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ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the Taliban&rsquo;s arrest of women in Afghanistan&rsquo;s western Herat province, warning that the detentions and the subsequent use of force against protesters raise serious human rights concerns amid an expanding crackdown on women across the country. The warning comes as reports emerge of a pregnant woman who was allegedly detained by Taliban morality police in Kabul and remains missing days later, with her family saying authorities have provided no information about her whereabouts. According to a UN statement issued Wednesday, at least 30 women were detained in Herat by officials from the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The arrests followed a large-scale operation targeting women accused of violating the Taliban&rsquo;s dress requirements. The detentions sparked protests in Herat city, where residents gathered to denounce the arrests before Taliban security forces moved to disperse the crowd. In its statement, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was concerned that &ldquo;dozens more women reportedly received verbal warnings&rdquo; during the operation. &ldquo;While the women were released on June 8, the impact of such arbitrary arrests and detentions on women and their families is profound,&rdquo; UNAMA said. The UN mission also raised alarm over what it described as the &ldquo;excessive use of force by Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto security forces&rdquo; against demonstrators in Herat&rsquo;s Jibreil area on June 9. According to UNAMA, &ldquo;at least one person, a boy, was killed by gunfire, while several others suffered injuries, including from being beaten with sticks,&rdquo; adding that it was verifying reports of a second fatality. The developments underscore growing international concern over the Taliban&rsquo;s enforcement of morality regulations, which rights groups say have increasingly curtailed women&rsquo;s freedoms since the group returned to power in 2021. Pregnant woman detainedSeparately, sources told Afghanistan International that a Hazara woman was detained by Taliban morality police in Kabul three days ago after leaving her home to carry out routine shopping.&nbsp; The woman, who is reportedly pregnant, was allegedly taken away in a government vehicle to an undisclosed location. Her family says repeated attempts to obtain information from local police and the Taliban&rsquo;s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have yielded no answers. &ldquo;We have approached all the relevant offices, but no one accepts responsibility for the arrest or tells us where she has been taken,&rdquo; one source told the outlet on condition of anonymity. &ldquo;We are deeply concerned about her well-being and that of her child,&rdquo; the source added. Taliban authorities have not publicly explained the reason for the detention, though morality police have frequently detained women accused of failing to comply with the Taliban&rsquo;s interpretation of hijab requirements. UNAMA reiterated its call on Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to &ldquo;rescind all policies and practices that restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan,&rdquo; including limitations on freedom of movement, expression, education, employment and participation in public life. Since regaining power nearly five years ago, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, barring them from higher education, limiting employment opportunities and restricting access to public spaces.&nbsp; International organizations have repeatedly warned that the cumulative effect of these measures has resulted in the systematic exclusion of women from public life and one of the world&rsquo;s most severe women&rsquo;s rights crises.

Afghan women wearing chador walk along the street near the Grand Mosque in Herat on June 8, 2026. (AFP)

Afghanistan

The United Nations agency condemned the detention of at least 30 women in Herat and the use of force against protesters, while reports of a pregnant woman missing after arrest in Kabul have intensified concerns over Taliban treatment of women.

UN alarmed as Afghan Taliban detain women, pregnant mother disappears

ISLAMABAD: Taliban security forces used force to disperse a rare public protest in Herat after demonstrators gathered to oppose the detention of women accused of violating the country&#39;s strict Islamic dress code, according to a report by the BBC.&nbsp; Two people were killed during the unrest, though they did not specify the cause of death; several others were reported injured. Taliban authorities denied that anyone had died but acknowledged responding to the demonstration. The protest took place in the western Afghan city of Herat, where local Taliban officials had recently intensified enforcement of mandatory hijab regulations. Men and women joined the protest days after reports emerged that women perceived as improperly wearing the hijab were being detained by Taliban authorities. Taliban security forces used live fire to break up the protest. Taliban police did not directly address allegations that officers fired on protestors but said they had taken measures to maintain security and public order. Taliban security personnel used &ldquo;sticks, whips and firearms&rdquo; to disperse the crowd and fired shots into the air, according to the BBC.&nbsp; Videos circulating on social media appeared to capture the sound of gunfire as women screamed and pleaded with security forces not to beat protesters. Sayed Masoud Hosseini, a spokesperson for the Herat Police Command, accused demonstrators of disturbing public order. He said some protesters sought to create tension under the pretext of opposing Islamic hijab requirements, which Taliban authorities consider a religious obligation. According to reports from the BBC Afghan service, some demonstrators chanted &ldquo;Education, Work, Freedom,&rdquo; a slogan associated with calls for greater rights for Afghan women. Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, expressed his alarm over reports indicating excessive force used against what seemed to be peaceful protesters. In a statement shared on social media, Bennett called for accountability for those responsible for these actions. The protest underscores the rising tensions regarding Taliban restrictions on women, which have intensified since the group regained power in August 2021. Women have been prohibited from attending secondary and higher education, excluded from numerous job opportunities, and face increasingly strict regulations concerning their appearance and movement. The Taliban made the hijab mandatory for women in May 2022, but residents in Herat said enforcement efforts intensified in recent days. According to the BBC, they had seen women being detained since the weekend for allegedly failing to comply with dress requirements.

Women in Burqas in Herat, Afghanistan (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Taliban forces violently dispersed a protest in Herat over strict hijab enforcement, with reports of deaths, injuries, and accusations of excessive force.

