Taliban slaps smartphone ban in Kandahar schools
Kabul: A ban on
smartphones in schools
issued by Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan came into force, students and teachers confirmed to AFP on Wednesday, over concerns of "focus" and "Islamic law".
The directive by the provincial Education Department in Kandahar applies to students, teachers and administrative staff in schools and religious schools.
"This decision has been made to ensure
educational discipline
, focus", the statement said, adding that it was taken from a "
sharia perspective
" and that smartphones contribute to "the destruction of the future generation".
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched
Seeking Alpha
Read Now
Undo
The policy, which has already taken effect in schools across the province, has divided opinion among teachers and students.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Belarus frees jailed opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky after appeal from US
Belarus freed top opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky and over a dozen other political prisoners Saturday following an appeal from the White House, Minsk said, a sign of warming ties between Washington and Belarus-ally Moscow. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya hugs her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky in unnamed place in Lithuania. (AFP) The release came just hours after US special envoy Keith Kellogg met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, the highest-profile visit of a US official to the authoritarian state in years. Tikhanovsky's wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who took the mantle of the opposition movement after her husband's jailing, thanked US President Donald Trump directly for brokering the deal. European politicians and members of Belarus's exiled opposition also welcomed the news. The European Union hailed Tikhanovsky's release as a "symbol of hope" and a leading activist calling it an "important moment". Tikhanovsky, 46, had been imprisoned for more than five years. The popular Youtuber had planned to run against Lukashenko in the August 2020 presidential election, but was arrested and detained weeks before the vote. He was sentenced in 2021 to 18 years in prison for "organising riots" and "inciting hatred", then to another 18 months for "insubordination". Svetlana -- a political novice at the time of his arrest -- ran against Lukashenko in her husband's place but lost after what the opposition described as widespread falsification. She later fled Belarus. "It's hard to describe the joy in my heart," she said in a post on X following her husband's release. Transferred to Lithuania Among the 13 others freed were Radio Liberty journalist Igor Karnei, arrested in 2023 and jailed for participating in an "extremist" organisation. They have now been transferred from Belarus to Lithuania, where they were receiving "proper care", Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said. Swedish-Belarusian citizen Galina Krasnyanskaya, arrested in 2023 for allegedly supporting Ukraine, was also freed, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Belarus, ruled by Lukashenko since 1994, has outlawed all genuine opposition parties. It is the only European country to retain the death penalty as a punishment. The eastern European country still holds more than 1,000 political prisoners in its jails, according to local human rights group Viasna. 'Sincerest joy' Lukashenko's spokeswoman said the Belarusian leader ordered the release of the prisoners on Trump's "request", Russian state media reported. There was no immediate comment from the White House. Since taking office, Trump has engaged in direct talks with Vladimir Putin, ending his predecessor's policy of isolating the Russian president. The two nuclear powers have since worked to normalise diplomatic ties, which have for years lingered at their lowest point since the Cold War. Tikhanovsky was for years held incommunicado, and in 2023 his wife was told that he had "died". In a video published by Viasna on Saturday, he appeared almost unrecognisable, his head shaven and face emaciated. A charismatic activist, Tikhanovsky drew the ire of authorities for describing Lukashenko as a "cockroach" and his campaign slogan was "Stop the cockroach." Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in the 2020 election, a result that sparked massive opposition protests which authorities violently suppressed. The Belarusian autocrat claimed a record seventh term in elections earlier this year that observers dismissed as a farce. Fellow Belarusian political activists and foreign politicians welcomed the release of the 14 on Saturday. Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed his "sincerest joy", while Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called Tikhanovsky's freedom a "much awaited and long overdue moment". Pavel Latushko, a former culture minister in Belarus who supported the 2020 protests against Lukashenko, said all those released had been jailed illegally. He hailed Tikhanovsky's release as an "important moment". European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed Tikhanovsky's release. "This is fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka regime," she said on X. Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Tikhanovsky's release was "fantastically good news", in a post to X. "At the same time, we must not forget the many other prisoners in Belarus. Lukashenko must finally release them," he added. bur-cad/jj X
Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why US moved B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to Guam and how far is it from Iran?
The United States moved its B-2 bombers to Guam on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing two sources. This comes as tensions between Israel and Iran rose over the past week, with President Donald Trump weighing whether Washington should take part in Tel Aviv's strikes against Tehran. The White House has not confirmed why the bombers were deployed and if it is connected to the conflict in the Middle East. US moved B-2 Stealth Bombers to Guam on Saturday (AFP) The B-2 is equipped to carry the US's 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which is designed to destroy targets deep underground. Washington has hinted that this weapon could be used to strike Iran's nuclear capability. One official told Reuters that no further orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. Reports suggested that the move reduces sortie times compared to flights from Missouri, enhancing readiness for potential strikes. Read More: Nuclear watchdog warns of 'serious catastrophe' if Israel targets Iran's Bushehr reactor Guam's distance from Iran minimizes exposure to Iranian retaliation, unlike Middle Eastern bases, per However, some experts, according to NBC News, said that it was precautionary, noting no strike orders and ongoing diplomacy efforts by European leaders. Distance from Iran to Guam The approximate distance from Guam to Iran is 7,500 kilometers (4,660 miles). The B-2's unrefueled range of 9,000–10,000 kilometers allows it to reach Iran from Guam, though mid-air refueling, supported by KC-46 Pegasus tankers. Israel said on Saturday it had killed a veteran Iranian commander during attacks by both sides in the more than week-long air war, while Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat. Read More: 'Grossi will pay after...': Khamenei aide's blood-chilling threat to IAEA chief Israel says Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran says its atomic program is only for peaceful purposes. Trump has said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel's side, enough time "to see whether or not people come to their senses," he said. (With inputs from Reuters)
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Minister hands over compensation for Phase II of Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road project
Thiruvananthapuram : Food and civil supplies minister GR Anil on Saturday handed over the compensation for Phase II of the Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road project to district collector Anu Kumari. At a formal event held in collectorate conference hall, the minister handed over a cheque of Rs 44.64 crore. The 20km-long and 13m-wide Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road is being developed with a total investment of Rs 170 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The compensation covers land acquired for the second reach of the project, stretching from Mukkam Palamoodu to Pothencode. This phase involves the acquisition of 1 acre and 70 cents from 400 families. Additionally, eight individuals eligible under the resettlement package will receive Rs 9.5 lakh each. The minister directed officials to expedite proceedings and complete compensation disbursement by Sept so that the tendering process can be initiated without delay. In the first reach of the project, 73.4 cent was acquired from 203 families, for which Rs 5.61 crore was disbursed as compensation. The 7km road section from Pazhakutty to Mukkam Palamoodu incurred an expenditure of Rs 35.52 crore, with Rs 12.93 crore allocated for its completion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The construction on this stretch is scheduled to begin on July 1. The third reach, from Pothencode to Mangalapuram, involved acquiring 66 cent from 247 families, with Rs 9.46 crore already distributed as compensation. An amount of Rs 47.83 crore has been sanctioned for the construction work, which is currently nearing completion and is expected to be finalised by the end of July. The minister also instructed officials to take necessary steps to ease travel difficulties faced by the public during the construction phase. The review meeting was attended by deputy collector Muhammad Safeer and representatives from various departments.
