical exception. Most of the parents who spoke at the Monday night board meeting were against the mask mandate. One man said masks hid children’s identities and promoted sex trafficking. A woman, wearing a “My Body, My Choice” sticker, argued that masks do no good because kids don’t wear them properly. A physician and mother of a student thanked the board for keeping “faculty and students” safe by requiring masks. She was “shoved” by protesters after the meeting, NBC-2 reported. NBC-2 

Tuesday,  August 31st, 2021 

The Panjshir resistance says that their fighters have killed eight Taliban members in clashes in the Panjshir Valley, the final stronghold outside of Taliban control. A large number of Taliban forces have been deployed near the valley, while negotiations take place in order to resolve the conflict. (Reuters) 

Celebratory gunfire occurs in Kabul by Taliban fighters following the departure of the last aircraft carrying U.S. troops. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says during a news conference that “it is a historical day and a historical moment” and that “the Taliban are proud of these moments, that we liberated our country from a great power.” (Reuters) 

A drone attack against the Abha International Airport in Abha, Saudi Arabia injures eight people. (Al Jazeera) 

Eleven Islamic State militants are killed in a raid by Pakistani counter-terrorism units in Mastung, Balochistan Province, where ISIL militants had recently killed two police officers. Suicide belts, hand grenades and assault rifles are confiscated during the raid. (AP via ABC News) 

California fire officials issue an evacuation order for the Lake Tahoe Basin as the Caldor Fire continues to spread. The fire has burned 177,000 acres and destroyed over 470 structures so far. (CBS News) 

The United States Forest Service orders all national forests in California to be closed until mid-September in order to help combat the state’s wildfires. (CBS News) 

The Bangladesh Armed Forces receives a consignment of COVID-19 vaccines from China’s People’s Liberation Army for the first time as part of foreign military assistance. (United News of Bangladesh) 

Israel reports a record 10,947 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,066,352. (Israel Hayom) 

The Irish Cabinet approves a plan that would lift all COVID-19-related restrictions in Ireland on October 22 subject to 90% of adults being vaccinated and the number of COVID-19 cases remaining manageable. (BBC) 

Morocco begins a COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 12 to 17 years old in effort to ensure their return to schools. (Africanews) 

Georgia reports a record 9,641 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (AP) 

Idaho Governor Brad Little activates the Idaho National Guard to hospitals to stop the spread of COVID-19 cases in the state. (Idaho Statesman) 

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announces a mask mandate for Pennsylvania schools and daycares. The mandate will take effect on September 7. (CBS News) 

The Indian ambassador to Qatar Dr. Deepak Mittal meets with Taliban representative Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai in Doha to discuss the repatriation of Indian citizens who are currently in Afghanistan. (Times of India) 

A court in Bangladesh sentences six men affiliated with Ansar al-Islam, an organization linked to al-Qaeda, to death, for the 2016 murders of two gay rights campaigners, including Xulhaz Mannan. Local gay and LGBT organizations welcome the verdict. (Reuters) 

Twenty U.S. states, led by Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery, file a lawsuit against the Biden administration in an attempt to halt new regulations put forth by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the United States Department of Education promoting transgender rights in schools, alleging federal overreach. (Fox News) 

The Peruvian judiciary kicks off a preliminary court hearing against Popular Force leader Keiko Fujimori to decide whether to prosecute her for money laundering and her involvement in the Odebrecht scandal. (RPP) 

Alar Karis is elected President of Estonia by the Riigikogu. (ERR) 

A SpaceX Dragon 2 from the re-supply mission SpaceX CRS-23 successfully docks with the Harmony Module of the International Space Station, carrying 4,800 lbs. of supplies. (SciTechDaily) 

Tuesday,  August 31st, 2021 

Last military plane leaves Afghanistan, ending longest U.S. war  The last U.S. military plane left Kabul on Monday, ending a 20-year presence in Afghanistan and the longest war in U.S. history. The aircraft carried all U.S. troops and diplomats who remained in the country as the deadline for the U.S. withdrawal arrived. “I’m here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from Afghanistan,” said Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the head of U.S. Central Command. Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commander of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and acting American ambassador Ross Wilson were among the last Americans to leave. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan would continue working from Doha, Qatar, on its “relentless efforts to help Americans, foreign nationals, and Afghans” who are at risk under Taliban rule to leave. 

THE WASHINGTON POST 

Ida downgraded to tropical depression after 1 million lose power Former Hurricane Ida was downgraded to a tropical depression Monday night as it moved inland, crossing Mississippi with top sustained winds of 35 miles per hour after crashing into the Louisiana coast with winds as high as 150 mph. Ida knocked out power to more than 1 million homes and businesses, including all of New Orleans, and left at least two people dead. The storm hit on the anniversary of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Officials said New Orleans was better prepared this time, partly due to the lessons learned from the devastation left by Katrina. One person drowned in his car after trying to drive through flooding on Interstate 10 in New Orleans. Some areas could be without power for six weeks after what Gov. John Bel Edwards called “one of the strongest storms to make landfall in modern times.” 

NPRNATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER 

Pentagon acknowledges possibility of civilian casualties from drone strike  The Defense Department on Monday acknowledged the possibility that civilians were killed in a U.S. military drone strike against suspected Islamic State Khorasan suicide bombers believed to be targeting the Kabul airport. Survivors and neighbors said the strike killed 10 people, including seven children, a U.S. military contractor, and a worker for an American aid group. “At first I thought it was the Taliban,” said the daughter of Zemari Ahmadi, the aid worker. “But the Americans themselves did it.” New York Times journalists at the scene were unable to confirm the family’s reports. A spokesman said the Pentagon was “not in a position to dispute” the report, but added that any civilian casualties were due to the explosives that were in the vehicle, not the drone strike itself.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Biden administration launches civil rights investigation of state mask-mandate bans  The Education Department on Monday opened civil rights investigations into attempts by Republican governors in five states to bar school districts from imposing mask mandates. The department sent letters announcing the policy to education officials in Iowa, South Carolina, Utah, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, informing them that their bans on local-district mask mandates might be preventing the districts from meeting the needs of students with disabilities who face elevated risk of severe illness from coronavirus infections. The Education Department did not start investigations into similar policies in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, or Arizona, which also have tried to prevent mandates but have been blocked by courts or other state actions.  THE WASHINGTON POST 

Caldor Fire forces evacuation of entire city of South Lake Tahoe  California authorities on Monday evacuated all 22,000 residents of South Lake Tahoe due to the threat from the fast-spreading Caldor Fire, as fire risk forced national forests in the state to close. Residents also had to flee the surrounding areas along the lake’s west and south shores. The wildfire has been edging closer to the Lake Tahoe area for two weeks. Nearly 30,000 residents had already been told to leave the eastern half of El Dorado County. Thom Porter, director of Cal Fire, said the fire exploded on Sunday, growing by more than 20,000 acres after an inversion layer lifted. “When air clears, it’s taking the lid off your pot of boiling water; all of a sudden there’s that plume of heat and steam that comes out,” Porter said.  SACRAMENTO BEE 

Ohio woman wins court order to treat husband’s COVID with Ivermectin  A suburban Cincinnati woman on Monday won a court order for a hospital to treat her husband’s COVID-19 infection with Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic treatment commonly used for livestock. The case is one of several nationwide in which people are trying to force doctors to use the drug, which has not been proven effective against COVID-19. Julie Smith asked Butler County Common Pleas Court for an emergency order to treat her husband, 51-year-old Jeffrey Smith, with Ivermectin. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not recommended Ivermectin for people infected with the coronavirus. Smith had found a doctor to prescribe the drug, but the hospital refused to administer it.  USA TODAY 

Texas abortion providers ask Supreme Court to block state law  Texas abortion providers on Monday asked the Supreme Court to block a state law seeking to ban abortions in the state as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The law, which is scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, would let individuals sue any abortion provider, and largely end access to abortion in the state, the providers said. “In less than two days, Texas politicians will have effectively overturned Roe v. Wade,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents the providers and other groups. The Texas law bars abortion once embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, which is typically around six weeks. Supreme Court precedent prohibits states from banning abortion before fetal viability, typically at about 22 to 24 weeks.  THE GUARDIAN 

Giuliani communications director leaves as legal problems mount  Rudy Giuliani’s communications director has resigned after two years on the job, as the former New York City mayor and one-time lawyer for former President Donald Trump faces deepening legal troubles. Christianné Allen started working for Giuliani Communication LLC in December 2019. She released a statement on Monday saying she was “proud of the accomplishments we achieved,” including the launch of Giuliani’s podcast. She said she was moving on to work for a “rising tech startup.” Her departure comes as Giuliani is being targeted in a federal investigation into his foreign lobbying work. His law licenses have been suspended as he faces legal problems linked to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. CNN 

Ida nudges oil, gasoline prices higher Oil and gasoline futures prices edged higher Monday after Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana and forced the temporary shutdown of a big part of U.S. oil production and refining operations. Nearly all oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was halted. Ida quickly weakened into a tropical depression after hitting as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, causing flooding and knocking out power to more than 1 million Louisiana utility customers. Energy companies were working to determine how quickly Louisiana refineries and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production could be restarted. Oil prices rose slightly after surging by 10 percent last week. “The reaction is mixed because we avoided the worst-case scenario,” Again Capital founding partner John Kilduff said. “But supplies are tight, and that could impact prices.” 

CNBCCNN 

EU recommends banning non-essential travel by unvaccinated Americans  The European Union on Monday removed the United States from its list of safe countries for non-essential travel due to rising coronavirus infections fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant. The European Council recommended reinstating travel restrictions against unvaccinated U.S. tourists, but did not call for its 27 member nations to turn away fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. In June, ahead of the summer travel season, the trading bloc recommended lifting restrictions on U.S. travelers. The EU guidance is not binding, so member countries are expected to adopt a mix of policies that could complicate European travel plans for Americans. The new restrictions threaten to cost European businesses billions in lost revenue.  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Monday,  August 30th, 2021 

Marine Corps General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. announces that the final American troops have left Afghanistan, concluding U.S. involvement in the Afghanistan war. U.S. President Joe Biden also confirms the end of the war in a statement. (The New York Times) (KXTV-TV) 

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid says that yesterday’s airstrike by the United States killed civilians and that if “there was any potential threat in Afghanistan, it should have been reported to us, not an arbitrary attack that has resulted in civilian casualties”. (The Washington Post) (Reuters) 

China’s General Administration of Press and Publication announces new regulations prohibiting youth under the age of 18 years old from playing online video games for more than three hours per week, citing physical and mental health concerns. Playing of online video games will only be allowed between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm on weekends and holidays. (CNBC) 

The Czech government announces that the country will begin offering a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from September 20 to all people who previously have been vaccinated at least eight months ago using either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. (Reuters) 

Scientists in South Africa detect a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called C.1.2 which is associated with increased transmissibility and the ability to evade antibodies. The variant was first identified in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces and has spread to seven countries as of August 13. (Bloomberg) 

The International Atomic Energy Agency says that North Korea appears to have restarted its Nyongbyon nuclear reactor in a breach of the September 2018 inter-Korean summit declaration and United Nations Security Council resolutions. (BBC) 

Kira Yarmysh, the official spokesperson for incarcerated Russian activist Alexei Navalny, leaves Russia, reportedly travelling to Helsinki, Finland, after a court sentenced her to a restriction of movements for 18 months due to alleged breaches of COVID-19 restrictions. (Reuters) 

