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US accuses IEA of ‘hostage diplomacy’ at UN Security Council meeting
At the United Nations Security Council session renewing the 1988 sanctions mandate, US deputy representative, Tammy Bruce, said on Thursday that the Monitoring Team remains vital for assessing security and human rights conditions in Afghanistan.
She said the team’s reports provide key insights into the Islamic Emirate’s counterterrorism efforts and its human rights record, especially regarding women and girls.
Bruce accused the IEA of continuing “hostage diplomacy,” noting they have sought the release of an al-Qaida operative held at Guantanamo Bay detention camp in exchange for detained American citizens.
“The Taliban (IEA) must end all forms of hostage-taking and wrongful detentions,” she said. “The UN 1988 sanctions regime and its Monitoring Team remain critical tools for the international community to hold the Taliban accountable, including for these deplorable tactics.”
China’s envoy, Fu Cong, welcomed the Monitoring Team’s recent visit to Afghanistan and encouraged its experts to maintain engagement with and dialogue with the Afghan government.
“We urge the Afghan government to earnestly fulfil its counterterrorism responsibilities and take more resolute and effective measures to completely eradicate all terrorist forces in the country, including Daesh, al Qaeda, ETIM and TTP,” he said.
The envoy called for travel ban exemptions for Islamic Emirate officials to facilitate their international engagement.
Russian deputy representative, Anna Evstigneeva, said that attempts to shift the focus from key issues related to combating terrorism and narcotics trafficking to the human rights situation in Afghanistan are counterproductive and will undermine the effective implementation by experts of their tasks.
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Afghan woman charged in Nevada over alleged illegal voting in US election
Both individuals face one count of voting by an alien. If convicted, each could face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
A woman from Afghanistan and a man from Sudan have been charged with allegedly voting illegally in the 2024 US federal election, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
In a statement released on October 28, 2026, prosecutors identified the Afghan national as Khalida Safi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States. She is accused of voting in the November 5, 2024 election, which included contests for president, vice president and members of Congress.
In a separate case, Moneir Elzobier Ali Yousif, a Sudanese national and lawful permanent resident, is accused of voting in an election held on October 29, 2024.
Both individuals face one count of voting by an alien. If convicted, each could face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the cases.
Authorities said initial court appearances had not yet been scheduled as of the announcement.
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Trial of eight Afghan men accused of child sexual exploitation moved to London
All eight men have denied the charges. They are being prosecuted following a police investigation into alleged group-based child exploitation in Norwich.
The trial of eight Afghan men accused of 42 offences against two teenage girls in Norwich, England, has been moved to London, with proceedings now expected to begin in May 2027.
The defendants face charges including rape, conspiracy to rape and human trafficking in connection with alleged offences spanning August 2023 to May 2025. The girls were in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged offences.
The 12-week trial was originally scheduled to begin at Norwich Crown Court on January 11, 2027. It will now take place at Southwark Crown Court from May 4, 2027, at the earliest.
The relocation follows concerns about Norwich Crown Court’s ability to accommodate all eight defendants, who remain in custody. The trial date and presiding judge have yet to be confirmed.
All eight men have denied the charges. They are being prosecuted following a police investigation into alleged group-based child exploitation in Norwich.
The defendants are Jamil Khalil, 21, of Dumbarton, Scotland; Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 21; Qais Kaker, 20; Fazal Auryakhel, 20; Mohammed Farooq Sinwary, 20; Ali Ahamad, 21; Sayed Wahid Daviodzai, 20, all of Norwich; and Bilal Shinwari, 20, of Bowthorpe.
The charges vary between defendants, ranging from individual rape allegations to multiple counts of rape, human trafficking and conspiracy. Shinwari was arrested in Ireland and returned to the United Kingdom in July.
According to the information provided by authorities, six of the men entered the UK in small boats, while the other two arrived concealed in vehicles.
Norfolk Police has stressed that none of the accused men lived in asylum hotels in Norfolk and that none of the alleged offences took place at such facilities.
Detective Superintendent Stacey Murray has said the safety and wellbeing of the victims remain the investigation’s primary concern.
She said a dedicated team was examining all available lines of inquiry and gathering evidence while taking account of the traumatic experiences of the victims.
The case is expected to be heard over approximately three months, with proceedings now scheduled to begin no earlier than May 2027.
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East Libya imposes entry ban on Afghans and Iranians
The latest restrictions follow similar measures introduced by the eastern administration in June, when it barred nationals of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The government based in eastern Libya has banned Afghan and Iranian nationals from entering areas under its control through land, sea and air entry points, according to Reuters.
The decision was announced late Wednesday, although authorities did not provide a reason for the restrictions.
The eastern administration has instructed its Interior Ministry to enforce the ban and deport Afghan and Iranian nationals who do not possess valid residence permits.
Exemptions will apply to members of accredited diplomatic and consular missions and their families. Afghans and Iranians working in the medical and education sectors may also qualify for exemptions, provided they hold valid work authorizations.
The latest restrictions follow similar measures introduced by the eastern administration in June, when it barred nationals of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Libya has served as a major transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean since the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country has remained divided between rival administrations in the east and west since 2014.
According to United Nations data collected in June, more than 900,000 migrants are living in Libya.
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