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them senior government posts if they accept the non-biometric AT Monitoring Desk home. Speaking at his campaign time to bring them home.” ballots be counted. rally in Minneapolis, Mr. Trump However, experts and former U.S. “They (Ghani’s team) have KABUL: U.S. President Donald said, “We were supposed to be military commanders believe that started a series of moves lately Trump said says it is time to pull in Afghanistan for a short period a withdrawal from Afghanistan and are trying to make fraud by out its troops from Afghanistan, of time. We’re now going to be should be under specific the money they have earned from saying “It is time to bring them there for close to 19 years. It’s conditions.... legitimate and illegitimate sources. They have met some electoral candidates and have promised them money and government posts if to encourage them accept the non-biometric votes be counted,” Nabil said. “Let me tell you simply that they want the sheep votes to form an illegitimate government and rule the people,” said Mohammad Shahab Hakimi, another presidency hopeful, referring to a cipher sentence allegedly used by some people to make fraud in the 2014 presidential election. Ghani’s electoral team AT News Report warning to reject the results if the team of organizing rallies to try denies Nabil’s accusations, saying non-biometric votes were counted to validate the non-biometric that the election commission was KABUL: Some presidential as valid ballots. Rahmatollah Nabil, votes. Nabil said on Friday that the only authorized body to decide contenders urge the invalidation one of the runners for presidency, Ghani had met with a number of whether to validate the non- of the non-biometric ballots, accuses President Ghani’s electoral rivals in the election, promising biometric...

AT News Report linked to the biometric has been computer system, has sent inactive for the past one week. experts for the solution, but an KABUL: The Independent A German computer company official of the election Election Commission (IEC) says responsible for technical issues of commission said Friday that they that its computer system that is the election commission’s have not...

AT News Report AT News Report KABUL: A Kabul-based political activist, Nazar Mohammad KABUL: Six Daesh rebels were Motmaien came under an armed killed in a US drone strike in the assault on Friday but he Pachir Agam district of eastern fortunately escaped unhurt. Nangarhar province, an official Motmaien said that he was on his said on Friday. Provincial way home after offering Friday Governor Spokesman Attaullah prayers when an unknown armed Khogyani told Pajhwok Afghan man opened fire at him. He said News the drone strike happened after some retaliation, he escaped in the Sulaimankhel locality on AT News Report day have took out to the streets unhurt from the attack and the Thursday night in which six to give vent to their anger over assailant fled from the area. Daesh rebels were killed and their KABUL: Residents in the eastern killing of at least three civilians Motmaien... weapons.... province of Laghman the other in an operation... SATURDAY . OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Trump says time is ripe to pull U.S. troops outof Afghanistan

...P1 Former Director of U.S. possibility of a political Intelligence Agency and former settlement with the Taliban Commander of U.S. forces in militant group. Afghanistan, Ret. General David “I think the Taliban would Petraeus says that Trump like to get us out whatever way Administration should work on they can and it is not clear to me a “strategy for staying” in if they intend to share power or Afghanistan rather than strategy participate in election,” Patraeus for leaving. said. He also expressed concern “Every U.S president that not all Taliban fighters would would want to leave Afghanistan lay down their weapons, since in but the questions are under what the recent months “many Taliban KABUL: Two election oversight around 2.7 million people agents for candidates) and made statement when it says 2.7 million official date and supporters of conditions? We have to be fighters have been defecting to Al institutes on Thursday claimed a participated in the poll. Habibullah a relationship between new people participated in the Ghani and Abdullah encouraged absolutely certain that our Qaeda and ISIS.” number of election Shinwari, ETWA head, told a press commissioners and candidates in election,” he added. people on the Election Day to national interest would be Moreover, the Taliban group commissioners and secretaries of conference here that a number of the election commissions. He He said voter lists were not vote for them. preserved,” Patraeus adds. reacted to the Trump’s statement, election bodies and their advisors election commissioners and also asked candidates not to claim present at 853 polling sites, there Without giving details, he This former U.S. commander terming U.S. force pull out as had been in contact with secretaries of the two election victory ahead of the were problems in voter lists at 675 said Ghani and Abdullah’s further says that he doubts the most favored solution. presidential candidates and they bodies were in contact with announcement of the final sites, biometric devices electoral teams used government should be put in quarantine for presidential candidates and they election results as premature encountered malfunction at 45 resources for their campaigns. that reason. The Election & should be quarantined for at least statements in this regard could percent of polling stations and 20 He accused candidates of Will reject election result ... Transparency Watch until the announcement of the lead to a chaos. Shinwari called percent of women’s polling sites having no programs during their Organization of Afghanistan election results so their contacts the September 28 election better were employed with men workers campaigns and said, “One of the ...P1 votes or not. We pay respect to what the independent (ETWA) and Free Watch with candidates could be cut off. than the 2014 election but said on the Election Day. reasons of low turnout on the election commission decides on the non-biometric votes,” said Najib Afghanistan (FWA), who jointly “Any type of contacts of problems plagued the process. Mobinullah Aimaq, head of Election Day was lack of Azad, head of the secretariat of Ghani’s electoral team. monitor the presidential election, election commissioners or Candidates’ lack of programs, FWA talking at the conference, programs with candidates as say the turnout on the Election leadership with candidates can public mistrust on election endorsed Shinwari account and most of them attacked each IEC confirms cyberattacks... Day was lower than 2.7 million pave the ground for fraud and push commissions, militants threats, said four candidates including other.” Most of government voters. The presidential election the process into a crisis,” he said. insecurity and mistakes from Ashraf Ghani, Dr. Abdullah services were dedicated to the ...P1 managed to solve the sends voting information and was held on September 28. Without giving details, he said past elections were problems in Abdullah, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar two leading candidates, Ghani problem completely. sensitive materials from different According to the Independent former commissioners appointed the presidential poll, he said. and Rahmatullah Nabil started and Abdullah, during the election Habib Rahman Nang, head areas to the election commission’s Election Commission (IEC), as advisors (played the role of “We do not endorse the IEC their campaigns earlier than the campaign, he said. of the commission’s secretariat, headquarters, has not been active said they would announce the for the past week and the German preliminary results of the engineers have not found the basic September 28th presidential problem to reactivate the system. election if the biometric system Nang said that German problem was solved by Friday. experts are working hard to solve Nang said the commission the server problem. was not informed that Though the commission KabirFarahi was introduced to promises that the system would judiciary for preventing efforts be active soon, but some monitors to hack the servers. reject it, saying it would take long The biometric system that time to resolve the problems. Baghlan residents... Habib-ur-Rahman Nang, head of the Attorney General’s office, 800 complaints about problems Qadir Hotkhail, Ghani’s team information from biometric ...P1 carried out by Afghan security and intelligence the IEC Secretariat, on Friday following technical issues with the with biometric devices on observer in the IEC. “First they have devices. “If we have new security forces. institutions has been assigned to responded to the news of biometric devices. Election Election Day. Although two to explain why they couldn't transfer messages about this, we will Residents claimed that the probe the operation in this Mohammad Kabir Panahi, head Complaints Commission officials engineers from Dermalog, the information via Wi-Fi. I don't think share with you how we can operation was carried out by the district,” said Assadullah of IEC's IT department, being said they will announce their company that provided the that in the current era their inability accelerate this process from a Unit-02 of the National Dawlatzai, spokesman for the summoned to the Attorney official decision on Saturday. “We devices, came to Kabul on would be acceptable, and the data technical perspective and be Directorate of Security on Laghman governor. General's office. Nang said that have no information about this, and Thursday, there is still criticism has to be transmitted through the accountable to the people of Wednesday night in Alingar The Unit-02 group has been he doesn’t have any information no investigation has been done and of the slow pace. “The engineers Wi-Fi,” said Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, Afghanistan,” said Rahima district, TOLONews reported. reported in the media before for about the issue and Panahi may the person in charge is doing his that came here are working on a Abdullah Abdullah’s team observer Zarifi, IEC commissioner. So far “They came at night and the allegedly killing civilians in continue in his job. The Kabul job right now,” said Habib-ur- solution to get the computer in the IEC. However, a number of out of 26,000 biometric devices, aircraft started attacking. One of military operations. branch of the Electoral Rahman Nang, head of the IEC optimized and to transfer the IEC members say they will hold a the full information of 5,000 my brothers was martyred,” said It is worth mentioning that Complaints Commission on Secretariat. But Election memory card information off of consultative meeting with an biometric devices has been Hamid Niazi, a protestor. recently, four brothers were killed Thursday called for the IT head Complaint Commission officials the devices through the computer electoral technical group on how to transferred to the IEC data “All those killed in the during one such operation in operation are the poor,” said Nangarhar province. Following of the IEC to be investigated by say they have received more than quickly and easily,” said Abdul speed up the process of transferring center. another protestor, Siraj Niazi. the incident, President Ashraf The NDS has claimed that Ghani fired the head of the NDS, their unit had not launched any Masoom Stanekzai, and based on operation on Wednesday night. some reports, President Ghani “A task force comprised of will also ban the night raid. 6 Daesh rebels killed in Nangarhar... Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon, Secretary of State John Kerry. Several members of the IEC ...P1destroyed. He added security forces recovered and defused five the European Union Head of The EU ambassador in Kabul have previously said that if the landmines planted by insurgents in the Spagwestama Weyali area of Delegation to Afghanistan, in an asked the electoral commissions to work of the IEC proceeds in the Ghanikhel district. In Jalalabad City, one person was superficially interview with TOLOnews called maintain their impartiality. same way, the date of the injured in two blasts in front of Provincial Council Member Suhrab on presidential candidates to Mayaudon says that if the announcement of the election Qaderi’s home, Police Spokesman Mubarez Atal said. The incident respect the Independent Election IEC takes too long to make a results may be delayed. happened at around 7:30 am. Nangarhar is an eastern province where Commission’s result and to decision, the presidential election Based on the timetable of the both the Taliban and Daesh militants are active, and making efforts to prevent the 2014 election crisis will turn into a crisis. IEC, the preliminary results of destabilize the province. However, the Afghan security forces carrying from repeating. “A very important message presidential election are to be out operations against insurgents on daily basis, in which many “2019 Is quite different than that we communicated is really an announced on October 19 and the districts of the province have been cleared from the militants. 2014, I think the general public… encouragement to stay impartial final results will be announced on aspires more every day to peace, and natural,” Mayaudon added. November 7. Political expert survives assassination... stability and national unity,” said The work of the IEC, particularly Ambassador Pierre ...P1 ruled out personal enmity, by certain quarters and my life is Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon. the transfer of information from Mayaudon says the September adding the attack had political in danger.” After the attack, the The European Union's biometric machines to the central 28 presidential election was good aspect. He criticized the National directorate of Security ambassador referenced the tension database, is going slow. compared to the past elections. government for failing to control (NDS) personnel arrived at his of the 2014 election between The process of transferring “In the previous elections and prevent targeted killings in home for investigation. However, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah information from the devices was you had the ghost voters or fake capital Kabul. “I have always some of Motmaien’s close friends Abdullah, when neither won after supposed to be completed a day ballots by hundreds of thousands raised my voice for peace but I called the attack on Motmaien as two voting rounds and finally after the election, but now, about if not by millions, this time… Mayaudon said. The EU ambassador in Kabul considers technical have been constantly threatened questionable. formed a national unity two weeks after the election, the these frauds in such a dramatic problems, insecurity and lack of interest as the main reasons for the government under then-US process has not been completed. dimension…have been avoided,” low turnout. IEC confirms cyberattacks on its...... P12 company of out of access in the past few DERMALOG have been called days, expressing concerns over to come to Kabul for resolving fraud-related moves. of problems affected its The commission said that the Yea r s L ater, F ollowin g U p W ith T h e computer system that was problem would be solved by the hacked earlier. German computer experts. According to reports, Indian This comes as Abdullah hackers broke the commission’s Abdullah’s team said that the K ids O f 'G ood M or n in g Afgh a n ista n ' computers benefiting a certain biometric server did not work presidential candidate that New regularly in the past one week, Delhi backs. Electoral watchdogs while Ashraf Ghani’s team said NPR's Rachel Martin reconnects with a couple of young Afghans that she first met nearly two decades ago say that central servers of the there was no evidence to prove when they were children hosting a youth radio program in Kabul called Good Morning