Hurricane Ida slams into Louisiana on Katrina anniversary Hurricane Ida made landfall Sunday in Louisiana as a powerful Category 4 storm, slamming into the state with top sustained winds of 150 miles per hour after intensifying over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm killed at least one person, and knocked out power to a million customers, including the entire city of New Orleans, with reports of significant damage to buildings and residents trapped on rooftops. Ida weakened and its forward speed slowed to a crawl as it pushed inland, raising flood potential across multiple states. Ida hit on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which left historic devastation in New Orleans. Ida tied a record for the most powerful hurricane to hammer Louisiana, equaling the strength of last year’s Hurricane Laura and the Last Island Hurricane of 1856.CNNWASHINGTON POST 

U.S. drone strike hits suspected suicide bombers in Kabul The U.S. military said Sunday it killed suspected suicide bombers in an explosives-laden vehicle with a drone strike in Kabul. A U.S. official said the vehicle posed an “imminent threat” to the effort to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghans who are desperate to escape Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover. The Taliban said the airstrike killed multiple civilians, including some children. “We are investigating the reason of the airstrike and the exact number of casualties,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman. The U.S. military also said it was investigating. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul had warned of a “specific, credible threat” to people around the airport, the scene of suicide bombings that killed as many as 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members last week. An Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for that attack. THE NEW YORK TIMES 

U.S., 97 other countries reach deal with Taliban to continue evacuations The United States and 97 other countries said in a joint statement Sunday that they had reached a deal with the Taliban to continue evacuating their citizens and Afghans who have worked with them beyond the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline. “We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan,” the joint statement said. The Taliban have agreed to let foreigners and Afghans with travel authorization leave the country in a “safe and orderly manner,” the statement said. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Face the Nation that Washington has “considerable leverage” to “hold the Taliban to its commitments.”  AXIOS 

E.U. expected to recommend halt to travel from U.S. The European Union is preparing to recommend a halt to all non-essential travel from the United States to help curb surging coronavirus infections driven by the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing diplomats. European leaders reportedly have been considering the change over the last month as the average U.S. infection rate surpassed that of the E.U. A final decision on the non-binding travel restriction is expected Monday. Some European leaders have been pushing for the change because the U.S. kept its ban on European tourists in place after European nations allowed travel from the U.S. to resume. Some countries are expected to continue letting in American tourists who can prove they have been fully vaccinated. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Fauci supports COVID vaccine mandates in schools Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday he backs making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all schoolchildren to help prevent surging coronavirus infections driven by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. “I believe that mandating vaccines for children to appear in school is a good idea,” Fauci told CNN’s State of the Union. “We’ve done this for decades and decades, requiring polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis” vaccinations. Children under 12 currently are not eligible to receive coronavirus vaccine shots. Fauci said there should be enough data by October for the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether the vaccines are safe for pre-teens in time to start administering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to them by the holiday season. REUTERS

 North Korea restarts Yongbyon nuclear reactor  North Korea appears to have restarted its Yongbyon plutonium-producing nuclear reactor, the United Nations’ atomic agency said Sunday. The move, which was disclosed in an annual report on North Korea’s nuclear activities, could allow the isolated communist-run nation to expand its nuclear arsenal. The reactor had been shut down from December 2018 to July 2021. “Since early July, there have been indications, including the discharge of cooling water, consistent with the operation of the reactor,” the International Atomic Energy Agency report said. North Korea also appeared to be separating plutonium from spent fuel rods at a nearby laboratory. The IAEA, whose inspectors were booted from North Korea in 2009, said the developments violated U.N. Security Council resolutions and were “deeply troubling.”  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Sunday, August 29th, 2021 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that there are still 300 American citizens left to evacuate from Afghanistan. He also says that the Taliban will allow the evacuations to continue. (RealClearPolitics) (Arutz Sheva) 

The U.S. and 97 other countries reach an agreement with the Taliban to continue evacuations past the August 31 withdrawal deadline. (Axios) 

A U.S. airstrike targets a vehicle carrying a suspected ISIS-K suicide bomber. At least 10 people are killed during the strike, including six children. Some of those killed had previously worked for international organisations and held visas allowing them entry to the United States. There are reports of other civilians being killed too. The majority of the casualties were residents of the area. (BBC) 

Two Pakistani soldiers are shot dead by unknown gunmen at the border with Afghanistan. Two or three of the attackers are killed after a gunfight. (Al Jazeera English) 

A rocket is launched near the airport in Kabul, hitting a house and killing a child. (Al Jazeera English) 

Atta Muhammad Nur and Abdul Rashid Dostum say that they are forming a group to negotiate with the Taliban and also say that surrender is “out of the question”. They both said that they plan to meet Taliban representatives for a new government. Both men fled to Uzbekistan when Mazar-i-Sharif fell but have since returned to Afghanistan. (Reuters) 

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen blames former president Ashraf Ghani for the “chaos” in Kabul. Shaheen says that Ghani must return the money that he allegedly stole and says that it was not necessary for Ghani to leave the country as the Taliban “just wanted a peaceful transfer of power”. (Hindustan Times) 

The army bombards the last rebel enclave in the southern city of Daraa, killing six people. The army declined to comment but released a statement saying that it was losing patience with what it called “armed groups and terrorists”. The site of the bombing is the birthplace of the 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad which marked the start of the war. (Reuters) 

Houthi forces attack the Al Anad Air Base in Lahij Governorate, Yemen, with drones and ballistic missiles, killing 43 soldiers and wounding 56 others. (Al Jazeera English) 

Bangladesh signs an agreement with the World Health Organization to purchase 105 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to ensure the vaccine’s supply for the whole population. (United News of Bangladesh) 

Israel expands booster dose eligibility to all people over the age of 12 who received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least five months ago. (The Times of Israel) 

Germany removes Spain from its list of high-risk areas, which means that unvaccinated travellers are no longer required to quarantine as long as they present proof of a negative test result or have recovered from COVID-19. (EuroWeekly News) 

Australia reports a record 1,323 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, as well as a record 1,218 new cases in New South Wales. (Australian Associated Press) 