Two women killed in crackdown on protests in Herat

ISLAMABAD: Taliban forces opened fire on protesters in the western Afghan city of Herat on Tuesday, wounding multiple people and triggering a broader security crackdown that included reported arrests and visits to hospitals to detain injured protesters, according to Amu TV.&nbsp; The protests began in Herat&#39;s Jibril area after reports emerged of a wave of arrests targeting women by Taliban.&nbsp; Hundreds of people gathered to denounce the detentions before Taliban security forces moved to disperse the crowd. The mounting anger over reports that women and girls in Herat were being detained for purportedly violating the Taliban&rsquo;s interpretation of Islamic dress regulations. The shooting occurred near an intersection known as &ldquo;Bahar-e Zendagi&rdquo; as protesters marched through the area. Taliban forces fired live ammunition at protesters. Afghanistan International qouting an eyewitness stated&nbsp;that he personally saw one dead person and at least 22 wounded individuals after the confrontation.&nbsp; No official casualty figures have been released, and the exact number of people injured or detained remains unclear. Protesters arrested&nbsp; According to Afghanistan International, Taliban authorities subsequently arrested a number of protesters.&nbsp; Qouting sources, Afghanistan International reported that Taliban personnel visited hospitals in Herat in an effort to identify and detain injured protesters receiving medical treatment. Flyers circulated across Herat on Monday called on residents to assemble at 8 am in District 13 of Jibrail township to condemn the arrests.&nbsp; Qouting witnesses it reported that crowds gathered despite the risk of retaliation from Taliban authorities. Taliban forces reportedly deployed additional personnel across the Jibril and nearby Jami&#39; areas of the city.&nbsp; Residents described a heightened security presence, with increased checkpoints and patrols. &#39;Deeply alarmed&#39;This incident has drawn international concern as well.&nbsp; Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, said Monday he was &quot;deeply alarmed&quot; by reports that scores of women had been detained in Herat for a third consecutive day over alleged dress code violations. The issue was also raised before the UN Security Council.&nbsp; Georgette Gagnon, acting head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, cited reports that about 30 women had been detained in Herat by Taliban morality police and law enforcement personnel.&nbsp; The Herat protest appeared to be among the largest public demonstrations in recent months opposing the Taliban&rsquo;s enforcement of these restrictions.

Women wearing Burqas in Afghanistan - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Taliban forces reportedly opened fire on protesters in Herat, wounding multiple people and triggering a wider crackdown amid growing anger over the detention of women for alleged dress-code violations.

Taliban open fire on protesters in Herat: Afghan media 

HERAT: Afghan residents in the western city of Herat have told AFP of witnessing multiple women detained by the Taliban government&#39;s morality police, in a crackdown over clothing which has drawn criticism from the United Nations. The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-agency-raises-concerns-over-taliban-arrests-of-women-in-herat" style="color:#0073e6;">said</a>&nbsp;on Sunday it was &quot;concerned over multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat Afghanistan for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements.&quot; Taliban authorities rule according to a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and have gradually tightened restrictions on women since returning to power in August 2021. Women nationwide must be completely covered when they leave home, with many wearing a flowing abaya robe along with a Muslim headscarf and a face covering. In Herat, residents witnessed women being detained on Saturday for not wearing the body-cloaking chador or burqa. They spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity for security reasons. &quot;I saw two employees of the ministry, one of whom was carrying a whip, putting two women who were not wearing chadors into a vehicle,&quot; said a 23-year-old woman, referring to officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV). She said those detained were fully covered, including wearing Muslim headscarves. &quot;Everyone is frightened,&quot; she told AFP. Another woman said she saw PVPV officials stopping vehicles and checking passengers&#39; clothing, and saw multiple women being detained and put into vans. &quot;The majority of those arrested were women who were not wearing chadors,&quot; the 27-year-old said. The PVPV ministry did not comment on women being detained when contacted by AFP. &quot;There is nothing unusual in Herat,&quot; the ministry&#39;s information department said. The dress code &quot;is a divine command and an enforced law, and we are obligated to implement it,&quot; the ministry said. Since the crackdown was launched, an AFP journalist and multiple residents in Herat said the number of women leaving home had dropped sharply. A 20-year-old taxi driver said &quot;they&#39;re not seen in the city at all.&quot; &quot;We&#39;ve been told not to transport women without a chador,&quot; he said. One woman described the situation as &quot;unbearable.&quot; &quot;I am genuinely saddened that we don&#39;t even have the right to breathe freely,&quot; the 33-year-old said. &quot;Life has become very difficult for us.&quot;

Women detained in Afghanistan's Herat in clothing crackdown

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&#39;s permanent representative to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, on Sunday, condemned the arrest of women in the western Herat province of the country for the alleged non-compliance with the Taliban-imposed dress requirements. In a statement posted on X, he termed the arrest of ladies in Herat as part of a systematic policy to eliminate women from the Afghan society, deprive them of fundamental freedoms, and humiliate their human dignity. The statement added that Faiq termed the arrest of women because of their appearance or choice of clothing as not about protecting religion or values.&nbsp; &quot;Instead, it is a tool of repression, intimidation, and the spread of fear throughout society,&quot; the statement added. Afghan media reported that the Taliban authorities arrested at least 40 women in the western Herat province for not wearing what the religious group terms as &quot;proper dress.&quot; Faiq, who was appointed to the UN by the former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s government, further said that the detention of women by the Taliban&rsquo;s morality police under the pretext of &ldquo;improper Hijab&rdquo; is neither consistent with Islamic principles and values nor with the culture and traditions of the Afghan people. The envoy, who is retained in the UN for non-recognition of the Taliban government on the international level, also cited what he described as numerous documented reports of violent treatment of women in detention, including harassment, sexual assault, and forced marriages.&nbsp; The statement further quoted Faiq saying that allegations have not been investigated transparently and that those responsible have not been held accountable. Questioning the Taliban&#39;s justification for the arrests, Faiq said, &quot;How do the Taliban&#39;s enforcers consider themselves guardians when they forcibly detain and transfer women in the streets and markets?&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2063644637709869246&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=048074557d55da39496af0656a0a8e2ee2d37656&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 446px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Faiq characterized the measures as &quot;inhumane&quot;, &quot;unlawful,&quot; and &quot;un-Islamic&quot; and condemned them.&nbsp;

Afghan women wearing burqas - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan’s UN envoy, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, condemned the Taliban’s detention of women over alleged hijab/niqab violations, calling it a systematic campaign of repression, intimidation, and abuse against women.

