Practice English Speaking&Listening with: NBC Nightly News Broadcast (Full) - July 12th, 2021

>>> TONIGHT, THE NEW

FDA WARNING ON A RARE

BUT SERIOUS SIDE

EFFECT FROM THE

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

COVID VACCINE.

THE CDC REPORTING

ROUGHLY 100 CASES OF

RARE NEUROLOGICAL

DISORDER THAT CAN

CAUSE MUSCLE WEAKNESS

OR EVEN PARALYSIS,

MAYBE LINKED TO THE

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

SHOT

BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS

SAYING THE BENEFITS

STILL OUTWEIGH THE

RISKS.

HOW THE COMPANY IS

RESPONDING

IT COMES AS CASES

SURGE IN MORE THAN

HALF THE U.S., FUELLED

BY THE HIGHLY

CONTAGIOUS DELTA

VARIANT.

HOSPITALIZATIONS UP

30% OR MORE IN 11

STATES

THE UNDERVACCINATED

HOT SPOTS MOST AT

RISK

>>> THE LARGEST

ANTI-GOVERNMENT

PROTEST IN CUBA IN

DECADES.

WHAT'S DRIVING THE

ANGER.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN'S

NEW MESSAGE TO THE

DEMONSTRATORS.

>>> THE EXTREME HEAT

FUELING WILDFIRE

EMERGENCY IN THE WEST.

HOMES DESTROYED AND

EVACUATION ORDERS IN

EFFECT

>>> THE BATTLE IN

TEXAS.

DEMOCRATS FLEEING THE

STATE TO BLOCK

GOP-BACKED VOTING

RESTRICTIONS

COULD THEY BE

ARRESTED

>>> A MAJOR MILESTONE

IN THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL

FROM AFGHANISTAN

OUR EXCLUSIVE WITH THE

TOP U.S. GENERAL

STEPPING DOWN FROM

COMMAND.

>>> NEW IMAGES FROM

INSIDE THE SPACESHIP

THE MOMENT BILLIONAIRE

RICHARD BRANSON MADE

HISTORY AS JEFF BEZOS

GETS READY FOR HIS

TURN

>>> AND THE FIRST

PITCH INSPIRING

AMERICA.

>> Announcer: THIS IS

"NBC NIGHTLY NEWS"

WITH LESTER HOLT

>> GOOD EVENING,

EVERYONE

ANOTHER POSSIBLE

SETBACK FOR JOHNSON &

JOHNSON'S COVID

VACCINE.

TONIGHT THE FDA

WARNING OF AN

INCREASED RISK OF A

RARE BUT SERIOUS

NEUROLOGICAL SYNDROME

IN THE SIX WEEKS AFTER

RECEIVING THE ONE-DOSE

SHOTS.

SO FAR JUST 100

SUSPECTED CASES OUT OF

OVER 12 MILLION PEOPLE

WHO RECEIVED THE

VACCINATIONS

ONE DEATH REPORTED

THE FDA CALLING THE

CHANCES OF DEVELOPING

THE SIDE EFFECT VERY

LOW.

THAT NEWS COMING IN A

CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE

FIGHT AGAINST COVID.

CASES AND

HOSPITALIZATIONS BACK

ON THE RISE IN THIS

COUNTRY, LARGELY AMONG

THE UNVACCINATED AS

THE MOST CONTAGIOUS

VARIANT YET TAKES

DEEPER ROOT IN THE

U.S.

WE BEGIN OUR REPORTING

WITH GABE GUTIERREZ.

>> Reporter: AMONG

12.8 MILLION

RECIPIENTS OF THE

COVID JOHNSON &

JOHNSON VACCINE, THE

CDC HAS IDENTIFIED

ABOUT 100 SUSPECTED

CASES OF

GUILLAIN-BARRE

SYNDROME.

GBS IS A NEUROLOGICAL

DISORDER IN WHICH THE

BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM

DAMAGES NERVE CELLS,

CAUSING MUSCLE

WEAKNESS, OR IN SEVERE

CASES PARALYSIS.

