Good morning. Here are the top headlines from NBC News.
1. U.S. Strikes Taliban After Militants Take Afghan City
Afghan forces backed by a U.S. airstrike launched a "large-scale operation" to run the Taliban out of the strategic northern city of Kunduz, which the militant group took Monday in a surprise attack. It was the first major urban area to fall to the Taliban since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Read more in NEWS.
2. Meeting With Obama ‘Very Constructive,’ Putin Says
President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for about 90 minutes at the U.N. General on Assembly Monday, and even though they didn't show much warmth for each other in front of the cameras, Putin said the talks about the crisis in Syria were "very constructive." Still, no breakthroughs were made during the face-to-face talks between the two leaders. Read more in NEWS.
3. Mars Shows Strong Signs of Flowing Water
A new study provides the "strongest evidence yet" that salty liquid water sometimes flows on modern-day Mars. "The discovery ... really is most exciting because it suggests that it would be possible for there to be life today on Mars," said NASA administrator said John Grunsfeld. Read more in SCIENCE.
4. Woman Facing Execution Gets Chance at Clemency
Hours before Kelly Gissendaner is scheduled to be executed, a Board of Pardons and Paroles will consider a clemency bid, in which they could allow an earlier denial of clemency to stand, issue a stay or commute her sentence to life. Gissendaner was sentenced to death for the 1997 murder of her husband — carried out by her lover, who got a life sentence. Read more in NEWS.
5. Paul Walker's Daughter Sues Porsche Over Fatal Crash
The 16-year-old daughter of "Fast and Furious" actor Paul Walker, who was killed two years ago in a fiery California car crash, claimed in a civil lawsuit Monday that her father was burned to death because of a poorly built 2005 Carrera GT sports car made by Porsche. Read more in NEWS.
6. ‘House of Horrors’ Suspect Nabbed After 25 Years on Run
Paul Jackson, who disappeared in 1990, just before he and his half-brother were indicted for rape and kidnapping, was arrested in Mexico Monday. Prosecutors say Jackson and Vance Roberts chained and raped two women for days in a Portland, Oregon 'house of horrors." Read more in NEWS.
7. Trevor Noah Debuts as Host of 'The Daily Show'
South African comic Trevor Noah took over as host of "The Daily Show" on Monday night after Jon Stewart's 16-year reign of the Comedy Central show. There's a new set and desk, but most of Stewart's staff was retained, and the format of the revamped show doesn't vary wildly. Comedian Kevin Hart was Noah's first guest. Read more in POP CULTURE.
Nightly Spotlight: 12 Toy Hall of Fame Finalists Announced
Some of the finalists for this year’s induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame include classics like the spinning top, the scooter, coloring books and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Stay tuned: two winners will be announced in November.