GENEVA, 30 August 2021, (TON): The intelligence service of the Swiss Confederation (SRC) regards as “increased” the threat of terrorist attacks in this country.

This was reported media, citing a written response from the intelligence service to its question about how the seizure of power in Afghanistan by the Taliban will affect the security situation in Switzerland.

The SRC noted “the threat comes primarily from jihadist circles.”

It stressing that it “remains elevated” due to Switzerland’s belonging to the Western world. The seizure of power by the Taliban, according to Swiss intelligence experts, does not change anything in assessing the level of the terrorist threat.

According to experts, the most likely targets for lone terrorists and small terrorist groups are transport facilities and crowds of people, since in such cases the preparation of attacks “does not require large expenditures on logistics.”

DHAKA, 30 August 2021, (TON): The flood situation in Brahmaputra River basin of four upazilas in the district deteriorated further as the water level has increased in the last 24 hours, ending at 9am on Sunday due to incessant rainfall and the rush of hilly waters from the upstream.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) sources said the water level of the Brahmaputra River increased by 5cm during the period and the river was flowing 5cm above its danger mark at Fulchharighat point of the district.

As a result, the chars located on the river basin areas of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari, and Shaghata upazilas of the district have been inundated and many char people have been marooned and are passing their days in misery.

The low-lying areas located on the western side of the river were also inundated.

Abdus Salam Jakir, chairman of Kamarjani Union Parishad under Sadar upazila said “with the rise of water level in the river, the river erosion has taken a serious turn at different points of the union and hundreds of houses of the union are submerged in the water creating untold suffering to the flood victims.”

KATHMANDU, 30 August 2021, (TON): The Nagdhunga-Naubise road section under the Tribhuvan Highway has been blocked by a landslide at Chisapani near Nagdhunga, affecting the traffic.

As a result, stuck vehicles have been lined up to seven kilometers. It would take some time to clear debris as rainfall continues, said Inspector Rupa Thapa.

Road expansion near Sisnekhola is underway occasionally causing landslips, blamed local people.

DHAKA, 30 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen went on a 10-day visit to Europe aiming to boost cooperation on climate change and migrants.

He will hold the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Asia-Pacific Regional Review meeting and in preparation to the LDC conference to be held in Doha in January next year.

Foreign ministry official said “Bangladesh, as co-chair of LDC, has been negotiating at multilateral forums for various privileges.”

An official concerned said "There are also countries, including Bangladesh, that are graduating LDCs. We are negotiating for continuing the privileges of LDC for 12 years after graduation in 2026. This could be an important topic in the meeting."

He will hold meetings with the director generals of six multilateral bodies, World Health Organization, UN Refugee Agency, UN Human Rights Council, International Organization for Migration and International Labour Organization, foreign ministry officials told this correspondent.

The minister is also likely to hold a bilateral meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, officials said.

Following the visit to Switzerland, Foreign Minister Momen will be visiting UK where he will hold bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart Dominic Raab.

He will also meet COP26 President Alok Sharma to discuss climate change ahead of the COP26 to be held between November 1 and 12 in Glasgow under the presidency of UK.

Another foreign ministry official said "climate change is a very important issue for Bangladesh. The issues will be discussed on how Bangladesh can get funding for climate change adaptation, renewable energy, compensation for the damage by climate change."

Following the visit to UK, Momen will fly to The Netherlands to attend the governing body meeting of Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). Bangladesh, as a host of the GCA regional centre, is attending the meeting before the COP26.

DHAKA, 30 August 2021, (TON): Highlighting the potentials of Cox's Bazar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said “the government wants to turn Bangladesh into a global aviation hub that will help accelerate the country's current economic march forward.”

She said while inaugurating the breaking ground of the extension of Cox's Bazar Airport runway "considering Bangladesh's geographical position, we want to make the country the centre of global aviation so that our country is greatly benefited economically."

She joined the programme from the Gono Bhaban.

Hasina said “the position of Cox's Bazar is very significant.”

In recent times, she said Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok gained importance while Dubai is currently getting the greater attention.

She said "I can say Cox's Bazar will be the most important one in the future."

She said after the expansion of Cox's Bazar Airport, it will emerge as a suitable place of refuelling aircraft from the east and west, and enhance communication with South East Asian countries. "If we can enhance our communications with South Eastern Asian countries, it will help expand our trade and commerce."

