How the Trump administration's deal with the Taliban—"a concession without any clear precedent in US history"—and Biden's adherence to it sabotaged the Afghanistan withdrawal. / Foreign Affairs In a vaguely worded decision, the Supreme Court upholds a Texas judge's demand that
Hawaii's governor tells tourists to stay away amid a surge in Covid-19 infections on the islands. / The Hill With approval expected for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines in a month, Dr. Fauci predicts the US will have Covid under control by Spring 2022. / Reuters Afghan
Biden's approval rating has dropped below 50% for the first time in his presidency, due to rising Covid cases and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. / NBC News Afghan evacuees may be housed at a Texas border facility previously used to hold migrant children, and that has already been deemed
The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine could receive full FDA approval as soon as Monday, a move some US corporations have cited as necessary for mandates. / CNBC For the first time in recorded history, rather than snowing, it rained at Greenland's summit. / CNN By thinking of Earth as just
The Taliban are carrying out a door-to-door hunt for people who collaborated with the US and Western allies. / BBC News High-profile sportswomen in Afghanistan have been urged to wipe their social media and burn their uniforms. / The Guardian Sarah Zhang: The coronavirus is here forever. Here is
Statistically, the difference between states with 30% and 70% Covid vaccination rates is a nearly 40-fold increase in weekly cases. / Ars Technica The pandemic has changed abortion access, shifting from in-person visits to telemedicine—and legal challenges may lie ahead. / The New York Times As water shortages loom,
Regional powers Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan express their interest in working with Afghanistan's new leaders. / Newsweek An all-girls Afghan robotics team inspired the world. "Now they're trapped, waiting to be rescued." / The Washington Post Remembering the civilian planes that airlifted refugees out
US health officials are likely to recommend Covid vaccine boosters eight months after recipients' second doses. / Associated Press Health officials are convincing skeptics to get vaccinated by telling them if they don't trust the government, they should talk with their doctor instead. / VICE A Chicago pharmacist has
Chaos and desperate crowds at Kabul airport. Five people have been killed as people try to flee the Taliban. / The Guardian, Reuters "To blame Afghans for not getting their act together in light of… history is just wrong." / The New Yorker Officials in Haiti say at least 1,
Helen Branswell: The FDA has authorized an additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines for the immunocompromised. / STAT Good news from Chicago: Health officials say Lollapalooza doesn't appear to have been a superspreader event. / Slate "You have to live your best life. But be cautious.
