Biden's Afghanistan remarks, Minneapolis ballot, Aaliyah's music: 5 things to know Friday
Biden to deliver remarks on the evacuations out of Afghanistan
President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on "the evacuation of American citizens and their families, SIV applicants and their families, and vulnerable Afghans" on Friday, according to his official schedule. Biden has been skewered by multiple groups, including Republicans and a variety of experts, since the Taliban completed its seizure of Afghanistan much faster than expected. The U.S. was forced to rapidly evacuate tens of thousands of people from the nation quickly and the subsequent images and videos detailed stunning chaos. Biden has remained firm and said he still stands by his decision to pull the troops out. Complicating matters, the U.S. has been struggling to pick up the pace of evacuations at Kabul airport, constrained by a range of obstacles, the Associated Press says. But in a hopeful sign, the State Department said 6,000 people were cleared for evacuation Thursday. That would mark a major increase from recent days.
- Safe, but still scared: Afghans who worked with Americans fear for family left behind
- 'It's just rubbish': Experts doubt Taliban's promises on women and girls
- What is sharia law? And how will the Taliban use it in Afghanistan?
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Ballot question due for Minneapolis vote on replacing police
Minneapolis is again considering sweeping changes to the city's police department more than a year after the failed push to disband the department in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Residents will vote in November on a ballot question that would change the city's charter and create a department of public safety, a proposal that has attracted thousands of local supporters but also fierce community opposition as well as national attention and money. City officials must finalize the ballot question and submit it by Friday. The department would use a "comprehensive public health approach" and include licensed peace officers "if necessary." It would also no longer be under the sole control of the mayor’s office, giving greater oversight to the city council.
- Minneapolis leaders promised big changes in policing after George Floyd's death. Keeping them is taking longer than some hoped.
- What does 'defund the police' mean? Why some say 'reform' is not enough
- 'The lawmakers make the law, but the president sets the tone': As George Floyd Act's chances dim, Biden stays mum on police reform
Old Navy overhauls its sizing strategy for more inclusivity
Old Navy on Friday is redefining the sizes of its women's clothes to make shopping more inclusive. With its "BODEQUALITY" effort, Old Navy said it will be "the first value retailer to offer sizes 0-30 and XS-4X for all women's styles" with no price difference. As part of the transformation, Old Navy's 1,200 stores are doing away with special plus-size sections, and mannequins will display clothes in sizes four, 12 and 18. Other changes include updating the waistband pitch so jeans won't gap and adjusting sleeve openings so bras won't show.
- From Reviewed.com: One editor tried the same size shorts from 5 brands—and they all fit differently
- Be ready as mandates reappear: Old Navy's mask is on the list of best masks to wear
Aaliyah's music headed to streaming after long wait for fans
Nearly 20 years after her tragic death, the Princess of R&B's catalog will be available on streaming starting Friday. Aaliyah's music will be rolling out in near chronological order, starting with the release of her platinum-selling album "One in a Million." Albums "ΛΛLIYΛH," and "I Care 4 U" will follow on Sept. 10 and Oct. 8, respectively. So what took so long? The delay, according to Barry Hankerson, her uncle and founder of label Blackground Records, stemmed from disagreements with Aaliyah's estate, which he said had previously expressed a desire to take her catalog off the market. Aaliyah's estate responded to the deal in a statement through an attorney and said it was "not made aware" of the streaming release of the late singer's catalog.
- R. Kelly sex-trafficking trial: Jury to hear how the singer illegally wed underage Aaliyah
- On the list of 'books not to miss': 'Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah' tells the life story of the singer and provides an in-depth cultural critique
- From 2014: Looking closer at Aaliyah's significant influence
Madden 22 arrives ahead of the NFL, holiday video game seasons
Are you ready for some (video game) football? On Friday, National Football League fans can hit the digital gridiron with the launch of Madden NFL 22. The release of Madden from Electronic Arts not only drums up excitement for the upcoming NFL season, but the annual launch has served as an unofficial marker for the start of the important holiday video game season. Two players are on the game's cover, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady and the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes. This new edition will incorporate more stats, including team-level behaviors. Quarterbacks' passing choices and ball carrier moves will be more realistic, for instance. Players will also be able to make halftime adjustments and adapt a game plan based on an opponent's first half strategy.
- Bucs Wire coverage: In new Madden NFL 22 ad, Tom Brady tries to recruit old teammates
- From FTW: Madden 22's new features aren't really 'new' and they're extremely underwhelming
- A revered list: With Madden NFL 22 arriving, these are the best football video games ever made
Contributing: The Associated Press