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Eminent journalist V P Ramachandran passes away


Besides he has worked with Associated Press (AP) and United News of India (UNI). He was the Consulting Editor of Asian Lite International…reports Asian Lite News

Veteran journalist VP Ramachandran passed away at Kakkanad in Kerala on Wednesday. He was 98. Ramachandran, who reported big news events for agencies Press Trust of India (PTI) and United News of India (UNI) from 1950 to 1970s, had been bedridden due to age-related ailments. He also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi. He is popularly known as VPR.

Vettathu Puthenveettil Ramachandran’s life had been one incredible journey. He moved to Delhi at the age of 18. He later served as an army clerk in Pune before becoming a journalist. As Lahore correspondent of PTI, VPR was the first to tell the outside world about martial law following a coup in Pakistan by its Army Chief General Ayub Khan in 1958. He also covered the India-China war of 1962.

He joined UNI in 1964 and his coverage of the Emergency reportedly antagonised the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. After returning to Kerala, he served a brief while as Mathrubhumi editor, before taking up the role as course director at the Kerala Press Academy before becoming its chairman for two terms.

He was one among the former editors of Mathrubhumi daily and served in Lahore as international correspondent of news agency Press Trust of India. Besides he has worked with Associated Press (AP) and United News of India (UNI). He was the Consulting Editor of Asian Lite International.

VPR started his career as a typist. After the completion of matriculation, he learned shorthand typewriting and joined as Lower Division Clerk in Military accounts. It was in 1949 he started his journalist life by joining as a reporter. He was in Delhi for many years and could travel abroad as part of the profession. In 1964 he joined UNI as bureau chief and later became its deputy GM.

His reports were models for excellent journalism and he is the man who pioneered development journalism in India. In 1984 he left Mathrubhumi and joined as Media Academy Chairman in 1988.
His incredible journey as a journalist included covering historic events like India-China war of 1962, Emergency among other issues. He was honoured with the prestigious Swadeshabhimani-Kesari award by Kerala government. Wife Gouri had predeceased VPR. He is survived by daughter Lekha Chandrasekhar.

ALSO READ-Al-Jazeera journalist shot dead in West Bank

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-Top News Asia News Media

Al-Jazeera journalist shot dead in West Bank

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the reporter was shot while covering the Israeli military raid and died shortly after…reports Asian Lite News

Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera broadcaster, was killed in the West Bank on Wednesday amid an Israeli raid.

Taking to Twitter, the broadcaster said: “Israeli forces have shot and killed veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank.”

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the reporter was shot while covering the Israeli military raid and died shortly after, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry also claimed that another Palestinian reporter was shot.

In a statement, the Israeli Army said it has launched an investigation into the incident and was looking into the possibility that the journalists were hit by “armed Palestinians”.

The raid triggered clashes with armed residents, and “massive fire was shot toward Israeli forces by tens of armed Palestinian gunmen”, said the statement, adding that the soldiers “responded with fire toward the sources of the fire and explosive devices. Hits were identified”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted that the Jewish state offered to carry out with the Palestinians “a joint pathological investigation into the sad death” of the journalist.

“Journalists must be protected in conflict zones and we all have a responsibility to get to the truth,” Lapid said.

ALSO READ: Palestine Heritage Under Threat

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Education Media

Google Offers Journalism Scholarship

Google News Initiative extends support to University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) flagship Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme 2023…reports Asian Lite News

The Google News Initiative (GNI) has extended its support of the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) flagship Journalism Innovation and Leadership (JIL) Programme for the third consecutive year.

The GNI has worked with the JIL Programme since 2019 to fund 15 scholarship places on the 30-week part-time, postgraduate certificate, course, which has been co-designed by a team of pragmatic academics and thoughtful industry leaders to foster the next generation of diverse news media leaders and innovators.

In addition to funding, the GNI also facilitates the industry mentoring programme by offering key network connections and providing access to a pioneering approach and practice across the news industry.

The company’s continued support means that the 2023 cohort will also be eligible for the sought-after scholarship places.

Announcing the news at the 2022 International Journalism Festival, Matt Cooke, Head of Google News Lab, said: “We’re announcing the Google News Initiative’s third year of support for this innovative and experimental course.

We’re hoping the next wave of participants will benefit from their time studying at UCLan, and from the industry-led, expert trainers and mentors. We look forward to seeing the university build for the future and provide opportunities for journalists from across the industry.”