The Home Affairs Ministry of South Africa orders the release of two gay men who were arrested and imprisoned in Johannesburg after escaping Uganda. The couple requested to remain in South Africa out of fears of persecution in Uganda. The South Gauteng High Court ordered the immediate release of the men and also ordered that they be allowed to remain in South Africa. (Independent Online) 

During the annual National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces that pertinent legislation called the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act will be passed to tackle racism due to an increase of racist incidents. (Yahoo! News Singapore) 

The End

Sunday, August 29th, 2021 

Biden warns of another attack in Kabul President Biden on Saturday afternoon released a statement warning that another terrorist attack near Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport is “highly likely in the next 24-36 hours,” and he directed military commanders in Afghanistan “to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection.” Later, the United States Embassy in Afghanistan alerted American citizens in the area to leave immediately “due to a specific, credible threat.” Everyone else should avoid traveling to the airport “at this time,” the alert said. Despite the threat, the U.S. is still planning to withdraw its ambassador and all diplomatic staffers in Afghanistan by Tuesday’s deadline. UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN AFGHANISTAN 

Firefighters make progress against Caldor blaze but winds loom Firefighters slowed the spread of California’s Caldor Fire as it moved toward Lake Tahoe on Saturday, but strong winds of 25-30 miles per hour are expected to hit the area on Monday and Tuesday and could reinvigorate the blaze. Containment of the fire grew to 19 percent on Saturday, up from 12 percent the day prior, which Cal Fire Cpt. Keith Wade described as a “pretty significant jump for us.” Meteorologist Jim Dudley said Saturday that “we have one more day of fairly light winds across the fire, and then things change.” Many locals and tourists have already fled the Tahoe area, even though there aren’t evacuation warnings in place. There’s hope, though, that manmade fire lines combined with natural barriers like massive granite outcroppings will help save the Lake Tahoe Basin. THE MERCURY NEWS 

Israel says it hit Hamas site in Gaza  The Israeli military says it struck a Hamas military compound “used for manufacturing weapons and training as well as an entrance to a terror tunnel” in Gaza early Sunday in response to incendiary balloons launched from the region. There were no reports of any casualties caused by the Israeli strikes.  The army said it was also responding to what it described as “violent riots” that took place at the Gaza-Israel separation barrier during the day Saturday. Palestinians announced they were resuming protests at the border Saturday with the goal of getting Israel to ease a blockade on Gaza. Israeli forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at the crowd. The two sides are locked in a fragile truce at the moment, following an 11-day conflict in May. FRANCE24 

U.S. military delivers post-earthquake aid to remote areas of Haiti United States military aircraft on Saturday were able to reach some of the remote mountain communities that were hardest hit by a recent, major earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed more than 100,000 homes in Haiti. The goal of the airlift was to distribute supplies, including food and protective tarps, to the communities so they are better equipped to make it through the hurricane season after quake-induced landslides destroyed the homes and small plots of many subsistence farmers. “We’re just trying to get as much material out to the most affected areas as fast as we can,” Tim Callahan, a disaster response team leader for the U.S. Agency for International Development, told The Associated Press. So far, troops under the direction of the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command have delivered more than 265,000 pounds of relief assistance. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Theranos’ Holmes may accuse ex-boyfriend of abuse in upcoming trial Court documents reveal that Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and former CEO of Theranos whose criminal trial is set to begin within days, may defend herself by claiming she was the victim of a decade-long abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, who was also a Theranos executive. The newly unsealed documents suggested Holmes is planning to have an expert testify about the psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse she experienced from Balwani, including tactics he allegedly used to “exert control.” Both Holmes and Balwani were indicted more than three years ago on multiple federal fraud and conspiracy charges for allegedly launching a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud investors over the course of several years by knowingly misrepresenting the capabilities of Theranos’ blood testing technology. They have both pleaded not guilty and could face up to 20 years in prison. CNN 

Brazil’s Bolsonaro says he faces arrest, death, or victory Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday told a group of evangelical leaders in the country that “I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed, or victory,” though he appeared to rule out the first option, stating that “no man on Earth will threaten me.” The right-wing populist leader is trailing his top opponent, left-wing former President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva in the polls. Bolsonaro has frequently questioned the legitimacy of Brazil’s electronic voting system, setting the stage for him to refuse to accept the result of next year’s election if he loses. The head of Brazil’s electoral court has maintained there are no issues with the voting system. BBCREUTERS 

Saturday, August 28th, 2021 

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul warns Americans to leave the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul due to a “specific, credible threat”. Additionally, U.S. President Joe Biden issues a warning of another attack on the airport in the next “24–36 hours”. (Business Insider) 

British troops return to the United Kingdom from Afghanistan, ending the evacuation process at the airport and the country’s involvement in the war. (Time) 

Co-leader of the Panjshir resistance and self-proclaimed president Amrullah Saleh criticizes the United States for its withdrawal and for its demand last year of releasing Taliban prisoners as part of the negotiations. Saleh says that the Taliban’s rule “won’t last long” and appeals to the European Union for support. (Saudi Gazette) 

The Japanese Health ministry confirms that two men died after receiving their second dose of the contaminated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from one of three manufacturers. The ministry said that the cause of the deaths was still being investigated. (Radio France Internationale) 

Kosovo reimposes its nightly curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and delays the start of the school year until September 13 due to a worsening COVID-19 situation in the country. Only essential staff will be allowed to work in public and private institutions until September 13. (Politiko) 

Following the airstrike by the United States on August 27, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the attack saying they consider the airstrike a “clear attack on Afghan territory”. (Reuters) 

