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U.S. probes MTN Group over Iran, Afghanistan ties

In 2006, MTN was chosen over Turkcell to become the 49 percent minority shareholder in Iranian government-controlled mobile phone carrier Irancell.

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South African mobile operator MTN Group said yesterday it was under United States investigation over its activities in Iran and Afghanistan, at a time of icy ties between Washington and Pretoria.

Africa’s biggest telecoms company is already facing court challenges in South Africa by Turkey’s Turkcell, which accuses it of winning the Iranian market through corruption.

In 2006, MTN was chosen over Turkcell to become the 49 percent minority shareholder in Iranian government-controlled mobile phone carrier Irancell.

MTN had been made aware of a US Department of Justice (DoJ) grand jury investigation relating to its former subsidiary in Afghanistan and Irancell, the company said in a statement.

“MTN is cooperating with the DoJ and voluntarily responding to requests for information,” said the statement accompanying the group’s financial results.

Grand juries typically decide whether or not to formally lay charges in a case and take it to trial.

The South African multinational is also facing a court case in the United States from US veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as relatives of soldiers killed in action, the statement said.

“The plaintiffs’ complaints allege that MTN supported anti-American militias in Iraq and Afghanistan through its participation in Irancell,” it said.

MTN denied any wrongdoing and vowed to file a motion to dismiss the claims.

Relations between Pretoria and Washington have grown increasingly strained in recent months.

South Africa has drawn US criticism for its close ties with Russia, its decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the Gaza war, and for what President Donald Trump claims is the persecution of white farmers.

Trump has also slapped most South African exports with a 30-percent tariff — the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.

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FM Muttaqi and Turkish envoy discuss strengthening Kabul-Ankara ties

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Sadin Ayyıldız, the new head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, met in an introductory visit with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Ayyıldız described relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and emphasized the expansion of cooperation in economic and health fields, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Muttaqi also wished Ayyildiz success, described Turkey as a close friend of Afghanistan, and assessed bilateral relations as being on a path of progress.

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Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation

Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.

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Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Physical Education Committee, met Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufiq Hidayat, during an official visit to Indonesia held alongside the Asian Cup competitions.

The talks focused on strengthening sports cooperation, including improving access for Afghan athletes living in Indonesia to local leagues and training camps.

Hidayat described the meeting as a positive step toward closer sporting ties and stressed the need for continued engagement.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Saadullah Baloch, also attended the meeting, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy in bilateral relations. Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.

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UNAMA: Afghanistan ranks among highest for explosive ordnance casualties

UNAMA stressed that greater awareness and coordinated action are essential to saving lives and improving safety across Afghanistan.

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The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned that Afghanistan is the world’s third most affected country in terms of casualties from explosive ordnance, with landmines and unexploded remnants of war still widespread.

UNAMA said children account for around 80 percent of victims, many of whom are injured or killed while playing near unexploded devices.

The mission reaffirmed its support for funding NGOs involved in mine clearance and community awareness, noting that these groups work daily to remove deadly remnants of conflict and educate communities about the risks.

UNAMA stressed that greater awareness and coordinated action are essential to saving lives and improving safety across Afghanistan.

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