Governor Masari seeks increased private sector investment in Katsina

Salima Mazari, a female district governor in male-dominated Afghanistan, is on a mission: recruiting men to fight the Taliban. Life has changed little in many areas the insurgents have captured, but in Charkint, the ruggedly remote district of mountains and valleys that Mazari governs, about an hour south of Mazar-i-Sharif in Balkh province, the stakes are higher.

The governor of Nigeria's Katsina State has told locals to arm themselves against would-be attackers, saying security wasn't only the government's responsibility. Aminu Masari has blamed residents for giving in too easily to attackers amid ongoing kidnappings and raids by armed gangs.

Olympic athlete and transgender reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner meets with California voters two weeks before the election against incumbent Democrat Gavin Newsom. "I love a good fight", says the Republican candidate who promises to "lower taxes, less regulations, build a pro-business environment".

"Even the morning after, we’re still uncovering the true depth of the loss," New York Governor Kathy Hochul says during a news conference a day after remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed New York City.

California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has successfully fended off an attempt to topple him in a recall election. Republicans had tried to unseat him over his policies on immigration, COVID-19 and crime.

Dr. Habiba Sarabi is one of four women who took part in the negotiations with the Taliban in Doha at the end of 2020. She is also the first woman to have ruled an Afghan province, that of Bamiyan. Sarabi, who was in Doha when the Taliban took power, spoke to us from the Turkish city of Izmir, where she now lives. She called the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan "a big mistake", branding the US pullout "irresponsible".

At least four were killed in the attack on the governor's convoy. Both he and the environment minister, who was also in the vehicle, survived.

A charge has been filed against New York's former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The disgraced politician stepped down after facing allegations of serial sexual harassment.

In a major setback for US President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Glenn Youngkin is poised to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Virginia since 2009.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Saturday

Governor Andy Beshear said there could be 80 or more people dead, as many people remain missing after a series of severe storms ripped through the state over the weekend. Thousands remain without heat or water.

A district attorney said criminal charges would not be pressed against Andrew Cuomo — although investigations showed that the alleged conduct "did occur."