THE TALIBAN have conquered the nation of Afghanistan. During a previous tenure, the fundamentalist Islamic group imposed strict “sharia” law on the country, including requiring women to wear full body coverings when in public (Wikipedia/UN).

Twenty years of American blood, sweat and treasure came to a stunning halt Sunday as Taliban insurgents captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, in a surprising lighting campaign.

As U.S. soldiers and Marines worked to evacuate U.S. civilians and Afghans who had supported the generation-long effort to build a modern democratic state, leaders of the fundamentalist Islamic group moved in and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country, according to the Associated Press.

The new regime promised to assume power peacefully and not repeat the policies of its previous reign in power, in which women were denied virtually all rights and political opposition was suppressed.

Shortly after President Joe Biden announced that the U.S would no longer keep combat forces in the central Asian nation, the Taliban launched an offensive that overpowered the crumbling Afghan National Army and its supporters in a little over a week.

According to The New York Times, many citizens are worried about what comes next. “People are scared, they are not happy and if anyone says that people are happy, he is lying,” a civil servant in the city of Kunduz told The Times. “Everyone is wondering what will happen to our future.”

In what may be a sign of things to come, the new city leaders dismissed female employees from the city hall and announced a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Haiti death toll is now past 700

JOVENAL MOISE

The count of confirmed dead from Saturday’s 7.2 magnitude quake in Haiti is now at 724 people. Another 2,800 people were hurt, USA Today reports.

On top of the damage inflicted by the quake, Tropical Storm Fred knocked out power to 400,000 homes and businesses and Tropical Storm Grace is expected to strike this week.

Haitian leaders issued a plea for international assistance. Vice President Kamala Harris said the U.S. government is planning recovery relief to the island nation.

In 2010, a major quake hit Haiti, inflicting at least 85,000 deaths.

Mask mandates for NY school children?

FACE-COVERING mandates are returning in response to a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths (Pexels/Cottonbor).

In an interview Sunday, incoming New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she supported a requirement that children in school wear face coverings.

According to Reuters.com, she said that a mask requirement is “something that I believe has to occur” to protect not only the pupils but also teachers, administrators and others.

Hochul, currently the lieutenant governor of the Empire State, will take the governor’s post later this month in the wake of Anthony Cuomo’s resignation after allegations against him of sexual harassment sparked demands for him to step down.

“Daily News” is a summary of top news stories, posted Monday to Sunday.