After coming to power, Hasina said her government bought 16 new aircraft, including four Boeing 777s, two 737s, four 787-8s, two 787-9s and four Dash-8s.

With these aircraft, she said the government wants to expand Biman's routes, including New York, Toronto and Sydney.

ATHENS, 29 August 2021, (TON): Hundreds of Afghans marched to the U.S. Embassy in Athens, making a plea to the international community for peace and holding banners reading, “Afghanistan is bleeding” and “hands off our land.”

Following the Taliban’s takeover of the country earlier this month, U.S. troops have begun their withdrawal from Kabul airport, after a two-week scramble by Washington and its allies to fly out their nationals and vulnerable Afghans by a Tuesday deadline set by President Joe Biden.

As it neared the end of a 20-year military engagement in the country, the United States said it had killed two Islamic State militants planning attacks in Afghanistan, following a deadly suicide bombing outside Kabul airport.

Omey Naziam, 24, who joined the peaceful protest in the Greek capital, said “we are tired of war, we are tired of violence, we are tired of seeing dead bodies. We all came here together, we want peace from the world, we want to end this war.”

Other protesters shouted, “stop killing Afghans” and “we want justice.”

RIYADH, 29 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said during a summit in Baghdad “Saudi Arabia appreciates the role Iraq’s government has played in its campaign to get illegal arms out of the hands of militias.”

Prince Faisal said “Saudi Arabia continues to coordinate with Iraq to confront the threat of extre-mism and the Kingdom continues to stand by Iraq. The leadership in Saudi Arabia spares no effort in supporting Iraq at all levels.”

During the summit in Baghdad, Prince Faisal also said that dialogue is Saudi Arabia’s approach to dealing with any international or regional disputes.

PARIS, 29 August 2021, (TON): French President Emmanuel Macron reported on negotiations between France and the radical Taliban movement (banned in Russia) on the organization of humanitarian operations and the continuation of the export of those citizens who are in danger from Afghanistan. According to him, Qatar plays the role of mediator in this process.

Macron told reporters at a press conference “we are still in negotiations, and everything is still very preliminary, but we are discussing with the Taliban humanitarian operations, as well as the possibility of protecting and removing those Afghans who are in danger.”

He said “yes, we are working together with Qatar, among others, to carry out these operations. Because Qatar, in the context of their communication with the Taliban, has the ability to organize an air bridge open to some airlines in security conditions that have yet to be determined. with the Taliban in a changing environment.”

On Saturday night, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France announced the completion of the operation to evacuate their citizens and the Afghans who collaborated with its representatives.

KABUL, 29 August 2021, (TON): The Taliban said “they would announce a new government for Afghanistan in the coming week and expected the economic turbulence and sharp currency falls that followed their take-over of the city two weeks ago to subside quickly.”

Zabihullah Mujahid, the movement's main spokesman, made the comments as the U.S. military winds down its mission to evacuate U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans and withdraw troops from Kabul airport ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden.

Mujahid condemned an overnight U.S. drone strike against Islamic State militants following Thursday's suicide attack near the airport as a "clear attack on Afghan territory".

But he appealed to the United States and other Western nations to maintain diplomatic relations after their withdrawal, which he expected would be completed very soon.

There is mounting frustration in Kabul at the severe economic hardship caused by a plummeting currency and rising food prices, with banks still shuttered two weeks after the fall of the city to the Taliban.

Mujahid said officials had already been appointed to run key institutions including the ministries of public health and education and the central bank.

ISLAMABAD, 29 August 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who recently concluded a four-nation tour of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, has said that Afghanistan's neighbours were fully aware of the situation in Kabul and their approach towards the issue was realistic.

In a statement, the foreign minister detailed his findings after holding dialogues with regional leadership surrounding Afghanistan.

He said "I had the opportunity to learn about their views on Afghanistan during my four-nation tour."

Qureshi said, adding that the Taliban leadership was also in contact with all the countries "the entire region will benefit if there is peace and stability in Afghanistan."

The people of Afghanistan have been dealing with wars for decades and want peace. They are suffering for the mistakes made in the past. We need to learn from the mistakes made in the past so that they are not repeated.

If there is a positive message coming from Afghanistan, it should be encouraged, Qureshi said, adding that isolating Afghanistan would be detrimental to all.

The minister said the world was "expressing confidence" in Pakistan, adding that the country's role as a mediator in Afghanistan had also been praised.