Thursday, September 23, 2021

Daily News Brief

*) Taliban’s new UN envoy urges quick world recognition of Afghan rulers The Taliban’s newly appointed envoy to the United Nations has urged quick world recognition of Afghanistan’s new rulers. Earlier, the Taliban wrote to the UN requesting its new UN representative, Suhail Shaheen, be allowed to address the General Assembly currently underway in New York. Meanwhile, attackers have struck Taliban vehicles in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least two fighters and three civilians in the latest violence since the group's takeover of the country in mid-August. *) Ukraine president aide targeted in 'assassination attempt' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that an assassination attempt was made against him after his aide's car came under heavy gunfire. The aide, Serhiy Shefir, survived unscathed but police said his driver had been wounded after more than 10 bullets hit the car near a village, just outside the capital Kiev. In a recorded message from New York, where Zelenskyy joined the UN Assembly, he called the shooting a show of "weakness." *) US donating 'historic' extra 500 million Covidvaccines US President Joe Biden has promised to donate a "historic" extra 500 million vaccines to countries struggling to overcome the pandemic. The pledge at a Covid-19summit of world leaders, held virtually from the White House, brings the total US commitment of donated vaccines to 1.1 billion — more than the rest of the world combined. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has approved booster shots of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus. *) WHO blames air pollution for 7 million premature deaths a year The World Health Organisation has strengthened its air quality guidelines, saying air pollution was now one of the biggest environmental threats to human health. It said that air pollution causes seven million premature deaths a year, ranking its burden of disease on par with smoking and unhealthy eating. The WHO's new guidelines recommend air quality levels for six pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. *) Somalia screens first film in three decades Somalia is due to host its first screening of a movie in three decades under heavy security. The National Theatre of Somalia's history reflects the tumultuous journey of the conflict-ravaged country, having been targeted by suicide bombers and used as a base by warlords. The stage was set for the evening screening of two short films by Somali director Ibrahim CM, "Hoos" and "Date from Hell". It had never before screened a Somali film.