Herat arrests of women aim to erase women from public life: Afghanistan envoy to UN

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed &ldquo;serious human rights concerns&rdquo; following the arrest and detention of multiple women in Afghanistan&rsquo;s western Herat province for alleged non-compliance with Taliban-imposed dress requirements. According to Afghanistan International, Taliban authorities launched a large-scale operation in Herat on Saturday targeting women accused of violating the prescribed dress code, resulting in the detention of multiple individuals. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, UNAMA said it was concerned &ldquo;over multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat&rdquo; linked to alleged breaches of dress requirements. The UN mission said the detentions raise &ldquo;serious human rights concerns&rdquo; and urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to respect fundamental freedoms. &ldquo;We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law,&rdquo; UNAMA said. The arrests are the latest in a series of measures imposed by Taliban authorities since their return to power in August 2021.&nbsp; The group has enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, requiring women to adhere to extensive dress regulations and limiting their participation in public life. Over the past four years, Taliban authorities have progressively tightened restrictions on women and girls, barring them from universities, public parks, gyms and beauty salons, while curtailing employment and social opportunities. The United Nations and human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that the cumulative impact of these policies has led to the systematic exclusion of women from public life.&nbsp; UN officials have previously described the situation as one of the most severe women&rsquo;s rights crises in the world.

UNAMA voiced concern after Taliban authorities detained multiple women in Herat over alleged dress code violations, underscoring growing international alarm over restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan.


UN agency raises concerns over Taliban arrests of women in Herat

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;As Afghanistan marked World Environment Day on Friday, growing climate and environmental challenges continued to weigh heavily on communities across the country, causing serious risks to livelihoods, food security, and long-term social stability, according to a report by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).&nbsp; Years of drought, worsening water scarcity and extreme weather events have left millions vulnerable, particularly in rural areas where agriculture remains the primary source of income.&nbsp; More than half of Afghanistan&rsquo;s population is affected by prolonged dry periods, according to local assessments, with farmers reporting repeated crop failures and shrinking access to water. In the eastern province of Nangarhar, residents say increasingly unpredictable weather patterns are disrupting traditional farming practices and deepening economic hardship. &ldquo;Our river has become unpredictable. Last year, it dried when we needed it most; this year it flooded and destroyed half of our crops,&rdquo; said a farmer in Goshta district, describing the uncertainty facing rural communities. The situation is especially severe in Afghanistan&rsquo;s southern provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul and Uruzgan, where recurrent drought, declining rainfall and unregulated groundwater extraction have pushed water systems toward collapse. Rivers are drying up, traditional irrigation systems have deteriorated, and many communities are drilling deeper wells in search of water, often with limited success.&nbsp; The consequences have been far-reaching, reducing agricultural production, limiting access to safe drinking water and forcing some families to leave their homes in search of reliable water sources. Increasingly scarce resources Competition over increasingly scarce resources has become a tension in some areas. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, parts of the region could become difficult to inhabit. Proposed solutions include expanding water-efficient irrigation systems, improving water management practices and investing in groundwater recharge projects. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, communities are confronting a different set of climate-related challenges. In western provinces such as Ghor and Farah, prolonged drought has coincided with destructive flash floods caused by intense rainfall.&nbsp; Residents have struggled to cope with water shortages while rebuilding homes, farmland and infrastructure damaged by flooding. Floods are also becoming more frequent and unpredictable in central and eastern provinces, including Logar, Parwan and Kapisa.&nbsp; In the south, strong winds and dust storms have damaged crops and contributed to respiratory illnesses, adding to humanitarian needs. Environmental degradation Environmental degradation is further intensifying the crisis. Deforestation in Kunar, Nuristan and Logar has lessened natural protection against floods and landslides, while overgrazing in mountainous regions such as Badakhshan has accelerated ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Unregulated mining activities have also damaged landscapes and polluted water sources. Urban areas face their own environmental challenges. In Kabul, air pollution remains a serious public health concern, particularly during winter months when many households rely on low-quality fuels for heating. Poor waste management continues to exacerbate the problem. In provinces known for their natural beauty, including Panjshir, Kapisa and Maidan Wardak, growing tourism has increased pressure on local ecosystems, with waste accumulating in rivers and valleys. World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5, seeks to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect ecosystems and promote sustainable development worldwide.

Afghanistan climate crisis deepens as communities scale up environmental action- (Photo: UNAMA)

Afghanistan is facing escalating climate and environmental crises prompting urgent calls for sustainable adaptation and resilience measures.

