Babak Belurs

Senin, 23 Agustus 2021

Afghanistan: Person on no-fly list flown to UK during Kabul evacuation - BBC News

People are escorted to military planes at Kabul airport

A person from Afghanistan on the UK's no-fly watchlist was flown into Birmingham as part of the evacuation of Kabul, government officials confirmed.

The individual, who was identified as being on the watchlist on arrival in the UK, was later not deemed a person of interest after investigation.

The no-fly watchlist is used to stop people coming to the UK who are thought to be a security threat.

The Home Office said the person was flagged in a "rigorous checks process".

Someone can be placed on the no-fly watchlist due to previous serious criminal conduct as well as terrorism, the BBC's home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford reported.

He said it was accepted mistakes might happen during processing at Kabul's airport due to the speed and scale of the evacuation operation.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "An organised exit strategy would have ensured the necessary checks were in place, so this kind of lapse couldn't happen."

Afghanistan is on the Covid travel red list, meaning arrivals into England must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

The UK is one of a number of Western countries processing people eligible for evacuation out of Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Kabul.

A team at Kabul airport led by the British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow is under huge pressure to process as many people as possible ahead of a 31 August deadline.

The Ministry of Defence said 7,109 individuals had been evacuated from Afghanistan on UK flights since 13 August.

Those evacuated include British nationals, diplomatic staff, and Afghans eligible for relocation because they worked for the UK government in frontline roles or are otherwise considered to be at risk under a Taliban administration.

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2021-08-23 21:48:35Z
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Afghanistan: Person on no-fly list flown to UK during Kabul evacuation - BBC News

People are escorted to military planes at Kabul airport

A person from Afghanistan on the UK's no-fly watchlist was flown into Birmingham as part of the evacuation of Kabul, government officials confirmed.

The individual, who was identified as being on the watchlist on arrival in the UK, was later not deemed a person of interest after investigation.

The no-fly watchlist is used to stop people coming to the UK who are thought to be a security threat.

The Home Office said the person was flagged in a "rigorous checks process".

Someone can be placed on the no-fly watchlist due to previous serious criminal conduct as well as terrorism, the BBC's home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford reported.

Afghanistan is on the Covid travel red list, meaning arrivals into England must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

The UK is one of a number of Western countries processing people eligible for evacuation out of Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Kabul.

A team at Kabul airport led by the British ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow is under huge pressure to process as many people as possible ahead of a 31 August deadline.

Armed forces minister James Heappey earlier said 6,631 people had been evacuated to the UK in the past week, and that nine flights were planned for the next 24-hour period.

Those evacuated include British nationals, diplomatic staff, and Afghans eligible for relocation because they worked for the UK government in frontline roles or are otherwise considered to be at risk under a Taliban administration.

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2021-08-23 20:12:59Z
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Afghanistan: Person on no-fly list flown into UK during evacuation operation - Sky News

A person from Afghanistan on the UK's no-fly list has been flown into Birmingham as part of the British evacuation operation in a potential security breach, Sky News can reveal.

The individual, who is not being identified by the government, is understood to have reached UK soil on a British military plane, with officials being alerted "overnight".

Afghanistan latest news - follow live updates

The "no-fly list" is designed to block individuals who are considered a security threat from reaching the UK.

In a sense of the challenge facing British officials as they mount an urgent evacuation effort, the number of "hits" on the list over the past week is more than would normally be expected in a year.

But it is still only a tiny handful compared with the thousands of Afghans the UK has flown to safety from the Taliban, including former interpreters and other staff who risked their lives to support the British military and diplomatic mission in Afghanistan.

The government will not say if the individual who travelled to Birmingham has been detained.

If they pose a threat, the UK government will not now be able to return them to Afghanistan after Britain suspended flights.

The news of the Birmingham case emerged at a briefing for MPs by ministers and officials today.

Opposition MPs worry this is a security breach, although government sources say that the fact the individual has been identified shows the list is working. They also stress that people can be flagged on the "no-fly" list for a wide variety of reasons.

British officials at the airport in Kabul are warning of a spike in impersonations, forged documents and forged passports.

Ministers are saying this is why we cannot "open the gates" to allow anyone in without checks.

Sky News understands that the US does not have any such checks, and people will be processed in the US on arrival.

MPs were told today that five people on Britain's "no-fly list" attempted to leave Afghanistan with UK help. Four of the five were prevented from flying, but one person made it through to Birmingham.

The revelation was made by a senior Border Force official in a call to MPs earlier today. He also said that one more individual was intercepted in Frankfurt, and he was blocked from continuing his journey to the UK though his family were allowed to continue.

This is a significant increase in the number of people on the "no-fly" list trying to gain access to the UK.

Normally from Afghanistan, officials would get one attempt every four or five months - so five red flags in a week is a significant increase.

Kevin Foster, the Home Office minister, told MPs on the call that while the UK must help those under threat from the Taliban, they must be "mindful" of people who pose a threat to the UK.

Ministers are warning against diluting or speeding up checks to get desperate Afghans out of the country as the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warns the operation on the ground could be over in "hours now, not days".

