AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

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WORLD UK AUSTRALIA

Chaos as thousands flee Kabul Boris vows to evacuate Brits ‘Disturbingly high’ cases in NSW

Thousands of people packed into the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has NSW has reported a “disturbingly high” Afghan capital Kabul’s airport, rushing vowed to get as many as possible of 478 new locally acquired cases of the tarmac and pushing onto planes in the Afghans who worked with the UK COVID-19, on another record-breaking desperate attempts to flee the country out of the country as the Taliban stood day with escalating transmissions and after the Taliban overthrew the Western- poised to take control of the capital eight deaths. At least 91 of the new backed government. US soldiers fired Kabul. With President Ashraf Ghani fled, cases were circulating in the community warning shots as they struggled to and insurgent fighters surrounding for all or part of their infectious period in manage the chaotic evacuation. The the capital, the Prime Minister said the the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday. Among Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after situation was “extremely difficult”. the eight dead was 15-year-old Osama President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, Suduh, the youngest person in Australia bringing a stunning end to a two-decade to die with the virus. campaign.

WORLD UK NEW ZEALAND

Fear, chaos amid fall of Kabul UK military ‘cannot return’ Takeover ‘catastrophic failure’

The Taliban has swept into Afghanistan’s The former head of Nato says the UK Former prime minister Helen Clark says capital Kabul after the government military cannot return to Afghanistan the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan collapsed and the embattled president after the country was retaken by the shows “a catastrophic failure of joined an exodus of his fellow citizens Taliban. Lord Robertson, who served as intelligence in Western foreign policy” and foreigners, signaling the end of general secretary of the military alliance and to say that she is pessimistic a costly two-decade US campaign to between 1999 and 2004 – and issued about the country’s future would be remake the country. Heavily armed a statement invoking article five of the an understatement. Taliban insurgents Taliban fighters fanned out across the treaty that provides for collective defence have entered Kabul and President Ashraf capital, and several entered Kabul’s after the attack on the World Trade Ghani has fled Afghanistan, bringing the abandoned presidential palace. Centre on 9/11 – said that the UK should Islamist militants close to taking over focus on increasing its defences against the country two decades after they were terrorism at home. overthrown by a US-led invasion.

1 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

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NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

Taliban take Biden by surprise Hundreds mourn attack victims Melbourne lockdown extended

President Joe Biden and other top US There has been a heartfelt plea for Melbourne’s lockdown has been officials were stunned by the pace of the change as hundreds gathered in extended by two weeks and a night Taliban’s nearly complete takeover of Plymouth to pay their respects to the curfew will be reimposed, in an effort to Afghanistan, as the planned withdrawal five people killed in one of the UK’s stamp out the state’s latest outbreak of of American forces urgently became a worst mass shootings. Civic leaders, the Delta coronavirus variant. Premier mission to ensure a safe evacuation. religious figures, politicians, emergency Daniel Andrews announced the The speed of the Afghan government’s service workers and the military joined extension, as well as a raft of tougher collapse and the ensuing chaos posed around 200 people outside the Guildhall restrictions, after the state recorded 22 the most serious test of Biden as in Plymouth city centre to hold a one new local COVID-19 cases, including five commander in chief, and he was the minute’s silence. mystery cases. subject of withering criticism from Republicans who said that he had failed.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

Democrats face budget rebellion Isolation ends for fully vaxxed Headline here…

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has People who are fully vaccinated against Defence Force personnel could be proposed a procedural vote this month COVID-19 will no longer have to isolate deployed as nearly as Wednesday to that would set up future passage of if they come into contact with someone help New Zealanders and their families two economic measures crucial to who has tested positive for the virus. evacuate from Afghanistan, as well as President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda, From Monday, people in England who at-risk Afghan nationals who have helped a move Democratic leaders hope will win have had both doses of a coronavirus state agencies. The country has fallen must-have votes from unhappy party vaccine, or are under 18, will not have to quickly under Taliban control since the moderates. Pelosi suggested that the spend 10 days in quarantine if they are US evacuation of the Bagram airbase at House will take a single vote that would a contact of a positive case, a change the beginning of July. An RNZAF C-130 clear an initial hurdle for both a budget which has been hailed “another step back Hercules aircraft with 40 NZDF personnel resolution and a separate infrastructure towards normality”. is scheduled to be deployed. bill.

