Two Children Killed By Bombs In Northern Afghanistan

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balkhRFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
January 14, 2020

KABUL — Two children have been killed and at least nine other people wounded after two bombs went off near-simultaneously in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif, officials say.

Adil Shah Adil, the spokesman for Balkh Province’s police chief, said the blasts took place on a road in the provincial capital on January 14.

Those killed in the explosions were aged 14 and 10, the spokesman said.

The wounded included eight civilians and a member of the Afghan security forces.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban has stepped up attacks in Balkh Province and elsewhere in northern Afghanistan in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, an improvised explosive device attached to a vehicle exploded in Mazar-e Sharif, killing a local resident and wounding at least two others, according to police.

With reporting by AP and Tolo News

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Bahadurzada Takes Coaching Job, ‘Will Not Fight in Near Future’

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Siyar Bahadurzada

Siyar Bahadurzada

Tolo News: Siyar Bahadurzada, 36, an Afghan MMA fighter, in a Facebook post on Tuesday said he has taken a job coaching at a training camp in Singapore and will not be fighting in the near future. “I would like to announce that I’ve been appointed as Evolve MMA head coach in Singapore,” Bahadurzada said, adding: “At this time my fighting career takes a back seat and I’m fully focused on my new challenge at hand.” Click here to read more (external link).

Other Sports News

More Afghan Women Getting Driver’s Licenses

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Women in Afghanistan have had to overcome many social and cultural taboos, including driving a car. Lailuma Ehsan, a female driving instructor in Afghanistan’s Balkh province, says getting women behind the wheel is vital as they continue to push for independence. VOA’s Mirwais Bezhan has more in this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.

Severe Winter Weather Claims More Lives In Afghanistan

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snowRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
January 12, 2020

Nineteen people have been reported killed as a result of extreme winter weather in parts of Afghanistan, officials said.

Officials told RFE/RL on January 12 that the victims were killed the previous day in Herat, Kandahar, and Helmand provinces amid heavy snowfall and low temperatures.

The overall death toll from this year’s cold snap now stands at 24, and officials cautioned it could rise further.

Temperatures fell to minus 12 degrees Celsius in parts of the country on January 11.

“We are now expecting more cold waves in the coming weeks,” Mohammad Nasim Muradi, head of the forecasting section of the government meteorological service, told Reuters.

Heavy snow has closed many major roads since the beginning of the year, including the Salang Tunnel and the Kabul-Kandahar Highway.

With reporting by Reuters

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Ghani’s Close Aides Slated for Top Diplomatic Missions: Documents

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Ashraf Ghani

Ashraf Ghani

Tolo News: A list seen by TOLOnews shows that a number of President Ashraf Ghani’s close aides have been chosen for Afghanistan’s key diplomatic offices abroad. Last year, President Ghani appointed Walid Tamim – who was accused of corruption and embezzlement and whose case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office – as Afghanistan’s ambassador to India. Click here to read more (external link).