QUICK HITS

1 Afghanistan hits back after airstrike:

Afghanistan’s forces targeted Pakistani military posts along the border, retaliating against airstrikes that killed eight people in what has become the first known counterattack from the Taliban since they took power more than two years ago. The National Islamic Army of Afghanistan is responding to Pakistan by targeting the military posts along the border with “heavy weapons,” the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Defense said in a post on X. The move followed Pakistan’s military airstrikes in east Afghanistan, which left five women and three children dead. The Taliban called the attack a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

2 Commander of Apollo 10 dies at 93:

Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday. He was 93. Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in orbit. Stafford was one of 24 NASA astronauts who flew to the moon, but he did not land on it. Only seven are still alive.

3 Californians could get tax breaks on fire settlements:

Bills that would exempt Californians from paying taxes on settlement money related to wildfires have received early support from state lawmakers. One introduced by Republican Sen. Scott Wilk, representing Santa Clarita, would apply to payments for properties in the state that were damaged or destroyed by fire. The Legislature has approved such tax breaks on a case-bycase basis. Wilk says that practice has left communities behind.

4 Cubans take to streets to protest:

Hundreds of people in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba’s second-largest city, protested in the streets Sunday, chanting “electricity and food” and “patria y vida,” homeland and life. Food shortages have grown worse in recent months in Cuba, where the government said it didn’t have the resources to continue providing food rations regularly, including bread and milk for young children. Agricultural production has also plummeted, and inflation is making food prices unaffordable for most Cubans.

5 Idaho may ban public funds for gender-affirming care:

Idaho lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a bill that would ban the use of any public funds for genderaffirming care, including for state employees using work health insurance and for adults covered by Medicaid. If enacted, Idaho would become at least the 10th state to ban Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for people of all ages. Opponents say it almost certainly will lead to a lawsuit in federal court.