(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Reports of targeted killings in areas overrun by the Taliban mounted Friday, fueling fears that they will return Afghanistan to the repressive rule they imposed when they were last in power, even as they urged imams to push a message of unity at Friday's prayers.
Biden on Afghanistan: "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home"
The president said he's not aware of Americans being restricted by the Taliban, but the defense secretary told lawmakers Americans have been beaten by the Taliban.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden vows to evacuate all Americans — and Afghan helpers
President Joe Biden is pledging firmly to bring all Americans home from Afghanistan — and all Afghans who aided the war effort, too.
apnews.com
Afghanistan updates: US, Taliban hold first direct talks since withdrawal
The US and the Taliban held their first direct talks since the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan at the end of August in Doha, Qatar, over the weekend.
Taliban took Afghanistan but face cash squeeze
The Taliban face a major challenge in cementing control of Afghanistan: Money. The military blitz that enabled the Taliban to retake Afghanistan did not extend to finances.
apnews.com
Afghans who helped US military plea for escape: Taliban will 'cut our heads off'
Many Afghans say they are in hiding and fearing for their lives
Biden finally answers questions about Afghanistan from White House reporters after intense pressure
President Biden avoided answering reporters' questions twice earlier this week
Researchers identify key QAnon influencer ‘GhostEzra’
Researchers at the intelligence firm Logically have identified a key member of the QAnon community who has used his significant platform to spread antisemitic conspiracies.In a new report released …
thehill.com
New England preps for 1st hurricane in 30 years with Henri
New Englanders bracing for their first hurricane in 30 years are hauling boats out of the water and taking other precautions as Tropical Storm Henri barrels toward the Northeast coast.
apnews.com
Biden administration moves to replace Trump public charge rule
The Biden administration on Friday moved forward to formally replace the Trump administration’s public charge rule, which barred many prospective immigrants from using social services.The Dep…
thehill.com
Moving vans at mansion as Cuomo prepares to leave office
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's lawyer has again attacked the accuracy of the report that led to his resignation
US imposes limited sanctions over Russian gas pipeline
The Biden administration has imposed new sanctions on three Russian ships and companies involved in constructing a controversial gas pipeline from Russia to Europe.
apnews.com
NATO to Taliban: ‘We will not allow any terrorists to threaten us’
NATO’s foreign ministers on Friday issued a warning to the Taliban as the Western military alliance works to ensure the safe evacuation of citizens from member countries as well as Afghan allies, s…
thehill.com
Feds Deliberately Targeted BLM Protesters To Disrupt The Movement, A Report Says
Experts say the prosecution of protesters continues a century-long practice rooted in structural racism to suppress Black social movements via the use of surveillance tactics and other mechanisms.
www.npr.org
Veteran lawmakers say Aug. 31 Afghanistan deadline creates ‘panicked situation’
Frustrated veteran lawmakers pointed the finger at the Aug. 31 deadline for getting all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan for creating chaos and panic at Kabul's airport as Americans, Afghan translators, and allies scramble to evacuate the country as the Taliban take hold.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Rep. Brian Mast: ‘The President Is Full of Total Sh--'
www.politico.comDemocratic and Republican officials in Arizona laid out reasons the GOP election audit can't be trusted in preemptive attacks before the report's release
Officials from both parties released withering reports on the state GOP-baked audit, saying it was marred by secretiveness and sloppiness.
Texas Democrats criticize colleagues who returned to state House floor
Nearly three dozen Texas Democrats on Friday bashed colleagues who returned to the state House floor in Austin this week, a move that restored quorum to the chamber and likely will allow a GOP elec…
thehill.com
The Latest: Official Taliban websites abruptly go offline
Taliban websites that delivered the victorious insurgents’ official messages to Afghans and the world at large in five languages have abruptly gone offline
Biden postpones Friday plan to head to Delaware home
The White House says President Joe Biden has postponed plans to head to his Delaware home on Friday and instead will spend the night in Washington.
apnews.com
Exclusive: FBI finds scant evidence U.S. Capitol attack was coordinated - sources
The FBI has found scant evidence that the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was the result of an organized plot to overturn the presidential election result, according to four current and former law enforcement officials.
Updates from Afghanistan: Biden tells Americans 'we will get you home' as airport chaos continues
Biden said the U.S. evacuated 5,700 people from Afghanistan Thursday.
www.usatoday.com
Progressive group urges DOJ to investigate ex-Trump Justice official
A watchdog group on Friday called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate a former Trump administration official who reportedly explored ways to undermine the results of the 2020 election…
thehill.com
August 20, 2021, Afghanistan-Taliban news
With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan, many countries are racing to evacuate their citizens and shutting their embassies temporarily. Follow here for the latest news.
Kate Bedingfield claims Biden 'never shies' from press questions
White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield claimed Friday that President Joe Biden "never shies away from taking questions" from the media despite the president's refusal to answer questions since the fall of Kabul last Sunday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Justice Barrett rejects effort to halt Obama library construction
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied a petition to stop the construction of an Obama Foundation library in Chicago.
Refugee group: 32 Afghans trapped between Poland and Belarus
A Polish refugee rights group says 32 people who fled Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover have been trapped for 12 days in an area between Poland and Belarus
Oklahoma mother of 11 rescues 10 Afghan girls
An Oklahoma mother of 11 rescued 10 members of Afghanistan's all-girls robotics team amid the Taliban's takeover of the country.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Afghanistan evacuation flights resume after pause
Evacuation flights out of Afghanistan temporarily paused Friday as the facility in Qatar where evacuees are being taken reached capacity and the U.S. overwhelmed the ability of Doha to accept incom…
thehill.com
Kabul evacuations resume after hours-long delay
US president thanks Qatar saying airlifts ‘would not have been possible without the early support’ from Sheikh Tamim.
