Trump calls for Biden to resign, as Dominic Raab accused of ‘going AWOL’ with week-long holiday
The UK and the US are facing criticism over their handling of the deepening crisis in Afghanistan.
Donald Trump has called for Joe Biden to resign in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover – describing the current situation as a “disgrace”.
In a statement, the former president wrote: “What Joe Biden has done with Afghanistan is legendary. It will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history!”
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The end of America’s ‘forever war’
Live updates on Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul
However, Mr Trump has also been strongly criticised for the situation in Afghanistan as it was his administration which made the decision to withdraw troops and which made a deal with the Taliban in exchange for security guarantees.
The Trump administration agreed to the deal with the Taliban in February 2020.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been accused of “going AWOL” after spending the past week on holiday abroad as the situation was unravelling.
Tom Tugendhat, a veteran and Conservative MP who now chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, told the BBC that he does not know how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will respond – adding this is “the biggest single policy disaster since Suez”.
Government officials have said that Mr Raab is personally overseeing the Foreign Office’s response, has engaged with international partners, and returned to the UK yesterday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the Taliban should not be recognised as the government of Afghanistan, but added it was clear there will be a new administration in the country very soon.
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PM: ‘There is a change of regime happening’
He has also called for the West to adopt a “united position … so that we do whatever we can to prevent Afghanistan lapsing back into being a breeding ground for terror”.
Mr Johnson confirmed that Sir Laurie Bristow, the UK’s ambassador to Afghanistan, has been “working around the clock” to evacuate British citizens – and has been at Kabul’s airport to help process applications.
The prime minister added: “Our priority is to make sure that we deliver on our obligations to UK nationals in Afghanistan, to all those who helped the British effort in Afghanistan over 20 years, and to get them out as fast we can.
“We are going to get as many as we can out in the next few days.”
The UN Security Council is going to meet later today.
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Afghans try to flee at airport
Another 1,000 troops have been sent to Afghanistan to help evacuate US personnel and keep Kabul’s airport secure – taking over air traffic control in the process.
However, the rapid collapse of the country’s government means American officials are increasingly concerned about the potential for a rise in terrorist threats against the US.
Back in June, senior leaders at the Pentagon had said that an extremist group such as al Qaeda could regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the US homeland within two years.
Because of the evolving situation, they now believe that terrorist organisations may be able to grow much faster than expected.
US intelligence agencies are now working on a new timeline based on these developing threats.
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The moment the Taliban took over Kabul
All of this comes as officials push back against criticism of what has widely been seen as an intelligence failure – and the hurried evacuations out of Kabul have been likened to the 1975 fall of Saigon.
Last month, President Joe Biden said the prospects of the Taliban “overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely” – something that the hardline Islamist group has now managed to achieve in just over a week.
One senior intelligence official told the AP news agency: “A rapid Taliban takeover was always a possibility … As the Taliban advanced, they ultimately met with little resistance. We have always been clear-eyed that this was possible, and tactical conditions on the ground can often evolve quickly.”
Veterans have also expressed dismay at how quickly Afghanistan has fallen after 20 years of conflict, with more than 450 British personnel losing their lives during the war.
Jack Cummings, a former Royal Engineer, said: “Was it worth it, probably not. Did I lose my legs for nothing, looks like it. Did my mates die in vain, Yep.”
Donald Trump has said he “hated” to see photos of Bill Clinton in the newly released Epstein files.
The former US president was in numerous images that were released by the US Department of Justice among thousands of documents related to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In his first engagement in front of the media since the release of the latest files, Mr Trump was asked about the images of Mr Clinton.
“I think it’s terrible,” Mr Trump said, adding: “I like Bill Clinton… and I hate to see photos come out of him.
“I’ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I’ve been nice to him, he’s been nice to me. I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans, are asking for.
“So they are giving photos of me to. Everybody was friendly with this guy [Epstein], either friendly or not friendly.
“He was all over Palm Beach and other places… and Bill Clinton was a friend of his, but everybody was.”
Photos released of Bill Clinton included one showing him in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell. Pics: US Department of Justice
He added: “Bill Clinton’s a big boy. He can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago.”
The US president claimed the release of the files “is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has”.
A painting of Bill Clinton in a dress was among the images released. Pic: US DoJ
Clinton calls for release of ‘any remaining materials’
In a statement on Monday, Angel Urena, a spokesman for Mr Clinton, called for Mr Trump to “release any remaining materials referring to mentioning or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton”.
