Ariana: Afghanistan’s General Statistics and Information Authority (GSIA) has estimated the country’s population at 37.2 million for the solar year 1405. The latest estimate shows that men account for 51 percent of the population, while women make up 49 percent. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: Taliban have issued a new family law regulation that recognizes marriages involving minors as legally valid in certain circumstances, while allowing children to seek annulment after reaching puberty only through a court order. The regulation also grants religious courts broad authority over annulments and marital disputes. The 31-article regulation, titled “Principles of Separation Between
Khaama: Afghanistan has once again been ranked the world’s unhappiest country, according to the latest World Happiness Report published on Saturday. Finland topped the global ranking again, while Afghanistan remained at the very bottom of the list. Afghanistan had also been ranked the world’s saddest country in last year’s report, underlining the country’s continued struggle
8am: Many residents of Kabul say that to stay safe from Taliban scrutiny and to gain the favor of their forces, they have been forced to wear the Kandahari hat, grow beards, and adopt traditional clothing. While some view this change as a return to traditional values, public accounts indicate that for many, this shift
Ariana: Afghanistan has once again been ranked the least happy country in the world, according to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report. The report, which measures people’s overall life satisfaction across 147 countries, placed Afghanistan at the bottom of the global ranking for another year, with a score 1.4 out of 10. Researchers
8am: Several citizens of Afghanistan say that Nowruz symbolizes renewal, solidarity, and hope for them. They add that following the Taliban’s takeover, Nowruz traditions and customs among the people have faded. According to these citizens, Nowruz, which was once one of the most important traditional celebrations, has now turned into an ordinary day. Click here
NPR: Girls dressed as boys has been documented for centuries in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan. It even has a term: a girl who disguises her gender is called a bacha posh — literally “dressing like a boy.” Bacha posh girls have long captured the imaginations of Westerners in Afghanistan. It was addressed in the
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: New photos from Afghanistan show a Taliban law banning images of people and animals is now being enforced across most of the country, resulting in seafood censored from menus, blacked-out museum displays, and covered mannequins. Click here to view photos (external link).
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
By Farangis Najibullah Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 15, 2025 Just before the Afghan capital fell to the Taliban in August 2021, RFE/RL spoke with several young professionals in Kabul who voiced their fears and anxieties about the future. We reconnected with them again this week to see how their lives have unfolded. KABUL — Ahmad Dawood juggles