The current JIL Programme cohort is made up of 18 participants from nine countries on three continents stretching across 12 time zones, from Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, to Europe. The group of 11 women and seven men bring with them a wide range of media experience from national broadcasters and news publishers to digital media start-ups and technology companies.

Dr François Nel, Reader in Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UCLan and director of the scholarship programme, said: “Our programme has been co-created with our alumni and other industry actors who play an active part in every step – from curriculum design, interviewing applicants, contributing deep insights as guest speakers, and mentoring participants.

 “The ongoing support from the Google News Initiative ensures we continue to foster the diverse leadership our news industry now needs more than perhaps ever before.”

Society of Editors’ (SOE) Executive Director Dawn Alford sits on the JIL Programme board of industry advisors and mentors.

She said: “”The JIL programme can play an important role in the careers of future leaders, ensuring that the media is represented by diverse, considered and innovative individuals.

“The Society of Editors is proud to play a role in this programme and recognises the important contribution made by the Google News Initiative in supporting the next cohort through these scholarships.”

The announcement comes as UCLan marks its 60th anniversary of journalism teaching.

Jane Anthony, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Culture and the Creative Industries at UCLan, added: “UCLan has been training journalists since 1962 and has always ensured that its teaching reflects this fast-paced and ever-changing industry.

 “We are delighted to receive this continued backing from the Google News Initiative. It is key industry partnerships like this that help us remain so successful and this is reflected in our Guardian Good University Guide 2022 League Table ranking of number one in England second in the UK.”

Applications for the 2023 cohort are now open. To apply, or for more information about the UCLan JIL Programme, visit the course page or contact Dr François Nel.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston was founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. Since those early days it has grown into one of the UK’s largest universities with a staff and student community approaching 38,000 and an employment-focused course portfolio containing over 350 undergraduate programmes and nearly 250 postgraduate courses. The University has an established research reputation with world-leading or internationally excellent work taking place within the areas of Business, Health, Humanities and Science.

As a truly global institution with an established campus in Cyprus, UCLan’s student body includes 120 nationalities and its partnership network extends to 125 countries. In 2021 the Center for World University Rankings placed UCLan in the top 7 percent of all worldwide universities.

More information about the JIL Programme – https://www.uclan.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/journalism-innovation-leadership-ma

Download the course flyer – https://bit.ly/jileaders2023

University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) website: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/

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Media UK News

Ofcom suspends Khalsa TV licence

Ofcom noted that the Licensee would have a further opportunity to make written and oral representations should we decide to suspend its licence, the suspension notice reads…reports Asian Lite News

UK’s media watchdog has suspended the licence of Khalsa Television Limited to broadcast in the country after an investigation found its KTV channel breached broadcasting rules with Khalistani propaganda.

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced its decision this week after serving a suspension notice to the company over a Prime Time’ programme, broadcast on KTV on December 30 last year, for a breach of the Broadcasting Code with content likely to encourage or incite the commission of a crime or lead to disorder. The communications regulator said the 95-minute live discussion programme included material likely to incite violence.

The presenter of the programme made a number of statements throughout the programme which, taken together, promoted violent action, including murder, as an acceptable and necessary form of action to further the Khalistani cause. This was a serious breach of our rules on incitement of crime and disorder, Ofcom said in a statement. Given the serious nature of this breach, and for the reasons set out in our suspension notice, we are today suspending Khalsa Television Limited’s licence to broadcast in the UK with immediate effect, the statement from Thursday reads.

Khalsa Television Limited now has 21 days in which to make representations to Ofcom. Following this process, it will decide whether to revoke Khalsa Television Limited’s licence. KTV is a television channel broadcasting largely to the Sikh community in the UK under a licence held by Khalsa Television Limited. In February, the channel received Ofcom’s “Preliminary View” notice and in representations objected to its translation and analysis of the programme. Ofcom said this failed to provide any substantive details of the objection and offered it another chance to respond last month.

In its representations, the KTV reiterated that the programme in question did not contain an incitement or call to violent action in breach of Rule 3.1 and provided an example of what it said was Ofcom’s misunderstanding of the words used by the presenter. Given the urgency and seriousness of the investigation and the time that the Licensee (KTV) had already been offered to provide its full written representations, Ofcom did not consider it appropriate to delay matters further.

Ofcom noted that the Licensee would have a further opportunity to make written and oral representations should we decide to suspend its licence, the suspension notice reads. During the Suspension Period, the Licensee, KTV Ltd, must not broadcast the KTV service. Pursuant to section 13 of the 1990 Act, failure to comply with this Suspension Notice by broadcasting the KTV service during the Suspension Period would amount to a criminal offence, which is punishable by an unlimited fine, it notes.

