Taliban

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have mandated that all-female TV presenters cover their faces while on air. The Taliban's Virtue and Vice Ministry, as well as the Information and Culture Ministry, issued the directive. The order was described as  “final and non-negotiable." Several female broadcasters and presenters have shared photographs of themselves wearing face masks while delivering shows on social media. 

Female staff employees of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan have been ordered to wear the hijab by the Taliban-led administration. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice's staff will stand outside the UN headquarters to "monitor if hijab is used or not." If a female employee is spotted without a hijab, they will "politely" remind them that it is compulsory outdoors.

Famous photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who died while covering the Afghanistan-Taliban war in 2021, has been honored with the prestigious Pulitzer Prize 2022.  He is amongst the four Indians, who received the prestigious award in the field of journalist under the feature photo category, showcasing  "images of COVID's toll in India.  Besides Siddiqui, Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, and Amit Dave won the award, announced on May 9.

A blast at the Shi'ite mosque in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif has left five dead, and several others injured. The spokesperson for the provincial health authority Zia Zendani, has shared that as many as fifty people have been injured in  the explosion. The blast has come just days after another tragic attack in western Kabul. The Shi'ite community has occasionally come under attack from the Sunni militants in the country.

Pakistan airstrikes in the Kunar and Khost provinces of Afghanistan have left several civilians dead. The Afghan officials in Khost shared that the Pakistani aircraft had targeted the Mir Safar and Pesa Mila areas. Neither the Pakistani government, nor the Taliban, has commented on the airstrikes yet. The Pakistani media has, however, reported that the strikes were aimed at the Tehreek-e-Taliban and Islamist militant groups in the region.