Afghanistan: Freezing weather kills at least 124 people

At least 124 people died in freezing temperatures in Afghanistan in the past fortnight, Taliban officials say.

About 70,000 livestock had also perished in what is the coldest winter in a decade, a State Ministry for Disaster Management spokesman said.

Many aid agencies suspended operations in recent weeks after the Taliban banned Afghan women from working for non-governmental organisations.

A Taliban Minister said despite the deaths, the edict would not be changed.

Acting Minister of Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund told the BBC that many areas of Afghanistan were now completely cut off by snow; military helicop- ters had been sent to the rescue, but they couldn't land in the most mountainous regions.

The acting Minister said the forecast for the next 10 days indicated temperatures would warm. But he was still worried about a rising death toll - of Afghans, and their livestock.

Winters are always harsh here in Afghanistan but this is the worst weather in a decade.

And this year's relief operations are hampered by last month's Taliban government edict barring Afghan women from working in aid agencies.

But Mullah Akhund was categorical. This edict could not be lifted - the international community, he insisted, had to accept Afghanistan's Islamic culture. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Der Spiegel in Germany, citing government sources, before being seemingly confirmed elsewhere.

There has been no official statement from the German government yet.

However, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the liberal FDP party, who chairs the defence committee of the German Parliament, welcomed the reports.

"The decision was tough, it took far too long, but in the end it was unavoidable," she said, adding that it would come as a relief to "the battered and brave Ukrainian people".

Ukraine sees the tanks as vital for breaking through Russian lines and to beat an anticipated Russian offensive this spring.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky believes about 300 Leopard tanks would help it defeat Russia. (Excerpt from BBC News)