Category: 2. World

Thousands of men gathered across Kabul on Friday to watch flowers being scattered from helicopters to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power – a celebration that women were barred from attending.

Three of the six “flower shower” locations were already off-limits to women, who have been prohibited from entering parks and recreational areas since November 2022.

The Taliban seized Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 as the US and Nato withdrew their forces at the end of a two-decade war. Since then, they have imposed their interpretation of Islamic law on daily life, including sweeping restrictions on women and girls, based on edicts from their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Friday’s anniversary programme, which also included speeches from cabinet members, was only for men. An outdoor sports performance, initially expected to feature Afghan athletes, did not take place.

Rights groups, foreign governments and the UN have condemned the Taliban for their treatment of women and girls, who remain barred from many jobs, education beyond sixth grade and most public spaces.

Members of the United Afghan Women’s Movement for Freedom staged an indoor protest against Taliban rule on Friday in the north-eastern Takhar province.

“This day marked the beginning of a black domination that excluded women from work, education, and social life,” the movement said in a statement shared with Associated Press. “We, the protesting women, remember this day not as a memory, but as an open wound of history, a wound that has not yet healed. The fall of Afghanistan was not the fall of our will. We stand, even in the darkness.”

There was also an indoor protest in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Afghan women held up signs that said “Forgiving the Taliban is an act of enmity against humanity” and “August 15th is a dark day.” They were fully veiled, except for their eyes, in the photographs.

Earlier in the day, the Taliban leader had said God would severely punish Afghans who were ungrateful for Islamic rule in the country, according to a statement.

Akhundzada, who is seldom seen in public, said in a statement that Afghans had endured hardships and made sacrifices for almost 50 years so that Islamic law, or sharia, could be established. Sharia had saved people from “corruption, oppression, usurpation, drugs, theft, robbery, and plunder”, he said.

“These are great divine blessings that our people should not forget and, during the commemoration of Victory Day, express great gratitude to Allah Almighty so that the blessings will increase,” Akhundzada said in comments shared on X.

“If, against God’s will, we fail to express gratitude for blessings and are ungrateful for them, we will be subjected to the severe punishment of Allah Almighty,” he said.

Last month, the international criminal court issued arrest warrants for Akhundzada and the chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity for the persecution of women and girls.

The ICC said there were “reasonable grounds to believe” they had ordered policies that deprived women and girls of “education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion”.

This year’s anniversary celebrations are more muted than last year’s, when the Taliban staged a military parade at a US airbase, drawing anger from Donald Trump about the abandoned American hardware on display.

Afghanistan is also gripped by a humanitarian crisis made worse by the climate crisis, millions of Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan, and a sharp drop in donor funding.

BBC

Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has followed in King Charles III’s footsteps as she joined him in emotional tribute on VJ Day.

The Duchess of York on Friday turned to her official Instagram account to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, re-sharing the photos, which was released by the royal family to mark the day.

Princesses Eugenie and  Beatrice’s mother wrote emotional message along with  the black-and-white photos of 1945, showing people celebrating the victory.

Ferguson, popularly known as Fergie, penned: “Eighty years have passed since VJ Day, yet the bravery, endurance, and sacrifice of those who served remain etched in our hearts.”

She added, “Our nation’s gratitude is everlasting, for they gifted us the tomorrow they would never see. May their memory be cherished and their legacy never fade.”

Ferguson, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, and other members of the royal family celebrated VJ Day, which marked the end of the Second World War following Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces on August 15, 1945.

King Charles led VJ Day commemorations in the UK as a national service of remembrance and two-minute silence marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in the second world war and the end of the six-year-long conflict.

He was joined by the queen, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and veterans who served in the far east theatres of war as wreaths were laid at the National Memorial Arboretum service in Staffordshire.

Powerful testimonies read aloud reminded of the terrible cost of war, while a flypast featured the Red Arrows and historic second world war aircraft, including a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bomber.

Guests of honour included 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105. A Royal Navy veteran, Alfred Conway, from Lincolnshire, watched as his great granddaughter laid a wreath on the Burma railway memorial at the arboretum. George Durrant, who served in the intelligence corps, appeared on stage to urge people not to forget the sacrifices made by his comrades.

In Japan, Emperor Naruhito spoke of his “deep remorse” on the anniversary and said he felt “a deep and renewed sense of sorrow” in a sombre speech in an indoor arena in the centre of the Japanese capital.

