India builds soft power in Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan
Nikkei Asia: The move not only reinforces India’s position as a key provider of essential aid to Afghanistan but also highlights New Delhi’s efforts to craft positive relations, even though it does not formally recognize the Taliban regime that seized power in August 2021. India reestablished its diplomatic presence in mid-2022 by deploying a “technical team” in the Afghan capital. Experts say the region is simply too important to leave. In addition, the latest food aid marks a geopolitically significant change in the way India supplies assistance. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan national futsal team in Beirut for three friendlies
Ariana: The Afghanistan Football Federation announced Tuesday that the country’s national futsal team has left for Beirut where they will play three friendly matches against Lebanon. According to the Football Federation, the team left for Beirut from Tehran where they had been taking part in a training camp. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Sports News
Afghanistan Sees Surge In COVID-19 Cases Over 280% Jump In Active Cases: WHO
Khaama: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 282.5% in April, according to data released Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO also said that the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 4,954 in April, of which nine were dead while showing a surge in the cases compared to March, with four deaths cases. In April 2023, 18,049 tests were performed in public laboratories, an increase of 50.7% from March 2023. The test positivity rate rose from 10.8% to 27.4% in the same month. Click here to read more (external link).
Health ministry reports 12,000 deaths a year in Afghanistan from TB
Ariana: Marking World Tuberculosis Day on Monday in Kabul, the Ministry of Public Health said that up to 12,000 people die from the disease in the country every year. Mohammad Hassan Ghiasi, the deputy minister, said last year, 76,000 cases of tuberculosis were registered in the country, out of which 52,000 people recovered. According to Ghiasi, a further 4,800 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis were registered in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Health News
‘We Want Iranian Officials to Align Water Demands with Treaty’: Muttaqi
Muttaqi
Tolo News: The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, referring to recent tensions over water between Kabul and Tehran, said that the recent droughts should not be ignored, and Kabul expects the Iranian officials to make their demands based on the treaty. Addressing a ceremony on the 7th anniversary of the death of former Islamic Emirate leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, the acting Minister of Foreign Affair Amir Khan Muttaqi said that the Islamic Emirate is committed to the Helmand water treaty signed in 1973. “Regarding Iran’s water rights, the Islamic Emirate is committed to the water treaty of 1973 but the drought that exists in Afghanistan and region should not be ignored,” he said. He also said that the issue of water should not be politicalized and it should be solved through negotiations. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
Tolo News in Dari – May 22, 2023
Massive Earthquake Rocks Badakhshan; Tremors Felt in Kabul
Khaama: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 rocked 98 Km southeast of Faizabad Badakhshan province, and the tremors were felt in Kabul, on Monday, at 10:43 am local time. No causalities have been reported so far; further details are awaited. This is the second earthquake within 10 hours; the first earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 4.0, 69 Km east of Faizabad, Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, on Monday. Click here to read more (external link).
Female Teachers Brutally Beaten by Taliban in Bamiyan for Welcoming Taliban’s Acting Minister of Education
8am: According to reliable local sources, these female teachers, affiliated with Darul Uloom Ettefaq, located in the center of Bamiyan, were beaten by the Taliban on Monday, May 22. These teachers, named Zahra Haydari and Sharifa Rustami, had gone to welcome Habibulla Aghaz, the acting minister of education of the Taliban, who had traveled to Bamiyan. Apparently, after the beating, the Taliban took these two female teachers with them to their security command in Bamiyan. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan beat Turkmenistan 2-1 in CAFA U-20 Championship
Ariana: Afghanistan defeated Turkmenistan 2-1 in their first match of the 2023 CAFA U-20 Championship on Sunday. The match was held at CSKA Stadium in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe. Afghanistan will meet hosts Tajikistan in their next match of the tournament on Monday. Click here to read more (external link).