2 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

- AP Taliban fighters take control of Afghan presidential palace after the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan. - AP

WORLD WORLD Chaos as thousands Taliban forces sweep flee from Afghanistan into Afghan capital

Thousands of people packed into the Afghan capital The Taliban has swept into Afghanistan’s capital Kabul Kabul’s airport, rushing the tarmac and pushing onto after the government collapsed and the embattled planes in desperate attempts to flee the country after president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and the Taliban overthrew the Western-backed government. foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade US US soldiers fired warning shots as they struggled to campaign to remake the country. manage the chaotic evacuation. Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, The Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf and several entered Kabul’s abandoned presidential palace. Ghani fled the country, bringing a stunning end to a two- Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman and negotiator, said decade campaign in which the US and its allies had tried to that the militants would hold talks in the coming days aimed transform Afghanistan. The country’s Western-trained security at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government.” forces collapsed or fled in the face of an insurgent offensive Earlier, a Taliban official said the group would announce that tore through the country in just over a week, ahead of from the palace the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of the planned withdrawal of the last US troops at the end of Afghanistan, the formal name of the country under Taliban rule the month. before the militants were ousted by US-led forces in the wake In the capital, a tense calm set in, with most people hiding of the 9/11 attacks, which were orchestrated by al-Qaida while in their homes as the Taliban deployed fighters at major it was being sheltered by the Taliban. But that plan appeared intersections. There were scattered reports of looting and to be on hold. armed men knocking on doors and gates, and there was less Kabul was gripped by panic. Helicopters raced overhead traffic than usual on eerily quiet streets. Fighters could be seen throughout the day to evacuate personnel from the US searching vehicles at one of the city’s main squares. Embassy. Smoke rose near the compound as staff destroyed Many fear chaos, after the Taliban freed thousands of important documents, and the American flag was lowered. prisoners and the police simply melted away, or a return to Several other Western missions also prepared to pull their the kind of brutal rule the Taliban imposed when it was last people out. in power. Fearful that the Taliban could reimpose the kind of brutal Wahidullah Qadiri, a Kabul resident, said he hoped for peace rule that all but eliminated women’s rights, Afghans rushed to after decades of war that have claimed the lives of two of his leave the country, lining up at cash machines to withdraw their brothers and a cousin. life savings. The desperately poor – who had left homes in the “We haven’t seen anything but catastrophes and fighting, so countryside for the presumed safety of the capital – remained we always live with hope for a long-lasting peace,” he said. in parks and open spaces throughout the city. Thousands of others doubted peace would come and raced Though the Taliban had promised a peaceful transition, the to Kabul’s international airport. Videos circulating on social US Embassy suspended operations and warned Americans late media showed hundreds of people running across the tarmac in the day to shelter in place and not try to get to the airport. as US soldiers fired warning shots in the air. One showed a Commercial flights were suspended after sporadic gunfire crowd pushing and shoving its way up a staircase, trying to erupted at the Kabul airport, according to two senior US board a plane, with some people hanging off the railings. ■ military officials. ■

3 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

UK military personnel board an RAF Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, England to travel British Forces arrive in the Afghan capital of Kabul to assist in evacuating British nationals to Afghanistan. - AP and entitled persons amidst the worsening security situation. - AP

