Officials in the ministry of finance of Afghanistan have said around 328.5 million AFS ($5.7 million) have been stolen from the bank accounts of the ministry.

A spokesman for the finance ministry of Afghanistan, Abdul Qadir Jilani said two finance ministry employees have been arrested in this regard and have been introduced to attorney general office for further investigation.

Mr. Jilani further added that the finance ministry is suspicious that the two employees were involved behind the robbery.

According to reports, the around 61 million of the stolen cash were withdrawn using 38 forged cheques by an employee of the finance ministry.

This comes as a female employee of a private bank – Azizi Bank transferred USD 1.1mn to relative’s bank account outside Afghanistan and managed to flee the country.

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) released an online wanted post of Shokofa Salehi, however there are still nor reports regarding her whereabouts.

The alleged theft by the Azizi Bank and ministry of finance employees highlights the deep corruption in Afghanistan’s banking sector and government institutions, which already saw one leading institution unravel after revelations of massive fraud.

The ADT:s veterinary team is the best in the business.   

The vet (myself) and our vet tech are known for their close teamwork, shown here. 

The vet is also renowned for his superior treatment of his teammate (not shown here). :)

Seriously, we ARE both BIG kidders!

The Provincial Veterinarian's Office was a small compound containing a few small offices and a tiny basic laboratory.    

I met with the provincial veterinarian, who explained that in order to get the space he had had "to take it by hand" a few years ago from government officials who wanted to use it for other purposes. His salary is around $1,200 a year.

  Our Team foot patrolled through Asadabad en route to the local high school, where I discussed rabies prevention using a variety of props - which the roughly 400 or so young men loved.  

 Nonetheless, they learned a lot about keeping rabies at bay!

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that the Afghan national security forces have made significant progress.

While speaking during a press conference Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the Afghan security forces will have the capabilities to control the security situation beyond 2014.

Rasmussen further added that the Afghan national security forces are in a better situation as compared to previous years and they will be able to take full security lead as planned by the end of 2014.

The remarks by NATO secretary general comes amid growing casualties Afghan security forces suffer after taking full combat lead from the international coalition security forces.

Afghan interior ministry officials recently announced that nearly 2000 Afghan national police and Afghan local police officers have been killed duirng the past 8 months.

According to Afghan security officials, at least 1800 Afghan national police officers were killed during the year 2012.

However, the international community including NATO are confident that the Afghan national security forces will have full capabilities to control the security situation across the country.

Rasmussen said that the Afghan national security forces will be able to fight major challenges if they continue to receive similar support as they are receiving now.

  US Soldiers adapt to life further from the fight.. 

 The glowing hot embers of America's war in Afghanistan, embodied by the military's far-flung combat outposts, are winking out one by one. The few remaining outposts will be turned over to the Afghan military soon, as the US drawdown advances to its uncertain conclusion next year. 

For those who have lived much of the last decade at these dangerous little bases in Afghanistan.. it is somewhat bittersweet. Ask an infantryman here what he will miss most, and he will probably tell you he'll miss patrolling — walking through the mountains, getting in fights, learning who is firing at him — and learning who his friends are. But that is becoming a thing of the past for US soldiers in Afghanistan.

I agree to Ben Brody´s recent analysis on prevailing withdrawal from War Zones here in Afghanistan (GlobalPost). However, being in the Military for 30 years+, including 13 years of deployment at War Zones, I know only too well that you need plans and somebody with you before you hit civvy streets.

Our agricultural professionals lived in rather cramped quarters, but our Team decided to do something about it.  

A group of Ag Section personnel 

showed some multitalents, resulting in doubling the size of the interns' living space.   

  When we got to the Mandakol Nursery training center, we met Dr. Abdul Aziz, the provincial animal husbandry sub-director who's been helping the provincial beekeeper. He's learned a good bit about beekeeping in the process, and as our Security Force kept us safe in the 100+ degree heat,  

Dr. Aziz showed a few of us some basic beekeeping skills while the rest of the beekeepers were being trained.   

Getting to the Beekeeping was half the fun..