US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that the&nbsp;country and the international community expects the Taliban to form an inclusive government with representations from different communities and interests.

At a news conference,&nbsp;Blinken said,&nbsp;"As we've said and as countries around the world have said, there is an expectation that any government that emerges now will have some real inclusivity, and that it will have non-Talibs in it, who are representative of different communities and different interests in Afghanistan."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Western nations plan to dump Afghan refugees in Asia&nbsp;

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After the takeover of Afghanistan&nbsp;on August 15, the Taliban is expected to announce the formation of the new government.

The secretary of state said, "We will see what, in fact, emerges, but I have to tell you that as important as what the government looks like is, more important still is what any government does. And that's what we're really looking at. We're looking at what actions, what policies any new Afghan government pursues. That's what matters the most."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/911-attacks-us-president-moves-to-declassify-documents-as-20th-anniversary-approaches-410579" hreflang="en">9/11 attacks: US president moves to declassify documents as 20th anniversary approaches</a>

The expectation is to see inclusivity in government, but ultimately the expectation is to see a government that makes good on commitments that the Taliban have made, particularly in freedom of travel, not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a launching ground for terrorism directed at the US or any of the allies and partners, upholding the basic rights of the Afghan people, including women and minorities, and not engaging in reprisals, the official added.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that the country and the international community expects the Taliban to form an inclusive government with representations from different communities and interests.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that the country and the international community expects the Taliban to form an inclusive government with representations from different communities and interests. At a news conference, Blinken said, "As we've said and as countries around the world have said, there is an expectation that any government that emerges now will have some real inclusivity, and that it will have non-Talibs in it, who are representative of different communities and different interests in Afghanistan." Watch | Gravitas: Western nations plan to dump Afghan refugees in Asia × After the takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, the Taliban is expected to announce the formation of the new government. The secretary of state said, "We will see what, in fact, emerges, but I have to tell you that as important as what the government looks like is, more important still is what any government does. And that's what we're really looking at. We're looking at what actions, what policies any new Afghan government pursues. That's what matters the most." Also Read | 9/11 attacks: US president moves to declassify documents as 20th anniversary approaches The expectation is to see inclusivity in government, but ultimately the expectation is to see a government that makes good on commitments that the Taliban have made, particularly in freedom of travel, not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a launching ground for terrorism directed at the US or any of the allies and partners, upholding the basic rights of the Afghan people, including women and minorities, and not engaging in reprisals, the official added. (With inputs from agencies)

Expect Taliban to form inclusive government in Afghanistan, says Blinken  

A visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US later this month is likely to depend on the finality over hosting of the first in-person summit of the Quad leaders by the Biden administration, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

The tentative schedule explored for the visit was between September 22-27 and the preparations were focused on three segments -- Modi's address at the UN General Assembly in New York, participation at the proposed Quad summit in Washington and a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden, they said.

However, the sudden decision by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to step down by the end of September triggered uncertainty over the US hosting of the in-person Quad summit as

Tokyo is learnt to have requested for a hybrid format for the talks.

The people cited above said there was no final decision yet on the proposed visit to the US by Modi in view of the uncertainty over the holding of the Quad summit among the leaders of the US, India, Japan and Australia in Washington.

Suga, who became prime minister of Japan a year ago after Shinzo Abe stepped down, announced on Friday that he will not seek re-election as leader of the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) at the end of September.

His announcement and the political turmoil in Tokyo have also thrown into doubt the holding of the in-person India-Japan summit for the third consecutive year.

The annual summit between Modi and his then Japanese counterpart Abe was cancelled in December 2019 in Guwahati in the wake of massive protests rocking the Assam city over the amended citizenship law.

In 2020, the summit could not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The people cited above said India and the US held a series of meetings as part of preparations for Modi's visit to the US, which if it takes place, will be the first one after Biden took charge of the US in January.

It is learnt that the issue figured during Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's recent meetings in Washington.

The Biden administration has put cooperation with India a key aspect of its overall foreign policy priorities on the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness.

The US has been looking at convening the in-person summit of the leaders of Quad to boost practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as to send a strong signal about Washington's commitment to the grouping.

In March, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending an apparent message to China.

The last time Modi visited the US was in September 2019 when he and then US President Donald Trump addressed the Howdy Modi event in Houston.

If Modi's visit takes place, then it could signal a new phase in the two-way strategic engagement between India and the US.

The Afghan crisis as well as developments in the Indo-Pacific region could be the major focus areas for discussion between the two sides. US Secretary of state Antony Blinken paid a two-day visit to India in July. Before that, US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin had paid a three-day visit to New Delhi in March.&nbsp;

A visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US later this month is likely to depend on the finality over hosting of the first in-person summit of the Quad leaders by the Biden administration, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

A visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US later this month is likely to depend on the finality over hosting of the first in-person summit of the Quad leaders by the Biden administration, people familiar with the development said on Saturday. The tentative schedule explored for the visit was between September 22-27 and the preparations were focused on three segments -- Modi's address at the UN General Assembly in New York, participation at the proposed Quad summit in Washington and a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden, they said. However, the sudden decision by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to step down by the end of September triggered uncertainty over the US hosting of the in-person Quad summit as Tokyo is learnt to have requested for a hybrid format for the talks. The people cited above said there was no final decision yet on the proposed visit to the US by Modi in view of the uncertainty over the holding of the Quad summit among the leaders of the US, India, Japan and Australia in Washington. Suga, who became prime minister of Japan a year ago after Shinzo Abe stepped down, announced on Friday that he will not seek re-election as leader of the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) at the end of September. His announcement and the political turmoil in Tokyo have also thrown into doubt the holding of the in-person India-Japan summit for the third consecutive year. The annual summit between Modi and his then Japanese counterpart Abe was cancelled in December 2019 in Guwahati in the wake of massive protests rocking the Assam city over the amended citizenship law. In 2020, the summit could not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic. The people cited above said India and the US held a series of meetings as part of preparations for Modi's visit to the US, which if it takes place, will be the first one after Biden took charge of the US in January. It is learnt that the issue figured during Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's recent meetings in Washington. The Biden administration has put cooperation with India a key aspect of its overall foreign policy priorities on the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness. The US has been looking at convening the in-person summit of the leaders of Quad to boost practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as to send a strong signal about Washington's commitment to the grouping. In March, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending an apparent message to China. The last time Modi visited the US was in September 2019 when he and then US President Donald Trump addressed the Howdy Modi event in Houston. If Modi's visit takes place, then it could signal a new phase in the two-way strategic engagement between India and the US. The Afghan crisis as well as developments in the Indo-Pacific region could be the major focus areas for discussion between the two sides. US Secretary of state Antony Blinken paid a two-day visit to India in July. Before that, US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin had paid a three-day visit to New Delhi in March.

PM Modi likely to visit the US in late September

As a supportive gesture to victims' families, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the declassification of certain documents related to the September 11, 2001&nbsp;terrorist attacks, on Friday.

The families have been asking for the records for a long time. Coming little more than a week before the 20th anniversary of the attacks,&nbsp;the order&nbsp;is a significant moment in a years-long tussle between the government and the families over what classified information about the run-up to the attacks could be made public.

