KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop

               World    4,23,457              /             45,81,259            /             6,588     /             1,89,29,156        /             587.7

1             USA        34,645   /             6,66,219              /             362        /             88,21,599            /             1,999

2             UK          37,011   /             1,33,229              /             68           /             12,35,322            /             1,950

3             Iran        25,870   /             1,10,674              /             610        /             6,55,919              /             1,298

4             Russia    18,645   /             1,87,200              /             793        /             5,54,668              /             1,282

5             Turkey   19,391   /             58,106   /             269        /             5,09,283              /             680

6             Brazil     12,915   /             5,83,628              /             266        /             4,44,713              /             2,723

7             India      39,521   /             4,40,785              /             218        /             4,11,858              /             316

8             Mexico  15,586   /             2,62,868              /             647        /             4,00,217              /             2,014

9             Spain                    /             84,795   /                            /             3,74,617              /             1,813

10           France   10,410   /             1,14,905              /             49           /             3,59,539              /             1,756

11           Malaysia              20,396   /             18,219   /             336        /             2,55,789              /             555

12           Honduras                            /             9,023     /                            /             2,27,233              /             894

13           Vietnam               13,137   /             13,074   /             281        /             2,19,506              /             133

14           Japan     16,012   /             16,313   /             66           /             1,97,072              /             129

15           Argentina            1,397     /             1,12,511              /             67           /             1,90,260              /             2,463

16           Poland   323        /             75,379   /                            /             1,57,578              /             1,994

17           Philippines           20,019   /             34,234   /             173        /             1,57,438              /             308

18           Indonesia            5,403     /             1,35,861              /             392        /             1,55,519              /             491

19           Germany              8,314     /             92,863   /             14           /             1,52,545              /             1,104

20           Thailand               15,452   /             12,855   /             224        /             1,52,105              /             184

24           Pakistan               3,747     /             26,175   /             61           /             92,249   /             116

49           Bangladesh         2,430     /             26,563   /             70           /             36,830   /             159

TALIBAN SAY RESISTANCE HOLDOUT PANJSHIR VALLEY "COMPLETELY CAPTURED"

The Taliban said Monday they had captured the last pocket of resistance in Afghanistan, the Panjshir Valley, as the top US diplomat flies to Qatar to try and handle the aftermath of the chaotic American withdrawal.

Following their lightning-fast rout of Afghanistan's army last month -- and celebrations when the last US troops flew out after 20 years of war -- the Taliban turned to crush the forces defending the mountainous Panjshir Valley.

"With this victory, our country is completely taken out of the quagmire of war," chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Late Sunday, the so-called National Resistance Front (NRF) -- made up of anti-Taliban militia and former Afghan security forces -- acknowledged suffering major battlefield losses in Panjshir and called for a ceasefire.

The NRF includes local fighters loyal to Ahmad Massoud -- the son of the famous anti-Soviet and anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud -- as well as remnants of the Afghan military that retreated to the Panjshir Valley.

The group said in a tweet Sunday that spokesman Fahim Dashty -- a well-known Afghan journalist -- and General Abdul Wudod Zara had been killed in the latest fighting.

The NRF had vowed to fight the Taliban but also said it was willing to negotiate with the Islamists.

UAE LIBERALISES STRINGENT RESIDENCY REGULATION, MAJOR BOOST FOR VISA SEEKERS

The United Arab Emirates introduced on Sunday a major plan to stimulate its financial system and liberalise stringent residency guidelines for foreigners, because the nation seeks to overtake its funds and appeal to guests and funding.

The nation’s plan to lure overseas expertise over the subsequent a long time displays an rising distinction with the opposite sheikhdoms of the Persian Gulf which might be rising more and more protectionist as they attempt to diversify their oil-bound economies.

Now marking its fiftieth anniversary, the UAE is looking for to speed up its financial and social reforms to rebrand for a post-pandemic future.

Portraying the nation as a liberal, bustling commerce and finance hub, the federal government promised to pour USD 13.6 billion into the financial system within the subsequent yr and USD 150 billion by 2030.