Pennsylvania's election audit 'stopped for the time being.' Here's why.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano said in a since-deleted Facebook video that his election audit effort is "stopped for the time being."
www.usatoday.com
Biden eviction ban heads to Supreme Court
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied an emergency motion by two chapters of the National Association of Realtors to stop the ban.
www.politico.com
Socialist commentator Hasan Piker faces backlash for buying $2.7M home in Hollywood
Left-wing influencer Hasan Piker is facing a wave of backlash after news surfaced that he bought a nearly $3 million home in West Hollywood.
Biden EPA loosens Trump rule limiting states’ ability to reject pipelines
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued a joint memo with the U.S. Department of the Army allowing states and tribes to extend the finalization process for water permits after a Trump-…
thehill.com
White House: ‘Heartbreaking’ scenes from Afghanistan ‘not acceptable’ to Biden
White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said Friday that the scenes of chaos in Afghanistan following the collapse of the Afghan government are “not acceptable” to President Biden as s…
thehill.com
LA officials address mail-in ballot concerns after some decry holes found on envelopes
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office quelled concerns that mail-in ballots for the upcoming recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom are vulnerable to fraud.
Capitol riot suspect violated release terms to watch election conspiracies online, prosecutors say
Capitol riot suspect Doug Jensen was caught watching an election conspiracy event online despite pretrial orders to stay off the internet, prosecutors say
www.usatoday.com
POLITICO Playbook PM: Biden faces 3 big questions on Afghanistan
And new data suggests state cutoffs of jobless benefits had little effect on unemployment.
www.politico.com
Allies expect ‘explosion’ of terrorism as Afghanistan refugee crisis looms
President Joe Biden’s exit from Afghanistan and the subsequent rapid victory of the Taliban creates significant opportunities for terrorist organizations to radicalize recruits, particularly as a refugee crisis erupts.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Navy leader to sailors: Afghanistan mission ‘was not in vain, made a difference’
Adm. Mike Gilday, the Navy’s top officer, has written a letter to the fleet Friday telling sailors that their mission and service in Afghanistan “was not in vain and it made a difference.
House returns to Washington next week to forge ahead with infrastructure bill, budget plan
Nancy Pelosi is forging ahead with a vote on Democrats' budget resolution as centrists push for a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
This Mo Brooks statement is everything that is wrong with our politics | CNN Politics
A man claiming to have a bomb – and demanding that “all Democrats need to step down” – shut down Capitol Hill for most of Thursday.
www.cnn.com
Family of American taken by Taliban beg for return
Mark Frerichs, 59, one of the last Americans kidnapped by the Taliban, is stuck in Afghanistan.
www.bbc.com
Colorado River cutbacks set stage for decade of drought politics
PHOENIX — A prolonged and worsening drought has created an alarming shortage of water across the parched West, setting off what is likely to be a years-long crisis that could threaten the future of…
thehill.com
Naval Academy expels 18 after online exam cheating probe
U.S. Naval Academy officials announced Friday that 18 midshipmen have been expelled and another 82 sanctioned after an investigation into cheating on an online physics exam in December
New ETF hopes to attract conservatives who don’t want to invest in 'woke' companies
A growing ETF is looking to capture conservative investors who want to eschew outspoken companies that tout left-wing causes.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Taliban responsible for massacre of nine Hazara men: Amnesty
‘Cold-blooded brutality’ of killings is a ‘horrifying indicator of what Taliban rule may bring’, Agnes Callamard says.
Supreme Court puts brief hold on court order requiring revival of 'Remain in Mexico' policy | CNN Politics
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito put a brief hold on a lower court decision requiring the revival of a controversial Trump-era policy that forced migrants to stay in Mexico until their US immigration court dates.
www.cnn.com
Judge orders that Larry Nassar's prison funds be turned over to victim restitution | CNN
A judge has ordered that Larry Nassar’s prison funds be turned over to the government and put toward victim restitution, according to court documents filed Thursday.
www.cnn.com
‘It’s a huge day’: AFL-CIO names Shuler as first female president
Liz Shuler will serve as the nation’s top union official until summer 2022, when the AFL-CIO’s 50-plus affiliates can gather for their annual convention to vote on a permanent successor.
www.politico.com
English football reviews rules after Al Jazeera investigation
Money laundering opportunities spark questions over governance and ownership of clubs in the English Football League.
Scientists discover Stonehenge is constructed from a nearly indestructible material
Researchers from the University of Brighton conducted the first comprehensive analysis of samples taken from a Stonehenge megalith.
thehill.com
How climate change helped strengthen the Taliban
As drought and extreme flooding has crippled rural Afghanistan, the Taliban has swooped in to provide rural Afghans with financing, at the same time sowing doubt in the former government — helping to expand their power and popularity.
www.cbsnews.com‘Move heaven and earth’: pressure on Biden to speed up visas for Afghans who helped US
Members of Congress warn that those who aided US military are in grave danger as they wait for evacuations and paperwork US Marines guide an evacuee during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Photograph: Isaiah Campbell/US MARINE...
Education Department waives loan interests for over 47,000 service members
The Office of Federal Student Aid within the Department of Education has retroactively waived interest on loans held by over 47,000 service members, the latest in a series of steps the Biden administration has taken toward widespread forgiveness of student loans.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Military evacuation flight shown in photo packed with Afghans carried a record number of people | CNN Politics
The US military cargo plane whose hold was filled with Afghans evacuating their country captured in a now famous photo flew more than 800 people on board, far more than originally confirmed by the US Air Force, according to the crew who flew the mission.
www.cnn.com
Malaysia’s new PM brings graft-tainted UMNO back to power
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Ismail Sabri secured the backing of 114 lawmakers for a slender majority.
