Global National: Aug. 23, 2021 | Canadian special forces operating outside Kabul airport

In our top story: Those desperate to escape Afghanistan are not giving up hope, with a crush of people outside Kabul's airport still waiting in hopes they'll be onboard one of the evacuation flights. More planes are coming and going, but the window is closing. August 31 is the withdrawal date the U.S. and Taliban agreed to, leaving just eight days to get tens of thousands of people out and it's likely not everyone wanting to leave will get out by then. Meanwhile, with the clock ticking, Canada says its special forces are on the ground in Kabul, going outside the airport compound to try and reach Canadians and eligible Afghans in those crowds. Mike Armstrong reports.

Turning to the COVID-19 situation, the more contagious Delta variant is now dominant in many places and it could drive case counts higher than ever. Vaccines mean fewer people will get sick and die, but as Jamie Mauracher reports, hospitals are still bracing for the possibility of being overwhelmed.

Health-care has always been a big concern for Canadians and on Monday, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised to spend billions to hire new family doctors and health practitioners. It is estimated five million Canadians do not have access to a primary health-care provider. Mercedes Stephenson reports.

A video released by the Liberal Party showing Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole expressing support for a private "for profit" health-care system has been flagged by Twitter, with the platform labelling it "manipulated media." It had been edited. But Justin Trudeau defended it though, encouraging Canadians to watch the full video. Mike Le Couteur has more details on the video and the fallout.

The COVID-19 vaccination drive got a big boost today when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making it the first shot delivered outside emergency use authorization in the U.S. The approval opens the door for more vaccine mandates in that country and as Jackson Proskow reports, it's hope the seal of approval will win over skeptics at a time when the virus is surging.

And Dawna Friesen interviews Afghan filmmaker Diana Saqeb Jamal, who is hoping her films will inspire and influence people. She was in Canada visiting family when the pandemic hit, prolonging her stay here and now is feeling sick with grief watching events unfold back home.

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