Watch | Gravitas: America's lies on the trillion-dollar Afghan war

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Last month, the conflict was on display when some 1,800 relatives, survivors and first responders opposed Biden's participation in 9/11 events if the documents remained declassified.

"The significant events in question occurred two decades ago or longer, and they concern a tragic moment that continues to resonate in American history and in the lives of so many Americans," the executive order said.

"It is therefore critical to ensure that the United States Government maximises transparency, relying on classification only when narrowly tailored and necessary," added the order.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-chief-to-host-afghanistan-aid-meeting-in-geneva-on-sept-13-spokesman-410578" hreflang="en">UN chief to host Afghanistan aid meeting in Geneva on Sept 13: Spokesman</a>

The order has directed the Justice Department and other executive branch agencies to begin a declassification review and requires that declassified documents be released over the next six months.

The executive order's practical impact and any new documents it might yield was not immediately clear.

(With inputs from agencies)

As a supportive gesture to victims' families, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the declassification of certain documents related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, on Friday.

As a supportive gesture to victims' families, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the declassification of certain documents related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, on Friday. The families have been asking for the records for a long time. Coming little more than a week before the 20th anniversary of the attacks, the order is a significant moment in a years-long tussle between the government and the families over what classified information about the run-up to the attacks could be made public. Watch | Gravitas: America's lies on the trillion-dollar Afghan war × Last month, the conflict was on display when some 1,800 relatives, survivors and first responders opposed Biden's participation in 9/11 events if the documents remained declassified. "The significant events in question occurred two decades ago or longer, and they concern a tragic moment that continues to resonate in American history and in the lives of so many Americans," the executive order said. "It is therefore critical to ensure that the United States Government maximises transparency, relying on classification only when narrowly tailored and necessary," added the order. Also Read: UN chief to host Afghanistan aid meeting in Geneva on Sept 13: Spokesman The order has directed the Justice Department and other executive branch agencies to begin a declassification review and requires that declassified documents be released over the next six months. The executive order's practical impact and any new documents it might yield was not immediately clear. (With inputs from agencies)

9/11 attacks: US president moves to declassify documents as 20th anniversary approaches

Giant trees knocked sideways. Homes boarded up with plywood. Off-kilter street signs.&nbsp;Less than a week after Hurricane Ida battered the Gulf Coast, US President Joe Biden walked the streets of a hard-hit Louisiana neighbourhood on Friday and told local residents, "I know you're hurting, I know you're hurting."

Biden pledged robust federal assistance to get people back on their feet and said the government already had distributed USD 100 million directly to individuals in the state in USD 500 cheques to give them a first slice of critical help. Many people, he said, don't know what help is available because they can't get cellphone service.

Watch:&nbsp;Floods Batter United States financial capital New York

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Residents welcomed Biden's presence. They laughed and also posed for selfies.&nbsp;More formally, Biden met with state and local officials in LaPlace, a community between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain that suffered major wind and water damage and was left with sheared-off roofs and flooded homes.

"I promise we're going to have your back," Biden said.&nbsp;He also took a flyover tour of pummelled areas including Lafitte, Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and Lafourche Parish, where Parish President Archie Chaisson said 25 per cent of the homes in his community of 100,000 were gone or had catastrophic damage.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republicans-in-six-states-to-adopt-law-similar-to-texas-anti-abortion-law-410641" hreflang="en">Republicans in six states to adopt law similar to Texas anti-abortion law</a>

The president later met privately with Governor&nbsp;John Bel Edwards, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who is from Louisiana, and local officials including Chaisson.

The devastation was clear even as Air Force One approached New Orleans, with uprooted trees and blue tarps covering shredded houses coming into view. The road to LaPlace exhibited power-line wood poles jutting from the ground at odd angles.

Giant trees knocked sideways. Homes boarded up with plywood. Off-kilter street signs. Less than a week after Hurricane Ida battered the Gulf Coast, US President Joe Biden walked the streets of a hard-hit Louisiana neighbourhood on Friday and told local residents, "I know you're hurting, I know you're hurting.

Giant trees knocked sideways. Homes boarded up with plywood. Off-kilter street signs. Less than a week after Hurricane Ida battered the Gulf Coast, US President Joe Biden walked the streets of a hard-hit Louisiana neighbourhood on Friday and told local residents, "I know you're hurting, I know you're hurting." Biden pledged robust federal assistance to get people back on their feet and said the government already had distributed USD 100 million directly to individuals in the state in USD 500 cheques to give them a first slice of critical help. Many people, he said, don't know what help is available because they can't get cellphone service. Watch: Floods Batter United States financial capital New York × Residents welcomed Biden's presence. They laughed and also posed for selfies. More formally, Biden met with state and local officials in LaPlace, a community between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain that suffered major wind and water damage and was left with sheared-off roofs and flooded homes. "I promise we're going to have your back," Biden said. He also took a flyover tour of pummelled areas including Lafitte, Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and Lafourche Parish, where Parish President Archie Chaisson said 25 per cent of the homes in his community of 100,000 were gone or had catastrophic damage. Also Read: Republicans in six states to adopt law similar to Texas anti-abortion law The president later met privately with Governor John Bel Edwards, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who is from Louisiana, and local officials including Chaisson. The devastation was clear even as Air Force One approached New Orleans, with uprooted trees and blue tarps covering shredded houses coming into view. The road to LaPlace exhibited power-line wood poles jutting from the ground at odd angles.

Biden walks through storm-ravaged Louisiana, pledges to get people back on feet 

Various American companies including Lyft Inc, American Airlines Group Inc and Silicon Laboratories Inc, have expressed their displeasure at new Texas laws on abortion, handguns, and voting limitations.

Lyft and Uber Technologies Inc said that they will cover all legal fees for the ride-hail companies' drivers sued under a law that puts in place a near-total ban on abortion.

Also, Lyft will donate $1 million to women's health provider Planned Parenthood, chief executive Logan Green said.&nbsp;

"This is an attack on women's access to healthcare and on their right to choose," Green said of the new Texas law.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in as many as six US states are rushing to follow the lead of Texas in adopting an extreme abortion ban that has been slammed as unconstitutional and built to encourage vigilantism among the public.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-lashes-out-at-us-supreme-court-for-texas-abortion-law-410322">Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law</a>

US President Joe Biden has openly condemned the US supreme court for rejecting to ban the abortion law.

Biden said the supreme court judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, delivered an assault on a woman’s rights.

"The Supreme Court's ruling overnight is an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost fifty years," Biden said in a statement. "This (Texas) law is so extreme it does not even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest."

Texas abortion law is one of the toughest and most restrictive abortion bans in the US in the past couple of decades.

Various American companies including Lyft Inc, American Airlines Group Inc and Silicon Laboratories Inc, have expressed their displeasure at new Texas laws on abortion, handguns, and voting limitations.

