After tough G7 talks, Biden orders "contingency plans" for Afghan withdrawal timeline to be adjusted

President Biden says he's asked the Pentagon and the State Department to draw up contingency plans in case the timetable for America's military withdrawal from Kabul Airport needs to change.

He rebuffed demands by G7 leaders for the US military to remain in the Afghan capital for as long as necessary.

And in a much delayed appearance at the White House insisted he still hopes the mission can be completed by the end of the month.

Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

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President Biden insisted the mission can still be completed by the end of the month.

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But reports on the ground in Afghanistan indicate there are fresh disruptions by the Taliban to the evacuation effort….with Americans and Afghans alike claiming they cannot get to the airport.

White Press Secretary Jen Psaki today bristled when a reporter tried to raise a specific case with her.

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The President also said the threat of a terror strike on US forces in Kabul is real…and he said the longer they remain, the more they're at risk.

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Biden confirms Afghanistan troop withdrawal on track

US President Joe Biden says he still plans to withdraw troops from
Afghanistan by the August 31st deadline, even though thousands of
people are still trying to leave the country.

The President's comments came after a meeting with other G7 leaders
where they agreed to engage with the Taliban.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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U.S. markets move further into record territory

U.S. stocks moved further into record territory as vaccine optimism
spilled into a second day.

And traders are now turning their attention to a Federal Reserve
symposium scheduled for later this week.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dead at 80

Charlie Watts, the drummer with the Rolling Stones has died at at the age of 80.

His publicist he passed away peacefully in a London hospital surrounded by his family.

Earlier this month he announced ill health would prevent him from touring with the Stones this autumn.

Reporter Sunta Templeton has more.

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Simon Marks reports.

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Among those paying tribute, Paul McCartney of The Beatles.

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Head of the CIA had secret meeting with Taliban leader in Kabul

The head of the CIA met with the Taliban's de-facto leader on Monday, according to U.S. officials. 

The secret meeting was held as the U.S. pushes to get Americans and Afghan allies out of the country before August 31.

Caroline Malone reports from Washington.

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Pentagon: US has no current plans to extend August 31 deadline

Pentagon officials say there are no plans currently for the US military mission at Kabul Airport to be extended beyond August 31st.

They say so far the US has helped evacuate more than 60 thousand people from Afghanistan, but they won't disclose how many of the evacuees were American citizens.

A leaked State Department memo suggests that number is only around 4 thousand.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters plans are being drawn up to pull US forces out of Kabul International Airport by the end of the month.

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US sanctions Eritrean Army Chief

The United States has sanctioned the man in charge of the Eritrean Defence forces, for his role in the conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia .

The Eritrean military has been accused of human rights abuses in the Northern Tigray region, where fierce fighting continues 10 months after it began.

Coletta Wanjohi reports from Addis Ababa. 

 

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As G7 meets, Taliban say international forces can no longer evacuate Afghan citizens

The Taliban now say they will not allow foreign forces to evacuate Afghan citizens from Kabul airport….insisting the US led effort there must end by August 31st and should only withdraw foreign citizens from the country.

A Taliban spokesmen held a press conference in Kabul this morning….even as President Joe Biden was participating in a virtual summit with G7 leaders, many of whom are urging him to allow the military mission at Kabul airport to extend past the end of the month.

The Taliban's Zabihullah Muhjahid speaks here through an interpreter.

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President Biden will speak on Afghanistan later today amid reports that his CIA Director William Burns secretly met with the Taliban's leader in Afghanistan earlier this week.

A leaked state department memo here is indicating that as of yesterday only around 4 thousand Americans citizens have been evacuated from Kabul….the White House last week indicated there could be as many as 15 thousand Americans in Afghanistan.

On Capitol Hill pressure is mounting on the President from his fellow Democrats in Congress and of course the Republicans.

Congressman Jim Banks is a Republican from Indiana.

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UN officials says Taliban execution reports are credible

The United Nations human rights chief says reports that the Taliban
has conducted summary executions are credible.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan more than a week ago and
announced there would be no retribution against those that worked for
western forces.

William Denselow reports from UN headquarters in New York.

