Afghan women were barred from attending celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power on Friday. The Taliban seized Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, as the U.S. and NATO withdrew their forces at the end of a two-decade war.

Thousands of Afghans gathered in Kabul to watch helicopters scatter flowers to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power.

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada marked the fourth anniversary of their return to power by warning Afghans of "divine punishment" if they are ungrateful for the group's rule. View on euronews

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed “remorse” over the war in an Aug. 15 address. The regretful behavior reflects a change in perception of Japan’s actions during World War II, as former premier Shinzo Abe shunned the topic in 2013.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan paid tribute Friday to more than 3 million war dead as the country marked its surrender that ended World War II 80 years ago, as concern grows about the rapidly fading memories of the tragedy of war and the bitter lessons from the era of Japanese militarism.