International

Russian embassy: Afghan leader fled with cars full of cash

Russian embassy: Afghan leader fled with cars full of cash

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of cash and had to leave some money behind as it would not fit in, the Russian Embassy in Kabul has said. "Four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff another part of the money into a helicopter, but not all of it fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac," Nikita Ishchenko, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Kabul, was quoted as saying by RIA news agency. Ischenko confirmed his comments to a global news wire, citing…
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UN to hold an emergency meeting on Afghanistan crisis

UN to hold an emergency meeting on Afghanistan crisis

On Monday morning at the request of Estonia and Norway, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Afghanistan crisis. Council diplomats said Sunday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will brief council members on the latest situation following the Taliban takeover of the capital, Kabul. On Friday, the UN chief had urged the Taliban to immediately halt their offensive in Afghanistan and negotiate “in good faith” to stop a prolonged civil war. He also said he is “deeply disturbed by early indications that the Taliban are imposing severe restrictions in the areas under their control, particularly targeting women…
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Taliban declare ‘war is over’ as president and diplomats flee Kabul

Taliban declare ‘war is over’ as president and diplomats flee Kabul

The Taliban declared the war in Afghanistan was over after insurgents took control of the presidential palace in Kabul as US-led forces departed and Western nations scrambled on Monday to evacuate their citizens.President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday as the Islamist militants entered the city, saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed, while hundreds of Afghans desperate to leave flooded Kabul airport."Today is a great day for the Afghan people and the mujahideen. They have witnessed the fruits of their efforts and their sacrifices for 20 years," Mohammad Naeem, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office, told Al Jazeera…
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Taliban forcing women to marry its terrorists

Taliban forcing women to marry its terrorists

As the Taliban is gaining ground in Afghanistan by capturing many key cities in the country, the terror group is now forcing women to get married to its terrorists, a media report said on Thursday.Afghans are also witnessing the execution of captured soldiers and unprovoked attacks on civilians by the Taliban in its recent captured areas. Afghans pouring into Kabul and those still in Taliban-held areas say they have witnessed unprovoked attacks on civilians and executions of captured soldiers. In addition, they say, Taliban have demanded that communities turn over unmarried women to become "wives" for their terrorists-a form of…
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UK Police To Review Prince Andrew’s Sexual Abuse Allegations

UK Police To Review Prince Andrew’s Sexual Abuse Allegations

Prince Andrew has been accused of sexually abusing a woman at the London home of an associate of Jeffrey Epstein's when she was under 18 over 20 years ago.  Virginia Giuffre on Monday filed a claim in New York, alleging the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein regularly abused her and lent her out to "powerful men" for sex. She alleged the Duke of York sexually abused her at the London home of the convicted sex offender's associate Ghislaine Maxwell when she was under 18 over 20 years ago.  Britain's most senior police officer on Thursday said detectives will re-examine allegations…
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India played constructive role in Afghanistan, says Pentagon

India played constructive role in Afghanistan, says Pentagon

India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past, the Pentagon acknowledged on Monday. “India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in the past in terms of training and other infrastructure improvements,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference. “That kind of work, that kind of effort to help Afghanistan maintain stability and good governance is always welcome,” he said when asked about India-US cooperation on Afghanistan. Responding to a question, Kirby said the United States continues to have conversations with Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border…
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After UNSC maritime session, Pak threatens continued militarisation

After UNSC maritime session, Pak threatens continued militarisation

Pakistan has threatened to continue militarising citing what it claimed was a “geo-strategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states”, while mentioning India. After Monday’s high-level meeting on maritime security at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Munir Akram sent a written statement to the Indian Mission to be included in the record of the session. India is the current President of the Council and the meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Akram asserted that “India has nuclearised the Indian Ocean and continues to induct advanced weapons systems and naval delivery platforms” with…
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U.K. eases travel restrictions for India

U.K. eases travel restrictions for India

The United Kingdom on Sunday eased the travel restrictions for India by moving the country from its 'red' to 'amber' list. This applies that fully vaccinated Indian passengers will no longer be subjected to a compulsory 10-day hotel quarantine on their arrival in Britain.The department of health and social care (DHSC) has confirmed that all arrivals from India who have been vaccinated in India, which is on the amber list as of 4 am local time on Sunday, are required to isolate at home or their designated location mentioned on the compulsory locator form. According to the Department of Health…
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Taliban capture northern Afghan city of Kunduz

Taliban capture northern Afghan city of Kunduz

Afghan forces and the Taliban were fighting fiercely Sunday in the centre of Kunduz.The Taliban said Sunday they had captured the key Afghan city of Kunduz, a claim confirmed by an AFP correspondent in the vicinity, as fierce fighting raged in the centre of a second northern capital, Shar-e-pul. officials and residents confirmed, that the insurgents did capture two other provincial capitals in the last 48 hours.The Taliban have taken two provincial capitals since Friday, but Kunduz would be the most significant to fall since the insurgents launched an offensive in May as foreign forces began the final stages of…
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Taliban Seize Afghan Provincial Capital Just Weeks Before Final U.S. Withdrawal

Taliban Seize Afghan Provincial Capital Just Weeks Before Final U.S. Withdrawal

The Taliban on Friday captured the city of Zaranj, the capital of Afghanistan’s western province Nimroz bordering Iran, making it the first provincial capital to have fallen to the insurgents since they had stepped up their offensives across the country. The militants faced little resistance in taking Zaranj, a city of around 1.6 million people. According to Afghan government sources, the provincial administration had struck a deal with the Taliban allowing the authorities in the city to flee across the border to Iran with their families.A senior official of Nimroz police told the media on condition of anonymity that the…
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