An Afghan Muslim man wearing a face mask as a precaution against coronavirus offers Eid Al Adha prayers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, July 31, 2020. AP
An Afghan Muslim man wearing a face mask as a precaution against coronavirus offers Eid Al Adha prayers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, July 31, 2020. AP
An Afghan Muslim man wearing a face mask as a precaution against coronavirus offers Eid Al Adha prayers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, July 31, 2020. AP
An Afghan Muslim man wearing a face mask as a precaution against coronavirus offers Eid Al Adha prayers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, July 31, 2020. AP

Asia

Afghan ceasefire holds on final day as hundreds of Taliban prisoners freed

Calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, with officials not reporting any major clashes

Agence France Presse

August 02, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

A rare ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan government appeared to hold for the third and final day on Sunday, with hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer.

Calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, with officials not reporting any major clashes between the two foes since the truce began on Friday to mark the Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha.

President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have both indicated that long-delayed negotiations could begin straight after Eid.

"This Eid feels different, parks are full with people... you almost forget that there has been a war in this country for 40 years," said Shahpoor Shadab, a resident from the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Afghan policemen stand guard at a check point during Eid Al Fitr, a Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan. REUTERS
Afghan policemen stand guard at a check point during Eid Al Fitr, a Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan. REUTERS
Children play during Eid Al Fitr. Reuters
Children play during Eid Al Fitr. Reuters
A religious scholar speaks as Muslim devotees offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr. AFP
A religious scholar speaks as Muslim devotees offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr. AFP
A religious scholar speaks as Muslim devotees offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr. AFP
A religious scholar speaks as Muslim devotees offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr. AFP
Afghans leave after prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul. REUTERS
Afghans leave after prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul. REUTERS
An Afghan man leaves after prayers during Eid Al-Fitr at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
An Afghan man leaves after prayers during Eid Al-Fitr at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
An Afghan man gestures after the prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
An Afghan man gestures after the prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
A man sits outside the Pul-e Khishti mosque at the start of the Eid Al Fitr festival in Kabul on May 24, 2020. AFP
A man sits outside the Pul-e Khishti mosque at the start of the Eid Al Fitr festival in Kabul on May 24, 2020. AFP
A health worker checks the body temperature of a Muslim devotee as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus at the start of the Eid Al Fitr at Wazir Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul. AFP
A health worker checks the body temperature of a Muslim devotee as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus at the start of the Eid Al Fitr at Wazir Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul. AFP
Afghan men take part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque. REUTERS
Afghan men take part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque. REUTERS
Afghans leave after prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul. REUTERS
Afghans leave after prayers during Eid Al Fitr at a mosque in Kabul. REUTERS
A security officer stops motorists at a checkpoint on a road at the start of the Eid Al Fitr festival. AFP
A security officer stops motorists at a checkpoint on a road at the start of the Eid Al Fitr festival. AFP
Muslims offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr at the Wazir Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul on May 24, 2020. AFP
Muslims offer prayers at the start of the Eid Al Fitr at the Wazir Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul on May 24, 2020. AFP
An Afghan man wearing a protective face mask takes part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr. Reuters
An Afghan man wearing a protective face mask takes part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr. Reuters
Afghan policemen take part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr in Kabul, Afghanistan May 24, 2020. REUTERS
Afghan policemen take part in prayers during Eid Al Fitr in Kabul, Afghanistan May 24, 2020. REUTERS
Men offer Eid Al Fitr prayers outside a mosque in Kabul. AP
Men offer Eid Al Fitr prayers outside a mosque in Kabul. AP
An Afghan boy prepares sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP
An Afghan boy prepares sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP
Afghan men prepare sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP
Afghan men prepare sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP
Afghan men prepare sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP
Afghan men prepare sweets at a traditional bakery for Eid Al Fitr holiday to mark the end of Ramadan. AP

In restive Zabul province, several residents recited poems calling for the ceasefire - only the third official halt in fighting in nearly two decades of conflict - to be made permanent.

"Peace is everybody's need and aspiration," said Sardar Wali, who took part in the poetry session.

"This is a great opportunity to extend the ceasefire today and start intra-Afghan talks tomorrow."

Under a deal signed by the Taliban and the US in February, the "intra-Afghan" talks were slated to start in March, but were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on.

The deal stipulated that Kabul would free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban.

The National Security Council said Sunday that a further 300 Taliban prisoners had been released since Friday, taking the total number of insurgents freed so far to just over 4,900.

Read More

Taliban announce Eid Al Adha Afghanistan ceasefire

Thousands of Pakistani Taliban militants in Afghanistan, UN says

Authorities however have refused to free hundreds of inmates accused of serious crimes that the insurgents had requested for release.

The Taliban said they have already fulfilled their side of the exchange.

Deadly violence has rocked Afghanistan since the US-Taliban deal was agreed, with more than 3,500 Afghan troops killed in attacks by the insurgents, according to Mr Ghani.

While you're here
While you're here
Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

On Women's Day
Fight Night

FIGHT NIGHT

Four title fights:

Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event  
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title

Six undercard bouts:

Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio

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THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS

AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas

DevisionX – manufacturing

Event Gates – security and manufacturing

Farmdar – agriculture

Farmin – smart cities

Greener Crop – agriculture

Ipera.ai – space digitisation

Lune Technologies – fibre-optics

Monak – delivery

NutzenTech – environment

Nybl – machine learning

Occicor – shelf management

Olymon Solutions – smart automation

Pivony – user-generated data

PowerDev – energy big data

Sav – finance

Searover – renewables

Swftbox – delivery

Trade Capital Partners – FinTech

Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment

Workfam – employee engagement

if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')

Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')

Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)

Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)

Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)

Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)

Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)

Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)

Eibar v Alaves (7pm)

Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)

 

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Our commentary on Brexit
Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

Related
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlanRadar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2013%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIbrahim%20Imam%2C%20Sander%20van%20de%20Rijdt%2C%20Constantin%20K%C3%B6ck%2C%20Clemens%20Hammerl%2C%20Domagoj%20Dolinsek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVienna%2C%20Austria%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EConstruction%20and%20real%20estate%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400%2B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Headline%2C%20Berliner%20Volksbank%20Ventures%2C%20aws%20Gr%C3%BCnderfonds%2C%20Cavalry%20Ventures%2C%20Proptech1%2C%20Russmedia%2C%20GR%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick%20facts
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Tomorrow 2021
UAE SQUAD

Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The bio

Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist

Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi

Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup

Hobbies: Reading and drawing

Central AsiaAfghanistan