UK UK Johnson pledges UK military ‘cannot return to Afghanistan’ to evacuate Brits, allies The former head of Nato says the UK military cannot Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to get as many return to Afghanistan after the country was retaken as possible of the Afghans who worked with the UK out by the Taliban. of the country as the Taliban stood poised to take control of the capital Kabul. Lord Robertson, who served as general secretary of the military alliance between 1999 and 2004 – and issued a statement With President Ashraf Ghani fled, and insurgent fighters invoking article five of the treaty that provides for collective surrounding the capital, the Prime Minister said the situation defence after the attack on the World Trade Centre on 9/11 was “extremely difficult”. – said that the UK should focus on increasing its defences After chairing a meeting of the Government’s Cobra against terrorism at home. contingencies committee he said the UK was determined The Taliban marched into Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on to work with allies to prevent the country again becoming a Sunday, taking the presidential palace with little resistance “breeding ground for terror”. while President Ashraf Ghani was forced to flee. However he faced a backlash from MPs who said the Lord Robertson said that the speed of the takeover showed West had been humiliated by insurgents armed with just a “failure of intelligence” from allied forces. basic weaponry. He said he was “sad and sickened” by the scenes from MPs are expected to to vent their anger and frustration the country, where coalition forces had been stationed for when they return to Westminster for an emergency recall of 20 years. Parliament to discuss the crisis. “I find it ironic at best but tragic at worst that the anniversary In the meantime, Johnson said the Government’s priority of 9/11 is going to be commemorated in a few weeks’ time with was to assist the remaining British nationals as well as those the Taliban back in control of Kabul – that is deeply, deeply Afghans who had helped the UK. depressing,” he said. He said the British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow had been But he added that the time for military intervention in the at Kabul airport helping to process the applications of those country is over and the focus must shift to stopping terrorist seeking to leave. acts on British soil. “Our priority is to make sure that we deliver on our “I don’t think we’re going to be back in there again. We can’t obligations to UK nationals in Afghanistan, to all those who go in there militarily – that’s over, that’s finished. helped the British effort in Afghanistan over 20 years, and to “That’s an episode we’ll have to reflect on and learn lots of get them out as fast we can,” he said. lessons from. “We are going to get as many as we can out in the next “But what we have to do is to make sure that our own few days.” defences are much more resilient as a consequence of this Britain has sent 600 troops – including Paras from 16 Air particular failure, and we’ve got to watch what the international Assault Brigade – to assist in the operation. ramifications are going to be – they will not be good. Meanwhile, other Western countries were scrambling to “That’s why I think it’s tragic that we will commemorate the get their people out, with helicopters shuttling from the US disaster that was 9/11 with the Taliban back in control of the embassy to the airport while smoke was seen coming from the presidential palace in Kabul.” ■ embassy rooftop as diplomats burned sensitive material. ■

4 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses a media conference in Sydney. - AAP Former prime minister Helen Clark. - RNZ

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ‘Disturbingly high’ Clark: Taliban takeover virus cases in NSW ‘massive step backwards’

NSW has reported a “disturbingly high” 478 new locally Former prime minister Helen Clark says the Taliban acquired cases of COVID-19, on another record-breaking takeover in Afghanistan shows “a catastrophic failure day with escalating transmissions and eight deaths. of intelligence in Western foreign policy” and to say that she is pessimistic about the country’s future would be an At least 91 of the new cases were circulating in the community understatement. for all or part of their infectious period in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday. Taliban insurgents have entered Kabul and President Ashraf Among the eight dead was 15-year-old Osama Suduh, the Ghani has fled Afghanistan, bringing the Islamist militants youngest person in Australia to die with the virus. close to taking over the country two decades after they were Three men in their 80s, a man in his 40s, a man in his 70s, overthrown by a US-led invasion. a woman in her 70s, and a woman in her 80s make up the Clark has also served as administrator of the United Nations other deaths. Development Programme (UNDP) for eight years and has The teenager from southwest Sydney died after contracting advocated globally for Afghan girls and women. pneumococcal meningitis and while he also had COVID-19, it She sent New Zealand troops to Afghanistan in 2001 during was not the reason for his admission or cause of death. her term as prime minister and said it is surreal to see what Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said while he was vaccinated has happened. for that bacterial infection, it may not have covered the “Twenty years of change there with so many gains for particular strain involved in his death. women and girls in society at large and to see what amounts to He was too young to be vaccinated for COVID-19. people motivated by medieval theocracy walk back in and take Chant confirmed an outbreak in a mental health facility at power and start issuing the same kinds of statements about Nepean Hospital in Penrith, along with another ward, had constraints on women … I mean this is just such a massive step caused 30 cases there. backwards it’s hard to digest.” Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the transmission Clark said to find out what has gone wrong it is necessary numbers as “disturbingly high” and warned case numbers in to look back a couple of decades and it was not long after the thousands could occur if people continued to flout public the Taliban had left that the US administration started to look health orders. away from Afghanistan, turning instead towards its intervention “We absolutely could if people keep ignoring the rules.” in Iraq. Escalating cases were recorded in Greenacre, Bankstown, “With the gaze off Afghanistan the Taliban started to come Merrylands, Guildford, Granville, Blacktown, Mount Druitt back. When I was at UNDP I would meet ambassadors from the and Yagoona. region around Afghanistan and they would say ‘look 60 percent “We need people in those communities to just stay home,” of the country is in effect controlled by the Taliban now’ and I’m she said. going back four or five years, six years in saying that.” The death toll is now at 56 for this outbreak, which began She said to say she was pessimistic about Afghanistan’s mid-June, and half of all NSW COVID-19 deaths have come future would be an understatement and there are already in this outbreak. ■ reports of women being treated very badly in regions where the Taliban has taken over. ■

5 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

- AP House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Biden team surprised Democrats face by rapid Taliban gains budget rebellion

President Joe Biden and other top US officials were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has proposed a procedural stunned by the pace of the Taliban’s nearly complete vote this month that would set up future passage of takeover of Afghanistan, as the planned withdrawal of two economic measures crucial to President Joe Biden’s American forces urgently became a mission to ensure domestic agenda, a move Democratic leaders hope will a safe evacuation. win must-have votes from unhappy party moderates.

