Members of staff and civilians were killed when a blast went off outside the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday.
At least two embassy workers and at least one civilian died, a Russian state news agency and a local police official said.
A higher death toll was expected, with conflicting reports saying between eight and 10 people had been killed.
The RIA Novosti news agency said the explosion went off when a Russian diplomat came out to people waiting outside to call out the names of candidates for visas.
Citing Moscow’s Foreign Ministry, the agency later reported that two members of the embassy staff were killed.
A spokesman for the Kabul police chief said at least one civilian was killed and that 10 others were wounded.
He said a suicide attacker tried to detonate a bomb in the crowd, but was identified by security forces who shot him.
It was not immediately clear if he was able to detonate the explosives.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, the latest to strike the country in the year since the Taliban seized power.
The Islamic State group’s local affiliate has stepped up attacks against the Taliban and civilians since the former insurgents took over the country last year.
Strong winds and high waves pounded the port on South Korea’s Jeju Island on Monday as the country raised its typhoon-alert level to its highest with the nearing of typhoon Hinnamnor.
Travelling northward at a speed of 24 km per hour (15 mph), Hinnamnor is expected to make landfall southwest of the port city of Busan early on Tuesday (September 6), after reaching waters off Jeju Island later on Monday.
Warnings have been issued across multiple southern cities including the island of Jeju, while the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Sunday (September 4) upgraded its typhoon alert level to the highest in its four-tier system, for the first time in five years.
Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines have cancelled most of their Monday flights to Jeju Island, according to their websites, while budget airlines such as Air Seoul and Jin Air have cancelled some of their flights.
A rapidly moving fire in Northern California called the Mill Fire had burned about 4,254 acres (1,721 hectares) of land by Sunday with 25% containment according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Video obtained by Reuters shows sky-high smoke clouds rising from the burning forest and darkening the sky on Friday (September 2).
The Cal Fire firefighting fleet was seen deploying loads of long-term fire retardants in air tankers and helicopters.
The blaze started on Friday nearly 230 miles (370 km) north of Sacramento.
About 100 homes and buildings were reported destroyed by the fire, authorities said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Siskiyou County. The emergency declaration will help residents access federal aid and unlock state resources.
Another fire called the Mountain Fire was also simultaneously spreading in Gazelle, located 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Weed.
More than two decades of drought and rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, have made California more vulnerable than ever to wildfires. The two most devastating years on record were 2020 and 2021, by the number of acres burned.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday described the 50 years it took to reach a compensation agreement about the 1972 Munich Olympics attack as ‘shameful’.
Steinmeier spoke alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is visiting Germany ahead of the 50th anniversary of the attacks which led to the death of 11 Israelis, one German police officer and five Palestinian gunmen in 1972.
Germany and Israel reached an agreement only last Wednesday.
“That it took 50 years to reach this understanding of the last days, that is indeed shameful,” Steinmeier told a news conference.
At the end of last month, Germany reached an agreement on further compensation for the families of the Israeli athletes murdered at the games.
The families had said they were unhappy with the latest German compensation offers and that they planned to boycott the ceremony on Monday marking the 50th anniversary of the attack in protest.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, citing Germany’s news agency DPA, said compensation of 28 million euros ($28.02 million) had been discussed, of which the federal government would cover 22.5 million euros.
The German government did not confirm the amounts, saying the talks with the victims’ representatives were confidential.
Steinmeier and Herzog are scheduled to lay wreaths in Munich on the anniversary of the attacks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also meet Herzog during his three-day state visit. Herzog’s late father, Chaim Herzog, was the first president of Israel to officially visit Germany in 1987.
Herzog also addressed the threat his country feels is posed by the Iran nuclear deal, which is currently being re-negotiated in Vienna after the US withdrew in 2018. Israel opposes the deal.
Canadian police hunted for two suspects in a stabbing spree that killed 10 people and wounded at least 15 mostly in a sparsely populated indigenous community early Sunday.
The stabbings across 13 crime scenes were among the deadliest mass killings in modern Canadian history and certain to reverberate throughout the country, which is unaccustomed to bouts of mass violence more commonly seen in the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a message posted on Twitter that the attacks were ” horrific and heartbreaking.”
Police named the two suspects as Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, providing photos and descriptions but no further details about their motive or the victims.
