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U.S. troops in Afghanistan have begun packing gear after President Joe Biden announced last month that all American troops will leave Afghanistan by September 2021, after a nearly two-decade-long military presence in the country.
Defending his decision to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan, Biden said, “With the terror threat now in many places, keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country and across the billions [of dollars spent] each year makes little sense to me and to our leaders.”
“I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats,” he added. “I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth.”
Published on: Friday, May 07, 2021
By: AP
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Maldivian police officers secure the area following a blast in Male, Maldives, Thursday, May 6, 2021. Maldives first democratically elected president and current Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has been injured in a blast Thursday near his home and was being treated in a hospital in the capital, police said. (AP photo)
MALE: The Maldives police said Friday an explosion that wounded former President Mohamed Nasheed was an act of terrorism but no suspects were identified. Australian police said they are ready to assist the investigation.
Nasheed, 53, was wounded in the blast Thursday night outside his home and was being treated in a hospital in the capital, Male, police said. Home Minister Imran Abdulla told a local television that his injuries were not life-threatening.
India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership welcomed
07 May 2021, 17:03 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], May 7 (ANI): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have welcomed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and discussed how they could coordinate efforts to deliver deeper cooperation, said British High Commission (BHC) on Friday after a virtual meeting between the two leaders was held on Thursday.
A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: They noted the importance of working together to tackle global challenges such as climate change, coronavirus and countering shared threats including malign cyber activity. The two ministers reflected on key achievements, such as the Enhanced Trade Partnership announced earlier this week, which removes market barriers and will help create new British and Indian jobs, including in strategic areas like science and technology, he added.
Maldives ex-president in critical condition after bomb attack
Mohamed Nasheed has been hospitalized after a device exploded near his home. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Police cordoned off the area where the former Maldives leader was injured in a bomb blast in Male
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is in a critical condition a day after he was injured in an explosion on one of the country s tropical islands, his hospital said on Friday after a series of surgeries. He remains in a critical condition in intensive care, the private ADK hospital said of Nasheed, adding that he underwent life-saving surgery for injuries to his head, chest, abdomen and limbs.
Sandeep Dikshit
New Delhi, May 5
Hours after an in-person meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in London, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar confirmed a UK media report that two members of his delegation had isolated themselves after testing positive for Covid.
The minister and the delegation members were tested in India on Sunday and found Covid negative, said sources, who could not confirm whether they were tested on landing in London.
“There is concern the EAM might have been exposed to the virus. We will go by the British health authorities’ tracking and testing system. We are concerned about our delegation. We are happy all are fine,’’ sources said.