Afghanistan. election commission have been the system was hacked. Insecurity forced companies to cease... A story about hope, risk and UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #1: looking forward for a bright and unmet expectations - the story (Foreign language spoken). a good Afghanistan. MARTIN: World Bank approves funding for Afghan ...... P12 will withdraw their and other officials do not treat investments,” he said. traders in good manner, security begins in the summer of 2003 in UNIDENTIFIED CHILD #2: But over the years, the optimism Sayed Jalal, deputy head of problems have also increased, Kabul, Afghanistan. It has been She wants that the people - our would fade. The Taliban would ...P12 from reliable grid Association (IDA), a World connections, improve Bank Group fund, while the rest Traders Union, said they faced how a trader would show interest almost two years since 9/11, two country should rebuild and keep launching attacks against serious problems due to in such a situation to invest.” years since the U.S. invaded reconstruct. civilians. Other insurgent groups employment generation and is for the Mazar-e-Sharif project. economic growth of the country, The package for Mazar-e- insecurity in the region. Massoud Wahdat, Afghanistan and pushed the MARTIN: I'd go back to moved in, including ISIS. “Traders now confront spokesman of the provincial Taliban out of power for harboring Afghanistan many times after that, Shagoofa and Qais each found an and reduce poverty. The World Sharif project includes a $12m Bank Group stands with the guarantee from IDA to backstop thieves on Sher Khan Bandar Chamber of Commerce, also said al-Qaida. I'm there reporting on but I never saw Shagoofa, Qais or escape hatch. Qais was granted Government of Afghanistan the ongoing payment obligation highway, they are kidnapped investments in the port had how the country is starting to Ilyas again. And I wondered for a asylum in the U.S. He remembers throughout the implementation of of Da Afghanistan Breshna besides suffering other security significantly decreased and change. Girls can now go to long time what had happened to the night before he and his wife the projects to ensure their timely Sherkat (DABS), and a $23.8m issues, we do not know what to probably no trader would stay school. Playing music isn't against each of them. With all that hope and baby boy boarded a plane and effective completion.” senior loan do,” he said. there if the situation continued. the law. And children are starting and optimism of those early years bound for California. The $98.8m financing package The project also includes He said most of traders at Kunduz governor’s to dream big dreams. after the Taliban, what kind of life DUNAISHJO: It was kind of - will support Sheberghan and $1.5m in client risk-management the port had withdrawn their spokesman, Esmatullah Muradi What do you want to do had they had? After some digging for me, when you are going to Mazar-e-Sharif Gas-to-Power swap from the International investment and moved to other said that the governor had met when you grow up? through social media, I finally somewhere to watch a scary Projects The financing package Finance Corporation (IFC), ports of the country. with traders and promised to SHAGOOFA SAHAR: tracked down Shagoofa and Qais. movie and you're a little bit supporting the Sheberghan project which will mobilise $43.8m in Meanwhile, Kudnuz resolve problems they faced. President or (laughter) Kofi Shagoofa? excited about that. When we features a $12.8m guarantee from parallel loans for the project as provincial council head Yousuf Sher Khan Bandar is one of Annan. SAHAR: Hi, Rachel. landed here at Los Angeles, I see the International Development mandated lead arranger. Ayubi said the number of the country’s key ports investors at Sher Khan Bandar connecting Afghanistan with QAIS DUNAISHJO: No, no. MARTIN: Hi. How's it going? everything. People smile to each had declined. He said: “The port Tajikistan. ILYAS HURMAT: I like. SAHAR: I hear your voice other. Nobody's worried about Afghan co nsulate clo sed in ... MARTIN: You are going to after very long time. security issues here. MARTIN: be Kofi Annan? MARTIN: Qais, are you Shagoofa's escape came in the ....P1 informing the consulate. High Court had earlier ordered FIFAbansAfghan football The three ambitious kids you there? form of education. She convinced The ministry said statement police to evacuate the Afghan hear there are Shagoofa Sahar DUNAISHJO: Hi. Good her family to let her go to college condemned the incident, saying Market. (ph), Qais Dunaishjo (ph) and morning, Rachel. Thank you for in Istanbul. Shagoofa thrived that Pakistani police lowered the The market is one of Afghan official for failure to act Ilyas Hurmat (ph). When I meet finding me again (laughter). there. She made friends. She did flag “with disrespect”. properties in Peshawar, and them back in 2003, they're MARTIN: (Laughter). well in her classes. And when she Pakistani government is yet to Pakistan government has been on sexual abuse scandal between the ages of 8 and 11. And What else do you remember graduated, she didn't want to go comment on the flag lowering. But trying to grab it, according to they're the hosts of a kid's radio about that time? SAHAR: Well, back home to Kabul. SAHAR: I local media said that the provincial Afghan embassy. ...P12 been elected to a four- willing to speak to the media program called "Good Morning we were very much hopeful for a knew that I have bigger ambitions year term in April. The publicly, fearing for their safety Afghanistan." bright future about our country. than that. So in order to stay here Mullah Baradar’s ho m e attacked ... organization "will wait until the and that of their families, Popal (SOUNDBITE OF RADIO DUNAISHJO: I was longer to do my masters, I had to decision is final and binding" said. ...P12 attack on Baradar’s sources. before making a decision on his In a statement released at the SHOW, "GOOD MORNING confident with myself. Go to your convince them again. And then - position, it said in a statement. time of the allegations, the AFF AFGHANISTAN") school. Just whatever you want yeah, I actually did some crazy home demonstrated split within However, the Taliban have the Taliban ranks. The attack was In December, former Afghan said it "vigorously rejects" the SAHAR: (Foreign language to do, do it. It's the time. thing (laughter). MARTIN: The rejected reports of attack on player Khalida Popal told CNN allegations and said it had a "zero spoken). MARTIN: I remember that U.S. invaded Afghanistan 18 carried out by Hikmatullah and Mullah Baradar’s house. Esmatullah, members of Zaker some of the abuse took place tolerance approach" to abuse. It MARTIN: I spent several about Qais, actually. He was quiet years ago this week. For 18 years, Mullah Baradar served as during a seven-day training camp said the allegations were being weeks with these kids and their as a boy but so self-assured for Afghans like Qais and Shagoofa Qayyoum grou.This comes as second-in-command under in Jordan at the end of January driven by "former employees." team that summer. I watched them his age - always had this big have clung to an idea of what their Pakistan’s intelligence service ISI Mullah Omar and co-ordinated is seeking to get Mullah Baradar the group’s military operations. last year. FIFA has also fined Aghazada put the show together, play jokes devilish grin. At that point, he'd country could be. But now they appointed as successor of Mullah He was arrested eight years ago Popal, who was forced to flee 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,000) on each other. I watched them already been through so much. are trapped in a grim deja vu. Hebatullah, according to the in the Pakistani city of Karachi. Afghanistan and now lives in and says it is "still looking into" play volleyball and jump rope in Years prior, he and his father were Peace talks with the Taliban are Denmark, was present at the allegations made against other the courtyard outside their imprisoned by the Taliban for three stalled yet again. There is again Jordan training camp. She said individuals related to the case. studios. And I listened as they months. Now that the Taliban was no clear winner in the recent Afghanistan-Azerbaijan trade turnover... that at least five women were CNN has reached out to the talked to me about the future they gone, he felt like life could only presidential election. On election ...P12 features more than 40 Afghan companies exhibiting textiles, abused in their rooms by two AFC and AFF for comment from saw for their country. get better. DUNAISHJO: It was a day, the Taliban carried out food, building materials and other products. male officials, who had been sent Aghazada but neither were What do you hope for really good time on those days. I almost 200 attacks across the Organized at the Baku Business Center, the exhibition will run by the AFF to accompany the immediately available to give a Afghanistan in the future? was really energetic, and I was country. (NPR) until Oct. 14. players. Other players were not response. SATURDAY . OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

KABUL: Every second Afghan percent of people who suffered is suffering from psychological from mental stress were drug disorder, a survey by the addicts or used sleeping pills. Ministry of Public Health “It is compulsory for us to (MoPH) said on Thursday. The speak and behave with people ministry announced the survey more carefully who gets angry result on Thursday after soon, suffering from anosmia, conducting it about taking sleeping pills, laughing more psychological disorder in 2018. than necessary or have abnormal Fida Mohammad Paikan, manner,” he said. secretary health services at Paikan advised families to let MoPH, told reporters on the their mentally disorder member World Mental Health and speak freely and showed them to Suicide Risks Day, said they physician when appropriate. conducted interviews with He also termed suicide a huge 12,666 people in 16 provinces problem and asked authorities of the country last year. He said concerned to do something to 8,890 of the interviewers were decline the risks of suicide. elders and 3,776 were aged Stefan Lock, representative of between four and 15 years. the European Union, said that the He said their findings Public Health Ministry survey showed of every two Afghans, showed that half of the Afghan one suffered from mental stress. population was suffering from remembered as a golden age of or died in a car accident. The survey showed 12.30 mental disorder. n Afghanistan, where space for music has music for Afghanistan, when The official line was that he young musicians were mostly was killed in a crash near the shrunk under the shadow of war, music influenced by Indian classics and Salang Pass, north of Kabul. would flock to Radio Kabul - the But many maintain the channels still play Ahmad Zahir songs. only radio broadcaster at the time communist regime assassinated - to record hits at their studio. him after his songs became Zahir's best-known works increasingly critical, or because Sporting a black quiff and circumstances. His death - much concerts in various locations across were inspired by Persian poets of rumours he had a secret affair sideburns, Ahmad Zahir sang of like his life - has become a part the country and had fans among all like Rumi and Hafiz, and he sang with the daughter of the then love and heartbreak in liberal of folklore. ethnic groups in Afghanistan, mostly in Dari or Afghan Persian. prime minister. Sobat believes he 1970s Kabul - a city now plagued In Afghanistan today, where which is far more polarised now But he did not shy away was murdered. "When I saw his by war and suffering, but where space for music and dance has than at the height of his fame. from covering Western greats such body in the coffin, there was hole JALALABAD: The Women Administrative Reform the popularity of Afghanistan's shrunk under the shadow of war, "Today we see ethnic rivalries as France's Enrico Macias and, in his forehead with signs of Affairs Department in eastern Commission to give women "Elvis" remains undimmed 40 music channels still play his have sadly increased but Ahmad of course, Elvis Presley. burns. He was shot at close Nangarhar province says 51 priority in government years after his death. songs daily and fans - even those Zahir's music is still connecting "At a time when singers range," he said. percent of educated women in appointments. Salgai, one of the Zahir - the son of a former born decades after his death - people," explains Basir Burhan, a shaking their bodies or dancing Years of war have followed the province are jobless --- a educated but jobless women, said prime minister with a penchant continue to snap up his albums 30-year-old amateur musician. on stage was seen as awkward, and under the Taliban, who situation that has affected girls’ she had graduated from Teacher for brandy and his red Mercedes and join Facebook groups created Wherever you go in he appeared on stage and screen banned music, his grave in Kabul morale to pursue higher studies. Training Center and nursing course - rose to fame in an era when the in his honour. "His songs will Afghanistan, he said, "if there is doing exactly that," said Zahir's was desecrated. Women Affairs Director six years ago and had since been in capital hummed with Western touch your heart no matter what music, there'll definitely be one friend Sobat, who also runs But it has been rebuilt and Fatana Aziz told Pajhwok search of job. “I studied in very tourists and women strolled mood you are in, happy or sad," Ahmad Zahir song playing". Ahmad Zahir's Art and Culture since then, every June 14, his Afghan News that according to hard conditions including security through the streets in high heels. says Hashmat, who goes by one Former DJ Zubair Rezaee, 27, Centre in Kabul. "He was talking birthday, pilgrims have flocked their information, around 51 and financial problems, people’s "Everybody loved him," 73- name and is the manager of described Zahir as "evergreen". He about Elvis a lot and when you to Shohada-e-Salehin cemetery percent of educated women had opposition, but I tolerated all these year-old Safiullah Sobat, a long- 'Ahmad Zahir's Cottage', a endures because when "you listen look at his hairstyle, his clothes, on the southern edge of Kabul to no access to employment. problems and completed 14th time friend of Zahir, told AFP colourful restaurant in to his songs ... you think they are the way he moved his body in lay flowers on his grave and play “The Women Affairs grade and could not find a job.” news agency. downtown Kabul. for you, at any time, at any place". concerts, you realise he was one of his last memorable songs. Department in cooperation with Muska, who has graduated "At night-time, girls would The 26-year-old welcomes "The wars, the changes in inspired by Elvis." "My death shall arrive one women association conducted a from high school, said she would come outside his house and honk his customers - mostly young society and a different generation, Over the decades since his day/ In a spring bright with survey in Nangarhar that shows not be able to complete her higher the horn of their cars." couples - with tea, a hookah pipe nothing has affected the quality of death, conflicting accounts have waves of light/ Oh, perhaps my among every 10 women, five are education if she did not land a job. But on the day of his 33rd and most importantly, their his songs," he said. surfaced about whether Zahir - lovers at midnight/ lay wreaths jobless,” he added. Fershta and other women held birthday in 1979, Zahir was found hero's songs. Rumours and secrets who recorded more than 20 on my sorrow[ful] grave," the She said they were striving similar views. Rahmatullah dead in his car in mysterious z- an ethnic Pashtun - played The 1960s and 70s are albums in his short life - was killed lyrics read. (AL JAZEERA) hard to find jobs for women and Rahmati, Afghan Women Network urged the Independent member.