Afghanistan faces escalating climate crisis as communities mark World Environment Day: UNAMA

ISLAMABAD: Spain&rsquo;s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albaras, expressed support for Afghan women and girls in a conference, saying their voices would always be heard in Spain despite efforts by the Taliban to silence them, reported Afghanistan International, a London-based media organization focusing on Afghan affairs. The Feminist Foreign Policy Conference was held on Tuesday, at Spain&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, held under the slogan &ldquo;Building Peace and Democracy,&rdquo; bringing together government officials, representatives of international organizations, civil society members, and women&rsquo;s rights activists for a two-day event.&nbsp; The foreign minister highlighted Spain&rsquo;s commitment to Afghan women&rsquo;s rights at the 5th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy in Madrid&nbsp;with delegates from around 60 countries in attendance. Albaras&nbsp;pointed to a dedicated space within the ministry that hosts the annual &ldquo;HearUs&rdquo; conference, where Afghan women and associations in exile meet to discuss challenges facing women under Taliban rule.&nbsp; Gender apartheid He said that one of the ministry&rsquo;s halls has been named in honor of Afghan women, saying the designation should remain permanent as a symbol that their voices will not be erased. The voice and action of Afghan women are present here today, Albares said. &nbsp; The conference includes two special sessions focused on Afghanistan, one on gender apartheid and the other on the role of women in advancing peace and democratic governance.&nbsp; Approximately 140 civil society organizations and feminist groups are taking part. Participants stressed that lasting peace and genuine democracy cannot be achieved without the full participation of women and reaffirmed that support for Afghan women remains a critical component of international commitments to human rights and gender justice. Repression of Afghan women France&rsquo;s Minister Delegate for International Partnerships, Eleonore Caroit, also described the situation of Afghan women and girls as one of the clearest examples of women&rsquo;s rights violations in the world and stressed the need for global support. Among the speakers was Fawzia Koofi, an Afghan politician and women&rsquo;s rights advocate, who participated in a panel discussion on women&rsquo;s role in peacebuilding and the future of democracy. Koofi criticized what she described as a policy of appeasement by some countries toward the Taliban, arguing that it had strengthened the Taliban&#39;s repression of women&rsquo;s rights. Furthermore, she said that the European countries should not legitimize a culture of gender apartheid under the pretext of deporting migrants.

Feminist Foreign Policy Conference was held on Tuesday, June 2, at Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing together government officials, representatives of international organizations, civil society members, and women’s rights activists for a two-d

At an international conference on feminist foreign policy in Madrid, the foreign minister highlights Spain’s commitment to Afghan women’s rights as delegates from around 60 countries joined the conference.

Spain will support Afghan Women: Spanish FM

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that the United States is continuing discussions with several countries to resettle more than 1,000 Afghans who assisted US forces and remain stranded abroad, according to a report by Kabul Tribune.&nbsp; Rubio said the administration is engaging with multiple governments to identify solutions for Afghan allies, many of whom have been waiting in Qatar for more than a year as immigration restrictions limit their entry into the United States. While defending the administration&#39;s refugee policies, Rubio said no final decisions have been made regarding relocation destinations. He added that responsibility for resettling the affected Afghans would likely be shared among several countries rather than handled by a single nation. US officials have discussed potential resettlement arrangements with countries including Botswana and Malaysia as they seek options for those awaiting permanent relocation. The issue drew scrutiny from lawmakers during the hearing. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, questioned why Afghan allies who had previously undergone US vetting procedures have not been admitted despite commitments made.&nbsp; Advocacy groups warned that returning the refugees to Afghanistan could expose them to retaliation by the Taliban because of their past support for the American military. Proposals to relocate some Afghans to other conflict-affected regions have also faced criticism from humanitarian organizations. Rubio said the administration remains committed to finding solutions but emphasized that current directives restrict the admission of many Afghans into the United States. Rubio also defended broader refugee policies, including the admission of white South Africans, saying immigration decisions are guided by US national interests and the ability of newcomers to integrate into American society. The debate over the future of Afghan allies remains ongoing as policymakers weigh humanitarian obligations against immigration and national security considerations.

The hearing was held to examine the State Department's budget request for fiscal year 2027. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kevin Dietsch / NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

The US is negotiating with multiple countries to resettle over 1,000 stranded Afghan allies as immigration restrictions continue to delay their entry into America.

US seeks third-country resettlement options for Afghan allies: Rubio

ISLAMABAD: More than 82 Afghan and international human rights organizations have urged the European Union and its member states to refrain from engaging with Taliban representatives amid reports that a Taliban delegation could visit Brussels in June 2026, as reported by the International Federation for Human Rights. &nbsp; In an open letter published by the rights group, the signatories, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), expressed &quot;grave concerns&quot; over the possibility of an official Taliban visit to the Belgian capital, warning that such engagement could be viewed as a form of normalization or implicit recognition of the Taliban authorities.&nbsp; The European Commission has invited a delegation of Taliban officials, expected to be led by Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, to Brussels in June 2026 for high-level technical talks concerning the repatriation and deportation of Afghan migrants.&nbsp; Democratic legitimacy The groups stressed that the Taliban &quot;do not represent the people of Afghanistan&quot; because they lack democratic legitimacy and have not gained authority through any participatory, inclusive, representative, or constitutional process. The letter noted that two senior Taliban leaders are currently subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the alleged crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds. It also pointed out that multiple individuals associated with the Taliban remain subject to international sanctions, including those imposed by the European Union. &quot;Any official engagement with Taliban representatives, particularly on European soil, carries significant legal, political, and symbolic implications,&quot; the organizations wrote. &quot;It risks being perceived as a form of normalisation or implicit recognition.&quot; The groups said that since the Taliban&#39;s return to power in August 2021, authorities have implemented policies and decrees that have systematically dismantled fundamental rights and freedoms. Women and girls, they said, have been largely excluded from public life through bans on secondary and higher education and severe restrictions on employment, freedom of movement, and participation in civic and political life. &quot;There has been no accountability for the victims and survivors&quot; of serious human rights violations and potential international crimes, the letter stated. The signatories further expressed concern over current and proposed policies involving the forced return of Afghan asylum seekers from EU member states.&nbsp; Principle of non-refoulementThey argued that such returns would raise serious concerns under international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face persecution or serious harm. The concern is especially acute for women and girls, the groups said, describing Afghanistan as &quot;one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman.&quot; Forced returns, they warned, could expose many to persecution, violence, and severe deprivation of rights. The organizations called on the EU and its member states to avoid political or diplomatic engagement with Taliban representatives under current conditions, arguing that the minimum standards often cited by the bloc for engagement, including respect for fundamental rights and women&#39;s rights, are not being met. They also urged European governments to support international justice efforts, including cooperation with the ICC&#39;s Afghanistan investigation, and to back strategic litigation initiatives aimed at holding alleged perpetrators accountable for serious international crimes. Among their demands, the groups called for an immediate halt to forced return of Afghan asylum seekers, public affirmation that the rights of Afghan women and girls are non-negotiable, and meaningful consultation with Afghan civil society, victims, and women human rights defenders in shaping EU policy. The signatories warned that failing to uphold these principles would risk entrenching impunity, undermining the EU&#39;s credibility on human rights and gender justice, and abandoning Afghan victims and survivors &quot;at a critical moment.&quot; The organizations said they remain ready to engage with European and international partners to ensure that responses to Afghanistan&#39;s ongoing crisis are grounded in accountability, justice, and the protection of fundamental rights.

