Authorities in Afghanistan have launched a new online platform aimed at improving media access to official information and strengthening communication with journalists.

The website, titled “Parmakhtag” (Progress: A Source of Information on Afghanistan’s Developments), was unveiled on Sunday at the Presidential Palace during a ceremony attended by senior officials.

The launch coincided with the publication of the 100th issue of the government’s “Arg Page.”

Speaking at the event, Abdul Wasi, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighted the role of information in shaping modern societies.

“Information plays a decisive role in managing and guiding societies,” he said, adding that the government supports media institutions and is committed to facilitating public access to information.

He said authorities aim to provide an enabling environment for media activity and are committed to sharing information transparently.

Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the platform would serve as a centralised source of accurate and reliable data for journalists.

He added that the initiative is intended to improve transparency, provide verified information on government activities, and counter what he described as misinformation. Mujahid said content published on the platform would be managed responsibly and serve as a credible reference for media outlets.

He also called on government spokespersons to share updates promptly to ensure timely public access to information, and encouraged journalists to make use of the platform.

At the same event, Hujatullah Mujadidi, head of the Afghan Free Journalists Union, said local media had fulfilled their professional responsibilities during recent tensions with Pakistan. However, he noted that existing support for media organisations remained insufficient and called for further measures to strengthen freedom of expression.

Mujadidi also urged authorities to release four detained journalists, describing such a move as a sign of goodwill toward the media community.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Economy Latif Nazari emphasised the growing importance of media in what he described as an evolving “information environment,” saying it plays a key role in conveying developments within the country to both domestic and international audiences.

The “Parmakhtag” platform is expected to function as a central information hub for Afghan media, as authorities seek to streamline communication and broaden access to official data.

The Indian Premier League delivered another day of high drama on Saturday, with Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad registering important victories to boost their campaigns.

Delhi Capitals produced a composed chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in Bengaluru. Recovering from early setbacks, half-centuries from KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs steadied the innings before a late flourish sealed the win with one ball to spare.

In Hyderabad, Sunrisers held their nerve to edge Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in a tightly contested match. Despite Chennai being well-placed in their chase of 195, disciplined bowling at the death turned the game in Hyderabad’s favour, highlighting their growing depth in attack.

The results leave both Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad on six points, strengthening their positions in a tightly packed mid-table race as the tournament gathers pace.

Attention now shifts to Sunday’s fixtures, with two matches set to shape the standings further.

In Kolkata, Kolkata Knight Riders host Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens. Kolkata are under pressure after a string of defeats and are still searching for their first win, while Rajasthan will look to bounce back after a recent setback despite a strong start to the season.

Later, Punjab Kings face Lucknow Super Giants, with Punjab entering the clash as one of the form teams of the tournament. Unbeaten so far, they will aim to maintain momentum against a Lucknow side struggling for consistency and dealing with injury concerns.

With teams jostling for early dominance, Sunday’s matches could prove pivotal in shaping the race for playoff positions.

IPL fans can meanwhile tune in to Ariana Television today to watch the scheduled double-header. Ariana Television will broadcast the matches live and exclusively across Afghanistan.

A record number of Arab nations have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking an unprecedented milestone and underlining the region’s growing influence in global football.

The achievement, of eight nations, represents a sharp rise in representation. As recently as the FIFA World Cup 2022 and FIFA World Cup 2018, only four Arab teams featured in each edition, while earlier tournaments often saw just one or two sides qualify.

All eight teams recently competed in the FIFA Arab Cup 2025, which served as a preparatory stage despite some squads missing Europe-based players. The final saw Morocco national football team defeat Jordan national football team 3-2, highlighting the region’s competitive depth ahead of the global showpiece.

The expanded Arab presence comes with heightened ambition, particularly after Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals in 2022 demonstrated that teams from the region can compete at the highest level.

Among the qualifiers, Jordan will make their World Cup debut, while traditional contenders such as Algeria national football team, Egypt national football team and Iraq national football team return aiming to improve on past performances. Qatar national football team, hosts in 2022, have qualified on merit this time, while Saudi Arabia national football team and Tunisia national football team seek to progress beyond the group stage.

Historically, Arab participation at the World Cup dates back to Egypt national football team in 1934, while Morocco became the first Arab side to reach the knockout stages in 1986. Their fourth-place finish in 2022 remains the benchmark for the region.

With eight teams now set to compete, expectations have shifted from symbolic participation to genuine contention, as Arab nations aim not only to match past achievements but to push deeper into the tournament than ever before.