Biden administration announces new sanctions on anniversary of Navalny poisoning
The Biden administration on Friday levied additional sanctions against nine Russian individuals and two entities with ties to Moscow’s chemical weapons program to mark the anniversary of…
thehill.com
Haiti earthquake: Tensions rise in struggle to get aid to victims
Five days after a powerful earthquake struck, hundreds are missing and people are desperate for aid.
www.bbc.com
Hurricane Grace strengthens heading for 2nd hit on Mexico
Hurricane Grace has rapidly strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as it bears down on a second landfall in Mexico
Puerto Rico hospitals lose appeal over underpaying by federal government
“While we recognize an apparent (and perhaps unintended) unfairness in this situation, we... conclude that the Secretary did not err in implementing the statute," the appeals court said.
www.nbcnews.comProsecutors vet US Senate candidate's fishing license case
Law enforcement officials have completed their investigation into whether a U.S. Senate candidate and former State of Alaska official illegally obtained a fishing license for a sportfishing event two years ago and turned it over to a special prosecutorial branch of the Department of Law, an...
BHP sacked 48 over sexual harassment and assaults at Australian mines
An Australian inquiry has heard allegations of rape and sexual harassment at remote mining camps.
www.bbc.com
Wisconsin sheriff says those in jail will be called 'residents,' not 'inmates,' out of respect for humanity
A Wisconsin jail will no longer call people held there "inmates" out of respect.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Trillions in Afghanistan, US guns in Mexico and banning dowries
We gather the numbers to know from the week’s biggest economic news stories so you can impress your friends.
Justice Barrett refuses to block construction of Obama Presidential Center
Applicants said the construction of the center would cause harm to Chicago's Jackson Park.
www.politico.com
Rain Fell On The Peak Of Greenland's Ice Sheet For The First Time In Recorded History
According to scientists, rain fell for several hours on an area 10,551 feet in elevation on Aug. 14, an unprecedented occurrence for a location that rarely sees temperatures above freezing.
www.npr.orgRoad to vindication for California's Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against Afghanistan war
Rep. Barbara Lee, an Oakland Democrat, stood alone in voting against the war in Afghanistan in 2001, but the coalition she helped build ultimately brought it to an end 20 years later.
Supreme Court halts order restoring Trump-era immigration policy
Justice Alito temporarily blocks injunction that would have required some asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings
www.politico.com
Inside a doomed migrant boat journey from Mexico to California
As the 40-foot cabin cruiser lurched for 12 hours on the Pacific on its dead-of-night journey to California from Tijuana, a Mexican migrant named Eberardo tried to keep the panicked passengers' spirits up.
CNN’s Clarissa Ward has breakthrough media moment in Afghanistan
CNN’s Clarissa Ward and her reporting have stood out from the pack amid the chaos in Afghanistan.Ward, 41, has roamed the streets with her crew for days covering the U.S. withdrawal of troops and t…
thehill.com
Here’s how Democrats could pay for their big reconciliation bill
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
‘My heart is in pieces’: Afghanistan’s social media influencers
Prominent social media influencers go dark or flee, while residents and activists scramble to scrub their digital lives.
Adam Laxalt says it's 'unconscionable' Biden admin didn't secure Bagram prison in Afghanistan pullout
Republican Nevada U.S. Senate candidate and Iraq War veteran Adam Laxalt says that the Biden administration's handling of detainees in the Afghanistan withdrawal was "unconscionable," particularly the fact it failed to secure the prison in Bagram Airfield.
School boards become ground zero for country’s culture wars
School board meetings across the country have become ground zero for the country’s culture wars, often resulting in combative and confrontational forums as students prepare to head back to school i…
thehill.com
Hong Kong quarantine exemption for Nicole Kidman draws flak
Hong Kong’s granting of a quarantine exemption to Hollywood star Nicole Kidman is drawing criticism from lawmakers as the city tightens entry restrictions for international travelers to control the coronavirus
Here's a look at the Kabul airport perimeter and the journey Afghans must make to get inside
With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan, many countries are racing to evacuate their citizens and shutting their embassies temporarily. Follow here for the latest news.
Mike Richards steps down as new 'Jeopardy!' host 'effective immediately'
Mike Richards has stepped down as the new permanent host of "Jeopardy!" amid resurfaced controversial remarks.
Initial autopsy fails to reveal what killed a family and their dog on a hiking trail near Yosemite | CNN
The mystery surrounding the deaths of a couple, their baby daughter and the family dog found on a hiking trail near Yosemite National Park is deepening after autopsies yielded no immediate clues as to what caused their deaths.
www.cnn.com
Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill
Some Democrats who left Texas to block a GOP voting bill have ended a 38-day holdout. Enough Democrats returned to the state Capitol on Thursday to allow the Texas House to resume work for the first time since mid-July.
apnews.com
Biden believes U.S. can evacuate all Americans by end of August, national security adviser says
It's unclear precisely how many Americans are stranded in the country.
www.cbsnews.com
Taliban suppress more dissent as economic challenges loom
The Taliban violently dispersed scattered protests for a second day as they moved to consolidate their rule less than a week after seizing power.
apnews.com
Harris' Asia trip carries new urgency after Afghan collapse
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is giving new urgency to Vice President Kamala Harris’ tour of Southeast Asia.
apnews.com
US holding direct and daily talks with Taliban in effort to ease Biden's Afghanistan crisis
While the US State Department continues to engage in high-level diplomatic talks with the Taliban in the neutral setting of Doha, Qatar, as it has for the past year, the real negotiations have moved to the chaotic streets of Kabul in recent days, where American military commanders are in...
www.cnn.com
Afghan officer who fought with US forces rescued from Kabul
The U.S. military and its allies have rescued a high-profile Afghan national police officer who was being hunted by the Taliban because of his years working with the American military.
apnews.com
'No one trusts anything that comes from the Taliban's mouth' | CNN
Since the Taliban swept to power, seizing provincial capitals at lightning speed, it’s been difficult to get a picture of what life is like for Afghans outside the capital, Kabul. Especially for women.
www.cnn.com
Biden administration kept UK 'in the dark' on evacuation plans after Kabul fell: Report
The Biden White House apparently failed to coordinate evacuation efforts with the government of the United Kingdom for more than a day despite repeated attempts by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office to contact President Joe Biden after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
GOP Rep. Mo Brooks slammed by fellow lawmakers for statement about D.C. bomb threat suspect
“Tell us you stand with the terrorist without telling us you stand with the terrorist,” a Democratic colleague responded.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden’s comment on Taiwan clarified by administration official
President Biden’s recent comments during a televised interview with ABC News raised questions if the U.S.’s position of “strategic ambiguity” has changed when it comes to Taiwan.
