Sirhan Sirhan arrives during a parole hearing Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. | Gregory Bull, Pool/AP Photo
OAKLAND — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday he is not prepared to opine on whether the state should free Robert F. Kennedy's killer, Sirhan Sirhan, after the state parole board last week moved to grant the assassin's release from state prison.
Newsom pointed to a monthslong process that must still occur before he faces a decision on whether to allow for Sirhan's parole — if the governor survives the state's gubernatorial recall election in two weeks. But in his first remarks since the parole board's decision, Newsom declared "my reverence, my respect, and my adulation" for Kennedy, a Democratic icon who was murdered following his victory in the 1968 California presidential primary.
Two members of the state parole board on Friday moved to grant parole to Sirhan, who has spent 53 years in prison since he murdered Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
The Democratic governor noted the parole board's decision hasn't been formalized and still must go to the full board before it comes to him for deliberation, which may not happen "for some time." He said that's one reason he has been "cautious'' about commenting publicly, in order to "allow for the process."
But he added that "anybody that has ever walked into my office" will see prominent photographs of Kennedy, his political idol, including "those famous train photographs" of mourners alongside tracks as Kennedy's casket was transported by a funeral train.
"The first photograph, the only photograph you will see in my office is a photo of my father and Bobby Kennedy just days before Bobby Kennedy was murdered," Newsom said. "So, I hope that gives you a sense of my sentiments as it relates to Bobby Kennedy, in particular, my reverence, my respect and my adulation for his family and his memory.”
The prospect of Sirhan's release has already become a divisive issue. Six of Kennedy's 11 children expressed outrage at the possibility, while two of their siblings told the state board they support Sirhan's parole.
The decision came after Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to oppose Sirhan's parole under a policy by District Attorney George Gascón, a progressive who last year defeated a traditional DA incumbent amid rising social justice momentum.
The full state parole board has 90 days to review the decision and determine whether to send it to the governor, who would then have 30 days to act on the recommendation.
Two prominent Republican recall candidates, Larry Elder and Kevin Kiley, both said Saturday they would block Sirhan's release. Elder, a conservative who has led among GOP hopefuls, suggested it was the latest example of how he differs from Newsom.
Vidant Beaufort Hospital recently unveiled its completed community health improvement coach; a donor-funded mobile wellness unit that will help Vidant provide free wellness and cancer screenings throughout Beaufort and Hyde Counties.
The unit is an RV that has been remodeled into a clinic on wheels. It includes a check-in area, a mini-kitchen and an examination area designed for privacy.
By offering free screening services, Vidant Beaufort wants to help people stay on top of their preventative care and catch chronic disease and cancer as early as possible.
The idea for the wellness unit took shape in June 2017.
“The Outer Banks hospital, which is one of our sister hospitals, has a mobile unit like this, “ said Pam Shadle, director of marketing, community outreach and development at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. “We said, ‘Let’s figure out how we can do this.’
“We really got excited. This is what we need to take to reach rural areas of our community — people who can’t access health care.”
Recognizing the value of cancer prevention, the Shepard Cancer Foundation committed $100,000 to help purchase the RV.
“Within a matter of around three months max, people came to us and said they want to donate to this,” Shadle said.
Community health improvement coach appearances at events can be arranged free of charge by calling 252-975-8850.
Free clinical breast exams and skin cancer screenings will be available aboard the mobile unit. Vidant also offers adult well-screens, which include assessments of body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as health education opportunities.
Other programs could come along later. For instance, Vidant is looking at holding healthy cooking classes using the RV’s kitchen.
“We want people to be encouraged when they come in here,” said Vidant Beaufort Community Health Improvement Coordinator Jennifer Lewis. “Encouraged to get on the path to wellness.”
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NFL teams were forced to trim their rosters down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, sending some surprising players onto the market.
With a whole new crop of available players, which ones will be the most sought after? Here’s a look at top talents searching for new teams after cutdown day:
Cam Newton, quarterback
Bill Belichick created the biggest story of the day when theNew England PatriotsreleasedCam Newtonand vaulted rookie quarterbackMac Jonesinto the starting role. Newton started each of the Patriots’ three preseason games, but the team reportedly became frustrated with him after a“misunderstanding” with COVID-19 protocolskept him away from the team for five days last week.
Newton threw eight touchdowns, ran for another 12 and tossed 10 interceptions during his first season in New England, which ended with a 7-9 record. The former NFL MVP could be an enticing option for a team seeking an experienced backup signal caller.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton praised Devonta Freeman’s versatility after the running back signed with Saints at the start of training camp, but the veteran was released on Tuesday. Freeman was competing with Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington and Tony Jones Jr. for a backup spot behind Alvin Kamara in the New Orleans backfield.
Freeman made two Pro Bowls during his six-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons before suiting up for theNew York Giantsin 2020.
Jordan Howard, running back
Jordan Howard finds himself on the move once again after getting cut by thePhiladelphia Eagleson Tuesday.
The running back scored 24 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl nod during his first three NFL seasons with theChicago Bears. He followed that up with a six-touchdown 2019 season with the Eagles before splitting the 2020 season with theMiami Dolphinsand Eagles.
Travis Fulgham, wide receiver
Travis Fulghamerupted onto the scene midway through the 2020 season for the Eagles. From Week 4 through Week 8, Fulgham hauled in four touchdowns and 435 receiving yards across five games. From Week 9 on, though, he only had 104 yards over seven games and failed to find the end zone.
With the addition of first-round wideoutDeVonta Smithand an expected improvement from 2020 first-rounderJalen Reagor, the Birds opted to go in a different direction at receiver.
