LVMH abandons $16.2bn Tiffany takeover

Buildings in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, are still damaged and charred from the recent fierce fighting which brought the Taliban back into power and ousted the former government.

Afghans are struggling to get cash with banks still closed following the Taliban's takeover of the country. "I've been coming to the bank for four days now but I can't get my own money," says one resident.

An Afghan refugee who fled the Soviet invasion in 1987 and set up afresh in Washington DC organizes a donation center with the help of local volunteers. "It was hard just to watch on TV and just be idle," says Fatima Popal, who remembers the challenges of setting up a new home in a foreign country. The lightspeed Taliban takeover brought back painful memories for the 41-year-old who runs an Afghan restaurant in the US Capital.

In this week's edition, we explore what the turmoil in Afghanistan could mean for the wider region, from emboldened extremist groups to political realignment. To understand what's at stake, we talk to Michael Kugelman, deputy director and senior associate for South Asia at The Wilson Center think tank.

A barber in Kabul said he was uncertain about the future of his business on September 9, after the Taliban swept into power in Afghanistan. More men are expected to grow beards, the hallmark of the Taliban, which means less customers for barbers. "We used to work with foreigners, and our clients were like the British embassy… our work was good, but now it is not working, our situation is bad," said barber Nazar Mohammad, adding that he was thinking about leaving the country if he could no longer maintain a livelihood.

India-administered Kashmir is reportedly seeing a surge in foreign militants. Analysts warn that increasing disaffection among young Kashmiris in the disputed region could have serious consequences.

It has been two and half years since Sudanese protesters peacefully overthrew their dictator Omar al-Bashir in a jubilant moment for Sudan. But the path to democracy has not run smoothly. Infighting has plagued the country's joint military-civilian coalition and steep price rises have shaken people's faith in their leaders. For weeks, rumours had swirled of a coup d'état. This Monday morning, it happened: Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was arrested and military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appeared on television, declaring a state of emergency and dissolving the country's ruling body. Is this the death knell for Sudan's revolution? Or will the military's actions breathe new life into the protest movement?

Kabul residents on Tuesday said the first 100 days after the Taliban takeover had been difficult, expressing ongoing concerns about security and girls' education.

Panjshir Valley became known as the last bastion of the anti-Taliban resistance as the militants swept to power in Afghanistan in August. But it was only a matter of weeks before Panjshir too would fall into Taliban control. Once a bustling hub of activity, Panjshir is now largely deserted. The few residents who have stayed are now under constant surveillance, and are struggling to survive amid a crippling economic crisis. Sonia Ghezali, Shahzaib Wahlah and Solène Chalvon Fioriti report.

More Afghans facing extreme poverty are turning to opium production as a means of survival. Despite promises to the contrary, the Taliban are unlikely to oppose cultivation of the narcotic cash crop.

Sudanese security forces have shot dead at least 14 anti-coup protesters and wounded dozens more, in the bloodiest day since the military seized power on 25 October. The fatalities in Khartoum on Wednesday raised to 38 the death toll from unrest since the military seized power, a pro-democracy doctors' union said.

Thousands of journalists have lost their jobs in Afghanistan over the past few months, with many media outlets ceasing operations due to increasing security and financial challenges.