Portal:Current events/2021 August 30

August 30, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Afghanistan conflict
- 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan
  - Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan, Operation Allies Refuge
    - 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)
    - Army General Christopher T. Donahue becomes the last American servicemember to leave Afghanistan. (The Guardian)
- Taliban spokesman 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)

Arts and culture

Video games in China, Video game addiction in China
- 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)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Atlantic hurricane season
- Hurricane Ida is downgraded to a tropical storm after battering the U.S. state of Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards urges citizens "to remain where you are" as the storm left heavy damage in the state. Heavy rains and winds are also expected in the Tennessee and Ohio valleys as the storm moves further north. (The Washington Post) (CNN)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
    - Jakarta reopens schools for some students for the first time after 18 months of remote learning with enhanced safety and health measures as the community activities restrictions are eased in some regions of the country. (The Guardian)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob enters quarantine following a close contact with a COVID-19 patient. (Al Jazeera English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - The Philippines reports a record 22,366 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,976,202. (Rappler)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
    - Vietnam reports a record 14,224 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 449,489. (Viet Nam News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales
      - New South Wales reports a record 1,290 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (9 News)
    - Australia surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (News.com.au)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand
    - New Zealand reports its first death related to the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in a woman who died after suffering myocarditis, a rare side-effect of the vaccine. (TVNZ)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
  - 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
  - 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)

International relations

Nuclear power in North Korea
- 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 News)

Law and crime

Armed gang members take hostages during their getaway following three bank robberies in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Three people are killed during the incident, including two civilians and one of the robbers. Four other people are wounded, including one during an explosion. Three suspects have been arrested. (BBC News)
Kira Yarmysh, the official spokeswoman 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)

Sports

2020 Summer Paralympics
- India at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Shooting at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
  - Paralympian and rifle shooter Avani Lekhara becomes the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the Summer Paralympics. (ESPN)
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
  - Chiba Prefecture halts a program that allow children to watch the Tokyo Summer Paralympics in person after two school teachers tested positive for COVID-19. (NHK World-Japan)