he latest presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, witnessed only 26 percent turnout, the lowest since 2001. Aside from serious questions about whether such a dismal turnout can grant enough legitimacy to the forthcoming president elect, it reminds Afghans of a crucial fact that they direly need to rethink the democratization process in the country. The low turnout was not a fluke. It needs to be acknowledged that the reasons underpinning such a low turnout Fashion designers, chefs and CD Foundation and Marwah can be found in grievances that models are attending a joint Studios’ Chairman Sandeep have built up over a long period of cultural festival in Delhi to Marwah. The event, which will time, at least since the contentious celebrate the centenary of last 15 days, will host events in 2014 presidential election. By and Afghanistan’s independence and various locations in Delhi large, the performance of National to further strengthen ties between highlighting food, fashion and Unity Government (NUG) in the the two countries. culture. A film festival will also past five years has yielded endemic The opening ceremony for be held. Addressing the corruption, adverse poverty, the Afghanistan Food and Culture inauguration ceremony, Qaderi pervasive insecurity, undermined Festival was held on Thursday stated that Afghanistan’s image rule of law and, most importantly, night in Dehli, and was attended has been portrayed in a negative undemocratic practices, all of by Afghanistan’s Charge way to the world, but he said the which in turn have caused distrust d’Affaires in India, Tahir Qaderi real image of the country should new Afghanistan, almost 27 India and the United States. in the government and democratic and a 17-member Afghan be revealed, referring to the percent of parliament seats are He said the delegates who are institutions. delegation. Also in attendance nation’s culture. Speaking of held by women, which is more attending the festival are acting as How Democracies Die by were local VIPs Charu Das of the progress, Qaderi said that in the than many countries, including ambassadors of Afghanistan. JALALABAD: Traders in eastern resources, therefore when the Steven Levitsky and Daniel Nangarhar province say the rule is applied without resources, Ziblatt, offers a rich and critical Ministry of Finance (MoF) has it would damage traders”, he said. insight on how democracies have increased taxes on them as He said another problem in the been driven to death by elected compared to other customs customs office was corruption as governments since the end of the offices. The traders today closed people who paid bribe, their Cold War, and not by generals and the Nangarhar’s customs office in trucks were checked faster. A soldiers. The book argues that protest and said they would member of the Nangarhar “today’s democratic backsliding continue their protest until taxes Customs Commissioners Union, begins at the ballot boxes” rather were equally applied at all custom Mohammad Nabi Haidari, also than by the tanks on the streets. In offices of the country. said they had to shift their the same light, one can safely argue Dr. Mukhlis, a member of business to other ports of the that the nascent Afghan democracy Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce country if their problems in has been weakened to the verge of and a trader, told Pajhwok Afghan Nangarhar were not solved. death by an elected government, in News that they shut the door of Khalilullah Salehzada, an advisor this case the NUG. The reason is the customs office because they of MoF who visited Nangarhar clear: There have been rises in the were charged higher taxes for hearing traders’ complaints, poverty rate, the unemployment compared to other areas of the said that he traveled to the rate, insecurity, and migration country. “MoF has adopted a province to fully enforce the during the rule of the NUG. In light double-standards against customs law. of those struggles democracy and Nangarhar traders, we pay taxes He said taxes were the same freedoms have become only a on goods three times higher in all customs offices and if second priority for the populace. compared taxes on the same goods traders had complaints in this Rafael Caldera, at the time ex- in other border provinces of the regard, the ministry would send president of Venezuela, in 1992 country, this damages a healthy a delegation to enforce the law. embraced Chaves and the rebels’ competition and traders,” he said. “The taxes we collect from cause and declared “it is difficult He said they respected the customs go to MoF, but to ask the people to sacrifice law only if it was applied equally corruption has two sides --- both themselves for freedom and in all parts of the country. officers and traders pave the way democracy when they think that Mukhlis said the customs for corruption,” he said. freedom and democracy are office of Nangarhar lacked the However, Nangarhar customs incapable of giving them food to capacity to fully unload cargo office head Ahmad Navid eat, of preventing the astronomical trucks due to shortage of Bashiryar said that he was newly rise in the cost of substance, or of warehouses, technical equipment appointed to his position and placing a definitive end to the and enough personnel while MoF hoped he would be able to curb terrible scourge of corruption that, emphasized on unloading process. corruption in his office. in the eyes of the entire world, is “Nangarhar customs has no He said all his officers were eating away at the intuitions of [the ability to fully unload five trucks ready to fully unload trucks and country] with each passing day.” a day considering its existing enforce the law. (THEDIPLOMAT) SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Mamallapuramfor PMModi,Xi Jinpingsummit The entry points to Mamallapuram, famous for its temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries, are being monitored throughout and temporary police posts have been set up for Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping meet. The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday constituted a larg- er bench to decide fate of a peti- tion in which appointment of Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal as chairman of the National Ac- countability Bureau (NAB) as well as all his actions as the bu- reau’s chief have been challenged. The LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Shamim Khan con- stituted the bench, comprising Justice Qasim Khan, Justice Malik Shahzad and Justice As- jad Javed Gharal. Prominent lawyer AK Dogar had filed the petition seeking a high court or- der to quash the appointment of NAB chairman as well as rever- sal of all the decisions taken by petition said. The petitioner also bail applications are already pend- NAB during his tenure. The pe- asked the court to reverse the ing before the Islamabad High titioner contended that the chair- sentence of three-time prime Court (IHC). man had been appointed by al- minister Nawaz Sharif, who has He, however, had referred the legedly violating the Constitu- been put in jail under NAB laws. matter of the NAB chairman’s tion. “The actions which he has Justice Khan, after hearing argu- appointment to the LHC chief taken as bureau head should also ments, had rejected the plea for justice with a recommendation of be considered violation of law… the release of Nawaz on the constituting a larger bench to hear be declared null and void,” the grounds that the former PM’s the case.

Mamallapuram was under a thick at some distance from the shore in throughout and temporary police given a fresh coat of paint and security cover on Friday as ban- Mamallapuram. The police have posts have been set up. Mamal- makeshift metal and wood barri- ners welcoming Prime Minister intensified patrolling and the town lapuram, which is also known as cades were put up at several plac- Water-sharing agreementswith Narendra Modi and Chinese pres- famous for its group of monu- Mahabalipuram, has already been es for people to stand behind ident Xi Jinping in Tamil, English, ments and declared as Unesco declared out of bounds for tour- while the convoy drives by. The and Chinese for their second in- World Heritage Site, is under the ists over the last few days. Surf- Mamallapuram temple complex to India draw criticism in Bangladesh formal meeting were seen around close watch of 800-odd close-cir- ing and fishing along the coast be visited by the two leaders has Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was in New Delhi last week, signed major agreements the historic seaside town. More cuit television or CCTV cameras. have also been banned by the po- been sanitised and barricades have on water-sharing with India. Bangladesh's citizens, however, are unhappy with the deals. than 5000 policemen kept a watch The entry points to Mamal- lice before the summit this week- been put up on the beach while a over the town, about 50km from lapuram, famous for its temples end. The World Heritage Site and make-shift wall has been erected Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai, as and monuments built by the Pal- even private properties along the along its compound on the side the Indian Navy and Indian Coast lava dynasty in the 7th and 8th route to be used by the motor- where a string of shops are locat- Guard deployed their warships centuries, are being monitored cade of the two leaders have been ed. (Hindustan times) US ban on Sri Lanka child authority Malaysian requestsnot to use children glove exporter affects Nepalis for political activities The recent suspension of exports from the Malaysia-based WRP Asia-Pacific, a glove manufactur- er, by the US Customs and Bor- der Protection (CBP) Detention Orders has been hailed as a mile- stone in the fight against forced labour and has potential implica- Dhaka signed several bilateral an assistant professor of Bang- room. Several members of the tions for Nepali migrant workers. agreements with New Delhi dur- ladesh's state-run Chittagong BCL have been arrested follow- WRP Asia Pacific was accused of ing Bangladeshi Prime Minister University, said in his Facebook ing the incident. using of forced labour at its plants Sheikh Hasina's visit to India last post, "People of the country Bangladesh's 'lifeline' in Malaysia, and the order has re- week. In her four-day trip, Ha- suddenly and through a third The Ganges and the Brahmapu- verberated throughout the rubber sina struck seven deals that, party [the media] came to learn tra are two major rivers that flow manufacturing sector in the coun- try which accounts for 65% of the among others, allowed India to that Bangladesh signed several from India through Bangladesh global glove industry. The com- access water from a river flow- agreements with its neighbor. I and into the Bay of Bengal pany was thrust into the limelight ing within Bangladesh. She also feel ashamed and I protest this." The Ganges and the Brahmapu- earlier this year after a strike by signed agreements allowing New However, in a press conference tra are two major rivers that flow over 2,000 Nepali and Bangladeshi Delhi to monitor Bangladesh's after the trip, Hasina confirmed from India through Bangladesh workers who said they had not coastal region and use two sea- that her government was trying and into the Bay of Bengal Bang- been paid for months was widely ports for transporting goods. its best to protect Bangladesh's ladesh has around 400 rivers and reported in the media. “We held a The deals have met with sharp interests. Meanwhile, members its rural economy is dependent strike for two days, and resumed criticism from many in Bang- of Sheikh Hasina's party, the on agricultural production. "Peo- work only after our Embassy in- ladesh who said these would only Awami League's youth wing, ple in Bangladesh depend on riv- tervened and the employer was help India. They have also asked known as the Bangladesh Chha- ers for their livelihood. Rivers are The National Child Protection the presidential election was an- children are subjected to physi- forced to pay our due wages. We Authority (NCPA) of Sri Lanka nounced, the authority has re- cal and mental abuse by engaging the Dhaka government to pub- tra League (BCL) were accused their identity, their lives,'' Sheikh have been paid in a timely manner lish details about them. Hasina's of killing an undergraduate stu- Rokon, Secretary-General of Riv- has made a request to all the po- ceived information that children them in political activities, it is a since then, but we don’t know litical parties and independent are being used for various political child abuse. what this ban will mean in the government did not issue an of- dent who voiced his protest erine People, a civil society orga- groups not to use children for elec- activities related to the upcoming The NCPA urged the general future,” said Ram Rai, a Nepali ficial statement prior to her visit against the deals on Facebook. nization dedicated to river issues tion related work ahead of the election in violation of the rights public to provide information to worker. The reports led Malay- to India and citizens came to The 21-year-old was allegedly in Bangladesh told DW. Bang- Presidential elections next month. of the children. The Child Protec- its 24 hour ChildLine 1929 if sia’s Ministry of Human Re- know about the agreements only "interrogated" by fellow students ladesh shares 54 rivers with its The NCPA said at this time when tion Authority points out that if such incidents occur. source. through news agencies. Ar Raji, and later found dead in his hostel neighbor India.

