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Afghanistan blames ‘politics’ as Australia cancels T20 tour in UAE
The Afghanistan Cricket Board urged the Australian government "not to impose its policies on cricket boards" and "focus on supporting the development of cricket". But under the Taliban government's brand of Islamic rule, women are effectively barred from the game, as part of a raft of restrictions on women in...
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UAE firm inks airport deal as Afghanistan eyes international flights
A United Arab Emirates company signed a contract with the Taliban authorities Tuesday to provide ground handling services at Afghanistan's three airports, officials said, as the country seeks to resume international transit. Capital Kabul's only airport was trashed in August when tens of thousands of people rushed to evacuate as... -
Taliban order women to wear all-covering burqa in public
The Taliban on Saturday imposed one of the harshest restrictions on Afghanistan's women since seizing power, ordering them to wear the all-covering burqa in public. The militants took back control of the country in August last year, promising a softer rule than their last stint in power between 1996 and... -
Afghan supreme leader makes rare appearance at Eid prayers
Afghanistan's supreme leader appeared publicly for only the second time in six years on Sunday, telling worshipers celebrating Eid al-Fitr the Taliban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year. Akhundzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshipers in Kandahar. -
Over 1m medical tourists visit Iran in a year
Most patients come from neighboring countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, Head of the tourism office at Iran’s Ministry of Health Mohammad Reza Tarjoman said. -
Sweet smell of Ramadan in South Asia
The region is home to around a third of Islam's adherents. Festive Iftar meals traditionally bring families together and there is intense social activity. -
Hit by sanctions, many Afghans find a savior in cryptocurrency
In the middle of a bazaar in western Afghanistan, Arezo Akrimi takes out her smartphone and, after a few taps of the screen, changes some cryptocurrency for a bundle of hard cash. Arezo, 19, is one of a hundred students in Herat receiving around $200 a month in cryptocurrency since... -
Finland named happiest nation for fifth year, Afghanistan unhappiest
The World Happiness Report, now in its 10th year, is based on people's own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data. -
The secretive Taliban leader shows his face
One of the Taliban's most secretive leaders, whose only picture on US "most wanted" lists is a grainy semi-covered profile, was photographed openly for the first time Saturday at a passing-out parade for new Afghan police recruits. -
World Bank announces more than $1bn in aid for Afghanistan
The objective of the new aid provided by World Bank is to "protect vulnerable Afghans and help preserve human capital and key economic and social services." -
Arabs decry ‘racist’ double standard in Ukraine media commentary
Arabs noted that while the toll of war may be similar in the respective conflicts, the media treatment is not. Many also drew a comparison between Europe's welcoming of Ukrainian refugees and the influx of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans. -
Fewer Afghan women return to universities
Afghanistan's main universities reopened Saturday six months after the Taliban returned to power, but only a trickle of women returned to now-segregated classes. -
US restricts import of Afghan cultural items to prevent ‘pillage’
The decree implemented on an "emergency" basis took effect on Friday based on a 'request' of a former government of Afghanistan that no longer exists. -
Islamic Development Bank sets up fund for providing aid to Afghanistan
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved the establishment of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF), which will channel humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan. The AHTF will be administered by the IsDB, which welcomed the OIC invitation to its member states, Islamic financial institutions, donors, and other international partners to... -
US discusses transfer deal with Afghans in UAE
US officials in the United Arab Emirates met with Afghans after a protest in Abu Dhabi this week and discussed their "potential" transfer to the United States, an embassy statement said. -
Iran protestors attack Afghan trucks over water rights
Protesters in Iran's southeast attacked trucks belonging to Afghan drivers during a demonstration on Friday over water rights for a river that flows from Afghanistan, Iranian state media said. -
Taliban, Western envoys meet for Oslo talks
A Taliban delegation headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is meeting representatives of the US, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, the European Union, and Norway in their first visit to Europe after coming taking over to Afghanistan. -
Turkey, Qatar await Taliban green light to run Afghan airports
Private Turkish and Qatari companies have agreed to jointly operate five airports in Afghanistan, although they are still waiting to reach a final deal with the Taliban. Officials of the two countries have said little about the details of the memorandum of understanding. -
Here are some significant records of 2021
From sizzling temperatures and the longest blockage of Suez and pensioners in space, a look at some of the most notable events of the year. -
Afghanistan’s asset freeze hurts everyone
To avoid giving the Taliban access to Afghanistan's reserves, Washington froze an estimated $10 billion held by the central bank abroad after the Taliban seized power on August 15. -
Collapse of Afghanistan has regional, international repercussions: Saudi FM
Saudi Arabia has said the collapse of Afghanistan would lead to chaos that has regional and international ramifications, while stressing the need to ensure that the country does not turn into a haven for terrorist and extremist groups. Speaking during the emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation hosted... -
Pentagon documents reveal ‘deeply flawed’ US air war in Middle East
Poor or inadequate surveillance footage often contributed to deadly targeting failures. -
OIC says Afghanistan needs full support of member states
The OIC has said its members as well as non-members need to organize and implement an immediate humanitarian assistance plan for Afghanistan. -
Saudi Arabia sends humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, first after Taliban takeover
