· A large explosion tore through a Shi’ite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar during Friday prayers, killing at least 33 people and wounding 73, but the final total could be higher. A local reporter in Kandahar said that eyewitnesses had described three suicide attackers, one of whom blew himself up at the entrance to the mosque with the two others detonating their devices inside the building. The blast took place just days after an attack claimed by Islamic State militants, which killed scores of Shi’ite worshippers at a mosque in the northern city of Kunduz. The blast, coming so soon after the Kunduz attack, has underlined the increasingly uncertain security in Afghanistan as the Taliban grapple with an escalating economic and humanitarian crisis that threatens millions with hunger.
· Sydney is set to allow quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated Australians. Fully vaccinated Australians will be able to enter New South Wales without the need to quarantine in a hotel, as the government accelerates the wind back of pandemic restrictions. This is the second major relaxation of New South Wales' pandemic restrictions after a 107-day lockdown ended in Sydney this week. The change comes into force from 1 November and only impacts Australian citizens, residents, and their families. This means tourists are still unable to visit Australia without having to quarantine. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says that permanent residents and citizens will be given priority, followed by skilled migrants and international students. Morrison says tourist travel will not be allowed this year and when they will be welcomed back is yet to be set in stone.
· Tens of thousands demonstrate in Rome against neo-fascists. Union members and other Italians have gathered in Rome a week after right-wing extremists forced their way into the headquarters of Italy’s most powerful labor confederation. The head of the CGIL union confederation, Maurizio Landini, led the protest with other labor leaders under the slogan: “Never again fascism.” Organizers put the crowd assembled in front of St. John Lateran Basilica for the protest at 100,000-strong. Landini, CGIL’s secretary-general, has compared the assault on the union headquarters to 1921 attacks by the newly founded Fascist party against union
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/afghanistan-mosque-bombing-leaves-33-dead-73-wounded-rcna3083
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/tens-thousands-demonstrate-rome-neo-fascists-80618958