Sri Lanka maintains Nepal: Journalist, Five Nigerians arrested in Meghalaya policy rates to stabilize inflation union leader threatened Two Nigerians were nabbed by while supporting for entering India illegally police in East Jaintia Hills district during a routine economic growth for reporting Five Nigerian nationals were ar- check-up of a bus which was over medium term rested by the police in Megha- on the way to Guwahati from Journalist Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti site, Hamra Kura, published an laya after they entered India ille- Sri Lanka's Central Bank releas- received threats after publishing exclusive report on September 30 Tripura’s capital Agartala. gally from Bangladesh. With the ing the monetary policy review a report on the alleged rape of a on the alleged rape of a female on Friday said given the current female employee of Nepal’s Fed- employee of Nepal’s Federal Par- arrests from two districts, the total number of Nigerians nabbed and expected conditions in the eral Parliament by Speaker Krish- liament by Speaker Krishna Ba- shnong police station and an in- in Meghalaya in the past one domestic economy and the finan- na Bahadur Mahara. This state- hadur Mahara. Krishna Bahadur vestigation has been initiated. month on charges of entering In- cial market, the Monetary Board ment was originally published on Mahara was forced to step down “With these arrests, East Jaintia dia illegally has gone up to 22. was of the view that the continu- ifj.org on 4 October 2019. Nepali as House Speaker after the publi- Hills police have arrested 19 for- On Wednesday night, two Nige- ation of the current monetary journalist and union leader Ajaya cation of Shiwakoti’s story NPU eign nationals in last one month. policy stance is appropriate. Ac- Babu Shiwakoti has been the sub- said Shiwakoti had received threats rians were nabbed by police in East Jaintia Hills district during We are keeping a strict round the cordingly, the Standing Deposit ject of a campaign of threats and from various unknown numbers clock watch to thwart any such a routine check-up of a bus which Facility Rate (SDFR) and the surveillance since the publishing and that groups were “tracking his attempts in future,” the release Standing Lending Facility Rate of an article on an alleged rape by movements”. He also received in- was on the way to Guwahati from said. In a separate instance, po- Tripura’s capital Agartala. The (SLFR) of the Central Bank will Nepal’s Speaker in Parliament. formation that groups were plan- lice in West Jaintia Hills district Nigerians, Victor Ojichukwu Ugo remain at 7.00 percent and 8.00 The International Federation of ning to vandalise his office and nabbed three Nigerian nationals Okeke (30) and Ifechkwu Em- percent, respectively. The Board Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, assault him. A spokesperson from early on Thursday for entering manuel Obi (34), had entered In- had photocopies of their pass- tional boundary,” said a release said it arrived at this decision fol- the Nepal Press Union (NPU) Metropolitan Police, Hobendra India illegally from Bangladesh. dia through the border with Bang- ports. Both claimed to have left issued by the East Jaintia Po- lowing a careful analysis of cur- remain deeply concerned for Shi- Bogati, stated police were verbal- Four local residents have also ladesh in Tripura. Both failed to their original passports in Bang- lice. A case under sections 14, 14 rent and expected developments wakoti’s safety and call on au- ly informed of the threats to the been arrested for aiding the for- provide any valid document sup- ladesh and entered India through A and 14 C of the Foreigner Act in the domestic economy, the fi- thorities to immediately ensure journalist, but reported no writ- Tripura after crossing the interna- has been registered at the Lum- eign nationals. nancial market. his protection. Shiwakoti’s web- ten complaint had been filed yet. porting their entry. “They only Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's judicial remand extended till Oct 28 Busaccident inSindhupalchokclaims11lives The judicial remand of former against him. He also termed the KATHMANDU: As many as 11 premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ongoing accountability process a persons lost their lives and over was extended till October 28 by “political vendetta”. Court says 50 were injured when the bus an accountability court on Fri- Abbasi, Miftah remand extended they were travelling on veered day. Judicial remand of former fi- ‘for last time’ “The government is off the road in Indrawati Rural nance minister Mifta Ismail and being dishonest with the people, Municipality of Sindhupalchok ex-managing director Pakistan it [government] is running on ar- district on Friday. The Helambu State Oil (PSO) Sheikhul Imran rests. We will continue to bear this Yatayat bus (Ba 2 Kha 2715) en was also extended to the same injustice against us,” said the route to Kathmandu from Sipa- date. The National Accountabili- PML-N leader. Earlier on January tar plunged around 60 metres be- ty Bureau (NAB) produced Ab- 2, the NAB Executive Board had low the road at around 10:00 am basi and Ismail before Judge Mu- authorised two investigations at Tikhukomod. Locals are seen hammad Bashir on completion of against Abbasi, being former min- at the site where a bus (Ba 2 Kha their earlier judicial remand. ister for petroleum and natural re- 2715) — en route to Kathmandu The former premier’s coun- sources – one for his alleged in- from Sipatar — veered off the spot, one on the way for treat- rying passengers returning to sel requested the court to allow volvement in irregularities in LNG road, at Tikhukomod, in Indra- ment, and five more at a health Kathmandu after celebrating Abbasi visitation right and the import and the other related to the wati Rural Municipaltity of Sind- facility during the course of treat- Dashain, had only been on the use of his laptop. Speaking to the appointment of Naeemuddin upalchok district, on Friday, Oc- ment. Rough road and overload road for about an hour when the media, Abbasi claimed the case Khan as president of the Bank of tober 11, 2019. Photo: RSS have been presumed to be the incident occurred. Police are in the was being delayed for over a year Punjab. According to Sindhupalchok causes of the accident, added process of ascertaining the iden- as there is no corruption charge (Tribune) Police, five people died on the police. The bus, which was car- tities of the deceased. SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES News-in-Brief Iraniantanker struckby EU, Britain to hold intense Brexit talks missilesnear SaudiArabia, as UK departure date nears oilleaksintoRedSea The European Union and Brit- ain agreed on Friday to hold in- tense talks over the next few It was carrying about 1 million bar- days in a bid to secure a deal People are beaten by rioters for rels of oil when the attack occurred. over Britain’s departure from the voicing their opinions; children bloc, but arrangements over Brit- are pressured into conformity by radical students and teachers at Two missiles hit an Iranian oil Maritime told the Associated ish-Irish border controls remain tanker 60 miles off the coast of Press. “It is likely that the region, at issue, the EU said. A flurry of school to attend illegal demon- strations; sons and daughters of Saudi Arabia on Friday, causing having been stable for the last activity has brought the fraught a brief oil leak and increase in oil month, will face another period of bargaining process to a new lev- police officers are bullied with their personal information being prices, as well as increased ten- increasing maritime threats, as the el as Britain’s scheduled depar- sions in the Middle East. The Iranian and Saudi geopolitical ture date of Oct. 31 grows ever posted online. One of the pre- conditions for freedom and de- oil from the Sabiti, owned by stand-off continues.” closer, but it is still uncertain the National Iranian Oil Com- The tanker was carrying about 1 whether the two sides can make mocracy to flourish is freedom from fear. The rioters have taken pany, leaked into the Red Sea million barrels of oil when the at- a breakthrough before then. near the Saudi port city of Jed- tack occurred, according to an anal- Some officials expressed. that freedom away from Hong Kong’s other residents. In doing dah, according to Iranian state ysis from data firm Refinitiv. so, they have shown what is the media. “This latest incident, if The Iranians have yet to say who NASA will resume its real threat to democracy and free- confirmed to be an act of aggres- was responsible. The U.S. Navy dom in Hong Kong. sion, is highly likely to be part is aware of the attack. piloted flights to the HONG KONG— A shroud of the wider narrative of deteri- “We are aware of the reports, but ISS in early 2020 of blackness is spreading in Hong orating relations between Saudi we don’t have any further infor- Kong. Black-clad people chant and the U.S. and Iran,” private mation,” a spokesperson for the maritime security firm Dryad Navy’s Fifth Fleet told Reuters. The US Space Agency intends to hateful slogans; black masks hide resume its piloted flights to the mobsters’ identity as they blud- geon passersby with black um- International Space Station (ISS) brellas unfurled to hide from in the first half of 2020, world media cameras, all supposedly in Pentagon ‘strongly’ agencies reported. They cite a the name of democracy and free- statement by NASA Chief James dom. For many residents, this Bridenstein during a visit to a blackness is depressing. They are encouragesTurkey U.S. space company in Haw- often too intimidated to speak thorne, California. "We are get- out or take action as they wit- ting very close, and we're very ness the violence that is wreak- to ‘discontinue’ action confident that, in the first part of ing havoc across Hong Kong. her and pointing laser beams di- they had “daggers ready.” Free- Kong have been forced into si- next year, we will be ready to Recent outbreaks of riots rectly at her face. Cyberspace has dom of speech? Yes, for protest- lence. People are beaten by gangs in northeast Syria launch American astronauts on have undoubtedly unveiled the become their “on-line black terri- ers and those with identical views for voicing their opinions; chil- American rockets," Bridenstine real threat to democracy and free- tory” as well. Toby Gu, a Canadi- only. But the answer is no for dren are pressured into confor- said. He stressed that the space dom in Hong Kong, once a peace- an vlogger who posted a video of anyone else. Radical protesters mity by radical students and agency's priority. ful and prosperous place in south black-clad mobs beating a passer- have plastered numerous pieces teachers at school to attend ille- China. On Sunday night, black- by on YouTube, has received death of graffiti, posters and leaflets on gal demonstrations; sons and Iran’s resistance clad rioters vandalized metro sta- threats. Having read much news public buildings and shop fronts. daughters of police officers are tions, forcing the shutdown of on Hong Kong, he decided to fly Some urged school children to bullied with their personal infor- against enemies Hong Kong’s key transport net- here, expecting to see the “peace- walk out of class, others carried mation being posted online. Nev- knows no limits: work, and shattered shops ful” protesters and “brutal” police. signs with slander, curses and er heard such a story? Gu’s ex- whose owners they assumed What he saw was just the oppo- degrading insults. In Hong Kong perience tells why. When Gu IRGC cmdr. were patriotic, depriving others site — brutal protesters and re- these days, even the simple act filmed the gang beating, there were Chief Commander of Islamic of the basic rights they claimed strained police. He captured foot- of cleaning the graffiti and post- dozens of other cameras by his Revolutionary Guards Corps to be fighting for. Their exercise age of a man being savagely and ers takes considerable courage. side. But some Western and local (IRGC) Major General Hossein of “private settlement,” a euphe- relentlessly beaten by rioters. A Radicals call them “Lennon media outlets just shrugged it off, Salami said that no limits can be mism for lynching those who dis- large mob swarmed on the man, Walls” and gangs beat people who as they did with numerous other considered for Iran’s resistance agree with them, or merely ut- raining a storm of fists and kicks dare to remove them. Tolerance, one-sided gang beatings, as “a against its enemies. “Iranian na- tered different political views, on him. What did the man do to at the very least patience and scuff between people with dif- tion’s resistance in face of ene- reached new heights on Sunday deserve the savage beating? Video willingness to listen to other peo- ferent opinions.” One of the pre- mies knows no boundaries,” he night, when at least three people shows his hand brushing over a ple’s opinion, is not in their vo- conditions for freedom and de- US Defense Secretary Mark “strongly encouraged Turkey to said on Friday while addressing were savagely beaten by the ri- leaflet protesters had stuck on a cabulary. Even colors of clothing mocracy to flourish is freedom Esper has warned Turkey to discontinue actions in northeast- IRGC personnel in Ardabil, oters. In one case, a woman was wall in a metro station. Covered in have political meaning in their from fear. halt its incursion into northeast- ern Syria,” the Pentagon said in a attacked by masked men when blood and bruises, the man was cor- eyes. When a large group of black- The rioters have taken that ern Syria, warning it could have statement. northwest Iran. “We will not let taking pictures of rioters damag- the enemy set foot on our soil nered in the metro station while clad rioters swarms the street, freedom away from Hong Kong’s “serious consequences” for An- “While the secretary reaf- ing ATM machines. Footage from rioters continuously hit him in the people wearing other colors may other residents. In doing so, they kara, the Pentagon said Friday. firmed we value our strategic bi- and with our presence in thou- local channel TVB showed her five-minute video. Gu’s footage be in trouble, especially those in have shown what is the real threat sands of kilometers away from bleeding from the mouth and “enraged” protesters. They threat- white — the opposite of black, to democracy and freedom in In a phone call on Thurs- lateral relationship, this incursion our borders, we will prevent the neck, while some black-clad ri- ened him with malicious comments or blue — the color of police Hong Kong. day with Turkish Defense Min- risks serious consequences for enemy’s plots and hostilities,” he oters kept scolding and pushing and messages. Some even wrote shirts. Many people in Hong (Xinhua) ister Hulusi Akar, Esper Turkey,” the statement said. highlighted. “IRGC will expand the geography of resistance and when the enemy sees the growth of this geography and the Islam- Amid headwinds, ic Republic’s discourse. Ex-UkraineenvoyremovedbyTrump TopIraqi clericurges Greece gives Ethiopia's Abiy wins Baghdad to properly Cosco green light Nobel Peace Prize arrivestotestifyinimpeachment probe investigate protest deaths for partial Piraeus for resolving The former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in May, is scheduled to can president has termed “a kan- port upgrade Ukraine who Donald Trump has give a deposition to House inves- garoo court.” A career diplomat Iraq’s most prominent Shia cler- “demanded that the government Greece’s new government has re- conflict with Eritrea called “bad news” arrived on tigators probing