Various American companies including Lyft Inc, American Airlines Group Inc and Silicon Laboratories Inc, have expressed their displeasure at new Texas laws on abortion, handguns, and voting limitations. Lyft and Uber Technologies Inc said that they will cover all legal fees for the ride-hail companies' drivers sued under a law that puts in place a near-total ban on abortion. Also, Lyft will donate $1 million to women's health provider Planned Parenthood, chief executive Logan Green said. "This is an attack on women's access to healthcare and on their right to choose," Green said of the new Texas law. Meanwhile, Republican leaders in as many as six US states are rushing to follow the lead of Texas in adopting an extreme abortion ban that has been slammed as unconstitutional and built to encourage vigilantism among the public. Also read | Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law US President Joe Biden has openly condemned the US supreme court for rejecting to ban the abortion law. Biden said the supreme court judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, delivered an assault on a woman’s rights. "The Supreme Court's ruling overnight is an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost fifty years," Biden said in a statement. "This (Texas) law is so extreme it does not even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest." Texas abortion law is one of the toughest and most restrictive abortion bans in the US in the past couple of decades.

US companies lash out at Texas law changes

A conspiracy theorist who became one of the most recognized rioters storming the US&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;last January pleaded guilty Friday to obstructing congressional proceedings, a charge carrying a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Images of Jacob Anthony Chansley, who as a shirtless man carrying a spear and wearing a horned fur hat became known as the QAnon shaman, were beamed around the world when he and others invaded the&nbsp;Capitol&nbsp;building and took over the US Senate.

Chansley has been a subscriber to QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory blamed for fueling Donald Trump's supporters who tried to halt Congress's certification of results of the 2020 election won by Joe Biden.

Speaking by videolink to federal Judge Royce Lambert in US District Court in Washington, Chansley said "yes your honor" to pleading guilty to the most serious charge in a six-count indictment.

Chansley, who in court acknowledged his "mental vulnerabilities," has undergone a psychiatric evaluation, with the judge saying he determined that Chansley was competent to stand trial.

Sentencing was scheduled for November 17. According to guidelines estimated by the prosecution, Chansley could face a sentence of between 41 and 51 months in prison.

His lawyer, Albert Watkins, sought leniency from the court.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-lashes-out-at-us-supreme-court-for-texas-abortion-law-410322">Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law</a>

"Mr Chansley has zero criminal history, we do know that he was not a planner (of the unrest), he was not violent," Watkins said.

The lawyer also asked the court that his client be released from detention pending sentencing, a request that Lambert said would be considered.

Chansley, also known as Jacob Angeli, is among several hundred rioters arrested following the insurrection.

He and others have pleaded guilty after video footage showed them fighting officers, storming the&nbsp;Capitol, or making threats about lawmakers and then-vice president Mike Pence, who was overseeing the Electoral College certification process.

Prosecutors have said Chansley left a note for Pence at the Senate dais where the second-in-command had been standing just minutes before, which read: "it's only a matter of time, justice is coming."

According to the count to which the defendant pleaded guilty, Chansley engaged in "disorderly and disruptive conduct" when he obstructed the congressional proceedings, and threatened congressional officials.

While Chansley publicly embraced QAnon,&nbsp;he was photographed holding a "Q Sent Me!" sign at previous rallies -- his attorney said Chansley has repudiated those beliefs.

A conspiracy theorist who became one of the most recognized rioters storming the US Capitol last January pleaded guilty Friday to obstructing congressional proceedings, a charge carrying a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

A conspiracy theorist who became one of the most recognized rioters storming the US Capitol last January pleaded guilty Friday to obstructing congressional proceedings, a charge carrying a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Images of Jacob Anthony Chansley, who as a shirtless man carrying a spear and wearing a horned fur hat became known as the QAnon shaman, were beamed around the world when he and others invaded the Capitol building and took over the US Senate. Chansley has been a subscriber to QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory blamed for fueling Donald Trump's supporters who tried to halt Congress's certification of results of the 2020 election won by Joe Biden. Speaking by videolink to federal Judge Royce Lambert in US District Court in Washington, Chansley said "yes your honor" to pleading guilty to the most serious charge in a six-count indictment. Chansley, who in court acknowledged his "mental vulnerabilities," has undergone a psychiatric evaluation, with the judge saying he determined that Chansley was competent to stand trial. Sentencing was scheduled for November 17. According to guidelines estimated by the prosecution, Chansley could face a sentence of between 41 and 51 months in prison. His lawyer, Albert Watkins, sought leniency from the court. Also read | Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law "Mr Chansley has zero criminal history, we do know that he was not a planner (of the unrest), he was not violent," Watkins said. The lawyer also asked the court that his client be released from detention pending sentencing, a request that Lambert said would be considered. Chansley, also known as Jacob Angeli, is among several hundred rioters arrested following the insurrection. He and others have pleaded guilty after video footage showed them fighting officers, storming the Capitol, or making threats about lawmakers and then-vice president Mike Pence, who was overseeing the Electoral College certification process. Prosecutors have said Chansley left a note for Pence at the Senate dais where the second-in-command had been standing just minutes before, which read: "it's only a matter of time, justice is coming." According to the count to which the defendant pleaded guilty, Chansley engaged in "disorderly and disruptive conduct" when he obstructed the congressional proceedings, and threatened congressional officials. While Chansley publicly embraced QAnon, he was photographed holding a "Q Sent Me!" sign at previous rallies -- his attorney said Chansley has repudiated those beliefs.

'Shaman' rioter pleads guilty over US Capitol unrest

Republican leaders in as many as six US states are rushing to follow the lead of Texas in adopting an extreme abortion ban that has been slammed as unconstitutional and built to encourage vigilantism among the public.

On Wednesday, the law went into effect in Texas, banning abortion past six weeks of a pregnancy, including for victims of incest or rape.

The law also gave any private citizen the option to sue someone providing an abortion or anyone even believed to be peripherally assisting someone to get an abortion.

Within a day of the law going into effect, six other states, including North Dakota, Mississippi, Indiana, Florida, South Dakota and Arkansas have said they are looking to adopt a similar ban.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-lashes-out-at-us-supreme-court-for-texas-abortion-law-410322">Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law</a>

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has openly condemned the US supreme court for rejecting to ban the abortion law.

Biden said the supreme court judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, delivered an assault on a woman’s rights.

"The Supreme Court's ruling overnight is an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost fifty years," Biden said in a statement. "This (Texas) law is so extreme it does not even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest."

Texas abortion law is one of the toughest and most restrictive abortion bans in the US in the past couple of decades. 
&nbsp;

Republican leaders in as many as six US states are rushing to follow the lead of Texas in adopting an extreme abortion ban that has been slammed as unconstitutional and built to encourage vigilantism among the public.

Republican leaders in as many as six US states are rushing to follow the lead of Texas in adopting an extreme abortion ban that has been slammed as unconstitutional and built to encourage vigilantism among the public. On Wednesday, the law went into effect in Texas, banning abortion past six weeks of a pregnancy, including for victims of incest or rape. The law also gave any private citizen the option to sue someone providing an abortion or anyone even believed to be peripherally assisting someone to get an abortion. Within a day of the law going into effect, six other states, including North Dakota, Mississippi, Indiana, Florida, South Dakota and Arkansas have said they are looking to adopt a similar ban. Also read | Joe Biden lashes out at US supreme court for Texas abortion law Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has openly condemned the US supreme court for rejecting to ban the abortion law. Biden said the supreme court judges, all appointed by former President Donald Trump, delivered an assault on a woman’s rights. "The Supreme Court's ruling overnight is an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade, which has been the law of the land for almost fifty years," Biden said in a statement. "This (Texas) law is so extreme it does not even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest." Texas abortion law is one of the toughest and most restrictive abortion bans in the US in the past couple of decades.