He was looking to earn a spot with the 49ers before suffering a head injury in the team’s preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and subsequently getting cut on Tuesday.
Breshad Perriman, wide receiver
The Detroit Lions cut Breshad Perriman on Monday even after making a $2 million commitment to him. The team guaranteed 80 percent of his $2.5 million contract, but the veteran wide receiver still did not make it onto Detroit’s 53-man roster.
Perriman took the field for theBaltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers andNew York Jetsduring his first five NFL seasons. He has 14 career receiving touchdowns, including three last season in New York.
Matt Skura, center
The Dolphins released center Matt Skura on Monday after trading for Greg Mancz over the weekend.
Skura made 51 starts over his first four NFL seasons with the Ravens, who had far and away the No. 1 rushing offense in 2020.
Mike Daniels, defensive tackle
Former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Mike Daniels is available after getting cut by the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.
Daniels spent the first seven years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He joined the Lions in 2019 before heading to Cincinnati in 2020. The Bengals had the fourth-worst run defense in the NFL during his first year with the team, while Daniels had 17 tackles and zero sacks across 11 games.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, defensive back
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix wasn’t with the San Francisco 49ers for long, but managed to sendannouncers Greg Papa and Tim Ryan into hysteriawith a preseason interception against the Las Vegas Raiders.
49ers announcers lost their minds when Ha Ha Clinton-Dix made the INT 😂
The veteran safety has played for the Packers,Washington Football Teamand Bears during his career, earning a Pro Bowl nod with the Packers in 2016. He signed a one-year contract with theDallas Cowboysbefore the 2020 season but was released just a week before their season opener and did not play at all during the year.
After getting waived by the 49ers, Clinton-Dix will look elsewhere to resume his NFL career.
Desmond Trufant, defensive back
After parting ways withKyle Fullerearlier this offseason, the Bears brought in Desmond Trufant as a veteran cornerback option. Matt Nagy’s squad will be rolling with other options at the position, though, after releasing Trufant on Tuesday.
Trufant spent the first seven years of his career with the Falcons, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2015. He played the 2020 season with the Lions and picked off one pass in six games.
Saving money doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your social life! Take advantage of free student events ranging from career fairs to DIY craft nights, game nights, Inclusive Rec events and more.
Sept. 17 p.m.CU Events Center Come join theBuffs One Read kickoff event with America Ferrera. The award-winning actor, producer and activist will discuss American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures, edited by Ferrera. The event is free and open to CU Boulder students, graduate students, faculty and staff. Be sure to get your free ticket in advance:
If you want to dive deeper, the Center for Student Involvement will have American Like Me as part of this semester’s CSI book club.
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 5–7 p.m. Meet outside of CASE building Come help pick up litter in the community with the Environmental Center. After cleaning up, you’ll get the chance to grab a bite to eat (provided by the E-Center) and connect with fellow Buffs! Groups will be limited to 10 participants. Be sure to register in advance to reserve your spot.
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 2–4 p.m. Wardenburg Health Center, third floor This free weekly program provides a space to engage in self-care activities, learn about campus resources and build community. This month’s activities include messages of hope and expectation-setting.
Sept. 2, 4 6:40 p.m. Coors Field, Denver Share your love for baseball with other Buffs and head to Denver for a Rockies baseball game! Come to the Center for Student Involvement (UMC 330) starting Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. to pick up your free ticket. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One ticket per person. Must show valid Buff OneCard at time of pickup.
Sept. 2, 16, 30 5:30–7 p.m. East Campus, SEEC Join to weed, plant and play in the SEEC Community Garden! Send any questions to farmclub@colorado.edu. All are welcome. You can find them on the east side of SEEC, almost directly in the middle of the complex before you arrive at the north parking lot.
Sept. 3 7–10 p.m. Rec Center, outdoor Buff Pool Take advantage of the last sun rays and come hang out at the outdoor Buff Pool. You can swim, play water games or lounge around fire pits on the deck. And there will also be free swag while supplies last. Don’t forget to bring your Buff OneCard for entry.
This month’s Inclusive Rec events include:
Heels Dancing (Instructional Class) every Friday starting Sept. 3
Women's Mountain Bike Skills Clinic on Sept. 9
Yoga for Stress & Anxiety on Sept. 25
Sunset Hike at Chautauqua Park with LGBTQ+ community on Sept. 28
Space is limited, and registration is required for Inclusive Rec events.
Sept. 47:30 p.m. Chem 140 Bring your popcorn and a friend and come watch an advance screening ofDear Evan Hansen. Follow the story of Evan, a high school senior with social anxiety disorder on his journey of self-discovery and acceptance following the suicide of a fellow classmate. Request your free tickets now! Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; the film begins at 8 p.m.
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall and livestream
In this CU Presents series, renowned College of Music faculty artists perform with students and colleagues in chamber music recitals, featuring world premieres and beloved classics. Free most Tuesdays, August through March.
Sept. 7, 21 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Come show your skills at the free Texas Hold’em poker tournament. Sign-up starts at 6 p.m. at The Connection front desk. Prizes for top finishers!
Sept. 7, 14, 285:30 p.m. Virtual Whether you want to pursue a career in law or are simply curious about the field, join these weekly talks from lawyers, law schools and judges across the country about their experience.
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 2–4 p.m. Location varies Be part of health and wellness activities every week. Learn more about how to support a friend, sexual health, sleep tips and more! All activities will take place on Tuesdays.
Sept. 7–10
Making friends as an adult can be challenging, especially after living through a pandemic for a year. As we return to a more traditional school year, it’s important to remember the way we connect with people and make friends may feel different now than it did before the pandemic started.