Ofcom has previously also taken similar action against the channel, including in February last year when it imposed a total fine of GBP 50,000 on the channel for broadcasting a music video and a discussion programme that was deemed an indirect call for British Sikhs to commit violence and also contained a terror reference. On its website, KTV describes itself as an exciting channel, airing a range of cultural, educational and entertaining programmes for audiences of all ages. It says it prides itself in being completely independent, impartial and honest.

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-Top News Asia News Media

Afghan media on brink of extinction

Media bodies said that the media has become very vulnerable following the political change in the country in mid-August last year, facing financial challenges as well accessing information….reports Asian Lite News

Voicing concern over media’s economic challenge post the Taliban took control of Kabul, the Afghanistan Journalists and Media Organizations Federation (AJMOF) said that no media outlet will remain active in the next six months in the country if immediate attention is not paid to the media’s financial problems.

The reporters said that they should be aided by the organizations supporting media and journalists at a press conference in Kabul on Monday, reported Tolo News.

AJMOF officials said that the media has become very vulnerable following the political change in the country in mid-August last year, facing financial challenges as well accessing information.

“Today some media outlets are closed, and reporters are unemployed. Some reporters have switched to other jobs, but some have not found any employment opportunities. They are facing problems and cannot feed their families,” said Hujatullah Mujaddedi, a member of the federation.

The federation in a statement urged the Taliban to resume the activities of the committee that investigates media-related violations and helps reporters gain access to information, reported Tolo News.

“If the money was managed correctly, today no reporter would be facing economic problems and many outlets would not have ceased operating,” Mena Habib, a reporter said urging the organizations supporting journalists, to be honest in working and supporting the reporters.

Meanwhile, the federation officials said that UNAMA in a meeting with them in Kabul has pledged to support media and reporters from the USD 600 million funds that the EU has pledged to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

“In our meeting with UNAMA about three to four months ago on how to enable media outlets to stand on their own feet, UNAMA officials pledged that they will include media and reporters in their list of beneficiaries of the USD 600 million that EU is providing to the people of Afghanistan,” said Hafizullah Barakzai, a senior member of the federation.

Media outlets have been facing financial challenges since the fall of the former republic government and hundreds of outlets have been closed. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Afghanistan reignites massive polio vaccine drive

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Kerala Media

Kerala TV channel MediaOne files appeal against ban

Even though the channel authorities wished to have two day’s time to file a review petition and until then they should not be taken off the air, but the court refused….reports Asian Lite News

A day after a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court upheld the decision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to revoke the license of Malayalam news channel MediaOne — Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, they on Wednesday filed an appeal at the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.

The appeal will now be heard on Thursday.

On Tuesday, passing the orders Justice A.N. Nagaresh said he has gone through the files.

“I find that the ministry has called for report from various intelligence agencies. Based on those inputs, it was found that security clearance should not be renewed. There are inputs which justify the decision. Therefore I am dismissing the petition,” said the judge and upheld the ban imposed by the I&B.

Even though the channel authorities wished to have two day’s time to file a review petition and until then they should not be taken off the air, but the court refused.

The Centre had submitted all the details in a sealed cover and it was on perusal of these the court took this decision and upheld the I&B’s decision to ban the channel.

Incidentally it was on January 31, the channel was taken off air following which they approached the High Court, which decided to defer the operation of the Ministry’s order and extended it two times till Tuesday, when the court dismissed the channel’s arguments.

ALSO READ: Army rescues youth stuck for 40 hours in Kerala
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-Top News Asia News Media

Press freedom at stake in Pakistan

The report went on to say that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, not only several journalists lost their lives, but it also plunged the media houses into deep financial crises….reports Asian Lite News

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has released a report to highlight how press freedom deteriorated in 2021 as compared to the previous two years.

In the report titled “Pakistan Media Freedom Report – 2021”, the CPNE on Sunday expressed concerns over tactics aimed at stifling freedom of media, freedom of expression, and access to information, reports The Express Tribune.

In 2021 alone, the report revealed that five journalists were killed in the line of duty, including Karachi-based social media activist and community journalist Nazim Jokhio, who was abducted and killed mercilessly.

At least nine journalists lost their lives due to the coronavirus pandemic, whereas two newsmen committed suicide due to the lingering unemployment, it added.

