Demoralized Afghan security forces offered no resistance as the insurgents, who seized most of the country in just over a week, appeared Sunday morning on Kabul's outskirts. While the Taliban initially said they wouldn't enter the capital while a transitional government is being formed, they reversed their stance by nightfall, saying that someone needed to maintain public order after Afghan police deserted their posts.
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Biden Sending Additional Troops to Afghanistan for U.S. Personnel Evacuation
President Biden said Saturday he would send approximately 5,000 U.S. troops to safely evacuate U.S. and allied personnel, a force slightly larger than the 3,000 personnel already in transit back to Afghanistan and the 1,000 already there.
Mr. Biden made the decisions after consultations with top advisers while he was working at Camp David. Mr. Biden also defended his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, as the Taliban continues to advance in the country.
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Afghanistan Takeover by Taliban Worries Governments in the Region, Europe That Chaos Will Spread
The collapse of the Afghan government and takeover of the country by the Taliban is stirring concern in foreign capitals that chaos and instability engulfing the country could spill over to its neighbors and possibly drive a tide of refugees as far as Europe.
There was also an undercurrent of criticism of the U.S. for the speed of its departure after nearly 20 years, colored by Washington's failure to establish a stable government that could stand without American military support.
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Afghanistan's Collapse Creates New Hurdles for U.S., Allies
WASHINGTON-While Biden administration officials sought to cast blame on the Trump administration and Afghan forces for the fall of Kabul, the withdrawal of U.S. troops is creating a set of new problems that will now be even harder to manage.
U.S. officials have said they must continue to monitor the rise of new terrorist risks in the region, and hope to protect the gains women and girls have made in Afghanistan. There are also concerns about foreign adversaries attempting to fill the void left by the American departure, and there is the question of what happens to the military equipment left behind.
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Canada to Hold Snap Vote, as Justin Trudeau Seeks to Advance Progressive Agenda
OTTAWA-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an early national election for next month, looking to capitalize on popular support for his government's efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and secure a third term in power.
On Sunday, Mr. Trudeau officially requested that Governor General Mary Simon, the representative of Queen Elizabeth, who is Canada's head of state, dissolve parliament and set national elections for Sept. 20. She granted the request. The next parliamentary elections weren't due until 2023.
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Intelligence Reports From Afghanistan Missed One Key Element: Speed
In late June, a stark new intelligence estimate said the government of President Ashraf Ghani could collapse in as soon as six months after the U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan.
By last week, with the Taliban rapidly taking over provincial capitals, a revised estimate gave the Ghani government as little as a month to survive. On Sunday, Mr. Ghani fled the country as Taliban troops entered Kabul.
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Homeland Security Considers Outside Firms to Analyze Social Media After Jan. 6 Failure
The Department of Homeland Security is considering hiring private companies to analyze public social media for warning signs of extremist violence, spurring debate within the agency over how to monitor for such threats while protecting Americans' civil liberties.
The effort, which remains under discussion and hasn't received approval or funding, would involve sifting through large flows of internet traffic to help identify online narratives that might provide leads on developing attacks, whether from home or abroad.
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Group Behind Some of Hong Kong's Biggest Protests to Disband
HONG KONG-The group that organized some of the biggest marches during Hong Kong's 2019 protests said it would disband, as the national-security law ensnares wider swaths of the city's civil society.
The Civil Human Rights Front, which served as an umbrella organization for a number of pro-democracy and human-rights groups, said on Sunday that its members had decided unanimously to disband amid unprecedented and severe challenges.
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Biden Administration Ordered to Reinstate Trump's Remain in Mexico Policy
A federal judge in Texas has ordered the Biden administration to reinstate the Remain in Mexico program, a Trump-era immigration policy that required migrants seeking asylum to wait in Mexican border cities for the duration of their immigration cases.
The program, which the Department of Homeland Security under former President Donald Trump introduced in 2019 at the height of a surge in Central American families coming to the U.S. border, was wound down by President Biden soon after he took office.
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Write to paul.larkins@wsj.com
TODAY IN CANADA
Earnings:
Aya Gold & Silver 2Q
Home Capital 2Q
Knight Therapeutics 2Q
Lion Electric 2Q
Medicenna Therapeutics 1Q
Economic Indicators (ET):
0830 Jun Monthly Survey of Manufacturing
0830 Jun New motor vehicle sales
0830 Jun Wholesale trade
Stocks to Watch:
Petrus Resources Announces Extension to Credit Agreements; Syndicate of Lenders Has Extended Borrowing Base Termination Date on Its Senior Revolving Credit Facility Agreement From Aug 13, 2021 to Aug 20, 2021; Co's Second Lien Term Loan Provider Has Also Agreed to Extend Maturity Date of Co's Second Lien Term Loan From Oct 14, 2021 to Oct 21, 2021
Other News:
Canada to Hold Snap Vote, as Justin Trudeau Seeks to Advance Agenda:
Justin Trudeau called an early national election for next month, looking to capitalize on popular support for his government's efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and secure a third term in power.