Learn how to help and support a friend at the Health Hut on Sept. 7
Get training to help assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis on Sept. 8
Understand new ways to help be support and help a friend in need at the Wellness Wednesday workshop on Sept. 8
Participate in Feel Good Fridays to learn about a work of art and then participate in a related mindfulness practice on Sept. 10
Try Vinyasa Flow Yoga at the Rec Center with Free Friday Power Hour on Sept. 11
Sept. 8 5–6:30 p.m. Virtual Do you want to find out where your talents plug in? Explore the exciting world of startups and entrepreneurship! Hear startups pitch their companies and open projects, internships and jobs. Meet with employees at the startups and learn how you can get involved in what they are doing.
Sept. 9 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. UMC South Terrace Tent The world awaits! Learn about the adventure of a lifetime at the in-person Education Abroad Fair. You'll discover study abroad opportunities, global internships and research, and much more on hundreds of programs in almost 70 different countries. There are programs for all majors and all budgets.
Sept. 1, 8 11 a.m.–2 p.m Folsom Field Stadium Join fellow Buffs outside Folsom Field for food from Steuben’s! Steuben's of Denver will have a food truck near the buffalo outside Folsom Field. The first 150 students can use a meal swipe to pay for their meal. They will also accept credit/debit cards.Check out the menu here.
Sept. 1, 2, 6, 85:30–7:30 p.m.
C4C, Dirks East Patio Enjoy live music and a variety of freshly featured food like a fancy burger or a vegan banh mi! Menus will change daily and include a vegetarian option. Stop by Dirks Patio outside of the C4C for fun with fellow Buffs! Pay withmeal swipes or Campus Cash. View the menu and music schedule here.
Sept. 3, 18 7 p.m., 11 a.m. Folsom Field
The Buffs are excited to welcome fans back to Folsom Field! In the Sept. 3 season opener, the Buffs will take on Northern Colorado. And on Sept. 18, come show your support in the CU vs. Minnesota game. Tickets start at $40 and $55, respectively; or go ahead and purchase the Student Sports Pass for $150.
Sept. 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 24, 257–10 p.m. UMC, The Connection Grab a couple of friends and get ready to have a great Friday night at The Connection! Enjoy the fun of bowling with black lights, colored lane lights and color pins. It’s the only extreme bowling you’ll find in Boulder!
Sept. 14, 28 6 p.m. Virtual Join the Center for Student Involvement for DIY Night! Twice a month, you can pick up the materials for a craft, then tune in to watch a virtual craft night together. Each participant will need toregister in advance, and space is limited, so sign up early.
Sept. 9, 23 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Do you sing in the car? Here’s your chance to take your best rendition of “Purple Rain” or “Love Shack” to the people! Join us for a night of great music and a fun time with friends. Get the full rockstar experience in our new club.
Sept. 9, 20 Times varies Virtual Learn how to register for the virtual career fairs this semester, best practices for putting your best foot forward in employer chats and how to navigate Handshake, CU’s online recruiting tool.
Sept. 10, 17, 24 5–6 p.m. Rec Center, Studio 1 Join the Rec Center for a free power class! This barre-inspired class provides total-body conditioning by combining the movements found in athletics, pilates and ballet. This low impact class will target your hips, thighs, glutes and abs.
Sept. 10, 24 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Looking for a laugh? Bring a friend and come to Comedy Open Mic! Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary to take the mic! Performer sign-up begins at 6 p.m. at The Connection front desk.
Sept. 13, 28 4–6 p.m. Zoom Get ready for the next virtual career fair! You’ll learn résumé and interviewing tips, how to prepare for a virtual fair, virtual interviews and more.
Sept. 13, 20, 27 Time varies Virtual and in-person options Start your week by attending Mindful Mondays, where you can engage with other Buffs in active mindfulness lessons and learn about existing resources on campus.
Sept. 13, 27 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Teams and individuals welcome! Free to enter. Sign-up starts at 6 p.m. at The Connection front desk.
Sept. 13, 20, 27 4–5 p.m. UMC 247 or outdoor meeting location This is not a class, a lecture or a panel. This is a place for students who are looking for peers who care about these issues and are looking to further their knowledge in the vast and interconnected world of climate change. Join the Environmental Center and peer mentor Dominique Rowell for a six-week discussion series focused on how to live a more sustainable life and what we can do to inspire change.
Sept. 14 4–6 p.m. UMC Aspen Rooms and South Terrace Tent Looking for an on-campus job? Come to this event to meet campus employers, explore opportunities and learn how to apply! Open to all current undergraduate and graduate students.
Sept. 14, 28 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Come test your luck at a single or double knock-out ping pong tournament. Sign-up starts at 6 p.m. at The Connection front desk. Prizes for top finishers!
Sept. 14, 21 12:30–1 p.m. Virtual Are you a student in CMCI who is hoping to break into industry but don’t know where to start? Come hear interesting news and trends happening in the communications, media studies, journalism and information science industries. Each week will focus on a different major group.
Sept. 15, 29 5–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Show off your skills at a video game tournament! Sign-up starts at 4 p.m. at The Connection front desk. Co-hosted by CU Gaming and The Connection.
Sept. 1610:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. UMC 308 This fall, the Office of the Dean of Students will be holding office hours at the UMC and the Village Center at Williams Village. Stop by to ask questions, connect with our staff and learn about resources; no appointment needed!
Sept. 16 5:30–6:30 p.m.Virtual Hear from a panel of experts about the steps they took to get into their chosen field and industry.
