Evacuation chaos, DNA vaccine, animal census

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Here’s what you need to know

The chaos at Kabul airport continues… Seven people died among the crowds trying to flee the city, while the US is using a Cold War rule to secure more planes, and could extend its efforts beyond Aug. 31.

…and will overshadow the US veep’s Southeast Asia tour. Kamala Harris is in Singapore today, and will visit Vietnam later this week, in a bid to shore up US influence in the region.

India approved the world’s first DNA vaccine against Covid-19. ZyCoV-D, a homegrown product, uses genetic material from the virus to send a signal to the immune system. And Taiwan rolled out its first Covid-19 vaccine, including a jab for president Tsai Ing-wen.

A Communist Party official in Alibaba’s hometown is under investigation. The anti-graft probe into Hangzhou party chief Zhou Jiangyong has sparked speculation it could be due to close ties with the tech group’s founder Jack Ma.

Huge storms are hitting north and central America… At least 22 people have died in flash floods in the US state of Tennessee, and eight people died as Hurricane Grace blew through Mexico. Meanwhile the northeast coast of the US felt the force of tropical storm Henri.

…and wildfires are devastating Algeria. Although such blazes are common, this year’s are particularly bad.

Josephine Baker becomes the first Black woman to receive one of France’s highest honors. The US-born entertainer, who died in 1975, will have her remains reinterred at the Pantheon monument in Paris.

What to watch for

The Paralympic Games begin in Tokyo tomorrow, as Japan’s Covid-19 crisis shows few signs of abating. There are even reports that Olympic venues could be used as medical facilities as soon as the Games end. Once again, there will be no spectators.

The Paralympics have been held every four years since 1960 in Rome, always sharing a host city with the Olympics. But their genesis was in London in 1948, when the International Wheelchair Games ran concurrently with that year’s Olympics; in that event, participation was limited to war veterans.

Notable athletes in Tokyo include Iranian archer Zahra Nemati, aiming for a third consecutive gold; record-holding German long jumper Markus Rehm; and Parfait Hakizimana, a Burundi-born member of the refugee team, who is one of the inaugural Paralympic competitors in taekwondo.

Charting the increasing affordability of clean energy

Experts are terrible at predicting the falling cost of clean energy, Tim McDonnell writes. Better forecasts and more accurate cost curves could accelerate the adoption of more climate-friendly sources.

A decade ago, solar and wind were among the most expensive forms of energy production. Today, thanks to technology improvements and economies of scale, they are among the cheapest in most markets.

🕵️‍♀️

The phones have spies

Last month, 37 journalists, human rights activists, and lawyers found out their phones may have been hacked by authoritarian governments, who were allegedly using software from Israeli technology firm NSO Group. It’s not the first time the company has been in the news for something that sounds like it’s straight out of a seedy thriller.

✦ NSO Group offers a glimpse into the under-regulated world of hackers-for-hire. It’s also the latest subject of The Company, a member-exclusive email sent out every Thursday. Become a member today to get them straight to your inbox.

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Surprising discoveries

The world’s biggest animal census is taking place in Kenya. There’ll be a lot more than two by two.

Only lightning can stop Barry Manilow. And even then, just barely.

One of the most coveted track and field records appears within reach. Elaine Thompson-Herah ran 100m in 10.54 seconds—the 33-year-old record is 10.49.

This is how to do a wedding. That is, if Nigerian royalty is involved.

A 17th-century Salem “witch” could soon be exonerated. It’s all thanks to some eighth-grade history students.

Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, new running spikes, and royal wedding gifts to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah and Tripti Lahiri.