Month: August 2021

As they held their first official news briefing on Tuesday since the seizure of Kabul, the Taliban said they wanted peaceful relations with other countries and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law. The Taliban suggesting a softer line then during their rule 20 years ago; during their 1996-2001 rule the Taliban stopped women from working and meted out punishments including public stoning. Girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear all-enveloping burqas to go out and then only when accompanied by a male relative. The U.N. Human Rights Council will hold a special session in Geneva next week to address “serious human rights concerns” after the Taliban takeover.

The Taliban press conference came as the United States and Western allies resumed evacuating diplomats and civilians the day after chaos at Kabul airport ensued. The State Department also said on Tuesday that Washington had completed a drawdown of embassy personnel from Kabul and remaining diplomats were assisting in the evacuation. U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said they had agreed to hold a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders next week to discuss a common strategy and approach to Afghanistan, hoping to assess how to respond to the situation.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.  According to a statement from Abbott’s office, the Texas governor is fully vaccinated and had been tested for the virus daily before he tested positive.  His office added: “Governor Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently.”

The governor’s office also said that Abbott is currently experiencing no symptoms but is receiving Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody treatment, and will isolate in the governor’s mansion where he will continue to be tested daily. The governor’s wife, first lady Cecilia Abbott, tested negative; and those who have been in close contact with Abbott have been notified of his COVID diagnosis. On Monday night, Abbott had tweeted a photo of himself speaking before a crowd of maskless guests at a Republican event in Collin County.

Abbott has been engaged in a battle with local school districts after he issued an executive order in May barring governmental entities, including public health authorities, from requiring face coverings and so-called vaccine passports. Texas is experiencing a COVID-19 surge as the state reported 20,123 new cases and 96 new deaths on Tuesday with 12,227 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized.

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