The United States officially withdraws from Afghanistan
After nearly twenty years of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, U.S. troops had their final withdrawal last Tuesday on Aug. 31. Their final withdrawal marked the end of weeks of hectic evacuation for American troops and allies still residing in the country after the Taliban’s lightning takeover. In a speech defending his decision to not extend the withdrawal date, president Joe Biden acknowledged that there were still American citizens left behind and that they would continue to make efforts to help them leave the country in the weeks following the withdrawal.
Angela Merkel prepares to step down from public office
After sixteen years of serving as Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel prepares to retire. In Markel’s speech announcing her soon-to-be resignation, she highlighted some points of her longstanding career as German chancellor. Merkel took office in early 2008 during the midst of a global financial crisis, and is leaving office after leading the charge of Germany’s fight against COVID-19. Early in her career she was praised on her progressive views on the climate crisis as she raised the German energy mix from 10% to over 40%. Markel holds the record for the second-longest serving Chancellor of Germany, and will be the first German chancellor to leave office of their own accord.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to resign
Japan’s prime minister Yoshihide Suga plans to resign on Sept. 30, barely over one year after he took office. Suga cited the harmful effects that his ulcerative colitis has had on his health recently as the reason for his resignation, but he plans to remain a member of the lower house of the National Diet. A new prime minister will be elected to office after a party leadership race that begins on Sept. 17 decides which candidates will run in the general election that happens later in the month.
Suspect shot to death after terrorist attack in New Zealand market
A man stabbed six people in an apparent terrorist attack at a local supermarket in Auckland on Sept. 3. The man was being monitored around the clock by local authorities due to his extremist ideals, so when he entered Countdown supermarket and began to stab people in a frenzy, police were able to shoot and kill him within 60 seconds of the start of the attack. Three of the victims were taken to local hospitals in critical condition, one in serious condition and two others in moderate condition. New Zealand’s prime minister labeled the attack as a terrorist attack, condemning the suspect who has not yet been named and reassured the public that the man acted alone. Police believe that the man resorted to attacking the supermarket at random, as many public gathering spaces are closed due to New Zealand’s ongoing lockdown in response to rising COVID-19 cases.
