News Archives for World - 2021-08-13

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World

Most US troops to arrive in Kabul by end of weekend: Pentagon

The first Marines have arrived at Kabul's international airport as part of a mission ordered a day earlier by President Joe Biden as the Taliban makes sweeping gains following his withdrawal of US troops.

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:42pm

Europe

Germany to cut Kabul embassy staff to 'absolute minimum'

"We will reduce personnel of the German embassy in Kabul in the coming days to the operative absolute minimum," he told reporters. "We will send a crisis support team to Kabul to help us boost security precautions" during the evacuation.

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:31pm

World

Denmark to shut Kabul embassy, Finland evacuates staff

"The government has decided to evacuate all employees of the embassy. At the same time, we have decided to temporarily close our embassy in Kabul", Danish foreign minister Jeppe Kofod said in a press release, calling on Danes in Afghanistan to leave immediately.

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:28pm

Europe

UK PM Johnson vows not to 'turn our backs on Afghanistan'

"What we must do now is not turn our backs on Afghanistan but continue, as a member of the (UN) Security Council, a country deeply involved in the strategic future of the area, to work with our partners, and make sure the government of Kabul does not allow that country, again, to be a breeding ground for terror," he said.

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 11:15pm

World

NATO says to support Afghan govt 'as much as possible'

NATO Allies are deeply concerned about the high levels of violence caused by the Taliban's offensive, including attacks on civilians, targeted killings, and reports of other serious human rights abuses

Published 13 Aug, 2021 09:35pm

World

NATO envoys to hold urgent meeting on Afghanistan

"It is about determining who does what, when, and how, and what support is given for this."
Leading NATO powers the US and Britain have ordered the deployment of thousands of troops to Afghanistan to evacuate their citizens

Published 13 Aug, 2021 07:56pm

World

Taliban near gates of Kabul as embassies prepare for evacuations

Evacuation orders come as the Taliban took control of Kandahar -- the nation's second-biggest city -- in the insurgency's heartland, leaving only Kabul and pockets of other territories in government hands

Published 13 Aug, 2021 07:36pm

South Asia

Iran calls for safety of diplomats in Taliban-seized Herat

TEHRAN: Iran's foreign ministry called Friday for security guarantees for its diplomats in Herat, after Taliban...

Published 13 Aug, 2021 07:34pm

Europe

UK says US pullout from Afghanistan a 'mistake'

"I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those type of people"
The 600 British troops being sent to Afghanistan to help with repatriation is close to the 750 Britain had in the country before the withdrawal

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 07:55pm

USA

US import price increases slow in July

Import prices rose 0.3% last month after jumping 1.1% in June
Imported fuel prices advanced 2.9% last month after rising 5.5% in June. Petroleum prices gained 2.1%

Published 13 Aug, 2021 06:28pm

World

Taliban detain veteran militia chief Khan in Afghanistan's Herat

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Khan had been detained

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 03:17pm

World

UN urges Afghanistan's neighbours to keep borders open as crisis looms

The World Food Programme sees food shortages in Afghanistan as "quite dire" and worsening, a spokesperson added

Published 13 Aug, 2021 02:19pm

Europe

Russia reports record-high COVID-19 deaths

Russia's daily reported COVID-19 infections have gradually dipped from a peak in July that authorities blamed on the infectious Delta variant and a slow vaccination rate

Published 13 Aug, 2021 02:16pm

World

India's Rahul Gandhi says blocked by Twitter for political reasons

The criticism of the US microblogging giant by the Congress party comes as Twitter is trying to address concerns raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over compliance issues

Published 13 Aug, 2021 02:14pm

World

Afghan women bankers 'forced from roles' as Taliban takes control

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid says the group has not taken a decision on whether to allow female bank employees in the areas which it controls

Published 13 Aug, 2021 02:09pm

World

The 11-year-old British boy walking to save the earth

Partly inspired by activist Greta Thunberg, Walker, from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, has braved hills, rain and doubts along his 210-mile trek to the British parliament in Westminster, central London

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 02:09pm

World

Iran asks Taliban to ensure safety of diplomats in Herat

Considering (the) Taliban's dominance over the city of Herat, we draw their serious attention to ensuring the complete safety and health of diplomats and diplomatic facilities

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 12:35pm

World

UK defence minister says on Afghanistan: al Qaeda will probably come back

I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those types of people, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:49am

Asia

China rejects need for further WHO coronavirus origins probe

On Thursday the WHO urged China to share raw data from the earliest Covid-19 cases to revive its probe into the origins of the disease

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:46am

World

Sydney readies for more military support as Delta sweeps city

Unfortunately, this trend (in cases) will continue for at least the next few days, New South Wales (NSW) state premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney, the state capital

Published 13 Aug, 2021 11:06am

Asia

China cities declare rain 'red alerts' as flood death toll hits 21

According to the official China News Service, as many as 774 reservoirs in Hubei had exceeded their flood warning levels by Thursday evening

Published 13 Aug, 2021 10:59am

World

Taliban capture Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand: police official

Government and senior armed forces officials flew by helicopter out of the government's last stronghold in the town at about midnight on Thursday, said the official

Published 13 Aug, 2021 10:45am

World

Taliban capture Afghanistan's second biggest city of Kandahar

This is the most significant setback for the US-backed government since the insurgents launched a new offensive as US forces withdraw

Updated 13 Aug, 2021 01:13pm

Europe

Six dead including suspected gunman in UK shooting

Devon and Cornwall Police declared a "critical incident" in the Keyham area of Plymouth early Thursday evening after the shooting, but later said it was not being considered terrorism related

Published 13 Aug, 2021 10:24am

USA

Caitlyn Jenner talks about - not to - homeless, on political launch

Jenner, a wealthy socialite and step-parent to Kim Kardashian, chose the Venice area of Los Angeles, where the tarp-covered tents of hundreds of homeless people line the streets, and drug deals take place in plain sight

Published 13 Aug, 2021 10:15am

World

Kabul evacuations -- echoes of US exit from Saigon?

A photo that immortalized America's defeat in Vietnam, showing evacuees boarding a helicopter on the roof of a building, spread fast on social networks after the United States announced the emergency deployment on Thursday

Published 13 Aug, 2021 10:07am

Asia

Tens of thousands urged to evacuate as heavy rain hits Japan

There is a possibility that a grave disaster will occur in the coming days, a Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official told an emergency news conference shown live on public broadcaster NHK

Published 13 Aug, 2021 09:53am

USA

US authorizes Covid booster jabs for those with weak immune systems

The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic

Published 13 Aug, 2021 09:50am

World

US, UK to launch evacuation flights as Taliban advance across Afghanistan

The orders came as the Taliban took control of Kandahar, the nation's second biggest city in the insurgency's heartland, leaving only Kabul and pockets of other territory in government hands

Published 13 Aug, 2021 09:39am

World

Iran slams Russia, UK envoys over 'inappropriate' picture

TEHRAN: Iran has sharply criticised the Russian and British ambassadors to Tehran after a picture was posted online...