Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Daily News Brief

*) US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11 President Joe Biden says the US will withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11, almost 20 years after the war began. Biden's decision would miss a May 1 withdrawal deadline that his predecessor Donald Trump had agreed to with the Taliban. Hours after the announcement, the Taliban said the group will not attend any summit on Afghanistan's future until all foreign forces leave the country. *) Minnesota officers resign two days after Daunte Wright shooting The Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop and the city's police chief have resigned. The resignations came after the city council passed a resolution to dismiss both police personnel over the death by “mistake” that triggered protests. Tensions have soared in the community, already on edge amid former cop Derek Chauvin's ongoing murder trial over George Floyd’s death last year. *) Pakistan forces try to clear sit-ins by protesters Pakistani forces fired tear gas at baton-charged supporters of a religious party after five people died in earlier demonstrations that turned violent this week. Protests erupted on Monday in major cities across the country after police arrested Saad Rizvi, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan. Rizvi was taken into custody hours after the TLP threatened the government with protests if they did not expel France’s ambassador over depictions of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. *) US pauses use of J&J vaccine over rare blood clots Health authorities in the US have called for an immediate pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson single-dose coronavirus vaccine. The joint decision, by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, comes after a rare disorder involving blood clots was reported in six people. Almost seven million Americans have received the Johnson and Johnson shots and one suspected death has been reported from clots linked to the jab. *) A photo of Turkey’s Van lake wins NASA competition A photograph of Lake Van in eastern Turkey has won a NASA photo competition. The photo, depicting the lake with its swirling cerulean and azure waters, was captured by astronaut Kate Rubins from space. The Tournament Earth competition gathered 32 participants and featured more than two decades of snapshots taken by astronauts.