Trump in a scan- who has served as U.S. ambassa- ic Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani investigate to find out which el- Capitol Hill to testify on Friday dal that has cast a pall over his dor to two other countries, Yo- jected nearly a third of Chinese has called on the Baghdad gov- ements gave orders to shoot shipping giant Cosco’s planned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy in the House of Representatives presidency. She did not respond vanovitch’s stint as ambassador ernment to launch a thorough in- protesters, whatever their affil- Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel impeachment inquiry into the to questions posed by reporters. in Kiev was cut short when she upgrade for the Port of Piraeus, a vestigation into the wave of vio- iation.” “The government must project that Beijing sees as one of Peace Prize on Friday for his president, while another U.S. The Democratic lawmakers lead- was recalled to Washington in lence during recent protests change its approach in dealing peacemaking efforts which end- envoy agreed to testify next ing the inquiry were waiting to see May as Trump allies leveled un- the biggest Chinese-managed in- against corruption, staggering with the country's problems,” frastructure successes in Europe ed two decades of hostility with week even as the White House if Yovanovitch showed up after the substantiated charges of disloy- youth unemployment and poor the revered cleric said, adding longtime enemy Eritrea. Though sought to stonewall the investi- White House said earlier in the alty and other allegations against [1]. But in its announcement on public services, which started in that lawmakers also bore a heavy Thursday, the Greek administra- Africa’s youngest leader still fac- gation. Marie Yovanovitch, who week it would refuse to cooperate her. the capital and then spread to responsibility. Ayatollah Sistani es big challenges, he has in under was abruptly recalled from with an inquiry that the Republi- (Reuters) tion – which came to power in July other cities. In a statement read went on to call on authorities to – said it had approved the rest of two years in power begun politi- out by his representative Abdul act to “put an end to threats, cal and economic reforms that Cosco’s port plans. The decision Mahdi al-Karbalai during a ser- beatings, abductions, sniper fire comes as Athens tries to balance promise a better life for many in mon in the holy city of Kerbala and violence by those who be- impoverished Ethiopia and re- Spanish court to the benefits of investment from stored ties with Eritrea that had Algeria'sprotesters rule on Catalan on Friday, Ayatollah Sistani gave lieve they can act with total im- China’s Belt and Road Initiative been frozen since a 1998-2000 authorities “two weeks” to re- punity.” On Wednesday, Iraqi [2], US opposition to partnerships border war. “I am so humble and separatists early lease the findings of the investi- Prime Minister Adel Abdul- with Beijing, and the European thrilled ... It is a prize given to marchagainst rulingelite gation into the more than a hun- Mahdi pledged to reshuffle his Union’s own call for more strin- Africa, given to Ethiopia,” Abiy next week: dred deaths recorded during the cabinet, launch a probe into the gent investment screening mecha- Ahmed said in a recorded phone Sources protests since October 1. He also killing of protesters. nisms. call with the secretary. aselectionsapproach Spain’s Supreme Court is set to Pressed by Trump over Algerian protesters vowed to piled pressure on demonstrators keep up street rallies against the in recent weeks. At the same time, announce as early as Monday its Somalia, Kenya row escalates defense, Germany says country’s ruling elite on Friday, they have also acceded to some of verdict in the high-stakes trial of rejecting a December presiden- their demands by detaining senior Catalan separatist leaders over can pay more for NATO their role in a banned indepen- running costs tial election with banners read- officials on corruption charges. after alleged breach of air space ing “we will not shut up”, “we The election authority this week dence referendum, two judicial sources told Reuters on Friday. Germany is willing to contribute are not ready to stop” and “I will urged protesters to help supervise Somalia summoned Kenya’s am- Somalia’s central government is peacekeeping force. “Somalia not vote”. The weekly demon- the vote to ensure transparency, in The ruling could reignite tension more to NATO’s running costs over a Catalan secessionist push bassador after a Kenyan-regis- wary of Jubaland’s president, strongly protests this violation as long as other allies also step strations have dropped in size the most recent of several attempts tered plane landed in the port city Mohamed Islam Madobe, who and will not accept any encroach- from hundreds of thousands in to calm demonstrators. The lead- two years ago which triggered the up to help reduce the United country’s worst political crisis in of Kismayo in the southern state leads a powerful militia that ment on its air, sea and land bor- States’ share of funding, German the Spring to tens of thousands erless, nebulous protest movement decades, and further complicate of Jubaland without “official per- fought alongside Kenyan troops ders,” according to a statement Defense Minister Annegret now, but are still a challenge for has rejected the vote as long as Spanish politics in the run-up to mission,” amid a simmering mar- against the al-Shabaab group to from Somalia’s Ministry of For- Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Fri- the authorities ahead of the Dec. some of former president Abdelaziz the fourth national election in four itime-border dispute between the recapture Kismayo’s port in eign Affairs. “The federal govern- day. President Donald Trump has 12 vote. With more police at pro- Bouteflika’s allies are still in pow- years. One source said Monday neighbours. Jubaland won some 2012. Kenya invaded Somalia in ment of Somalia sees this action long accused European allies, es- tests and by detaining opposi- er, saying it could not be free or was the most likely date for the political autonomy in 2013 and 2011 after a spate of kidnap- contradicts all principles of good pecially Germany, the biggest tion figures, the authorities have fair. much-awaited verdict; the other is among Somalia states jostling pings by the Islamist militants neighbourliness and non-interfer- economy in Europe, of taking said that it could also be delayed for more autonomy and control in its territory, but later joined a ence in the internal affairs of U.S. security guarantees for grant- to Tuesday or Wednesday. The over oil, gas and other resources. multinational African Union states.” ed and says they need to spend France Says EU 12 Catalan politicians and civic much more on their own defense. leaders are facing charges ranging With a meeting of NATO leaders from rebellion to sedition and looming in December, some al- Sanctions Against misuse of public funds. The South Korean Navy willing to lies now see reform of financing charges stem from their role in a for the U.S.-led military alliance 2017 referendum, held despite as a way to preempt. Turkey ‘On the Table’ being deemed illegal by Spanish get nuclear powered submarines courts, and Catalonia’s short- France said Friday that E.U. to act,” Montchalin said. lived declaration of independence The South Korean Navy said matter will be decided in accor- private entities, which led the mil- Kurds report 262 sanctions against Turkey over its “You can imagine that we’re not that followed. Separatist parties Turkish soldiers offensive against Kurdish forces going to stay on our side of the have called for massive but peace- Thursday, Oct. 10, it has been dance with national policy, the itary to feel the necessity of the in Syria are “on the table” after table and say, ‘Well you know, we ful civil disobedience if the lead- running a task force on the po- Navy will work closely with the asset, according to Navy officers. dead in Syria European nations failed to con- recognize that things are compli- ers are not acquitted. One prose- tential construction of nuclear- defense ministry and the Joint Some speculate that the military vince the U.N. Security Council cated’,” she said. Turkey launched cutor said during the trial that the powered submarines as part of Chiefs of Staff," it added. might push to develop its 3,000- The Turkish Armed Forces and to condemn the operation. “Ob- artillery and air strikes Wednesday leaders knowingly attempted a efforts to bolster its nuclear de- South Korea pushed to build ton Chang Bo Go-III submarine their Syrian allies have lost 262 viously it’s on the table,” Europe against Kurdish People’s Protec- “coup d’etat” against Spain. The terrent and boost defense capa- such submarines in 2003 behind as a nuclear-powered one. people since the Turkish military minister Amelie de Montchalin tion Units (YPG) militia after U.S. 12 said they did nothing wrong bilities, Yonhap reports. "With the scenes as part of its long- Currently, the country is carrying operation dubbed Peace Spring told France Inter radio, saying President Donald Trump sur- and insisted they were prosecut- longer-term perspectives to have term military buildup program out the project to build the 3,000- was launched in northern Syria potential reprisals over Turkey’s prised Washington’s allies in the ed for their political ideas. In Feb- and fighting with the Arab-Kur- nuclear-powered submarines, we but suspended the project about ton indigenous submarine by incursion into northeast Syria fight against the Islamic State ex- ruary, the Supreme Court said it have been running a task force of a year later after it was disclosed 2031, with a process to develop dish Syrian Democratic Forces would be debated during a Euro- tremist group by pulling out U.S. was Spain’s most important trial our own," the Navy said in a re- in a media report. Then in 2017, its system set to begin in earnest (SDF) armed coalition ensued, pean Council meeting next week. troops along the Syria-Turkey since the country returned to the Rudaw TV channel reported “Our condemnation is strong but border. port presented to lawmakers for the defense ministry carried out this year. democratic government in the a parliamentary audit. "As the research on the matter through (AP) on Friday citing a SDF state- it’s not just that … we’re going (BBC) 1970s. ment. Meanwhile, Turkish De- fense Minister Hulusi Akar re- vealed that "342 terrorists were U.S. migrant policy sends thousands of children including hundreds of babies back to Mexico eliminated" in the course of the operation. Moreover, the Turk- Since January, the U.S. govern- in high-crime cities - often in ing to interviews with health tection Protocols (MPP). Most ish Ministry of National Defense ment has ordered 13,000 migrants crowded shelters and tents or on professionals, migrants, aid are from Guatemala, Honduras or also reported first Turkish ser- under 18, including more than 400 the streets - for the weeks or workers and advocates. The chil- El Salvador. U.S. immigration of- viceman dead in the fighting in infants, to wait with their fami- months it takes to get a U.S. asy- dren, whose numbers have not ficials did not respond to requests Syria. On October 9, Ankara lies in Mexico for U.S. immigra- lum hearing. The risk of violence been previously reported, are for comment on Reuters’ data launched a new military opera- tion court hearings, a Reuters anal- and illness runs high and is of among tens of thousands of mi- findings. According to the Depart- tion in northern Syria dubbed ysis of government data found. particular concern for families grants returned to Mexico un- ment of Homeland Security, deci- Peace Spring, which began with Along the U.S.-Mexico bor- with young children or those with der a Trump administration pol- sions about whether a person is airstrikes on positions. der, babies and toddlers are living chronic health conditions, accord- icy known as the Migrant Pro- placed in MPP are made. SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES

By Austin Bodetti ber 2017, the United States can- of its counternarcotics campaign celed the program in February and undermine narco-trafficking in The fight for control of Afghanistan RABAT: Negotiations for a po- 2019. Peace talks between Amer- Afghanistan. The Taliban could litical settlement between the ican diplomats and Taliban ne- prove willing to surrender its in- Taliban and the United States to gotiators began the same month. volvement in the illegal drug trade end the war in Afghanistan, a The decline of the US commit- if the United States decides to re- once-promising process, all but ment to counternarcotics in Af- turn to the negotiating table in ad- collapsed in early September. ghanistan started far earlier, dition to offering enough conces- Many analysts have mulled over however. In 2011, when Presi- sions. As much as the insurgents what the conclusion of the long- dent Barack Obama was first profit from narco-trafficking to- est foreign military engagement eyeing an American withdrawal day, they once enforced the only in American history might have from the Central Asian country, successful ban on the illegal drug meant for the War on Terror. A the number of DEA employees trade in the history of Afghani- question of equal importance: in Afghanistan had shrunk to stan. In 2000, when the Taliban How would these developments around 75, split between the governed most of the Central affect the War on Drugs? Afghan- strategic cities of Herat, Jalala- Asian country as the Islamic Emir- istan supplies 90 percent of the bad, Kandahar and Kunduz. In ate of Afghanistan, the DEA world’s opium and 95 percent of 2016, meanwhile, the Defense judged that a onetime Taliban at- Europe’s. The Taliban earns as Department stopped updating tempt to outlaw opium’s cultiva- much as $400 million every year Congress on counternarcotics tion had succeeded where two de- from its own role in the illegal efforts in Afghanistan. In what cades of American counternarcot- drug trade. Though the United could have the greatest conse- ics programs would fail. The con- States dedicated an impressive quences for the future of Afghan temporary extent of the Taliban’s array of resources to combating participation in the War on participation in the illegal drug narco-trafficking at the height of Drugs, an American government trade notwithstanding, the insur- the War in Afghanistan, an Amer- agency that studies the U.S.’s gents’ past ban on narco-traffick- ican withdrawal from the Cen- war effort, the Special Inspec- ing indicates that they could come tral Asian country could mark the tor General for Afghanistan Re- around to Afghan and US policy- end of any American role in the construction, reported this year, makers’ counternarcotics objec- Afghan arena of the War on “Afghanistan’s Ministry of tives. During negotiations with the Drugs. For their part, the Tali- Counter Narcotics will likely be Taliban about the likely schedule ban and other Afghan militants, disbanded, according to the State for an American withdrawal from earning millions, have little incen- Department.” The United Afghanistan, US diplomats pro- tive to fight the illegal drug trade. States also cut $100 million in posed that the the country could If the United States wants to funding and suspended another leave a task force of commandos keep narco-trafficking from bal- $60 million just a week before in the Central Asian country to looning as soon as its soldiers Afghanistan’s September 28 pursue Al Qaeda and requested a By JACK MURPHY there is a Caliphate you must