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GERMANY SHIFTS FOCUS TO COVID-19 HOSPITALISATION RATES OVER INCIDENCE

The German Government has said from now on, it will place greater emphasis on hospitalization rates rather than infection levels when making decisions about Covid-19 restrictions. 

The shakeup comes as vaccination rates continue to climb, giving fresh confidence to local lawmakers. 

From Berlin, Trent Murray reports

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Political parties chase deadline despite election date uncertainty

South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission is awaiting judgement from the Constitutional Court regarding its request to postpone local government elections until February. The election date is currently set for 27 October, and political parties had until 5pm on Monday to submit lists of their candidates. On Monday, the IEC extended the deadline by four hours, which seems to have benefitted the ruling African National Congress. Mark Roughton reports.

 

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Study warns India will see 600,000 COVID cases daily unless vaccination rate picks up

After a devastating second wave claimed millions of lives, the spread of COVID19 in India has finally slowed down.

The country is now recording less than 30,000 new COVID infections daily.

But a new study has warned that India's slow vaccination pace could mean that in just a few months, the country could see 600,000 new infections daily.

Neha Poonia has more.

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Japan’s government pressures hospitals to accept Covid patients

The Japanese government is putting pressure on Tokyo hospitals to accept as Covid-19 patients amid a chronic shortage of beds. The medical system is near collapse as the capital prepares to host the Paralympic Games, which open Tuesday evening.

 

Phoebe Amoroso reports from Tokyo.

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Reports: Xi-Biden Meet Could Face Further Delay

Reports say chances of a face-to-face between the leaders of China and the US on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome have dimmed.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Beijing is leaning on attending the gathering via video link.

Patrick Fok reports from Beijing.

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AUSTRALIA - Scientific experts recommend against aiming for zero covid rates before opening borders.

The scientific body preparing modelling on Australia's re-opening,
including when borders will be able to re-open for international travel,
says aiming for zero Covid cases would subject Australia to indefinite
lockdowns and border closures.

Kym Cartwright reports...

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AUSTRALIA - Scientific experts recommend against aiming for zero covid rates before opening borders.

The scientific body preparing modelling on Australia's re-opening, including when borders will be able to re-open for international travel, says aiming for zero Covid cases would subject Australia to indefinite lockdowns and border closures.

Kym Cartwright reports...

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Covid-19 vaccine FDA approval gives markets a boost

U.S. stocks rose sharply on Monday after the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19
vaccine was given full approval by the FDA.

The move gave stocks tethered to the economic reopening an immediate lift.

William Denselow reports from New York.

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Biden urges vaccine refuseniks to abandon opposition after FDA approval of Pfizer/BioNtech jab

The Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval for the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccination in the United States.

It becomes the first inoculation to be granted more than emergency authorization.

President Biden said today that should be enough to persuade vaccine skeptics now to abandon their opposition to the jab.

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He says more than 6 million vaccinations have been dispensed in the US in the last seven days, but over the Covid-19 death toll in the US again surpassed one thousand fatalities per day.

White House: Biden undecided about whether to extend evacuation mission after Taliban warning

The White House says President Biden has not yet reached a decision about whether to extend US military operations at Kabul airport after the Taliban said foreign forces MUST be off Afghan soil by the end of the month.

The President has spoken again with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson - Number Ten Downing Street says the Prime Minister raised the need to continue evacuations even after US military forces withdraw.

There is no reference to that part of the conversation in the White House read out of the call.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the President has not yet decided about the timing of the military operation's conclusion.

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He also said the perimeter around Kabul Airport in which US forces are operating has been "substantially" extended and said the US has lit upon a military method that he wouldn't describe to facilitate the safe arrival of American evacuees at the airfield.

There was a firefight at the North Gate of Kabul Airport last night that left one member of the Afghan armed forces dead and three others injured.

The US is blaming what it calls a "hostile actor" for the shooting incident.

Apple Delays Return to Office Until January

Apple is delaying plans for employees to return to its corporate headquarters as the surge in coronavirus cases continues across the US.

Other large tech firms including Facebook and Google have also pushed back their timelines for bringing workers back to the office.

Ira Spitzer reports from Silicon Valley.

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