>> THAT MESSAGE ABOUT

THESE SIDE EFFECTS

BEING EXCEPTIONALLY

RARE, FRANKLY, IT HAS

NOT GOTTEN THROUGH TO

PEOPLE

AND WE RUN THE RISK

HERE IF WE DON'T PIVOT

QUICKLY AWAY FROM J&J

OF HAVING A SUSTAINED

CARRYOVER EFFECT,

REALLY DAMAGING THE

REPUTATION AND THE

IMAGE OF THE mRNA

VACCINES

>> Reporter: THE GBA

GBS CASES OCCURRED

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTE

RECEIVING THE J&J

SHOT, MOSTLY AMONG

MEN, MOST OVER 50.

MOST PEOPLE WHO

CONTRACT GBS RECOVER

STILL, THE FDA WARNING

IS THE LATEST BLOW FOR

A VACCINE THAT HAS

BEEN HIGHLY

ANTICIPATED BECAUSE IT

WAS EASIER TO

ADMINISTER

IT REQUIRES ONLY ONE

DOSE AND CAN BE STORED

AT A HIGHER

TEMPERATURE.

BUT IN APRIL THE CDC

SAID IT HAD IDENTIFIED

RARE BUT SERIOUS BLOOD

CLOTS LINKED TO THE

J&J VACCINATION.

TONIGHT THE COMPANY

SAYS IT'S WORKING WITH

FEDERAL REGULATORS,

THAT THE CHANCE OF

HAVING THIS OCCUR IS

VERY LOW, AND THAT IT

HAPPENED ONLY SLIGHTLY

MORE OFTEN THAN A

POPULATION THAT HADN'T

TAKEN THE VACCINE.

THOUGH THE CDC SAYS

THE DATA DOES NOT SHOW

A SIMILAR SIDE EFFECT

FOR THE PFIZER AND

MODERNA SHOTS.

DESPITE ALL THIS, THE

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS

STRESS THAT VACCINE

BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH

THE RISKS AS NEARLY

ALL COVID

HOSPITALIZATIONS AND

DEATHS ARE NOW

OCCURRING AMONG THE

UNVACCINATED

GABE GUTIERREZ, NBC

NEWS, NEW YORK

>>> I'M STEVE

PATTERSON IN NEVADA,

WHERE TONIGHT

HOSPITALS ARE BACK ON

HIGH ALERT

AS THE DELTA VARIANT

SPREADS, CASES NOW ON

THE RISE IN MORE THAN

HALF THE COUNTRY

A THIRD OF THOSE NEW

CASES CONCENTRATED IN

FIVE HOT SPOTS WITH

LOW VACCINATION RATES.

IN MISSOURI, ONE

HOSPITAL JUST OPENED

UP ITS SIXTH COVID

WARD

NATIONALLY

HOSPITALIZATIONS UP BY

AT LEAST 30% IN 11

STATES

INCLUDING NEVADA,

WHERE JUST 39% OF THE

POPULATION IS FULLY

VACCINATED

COVID CASES HERE UP

89% IN A MONTH

HOSPITALIZATIONS

SPIKING TO LEVELS

UNSEEN SINCE FEBRUARY.

>> IS THERE A

POSSIBILITY THAT THE

STATE MAY HAVE OPENED

UP A LITTLE TOO EARLY?

>> PEOPLE IN THE

HOSPITALS ARE NOT

VACCINATED, AND THAT'S

WHY THEY'RE SHOWING

UP

WE NEED TO GO INTO

COMMUNITIES, TALK TO

PEOPLE ABOUT THE

BENEFITS THIS

VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS

SAY DISINFORMATION AND

DISTRUST IN

NEIGHBORHOODS WITH

HEAVY BLACK AND LATINO

POPULATIONS AND

LIMITED ACCESS TO

HEALTH CARE ARE MAKING

PEOPLE HERE MORE

VULNERABLE

>> WHAT TOOK YOU GUYS

SO LONG?

>> WE WERE JUST

INDECISIVE

>> YEAH, WANTED TO

SEE -- WHAT WOULD

HAPPEN FIRST

>> Reporter: ACROSS

TOWN, ROBERT TAYLO

OPENED HIS BARBERSHOP

UP TO VACCINATIONS

AFTER HE NEARLY DIED

FROM THE VIRUS

NOW HE USES THIS CHAIR

TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST

MISINFORMATION

>> AT FIRST, I DIDN'T

BELIEVE THE VIRUS WAS

THAT BAD UNTIL I GOT

IT AND PASSED OUT AND

GOT HOSPITALIZED ABOUT

IT

AND I KNOW IT'S REAL

DON'T BE THE PERSON AT

THE END OF THE DAY WHO

REALIZES IT TOO LATE

>> Reporter: SO STEVE,

WHAT'S THE RISK FOR

YOUNGER KIDS WHO DON'T

QUALIFY FOR A VACCINE?