Sept. 16 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium and livestream CU Boulder’s top wind, brass and percussion students perform a varied program of outstanding works for wind ensemble.
Sept. 16, 17 7 p.m. Fiske Planetarium Join Fiske Planetarium for this live faculty talk with planetarium director John Keller, who is excited to share the newly renovated theater space and full dome productions with the community. He also will share details of upcoming ground-based observation campaigns to measure three Jupiter Trojan asteroids that the NASA Lucy mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 16, will fly by this decade. Students are admitted free with a Buff OneCard.
Sept. 17, 30 7–9 p.m. UMC, The Connection Show off your skills at an 8-ball or 9-ball billiards tournament at The Connection. Free to enter. Sign-up starts at 6 p.m. at The Connection front desk. Prizes for top finishers!
Sept. 17–19 Time varies University Theatre
This is not your typical love story: Over 30 years, two scar-crossed lovers meet again and again, brought together by injury, heartbreak and their own self-destructive tendencies. Gruesome Playground Injuries is a compelling and unconventional love story, told with great compassion and humor, about the intimacy between two people when they allow their defenses to drop and their wounds to show.
Sept. 22, 293–4 p.m. Virtual Come learn how to begin your industry job search, with topics including finding job postings, drafting a résumé and writing a cover letter and more. This seminar is intended for master's students and doctoral students in their second and subsequent years, whether you are intending to move into industry or just want to keep your options open.
Sept. 23 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium and livestream The CU Symphony Orchestra performs a diverse repertoire, including symphonies and large-scale orchestral works by major composers.
Sept. 245–6:30 p.m. Bald Mountain Want to discover new plants and animals? Come join Trail Buffs on a Nature Scavenger Hunt on Bald Mountain to learn more about nature. In collaboration with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, we will be using the iNaturalist app to identify and network with fellow Buffs and other communities across the world! There will be prizes for the winners of the scavenger hunt and food for everyone. Fill out this short RSVP form.
Sept. 257 p.m. UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom Get lucky with Drag Queen Bingo! Bring your friends, and win tons of cool prizes. Featuring Jessica L’Whore and Lala Shearz. You don’t want to miss this.
Sept. 27 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall and livestream
The CU Philharmonia Orchestra features musicians from the College of Music performing a diverse range of repertoire for strings and full orchestra. This concert features Carlos Simón's “Portrait of a Queen,” Philip Herbert's “Elegy—Memoriam Stephen Lawrence,” the world premiere performance of CU composition alumnus Dianna Link's “Diamond Dust,” Haydn's Symphony No. 88 in G Major and the orchestral tour de force Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's “Capriccio Espagnol.”
Sept. 29 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall and livestream
Pendulum New Music presents some of CU Boulder’s best performers from all departments as they premiere original music by student composers. A faculty or guest performance is also featured at every monthly concert.
Sept. 30 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall
CU Boulder’s College of Music welcomes professional musicians from around the world in its series of guest artist recitals. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for audiences to experience expert-level performances of dynamic works for free. Join us for this performance today; it will be ticketed somewhere else tomorrow.
Over a Zoom call from sunny Los Angeles, Donald Shoup—sporting a big white beard, a brown cardigan sweater, and a marketer’s telephone headset—was yelling at me. “Oh, how terrible, you have to move your car, so they can sweep the road. I think that’s just awful,” he said, with audible italics. “To overcome the base desires of people like you”—people like me?—“you have to give the money back to the neighborhood.”
I’d made the mistake of griping to the bona fide king of parking reform that owning a car in New York City was annoying. Twice-weekly street sweeping forces a large group of people to fight for a small number of free curbside spots that they must then vacate frequently. It’s the rare game of musical chairs that requires insurance. And for most people, exorbitantly priced garages aren’t really an option. The free spaces are the only way to make owning a car in New York feel sustainable.
Today Strava is making Beacon, its live location-sharing service for athletes, available to everyone, whether you pay for the popular cycle and run-tracking app or not. Beacon sharing from the Strava app was previously only available via subscription, which currently costs $59.99 annually or $5.00 per month. The change follows a massive privacy push by Strava introduced earlier this month.
Beacon sharing can be used for safety and fun. The feature lets you share your live location with up to three people who can track your progress until you finish. They receive a text message with a unique URL that opens in a mobile browser to show your activity in real time (updated every 15 seconds). This can be a life-saving feature for bikers or runners who find themselves in trouble on a secluded road or trail (safety!) while enabling some serendipitous rendezvousing for any friends who might want to you join you mid-course (fun!).
There is one caveat. Strava says that Beacon sharing from connected devices like the Apple Watch and Garmin bike computers will remain a paid feature due to the complexity of supporting such integrations. Only Beacon sharing from the Strava app on your phone is free.
The free Beacon service follows a major overhaul of Strava’s user privacy options a few weeks ago. These include new “privacy zone” features that give users more control over the accuracy and visibility of their GPS tracking maps beyond just their home, and activity-related features to hide data like heart rate and pace on a per-user basis. DC Rainmaker breaks it all down in the video above for anyone interested in the details.
The Taliban says Afghanistan is a “free and sovereign” nation as it hails the exit of US troops after 20 years of occupation, describing their departure as a “historic moment”.
Taliban fighters on Tuesday took charge of Kabul’s airport as the last US soldiers flew out of the country. Celebratory gunfire and fireworks lit up the Kabul night sky.
Speaking to reporters from Kabul airport, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “We do not have any doubt that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a free and sovereign nation.
“America was defeated … and on behalf of my nation, we want to have good relations with the rest of the world,” he said.