The two were seen travelling in a black Nissan Rogue and spotted in the city of Regina, about 320 km (200 miles) south of the attacks in the James Smith Cree Nation and the village of Weldon, police said.
Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told a news conference that establishing motive was very difficult at this point.
There may be additional injured victims who transported themselves to various hospitals, police said.
James Smith Cree Nation is an indigenous community with a population of about 3,400 people largely engaged in farming, hunting and fishing. Weldon is a village of some 200 people.
The nation’s elected elders declared a state of emergency “in response to the numerous murders and assaults on members of the James Smith Cree Nation,” and established two emergency operations centres, the nation said in a statement.
The first stabbings were reported at 5:40 a.m. (1140 GMT) and within three hours police issued a province-wide dangerous person alert. By the afternoon, similar alerts were also issued in Saskatchewan’s neighbouring provinces Alberta and Manitoba.
Police bulletins urged people to report any suspicious people and to take precautions including sheltering in place while warning against picking up hitchhikers or approaching suspicious people.
A police alert issued shortly after midday said they may be in Regina, one of the province’s largest cities, where a large police presence was already mobilized because of a Canadian football game at Mosaic Stadium near the centre of town.
Thailand’s Covid-19 situation is likely to improve as most of the population has immunity generated by vaccination and previous infection, a top virologist says.
Dr Yong Poovorawan cited a recent study showing that more than half of children aged 5-6 had already contracted Covid-19. Writing in a Facebook post on Saturday, Dr Yong reported that all the children were either asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms after catching Covid. The study was conducted by Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, which Yong heads.
Meanwhile, a separate study on the effectiveness of Covovax vaccine also showed that more than half of the 215 participants had been infected with Covid-19.
“This proves that most Thais have immunity against Covid-19 from both vaccination and infection,” he said, adding that this hybrid immunity reduced the severity of Covid-19 infection.
However, Yong urged the government to vaccinate more people, especially those in vulnerable groups, as only 40 per cent of Thais had received their third jab.
As of September 4, the total number of Covid vaccine doses administered nationwide is 142.85 million. Of them, 57.27 million were first jabs, 53.74 million second jabs and 31.83 million third jabs.
On Monday, Thailand recorded 1,360 new Covid-19 cases and 22 deaths.
Liverpool FC have unveiled their new third kit – with a nod to Thailand – ahead of the opening match of their Champions League campaign this week.
The new teal-coloured kit takes inspiration from the flags and banners that fans have unfurled during famous victories in Europe for decades.
Liverpool kick off this season’s Champions League away to Napoli on Wednesday night (2am Thursday Thai time).
The club has also commissioned a custom-made banner by fan and flag-maker Mark Sweatman, which features 97 stars, representing each away victory or trophy win in Europe.
The new kit’s shirt features the 97 emblem encased by the Eternal Flames emblazoned on the nape of the neck in memory of those who lost their lives at Hillsborough.
Thailand is also woven into the fabric, with the “Side by Side” logo on the reverse marking the partnership between LFC Foundation and Right to Play. The “Side by Side” project uses the power of sport and play to help vulnerable children in Bangkok and Senegal.
Meanwhile the back of the shirt features a new LFC name and number style, which takes inspiration from Liverpool’s historic street signs.
The kit is printed with water-based inks as an eco-friendly sustainable option and will be worn for cup competitions and friendlies. The third kit lettering is white with a red outline.
This season’s third kit is available in men’s, women’s and junior sizes, and in a match and stadium version.
Erik ten Hag celebrated a huge victory over Arsenal, but hopes to get more out of his Manchester United side in the forthcoming fixtures.
The Reds showed fighting spirit to pick up a 3-1 result against the Premier League leaders, with two goals from Marcus Rashford and an opener from debutant Antony.
Ten Hag was happy with the team’s win, but insists he is still looking for improvement, stating “good is not good enough.”
STARTED WELL
“I thought our start was really good. I think it was the best [first] ten minutes until now. We were really dominant in the opponents’ half. And then the cancelled goal from a little break, we had a little bit of losing composure and that’s not necessary. We have to get in the game, keep going, play our game and everyday we learn that. And as you saw, there was a good team on the pitch, good team spirit. Also with pressing, maybe not always the good routines, but they [the players] fought, they recovered. Arsenal created chances, but I think we also did, especially on the break. We scored great goals.”
