News roundup for Tue, Aug 17, 2021

June 26 07:49:07, 2025

Afghanistan has officially fallen to the Taliban, and the country is now fully under their control. The rapid collapse of major cities—within just one to two weeks—caught U.S. and coalition forces off guard, making it nearly impossible to evacuate embassy staff and other assets in a safe and orderly fashion. Kabul International Airport became the epicenter of chaotic and incomplete evacuation efforts. Thousands of Afghans rushed to the airport in search of safety and asylum, with many losing their lives—some even falling from military aircraft they were clinging to from the outside. The fall of Kabul has been compared to the fall of Saigon in 1975, marking a deeply humiliating and tragic chapter for the United States.

Meanwhile, the U.S. administration is taking steps to support vulnerable populations by increasing food stamp benefits. This move comes as economic uncertainty continues to grow across the nation. https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1427068552587235338?s=20 In another tragic development, over 1,200 people have died following a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. The situation is worsening as a tropical depression has begun to hinder rescue operations, complicating efforts to reach those still trapped or in need of aid. On the other side of the world, Tropical Storm Fred has made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, bringing with it dangerous storm surges and flooding. At least 20 counties in Florida are now under a state of emergency as residents brace for the worst. And in an alarming twist, health officials have confirmed that antibiotic-resistant plague is spreading from person to person—a rare and terrifying occurrence. The pneumonic form of the disease, which spreads through respiratory droplets, is particularly concerning due to its high mortality rate and growing drug resistance. This is not something anyone expected to see in 2021.