WHO urges international community to resume Afghanistan’s health funding
The World Health Organization’s representative to Afghanistan called on the international community on Thursday to resume funding of the country’s health program. Luo Dapeng, WHO’s representative to Afghanistan, said, “The country’s already fragile health system is overwhelmed.” He further said that the WHO is coordinating with donors to find alternative funding mechanisms for health facilities.
US special envoy to Haiti resigns over migrant expulsions
US President Joe Biden administration’s special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, has resigned, protesting large-scale expulsions of Haitian migrants to their homeland. Foote said, “I’ll not be associated with…US’ inhumane…decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti.” Foote was appointed to the position in July, following the assassination of Haiti’s president.
UK suspends official for error exposing 250 Afghan interpreters’ details
UK’s Defence Minister Ben Wallace said an employee has been suspended over a data breach exposing details of interpreters in Afghanistan seeking relocation to Britain after the Taliban retook control of the country. Wallace launched a probe after an email sent to over 250 people seeking relocation mistakenly copied all applicants. “We apologise to those affected,” UK’s Defence Ministry said.
19 Chinese air force aircraft enter Taiwan’s air defence zone
Taiwan Defence Ministry said that 19 Chinese air force aircraft, including 12 fighter jets and two nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defence identification zone. Taiwan had dispatched its aircraft to warn off the Chinese aircraft, the ministry added. Taiwan has reported incursions by Chinese aircraft into its air defence zone regularly since last year.
Economic sanctions on Afghanistan must end: China at G20
In a speech via video link at the virtual G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that economic sanctions against Afghanistan must end. Wang said that the sanctions should not be used as bargaining chips to exert political pressure on Afghanistan. He further said that international financial institutions should provide financial support for Afghanistan.
