Our Top 5 Stories for the Week of September 6, 2021

Updated September 11, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

It’s been a busy week, from the attempt to use Bitcoin as currency to Afghanistan’s new government. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top five stories of the week.

Vaccination Efforts Continue as Mandates Become More Common (Covid Updates)

Photo Source: AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Vaccine Rollout Updates: On Sunday, September 5, it was announced by Dr. Fauci that the original plan to roll out Moderna booster shots by September 20 had been delayed. Pfizer, however, seemed to be on track to get the booster shot approved by the FDA in the near future.^[1] On Tuesday, September 7, the CDC added Jamaica and Sri Lanka to the Extremely High-Risk List (Level 4) due to low vaccination rates. Low vaccination rates have also caused ten more countries to be added to the High-Risk List (Level 3).^[2] On Friday, September 10, children as young as two began the vaccination process in Cuba. The homegrown vaccine has been listed as safe for toddlers since August, and will hopefully make it possible for children to go back to school. To date, 4 million Cubans have been vaccinated against Covid-19.^[3]
New Federal Mandates: On Friday, September 10, President Biden announced new guidelines that require federal employees to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. Biden is also urging the Department of Labor to extend these guidelines and mandates to all businesses with more than 100 employees.^[4] That same day, United Airlines announced that while it has some medical and religious exemption accommodations for the mandated Covid vaccine, it will be placing employees who use them on indefinite unpaid leave for now.^[5]
Florida Legal Battle Continues: On Tuesday, September 8, at least 13 Miami-Dade district employees were reported to have died from Covid in the last month. Miami-Dade is one of the districts battling Governor DeSantis’ order banning mask mandates, which had temporarily been paused.^[6] However, on Friday, September 10, an appeals court judge ruled in favor of DeSantis, putting the ban back into effect. Civil rights groups around the country are now taking the legal stance that these bans go against the rights of students with special needs and disabilities. They hope this new legal stance will hold up in court and reverse the mask mandate bans in multiple states.^[7]

Source: [1]CNN [2]CNN [3]CNN [4]BBC [5]CNN [6]CNN [7]CNN

Check out some more Covid resources.

The Taliban Continue to Advance

Photo Source: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue

Planes Still Trying to Leave: On Sunday, September 5, it was reported that the Taliban was preventing planes from leaving Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport. Republican House member Michael McCaul stated that the flights had both Americans and Afghans on board, and many believe they are being held in order for the Taliban to negotiate an exchange of some sort.^[1] However, on Friday, September 10, a second Qatar Airways passenger flight was able to leave Kabul with 158 passengers of multiple nationalities. Officials are still working to evacuate those left behind, but it is up to the people to make their wishes to leave known.^[2]
Resistance Continues as the Taliban Progresses: On Monday, September 6, the Taliban claimed to be in control of Panjshir, but fighters in the area have said they are still resisting.^[3] A few days later, on Friday, September 10, the UN officially condemned the violent response the Taliban has been showing peaceful protesters. At least four people have died as the Taliban respond to protests with batons, whips, and live ammunition.^[4]
New Government Announced: On Tuesday, September 7, the Taliban officially announced its new government, placing Mohammad Hassan Akhund as the new Prime Minister. Despite its claims to have an inclusive government, the Taliiban didn’t appoint any women or previous leaders. Among those appointed are veterans from the War on Terror and ex-Guantanamo detainees.^[5] That same day, the US criticized the new government and resistance groups urged international forces to not recognize the new appointees.^[6]

Source: [1]BBC [2]CNN [3]BBC [4]BBC [5]CNN [6]BBC

Learn more about the Taliban.

New Government Announced in Lebanon

Photo Source: Dalati Nohra/Lebanese Official Government via AP

On Friday, September 10, a new government was finally announced in Lebanon, over one year after the previous government resigned due to the Beirut explosion. Lebanon’s richest man, Najib Mikati, was named Prime Minister. He has held the position twice before. Mikati put an end to the political paralysis as he appointed new cabinet members. The country has been facing a deepening crisis, with unemployment and inflation rates through the roof. The currency has lost so much value, and fuel and medicine are in short supply. Nearly two years of protests have plagued the government, as well.
Source: BBC

Learn more about Lebanon.

Bitcoin Crashes in El Salvador

Photo Source: AP Photo/Salvador Melendez

On Tuesday, September 7, Bitcoin became an official currency in El Salvador. This move has made El Salvador the first country to accept bitcoin as legal tender. In a promotional move, the government offered $30 worth to anyone who downloaded the digital wallet app. People around the country have been buying $30 worth in support, as well. Many citizens are full of excitement, but some worry how the volatile currency will manipulate their earnings.^[1] However, the excitement was short-lived as the currency quickly crashed the next day. Protests and technical glitches quickly scattered across the country. At one point, the price of Bitcoin even reached its lower value in months, potentially costing the country $3 million as a whole. Since Apple and Huwai refused to support the digital wallet app, servers were pulled offline as the app wasn’t able to handle all the new registrations. Luckily, major chains began accepting payments via Chivo (the digital wallet app), giving some hope to the citizens.^[2]
Source: [1]BBC [2]BBC

Learn more about Bitcoin.

Fires and Hurricanes Continue to Ravage Areas

Photo Source: NOAA via AP

Caldor Fire Updates: On Monday, September 6, the California Caldor Fire only grew 842 acrs over the weekend, providing much needed relief to firefighters and rescue workers. The fire is now 43%contained.^[1]
Mexico Hit by Two Disasters: On Tuesday, September 7, at least 17 patients died after heavy rainfall caused a Mexico hospital to flood. The heavy rain caused a river in the Hidalgo state to overflow and burst, which cut out power to some of the surrounding areas that it also flooded.^[2] Later that night, a powerful earthquake struck parts of southwest Mexico. The quake caused shaking all the way to Mexico City and killed at least one person. Alarms could be heard around the area as the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck.^[3]
Italy Tornado: On Friday, September 10, a tornado swept through an Italian island, killing at least two people and injuring nine more, four of whom are in critical condition. The tornado also ripped roofs off homes and overturned cars. Helicopters have begun rescue missions, airlifting people out of Palermo.^[4]
Hurricane Larry: On Friday, September 10, meteorologists reported that Hurricane Larry will bring a winter storm that could deliver feet of snow to Greenland over the next few days. While the strong winds expected to hit Greenland aren’t unusual, the snow will be.^[5]
Super Typhoon Chanthu: On Saturday, September 11, Super Typhoon Chanthu made landfall in the Philippines before heading towards Taiwan. The storm brought destructive winds and heavy rain to the area. Authorities have extended both land and sea warnings in response. Torrential rain is expected in affected areas, risking flash flooding and landslides.^[6]