WORLD
US Census 2020 highlights: Less white, more diverse, more Asians
Among other things, the shifts will straightaway underpin political redistricting ahead of high stakes elections for House control, up in 2022. The 2020 Census marked the 24th census in US history and the first time that households were invited to respond online. Here are 10 highlights: The share of the non-Hispanic white population fell from 63.7 per cent in 2010 to 57.8 per cent in 2020.
Taliban trying to isolate Kabul, situation 'deeply concerning': Pentagon
"We are certainly concerned by the speed with which the Taliban has been moving," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Friday 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", Xinhua news agency reported.
Taliban set fire to house of ex-female police officer
The former officer had gone to visit a shrine when Taliban fighters set fire to her rented house. Meanwhile, piling on more human rights breaches, the Taliban killed the district police chief of Asmar in Kunar province. In Kandahar province, the Taliban have captured the central prison and hundreds of inmates have been released. The Taliban confirmed that they have released 1,900 inmates after taking over the prison.
Taliban demand unmarried women to become 'wives' for their fighters
In addition, they say, Taliban commanders have demanded that communities must hand over unmarried women to become "wives" for their fighters -- a form of sexual violence, human-rights groups say, the Wall Street Journal reported. The US Embassy in Kabul had said on Thursday that it had received reports of the Taliban executing members of the Afghan military who had surrendered.
US, China search for common ground in talks before likely Biden-Xi summit
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met the new Chinese ambassador to the US, Qin Gang, in an all-important meeting in Washington on Thursday, which is likely to steer the US further away from the implacable acrimony of the Donald Trump years. The run-up to the meeting has been anything but harmonious with both sides accusing each other of various violations and embittering relations.
US exit from Afghanistan could be 'sequel' to Vietnam humiliation
As thousands of American soldiers were ordered back to Kabul to evacuate the Embassy staff amid a rapid advance by the Taliban, McConnell said the US is "careening toward a massive, predictable, and preventable disaster", The Guardian reported. The remark came as officials confirmed on Friday that the Taliban had captured Afghanistan's second biggest city, Kandahar, as well as Lashkar Gah in the south.
Indian support will never be ignored by next generation: Afghan minister
Hayatullah Hayat, says, "India proved its friendship with the Afghan people throughout history. India always helped the Afghan people in difficult times, in recent Salma Dame, a great building for Afghanistan parliament, hundreds of small and medium projects including schools and clinics funded by Indian people and the government through the foreign ministry's fund will not be ignored by the next generation and it will show that this country always stands with us."
People asked me not to resist Taliban to avoid bloodshed: Afghan Guv
In the video, Sherzad said that tribal elders and political leaders have asked him not to put up any resistance to the Taliban to avoid bloodshed, so he handed over the control to the militant fighters. The Taliban have toppled six provincial capitals in the past 24 hours, which brings the total number of provinces fallen to the fighters to 18. Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Logar, Zabul and Oruzgan provinces fell to the Taliban.
Al Qaeda will probably come back to Afghanistan: UK Def Secy
Wallace is highly critical of Washington's decision to withdraw troops from the country, describing a deal signed by the US and the Taliban as a "mistake" and "rotten", Sky News reported. Asked about the situation in Afghanistan, Wallace said: "I'm absolutely worried that failed states are breeding grounds for those types of people. "That is what we see, failed states around the world lead to instability, lead to a security threat to us and our interests."
Herat Governor, Ismail Khan surrender to Taliban as city falls
All key government institutions were captured by the group. All government officials, including Herat Governor, police chief, head of the NDS office in Herat, former mujahedeen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, the Deputy Minister of Interior for Security, and the 207 Zafar Corps commander surrendered to the Taliban after the province fell to the group, media reports said.
Don't Miss
Advertisement