President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down the attackers (White House) responsible for killing more than one hundred people, including thirteen U.S. service members, near the Kabul airport. Evacuations continue following the deadliest day for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since 2011, despite the risk of more attacks (WaPo), according to the head of U.S. Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.

At least ninety-five Afghans were killed (AP) in the attack. The Islamic State in Khorasan claimed responsibility. Biden said the United States was coordinating with the Taliban on securing areas around the airport. Some U.S. lawmakers and defense officials have criticized this collaboration (Politico), saying it endangers Afghan allies.

During talks in Kabul, the Taliban asked Ankara to run logistics (Hurriyet) at the Kabul airport while the group provides security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. Erdogan said today that Turkey has not decided on the matter.

France: Michel Barnier, the former top European negotiator on Brexit, said he plans to run for president (AFP) in France’s elections next year. In an interview, he staked out a right-wing position and said he would focus on limiting immigration.

The ruling parties of Japan and Taiwan held their first-ever regional security dialogue (Nikkei), during which Japanese lawmakers said they would support Taiwan’s entry (Bloomberg) into a massive trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Talks also focused on cooperation in the semiconductor chip supply chain.

This Backgrounder explains the CPTPP.

Hong Kong: One of Hong Kong’s only independent lawmakers, Cheng Chung-tai, was removed from his seat (SCMP) on the Legislative Council as part of a Beijing-backed vetting process against politicians that are not considered pro-Beijing.

Several powerful blasts that followed a fire at a military facility in Kazakhstan’s south wounded at least sixty people (Reuters), authorities said.

Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating (Reuters) from the last opposition-controlled area in the country’s south as part of a Russia-sponsored deal to avoid open military combat in the area, which is close to Syria’s border with Israel and Jordan.

Tunisia: President Kais Saied, who suspended parliament and sacked the prime minister last month, has arbitrarily banned at least fifty people, including judges and civil servants, from leaving Tunisia, according to an Amnesty International investigation.

CFR’s Steven A. Cook unpacks Saied’s power grab.

A three-year trial conducted in Burkina Faso and Mali found that when children were given a combination of vaccines and prevention drugs, 70 percent fewer died or were hospitalized (Guardian) from malaria than those given just one intervention. The researchers from a British health university believe the results could help prevent some of the four hundred thousand malaria deaths each year.

Mali: Former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, who has been considering a presidential run, was arrested (Reuters) on corruption charges surrounding Mali’s 2014 purchase of a jet.

The video-sharing platform said it halted payments to fourteen channels (Reuters) that Brazil’s electoral court accused of spreading false news about next year’s election. Most of the channels offered support for President Jair Bolsonaro.

Argentina: Appearing before a federal judge, President Alberto Fernandez offered to donate (Bloomberg) half of his next four paychecks as punishment for hosting a party during a COVID-19 lockdown. The party sparked public outcry.

The U.S. Federal Reserve will hold a virtual version (U.S. News) of its annual symposium, normally set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, today. Officials are expected to offer signals on monetary policy for the coming year.

CFR’s ​​Roger W. Ferguson Jr. explains why there is especially fierce interest in this year’s meeting.