News from Afghanistan

1.Taliban take over Afghanistan: What we know and what’s next
https://apnews.com/article/taliban-takeover-afghanistan-what-to-know-1a74c9cd866866f196c478aba21b60b6
2. Afghan Delegation Arrives in Islamabad for Conference with Pakistan Leaders
https://www.news18.com/news/world/afghan-delegation-arrives-in-islamabad-for-conference-with-pakistan-leaders-4089593.html
3. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani flees country as Taliban enter Kabul
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/878721-afghan-president-ghani-flees-country-as-taliban-enter-kabul
4.Afghan embassy urges Interpol to arrest Ghani for ‘stealing public wealth’
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316207/afghan-embassy-urges-interpol-to-arrest-ghani-for-stealing-public-wealth
5. UAE welcomes Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and family on humanitarian grounds
https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/uae-welcomes-afghanistan-president-ashraf-ghani-and-family-on-humanitarian-grounds-1.1629294506590
6.Former Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani: I left Kabul to prevent bloodshed, did not take money
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1913196/world
7.Mullah Baradar back in Afghanistan after 20 years
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/879854-mullah-baradar-back-in-afghanistan-after-20-years
8.Taliban’s Anas Haqqani meets Afghan leaders Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah
https://www.geo.tv/latest/365890-power-transition-process-begins-in-afghanistan-as-anas-haqqani-meets-karzai-abdullah-abdullah
9.Taliban Members Meet Political Leaders in Kabul            
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-174282
10.Transcript of Taliban’s first news conference in Kabul
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/transcript-of-talibans-first-press-conference-in-kabul
11.Taliban offers amnesty, promises women’s rights and media freedom
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/evacuation-flights-resume-as-biden-defends-afghanistan-pullout
12.Taliban say they want peace, will respect women’s rights under Islamic law
https://www.dawn.com/news/1641205/in-first-press-conference-taliban-spokesman-says-everyone-is-forgiven
13.‘Coordination council’ to oversee peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan: Karzai
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2315763/coordination-council-to-oversee-peaceful-transfer-of-power-in-afghanistan-karzai
14. Defiant Amrullah Saleh declares himself caretaker president of Afghanistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316068/defiant-amrullah-saleh-declares-himself-caretaker-president-of-afghanistan
15.Qureshi, Chinese FM discuss Afghanistan situation
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/08/18/qureshi-china-counterpart-discuss-afghanistan/
16.Afghanistan: ‘Now is the time to stand as one’, UN chief tells Security Council
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097872
17.China, US, Russia share consensus in Afghanistan, but Washington ‘should correct its mistake to exchange cooperation’
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1231766.shtml
18.Thousands of Afghans enter Pakistan via Chaman border crossing
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/thousands-of-afghans-enter-pakistan-through-chaman-border-point
19.Afghan girls return to school in Herat after Taliban takeover
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/18/afghan-girls-return-to-school-in-herat-after-taliban-takeover

News from the Middle East

20.Saudi Arabia opens new military attaché headquarters in Islamabad
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/879885-saudi-arabia-opens-new-military-attache-headquarters-in-islamabad
21. Mass job terminations hit hundreds of Yemenis in Saudi Arabia
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/mass-job-terminations-hit-hundreds-yemenis-saudi-arabia-2021-08-17/
22.New Israeli plan a ‘dangerous blow to the two-state solution’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/new-israeli-plan-a-final-nail-in-coffin-of-two-state-solution
23. Hospitals in blast-hit north Lebanon grapple with power outages
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/18/lebanon-akkar-hospitals-power-outages-blast
24.Palestine refugees face ‘dire’ humanitarian conditions amid ongoing clashes in southern Syria: UNRWA
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097852
25.FM meets Taliban delegation
https://gulf-times.com/story/698608/Deputy-Prime-Minister-meets-Taliban-delegation
26.Qatar calls on Taliban to protect civilians
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210817-qatar-calls-on-taliban-to-protect-civilians
27.US ‘defeat’ in Afghanistan a chance for peace: Iran president
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/16/raisi-us-defeat-in-afghanistan-should-become-chance-for-peace
28.US calls on Iran to halt ‘nuclear escalations’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/us-calls-on-iran-to-halt-nuclear-escalations
29.Taliban takeover leaves Iran and Turkey fearing refugee influx
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210817-taliban-takeover-leaves-iran-and-turkey-fearing-refugee-influx
30.Afghanistan’s fall after US withdrawal rattles nerves in Iraq
https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/08/17/afghanistans-fall-after-us-withdrawal-sparks-fears-in-iraq/
31.Pakistan to enhance bilateral ties with Turkey in all sectors
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistan-to-enhance-bilateral-ties-with-turkey-in-all-sectors/2295573
32. President Alvi meets counterpart Erdogan in Turkey
https://www.dawn.com/news/1442384
33.Turkey drops Kabul airport plans but will assist if Taliban ask -sources
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-drops-kabul-airport-plans-will-assist-if-taliban-ask-sources-2021-08-16/
34.Turkey welcomes Taliban statements since their takeover in Afghanistan
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-talks-with-all-afghan-parties-welcomes-talibans-messages-minister-2021-08-17/

News from Africa

35.Pakistan wants to enhance trade, economic relations with Niger: President
https://www.radio.gov.pk/10-08-2021/pakistan-wants-to-enhance-trade-economic-relations-with -niger-president/
36.Pakistan, South Africa vow to forge deeper ties
https://www.geo.tv/latest/362075-pakistan-south-africa-vow-to-forge-deeper-ties
37.Nigeria Says Taliban Victory Puts Africa in Terror Spotlight
https://www.voanews.com/africa/nigeria-says-taliban-victory-puts-africa-terror-spotlight
38. Kenya’s tourism sees trickle of post-pandemic recovery
https://www.africanews.com/2021/08/17/kenya-s-tourism-sees-trickle-of-post-pandemic-recovery/
39.People at Risk of Ebola in Ivory Coast Get Vaccinated
https://www.voanews.com/africa/people-risk-ebola-ivory-coast-get-vaccinated
40. In Sudan, Tigrayans Fear The Worst As Bodies Wash Up In River –UrduPoint
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/amp/miscellaneous/in-sudan-tigrayans-fear-the-worst-as-bodies-1326697.html
41.South Africa Sees Covid-19 Fourth Wave Starting in Early December
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-17/s-africa-sees-covid-19-fourth-wave-starting-in-early-december