WHO declares Delta as dominant COVID-19 variant in PH | Evening wRap

Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

• Delta now dominant COVID-19 variant in Philippines – WHO

The World Health Organization on Tuesday, August 31, says the highly transmissible Delta variant is now the dominant COVID-19 variant in the Philippines.

• Duterte defends Michael Yang, Lao on pandemic contracts controversy

President Rodrigo Duterte defends former presidential adviser Michael Yang and former budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, who are both involved in controversies about the government’s pandemic spending. 

• Bong Go melts down, says Gordon ‘bullying’ him in Senate probe 

Senator Bong Go accuses colleague Richard Gordon of ‘bullying’ as the chamber’s investigation uncovers Go’s links to anomalous pandemic contracts. 

• Robredo: How many more lives will we lose if gov’t can’t do its job right?

Vice President Leni Robredo slams the Duterte government’s mishandling of the pandemic after the country tallied a new record-high of more than 22,000 new COVID-19 cases Monday, August 30.

• US suspends diplomatic presence in Afghanistan

The United States suspends its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and will conduct its operations out of Qatar. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Washington will press ahead with its ‘relentless’ efforts to help people leave Afghanistan, even after its troops have pulled out. – Rappler.com