Sydney
Thousands desperate to be evacuated from Afghanistan
Top of The World: Tens of thousands of people remain stuck in Afghanistan, desperate to be evacuated following the Taliban’s takeover. And, Vice President Kamala Harris’ once low-risk trip to Asia has taken on new importance as she will attempt to reassure allies of American credibility. Also, health officials in Australia are warning that major cities like Sydney and Melbourne may be losing control of a COVID-19 outbreak fueled by the more contagious delta variant.
US and Afghan presidents to meet in Washington amid troop withdrawal
President Joe Biden will meet with Afghan counterpart, President Ashraf Ghani, at the White House, as the two countries prepare for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. And, Australia’s largest city goes into partial lockdown over a spike in the COVID-19 delta variant in Sydney. Also, Palestinians are protesting the death of popular activist Nizar Banat while in Palestinian Authority custody.
Melbourne struggles with second coronavirus spike; Former US Marine sentenced in Russia; UK’s largest pension fund to divest from fossil fuels
Australia recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday as Melbourne grapples with a spike in coronovirus cases. And, former US Marine Trevor Reed has been sentenced to nine years in jail in Russia. And, the National Employment Savings Trust, the UK’s largest pension fund, announced it will begin divesting from fossil fuels.
Protests raise concerns of COVID-19 spread; Researchers retract hydroxycholorquine study
Some governments have urged would-be protesters to move their activism out of the streets over fears of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Researchers retracted a study in the Lancet medical journal over risks of hydroxychloroquine. US President Donald Trump tweeted a letter calling demonstrators in Washington, DC, “terrorists.”