LONDON: The British owner of an animal shelter in Afghanistan will be allowed to evacuate around 200 cats and dogs on a charter plane from Kabul, the UK’s defense minister said Wednesday in an apparent climbdown.
The high-profile campaign by former Marine Paul “Pen” Farthing to evacuate his animals has prompted controversy as thousands of people seek to flee the Taliban ahead of United States troops’ withdrawal by August 31.
After serving in Afghanistan with the British Army, Farthing founded an animal charity called Nowzad in Kabul rescuing cats, dogs and donkeys.
He remains in Kabul and has crowd-funded a plane to fly out his staff and their families as well as some 200 cats and dogs in what he calls Operation Arkansas
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had earlier said it would be wrong to “prioritize pets over people” as thousands wait outside the airport, many fearing reprisals from the Taliban which seized control of the country on August 15.
But early Wednesday Wallace tweeted that he had authorized officials to process Farthing’s Afghan staff at Kabul airport.
Once that happens, “if he (Farthing) arrives with his animals we will seek a slot for his plane,” Wallace said.
He emphasised that the “limiting factor” had been maintaining the flow of the evacuations, “not airplane capacity.”
Wallace added that Farthing and his Afghan staff, who have been granted UK visas, could also leave without the animals on a Royal Air Force flight.
The defense minister had told Sky News on Tuesday that Farthing’s chartered plane would “block the airfield” and “sit there empty” as officials processed other passengers waiting in a huge line.
“As for the animals that he (Farthing) has rescued and saved, it is just not going to be the case that I will prioritize them over the men, women and children we see in desperate need at the gate.”
Farthing has waged a campaign backed by celebrities including comedian Ricky Gervais, complaining at the UK defense ministry’s stance.
British tabloids traditionally support campaigns to help animals abroad and The Sun wrote Wednesday that Wallace offered a “glimmer of hope” to the “mercy flight.”
Farthing has said he could transport animals in the hold of the 250-seat plane and take Afghans in spare seats.
The UK has evacuated more than 10,000 people from Afghanistan since August 13 and more military flights were planned for Wednesday, according to the defense ministry.
Foreign Minister Dominic Raab praised the operation on Sky News on Wednesday, saying: “It’s never been done before and no country has done better.”
Briton can evacuate 200 dogs and cats from Kabul, UK rules
https://arab.news/7jvx6
Briton can evacuate 200 dogs and cats from Kabul, UK rules
- After serving in Afghanistan with the British Army, Paul "Pen" Farthing founded an animal charity called Nowzad in Kabul rescuing cats, dogs and donkeys.
- Farthing remains in Kabul and has crowd-funded a plane to fly out his staff, their families and some 200 cats and dogs in 'Operation Ark'
Some Warren Buffett wisdom on his last day leading Berkshire Hathaway
OMAHA, Nebraska: The advice that legendary investor Warren Buffett offered on investing and life over the years helped earn him legions of followers who eagerly read his annual letters and filled an arena in Omaha every year to listen to him at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meetings.
Buffett’s last day as CEO is Wednesday after six decades of building up the Berkshire conglomerate. He’ll remain chairman, but Greg Abel will take over leadership.
Here’s a collection of some of Buffett’s most famous quotes from over the years:
___
“Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
That’s how Buffett summed up his investing approach of buying out-of-favor stocks and companies when they were selling for less than he estimated they were worth.
He also urged investors to stick with industries they understand that fall within their “circle of competence” and offered this classic maxim: “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1.”
___
“After they first obey all rules, I then want employees to ask themselves whether they are willing to have any contemplated act appear the next day on the front page of their local paper to be read by their spouses, children and friends with the reporting done by an informed and critical reporter.
“If they follow this test, they need not fear my other message to them: Lose money for the firm and I will be understanding; lose a shred of reputation for the firm and I will be ruthless.”
That’s the ethical standard Buffett explained to a Congressional committee in 1991 that he would apply as he cleaned up the Wall Street investment firm Salomon Brothers. He has reiterated the newspaper test many times since over the years.
___
“You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.”
Many companies might do well when times are good and the economy is growing, but Buffett told investors that a crisis always reveals whether businesses are making sound decisions.
___
“Who you associate with is just enormously important. Don’t expect that you’ll make every decision right on that. But you are going to have your life progress in the general direction of the people you work with, that you admire, that become your friends.”
Buffett always told young people that they should try to hang out with people who they feel are better than them because that will help improve their lives. He said that’s especially true when choosing a spouse, which might be the most important decision in life.
___
“Our unwavering conclusion: never bet against America.”
Buffett has always remained steadfast in his belief in the American capitalist system. He wrote in 2021 that “there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America. Despite some severe interruptions, our country’s economic progress has been breathtaking.”
