As an enemy of both the Taliban and the US, ISIS-K is threatening to launch a devastating terror attack as thousands flee Kabul airport
US intelligence and military analysts say that ISIS-K is threatening to target Kabul Airport with a bomb-laden truck, suicide bombers and mortar strikes against the airfield.
With the increasing threat of a terror attack and demands by the Taliban for the US to leave by the end of August, Biden is scrambling to hasten evacuation efforts.
“Every day we’re on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both U.S. and allied forces and innocent civilians,” Biden said.
BLINKEN: "It's hard to overstate the complexity and the danger of this effort. We're operating in a hostile environment in a city and country now controlled by the Taliban with the very real possibility of a ISIS attack. We're taking every precaution but this is very high-risk."
Biden’s national security adviser says terror threat is “acute” and “persistent”
Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan says that American officials are taking all possible steps to thwart potential attacks.
As a result, the Biden administration has struck an unlikely temporary truce with the Taliban to defend against an ISIS-K attack.
ISIS leaders have already denounced the Taliban takeover, saying that the group is too ‘progressive’.
Image:Since the Taliban took control of Kabul on 15 August crowds of people have waited outside the airport as they attempt to board evacuation flights
US, UK and allied forces exposed to terror attack
US and NATO troops remain particularly exposed to an attack, needing to rely on the Taliban to ensure a safe passage to Kabul Airport.
The US embassy in Kabul has advised US citizens to “avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a US government representative to do so”.
The UK Foreign office has also updated its travel advice for UK nationals:
“The security situation in Afghanistan remains volatile. There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack. Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport. If you are in the area of the airport, move away to a safe location and await further advice.”
Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.
In a groundbreaking development, scientists have unveiled a remarkable AI tool that promises to revolutionise the detection and treatment of metastatic cancers.
These elusive cancers often evade detection until they have already spread to distant organs, posing a significant challenge for diagnosis and treatment. Published in Nature Medicine, the study showcases an AI model developed by researchers at Tianjin Medical University (TMU) in China, led by Tian Fei and Li Xiangchun. Trained on a vast dataset of 30,000 images from 21,000 individuals, the AI model demonstrated an unprecedented accuracy rate of 83% in identifying the origins of metastatic cancer cells found in fluid samples from abdominal or lung regions.
Impressively, the model’s top three predictions included the tumour’s source with a staggering 99% accuracy.
This breakthrough not only surpasses the capabilities of human pathologists but also offers a beacon of hope for the 300,000 people annually diagnosed with cancer at TMU-affiliated hospitals, where approximately 4,000 cases rely on such image-based diagnoses.
By significantly reducing the need for invasive tests and providing timely and accurate predictions, this AI tool could potentially extend the lives of late-stage cancer patients. Faisal Mahmood of Harvard Medical School praises the study’s findings, highlighting the potential of AI as an indispensable assistive tool in healthcare.
Looking ahead, the integration of AI with tissue samples and genomic data holds the promise of further enhancing outcomes for individuals battling metastatic cancers of unknown origins, ushering in a new era of precision medicine and personalised care.
Netflix Surpasses Expectations with 9.33 Million New Subscribers in Q1 2024
Netflix stunned analysts and the industry alike with its first-quarter 2024 earnings report, revealing a remarkable surge of 9.33 million paid subscribers, soaring past the anticipated 3.93 million additions and bringing its total subscriber count to an impressive 269.60 million.
This surge follows a record-breaking fourth quarter of 2023, where Netflix added 13.1 million subscribers. Despite this remarkable growth streak, Netflix announced it would cease reporting quarterly subscriber totals from 2025 onward, signalling a significant shift in industry dynamics. Notable contributors to this growth included high-profile releases like the live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “3 Body Problem” by the show-runners behind “Game of Thrones.”
Regionally, the U.S. and Canada saw a growth of 2.53 million paid subscribers, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa added 2.92 million, Latin America saw an increase of 1.72 million, and the Asia-Pacific market experienced a rise of 2.16 million.
Alongside surpassing subscriber expectations, Netflix exceeded financial projections, reporting a 15% increase in revenue from Q1 2023, with diluted earnings per share of $5.28 on $9.37 billion in revenue.
Looking ahead, Netflix forecasts robust financial performance for Q2, with expectations of $9.49 billion in revenue and diluted EPS of $4.68, aiming for revenue growth of 13% to 15% for the full year 2024, reflecting a bullish outlook on its operational margin.
Inflation and the rising cost of living in the United States is motivating Americans to consider moving to other countries.
Have you ever dreamed of working or retiring abroad?
Well, more and more Americans are discovering that their income can stretch much further in other countries, allowing them to save more, pay off debts, and even get ahead financially.
Kelli Maria Korduck a contributor with Business Insider joins Veronica Dudo to discuss why Americans are deciding that the only way to get ahead is to leave.
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