Afghanistan evacuations, Henri moves north, Broadway's return: 5 things to know this weekend

Editors
·5 min read
Afghanistan evacuations, Henri moves north, Broadway's return: 5 things to know this weekend

Afghanistan evacuations continue in wake of Taliban takeover

Evacuations from Afghanistan are expected to continue all weekend, after President Joe Biden vowed Friday to get out "any American" in Afghanistan who wants to leave the country. Evacuation flights had paused for a "few hours" Friday because of processing delays. On Thursday alone, about 5,700 people were evacuated by military transport planes. That includes 350 U.S. citizens, family members, special immigrant visa applicants and their families and other vulnerable Afghans, according to a White House official. On each of the previous two days, about 2,000 people were airlifted. But as tens of thousands of people wait nervously to exit, a video Thursday of the tense, chaotic scene outside Kabul's airport shows fighters firing weapons into the air above a packed crowd. It raises concerns about violent force being deployed against the civilians who have flocked to the airport in Afghanistan's capital in a desperate attempt to flee.

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Henri expected to become a hurricane before it slams the Northeast

Now churning in the Atlantic as a tropical storm, Henri was forecast to become a hurricane by Saturday and had the Northeast in its sights. The storm could make landfall as a hurricane Sunday between Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, potentially the first significant hurricane to make landfall in New England in years. The storm sparked memories of Hurricane Bob, which hit Cape Cod 30 years ago, knocking out power and running water for days. Bob was the last hurricane to hit Cape Cod and the Islands. Henri's winds were at 70 mph as it spun about 550 miles south of Montauk Point, New York, as of 5 a.m. ET Saturday.

Broadway shows officially return to New York City Sunday

Broadway shows are finally coming back to New York City for the first time after shutting down March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with plenty of requirements for both stars and theatergoers, including vaccinations. "Pass Over," a modern, timely retelling of "Waiting for Godot" that features two Black friends in search of a better life, will be the first show to reopen. Following a couple of weeks of previews, "Pass Over" will officially debut Sunday at the August Wilson Theatre. While casts and crews are excited to see colleagues and audiences, nerves permeate the air, too, as the community remembers the terrifying surge New York faced last year and as the threat of the Delta variant looms large. The death of Broadway star Nick Cordero in July 2020, after a months-long battle with COVID, still lingers as well.

Sha'Carri Richardson to race 100-meter medalists from Tokyo Olympics

Fans missed out on a potentially incredible race in the 100-meter dash at the Tokyo Olympics this year with Sha'Carri Richardson's absence. The American track star, who was disqualified from the Tokyo Games after failing a drug test for marijuana, on Saturday, will race the Jamaican sprinters who swept the 100-meter race in Tokyo at a major meet in Eugene, Oregon. The Prefontaine Classic race includes six of the eight women who raced in the 100-meter final in Tokyo. The race will be a return to the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, the location of this year's Olympic Trials. .

A 'sturgeon moon' will illuminate the skies this weekend

Look at the sky Sunday to catch a glimpse of a full moon that will be both a "sturgeon moon" and "blue moon." Although the moon will officially become full at 8:02 a.m. ET Sunday, it will still appear plenty large throughout both Saturday and Sunday nights. On either of these nights, look toward the southeast sky after sunset to catch a glimpse of the sturgeon moon rising, the Old Farmer's Almanac said. Why is it called the sturgeon moon? "August’s full moon was traditionally called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer," the Almanac said. It'll also be a "blue" moon: When there are four full moons in a single season (on this occasion, summer), the third is considered a blue moon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Afghanistan evacuations, T.S. Henri: 5 things to know this weekend