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Over 80 Afghan and international rights groups have urged the EU to avoid engaging with Taliban representatives, warning it could legitimize their rule and undermine human rights, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Rights groups urge EU to reject Taliban engagement amid Brussels visit: Report

JESSORE: Rice farmer Mohammad Ismail Hossain fears violence could blight his quiet fields in southwestern Bangladesh, on the front line of a growing Indian push to expel undocumented migrants. The countries share a porous 4,096-kilometre (2,500-mile) border, with communities on either side often so interwoven that crossings -- illegal or not -- are common. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims. Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month. &quot;(India) says that those found to be Bangladeshi would be sent back after verifying their documents,&quot; Hossain, 66, told AFP at a tea stall in the border region of Khulna-Jessore. &quot;But no one seems to be verifying anything. They are pushing people in, left, right and centre,&quot; he said. Authorities say many people in the border region lack proper documents to prove their citizenship, mainly due to poverty, a lack of awareness, and a long history of informal movement. &quot;If the situation escalates, there could be a bigger conflict, with shots being fired... India, being the larger country, can forcefully do anything,&quot; said a worried Hossain. &nbsp;&#39;Infiltrators&#39;&nbsp;The borderland communities long predate the 1947 partition of British India, which delineated the frontier of the nation now called Bangladesh. Along some stretches, it is often difficult to distinguish one country from the other. Family networks straddle both sides. Some homes may even have their kitchen in Bangladesh and their courtyard in India. India has informally &quot;pushed back&quot; illegal migrants into Bangladesh for decades, but activists say the political changeover in West Bengal has boosted the deportation campaign. The state government has set up detention centers and claimed to have forced out nearly 5,000 &quot;Bangladeshi infiltrators&quot;. The escalation has riled Bangladesh, which is equally reluctant to absorb groups of people whose identities are not immediately clear. Bangladeshi border guards have increased patrols and issued warnings through loudspeakers that no one may enter without verification, Mahmudul Hasan, a regional commander, told AFP. &quot;We are willing to accept our citizens once their nationality has been verified by both countries, but we are not taking unidentified nationals,&quot; Hasan said. &quot;Rules must apply even to undocumented people.&quot; Since June 5, Bangladeshi guards have thwarted at least 35 attempts by India to force migrants over the border, a Bangladeshi spokesman told AFP. West Bengal police official Subrata Saha insisted Indian authorities were only handing over deportees &quot;after it is proved that they crossed the Indian border illegally and they are Bangladeshi nationals&quot;. Battered, bruised&nbsp;Meanwhile, many undocumented migrants remain in limbo, and humanitarian concerns are mounting. At a hospital in the city of Satkhira, Mohammad Mohiuddin lay recovering from injuries he says were inflicted by Indian guards as he was trying to wade across a lake into Bangladesh. &quot;They hit me in the eye with the butt of a rifle and shot me,&quot; he told AFP from his bed. &quot;I don&#39;t deserve such cruelty.&quot; A senior official from India&#39;s Border Security Force refused to comment when contacted by AFP. Women and children have reportedly spent days stranded along the &quot;zero line&quot; -- the narrow buffer zone separating Bangladesh from India -- relying on villagers for food and water. Viral videos show frightened families huddled near border fences while Indian and Bangladeshi personnel argue over who should take responsibility for them. Rights groups say the crisis exposes the gruelling poverty that drives many Bangladeshis to cross illegally. They also worry that India could arbitrarily decide to push Rohingya refugees, who are mainly Muslim, across the border. Bangladesh already hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar, a huge economic and social burden for one of the world&#39;s less-developed countries. Torn apart&nbsp;Many villagers do not see illegal border crossings as criminal because of the deep historical and family ties linking communities on both sides, said A.B.M. Mohid Hossain, who works with the non-profit Justice and Care. &quot;Some people cross in search of work because they have family members on the other side,&quot; he told AFP. For some families, the suffering continues long after they are detained. At least 20 Bangladeshi children were repatriated in May while their parents were jailed in India on charges of illegal entry, according to police and human rights groups. Among them was 14-year-old Sumi Khatun, who said she and her younger sister were separated from their family after being detained a year ago. Sumi, whose parents are Bangladeshi, says she was born in India but lacks the documents to prove that. &quot;They arrested us and separated my little sister and me from our mother and brother,&quot; she said. &quot;My father&#39;s grave is in Delhi, my mother and brother are in jails in different cities in India, and my sister and I are in Bangladesh,&quot; she said. Sumi said she no longer wants anything to do with the country where her family was torn apart. &quot;I will never go to India again... Just bring my mother and brother back so that we can all live together again.&quot;

This photograph taken on June 3, 2026 shows Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel patrolling near the Benapole-Petrapole frontier crossing between Bangladesh and India in Benapole (AFP)

India

Bangladesh

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims; Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi's Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month.

