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| Afghanistan, Pfizer, Arc de Triomphe: Your Friday Evening Briefing | Afghanistan, Pfizer, Arc de Triomphe: Your Friday Evening Briefing |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| (Want to get this newsletter in your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this newsletter in your inbox? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday. | Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday. |
| 1. The Pentagon acknowledged on Friday that the U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians — including seven children — was a tragic mistake. | 1. The Pentagon acknowledged on Friday that the U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians — including seven children — was a tragic mistake. |
| Officials reversed their original claim that the strike in the capital of Afghanistan was “righteous” and necessary to prevent an attack on American troops. | Officials reversed their original claim that the strike in the capital of Afghanistan was “righteous” and necessary to prevent an attack on American troops. |
| Items in the trunk of a car that was struck by a U.S. missile were most likely water canisters, though the military had claimed they were explosives. The driver of the car, Zemari Ahmadi, a longtime worker for a U.S. aid group, had nothing to do with the Islamic State, as military officials had previously asserted. | Items in the trunk of a car that was struck by a U.S. missile were most likely water canisters, though the military had claimed they were explosives. The driver of the car, Zemari Ahmadi, a longtime worker for a U.S. aid group, had nothing to do with the Islamic State, as military officials had previously asserted. |
| “I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed,” said Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command. The findings of the inquiry mirrored those of a Times video investigation that questioned the government’s version of events. | “I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed,” said Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command. The findings of the inquiry mirrored those of a Times video investigation that questioned the government’s version of events. |
| In other foreign policy news, France recalled its ambassador to the U.S. in protest over a U.S.-Britain deal to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines. | In other foreign policy news, France recalled its ambassador to the U.S. in protest over a U.S.-Britain deal to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines. |
| 2. After weeks of heated debate, an F.D.A. advisory panel voted decisively against approving a booster shot for people 16 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. | |
| The panel did recommend an extra shot for recipients who are 65 or older or are at high risk of severe Covid-19. | |
| The vote was a setback for President Biden’s booster plan, which has come under fire from experts. The White House wanted most adults who had gotten a second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to start receiving booster shots next week. | |
| “It’s unclear that everyone needs to be boosted, other than a subset of the population that clearly would be at high risk for serious disease,” said Dr. Michael Kurilla, a committee member and official at the National Institutes of Health. | |
| 3. The U.N. warned of a “catastrophic” rise in the global temperature by the end of the century — even if every country meets its Paris Accord pledge. | |
| A new report from the U.N. climate agency says that, even if all countries reduce emissions by as much as they’ve promised, the global average temperature is poised to rise 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. That would worsen extreme wildfires, droughts and floods, increase the frequency of deadly heat waves and threaten coastal cities with rising sea levels. | A new report from the U.N. climate agency says that, even if all countries reduce emissions by as much as they’ve promised, the global average temperature is poised to rise 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. That would worsen extreme wildfires, droughts and floods, increase the frequency of deadly heat waves and threaten coastal cities with rising sea levels. |
| The report found a large gap between what is needed and what world leaders have been willing to do. Emissions of planet-warming gases are poised to grow by 16 percent during this decade compared with 2010 levels; the latest scientific research indicates that they need to decrease by at least 25 percent to avert the worst impacts of global warming. | The report found a large gap between what is needed and what world leaders have been willing to do. Emissions of planet-warming gases are poised to grow by 16 percent during this decade compared with 2010 levels; the latest scientific research indicates that they need to decrease by at least 25 percent to avert the worst impacts of global warming. |
| We also looked at why much of Louisiana lost power for days after Hurricane Ida: Many of the state’s power lines, towers and poles were not built to withstand strong hurricanes, experts said. | We also looked at why much of Louisiana lost power for days after Hurricane Ida: Many of the state’s power lines, towers and poles were not built to withstand strong hurricanes, experts said. |