Republicans in six states to adopt law similar to Texas anti-abortion law

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has warned that the militants could join migrants fleeing Afghanistan, adding on to security threats for Europe and the US after the American withdrawal from Kabul earlier this week.

Stefano Pontecorvo, NATO’s senior civilian representative to Afghanistan, in an interview, said, "We have put in place measures to avoid that, but in big numbers it’s a risk".

The European Union is eager to stem migration from Afghanistan and has cited the potential security threat.&nbsp;

As of now, about 500,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan this year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-suga-to-back-vaccine-minister-kono-in-ldp-leadership-race-410605">Also read |&nbsp;Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in LDP leadership race</a>

However, there has not been evidence of people entering neighbouring countries, nor has there been significant movement toward the bloc, according to an EU diplomatic note seen by Bloomberg.&nbsp;

While NATO could be involved in assisting with the ISIS-K threat, Pontecorvo conceded that the role of the alliance will be subject to “a lot of soul searching and questions” after the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces.&nbsp;

“NATO is pretty rock-solid but there are a lot of lessons that can be learned.”

EU member states have also raised similar concerns about the risk of Afghanistan becoming a harbour for terrorist groups under the Taliban. 
&nbsp;

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has warned that the militants could join migrants fleeing Afghanistan, adding on to security threats for Europe and the US after the American withdrawal from Kabul earlier this week.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has warned that the militants could join migrants fleeing Afghanistan, adding on to security threats for Europe and the US after the American withdrawal from Kabul earlier this week. Stefano Pontecorvo, NATO’s senior civilian representative to Afghanistan, in an interview, said, "We have put in place measures to avoid that, but in big numbers it’s a risk". The European Union is eager to stem migration from Afghanistan and has cited the potential security threat. As of now, about 500,000 people have been displaced in Afghanistan this year. Also read | Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in LDP leadership race However, there has not been evidence of people entering neighbouring countries, nor has there been significant movement toward the bloc, according to an EU diplomatic note seen by Bloomberg. While NATO could be involved in assisting with the ISIS-K threat, Pontecorvo conceded that the role of the alliance will be subject to “a lot of soul searching and questions” after the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces. “NATO is pretty rock-solid but there are a lot of lessons that can be learned.” EU member states have also raised similar concerns about the risk of Afghanistan becoming a harbour for terrorist groups under the Taliban.

Militants may use Afghan chaos to infiltrate US, EU: NATO

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred Virgin Galactic from flying its SpaceShipTwo until the agency approves its final mishap investigation report from its July flight or determines the issues do not affect public safety.

World Business Watch: Virgin galactic space flights grounded over 'mishap'

As thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country after the Taliban took control of the nation, some women have opened up about forced marriages.<o:p></o:p>

US officials who have been processing Afghan refugees abroad have also alerted the State Department that many women and girls have been forced to get married to Afghan men in order to evacuate from the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-may-announce-new-government-after-friday-afternoon-prayers-reports-410319" hreflang="en">Taliban may announce new government after Friday afternoon prayers: Reports</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Afghan men have been forcing women to pose as their wife so that they can flee the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. These men have, reportedly, forcefully asked women outside the Kabul airport to pose as their wife, but may now be taking undue advantage of these girls and women.<o:p></o:p>

As per officials, some reputed families also paid thousands of dollars to men, who were eligible for evacuation, to pose as husbands for these women and help them escape the Taliban rule.<o:p></o:p>

Following these warnings form the US diplomats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US State Department has vowed to work with the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department and identify such cases of human trafficking.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-takeover-rejuvenates-fear-of-terrorism-in-bangladesh-410363">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-takeover-rejuvenates-fear-of-terrorism-in-bangladesh-410363/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US has been taking help of other countries who are acting as a stopover for Afghan refugees. The evacuees are first taken to other countries, such as the UAE, where the officials vet and process individuals and house them in local refugee centre for some time before flying them back to the US.<o:p></o:p>

While people have been desperately trying to flee the country to get away from the new Taliban regime, women and minority communities are in the most vulnerable spot right now.<o:p></o:p>

People were trying their best to send their daughters, wives and other female relatives out of Afghanistan after several initial reports claimed that the Taliban were collecting a list of all unmarried and widowed women and girls to make them ‘wives of Taliban’.<o:p></o:p>

As thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country after the Taliban took control of the nation, some women have opened up about forced marriages. US officials who have been processing Afghan refugees abroad have also alerted the State Department that many women and girls have been forced to get married to Afghan men in order to evacuate from the country.

As thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country after the Taliban took control of the nation, some women have opened up about forced marriages. US officials who have been processing Afghan refugees abroad have also alerted the State Department that many women and girls have been forced to get married to Afghan men in order to evacuate from the country. Also read | Taliban may announce new government after Friday afternoon prayers: Reports Afghan men have been forcing women to pose as their wife so that they can flee the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. These men have, reportedly, forcefully asked women outside the Kabul airport to pose as their wife, but may now be taking undue advantage of these girls and women. As per officials, some reputed families also paid thousands of dollars to men, who were eligible for evacuation, to pose as husbands for these women and help them escape the Taliban rule. Following these warnings form the US diplomats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US State Department has vowed to work with the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department and identify such cases of human trafficking. WATCH | The US has been taking help of other countries who are acting as a stopover for Afghan refugees. The evacuees are first taken to other countries, such as the UAE, where the officials vet and process individuals and house them in local refugee centre for some time before flying them back to the US. While people have been desperately trying to flee the country to get away from the new Taliban regime, women and minority communities are in the most vulnerable spot right now. People were trying their best to send their daughters, wives and other female relatives out of Afghanistan after several initial reports claimed that the Taliban were collecting a list of all unmarried and widowed women and girls to make them ‘wives of Taliban’.

Afghan women being forcefully married to flee the country: US officials

The Taliban are in talks with Qatar and Turkey about the management of Kabul airport as it lacks air traffic control services.&nbsp;

This comes in after the United States military has completely withdrawn from Afghanistan.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement saying, "due to both the lack of air traffic services and a functional civil aviation authority in Afghanistan, as well as ongoing security concerns, US&nbsp;civil operators, pilots, and US-registered civil aircraft are prohibited from operating at any altitude over much of Afghanistan."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-decades-later-americans-fear-entering-skyscraper-as-memories-of-911-attack-still-haunt-us-410443">Also read |&nbsp;Two decades later, Americans fear entering skyscraper as memories of 9/11 attack still haunt US</a>

The talks are aimed at securing 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 said.

“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.

The FAA has said that the US civil operators “may continue to use one high-altitude jet route near the far eastern border for overflights. Any US civil aircraft operator that wants to fly into/out of or over Afghanistan must receive prior authorisation from the FAA.”

The Taliban are in talks with Qatar and Turkey about the management of Kabul airport as it lacks air traffic control services. This comes in after the United States military has completely withdrawn from Afghanistan.

