Top news in this Bulletin:
A recent TOLO News investigation revealed that more than USD $1 million was deposited into the bank accounts of Afghanistan's Finance Minister, Hazarat Omar Zakhilwal, over the past five years.
While some funds were deposited into Zakhilwal's accounts at Standard Chartered Bank and Alfalah Bank in Kabul, most of the money was transferred to other bank accounts outside of Afghanistan.
The Head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IED), Fazel Ahmad Manawi, said on Wednesday that a transparent and free presidential election in 2014 would cost $80 million.Speaking at a press conference, Manawi said, "Candidate and voter registration will begin by 1392 [March 2013]." He emphasized that no government authority or foreign authority can intervene in the election process or results and urged government, political parties and civil society members to cooperate.
The local residents of Shindand district of western Herat said Wednesday that US Forces killed a 25 year-old in a pre-dawn raid. No Afghan National Security Forces or local police were present.
Several others, including women and children, were poisoned and some fainted as a result of tear gas.