The Taliban-appointed defense minister of AfghanistanMohammad Yaqoob orders a crackdown on those members of the Taliban who commit abuses following reports by Kabul residents who complained about abusive treatment by certain Taliban members. Yaqoob says that "We direct you to keep them out of your ranks, otherwise strict action will be taken against you," and added that the Taliban does not "want such people in our ranks." (Reuters)
The Cumbre Vieja volcano enters a more explosive and extreme phase, forcing the evacuation of three more neighborhoods. Currently, 390 buildings and 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) of roads have been destroyed by lava flows. (El Mundo)
Singapore reports a record 1,650 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 84,510. (The Straits Times)
South Korea reports a record 2,434 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 295,132. (The Korea Herald)
The number of Australians who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 surpasses 50% after a record 347,796 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the past 24 hours. (7 News)
In escalating tensions, Algerian foreign ministry official Amar Belani says that Algeria "may escalate its dispute" with Morocco, adding that the "adoption of additional measures cannot be ruled out". Both countries suspended diplomatic relations in August 2020 and have had strained relations due to Algeria's support for the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and alleged Moroccan support for the MAK, a Berber separatist group in Algeria. (Reuters)
In an article for Science, a team of researchers based at Bournemouth University conclude that a series of human footprints preserved at White Sands National Park in the U.S. state of New Mexico date back between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, suggesting that humans lived in the Americas 5,000 years earlier than previously thought. The team also determined that most of the footprints came from children and teenagers. (NPR)