75% of all military casualties in Afghanistan now originate from IEDs. The number of incidents involving these deadly devices has increased three-fold in the past two years. The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, JIEDDO, a semi-secret arm of the Pentagon with... [+]
Afghanistan’s second ever Presidential elections took place on the 20th August with sporadic violence, disruption and intimidation across the country. One of the worst affected areas was Wardak, with the Taliban launching a series of IED and rocket attacks across the province... [+]
The second 'democratic' Afghan presidential elections will take place on the 20th of August. Afghanistan is a country riddled with corruption, drugs and violence. 7000 polling stations have been set up, but with threats and attacks from the Taliban occurring daily, many wonder... [+]
An amusing trip to Herat to buy Japanese motorcycles (because there is more variety and better quality bikes than in Kabul). The article details testing the bikes and dealing with Afghan salesmen. Finally sending the bikes back to Kabul by bus on the most dangerous road in the... [+]
The remote village of Chirast in Sur e Pol province of Afghanistan lies on the ethnic border between the Tajiks and Hazaras. Although the village is not considered to be under Taliban control, the villages did burn their own school down. And it was only three years ago that they... [+]
Focuses on two mechanics Najibullah and Habibullah (the Bullah Brothers) that fix and sell Japanese bikes through the week and do motor-cross on Friday (Their day off). They built their own dirt track on land given to them by the government, and learnt how to fly over jumps and... [+]
Uruzgan, in central Afghanistan is where the Dutch and Australian troops are based. Tarin Kowt the capitial of Uruzgan, in Afghanistan. We join a fuel convoy of 100 trucks going from Kandahar to Tarin Kowt. The fuel is bound for use by the Dutch, Aussie and US forces and... [+]
Under the cloak of an Islamic republic lives the elite "Tehrani's". Most Tehrani's live off the wealth of their parents and they comfortably commute from northern Tehran to the Alborz mountains in one hour for their weekend snow recreation. The mountain is a unofficial... [+]
Afghanistan's only super-band that caters for Western tastes, White City, has just returned from a 10-day tour of neighbouring Tajikistan. White City rocked screaming teenagers, appreciative expats and oblivious pensioners alike in the former Soviet state with their progressive... [+]
The Wakhan is located in and around the extreme north-east of Afghanistan, which is connected to China by a long, narrow strip called the Wakhan Corridor, which separates the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan from the North-West Frontier Province and Northern Areas of... [+]
Cutting her teeth with the finest musicians in Tehran, Maral (23) has become somewhat of an ambassador in what is an almost outlawed modern music industry. Resisting the laws of her government that forbid citizens playing Western music, forbid women singing in public and forbid... [+]
The trials and tribulations of trying to shoot pictures in armed city. In today’s sanitized and politically correct environment, getting the picture is becoming as difficult as getting the picture published. The fertile ground for photojournalists at the moment is of course... [+]
The Afghan spring wedding season is a celebrative time when 1000's of men launch themselves in to debt, paying up to $20,000 for their wedding. The ceremony last for 3 days, on the second day there are both a hens night and a stag night. The stag night evolves around men drinking... [+]
2 weeks after the jailbreak at Kandahar prison, the press core of Kabul were given a tour of the battle grounds of Aghandab where many escaped prisoners fought with ISAF. 1000 word article available [+]
Since the revolution of 1978, Iran has been living under strict Islamic rule. One law that has been enforced on Iranian is banning the performance of western music in public. Jazz, rock, hip hop, heavy metal and more have been deemed forbidden by the government. Despite threats... [+]
In the spring of 2007 Jeremy and Travis founded the first ever motorcycle club in Afghanistan: the Kabul Knights Motorcycle Club. Since then they have recruited over 10 members, both male and female, both international and local. They ride every friday and usually head outside... [+]
In the past Iranian women were the target of the "fashion police". now men are being targeted too for their western style hairstyles. most are told to go home and change their hair, but the unlucky few are arrested, fined and even sometimes imprisoned. 1000 word article available [+]
In the spring of 2007, three NGO workers started teaching Afghan youth how to ride skateboards. The terrain of Kabul is riddled with potholes and rocky roads. For this reason they had to resort to using the local Amani high school for smooth payment. Now the idea is gaining... [+]
An addict listens to a council of being a addict with his fellow users. With 2/3 of the countries GDP coming from the opium industry, Afghanistan has a deep history of drug culture. Since the U.S. led invasion, opium production has increased every year. Opium is used by a large... [+]
In the the year of 2007 the Taliban stepped up its campaign of suicide bombing in Kabul. The target is usually military convoys and INGO vechiles. The casualities are often innocent bystanders. After each attack the area is flooded by my international and Afghan military, who... [+]
F.O.B. Baylough is one of the most frequently atttacked bases in Afghanistan. Nestled in the heart of the Dayshopan District, Zabul pronvince, the Taliban use this base for target practice. Dayshopan is the spiritual home for th Taliban, so the area is alive with activity. This... [+]
Aina World was created in 2001 by photojournalist Manoocher Deghati, with the goal of providing media training to the devastated country of Afghanistan. The first department born from the NGO was Aina Photojournalism Institute. A training centre focused on capacity building the... [+]
Urumqi is very segrigated, the Russians have their own bars, like this one callled,."Victoria", with a stage, dancefloor, security and hourly entertainment. Urumqi is the largest city in the west of China. With a mix of Turkoman, Uzbek, Kazak, Chinese and Mongol, it is a melting... [+]
In the south of China, Apple Macintosh sub-contracts Chinese companies; Asus and Foxconn to make its popular Ipod products. Workers pay and conditions are very questionable. In relation to Ipod's western market prices the workers do not receive fair salaries and conditions. 1000... [+]
Many China experts agree that the poorest places in China are rural Tibetan villages outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Neglected by the government and forgotten by the outside world, these communities have had no choice but to fend for themselves..The Amdo Tibetans live... [+]