Learning English

‘Delay Afghan withdrawal’ UK asks US 

US soldiers, who are helping with the evacuation effort, are due to leave Kabul Airport in under a week. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to ask President Biden to delay that withdrawal. Roy and Catherine talk about the vocabulary from this story so you can talk about it too.

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The story

Boris Johnson is expected to personally ask President Biden to delay withdrawing the last American forces from Afghanistan to allow more time for the evacuation effort at Kabul International Airport.

The prime minister will make the request at an emergency meeting of leaders from the G7 group of countries tomorrow, which will take place via video link.

In just over a week, US troops are due to leave the airport, where Afghans who worked for the British military are among thousands of people trying to escape the Taliban.

Key words and phrases

press
try to persuade someone forcefully

• She decided to press him for answers at the meeting.
• My boss pressed me to get my work finished quickly.

plead
urgently request

• He decided to plead with his boss for forgiveness.
• She pleaded with him to change his mind.

push
apply pressure

• He felt his parents wanted to push him into getting married.
• He was pushed into giving his opinions. 

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