join to the expanding influence of ISIS These ongoing security dynam- leave Afghanistan, its diplomats presidential election. Assistant binding pledge from the Taliban the Caliphate,” he continued, ref- in Afghanistan, the Taliban has had ics also figure into the ongoing must address this problem with Secretary of State for South and that terrorist groups would never As America’s war in Afghanistan erencing the so-called Islamic their own ideas about who should peace negotiations between the the Taliban. Before the United Central Asia, Alice Wells, ad- again use Afghanistan as a launch grinds through its eighteenth year, State in Iraq and Syria. As the actually be in charge. Taliban and the United States States launched peace talks with vised the House Foreign Affairs pad for anti-US attacks. A similar Committee that the administra- arrangement might guarantee the the United States is seeking an exit U.S. moves to create a peaceful In 2018, the Taliban squared off government, the later of which is the Taliban, American policy- makers viewed tackling the ille- tion of US President Donald future of Afghan-American coun- strategy via peace negotiations solution with the Taliban, the with ISIS in the province of seeking an exit strategy from a gal drug trade in Afghanistan as a Trump had profound concerns ternarcotics efforts. The United with the Taliban as both players transformed ISIS members are Jowzjan. The battle reached a cli- country that they have been oc- method of weakening the insur- about “corruption, government States could push the Taliban to engage in a secondary conflict complicating the equation. max when the Taliban assaulted a cupying for close to two decades. gents. The United States de- malfeasance, record-high opium allow a skeleton crew of DEA spe- with a newer player on the scene: The rebranding of some Taliban ISIS stronghold in Darzab, over “That is a terrorist group [ISIS] ployed more than 100 employ- production, and criminalization cial agents and INL experts to stay ISIS. “All they did was change members as ISIS was a means to running their positions which were that doesn’t recognize Afghani- ees of the Drug Enforcement of the economy.” While no one in Afghanistan as advisors to their their t-shirts,” a former Army in- attract global attention, specifi- manned by approximately 600- stan as a nation state,” acting Administration, or DEA, to Af- knows the winner of Afghani- Afghan counterparts, and Ameri- telligence analyst said to Connect- cally from the United States. 700 fighters. Throughout 2019, Assistant Secretary of State Al- ghanistan. In turn, the DEA or- stan’s election for the time be- can negotiators could also ask that ing Vets of ISIS in Afghanistan, This bares similarity to ISIS in clashes have escalated between the ice Wells testified before Con- ganized strike forces of special ing, counternarcotics seemed far the Taliban reenact its ban on the who consist of Taliban elements the Philippines who are really two groups to the south in Kunar. gress. “This is a group that fo- agents, dubbed “FAST teams,” from the minds of all top candi- illegal drug trade. Only negotia- who rebranded themselves start- to raid Afghan drug labs and opi- dates, and analysts have yet to tions could decide what the Unit- little more than criminals, kid- While the Taliban had a reputation cuses on caliphate and borderless um dens. The DEA also part- assess what role the suspension ed States would have to promise ing in 2014. A 2015 Frontline doc- nappers, and extortionists who for enforcing a brutal interpreta- territory under the organization’s nered with the Bureau of Inter- of some US funding to Afghan- in return, but the Taliban would umentary features in interview use ISIS as a banner to fight un- tion of Islamic law, ISIS has be- control. That’s a deep threat to national Narcotics and Law En- istan played in the results. So likely demand that the United with a Afghan ISIS member named der in hopes of giving them the come known for being even more all the people of Afghanistan, in- forcement, or INL, part of the far, no other country seems to States provide an alternative Abu Rasheed who said that he legitimacy of claiming to be fight- barbaric in their torturing and mur- cluding the Taliban.” State Department, to train two have followed the US example. source of income for Taliban war- used to be Taliban but switched ing for a global pan-Islamist dering of civilians on the battle- Wells went on to say that peace Afghan law enforcement agencies Like the War on Terror, the War lords reliant on narco-trafficking. to ISIS in 2014. movement no matter how tenu- field. The locals, to include the negotiations need to include cre- dedicated to counternarcotics: the on Drugs achieved limited re- Viable alternatives might include “Were you Taliban before?” “Yes, ous those connections may be. Taliban itself, see ISIS as a foreign ating a unified Afghanistan that Sensitive and Technical Investi- sults in Afghanistan. Still, the providing former members of the we were fighting holy wars Tali- While ISIS sees themselves en- entity trying to assert itself in their can stand up to terrorist groups gative Units, overseen by the United States and its Afghan Taliban well-paid positions in the ban. Our holy war was just be- gaged in a political project which territory and reject it as such. ISIS’ like ISIS. Want to get more con- Afghan Counternarcotics Minis- partners have an obvious inter- Afghan government and training try. This collaboration led to sev- est in preventing the Central them to run profitable legal busi- cause there was no Caliphate encompasses the entire world, lack of legitimacy in Afghanistan nected to the stories and resourc- eral high-profile successes for the Asian country from descending nesses. No matter the urgency of then,” Rasheed responds to the the Taliban view themselves as is a view that the Afghan Army es Connecting Vets has to offer? DEA, among them the capture into lawlessness and turning into limiting further bloodshed in Af- journalist conducting the inter- local actors concerned with Af- and the Taliban appear to be Click here to sign up for our week- of the Taliban-linked narco-traf- a greater hotbed of narco-traf- ghanistan, the United States must view. “But god says that when ghanistan itself. When it comes aligned on. ly newsletter. fickers Haji Bagcho and Khan ficking. When the United State remember the havoc wrought by Mohammad. By 2018, a year departs Afghanistan, a possibil- the illegal drug trade in the Central before the outset of peace talks ity that seems no less likely Asian country. Peace talks pre- between the Taliban and the Unit- with the implosion of peace sented one of the best chances in ed States in Doha, the United talks, a larger share of responsi- years for the United States to re- States had spent $8.7 billion on bility for law enforcement in Af- alize its counternarcotics goals in Once Again in Afghanistan, the ghanistan will fall to the Afghan Afghanistan. With the apparent its Afghan counternarcotics cam- paign. In the rush to conclude a authorities, who will have little failure of the peace process, Amer- peace treaty with the Taliban, the choice but to compromise with ican diplomats have turned their Trump administration appeared the Taliban in the name of any attention to Iran, North Korea and U.S. Proves It Can’t Be Trusted to abandon its bid to curb the il- peace treaty. If Afghan and US other headline-grabbing adversar- legal drug trade in Afghanistan. diplomats choose to revive the ies. Unless the United States While American generals an- peace process and include a dis- moves to reinvest itself in the Af- By TED RALL nounced a new strategy of em- cussion of the insurgents’ role ghan front of the War on Drugs, ploying Afghan and US war- in the illegal drug, the United Afghan and American officials will The first draft of this column planes to destroy Taliban drug States may even find an oppor- likely be dealing with the conse- came not to bury but to praise labs to much fanfare in Novem- tunity to salvage what remains quences of the illegal drug trade. Donald Trump. I planned to ap- plaud the president’s peace ini- tiative with the Taliban, his strat- egy of ignoring the corrupt and discredited puppet regime Bush Our KidsFaceUnprecedentedCrises. installed in Kabul and his desire to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. This was a StandardizedTestsWon’t PrepareThem. move I have been almost alone in promoting since the U.S. idioti- BY Marion Brady equally appropriate for all learn- quires thought — the ability to cally invaded the country in 2001 ers no matter their differing na- infer, hypothesize, predict, gen- and I congratulate Trump for hav- tures, experiences, situations, eralize, correlate, synthesize, imag- Acentury ago, H.G. Wells abilities, interests, expectations, ine, value, relate, abstract, esti- ing the courage to unwind Bush summed up a great truth: “Hu- life chances or luck, is ridicu- mate, intuit, empathize, extrapo- and Obama’s mistakes. The Af- man history becomes more and lous. The core never was, isn’t late and so on — processes not ghan people should be allowed to more a race between education now, and never will be an ac- being taught because standardized shape their future free of imperi- and catastrophe.” Clearly, catas- ceptable organizer of general tests are shaping education poli- alist interference. But then, hours trophe has a commanding lead. knowledge. It’s a massive, con- cy, and standardized tests can’t before representatives of the Tal- Our children and our children’s tinuously expanding hodge- quantify quality and produce iban which controls about half of children face a future for which podge of disconnected informa- meaningful scores. It boggles the Afghanistan were set to board a traditional education isn’t pre- tion fire-hosed at kids in unrea- mind. Humankind faces problems plane to Washington where they paring them. The accelerating sonable volumes at impossible- of unprecedented complexity cre- were scheduled to meet with rate of change will significantly to-learn rates. Disagree? Take a ated by environmental, demo- Trump at Camp David, the pres- intensify existing problems of couple of minutes to skim what graphic, technological, economic, ident canceled their visit and scut- inter-societal conflict and add to Buckminster Fuller, Kurt Von- political and social change, and their number in ways no one ex- tled years of progress toward end- negut, Jr., Thomas Merton, America is betting its future on a pects. To prepare the young for Stephanie Pace Marshall, Dav- one-size-fits-all 19th-century cur- ing America’s longest war, which that future, most of America’s id Bohm, Stephen Jay Gould, riculum locked in place with sub- has killed more than 2,300 U.S. middle and high schools offer the Peter Senge and other interna- ject-matter standards monitored servicemen and at least 30,000 are aware of America’s history pies. Bush followed up with $43 weeks before 9/11. familiar math, science, language tionally known thinkers have by tests that can’t evaluate the Afghans. “He claimed that it was of proving itself an untrustwor- million in 2001. For the most part It’s impossible to know for cer- arts and social studies curriculum. said about the curriculum in near- thought processes that make hu- because the Taliban had been be- thy diplomatic partner in that the Taliban held up their side of tain why the U.S. chose to in- That curriculum, assembled by universal use worldwide. manness, routine human function- hind a recent attack that killed an war-torn country—a tradition the bargain. Their ban on poppy vade Afghanistan, which had the National Education Associa- The Academic Challenge ing and civilized life possible; and American soldier,” reported Po- that Trump’s fickleness contin- cultivation reduced production of nothing to do with the attacks. tion’s “Committee of Ten” in Ignorance, compounded by blaming poor school performance three days in 1892, was a fix for litico. ues. “The Taliban have never exported heroin by about 65%. The hijackers were recruited from greed, has played an important on teachers’ “low expectations,” a bureaucratic problem. High role in bringing Planet Earth to parents’ lack of school choice and There is, of course, no require- trusted American promises; Considering Afghanistan’s primi- and funded by Saudi Arabia. Osa- ment that combatants observe a schools were teaching too many crisis. To back away from that kids’ lack of grit. Wrong diagnoses [Trump’s] volte-face will only tive infrastructure, poor commu- ma bin Laden lived in Pakistan, courses for college admissions crisis far enough to survive, of the causes of poor academic ceasefire during peace negotia- deepen that mistrust,” observes nications and fractious political where the terrorists were trained. tions. Richard Nixon’s “Christ- officers to compare applicants’ breakthrough ideas are needed. performance don’t just invite so- The Economist. culture during an ongoing civil war, Central Asia watchers speculat- grade transcripts. The commit- Such ideas are most likely to cietal suicide, they assure it. An mas bombing” campaign in 1972, In the late 1990s Afghanistan was that was as much as the U.S. could ed that the U.S. was more inter- tee’s recommendations were for come from the well-schooled, Alternative to the Core as a Basic which killed 1,600 Vietnamese ci- the world’s leading producer of have hoped for. ested in controlling the then-only the very small number of stu- but the knowledge-fragmenting Organizer of Knowledge vilians, was a U.S. attempt to soft- opium. The U.S. and its Europe- But tensions grew between the pipeline carrying the world’s larg- dents intending to go to college. core curriculum created by the Fifty-three years ago, the Phi Delta en up North Vietnam at the up- an allies were seeking to mitigate Taliban and the U.S. over the est untapped energy reserves They were never meant to shape NEA committee was, and is, Kappan published the first of coming Paris peace talks. The a heroin epidemic and the Clin- Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline than catching bin Laden. We do the school day for millions of kids counterproductive. When infor- many articles of mine about a sys- United States has killed numer- ton Administration was negoti- project. The U.S. tried to lowball know what the Taliban took away for well over a century. The Com- mation is compartmentalized by tems-theory-based alternative to ous Taliban soldiers throughout ating terms for a pipeline to car- the Taliban with below-market from the experience. They cut a mittee’s fix had an unintended subject, the relating process that the core as the basic organizer of 2019. “This [decision to scuttle ry oil and natural gas from Cen- transit fees, the Taliban refused and deal, did their part and got consequence. Their recommend- creates individual and collective information and knowledge. Offi- peace talks] will lead to more loss- ed curriculum acquired the label knowledge is blocked. Notwith- cials at Prentice Hall, Inc., read the tral Asia via Afghanistan to the American negotiators became an- bombed, invaded and occupied in “core,” greasing the slippery standing federal and state insis- article and were sufficiently con- es to the U.S.,” said Zabihullah Indian Ocean. So, even though gry. “Accept our offer of a carpet return. Both sides say they are Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman. slope that was already taking tence that schooling is to “pre- vinced of its merit to undertake the U.S. had imposed sanctions of gold, or we bury you under a open to resuming talks. If and schooling in a wrong direction — pare learners for college and ca- several years of nationwide class- “Its credibility will be affected, on the Taliban who ruled Afghan- carpet of bombs,” a U.S. negotia- when they do, the Taliban—who, its anti-peace stance will be ex- a single-minded emphasis on reers,” its overarching purpose room testing of middle-school level istan from 1996 to 2001 and de- tor snapped at her Taliban coun- after all, didn’t invade anyone and learners’ being able to remember, is societal survival. Survival re- instructional materials based on posed to the world, losses to lives nied them diplomatic recognition, terparts at a meeting in Islamabad. are defending their territory from at least until tested, secondhand quires citizens to recognize my suggested alternative. Their and assets will increase.” He is Clinton paid the Taliban $114 It was August 2001, three months foreign aggression—hold the information delivered by text- problems as they arise, find so- enthusiasm increased as the test- right. Few Americans pay atten- million in 2000 to encourage them after Secretary of State Colin Pow- moral high ground over the Unit- book, teacher talk and technolo- lutions and successfully adapt ing proceeded, but a reactionary tion to Afghanistan. Fewer still to ban the farming of opium pop- ell paid the Taliban $43 million and ed States. gy. The label “core” implied that to changes beyond their control. “back-to-basics” fad in the 1970s the college prep curriculum was This requires continuous cre- prompted Prentice-Hall’s market- essential knowledge — knowl- ation of new knowledge and a ing department to conclude that edge so important that it needed citizenry with sufficient under- the traditional curriculum was too Disclaimer: to be standardized and required standing of change and its prob- deeply embedded in public expec- of all students whether or not able and possible consequences tations and multi-layered educa- The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) they were college bound. The no- to generate, accept and apply tion bureaucracies to dislodge. The and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. tion that any curriculum, let alone new knowledge. project was discontinued. one well over a century old, is Generating new knowledge re- (Truthout) SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES

By Austin Bodetti ber 2017, the United States can- of its counternarcotics campaign celed the program in February and undermine narco-trafficking in The fight for control of Afghanistan RABAT: Negotiations for a po- 2019. Peace talks between Amer- Afghanistan. The Taliban could litical settlement between the ican diplomats and Taliban ne- prove willing to surrender its in- Taliban and the United States to gotiators began the same month. volvement in the illegal drug trade end the war in Afghanistan, a The decline of the US commit- if the United States decides to re- once-promising process, all but ment to counternarcotics in Af- turn to the negotiating table in ad- collapsed in early September. ghanistan started far earlier, dition to offering enough conces- Many analysts have mulled over however. In 2011, when Presi- sions. As much as the insurgents what the conclusion of the long- dent Barack Obama was first profit from narco-trafficking to- est foreign military engagement eyeing an American withdrawal day, they once enforced the only in American history might have from the Central Asian country, successful ban on the illegal drug meant for the War on Terror. A the number of DEA employees trade in the history of Afghani- question of equal importance: in Afghanistan had shrunk to stan. In 2000, when the Taliban How would these developments around 75, split between the governed most of the Central affect the War on Drugs? Afghan- strategic cities of Herat, Jalala- Asian country as the Islamic Emir- istan supplies 90 percent of the bad, Kandahar and Kunduz. In ate of Afghanistan, the DEA world’s opium and 95 percent of 2016, meanwhile, the Defense judged that a onetime Taliban at- Europe’s. The Taliban earns as Department stopped updating tempt to outlaw opium’s cultiva- much as $400 million every year Congress on counternarcotics tion had succeeded where two de- from its own role in the illegal efforts in Afghanistan. In what cades of American counternarcot- drug trade. Though the United could have the greatest conse- ics programs would fail. The con- States dedicated an impressive quences for the future of Afghan temporary extent of the Taliban’s array of resources to combating participation in the War on participation in the illegal drug narco-trafficking at the height of Drugs, an American government trade notwithstanding, the insur- the War in Afghanistan, an Amer- agency that studies the U.S.’s gents’ past ban on narco-traffick- ican withdrawal from the Cen- war effort, the Special Inspec- ing indicates that they could come tral Asian country could mark the tor General for Afghanistan Re- around to Afghan and US policy- end of any American role in the construction, reported this year, makers’ counternarcotics objec- Afghan arena of the War on “Afghanistan’s Ministry of tives. During negotiations with the Drugs. For their part, the Tali- Counter Narcotics will likely be Taliban about the likely schedule ban and other Afghan militants, disbanded, according to the State for an American withdrawal from earning millions, have little incen- Department.” The United Afghanistan, US diplomats pro- tive to fight the illegal drug trade. States also cut $100 million in posed that the the country could If the United States wants to funding and suspended another leave a task force of commandos keep narco-trafficking from bal- $60 million just a week before in the Central Asian country to looning as soon as its soldiers Afghanistan’s September 28 pursue Al Qaeda and requested a By JACK MURPHY there is a Caliphate you must join to the expanding influence of ISIS These ongoing security dynam- leave Afghanistan, its diplomats presidential election. Assistant binding pledge from the Taliban the Caliphate,” he continued, ref- in Afghanistan, the Taliban has had ics also figure into the ongoing must address this problem with Secretary of State for South and that terrorist groups would never As America’s war in Afghanistan erencing the so-called Islamic their own ideas about who should peace negotiations between the the Taliban. Before the United Central Asia, Alice Wells, ad- again use Afghanistan as a launch grinds through its eighteenth year, State in Iraq and Syria. As the actually be in charge. Taliban and the United States States launched peace talks with vised the House Foreign Affairs pad for anti-US attacks. A similar Committee that the administra- arrangement might guarantee the the United States is seeking an exit U.S. moves to create a peaceful In 2018, the Taliban squared off government, the later of which is the Taliban, American policy- makers viewed tackling the ille- tion of US President Donald future of Afghan-American coun- strategy via peace negotiations solution with the Taliban, the with ISIS in the province of seeking an exit strategy from a gal drug trade in Afghanistan as a Trump had profound concerns ternarcotics efforts. The United with the Taliban as both players transformed ISIS members are Jowzjan. The battle reached a cli- country that they have been oc- method of weakening the insur- about “corruption, government States could push the Taliban to engage in a secondary conflict complicating the equation. max when the Taliban assaulted a cupying for close to two decades. gents. The United States de- malfeasance, record-high opium allow a skeleton crew of DEA spe- with a newer player on the scene: The rebranding of some Taliban ISIS stronghold in Darzab, over “That is a terrorist group [ISIS] ployed more than 100 employ- production, and criminalization cial agents and INL experts to stay ISIS. “All they did was change members as ISIS was a means to running their positions which were that doesn’t recognize Afghani- ees of the Drug Enforcement of the economy.” While no one in Afghanistan as advisors to their their t-shirts,” a former Army in- attract global attention, specifi- manned by approximately 600- stan as a nation state,” acting Administration, or DEA, to Af- knows the winner of Afghani- Afghan counterparts, and Ameri- telligence analyst said to Connect- cally from the United States. 700 fighters. Throughout 2019, Assistant Secretary of State Al- ghanistan. In turn, the DEA or- stan’s election for the time be- can negotiators could also ask that ing Vets of ISIS in Afghanistan, This bares similarity to ISIS in clashes have escalated between the ice Wells testified before Con- ganized strike forces of special ing, counternarcotics seemed far the Taliban reenact its ban on the who consist of Taliban elements the Philippines who are really two groups to the south in Kunar. gress. “This is a group that fo- agents, dubbed “FAST teams,” from the minds of all top candi- illegal drug trade. Only negotia- who rebranded themselves start- to raid Afghan drug labs and opi- dates, and analysts have yet to tions could decide what the Unit- little more than criminals, kid- While the Taliban had a reputation cuses on caliphate and borderless um dens. The DEA also part- assess what role the suspension ed States would have to promise ing in 2014. A 2015 Frontline doc- nappers, and extortionists who for enforcing a brutal interpreta- territory under the organization’s nered with the Bureau of Inter- of some US funding to Afghan- in return, but the Taliban would umentary features in interview use ISIS as a banner to fight un- tion of Islamic law, ISIS has be- control. That’s a deep threat to national Narcotics and Law En- istan played in the results. So likely demand that the United with a Afghan ISIS member named der in hopes of giving them the come known for being even more all the people of Afghanistan, in- forcement, or INL, part of the far, no other country seems to States provide an alternative Abu Rasheed who said that he legitimacy of claiming to be fight- barbaric in their torturing and mur- cluding the Taliban.” State Department, to train two have followed the US example. source of income for Taliban war- used to be Taliban but switched ing for a global pan-Islamist dering of civilians on the battle- Wells went on to say that peace Afghan law enforcement agencies Like the War on Terror, the War lords reliant on narco-trafficking. to ISIS in 2014. movement no matter how tenu- field. The locals, to include the negotiations need to include cre- dedicated to counternarcotics: the on Drugs achieved limited re- Viable alternatives might include “Were you Taliban before?” “Yes, ous those connections may be. Taliban itself, see ISIS as a foreign ating a unified Afghanistan that Sensitive and Technical Investi- sults in Afghanistan. Still, the providing former members of the we were fighting holy wars Tali- While ISIS sees themselves en- entity trying to assert itself in their can stand up to terrorist groups gative Units, overseen by the United States and its Afghan Taliban well-paid positions in the ban. Our holy war was just be- gaged in a political project which territory and reject it as such. ISIS’ like ISIS. Want to get more con- Afghan Counternarcotics Minis- partners have an obvious inter- Afghan government and training try. This collaboration led to sev- est in preventing the Central them to run profitable legal busi- cause there was no Caliphate encompasses the entire world, lack of legitimacy in Afghanistan nected to the stories and resourc- eral high-profile successes for the Asian country from descending nesses. No matter the urgency of then,” Rasheed responds to the the Taliban view themselves as is a view that the Afghan Army es Connecting Vets has to offer? DEA, among them the capture into lawlessness and turning into limiting further bloodshed in Af- journalist conducting the inter- local actors concerned with Af- and the Taliban appear to be Click here to sign up for our week- of the Taliban-linked narco-traf- a greater hotbed of narco-traf- ghanistan, the United States must view. “But god says that when ghanistan itself. When it comes aligned on. ly newsletter. fickers Haji Bagcho and Khan ficking. When the United State remember the havoc wrought by Mohammad. By 2018, a year departs Afghanistan, a possibil- the illegal drug trade in the Central before the outset of peace talks ity that seems no less likely Asian country. Peace talks pre- between the Taliban and the Unit- with the implosion of peace sented one of the best chances in ed States in Doha, the United talks, a larger share of responsi- years for the United States to re- States had spent $8.7 billion on bility for law enforcement in Af- alize its counternarcotics goals in Once Again in Afghanistan, the ghanistan will fall to the Afghan Afghanistan. With the apparent its Afghan counternarcotics cam- paign. In the rush to conclude a authorities, who will have little failure of the peace process, Amer- peace treaty with the Taliban, the choice but to compromise with ican diplomats have turned their Trump administration appeared the Taliban in the name of any attention to Iran, North Korea and U.S. Proves It Can’t Be Trusted to abandon its bid to curb the il- peace treaty. If Afghan and US other headline-grabbing adversar- legal drug trade in Afghanistan. diplomats choose to revive the ies. Unless the United States While American generals an- peace process and include a dis- moves to reinvest itself in the Af- By TED RALL nounced a new strategy of em- cussion of the insurgents’ role ghan front of the War on Drugs, ploying Afghan and US war- in the illegal drug, the United Afghan and American officials will The first draft of this column planes to destroy Taliban drug States may even find an oppor- likely be dealing with the conse- came not to bury but to praise labs to much fanfare in Novem- tunity to salvage what remains quences of the illegal drug trade. Donald Trump. I planned to ap- plaud the president’s peace ini- tiative with the Taliban, his strat- egy of ignoring the corrupt and discredited puppet regime Bush Our KidsFaceUnprecedentedCrises. installed in Kabul and his desire to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. This was a StandardizedTestsWon’t PrepareThem. move I have been almost alone in promoting since the U.S. idioti- BY Marion Brady equally appropriate for all learn- quires thought — the ability to cally invaded the country in 2001 ers no matter their differing na- infer, hypothesize, predict, gen- and I congratulate Trump for hav- tures, experiences, situations, eralize, correlate, synthesize, imag- Acentury ago, H.G. Wells abilities, interests, expectations, ine, value, relate, abstract, esti- ing the courage to unwind Bush summed up a great truth: “Hu- life chances or luck, is ridicu- mate, intuit, empathize, extrapo- and Obama’s mistakes. The Af- man history becomes more and lous. The core never was, isn’t late and so on — processes not ghan people should be allowed to more a race between education now, and never will be an ac- being taught because standardized shape their future free of imperi- and catastrophe.” Clearly, catas- ceptable organizer of general tests are shaping education poli- alist interference. But then, hours trophe has a commanding lead. knowledge. It’s a massive, con- cy, and standardized tests can’t before representatives of the Tal- Our children and our children’s tinuously expanding hodge- quantify quality and produce iban which controls about half of children face a future for which podge of disconnected informa- meaningful scores. It boggles the Afghanistan were set to board a traditional education isn’t pre- tion