‘Pakistan has reported 1,415 cases of blasphemy since 1947’

It stated that following 2020, the year 2021 came to be an extremely difficult year for journalists, media workers, and media organisations in Pakistan as freedom of press and freedom of expression remained under pressure.

It went on to say that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, not only several journalists lost their lives, but it also plunged the media houses into deep financial crises.

The report added that different institutions continuously attempted to keep the journalist community under pressure through direct and indirect tactics.

CPNE also noted that the number of journalists who were harassed, tortured, and killed in the line of duty last year could be higher, the report said.

The report highlighted that many journalists had to face murder attempts, threats, lawsuits, and telephone calls from “unknown numbers”, in addition to online harassment on various occasions, The Express Tribune reported.

The family members of the affected journalists were also subjected to physical and mental torture, it added.

CPNE also mentioned that state institutions registered cases against several journalists during 2021 and elaborated how the government enforced a controversial media law to control the media “by hook or by crook”.

Talking about finances, CPNE mentioned that media houses’ financial woes precede the pandemic which only further aggravated the crisis.

Unfortunately, the report regretted, Pakistan is one of the countries, where violence against journalists is increasing and not even a single murderer has been brought to justice.

During the previous year, it observed that journalists and media institutions faced censorship and restraint on several occasions.

It went on to mention notable journalists who were harassed or tortured during 2021.

The report also mentioned the government’s attempts to stifle social media, including blocking 19,000 accounts and the repeated bans on TikTok, the report said.

ALSO READ: Pakistan runs out of fever pill amid pandemic

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-Top News Media UK News

UK govt to cut funding for BBC

In November, the government launched negotiations to agree how much the TV licence would cost, part of a five-year funding settlement due to begin in April 2022…reports Asian Lite News

Britain’s government will cut the BBC’s funding by ordering a two-year freeze on the fee that people pay to watch the broadcaster, the Mail on Sunday reported.

The future of the licence-payer funded British Broadcasting Corporation is a perpetual topic of political debate, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government most recently suggesting its funding needs to be reformed.

Set against an inflation rate expected to reach a 30-year high of 6% or more in April, freezing the licence cost at its current 159 pounds would provide some relief to consumers battling sharply rising costs of living.

But it would also be a large blow to the BBC’s finances as it tries to compete with privately funded news outlets and the likes of Netflix and other entertainment streaming services funded by consumer subscriptions.

In November, the government launched negotiations to agree how much the TV licence would cost, part of a five-year funding settlement due to begin in April 2022.

The Digital, Media, Culture and Sport department declined to comment when asked about the Mail on Sunday report.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said that the licence fee settlement would be the last such agreement and tweeted a link to the Mail on Sunday article.

“Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content,” she said on Twitter.

The BBC declined to comment on Dorries’ tweet or the Mail on Sunday report.

The opposition Labour Party said the funding cut was politically motivated.

“The Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary seem hell-bent on attacking this great British institution because they don’t like its journalism,” said Lucy Powell, Labour lawmaker and culture policy chief.

The BBC’s news output is regularly criticised by UK political parties. Its coverage of Brexit issues – central to Johnson’s government – has long been seen as overly critical by supporters of leaving the European Union.

Last week, one Conservative lawmaker said BBC coverage relating to parties in Johnson’s Downing Street residence during coronavirus lockdowns amounted to a “coup attempt” against the prime minister.

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-Top News Media Scan World News

MEDIA SCAN: The End Of Free Covid Tests and Kate@40

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that there will be a “rocky few weeks ahead” for the National Health Service (NHS) as Covid cases continue to soar in the country … A special news summary by Kaliph Anaz

Despite leaving the post as vaccine minister, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is back on spearheading the campaign to tame Covid crisis. Mr Zahawi told the Sunday Times that the country is “witnessing the transition of the virus from pandemic to endemic.” The paper also speculates that free lateral flow tests could end in weeks. But a government source told BBC that no decision had been taken and free tests will remain in place as long as they are needed. Opposition politicians have criticised the suggestion of stopping the free tests. Rules on self-isolation for people in England infected with Covid changed last month, dropping from 10 days to seven. Now the government is planning to slash that into five.

The Sunday Times on January 09

The United States also shortened the self-isolation window to five days.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that there will be a “rocky few weeks ahead” for the National Health Service (NHS) as Covid cases continue to soar in the country.

Speaking during a visit to a hospital in London, Javid said these are “challenging times” for the health service and the “best thing” people can do is get their booster jab, reports Xinhua news agency. Javid’s remarks came after two major incidents were declared in England due to pressures caused by the Omicron variant’s spread. The country also reported a further 229 deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 150,222, with 18,454 patients still in hospital.

