Taliban ban Afghan women from attending university

Taliban ought to fear ISIS-K: Afghan journalist Ali Latifi

People in Germany will be allowed to legally purchase fireworks to celebrate New Year's Eve. They had been banned for the past two years to avoid injuries that could overburden hospitals during the COVID pandemic.

Women and girls have been largely excluded from public life in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August last year. Many women have not been allowed to return to their jobs. The Taliban banned women from all universities last week.

US President Donald Trump has announced a ban on transgender people serving in the armed forces. Many are now feeling betrayed after Trump promised to protect LGBT rights during his election campaign.

Aid groups are warning of a dire situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban's banning of female NGO workers. Many major international aid groups have suspended their operations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). We spoke to the NRC's Afghanistan director, Neil Turner, who said that organisations like his need female employees in order to access the women they serve.

In Nepal, at least three mothers die every day while giving birth. The Himalayan nation has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. The far west of the country is one of the worst affected regions. For a simple check-up or ultrasound, some women have to walk for hours.

The Taliban claimed to have killed members of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS), who were tied to an attack on a Chinese hotel in Kabul last month. Afghanistan is facing a significant security crisis under Taliban rule.

When it comes to investing money, women tend to leave decisions to their male partners. So-called finfluencers are trying to change this. But is it a good idea to rely on financial advice from the internet?

Tanzania's president has ended a ban on opposition rallies imposed by her autocratic predecessor, John Magufuli. The decision was cautiously welcomed as a win for democracy by human rights groups and opposition parties.

There has been global outrage over the Taliban's announcement to ban women from universities. In our first edition for 2023, we meet the Afghan women who are bravely protesting against the decree.

In Ivory Coast, a new generation of young women encourage environmental protection through community outreach and raising awareness among the most vulnerable populations.

Online gambling is against the law in Indonesia, as are all other forms of gambling, but the authorities are finding it particularly hard to catch online gamblers red-handed. DW met up with one Indonesian man taking a big gamble by playing poker for a living.