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Bird E-CommerceTaliban leaders declared Monday "the war is over," after taking control of Afghanistannearly 20 years on from the militant group fleeing a U.S.-led coalition march into Kabul.
Driving the news: The declaration to Al Jazeera came after the Taliban seized the presidential palace in Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani to fled the country Sunday, and following the U.S. evacuation of the American Embassy. The U.S. was taking over air traffic control at Kabul's airport, where chaotic scenes were reported Monday, as foreigners and Afghan citizens attempted to flee.
The big picture: As the U.S. accelerated its military withdrawal earlier this summer, the Taliban gained ground with extraordinary speed, capturing provincial capitals at a rate that shocked the Biden administration and international community.
Of note: The Taliban’s co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who heads the group’s political committee, was expected to be named president.
What's next: The U.N. Security Council has called an emergency meeting for Monday morning.
Go deeper:
Biden's stain: U.S. flees Kabul
Behind the scenes of the Biden administration as the U.S. ditches Kabul
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Blue Origin's successful flight is the rising-tide-lifts-all-boats story of the moment for the sector.
Why it matters: For investors, it doesn’t matter which billionaire hits space first. Recent headlines only generate more interest, some of which turns into investments — and that's good for companies that need cash.
What they're saying: Sending humans to space twice on largely privately funded enterprises in less than two weeks is unprecedented, Ken Herbert, managing director at Canaccord Genuity, tells Axios.
By the numbers: It’s not yet clear how much an individual seat will cost, but Bezos' larger goal is to get millions of people to work and live in space.
What to watch: Both Blue Origin and Virgin expect to launch more flights this year.