The White House remains non-committal on extending the withdrawal deadline from Afghanistan.
The White House released a statement saying that the evacuation of American citizens, third-country nationals and Afghan allies was on pace to finish by the end of the month.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the operation will end based on the achievement of their objectives.
Psaki says Biden told fellow G7 leaders that US troops are facing increasing threats each day from ISIS-K, ISIL’s branch from Afghanistan.

The Taliban is reiterating that it will not agree to an extension of a looming deadline to evacuate Afghans from Kabul airport, even as Western countries say they are running out of time.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the group would not approve an extension and told the US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans.
European nations have said they will not be able to airlift at-risk Afghans before the August 31 cut-off, and United States President Joe Biden has faced calls from all corners to extend the evacuation window.
Mujahid also says female Afghan government workers should stay home until security conditions in the country improve.
President Biden says he would stick to the schedule, but has faced growing pressure to negotiate more time for the evacuations.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the G7 has agreed to a plan to deal with the Taliban, with their number one condition being that the group must allow safe passage to Afghans wanting to leave the country even after an August 31 deadline.
He says the G7 agreed not just a joint approach to dealing with the evacuation, but also a road map for the way in which we’re going to engage with the Taliban.
Johnson says the huge leverage which the G7 could wield over the Taliban after it seized control of the country about a week ago included withholding substantial funds.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia would not interfere in Afghanistan and that Moscow had learned from the Soviet occupation of the country, a week after the Taliban swept back into power.
Putin says they are not going to meddle in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs or involve their military in a conflict where everyone is against each other.
He says the Soviet Union had its own experience in this country. We have learned the lessons we needed.
Putin’s comments came after Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says US forces were pawning off Afghans fleeing the Taliban to neighbouring Moscow-allied Central Asia.

Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra says that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco due to hostile actions, following months of resurgent tensions between the North African rivals.
The countries have long accused one another of backing opposition movements as proxies, with Algeria’s support for separatists in the disputed region of Western Sahara a particular bone of contention for Morocco.
He says Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco because Morocco has never stopped carrying out hostile actions against Algeria.
Lamamra accused Morocco’s leaders of responsibility for repeated crises and behaviour that has led to conflict instead of integration in North Africa.

The US government's aid agency has denied accusations that it has been feeding rebels fighting in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray.
It follows accusations that humanitarian organisations were giving high-energy foods meant for mothers and children to fighters loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
US Aid rejected accusations that it had deliberately given food to fighters, saying that its food donations were only meant for those in need.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma is asking the public to donate funds to support his legal battles - he is facing trial for corruption linked to a $5bn arms deal.
A post on his foundation’s official Twitter page asks South Africans and the world to lend a helping hand to cover legal fees.
Zuma has been serving a 15-month sentence since July for contempt of court for failing to appear at a separate inquiry into corruption.
He has pleaded not guilty, saying the trial is politically motivated.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission have announced plans to commence the process for a new revenue sharing formula for the federal, state, and local governments.
RMAFC Chairman, Elias Mba reiterated that the commission is highly determined to produce, within the shortest possible time, a new revenue sharing formula that will be fair, just, and equitable to the three tiers of government.
He believes the new sharing formula will help address issues of poor infrastructure, ecological challenges, and the series of agitations for a review.
The new revenue sharing formula is expected to be implemented by the end of 2021, 28 years after the commission conducted a review.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will hold banks liable where there are established cases of institutional complicity in fraud in the sector from September 1, 2021
The Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, says bank auditors must take issues of transparency in their operations serious, adding that starting from the aforementioned day, it would no longer be business as usual as the commission would hold banks responsible for such transactions.
He affirmed the commission’s willingness to partner with the association in tackling financial crimes and related challenges in the banking sector.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has called on the federal government to stop subsidising power and fuel consumption in order to put the economy on a sustainable fiscal path.
He also warned the government against excessive borrowing, describing it as a time bomb.
Sanusi says Nigerians have to understand that the way they run the state is unsustainable they cannot continue subsidising fuel.
He says It is desirable, but not sustainable and they have to be ready to make certain sacrifices.