India migrant evictions seed fear in Bangladesh border towns

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at Lucknow airport on Friday to participate in a peaceful protest at Eco Garden against the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.&nbsp; In a post on X, Dipke said he was traveling to the Uttar Pradesh capital after participating in what he described as two successful and peaceful protests in New Delhi and Pune. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065095286754553911&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;Will join the students there tomorrow to demand resignation of Education Minister,&quot; he wrote on Thursday. According to a post by his party, if local authorities denied permission for the demonstration, Dipke would personally approach police officials and request approval for the gathering. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065236086230569226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The party held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. Within weeks, the movement has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the most prominent youth-driven online campaigns in India.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke addresses his supporters during a protest over alleged irregularities in the country's major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026 (AFP).

Abhijeet Dipke says he will join a student-led protest in Lucknow to demand the education minister's resignation and approach the police himself if permission for the demonstration is denied.

India's 'Cockroach Party' founder arrives in Lucknow to join protest demanding minister's resignation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) (Repeal) Bill, 2026, paving the way for PIA&#39;s privatization. According to the details, following the president&#39;s approval, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pia-nears-full-privatization-as-consortium-moves-for-remaining-stake" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">privatization</a>&nbsp;process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited have been fulfilled, said a post shared on&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/from-18-to-60-aircraft-new-owners-unveil-pia-expansion-plan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">President</a>&nbsp;of Pakistan&#39;s X handle on Friday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065282559559537061&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=08b9253216cdb53baaa53f1d414c3a108e4996d7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The bill was approved by the Senate of Pakistan on June 10, 2026, and by the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 11, 2026.

Economy

After the approval of the bill, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL) have been fulfilled, said a post shared on President of Pakistan's X handle on Friday.


Pakistan president approves law paving the way for PIA’s privatization

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to eliminating child labor, stressing that every child has the right to protection, education, and a safe future free from exploitation. In their separate messages, released in connection with the celebration of World Day Against Child Labor on Friday, the two leaders referred to Article 11 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits forced labor and exploitation of children. At the same time, Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education to all children. President Zardari, in his message, said child labor not only deprives children of their childhood but also damages their future and education.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065149075553730881&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6c5db4e6cd2d8e8ee9390e0d4c633e78823e05cd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He said steps are being taken at both federal and provincial levels to eliminate child labor, but added that effective implementation of laws is essential to protect vulnerable children from exploitation. The president said children trapped in exploitative labor must be brought back into schools and provided a safe and supportive environment. He also called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, civil society, and employers to play their role in protecting children and ensuring that no child is deprived of education.&ldquo;No one should be allowed to exploit children,&rdquo; the President said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif, in his separate message released from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) in Islamabad, said that Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its commitment to protecting every child from exploitation and providing them opportunities for a brighter future through education. He went on to say that this year&rsquo;s theme, &ldquo;Red Card to Child Labor: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,&rdquo; highlights the need for collective action against child labor. Citing International Labor Organization estimates, he said, &ldquo;nearly 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in child labor, including around 54 million in hazardous work.&rdquo; The prime minister said that Pakistan has ratified relevant ILO conventions on minimum age for employment and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. He added, &ldquo;The government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy focused on legal reforms, enforcement, social protection, education, and economic empowerment to address the root causes of child labor.&rdquo; Sharif said that institutions such as the National Commission on the Rights of Child, Child Protection Institute, provincial child protection bodies, and welfare bureaus are working to support vulnerable children.

Education

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate child labor, stressing constitutional protections, education, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and collective national action to protect children from exploitation.

President, PM reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ending child labor