He also promised Afghans “will protect our freedom, independence and Islamic values”.
Earlier, Marine General Frank McKenzie, head of US Central Command, announced that the last American troops flew out of Kabul just before midnight local time (19:30 GMT).
“We did not get everybody out that we wanted to get out. But I think if we stayed another 10 days, we would not get everybody out that we wanted to get out.”
US President Joe Biden set a deadline of August 31 for the withdrawal of US troops.
Here are the latest updates:
Biden to give live address on Afghanistan withdrawal
United States President Joe Biden is slated to make his televised speech from the White House at 2:45 pm EDT.
He has said repeatedly he does not regret his decision to leave.
Qatar ready to give ‘maximum support’ for stability in Afghanistan: foreign minister
Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the gulf nation was ready provide its “maximum support” for reaching stability in Afghanistan in a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Mass.
“I expressed that Qatar is fully prepared to provide maximum support to maintain stability in Afghan also provide the positive prospects for the protection and preservation of the Afghan people’s rights,” al-Thani said.
The Qatari foreign minister said he discussed with Mass “the means to combat terrorism” considering that Afghanistan was at a “turning point in its history”.
“We reiterated that Taliban should demonstrate full cooperation and to honor all the obligations placed on its shoulders”.
‘A few dozen’ French still in Afghanistan: defense ministry
France says “a few dozen” French nationals remain in Afghanistan, including some who wanted to be evacuated but could not as the last flight left Kabul.
Defense Ministry spokesman Herve Grandjean said in a news conference Tuesday that “all efforts are being done” to allow those left behind to get “a safe and orderly evacuation.”
He said “that is the goal of the talks under way within the United Nations framework with the Taliban power.”
In addition, France was not able to evacuate a “few dozen” former Afghan employees of the French army who asked for the protection of the country, he said.
Taliban ‘angry’ over US destruction of military hardware at airport
The Taliban invited Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis to visit Kabul international airport following the final withdrawal of US forces. Bellis said the Taliban were upset by the US forces’ destruction of planes, helicopters, and other equipment at the military side of the airport, as they considered the hardware to be an Afghan “national asset”.
“Last night their mood was one of joy, celebration, they were shooting in the sky, there were fireworks – they were very happy that the Americans had left,” she said.
“The mood here today is quite different – they are disappointed, they are angry, they say they feel betrayed because all of this equipment is broken beyond repair.”
The Taliban have said that they hope to reopen the passenger side of the airport to commercial flights in the coming days, which would allow people to leave the country, and Al Jazeera understands that Turkey and Qatar are assisting with that work.
“So while the evacuation efforts have finished because the foreign forces have all left, the Taliban say that they are going to stand by their word – which is to allow people to fly out commercially when they get everything operational,” Bellis said.
War-weary Afghans divided on Taliban rule as US forces depart
In the early hours of Tuesday, hails of gunfire filled the skies above cities across Afghanistan as the Taliban celebrated the final withdrawal of foreign forces after a 20-year US-led occupation of the country.
Just after midnight local time, US Central Command Commander, General Kenneth McKenzie, declared, “Every single US service member is now out of Afghanistan.”
With those 10 words, McKenzie brought an official end to Washington’s longest-ever foreign incursion. As the final US military plane departed Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, the Taliban looked on in triumph.
On August 31, 2021, the Taliban officially took control of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul [Mohammad Aref Karimi/Al Jazeera] (Restricted Use)
After US withdrawal, few answers for Afghans left behind
The United States withdrawal from Afghanistan has dashed hopes of an immediate evacuation for Afghans who had worked for the US or NATO governments during their 20-year engagement in the country.
For Abdul Matin Amiri, like thousands of other Afghans, the end of the chaotic and rushed evacuations by the US and other foreign governments proved the latest setback in a five-year attempt to leave his homeland and find safety abroad. Those attempts began in 2016, when he first applied for a Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) available for Afghans who worked for the US government.
UK denies pushing to leave Kabul airport gate open before blast
The United Kingdom coordinated closely with the United States and did not push to keep a gate open at Kabul airport where a suicide bomber killed 13 US troops and an estimated 170 Afghan civilians, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said.
“We got our civilian staff out of the processing centre by Abbey Gate, but it’s just not true to suggest that, other than securing our civilian staff inside the airport, that we were pushing to leave the gate open,” Raab told Sky News on Tuesday.
A Taliban fighter guards a street leading to the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan [Reuters]
Taliban says formation of new Afghan gov’t in its final stages
The formation of Afghanistan’s new government is in its final stages, the Taliban has said, as the US withdrew the last of its forces from the country.
“The government will take shape in the following few days,” Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban leader, told Al Jazeera.
He added that it was still too early to say who will be part of the new cabinet.
The police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested a 17-year-old Afghan national in the southern district of Kathua who was on his way to Kashmir without valid travel documents.
The senior superintendent of police Kathua district, R C Kotwal, told reporters the boy was apprehended while the passengers were boarded off at a mandatory COVID testing point at Lakhanpur-an entry point to Indian-administered Kashmir, near the northern state of Punjab, in Jammu region.
“Today morning, a 17-year-old boy was apprehended at the Lakhanpur where the police checkpoint is round the clock. After preliminary questioning we came to know he is an Afghan national from Kabul” the official said, adding that “the boy claimed that his brother who serves in the Afghan army is under treatment at RR hospital in Delhi”.
The official said that the boy “claimed he came to India in July to attend his brother on valid travel documents”.
