News Archives for World - 2021-08-16

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World

Pfizer submits initial data for COVID-19 vaccine booster authorization

Pfizer has said its vaccine's efficacy drops over time, citing a study that showed 84% effectiveness from a peak of 96% four months after a second dose.

Published 16 Aug, 2021 11:58pm

Europe

France's COVID-19 hospitalisations above 10,000 for first time since end June

There were also more patients treated in intensive care units for the disease, with an increase of 56 over 24 hours to 1,908 - more than twice as high than a July 21 low of 859.

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 11:58pm

Europe

U.N. Security Council calls for talks to create new Afghan government

The 15-member body, which met to discuss Afghanistan on Monday, also called for an immediate end to hostilities and human rights abuses and for all parties to allow immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

Published 16 Aug, 2021 11:13pm

World

German evacuation flight can't land in Kabul, diverts to Tashkent

The A400M transport plane circled for more than an hour over Kabul before changing its destination, Lieutenant General Markus Laubenthal told public broadcaster ZDF.

Published 16 Aug, 2021 11:06pm

Europe

Merkel warns of crisis if Afghans fleeing Taliban not supported

"We need to make sure that the many people who have big worries and concerns even though they have not worked with German institutions have a secure stay in countries neighbouring Afghanistan," Merkel said during a news conference.

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:44pm

Europe

UK PM Johnson calls for G7 leaders meeting on Afghanistan

Downing Street said Johnson "outlined his intention to host a virtual meeting... in the coming days", during a call to French President Emmanuel Macron when he stressed the need for a "unified approach" to the situation.

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 10:43pm

World

Biden to break silence with address to nation on Afghanistan

Cutting short his planned vacation, Biden will return to Washington from the Camp David presidential residence and "will deliver remarks on Afghanistan" in the White House's East Room

Published 16 Aug, 2021 08:44pm

USA

US soldiers kill two armed men at Kabul airport: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: US soldiers killed two armed men at Kabul's airport Monday after a top Pentagon general met with the...

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 09:07pm

World

World must unite to combat 'global terrorist threat' in Afghanistan: UN chief

Guterres' comments came as victorious Taliban fighters patrolled Kabul after a stunningly swift end to Afghanistan's 20-year war

Published 16 Aug, 2021 07:40pm

World

Taliban will not get access to Afghan reserves held in US: official

Central bank's gross reserves totalled $9.4 billion at the end of April

Published 16 Aug, 2021 07:26pm

World

Russia says Afghan president fled with cars and helicopter full of cash

Ghani said he left Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed

Published 16 Aug, 2021 06:43pm

Middle East

Iran's daily COVID-19 deaths hit record high of 655

DUBAI: Iran on Monday reported a record 655 COVID-19 deaths over the past 24 hours as the government started ...

Published 16 Aug, 2021 06:09pm

World

China says ready for 'friendly and cooperative relations' with Taliban

Statement comes after the group seized control of Afghanistan

Published 16 Aug, 2021 05:35pm

World

EU ministers to hold crisis talks on Afghanistan

"Afghanistan stands at a crossroad. Security and wellbeing of its citizens, as well as international security are at play."

Published 16 Aug, 2021 05:33pm

Middle East

Iran says US 'defeat' in Afghanistan a chance for lasting peace

Iran was "closely monitoring the evolution of events in Afghanistan" and wants good neighbourly ties with it, Raisi said

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 05:33pm

Europe

Merkel says Afghanistan withdrawal due partly to US 'domestic politics'

"We have always said, if the Americans stay, we will also stay," Merkel said

Published 16 Aug, 2021 04:46pm

World

Coronavirus toll at 1000 GMT Monday

At least 207,192,810 cases of coronavirus have been registered

Published 16 Aug, 2021 04:33pm

World

Airlines avoid Afghan airspace

The Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority said in a "notice to airmen" that "Kabul airspace has been released to the military"