The Taliban are in talks with Qatar and Turkey about the management of Kabul airport as it lacks air traffic control services. This comes in after the United States military has completely withdrawn from Afghanistan. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement saying, "due to both the lack of air traffic services and a functional civil aviation authority in Afghanistan, as well as ongoing security concerns, US civil operators, pilots, and US-registered civil aircraft are prohibited from operating at any altitude over much of Afghanistan." Also read | Two decades later, Americans fear entering skyscraper as memories of 9/11 attack still haunt US The talks are aimed at securing 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 said. “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. The FAA has said that the US civil operators “may continue to use one high-altitude jet route near the far eastern border for overflights. Any US civil aircraft operator that wants to fly into/out of or over Afghanistan must receive prior authorisation from the FAA.”

Taliban in talks with Qatar, Turkey to manage Kabul airport after US withdraws

Afghanistan's 250 women judges fear for their lives, with men they once jailed now freed by the victorious Taliban to hunt them down.

While some female judges were able to flee in recent weeks, most were left behind and are still trying to get out, said judges and activists working around the clock to help them escape.

The Taliban, who swept into power last month as the United States withdrew its troops, banned women from most work when they last ruled the country 20 years ago. They have said women's rights will be protected, but have yet to provide details.

Women who work in justice have already been high profile targets. Two female Supreme Court justices were gunned down in January. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-being-forcefully-married-to-flee-the-country-us-officials-410371">Also read | Afghan women being forcefully married to flee the country: US officials</a> 
 
Now, the Taliban have released prisoners across the country, which "really puts the lives of women judges in danger," a high-level Afghan woman judge who fled to Europe said from an undisclosed location.

In Kabul, "four or five Taliban members came and asked people in my house: 'Where is this woman judge?' These were people who I had put in jail, " she told Reuters in an interview, asking not to be identified.

She was among a small group of Afghan women judges to have made it out in recent weeks with the help of a collective of human rights volunteers and foreign colleagues at the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).

Since then, she has been in touch with colleagues back home: "Their messages are of fear and complete terror. They tell me if they do not get rescued their lives are in direct danger. " 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-be-reliable-partner-of-russia-in-developing-its-far-east-region-pm-modi-410445">Also read |&nbsp;India will be reliable partner of Russia in developing its Far East region: PM Modi</a>

In addition to the judges, there are around a thousand other women human rights defenders who could also be in the Taliban's cross hairs, said Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan human rights activist.

Freed prisoners "are calling with death threats to women judges, women prosecutors, and women police officers, saying 'we will come after you'," she said.

FEARFUL

British Justice Minister Robert Buckland said last week London had evacuated nine female judges and was working to provide safe passage for more of the "very vulnerable people".

"A lot of these judges were responsible for administering the rule of law and quite rightly they are fearful about the consequences that could now face them with the rise of the Taliban," he said.

Human rights and legal activists said Western countries did not make the evacuation of women judges and human rights defenders a priority in the chaos after Kabul fell.

"Governments had zero interest in evacuating people that were not their own nationals," said Sarah Kay, a Belfast-based human rights lawyer and member of the Atlas Women network of international lawyers.

She is working with an online group of volunteer veterans known as the "digital Dunkirk," named for the World War Two evacuation of British troops from Nazi-occupied France. It has helped hundreds of people escape with the help of chat groups and personal contacts.

At the IAWJ, a team of six foreign judges has also been coordinating information, lobbying governments and arranging evacuations.

"The responsibility that we bear is almost unbearable at the moment because we are one of the few people taking responsibility for this group," one of the effort's leaders, Patricia Whalen, an American judge who helped train Afghan female judges in a 10-year programme, told Reuters.

"I am furious about that. None of us should be in this position."

Afghanistan's 250 women judges fear for their lives, with men they once jailed now freed by the victorious Taliban to hunt them down. While some female judges were able to flee in recent weeks, most were left behind and are still trying to get out, said judges and activists working around the clock to help them escape.

Afghanistan's 250 women judges fear for their lives, with men they once jailed now freed by the victorious Taliban to hunt them down. While some female judges were able to flee in recent weeks, most were left behind and are still trying to get out, said judges and activists working around the clock to help them escape. The Taliban, who swept into power last month as the United States withdrew its troops, banned women from most work when they last ruled the country 20 years ago. They have said women's rights will be protected, but have yet to provide details. Women who work in justice have already been high profile targets. Two female Supreme Court justices were gunned down in January. Also read | Afghan women being forcefully married to flee the country: US officials Now, the Taliban have released prisoners across the country, which "really puts the lives of women judges in danger," a high-level Afghan woman judge who fled to Europe said from an undisclosed location. In Kabul, "four or five Taliban members came and asked people in my house: 'Where is this woman judge?' These were people who I had put in jail, " she told Reuters in an interview, asking not to be identified. She was among a small group of Afghan women judges to have made it out in recent weeks with the help of a collective of human rights volunteers and foreign colleagues at the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). Since then, she has been in touch with colleagues back home: "Their messages are of fear and complete terror. They tell me if they do not get rescued their lives are in direct danger. " Also read | India will be reliable partner of Russia in developing its Far East region: PM Modi In addition to the judges, there are around a thousand other women human rights defenders who could also be in the Taliban's cross hairs, said Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan human rights activist. Freed prisoners "are calling with death threats to women judges, women prosecutors, and women police officers, saying 'we will come after you'," she said. FEARFUL British Justice Minister Robert Buckland said last week London had evacuated nine female judges and was working to provide safe passage for more of the "very vulnerable people". "A lot of these judges were responsible for administering the rule of law and quite rightly they are fearful about the consequences that could now face them with the rise of the Taliban," he said. Human rights and legal activists said Western countries did not make the evacuation of women judges and human rights defenders a priority in the chaos after Kabul fell. "Governments had zero interest in evacuating people that were not their own nationals," said Sarah Kay, a Belfast-based human rights lawyer and member of the Atlas Women network of international lawyers. She is working with an online group of volunteer veterans known as the "digital Dunkirk," named for the World War Two evacuation of British troops from Nazi-occupied France. It has helped hundreds of people escape with the help of chat groups and personal contacts. At the IAWJ, a team of six foreign judges has also been coordinating information, lobbying governments and arranging evacuations. "The responsibility that we bear is almost unbearable at the moment because we are one of the few people taking responsibility for this group," one of the effort's leaders, Patricia Whalen, an American judge who helped train Afghan female judges in a 10-year programme, told Reuters. "I am furious about that. None of us should be in this position."

Hunted by the men they jailed, Afghanistan's women judges seek escape

Since 2001, the United States has spent an estimated $83 billion on training and equipment for Afghan security forces.&nbsp;

This year alone, the United States provided $3 billion in military aid to Afghan forces, Forbes reported.

Even after the troop withdrawal, the US has left equipment worth billions in Afghanistan.

As per a Government Accountability Office report, the US purchased and provided 75,898 vehicles and 208 aircraft to the afghan army and security forces between 2003 and 2016.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-domestic-flights-to-resume-friday-in-a-bid-to-restore-normalcy-410411">Also read |&nbsp;Afghan domestic flights to resume Friday in a bid to restore normalcy</a>

According to Forbes, these are the estimated vehicle costs:

Armoured personnel carriers like the M113A2 cost $170,000 each, and recent M577A2 post carrier purchases cost $333,333 each.

