News Wrap: U.S. analysts knew Kunduz target was hospital

HARI SREENIVASAN:

President Obama announced today he will keep American troops in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency, extending America's longest war.

The policy reversal comes after weeks of worsening violence and significant gains by Taliban fighters. We will have more on the details of the decision right after the news summary.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press revealed new details today about the U.S. airstrike that killed 22 patients and staff at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan. It said U.S. special operations analysts knew the Kunduz clinic was a medical site, but believed it was being used by a Pakistani operative coordinating Taliban activity. Doctors Without Borders has disputed that claim.

At the White House, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said he wasn't aware of the AP's report, but pledged a complete investigation.

JOSH EARNEST, White House Press Secretary:

The president's expectation is that he will receive a full accounting of these facts, in the context of a thorough, objective and transparent report from the Department of Defense.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

Pentagon officials initially said the strike aimed to protect American troops during a firefight. But the top U.S. general in Afghanistan has since acknowledged the strike was a mistake.

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will plead guilty in his federal hush money case. His attorney said the plea agreement will be submitted to the judge Monday, but stopped short of detailing the specifics. The 73-year-old Illinois Republican is charged with violating banking laws and lying to the FBI in an effort to pay someone $3.5 million in a cover-up. Multiple media outlets reported the payments concealed claims of sexual misconduct with an unnamed male decades ago.

In economic news, stocks on Wall Street recorded their steepest gains in nearly two weeks today. That was due in part to strong bank earnings and speculation the Federal Reserve will hold off on raising interest rates until next year. The Dow Jones industrial average soared 217 points to close at 17141. The Nasdaq rose 87 points, and the S&P 500 added 29.

In Syria, government troops launched a major new offensive against rebel forces today. They targeted strongholds in central Homs province and captured the town of Khalidiya, near Hama. The push was backed by days of Russian airstrikes in the region. Amateur video today showed plumes of smoke rising above towns while residents sifted through wreckage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he's perfectly open to meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to end weeks of bloodshed. That came a day after Abbas claimed Israelis executed a 13-year-old Palestinian boy involved in a stabbing attack earlier this week.

The Israeli prime minister sharply refuted that allegation today in Jerusalem, insisting the boy is recuperating in an Israeli hospital.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Prime Minister, Israel:

I think President Abbas has to stop this incitement. You just saw examples of him lying, bare-faced lies. An innocent child executed by Israelis. No, he's not innocent and he wasn't executed. He tried to murder innocent people, almost succeeded. That's a lie.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

At the same time, the Israeli military announced today it will deploy hundreds more troops throughout Jerusalem in the coming days in an effort to boost security there.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops in Bethlehem. Demonstrators threw stones as Israeli forces fired back with tear gas.

Back in this country, there's word the FBI has begun an inquiry into the business practices of the multibillion-dollar daily fantasy sports gambling industry. Last week, an employee of the Web site DraftKings won $350,000 on rival site FanDuel, spawning allegations of insider trading. The New York Times reported the FBI probe will also assess whether the sites encourage bets from players in states where the contests are illegal.

The preservation group World Monuments Fund announced its biennial watch list for endangered World Heritage Sites today. The 50 places, spanning 36 countries, include a Spanish mission in New Mexico badly in need of restoration, an ancient underwater city in Southern Greece at risk of pollution from passing ships, and the entire country of Nepal, struggling to protect its heritage in the aftermath of April's devastating earthquake.