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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004645

UK defense secretary says U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan a “mistake”

British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said the withdrawal agreement negotiated in Doha, Qatar, by the Trump administration was a “rotten deal.”

British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace on Friday said the U.S. decision to pull its troops out of Afghanistan was a “mistake,” which has handed the Taliban “momentum” in the country.

Speaking to Sky News, Wallace said the withdrawal agreement negotiated in Doha, Qatar, by the Trump administration was a “rotten deal.”

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“At the time of the Trump deal with, obviously the Taliban, I felt that was a mistake to have done it that way. We will all, in the international community probably pay the consequences of that,” Wallace said.

“I’ve been pretty blunt about it publicly and that’s quite a rare thing when it comes to United States decisions, but strategically it causes a lot of problems and as an international community, it’s very difficult for what we’re seeing today,” he said.

“Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, al-Qaida will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground,” he added.

Talking about the withdrawal of British troops from the country, Wallace said Britain had no choice but to pull its forces out, because the international community had to act together.

Photo taken on Aug. 4, 2021 shows damaged vehicles at the site of a car bomb in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.

“When the United States as the framework nation took that decision, the way we were all configured meant that we had to leave,” he said.

The defense secretary also confirmed that Britain will deploy 600 troops to Afghanistan to help British nationals and interpreters leave the country. The United States said on Thursday that it will deploy thousands of troops to Kabul airport to support embassy staff drawdown.

The situation in the war-torn country has been worsening since the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops starting on May 1.

Many Afghan cities and about half of the country’s 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants. The Taliban claims to have taken control of at least nine provincial capitals so far.

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month.

Earlier this month, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed the speedy withdrawal of U.S.-led troops for the worsening violence in his country.

Photo taken on Aug. 4, 2021 shows damaged vehicles at the site of a car bomb in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.
 

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004644

Migrant border arrests in July rise to highest level in 21 years for U.S.

The past six months mark the longest period in recent history that monthly crossings have remained near or above 100,000.

 The U.S. Border Patrol made about 200,000 arrests at the southern border in July, marking the busiest month at the border in 21 years and a 12-percent increase over the previous month, according to the latest figures released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

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“The number marks a departure from seasonal trends that would typically see fewer migrants attempting the dangerous journey at the peak of the summer heat,” reported The Wall Street Journal on Friday.

Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children crossed the border in July, almost equal to the record set this March, while 76,000 parents and children crossed the border together as families, the second-highest total ever and a significant jump from June.
 

The CBP data only includes the number of arrests and does not account for people who made it across the border without being apprehended, typically single adults in search of work who do not intend to ask for asylum.

“The past six months mark the longest period in recent history that monthly crossings have remained near or above 100,000, an unrelenting pace that has placed a heavy strain on the immigration system and posed one of the largest political challenges” for the U.S. administration so far, said the Journal. 

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004642

U.S. FDA approves 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised people

“After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines for people with weakened immune systems.

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“The country has entered yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

“After a thorough review of the available data, the FDA determined that this small, vulnerable group may benefit from a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccines,” Woodcock added.

“The FDA is actively engaged in a science-based, rigorous process with our federal partners to consider whether an additional dose may be needed in the future,” Woodcock said.

An estimated 2.7 percent of adults in the United States are immunocompromised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes organ transplant recipients, certain cancer patients and people with HIV.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004641

3-year-old girl among six killed in mass shooting in UKs Plymouth

Among the five people killed by Davison was a three-year-old girl, the police said, adding that two people injured at the scene remain in hospital and neither is seriously injured.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in Britain since a 52-year-old taxi driver shot dead 12 people and injured 11 others in Cumbria, England, in 2010.

Six people, including the gunman and a three-year-old girl, were killed in a mass shooting on Thursday evening in Plymouth, a port city in Devon in southwest England, local police confirmed on Friday.

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The gunman was identified as Jake Davison, a 22-year-old who lived locally, Devon and Cornwall Police said in an online statement. He killed himself after carrying out the shooting spree in the Keyham area of Plymouth.

Among the five people killed was a three-year-old girl, the police said, adding that two people injured at the scene remain in hospital and neither is seriously injured.

“Jake Davison was a licensed firearm holder, the circumstances of which will now be subject to full, independent investigation and scrutiny,” read the statement.

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted earlier that the shooting was not “terrorism-related.”

“We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance,” Shaun Sawyer, chief constable for Devon and Cornwall Police, told reporters.

“This is a truly shocking and tragic incident,” said Sawyer.

