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The US president’s latest appearance reflected the need for a display of leadership and control for a situation that’s developing so fast.

It has been only a week since Kabul fell, a week since President Joe Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal policy revealed all its flaws. It feels like far longer.

And so for the second time in a few days, he was back at the podium in the East Room of the White House.

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Biden defends US evacuation efforts

On Monday, he had appeared alone with a robust defence of his decision to end the war but nothing on how he executed the withdrawal.

This time, with his top team around him – a sharing of the burden or the responsibility perhaps – he sought to show that he is grasping the urgency of the immediate challenge at Kabul Airport.

“Since I spoke to you on Monday, we’ve made significant progress,” the president said.

“We’ve secured the airport, enabling flights to resume, not just military flights, but civilian charters from other countries, and the NGOs taking out civilians and vulnerable Afghans…”

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American troops
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American troops

He continued with reassurances of progress: “We’ve already evacuated more than 18,000 people since July, and approximately 13,000 since our military lift began on August the 14th.”

He confirmed that contact with the Taliban remains in place – extraordinary when you think about it, but positive too given that it is Taliban cooperation which is key to saving so many lives.

“As we continue to work the logistics of evacuation, we’re in constant contact with the Taliban, working to ensure civilians have safe passage to the airport. We’re particularly focused on our engagements on making sure every American who wants to leave, can get to the airport.”

It was important for him to deliver some concrete commitments. He pledged that all US citizens who wanted to get out would be helped out but couldn’t explain how those who are not in Kabul could be extracted.

“Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home.”

He said the commanders on the ground will get “everything they need” to do the job. The danger with that, of course, is mission creep.

At the moment the mission is confined to the airport. But he did say: “We will consider going outside the airport.” How would that impact the Taliban cooperation?

In short, on the ground in and around the airport in Kabul, his commitments come up against the reality.

Perhaps the most revealing moment came when he was asked about what impact his decision is having on US credibility among America’s allies.

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The president shot back: “I have seen no question of our credibility from our allies around the world… The fact of the matter is I have not seen that.”

The truth is, he is a president who has pledged repeatedly that with his leadership, “America is back”. Yet now he has led his allies into a crisis for them all.

He maintains he has done what’s best for America. But what’s clearer daily is the impact internationally and most urgently in Afghanistan.

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FBI shares details of handwritten notes allegedly written by Dallas shooting suspect

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FBI shares details of handwritten notes allegedly written by Dallas shooting suspect

A handwritten note recovered after a deadly shooting in Dallas detailed the suspect’s desire to inflict “real terror” on US immigration agents, the head of the FBI has said.

One person was killed and two people were critically injured after a gunman opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday.

All three victims were in a transport van outside the facility at the time, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Several more people were injured before the gunman took his own life, officials said.

Joshua Jahn has been named as the suspected gunman
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Joshua Jahn has been named as the suspected gunman

FBI director, Kash Patel, said the agency had seized devices and processed “writings” obtained at the scene and in the suspect’s home since the attack.

A handwritten note recovered read: “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?”

The FBI previously said the suspect left a bullet casing engraved with the phrase “ANTI-ICE” at the scene.

Mr Kash said in a post on X: “While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack.”

One of the bullet casings was engraved with 'ANTI ICE'. Pic: Kash Patel/X
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One of the bullet casings was engraved with ‘ANTI ICE’. Pic: Kash Patel/X

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told Sky News partner NBC that ICE agents pulled some of the detainees out of the line of fire.

“The shooter was just shooting at random vehicles inside,” Mr Lyons said

“They were still hit inside the vehicle. You know, there were some brave men and women on the ground that went into those vans, pulling those detainees out while they were under fire.”

According to the FBI, evidence recovered so far shows a high level of planning ahead of the shooting, including searches of buildings belonging to the Dallas County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters
Image:
The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters

Officials have not yet disclosed the identity of the victims.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem identified the gunman, in a Fox News interview, as Joshua Jahn, 29.

Ms Noem said he had fired the bullets from a nearby rooftop.

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Mr Jahn’s older brother, Noah Jahn, who lives around 30 miles north of Dallas in McKinney, said he was not aware his brother held any negative feelings towards ICE.

He said: “I didn’t know he had any political intent at all.”

The shooting comes at a time of heightened tension in the US following the assassination of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

Mr Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead by a sniper while speaking at an event in Utah on 10 September.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with the murder of Mr Kirk.

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Trump administration will push back if FIFA ban Israel from international football as UEFA close to suspension decision

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Trump administration will push back if FIFA ban Israel from international football as UEFA close to suspension decision

The Trump administration will work to prevent FIFA banning Israel from international football ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Sky News can reveal.

It comes as we have also learnt that European governing body UEFA is heading towards its own decision to suspend Israeli teams over the war in Gaza – with many FAs and members of the executive committee understood to favour that.