>> WELL, LESTER, RIGHT

NOW 28 MILLION

AMERICAN KIDS UNDER

THE AGE OF 12 DO NOT

HAVE ACCESS TO THE

VACCINE.

WITH THE VARIANT NOW

SURGING, THE CDC IS

NOW RECOMMENDING SOME

LEVEL OF PROTECTION.

MEANWHILE, PFIZER IS

TRYING TO REQUEST AN

AUTHORIZATION FOR

THEIR VACCINE FOR KIDS

COME SEPTEMBER

LESTER

>> STEVE PATTERSON,

THANK YOU.

>>> TONIGHT PRESIDENT

BIDEN IS CALLING ON

CUBA'S LEADERS TO HEAR

THEIR PEOPLE,

ASSERTING FUNDAMENTAL

AND UNIVERSAL RIGHTS

AFTER A WEEKEND OF

HISTORIC

ANTI-GOVERNMENT

PROTESTS

ANDREA MITCHELL HAS

THE LATEST

[ CHANTING ]

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS

OF DEMONSTRATORS

SPILLING INTO THE

STREETS OF CUBA THIS

WEEKEND, CALLING FOR

AN END TO THE 62-YEAR

COMMUNIST REGIME

CHANTS OF "WE WANT

FREEDOM" ECHOING

THROUGH THE STREETS.

PROTESTERS DUMPING

TRASH AND THROWING

ROCKS.

DEMONSTRATIONS SPARKED

BY CHRONIC FOOD

SHORTAGES AND

BLACKOUTS.

IN MIAMI, PROTESTS IN

SOLIDARITY WITH

HAVANA

>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING

FOR CHANGE FOR SO

LONG

>> Reporter: MARIA

FIGUEROA HAS FAMILY IN

CUBA.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW

WHAT THEIR SITUATION

IS RIGHT NOW

>> Reporter: AN

ECONOMIC CRISIS

EXACERBATED BY THE

PANDEMIC, AND NO

ACCESS TO APPROVED

COVID VACCINES

A PERFECT STORM FOR

ANTI-REGIME ANGER THAT

SPREAD RAPIDLY AS MORE

CUBANS BRIEFLY GAINED

ACCESS TO THE

INTERNET

CUBAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL

DIAZ-CANEL TODAY

BLAMING THE UNREST ON

U.S. SANCTIONS

>> THE LACK OF

MEDICINE AND FOOD, ALL

ALL THOSE STOPPAGES

ARE EMBEDDED IN OUR

SOCIETY AS

DISSATISFACTION.

IT'S A BLOCKADE.

>> THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT

HEARING THE VOICES AND

WILL OF THE CUBAN

PEOPLE, PEOPLE DEEPLY,

DEEPLY, DEEPLY TIRED

OF THE REPRESSION.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT

OBAMA ESTABLISHED

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

WITH CUBA AND REMOVED

IT FROM THE LIST OF

STATE SPONSORED

TERRORISM, BUT THE

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

PUT CUBA BACK ON THE

LIST, IMPOSING TOUGHER

SANCTIONS, WHICH BIDEN

HAS NOT LIFTED

>> WE CALL THEM THEIR

GOVERNOR, THEIR

ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE

THE VOICE OF THE

PEOPLE OF CUBA

>> Reporter: SO FAR

BIDEN HAS BEEN MUCH

TOUGHER ON CUBA THAN

PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS.

A SENIOR OFFICIAL

SAYING WHEN PEOPLE

PROTEST FOR HUMAN

RIGHTS, THE

ADMINISTRATION WILL

STAND WITH THEM.

LESTER

>> ALL RIGHT, ANDREA

MITCHELL, THANK YOU.

>>> IN THE WEST

TONIGHT, A GROWING

THREAT FROM WILDFIRES.

AND FEARS THAT MORE

HOMES WILL BE LOST AS

EXTREME HEAT AND

DROUGHT MAKE

CONDITIONS EVEN WORSE.