Taliban calls on Afghan Muslim leaders to urge unity amid protests, fleeing citizens
The Taliban has called for leaders of the Afghanistan Muslim community to urge unity amid recent protests and citizens fleeing the country, Reuters reported.During the country’s independence day fr…
thehill.com
Analysis: What's the ‘Biden doctrine’? Afghanistan pullout offers clues
Analysis: The chaotic end to the Afghanistan war, the president’s first big foreign policy decision, offers a window into the pragmatic way he believes the U.S. should wield power.
www.nbcnews.comManchin and Sinema advising House centrists on push for bipartisan infrastructure deal
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) are privately advising the nine House centrist lawmakers trying to force Speaker Nancy Pelosi to hold a quick vote on the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure deal, lawmakers and aides tell Axios. Why it matters: The two moderates...
What sources of cash will the Taliban have?
What you need to know about Afghanistan’s economy and the push to keep its overseas assets out of Taliban hands.
UN report warns Taliban going ‘door to door’ for wanted
Threat assessment revealed as protests against Taliban takeover spread and fighters open fire on crowds.
An Afghan family stuck at airport gate tries desperately to flee Kabul
Ex-U.S. interpreter Najeeb Rahimi and his family have been stuck in a line at the Kabul airport for days, hoping to flee before the Taliban find them.
www.nbcnews.com
Facebook unveils tools to help Afghan people fearful of Taliban violence
New security features are meant to help Afghans quickly lock accounts and minimize their social media footprints.
www.nbcnews.com
As White House scrambles on Afghanistan, Biden faces some of most dire days of his presidency
Two photographs of President Joe Biden this week neatly illustrated the White House's fight to contain the fallout of the biggest crisis of his presidency.
www.cnn.comBiden vows to evacuate all Americans — and Afghan helpers
President Joe Biden is pledging firmly to bring all Americans home from Afghanistan — and all Afghans who aided the war effort, too.
apnews.com
Aid flows a bit more quickly into Haiti; challenges remain
Haiti's entrenched poverty, insecurity and lack of basic infrastructure are posing huge challenges to helping the victims of a powerful weekend earthquake.
apnews.com
Arizona Senate must release election audit records: court
The Arizona Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled that the leading contractor of Arizona’s audit of the Maricopa County 2020 election results must turn over documents related to the eff…
thehill.com
US diplomats sent memo urging swift evacuation of Afghan allies weeks before Taliban takeover
U.S. diplomats issued an internal memo last month urging top State Department officials to take urgent action with evacuations as the Aug. 31 military withdrawal deadline approached.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Police identify suspect who surrendered after claiming to have a bomb near US Capitol
A man with a history of supporting former President Donald Trump and who has said "all Democrats need to step down" was arrested Thursday after an hours-long standoff near the US Capitol during which he claimed to have an explosive device.
www.cnn.com
Utah teacher who called Trump a 'moron' and advocated vaccines to students no longer employed at school
A Utah high school teacher who said she "hates" "moron" former President Donald Trump told her students to "go tattle" on her "to the freakin' admins," as "they don't give a crap."
www.washingtonexaminer.com‘Move heaven and earth’: pressure on Biden to speed up visas for Afghans who helped US
Members of Congress warn that those who aided US military are in grave danger as they wait for evacuations and paperwork US Marines guide an evacuee during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Photograph: Isaiah Campbell/US MARINE...
Internal State Department cable warned Blinken of pending Afghanistan collapse
A confidential internal State Department memo was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month, warning against the potential collapse of Afghanistan following the full withdrawal of U.S. forces on Aug. 31, Fox News confirmed Thursday.
Putin at summit with Biden objected to US plan of bases near Afghanistan: report
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Biden at their summit in June he objected to the U.S.’s plan to set up bases near Afghanistan, senior Russian and U.S. officials told The Wall Street…
thehill.com
Texas enabled the worst carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in recent U.S. history
A family used their car to stay warm when a storm brought down the Texas power grid. In a state that doesn’t require CO alarms, they had no warning they were poisoning themselves.
www.nbcnews.com
Former Trump official says US 'pulled the rug out from under the Afghans' | CNN Politics
A former Trump administration official said Thursday evening that the Biden administration’s decision to stick with the US’ 2020 agreement with the Taliban is “why we are where we are now” and that the US has “literally pulled the rug out from under the Afghans.”
www.cnn.com
Arizona ‘bracing for impact’ of Trump-driven election report
Two prominent Arizona officials, one Democrat and one Republican, released lengthy prebuttals on the eve of the Cyber Ninjas’ report to the GOP-controlled state Senate.
www.politico.com
State Dept. will not charge for evacuation flights from Afghanistan
People evacuated from Afghanistan by the U.S. will not be charged the cost of their flight, State Department spokesman Ned Price told The Hill.”In these unique circumstances, we have no inten…
thehill.com
Georgia governor enables businesses to reject COVID-19 mandates as hospitals overflow
Georgia businesses won't have to comply with local COVID-19 measures like mask or vaccine mandates, as the state's hospitals are being stretched to their limit.
