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Washington/Peshawar, Pakistan — Every morning, Zakira prepares Afghan dumplings known as mantu and waits for her sons Arsalan, 12, and Alyan, 10, to return from school when they take the mantu to the nearby streets to sell. "As refugees in Pakistan, this is how we earn a living," said 38-year-old Zakira, who goes by her first name, adding that her husband, a laborer, "can't often find a job." Zakira, a teacher, told VOA she can't find a job in Pakistan because of her refugee status, and that is why her children work. "It is difficult to see them selling food on the street instead of playing like other kids," she said. "But how will we pay the bills if they don't work?" Zakira and her husband hold Afghan citizen cards issued in 2017 by Pakistan to Afghan refugees. More than 800,000 of the 3.1 million Afghan refugees have the cards. "There are no benefits in having these cards, as no one would give me a job with it," Zakira said. Another 1.35 million are registered as Afghan refugees, while more than 800,000 Afghans in Pakistan are undocumented. Around 600,000 new arrivals were in the country before the Pakistani government started deporting undocumented Afghan refugees. Deportations started last year Pakistan began deporting undocumented Afghan refugees last September. According to the United Nations, about 575,000 refugees were returned, of whom 89% were undocumented. Many of the documented refugees are also afraid, as local media reported in March that the government of Pakistan was preparing for the repatriation of Afghan citizen cardholders. Loqman Jalal, 27, who was born in Pakistan and holds a citizen card, told VOA that Afghan refugees, whether documented or undocumented, fear deportation. "There is fear that in the second phase, Pakistan will deport refugees holding ACC and then PoR [proof of registration] holders," said Jalal, a father of three who is concerned about their future. In April, Pakistan extended the proof of registration cards for Afghan refugees to June 30. The U.N., however, said an extension of three months would not lessen the uncertainty the Afghan refugees are facing in Pakistan. Jalal said that the uncertainty makes it difficult for Afghan refugees in Pakistan "to live a normal life." "Everything changed for us after the regime change [Taliban's takeover] in Afghanistan. We face many problems including the possibility of being deported," he said. In May, the U.N. said it assisted the return of 18,700 refugees from Pakistan in the first quarter of 2024, a 14-fold increase from the same period in 2023. "Fear of arrest/deportation, abuse by police or state authorities related to the proof of registration cards extension in Pakistan, no added protection value of the PoR card, and night raids" were some of the reasons, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Sophie Jambazishvili, a senior protection officer for UNHCR in Kabul, told VOA that individuals with PoR cards, UNHRC asylum-seeker certificate holders and ACC holders were included among the refugees forcibly deported to Afghanistan. "We have seen quite a variety of individuals with different legal backgrounds," Jambazishvili said about those deported by Pakistani authorities. She said that Pakistan has not started the second phase of deportations, which will include the ACC holders. "I have to say that we thought that would start. Thankfully, it has not yet fully been implemented," she said. 'Nothing left in Afghanistan' Many refugees, including Zakira, fear that Pakistan will start deporting registered refugees. She said that after living for decades in Pakistan, they have "nothing left in Afghanistan." "I am sad for my children. If deported, I don't know what would happen to them." Zheela Noori contributed to this report, which originated in VOA's Afghan Service.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

A Chinese consortium last month was awarded the contract to develop a deep-sea megaport on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. But critics say the Georgian government is putting the country’s economy and democracy at risk by turning away from Western partners toward China. Henry Ridgwell reports from Tbilisi.

Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian air force said Tuesday it will acquire 50 new aircraft to strengthen its capabilities against armed gangs and terrorists in northwest Nigeria. Nigerian Chief of Air Staff Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar made the announcement at the opening of new military facilities, including two aircraft hangars in northwest Katsina state. Abubakar said the aircraft would include 12 AH-1 attack helicopters, 24 M-346 combat planes, 12 AW109 multipurpose helicopters and a pair of Casa 295 transport aircraft. He did not disclose the cost, nor did he say who would provide the aircraft. He said Nigeria is expected to receive them by next year. The aircraft will be used to bolster offensives against jihadist groups and armed gangs that have terrorized northwest and central states in recent years, Abubakar said. But security analyst Mike Ejiofor says acquiring 50 aircraft is overambitious and possibly misdirected. "I know it will bolster the fight against terrorism, but I believe that we should concentrate more on land than air. We're not at war,” Ejiofor said. The money, he said, should “have been channeled to training and provision of welfare for the ground troops. I think we would've achieved more results." Abubakar’s announcement came as Kaduna state authorities announced Tuesday a partnership with the military to set up three new operational fronts within the state. Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani said, "We concluded with the military to set up forward-operating bases in southern Kaduna, and another one in the Giwa and Birnin-Gwari axis. All the arrangements are being concluded." The Nigerian air force came under heavy criticism in December after more than 80 people were killed and dozens wounded during an airstrike in Kaduna state that was intended to target gangs. Nigerian authorities have promised to operate with more precision to avoid future accidents. Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff General Christopher Musa told journalists in Abuja, "The armed forces of Nigeria are highly professional. We're here to protect innocent citizens, not to harm them. Whatever it was that happened there was a mistake, but we're addressing such issues." Ejiofor said authorities should focus more on boosting the ability of the air force to gather and process accurate information about the activities of armed groups. "These strikes are intelligence-driven, so we must get the intelligence before they're guided to the areas,” he said. “I think what we should've done is to deploy more drones that will be sending this data."

MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has formed over the western Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), said on Wednesday, bringing  flooding across the southern coast of the United States.  The storm was located about 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) east of Tampico, Mexico, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (40.3 miles per hour), the forecaster said. Alberto is likely to dissipate over Mexico as early as Thursday night.  The NHC said the storm was very large and that rainfall, coastal flooding and strong winds could occur far from the center along north-eastern Mexico and the south Texas coast.   Heavy rains also will affect large regions of Central America, the NHC warned, a region that is still facing strong rains that left some 11 people dead in El Salvador over the weekend because of landslides and road accidents.  "Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are likely in and near higher terrain across the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas," the NHC said, including the eastern city of Ciudad Victoria and Monterrey, Mexico's third-biggest city in Nuevo Leon state.  Nuevo Leon State Governor Samuel Garcia said on the social media platform X that people should avoid leaving the house or crossing waterways while it is raining and to keep emergency kits on hand. Workers were ready to address the possible impact of strong winds and rain on the electrical grid, water supplies, and sewage, he said.  Across the Gulf on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, local media reported strong winds and torrential rains. Some authorities, however, said the storm could help fill the country's dams, depleted by an extended drought.  The NHC predicted "moderate coastal flooding" along much of the Texan coast through Thursday as southern areas experience tropical storm conditions.   Forecasters have warned that this year's Atlantic hurricane season will likely be highly active because of impacts from the La Nina weather pattern and warmer ocean water. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi, has been sentenced to another year in prison over her activism, her lawyer said Wednesday.  Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi's lawyer, told The Associated Press that his client was convicted on a charge of making propaganda against the system. Nili said the sentence came after Mohammadi urged voters to boycott Iran's recent parliamentary election, sent letters to lawmakers in Europe, and made comments regarding torture and sexual assault suffered by another Iranian journalist and political activist.  Mohammadi is being held at Iran's notorious Evin Prison, which houses political prisoners and those with Western ties. She already had been serving a 30-month sentence, to which 15 more months were added in January. Iran's government has not acknowledged her additional sentencing.  The latest verdict reflects the Iranian theocracy's anger that she was awarded the Nobel Prize last October for years of activism despite a decades-long government campaign targeting her.  Mohammadi is the 19th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Iranian woman after human rights activist Shirin Ebadi in 2003. Mohammadi, 52, has kept up her activism despite numerous arrests by Iranian authorities and years behind bars.  In November, Mohammadi went on a hunger strike over being blocked, along with other inmates, from getting medical care and to protest the country's mandatory headscarves for women.  Mohammadi was a leading light for nationwide women-led protests, sparked by the 2022 death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody, that have grown into one of the most intense challenges to Iran's theocratic government. That woman, Mahsa Amini, had been detained for allegedly not wearing her headscarf to the liking of authorities.  For observant Muslim women, the head covering is a sign of piety before God and modesty in front of men outside their families. In Iran, the hijab — and the all-encompassing black chador worn by some — has long been a political symbol as well, particularly after becoming mandatory in the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.  While women in Iran hold jobs, academic positions and even government appointments, their lives are tightly controlled, in part by laws like the mandatory hijab. Iran and neighboring Taliban-ruled Afghanistan are the only countries to mandate the headscarves. Since Amini's death, however, more women are choosing not to wear a hijab despite an increasing campaign by authorities targeting them and businesses serving them.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

