Amu: Afghans across the country marked Yalda Night, also known as Shab-e Chella, the longest night of the year, celebrating a centuries-old tradition that many regard as a symbol of hope, patience and the belief that light follows darkness. Families in several provinces gathered late into the night, sharing food and conversation to honour the
Khaama: Vietnamese-American sculptor Tuan Andrew Nguyen will install an eight-meter replica of the Bamiyan Buddha along Tenth Street in Manhattan in spring 2026. Titled The Light That Shines Through the Universe, the sculpture is intended as a symbol of resilience, hope, and peace, commemorating the destroyed 6th-century statues in Afghanistan. The installation is part of
Khaama: This destruction follows a pattern: in recent years the Taliban has dismantled multiple cinema buildings across Afghanistan. In the Khairkhana district of Kabul, the historically significant Khairkhana Cinema was previously razed, with authorities announcing plans to build a mosque and a market on that site. Other cinemas in provinces such as Herat and Kandahar
By Zhakfar Ahmadi Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 11, 2025 The Afghan Taliban’s dreaded morality police have arrested four young men for dressing like characters from the British TV series Peaky Blinders. The men were detained in the western Afghan city of Herat this week. The Taliban accused them of “promoting alien culture” after photos went
NYT: After living for decades in exile, chased by war and religious bans, Naghma persists in singing to her people. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat has received an international award at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in Toronto for her latest work, Sima’s Song. Sadat, one of Afghanistan’s most acclaimed directors, was honored for her contributions to cinema and her continued storytelling under challenging circumstances. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: The Ministry of Justice said Saturday the new legislation, published in the official gazette, sets out 13 articles regulating poetry gatherings. The law prohibits any criticism of Akhundzada’s orders and decisions and bars verses praising “boys and girls” or encouraging friendship between them. It also demands poetry be free of “worldly love ,
Amu: Taliban have begun rebuilding the monument of Ali-Shir Nawa’i, a famed 15th-century poet and scholar, in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province, after its demolition drew strong criticism from cultural figures and Uzbekistan’s government. The monument, located in Mazar-e-Sharif, was torn down this week, prompting outrage from local communities, Afghan civil society groups, and
8am: Some journalists working in media outlets controlled by the Taliban have complained about discriminatory treatment toward the Persian language. They state that some media managers, driven by a desire to curry favor with the Taliban and linguistic biases, have used the group’s name to justify efforts to eliminate Persian words. These journalists highlight instances
8am: Local Taliban officials in Takhar have reported that five individuals have been arrested in the province for playing music. Nizamuddin Umair, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s provincial police command in Takhar, stated on Saturday, 21 June 2025, that these individuals are residents of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar. Click here to read more (external