The Pentagon announced plans to require all 1.3m active-service American troops to get vaccinated against covid-19 by mid-September. Around 64% are already there.

All are accustomed to mandatory vaccinations, but a waiver would be needed to give them a shot which has only emergency approval. Joe Biden plans to wait until the Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine, expected this month. (Economist)

#NorthKorea did not answer a daily call on a newly established military hotline with #SouthKorea hours after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.

#Thailand: At least 10 pro-democracy activists were arrested after protests against the monarchy over the weekend. They were denied bail, a human rights lawyer said. When students first called for the reform of the monarchy in protests last year, they broke a longstanding taboo in a country where the monarchy has long been a deeply revered institution with the king holding an almost God-like status.

The royal family is also protected by strict royal defamation laws carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison.

Alert: Taliban overruns the city of Farah in southwest #Afghanistan, the seventh provincial capital to fall to the group in five days.

🔴 Death toll in #Algeria forest fires rises to 42, including 25 soldiers, says government

An updated map of #Afghanistan [morning Aug 11]:

- the Taliban has captured 9 provincial capitals since Friday, including Faizabad, Farah, Pul-e-Khumri, Sar-e-Pul, Sheberghan, Aybak, Kunduz, Taluqan, and Zaranj;

- the Taliban in control of Kunduz airport also;

⚡️ The Taliban has captured police headquarters in Lashkar Gah; they launch attacks on Ghazni from several directions, and the fighting is still active despite their claiming of taking control of the city.

⚡️The US reducing staff at Kabul Embassy to 'core diplomatic presence,' State Dept. says amid deteriorating security in Afghanistan

Taliban take control of another military corps and airport in Herat, detain veteran Afghan politician Ismail Khan, Deputy Interior Minister Abdul Rehman.

🔴The Taliban has captured the key city of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan, a day after the group claimed control over Kandahar and Herat, the country’s second and third largest cities.

⚡️ Sharana, the capital city of the province of Paktika, was captured today by the Taliban forces, local officials said.

The Taliban are in control of 19 out of 34 provincial capitals of #Afghanistan.

❗️Maymana, the provincial capital of Faryab has been taken by the Taliban.

⚡️The Taliban have taken Mazar-e-Sharif - the last major city in the north #Afganistan that was under government control.

A powerful earthquake has struck #Haiti, killing at least 227 people.
The 7.2-magnitude quake hit the west of the country on Saturday morning, toppling and damaging buildings including churches and hotels. (BBC)

🔴 Airstrikes reported on the outskirts of Kabul. Clashes were also reported. Still unknown what is happening on the ground.

The Taliban have occupied Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

🔴 Gunshots heard around the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital Kabul as Taliban close in on the city.

The Taliban called on Afghan forces to "cease gunfire and allow for safe passage through the city [Kabul]" for all civilians and foreigners.

Acting Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said Kabul will not be attacked and that the transition will happen peacefully.

#Sweden will evacuate all its embassy staff from #Kabul, public service broadcaster Swedish Radio reported, citing sources.

The German foreign ministry has said it is closing the #Germany embassy in Kabul and asking German nationals to leave #Afghanistan.