Asia Afghanistan A 6,0 magnitude earthquake killed at least 800 people, injured over 2.500 in eastern province of Kunar, according to figures provided yesterday by the Taliban government; locals reportedly called for global help, feeling abandoned to themselves
Asia Afghanistan Youth in remote areas of Zabul area demand access to modern education as a key to their future; some teachers have started a few courses in English, with computers, and students are highly motivated; access to education in general remains a key issue
Asia Afghanistan Nearly 20.000 Afghans have been crossing from Iran to Afghanistan every day, driven out by targeted crackdowns and xenophobia: 1,5 million since January, fled or deported, make one of the worst displacement crises of the past decade, UN data reports
Asia Afghanistan Approximately 18.000 carats of emeralds, worth 1,1 million USD, have been sold since the beginning of year 1404, or 20 March 2025, in five rounds of bidding for Panjshir area emeralds and new emerald mine sites were discovered in Pariyan district
Asia Afghanistan Students in 500 villages across the southern province of Zabul are deprived of access to education due to a shortage of teachers, local Department of Education reported; residents are calling on authorities to provide both modern and religious education
Asia Afghanistan A 25-year extraction contract with Chinese company Afchin signed in 2023 regarding operations in the Amu Darya basin has been cancelled; among the reasons given: failure to employ Afghan nationals, lack of environmental, capacity-building responsibilities
Asia Afghanistan Around 100 tons of Panjshir cherries, a valuable crop, will this year be exported to central Asian countries and Russia; India and Pakistan used to be biggest importers of products from Panjshir and other provinces before relations deteriorated
Asia Afghanistan Hazara Culture Day was celebrated in Kabul; featuring women and girls it honored the rich heritage of the Hazara people, with handmade clothing and traditional Hazara foods, aiming to introduce Hazara culture to other ethnic groups in Afghanistan
Asia Afghanistan The 30-years conflict between the Sadaat and Serkhabi tribes in Qala-i-Naw was reconciled; both sides fully consented to foster lasting peace and mutual understanding; since re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, hundreds of local feuds have been ended
Asia Afghanistan Concerns about the reported presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan following the victory of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria are intensifying among neighboring countries, Central Asian republics and Indian security agencies, Indian sources reported
Asia Afghanistan A tree plantation campaign has begun: experts and religious scholars stress tree plantation is a key strategy for protecting the environment and alleviating the effects of climate change in Afghanistan; Kabul says damaging trees will entail legal action
Asia Afghanistan The mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has been extended until 2026, upon initiative of the UN Security Council
Asia Afghanistan The country is facing a critical health emergency with a dramatic rise in acute respiratory diseases, affecting children in particular; WHO has documented a 54,1% increase due to environmental and social factors and the use of poor quality fuels