U.S. diplomats called for evacuations from Afghanistan last month
A cable from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul called on Washington to be firm and direct in describing atrocities by the Taliban.
www.nbcnews.com
Judge blocks Biden administration effort to curtail ICE arrests and deportations
The Biden administration rules instructed ICE agents to focus on arresting recent border-crossers, as well as immigrants deemed to threaten public safety or national security.
www.cbsnews.com
Twitter declines to classify Taliban as 'violent organization' despite tweets celebrating mass killings
Twitter repeatedly dodged the question of whether the Taliban were a terrorist organization and subject to disciplinary action, a thorny issue in light of the Big Tech platform's decision to ban former President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonexaminer.comNewest House GOP Star Teams Up With Nutty MAGA Conspiracy Theorist
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty/Alamy/TwitterThree months in as the House GOP conference’s new chairwoman, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) plans to take the stage next week with a MAGA operative who has an extremist past and played a key role in “Stop the Steal” efforts to overturn...
Allies embraced Biden. Did Kabul lay bare "great illusion"?
When U.S. President Joe Biden took office early this year, Western allies were falling over themselves to welcome and praise him, and hail a new era in trans-Atlantic cooperation.
apnews.com
Former U.S. Army interpreter says Kabul conditions deteriorating
The legions of Afghans who worked with the U.S. armed forces and with American and other media organizations are especially fearful of Taliban retribution.
www.nbcnews.com
US position on Taiwan hasn’t changed, despite promise to defend it, administration says
The Biden administration now insists the U.S. position on Taiwan, which for decades has been one of so-called “strategic ambiguity," has not changed, despite President Joe Biden vowing that the United States would respond to a Chinese attack on the island similarly to how it has promised to defend…
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US diplomats warned of Afghanistan's collapse in dissent cable last month
The cable urged the department to begin evacuating Afghan allies.
Afghan news anchor says Taliban blocked her from working
A female Afghan journalist says she has been banned from working at her television station after the Taliban takeover this past Sunday.
Hurricane Grace strengthens heading for 2nd hit on Mexico
Hurricane Grace has rapidly strengthened into a major Category 3 storm as it bears down on a second landfall in Mexico
The cases for and against Biden's key decisions on Afghanistan
When President Biden inherited the war in Afghanistan, he faced three broad policy options.Comply with Donald Trump’s deal and withdraw all U.S. troops by May 1.Modify Trump’s deal by maintaining the commitment to withdraw but extending the timeline and, potentially, making it conditional on...
Oil continues to fall as Fed mulls tapering, OPEC+ turns on taps
Oil’s rally in the first half of 2021 has lost momentum since July amid the threat to demand posed by the Delta variant.
Ex-Arizona state senator accused of molestation indicted
An Arizona state senator who resigned after being arrested early this month on child molestation charges has been indicted, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced Thursday. The indictment charges Tony Navarrete with six felony counts related to sexual contact he's accused of having...
Afghanistan: Taliban 'tortured and massacred' men from Hazara minority
Rights group Amnesty says the recent killings of men from the Hazara minority were a "horrifying indicator" of Taliban rule.
www.bbc.com
UN chief sends message to Haitians reeling from earthquake, rains
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Saturday destroyed more than 60,000 homes and killed nearly 2,000 people.
Taiwan faces water wake-up call as climate change intensifies
Experts say Taiwan can no longer rely on typhoons and heavy rain to supply water and must find alternatives.
Kinzinger on GOP lawmaker’s Capitol bomb threat statement: ‘Evil’
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) responded sharply to a statement from Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) about a man who made a bomb threat against the Capitol on Thursday, calling Brooks’s comment “…
thehill.com
US judge in Nevada: Felony deportation law unconstitutional
A federal judge in Nevada has issued a ruling with potentially broad implications for U.S. immigration cases. U.S.
apnews.com
Harris traveling to Singapore, Vietnam amid Afghanistan turmoil
Vice President Harris is leaving as scheduled for a trip to southeast Asia on Friday, amid overwhelming fallout in Washington and Kabul over the Biden administration’s chaotic exit from Afghanistan…
thehill.com
Facing revolt from police chiefs, U.S. Marshals agree to change body camera rules
The shift highlights the willingness of local law enforcement officials to stand up to federal authorities in an era of police reform.
www.nbcnews.com
U.S.-made weapons seized by Taliban could lead to regional arms bazaar
It’s unclear to U.S. officials how much equipment the Taliban has seized and how much sits unattended on bases and small combat outposts across the country.
www.politico.comDoug Mastriano, a Trump Republican in Pennsylvania, says 2020 'audit' efforts have been thwarted: 'Our cause is weakened and diminished'
The Republican lawmaker previously embraced conspiracy theorists who falsely said the 2020 election was rigged by China for President Joe Biden.
Guadalajara drug cartel founder, in first interview, talks about murdered DEA agent
Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, in an exclusive interview with Noticias Telemundo, denied any involvement in Enrique "Kiki" Camarena's murder, even sending his widow a message.
www.nbcnews.com
DoD releases photos of U.S. service members aiding Afghanistan evacuation efforts
The Department of Defense released photos of U.S. servicemembers assisting with efforts to aid Afghan refugees on Thursday as the Biden administration ramps up efforts to evacuate thousands seeking to escape the Taliban.
Venezuela’s Maduro taps new foreign minister in cabinet shake-up
Maduro is pressing for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe.
U.S. transport ship and field hospitals heading to Haiti for quake relief
The ship is carrying a fleet surgical team, 200 marines, two helicopters and a landing craft unit.
www.politico.com
After Capitol Hill bomb threat, GOP Rep. Mo Brooks sympathetic to 'anger directed at dictatorial Socialism'
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks said he understands "citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism" in a statement responding to a bomb threat on Capitol Hill.