OTTAWA — Canada is listing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and could investigate former senior Iranian officials living in the country, a senior Cabinet member said Wednesday. "Canada will use all possible tools to combat terrorist activities carried out by the IRGC," Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters, saying the announcement reflected "very strong and compelling evidence." The United States took a similar step in April 2019. Opposition legislators have long demanded the IRGC be listed, but the Liberal government had declined, saying to do so risked unintended consequences. LeBlanc, asked why their action took so long, said the decision had been taken based on the law and advice from security services, not as a result of political pressure. Canada already lists the IRGC's overseas arm, the Quds Force, as a terrorist group. Ottawa broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012. The IRGC, a powerful faction that controls a business empire as well as elite armed and intelligence forces in Iran, has been accused by Western nations of carrying out a global terrorist campaign. Iran rejects that accusation. "Current and former senior Iranian government officials who are in Canada may be investigated and removed," LeBlanc said. He did not give details on the identities and number of people this might include. Once a group is placed on the terror list, police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports the group, and banks can freeze assets. In October 2022, Canada said it would ban the IRGC's top leadership from entering the country and promised more targeted sanctions.

KYIV, Ukraine — Authorities in Ukraine have created a national registry to document cases of sexual violence allegedly committed by Russian forces, a senior prosecutor told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Viktoriia Litvinova, the country’s deputy prosecutor general, said the registry was created out of a pilot project that had already resulted in the convictions of five people in absentia. She declined to comment on details of the cases. “We used to have to visit territories where hostilities are taking place ourselves,” she said. “But now people — individuals who have experienced sexual abuse — are seeking us out for information.” Litvinova said 303 cases of conflict-related sexual violence had been registered since the start of the full-scale invasion in early 2022, with 112 involving male and 191 involving female victims. Some of the victims have suffered from multiple assaults, she said. The initiative was announced on the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence, and it has received assistance from U.N. agencies and several Western governments. Government officials said the registry could be used to make claims for financial compensation for the victims from Russia in the future. The five convictions resulted from sexual assault allegations in areas attacked or occupied by Russian forces, in Kyiv and the cities of Kherson and Chernihiv. Massimo Diana, a representative of the U.N. Population Fund, said the actual number of victims was likely to be much higher than those in the registry. “This violence has been perpetrated on women and girls, on men and boys. Nobody has been exempted from the risk of this heinous act,” Diana said. His agency had assisted in creating 12 support centers around the country for victims of domestic violence and sexual attacks, he said, along with three mobile facilities. To raise awareness for the program and to encourage victims to come forward, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna unveiled a painting by artist Julia Tveritina at a gallery and art center in Kyiv. “The [painting] is of men and women surrounded by yellow rapeseed flowers,” Stefanishyna said. “This flower renews itself after the frost, and it symbolizes hope that all of the survivors may leave their traumatic events in the past.”

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Islamabad — Afghanistan’s Taliban have labeled the latest United Nations report on alleged human rights violations as an attempt to “tarnish perceptions” in the lead-up to this month’s international meeting to discuss the crisis-ridden country. Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief Taliban spokesman, emphasized Wednesday the need for “constructive and positive engagement” between their government and the international community.  His response came a day after Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, alleged that the Taliban’s “pattern of systematic violations of women’s and girls’ fundamental rights” has intensified.  Bennett presented his hard-hitting report on Tuesday to a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, demanding that those responsible for Afghan human rights abuses be held to account. “Some members of the United Nations, particularly the report by Richard Bennett, are attempting to tarnish perceptions ahead of the upcoming Doha meeting,” Mujahid stated. “Unfortunately, certain individuals within the United Nations are constantly trying to present a distorted image of Afghanistan and overshadow significant progress with a few limited issues,” he added. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called a two-day conference of international envoys on Afghanistan in Qatar’s capital, Doha, on June 30.  The Taliban will attend for the first time in what will be the third meeting hosted by the Gulf state since Guterres initiated the process over a year ago. The U.N.-led dialogue is aimed at establishing a coherent and unified global approach to engagement with the de facto Afghan government, which has yet to be formally recognized by the world. Bennett said Tuesday it is essential that Afghan civil society, including women human rights defenders, meaningfully participate in the third Doha meeting and that women’s and girls’ rights be addressed both directly and within thematic discussions.  "It is hoped that reality will be understood, and a constructive stance will be adopted,” Mujahid said Wednesday. Human rights groups have criticized the U.N. for inviting the Taliban to the Doha huddle rather than holding them accountable for “crimes” against Afghan women and girls. They also have expressed concerns that, unlike the previous two Doha meetings, Afghan civil society and human rights activists would be kept from the upcoming session under pressure from the Taliban.  On Tuesday, Farhan Haq, the U.N. deputy spokesperson, defended the decision to invite the Taliban to the third Doha conference. He would not say, however, whether Afghan civil society representatives will have a session with representatives of the de facto government. “At this stage, the arrangements for the conference are still ongoing," Haq told a news conference in New York.  “This is a key concern, and we want to make sure that the rightful role of women in society is respected in Afghanistan, as it needs to be everywhere in the world,” he said when asked whether the U.N. would support Bennett’s call for the Taliban’s “gender apartheid” to be codified as a crime against humanity. “Well, I just want to underscore that we treat them as the de facto authorities on the ground. They are not treated as the recognized government of Afghanistan,” Haq explained when asked whether the U.N. would follow Bennett's advice not to treat the Taliban as a legitimate government or allow them to dictate the terms of the U.N.-hosted meetings. Guterres did not invite the Taliban to the first Doha meeting in May 2023, and the de facto Afghan rulers refused to join the second in February unless their delegates could be accepted as the sole representatives of Afghanistan.  The Taliban’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday that it has decided to send its delegation to the third Doha meeting after two months of discussions with the U.N. regarding the agenda and participation list. “If there are any changes to the agenda and participation, it would naturally affect our decision, which we will share with all sides at that time,” it stated.  The Taliban returned to power in Kabul almost three years ago, imposing sweeping retractions on Afghan women’s rights and freedom of movement in line with their harsh interpretation of Islam. Girls aged 12 and older are banned from attending secondary school, and women are prohibited from working in public and private sectors, including the U.N., except for Afghan health care and a few other departments. Females are not allowed to travel long distances by road or air unless accompanied by a male relative, and they are banned from visiting public places such as parks, gyms and bathhouses.  The Taliban dismiss international criticism of their governance and calls for reversing curbs on women as an interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

N'DJAMENA, Chad — Nine people were killed and more than 40 injured when a fire set off explosions at a military ammunition depot in Chad’s capital, an official said Wednesday. Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah said 46 people were being treated for various injuries after the explosions jolted residents from their sleep late Tuesday in the Goudji district of N’Djamena. The situation has been brought under control, Koulamallah said. The explosions lit up the sky as thick smoke covered the clouds in the West African nation, setting off frantic efforts to extinguish the fire as residents fled their homes for safety. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and President Mahamat Deby Itno said an investigation would be conducted. “Peace to the souls of the victims, sincere condolences to the bereaved families and quick recovery to the injured,” Deby said on Facebook. He later visited the accident scene and hospitals where the injured were treated. People living in the area panicked, thinking the explosion was an armed attack, resident Oumar Mahamat said. Local media reported the blasts started just before midnight as nearby buildings shook and ammunition was thrown from the depot with explosive force. Authorities called on residents to stay out of the area, which was taken over by security forces gathering the scattered artillery shells. Allamine Moussa, a resident, called on the government to “come to our aid urgently” after he and other residents fled their homes. “Many families have recorded deaths, and it’s sad,” Moussa said. Chad, a country of nearly 18 million people, has been reeling from political turmoil before and after a controversial presidential election that resulted in Deby Itno’s victory. He had led the country as interim president during the period of military rule that followed the death of his father in 2021. Cameron Hudson, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the explosions might not be entirely coincidental and “feels more like a message” to the government, which has been embroiled in internal political tensions and as well as regional tensions over the war in neighboring Sudan. Recent claims about Chad's alleged involvement in the war in Sudan create an untenable position at home for Deby Itno, said Hudson, a former U.S. official. “A house divided cannot stand.”

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un formalize their anti-Western alliance. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterates that Hamas is to blame for the lack of progress in ceasefire talks. A look at Israel’s northern border and the increasing tension with Hezbollah. Ukraine sees progress now that it can use Western-supplied weapons on Russian territory, but the fighting in Kharkiv is getting worse. Plus, there are problems with Iran’s partnership with Russia and a look at the heat wave.

Mexico City — Mexico's President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday her government would pursue responsible spending and reduce the fiscal deficit next year without raising taxes, while defending a judicial overhaul that has spooked markets since her party secured a landslide victory in general elections.   "We are preparing a very responsible budget," Sheinbaum told business people at an event in Mexico City. "Our objective is that the deficit in 2025 will be a maximum of 3.5% of GDP, this year it will be closing over 5%."   Sheinbaum said her administration would look to boost tax take via other avenues, such as digitizing customs and the internal revenue service.   Mexico's budget deficit this year is the highest rate since the 1980s as outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador splurged on social spending and to complete major infrastructure works such as a new refinery and tourist train.   Sheinbaum defended again a major judicial reform, proposed earlier this year by Lopez Obrador, which would look to elect judges - including the Supreme Court - by popular vote. The president-elect said the judicial reform would not represent a concentration of power or a shift towards authoritarianism.   The increasing likelihood that a version of this reform could be passed when the newly elected legislature takes office in September has scared markets, with the peso down around 8.5% since the June 2 election.   Some investors fear the overhaul could allow the political capture of the judiciary and remove vital checks and balances over the president and ruling party.

Brussels — Brussels has refused to host a Nations League football match between Israel and Belgium on September 6 because it could spark demonstrations, city authorities said on Wednesday. They said holding such a match while the war in Gaza was continuing "will undoubtedly provoke large demonstrations and counterdemonstrations, compromising the safety of spectators, players, Brussels residents and also the police." The Belgian Football Federation said it would have accepted that the match, at the King Baudouin Stadium, take place behind closed doors, but it deeply regretted that the Belgian capital refused to host the game at all. "We deplore the decision taken by the City of Brussels — which has a lot of experience of organizing big events — to not organize the match in our stronghold," the federation said. The federation said it was in contact with several cities and security services about finding an alternative venue. The city of Louvain has already said it would not host the match. A spokesperson for the Israeli football federation, Shlomi Barzel, told AFP: "This is a matter concerning Belgium; it's not our problem." Concerns were likely raised by the attack in Brussels in October in which an Islamist gunman killed two Swedish football fans before a Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden, although the motive of the attack was not anti-Semitic. France and Italy are in the same Nations League Group A2 as Belgium and Israel.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.