Category: Science & Technology

From gold medals in sports to scientific achievements; Afghan youth showcasing their talents

Although many Afghan youth face limited educational opportunities, economic difficulties, and restrictions on employment, 16 young people told Salam Watandar that, despite their failures, limited resources, and a lack of adequate support, they have been able to succeed in sports, medical technology, healthcare, scientific competitions, and entrepreneurship, and proudly raise Afghanistan’s name at the international level.

From a simple bottle to a vacuum cleaner; a 16-year-old girl’s innovation in Ghazni

In an old house with three mud-built rooms in the “Qala-e Shahada” area of the sixth district of Ghazni city, 16-year-old Mahdiya Qurbani lives with her seven-member family. She is the eldest child in her family and an eighth-grade student at a religious school. With a simple but creative idea, she has succeeded in building a practical vacuum cleaner.

High internet costs; a challenge for youth in online education and work

The high cost of internet packages and low-quality service have become major challenges for youth in Kabul. They say that expensive internet packages not only disrupt their online education but also limit their employment opportunities and ability to earn an income in the digital space.

Youth turn to digital books; easy access, but health and reading challenges

A number of youth interviewed by Salam Watandar say that easy access, lower costs, time savings, and the free availability of digital books (PDFs) have driven them to turn to digital reading.

«AI helps me save time and improve my learning»

Now, it has been nearly two years since I started using AI, and I can confidently say that it has brought significant changes to my life. The most important change I have noticed is saving time and improving the quality of my learning. Subjects that once took me hours to understand have become much easier to learn through simple and well-structured explanations.

«How AI became my constant learning companion?»

My name is Siyaam Akbari. I am a first-year Computer Science student at a private university. Alongside my university studies, I am also studying the German language at an educational center. From an early age, I have had a strong interest in technology and modern tools, and I have always tried to use digital resources for my learning and academic progress.

From self-learning to entrepreneurship; a youth’s inspiring journey in Sar-e Pol

A youth in Sar-e Pol, relying on determination and self-taught skills, has taken practical steps toward serving society by designing and developing several software applications. Hussain Rahimi, a 28-year-old resident of the village of «To Ghani» in central Sar-e Pol, says he studied economics and has designed more than eight software applications and five digital games over the past six to eight years. His journey began with a simple idea and continued through persistent effort and self-learning.

«How AI became part of my life?»

Now, as an AI user, I use it mostly in three areas. The first one is structural text editing, where it greatly helps me—both in improving writing style and refining concepts. The second one is ideation, where this technology contributes greatly to generating creative design ideas along with many achievements. The third one is accelerating tasks and projects that I have limited time to complete. AI helps me complete work with greater speed and precision.

Quick income dreams; youth falling into online network marketing traps

Findings by Salam Watandar, based on interviews with 25 youth across 11 provinces of the country, show that the majority of them lost part or all of their capital after investing in online platforms and network marketing companies—without receiving the promised profit.

Survey on artificial intelligence and Afghan youth

The survey on Artificial Intelligence and Afghan youth was conducted with 1,154 respondents across 32 provinces of Afghanistan. The findings indicate that artificial intelligence has become more deeply embedded in the daily lives of Afghan youth than expected.

Youth and AI; a favored technology with dual consequences

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer merely a scientific concept; it has become part of the daily lives of youth. From education and work to personal advice, this technology is gradually finding its place among Afghan youth as well. A survey by Salam Watandar, based on 1,154 young respondents (50.6% men and 49.4% women) across 32 provinces of Afghanistan, shows that 84.1% of youth have used artificial intelligence at least once in areas such as work, education, and personal life, while 92% of respondents are familiar with AI.

North Korea rejects U.S. cyber threat claims as “fabricated”

North Korea rejected accusations from the United States that it is a cyber threat, saying the claims are fabricated and are being used to justify Washington’s long-standing hostile policy toward Pyongyang.