News highlights: Four US Marines killed in Kabul airport attack, reports agencies

Following the explosion Kabul, at least three US Marines are reported to have been injured in the outside the airport from where the US, India and other countries have been evacuating their citizens and partners.

An emergency hospital in Kabul says that nearly 60 wounded people have arrived so far from airport explosions, news agency Reuters reported.

US Embassy in Kabul on Thursday issued a statement asking its citizens to avoid travelling to Kabul airport due to a large explosion at the venue, and saying that there are reports of gunfire. "US citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately," the statement added.

US official said that the blast outside Kabul airport was "definitely believed" to have been carried out by the Islamic State terrorist group, reports AP.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that his ambassador to Afghanistan will leave the country and work from Paris. He also said that France will try to evacuate several hundreds more Afghans, reports AFP.

Five people were dead and a dozen others were wounded and taken to hospital after blast at Kabul airport, reports AFP.

The UK government has decided to hold a crisis meeting after the explosion at Kabul airport, reports AFP.

John Kirby confirmed that the explosion at the Abbey Gate in the Kabul international airport was the result of a complex attack and has caused a number of US and civilian casualties. He also said that another explosion happened at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from the gate.

The Russian foreign ministry has said that at least two people were killed and 15 wounded in a suicide attack outside the Kabul airport, reports AP.

Lok Janshakti Party leader and Union minister Pashupati Paras Kumar wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah asking for 'Z Plus' security alleging threat to his life due to 'political conspiracy,' reports PTI.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that there was an explosion outside Kabul airport's Abbey Gate that has resulted in an unknown number of casualties. More updates are expected.

An explosion has been reported outside the Kabul international airport and the casualties are unclear, the Pentagon had said.

The Pentagon said that the evacuation operation at the Kabul airport will continue till August 31 and rejected reports that suggested it might end early, reports AFP.

The Canadian government has decided to end its evacuation operations in Afghanistan, reports AFP.

Speaking at the BBAU convocation, President Ram Nath Kovind said that India has a very good environment for startups. "I will urge the students of this university to use this environment to become entrepreneurs," he added.

President Ram Nath Kovind along with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and governor Anandiben Patel attended the ninth convocation of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in Lucknow. "BBAU is a glowing symbol of inclusive society which Babasaheb dreamed of. We all must strive to nurture this dream," the President said.

"It is essential that the students of today adapt to the rapid changes and evolve as leaders of tomorrow," he added.

Kerala reported 30,007 new Covid-19 cases and 162 deaths in last 24 hours. Active caseload was recorded at 181,209 while death toll climbed to 20,134. Test positivity rate stood at 18,03%, reports ANI.

The US White House said that approximately 13,400 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan in 24 hours between Wednesday and today. While US planes carried nearly 5,100 people, allied flights lifted 8,300, reports ANI.

In Mumbai's St. Joseph boarding school, 95 people were tested for Covid-19, of whom, 22 tested positive. Four were below 12 years of age, while 12 people were between 12 and 18 years of age. Also, six adults were among those tested positive.