Saudi Arabia sent two aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Afghanistan Thursday, state media reported, its first such initiative since the Taliban took control of the crisis-stricken country in August. The kingdom's state-run King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) sent more than 65 tons of aid, including 1,647 food... -
Iran-Saudi cooperation could set up new regional system: Johns Hopkins Prof
Negotiation is the first and foremost step, but not the last one, Nasr said, noting that there should be considerable agreements and outcomes to let the trust grow. -
Qatar, Turkey sign 11 new agreements
The signing is to take place at the 7th session of the Supreme Strategic Committee between the two countries. -
Turkey, Qatar vow joint push to reopen Kabul airport
Turkey and Qatar on Monday raised the possibility of jointly operating Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled airport, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan set off for two days of talks in Doha. -
Macron thanks Qatar for Afghan evacuations from Taliban
A flight chartered by Paris flew out 258 Afghans who were ‘particularly threatened because of their activities, especially journalists, or because of their links to France, including former locally-recruited civilian personnel for our armies,’ France has said. The same flight carried 11 French nationals and about 60 from the Netherlands,... -
Pakistan backs Saudi bid to convene OIC session on Afghanistan
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a statement on Monday that his country supports the Kingdom's initiative. -
Qatar will act on US interest in Afghanistan
The Gulf country has played a significant role both in diplomacy and evacuations as the US ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan. -
IS says its fighters attacked Kabul power lines
The Islamic State militant group's Afghan branch on Friday said it was behind an explosion that brought down electricity lines and plunged Kabul into darkness. -
Abu Dhabi crown prince, Macron discuss bilateral ties
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, investment opportunities, economy and culture, as well as other vital sectors, to drive sustainable development in both countries. -
UAE operating aid air bridge to Kabul: airport manager
The UAE have been key staging posts for evacuation flights for foreigners and Afghans -
US praises Taliban for Afghanistan evacuation
The United States on Thursday praised the Taliban as businesslike and cooperative in facilitating the first evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan since the US military withdrawal. -
As economy slumps, Turkey turns on migrants
Turkey turned into the home of one of the world's largest migrant populations when it struck a deal with Brussels to help resolve Europe's 2015-16 refugee crisis -
Blinken in Doha for Afghan crisis talks with Qatar
Blinken, accompanied by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is the most senior US official to visit the region since the Taliban's lightning takeover of Afghanistan on August 15. -
Afghan crisis cements Qatari global influence
Doha's long-standing hotline to the Taliban has helped Qatar burst onto the world stage with its efforts to assist Kabul reopen its airport. -
UAE sends plane carrying urgent food, medical aid to Afghanistan
The UAE foreign ministry confirmed to AFP that "this is the first (Emirati) aid flight since the recent events in Afghanistan". -
Taliban close to forming government
The announcement of a cabinet may take place on Friday following afternoon prayers -
Qatar team in Kabul for restart of ‘airport operations’
A technical team has landed in Kabul to discuss the resumption of airport operations after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, according to a source. "While no final agreement has been reached regarding providing technical assistance, Qatar's technical team has initiated this discussion based on the other side's request. Talks are... -
Taliban parade as Biden defends US pullout
The Taliban celebrated the US withdrawal, which was completed on Monday, as a major victory after taking control of Afghanistan last month. A long line of green Humvees idled in single file on a highway outside Kandahar, the spiritual birthplace of the militant movement, many with white-and-black Taliban flags attached... -
US leaves Afghanistan, 20 years of war ends
Taliban fighters swept into the airport and fired weapons into the sky in jubilation as the last of the American troops left on Monday night. -
Dozens die in Kabul airport blasts; Islamic State claims responsibility
Islamic State struck the crowded gates of Kabul airport in a suicide bomb attack on Thursday, killing scores of civilians and at least 13 U.S. troops, disrupting the airlift of tens of thousands of Afghans desperate to flee. Hours after the twin blasts, a third explosion was reported. -
UAE helps 28,000 flee Afghanistan: official
The UAE and Qatar have been instrumental staging posts for evacuation flights for Western countries' citizens as well as Afghan interpreters, journalists and others -
Confusion over Ukraine jet ‘hijacking’ in Kabul
Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Yevgeny Yenin told the independent Hromadske radio station that a Ukrainian plane had been "hijacked" in Kabul and flown to Iran "with a group of unknown passengers on board, instead of evacuating Ukrainians." But his comments were then denied by the foreign ministry. -
Taliban inherit $1 trn trove of minerals
China could take lead to tap the untapped minerals including some that could power the world’s transition to renewable energies. -
Bahrain allows use of airport for Afghan evacuees
Bahrain has announced that it is “allowing flights to make use of Bahrain’s transit facilities” amid the evacuations of Afghanistan. -
UAE agrees to temporarily host 5,000 Afghans
The move comes following a request from the United States to help out Afghan evacuees. -
Afghan evacuees touch down in UAE
About 5,000 Afghan nationals believed to be at risk due to the current crisis will be resettled in the UK. -
IMF suspends Afghanistan’s access to SDR resources
The IMF is expected to complete a $650 billion allocation of Special Drawing Rights, the fund’s unit of exchange based on dollars, euros, yen, sterling and yuan, on Monday, to its 190 member countries in proportion to their shareholdings in the fund. -
Afghanistan will be ruled by a council: Taliban leader
The insurgent group has made no official statement on the structure of their government even as a key Taliban member held talks on Wednesday with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai. A member of The Taliban delegation that arrived from Doha said that the delegation will hold consultations with local and...