“He doesn’t have any travel documents with him and he says they are with the Afghan embassy in Delhi which we are verifying. He is saying his visa is valid till October. He is a young boy and is 2004 born and we are verifying why and how he came here,” the official said.
The official said that they found some Indian and Afghan currency from the possession of the boy.
While being asked about any further updates in the case, the official told Al Jazeera that the “further investigation is going on.”
The police have identified the teenager as Abdul Rehmani of Kabul who had come as an attendant to his brother who was being treated for a bullet injury in Delhi.
Rehmani was travelling to Kashmir via an interstate bus coming from Delhi.
EU seeks united front on handling Afghan migrants
EU member states are looking to find consensus on how to help Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries take in refugees fleeing the Taliban and prevent an influx of migrants comparable to 2015.
“We need to avoid a humanitarian crisis, we need to avoid a migratory crisis, and we need to avoid security threats,” the EU commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson said ahead of a meeting of the EU’s 27 interior ministers in Brussels.
“But then we need to act now and not wait until we have big flows of people at our external borders or until we have terrorist organisations being stronger,” she added.
“Everybody would like to avoid a situation like in 2015, and we can avoid it, we are much better prepared, and we can reach out to do things already now,” Johansson, a former Swedish minister, said.
At the meeting, the ministers are expected to approve a declaration that includes support for countries in the region to take in refugees from Afghanistan, which has been in Taliban hands since mid-August.
Taliban held three-day meeting in Kandahar: spokesman
The Taliban held a three-day consultative meeting of its leadership council from Saturday to Monday, the group’s spokesperson posted on social media.
“During the three-day meeting, the current political, security and social issues of the country were discussed in detail,” Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted.
The meeting was held in Kandahar province with the supreme leader of the Taliban Haibatullah Akhunzada presiding over it, Mujahid added.
#خبر:
۱/۴ ـ د اسلامي امارت د رهبري شوری دري ورځنۍغونډه د عالیقدر امیرالمؤمنین په مشري ترسره شوه
په کندهار ولایت کي دافغانستان د اسلامي امارت د رهبري شوری غونډه د اسلامي امارت د زعیم عالیقدر امیرالمؤمنین شیخ الحدیث هبة الله اخندزاده صاحب په مشري تر سره شوه.
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) August 31, 2021
Canada to take in 5,000 Afghan refugees evacuated by the US: minister
Canada said it would take in and resettle some 5,000 Afghan refugees who had been evacuated by the United States after the withdrawal of the last American troops after almost two decades of war.
“We’re pulling out all the stops to help as many Afghans as possible who want to make their home in Canada,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino. “Over the weekend, Canada and its allies received assurances from the Taliban that Afghan citizens with travel authorization from other countries would be safely allowed to leave Afghanistan.”
NATO chief vows will not ‘forget’ Afghans left behind
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that Kabul airport must be kept open and promised not to forget Afghans left behind when US and allied forces left.
“It’s essential to keep the airport open, both to enable humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and also to make sure that we can continue to get people out – those who wished to, but were not able to be part of the military evacuation,” he told the AFP news agency in an interview.
“We will not forget them.”
Between Us: Afghanistan’s 20 Years of War
After 20 years of war, US troops have officially left Afghanistan and the Taliban has retaken power. Many are wondering: What’s next?.
“The truth is, nobody knows,” says Ali Latifi, Al Jazeera’s Afghanistan online correspondent.
“When you leave your house, you don’t know if you’ll come back home alive. That’s the legacy of this war.”
In the days leading up to foreign troops pulling out of Afghanistan, Ali takes us through the legacy of the US-led invasion and what Afghans have really been experiencing.
Taliban promises to spare no effort for national unity
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held a news conference in Kabul, saying, “I pledge before you that we will spare no effort to restore our national unity and to regain our social harmony, steering away from any form of hypocrisy or those who are trying to drive a wedge among our people.”
“On the economic front, since we regained our political independence, we are similarly in a dire need to restore our economy and economic independence.”
China: Afghanistan has ‘turned new page’ after US withdrawal
China says the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after a 20-year conflict signalled the country has “turned a new page”, after criticising Washington’s chaotic exit.
“Afghanistan has been able to free itself of foreign military occupation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing. “The Afghan people have ushered in a new beginning for national peace and reconstruction, and Afghanistan has turned a new page.”
India’s envoy in Qatar meets Taliban leader: Indian Express
Indian Envoy in Qatar Deepak Mittal has met Taliban leader Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, according to Indian Express news outlet citing India’s foreign ministry statement.
“The meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side,” the ministry said. “Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up.”
“Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner,” the statement said. “The Taliban Representative assured the Ambassador that these issues would be positively addressed.”
Just In: India officially talks to Taliban.
Indian envoy in Qatar Deepak Mittal meets Taliban leader Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanekzai in Doha.@IndianExpress
General Kenneth McKenzie announcing the end of the US mission in Afghanistan [Pentagon]
Panjshir fighters claim killing at least seven Taliban members
Taliban forces clashed with resistance fighters in the Panjshir valley north of the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday night, with at least seven killed, two members of the main anti-Taliban opposition group said on Tuesday.
Fahim Dashti, a spokesman for the National Resistance Forces, a group loyal to local leader Ahmad Massoud, said the fighting occurred on the western entrance to the valley where the Taliban attacked NRF positions.
He said the attack, which may have been a probe to test the valley’s defences, was repulsed with eight Taliban killed and a similar number wounded, while two members of the NRF forces were wounded.
“Last night, the Taliban attacked Panjshir, but were defeated with 7 dead and several wounded,” Bismillah Mohammadi, a member of the resistance movement who served as a minister under exiled President Ashraf Ghani, said in a tweet. “They retreated with heavy casualties.”