The cost of mine-resistant vehicles ranges between $412,000 and $767,000. However, the total price tag could range from $382 million to $711 million.

Recovery vehicles such as the ‘truck, wrecker’ range in price from $168,960 for the base model to $880,674 for super strength versions.

Also, the cost of a medium-range tactical vehicle, which includes a 5-tonne cargo and general transport truck, was $67,139.&nbsp;

The MTV heavy vehicle family ranged in price from $235,500 to $724,820. The cost of cargo trucks used to transport aeroplanes is $800,865.

The price of an ambulance ranged from $37,943 to $142,918 with the majority at $96,466, cargo prices start at $104,682.

The average price for a utility Humvee was $91,429.&nbsp;

The 12,000-pound troop transport version, on the other hand, can cost up to $329,000.

Fast attack combat vehicles cost $69,400, &nbsp;and passenger motor vehicles were $65,500.

These are examples of light tactical vehicles.

According to military databases, all-terrain four-wheel vehicles can cost up to $42,273.

The Taliban has now seized Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack planes earlier this month.&nbsp;

The cost of a Black Hawk helicopter can reach $ 21 million.

The US ordered a total of 20 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes for $427 million in 2013 or $21.3 million per plane.&nbsp;

Other types of specialised helicopters can cost up to $37 million per unit.

As per the report by GAO, the US has provided at least 600,000 infantry weapons, including M16 rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices to Afghan forces since 2003.

As per Forbes, the sights on night-vision sniper rifle scopes can cost up to $35,000, but the majority cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

Since 2001, the United States has spent an estimated $83 billion on training and equipment for Afghan security forces. This year alone, the United States provided $3 billion in military aid to Afghan forces, Forbes reported.

Since 2001, the United States has spent an estimated $83 billion on training and equipment for Afghan security forces. This year alone, the United States provided $3 billion in military aid to Afghan forces, Forbes reported. Even after the troop withdrawal, the US has left equipment worth billions in Afghanistan. As per a Government Accountability Office report, the US purchased and provided 75,898 vehicles and 208 aircraft to the afghan army and security forces between 2003 and 2016. Also read | Afghan domestic flights to resume Friday in a bid to restore normalcy According to Forbes, these are the estimated vehicle costs: Armoured personnel carriers like the M113A2 cost $170,000 each, and recent M577A2 post carrier purchases cost $333,333 each. The cost of mine-resistant vehicles ranges between $412,000 and $767,000. However, the total price tag could range from $382 million to $711 million. Recovery vehicles such as the ‘truck, wrecker’ range in price from $168,960 for the base model to $880,674 for super strength versions. Also, the cost of a medium-range tactical vehicle, which includes a 5-tonne cargo and general transport truck, was $67,139. The MTV heavy vehicle family ranged in price from $235,500 to $724,820. The cost of cargo trucks used to transport aeroplanes is $800,865. The price of an ambulance ranged from $37,943 to $142,918 with the majority at $96,466, cargo prices start at $104,682. The average price for a utility Humvee was $91,429. The 12,000-pound troop transport version, on the other hand, can cost up to $329,000. Fast attack combat vehicles cost $69,400, and passenger motor vehicles were $65,500. These are examples of light tactical vehicles. According to military databases, all-terrain four-wheel vehicles can cost up to $42,273. The Taliban has now seized Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano attack planes earlier this month. The cost of a Black Hawk helicopter can reach $ 21 million. The US ordered a total of 20 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes for $427 million in 2013 or $21.3 million per plane. Other types of specialised helicopters can cost up to $37 million per unit. As per the report by GAO, the US has provided at least 600,000 infantry weapons, including M16 rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices to Afghan forces since 2003. As per Forbes, the sights on night-vision sniper rifle scopes can cost up to $35,000, but the majority cost between $5,000 and $10,000.

Here is the estimated worth of US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan

America's former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley has claimed that China might move to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan that was once controlled by the US. Halley also added that China is trying to use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India.

China would 'make a move' for Bagram base, may use Pak against India says Nikki Haley

In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee. In Tennessee, flash floods killed at least 20; hundreds more perished in a heat wave in the Northwest. And in New York City, 10 inches of rain fell in just hours Wednesday, drowning people in their basements.

Disasters cascading across the country this summer have exposed a harsh reality: The United States is not ready for the extreme weather that is now becoming frequent as a result of a warming planet.

“These events tell us we’re not prepared,” said Alice Hill, who oversaw planning for climate risks on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “We have built our cities, our communities, to a climate that no longer exists.”

In remarks Thursday, President Joe Biden acknowledged the challenge ahead.

“And to the country, the past few days of Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in the West and the unprecedented flash floods in New York and New Jersey is yet another reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here,” said Biden, who noted that a $1 trillion infrastructure bill pending in Congress includes some money to gird communities against disasters. “We need to do — be better prepared. We need to act.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-says-weather-disasters-becoming-costlier-calls-for-better-mitigation-plan-410347">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-says-weather-disasters-becoming-costlier-calls-for-better-mitigation-plan-410347/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The country faces two separate but interlaced problems, according to climate and resilience experts.

First, governments have not spent enough time and money to brace for climate shocks that have long been predicted: everything from maintaining and fortifying electrical lines and stormwater systems to clearing forests of undergrowth in order to reduce the ferocity of wildfires.

“We’re feeling all the effects of that deferred maintenance,” said Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

But there’s a second, more sobering lesson: There are limits to how much the country, and the world, can adapt. And if nations don’t do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, they may soon run up against the outer edges of resilience.

“If we already can’t cope with where we are, then there’s little hope that it’s going to improve in a warming climate,” Dahl said.

The country’s vulnerability in the face of extreme weather was punctuated by the downpour that flooded the country's largest city. New York City has invested billions of dollars in storm protection since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — investments that seemed to do little to blunt the impact of the storm.

Rain poured down in furious torrents, turning the subway system into a kind of flume ride. Central Park recorded 7.19 inches of rain, nearly double the previous record set in 1927 for the same date, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the city’s first-ever flash flood emergency alert.

Before the storm, city and state officials activated preparation plans — clearing drains, erecting flood barriers in the subway and other sensitive areas, and warning the public. But the rainfall dumped more water, and faster, than what the city had factored into its new stormwater maps as an “extreme” flood event.

The pattern of damage reflects the relationship between climate exposure and racial inequality: Impacts were more apparent in low-income communities of color, which, because of historic inequalities, are typically more prone to flooding, receive less maintenance from city services, and frequently experience lax housing code enforcement.

Most of those killed in New York City drowned when floodwaters rushed into their basement apartments. Many such apartments do not meet safety requirements but have proliferated as affordable housing for the working poor and immigrants living in the city illegally, who may fear complaining to authorities about safety violations.

In one case, Tara Ramskriet, 43, and her son Nick, 22, drowned when water filled their basement apartment in the Hollis section of Queens so quickly that family members could not pull them out against the flow, and a wall collapsed, trapping them inside.

Neighbors were outraged, saying it took fatalities to bring city inspectors to the scene.

“This happens all the time,” said Jennifer Mooklal, 33, who lives across the street from the Ramskriets. “Even if it’s just rain, our basement gets flooded. We’ve been dealing with this problem for years and have been asking the city, but no one is listening to us.”