On Sunday, Mr. Trudeau officially requested that Governor General Mary Simon, the representative of Queen Elizabeth, who is Canada's head of state, dissolve parliament and set national elections for Sept. 20. She granted the request. The next parliamentary elections weren't due until 2023.
"Canadians need to choose how we finish the fight against Covid-19 and build back better, from getting the job done on vaccines to having people's backs all the way to and through the end of this crisis," Mr. Trudeau told reporters. "I am asking [Canadians] to vote for real progressive leadership, strong healthcare, for affordable housing, and a clean and protected environment."
Airline Trade Group Opposes Passenger Vaccine Mandates
Global airline trade group IATA said it doesn't support vaccine mandates for airline passengers, responding after Canada's surprise move to require it for domestic travel by the end of October. IATA has voiced concern about potential discrimination for those who lack access to vaccines, and favors passport-style documentation to streamline testing requirements. (doug.cameron@wsj.com; @dougcameron)
Expected Major Events for Monday
04:30/JPN: Jun Revised Retail Sales
04:30/JPN: Jun Revised Industrial Production
12:30/CAN: Jun Monthly Survey of Manufacturing
12:30/CAN: Jun New motor vehicle sales
12:30/US: Aug Empire State Manufacturing Survey
12:30/CAN: Jun Wholesale trade
20:00/US: Jun Treasury International Capital Data
All times in GMT. Powered by Kantar Media and Dow Jones.
Expected Earnings for Monday
Acacia Research Corp (ACTG) is expected to report $-0.08 for 2Q.
Allakos Inc (ALLK) is expected to report $-1.09 for 2Q.
Americas Silver Corp (SMNPF) is expected to report for 2Q.
AnaptysBio Inc (ANAB) is expected to report $-0.99 for 2Q.
Ault Global Holdings Inc (DPW) is expected to report for 2Q.
Blade Air Mobility Inc (BLDE) is expected to report for 3Q.
Cervus Equipment is expected to report for 2Q.
Clear Secure Inc (YOU) is expected to report for 2Q.
Comstock Holding Companies Inc (CHCI) is expected to report for 2Q.
DarioHealth Corp (DRIO) is expected to report for 2Q.
Dynacor Gold Mines is expected to report for 2Q.
Eastern Co (EML) is expected to report for 2Q.
First Majestic Silver (AG,FR.T) is expected to report for 2Q.
FreightCar America (RAIL) is expected to report $-0.19 for 2Q.
GEE Group Inc (JOB) is expected to report for 3Q.
Galectin Therapeutics (GALT) is expected to report for 2Q.
Galera Therapeutics Inc (GRTX) is expected to report for 2Q.
Impel NeuroPharma Inc (IMPL) is expected to report for 2Q.
Kodiak Sciences Inc (KOD) is expected to report $-1.16 for 2Q.
Live Ventures Inc (LIVE) is expected to report for 3Q.
MICT Inc (MICT) is expected to report for 2Q.
Milestone Scientific Inc (MLSS) is expected to report $-0.02 for 2Q.
Ocean Bio-Chem (OBCI) is expected to report for 2Q.
Oncotelic Therapeutics Inc (OTLC) is expected to report for 2Q.
Orbital Energy Group Inc (OEG) is expected to report for 2Q.
Ovid Therapeutics Inc (OVID) is expected to report $-0.19 for 2Q.
Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT) is expected to report for 2Q.
Remark Holdings Inc (MARK) is expected to report $-0.03 for 2Q.
SWK Holdings Corp (SWKH) is expected to report $0.25 for 2Q.
Stratus Properties (STRS) is expected to report for 2Q.
Taysha Gene Therapies Inc (TSHA) is expected to report for 2Q.
Teligent Inc (TLGT) is expected to report for 2Q.
Tenax Therapeutics Inc (TENX) is expected to report $-0.13 for 2Q.
Three Valley Copper Corp (TVC.V) is expected to report for 2Q.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp (TNXP) is expected to report for 2Q.
UWM Holdings Corp (UWMC) is expected to report for 2Q.
Vermilion Energy (VET,VET.T) is expected to report $0.02 for 2Q.
Vine Energy Inc (VEI) is expected to report for 2Q.
(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
08-16-21 0559ET