A visit by two cabinet ministers to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo angered countries that suffered Japanese military atrocities, particularly China and South Korea, AFP reported. The shrine, which the country’s Asian neighbours view as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression, honours 2.5 million mostly Japanese soldiers who perished since the late 19th century but also enshrines convicted war criminals.

Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, a political moderate, sent a customary offering to Yasukuni, according to Kyodo news. No Japanese prime minister has visited the shrine since 2013, when a trip by then-premier Shinzo Abe sparked fury in Beijing and Seoul.

China’s foreign ministry on Friday summoned the chief minister of Japan’s embassy in China, Yokochi Akira, to lodge solemn representations over Japanese politicians visiting the war shrine, according to a ministry statement, Reuters reported.

In an audio message before the national service of remembrance to the nation, realms and Commonwealth, Charles spoke of allied prisoners of war “who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance” and the “mental and physical scars” the war left on those who survived. He vowed the service and sacrifice of VJ Day heroes “shall never be forgotten”.

In what is believed to be the most direct reference by a British monarch to the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after their atomic bombings, he said: “We should also pause to acknowledge that in the war’s final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.”

More than 90,000 British troops were casualties in the war against Japan, and nearly 30,000 died according to the Royal British Legion, while more than 12,000 Britons were among the 190,000 Commonwealth troops held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.

Of the Allied forces, the US suffered the greatest losses, with more than 100,000 killed in action. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than 200,000 people were killed by the US bombs and in the months after succumbing to radiation sickness, the effects of burns and other serious injuries.

Hundreds of buildings across the UK were due to be lit up on Friday evening to mark VJ Day 80, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower 42, the Shard, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, the Cenotaph and the White Cliffs of Dover.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Military operations, supply shortages drive devastation in Gaza

OCHA warns that the already dire situation in Gaza could worsen without a reliable, rapid, safe and unrestricted flow of supplies into the Strip.

It is imperative that humanitarians are enabled to deliver aid at scale, using community-based mechanisms to reach the most vulnerable. Without these conditions in place – and if military operations continue or escalate – more deaths, forced displacement and destruction are inevitable.

OCHA reports that people in Gaza are gravely concerned by the potential impact of an expansion of military operations in Gaza city. The UN reiterates that it will not participate in any forced displacement of the population. Fleeing civilians must be protected and have their essential needs met, and they must be able to voluntarily return when the situation allows.

The UN continues to receive extremely disturbing reports of aid seekers being killed and injured. Between 27 May and 8 August, the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah treated more than 4,500 wounded patients, most of whom reported that they were injured while trying to reach food distribution sites. People also report being injured in the crush of the crowd or being beaten and robbed of their supplies immediately after receiving them.

Between 27 May and 13 August, the UN Human Rights Office recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid – 994 in the vicinity of the non-UN militarized sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. No one should be killed for trying to access aid.

A key necessity for unhindered humanitarian operations is public order and safety. OCHA reiterates that more diverse supplies and routes must be made routinely available so that humanitarians can deliver aid wherever it is needed and build confidence within communities that those supplies will reach them.

The UN and its humanitarian partners report that ongoing delays and other impediments – including bottlenecks at holding points and interference in the loading process at the platforms – are impacting their efforts to collect supplies from the crossings and bring them to people in need. Yesterday, five out of 12 missions requiring coordination with Israeli authorities were facilitated without impediments. They included the collection of supplies from Kerem Shalom and the transfer of fuel to the north. Four missions were canceled by the organizers, while three others were impeded and only eventually fully accomplished – these included the collection of food aid from Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings.

As the starvation crisis in Gaza continues, more deaths are being reported – including many children, who are regularly admitted to hospitals for malnutrition. The World Health Organization warns that many healthcare facilities have run out of bedspace to treat malnourished patients. Access to healthcare must be restored immediately.

Although the slight easing on the entry of commercial supplies has reportedly led to a drop in the price of some food items at local markets, energy prices have skyrocketed. Cooking gas has not been available in markets for the past five months, and firewood has become even less affordable. More people are resorting to using waste and scrap wood as alternative fuel sources for cooking, which exacerbates health and protection risks, and causes environmental hazards. Partners working on food security warn that both the quantity and quality of supplies entering Gaza remain far below the minimum requirements to meet people’s needs.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deadly violence fuels displacement in Djugu territory

OCHA reports that in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, insecurity is on the rise in Djugu territory, which is in the Ituri province.