The report could not be immediately verified independently by Al Jazeera.
Afghan Paralympian beats the odds to compete in Tokyo
After a dramatic evacuation from Kabul and a secret operation to fly him to Tokyo, Afghan Paralympian Hossain Rasouli beat the odds on Tuesday to compete in the long jump.
It was not the event he had been expecting to participate in, after qualifying for the 100m T47, but then just about everything in his world was turned upside down with the Taliban’s capture of his homeland.
The Taliban now controls Kabul airport. How will it run it?
With the Taliban in control of Kabul’s airport after the United States completed its withdrawal, the focus will now shift from the chaotic Western evacuation operation of the past two weeks to the group’s plans for the transport hub.
The airport’s symbolism was underlined on Tuesday when the Taliban’s top spokesman stood on its runway and declared victory over the US. But what happens next remains unclear.
In Pictures: Triumphant Taliban parades at Kabul airport
Hours after the last foreign forces withdrew from Afghanistan, Taliban leaders walked victoriously through the Kabul airport, flanked by guards dressed in special forces combat kit inspecting destroyed US military equipment.
Taliban walk in front of a military aeroplane [Stringer/Reuters]
Uzbekistan says it will only allow air transit of Afghans to Germany
Uzbekistan will help people fleeing from Taliban rule in neighbouring Afghanistan to transit on to Germany but such help will only be limited to those flying in for a short time, the government says.
However, the Uzbek foreign ministry said in a statement Uzbekistan’s land border with Afghanistan remains closed and the assistance will be limited to allowing the air transit of people who will only stay in the country for short periods of time.
The Tashkent government said all attempts to cross the land border would be stopped.
Afghan refugee in Australia pleads to return and rescue family
An Afghan refugee who has been held in Australian immigration detention for more than eight years is pleading for his release in a bid to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and rescue his family following the withdrawal of US troops from the war-torn country.
Japan’s top diplomat says his country has temporarily moved its embassy from Afghanistan to Turkey but now plans to relocate it to Qatar, where the Taliban have an office.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters that his talks with leaders in the region suggest that Doha, the capital of Qatar, will carry growing political importance.
“I believe various forms of communication will take place,” Motegi said.
Isolating the Taliban could pose a threat to the whole region: Expert
Sultan Barakat, the director of the centre for conflict and humanitarian studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, has told Al Jazeera that “the coming few days and months will test to the limit the strength of international diplomacy.”
“Yesterday, we saw the United Nations resolution and the discussion that happened. Overall, that was in the right direction, but we still have not learned the importance of language and communication with the Taliban,” he said.
“[They] are a very proud people who do not take well to either threats or conditions. There was a missed opportunity yesterday to set up those conditions but maybe in relation to triggers, specific targets, timeline, stepping stones that the Taliban should be very clear about,” he said.
Barakat also said that “the real issue that is going to face the Taliban now is the issue of financial flow.”
“Isolating them entirely could only lead to a worse situation and I can think of many threats to the region, and maybe to the world, that could come as a result of isolating them entirely. For example, in order to raise funds, they could sell the weapons that they inherited from the United States and those weapons could then spread across the region,” he said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks to Badri 313 military unit at Kabul’s airport [Taliban/Handout via Reuters]
Taliban to decide on Kabul airport charter flights: Germany
Germany will wait for the Taliban to install a new government to see if the group will honour their pledge to allow civilians to leave Afghanistan on flights from Kabul airport, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says.
“The Taliban have promised, but in the coming days and weeks, we will find out whether we can count on that,” Maas said during a news conference in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
“The Taliban want to install a new government, and this will give us an indication whether our request that it be inclusive is met,” he added
International community must remain engaged: Pakistan FM
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s foreign minister, says at a joint news conference with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, held in Islamabad:
“We will give you a very good holistic view of what the challenges are, what the concerns are, the opportunities are and what needs to be done in the days ahead, how the international community should act, what are the advantages of remaining engaged, what would be the consequences of abandonment, what did we learn from the past.”
“The international community must remain engaged, humanitarian assistance must flow to not let the economic collapse in Afghanistan take place. Vacuum is in nobody’s interest, instability is in nobody’s interest, exodus of refugees will not, cannot be stopped within the region.”
UK nationals still in Afghanistan in ‘low hundreds’: Raab
The number of British nationals still in Afghanistan is in the low hundreds, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says.
“I know that the number of UK nationals, the particular responsibility of the Foreign Office, is now down at a very low level … low hundreds given that we taken in total 5,000 out,” Raab told Sky News.
Taliban in talks with Qatar, Turkey about Kabul airport: France
The Taliban is in talks with Qatar and Turkey about the management of Kabul airport and should secure the airport as soon as possible so that people who want to leave Afghanistan can do so using commercial flights, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says.
“The Security Council resolution about securing the airport must be implemented. There are talks under way with the Qataris and Turks about management of the airport. We must demand that access to the airport is safe,” Le Drian said on France 2 television.
US embassy to assist citizens in Afghanistan from Qatar
The US embassy in Kabul suspended operations on Tuesday, August 31, its website said.
“While the US government has withdrawn its personnel from Kabul, we will continue to assist US citizens and their families in Afghanistan from Doha, Qatar,” the website said.
Taliban fighters stand guard inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport [Kathy Gannon/AP]
Prominent Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi lands in Qatar
Fawzia Koofi, an Afghan politician and women’s rights activist, has arrived in Qatar from Afghanistan after being put under house arrest by the Taliban.
