International - The Purbottar

17 Aug

Russia says Afghan president fled with cars and helicopter full of cash – RIA

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Russia, Taliban

Russia's embassy in Kabul said on Monday that Afghan 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 all fit in, the RIA news agency reported. Ghani, whose current whereabouts are unknown, said he left Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban entered Kabul virtually unopposed. He said he wanted to avoid bloodshed. Russia has said it will retain a diplomatic presence in Kabul and hopes to develop ties with the Taliban even as it says it is no rush to recognise them…

16 Aug

Taliban declare `war is over` as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, top diplomats flee Kabul

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade U.S. campaign to remake the country. Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, and several entered Kabul’s abandoned presidential palace. Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman and negotiator, told The Associated Press that the militants would hold talks in the coming days aimed at forming an “open, inclusive Islamic government.” Earlier, a Taliban official said the group would announce from the palace the restoration of the Islamic Emirate…

13 Aug

Taliban Forcing Afghan Women To Marry Terrorists: Report

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

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…

12 Aug

Epstein accuser sues Prince Andrew over alleged sexual abuse

editor0 CommentsInternationalPrince Andrew

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…

10 Aug

India played constructive role in Afghanistan: Pentagon

editor0 CommentsIndia, InternationalAfghanistan

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…

10 Aug

After UNSC maritime session, Pak threatens continued militarisation

editor0 CommentsBreaking News, International, worldPAKISTAN

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…

09 Aug

Rupee snaps 5-day winning streak, drops 11 paise against US dollar

editor0 CommentsBusiness, India, InternationalECONOMY, INDIA

Halting its five-session winning run, the rupee on Monday declined by 11 paise to close at 74.26 (provisional) against the US dollar, tracking the firm American currency. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic currency opened at 74.21 against the American currency and slipped further to close at 74.26, registering a decline of 11 paise over its previous close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 74.15 against the US dollar. During the session, the local unit touched an intra-day high of 74.21 and a low of 74.29 against the US currency. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s…

08 Aug

Covid-19: UK eases travel restrictions for India

editor0 CommentsCovid-19, International

The United Kingdom moved India from its “red” to “amber” list easing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Indians. The Indian passengers traveling to UK no longer need to follow the 10-day institutional quarantine on arrival at Britain if they can furnish their full vaccination certificate. According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) all arrivals from India who have been vaccinated with both the doses can choose to isolate at home. The individuals no longer need to shell out 1, 750 pounds per head for 10 day quarantine at a government-approved facility. Moreover, people vaccinated in UK or…

08 Aug

Taliban capture northern Afghan city of Kunduz

editor0 CommentsBreaking News, InternationalTaliban

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…

07 Aug

Taliban captures Afghan provincial capital Zaranj

editor0 CommentsInternationalAfghanistan, Taliban

The Taliban has captured an Afghan provincial capital after pleas for reinforcements by local security forces went unheard, in a major blow to the western-backed government. Zaranj, in the south-western province of Nimroz, fell after just three hours of fighting becoming the first provincial capital to be taken by the insurgents who have intensified their nationwide offensive as foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Late on Friday, heavily armed Taliban fighters driving captured Humvees were patrolling the streets of Nimroz, one of the country’s main financial hubs, where Taliban commanders declared an overnight curfew. “Nowhere in…