Amu: Three days after the Taliban shut down Arezo TV in Kabul, the whereabouts of seven employees, including managers and dubbing staff, remain unknown. The Taliban have provided no updates on their status, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice claimed responsibility for
Ariana: Muhammad was the most popular name given to baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, ousting Noah to take the top spot, official figures showed on Thursday. Muhammad had been among the 10 most popular names since 2016 and had been in second place in 2022, according to the annual list produced by
Afghanistan International: With these changes, it seems that Hibatullah is trying to expand and consolidate his influence. One-third of these appointments have been made in Afghanistan’s southern provinces. Hibatullah has appointed and replaced dozens of people, including ministers, deputies, and commanders of the Taliban’s army. Many of these appointments are made not on the basis
The Spectator: Since withdrawing, the United States has pumped in more than $20 billion in aid. Separately, tens of millions of dollars are delivered monthly in cash, ostensibly for humanitarian organisations, though much is pilfered by the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
AP: The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice alleged that Arezo TV in Kabul was working with media outside Afghanistan and that it was paying temporary workers to dub “vulgar serials and programs” that went against Islamic and Afghan principles and traditions. Afghanistan fares poorly in terms of press freedom, with
ESPN: Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird has defended the governing body’s stance on not playing bilateral matches against Afghanistan after being accused of hypocrisy by outgoing ICC chair Greg Barclay. Barcley’s tenure came to an end on December 1 when Jay Shah took over at the ICC and as part of a wide-ranging interview with
Amu: A group of women and girls staged a protest outside the Taliban governor’s office in the western province of Herat on Thursday, decrying the recent ban on female participation in medical education. Chanting slogans like “education is justice and learning,” the demonstrators described the directive as oppressive and a blow to their basic rights.
Afghanistan International: The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) announced that on Tuesday evening, it targeted the convoy of intelligence forces of the Taliban in Khair Khana area of Kabul. This front published a video and claimed that five Taliban members were killed in this attack. Click here to read more (external link).