| 4. Haitian migrants arrived in Del Rio, Texas, in droves this week. More than 9,000 are being held in a temporary staging area under the Del Rio International Bridge. | 4. Haitian migrants arrived in Del Rio, Texas, in droves this week. More than 9,000 are being held in a temporary staging area under the Del Rio International Bridge. |
| They carried mattresses, fruit, diapers, blankets and provisions to tide them over while they awaited their turn to plead for admission into the U.S. | They carried mattresses, fruit, diapers, blankets and provisions to tide them over while they awaited their turn to plead for admission into the U.S. |
| The temporary camp has grown with staggering speed in recent days, from just a few hundred people earlier in the week. The authorities and city officials said they expected thousands more to cross the ankle-deep river between Mexico and Del Rio in coming days. | The temporary camp has grown with staggering speed in recent days, from just a few hundred people earlier in the week. The authorities and city officials said they expected thousands more to cross the ankle-deep river between Mexico and Del Rio in coming days. |
| The rise in Haitian migration began in the months after President Biden took office. The Biden administration had discussed repealing a Trump-era public health rule put in place at the beginning of the pandemic that blocked many asylum seekers but ultimately put off those plans. | The rise in Haitian migration began in the months after President Biden took office. The Biden administration had discussed repealing a Trump-era public health rule put in place at the beginning of the pandemic that blocked many asylum seekers but ultimately put off those plans. |
| 5. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York signed a bill to release some prisoners from Rikers Island, the site of an escalating crisis. | 5. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York signed a bill to release some prisoners from Rikers Island, the site of an escalating crisis. |
| The measure is intended to ease crowding at a time when severe staffing shortages have led to unsafe and unsanitary conditions for detainees and guards. Ten people have died at Rikers since December, including several by suicide, and only 36 percent of detainees at the jail are fully vaccinated. | The measure is intended to ease crowding at a time when severe staffing shortages have led to unsafe and unsanitary conditions for detainees and guards. Ten people have died at Rikers since December, including several by suicide, and only 36 percent of detainees at the jail are fully vaccinated. |
| Even after the release of 191 detainees on Friday and the transfer of 200 more in the days ahead, Rikers will still be far more crowded than it was in spring 2020. | Even after the release of 191 detainees on Friday and the transfer of 200 more in the days ahead, Rikers will still be far more crowded than it was in spring 2020. |
| Also in New York City, a Manhattan restaurant hostess was assaulted by three tourists from Texas after asking for proof of vaccination, the police said. | Also in New York City, a Manhattan restaurant hostess was assaulted by three tourists from Texas after asking for proof of vaccination, the police said. |
| 6. Google and Apple blocked an anti-Putin election app in Russia. | 6. Google and Apple blocked an anti-Putin election app in Russia. |
| Russian authorities had threatened to prosecute local employees of Apple and Google, in a sharp escalation of the Kremlin’s campaign to rein in the country’s largely uncensored internet. | Russian authorities had threatened to prosecute local employees of Apple and Google, in a sharp escalation of the Kremlin’s campaign to rein in the country’s largely uncensored internet. |
| The app was created by allies of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny who were hoping to use it to consolidate the opposition vote in each of Russia’s 225 electoral districts. It disappeared from both platforms just as voting got underway this week, in what an aide to Navalny’s team called “a shameful act of political censorship.” | The app was created by allies of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny who were hoping to use it to consolidate the opposition vote in each of Russia’s 225 electoral districts. It disappeared from both platforms just as voting got underway this week, in what an aide to Navalny’s team called “a shameful act of political censorship.” |
| 7. It is back-to-school season, but both children and their classrooms have changed. | 7. It is back-to-school season, but both children and their classrooms have changed. |
| Experts say it may take months or years to fully grasp the learning loss that children suffered from remote schooling during the pandemic. Parents of the roughly 200,000 students with disabilities in New York City say they have already seen drastic damages in their children. Many are seeking out makeup services for the programs their children missed out on during the pandemic. | Experts say it may take months or years to fully grasp the learning loss that children suffered from remote schooling during the pandemic. Parents of the roughly 200,000 students with disabilities in New York City say they have already seen drastic damages in their children. Many are seeking out makeup services for the programs their children missed out on during the pandemic. |