U.S. military says retaliatory airstrike likely killed ISIS leader in Afghanistan The United States military said Friday that it conducted an airstrike against the Islamic State in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province in retaliation for a suicide bomb attack outside the gates of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed nearly 200 Afghan civilians and 13 American service members on Thursday amid a chaotic evacuation process following the Taliban’s takeover of the capital city. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said “initial indications” are that the strike killed an unnamed extremist leader whom the U.S. intelligence community believes was involved in the planning of the bombing, as well as potential future attacks. The U.S. has warned American citizens at certain airport gates to leave immediately as credible threats remain, though evacuation flights continued to leave Friday.  THE NEW YORK TIMES 

RFK assassin recommended for parole Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-N.Y.) in Los Angeles in 1968, was recommended for parole Friday during his 16th appearance before a California parole board. The 77-year-old has served 53 years in prison. The two-person panel’s ruling will be reviewed over the next several months, and it will then be sent to California’s governor, who will have 30 days to sign off on the decision, reverse it, or modify it. Two of Kennedy’s surviving sons, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Douglas Kennedy, expressed support for Sirhan’s potential release, though several of their siblings oppose it. CNBC 

Powell indicates Fed may soon scale back support of U.S. economy Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday indicated that the central bank will begin scaling back its pandemic-related support of the United States economy, which Powell said has seen “more progress in the form of a strong employment report for July.” Because of the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, he added that “we will be carefully assessing incoming data and evolving risks,” but he still believes the “prospects are good for continued progress toward maximum employment.” Powell also said he remains confident inflation, which rose more than 4 percent annually last month, is transitory. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

U.S. intelligence review inconclusive on coronavirus origins A United States intelligence report did not reach any firm conclusions on whether the coronavirus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic first jumped to humans through contact with an infected animal or a lab leak. An unclassified summary of the report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence suggested both theories are plausible, but the intelligence community “remains divided.” President Biden ordered U.S. agencies to review the matter, criticizing China — where the virus originated — for preventing international investigators from accessing “critical information” about the pathogen. The agencies involved in the review did reach “broad agreement” that the virus was “not developed as a biological weapon” and that Chinese officials “did not have foreknowledge of the virus” before the initial outbreak of COVID-19. NPR 

Biden meets with Israel’s Bennett at White House President Biden on Friday had his first in-person meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett since the latter assumed his post earlier this year. The pair met at the White House, where Biden said he looks “forward to us establishing a strong personal relationship.” The meeting was aimed at demonstrating “an unshakable partnership between our two nations,” Biden said. Although Bennett and Biden have different views on Iran — Biden made it clear he’s seeking a deal with Tehran, while Bennett said he presented an alternative plan for Israel’s rival — and Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the former said he’s determined to “bring a new spirit” to the U.S.-Israel relationship built on “good will … hope, decency and honesty … unity and bipartisanship.” His predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was known for having a somewhat contentious relationship with American Democrats.  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

Scientists discover world’s northernmost island A team of Danish scientists from Copenhagen University accidentally discovered the world’s northernmost island off the coast of Greenland last month. The researchers thought they had arrived at Oodaaq, an island discovered by a Danish survey team in 1978, to collect samples, but they later checked their exact location and realized they were 850 yards northwest of that landmass. The newly-discovered island, which is only about 100 feet across, was revealed by shifting pack ice, and it’s not known how long it will remain above sea level, Morten Rasch, the head of the mission, said. Rasch also said that the discovery isn’t a “big deal” from a scientific perspective, but he did admit that it’s “funny to be among those six people ever on earth who have had muddy boots at the most northerly point in the world.” BBC 

Friday,  August 27th, 2021 

The United States launches an airstrike in Nangarhar, killing two Islamic State members and wounding a third. It is reported that one of those killed was planning more attacks in Kabul. (CNN) 

Afghan political leader and activist Fatima Gailani, who helped draft a new constitution for Afghanistan and also took part in peace talks with the Taliban, blames exiled former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for the current “chaotic” situation in the country, and says that U.S. President Joe Biden also contributed by withdrawing troops without a “political settlement” in place. (Deutsche Welle) 

The United States urges the Taliban to include former President Hamid Karzai and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in the formation of the new inclusive government. (Al Jazeera) 

Crowds return to the Kabul airport a day after the suicide bombing at the airport. (VOA) 

A U.S. Marine lieutenant is relieved of his duties after posting a video demanding accountability from military leaders over the evacuation. (TMZ) (California News Times) 

The death toll from the ISIL suicide bombing attack at the airport in Kabul yesterday increases to 175. Three British citizens are confirmed to have been killed in the attack. (Al Jazeera) 

The newly appointed Minister of Finance  of Zambia Situmbeko Musokotwane says that he has begun to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund on a $12 billion external debt. Musokotwane says that he is also working with other private funds to which Zambia owes payments. Musokotwane anticipates that Zambia “will not be able to immediately cancel all debts”. (Reuters) 

Cuba recognizes cryptocurrency as legal tender, becoming the second nation to do so after El Salvador. (Al Jazeera) 

The number of severe COVID-19 patients in Japan surpasses 2,000 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Japan Times) 

Danish Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke announces that the country will lift all COVID-19-related restrictions on September 10 as it considers that the “epidemic is under control” and does not pose “a critical threat to society”. The country will also lift the obligation to present an immunity passport in order to attend certain events as more than 70% of Danes are fully vaccinated. (The Guardian) 

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announces that the U.S. government has opened a mass vaccination site at the Dulles International Airport for arriving Afghan refugees. (AP) 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the world’s first deer positive case of COVID-19 from white-tailed deer in the state of Ohio. (CTV News) 

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends that children between the ages of 12 and 15 be included in the COVID-19 vaccination program using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination bookings for this age group will begin on September 13. (ABC News Australia) 

The Taliban regime appoints Khalil Haqqani as head of security in Kabul. Haqqani, a veteran of the Soviet–Afghan War and war on terror, is a designated terrorist by the United States, and is currently wanted on a US$5 million bounty. (NBC News) 

