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The Afghanistan government collapses |
| In a swift and stunning rout, Taliban fighters seized control of Afghanistan's capital on Sunday, completing their sweep of the besieged nation as the Afghan government collapsed after two decades of efforts by the U.S. to reshape the region as part of its "war on terror." Embattled President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as the Taliban entered the capital city of Kabul, and American troops scrambled to evacuate thousands of U.S. diplomats and Afghans from its embassy. |
| The Taliban is soon expected to declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from the presidential palace in Kabul, an official told the Associated Press. |
| The U.S. Embassy in Kabul warned on Sunday that the security situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating and instructed American citizens to "shelter in place" amid reports of gunfire at the airport in Afghanistan's capital. The embassy's security alert came as American troops were in the midst of evacuating all diplomatic staff from the embassy to the airport and as the Taliban entered Kabul, seemingly poised to takeover the government. The Pentagon authorized an additional 1,000 U.S. troops to be deployed to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation efforts, said a defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. That is on top of the 5,000 troops that President Joe Biden announced Saturday would be sent to ensure "an orderly and safe" drawdown and evacuate U.S. personnel as well as Afghans who helped American forces. |
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Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Haiti; hundreds dead |
| At least 724 people have been confirmed dead and 2,800 were injured after a massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Haiti early Saturday. Its epicenter struck about 100 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, and left buildings crumbled, hospitals overcrowded and people rushing in fear from their homes. Preliminary reports for the U.S. Geological Survey estimate hundreds of millions of dollars in damage as the region has "structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking." Haiti's new prime minister, Ariel Henry, said he would mobilize all available government resources following the "violent quake" that had caused loss of life and damage in various parts of the country. Henry also declared a one-month state of emergency for the country. Some towns were almost completely razed, he said. |
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 | | People stand outside the residence of the Catholic bishop after it was damaged by an earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. | | Delot Jean, AP | |
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COVID-19 cases on the rise in 46 states |
| COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continue to climb to heights not seen since the winter and virus deaths have increased as the highly contagious delta variant rips through the country. The U.S. accounts for more than one-fifth of the world's total COVID-19 cases for the first time since mid-February, before vaccines were widely available, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. The nation reported more than 900,000 cases in a week for the first time since the week ending Feb. 4, while deaths surpassed 4,500 a week, nearly triple the count during the last lull. Cases were rising in 46 states. Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana and Mississippi broke all-time case count records last week, based on data reported Friday. |
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Tropical storms Fred, Grace threaten Florida |
| A tropical storm warning was in effect Sunday for most of the Florida Panhandle as the remnants of Fred took aim for the coast and Tropical Storm Grace threatened to follow suit later in the week. Fred, which regained tropical storm status early Sunday, could blast parts of the panhandle with up to a foot of rain and possibly tornadoes Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. And Grace could be worse. "Indications point toward Grace tracking slightly farther to the north compared to Fred, so places like the U.S. ... could endure greater impacts compared to Fred," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty warned. Fred was centered 200 miles southwest of Tampa early Sunday, driving sustained winds of nearly 40 mph, while Tropical Storm Grace was sweeping across the Caribbean with sustained winds of about 40 mph. |
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Gunmaker Remington offers $33M settlement to Sandy Hook families |
| After a seven-year legal battle, the maker of the rifle used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre offered the victims' families nearly $33 million in a potential settlement for a lawsuit over the company's marketing of the gun. Remington's Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle was used to kill 20 first graders and six teachers in 2012 at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. The nine families suing Remington Arms are discussing the proposals with their lawyers, said Joshua Koskoff, lead attorney representing the families. Koskoff called the offer "grossly inadequate" but declined further comment. Each family would receive $3.7 million. |
Diamondbacks pitcher throws no-hitter in first MLB start |
| Tyler Gilbert entered the day as anonymous as any pitcher in the majors. He ended it with his own claim on baseball history. In blanking the San Diego Padres 7-0 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Gilbert became just the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first career start and the first to do since 1953. He also became just the third pitcher in Arizona Diamondbacks history to throw a no-hitter. |
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 | | Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Tyler Gilbert celebrates after throwing a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres. | | Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports | |
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| This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Contributing: Associated Press. |
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