ALPHAEUS Magazine: Are the days of high heels coming to an end?

by Jill Hudson

First Up

President Trump says he called off talks with the Taliban and Afghan leaders at Camp David. Above, he speaks in the White House's Roosevelt Room on Sept. 4.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Here's what we're following today.

There are still many unanswered questions about what happened to secret peace talks between the Taliban, Afghanistan and the U.S., after President Trump tweeted over the weekend that the meeting had been canceled. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed a recent Taliban attack in Afghanistan where a dozen people were killed, including an American soldier, as the reason for scuttling the talks.

British Airways canceled nearly all of its flights as a result of a 48-hour pilot strike over pay. The walkout that began Monday could affect as many as 145,000 passengers. The union representing BA pilots says they want a fairer share of the airline's profits.

It's been a week since Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas. The government says the official death toll is at least 43, but that number is likely to rise. People from the Abaco Islands, the hardest-hit island, are now seeking shelter elsewhere in the country.

The family that owns Purdue Pharma, which makes Oxycontin, has rejected a demand that they give up $4.5 billion of their personal wealth to settle opioid claims against the company. A group of state attorneys general negotiating with members of the Sackler family says they expect Purdue Pharma to file for bankruptcy “imminently.”

Rafael Nadal’s latest U.S. Open win gives him 19 career individual grand slam wins, just one shy of archrival Roger Federer’s record. But to do it, Nadal had to fend off a furious rally from 23-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Four crew members are missing after a cargo ship overturned Sunday near a Georgia port. The Coast Guard says 20 of the 24 people aboard the Golden Ray have been accounted for. A rescue mission will resume once the vessel is stable.

The Daily Good

The Philadelphia teens who are helping to change the face of polo.

Schyler Smith, far left, Marc Harris and Shane Woodson are some of the younger members of Work to Ride in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.

Courtesy of Lezlie Hiner

For 25 years, a group of inner-city kids in Philadelphia has been breaking down barriers of class and race in the traditionally exclusive sport. The innovative equestrian program called Work to Ride has succeeded in keeping the kids off the streets, in school and on the polo field.

Digging Deeper

Items on Congress' fall to-do list: Guns, spending, drug prices and trade.

After a summer recess, members of Congress return to Washington to a long list of legislative items to address but little bipartisan cooperation to get major items passed.

Mark Tenally/AP

Lawmakers are back on Capitol Hill today after an extended summer recess. They have a short window to tackle major legislative priorities before the 2020 presidential campaign takes center stage. Debates on gun control, prescription drugs and trade are expected, but bipartisan cooperation on those are elusive. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and House need to approve spending bills to avoid another government shutdown. They also hope to make progress on policy debates that have been languishing for months: the White House is pushing Congress to ratify a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, and leaders want to show voters they are serious about proposals to lower health care costs. The ongoing battle between President Trump and House Democrats about investigations into his administration and increasing calls for his impeachment make bipartisan cooperation a tall order in a divided Congress.

Today's Listen

Are the days of high heels coming to an end?

From Louboutins to Manolo Blahniks, high heels have had their place in both pop culture and high fashion, but author Lauren Bravo says that the days of high heels could be numbered.

Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Fashion Week is underway in New York City, which means you can count on seeing models navigating runways while wearing high heels. But are the days of women choosing the towering shoes over? NPR’s Michel Martin talked to author Lauren Bravo about why women have liked heels so much in the past and why so many are now leaving them behind. (Listening time, 7:32)

► LISTEN

Are the U.S. and China headed for a cold war?

U.S.-China tensions are rising on almost every front, and there are plenty of parallels to the U.S.-Soviet rivalry. Analysts say competition is inevitable but doesn't have to lead to confrontation. (Listening time, 5:05)

► LISTEN

ESPN publishes the final print edition of its Body Issue magazine.

When ESPN The Magazine set out to create its Body Issue, the idea was to celebrate how varied athletic bodies really are. The last print edition of the annual issue, which is also the last print edition of the magazine, is being released this week.

Marcus Eriksson for ESPN

Last week, ESPN The Magazine published its final print edition of its annual Body Issue after 21 years. The first issue of the Body Issue sought to show how varied athletic bodies really are. But before the staff could do that, they had to get a few big names to agree to be in it. (Listening time, 5:40)

► LISTEN

Before You Go

Attendees bring their shoes to have them tested and authenticated to make sure they're real.

Mayowa Aina/Mayowa Aina

Sneakerheads converged on Washington over the weekend for SneakerCon.
She Said, a new book by New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, details the challenges of getting women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein to go public.
India says it has located the Chandrayaan 2 unmanned craft on the surface of the moon, and they’re trying to establish contact.