Damage from extreme weather, and threats to human life, will only increase as the planet warms. For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming, the atmosphere holds about 7% more moisture, scientists have found. That means much heavier rainfall when storms do occur.

Across the continental United States, the heaviest downpours have become more frequent and severe, according to the federal government’s National Climate Assessment. The Northeast has seen 50% more rainfall during the heaviest storms compared with the first half of the 20th century.

New York City is particularly vulnerable to flooding. Three-fourths of the city is covered by impervious surfaces like asphalt, which means runoff is channeled into streets and sewers rather than being absorbed by the ground.

And the city’s century-old subway system was not designed for a warming climate. Even on dry days, a network of pumps pours out 14 million gallons of water from its tunnels and stations. Heavy rains can overwhelm the system, as they did on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has invested $2.6 billion in resiliency projects since Hurricane Sandy inundated the city’s subways in 2012, including fortifying 3,500 subway vents, staircases and elevator shafts against flooding. Still, this week’s flash floods showed that the system remains vulnerable.

One reason is that city and federal officials focused on protecting against the kind of coastal storm surge that Sandy wrought, according to Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design, a nonprofit group that works on climate resilience.

But in the case of Hurricane Ida, the main threat was rainwater flowing downhill, not storm surge pushing in from the coast. So much water fell that it overwhelmed storm drains, overflowed riverbanks and poured into basements, from the hilly parts of Manhattan’s Washington Heights to the inland flats of Jamaica in Queens.

The investments that protect against storm surge differ from those that guard against extreme rain, Chester said.

Coping with severe rainfall means more places to absorb and hold water, whether with so-called green solutions like parks and bioswales or traditional structures like underground retention tanks. And it means increasing the capacity of the sewer system to handle a greater volume of water.

Because New York has mostly been spared the type of severe rainfall that occurred Wednesday, officials have made it less of a priority.

Other countries have heeded the warnings of climate scientists and acted.

In the Netherlands, where much of the country lies below sea level, the government strengthened flood design standards and in 2007 created a program called Room for the River, which in essence authorized the wholesale redesign and rebuilding of dozens of vulnerable watersheds around cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The goal was to prepare for the sort of one-in-10,000-year floods that Dutch scientists were warning might become more frequent.

In that country, government water boards have the ultimate authority over land use. If they determine an area is needed for flood protection, its residents must move.

Specific taxes are dedicated to water management. There is no National Flood Insurance Program for residents in flood zones in the Netherlands because, the Dutch argue, the government’s job is to protect people from floods, not help homeowners rebuild in areas vulnerable to damage.

Among other things, Room for the River created dozens of new parks, enhancing underserved neighborhoods, resettling populations living in flood zones into new homes out of harm’s way, and girding the nation’s economy in the process.

In the United States, efforts to protect U.S. cities from damage by severe storms and rising seas have been plodding. There are many reasons, including government reluctance to impose on private property, a legacy of racial and economic injustice, and a system of governance and regulation that often moves far slower than the hastening pace of climate change.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, nearly 1 million people lack electricity and drinking water after a hurricane obliterated power lines. In California, wildfire menaces Lake Tahoe, forcing tens of thousands to flee. In Tennessee, flash floods killed at least 20; hundreds more perished in a heat wave in the Northwest. And in New York City, 10 inches of rain fell in just hours Wednesday, drowning people in their basements. Disasters cascading across the country this summer have exposed a harsh reality: The United States is not ready for the extreme weather that is now becoming frequent as a result of a warming planet. “These events tell us we’re not prepared,” said Alice Hill, who oversaw planning for climate risks on the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “We have built our cities, our communities, to a climate that no longer exists.” In remarks Thursday, President Joe Biden acknowledged the challenge ahead. “And to the country, the past few days of Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in the West and the unprecedented flash floods in New York and New Jersey is yet another reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here,” said Biden, who noted that a $1 trillion infrastructure bill pending in Congress includes some money to gird communities against disasters. “We need to do — be better prepared. We need to act.” WATCH | The country faces two separate but interlaced problems, according to climate and resilience experts. First, governments have not spent enough time and money to brace for climate shocks that have long been predicted: everything from maintaining and fortifying electrical lines and stormwater systems to clearing forests of undergrowth in order to reduce the ferocity of wildfires. “We’re feeling all the effects of that deferred maintenance,” said Kristina Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. But there’s a second, more sobering lesson: There are limits to how much the country, and the world, can adapt. And if nations don’t do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, they may soon run up against the outer edges of resilience. “If we already can’t cope with where we are, then there’s little hope that it’s going to improve in a warming climate,” Dahl said. The country’s vulnerability in the face of extreme weather was punctuated by the downpour that flooded the country's largest city. New York City has invested billions of dollars in storm protection since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 — investments that seemed to do little to blunt the impact of the storm. Rain poured down in furious torrents, turning the subway system into a kind of flume ride. Central Park recorded 7.19 inches of rain, nearly double the previous record set in 1927 for the same date, according to the National Weather Service, which issued the city’s first-ever flash flood emergency alert. Before the storm, city and state officials activated preparation plans — clearing drains, erecting flood barriers in the subway and other sensitive areas, and warning the public. But the rainfall dumped more water, and faster, than what the city had factored into its new stormwater maps as an “extreme” flood event. The pattern of damage reflects the relationship between climate exposure and racial inequality: Impacts were more apparent in low-income communities of color, which, because of historic inequalities, are typically more prone to flooding, receive less maintenance from city services, and frequently experience lax housing code enforcement. Most of those killed in New York City drowned when floodwaters rushed into their basement apartments. Many such apartments do not meet safety requirements but have proliferated as affordable housing for the working poor and immigrants living in the city illegally, who may fear complaining to authorities about safety violations. In one case, Tara Ramskriet, 43, and her son Nick, 22, drowned when water filled their basement apartment in the Hollis section of Queens so quickly that family members could not pull them out against the flow, and a wall collapsed, trapping them inside. Neighbors were outraged, saying it took fatalities to bring city inspectors to the scene. “This happens all the time,” said Jennifer Mooklal, 33, who lives across the street from the Ramskriets. “Even if it’s just rain, our basement gets flooded. We’ve been dealing with this problem for years and have been asking the city, but no one is listening to us.” Damage from extreme weather, and threats to human life, will only increase as the planet warms. For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming, the atmosphere holds about 7% more moisture, scientists have found. That means much heavier rainfall when storms do occur. Across the continental United States, the heaviest downpours have become more frequent and severe, according to the federal government’s National Climate Assessment. The Northeast has seen 50% more rainfall during the heaviest storms compared with the first half of the 20th century. New York City is particularly vulnerable to flooding. Three-fourths of the city is covered by impervious surfaces like asphalt, which means runoff is channeled into streets and sewers rather than being absorbed by the ground. And the city’s century-old subway system was not designed for a warming climate. Even on dry days, a network of pumps pours out 14 million gallons of water from its tunnels and stations. Heavy rains can overwhelm the system, as they did on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has invested $2.6 billion in resiliency projects since Hurricane Sandy inundated the city’s subways in 2012, including fortifying 3,500 subway vents, staircases and elevator shafts against flooding. Still, this week’s flash floods showed that the system remains vulnerable. One reason is that city and federal officials focused on protecting against the kind of coastal storm surge that Sandy wrought, according to Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design, a nonprofit group that works on climate resilience. But in the case of Hurricane Ida, the main threat was rainwater flowing downhill, not storm surge pushing in from the coast. So much water fell that it overwhelmed storm drains, overflowed riverbanks and poured into basements, from the hilly parts of Manhattan’s Washington Heights to the inland flats of Jamaica in Queens. The investments that protect against storm surge differ from those that guard against extreme rain, Chester said. Coping with severe rainfall means more places to absorb and hold water, whether with so-called green solutions like parks and bioswales or traditional structures like underground retention tanks. And it means increasing the capacity of the sewer system to handle a greater volume of water. Because New York has mostly been spared the type of severe rainfall that occurred Wednesday, officials have made it less of a priority. Other countries have heeded the warnings of climate scientists and acted. In the Netherlands, where much of the country lies below sea level, the government strengthened flood design standards and in 2007 created a program called Room for the River, which in essence authorized the wholesale redesign and rebuilding of dozens of vulnerable watersheds around cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The goal was to prepare for the sort of one-in-10,000-year floods that Dutch scientists were warning might become more frequent. In that country, government water boards have the ultimate authority over land use. If they determine an area is needed for flood protection, its residents must move. Specific taxes are dedicated to water management. There is no National Flood Insurance Program for residents in flood zones in the Netherlands because, the Dutch argue, the government’s job is to protect people from floods, not help homeowners rebuild in areas vulnerable to damage. Among other things, Room for the River created dozens of new parks, enhancing underserved neighborhoods, resettling populations living in flood zones into new homes out of harm’s way, and girding the nation’s economy in the process. In the United States, efforts to protect U.S. cities from damage by severe storms and rising seas have been plodding. There are many reasons, including government reluctance to impose on private property, a legacy of racial and economic injustice, and a system of governance and regulation that often moves far slower than the hastening pace of climate change.

