Islamic State Involved In Kabul Airport Suicide Attacks; 15 Killed
The Islamic State group was involved in twin suicide bombings targeting crowds outside Kabul’s airport, killing more than a dozen people, U.S. and Russian officials said Thursday.
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Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Appoint Former U.S. Terror Suspect As Defense Minister
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group has appointed a suspected terrorist who was held at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison facility as acting defense minister. The Islamist rulers named ex-detainee Abdul Qayyum Zakir, a mullah or Muslim mosque leader, as a minister, reported the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel citing a Taliban source.
China Warns Of Counterattack Against Those Questioning Coronavirus Origins
China warned Wednesday it would retaliate with “a counterattack” against those questioning whether the coronavirus leaked from its labs after U.S. President Joe Biden indicated he would make public findings of an intelligence investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 1,000 Afghan Christians Flown To Safety Amid Pressure On President Biden
More than 1,000 desperate Christians have been flown from Afghanistan after American radio host Glenn Beck and a group he founded raised millions of dollars to rescue them, organizers said Wednesday.
Biden Sticks To Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline Citing Militant Threats
Frail appearing U.S. President Joe Biden made clear Tuesday he would obey Afghanistan’s new Islamist Taliban rulers and withdraw American forces from the nation by the end of the month.
Emboldened Iran To Hold War Drills With Russia and China
Iran is set to hold a series of war drills with Russia and China, as the hardline regime celebrates the United States’ bungled evacuation in Afghanistan and boosts its enrichment of nuclear weapons-grade uranium to historically high levels.
Britain Fails To Convince US To Stay In Afghanistan Beyond August 31
In a significant concession to Afghanistan’s new Islamist Taliban rulers, the U.S. said Tuesday it would not extend the deadline for evacuations beyond August 31.
Taliban: ‘No Extension Of Evacuations, Afghans Don’t Go To Airport’
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group said Tuesday that Americans must leave by August 31 and warned Afghans not to go to the Kabul airport or try to leave the country.
WHO Chief Wants Delay Of COVID Booster Jabs
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) demanded Monday a two-month moratorium on COVID-19 “booster shots” to reduce vaccine inequality. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned wealthy nations for stockpiling vaccines as poorer countries struggle to administer coronavirus jabs to their people.
Taliban Warns US To Leave Afghanistan; Deadly Shootings Erupt
Deadly shootings erupted Monday in Kabul as the Islamist Taliban group warned that delaying an American presence beyond an August 31 deadline would “provoke a reaction.”
NATO: ‘20 Killed At Kabul Airport’
The NATO military alliance says at least 20 people died in the last week near Kabul airport in attempts to flee Afghanistan by plane after the Islamist Taliban group captured the capital.
Twitter Hosts Taliban, Other Sites Closed
While it has banned former U.S. President Donald J. Trump from its service, the social networking site Twitter continues to host accounts of high-profile officials linked to the Islamist Taliban group.
President Biden Mulls Keeping Troops In Afghanistan And Warns Of Terrorism Threat
Embattled U.S. President Joe Biden says discussions are underway about keeping American forces in Afghanistan after his August 31 deadline for completing the U.S. withdrawal as thousands, including Christians, struggle to leave the Islamic nation.
Putin, Erdogan agree to strengthen coordination on Afghan issues
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Afghanistan during a phone call and agreed to strengthen bilateral coordination on Afghan issues, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday.
President Biden Under Pressure As Taliban Hunts Girls, Journalists And U.S. Allies
Taliban fighters ruling Afghanistan have begun hunting for Afghan girls to marry while seeking to kill journalists, Christians, Hazara men, and people who worked for the U.S.-led military, several sources say.
Russia Warns West Not To Intervene In Afghanistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West not to interfere in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, amid signs that China and Russia are increasing their footprint there. The authoritarian leader said Western nations “must stop the irresponsible policy of imposing foreign values from abroad.”
Lebanon: Fuel price skyrockets 66% after subsidy cut
Lebanon’s government has decided to increase the price of fuel by a whopping 66%, as it attempts to partially reduce fuel subsidies.
Western Allies Struggle To Respond To Afghanistan’s “Nightmare” Collapse
Western allies of the United States struggle to respond to the Islamist Taliban group’s return to power in Afghanistan amid reports of killings and thousands fleeing the country. They also expressed concerns about the situation at a just-concluded virtual meeting of foreign ministers of the NATO military alliance.
Britain, France, Germany Voice ‘Grave Concern’ Over Iran’s Uranium Enrichment
Britain, France, and Germany — three of the signatories of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers — have expressed serious concern over the UN’s nuclear watchdog reporting that Tehran has produced uranium metal and stepped up production of weapons-grade enriched uranium in violation of the deal.
Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Declare Islamic Emirate As Fighters Kill Protesters (Video)
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group declared the nation an “Islamic Emirate” Thursday, prompting more protests in which several people were killed, footage showed. Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesman, announced the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on social media with a photo of the country’s new logo.