Local authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground report that over the past month, clashes between various armed groups and the Congolese armed forces in several areas resulted in almost 50 civilian deaths and more than 30 injuries in Djugu territory.

During the same period, violence and insecurity displaced more than 80,000 people there. Homes have been looted and burned, and those who fled are now sheltering in schools, churches and other public buildings. Attacks have also targeted three sites hosting internally displaced people.

The clashes have severely hampered access, depriving some 250,000 people of essential services. In the Nizi health zone alone, in Djugu territory, nine out of the 12 health facilities are now inoperable.

The UN and its humanitarian partners are ready to respond but need unimpeded and safe access to affected communities.

OCHA calls on all parties to take urgent measures to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access. Civilians must be protected, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

#Afghanistan

Stepped-up funding urgent as needs deepen

OCHA warns that more than half of Afghanistan’s population needs vital aid, four years after the de-facto Taliban regime took over the country.

Women and girls are especially vulnerable. The de facto authorities have imposed a series of increasingly restrictive policies, which has excluded women and girls from education, the workforce and public life.

OCHA stresses that humanitarian aid is a lifeline for women and girls who are otherwise unable to access essential assistance and services. The continued presence of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan is also a vital form of protection by presence.

Needs are increasing as the number of returnees to Afghanistan swells: Since the start of the year, some 1.7 million Afghan citizens have returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan. Most have limited ties to the local communities and are struggling to find shelter and economic opportunities. Host communities themselves also lack adequate services and resources.

To support the response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) recently released US$10 million – and additional funding is in the pipeline from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, which OCHA manages. Yet in the wake of deep funding cuts, more resources are needed to ensure that people’s needs are met. The humanitarian community in Afghanistan is already preparing for another influx of returnees following the recent deadline by the Government of Pakistan for Afghan Proof of Registration cardholders to leave the country by 1 September.

Meanwhile, almost all provinces in Afghanistan have seen below-average rainfall this year, with drought alerts issued across the northern, northeastern, central highlands and western regions.

OCHA stresses that additional funding* is urgently needed to support the people of Afghanistan. This year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just over a quarter funded, with $624 million received of the $2.4 billion required.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Afghanistan with urgent support.

#Ukraine

Aid convoy reaches Kherson Region

OCHA reports that today, a humanitarian convoy delivered vital aid to the front-line Kherson Region in Ukraine.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, led the convoy, which was organized by UN agencies and humanitarian partners. It delivered 30 metric tons of medicines, water, and hygiene and dignity kits for nearly 500 residents.

This assistance remains vital; both civilians and humanitarians are facing growing insecurity in the area, including from drone attacks. So far this year, the UN and its partners have sent 18 humanitarian convoys to front-line communities in the Kherson Region, carrying supplies to support nearly 20,000 residents.

Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator, together with partners, was in the Mykolaiv Region, visiting the sites of recent attacks and seeing recovery and development projects. This year, the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund – which is the largest country-based pooled fund in the world – has provided $7 million, mostly to local NGOs, to deliver time-critical humanitarian support to 35,000 residents in the Mykolaiv Region.

Meanwhile, OCHA warns that ongoing hostilities are causing further displacement in the Donetsk Region. As the security situation worsens near the front-line town of Pokrovsk, local authorities said that yesterday alone, nearly 5,700 civilians – including families with children – were evacuated in the Donetsk Region.

As noted by the Humanitarian Coordinator, donor support remains critical as aid organizations continue to assist people fleeing hostilities and those remaining in front-line communities.

#Central Emergency Response Fund

Secretary-General appoints 12 new advisers to UN emergency fund

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed 12 new members to the Advisory Group of CERF.

This body, which provides policy guidance and advice on the use and impact of CERF, has a total 23 members from all over the world who serve a single three-year term. CERF’s new set of advisers hail from Azerbaijan, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Gambia, Germany, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Qatar, South Africa and Sweden.

“With humanitarian needs outpacing available resources, CERF is more crucial than ever – a trusted, indispensable tool enabling rapid, effective responses to crises worldwide,” said Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. “I thank the members of the Advisory Group who have put in such a strong shift, and I look forward to working with the new advisers who I know will bring energy and creativity to this vital work.”

In the first half of this year alone, CERF released $214 million to help people in two dozen countries, including to get ahead of a drought in Afghanistan and to back climate resilience in eight countries.

Over the past 19 years, CERF has channeled over $9 billion in life-saving aid to people in need in over 110 countries and territories. This has been made possible by contributions from 143 Member States and observers and other donors.