MIGUEL ALMAGUER HAS

THE LATEST

>> Reporter: THESE ARE

THE APOCALYPTIC

CONDITIONS

FIREFIGHTERS IN

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

FACE, A PERFECT RECIPE

FOR DISASTER, FUELLED

BY SCORCHING

TEMPERATURES AND

EXTREME DROUGHT, THE

BECKWOURTH COMPLEX

FIRE DOUBLED IN SIZE

SATURDAY, GREW BY

20,000 ACRES SUNDAY,

AND FORCED SOME TO RUN

FOR THEIR LIVES.

>> I PLANNED ON

STAYING, BUT WHEN YOU

SEE THE FIREMEN

RUNNING LIKE THAT,

IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD

IDEA TO GO AHEAD AND

LEAVE.

>> Reporter: 58

WILDFIRES ARE BURNIN

ACROSS THE WEST.

THE BOOTLEG FIRE IN

OREGON, THE NATION'S

LARGEST, IS RACING OUT

OF CONTROL

>> NORMALLY WE SEE

FIRE BEHAVIOR LIKE

THIS IN THESE BIG

FIRES NOT UNTIL AUGUST

OR SEPTEMBER

>> Reporter: EXTREME

HEAT IS ALSO COOKING

THE REGION

>> THIS IS A CLIMATE

CRISIS.

>> Reporter:

SCIENTISTS SAY THIS IS

A CLEAR HALLMARK OF

CLIMATE CHANGE AFTER

THE HOTTEST JUNE ON

RECORD, LAS VEGAS AND

ST. GEORGE, UTAH, HIT

WEEKEND RECORDS OF 117

DEGREES.

DEATH VALLEY AN

UNBEARABLE 130

>> WE'RE HEATING UP

THE PLANET AND

CHANGING THE CLIMATE

IN A WAY THAT HUMANS

HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED

BEFORE, AND WE'RE

ALREADY DEALING WITH

THE CONSEQUENCES

SO IT'S A QUESTION OF

HOW BAD DO WE WANT IT

TO GET

>> Reporter: THE

EXTREME HEAT IS

FUELING THIS EPIC

DROUGHT, AND THESE

CONDITIONS NOW

SURROUND MORE HOMES

THAN EVER, A

CATASTROPHIC

COMBINATION FOR FIRE

SEASON

TONIGHT AN OMINOUS

FORECAST AS WE ENTER A

HOT, DANGEROUS, AND

ALREADY DESTRUCTIVE

SUMMER

MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC

NEWS

>>> IN JUST 60

SECONDS, AN ARTIST

NAMED BIDEN, AND WHY

THE SALE OF HIS WORK

IS CONTROVERSIAL

OUR NBC NEWS

>>> BACK NOW WITH A

DEMOCRATIC MOVE IN

TEXAS, DEMOCRATIC

LAWMAKERS LEAVING THE

STATE, HEADING TO

WASHINGTON TO TRY AND

BLOCK REPUBLICANS FROM

PASSING A NEW VOTING

LAW.

PETE WILLIAMS JOINS US

NOW.

PETE, THOSE DEMOCRATS

HAVE ALREADY LEFT.

>> YES, LESTER,

DEMOCRATS BROUGHT A

SPECIAL SESSION OF THE

LEGISLATURE IN TEXAS

TO A HALT BY DEPRIVING

IT OF A REQUIRED

QUORUM

REPUBLICANS ARE

PUSHING A BILL TO END

DRIVE-BY VOTING AND

ADD ANOTHER ID

REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING

BY MAIL, BUT AROUND 60

STATE HOUSE DEMOCRATS

LEFT THIS AFTERNOON,

HEADING TO WASHINGTON,

PLANNING TO URGE

CONGRESS TO PASS A

FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS

BILL

IF THEY STAYED IN

TEXAS, THEY COULD HAVE

BEEN ARRESTED.

A SIMILAR WALKOUT IN

MAY SHUT DOWN THE

LEGISLATURE, SO GOSH

GREG ABBOTT CALLED

THIS SPECIAL 30-DAY

SESSION.

LESTER

>> PETE WILLIAMS IN

WASHINGTON, THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO AMERICA'S

CRIMEWAVE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY

URGING LOCAL OFFICIALS

TO USE COVID RELIEF

MONEY TO COMBAT SURGE

IN VIOLENT CRIME

KELLY O'DONNELL HAS

MORE

>> Reporter: VIOLENT

CRIME ON THE RISE.

THE PRESIDENT FEELING

THE HEAT TO ACT.

>> FIRST

RESPONSIBILITY IN A

DEMOCRACY IS TO KEEP

EACH OTHER SAFE.

>> Reporter: CONVENING

HIS OWN CRIME SUMMIT

TODAY TO HEAR FROM BIG

CITY LEADERS

>> THESE PARENTS AND

FAMILIES ARE LOOKING

FOR REAL RELIEF RIGHT

NOW.

>> Reporter: IN

PHILADELPHIA, 77

PEOPLE STRUCK BY

GUNFIRE DURING THE

FIRST EIGHT DAYS OF

JULY

SMALLER CITIES HURTING

TOO.

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

WITH 37 HOMICIDES THIS

YEAR

>> A SENSE OF URGENCY,

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW

>> Reporter: POLICE

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID

BROWN IS FROM CHICAGO.

NBC'S MEAGAN

FITZGERALD IS THERE.

>> IT WAS ANOTHER

VIOLENT WEEKEND HERE

35 PEOPLE SHOT, 11

PEOPLE KILLED.

RESIDENTS ARE CALLING

ON THE MAYOR, THE

GOVERNOR, EVEN THE

PRESIDENT TO DO

SOMETHING TO STOP THE

VIOLENCE

>> Reporter: BUT

REPUBLICAN CRITICS

SLAMMED DEMOCRATS,

SAYING THEY MAKE

POLICE RECRUITMENT

HARDER.

>> WE'VE DECLARED WAR

ON THE POLICE, AND

THAT IS BACKFIRING ON

THOSE WHO HAVE DONE

IT

>> Reporter: WITH A

NEW MEMO TODAY, THE

WHITE HOUSE POINTS TO

PLACES LIKE WALLA

WALLA, WASHINGTON, AND

CINCINNATI, OHIO THAT

ARE ALREADY USING SOME

COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO

HIRE MORE POLICE AS A

GUIDE FOR HOW OTHER

COMMUNITIES COULD

RESPOND TO CRIME NOW

LESTER

>> ALL RIGHT, KELLY,

THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO OUR

EXCLUSIVE REPORTING

FROM AFGHANISTAN

WHAT THE COMMANDER OF

AMERICAN FORCES TOLD

US AS HE STEPPED DOWN

TODAY WITH A LONG U.S.

MISSION WINDING DOWN

AND FEARS THE TALIBAN

WILL GAIN COMPLETE

CONTROL.

WE BEGIN WITH NBC'S

COURTNEY KUBE.

>> Reporter: TODAY A

CEREMONY IN KABUL

MARKED THE SYMBOLIC

END OF THE WAR IN

AFGHANISTAN.

GENERAL SCOTT MILLER

HANDED OVER THE REINS

OF U.S. FORCES IN

AFGHANISTAN TO CENTCOM

COMMANDER GENERAL

FRANK McKENZIE, WHO

SOUGHT TO REASSURE

AFGHANS NERVOUS ABOUT

THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL.

>> YOU CAN COUNT ON

OUR SUPPORT IN THE

DANGEROUS AND

DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD

>> Reporter: WITH

THEM, BUT IN DWINDLING

NUMBERS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN

DECLARED THE U.S.

MILITARY WOULD BE

COMPLETELY OUT OF

AFGHANISTAN BY AUGUST

31st

BUT NEARLY ALL U.S.

TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT

HAVE LEFT ALREADY.

AT THE SAME TIME, A

TALIBAN OFFENSIVE HAS

BEEN SWEEPING ACROSS

THE COUNTRY,

THREATENING KEY CITIES

AS THE AFGHAN MILITARY

NO LONGER HAS AMERICAN

ADVISERS

>> IF THIS GOVERNMENT

IS OVERTHROWN, IF THE

TALIBAN PREVAIL, I

THINK WE CAN EXPECT A

RETURN TO MEDIEVAL

STANDARDS HERE IN

AFGHANISTAN.

>> Reporter: GENERAL

McKENZIE WITH A STARK

WARNING, SAYING THE

TALIBAN HAVE THEIR

SIGHTS SET ON TAKING

OVER KABUL AND

TOPPLING THE CENTRAL

GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A

REAL POSSIBILITY OF

FALLING INTO A CIVIL

WAR.

