Tuesday morning news - September 7, 2021

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kristen Flavin. 

Taliban takes Panjshir valley » The Taliban claims it has seized control of the last provinces resisting its takeover of Afghanistan.

SOUND: [Man speaking Dari]

In a news conference held Monday, a Taliban spokesman said there is no reason for war in the country to continue.

Resistance fighters led by the former vice president retained control of the eight districts of Panjshir province until Sunday night. Leaders say they were trying to negotiate a ceasefire when the Taliban overran the district. They vowed to continue opposition efforts.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials say they are actively trying to get Americans left in the country out. On Monday, the government confirmed it had helped a family of four escape over land into a neighboring country. But about 100 U.S. citizens remain in Afghanistan.

U.S. allies are also trying to get people out of the country. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the issue Monday in a speech to Parliament.

JOHNSON: Let me say to anyone to whom we have made commitments, and who is currently in Afghanistan, we are working urgently with our friends in the region to secure a safe passage and as soon as routes are available we will do everything possible to help you to reach safety.

Johnson said more than 300 Afghans who helped British forces are still trying to leave. He did not say whether any British citizens remain in Afghanistan.

Justice Department looking for ways to challenge Texas abortion law » The Justice Department is looking for ways to challenge the Texas abortion law that went into effect last week. WORLD’s Leigh Jones has that story.

LEIGH JONES, REPORTER: Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that federal prosecutors are urgently exploring all options. In the meantime, he warned the Justice Department would enforce federal protections for any women trying to access abortion facilities in Texas.

A federal law known as the FACE Act prohibits blocking access to abortion centers or using threats of force to intimidate or interfere with anyone trying to go in. Garland said the federal government would not tolerate any violence, although no threats of violence have been reported.

The Texas law prohibits abortion after babies develop a heartbeat, at about six weeks gestation. But it relies on private citizens, not state law enforcement officials, to file suit over suspected violations.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Leigh Jones.

Prison break in Israel » 

AUDIO: [Crowd chanting]

Supporters of the Islamic Jihad movement marched in the Gaza Strip Monday to celebrate the escape of several Palestinian prisoners from a high-security Israeli prison.

Israeli officials confirmed the breakout and said a manhunt is underway. The prisoners apparently managed to dig a tunnel that started under a sink and came up outside the prison wall.

The escapees include a prominent militant leader from the West Bank city of Jenin who once led the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, called the escape “a heroic act” by “heroic detainees.”

Marvel breaks Labor Day box office records » The latest release from Marvel Studios gave Hollywood something to celebrate over the normally slow holiday weekend.

AUDIO: [Trailer from Shang-Chi]

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings smashed the record for Labor Day openings with an estimated $71.4 million in ticket sales. That helped ease fears movie goers weren’t ready to return to the theater amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases.

Several other studios have opted to delay big-budget releases, including the latest version of Top Gun and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Shang-Chi will remain exclusively in theaters for 45 days. It is the first Marvel movie to get an exclusive theater run since July 2019. Since the pandemic began, Disney has joined other studios in releasing films on streaming platforms as well as in theaters.

I’m Kristen Flavin. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.

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