“The impact on the local community of Keyham, the city of Plymouth and many communities across the country in which relatives of the deceased live will be felt for many months and years,” he added.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in Britain since a 52-year-old taxi driver shot dead 12 people and injured 11 others in Cumbria, England, in 2010.

There has been an outpouring of sympathy and shock following Thursday’s shooting.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected.”

Britain’s main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer tweeted: “My thoughts are with the families and neighbours of those caught up in this nightmare.”

Luke Pollard, member of parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said Keyham neighborhood has been “utterly devasted” by the shooting, calling it “the darkest day in Plymouth’s history since the end of the second World War.” 

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004640

Mideast in Pictures: Floods, landslides hit northern Turkey

Flash floods that hit three provinces in Turkeys Black Sea region have left 27 people dead, the countrys disaster management authority said on Friday.

The heavy rainfall starting on Wednesday in Bartin, Kastamonu, and Sinop provinces triggered flash floods and landslides, demolishing some homes and bridges, and sweeping away some cars.

The country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said so far, more than 1,400 people have been evacuated to safe areas. 
 

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People are seen at a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey, on Aug. 12, 2021.

People are seen at a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey, on Aug. 12, 2021.

Photo shows a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey on Aug. 12, 2021.

Photo shows a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey on Aug. 12, 2021.

Rescuers work at a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey, on Aug. 12, 2021.

Rescuers work at a residential area affected by floods in Bozkurt district of Kastamonu province, Turkey, on Aug. 12, 2021. 

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004639

Pentagon says Taliban trying to isolate Kabul, situation “deeply concerning”

“We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban has been moving,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said. “Its deeply concerning.”

The Pentagon said on Friday that Afghan Taliban militants are trying to isolate the capital city Kabul and the situation on the ground is “deeply concerning.”

“We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban has been moving,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters in a press briefing. “It’s deeply concerning.”

He said that the insurgent group is trying to isolate Kabul, while noting the capital city currently is not “in an imminent threat environment.”

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He reiterated that the Afghan forces, which the United States will continue to support, are capable of making a difference on the ground. “This is a moment for the Afghans to unite, the leadership and in the military. No outcome has to be inevitable here.”

The Pentagon announced Thursday that three infantry battalions, about 3,000 troops, will be deployed to Kabul airport within 48 hours to support U.S. embassy staff reduction and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) applicants evacuation given the Taliban’s rapid offensive across the country.

“Some elements of one of the Marine infantry battalions are already there in Kabul,” Kirby said. “And I expect that by the end of the weekend the bulk of the 3,000 … will be in place.”

The U.S. Transportation Command is developing airlift plans with Central Command to support the mission, he added. “Our intention is to be able to move thousands per day.”

The Taliban said it captured another three provincial capitals on Friday. Logar province’s capital city Pul-e-Alam, which was seized by the Taliban earlier in the day, is just about 60 km south of Kabul.

Taliban militants are seen inside the Ghazni city, eastern Afghanistan, Aug. 12, 2021.

CNN reported on Friday that the U.S. Embassy in Kabul is instructing personnel to destroy sensitive materials and items like embassy logos and American flags “which could be misused in propaganda efforts.” The State Department said it was part of the standard procedure applied when minimizing the U.S. footprint.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday that U.S. personnel in Kabul will reduce to “a core diplomatic presence” in the coming weeks.

The situation in the war-torn country has been worsening since the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops starting on May 1. Many Afghan cities and about half of the country’s 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month, and he said he did not regret the pullout decision earlier this week. 

Published : August 14, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004638

Asean hits record high with over 102,300 Covid-19 cases

Southeast Asia reported over 100,000 cases for the second time in three weeks, with a record 102,319 on Friday.

The numbers marked a big jump from Thursday’s 95,460. Asean had last recorded 100,000 cases on July 23.

The death toll on Friday was also higher at 2,699, compared to Thursday’s 2,659.

Total Covid-19 cases in the region crossed 8.5 million and deaths rose to 183,704.

Malaysia reported 21,468 new cases and 277 deaths on Friday, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 1,363,683 and death toll to 11,968.

The Malaysian health department urged pregnant women to get Covid-19 jabs to reduce the risk of severe symptoms in case of infection. It also reported that so far 3,396 pregnant women had been infected while 70 have died, most of whom never received a vaccine.

Meanwhile, about 40 per cent of pregnant women in the country, a total of 146,700, had received a Covid-19 jab.

Cambodia reported 423 new cases and 20 deaths, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 84,262 and deaths to 1,654. The government announced the extension of lockdown measures including nighttime curfew in Phnom Penh and eight provinces that share a border with Thailand until August 19 to curb the spread of the delta variant of Covid-19 from Thailand.