I THINK THAT IS

CERTAINLY VERY

POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter:

MEANWHILE, GENERAL

MILLER, WHO RAN THE

WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

LONGER THAN ANY OTHER

COMMANDER LEAVING

KABUL TONIGHT,

UNLIKELY TO RETURN

YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR

ALMOST THREE YEARS

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE

TO BE LEAVING FOR THE

LAST TIME?

>> WELL, IT'S A LITTLE

BIT DIFFERENT TO BE

LEAVING FOR THE LAST

TIME CERTAINLY

AND THAT WILL BE

SOMETHING I'LL PROCESS

OVER TIME.

>> Reporter: AFTER

NEARLY TWO DECADES,

AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR

COMING TO A SOLEMN AND

UNCERTAIN CLOSE.

COURTNEY KUBE, NBC

NEWS, KABUL,

AFGHANISTAN.

>>> I'M RICHARD ENGEL.

TODAY THE TALIBAN TOOK

OVER ANOTHER SMALL

BASE FROM U.S.-TRAINED

AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES

LOWERING THE FLAG.

THE TALIBAN HAVE NOT

BEEN THIS STRONG SINCE

THE U.S. DROVE THEM

OUT 20 YEARS AGO

WHEN THE MILITANTS RAN

AFGHANISTAN AND HOSTED

OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHOSE

GROUP AL QAEDA CARRIED

OUT 9/11

ONE UNIT IS FIGHTING

AGAINST THE RETURN OF

THE TALIBAN AND NEW

BIN LADENS

AFGHANISTAN'S

COMMANDOS.

WE RECENTLY SAW THEM

IN ACTION.

THEIR GENERAL SAYS

FOREIGN EXTREMISTS ARE

RUSHING BACK TO JOIN

WHAT THEY SEE AS THE

VICTORIOUS TALIBAN

>> THESE PEOPLE WHO

ARE COMING TO CREATE

TROUBLE AND PROBLEMS

FOR THE WORLD FOR THE

FUTURE AS THEY DID

IN 9/11.

>> EVEN WORSE

THAN 9/11, I'M TELLING

YOU.

>> Reporter: A MEMBER

OF PARLIAMENT AND A

NEGOTIATOR WITH THE

TALIBAN.

EXTREMISTS TRIED TO

ASSASSINATE HER TWICE.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN

WAR, AND IN WAR,

PEOPLE DON'T

DISTRIBUTE SWEETS.

THEY KILL EACH OTHER

SO YOU THINK THOSE

ACTUALLY BEEN KILLED

THEY WILL NOT GO FOR

THE VENGEANCE AND

HOSTILITY?

THEY WILL.

>> Reporter: I PUT

THAT QUESTION TO A

FORMER TALIBAN LEADER

WHO KNEW BIN LADEN

WILL AFGHANISTAN ONCE

AGAIN BECOME A BASE

FOR INTERNATIONAL

TERRORIST ATTACKS?

>> Translator: THE

TALIBAN SIGNED A PEACE

DEAL WITH THE UNITED

STATES, AND THE MAIN

POINT IS THE TALIBAN

WILL NOT ALLOW ANY

TERRORIST GROUPS TO

OPERATE IN

AFGHANISTAN, HE SAID

WHILE THE TALIBAN

PROMISED TO KEEP

AFGHANISTAN FREE OF

INTERNATIONAL

TERRORISTS, THERE ARE

MORE THAN 20 TERRORIST

GROUPS OPERATING IN

THE REGION AND THEY

ARE COMING IN,

INSPIRED BY WHAT THEY

CONSIDER THE TALIBAN'S

VICTORY OVER THE

UNITED STATES.

LESTER

>> ALL RIGHT, RICHARD

ENGEL IN KABUL

TONIGHT, THANK YOU

>>> NOW TO AN NBC NEWS

INVESTIGATION INTO THE

SECRET SALE OF ART BY

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON

HUNTER

THE ASKING PRICE, UP

TO HALF A MILLION

DOLLARS PER PAINTING

BUT ETHICS WATCHDOGS

ARE BLASTING THE

ARRANGEMENT.

HERE IS STEPHANIE

GOSK.

>> Reporter: POWERFUL

AND IMPACTFUL WORK,

ACCORDING TO THE

GALLERY OWNER WHO WILL

SELL HUNTER BIDEN'S

ART THIS FALL.

ART CRITICS AREN'T SO

SURE.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT AS

BAD AS I MIGHT HAVE

THOUGHT.

