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LIVE: Taliban ask US to stop evacuating skilled Afghans, says report

Afghanistan's 'acting' President Amrullah Saleh has highlighted the dire 'humanitarian situation' in Andarab valley. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

BS Web Team New Delhi

US Airmen and Marines personnel guide qualified evacuees aboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Hamid Karzai International Airport. (Photo: Reuters)

6:18 PM

Airbnb vows free housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees globally

Airbnb offered free housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees globally on Tuesday and sought more assistance from hosts who rent property through the home-sharing company, AP reported.

The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up," said CEO Brian Chesky on Twitter. I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste."

6:09 PM

UN rights chief says she has credible reports of Taliban executions

5:54 PM

China hits out at US over Afghan withdrawal

Hitting out at the US for its withdrawal from Afghanistan, China accused Washington of having "selfish" foreign policy priorities, IANS reported.

It said that the US had used the rhetoric of a rules-based global order to defend its own "bullying, hegemonic behaviour", reports the BBC.

"The US can wantonly conduct military intervention in a sovereign country and does not need to be responsible for the suffering of the people in that country," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a press briefing.

5:53 PM

No athletes, but Afghanistan flag included in Paralympic Games opening ceremony

Though their home-based athletes and representatives could not make it to Tokyo for the Paralympic Games, Afghanistan's flag was carried as part of the Opening Ceremony parade here on Tuesday, IANS reported.

Zakia Khudadadi, who is the first female athlete from Afghanistan to qualify for the Paralympic Games in taekwondo, and some National Paralympic Committee (NPC) officials could not make it to the Games because of the chaos in the country after the Taliban ousted the elected government and took control of the country. Flights to and from the country are not operational following the regime change and that was one of the reasons why the team could not make it to Tokyo.

5:51 PM

G-7 grapples with Afghanistan, an afterthought not long ago

Two months ago, the leaders of the world's seven major industrialised democracies met at the height of summer on England's southwest coast. It was a happy occasion: the first in-person summit of the Group of Seven nations in two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the welcomed appearance of President Joe Biden and his America is back message on matters ranging from comity to COVID-19 to climate change, AP reported.

The smiles and sunshine seem distant as G-7 leaders meet again Tuesday, in virtual format, for crisis talks on Afghanistan. The country's burgeoning refugee crisis, the collapse of its government and fears of a resurgence in Afghan-based terrorism have left the G-7 allies scrambling and threaten the unity of the bloc.

5:16 PM

Afghanistan's disintegrating economy puts pressure on Taliban

No longer facing serious military opposition, Afghanistans new Taliban rulers are grappling with a new threat: An economic collapse that could fuel renewed challenges to their rule and has already put pressure on them to share power, IANS reported.

There has been no legitimate government in Afghanistan since President Ashraf Ghani and most of his ministers escaped from Kabul on August 15. In the eight days since then, banks and money exchanges have remained shut and prices for basic commodities have surged. Economic activity has ground to a halt, the Wall Street Journal reported.

5:15 PM

Ahead of G7 leaders meet on Afghanistan, China says sanctions against Taliban not productive

As the leaders of the G7 countries are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the Afghan crisis and possible economic sanctions against the Taliban, China expressed reservations over imposing penalties, saying the US and its allies should learn lessons from the past and act prudently, PTI reported.

The Group of Seven leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are due to hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and coordinate international response to the crisis.

5:01 PM

WHO says it only has medical supplies in Afghanistan for a week

4:35 PM

Women soccer players leave Afghanistan on evacuation flight

Players from Afghanistan women's national soccer team had an important victory on Tuesday when they were among a group of more than 75 people evacuated on a flight from Kabul, AP reported.

Global soccer players' union FIFPRO thanked the Australian government for making the evacuation of players, team officials and family members possible, with work continuing to help more leave Afghanistan.

"These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and on behalf of their peers around the world we thank the international community for coming to their aid," the union said in a statement.

4:34 PM

Women have no future under Taliban regime, says Afghan pop star Aryana Sayeed

Afghanistan's famous pop singer Aryana Sayeed on Tuesday said that there is "no future of women under Taliban" after the terrorist outfit took control of the country last week, ANI reported.

In an exclusive interview with ANI from an undisclosed location, she said that the Afghan women will suffer the most under the Taliban regime.

"I am worried for women who will be stuck inside houses and they will not be given their basic rights. While out, they will need to have a male relative accompanying them. They also will not be allowed to go to school. If Afghanistan is left in hands of the Taliban, there's no future for Afghan women," Sayeed said.

4:25 PM