Lolwah Rashid Mohammed al-Khater, Qatari assistant foreign minister, shared the news on Twitter, writing that Koofi had landed in Qatar and would soon be reunited with her two daughters.
I’m glad to announce that sister Fawzia @fawziakoofi77 has just landed on a Qatari Air Force flight to be reunited again with her 2 daughters, who were safely evacuated to Qatar in earlier evacuations. Thanks to everyone in Afghanistan who facilitated, and those who asked. pic.twitter.com/lL5MiVHht1
— لولوة الخاطر Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) August 30, 2021
Taliban warns elite Badri unit to ‘be very cautious’
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has addressed members of the group’s elite Badri unit in a livestream from Kabul airport.
“I hope you are very cautious in dealing with the nation,” he said. “Our nation has suffered war and invasion and the people do not have more tolerance.” At the end of his remarks, the Badri fighters shouted: “God is the greatest!”
Later, speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic on the tarmac, Mujahid rejected having a caretaker government and insisted, “There will be security in Kabul and people should not be concerned,” he said.
A video grab taken from Afghan TV RTA shows propaganda images of Taliban’s Badri 313 Special Forces patrolling streets in an unidentified location in Afghanistan [RTA TV/AFP]
Taliban proclaim ‘full independence’ after US troops leave
Taliban leaders walked victoriously through the airport, flanked by guards dressed in special forces combat kit inspecting destroyed US helicopters.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid led a group of officials onto the runway, his usual stoic expression replaced by a broad grin.
The Taliban’s so-called “Badri 313” special forces unit posed for pictures, brandishing US rifles and flying the group’s white flag.
Mujahid said that “American soldiers left the Kabul airport, and our nation got its full independence.”
Taliban spokesman to hold news conference at Kabul airport
The spokesman of the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, and his troops are reportedly entering Kabul airport, where he is expected to hold a news conference.
Images on social media show the group entering the airport on Tuesday morning – they are expected to make important announcements.
Beijing watching Afghanistan ‘very closely’ after US withdrawal
With its growing investment in Afghanistan, its “extensive investments” in Pakistan, and its geopolitical interests at stake, China is “watching very closely” developments in the region following the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul.
Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said China “is maintaining an approach of non-interference” while still monitoring the situation very closely.
Yu said Beijing wants to give the Taliban “space to prove itself”, while urging Washington to play a role in “cleaning up the mess” following the withdrawal.
‘Calm’ in Kabul after US troops withdraw
Kabul residents woke up early on Tuesday under full control of the Taliban after the complete withdrawal of US troops.
Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kabul, said the “atmosphere is calm” after a late night of celebration.
“For the Taliban, this is a historic victory … The Taliban have always spoken about their fight in Afghanistan against foreign powers as one of a rite to national sovereignty,” he said.
A Wisconsin school district has reversed a decision to leave a federal free meals program following widespread criticism and loud protests from parents and others
ByThe Associated Press
August 31, 2021, 12:33 PM
• 3 min read
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- A Wisconsin school district has reversed a decision to leave a federal free meals program following widespread criticism and loud protests from parents and others.
Waukesha school board members said they received threats in the wake of national attention after voting to opt out of the program that was providing free breakfast and lunch to all students in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The board voted 5-4 on Monday to reverse course while parents and others packed the meeting room and two overflow rooms.
Board member Karin Rajnicek said after the board's previous vote to end the free program that it made it easy for families to “become spoiled.” Darren Clark, assistant superintendent for business services, said he feared there would be a “slow addiction” to the service.
Even without the program, Waukesha students from low-income families still would have been able to apply for free or reduced-price meals under the traditional National School Lunch Program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to extend the Seamless Summer Option during the pandemic to offer free meals year-round has allowed for more COVID-safe practices by eliminating the need to collect payments and allowing meals to be served more easily in classrooms or outside.
The decision also allowed students to be fed regardless of their ability to pay, qualify, persuade their parents to fill out forms or withstand possible stigma associated with qualifying.
Of the 97% of Wisconsin school districts that were eligible, Waukesha was the only one to opt out of the extension this school year, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.
Some board members said if they voted to reverse course, it would be giving in to a “hateful mob” and giving over power to the federal government, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
“It’s time for parents and community members to start paying attention to the forces at work here,” board member Kelly Piacsek said. “When the federal government is responsible for feeding all students at all times regardless of need, they have ultimate authority and we don’t need local school boards anymore.”
Piacsek, who was interrupted by applause as she spoke, said it wasn’t “about food anymore,” but about national influences on local school boards.
Board member Anthony Zenobia accused administrators of asking for the change of course “because of intimidation and threats.” Like Piacsek, he opposed using more federal funds for meals.
“If it’s food and free lunch today, it will be forced masking, forced whatever-we-want-to-do in schools because the mob will have the power to tell us what to do,” Zenobia said.
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On August 31, 2021, the Taliban officially took control of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul [Mohammad Aref Karimi/Al Jazeera] (Restricted Use)
A Taliban fighter guards a street leading to the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan [Reuters]
General Kenneth McKenzie announcing the end of the US mission in Afghanistan [Pentagon]
Taliban forces secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport [Stringer/EPA]
Taliban walk in front of a military aeroplane [Stringer/Reuters]
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks to Badri 313 military unit at Kabul’s airport [Taliban/Handout via Reuters]
Taliban fighters stand guard inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport [Kathy Gannon/AP]
A video grab taken from Afghan TV RTA shows propaganda images of Taliban’s Badri 313 Special Forces patrolling streets in an unidentified location in Afghanistan [RTA TV/AFP]