In a 73−50 vote, the Congress of Peru approves the leftist cabinet of President Pedro Castillo, who thanked the Congress for “granting confidence”. The vote increased the approval of Castillo’s government, which currently holds a 38% approval rating. (Reuters) 

The End Sunday 

Friday,  August 27th, 2021 

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Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Spain end their evacuation flights from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. (Reuters)  

Prominent Afghan female activist Fatima Gailani and part of the Doha agreement team labels Ashraf Ghani as a “national traitor” and criticizes former president Hamid Karzai for the fall to the Taliban. She vows to return to Kabul as she also criticizes U.S. President Joe Biden for the withdrawal of troops. (DW) 

The United States urges the Taliban to include former President Hamid Karzai and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in the formation of the new inclusive government. (Al Jazeera) 

At least 9 killed and more than 80 injured in explosion at military compound in southern Kazakhstan. (Euronews) 

The newly appointed Minister of Finance  of Zambia Situmbeko Musokotwane says he has begun to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund on a $12 billion external debt. Musokotwane says he is also working with other private funds to which Zambia owes payments. Musokotwane anticipates that Zambia “will not be able to immediately cancel all debts”. (Reuters) 

Danish Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke announces that the country will lift all COVID-19 restrictions as of 10 September as it considers that the “epidemic is under control” and does not pose “a critical threat to society”, just as it will lift the obligation to present a COVID passport to attend certain events. More than 70% of Danes have received the full vaccination schedule. (The Guardian) 

A federal prosecutor indicts President Alberto Fernández for violating the sanitary measures he himself decreed in July 2020 during a birthday celebration party of First Lady Fabiola Yáñez. Fernández appeals to evade trial and volunteers to donate his salary. The prosecutors reject his proposal as they say that government officials cannot skip trial. (MercoPress) 

Former Prime Minister of Mali Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga is arrested accused of corruption for his involvement in the purchase of a presidential plane in 2014. (Reuters) 

The Taliban regime appoints Khalil Haqqani as head of security in Kabul. Haqqani, a veteran of the Soviet–Afghan War and war on terror, is a designated terrorist by the United States, and is currently wanted on a US$5 million bounty. (NBC News) 

Suicide bombers kill 13 U.S. troops, dozens of Afghans Two suspected Islamic State-affiliate suicide bombers attacked outside the Kabul airport on Thursday. One of the blasts killed 13 U.S. troops and wounded 15 others. At least 95 Afghans also were killed in the attacks. The blasts came after repeated warnings by the United States and its allies of potentially imminent terrorist threats against the chaotic effort to evacuate Americans, other foreigners, and Afghans who have worked with foreign missions and are desperate to escape following the recent takeover. The U.S. deaths were the first American military fatalities in Afghanistan since two soldiers were killed in a February 2020 insider attack by an Afghan soldier. President Biden vowed that the U.S. would hunt down the attackers. THE WASHINGTON POST 

7 Capitol Police officers sue Trump, extremist groups over Jan. 6 attack Seven Capitol Police officers on Thursday filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and some of his supporters over their roles in the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The civil rights lawsuit accuses Trump and right-wing extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers of using domestic terrorism in a failed effort to keep Trump in power even though he lost the 2020 election. The plaintiffs, five of whom are Black, said the plot used white supremacist-laden conspiracy theories falsely alleging voter fraud, particularly in heavily Black areas. Damon Hewitt, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which is representing the officers, said the insurrection “was a blatant attempt to stifle the votes and voices of millions of Americans, particularly Black voters.” THE HILL 

Supreme Court blocks Biden administration’s latest eviction ban The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked the Biden administration’s extension of the eviction moratorium imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep people from losing their homes during the coronavirus crisis. The court’s six-member conservative majority said Congress would have to approve the policy for it to continue. “Congress was on notice that a further extension would almost surely require new legislation, yet it failed to act,” the court wrote in an unsigned, eight-page opinion. The court’s three liberal justices dissented. The majority said the CDC’s moratorium was based on a statute letting it “implement measures like fumigation and pest extermination,” but it “strains credulity” to suggest it has the “sweeping authority” necessary to ban evictions nationwide. CNN 

Illinois governor imposes mask, vaccine mandates Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday announced that all educators, college students, and health-care workers in the state would be required to be vaccinated. Pritzker also imposed a statewide indoor mask mandate for everyone age 2 and up, as part of an intensifying effort by the state government to combat a coronavirus resurgence driven by the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant. “Let’s be clear, vaccination is the most effective tool we have for keeping people out of the hospital and preventing deaths,” said Pritzker, a Democrat. “Nearly all Illinoisans who are hospitalized with COVID are the Illinoisans who are not vaccinated. And those hospitalizations are only increasing.” CHICAGO TRIBUNE 

COVID hospitalizations exceed 100,000 for 1st time since January For the first time since January, the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the U.S. has risen above 100,000, due to a surge fueled by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. Levels are highest across the South. Florida is the state with the most hospitalizations, with more than 17,000. Texas is next with more than 14,000. Both states have Republican governors who have taken drastic actions to prevent local governments from imposing mask and vaccine requirements. Many hospitals across the country have been overwhelmed, with many running short of beds in their intensive care units. Children are increasingly affected. Kids now account for 36 percent of Tennessee’s COVID-19 cases. The state has recorded 14,000 pediatric cases in the last week, up 57 percent over the previous week, Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Texas House approves GOP voting restrictions Texas’ Republican-led House on Thursday passed new voting restrictions after an unprecedented effort by Democrats to stop it by fleeing the state to deny the chamber a quorum. The measure passed 79-37 in a mostly party-line vote. Democrats first blocked the legislation in May with a dramatic walkout, then left the state en masse after GOP Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session. During a 38-day standoff, the Democrats pleaded with members of Congress to enact new voting protections. The delay ended when enough Democrats returned for Republicans to resume efforts to approve the bill. The state Senate has passed a similar bill, and now will consider the House version, which adds new ID requirements for people seeking to vote by mail, bans drive-through and 24-hour voting options, and empowers partisan poll watchers. NPR 