Biden administration sends trans students a back-to-school message
"We stand behind you," officials from the departments of Justice, Health and Education said in a joint message to transgender students.
www.nbcnews.com
2 dead, 20 missing in North Carolina county flooded by Fred
Authorities in North Carolina have found two people dead and about 20 remain missing in Haywood County in floods caused by Tropical Storm Fred.
apnews.com
Air Force Academy requires students to watch 'inclusion' training video promoting BLM
Academy cadets are required to watch a video that promotes support for the Black Lives Matter movement
38-day Texas Democrat walkout ends as three more lawmakers return to Austin
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan declared just after 7 p.m. ET that there were enough members to call the session into order.
www.cbsnews.com
A Houston man spent hours calling 911 before responders found his family members dead
Following a 911 call, first responders arrived at a home. No one answered the door, so they left. Inside, an entire family was being poisoned by carbon monoxide.
www.nbcnews.com
Sierra Club culture tolerated ‘anger and aggression,’ report finds
The report, which has not been released to the public, came just ahead of outgoing Executive Director Mike Brune’s Aug. 13 resignation from the Sierra Club.
www.politico.com
Democrats face new hurdles in legal fight over redistricting
The fight over redrawing political maps is just ramping up in state legislatures and nonpartisan commissions around the country.
apnews.com
R. Kelly accuser Jerhonda Pace cries as she testifies about alleged abuse
Prosecutors accuse the disgraced R&B singer of operating a criminal network to exploit women and children for decades.
www.cbsnews.com
Fears of Latino census undercount persist despite dramatic growth
One demographer’s study suggests more than 800,000 Latino youths were missed in the 2020 census, an advocacy group says.
www.nbcnews.com
A Judge Has Given The Boy Scouts Conditional Approval Of An $850M Bankruptcy Deal
The Scouts reached the deal with attorneys for some sexual abuse claimants. Among those who oppose it are other claimants and insurance companies.
www.npr.org
Kimchi's new Chinese name has become the epicenter of a cultural war ... again | CNN
More than just a spicy staple served in Korean households and restaurants around the world, kimchi – the beloved fermented vegetable dish – has once again become the subject of a cultural feud between China and South Korea.
www.cnn.com
'Women exaggerate the problem of sexism': Top California recall candidate Larry Elder has a long history of making disparaging remarks about women
"Glass ceiling? Ha! What glass ceiling? Women, women exaggerate the problem of sexism," radio host Larry Elder said in a 1996 ad for his radio show.
www.cnn.comElder denies showing gun to woman during domestic argument
The former fiancee of Larry Elder said Thursday that the conservative radio talk show host now running for governor in California showed her a gun during a heated argument in 2015. Elder, widely seen as the leader in the Republican field running to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in next...
Alabama vet who nearly died in Afghanistan calls Biden withdrawal strategy 'disgusting'
Alabama Army combat veteran Colin Wayne Erwin, who nearly died in Afghanistan, criticized President Joe Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan as "disgusting" to watch and a "disheartening" end to the 20 years of sacrifices made by members of the military and others.
Iowa woman gets 25 years for trying to kill two children over their race
An Iowa woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday for trying to kill two children because of their race, The Associated Press reported.U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose sentenced Nic…
thehill.com
New England fears a hurricane as Henri approaches
It's been 30 years since a hurricane made a direct landfall in New England. But there's some chance that streak will end later this weekend.
www.cbsnews.comFormer House Foreign Affairs chair will lobby for Saudi Arabia
Chamber weighs in with Biden Supreme Court commission — Pandemic prep group lobbies up
www.politico.com
Johnson & Johnson CEO to leave role in January
Johnson & Johnson announced on Thursday that its current CEO Alex Gorsky will step down from his role and Joaquin Duato will take the helm in January.Gorsky will instead serve as the exec…
thehill.com
U.S. sanctions more Cuban officials; Mayorkas meets with Cuban Americans
The Homeland Security secretary also met with the Haitian American community to address the response to the Haitian earthquake.
www.nbcnews.com
Treasury: Few small business owners will see tax hikes under Biden proposal
The Biden administration on Thursday said few small-business owners would see their taxes increase under the president’s proposal to raise the top income tax rate for high earners.The White House i…
thehill.com
President Biden faces backlash with American citizens still struggling to flee Afghanistan
U.S. officials say another 6,000 people made it safely to the Kabul airport and are awaiting evacuation. Pressed repeatedly, State Department officials could not say how many Americans still need to be rescued.
www.nbcnews.com
Rain fell at the normally snowy summit of Greenland for the first time on record | CNN
For the first time, precipitation at the summit of Greenland, roughly two miles above sea level, fell as rain on Saturday and not snow.
www.cnn.com
Professors at women’s HBCU refuse to teach in person due to COVID-19 concerns
Professors at the Historically Black Women’s College (HBCU) Spelman College are refusing to teach classes in person during the fall semester due to COVID-19 concerns, 19th …
thehill.com
Man Who Claimed To Have A Bomb Near The U.S. Capitol Surrenders
A North Carolina man who claimed to have a bomb in his truck in front of the Library of Congress gave up after an hours-long standoff with police and is now in custody. No bomb was found in the truck.
www.npr.org
Toxic algae bloom considered in death of California family
Investigators are considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to the deaths of a California couple, their baby and the family dog on a remote hiking trail.
apnews.com
Southwest pilots, flight attendants say they're exhausted; pilots ready to picket
Southwest employees say they're overworked, consistently forced to work flights not on their schedules and unable to call in sick without seeing a company doctor.
GOP Rep. Mo Brooks says he understands 'anger' at 'Socialism' amid Capitol Hill bomb threat
As U.S. Capitol Police were negotiating Thursday for the surrender of a suspect who threatened to detonate a truck bomb in front of the Library of Congress, Republican Rep. Mo Brooks issued a statement in which he said he understood "citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism."