Published 16 Aug, 2021 04:33pm

Asia

Taliban in Afghan capital Kabul start collecting weapons from civilians

We understand people kept weapons for personal safety, they can now feel safe, we are not here to harm innocent civilians

Published 16 Aug, 2021 03:23pm

World

Five killed at chaotic Afghan airport

It was not immediately clear how the victims died
US officials at the airport not immediately available for a comment

Published 16 Aug, 2021 02:17pm

Europe

Britain says Taliban control Afghanistan - we're not going back

Wallace said the military side of Kabul airport was secure and that Britain was doing everything it could to evacuate British citizens and Afghans with links to Britain

Published 16 Aug, 2021 01:21pm

Europe

Spain's Spanish and Afghan staff in Kabul in airport ahead of evacuation to Spain

Spain has sent military aircraft to evacuate them as soon as possible

Published 16 Aug, 2021 01:13pm

World

Kabul airport mobbed as Afghans make a desperate dash to exit

Dramatic footage posted on social media showed a scene of chaos on the runway, with civilians frantically clambering up an already overcrowded and buckling set of airstairs

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 12:52pm

Europe

France to begin Kabul airlift by Monday evening

We are planning to carry out the first rotation between now and the end of this Monday

Published 16 Aug, 2021 12:05pm

Asia

Taliban declare 'war is over' as president and diplomats flee Kabul

Spokesman for its political office says form of the new regime in Afghanistan would be made clear soon, adding the Taliban did not want to live in isolation and called for peaceful international relations

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 12:21pm

Asia

Airlines reroute flights to avoid Afghanistan airspace

United Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said they were not using the country's airspace

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:50am

World

New Zealand's Ardern implores Taliban to uphold human rights

Taliban fighters took control of the presidential palace in Kabul late on Sunday as US-led forces departed and Western nations scrambled to evacuate their citizens

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:42am

Asia

Indonesia proposes 2022 fiscal deficit at 4.85% of GDP

The president has set a gross domestic product growth target within a range of 5% to 5.5% next year

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:36am

Asia

China's new local COVID-19 infections fall for sixth day

Six local cases each were detected in the eastern province of Jiangsu and the central province of Henan, with one in the southern province of Hunan, the commission said

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:34am

World

US troops fire in air to scatter Afghan civilians at Kabul airport

The crowd was out of control, the official told Reuters by phone, The firing was only done to defuse the chaos

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:22am

Asia

Trump calls for Biden to resign over Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen to Afghanistan, Trump said in a statement

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:14am

Asia

Taliban in control of Afghanistan, panic in Kabul

Thousands of people were on Monday trying to escape Kabul and the feared hardline brand of Islamic rule of the Taliban, with scenes of chaos as crowds gathered at the airport

Published 16 Aug, 2021 10:05am

Africa

Zambia's opposition leader Hichilema wins presidential vote at sixth bid

With 155 of 156 constituencies reporting, official results showed Hichilema had captured a landslide of 2,810,757 votes against 1,814,201 for President Edgar Lungu

Published 16 Aug, 2021 09:59am

World

Death toll in massive Haiti quake jumps to over 1,200

In Les Cayes, as in other hard-hit cities on the southwestern peninsula, most of the population spent the night sleeping outdoors in front of their houses -- or what remained of them -- amid fears of new aftershocks

Updated 16 Aug, 2021 10:36am

World

Timeline: Key dates in Afghanistan since 2001

KABUL: With the Taliban back in control of Afghanistan, here is a recap of landmark events in the war-torn country...

Published 16 Aug, 2021 09:49am

Asia

Malaysia PM set to quit with no clear successor in line

There is no clear successor for Muhyiddin, who will be the shortest-serving premier in Malaysian history, but an election looks unlikely as the country faces its worst Covid-19 wave yet and an economic downturn

Published 16 Aug, 2021 09:31am

World

European powers scramble to evacuate from Afghanistan

BRUSSELS: European nations and the EU scrambled to evacuate their citizens and local staff from Kabul on Sunday, as...