Overlapping disasters expose harsh climate reality: the US is not ready

US President Joe Biden met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. The much-anticipated gathering could have high-stakes implications for Zelensky, who has vied for American support since he took over in 2019.

Biden vows stronger US ties to Ukraine in first meeting with Zelensky

Staunchly defending the hasty withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan, United States President Joe Biden&nbsp;said it was time for Washington to shift its focus towards “powerful adversaries” such as Russia and China

In his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, Biden said, “My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over. I give you my word: With all of my heart, I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America.” he said.

Biden’s address to the nation came just 11 days before the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that led to the US intervention in Afghanistan.

“The fundamental obligation of a President, in my opinion, is to defend and protect America...not against threats of 2001, but against the threats of 2021 and tomorrow,” he said.

“But I also know that the threat from terrorism continues in its pernicious and evil nature. But it's changed, expanded to other countries. Our strategy has to change too,” he added.

The US President also highlighted the evacuation of more than 120,000 people from Afghanistan, saying the “extraordinary success of this mission was due to the incredible skill, bravery, and selfless courage of the United States military and our diplomats and intelligence professionals.”

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-forget-me-here-bidens-former-interpreter-left-in-afghanistan-410031">'Don't forget me here': Biden's former interpreter left in Afghanistan</a>

Biden has been widely criticised over the abrupt manner of the US withdrawal, which led to the unexpected collapse of the Afghan security forces US troops had trained and funded for years.

Stressing that it was time for the US to face new challenges like cyberattacks and nuclear proliferation, Biden said, “We have to shore up America's competitiveness to meet these new challenges in the competition for the 21st century. And we can do both: fight terrorism and take on new threats that are here now and will continue to be here in the future.”

He said, “There's nothing China or Russia would rather have, would want more in this competition than the United States to be bogged down another decade in Afghanistan.”

The United States, he said, will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Staunchly defending the hasty withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan, United States President Joe Biden said it was time for Washington to shift its focus towards “powerful adversaries” such as Russia and China In his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, Biden said, “My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over.

Staunchly defending the hasty withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan, United States President Joe Biden said it was time for Washington to shift its focus towards “powerful adversaries” such as Russia and China In his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, Biden said, “My fellow Americans, the war in Afghanistan is now over. I give you my word: With all of my heart, I believe this is the right decision, a wise decision, and the best decision for America.” he said. Biden’s address to the nation came just 11 days before the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that led to the US intervention in Afghanistan. “The fundamental obligation of a President, in my opinion, is to defend and protect America...not against threats of 2001, but against the threats of 2021 and tomorrow,” he said. “But I also know that the threat from terrorism continues in its pernicious and evil nature. But it's changed, expanded to other countries. Our strategy has to change too,” he added. The US President also highlighted the evacuation of more than 120,000 people from Afghanistan, saying the “extraordinary success of this mission was due to the incredible skill, bravery, and selfless courage of the United States military and our diplomats and intelligence professionals.” Also read | 'Don't forget me here': Biden's former interpreter left in Afghanistan Biden has been widely criticised over the abrupt manner of the US withdrawal, which led to the unexpected collapse of the Afghan security forces US troops had trained and funded for years. Stressing that it was time for the US to face new challenges like cyberattacks and nuclear proliferation, Biden said, “We have to shore up America's competitiveness to meet these new challenges in the competition for the 21st century. And we can do both: fight terrorism and take on new threats that are here now and will continue to be here in the future.” He said, “There's nothing China or Russia would rather have, would want more in this competition than the United States to be bogged down another decade in Afghanistan.” The United States, he said, will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden draws curtain on Afghanistan, shifts focus to 'powerful adversaries' China, Russia

As the Taliban cements its grip over Afghanistan after the historic withdrawal of the US troops following 20-years of war, Top US General Mark Milley has said that coordination with the Taliban to fight ISIS-K is "possible".

Mark Milley says, US coordination with Taliban possible on strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US military intervention in Afghanistan had achieved nothing but tragedy and loss of life on all sides. He also added that the United States approach in Afghanistan has been deeply flawed.

Vladimir Putin says US foray achieved nothing but loss of life on all sides

Top US General Mark Milley said on Wednesday that it is “possible” the United States will seek to coordinate with the Taliban on counterterrorism strikes in Afghanistan against Islamic State militants or others.

Pentagon says US coordination with Taliban against ISIS-K 'possible'

In a July 23 call with Ashraf Ghani, Joe Biden admitted the tide was changing in the Afghan war. He pulled out US contractors despite promising to keep the Afghan air force flying. Palki Sharma tells you why this call transcript is the smoking gun.

Gravitas: Biden-Ghani phone call exposes America's lies

The Taliban are parading their loot from Americans. Panjshir Valley is gearing up for action once again. Afghans are struggling for cash, thousands are waiting outside banks. Palki Sharma tells you what life is like under Taliban rule.

Gravitas: What is life like under Taliban rule?

In Pics | Flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall hit New York City

A new law that bans most abortions has come into force in Texas, US. This comes as the conservative leading Supreme Court failed to respond to an urgent request to block it.

Near-total abortion ban comes into effect in Texas

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Expect Taliban to form inclusive government in Afghanistan, says Blinken