Legislative State: International

Desperate scenes played out at Kabul’s international airport on Monday as thousands rushed to exit Afghanistan after Taliban fighters took control of the capital, with Reuters reporting at least five people were killed as people tried to forcibly enter planes leaving the country. Citing witnesses, Reuters said it wasn’t clear whether the victims died of … Continued

President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan on Sunday following the arrival of Taliban forces to the nation’s capital, Kabul, Afghan outlet Tolo News reported. Tolo added that, according to Taliban sources, Ghani had agreed to a formal resignation. Ghani reportedly took his top aides with him. Reuters reported on Sunday the Taliban were still working to confirm Ghani’s whereabouts as … Continued

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Aug. 13 issued a new national terrorism bulletin, warning of a “heightened threat environment” across the United States as the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches. The United States continues to face “diverse and challenging” threats, according to the DHS. Those threats include domestic terrorist activities by individuals or groups … Continued

The Taliban has entered the presidential palace in the capital city Kabul and is now in control of the entire country, according to a highly placed source. The group is soon expected to declare the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. An anonymous source in a position to know confirmed the high-ranking source’s report of the seizure of the presidential palace, which The … Continued

The Taliban completed their sweep of the country’s south on Friday as they took four more provincial capitals in a lightning offensive that is gradually encircling Kabul, just weeks before the U.S. is set to officially end its two-decade war… (Excerpts from the Washington Times)

China waged an extended cyber war against Israeli private businesses and government entities in 2019 and 2020, an online security company announced Monday. FireEye, an international cybersecurity firm, said hackers traced back to the Chinese Ministry of State Security targeted Israeli shipping, defense, and tech companies, as well as government servers, in a hacking campaign … Continued

Taliban fighters took control of another city in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, an official said, the eighth provincial capital to fall to the insurgents in six days as U.S.-led foreign forces complete their withdrawal. The Taliban capture of Faizabad, capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan, came as President Ashraf Ghani flew in to Mazar-i-Sharif … Continued

The U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, urged all Americans to leave the country amid an increase in fighting, saying those Americans should not “rely on U.S. government flights.” “The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately using available commercial flight options. Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens … Continued