fire-hosed at kids in unrea- mind. Humankind faces problems plane to Washington where they paring them. The accelerating sonable volumes at impossible- of unprecedented complexity cre- were scheduled to meet with rate of change will significantly to-learn rates. Disagree? Take a ated by environmental, demo- Trump at Camp David, the pres- intensify existing problems of couple of minutes to skim what graphic, technological, economic, ident canceled their visit and scut- inter-societal conflict and add to Buckminster Fuller, Kurt Von- political and social change, and their number in ways no one ex- tled years of progress toward end- negut, Jr., Thomas Merton, America is betting its future on a pects. To prepare the young for Stephanie Pace Marshall, Dav- one-size-fits-all 19th-century cur- ing America’s longest war, which that future, most of America’s id Bohm, Stephen Jay Gould, riculum locked in place with sub- has killed more than 2,300 U.S. middle and high schools offer the Peter Senge and other interna- ject-matter standards monitored servicemen and at least 30,000 are aware of America’s history pies. Bush followed up with $43 weeks before 9/11. familiar math, science, language tionally known thinkers have by tests that can’t evaluate the Afghans. “He claimed that it was of proving itself an untrustwor- million in 2001. For the most part It’s impossible to know for cer- arts and social studies curriculum. said about the curriculum in near- thought processes that make hu- because the Taliban had been be- thy diplomatic partner in that the Taliban held up their side of tain why the U.S. chose to in- That curriculum, assembled by universal use worldwide. manness, routine human function- hind a recent attack that killed an war-torn country—a tradition the bargain. Their ban on poppy vade Afghanistan, which had the National Education Associa- The Academic Challenge ing and civilized life possible; and American soldier,” reported Po- that Trump’s fickleness contin- cultivation reduced production of nothing to do with the attacks. tion’s “Committee of Ten” in Ignorance, compounded by blaming poor school performance three days in 1892, was a fix for litico. ues. “The Taliban have never exported heroin by about 65%. The hijackers were recruited from greed, has played an important on teachers’ “low expectations,” a bureaucratic problem. High role in bringing Planet Earth to parents’ lack of school choice and There is, of course, no require- trusted American promises; Considering Afghanistan’s primi- and funded by Saudi Arabia. Osa- ment that combatants observe a schools were teaching too many crisis. To back away from that kids’ lack of grit. Wrong diagnoses [Trump’s] volte-face will only tive infrastructure, poor commu- ma bin Laden lived in Pakistan, courses for college admissions crisis far enough to survive, of the causes of poor academic ceasefire during peace negotia- deepen that mistrust,” observes nications and fractious political where the terrorists were trained. tions. Richard Nixon’s “Christ- officers to compare applicants’ breakthrough ideas are needed. performance don’t just invite so- The Economist. culture during an ongoing civil war, Central Asia watchers speculat- grade transcripts. The commit- Such ideas are most likely to cietal suicide, they assure it. An mas bombing” campaign in 1972, In the late 1990s Afghanistan was that was as much as the U.S. could ed that the U.S. was more inter- tee’s recommendations were for come from the well-schooled, Alternative to the Core as a Basic which killed 1,600 Vietnamese ci- the world’s leading producer of have hoped for. ested in controlling the then-only the very small number of stu- but the knowledge-fragmenting Organizer of Knowledge vilians, was a U.S. attempt to soft- opium. The U.S. and its Europe- But tensions grew between the pipeline carrying the world’s larg- dents intending to go to college. core curriculum created by the Fifty-three years ago, the Phi Delta en up North Vietnam at the up- an allies were seeking to mitigate Taliban and the U.S. over the est untapped energy reserves They were never meant to shape NEA committee was, and is, Kappan published the first of coming Paris peace talks. The a heroin epidemic and the Clin- Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline than catching bin Laden. We do the school day for millions of kids counterproductive. When infor- many articles of mine about a sys- United States has killed numer- ton Administration was negoti- project. The U.S. tried to lowball know what the Taliban took away for well over a century. The Com- mation is compartmentalized by tems-theory-based alternative to ous Taliban soldiers throughout ating terms for a pipeline to car- the Taliban with below-market from the experience. They cut a mittee’s fix had an unintended subject, the relating process that the core as the basic organizer of 2019. “This [decision to scuttle ry oil and natural gas from Cen- transit fees, the Taliban refused and deal, did their part and got consequence. Their recommend- creates individual and collective information and knowledge. Offi- peace talks] will lead to more loss- ed curriculum acquired the label knowledge is blocked. Notwith- cials at Prentice Hall, Inc., read the tral Asia via Afghanistan to the American negotiators became an- bombed, invaded and occupied in “core,” greasing the slippery standing federal and state insis- article and were sufficiently con- es to the U.S.,” said Zabihullah Indian Ocean. So, even though gry. “Accept our offer of a carpet return. Both sides say they are Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman. slope that was already taking tence that schooling is to “pre- vinced of its merit to undertake the U.S. had imposed sanctions of gold, or we bury you under a open to resuming talks. If and schooling in a wrong direction — pare learners for college and ca- several years of nationwide class- “Its credibility will be affected, on the Taliban who ruled Afghan- carpet of bombs,” a U.S. negotia- when they do, the Taliban—who, its anti-peace stance will be ex- a single-minded emphasis on reers,” its overarching purpose room testing of middle-school level istan from 1996 to 2001 and de- tor snapped at her Taliban coun- after all, didn’t invade anyone and learners’ being able to remember, is societal survival. Survival re- instructional materials based on posed to the world, losses to lives nied them diplomatic recognition, terparts at a meeting in Islamabad. are defending their territory from at least until tested, secondhand quires citizens to recognize my suggested alternative. Their and assets will increase.” He is Clinton paid the Taliban $114 It was August 2001, three months foreign aggression—hold the information delivered by text- problems as they arise, find so- enthusiasm increased as the test- right. Few Americans pay atten- million in 2000 to encourage them after Secretary of State Colin Pow- moral high ground over the Unit- book, teacher talk and technolo- lutions and successfully adapt ing proceeded, but a reactionary tion to Afghanistan. Fewer still to ban the farming of opium pop- ell paid the Taliban $43 million and ed States. gy. The label “core” implied that to changes beyond their control. “back-to-basics” fad in the 1970s the college prep curriculum was This requires continuous cre- prompted Prentice-Hall’s market- essential knowledge — knowl- ation of new knowledge and a ing department to conclude that edge so important that it needed citizenry with sufficient under- the traditional curriculum was too Disclaimer: to be standardized and required standing of change and its prob- deeply embedded in public expec- of all students whether or not able and possible consequences tations and multi-layered educa- The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) they were college bound. The no- to generate, accept and apply tion bureaucracies to dislodge. The and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. tion that any curriculum, let alone new knowledge. project was discontinued. one well over a century old, is Generating new knowledge re- (Truthout) SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES Howtosolve Iraq’sproblems Iraqis have had enough. After expressed willingness to respond years of poor governance, the to the “rightful demands” of the Iraqi people have run out of pa- protesters but warned that there tience with the failures of their was no “magic solution” to Iraq’s governing elites to deliver basic problems. Abdul Mahdi, an inde- Mass protests may be the only way to force him out services or to reduce unemploy- pendent politician who has been ment and corruption. Tens of the finance minister and vice-pres- magine this: It’s November 3, thousands have come out in pro- ident, deserves a chance to pull 2020. The polls just closed. Mil- tests in Baghdad and parts of Iraq out of this crisis and move lions of Americans are glued to southern Iraq. More than 100 forward. He is a veteran Shiite televisions and smartphones, ea- protesters have been killed and politician known for his concilia- gerly awaiting the election results. thousands have been injured by tory tone and personality, who The maps start turning blue. At security forces. Broadcasting shuns the dogmatism and author- 1:32 a.m., NBC News calls the stations have been attacked and itarianism of his predecessors. race. The Democratic nominee is social media platforms and the He came to office in October 2018 on track to secure a 2% popular internet have been blocked. The as a compromise candidate after vote lead and a narrow Electoral scale and magnitude of the pro- Iraq’s leading rival political par- College win by taking back Mich- tests is unprecedented, as is the ties came together in a coalition igan, Pennsylvania, and Wiscon- violent reaction from the Iraqi government and nominated him. sin. Other networks follow. But government. Prime Minister Adel For the first time in 13 years, Iraq the New York Times, the Associ- Abdul Mahdi has failed to pre- has a prime minister who does ated Press, and Fox News say the vent Iraq’s worst crisis since the not have a legacy of alienating race is still too close to call. Daesh [the self-proclaimed Is- members of his own coalition gov- Then, Donald Trump starts lamic State of Iraq and the Le- ernment and marginalising large tweeting. Maybe it will look like vant] seized Mosul in 2014. He sections of the population, par- this: Media outlets that called the must take responsibility and en- ticularly Iraq’s Sunni communi- election just a few minutes earlier sure that the officials responsi- ty, whose marginalisation and start debating whether or not ble for the large scale killings of grievances enabled the Daesh. Americans will accept the results protesters are prosecuted. The That should be made to count. as legitimate. And suddenly, crisis places Abdul Mahdi in a Parliament Speaker Mohammed America has its first president precarious position. Protesters Al Halbousi, one of the most who refuses to concede an elec- want jobs and services, account- prominent officials from the Sun- tion. Or, imagine the ongoing im- ability and, in some cases, a com- ni community, told me in Bagh- peachment investigation contin- plete overhaul of the Iraqi polit- dad recently that he no longer en- ues to uncover more and more ical class. The prime minister has visages sectarian issues as being wrongdoing. The House votes to failed to offer concessions — an the paramount challenge for the impeach Trump and the Senate increase in salaries, a basic wage country. “Iraq’s main challenges holds a trial. Republican senators for poorer families and interest- will be external and economic finally crack under the intense free housing credit programmes from now on,” he explained. Ab- public scrutiny and enough of — that could placate them. In a dul Mahdi’s premiership has se- them join Democrats to convict televised address, Abdul Mahdi cured the inclusion. the president and vote to remove him from office. But one ques- tion goes unanswered: Who Trudeau accuser paid makes him leave? The United States is currently in uncharted territory. We’ve had plenty of bad for non-disclosure presidents. But we’ve never had respect or even understand the tion: “What would you say if you selves. Scholars estimate that cratic reforms have been even one who believes their own con- other branches of government? saw it in another country?” Ny- peaceful protest movements must larger than the 3.5% threshold. agreement? spiracy theories. And we’ve nev- Throughout Trump’s tenure in the han’s framework is helpful when involve at least 3.5% of a coun- In 2016, South Korean protests er had one who works this hard Oval Office — in response to the considering what would happen try’s population to be successful. activated 2.3 million people, or Report: On eve of general election, Canadian to delegitimize democratic insti- president’s many threats to under- if Trump refused to step down Would Americans come together 4.4% of the population, to de- PM agrees to pay 2.25 million dollars to former tutions. Only with a system as mine federal courts, attack the free after a conviction or refused to for a protest that big? If other mand the resignation of President student who claims Trudeau had affair with her. stupid as the Electoral College press, and intimidate officials in concede an election he lost. In countries are a guide, the answer Park Geun-hye, who was facing can someone as divisive as his own administration — politi- other countries, the only check is a resounding yes. In fact, recent a major corruption scandal. She Trump even become president. cal scientist Brendan Nyhan has left on a head of state is mass protests aimed at ousting heads offered to resign, but other po- But what if a president doesn’t repeatedly posed the same ques- protests from the people them- of state or winning major demo- litical leaders put her through.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin that his sudden departure from ‘The Ukraine Affair’ involving and covert forces will first leave vocally pro-Ukrainian could lead Donald Trump was front-page Eastern Ukraine so ‘free’ elections to you being tied up in a base- Trudeau has agreed to pay a fe- the Academy was done for career- news across the world this month (monitored by international ob- ment. Even if a charming inter- male accuser more than two mil- related reasons. The accuser, said Armenian PM scolds – but not in Ukraine itself. There servers) can be held in the so-called national observer watches you lion dollars for a non-disclosure to be the daughter of a prominent were flutterings of embarrass- Donetsk and Luhansk People’s filling out your ballot paper, he agreement, just days before he Canadian businessman, has not ment and face-palms on social Republics in accordance with can’t protect you from the thugs faces reelection in a general elec- been publicly identified. Azerbaijan’s Aliyev for media as the transcript of the Ukrainian law. On the day after waiting outside your apartment tion, The Buffalo Chronicle But some have questioned the re- Zelensky-Trump call emerged, the election these areas will then block. It is impossible to prove claims. According to a report by port, suggesting the claims may distorting history but they very soon petered out. be granted ‘special status’ within who is a Russian militiaman and The Buffalo Chronicle, attor- be false. Fenwick McKelvey, a Believe it or not, on 1 October it Ukraine, ominously similar to the who is an ordinary local citizen neys representing Trudeau signed communications professor at Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has scolded Azerbaijan’s was eclipsed by a far bigger sto- ