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A quarter century later, the legacy of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan endures

A quarter century later, the legacy of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan endures

A U.S.-led coalition invaded Afghanistan 25 years ago and launched Operation Enduring Freedom to dismantle al-Qaida

Afghan women facing arrest for wearing makeup and alleged dress code violations, UN says

Afghan women facing arrest for wearing makeup and alleged dress code violations, UN says

The Taliban has arrested dozens of women in Afghanistan in recent months for alleged dress code violations, the United Nations says

Kabul Faces Imminent Water Crisis as Aquifers Deplete, Aid Remains Frozen

Kabul Faces Imminent Water Crisis as Aquifers Deplete, Aid Remains Frozen

Kabul, Afghanistan, is on the brink of a severe water crisis, with its aquifers depleting at nearly double the rate they are refilling, and almost half of its boreholes already dry. Groundwater levels in the Afghan capital have fallen by 25 to 30 meters over the past decade, according to a report by Prosper Global, formerly Mercy Corps. The extraction of water exceeds natural recharge by approximately 44 million cubic meters annually. If current trends persist, the aquifers supplying most of the city could be dry by 2030, potentially displacing around 3 million of Kabul's roughly 6 million residents, as projected by UNICEF. The city's three main aquifers hold over 5 billion cubic meters of water, but only a fraction of this capacity is being maintained. Over 120,000 unregulated borewells, along with numerous factories and greenhouses, are extracting water faster than rivers can replenish it. The city's population has surged from under one million in 2001 to about six million today, intensifying the demand ...

Federal appeals judges don't reveal how they'll rule on Saudi Arabia's effort to end 9/11 litigation

Federal appeals judges don't reveal how they'll rule on Saudi Arabia's effort to end 9/11 litigation

Family members of victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks crowded a federal appeals courtroom in New York City where three judges heard arguments over whether legal claims against Saudi Arabia can proceed

Nordic Countries Reaffirm Commitment to Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Amid Evolving Threats

Nordic Countries Reaffirm Commitment to Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Amid Evolving Threats

The Nordic countries have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This comes as ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and their affiliates continue to demonstrate adaptability and resilience, posing significant threats, particularly in parts of Africa, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. The statement highlights concerns regarding the persistent danger of violent right-wing extremism, including within their own societies. Terrorist groups are increasingly leveraging new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, virtual assets, and unmanned aircraft systems for propaganda, recruitment, financing, and operational activities. The Nordic countries emphasize the critical need for international cooperation and information-sharing to keep pace with these technological advancements, while strictly adhering to international law. They welcomed the conclusion of the ninth review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy i...

Syria considers help in Yemen war after Saudi airports come under Houthi fire

Syria considers help in Yemen war after Saudi airports come under Houthi fire

RIYADH, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Syria may deploy troops to help Saudi Arabia fight Yemen's Houthis, a US official and a Syrian defence official said, as the Iran-aligned group steps up its missile and drone attacks on the kingdom, killing three people at Saudi airports this week.

Attack risks rise for tankers as Iran vows to block more Hormuz routes

Attack risks rise for tankers as Iran vows to block more Hormuz routes

By Jonathan Saul and Parisa Hafezi LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Tankers are facing a higher risk of attacks and intimidation as they try to get critical shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran issued new warnings it would block routes that it has not authorized, sources said.

World Bank Reports Pakistan Bears Region's Largest Poverty Burden Amid Economic Crises

World Bank Reports Pakistan Bears Region's Largest Poverty Burden Amid Economic Crises

The World Bank has reported that Pakistan accounts for approximately 48% of the people in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region living below the $3 per day poverty line. This makes Pakistan the country with the largest poverty burden in the region. The report indicates that poverty in Pakistan increased significantly, with the poverty rate rising by 6.4 percentage points at the $3 per day line and 3.2 percentage points at the $4.2 per day line between 2018-19 and 2024-25. This surge is attributed to a series of adverse shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating 2022 floods, a macroeconomic crisis characterized by high inflation and currency depreciation, and a prolonged period of economic adjustment. These factors have collectively weakened real household incomes and employment opportunities. The World Bank projects Pakistan's population-growth adjusted real GDP growth to remain at 2.2% for the current fiscal year, similar to the previous year's level, with ...

Algerian Military Transport Aircraft Regularly Transits NATO Airspace to Moscow, Raising Concerns Over Military-Technical Cooperation

Algerian Military Transport Aircraft Regularly Transits NATO Airspace to Moscow, Raising Concerns Over Military-Technical Cooperation

An Algerian military transport aircraft, a Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules, recently flew unimpeded through the airspace of five NATO member countries—Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland—on its way to Moscow. This flight, recorded on October 6, is not an isolated incident; journalists have identified a pattern of regular military transport flights between Algeria and Russia using similar routes. These flights are believed to facilitate military-technical cooperation between the two nations, potentially involving the transport of weapons, military equipment, and personnel for maintaining Russian systems used by the Algerian army. The aircraft's movements were confirmed by Polish Military Radar service data, showing its route from Boufarik Air Base in Algeria, through central Europe, and into Belarus and Russia, landing at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. The situation is of particular concern for Poland, as its airspace is consistently used for these logistical operations.

Trump approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

Trump approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

President Donald Trump has approved the execution by firing squad of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas

Kathryn Bigelow's Directorial Career Explored in New Documentary

Kathryn Bigelow's Directorial Career Explored in New Documentary

Kathryn Bigelow's Directorial Career Explored in New Documentary

The Latest: Trump agrees to have his super PAC, not taxpayers, pay for his ads

The Latest: Trump agrees to have his super PAC, not taxpayers, pay for his ads

President Donald Trump has responded to a major backlash over taxpayer-funded advertisements glorifying himself