According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission, in the first nine months of 2019 the UN documented 2,563 civilians killed and 5,676 injured, which is similar to the same period from last year; however, in the third quarter—July 1 to September 30--UNAMA documented an unprecedented spike in civilian casualties, with 1,174 civilian deaths and 3,139 injured.

“This is the highest number of civilian casualties UNAMA has recorded in a single quarter since it began systematic documentation in 2009.” This was a 42 percent increase from the previous year.

The Afghan Senate’s Complaints Commission on Thursday referred Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi to the Attorney General, following reports that Qayoumi had received a $255,000 salary from a private institute in the US in 2017. Qayoumi is the acting Minister of Finance--and top adviser to President Ashraf Ghani.

Earlier this week, TOLOnews obtained documents showing that Qayoumi received the $255,000 salary from a private organization called the “Institute for State Effectiveness” in 2017. The organization was founded by President Ashraf Ghani in 2013, documents indicate.