Israel’s next match is against Norway on 11 October in a men’s World Cup qualifier.

Football’s world and European governing bodies were urged this week by United Nations (UN) advisory experts to impose sporting sanctions.

FIFA has not responded to the UN special rapporteurs as Israel’s men continue trying to qualify for next year’s World Cup, which is largely being played in the United States.

And the US government, through Marco Rubio’s state department, has made a direct intervention to stop sporting sanctions being imposed.

A state department spokesperson told Sky News: “We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup.”

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FIFA launched an investigation last year into allegations of discrimination raised by the Palestine Football Association against the Israeli FA.

There is also an investigation into whether teams from Israeli settlements in the West Bank playing in Israeli competitions breaches FIFA regulations.

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Greece ahead of the PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League match on Wednesday. Pic: AP
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Pro-Palestinian protesters in Greece ahead of the PAOK and Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League match on Wednesday. Pic: AP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has a close relationship with US President Donald Trump and is a regular visitor to the White House. He has been in New York this week, meeting world leaders around the UN General Assembly – while also at FIFA’s office in Trump Tower.

During a speech after collecting an Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award last night, Mr Infantino referenced the war while speaking on bringing people together in “a divided world, in an aggressive world”.

In an indirect reference to the challenge of sanctioning countries over wars, Mr Infantino said there are 80 countries where there are conflicts.

He added: “I suffer when I see children suffer. I cry when I see mothers crying, whether it’s in Gaza… anywhere in the world.”

Sky News revealed yesterday that discussions are taking place at high levels in European football about whether Israel should be banned but no decision has been taken.

Officials have been deliberating over why Russia remains banned over the war in Ukraine but Israel is clear to continue playing in European club competitions and on the international stage as the death toll mounts.

UEFA has previously publicly said there is a difference in how the wars started – with Russia launching an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Israel responding to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks.

But a UN commission of inquiry has now said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – accusations rejected by Israel.

That led to UN advisers calling for Israeli teams to be expelled from world football.

Read more from Sky News:
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“Sports cannot be business as usual and something has to change and Israel has to be excluded,” Alexandra Xanthaki, the UN special rapporteur for cultural rights, told Sky News.

“I think that when we talk about teams, national teams, not individual athletes, of states that are subject to valid claims of genocide… this is where this is for sure a red line.”

Among the athletes killed during the war is the footballer known as the Palestinian Pele – Suleiman al Obeid – who the Palestine FA announced in August died in an Israeli airstrike.

The Palestine Olympic Committee this week said the Israeli sports system has been an “active participant” in war.

“Over 1,000 athletes have had their lives extinguished. Thousands more are wounded, maimed or disabled,” said POC President Jibril Rajoub, who also heads the FA.

“Our stadiums, our facilities, our dreams, all have been ground into dust.”

A suspension of Israeli teams would prevent Aston Villa having to go ahead with their match in the Europa League against Maccabi Tel Aviv in November.

FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.

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Jessica Chastain criticises decision to delay release of The Savant after Charlie Kirk killing

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Jessica Chastain criticises decision to delay release of The Savant after Charlie Kirk killing

Jessica Chastain has criticised Apple’s decision to delay the release of political thriller series The Savant after the killing of Charlie Kirk.

The actress, who is also executive producer of the show for the tech giant’s TV+ streaming service, said she was “not aligned on the decision to pause the release”.

In a post on Instagram, she said the programme, in which she plays a woman who tries to draw out potential terrorists online, is “so relevant” and she has never “shied away from difficult subjects”.

Chastain portrays a military veteran who works at the Anti-Hate Alliance, where she secretly visits 4Chan-like message boards and poses as a white nationalist to identify possible terrorists.

“‘The Savant’ is about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honouring their courage feels more urgent than ever,” Chastain said.

“I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon. Until then, I’m wishing safety and strength for everyone.”

She listed several acts of political violence in the US in recent years, including a plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer, the attempted assassinations of Donald Trump last year and also the killing of controversial influencer Kirk.

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Apple said it chose to postpone the show after “careful consideration” but did not give a reason why.

Kimmel’s comeback show brings in record ratings

Meanwhile, millions of people tuned in to watch Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday after he returned to TV after Disney suspended him for nearly a week after he made comments about Kirk.

Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show. Pic: AP
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Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show. Pic: AP

ABC said 6.26 million people watched Kimmel as he said it was “never my intention to make light of” Kirk’s death. It was the late-night show’s highest-rated regularly scheduled episode.

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Explained: Why Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air

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Kimmel returns – and not everyone’s on same page

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he said as he choked up.

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make”.

Kimmel had been accused of being “offensive and insensitive” after using his programme, Jimmy Kimmel Live, to accuse Donald Trump and his allies of capitalising on the killing.

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