Senior officials from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) have held talks in Moscow with Russian energy authorities aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in electricity generation, infrastructure and broader energy development.

According to DABS, the power utility company’s Chief Executive Officer Abdul Haq Hamkar, accompanied by Afghanistan’s ambassador to Russia Gul Hassan Hassan, met with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Vladimir Khazov to discuss joint initiatives and future investment opportunities.

During the meeting, Hamkar emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties in the energy sector, describing electricity development and improved supply capacity as major priorities for Afghanistan.

Russian officials welcomed the Afghan delegation and reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to deeper cooperation with Kabul, noting that energy and economic engagement with Afghanistan remains an important part of Russia’s regional strategy.

Khazov said efforts are continuing to expand collaboration in electricity transmission, power generation and other key energy projects.

The Afghan delegation also stressed the need to widen cooperation beyond trade to include technical assistance, infrastructure development, engineering support and long-term energy planning, while expressing appreciation for Russia’s continued engagement.

Officials travelling with the delegation included Planning Director Naser Ahmadi, Investment Coordination Director Faridullah Sharafmal and Operating Deputy Director Emal Shinwari.

The talks are seen as part of Afghanistan’s broader push to strengthen domestic energy capacity, modernize infrastructure and attract international investment to help meet rising electricity demand.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced one of the most destructive bowling displays in IPL history as they thrashed Delhi Capitals by nine wickets in Match 39 of the TATA IPL 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.

RCB’s pace attack ripped through Delhi’s batting line-up, dismissing the hosts for just 75 before chasing down the target in only 6.3 overs to secure a massive win and significantly boost their net run rate.

After winning the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar elected to bowl first, a decision that paid immediate dividends.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck with the second ball of the match, removing debutant Sahil Parakh, before Josh Hazlewood produced a devastating spell to dismiss KL Rahul and Sameer Rizvi in quick succession.

Delhi’s innings quickly collapsed under relentless pressure, with Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel and Nitish Rana also falling cheaply. The Capitals slumped to 13/6 in the Powerplay — the lowest Powerplay total in IPL history.

Impact substitute Abishek Porel offered brief resistance with 30 off 33 balls, while David Miller added 19, helping Delhi crawl past the 50-run mark.

Hazlewood returned to finish off the innings with outstanding figures of 4/12, while Bhuvneshwar claimed 3/5 in a superb spell. Delhi were eventually bowled out for 75 in 16.3 overs.

Chasing a modest target of 76, Bengaluru attacked from the outset.

Jacob Bethell struck a rapid 20 off 11 balls before falling to Kyle Jamieson, but Devdutt Padikkal ensured there would be no drama. The left-hander blasted an unbeaten 34 from just 13 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes.

At the other end, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 23 from 15 balls and reached another historic milestone by becoming the first batter to score 9,000 runs in IPL history.

RCB raced to 77/1 in just 6.3 overs, sealing one of the fastest wins ever recorded in the tournament.

Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood for his brilliant figures of 4/12.

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals

Attention now turns to today’s clash as Punjab Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in another key contest in the race for the playoffs.

Punjab Kings have impressed with their aggressive batting this season, led by Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, while Rajasthan Royals boast dangerous match-winners such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Jofra Archer.

With valuable points at stake, both teams will be eager to strengthen their playoff hopes in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

The match will be broadcast live across Afghanistan on Ariana Television.

Afghanistan could face a shortage of more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030 if restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue, UNICEF warned on Tuesday.

In a new report, UNICEF said ongoing bans on girls’ secondary education and limits on women’s participation in the workforce are already damaging the country’s education and health sectors, while also weakening the broader economy.

The report, titled The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan, found that female representation in the civil service declined from 21 percent to 17.7 percent between 2023 and 2025.

According to UNICEF, more than one million girls have been denied access to secondary education since authorities imposed the ban in September 2021.

If restrictions remain in place until 2030, more than two million girls could be deprived of education beyond primary school in a country that already has one of the world’s lowest female literacy rates, the report stated.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said Afghanistan cannot afford to lose future teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives and social workers who are essential to public services.

She urged the authorities to lift the ban on girls’ secondary education and called on the international community to continue supporting Afghan girls’ right to learn.

Education and Health Systems Under Pressure

UNICEF warned that Afghanistan faces a dual challenge: losing trained female professionals while preventing the next generation from qualifying to replace them.

By 2030, the country could lose as many as 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 female healthcare workers, according to the analysis.

The education system is already showing signs of strain. The number of female teachers in basic education fell by more than nine percent, from nearly 73,000 in 2022 to around 66,000 in 2024.

The agency said this decline could hurt school attendance and learning outcomes, particularly for girls, who are more likely to remain in school when female teachers are present.

Risks to Healthcare and Economy

UNICEF also warned that shortages of female health workers could have serious consequences for maternal, newborn and child healthcare, especially in communities where cultural norms limit treatment by male staff.

The report estimated that restrictions on women’s education and employment are costing Afghanistan around $84 million each year in lost economic output, with losses expected to rise if current policies remain unchanged.

Ongoing Support

Despite the challenges, UNICEF said it continues to support education across Afghanistan.

In 2025, more than 3.7 million children in public schools received emergency assistance, while 442,000 children benefited from community-based learning programmes, 66 percent of them girls.

The agency also reported building or rehabilitating 232 schools across the country.