Dozens of Schoolgirls Hospitalized After Poisoning in Northern Afghanistan

Nearly 80 girls in two primary schools in Sar-e-Pul province, northern Afghanistan, were poisoned and hospitalized in targeted attacks, according to a local education official. The attacks are believed to be the first of their kind since the Taliban took power in August 2021. Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade, and women are barred from most jobs and public spaces. The official said the person who orchestrated the poisoning had a personal grudge but did not elaborate. The investigation is ongoing.