Tensions rise in Haiti as aid struggles to reach the most vulnerable: "We feel left behind"
As Haiti continues to reel from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the biggest challenge is getting food and medical care to survivors — but residents say it's not happening fast enough.
www.cbsnews.com
MLB to end decadeslong contract with Topps trading cards
Major League Baseball is reportedly breaking up with its longtime trading card partner Topps, which has been releasing the player memorabilia since 1952.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Britney Spears under investigation for alleged battery
"This is overblown sensational tabloid fodder," Spears' attorney told ABC News.
Larry David, Alan Dershowitz get into verbal altercation at grocery store
Actor Larry David and attorney Alan Dershowitz reportedly got into a verbal altercation in a Martha’s Vineyard general store over the lawyer’s ties to the Trump administration, acc…
thehill.com
UNICEF: Nearly half of world’s children at ‘extremely high risk’ of climate change impacts
Nearly half of the world’s 2.2 billion children are at an “extremely high-risk” of experiencing the effects of climate change, including exposure to harmful greenhouse gases, flooding and heat…
thehill.com
White House sticks with hardline approach to Cuba
The administration announced new sanctions on the Cuban regime as the Homeland Security secretary met with Cuban Americans in Miami.
www.politico.com
COVID anxiety rising amid delta surge, AP-NORC poll finds
Anxiety in the United States over COVID-19 is at its highest level since winter. The heightened worry is reflected in a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
apnews.com
Ron DeSantis leans into mask-mandate fights as Covid cases soar in Florida
As the number of new coronavirus cases in his state soars, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is betting that an aggressive campaign against mandatory mask-wearing in schools will harden the Republican base ahead of his expected re-election bid next year -- and make him a GOP star nationwide as the...
www.cnn.com
COVID anxiety rising amid delta surge, AP-NORC poll finds
Anxiety in the United States over COVID-19 is at its highest level since winter
Biden and DeSantis spar again on masks in schools
After a back-and-forth spat in the media earlier this month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Biden are at odds again.What's happening: Biden is again threatening to take action against governors like DeSantis who are limiting coronavirus precautions in the classroom — and DeSantis is...
Louisiana doctors struggle as COVID patients flood hospitals
Across the state of Louisiana more than 3,000 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.
City hosting Trump rally in Alabama declares COVID-19 emergency
Cullman, Ala., on Thursday declared a COVID-19-related state of emergency ahead of a scheduled Alabama GOP rally featuring former President Trump on Saturday as Alabama struggles with a surge …
thehill.com
Florida Board of Education orders Broward, Alachua counties to allow mask opt-out in 48 hours or start losing funding | CNN
The Florida State Board of Education has sent an order to Broward and Alachua counties’ school board officials stating that they have 48 hours to comply with the state’s wishes to allow an opt-out option for masks or the state will begin withholding funds, according to copies of the orders shown...
www.cnn.comGOP Leader Who Fought Against Vaccine Dies After Weekslong Battle With Coronavirus
Pressley Stutts, a Republican leader in South Carolina, shared conspiracy theories from his ICU bed.
The Topic Of Masks In Schools Is Polarizing Some Parents To The Point Of Violence
School districts around the country have seen incidents of anti-mask parents and protesters disrupting school board meetings and school events, and some are getting physically violent.
www.npr.orgFlorida's anti-mask crusade is faltering
Covid returns to the Senate — Kaiser: Patients back on the hook for Covid treatment costs
www.politico.com
'Bracing for the worst' in Florida's COVID-19 hot zone
Hospitals are overflowing with COVID patients in northeast Florida, the hot zone in the state's latest surge.
apnews.com
Jesse Jackson, wife hospitalized with COVID-19
The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
Highly Vaccinated Israel Is Seeing A Dramatic Surge In New COVID Cases. Here's Why
What happened? Here are six lessons learned from Israel's experience — and one looming question for the future of the pandemic.
www.npr.org
WHO issues call for experts to help with COVID origins probe
The World Health Organization has issued a call for experts to join a new advisory group it’s forming, in part to address the agency’s fraught attempts to investigate how the coronavirus pandemic started
BTS And Garth Brooks Are Among The Latest To Cancel Tour Dates Due To COVID
Live music's return continues to take hits due to rising COVID-19 rates around the world. K-pop superstars BTS, Garth Brooks and Nine Inch Nails are among the latest acts to cancel their tours.
www.npr.org
Thousands of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards seized by CBP in Alaska
Officials have seized over 3,000 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards in Alaska, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed Wednesday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
As Covid-19 hospitalizations increase, a greater number of Americans are deciding to get vaccinated | CNN
With an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, more Americans have recently made the decision to get vaccinated than in the last six weeks.
www.cnn.com
Zydus Cadila: India approves world's first DNA Covid vaccine
ZyCoV-D prevents symptomatic disease in 66% of those vaccinated, the vaccine maker says.
www.bbc.com
U.S. extends border restrictions on Canadians. Trudeau asked about re-sealing frontier to Americans.
"It is beyond disappointing; it is hurtful both at a human and economic level," Rep. Brian Higgins said of the news.
www.politico.com
In a sports-crazed Arkansas town, football is a reason to get vaccinated
The dull thud of bodies colliding and the sharp sound of whistles filled the air on a scorching afternoon of high school football practice in Fordyce, Arkansas.
