Afghanistan aftermath, Ida's path, Caldor Fire's movement: 5 things to know Tuesday
Biden to address the nation after U.S. forces depart from Afghanistan
President Joe Biden said he will address Americans on the United States' completion of its military withdrawal from Afghanistan Tuesday afternoon as he commended the military for executing the "largest airlift in U.S. history" on Monday. "They have done it with unmatched courage, professionalism, and resolve," Biden said in a statement. "Now, our 20-year military presence in Afghanistan has ended." Twenty years after George W. Bush ordered the first B-52s to bomb al-Qaida strongholds in Afghanistan, the final C-17 cargo jet carrying troops and equipment lifted off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul Monday, meeting an Aug. 31 deadline to have U.S. military out of the country. Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was the final U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday.
- Timeline: US withdrawal and Taliban recapture of Afghanistan
- 'Egregiously mishandled' or inevitably 'messy'? What went wrong in US withdrawal from Afghanistan
- U.S. airstrike on ISIS kills civilians. Report says 10 members of one family died
- They made the 'ultimate sacrifice': The 13 US service members killed in Afghanistan airport bombing
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Ida weakens as it moves northeast; Gulf Coast left to assess devastation
The National Hurricane Center said Monday night Ida had weakened to a tropical depression. But the storm is still forecast to dump considerable amounts of rainfall on the Tennessee and Ohio River valleys Tuesday as it continues to move northeast. "Considerable" flash flooding in those areas and the Central/Southern Appalachians, and into the Mid-Atlantic is possible this week, the Hurricane Center reported. Meanwhile, millions in Louisiana and Mississippi have been left to deal with the devastation left by Ida's destructive path. Fleets of boats and helicopters rescued hundreds trapped in southern Louisiana Monday and repair crews rushed in to restore the power grid. More than 1 million homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana and another 90,000 in Mississippi. Two deaths have been confirmed, but Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards warned the death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue efforts expand.
- Catastrophic photos and video: Hurricane Ida's path of destruction across Louisiana
- Going backwards: Hurricane Ida was so powerful it reversed the flow of the Mississippi River
- Want to donate or volunteer to assist those affected by Hurricane Ida? Here's how to help.
Most of South Lake Tahoe ordered to evacuate, as Caldor Fire spreads
Flames from the growing Caldor Fire are expected to continue churning east toward the resort town of South Lake Tahoe, California, Tuesday, a day after the city placed was under an unusual evacuation order. The popular vacation haven normally filled with summer tourists emptied out Monday as vehicles loaded with bikes and camping gear and hauling boats were stuck in gridlock traffic. Conditions worsened, and a red flag warning was in effect across the northern Sierra. The evacuation order covers almost the entire city of South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area as the fire containment line was about 10 miles south from the lake. The Caldor Fire started Aug. 14 and has burned more than 290 square miles. It is only 15% contained and more than 600 structures have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire.
- Previous coverage: South Lake Tahoe, usually bustling now, is empty and choking on smoke from the Caldor Fire
- Climate change report: Irreversible changes, warmer temperatures sooner among the alarming findings from the UN climate change report
EU recommends travel restrictions tighten for Americans
International travelers and the travel industry will Tuesday continue to feel the ripple effect of the European Union's decision to no longer recommend its members ease restriction on nonessential travel for Americans. The EU, reversing its guidance on the United States as the nation faces its fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly contagious delta variant, removed the U.S. from its safe travel list Monday. However, the EU's recommendation is nonbinding and does not mean an end to European travel for American travelers. Vaccinated tourists should still be allowed to visit member states that allow vaccinated visitors. Also, individual EU members could decide to allow unvaccinated visitors. To qualify for the safe travel list again, the U.S. would need to, among other requirements, have "a stable or decreasing trend of new COVID cases" over the previous two weeks, according to the European Council.
- Traveling during the COVID delta surge: What you need to know
- Travel mask mandate to be extended into January for planes, trains, buses as COVID cases rise
- 'I'm conflicted': Travelers weigh Hawaii plans after governor begs tourists not to come amid COVID-19 surge
NFL roster cutdown day has arrived
It's the end of the line for many rookies and veterans, as all 32 National Football League teams must cut their rosters down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. The deadline could leave as many as 27 players per team looking for work ahead of the regular season, which officially begins Thursday, Sept. 9. And while teams are sure to continue shuffling their rosters in the coming days, opportunities will be scarce as coaches and general managers set their outlook for Week 1 and beyond. Several teams have already begun cutting or releasing players, with the Detroit Lions' split from wide receiver Breshad Perriman among the most notable moves.
- Uncertainty: Saints coach Sean Payton isn't sure if Week 1 opener will be played in New Orleans after Hurricane Ida
- Significant situation in Indy: Colts put Carson Wentz, Ryan Kelly, Zach Pascal on reserve/COVID-19 list; 4 starters out
- NFL preseason winners and losers: Who helped themselves the most in final tune-ups?
Contributing: The Associated Press