The spokesman said the materials released so far “makes it clear someone or something is being protected” but said Mr Clinton doesn’t need such protection.
“Refusal to do so will confirm the widespread suspicion the Department of Justice’s actions to date are not about transparency, but about insinuation – using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice, over many years under presidents and attorney generals of both parties,” the spokesperson added.
The context around the photos, that were released hours before a legal deadline in the US following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, is unknown.
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The same release only features one picture with Mr Trump’s name in it.
Mr Clinton has denied any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein and says he regrets meeting him.
Backlash over release of files
It comes as other Democrats and Republicans have grown angry over the length of time it is taking the US Department of Justice to release all files in the Epstein case.
Several victims of Epstein told Sky News that the incomplete release left them feeling shocked, outraged and disappointed.
Republican representative Thomas Massie and Democratic representative Ro Khanna said they are working together on an effort to secure the release of more files, and if necessary would seek contempt of Congress charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also introduced legislation that would instruct Majority Leader John
Thune, a Republican, to undertake “appropriate” legal steps to gain Congress access to all the documents covered by
legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law by Mr Trump.
It was not clear whether his effort might advance in the Senate when it returns on 5 January.
Donald Trump has announced a plan for the US Navy to build two new “Trump Class” battleships.
Aimed at cementing US naval dominance, the president said the vessels will be “the fastest, the biggest and 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built”.
Constructed in America, made of steel and complete with missiles, guns, lasers and hypersonic weapons, the vessels will be the “centrepiece” of the US Navy’s Golden Fleet initiative, he said.
Starting with two vessels, Mr Trump said the project would eventually expand to include 20 to 25 new ships.
The first will be christened the USS Defiant, with the US leader personally involved in how it looks.
It comes as the US continues to build a large naval military presence near the coast of Venezuela. Since early September, it has struck more than 20 vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which Mr Trump says is to crack down on drug cartels.
The US Navy has also seized two oil tankers and is believed to be in “active pursuit” of a third, according to officials.
Donald Trump speaking about the Navy’s ‘Golden Fleet’. Pic: Reuters
“There’s never been anything like these ships. These have been under design consideration for a long time,” he said.
“Each one of these will be the largest battleship in the history of our country. The largest battleship in the history of the world.
“We haven’t built a battleship since 1994. These cutting-edge vessels will be some of the most lethal surface warfare ships… other than our submarines.”
Mr Trump made the announcement at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. During the briefing, he stood next to mock-up pictures of the new vessels which had “Trump Class” written in the corner – what a senior administration official said the new class of vessel will be known as.
Images of the new ‘Trump Class’ battleship. Pic: Reuters
In addition to the new battleship class, the project aims to increase the number of other types of war vessels, including a smaller, more nimble frigate class.
The term battleship has historically referred to a large, heavily armoured vessel armed with guns designed to bombard other ships or targets ashore.
This type of ship reached peak prominence during the Second World War. The largest of the US battleships was the Iowa-class.
Pic: Reuters
The Trump administration has been complaining about the slow and expensive state of the current defence industry.
Just a month ago, the Navy scrapped its plans to build a new, small warship, citing growing delays and overrunning costs. It has also failed to build its other newly designed ships, like the new Ford-class aircraft carrier and Columbia-class submarines, on time and on budget.
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But Mr Trump said the naval expansion would also be paired with renewed pressure on defence contractors to speed up production and rein in costs.
He said he plans to meet with major firms next week to address problems.
Barry Manilow is being treated for lung cancer and has been forced to reschedule live shows, the 82 year-old has revealed.
The Copacabana popstar announced on Instagram that a cancerous spot had been discovered on his left lung.
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” he wrote.
“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed.”
Manilow, 82, added that the cancer had been found early thanks to “pure luck” and a “great doctor”.
And while he would not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment, he wrote, he would have to undergo surgery, forcing him to reschedule his January shows.
He had been due to embark on a string of arena concerts in US cities including Orlando, Tampa, Charleston, Greensboro and Columbus.
He wrote: “I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed. The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis.
“The only follow-up is a month to recover and that means we have to reschedule the January arena concerts.
“I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans.
“Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around.”
Barry Manilow poses for photographers ahead of a run of shows on Broadway in New York City in 2019. Pic: Reuters
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The Grammy Award-winning singer has released a string of hits over the course of more than 50 years recording music.
They include Could It Be Magic, Looks Like We Made It, Mandy, and Can’t Smile Without You.
His announcement comes after Cliff Richard revealed he had been treated for prostate cancer.
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