Portal:Current events/2021 August 31
{{Current events|year=2021|month=08|day=31|content=
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Afghanistan conflict
- Panjshir conflict
- The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan 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. [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/eight-taliban-killed-panjshir-fighting-afghan-militia-forces-say-2021-08-31/ (Reuters)]
- Aftermath of the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan
- 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." [https://www.reuters.com/world/india/rockets-fired-kabul-airport-us-troops-race-complete-evacuation-2021-08-30/ (Reuters)]
- Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict
- A drone attack against the Abha International Airport in Abha, Saudi Arabia, injures eight people. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/31/several-wounded-drone-attack-saudi-airport-houthis-yemen (Al Jazeera)]
- Insurgency in Balochistan, International military intervention against ISIL
- 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 seized during the raid. [https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pakistan-11-islamic-state-militants-killed-raid-79740636 (AP via ABC News)]
Disasters and accidents
- 2021 California wildfires
- 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. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/caldor-fire-evacuations-lake-tahoe-basin-california/ (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. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfires-national-forests-close-temporarily-crisis/ (CBS News)]
- 2021 Atlantic hurricane season
- Two people are killed and 10 more are injured after a 50 foot section of Mississippi Highway 26 collapses west of Lucedale, Mississippi due to Hurricane Ida. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-ida-highway-26-collapse-2-dead-10-injured/ (CBS News)]
- At least 32 people are killed and more than 20 others are wounded as a bus plummets from a cliff in Lima, Peru. [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/1/dozens-dead-as-bus-plunges-off-cliff-near-peruvian-capital-lima (Al Jazeera)]
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh
- 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. [https://www.unb.com.bd/m/category/Bangladesh/chinese-pla-provides-covid-19-vaccines-to-bangladesh-armed-forces/78105 (United News of Bangladesh)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
- 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. [https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/31/health-ministry-ups-restrictions-as-daily-covid-cases-spike-to-11000/ (Israel Hayom)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
- The top medical adviser to the government says that the vaccination of children between the ages of 12 and 17 years old is "crucial" in order to prevent more fatalities among children as Fiji has reported ten children dying from COVID-19, most recently a six-month-old boy who was infected with the Delta variant. [https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/450390/covid-19-fiji-vaccinating-children-crucial-top-health-official (RNZ)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
- 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. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58400777 (BBC News)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco, COVID-19 vaccination in Morocco
- Morocco begins a COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 12 to 17 years old in an effort to ensure their return to schools. [https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/01/covid-19-morocco-begins-inoculating-children-over-12-years-old/ (Africanews)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The U.S. surpasses 39 million cases of COVID-19. [https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/coronavirus-total-us-covid-19-cases-top-39-million/D33EIJHQANGCPO73OJCT3R7PL4/ (KIRO-TV)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia
- Georgia reports a record 9,641 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. [https://apnews.com/article/health-education-georgia-coronavirus-pandemic-9c47fd840f7777f563cadaf418f44cde (AP)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Idaho
- Idaho governor Brad Little activates and deploys the Idaho National Guard to hospitals to stop the spread of COVID-19 cases in the state. [https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/coronavirus/article253887338.html (Idaho Statesman)]
- COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf announces a mask mandate for Pennsylvania schools and daycares. The mandate will take effect on September 7. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid19-pennsylvania-face-mask-requirement-students-k12-child-care-centers/ (CBS News)]
- Variants of SARS-CoV-2
- The World Health Organization designates scientifically-named B.1.621 variant, known as "Mu" and first detected in Colombia, as variant of interest, amid concerns that it has mutations which suggest it is more resistant to vaccines. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/designates-new-mu-variant-interest/ (The Daily Telegraph)]
International relations
- Australia–Singapore relations, COVID-19 vaccine, International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Australia signs a vaccine swap agreement with Singapore that will allow it to receive 500,000 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Singapore later this week. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/08/31/australia-enters-vaccine-swap-agreement-with-singapore-amid-unrelenting-delta-variant-surge/ (Forbes)]
- Afghanistan–India relations
- 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. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-holds-first-dialogue-with-taliban-in-doha-return-of-indians-from-afghanistan-discussed/articleshow/85799628.cms (Times of India)]
Law and crime
- Capital punishment in Bangladesh, LGBT rights in Bangladesh
- 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. [https://www.reuters.com/world/bangladesh-sentences-six-militants-death-killing-gay-activists-2021-08-31/ (Reuters)]
- Transgender rights in the United States
- 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. [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/20-states-sue-biden-admin-biological-males-girls-sports-teams (Fox News)]
- Corruption in Peru
- 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. [https://rpp.pe/politica/judiciales/keiko-fujimori-inician-audiencia-que-la-enfrenta-a-mas-de-30-anos-de-prision-noticia-1355216 (RPP)]
Politics and elections
- 2021 Estonian presidential election
- Alar Karis is elected President of Estonia by the Riigikogu. [https://news.err.ee/1608321953/alar-karis-elected-president-of-estonia (ERR)]
Science and technology
- 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. [https://scitechdaily.com/spacex-cargo-dragon-successfully-docks-to-international-space-station/ (SciTechDaily)]
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