A special unit in Israel’s military was tasked with identifying reporters it could smear as undercover Hamas fighters, to target them and to blunt international outrage over the killing of media workers, the Israeli-Palestinian outlet +972 Magazine reports.

The “legitimisation cell” was set up after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack to gather information that could bolster Israel’s image and shore up diplomatic and military support from key allies, the report said, citing three intelligence sources.

According to the report, in at least one case the unit misrepresented information in order to falsely describe a journalist as a militant, a designation that in Gaza is in effect a death sentence. The label was reversed before the man was attacked, one of the sources said.

Earlier this week, Israel killed the Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and three colleagues in their makeshift newsroom, after claiming Sharif was a Hamas commander. The killings focused global attention on the extreme dangers faced by Palestinian journalists in Gaza and Israel’s efforts to manipulate media coverage of the war.

Foreign reporters have been barred from entering Gaza apart from a few brief and tightly controlled trips with the Israeli military, who impose restrictions including a ban on speaking to Palestinians.

Palestinian journalists reporting from the ground are the most at risk in the world, with more than 180 killed by Israeli attacks in less than two years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Israel carried out 26 targeted killings of journalists in that period, the CPJ said, describing them as murders.

Israel has produced an unconvincing dossier of unverified evidence on Sharif’s purported Hamas links, and failed to address how he would have juggled a military command role with regular broadcast duties in one of the most heavily surveilled places on Earth. Israel did not attempt to justify killing his three colleagues.

Before the attack, press freedom groups and Sharif himself had warned that Israeli accusations of Hamas links, first made in 2024, were designed to “manufacture consent to kill”. They had been revived and repeated with increasing frequency after his reporting on famine in Gaza went viral.

Intelligence sources told +972 magazine that the “legitimisation cell” worked to undermine the work done by Palestinian journalists as well as their protected status under international law.

Officers were eager to find a media worker they could link to Hamas, because they were convinced Gaza-based journalists were “smearing [Israel’s] name in front of the world”, a source was quoted saying.

In at least one case, they misrepresented evidence to falsely claim a reporter was an undercover militant, two sources said, although the designation was reversed before an attack was ordered.

“They were eager to label him as a target, as a terrorist, to say it’s OK to attack him,” one recalled. “They said: during the day he’s a journalist, at night he’s a platoon commander. Everyone was excited. But there was a chain of errors and corner-cutting.”

“In the end, they realised he really was a journalist,” the source added, and the reporter was taken off the target list.

Israel’s government often gave the army orders about where the unit should focus their work, and the primary motive of the “legitimisation cell” was public relations, not national security, the sources said.

When media criticism of Israel over a particular issue intensified the cell would be tasked with finding intelligence that could be declassified and used to counter the narrative, the magazine reported.

“If the global media is talking about Israel killing innocent journalists, then immediately there’s a push to find one journalist who might not be so innocent, as if that somehow makes killing the other 20 acceptable,” the article quoted an intelligence source saying.

The cell also reportedly sought information on Hamas’s use of schools and hospitals for military purposes, and failed attacks by Palestinian armed groups that harmed civilians there.

Some in the unit were reportedly concerned about publishing classified material for public relations reasons rather than military or security objectives. Officers were told their work was crucial to Israel’s ability to keep fighting, one source said.

“The idea was to (allow the military to) operate without pressure, so countries like America wouldn’t stop supplying weapons,” a second source said. “Anything that could bolster Israel’s international legitimacy to keep fighting.”

The IDF has been approached for comment.

On Friday, at least 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza, including five who were trying to get food aid, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Israel also issued evacuation orders for northern parts of Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, as it intensified military operations before a planned escalation of the ground war in Gaza, which has been widely criticised domestically and abroad.

General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe is in Alaska to provide “military advice” to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a senior NATO military official told AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

“Gen. Grynkewich, as the commander of both NATO and U.S. forces in Europe, is in Alaska to provide military advice to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth as President Trump tries to bring this war to a peaceful close,” the official said.

Grynkewich is a supporter of Ukraine and views Russia as a clear threat to European security. He has previously spoken of the need to get military aid into Kyiv quickly, including after President Trump said in July that NATO would be coordinating deliveries of U.S weapons.

Grynkewich’s presence in Alaska is likely to be welcomed by European leaders who have spent recent days trying to convince President Trump to be robust with President Putin and not to do a deal over Kyiv’s head.

-AP