Khaama Press: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has said Afghanistan may contain large resources of undiscovered potash. Potash is produced worldwide at amounts exceeding 30 million metric tons per year, mostly for use in fertilizers. The term “potash” refers to potassium-bearing, water-soluble salts derived from evaporite basins, where seawater dried up and precipitated various salt
1TV: Two children were killed when park goers ran for cover during a heavy hailstorm in Afghanistan’s western Herat province. Eight other people were severely injured in the incident which happened at women’s park in the provincial capital city, also Herat late Wednesday. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Steady downpours have continued throughout the day in Kabul with temperatures also dropping to 5 Celsius (°C). Head of Afghanistan’s Meteorological Department Sayed Reza Musawi said the rain will continue until Friday and the temperatures will fall further if the rain continues. “The rainfall recorded was 13 mm over the past 24 hours in Kabul and
Tolo News: Meteorological organizations have warned the public to brace themselves for heavy rain in parts of Afghanistan over the next few days, with temperatures also expected to drop to the single digits. Officials from Afghanistan’s meteorological department warned people in the northern areas to take necessary precautions. Sayed Reza Musawi, head of Afghanistan’s Meteorological Department said:
Tolo News: A number of experts believe that government is doing nothing to harness the potential that Afghanistan’s water resources offer. Around 75 percent of the surface water of Afghanistan is believed to be flowing to neighboring countries. Water and energy experts said that if government does not have the financial resources, then it should encourage neighboring
Tolo News: Afghanistan is preparing to start work on the key Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline project amidst four nations talks between the stakeholder countries, officials said Wednesday. Officials from the Mines and Petroleum Ministry said they have started awareness programs and assessments on social and environmental issues. “The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum [MoMP] is fully ready
Bakhtar News Agency: Pul-e-Khumri (BNA) A strong earthquake jolted northwest of the country at 12:05 pm today. Mohammad Nasir Kohzad head of counter-disaster in Baghlan said BNA, the center of the earthquake was Baghlan province, but said nothing about the damages and casualties of the earthquake so far. The news will update as more information comes available.
RT: The quake happened 43km south of the village of Jarm, 64km and 75km from the city of Fayzabad, the provincial capital and largest city in Badakhshan Province in northern Afghanistan. The city has a population of about 50,000. The quake was at a depth of 176.7km, USGS added. Click here to read more (external link). Related
The Guardian (UK): Though the US government disputes it, new evidence shows a link between service in Iraq and Afghanistan and cancers and untreatable bronchial illnesses. The US Department of Defense has long recognized that burn pits pose a substantial danger, especially to the environment. Click here to read more (external link).
VOA News Zia-U-Rahman Hasrat February 8, 2016 JALALABAD—Islamic State has started cutting down trees in some parts of eastern Afghanistan in a timber-smuggling operation to neighboring Pakistan, according to Afghan officials and tribal leaders. Locals in the Afghan province say the terror group has imported tree-cutting machines and has been cutting trees in the Achin,