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What’s happening on Day 10 of Paris Games on Monday
A host of events kick off on Monday, though, including synchronised swimming, track cycling, climbing and wrestling.
The Olympic Games are past the halfway point, with the swimming, tennis, archery, fencing and road cycling all drawing to a close on an action-packed Sunday in Paris.
A host of events kick off on Monday, though, including synchronised swimming, track cycling, climbing and wrestling.
Twenty Olympic champions will be crowned in sports with the final medals being awarded in artistic gymnastics, 3x3 basketball, badminton, canoe slalom, shooting, surfing and triathlon.
LAST CHANCE TO CATCH BILES IN ACTION
Artistic gymnastics marks its final day with the spotlight on two women's events – the balance beam and floor exercise finals featuring American Simone Biles.
Already the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles will be looking to grab two more golds in what would be a clean sweep for all five of her competitions in Paris.
The men's finals will take place in parallel bars and horizontal bar.
HASSAN OUT ON TRACK FOR WOMEN'S 5,000 METRES
The Netherlands' Sifan Hassan defends her Olympic title in the 5,000 metres final, part of an audacious and gruelling Paris schedule that also includes the 10,000 and the marathon later in the programme.
The world record is always under threat when Armand Duplantis steps into an arena and fans will hope to watch the Swedish Olympic champion pole vaulter make history again in the men's final.
Valarie Allman will be the highlight in women's discus, as she goes for a second straight Olympic gold after frustrating bronze and silver finishes at the 2022 and 2023 worlds respectively.
MEN AND WOMEN SINGLES MEDALS IN BADMINTON
South Korea's An Se-young, the women's number one, who came into the Olympics under pressure with an injury, squares off against China's He Bingjiao for singles gold.
Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn will aim to win his country's first Olympic medal in badminton when he takes on reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the men's singles.
TRACK CYCLING STARTS
The track cycling programme begins at St Quentin velodrome with one medal at stake on the opening day, the women's team sprint in which Britain will be one of the favourites for gold.
DINGHY SAILORS TAKE CENTRE STAGE
Dinghy sailors are in action, with Dutchwoman Marit Bouwmeester on form in her attempt to overtake Britain's Hannah Mills as the most successful female Olympic sailor ever, while Matt Wearn is demonstrating he means business for Australia in the men's event.
Both could make it through to the double points medal race on Tuesday already knowing they have secured gold.
TRIATHLON MIXED RELAY DIVES INTO SEINE
France's Cassandre Beaugrand, who won gold in the individual triathlon on Wednesday, will dive into the Seine again for the mixed relay that gets under way at 8 a.m. local time.
Beaugrand and three teammates will try to take the crown off Britain, defending champions in the event.
Leo Bergere, who won bronze for France in the men's race, has made no secret of the team's ambition but Britain's chances look good, with gold medallist Alex Yee set to kick off the relay and bronze medallist Beth Potter rounding it out.
Seventeen teams of four will battle for the medals, with each athlete completing a 300 metres swim in the river, 5.8 km on the bike and a 1.8 km run.
GOLDEN DAY AT 3x3 BASKETBALL
Reigning champions the United States, Spain, Germany and Canada battle for a medal in the women's 3x3 basketball tournament, with the semi-finals and final also scheduled for Monday.
Latvia's Karlis Lasmanis and Nauris Miezis, who locked up a direct spot in the last four, will be looking to retain their Olympic title in the men's competition.
FIRST-EVER MEDALS IN KAYAK CROSS
Britain's Joe Clarke and Kimberley Cook are the paddlers to beat as the first-ever medals in kayak cross will be handed out at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with the quarter-finals, semis and finals all taking place on Monday.
MEN IN SEMI-FINAL FOOTBALL ACTION
The men's football semi-finals take place, with Morocco facing Spain in Marseille and France taking on Egypt in Lyon, with the hosts aiming to extend their quest for their first Olympic title in 40 years.
FINAL SHOTS FIRED IN SHOOTING
Twice medallist Li Yuehong of China will be gunning for his maiden Olympic gold, but local favourite Jean Quiquampoix's title defence in the 25 metres rapid fire pistol is over after the Frenchman failed to make the final in his home Games.
The shooting events of the Paris Olympics will conclude with the skeet mixed team event later on Monday. Reuters
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Mujahid says IEA stands with media outlets
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the acting government is committed to supporting media outlets and they can operate within the framework of Islamic Sharia and national interests.
Marking World Television Day on Thursday, November 21, Mujahid said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supports the media in general. Media can operate within the framework of Islamic Sharia and national interests.”
“As far as we are able, we cooperate with the media and the Afghan media currently have publications and they are broadcasting their publications well,” he added.
The United Nations General Assembly named November 21 as World Television Day in 1996.
