( )
Good morning and welcome to Fox News First. Here's what you need to know as you start your day …
Americans at Kabul airport gates urged by US Embassy in Afghanistan to 'leave immediately'
The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan warned Americans trapped in the country not to travel to the Kabul airport due to security threats, and urged those at specific airport gates to get out immediately, in a startling statement early Thursday.
"Because of security threats outside the gates of Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so," the statement from the embassy read.
"U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately," the embassy added.
The warning underscored the chaos and uncertainty on the ground outside the Kabul airport, where hundreds of Americans still have been attempting to get out of the country. U.S. troops have been stationed at the airport, though a heavy Taliban presence has been reported outside the grounds, with persistent concerns about potential terrorism.
President Biden has aimed to stick to an Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from the country, though the White House has said contingency plans were being discussed, amid criticism from lawmakers in both parties that it would be too unsafe not to extend the deadline. Concerns have also been raised about Special Immigrant Visa holders reportedly being blocked by the Taliban from accessing the airport.
The Biden administration has said it didn't trust the Taliban, but repeatedly has called on the Islamic militant group to allow people to safely access the airport and to refrain from violence. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON OUR TOP STORY.
In other developments:
- Former Afghan translator warns Taliban is hunting down, executing US allies
- Sen. Tom Cotton slams Biden's 'ill advised' decision to keep Afghanistan withdrawal deadline
- Biden hears from Reps. Slotkin, Sherrill about Aug. 31 Afghanistan deadline extension: report
- Erik Prince to Tucker: America has ‘shattered confidence’ of global allies amid Afghanistan disaster
- NY Mag piece complains the media 'manufactured' Biden's Afghanistan crisis
Texas' Greg Abbott reasserts ban on vaccine mandates as judge rules against mask mandate ban
The same day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reissued his ban on vaccine mandates and passports a judge ruled against his ban on mask mandates, issuing a temporary injunction, according to reports.
District Court Judge Tonya Parker said in her ruling the mask ban violates Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ authority to prioritize public health during the coronavirus pandemic, FOX 4 in Dallas reported. (In Texas, county judges are equivalent to county executives.)
Abbott’s executive order bans a requirement for the shot even if it is fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration, as the Pfizer vaccine was this week, according to the Texas Tribune.
The governor’s previous order banned vaccine mandates only for those products under emergency approval.
Parker’s injunction will likely be appealed to the court of appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.
"It’s a victory for humans who live in Dallas County against the virus," Jenkins said of the ruling, according to the Dallas Morning News. "I hope we’ll all take off our red hat and our blue hat and put on our human hat and listen to doctors." CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
In other developments:
- Arkansas runs out of intensive care beds for COVID patients: 'critical'
- Woman carried by cops while seated from Texas school board meeting for refusing to wear mask, district says
- Tucker Carlson: Leaders need to explain their COVID mandates, not just tell us to obey
- Harris, Newsom require rally goers get vaccine or negative test despite staying in cars
Florida tourist shot dead while protecting his baby at restaurant; suspect arrested
A young father died after a gunman walked into a Miami Beach restaurant and pointed a gun at the father’s 1-year-old son, police said.
Dustin Wakefield, 21, had been on vacation from Castle Rock, Colorado, with his family. They were eating at the La Cerveceria restaurant around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when the suspect walked through the door.
"This guy came in with a gun waving it, saying it's time to die. He pointed the gun at his son and Dustin said, 'He's only a boy,'" Mike Wakefield, the victim’s uncle, told the Miami Herald. "Dustin stood up between the gunman and the baby and he shot him. He shot him multiple times on the ground."
In a short video taken immediately after the shooting and obtained by WSVN-TV, the gunman – later identified as Tamarius Blair Davis Jr. of Norcross, Georgia – can be seen dancing while people are heard screaming. The gunman then walks up some steps, the weapon in his hand.
Davis fled the restaurant, police said, and was captured in a nearby alley. Cellphone video obtained by the Herald shows Davis lying spread-eagle on his back and smiling as three officers approach with their guns pointed toward him, yelling commands, warning him that if he touches his gun he will be shot. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
In other developments:
- Mother of murdered son pleads to recall Los Angeles County D.A. George Gascon: ‘I am begging’
- Oklahoma governor candidate, 58, arrested in kidnapping and rape of campaign applicant, police say
- Sarm Heslop: US Virgin Islands police say they were denied search warrant for Siren Song catamaran
- White Louisiana trooper seen pummeling Black man repeatedly with flashlight: 'Pain compliance'
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
TODAY'S MUST-READS:
- Man gets 6 years in prison in Michigan governor kidnap plot
- Meghan McCain shades Kamala Harris over John McCain memorial visit: 'If you want to honor my dads legacy ... '
- Kudlow: The US has caved into the Taliban terrorists
- Florida kite surfer, 61, dead after slamming into wall of beachside home
- California fire advances toward Lake Tahoe after destroying hundreds of homes
THE LATEST FROM FOX BUSINESS:
- Toshiba in talks with four investment firms for strategic ideas
- Taliban wants to help fight climate change, terrorism, despite links to executions, oppression: reports
- Western Digital in advanced talks to merge with Kioxia in $20 billion-plus deal
- CDC, USDA investigating 2 Salmonella outbreaks linked to Italian-style meats
- Powell unlikely to give tapering roadmap for investors at Jackson Hole meeting
CLICK HERE TO PLAY FOX NEWS’ CROSSWORD PUZZLE OF THE WEEK
SOME PARTING WORDS
Sen. Tom Cotton reacted Wednesday to President Biden's decision to keep an Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
The president "hasn’t explained those things because they’re all inexplicable," Cotton said on "Hannity."
"I think the news tonight gives us an example of why it’s so ill-advised for President Biden to be rushing to this Aug. 31 deadline," Cotton said. "All Americans around the airport have been told to leave immediately because of the terrorist threat.
"Let’s hope there is not a terrorist attack for the safety of our troops," he added. "But the very fact that Joe Biden is sticking stubbornly to this Aug. 31 deadline indicates that all it takes is for the Taliban or ISIS or al Qaeda to continue with these kinds of threats to prevent hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans from being left behind enemy lines come Tuesday."
Not signed up yet for Fox News First? Click here to find out what you're missing.
Fox News’ Go Watch page is now available, providing visitors with Pay TV provider options in their area carrying Fox News Channel & Fox Business Network.
Fox News First was compiled by Fox News' Jack Durschlag. Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Friday.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
