Afghanistan
The final US military plane in Afghanistan tonight took off from Kabul airport at 11:59 pm local time, bringing America’s longest war to an end after 20 years. The US military’s last significant act in the country was a drone strike, the true horror of which became clear today. The US said it was targeting suicide bombers from ISIS-K but it appears from several reports that 10 civilians, including seven children, were killed. Such atrocities were not uncommon over the last two decades and many will see this incident as emblematic of a war so often marked by catastrophic failures.
More in this harrowing read from Al Jazeera here.
Canary Islands
At least 29 people, including seven young girls, died last week on a smuggling boat traveling from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, it came to light today. The seas from the west coast of Africa to the Canaries are considered some of the most treacherous for people trying to reach European shores and drownings are common, though hard to verify. The International Organization on Migration has documented 529 deaths on the route this year but believes the true number to be higher.
More from the Independent here.
Israel-Palestine
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today held talks with Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz in the West Bank — the most high level meeting between the two governments since 2014. It is believed the summit happened under pressure from US President Joe Biden who last week met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
More from Deutsche Welle here.