Headline
Taliban Ban Women From Working In National, International NGOs
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers ordered all national and international NGOs to stop their women employees from working after “serious complaints” about their dress code, the Ministry of Economy told AFP on Saturday.
The order threatened to suspend the operating licences of NGOs that failed to implement the directive.
The latest restriction comes less than a week after the Taliban authorities banned women from attending universities, prompting global outrage and protests in some Afghan cities.
While the Taliban had promised a softer form of rule when they returned to power in August last year, they have instead imposed harsh restrictions on women — effectively squeezing them out of public life.
“There have been serious complaints regarding the non-observance of the Islamic hijab and other rules and regulations pertaining to the work of females in national and international organisations,” said a notification sent to all NGOs, a copy of which was obtained by AFP and confirmed by a spokesman for the economy ministry.
“The ministry of economy… instructs all organisations to stop females working until further notice,” the notification said.
READ ALSO: Taliban Treatment Of Women May Be ‘Crime Against Humanity’ – G7
“In case of negligence of the above directive, the license of the organisation which has been issued by this ministry will be cancelled,” it added.
Two international NGOs confirmed that they had received the notification.
“We are suspending all our activities from Sunday,” a top official at an international NGO involved in humanitarian work told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“We will soon have a meeting of top officials of all NGOs to decide how to handle this issue.”
Dozens of national and international NGOs continue to work in several sectors across remote areas of Afghanistan, and many of their employees are women.
‘Deplorable’ Order
Another official working at an international NGO involved in food distribution said the ban was a “big blow to women staff”.
“We have women staff largely to address humanitarian aid concerns of Afghan women,” the official said.
“How do we address their concerns now?”
Rights group Amnesty International tweeted that the ban was a “deplorable attempt to erase women from the political, social and economic spaces” in Afghanistan.
The order is the latest assault on women’s rights in the country.
On Tuesday, the authorities banned all women from attending universities, triggering condemnation from the United States, the United Nations and several Muslim nations.
The Group of Seven industrialised democracies said the prohibition may amount to “a crime against humanity”.
That ban was announced less than three months after thousands of women were allowed to sit university entrance exams.
READ ALSO: Taliban Bans Women From Attending Universities In Afghanistan
In response to the order, around 400 male students on Saturday boycotted an exam in the southern city of Kandahar — the de facto power centre of the Taliban — a rare protest staged by men.
The students’ walkout was dispersed by Taliban forces who fired into the air, a lecturer at Mirwais Neeka University where the protest happened told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The Taliban had already barred teenage girls from secondary school, and women have been pushed out of many government jobs, prevented from travelling without a male relative and ordered to cover up outside of the home, ideally with a burqa.
They are also not allowed to enter parks or gardens.
The Taliban have also resumed public floggings of men and women in recent weeks, widening their implementation of an extreme interpretation of Islamic law.
You may like
Taliban Detains 14 For Playing Music, Singing At Afghanistan Private Gathering
Taliban Court Publicly Flogs Woman For Illicit Relationship, Running Away From Home
Taliban Order Closure Of Beauty, Hair Salons In Afghanistan
Three Foreign NGOs Stop Work In Afghanistan After Taliban Ban On Women Staff
Taliban Treatment Of Women May Be ‘Crime Against Humanity’ – G7
Taliban Bans Women From Attending Universities In Afghanistan
Headline
‘They Checked My Instagram’ – Nigerian Lady Breaks Down After Landing In U.S, Denied Entry
Published
16 hours agoon
June 29, 2025By
Editor
A Nigerian businesswoman has taken to social media to share her frustration and heartbreak after being denied entry into the United States, despite holding a valid visa.
In a video recorded on her return flight to Nigeria, the visibly distraught woman revealed that she was travelling to Texas for a trade fair.
She said she possessed a B1/B2 visa, which allows travel for both tourism and business meetings.
READ ALSO:‘Netanyahu Must Go’, Israel’s Ex-PM Calls Leadership ‘Catastrophic’
However, upon arrival in the U.S., things took a turn.
“I was denied entrance into the US and that is because my visa [is] a B1–B2 visa which is [for] tourism/business meetings,” she explained tearfully.
“When I landed, I was detained for 24 hours and I was questioned. I told them I was going to exhibit but I did not know any better because the US has your data and your Instagram page.”
READ ALSO:Middle East Crisis Dominates EU Foreign Ministers’ Brussels Meeting
According to her, immigration officials scrutinised her social media activity and private messages, using them to challenge her stated purpose of visit.
“Apparently, my Instagram says different. They even checked all my messages with my customers. The customers I have been telling that we are coming, they can pick up and all of that,” she said through tears.
Headline
Uganda: After 39 Years In Power, 80-year-old Yoweri Museveni To Seek Re-election
Published
23 hours agoon
June 29, 2025By
Editor
Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, has announced his intention to run in the country’s next presidential election, extending a rule that began nearly four decades ago.