A government spokesperson said: "There are people in Afghanistan who represent a serious threat to national security and public safety.

"That is why thorough checks are taking place by government, our world-class intelligence agencies and others.

"If someone is assessed as presenting as a risk to our country, we will take action."

British officials said there is a real risk of Islamic State militants seeking to exploit the UK's emergency scheme designed to help former Afghan interpreters and other local staff who worked for the UK military and diplomats in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.

A huge effort is under way to run security checks on each application, but there is also an urgency to get families on to aircraft before Kabul airport's evacuation mission is forced to stop - something that could happen imminently.

There is also a concern about Islamic State trying to target British troops conducting the evacuation by inserting a suicide bomber into the chaotic crowds massing outside the airport.

The longer the evacuation continues, the greater the risk, security sources said.

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2021-08-23 18:33:45Z
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Boardmasters: 4,700 Covid cases 'may be linked' to Newquay festival - BBC News

Festival

More than 4,000 Covid cases could have links to a music and surfing festival, with more expected in the coming days.

Cornwall Council said 4,700 cases may be linked to the Boardmasters event between 11 and 15 August.

About 50,000 people attended the festival in and around Newquay, which now has the three neighbourhoods with the highest infection rates in England.

Cornwall's public health team said: "We won't know the complete picture for another few days."

About 800 of those positive cases are people who live in Cornwall.

The figure comes after the Swansea Bay health board in Wales said on Friday about 50 cases there had been linked to the festival.

Ruth Goldstein, deputy director of public health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "At the moment, there are currently about 4,700 which could be linked to Boardmasters.

"These are people who have noted when they have had a PCR test, they have been associated to Boardmasters.

"We don't know whether they have been camping, or to events on the beach, or to parties in the town put on by Boardmasters.

"Of those people, three-quarters of them are aged between 16 and 21, which is exactly the profile of the people who we know attend the festival."

Covid rates

Andy Virr - Cornwall Council portfolio holder for adults, and an emergency doctor - said cases were expected but he was "reassured" they were not "translating into a serious life-threatening illness".

He added there were "benefits" from holding the event, although the possibility of cancelling it was discussed by the council.

He told a press briefing: "Covid will have lots of impacts ongoing, and one of them is around loneliness and isolation and mental health problems.

"That festival brought a lot of joy to people. And, yes, there are some things we are having to deal with, but that was part of the judgement.

"I think, at the moment, there are no regrets - we were expecting to have this wash-up to deal with."

Three parts of Newquay now have the three highest Covid infection rates in England for the seven days up to 18 August:

Newquay East - 1806.1 cases per 100,000 people

Newquay West - 1418.3

St Columb Minor and Porth - 1354

The national average of neighbourhood areas within English local authorities is 308.

Festival organisers said they "went above and beyond what was asked of us".

A spokesperson said: "Because of these measures, over 450 people who would otherwise have been at risk of passing on the virus did not attend or left the festival early."

They added: "We look forward to sharing our experience of running the festival in the current circumstances with other large events so we can all continue to provide much needed economic benefit to our wider communities and entertainment to our loyal audience."

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2021-08-23 17:10:39Z
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Extinction Rebellion: Activists begin two weeks of London protests 'targeting root cause of climate crisis' - Sky News

Extinction Rebellion has begun two weeks of climate protests in London with activists demanding the government stops new investment in fossil fuels.

The campaign group expects thousands of people will take part in their "Impossible Rebellion", which will "target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis".

The protests began on Monday morning, with activists gathering at Trafalgar Square, in what is its fifth mass demonstration.

Gail Bradbrook, the group's co-founder, gave a speech expressing solidarity with nations that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Campaigners held placards with messages including "Code red, where's the action" while four people were dressed as the sea in a warning over rising ocean levels.

The Metropolitan Police said eight people were arrested in the capital on Monday as of 6pm, following 10 arrests on Sunday.

In a tweet, they added: "Our policing operation continues. Specialist teams remain on site at their protest site on Long Acre junction #Westminster."

Activists have scheduled demonstrations at St James' Park, and Piccadilly Circus - similar to those carried out in 2019.

More protests are expected to take place in north and south London.

The Metropolitan Police will put in place a "significant" operation to manage the demonstrations over the bank holiday weekend, but acknowledged the activists are tackling an "important cause".

In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said it will "take to the streets again, with plans to disrupt the City of London to target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis - the political economy".

The disruption will continue until the government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investment, it said.

Extinction Rebellion has garnered support from celebrities, including comedian Stephen Fry and Game Of Thrones actor Jerome Flynn.

Fry praised the group on Twitter for attempting to "make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics" through their "mucky" and "disruptive" demonstrations.

And Flynn, who played Bronn in Game Of Thrones, attended a protest on Sunday at the Guildhall building in central London, where three activists scaled the entrance of the building.

Around 200 people were there, as the trio sprayed red spray over the walls of the building and unfurled a banner reading "co-liberation freedom together".

The Game Of Thrones actors said it was "more urgent than ever" for people to take a stand.

