Taliban Control Laws, NFL Rule Changes, & A 102-Year-Old Skydiver

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Big Stories

Taliban Increases Control

The Taliban in Afghanistan have codified new laws that control people's behavior.

• The rules are said to follow their interpretation of sharia law and are based on a 2022 decree by the Taliban’s supreme spiritual leader. They require women to cover their faces and bodies, forbid men from shaving their beards, and ban music in cars. The Taliban's morality ministry will enforce the rules, which have been in place informally since the Taliban took control in 2021.

• The strict rules have drawn strong criticism, especially from women's rights groups and foreign governments. Many believe the Taliban are trying to remove women from public life. The international community has been slow to recognize the Taliban's government due to these harsh restrictions on women, including banning girls from attending high school.

• The Taliban's new laws include penalties like warnings, short detentions, and other punishments for breaking the rules. Drivers are also forbidden from transporting women without a male guardian. The Taliban have been actively monitoring and detaining people for the past three years, and these new laws are seen as a formal escalation of their control over daily life in Afghanistan.

Australians Can Ignore Work Comms After Hours

Australia has introduced a new law called the "right to disconnect," which allows workers to ignore work-related emails, texts, and calls outside work hours without punishment.

• The law is meant to help employees separate their personal lives from work, especially since many people have struggled with constant work intrusions at home, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Australians worked on average 281 hours of unpaid overtime in 2023, equalling a labor value of $88 billion.

• Supporters believe the law empowers workers to push back against the growing pressure to always be connected to work. Many people feel it's become normal to be contacted by their employers even during personal time, including holidays. The new rule is part of a broader trend in about two dozen countries, where similar protections are already in place.

• The rule still allows for contact in emergencies or jobs with irregular hours but employees can refuse to respond if it’s reasonable. The Fair Work Commission will decide if the refusal is reasonable. Employers who misuse the emergency rule can be fined. There is concern about how the law will affect work dynamics and the economy.

NFL Rule Changes

The NFL is making some big changes to its rules this season.

• This NFL season, kickoffs will look different. The kicker now starts on the 35-yard line, while the kickoff team starts on the receiving team's 40-yard line. A new landing zone has been added from the 20-yard line to the end zone. If the kick doesn't reach this zone, the ball is placed at the 40-yard line; if it goes into the end zone, it starts at the 35-yard line.

• The NFL has banned hip-drop tackles after finding they caused more lower-body injuries than other types of tackles. A hip-drop tackle happens when a player grabs a runner and drops and swivels their hips to bring them down, often landing on the runner's legs. Now the tackle will result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

• Reactions to the new rules are mixed. Some players believe the changes make the NFL more like flag football, while others support the ban due to past injuries caused by hip-drop tackles. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) opposed the hip-drop tackle ban, citing potential confusion for players, coaches, officials, and fans. Viewers should expect more penalties this season as players adjust to the rules.

Little Stories

• Vice President Harris and former President Trump’s campaigns are arguing about whether to mute microphones during their upcoming debate on Sept. 10. Both sides are accusing each other of trying to gain an advantage. The duo are under pressure to perform well, especially since the first debate led to President Biden dropping out of the race. (More)

• Scientists found matching dinosaur footprints in Africa and South America, showing that dinosaurs traveled between the two continents 120 million years ago before they split apart. Paleontologists discovered over 260 footprints from the Early Cretaceous period in Brazil and Cameroon. The footprints are similar in age and shape, suggesting dinosaurs once walked freely between these continents. (More)

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of new exploding drones designed to crash into targets. The test featured a drone destroying a target that looked like South Korea’s K-2 tank. Kim continues to show off his growing military capabilities amid rising tensions with the U.S. and South Korea. (More)

• Germany will donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from its military supplies to help control the outbreak in Africa. It will also provide financial support to the World Health Organization and help its African partners through the GAVI vaccination alliance. (More)

• Park rangers used a helicopter to evacuate 104 tourists and tribal members from the Havasupai area of Grand Canyon National Park due to flash floods. One woman died in the raging water. Havasupai Falls is popular among tourists for its waterfalls and teal water. (More)

Extra Credit

Ranking top US colleges by value.

How schools are fighting back against cell phone use this year.

A look at the world’s biggest soccer stadium.

Britain’s oldest skydiver is 102.