Published : August 14, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004612

(Hello Africa) A glimpse of African elephants

World Elephant Day falls on Aug. 12. It is an annual event to raise peoples awareness on elephant conservation. Lets take a look at some African elephants.

File photo taken on November 14, 2017 shows elephants at Mikumi National Park near Morogoro, Tanzania.

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An elephant drinks water at the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Nov. 29, 2018.

An elephant drinks water at the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Nov. 29, 2018. 

File photo taken on Aug. 26, 2016 shows elephants at the Etosha National Park, northwestern Namibia.

File photo taken on Aug. 26, 2016 shows elephants at the Etosha National Park, northwestern Namibia.

An elephant roams at a free-ranging area ahead of an activity to mark World Elephant Day at Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC) in Entebbe, Uganda, Aug. 10, 2021.

 An elephant roams at a free-ranging area ahead of an activity to mark World Elephant Day at Uganda Wildlife Education Conservation Center (UWEC) in Entebbe, Uganda, Aug. 10, 2021.

Published : August 13, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004610

Biden administration expands COVID-19 vaccination requirement to include HHS employees

By aggressively pushing for vaccination while carefully crafting the plans so as to ensure policies are within the purview of its authority, the Biden administration wants to set an example for state and local governments and the private sector, at a time when the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to wreak havoc across the nation.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that it requires employees in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who may come in contact with patients to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

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“Staff at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) who serve in federally-operated health care and clinical research facilities and interact with, or have the potential to come into contact with, patients will be required to receive the Covid-19 vaccine,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

According to the secretary, those subject to the new rule are numbered over 25,000, including “employees, contractors, trainees, and volunteers whose duties put them in contact or potential contact with patients at an HHS medical or clinical research facility.”

An HHS official was quoted by CNN as saying the requirement is expected to go into effect by the end of September.

Also included in the more than 25,000 officials are members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, who must also receive vaccinations in accordance with a Thursday announcement by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will also expand its previous vaccine mandate for health care workers at Veterans Health Administration facilities on Friday, according to a press release issued by the department Thursday.

After the expansion, workers such as psychologists, pharmacists, social workers, nursing assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, peer specialists, medical support assistants, engineers, housekeepers and other clinical, administrative and infrastructure support employees who come into contact with VA patients and health care workers will be required to administer the jabs, according to the press release.

A man walks past a sign of COVID-19 vaccination at a pharmacy in New York, the United States, Aug. 11, 2021.

The announcements add to a growing list of vaccine requirements recently imposed by an array of federal departments and agencies for their employees.

On Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he would act to require that all active-duty members of the U.S. military be vaccinated against the virus, as Biden last month directed him to do so.

Biden announced in late July that all federal civilian workforce in the executive branch were required to attest to their vaccination status, or subject to regular testing, mask-wearing and social-distancing while on the job, as well as restrictions on official travel.

By aggressively pushing for vaccination while carefully crafting the plans so as to ensure policies are within the purview of its authority, the Biden administration wants to set an example for state and local governments and the private sector, at a time when the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to wreak havoc across the nation.

The hoped-for outcomes are playing out. In addition to private-sector entities such as Amtrak and Citi Bank that have issued vaccine mandates for employees, state governments also followed suit.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee, for example, announced Monday that most state workers, as well as hundreds of thousands of private health care and long-term care employees, would be required to show proof of vaccination or face losing their jobs.

Vaccination proofs are also being required for teachers and school staffs in California, as well as workers and customers in New York City.

Published : August 13, 2021

By : xinhua

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004609

U.S. embassy urges Americans to leave Afghanistan immediately

“Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassys ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul,” the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul on Thursday urged Americans to leave Afghanistan immediately as the security situation in the country continues to deteriorate.

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“The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately using available commercial flight options,” the embassy said in a statement.

“Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul,” it added.

The security alert came days after a similar notice issued by the embassy on Saturday. It also came as Taliban militants captured Ghazni city, the capital of eastern Ghazni province earlier in the day, bringing the number of provincial capitals captured by the insurgent group to 10 in less than a week.

The security situation in the war-torn country has been deteriorating since the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops starting on May 1. Many Afghan cities and about half of the country’s 34 provinces in recent weeks have seen heavy battles and street fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by the end of this month. The U.S. Central Command said over 95 percent of the drawdown had been completed.

Biden said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to provide air support and military equipment to Afghanistan while noting Afghan forces must “fight for themselves, fight for their nation.” 

Published : August 13, 2021

By : xinhua