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Unesco reports 2.4 million Afghan girls barred from secondary education under Taliban rule

ByJustpaste.in

Roughly 2.4 million Afghan girls have been systematically denied access to secondary education since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) announced, urging an immediate end to the policy.

The UN agency noted that the number of girls excluded from high school has grown by 200,000 over the past year and warned that the figure could reach nearly four million by 2030 if the restrictions remain in place. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where female students are formally prohibited from attending school beyond the primary level.

The current restrictions mark a stark reversal of educational progress achieved over the preceding two decades.

In 2001, female enrolment was severely limited, but by 2021, nearly one million girls were actively attending secondary schools across the country. Beyond human rights concerns, Unesco highlighted the severe long-term economic fallout, estimating that the prohibition on female education and employment could cost the Afghan economy $9.6 billion (£7.5 billion) by 2066.

The wider educational landscape in Afghanistan faces critical systemic strain. More than half of primary-school-aged children are out of school entirely, and over 90 per cent of 10-year-olds are unable to read basic text. Infrastructure deficits, including widespread shortages of clean drinking water, sanitation, and heating, alongside recurrent natural disasters continue to exacerbate the ongoing crisis.

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    Rubio and Bessent stayed aboard decoy jet as Trump…

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    Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar have sparked excitement among fans after hinting at a new collaboration on International Friendship Day. The longtime friends shared a playful teaser on social media, leaving followers guessing about the project they have been quietly working on together. On August 2, Karan Johar took to Instagram to celebrate Friendship Day by posting a video featuring Shah Rukh Khan. In the clip, the Bollywood superstar is seen singing the classic Hindi song “Mil Gaya Hum Ko Saathi,” adding a nostalgic touch to the occasion. Alongside the footage, Johar shared a cryptic message teasing an upcoming announcement. The filmmaker wrote over the video: “Our best friend has a new best friend … nice friendship day gift bhai (brother). Who is it?!” The post immediately sparked speculation among fans, many of whom assumed the duo was preparing to announce a new film together. Others wondered whether the teaser was related to an advertisement, a digital campaign or another creative collaboration. The comments section quickly filled with excitement and requests for another Shah Rukh-Karan film. One fan wrote: “Can Karan make a film with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol? We fans have been waiting for eleven years.” Another commented: “Best gift on Friendship Day.” A third fan added: “Just like the Guru Purnima post, I thought this was your next movie announcement, but anything you guys do is special. Waiting to see what this is about!!!” The latest teaser comes only weeks after Johar shared a heartfelt tribute to Shah Rukh Khan on Guru Purnima, describing the actor as his mentor and recalling how their friendship shaped his filmmaking journey. In that emotional post, Johar remembered one of his earliest conversations with Shah Rukh during a trip to Switzerland. He wrote: “Switzerland … I was looking at the mountains (pretending to be homesick and seeking sympathy). He came to me and said Tu director banega aur teri pehli film main karoonga.’ (You will become a director and I will do your first film). I thought to myself… he’s probably low on oxygen and may not completely know what he’s saying.” Johar went on to thank Shah Rukh for always believing in him as a filmmaker, referring to the superstar as his “guru.” Their friendship has produced several successful films over the years, making them one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actor-director partnerships. Professionally, both stars have busy schedules ahead. Karan Johar is preparing to return as host of the second season of The Traitors, which is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on August 13. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for one of the biggest projects of his career, King, in which he will share the screen with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time. The highly anticipated film is currently slated for release on December 24, 2026. Although neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Karan Johar has revealed what their Friendship Day teaser is actually about, the cryptic post has already generated widespread excitement, with fans eagerly awaiting an official announcement from the iconic duo. 

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    Justin Bieber playfully challenges Novak Djokovic …

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