"We've got used to certain systems that are life destructive, we created them, we've become addicted to them and we know the world is burning as a result," he said.

"It feels needed and more poignant and more urgent than ever to come together.

"It's time to collaborate, there are so many things that are trying to polarise us and pull us apart."

Of the 10 arrested on Sunday, three people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage and a further five for conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Another person was detained for going equipped to cause criminal damage.

On the upcoming protests, the Met's deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: "We've got a significant operation in place lead by an experienced command team to effectively provide a proportionate response to what is going to be a protracted demonstration over two weeks.

Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

"We understand why this is such an important cause, no one is oblivious to that, what we don't want is for people who are protesting to impact on the rights of others.

"We don't want serious disruption caused to London - the August bank holiday is one of the busiest of the year and we know this will mean officers are extracted from their local boroughs and brought into the centre of London to deal with this protest."

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2021-08-23 16:19:50Z
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UK weather: Sunshine and 26C highs arriving this week as UK gets blast of summer heat - Sky News

Temperatures are set to soar to 26C as sunshine finally returns to the UK following a month of grey and gloomy weather.

Met Office forecasters say the nation will enjoy a blast of summer heat this week due to high pressure dominating, with Wednesday expected to see the hottest temperatures.

The mercury could hit highs of 24C (75F) in England and Wales, while western areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland could peak at 26C (79F).

Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: "High pressure is dominating this week bringing mostly settled conditions with variable amounts of cloud.

"However, there will be a north-easterly breeze coming in from the North Sea making it feel colder for some regions especially later on in the week.

"This all depends on the amount of cloud some regions see."

UV and pollen levels will also be high across England and Wales this week.

But sadly it won't be "wall-to-wall warm weather" all week, Ms Kent warned, as a cold front and north-easterly winds force the temperature down after Wednesday.

It comes after many areas were hit by downpours during what has been, for some, a wetter than average August.

Britain has been battered by heavy rainfall of late, including the City of London, which has experienced its ninth wettest August on record.

However, it has been a changeable month, with many parts of the nation enjoying the seventh warmest August ever.

It came after the hottest temperatures of the year back in July, climbing above 32C (90F) in some places.

Ms Kent added: "This month has pretty much swung back and forth for many, areas in Scotland have been drier than usual, while areas in the South East have, of course, seen plenty of torrential downpours.

"It hasn't been so bad, the country has generally seen 72% of its average rainfall for the month so far, which is pretty much where you want to be as we come to the end of August."

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2021-08-23 14:25:41Z
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Extinction Rebellion: Activists begin two weeks of London protests 'targeting root cause of climate crisis' - Sky News

Extinction Rebellion has begun two weeks of climate protests in London with activists demanding the government stops new investment in fossil fuels.

The campaign group expects thousands of people will take part in their "Impossible Rebellion", which will "target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis".

The protests began on Monday morning, with activists gathering at Trafalgar Square, in what is its fifth mass demonstration.

Gail Bradbrook, the group's co-founder, gave a speech expressing solidarity with nations that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Campaigners held placards with messages including "Code red, where's the action" while four people were dressed as the sea in a warning over rising ocean levels.

Activists have scheduled demonstrations at St James' Park, and Piccadilly Circus - similar to those carried out in 2019.

More protests are expected to take place in north and south London.

The Metropolitan Police will put in place a "significant" operation to manage the demonstrations over the bank holiday weekend, but acknowledged the activists are tackling an "important cause".

In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said it will "take to the streets again, with plans to disrupt the City of London to target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis - the political economy".

The disruption will continue until the government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investment, it said.

Extinction Rebellion has garnered support from celebrities, including comedian Stephen Fry and Game Of Thrones actor Jerome Flynn.

Fry praised the group on Twitter for attempting to "make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics" through their "mucky" and "disruptive" demonstrations.

And Flynn, who played Bronn in Game Of Thrones, attended a protest on Sunday at the Guildhall building in central London, where three activists scaled the entrance of the building.

Around 200 people were there, as the trio sprayed red spray over the walls of the building and unfurled a banner reading "co-liberation freedom together".

The Game Of Thrones actors said it was "more urgent than ever" for people to take a stand.

"We've got used to certain systems that are life destructive, we created them, we've become addicted to them and we know the world is burning as a result," he said.

"It feels needed and more poignant and more urgent than ever to come together.

"It's time to collaborate, there are so many things that are trying to polarise us and pull us apart."

A total of nine people were arrested on Sunday at the protest, the Met Police said.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a further five for conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Another person was detained for going equipped to cause criminal damage and all nine are held in police custody.

On the upcoming protests, the Met's deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: "We've got a significant operation in place lead by an experienced command team to effectively provide a proportionate response to what is going to be a protracted demonstration over two weeks.

Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

"We understand why this is such an important cause, no one is oblivious to that, what we don't want is for people who are protesting to impact on the rights of others.

"We don't want serious disruption caused to London - the August bank holiday is one of the busiest of the year and we know this will mean officers are extracted from their local boroughs and brought into the centre of London to deal with this protest."

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2021-08-23 12:33:44Z
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