“Since IEA’s takeover, of 184 national and local televisions, 57 television stations were shut down due to economic problems,” said Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of Afghanistan Free Journalists' Association (AFJU).
Currently, about 370 visual, audio and print media are active in the country.
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Baradar says water crisis has negatively impacted relations between nations
Baradar expressed regret that although Afghanistan has vast water resources, effective and professional management has not been carried out in this area.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said on Thursday that the ongoing water crisis in the country has not only made neighboring countries face the problem of water scarcity, but it has also had a negative impact on political and economic relations between Afghanistan and these countries.
Speaking at a seminar held by the Ministry of Energy and Water, Baradar said that although water is a renewable natural resource, the shortage of water due to climate change, the increase in the level of water pollution, the growing demand of the people and its excessive consumption affects the country.
He expressed regret that although Afghanistan has vast water resources, effective and professional management has not been carried out in this area.
“It is now the responsibility of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to fulfill its national duty for the optimal management of the country’s water resource,” Baradar said.
“With firm determination, we aim to use all available means to ensure sustainable development in water management.”
Last month, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also warned that Afghanistan is experiencing a severe water crisis, and if no action is taken, Kabul’s underground water resources could be depleted by 2030.
In a message on X, UNICEF reported that Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and Tajudeen Oyewale, head of UNICEF Afghanistan, visited a Kabul district to assess the city's water supply network.
Both officials expressed concern over the worsening water shortage problem in the capital.
"Water is life," UNICEF stated, emphasizing that rapid urbanization and climate change are accelerating the depletion of groundwater in Kabul.
“If we don't act now, we cannot stop this process."
The rapid population growth, unplanned construction of high-rise buildings, urban development without proper planning, and the excessive use of underground water resources are major factors contributing to the decline in both the quantity and quality of groundwater in Kabul.
Although Kabul has faced water shortages for years, the crisis has become more severe in recent times.
However, the Islamic Emirate is making concerted efforts to resolve the problem and thwart the crisis.
Three weeks ago, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, said in a statement that plans to construct a total of 355 water reservoirs across the country were being implemented.
According to the statement, of the 355 dams, a number of them have already been completed and inaugurated while others are under construction.
Of these reservoirs, 138 are being constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock; 117 by the Ministry of Water and Energy; and 100 by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.
All of these dams are being funded by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the statement read.
The reservoirs are being constructed in numerous provinces to manage rainwater, prevent flooding, strengthen groundwater levels and for use by communities.
Iran’s water share
Late last year, Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian warned that if Afghanistan does not ensure Tehran receives its rightful amount of water from Helmand River, Iran will use legal and international means to resolve the problem.
Mehrabian stressed that Helmand River water is Iran's indisputable right, and that Iran takes the matter seriously.
“Water right is Iran's right and it is necessary to release it. Ensuring water rights is not optional, but it is mandatory based on the international treaty of 1351. Pursuing this matter is Iran's absolute right and we will not fail in this regard. The recent rains should cause the release of our water, and if not, we will take serious action based on international laws,” stressed Mehrabian.
At the time, the Islamic Emirate said it was committed to providing Iran with water from the Helmand River but due to drought, there is not enough water in the river to give Iran its share.
The Helmand River Water Treaty was signed between Afghanistan and Iran in 1973, according to which Iran has the right to receive 850 million cubic meters of water from Afghanistan annually.
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Pakistan rejects suggestion of appointing a new special envoy for Afghanistan
Islamabad however continues to accuse Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militant groups that target Pakistan, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has dismissed rumors that Islamabad is considering appointing a new special representative for Afghanistan.
Baloch said on Thursday that there was no truth in these reports but that special envoys for Afghanistan from Russia and China had recently visited Pakistan and met with officials.
In August, Pakistan dismissed its special envoy to Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, and has not yet appointed a replacement.
Addressing a weekly briefing on Thursday, Baloch also raised the issue of militant groups in Afghanistan.
She also announced the latest data on Afghan refugees and said so far this year, Pakistan has expelled almost 800,000 undocumented migrants from the neighboring country.
She said the process still continues to ensure a "successful and smooth return" of illegal Afghan nationals.
"Since November 2023 to October 2024, so far 757,008 undocumented Afghans were sent back to Afghanistan," Baloch said, adding that the figure also includes those who returned voluntarily.
According to UN figures, some 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan, while another 880,000 have legal status to stay.
Pakistan started its crackdown on all foreigners living in the country illegally late last year.
According to Islamabad, the rise in militant attacks led them to making this decision.
Islamabad however continues to accuse Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militant groups that target Pakistan, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
This claim has repeatedly been rejected by the Islamic Emirate, who state they will not allow any group to use Afghan soil against another country.
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