Wednesday morning news - August 25, 2021

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington.

Biden keeps to Kabul Aug. 31 deadline despite criticism » President Biden declared Tuesday he is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline to complete all evacuations from Afghanistan.

Biden cited threats from an ISIS affiliate…

BIDEN: Every day we’re on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both US and allied forces and innocent civilians.

The decision defies allied leaders who want to give the evacuation more time.

And Republicans, like Congressman Michael McCaul said Tuesday that the president is caving to the Taliban, which has demanded that the evacuation conclude by the end of this month.

MCCAUL: I can tell you that there’s no way we can humanly get all of our American citizens and Afghan partners out of the country by that time. And particularly after the decision made today, he will have blood on his hands. People are going to die and they’re going to be left behind.

But Biden said he had asked the Pentagon and State Department for evacuation contingency plans that would adjust the timeline for full withdrawal should that become necessary.

The United States in recent days has ramped up its airlifts. That comes amid new reports of rights abuses that fuel concern about the fate of thousands of people who fear retribution at the hands of the Taliban.

Fighting escalates between Israel, Hamas-backed militants » Meantime, violence is escalating elsewhere in the Middle East. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a new wave of incendiary balloons into Israel Tuesday. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown has more.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN, REPORTER: The two sides have engaged in their heaviest cross-border fighting this week since an 11-day war back in May.

Hamas-backed militants have launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel several times in recent weeks, setting fires on the other side of the border. And on Saturday, they held a violent demonstration along the Israeli border fence. Hamas wants Israel to lift a stifling blockade on Gaza.

During the demonstration, a militant next to the fence pulled out a pistol and shot an Israeli sniper in the head at point blank range. The Israeli remains in critical condition. Some two-dozen Palestinians were also hit by Israeli fire.

Early on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes on Hamas targets in response to incendiary balloons. The Israeli military said that Hamas also fired machine guns into Israel, drawing an additional airstrike.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

House passes $3.5T Biden blueprint » House Democrats muscled President Biden’s multi-trillion dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle Tuesday.

The measure passed straight down party lines.

AUDIO: On this vote, the years are 220. The nays are 212. The resolution is adopted.

That after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and party leaders struck a deal with more moderate-leaning Democrats.

In brokering the compromise, Pelosi committed to voting on the bipartisan $1 trillion package no later than Sept. 27th. Her preference had been to hold out and not consider the bipartisan bill until she could take up both bills together.

Georgia gov. deploys National Guard to hospitals amid COVID-19 surge » Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is deploying national guardsmen to hospitals that are once again swamped with COVID-19 patients. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: More than 100 National Guard personnel are deploying to 20 hospitals across the state.

The medically trained Guardsmen and women will help staff at hospitals in Atlanta, Macon, Savannah, and other cities across the state.

The Guard is coordinating with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Community Health in the effort, Kemp said.

Many southern states have seen a big surge in hospitalizations. New admissions in Louisiana have set new records in recent weeks. That state data show that more than 90 percent of those hospitalized are not fully vaccinated.

Nationwide, hospitalizations have increased nearly sevenfold since late June.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Former NFL star Herschel Walker announces U.S. Senate bid » Former NFL Pro Bowl-er and University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker is running for the U.S. Senate.

He launched his Republican campaign on Tuesday. He’ll challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock for the Georgia Senate seat Warnock captured in a special election in 2020.

Walker is a political newcomer. He’ll enjoy the backing of former President Donald Trump, who urged him to run.

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

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