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| Landscape in Paktia Province by Fred W Baker III, US D.O.D. Public Domain |
Afghan Daily
The news I've found about Afghanistan comes from sources inside the country and those outside the country. This particular news source is a compilation of news about the country from a variety of sources. It is part of the World News Network.
Bakhtar News Agency
This is a news site published in country. The headlines talk of the US withdrawal, the signing of a gas agreement, explosions and suicide bombers, and the homecoming of the Afghan team of Power-Lifters who received 6 medals in The Asian PowerLifting Championship held in Japan. As is the case with news especially in a war-torn country, much of it was bad, but there was also that which was good.
The Daily Outlook Afghanistan, The Leading Independent Newspaper
The writing isn't the most grammatical, but it does offer some interesting takes on the news. There was an editorial about a recent bombing in Kabul:
"The deadly Ashura (10th Muharram) attack in Kabul that killed about 80 people and injured more than 100 was one of the most tragic attacks in Afghanistan. Kabul city is still echoing with the shrieking sound of the attack and the saddening screams of the victims. The attack was totally unexpected and authorities were totally unprepared for such an attack."
It goes on to talk about suspected groups who might be responsible. It seems primarily focused on the upcoming US departure and whether or not Afghanistan will be prepared.
Kabul Press, Afghanistan Press, News, Discussion and Criticism
From the entry page:
"Kabul Press (Afghanistan Press) is the most read news and discussion website from Afghanistan. Our sources provide breaking news stories and images focusing on human rights, freedom of speech and good government issues. We aspire to honest, factual coverage that promotes criticism and informed discourse from our readers, without censorship. Kabul Press is an important on-line Afghanistan media outlet with sections in Dari and English updated daily."
Unfortunately there was also some annoying advertising telling me I'd won something.
But of the news sites this one did seem to lean away from the standard copy.
Pajhwok Afghan News, Reflecting the Truth
And the news continues to be about the bombings and the US withdrawal and so on. But there was another headline about truckers on strike, stopped at the Iranian borders. Apparently the Iranian border guards have not been treating them fairly. Under health the life expectancy in Afghanistan rises above 60 years. Pakistan wants to maintain ties. Under education, Badakhshan University students want their chancellor fired. Under culture a Russian engineer converts to Islam and there is a total lunar eclipse to be expected.
This is the only news site I looked at that is subscription with some articles available to the public.
And that's all for the news in Afghanistan. While searching I did find a number of different sources for the news, but these are the ones I stopped at to look around for awhile.
Women and Children
I think most of you who would come to this site are aware that things aren't great for women in Afghanistan. What I found though is that in spite of that, women are standing up to speak for themselves and against the plight of women in the country.
Especially look at this site:
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
They aren't really happy about the US here and I found as an American woman a little taken aback by that, but then I realized, this is their reality, this is what they have experienced. Some of the photos on the website are pretty horrific, so be warned, or try for a text only version. They seem to have listed every news item they could find of the condition of women in this country.
Campaign for Afghan Women
This is a site of the Feminist Majority Foundation and although not Afghan based it does give a good overview of the situation.
Afghan Women's Writing Project
I'll finish with this site for now. It's a bit late and again I do not do all that I had planned. (Travel warnings)
Anyway, the following is a statement from the site:
Welcome to the Afghan Women’s Writing Project (AWWP). AWWP’s mission is to empower Afghan women to share their voices with the world.
And this it does quite well.
Violence/Warnings
I was going to provide some links to travel warning websites, but that will need to wait for another day. Here is a quote though:
"If you are in Afghanistan, you should consider leaving." from Australian travel advisory.
It is a violent country. The current warnings have to do with the kidnapping of foreign nationals especially near the Afghan border. Another warning I've found has to do with the number of landmines still scattered throughout the countryside. If you go off the beaten path, travel with caution. And even in Kabul, be careful of going out after dark. Many of the people don't like the foreigners there.
But is that so different from some of our own countries?
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