In a post on the X platform late Saturday, Museveni said he had “expressed my interest in running for… the position of presidential flag bearer,” for his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
The 80-year-old leader has governed Uganda since 1986 after seizing power following a five-year guerrilla war. Under his leadership, the ruling NRM has twice amended the constitution, allowing him to remain in office beyond term and age limits.
READ ALSO:Ugandan President Ignores S’Court Ruling, Approves Law To Try Civilians In Military Courts
According to Reuters, right groups have long accused Museveni of deploying security forces and leveraging patronage to hold onto power, an allegation he denies.
Explaining his decision to seek reelection, Museveni said he aims to grow Uganda’s economy to a ”$500 billion economy in the next five years.” According to the finance ministry, the country’s GDP currently stands at about $66 billion.
Uganda is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in January next year. Museveni’s main challenger is expected to be opposition figure and pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who came second in the 2021 election and has declared his intention to contest again in 2026.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the 2021 results, alleging his victory had been stolen through “ballot stuffing, intimidation by security forces and other irregularities.”
Headline
‘Netanyahu Must Go’, Israel’s Ex-PM Calls Leadership ‘Catastrophic’
Published
1 day agoon
June 29, 2025By
Editor
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former Prime Minister, stated in a televised interview that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must leave office.
Bennett refrained from saying whether he plans to challenge the longest-serving leader in the country in an upcoming election.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 that aired on Saturday, Bennett commented, “Netanyahu has been in power for 20 years… that’s too much; it’s not healthy.”
He called attention to Netanyahu’s “heavy responsibility for the divisions in Israeli society,” highlighting the growing rifts that have emerged under Netanyahu’s leadership, especially regarding his handling of the Gaza war since October 2023.
READ ALSO:Israel’s Netanyahu Says Iran Will ‘Pay Heavy Price’ After Hospital Hit
Bennett, a right-wing leader who joined forces with Netanyahu’s critics to form a coalition that ousted him from office after 12 consecutive years, insisted that “Netanyahu must go.”
However, the fragile coalition government Bennett led, along with current opposition leader Yair Lapid, collapsed after about a year. This led to snap elections, resulting in Netanyahu regaining the premiership with support from far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.
Although Bennett has taken time away from politics, there are rumors of a potential comeback, with public opinion polls indicating he may have enough support to defeat Netanyahu again. Currently, no elections are scheduled before late 2026, but early elections are common in Israel.
In his Saturday interview, Bennett claimed credit for laying the groundwork for Israel’s bombardment campaign earlier this month against Iranian nuclear and military sites.
READ ALSO:Netanyahu Vows To Thwart ‘Any Attempt’ By Iran To Rebuild Nuclear Programme
The decision to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic “was very good” and “needed,” said Bennett, claiming that the offensive would not have been possible without the work of his short-lived government.
In Gaza, where Israel has waged war since Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Bennett said the military has displayed “exceptional” performance, but “the political management of the country” was “a catastrophe, a disaster”.
Criticising the Netanyahu government’s “inability to decide,” the former prime minister called for an immediate “comprehensive” agreement that would see all remaining hostages freed from Gaza.
“Leave the task of eliminating Hamas to a future government,” said Bennett, who also evaded several questions about whether he intends to run for office.
AFP
- JUST IN: Dalori Chairs First APC NWC Meeting Following Ganduje’s Resignation
- NEC Meeting: Police Manhandle, Arrest Worker At PDP Secretariat
- JUST IN: Police Besiege PDP Headquarters Ahead Of NEC Meeting
- JUST IN: Court Grants Natasha Bail On Self-recognition
- OPINION: For Ganduje And Kabiyesi
- Chelsea Agree Deal To Sign Brighton Forward Joao Pedro
- NiMet Predicts 3-day Thunderstorms, Rains
- Gov Yusuf Renames Two Institutions To Honour 22 Kano Athletes Killed In Crash
- Abducted Benue Travellers Released After One Week In Captivity
- Club World Cup: PSG Crush Inter Miami 4-0 To Reach Quarter-final
About Us
Trending
- News3 days ago
Arson: Man To Pay N150m For Burning FRSC Patrol Vehicle In Bauchi
- Politics3 days ago
‘Peace Has Returned To Rivers’ — Wike, Fubara Speak After Meeting Tinubu
- Politics3 days ago
BREAKING: Confusion As APC Chair, Ganduje Resigns
- Metro4 days ago
20 Soldiers, Scores Of Bandits Die In Niger Clash
- Politics5 days ago
Edo PDP Expresses Concern Over Okpebholo’s ₦100bn Loan, Says ‘It’s Another Conduit Pipe’
- Politics4 days ago
2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids
- News4 days ago
Full List Of Schengen Countries Offering 5-yr Visa Programme
- Politics5 days ago
FCT Polls: APC Releases Names Of Primary Election Committee Members
- Metro4 days ago
JUST IN: Gospel Singer Sentenced To Death For Killing Girlfriend
- News4 days ago
Senate Confirms Chairman, MD Of South-South Development Commission, Others