An 84-year-old who had been held in a prison in Afghanistan has been released. Austrian media has reported the man as being a co-founder of a far-right party that was banned in 1988.

The global community has so far refrained from recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan. But Kabul is attempting to expand its regional links, focusing on economic cooperation and the fight against terrorism.

Schools in Afghanistan have opened for a new academic year — but only for boys. More than two and a half years have now passed since the Taliban first banned girls over the age of 12 from attending secondary-level classes.