Suspect in Kabul bombing during Afghanistan pullout appears in US court

A suspected senior planner in the suicide bombing at Kabul airport, which killed 13 American service members and about 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, appeared in in Virginia Federal Court on Wednesday to face charges.

Mohammad Sharifullah was taken into custody at the weekend and admitted during an FBI interrogation to being a member of ISIS-Khorasan, the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan, and to his role in the August 2021 suicide bombing and other attacks, US officials said.

During his court hearing, he appeared in a jail jumpsuit and listened through headphones as an interpreter translated the proceedings. His public defender declined to comment after his court appearance, which ended with him being held until at least a detention hearing set for Monday.

President Donald Trump announced Mr Sharifullah'a arrest during his Tuesday night address to Congress, saying Mr Sharifullah would face the "swift sword of American justice".

Senior Pakistani intelligence officers on Wednesday confirmed the arrest to AP and said Mr Sharifullah had been captured in the country's restive south-west Balochistan province, near the border with Afghanistan, after several operations had failed to result in his detention.

Mr Sharifullah is charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, resulting in death. He was expected to face a judge on Wednesday and be assigned a lawyer to speak on his behalf. More charges are possible as the case moves through the court system.

During his FBI interrogation, Mr Sharifullah also said he had shared firearms and weapons instructions before a March 2024 attack in Moscow that was also carried out by ISIS-K, authorities said.

The Abbey Gate bombing occurred during an air evacuation for those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country. The attack led to widespread congressional criticism and undermined public confidence in former president Joe Biden’s administration.

According to prosecutors, Mr Sharifullah was given a motorcycle, funds for a cell phone and a SIM card, as well as instructions for communicating via social media during the attack operation. He admitted to participating in the Abbey Gate attack by scouting a route to the airport for the bomber and communicating to other members of the militant group that the path was clear.

Mr Sharifullah was arrested in 2019 by the US-backed Afghan government at the time but escaped from prison on August 15, 2021, as the Taliban took Kabul. The Pakistani officials said he had planned the bombing from behind bars with other senior militant figures.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Mr Trump for “acknowledging and appreciating” the country’s role in counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan and said on X that Islamabad would "continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability".

Mr Sharif described Mr Sharifullah as a top commander in ISIS-K.

A US official told Reuters that Mr Sharifullah's arrest came with new intelligence community co-ordination, increased sharing of intelligence and pressure on regional partners to bring those responsible for the attack to account after Mr Trump was sworn in on January 20.

"On his first day in office, President Trump's national security team across the federal government prioritised intelligence gathering to locate this evil individual," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing. She said Mr Sharifullah was delivered to authorities at a Dallas airfield earlier on Wednesday.

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?

Some facts about bees:

The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer

The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days

A queen bee lives for 3-5 years

This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony

About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive

Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.

Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen

Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids

Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments

Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts

Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain

Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities

The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes

Is beekeeping dangerous?

As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.

“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”

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Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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While you're here:

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
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Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.