Afghanistan on Wednesday marked the first day of the holy month of Ramazan and several other countries, with various institutions and officials extending their congratulations to the public.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a statement congratulating the people of Afghanistan and highlighting the values of solidarity, compassion, and peace during this sacred month.

The UN Development Programme representative emphasized that the organization will continue supporting families to ensure access to essential services such as water, energy, healthcare, and protection against natural disasters.

Former Chief Executive and head of the National Reconciliation Council, Abdullah Abdullah, expressed hope that this Ramazan would serve as a catalyst for positive change, fostering lasting peace, security, and prosperity across Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Interior also issued a statement assuring citizens that Afghan security forces are fully prepared to safeguard the public, allowing worshippers to observe Ramazan and carry out daily activities in a safe and peaceful environment.

The Winter Olympics continue to deliver high drama, exceptional athleticism and tightly contested medal races as competition unfolds across ice rinks and snow-covered venues and several nations have produced outstanding performances so far.

Norway has reaffirmed its status as a winter sports powerhouse, dominating cross-country skiing and biathlon events through a combination of endurance, tactical racing and experience.

Germany has also been particularly strong in sliding sports, speed skating and biathlon, collecting medals through consistent podium finishes. The United States has impressed in freestyle skiing, snowboarding and figure skating, where both established stars and emerging talents have delivered medal-winning performances.

China has also made its presence felt, especially in short-track speed skating and freestyle disciplines, securing key victories and podium places.

Individual athletes have provided some of the most memorable moments of the Games.

Alpine skiing has produced blistering runs decided by the narrowest of margins, while figure skating audiences have been captivated by emotionally charged routines paired with technical precision.

In freestyle events, athletes pushing the limits with high-difficulty aerials have thrilled fans, though risky attempts have also led to dramatic falls, highlighting the fine line between glory and disappointment.

In the medal standings at this stage of the competition, Norway leads with 12 gold medals, seven silver and six bronze, giving them a total of 25 medals.

Germany follows closely with nine gold, eight silver and five bronze for a total of 22 medals.

The United States has secured eight gold medals, nine silver and seven bronze, totaling 24.

China has collected seven gold, six silver and five bronze medals, while Canada has earned six gold, five silver and eight bronze, bringing its total to 19 medals.

Fans across Afghanistan can watch all the excitement live, as Ariana Television Network holds exclusive broadcast rights for the Winter Olympics in the country, providing comprehensive nationwide coverage of the event.

Viewers are encouraged to follow Ariana News and Ariana Television on social media for updated broadcast schedules, highlights and the latest results as the Games progress, with many major events still to come.

Millions of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest the existence of a “global criminal enterprise” that carried out acts meeting the legal threshold of crimes against humanity, according to a panel of independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The experts said crimes outlined in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department were committed against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption and extreme misogyny.

The crimes, they said, showed a commodification and dehumanization of women and girls.

“So grave is the scale, nature, systematic character, and transnational reach of these atrocities against women and girls, that a number of them may reasonably meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity,” the experts said in a statement.

The experts said the allegations contained in the files require an independent, thorough and impartial investigation, and said inquiries should also be launched into how it was possible for such crimes to be committed for so long.

The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A law, approved by Congress with broad bipartisan support in November, requires all Epstein-related files to be made public.

The U.N. experts raised concerns about “serious compliance failures and botched redactions” that exposed sensitive victim information. More than 1,200 victims were identified in the documents that have been released so far.

“The reluctance to fully disclose information or broaden investigations, has left many survivors feeling retraumatized and subjected to what they describe as ‘institutional gaslighting,'” the experts said.

The Justice Department’s release of documents has revealed Epstein’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business – both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl.

He was found hanged in his jail cell in 2019 after being arrested again on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His death was ruled a suicide.