Tropical Storm Ida intensifies, aims for Gulf Coast Tropical Storm Ida gained strength in the Caribbean Sea early Friday as it passed near Grand Cayman about 310 miles east-southeast of the western tip of Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ida is expected to continue intensifying and hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, possibly as a powerful hurricane, by late Sunday or early Monday. After reaching tropical storm strength overnight, with top sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, Ida is expected to reach hurricane strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday morning. It could continue gaining steam and “be near major hurricane strength” by the time it reaches the northern Gulf Coast, the center said. NBC NEWS 

Capitol Police officer who shot Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt goes public U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd stepped forward Thursday to publicly identify himself as the officer who fatally shot Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt as she tried to force her way into the House chamber. “I know that day I saved countless lives,” Byrd told NBC News anchor Lester Holt. “I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger.” Byrd, a 28-year veteran of the force, explained that he repeatedly yelled at the rioters to stop trying to break through the barricaded door to the Speaker’s Lobby. Byrd, who is Black, said he had received death threats, some racist in nature, since his identity was leaked online. NBC NEWS 

Department of Education forgives $1.1 billion ITT Tech student loans The Department of Education said Thursday it would forgive $1.1 billion in federal loans to about 115,000 former students who attended the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute but left after March 2008 without finishing their degree. ITT Tech shut down in 2016, closing more than 130 schools after the Education Department said it could no longer enroll new students who needed federal loans and grants. Students had long accused the for-profit college of using fraudulent recruitment practices, and the Education Department launched an investigation. The department found that “for years, ITT hid its true financial state from borrowers while luring many of them into taking out private loans with misleading and unaffordable terms that may have caused borrowers to leave school.” AXIOS 

120 coronavirus cases in 5 states linked to Sturgis motorcycle rally Public health officials have linked more than 120 new coronavirus infections to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, which ended on Aug. 15. The South Dakota Department of Transportation said close to 526,000 vehicles passed through Sturgis during the rally, which started Aug. 6, a 14 percent increase over 2020 traffic, and a 5 percent jump from 2019. Through contact tracing, South Dakota health officials have linked 16 cases to the event, while their counterparts in North Dakota have identified 42 cases, followed by Wyoming with 32 cases, Wisconsin with 20 cases, and Minnesota with 13 cases, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. A report by state and federal public health researchers concluded that one death and at least 649 infections were connected to the 2020 rally. THE WASHINGTON POST 

Thursday, August 26th, 2021 

A suicide bombing attack occurs at an entrance of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, followed by another blast and gunfire. At least 62 Afghan civilians, 28 Taliban militants, and 13 U.S. servicemembers are murdered during the attack. More than 150 others are wounded. ISIL-K, who have threatened the airport in recent days, have claimed responsibility for the attack. (BBC) (The Guardian) 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the United Kingdom will continue evacuations despite the terrorist attacks that occurred at Hamid Karzai International Airport. (Sky News) 

U.S. President Joe Biden, in an address to the nation, says that the evacuation of American citizens will continue despite the terrorist attacks. He also vows that the U.S. will avenge the deaths of the 13 Marines killed in the attacks by “hunting down” those responsible and “making them pay”. (AP) 

The United States says that it is taking steps to boost humanitarian aid into Afghanistan despite the Taliban being blacklisted by the treasury. The United States also says that it is working with local partners to facilitate humanitarian aid to reach the Afghan population. (Reuters) 

Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Russia and the Netherlands end their evacuation flights from Hamid Karzai International Airport ahead of a Taliban ultimatum to leave by August 31. Several shots are fired in the direction of an Italian military plane as it was departing the airport, although the airplane was not the intended target and no casualties or damage have been reported. (BBC) 

A mass grave containing between 5,000 and 8,000 skeletons is discovered in Odessa, Ukraine, during exploration works for a planned expansion of Odesa International Airport. The graves are believed to date back to the late 1930s during a major purge. (BBC) 

Japan suspends the usage of 1.63 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns of contamination in some unused vials. (BBC) (The Washington Post) 

Russia reports a record 820 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 179,243. (Barron’s) 

Argentina condemns “energetically” the designation of Mohsen Rezai in a ministerial rank in the government of Ebrahim Raisi in Iran. Yesterday, Argentina had renewed its condemnation of the designation of Ahmad Vahidi as minister of the interior. Both men are wanted by Argentina and Interpol over alleged connections with the 1994 AMIA bombing. The Foreign Ministry condemns Iran for its “affront to Argentine justice”. (Notimérica) 

Ty Garbin is sentenced to six years in prison and fined $2,500 for his role in the kidnapping plot of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer last year. He is the first person to be sentenced in the conspiracy, which includes thirteen other accused plotters who are currently awaiting trial. (BBC) 

The Taliban announce the re-imposition of the public ban on music in Afghanistan. Zabiullah Mujahid, the official spokesperson for the Taliban, expressed the hope that the Emirate would be able to “persuade people not to do such things instead of pressuring them.” (The Daily Telegraph) 

Pope Francis appoints Italian nun Alessandra Smerilli as Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, becoming the first woman to do so. (Vatican News) 

The End Friday 

1,500 Americans still in Afghanistan as threats loom over evacuation About 1,500 American citizens remain in Afghanistan as the U.S. government rushes to evacuate everyone seeking to leave before the Aug. 31 deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. More than 4,500 U.S. citizens have been flown out of Afghanistan in the chaotic evacuation effort that began at Kabul’s international airport after the Taliban seized control of the country earlier this month. U.S. and allied planes flew 19,200 people out of Kabul in the last day, and more than 10,000 others were at the airport awaiting flights, officials said Wednesday. European leaders warned the airport was no longer safe. A British official said there had been “very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack” there, possibly within “hours.” THE NEW YORK TIMES 

