Lloyd Austin
Fumio Kishida set to become Japan’s next prime minister
Top of The World: Fumio Kishida, Japan’s former foreign minister, has won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, all but assuring he’ll become the country’s next prime minister. And, senators in Washington on Tuesday grilled top Pentagon officials over the chaotic and violent US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Also, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seeking to ease concerns over fuel shortages in the country by placing army troops on standby to help distribute gasoline.
US to coordinate with NATO on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
Top of The World: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are meeting with NATO officials in Brussels to discuss a withdrawal of the military alliance from Afghanistan. And, the Ever Given, the massive cargo ship that recently blocked the Suez Canal for a week, has been impounded until $900 million in compensation is paid. Also, Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has signed a controversial law extending his mandate in office for two years
Iran blames Israel for blackout, vows revenge
Top of The World: Iran has blamed Israel on Monday for an act of “cybersabotage” that caused a blackout at the country’s Natanz nuclear facility. Also, Monday marks the start of the holy month of Ramadan and for the second time under coronavirus restrictions. And voters in Ecuador have rejected the leftist movement giving former banker Guillermo Lasso 53% of the vote and the presidency
Biden administration launches airstrikes in eastern Syria
Top of The World: The Biden administration took its first military action on Thursday, launching airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Syria. And, new report suggests that Eritrean soldiers systematically killed hundreds of people in Ethiopia. Also, in a second kidnapping in a little over a week, police in Nigeria said armed gunmen abducted over 300 schoolgirls.
House prosecutors set to wrap their impeachment case against Trump
Top of The World: As the impeachment managers look to wrap-up their case on Thursday in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Senators were shown never-before-seen security camera footage that illustrated how close the rioters came to lawmakers. And, New Zealand Indigenous lawmaker Rawiri Waititi, co-leader of Maori Party, has won his battle against wearing a tie in the New Zealand Parliament. Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights activists, has been released from jail.