Five years after the Taliban seized power in 2021, Afghanistan is described as being in a state of collapse, with women largely erased from public life through decrees restricting education, work, travel and independence. Poverty has reportedly driven some families to marry off daughters to survive, while healthcare is said to be near failure.
NYTimes – World The stark figures show that since the hardliners seized power in 2021, women have been erased from public life, poverty is forcing hopeless families to marry off their daughters and healthcare is on the brink of failure ‘I married off my daughter so that none of us would die of hunger.” Malika hesitated before saying the words aloud. The 46-year-old lives with her husband and four youngest children (three girls and…
The stark figures show that since the hardliners seized power in 2021, women have been erased from public life, poverty is forcing hopeless families to marry off their daughters and healthcare is on the brink of failure ‘I married off my daughter so that none of us would die of hunger.” Malika hesitated before saying the words aloud. The 46-year-old lives with her husband and four youngest children (three girls and…
NYTimes – World Decrees restricting the rights of women and girls to study, work, travel and act independently now threaten to damage Afghanistan permanently, experts say.
BBC News – World Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to two federal counts on Friday in Manhattan in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Earlier reports had described discussions about a possible plea deal. His separate state murder trial remains scheduled to begin on 8 September, and a judge will decide its future.
NPR – US Bulldozers have begun clearing land at Big Bend National Park in West Texas for the Trump administration's planned border wall and barriers. Heavy machinery is operating near Santa Elena Canyon as part of the multibillion-dollar "smart wall" expansion, despite bipartisan opposition.
BBC News – World Israeli settlers have besieged Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, trapping two families for several days and cutting off water, electricity and medical access. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the settlers "terrorists" and the siege a "horrific act of terror." Activists attempted to deliver aid to the trapped families. One of the homes is owned by a Palestinian American family.
