What the papers say – August 21
The security situation at Afghanistan’s main airport and a new antibody cocktail to tackle Covid-19 are splashed across the front pages.
British paratroopers “desperately tried to hold the line” at Kabul airport amid fears the rescue mission could collapse in days, according to the Daily Mail.
Saturday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/6463bBXqgE
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) August 20, 2021
The i reports the UK’s forces and diplomats are looking at leaving their base at the city’s airport to extract evacuees from the crowds.
On Thursday, I received a call from the Taliban. For 31 minutes we spoke about the future of Afghanistan & the world’s fears.
In this weekend’s @theipaper read the full report – and the extraordinary story of how I secured a direct line to Taliban days after they took Kabul. pic.twitter.com/d0IZEozNek
— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) August 20, 2021
The Financial Times says Joe Biden has vowed “to get Americans out”, while The Daily Telegraph has the US president admitting “we might not get everyone out”.
Just published: front page of FT Weekend, UK edition, Saturday 21 August https://t.co/IXEHkYn7t5 pic.twitter.com/2PrIMnWagl
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) August 20, 2021
📰The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'We might not get everyone out, Biden admits'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/QfnGZdrXcT
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 20, 2021
The Times has been told thousands of Afghans entitled to come to Britain face being left behind unless the August 31 deadline for their evacuation is extended.
THE TIMES: Thousands of UK allies face being left behind #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ahSg18QLwN
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) August 20, 2021
There is “little sign” on the ground at the airport that the US and UK evacuations are gathering pace, according to The Guardian, which has the headline of “We should all hang our heads in shame”.
Guardian front page, Saturday 21 August 2021: 'We should all hang our heads in shame' pic.twitter.com/Tmj2Q2nh41
— The Guardian (@guardian) August 20, 2021
Security experts warn in the Daily Mirror terrorists “will exploit” the Taliban’s rule to launch attacks on Britain, saying the militants pose a “clear and present danger to UK citizens”.
MIRROR: Clear and present danger to UK #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/g6wV0smSFX
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) August 20, 2021
A British ex-soldier tells The Sun of his “miraculous escape from a hell-hole” Kabul prison as the Taliban took over the Afghan capital.
Tomorrow's front page: A Brit ex-soldier has told of his miraculous escape from a hell-hole Kabul jail as the Taliban surged into the Afghan capital https://t.co/UBJYRZXDws pic.twitter.com/q77aVkto1B
— The Sun (@TheSun) August 20, 2021
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid is quoted in the Daily Express as saying the first-of-its kind antibody cocktail to tackle Covid-19 will “be rolled out to NHS patients as soon as possible”.
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1428824313633910790.
And the Daily Star asks “What the cluck?” as it reports a shortage of workers at KFC and Nando’s means turkey could be off the Yuletide menu.
STAR: Xmas gets stuffed! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/rTzY7bISZh
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) August 20, 2021