With Afghan cities falling to the Taliban day after day, the U.S. is sending in more troops — to help evacuate American diplomats.
Driving the news: The State Department announced today that it will shrink down to a "core diplomatic presence" in Kabul due to the deteriorating security situation. The Pentagon is sending 3,000 troops to Afghanistan's international airport to assist in that mission and help get Afghans who worked with U.S. troops out of the country.
The civil war in Ethiopia is threatening to spread beyond the Tigray region, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issuing a nationwide call to arms and his foes announcing a new military alliance.
Driving the news: On Tuesday, Abiy called on "all capable Ethiopians who are of age to join the defense forces, special forces, and militias and show your patriotism" by taking up arms against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
The United Kingdom will send 600 troops to Kabul to help with logistical support and protection of British nationals, the defense secretary announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The Taliban has stepped up attacks since the U.S. began withdrawing troops in an attempt to retake Afghanistan. The terrorist group captured Kandahar, Afghanistan's second-largest city and the birthplace of their movement, earlier Thursday.
The Taliban have captured Kandahar, the birthplace of their movement and the second-largest city in Afghanistan, the AP reports.
Why it matters: It'sthe 12th provincial capital overrun by the Taliban in about a week, delivering a hugely important strategic and symbolic victory for the insurgents.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told CIA Director Bill Burns in a meeting on Wednesday that the U.S. and Israel should start working on a joint strategy for a scenario in which Iran elects not to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, Israeli officials told me.
Why it matters: The Israeli intelligence community, foreign ministry and other national security agencies think the likelihood of Iran deciding to return to the deal has waned in recent weeks after the election of new hardline President Ebrahim Raisi.
The Pentagon will send troops to Afghanistan's international airport to facilitate a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the State Department announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The Taliban has captured 12 provincial capitals in the last week, stunning Biden administration officials who did not believe the country's security would collapse so quickly during the U.S. withdrawal.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to announce Sunday a snap election for Sept. 20, Reuters reports, less than two years after the last national vote.
Why it matters: Trudeau currently leads a minority government and can only pass legislation with support from opposition parties. But his position has strengthened during the pandemic, and CBC's polling average shows his Liberal Party with a cushion of 6.6% over the opposition Conservatives.
The Taliban captured the cities of Ghazni and Herat on Thursday, the 10th and 11th provincial capitals to fall to the militant group in recent days, AP reports.
Why it matters: Herat is the third-largest city in Afghanistan. Ghazni is the closest provincial capital to Kabul to fall to the Taliban — putting their frontlines within 100 miles of the heart of Afgahn government. Capturing Ghazni also cuts off a key highway linking it with Afghanistan's southern provinces.
CASABLANCA, Morocco — Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a press conference on Thursday that Israel and Morocco will move toward full diplomatic normalization by upgrading their diplomatic liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat to full embassies within two months.
Black Lives Matter demonstrations popping up from Brazil to Mexico show how influential Black American social movements have been in Latin America — and how movements there also have shaped activism in the U.S.
The big picture: Social justice advocacy in the Americas has always motivated people across borders and languages, though the extent of that influence has often been ignored or overlooked.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced plans Thursday to reopen the country's borders in 2022 while maintaining a COVID-19 elimination strategy — with vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries not required to quarantine.
Why it matters: New Zealand has some of the lowest coronavirus rates in the world, reporting fewer than 2,900 infections and 26 deaths from the virus since the pandemic began. It's detected no community cases for 166 days, containing COVID-19 to managed quarantine facilities.
Belarus' government announced Wednesday retaliatory measures against the United States, including blocking the U.S. ambassador from entering its country.
Driving the news: The Biden administration, along with the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom, imposed fresh sanctions against Belarus on Monday, the first anniversary of a fraudulent election that sparked huge protests and a crackdown by the security forces of authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
