WORLD
Afghanistan's $3tn worth of natural assets in Taliban's control
A follow-up report by the Afghan government in 2017 estimated that Kabul's new mineral wealth may be as high as $3 trillion, including fossil fuels. To date, the Taliban have profited from the opium and heroin trade. Now the militant group effectively rules a country with valuable resources that China needs to grow its economy, DW reported.
Al Qaeda celebrates Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
"This victory and empowerment reveals to us that jihad and fighting represent the Sharia-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers," Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said in a statement.
Taliban can't ignore progress of women over past 20 yrs
This comes as the Taliban said it has begun discussing the formation of a new government. "The people, the government, and any official who is to form a state in the future cannot ignore the women of Afghanistan. We will not relinquish our right to education, the right to work, and our right to political and social participation," said Fariha Esar, a human rights activist said.
NATO crew member from K'taka recalls Afghan stint
"I am in touch with locals of Herat city who worked with me. There is a curfew kind of atmosphere in the entire city. People are not coming out of their houses," he told IANS. Only the Kabul airport is operating and all the others are closed. "When we were evacuated, there was no mad rush like it is happening in Kabul. Our base was handed over to the local government after evacuation," he says.
US to help Lebanon get electricity from Jordan
The plan would provide Egyptian natural gas to Jordan for generation into additional electricity that can be transmitted to Lebanon via Syria, as well as facilitate the transfer of natural gas to Lebanon, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying on THursday. US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea informed Lebanese President Michel Aoun of this decision in a phone call, said the statement.
Kamala Harris tanking in polls after Afghan withdrawal
According to a Rasmussen Reports survey, released on Thursday, 55 per cent of likely voters say the former Senator from California is either "not qualified" or "not at all qualified" to assume the duties of the presidency. By contrast, 43 per cent consider Harris "qualified" or "very qualified" to be commander in chief, the New York Post reported.The same poll found in April that 49 per cent of likely voters said Harris was qualified to become President, though 51 per cent of voters had an "unfavourable impression" of her.
California wildfire grows 10 times in size in 48 hrs
According to Inciweb, spotting and rollout continued to be the main contributor to fire spread throughout Wednesday evening and multiple new spot fires were expected on Thursday, so the blaze sparked on August 14 had potential to grow further, reports Xinhuaa news agency.
Indian Military Academy trained Afghan soldier, figures among top Taliban leaders
Stanikzai, who was a deputy foreign minister in the last Taliban regime, is in contrast to his peers, considered to be highly educated as he has passed out of the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun. He was trained at the officers' academy in the 1970s, under the Indo-Afghan defence cooperation programme. Most of the other Taliban leaders have in contrast studied from madrasas in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula praises Taliban as role model after its return to power in Afghanistan
"This victory and empowerment reveal to us that jihad and fighting represent the Sharia-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers," AQAP said in a statement. The AQAP described democracy as a "deceptive mirage", which has no future. The AQAP is one of the most potent wings of the Al Qaeda "international".
Canadian military resumes flights to Afghanistan
In a statement on Thursday, Trudeau said that CAF assets and personnel have arrived on the ground in Afghanistan to coordinate at the tactical level with the US and other allied partners, helping "get Canadians, Afghans and their families to safety", reports Xinhua news agency. Trudeau said two CAF CC-177 planes will make regular flights into Kabul to support evacuation efforts.
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