The speed of the Afghan government’s collapse and the In a letter to Democratic lawmakers, Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested ensuing chaos posed the most serious test of Biden as that the House will take a single vote that would clear an commander in chief, and he was the subject of withering initial hurdle for both a budget resolution and a separate criticism from Republicans who said that he had failed. infrastructure bill. The budget blueprint would open the gate Biden campaigned as a seasoned expert in international for Congress to later consider a separate, $3.5 trillion, 10-year relations and has spent months downplaying the prospect bill for health, education and environment programs. of an ascendant Taliban while arguing that Americans of all Earlier, nine centrist Democrats said they would oppose the political persuasions have tired of a 20-year war, a conflict that budget resolution until the House first approves a $1 trillion demonstrated the limits of money and military might to force package of road, railway and other infrastructure projects. In a Western-style democracy on a society not ready or willing to the face of solid Republican opposition, Democrats can lose embrace it. no more than three defectors to pass legislation through the By Sunday, though, leading figures in the administration closely split chamber. acknowledged they were caught off guard with the utter The infrastructure measure, which the Senate approved last speed of the collapse of Afghan security forces. The challenge week with bipartisan support, is the top priority for moderates, of that effort became clear after reports of sporadic gunfire who want to bank a quick win by sending it to Biden for his at the Kabul airport prompted Americans to shelter as they signature. Democrats are calling the House back from summer awaited flights to safety after the US Embassy was completely recess on August 23. evacuated. By forcing the House to vote on moving both measures “We’ve seen that that force has been unable to defend the an initial step forward together, Democratic leaders hope country,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, referring to moderates will be forced to abandon their threat – at least for the Afghan military. now – and join the rest of the party in edging its economic and “And that has happened more quickly than we anticipated.” social agenda toward eventual passage. The turmoil in Afghanistan resets the focus in an unwelcome The nine moderates said in a joint statement that they still way for a president who has largely focused on a domestic want final passage of the infrastructure bill before voting on agenda that includes emerging from the pandemic, winning the budget. But they stopped short of saying they’d oppose congressional approval for trillions of dollars in infrastructure Pelosi’s plan to initially advance both together. spending and protecting voting rights. “We simply can’t afford any delays. As Democrats, we remain Biden remained at Camp David on the weekend, receiving committed to working with our colleagues to advance the regular briefings on Afghanistan and holding secure video President’s agenda,” including sending the infrastructure conference calls with members of his national security team, package to Biden, they wrote. ■ according to senior White House officials. ■

6 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

People take part in a minute’s silence outside Plymouth Guildhall in memory of the five - PA people that were killed by gunman Jake Davison in a firearms incident. - PA

UK UK Hundreds mourn Isolation requirements shooting victims end for fully vaccinated

There has been a heartfelt plea for change as hundreds People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will gathered in Plymouth to pay their respects to the five no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with people killed in one of the UK’s worst mass shootings. someone who has tested positive for the virus.