BUSHBUCKRIDGE: In a remote South African village, Paulina Mhlongo sits in the yard as health workers in green protective gear move briskly through her home, soaking the walls with anti-mosquito insecticide. Her teenage grandson fell critically ill last year from malaria, the disease that kills more than a quarter of a million people annually and is surging in southern Africa as the climate shifts. Before this spraying, the family&#39;s &quot;only defense&quot; against malaria-carrying mosquitoes was a rattling fan, said Mhlongo, a 63-year-old retiree. Her village of Calcutta is in Mpumalanga, one of three provinces in South Africa&#39;s malaria belt experiencing changing rain patterns and rising temperatures that favor mosquito breeding. Heavy rains leave pools for eggs, while warmer temperatures speed up mosquito development and shorten the malaria parasite&#39;s incubation period. Malaria cases in Mpumalanga jumped fourfold in January compared with a year earlier, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The upsurge jeopardises South Africa&#39;s goal of eliminating the disease by 2029. Gauteng the powerhouse province home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and where malaria is not endemic logged more than 400 cases and 11 deaths in the first three months of 2026, according to the NICD. While most infections were imported into the province from known hotspots, these figures are &quot;concerning&quot; even if the disease is not being transmitted between people, the public health body said. Supercharging hotspotsHuman‑driven climate change has increased the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, while the naturally occurring La Nina weather phenomenon brought above‑average rains to parts of southern Africa in early 2026, causing flooding that created more mosquito breeding sites, the group said. Namibia reported 8,760 cases in the first four weeks of 2026, a 68% increase from a year earlier. Flood-hit Mozambique recorded more than 1.35 million cases in the first six weeks of the year, up 55% alongside dozens of deaths. The outlook offers little reassurance as climate volatility deepens. The increase in malaria cases does not mean the disease is migrating, said Jantjie Taljaard, head of infectious diseases at Stellenbosch University. Instead, climate change is supercharging existing hotspots and lengthening transmission windows, fueling far more intense outbreaks. &quot;Rural environments and areas on the margins of established malaria risk areas are at highest risk,&quot; Taljaard said. The effects are being felt on the front line at Cunningmoore Clinic, where technicians Nicholas Skhumbane and Armstrong Mgiba swiftly process a steady stream of blood samples from surrounding villages. Working out of a threadbare laboratory, the two men, clad in white coats and latex gloves, move systematically from slide to slide. They add a drop of Giemsa stain -- a purplish-blue dye that reveals malaria parasites -- before placing each sample under a microscope. The results are returned just as quickly as at Tintswalo Hospital, a modern facility some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. &nbsp;&#39;Even in winter&#39;&nbsp;For health officials, the shifting weather patterns are forcing a rethink of malaria planning beyond traditional hotspots and seasons. &quot;Climate change is a complex thing to deal with,&quot; said Sharon Lindiwe Nyoni, malaria program manager at the Mpumalanga department of health. &quot;When you plan as a department, you need to anticipate what is coming your way, but with climate change everything is just unfolding.&quot; The old assumption that malaria is confined to summer no longer holds, she warned. &quot;Even in winter, we continue to see transmission.&quot; It is not only local health systems that are coming under strain, experts say, but also intervention efforts. &quot;Flooding can mean we simply cannot reach communities to deliver control measures,&quot; virologist Edina Amponsah-Dacosta told AFP. Apart from heavy rains, extreme heat is a challenge as it can break the strict cold chain required before vaccines, which need refrigeration, ever reach remote clinics, she said. Despite the rising case numbers, health workers say that some locals remain skeptical about the safety of the insecticide spray and refuse to let health workers inside their homes. &quot;It is very painful to see someone dying of something that is preventable and again curable,&quot; Nyoni said. Back in Calcutta, Mhlongo waited outside as the sharp scent of insecticide drifted from her freshly sprayed nine-room house, which she shares with eight relatives. Empty beer cans littered the back of a nearby pickup truck propped on rocks -- a place the sprayers warned could harbor mosquitoes. &quot;I am happy because mosquitoes are a problem,&quot; Mhlongo said, serving the spray team a homemade snack of maize meal, sugar and groundnuts as a neighbor&#39;s music drifted across the farming village.

Medical technologist and laboratory manager at the National Health Laboratory Service Rirhandzu Mashale points to a malaria-positive blood sample projected from a microscope at Tintswalo Hospital in Bushbuckridge on May 26, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

Climate change and extreme weather are driving a sharp rise in malaria cases across southern Africa, straining health systems and threatening disease elimination efforts.

As climate shifts, malaria gains ground in southern Africa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed support for the Muscat Plan of Action, describing it as an innovative and timely pathway to counter hate speech, prevent incitement to genocide and other atrocity crimes, and promote peace through dialogue, mediation and local peacebuilding. The Muscat Plan of Action is a UN-backed framework aimed at strengthening the role of traditional and indigenous leaders and communities in countering hate speech and preventing genocide, atrocity crimes and their incitement. Speaking at the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said that the initiative comes at a time when the world is witnessing a sharp rise in exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. &ldquo;Pakistan supports initiatives such as the Muscat Plan of Action and appreciates the urgency shown by the United Nations in addressing these disruptive and dangerous trends,&rdquo; added the Pakistani envoy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 640px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065227854917345717&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ef5545f1c212c27393391d5ca5361035a9d8eaba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The launch ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, along with representatives of member states, international organizations and peacebuilding networks. Ambassador Iftikhar further said that the plan draws strength from the cultural legitimacy, credibility and influence of traditional and Indigenous leaders, particularly in societies where local mechanisms continue to play an important role in conflict prevention and dispute resolution. Inclusive and peaceful societies&ldquo;By mobilizing traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and local mechanisms, the Plan of Action reinforces States&rsquo; efforts for establishing just, inclusive and peaceful societies,&rdquo; he said. He noted that hate speech and incitement to genocide and atrocity crimes are driven by complex social, political and ideological factors, requiring an effective and holistic response at national,&nbsp;international and community levels. The Pakistani envoy said that heads of clans, tribal chiefs and Indigenous leaders have historically played a leading role in local governance, mediation and conflict prevention. Even today, he said, such leaders remain at the forefront of peacebuilding, dispute resolution and humanitarian relief efforts in many parts of the world. Ambassador Iftikhar reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue working with international partners to counter the ideology of hate speech and promote societies based on peace, equality and dignity. He said Pakistan remained committed to supporting collective efforts to transform communities into &ldquo;oases of peace, equality and tranquility.&rdquo; The ambassador also congratulated the Sultanate of Oman, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Peacemakers Network for compiling and finalizing the Muscat Plan of Action. Pakistan said the initiative can serve as an important platform for linking global prevention frameworks with community-based peacebuilding efforts, especially in areas vulnerable to hate-driven violence and social fragmentation.

Foreign Affairs

Endorses the Muscat Plan of Action at the UN; Calls it an innovative framework to counter hate speech, prevent genocide incitement, and promote peacebuilding through traditional and Indigenous leaders.