>> Reporter: OTHERS

HAVE BEEN TOUGHER, ONE

CALLING IT HOTEL ART

BUT THE GALLERY SAYS

IT VALUES SOME OF THE

FIRST TIME ARTIST'S

PAINTINGS UP TO A HALF

MILLION.

>> YOU CAN GET A WORK

FROM MATISSE OR DEGAS

FOR A SIMILAR AMOUNT

OF MONEY

>> Reporter: HOW MUCH

OF THAT IS THE NAME?

>> ALMOST ALL OF IT I

WOULD SAY.

>> Reporter:

THE SALE TRIGGERING

CRITICISM OF A WHITE

HOUSE THAT TOUTS

ITSELF AS THE MOST

ETHICAL ADMINISTRATION

IN HISTORY

>> I THINK THE RIGHT

THING TO DO WOULD HAVE

BEEN FOR WHITE HOUSE

ETHICS OFFICIALS TO

TRY TO TALK THE

PRESIDENT INTO BEGGING

HIS SON NOT TO GO

THROUGH WITH THIS

SALE.

>> Reporter: WALTER

SHAUB WAS DIRECTOR OF

GOVERNMENT ETHICS

UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

DON'T THE CHILDREN OF

PRESIDENTS HAVE THE

RIGHT TO PURSUE A

CAREER

>> THE CHILDREN OF

PRESIDENTS HAVE THE

ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO

PURSUE A CAREER.

BUT AS CITIZENS OF

THIS COUNTRY, THEY

REALLY HAVE A MORAL

AND ETHICAL DUTY NOT

TO TRADE ON THEIR

PARENTS' PUBLIC

SERVICE.

>> Reporter: THERE IS

ALSO CONCERN THAT

SOMEONE MIGHT TRY TO

GAIN INFLUENCE WITH

THE PRESIDENT BY

BUYING HIS SON'S ART

>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT

AFTER CAREFUL

CONSIDERATION, A

SYSTEM HAS BEEN

ESTABLISHED THAT

ALLOWS FOR HUNTER

BIDEN TO WORK IN HIS

PROFESSION WITHIN

REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS.

>> Reporter: FIRST

REPORTED BY "THE

WASHINGTON POST," THE

ADMINISTRATION HAS

MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH

THE GALLERY NOT TO

REVEAL BUYERS' NAMES

TO ANYONE, INCLUDING

HUNTER BIDEN OR THE

WHITE HOUSE.

>> THIS IS AN AMATEUR

MISTAKE, BECAUSE THERE

IS NO WAY TO CONTROL

WHAT THE PURCHASERS

DO

THEY CAN GO OUT AND

TELL THE WORLD THAT

THEY BOUGHT THIS ART.

>> Reporter: HUNTER

BIDEN HAS PREVIOUSLY

COME UNDER FIRE,

INCLUDING FOR TAKING A

LUCRATIVE BOARD

POSITION AT UKRAINIAN

GAS COMPANY BURISMA

WHILE HIS FATHER WAS

VP

BUT HE IS ALSO NOT

ALONE.

PAST PRESIDENTS'

CHILDREN INCLUDING THE

TRUMPS HAVE RAISED

ETHICS CONCERNS.

IN THIS CASE, EXPERTS

SAY MORE TRANSPARENCY

WOULD HELP

>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

DESERVE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE

TO TRACK WHETHER OR

NOT THESE PURCHASERS

ARE GETTING

PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO

GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: NOT

SAYING WHO IS BUYING

THE ART, SHAUB SAYS,

IS THE PROBLEM

STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC

NEWS, NEW YORK

>>> UP NEXT FOR US,

REMARKABLE NEW IMAGES

IMAGES ARE IN TONIGHT

FROM RICHARD BRANSON'S

HISTORIC SPACE LAUNCH.

BRANSON MAY HAVE WON

THE BILLIONAIRE SPACE

RACE, BUT IN EIGHT

DAYS, JEFF BEZOS AIMS

TO GO EVEN HIGHER.

TOM COSTELLO EXPLAINS.

>> FIRE.

>> FIRE.

>> Reporter: TONIGHT

NEW ONBOARD VIDEO OF

VIRGIN GALACTIC'S

"UNITY" ROCKETING TO

SPACE FROM 46,000

FEET

THE NEW MEXICO DESERT

QUICKLY FALLING AWAY.

>> YOU'RE CLEAR TO

UNSTRAP.

