At least seven dead as thousands rush to Kabul airport to flee Taliban

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing August 17, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines [At least seven people were reported to have been killed]( after chaos erupted at Kabul airport on Monday as desperate Afghans tried to flee Taliban rule. Both US troops and Taliban fighters fired their guns in the air as crowds streamed into the airport in the hope of getting on civilian flights, most of which had been cancelled. Others went on to the military side of the airport where American, British and other foreign governments were airlifting their nationals, as well as some Afghans who had worked for them, out of the country. Thousands of Afghans had headed to the airport in desperation, with some clinging to a US military transport plane as it taxied on the runway. Footage later appeared to show people falling from the same plane after it took off. Amid the chaos, US troops fired in the air to deter people trying to force their way on to a military flight evacuating American diplomats and embassy staff. Initially, five people were reported killed. A witness said it was unclear if they had been shot or killed in a stampede. A US official also said two gunmen had been killed by American forces over the past 24 hours. A Pentagon spokesperson said there were indications one US soldier was wounded. [Click here to follow our live coverage]( [Exceeding critical “tipping points” in the climate system could lead to significant increases in the economic impacts]( of the global environmental crisis, a new study has warned. A research team led by academics at the Grantham institute at London School of Economics (LSE)- used new models to estimate the economic fallout from major climate tipping points being breached, such as the disintegration of the Greenland ice sheet, the thawing of permafrost and dieback of the Amazon rainforest. The research revealed that should any of these tipping points come to pass, their resultant impact would likely increase the economic cost of damages from the climate crisis by about 25 per cent compared to previous projections. However, the authors suggested the main scenario they modelled “could be conservative”, and the tipping points could in fact trigger much greater damages. Their study found there was a 10 per cent chance of the tipping points at least doubling the costs of climate change impacts, and a 5 per cent chance of them tripling costs. [People in a UK removal centre say they fear for their lives after it emerged more than a dozen have tested positive for coronavirus]( but are not being moved to other units because there is “no space”. The Home Office has been accused of prioritising mass deportation flights over public health as it continues to detain people in Colnbrook removal centre, near Heathrow, despite an escalating Covid outbreak in the facility. It emerged a week ago that at least two people had tested positive for Covid-19 in the centre ahead of a scheduled charter flight to Jamaica. The flight went ahead despite concerns people on board may have been in contact with infected individuals. The Independent understands the virus has now spread in the centre, with reports that at least 17 people have tested positive in one unit alone. While people who had the virus were previously moved to another unit to self-isolate, this procedure is no longer being followed and the unit is instead being treated as a household, meaning all detainees having to share facilities such as showers. The Home Office said this was in line with government guidelines. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . 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