Taliban's brutal crackdown on dissent turns deadly as evacuations continue at a snail's pace
CBSN
On the Afghanistan-Pakistan border — A White House official described Afghanistan's new hardline Taliban rulers on Thursday as having "been businesslike and professional" in allowing the first flight out of Kabul since the former insurgency seized control of the country. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne called the flight, which carried about 200 people, including 10 U.S. citizens and 11 U.S. residents to Qatar, "a positive first step."
Another flight was expected to leave Kabul on Friday carrying a similar number. But as CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports, it's not at all clear how regular flights out of the country will be. And there are still foreigners, and many at-risk Afghans, desperate to get out of the county. D'Agata was at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan on Friday, and he could see Taliban guards and flags on display on the other side. The border remained closed. Pakistan has refused to accept any Afghan refugees until there's a coherent international plan to provide shelter for them in third countries.Noumea — France's president held a flurry of meetings with local representatives in the restive Pacific territory of New Caledonia on Thursday, urging calm after deadly rioting, and vowing thousands of military reinforcements will stay in place to quell what he called an "unprecedented insurrection."
Kathmandu — Nepali climber Phunjo Lama on Thursday reached Mount Everest's summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes, smashing the record for the world's fastest ascent of the mountain by a woman. Climbers usually take days to reach the top of the 29,032-foot mountain, spending nights on its different camps to rest and acclimatize.
New Delhi — Indian justice officials have changed course amid outrage over the bail terms set for a teenager accused of killing two people while driving a Porsche at high speed while drunk and without a license. The 17-year-old son of a wealthy businessman had been ordered to write a 300-word essay and work with the local traffic police for 15 days to be granted bail — a decision that was made within 15 hours of his arrest.
Zurich — A woman jogger was killed by a naked man who was screaming and attacking people in a lakeside park in Switzerland, police said Wednesday. The attack happened Tuesday evening in Mannedorf on Lake Zurich, around 12 miles southeast of Switzerland's biggest city, the Zurich cantonal police said.
Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move that drew condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians. Israel immediately ordered back its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland and appeared ready to do the same with its ambassador to Spain.
Jerusalem — Israeli officials seized a camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to The Associated Press in southern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the news organization of violating the country's new ban on Al Jazeera. The Qatari satellite channel is among thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from the AP and other news organizations. The AP denounced the move.