 Another top story today is the 40 birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge. She marked her 40th birthday by releasing three glamorous portraits of herself. Pictured in different Alexander McQueen dresses, Kate posed for fashion photographer Paolo Roversi.

Asian Lite today released a special story penned by veteran journalist Ashis Ray to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman’s release from a prison in Pakistan. On 8 January 1972, under irresistible international pressure, Pakistan was compelled to release Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman. Sheikh Mujib, who had been incarcerated in West Pakistan for nine months and had been sentenced to death for allegedly waging war against Pakistan.

STORY LINK: 8 JANUARY 1972: Bangabandhu’s Release From Pakistani Prison

ENTERTAINMENT

The Tom Holland-led ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ may be leaping from one box-office record to the next in this time of the pandemic, but audiences in the UK and Ireland have shown their loyalty to their favourite spy, James Bond, by ensuring that British actor Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007, ‘No Time to Die’, tops the 2021 charts.

According to data released by the media measurement and analytics company, Comscore, and reported by ‘Variety’,  the year’s UK and Ireland box-office was led by ‘No Time to Die’, which is the No. 3 film of all time with 96.5 million pounds, behind ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (123.2 million pounds) and another James Bond movie, ‘Skyfall’ (103.2 million pounds).

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, which is still running in cinemas, is No.10 in the all-time chart with 74.8 million pounds and is most likely to overtake 2019’s ‘The Lion King’ (76 million pounds) and will then challenge ‘Titanic’ (80.2 million pounds) for the eighth position, reports ‘Variety’ quoting Comscore data.

 Cinemas in the U.K and Ireland were closed for the first 19 weeks of 2021 and allowed to reopen from May 17, but unlike 2020, which had repeated closures, 2021 did not see any enforced shutdowns since reopening.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Wes Anderson has been roped in to direct an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, for Netflix.

According to sources, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley have joined the cast, with production expected to start this month in London, reports variety.com.

First published in 1977, ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More’ is a collection of seven short stories crafted by British author Dahl for older children. Cumberbatch will play Henry Sugar, the protagonist of the titular story, which poses the question: “If you could see with your eyes closed would you use your power for good or for personal gain?”

The new movie marks Anderson’s second outing with Dahl’s classic works after the filmmaker crafted ‘The Fantastic Mr. Fox’ into a stop-motion film in 2009 and co-wrote the screenplay with

 News of the project follows the streamer’s acquisition of the Roald Dahl Story Company in September 2021, when plans were announced for the development of an extensive universe of animated and live-action film and television projects, as well as publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theater and consumer products.

BOX OFFICE

 The U.K./Ireland Top Ten, according to Comscore data for 2021, were:

1. ‘No Time To Die’ (Universal): 96.5 million pounds

 2. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (Sony): 74.8 million pounds — still on release

 3. ‘Dune’ (Warner Bros): 21.8 million pounds

 4. ‘Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings’ (Disney): 21.2 million pounds

 5. ‘Peter Rabbit 2’ (Sony): 20.4 million pounds

 6. ‘Black Widow’ (Disney): 18.8 million pounds

 7. ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ (Sony): 18 million pounds

 8. ‘Free Guy’ (Disney): 16.8 million pounds

 9. ‘Fast & Furious 9’ (Universal): 16.4 million pounds

 10. ‘Eternals’ (Disney): 14.8 million pounds

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-Top News Afghanistan Media

Taliban crackdown on media worsens

Attacks on media have increased post the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. A Kabul-based reporter, Javid Yousufi was stabbed earlier this month by multiple people….reports Asian Lite News

Taliban on Sunday arrested Haji Arif Noori, owner of Afghanistan based satellite television network from his house in Kabul, local media reported.

“Haji Arif Noori, owner of Noorin TV, was arrested by Islamic Emirate forces this afternoon from his house in Kabul’s PD4, Hujatullah Mujadedi, head of the Afghanistan Independent Journalists Association said. It is not clear why he was arrested, Mujadedi said,” Tolo News tweeted.

Attacks on media have increased post the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. A Kabul-based reporter, Javid Yousufi was stabbed earlier this month by multiple people.

Earlier this month, at least five cases of violence against journalists were recorded in several provinces, Tolo News reported citing Afghanistan’s National Journalists Union (ANJU).

The cases were recorded in Kabul, Balk, Takhar and Kunduz provinces, the union said.

The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crises.

A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis.

The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI)

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