Specific tasks have but to be introduced, however USD 1.36 billion has been earmarked for Emirates Development Bank to help the economic sector.

We are constructing the brand new 50 years’ financial system, Thani al-Zeyoudi, the minister of state for overseas commerce, stated in an interview, including that free commerce and openness have lengthy made UAE a major world entrepot.

Anyone who’s making an attempt to be extra conservative and making an attempt to shut their markets, the worth goes to be solely within the brief time period, however in the long run, they’re harming their economies.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS RESUME IN KABUL

Some domestic flights have resumed at Afghanistan's international airport in Kabul, with the state-run Ariana Afghan Airline operating flights to three provinces. Shershah Stor, airline's station manager, said on Sunday that the flights took off on Saturday to western Herat, southern Kandahar and northern Balkh provinces. He said the flights were conducted without a functioning radar system.

Stor said three more flights were scheduled on Sunday to the same provinces. A team of Qatari and Turkish technicians arrived in Kabul last week to help restart operations at the airport.

CHINA SEEKS COMMON STAND WITH IRAN ON AF

A wary China is seeking to strike a common position with Afghanistan’s key neighbour Iran to firm up its growing role in the war-torn country as it waits for the Taliban to form an “open and inclusive” government that makes a “clean break” from all terrorist groups.

China is already coordinating its evolving policy on Afghanistan with Pakistan and Russia which also share borders with Afghanistan. Beijing, which has kept its embassy open in Kabul along with Pakistan and Russia, is awaiting the formation of a government by the Taliban to decide on recognising it amidst firm indications by the US, the UK and other western countries that they will not be in a hurry to endorse the new government.

On Saturday, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. In the call, Wang said China has noted that the Taliban might announce the formation of a new government in the coming days. “As common neighbours of Afghanistan, China and Iran need to strengthen communication and coordination to play a constructive role in achieving a smooth transition and peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan,” he said.

CURTAINS FOR WOMEN FREEDOM? UNIV CLASSES TO BE BEHIND VEIL

Women attending private Afghan universities must wear an abaya robe and niqab covering most of the face, the Taliban have ordered, and classes must be segregated by sex —or at least divided by a curtain.

In a lengthy document issued by the Taliban's education authority, they also ordered that female students should only be taught by other women, but if that was not possible then "old men" of good character could fill in.

The decree comes as private universities prepare to open on Monday.

"Universities are required to recruit female teachers for female students based on their facilities," the decree said, adding that men and women should use separate entrances and exits.

If it is not possible to hire women teachers, then colleges "should try to hire old men teachers who have a good record of behaviour".

While women now have to study separately, they must also end their lesson five minutes earlier than men to stop them from mingling outside.

They must then stay in waiting rooms until their male counterparts have left the building, according to the decree issued by the Taliban higher education ministry.

"Practically, it is a difficult plan— we don't have enough female instructors or classes to segregate the girls," said a university professor, who asked not to be named.

"But the fact that they are allowing girls to go to schools and universities is a big positive step," he told AFP.

QADHAFI’S SON FREED AFTER 7 YEARS IN DETENTION

Libyan authorities on Sunday released one of former dictator Muammar Qadhafi's sons after more than seven years of detention in the capital of Tripoli following his extradition from neighboring Niger, the country's interim leader said.

Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said in a tweet early Monday that al-Saadi Qadhafi had been released in compliance with a previous court order.

Mohamed Hamouda, a spokesman for the transitional government, said the son walked free from Tripoli's al-Hadaba prison, where many Qadhafi regime officials are being held pending trial, mostly in connection to the crackdown on the 2011 uprising that toppled the longtime ruler and led to his killing. Hamouda did not elaborate on the circumstances of the son's release.

Local media reported al-Saadi Qadhafi was released after he was acquitted on charges dating back to the uprising against his father's rule. Following his release, he travelled to Turkey, according to the al-Marsad news website.

“We cannot move forward without achieving reconciliation," Dbeibah said in the tweet announcing the release. His government has been given the task of leading the war-wrecked country to elections before the end of this year.