WELCOME TO SPACE

>> Reporter: THEN

RICHARD BRANSON

REALIZING HIS

LONG-HELD DREAM OF

FLOATING WEIGHTLESS.

>> THIS IS

UNBELIEVABLE

THIS IS TOO

UNBELIEVABLE

>> Reporter: THE

CURVATURE OF EARTH,

THE DARKNESS OF SPACE,

AND A SPACESHIP FULL

OF WINDOWS

NEXT WEEK FELLOW SPACE

BILLIONAIRE JEFF BEZOS

IS SET TO LAUNCH FROM

WEST TEXAS

BOTH MEN HOPE TO DRAG

DOWN TICKET PRICES TO

MAKE SPACE TOURISM FAR

MORE AFFORDABLE.

BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN

CRITICIZED FOR NOT

USING THE MONEY TO

HELP DESPERATE PEOPLE

ON EARTH, THOUGH THE

HEAD OF NASA SAYS THE

COUNTRY NEEDS SPACE

ENTREPRENEURS TOO.

>> WE NEVER WANT TO

LOSE OUR CHARACTER AS

EXPLORERS, AS

ADVENTURERS.

THAT'S PART OF WHO WE

ARE AS AMERICANS

>> Reporter: DID IT

LIVE UP TO YOUR

EXPECTATIONS AND YOUR

HOPES?

>> I'VE HAD A LOT OF

EXPERIENCES.

THIS WAS DEFINITELY

THE MOST INCREDIBLE

EXPERIENCE OF ALL.

>> Reporter: BRANSON

SAYS HE IS NOW MOST

FOCUSED ON SAVING THE

EARTH.

>> FOR THE NEXT

GENERATION OF

DREAMERS, IF WE CAN DO

THIS, JUST IMAGINE

WHAT YOU CAN DO.

>> Reporter: AND THE

NEXT GENERATION OF

ADVENTURERS.

TOM COSTELLO, LAS

CRUCES, NEW MEXICO

>>> UP NEXT FOR US

TONIGHT, INSPIRATION

FROM A 5-YEAR-OLD,

RIGHT HERE

>>> FINALLY, THE

5-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAS

BEEN SO BRAVE, TAKING

THE FIELD AT FENWAY

AND INSPIRING AMERICA.

>> Reporter: FOR

ANYONE, A TRIP TO THE

BALLPARK CAN BE A

SPECIAL DAY.

AND FOR MASSACHUSETTS

NATIVE QUINN WATERS,

THROWING OUT THE FIRST

PITCH FOR THE BOSTON

RED SOX WAS A DREAM

COME TRUE.

>> WE'VE SEEN SO MANY

BIG, MEMORABLE MOMENTS

AT FENWAY PARK

SO FOR US TO SEQUIN

SEE QUINN OUT THERE

WAS A PRETTY SURREAL

MOMENT

>> Reporter: THE

5-YEAR-OLD EVEN MET

BOSTON'S FAVORITE

GREEN MONSTER.

>> WALLY

>> Reporter: QUINN HAS

BEEN FIGHTING A

PERSONAL BATTLE.

TWO YEARS AGO HE WAS

DIAGNOSED WITH A

MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR.

AFTER MONTHS OF

TREATMENT, DOCTORS

FOUND NO NEW EVIDENCE

OF DISEASE, BUT

EARLIER THIS YEAR, TWO

NEW GROWTHS WERE

DISCOVERED

>> THAT WAS LIKE

GETTING HIT BY A

TRUCK, YOU KNOW.

WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT

ALL BEFORE

>> Reporter: KNOWN BY

HIS SUPPORTERS AS THE

MIGHTY QUINN FOR THE

WAY HE'S DEALT WITH IT

ALL.

>> IT'S HARD TO QUIT

WITH SO MANY PEOPLE

BEHIND YOU TELLING YOU

TO KEEP GOING.

HE'S TEACHING US ALL

TO BE BRAVE.

>> Reporter: BY TAKING

LIFE ONE DAY AT A

TIME, ALWAYS WITH A

DREAM FOR TOMORROW

>> GO TO DISNEYLAND.

>> ALL RIGHT, MIGHTY

QUINN.

THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS"

FOR THIS MONDAY.

THANK YOU FOR

WATCHING, EVERYONE

I'M LESTER HOLT.

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF

YOURSELF AND EACH

OTHER.

GOOD NIGHT