The Associated Press

The Rundown

Taliban mark Afghan independence as challenges to rule rise

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban celebrated Afghanistan’s Independence Day on Thursday by declaring it had beaten “the arrogant of power of the world” in the United States, but challenges to their rule ranging from running the country’s frozen…Read More

Russia was ready for Taliban’s win due to longtime contacts

MOSCOW (AP) — When the Taliban swept over Afghanistan, Russia was ready for the rapid developments after working methodically for years to lay the groundwork for relations with the group that it still officially considers a terrorist organization. …Read More

AP Investigation: How AI-powered tech landed man in jail with scant evidence

CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Williams’ wife pleaded with him to remember their fishing trips with the grandchildren, how he used to braid her hair, anything to jar him back to his world outside the concrete walls of Cook County Jail. …Read More

Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The warnings were clear: The Afghan government would likely fall once U.S. troops pulled out. But intelligence agencies and ultimately President Joe Biden missed how quickly it would happen, losing weeks that could have been used …Read More

Afghans plead for faster US evacuation from Taliban rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — Educated young women, former U.S. military translators and other Afghans most at-risk from the Taliban appealed to the Biden administration to get them on evacuation flights as the United States struggled to bring order to the con…Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

Tensions over aid grow in Haiti as quake’s deaths pass 2K

LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) — Tensions have been growing over the slow pace of aid reaching victims of a powerful weekend earthquake that killed more than 2,100 people in Hait…Read More

Surprise! Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost welcome baby boy

Scarlett Johansson is a mom to two now. The “Black Widow” star recently gave birth to a son, Cosmo, with husband Colin Jost, the “Saturday Night Live” star wrote on Inst…Read More

Was Biden handcuffed by Trump’s Taliban deal in Doha?

WASHINGTON (AP) — After President Donald Trump signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020, he optimistically proclaimed that “we think we’ll be successful in …Read More

Soccer-loving Pope Francis gets a new toy: a foosball table

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has received dozens of soccer jerseys and game balls during his eight-year pontificate but he got a new football-themed toy on Wednesday…Read More