WORRIED ABOUT ARSENAL’S CHANCES?
“Yes [but] worried is a big word. I know our defending line can deal with that. But I know they have a lot of creativity, and I say they have good routines. But we could have done things better. We are not as long together as Arsenal is. And when we get that in, we will be even more comfortable in the game and that is what we have to work for. And that is hard work. So, still a lot of room for improvement.”
ANTONY’S EARLY IMPACT
“I think we have already seen what a threat he is. Speed and creativity are a real threat in the Premier League. And he is a part of it. And I think we missed a player on the right wing because all the players that can play there like Jadon Sancho, like Marcus Rashford, prefer more the centre or the left side. Now, we have the one who can play really good over the right wing, so there was a missing link. Now, today’s first performance here, he did well, but he can step up. I know him from Amsterdam. I know this is a different league, but there is potential and he will get that. He will be even better than he was today. But I would say today already, it was a great goal. Although, I must mention all the goals today were team goals.”
CHANGE SINCE BRENTFORD
“There is a process. You have to lift. Everyday, high standards. That is my demands, my coaches’ demands. And I think also the players in our team have those demands. There are already many players in the team who have won a lot of trophies, and they had to bring that into the dressing room. Everyday, get the best out of you, and we demand that from each other.”
PLAYERS SHOWED CHARACTER
“Definitely. I must say Arsenal played well, but we defend well. And I never had the feeling they would break us. And they had good possession, a lot of movement and creativity. But we had a good defending line, but we defend as a team with all eleven [players]. But still, we can have better pressing organisation, we can keep them further away from our goal and control them very well. We need a little more composure on the ball. And you can control and dictate the game even more.”
RASHFORD ROLLING BACK THE YEARS
“He was brilliant. It was a really great performance from him. As a striker, he was pressing. But also, when we played it over him and he was the target, he made the right decisions. For instance, also with the goal for Antony. Finally, he was twice in behind and finished. It was a great performance and I’m really happy because he has invested a lot.”
MALACIA EXCELLED AGAINST SAKA
“He played really well, [as did] the whole back four. I think David and Rapha bring their routine in, their experience, and then you see how it works. It’s really a unit and it’s difficult to create chances against them. Even when the pressing is not always good, they are stable and it’s good to see because that wins you football games.”
PLAYERS EAGER TO IMPROVE
“I think [they are]. And it has to be also the fact. You want to get that culture because we also know we are just at the start. There is a long way to go and we have to get better because good is not good enough.”
Thai badminton players Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai won the 2022 Japan Open mixed doubles title in a thrilling final on Sunday in Osaka.
The second-seeded Thais fought back after losing the first game to pull off an exciting 16-21, 23-21, 21-18 wi against the world No. 3 Japanese pair of Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino in the Super 750 tournament.
The Thais picked up prize money of US$55,500 (2.03 million baht) while the runners-up won $26,250.
Badminton Association of Thailand president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul congratulated Dechapol and Sapsiree for their performance.
She thanked them for bringing happiness to Thai fans with their lightning reflexes, speed and solid defence to win their third title this year.
She believed they would be the top pair in the world and would win more events, including gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Thailand won 13 gold medals at the ICF World Dragon Boat Championships 2022 from Thursday to Sunday in the Czech Republic.
Deputy government spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana said on Sunday that the government had praised the Thai athletes for their success with their world-class standards and for bringing bring fame and pride to Thailand.
Thailand won 13 medals in four days in:
10-man 500m Senior Open
10-man 500m Senior Women
10-man 500m Senior Mixed
10-man 500m Master 50+ Open
20-man 500m Senior Mixed
20-man 2,000m Senior Mixed
10-man 200m Senior Open
10-man 200m Senior Women
10-man 200m Senior Mixed
10-man 200m Master 50+ Open
20-man 200m Senior Mixed
20-man 200m Senior Open
10-man 2,000m Senior Woman
Athletes from 20 countries competed in the competition in three classes — junior, senior, and open over three distances — 200m, 500m, and 2,000m.
The Rowing and Canoeing Association of Thailand sent athletes only in the senior and master classes.
This season’s third kit is available in men’s, women’s and junior sizes, and in a match and stadium version.
