German soldiers are raising money for Afghans who helped Nato forces amid concerns that the German government is failing to protect them.
Berlin flew its last remaining troops home from Afghanistan last month as part of the US-led withdrawal from the country.
With the Taliban making rapid advances, interpreters and messengers who assisted Nato forces in Afghanistan now fear for their safety.
The German military says that nearly 800 Afghan associates have received visas for Germany.
But there are concerns that some Afghans are missing out on support because they were contracted by other organisations, rather than being employed directly by the German army.
Britain faces similar pressure to look after Afghan interpreters who helped its troops during the 20-year deployment.
Marcus Gratian, a German soldier who served in Afghanistan, said there were thousands of civilian employees who had not yet received German visas or who were unable to apply.
He founded a support network for Afghans who he said had put their lives on the line by helping Nato forces.
Volker Wieker, a German general and a former chief of staff of the Bundeswehr, is a patron of the support group.
It has raised thousands of euros for Afghan staff in order to help them settle in Germany.
“We believe that our responsibility to our helpers in Afghanistan did not end with our military operations,” Mr Grotian said. “We want to help the local staff who risked their lives for us to build a new life here.”
Katja Keul, a spokeswoman on arms issues for the opposition Greens, saluted the fund-raising efforts. “Because the government is failing so miserably, volunteers have to put it right,” she said.
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer last month scrapped a rule requiring visa applicants to have worked for German forces in the last two years.
But there is still a distinction between those who worked directly for Germany and those who were employed by other civilian agencies.
The German government says local staff who felt under threat should turn to their employers in the first instance.
A group of Afghan employees who carried out media work with the German army said Berlin should not distinguish between different types of local staff.
“All Afghan local employees are equally at risk of being targeted,” they said.
“It would be naive to make a group of people eligible for protection for the sake of their type of contract and leave many others behind.”
Asked about the fund-raising efforts, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said they were evidence of the camaraderie that had developed between German soldiers and their Afghan colleagues.
“It doesn’t mean that the German state is not recognising or acting on its responsibilities,” he said. “The fact that local staff are arriving in Germany shows that help is being given in a very practical way.”
We will help those who helped us
Steffen Seibert
When asked whether Berlin was offering financial support, Mr Seibert did not give details but said that Germany would help those who were under threat.
He said not all Afghans who were eligible for a visa wanted to move to Germany immediately.
“We will help those who helped us, and are already doing so,” he said. “We know the responsibility that we have to these people.”
David Hembold, a spokesman for the German Defence Ministry, said Berlin had offered help with visa applications and ferried some of the necessary documents on flights back to Germany.
“We will continue to offer support where we can, even when we are not on the ground any more,” he said.
Read more about the coronavirus
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
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more from Janine di Giovanni
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
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- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Key facilities
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
