Energy & Education Access: UNDP says Afghanistan generates only 15–17% of its electricity domestically and spends $220–280 million a year importing power, leaving many rural households with electricity for just 5–10 hours daily; a SESEHA-supported school in Laghman now serves 250 students (96 girls), showing how reliable power can extend learning and health services. Tobacco Health Push: WHO marks World No Tobacco Day by warning that tobacco use is widespread (one in four adults), with naswar common and youth use rising; it urges smoke-free environments and stronger policies as the industry uses sweet flavors and misleading marketing. Climate & Food Security Risk: A locust surge in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan—linked to hotter, more erratic conditions—highlights how climate stress can quickly threaten crops and livelihoods across the region. Mental Health Under Strain: Taliban officials in Uruzgan detained a man allegedly attempting suicide, citing unemployment, poverty, and limited treatment; the wider crisis is worsening anxiety and distress. Women’s Rights via Symbolic Action: Rivera Ahmad became the first Afghan woman to summit Mount Everest, drawing global attention to the struggle for Afghan women’s rights under Taliban rule. Child Marriage in Kabul: A report describes a family betrothing a 1.5-year-old girl due to poverty and unemployment, underscoring how economic collapse drives harm to children.