US keeps ban on nonessential border crossings to slow COVID
The U.S. government is extending a ban on nonessential travel along the borders with Canada and Mexico to slow the spread of COVID-19 despite increasing pressure to lift the restriction.
apnews.com
New pandemic school year is a nightmare for parents and a new test for Biden | CNN Politics
America’s kids, more vulnerable than ever to Covid-19 and in the crossfire of a political war over masks, are going back to class in a timeless rite transformed into a moment of fear by the pandemic that interrupted their childhood.
www.cnn.com
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issues executive order barring vaccine, mask mandates
Gov. Kemp announced new executive orders he said is aimed at helping businesses during the pandemic as cases and hospitalizations spike in the state.
www.usatoday.com
They're Asking Biden To Vaccinate The World. It's Not Fair. But It's Not Impossible
An open letter from 175 experts to President Biden made the ask. "We're not trying to be unreasonable," explains Dr. Paul Farmer, one of the signers. "We're trying to be optimistic and audacious."
www.npr.orgWall Street registers first signs of concern over economic recovery
Jobless claims hit pandemic low — Q2 growth likely to be revised higher
www.politico.com
Unvaccinated single mom dies of COVID-19, leaving 4 children behind
Cindy Dawkins' children range in age from 12 to 24.
Iowa drives power struggle over school mask mandates
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' announcement she's upholding a ban preventing schools from mandating masks, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases, is driving a power struggle between local, state and federal leaders.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe...
A Texas Lab Performs Crucial Testing For Pfizer's COVID Vaccine
The lab has access to a high-security facility that Pfizer needed to prove its COVID-19 vaccine was working. Now the scientists there are testing the vaccine's effectiveness against viral variants.
www.npr.org
As delta variant surges, remote learning in the spotlight for another school year
Remote learning isn't going away anytime soon, as many parents hope for in-person return.
No, schools aren't teaching kindergartners about sex acts
www.politico.com
NFL preseason kicks off amid COVID vaccine culture wars
The NFL kicked off its pre-season last Thursday and as COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to surge, the league is embarking on another season of uncertainty.
POLITICO Playbook: Obama douses D.C.’s party scene
And a look inside the Biden administration's respone to the Afghanistan crisis.
www.politico.com
Montana only state to ban vaccine requirements for employees
While large companies across the U.S. have announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for their employees to return to work in-person, there is one state where such requirements are banned
Record delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open
Just as school doors are reopening across the U.S., children are filling hospital beds instead of classrooms in record numbers, sick with COVID-19.
apnews.comNew pandemic school year is a nightmare for parents and a new test for Biden | CNN Politics
America’s kids, more vulnerable than ever to Covid-19 and in the crossfire of a political war over masks, are going back to class in a timeless rite transformed into a moment of fear by the pandemic that interrupted their childhood.
www.cnn.com
Greg Abbott undergoes antibody COVID-19 treatment following diagnosis
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has undergone COVID-19 antibody treatment following his breakthrough positive diagnosis. “Governor Abbott’s doctor prescribed Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody therapy…
thehill.com
Tennessee dad gives impassioned speech about masks at school board meeting
Justin Kanew said he told his daughter masks are to "take care of other people."
Texas drops mask mandate ban enforcement in public schools
As of Aug. 8, 829 students and 872 staff members had tested positive for Covid-19.
www.politico.com
Texas Supreme Court temporarily denies governor's attempt to reinstate a ban on mask mandates in schools
Public schools in the state will no longer be barred from mandating face masks — for now.
www.cbsnews.com
'You're crying': Mississippi's fourth Covid wave is its worst
The state set a new single-day record of Covid hospitalizations and patients placed in intensive care and on ventilators.
www.nbcnews.com
Do I need a booster if I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
The U.S. is planning booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, but if you got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot instead, stay tuned.
apnews.com
San Francisco's new rule: Proof of vaccine or no dining in
San Francisco became the first major city in the nation to require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 on Friday for people dining inside restaurants, working out in gyms or attending indoor concerts
Federal judge blocks Kentucky governor’s school mask mandate
A federal judge in Kentucky on Thursday temporarily blocked a statewide school mask mandate put in place amid increased transmission of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. …
thehill.comScientists question evidence behind U.S. COVID-19 booster shot drive
The Biden administration's plan to provide COVID-19 vaccine boosters is based on concerns that a decrease in the vaccines' ability to protect against milder infections could also mean people will have less protection against severe illness, a premise that has yet to be proven, scientists said on...
Georgia Gov. Kemp signs order allowing businesses to ignore local mask, vaccine mandates
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an executive order on Thursday that allows businesses to not comply with local mask or COVID-19 vaccine mandates meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.Why it matters: Kemp is the latest Republican governor to hamper local responses to the virus despite a...
Australia’s Indigenous people face COVID crisis within a crisis
Cases have been reported in far west of New South Wales in Aboriginal communities already suffering from poor health.
Fox News requires employees to provide vaccination status
The CEO of Fox News sent a memo to staff on Tuesday including several updates to its COVID-19 protocol, one of which required employees to input their vaccination status.Back in June, the news outl…
thehill.com
St. Louis County prohibited from enforcing mask mandate
A Missouri circuit judge ruled on Thursday that St. Louis County could not enforce its mask mandate amid pending litigation, The Associated Press reported.”This court’s decision is pure…
thehill.com
Georgia governor bars local officials from ordering businesses to enact mask mandates
Gov. Brian Kemp is among the GOP state leaders who've signed laws or executive orders to limit cities' and counties' authority to enforce Covid safety restrictions.
www.nbcnews.com
Canada election: How vaccine mandates became an issue
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau will mandate vaccines for all Canadian travellers if re-elected next month.
www.bbc.com
Rice University announces switch to online classes for beginning of school year
Rice University on Thursday announced that it will be switching to online classes for at least the first two weeks of school amid a higher number of COVID-19 cases.
thehill.com
Connecticut, Oregon mandate vaccinations for staff at K-12 schools this fall
As the fall season is ramping up for school districts across the country, some students will be required to wear personal protective face masks amid the rise of the delta coronavirus variant, including those in Connecticut and Oregon.
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