Monday, January 5, 2015

Daily News Snippets (Jan 5, 2015)



Afghanistan's orphans live a very vulnerable life. Funding of orphanages is limited and hampered by the corruption of the Afghan officials. Read more in "A decade of aid cash brings little cheer for Afghan orphans", France 24, January 4, 2015.

Afghan news outlets say that a dozen rebels were killed in a Ghazni province clash recently. 

Six foreign militants are believed to have been killed in an American drone strike in the North Wazirstan tribal region of Pakistan on Sunday morning (Jan 4, 2015).  According to a Pakistani security official two drone missiles were fired into a compound on early Sunday morning. Reportedly a small group of Uzbek militants were killed. (The New York Times, Jan 4, 2015).

38 % of the U.S. public thinks the Afghan War was worth the costs. This figure is reportedly rising according to a ABC poll. (The Washington Post, Jan 4, 2015).

It seems that members of the U.S. military are the best customers of the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select whiskey. Read more here. (The Tampa Tribune,  Jan 4, 2015).

Afghan Cabinet. Reportedly the new Afghan cabinet will be announced on Wednesday. President Ghani had promised to announce the cabinet within 45 days of taking office. It has been three months. The delay is attributed to disagreements on the cabinet selections between President Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah (CEO). (Khaama Press, Jan 4, 2015).

Tamim Asey writes about the year to come (2015) for Afghanistan. He identifies six key trends to watch. 1) NUG survival, 2) parliamentary election, 3) peace process, 4) security sector reform, 5) dwindling economy, and 6) reform agenda. (Eurasia Review, Jan 3, 2015).

Task Force Sabre and USAID met with members of the Parwan provincial leadership recently to discuss future coordination and the changing nature of international assistance for Afghanistan. The shura was organized by the program director for USAID on Bagram Airfield and hosted at the Justice Center in Parwan by general officers of the Afghan National Army. (DVIDS, Jan 4, 2015).

A female doctor from eastern Ghazni province was shot dead by militants late on Saturday night. The motive is not clear. (Khaama Press, Jan 4, 2015.).

The Georgian defense minister paid a visit to Afghanistan to meet Georgian troops stationed there. (Radio Free Europe, Jan 3, 2015).

Two Afghan soldiers have been arrested in connection with the deaths of people attending a wedding party in Helmand province. Eight more soldiers are under investigation. The incident took place in Sangin district. It appears that it was either mortar or artillery fire - news reports are unclear. (ABC News, Jan 2, 2015).

There are quite a few illegal armed individuals in the Kabul area - many of them involved in criminal activities in the city. The Kabul police will soon be launching an effort to disarm these illegal individuals and groups. (Khaama Press, Jan 4, 2015).

The Afghan first lady is engaged in coordinating for the dispense of relief supplies to those endangered by the arrival of winter weather. Read more in "Afghanistan's first lady steps into public eye with rural aid project", The Los Angeles Times, January 4, 2015.

The former chairman of the high office of oversight and anti-corruption, Azizullah Ludin, has died in the United States. He was undergoing medical treatment in the U.S. 

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