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.
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.
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On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
As global tensions rise, Kazakhstan's leadership navigates a delicate geopolitical balance between Russia, China, and the West, aiming to turn its strategic location into a platform for cooperation, reform, and innovation.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected an Austrian intelligence report accusing Tehran of pursuing a military nuclear program, calling it “false and baseless,” and demanded an official explanation from Vienna, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to a peaceful nuclear program and criticizing Europe’s silence
Leaders of Central Asian countries and Italy convened in Astana for the first Central Asia–Italy summit, culminating in the adoption of a Joint Declaration aimed at deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
At the Astana International Forum, senior officials from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan held talks to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on trade, economic collaboration, and regional stability.
Panic erupted on a Seoul subway train after a man allegedly set a fire onboard, prompting the evacuation of over 400 passengers through a tunnel and sending 21 people to hospital with minor injuries.
As global tensions rise, Kazakhstan's leadership navigates a delicate geopolitical balance between Russia, China, and the West, aiming to turn its strategic location into a platform for cooperation, reform, and innovation.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has urged China to be more transparent about its military build-up and operations, calling for better communication amid rising concerns over Beijing’s presence in the Pacific.
At least two people, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, as questions remain over Kyiv’s participation in upcoming peace talks proposed by Moscow.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
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