UNICEF on Saturday urged the interim Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan to lift the ban on girls' secondary education as the new school year begins without girls for a third consecutive year.
As new school year starts in Afghanistan, almost 400,000 more girls deprived of their right to education, bringing total to 2.2 million, according to the United Nations agency for children.
The agency stated that the consequences for these girls - and for Afghanistan - are catastrophic.
"This decision continues to harm the future of millions of Afghan girls. If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school," - UNICEF stated, highlighting the increased risk of child marriage and its negative repercussions on their well-being and health.
In addition, the country will experience a shortage of qualified female health workers. This will endanger lives.
"With fewer female doctors and midwives, girls and women will not receive the medical treatment and support they need. We are estimating an additional 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. These are not just numbers, they represent lives lost and families shattered," - the agency added.
UNICEF has urge the de facto authorities to lift this ban immediately.
"Education is not just a fundamental right; it is the pathway to a healthier, more stable, and prosperous society,” it added.
Despite the ban, UNICEF was able to provide access to education for 445,000 children through community-based learning—64 per cent of whom are girls.
Protey, a Russian telecom equipment developer, installed 4G mobile network systems in Afghanistan last year, a development reported by the Vedomosti business newspaper on Thursday. The systems are designed to provide mobile services for an estimated 10 million people.
Afghanistan’s mining sector continues to attract international attention as Russian investors explore new opportunities in the country’s vast mineral resources.
Top diplomats from Pakistan, China, and the Taliban-led Afghan government convened in Beijing for a trilateral meeting focused on advancing regional stability, boosting economic ties, and strengthening counterterrorism cooperation.
The U.S. has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, potentially leading to the deportation of over 9,000 Afghans currently residing in the country, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Pakistani and Afghan security forces clashed on Monday at the recently shuttered main border crossing between the two countries, killing at least one combatant and injuring several, officials said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday held a series of high-level meetings in Istanbul with senior officials from the UN, Qatar, Pakistan, and Iran, amid growing regional tension following Israel's attacks on Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched another wave of drone attacks on Israel overnight, in what it calls the 19th round of strikes targeting strategic sites across the country.
A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire and crashed Saturday in southern Brazil, killing eight and injuring at least 13 others, local authorities said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A tornado ripped through a rural area of North Dakota late Friday, killing three people and leaving behind severe damage as storms lashed parts of the upper Midwest.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and China Eximbank Chairman Chen Huaiyu signed a $500 million loan agreement for the telecom sector on June 21.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov discussed bilateral partnership and regional security on the sidelines of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev met with Gazprombank First Vice President Oleg Melnikov during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to discuss strengthening financial cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held talks on advancing cooperation in decarbonization, renewable energy and modernization of the country’s power infrastructure.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to invite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Armenia for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, scheduled for spring 2026 in Yerevan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday held a series of high-level meetings in Istanbul with senior officials from the UN, Qatar, Pakistan, and Iran, amid growing regional tension following Israel's attacks on Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched another wave of drone attacks on Israel overnight, in what it calls the 19th round of strikes targeting strategic sites across the country.
A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire and crashed Saturday in southern Brazil, killing eight and injuring at least 13 others, local authorities said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that nations' rights under international law “cannot be taken away through war and threats,” during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
A tornado ripped through a rural area of North Dakota late Friday, killing three people and leaving behind severe damage as storms lashed parts of the upper Midwest.
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