Panel investigating Jan. 6 attack demands Trump documents The House select committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters made broad requests for federal agency records on Wednesday. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the committee’s chair, sent letters demanding materials pertaining to the insurrection and to Trump’s attempts to reverse his election loss to President Biden. Thompson demanded that agencies hand over documents covering such matters as “the former president’s knowledge of the election results and what he communicated to the American people about the election.” Thompson told the agencies to hand over the materials within two weeks. “Our Constitution provides for a peaceful transfer of power, and this investigation seeks to evaluate threats to that process,” Thompson wrote. THE WASHINGTON POSTTHE HILL 

Man sentenced to 6 years in prison for Whitmer kidnapping plot Ty Garbin, a 25-year-old Michigan man who admitted he was part of a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) from her summer home, was sentenced Wednesday to 75 months in prison and fined $2,500. More than a dozen men have been accused of participating in the plot. Government lawyers said the plotters discussed attacking legislators at the Michigan state Capitol before shifting to the kidnapping plan. Garbin is the only person to have pleaded guilty in the case. Prosecutors said he has cooperated extensively. Garbin, a mechanic, was upset by Whitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions, his lawyer said. Garbin apologized in court, saying he “can’t even begin to imagine the amount of stress and fear” the plot caused Whitmer and her family.  NBC NEWS 

Appeals court upholds Dylann Roof’s death sentence A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the death penalty for Dylann Roof, the South Carolina man convicted of killing nine African-American members of a historic Black church in Charleston. Roof was sentenced to death in January 2017 for the 2015 attack. He was the first person in the U.S. to receive the death penalty for a federal hate crime. Overwhelming evidence presented at the trial, including some of Roof’s own writings, confirmed that he was a white supremacist, and that he planned the attack over several months, hoping to start a race war. “His crimes qualify him for the harshest penalty that a just society can impose,” the judges wrote. THE STATE 

Lawmakers face bipartisan criticism over secret Afghanistan trip House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a bipartisan collection of other members of Congress on Wednesday leveled harsh criticism against Reps. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) for making a secret trip to Afghanistan to observe the chaotic evacuation effort that followed the Taliban’s takeover of the country. Pelosi said she found out about the trip on Tuesday but said nothing, to avoid endangering the congressmen’s safety. “This is deadly serious,” Pelosi said, adding that lawmakers were discouraged from going to Afghanistan to avoid straining limited resources ahead of the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News on Wednesday that the trip “put people in jeopardy,” although he understood why the lawmakers went. NBC NEWS 

Texas governor bans COVID vaccine mandates Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Wednesday issued an executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates regardless of a vaccine’s FDA approval status, The Texas Tribune reported. His previous executive order also prohibited COVID vaccine mandates, but only for shots under emergency use authorization. The decision came one day after Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine, Comirnaty, received full FDA approval, a certification many health officials and lawmakers hoped would encourage shot mandates and curb vaccine hesitancy. But Abbott’s order said no state governmental entity can compel anyone to get vaccinated, even with an FDA approved vaccine. The order also barred private entities that receive government funding from denying entry over vaccination status, or requiring people to share that information. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE 

N.Y. governor says COVID death toll higher than Cuomo said New York’s new governor, Kathy Hochul, said Wednesday on her first day in office that the state had nearly 12,000 more COVID-19 deaths than former Gov. Andrew Cuomo had revealed publicly. “The public deserves a clear, honest picture of what’s happening,” Hochul told NPR. Cuomo’s administration had provided the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with data on the state’s full death toll of nearly 55,400 people, but he had only reported the 43,400 deaths that occurred in hospitals and long-term care facilities to the public as of Monday, hours before he left office to avoid impeachment after being accused of sexually harassing at least 11 women. Federal health officials and some academic institutions tracking coronavirus deaths had been using the higher figure for months. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

J&J: COVID booster shot increased antibodies 9-fold Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday that booster shots for its one-dose coronavirus vaccine produced a nine-fold increase in antibodies compared to 28 days after the first shot. The company said the data came from two Phase 2 studies conducted in the United States and Europe in which some of the roughly 2,000 participants got booster doses six months after their first shots. “We have established that a single shot of our COVID-19 vaccine generates strong and robust immune responses that are durable and persistent through eight months,” Dr. Mathai Mammen, global head of research and development for Janssen, said in a statement. “With these new data, we also see that a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine further increases antibody responses among study participants who had previously received our vaccine.” CNN 

Delta to charge unvaccinated workers $200 monthly to cover medical bills Delta Air Lines told employees in a Wednesday memo that unvaccinated people on the company’s health plan would have to start paying a $200 monthly surcharge to cover possible COVID-19 medical bills. “The average hospital stay for COVID-19 has cost Delta $50,000 per person,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said. “This surcharge will be necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company.” The company said the fee would take effect Nov. 1, which would give workers plenty of time to get fully vaccinated if they don’t want to pay. Bastian framed the charge as a security deposit to cover potential expenses, but the memo also noted that vaccinations are part of the company’s effort to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus to the airline’s destinations. GIZMODO 

Judge sanctions pro-Trump lawyers over Michigan election lawsuit A federal judge ordered sanctions against Sidney Powell, Lin Wood, and several other pro-Trump lawyers who filed a lawsuit trying to overturn Michigan’s 2020 presidential election results, saying they engaged in “a historic and profound abuse of the judicial process.” U.S. District Judge Linda Parker said the lawsuit “was never about fraud — it was about undermining the People’s faith in our democracy and debasing the judicial process to do so.” She said sanctions against the lawyers who tried to reverse former President Donald Trump’s election loss were necessary to “deter the filing of future frivolous lawsuits designed primarily to spread the narrative that our election processes are rigged and our democratic institutions cannot be trusted.” Parker, who dismissed the Michigan lawsuit in December, ordered the lawyers to attend ethics classes. Wood said he would appeal. CNNREUTERS 

Wednesday, August 25th, 2021