Civic leaders, religious figures, politicians, emergency service From Monday, people in England who have had both doses of workers and the military joined around 200 people outside the a coronavirus vaccine, or are under 18, will not have to spend Guildhall in Plymouth city centre to hold a one minute’s silence. 10 days in quarantine if they are a contact of a positive case, They gathered to mourn and reflect on last week’s a change which has been hailed “another step back towards devastating events when gunman Jake Davison, 22, launched normality”. his spree in the Keyham area of the city. They will be advised to take a PCR test, but that will not be Davison shot his 51-year-old mother Maxine Davison, also compulsory and they will not have to self-isolate while they wait known as Maxine Chapman, at a house in Biddick Drive before for the result. he went into the street and shot dead Sophie Martyn, aged If someone develops symptoms of the virus, the Government three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43. says they should self-isolate and get a PCR test, and stay in In the 12-minute attack, Davison then killed Stephen isolation until the result comes back. Washington, 59, in a nearby park before shooting 66-year-old The new guidance will apply to people who had their final Kate Shepherd, who later died at Derriford Hospital. dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before coming Addressing the mourners outside the Guildhall, Keyham into contact with a positive case. community leader Kevin Sproston said: “The solidarity, love People who test positive will still be legally required to and support shown by Plymouth and the UK towards Keyham self-isolate. has been overwhelming and we thank you for all your kind As double jabbed people identified as close contacts are messages, it means a lot. still at risk of being infected, people are advised to consider “At the moment Keyham is grieving. other precautions such as wearing a face covering in enclosed “We grieve because we love and grief is love. spaces, and limiting contact with other people, especially with “We are in shock, feel guilty and angry about the events anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable. surrounding the deaths of our beloved community members From Monday in Northern Ireland, people who are close because we love. contacts of positive cases will no longer have to isolate for 10 “It is that love and energy that we can now use to being days, as long as they test negative, have no symptoms and about change. have had both jabs of a COVID-19 vaccine. “As a community we will look to restore and rebuild together. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The British “Collectively we will support each other and help bring back a public have played a vital role following self-isolation rules community we want our children to inherit.” ■ throughout the pandemic and sacrificing so much to help bring the virus under control. “The requirement for double-jabbed and under-18s who are contacts of people with COVID-19 has been removed as we cautiously take another step back towards normality." ■

7 AUGUST 16 (GMT) – AUGUST 17 (AEST), 2021

- AAP - 123RF

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Melbourne lockdown NZ troops ready for extended, curfew back Afghan deployment

Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended by two weeks Defence Force personnel could be deployed as nearly as and a night curfew will be reimposed, in an effort to Wednesday to help New Zealanders and their families stamp out the state’s latest outbreak of the Delta evacuate from Afghanistan, as well as at-risk Afghan coronavirus variant. nationals who have helped state agencies.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the extension, as well as The country has fallen quickly under Taliban control since the a raft of tougher restrictions, after the state recorded 22 new US evacuation of the Bagram airbase at the beginning of July. local COVID-19 cases, including five mystery cases. An RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft with 40 NZDF personnel A 9pm to 5am curfew, which was in place during the state’s is scheduled to be deployed, but it has not been confirmed yet second wave last year, will be introduced from 11.59pm on whether it will land in Afghanistan. Monday, while permits for work will be reintroduced and “We can deploy as early as Wednesday morning,” Defence playgrounds will close. Minister Peeni Henare said. Andrews said the state had no choice given the number “There are a number of logistics we’re working through with of mystery cases, illegal gatherings at the weekend and the our Australian counterparts. But that is what I’ve been advised number of children spreading the virus. as the earliest time we could deploy.” “We’ve seen lots of different people flouting these rules, not Henare said the 40 NZDF personnel to be deployed include doing as they should, making really poor choices,” he said. engineers, medical people, “as well as what the Chief of “That is not good for anybody.” Defence Force described as ‘security’.” Andrews said in particular, an engagement party of 69 He could not disclose if personnel would be fully armed and people was particularly egregious. authorised to act in their own defence. “There has been transmission at that event,” he said. The criteria for Afghan nationals seeking asylum in New “But what makes me really angry about that event is that Zealand has been expanded to include people who helped each of those 69 people will have to be interviewed. Their close the NZDF, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, police, or gave contact also have to be spoken to, tested. assistance to the Operation Burnham inquiry. “Our contact tracers who are working their guts out for all “This is a multinational operation,” Henare said. “We’ve of us will have to spend literally thousands of hours dealing already spoken to our counterparts in Australia and they with hundreds and thousands of people connected to that are aware of who our people are, and will look towards engagement party. assisting us. “That is the work that they must do, but it is all entirely “Our job is simply to show that we are here and able to preventable. That is what makes me angry and disappointed.” respond. We know that there are many aircraft that are A mother and son from St Kilda East, the heart of the headed into the area to support with the evacuation, but we’ve city’s Jewish community, tested positive for COVID-19 at the got to be smart about this too. There’s no point sending our weekend, despite having no known links to other cases. plane into Afghanistan if when it’s just not needed there, and it It is believed one of them attended an engagement party, might be needed outside or on the fringe. allegedly held in breach of lockdown restrictions earlier in “All of those details to be worked through with our Australian the week. ■ counterparts in the first instance, in the coming hours.” ■

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