Pakistan backs Muscat Plan of Action against hate speech, genocide incitement

BUENOS AIRES: Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have reached a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, and ice is melting at abnormal rates during the current winter, climate scientists told AFP on Thursday. Esperanza Base, an Argentine research station located in the north of the peninsula, recorded the unprecedented figure on June 6. The previous highest temperature on record for that month -- 13.3C -- dates back to 1998. The current heat also significantly exceeds Esperanza&#39;s June average of -6.2C. Such a figure is &quot;very unusual for this time of year,&quot; Jose Luis Stella, a climatologist at Argentina&#39;s National Meteorological Service, told AFP. Argentine bases Marambio and San Martin also recorded unequalled temperatures between June 5 and 6. Marambio recorded 11.8C, surpassing a previous high of 9.2C and its June average of -10.7C. San Martin meanwhile saw 9.4C compared to its previous 7.8C record and June average of -5.6C. &#39;Confirms a trend&#39;The northern Antarctic heatwave is not an isolated event, University of Groningen professor Raul Cordero told AFP. &quot;It confirms a trend,&quot; he said, warning that &quot;these kinds of events will continue to occur with increasing frequency&quot; if global warming is not derailed. Thomas Caton Harrison, a polar climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, believes a combination of factors including climate change resulted in the current heat. &quot;There is credible evidence that climate change is playing a role, but the effect is complex in this region,&quot; he said. &quot;Because Antarctica sees such big swings in temperature, we have to collect lots of data over many years to build a picture of the underlying climate.&quot; Both specialists agree that regional temperatures have been rising for years and are already showing visible effects. &quot;A surprising amount of precipitation has been falling as rain rather than snow,&quot; Caton Harrison said. &quot;This has implications for polar ecosystems such as penguin colonies,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;it poses a challenge to my colleagues working on Antarctic bases because a lot of liquid rain has been falling and creating runoff and ice.&quot; Esperanza Base has been recording above-zero temperatures daily for three consecutive weeks. This trend has caused &quot;large areas in the far north of the white continent to remain free of snow,&quot; according to Cordero, who called it &quot;an unusual scene in the Antarctic landscape during winter.&quot;

Climate

Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula reach a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, as ice melts at abnormal rates during the current winter.

Antarctic Peninsula sees record high June temperatures

MEXICO CITY: Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts&#39; bid for qualification from Group A got off to smooth start. South Africa meanwhile never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off. The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa&rsquo;s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams. A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the only stadium to host games at three different World Cups. South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his players to be ready for the intimidating atmosphere created by a capacity 80,824 crowd at the imposing concrete arena. But South Africa&rsquo;s players looked to have a bad case of stage fright as Mexico&#39;s fans &nbsp;greeted each completed pass with a raucous chorus of &quot;Ole!&quot; in the opening minutes Sithole seemed particularly affected, being caught in possession trying to play out of the back for Quinones&#39; opening goal. Sithole&#39;s miserable afternoon ended with a 49th minute dismissal after bundling over Mexico&rsquo;s Brian Gutierrez when clean through on goal. Mexico rammed home their advantage in the 67th minute, with a fine counter attack culminating in Roberto Alvarado crossing for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jimenez to nod home at the far post. It got worse for South Africa in the 84th minute when Zwane was dismissed after a VAR review for flinging an arm into the face of Alvarado. There was still time for late drama when Mexican defender Cesar Montes was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau on the edge of the penalty area.

Football

Mexico launches World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa at a packed Estadio Azteca, while the visitors finish with nine men after two red cards.

Mexico beat South Africa to kick off World Cup

NEW YORK: Taylor Swift on Thursday became the youngest woman ever inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star&#39;s record-breaking career. The female record was previously held by Carole Bayer Sager, who was 43 when she joined in 1987. Stevie Wonder remains the youngest person ever admitted, at age 32 in 1983. Artists become eligible for the Hall of Fame 20 years after the release of their first commercial track. For Swift, that was &quot;Tim McGraw,&quot; released in June 2006. Her success since is undeniable: the American artist has recorded 12 albums spanning country, pop, and folk, earning her 14 Grammy Awards in the United States, including four Album of the Year trophies -- a record. &quot;Swift&#39;s ability to shapeshift as a songwriter, to inhabit different sonic landscapes and write as credibly in the world of one genre as she does another is part of her superpower as a songwriter,&quot; reads her bio on the Hall of Fame website. &quot;It also represents the boldness and bravery of her artistry: to explore new frontiers when the most practical next step would be to keep mining the material that has gotten you the success in the first place.&quot; Swift appeared on the red carpet in New York on Thursday wearing a strapless black dress with floral motifs ahead of the naming ceremony. &#39;Great honor&#39;Also inducted on Thursday were Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, the band behind hits such as &quot;Rock and Roll All Nite&quot; and &quot;Detroit Rock City.&quot; &quot;It doesn&#39;t suck,&quot; Stanley told AFP when asked how it felt to join the prestigious songwriting ranks. &quot;It&#39;s really hard to digest the idea. I certainly don&#39;t consider myself in that rarified air of some of the writers, but if you wanna be in that club, I&#39;m there.&quot; Kenny Loggins, the hitmaker behind movie soundtrack classics like &quot;Footloose&quot; and &quot;Danger Zone&quot; from &quot;Top Gun,&quot; was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. &quot;It&#39;s a great honor and I appreciate it,&quot; Loggins told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s the culmination of a lifetime writing, and that&#39;s exciting for me.&quot; Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, inescapable in the 1990s, and American record producer Walter Afanasieff were also among the total of nine songwriters joining the Hall of Fame this year. Estimates put Taylor Swift&#39;s worldwide sales at over 250 million album-equivalents. Her most recent tour in 2023 and 2024, titled &quot;The Eras Tour,&quot; brought in a record sum of around two billion dollars. She is also the female artist with the most songs ever to reach the top 10 list compiled by Billboard, the leading US music magazine. Swift is omnipresent in the media. After unveiling a country track for the soundtrack of the film &quot;Toy Story 5,&quot; she was at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for a game of the NBA Finals.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star's record-breaking career.

Taylor Swift becomes youngest woman in Songwriters Hall of Fame

Middle East

Americas

Says a 'great settlement' with Iran has been reached and approved by Iran's Supreme Leader; Trump praises Pakistan for a 'fantastic role' in mediation, calling Field Marshal Asim Munir a 'great general'; Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denies that any final decision on a deal with the US has been made.