Europa Newswire

Firefight with Taliban

Europa Newswire

Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill

A Marine with Weapons Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sprints down the line of heavy machine guns to deliver a map after a firefight with Taliban insurgents, Feb. 9, at the "Fire Points" intersection, a key junction of roads linking the northern area of the insurgent stronghold of Marjeh with the rest of Helmand province. Marines of Charlie Company conducted a helicopter-borne assault earlier that morning to seize the area.

Source: Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

Italian PRT Donates Fruit Trees to Department of Agriculture

Europa Newswire

Photo by: Sgt. Maj. Jean-Charles Thorel

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team donated about 24,000 fruit trees to the Herat province Department of Agriculture yesterday.

The donation included cherry, almond, apricot and pear trees.

"This significant donation is the result of seamless collaboration between local government institutions and the Regional Command-West, which aims to ensure the real and practical needs of development of the territory and its people," said Haider Zadeh, head of the Herat province Department of Agriculture.

The project provides for distribution of the trees in all 15 districts in Herat province.

This initiative aims to promote the planting of fruit trees to help develop food production, and contribute to the eradication of opium crops. This will indirectly increase grazing areas below the plantations and positively impact economic development, particularly for people living in rural areas of the province

Source: ISAF

Sean Penn in Haiti

Europa Newswire

Photo by Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Fluegel

Hollywood actor Sean Penn talks with 1st Sgt. Jimmy Greeno and Maj. Steve Lewis from Army Civil Affairs about the post earthquake conditions and the humanitarian effort. The Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization and the Salvation Army donated medical and food supplies. Members of the Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command and the crew of a Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon collaborated with the J/P HRO to deliver the supplies to the northern city. 

Source:Special Operations Command South

Sexual Violence in Conflict

via www.photoshelter.com

Europa Newswire

Photo by: Luiz Rampelotto

United Nations - NY - February 09 2010 - Press conference on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Panelists include Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations

Boy from a Nomadic Afghan Tribe

Europa Newswire

Photo: Fardin Waezi

Hashmas, an 8-year-old boy from the nomadic Afghan tribe of Kuchis, stands in front of the tent where he and his family will stay for the rest of the winter in the outskirts of Kabul.

About 60 per cent of Afghan Kuchis like Hashmas – whose family walked 100 kilometers to Kabul from Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan – follow the nomadic way of life.

Colombia and U.S. Army South Work to Treat More Than 5,100 Patients

Europa Newswire

Photo by 2nd Lt. Bill Hooks

Story by Arwen Consaul

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – Much needed specialized and general medical treatment was provided to the people of Colombia during a Medical Training and Readiness Exercise from Jan. 25 to Feb. 3. At the invitation of the Colombian Government, Army Soldiers from U.S. Army South and the Army Reserve provided medical treatment at La Macarena and San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia.

Iran's Nuclear Program Puts Middle East in Danger, Gates Says

Europa Newswire

Photo by Cherie Cullen

Story by Fred Baker

PARIS - Iran's continuing nuclear development program only serves to put the Middle East in danger of nuclear weapons proliferation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
But, Gates pushed for stronger diplomatic and economic pressure from the international community rather than calling for military conflict.

Susan Rice

Europa Newswire

Photo: Luiz Rampelotto

United Nations - NY - Susan E. Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, speaks to journalists following the Security Council's meeting on Afghanistan

via pa.photoshelter.com

Afghanistan Refugee Camp

Europa Newswire

Photo: Fardin Waezi

A little girl and her two little brothers from Helmand province live in a refugee camp in the Charahi Qamber area of Kabul as the security situation gets worse in the rural districts of Helmand.
Thousands of families have abandoned their homes in Helmand and sought refuge in Kabul where some of them receive basic needs like food, blankets, warm clothing and shoes from international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Super-bowl in Iraq

Europa Newswire

Photo by Sgt. Melissa Shaw

In this image released by the Texas Army National Guard, groggy-eyed but excited Soldiers and Airmen participate in a viewing of the Super-bowl live at 2 a.m. Feb. 8, Baghdad, Iraq. With hot-wings, pizza, soda and two government-issued beers, Soldiers were able to do a little tailgatiing in the Camp Prosperity dining facility while watching the Indinapolis Colts loose to the New Orleans Saints. When presented with the opportunity to support this event, Col. Mark Campsey, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Joint Area Support Group-Central commander, made it a priority to bring a little stateside celebration to the men and women of the military units that live and work here.

Source: Joint Area Support Group-Central

Afghanistan school-vacation

Europa Newswire

Photo: Fardin Waezi

Afghan children playing with sledge in snow at Shohadai Saleheen, Kabul.

Wintertime is school-vacation time in Afghanistan and the time for children to have fun and enjoy the magic of winter.

As the country rebuilds, scenes like this one are again part of the fun and daily life of children.

Source: UNAMA

Security Council Meeting

Europa Newswire

Photo By: Luiz Rampelotto

United Nations - NY -  A wide view of the Security Council during its meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

via pa.photoshelter.com

Caribbean Nations Push for Resolution to Address Non-Communicable Diseases

Europa Newswire

February 5, 2010

By Amy Lieberman

UNITED NATIONS – Non-Communicable, or transferable, diseases, like diabetes and cancer, account for more than 60 percent of the global deaths, 40 percent of which are premature, yet no international resolution or convention recognizes this growing trend.

The Caribbean Community Initiative on Non-Communicable Diseases, or CARICOM, is now appealing to member nations – and soon, to the General Assembly as a whole – with a resolution that will unite nations in the fight against non-communicable diseases, which have a direct link to not only people’s health, but also to social and economic development, .

NYC Trying to Make Embassies Fork Over $18M in Parking Fines

Europa Newswire

February 4, 2010

By Amy Lieberman

UNITED NATIONS – Diplomatic immunity might allow foreign embassies to avoid paying parking fines, but it doesn’t allow them to wipe away, and forget, just how much they owe the city of New York.

The total?

Michelle Rodriguez, James Cameron and Stephen Lang Day at Sea

Europa Newswire

From left, actress Michelle Rodriguez, director James Cameron and actor Stephen Lang sign autographs while being transported over the Red Sea to the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Jan. 27, 2010. Rodriguez, Cameron and Lang are members of the cast and crew of the film Avatar and are visiting Eisenhower to meet with Sailors as part of a Navy entertainment event. Eisenhower is deployed as part of an ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K. Wollman/Released)

Ice Rescue Training

Europa Newswire

Cleveland, US - Ice rescue personnel from Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor provide instructions to members of the Cleveland Fire Dept., during ice-rescue training, Wednesday, Feb. 3. Station ice-rescue personnel conducted training with members of the Cleveland Fire Dept. in order to streamline joint-rescue efforts. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class George Degener)

Source: U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area