| In other school news, the latest dubious TikTok craze is videos of students stealing goods from their schools, including soap dispensers, bathroom mirrors and one teacher’s desk. | In other school news, the latest dubious TikTok craze is videos of students stealing goods from their schools, including soap dispensers, bathroom mirrors and one teacher’s desk. |
| 8. More than 3,500 couples have been married in Utah without ever stepping foot in the state. | 8. More than 3,500 couples have been married in Utah without ever stepping foot in the state. |
| Since May 2020, the Utah County clerk and auditor’s office in Provo has performed weddings for thousands of international couples. It’s not just the ceremony: During the pandemic, an obvious incentive to marry — aside from affirming the love two people feel for each another — is the ability to bypass visa and travel restrictions. | Since May 2020, the Utah County clerk and auditor’s office in Provo has performed weddings for thousands of international couples. It’s not just the ceremony: During the pandemic, an obvious incentive to marry — aside from affirming the love two people feel for each another — is the ability to bypass visa and travel restrictions. |
| One snag? Under U.S. immigration law, a virtual marriage is not considered legitimate until it is consummated, as old-fashioned as that might sound (and no, phone sex doesn’t count). | One snag? Under U.S. immigration law, a virtual marriage is not considered legitimate until it is consummated, as old-fashioned as that might sound (and no, phone sex doesn’t count). |
| 9. An artist’s posthumous gift to Paris. | 9. An artist’s posthumous gift to Paris. |
| For nearly 60 years, the artist known as Christo dreamed of wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in fabric. Just over a year after his death at the age of 84, “L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped,” is a reality, with about 270,000 square feet of silvery blue fabric hugging the monument. | For nearly 60 years, the artist known as Christo dreamed of wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in fabric. Just over a year after his death at the age of 84, “L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped,” is a reality, with about 270,000 square feet of silvery blue fabric hugging the monument. |
| The polypropylene material, a nod to the city’s distinctive zinc roofs, is secured by 1.9 miles of red rope, in line with the artist’s meticulous instructions. “He wanted a living object that, with its moving folds, would turn the monument’s surface into something sensual,” said Vladimir Yavachev, Christo’s nephew and the project director. The artwork will be on display for 16 days beginning on Saturday. | The polypropylene material, a nod to the city’s distinctive zinc roofs, is secured by 1.9 miles of red rope, in line with the artist’s meticulous instructions. “He wanted a living object that, with its moving folds, would turn the monument’s surface into something sensual,” said Vladimir Yavachev, Christo’s nephew and the project director. The artwork will be on display for 16 days beginning on Saturday. |
| 10. And finally, giraffes like a fair fight. | 10. And finally, giraffes like a fair fight. |
| Giraffe fights are rare, and extremely violent. When older adult males joust for territory or mating rights their hornlike ossicones can cut into their opponents’ flesh, wounding and sometimes even killing a combatant. | Giraffe fights are rare, and extremely violent. When older adult males joust for territory or mating rights their hornlike ossicones can cut into their opponents’ flesh, wounding and sometimes even killing a combatant. |
| But new research on sparring males showed that the animals didn’t take advantage of smaller members of their herds, choosing to practice their head butts with males of similar stature. The findings could aid in conservation efforts for dwindling giraffe populations. | But new research on sparring males showed that the animals didn’t take advantage of smaller members of their herds, choosing to practice their head butts with males of similar stature. The findings could aid in conservation efforts for dwindling giraffe populations. |
| Have an honorable evening. | Have an honorable evening. |
| Bryan Denton compiled photos for this briefing. | Bryan Denton compiled photos for this briefing. |
| Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern. | Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern. |
| Want to catch up on past briefings? You can browse them here. | Want to catch up on past briefings? You can browse them here. |
| What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com. | What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com. |
| Here are today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee. If you’re in the mood to play more, find all our games here. | Here are today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee. If you’re in the mood to play more, find all our games here. |
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