A criminal investigation into the financial affairs of former US President Donald Trump and his family business gained momentum this week.
A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, said reports on Tuesday. Russian news agency TASS reported the incident citing Ukraine`s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin. Confirming the development, Yevgeny Yenin said, "Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport."
Without any hesitation, a leader of the current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, unabashedly admitted Pakistan military's close ties with the Taliban and even said that the Taliban will help Pakistan to win Kashmir. Neelam Irshad Sheikh, a senior leader of the PTI, the Prime Minister Imran Khan's political party, did not even try to hide their anti-India objective in the video that has now gone viral. While taking part in a TV news debate, Sheikh said that Pakistan and Taliban will work together for Kashmir. "The Taliban are saying that they are with us and they will help us in Kashmir," Sheikh said during the show.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) flight carrying 24 Indian and 11 Nepalese evacuees from Kabul is on its way to Delhi under Operation Devi Shakti. The special IAF flight is expected to land in Delhi shortly. "Op Devi Shakti in action!@IAF_MCC flight with 24 Indian and 11 Nepalese evacuees from Kabul is on its way to Delhi. #DeviShakti," Ministry of External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has informed through a tweet. The evacuation operation from Afghanistan in the backdrop of the Taliban`s takeover of the country last week is known as "Operation Devi Shakti".
At least 20 people have died in the western Venezuelan state of Merida following intense rains that caused mudslides and rivers to overflow.On state TV on Wednesday (August 25) a ruling Socialist Party official in Merida announced the death toll had risen and said authorities were working to restore telephone service in some areas. State governor Ramon Guevara said earlier that more than 1,200 houses had been destroyed and 17 people remained missing as rescue workers search the wreckage. “Let`s try not to make this political or ideological,” Guevara, a member of the Democratic Action opposition party, said. “Let’s all look for solutions to the problem.” Images shared on social media showed cars being swept down streets, buildings and businesses filled with mud, and mudslides that left boulders strewn across roads.
Islamic State struck the crowded gates of Kabul airport in a suicide bomb attack on Thursday, killing scores of civilians and at least 13 US troops, disrupting the airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans desperate to flee. Kabul health officials were quoted as saying 60 civilians were killed. Video shot by Afghan journalists showed dozens of bodies strewn around a canal on the edge of the airport. At least two blasts rocked the area, witnesses said. Islamic State said one of its suicide bombers targeted "translators and collaborators with the American army". US officials also blamed the group. The American casualties, which increased to 13 from 12 later on Thursday according to US officials, were believed to be the most US troops killed in Afghanistan in a single incident since 30 personnel died when a helicopter was shot down in August 2011.
The United States on Saturday launched a drone strike against an Islamic State member believed to be involved in planning attacks against the US in Kabul, the military said. The US Central Command said the strike took place in Nangahar province, east of Kabul killing one individual. "Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," a US military statement said. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden vowed to hunt down those responsible for the Kabul airport attack and said he had ordered the Pentagon to come up with plans to strike at the perpetrators. "We will not forgive, we will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden had said.
As many as five rockets were fired at Kabul`s international airport but were intercepted by a missile defence system as the United States raced to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan. A US government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the rockets were fired early Monday morning Kabul time, though it was unclear if all were brought down by the defence system. Initial reports did not indicate any US casualties, but that information could change, the official said. Earlier on Sunday, American forces launched a drone strike in Kabul targeting a suicide bomber in a vehicle that was aiming to attack the airport. There is increasing concern that Islamic State militants will launch further attacks on the airport as US troops hurry to evacuate remaining American citizens and at-risk Afghans, before competing their own withdrawal by Aug. 31.
The Taliban were in full control of Kabul's international airport on Tuesday, after the last U.S. Plane left its runway, marking the end of America's longest war and leaving behind a quiet airfield and Afghans outside it still hoping to flee the insurgents' rule. Vehicles raced back and forth along the Hamid Karzai International Airport's sole runway on the northern, military side of the airfield. Before dawn broke, heavily armed Taliban fighters walked through hangars, passing some of the seven CH-46 helicopters the State Department used in its evacuations before rendering them unflyable.
Air India's Indore-Dubai flight will resume operations from today after a gap of 17-months because of the COVID-19 situation. A programme was organised at Devi Ahilyabai International Airport to mark the occasion. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan virtually attended the event. The flight will take off from Indore at 12.35 pm as per the Indian Standard Time and will reach Dubai at 03.05 pm, the official said. From Dubai, the plane will take off every Wednesday at 04.05 pm UAE time and will reach Indore at 8.55 pm.
Al-Qaeda, the terror organization that masterminded the 9/11 attacks on the United States, has congratulated the Taliban and called for the "liberation of Kashmir" as well. In a statement a day after the US troops made their final exit from Afghanistan, the al-Qaeda said, “Liberate the Levant, Somalia, Yemen, Kashmir and the rest of the Islamic lands from the clutches of the enemies of Islam. O’ Allah! Grant freedom to Muslim prisoners across the world.” Al-Qaeda issued a detailed statement hours after the Taliban declared that Afghanistan has gained “full independence” following the withdrawal of the US forces. While congratulating the Taliban, al-Qaeda referred to the terror group’s long-standing calls for the so-called “liberation” of Palestine, the Levant, Somalia and Yemen along with Kashmir.
Washington: The United States has thanked several countries including India for their "generous offers" to help in a variety of ways regarding the relocation efforts for at-risk Afghans during critical evacuation operations from Afghanistan. The United States forces left Afghanistan on Tuesday morning, marking the end of a chaotic and messy exit from America`s longest war. In total, the United States and its partners relocated more than 124,000 people to safety, including 6,000 US citizens.
New Delhi: India will host the first-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Australia on Saturday (September 11, 2021) in the national capital. The countries will discuss a slew of issues which includes economic security, cyber, climate, critical technology and supply chains. It also likely that the crisis in Afghanistan will discusses too. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will meet their Australian counterparts; Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton.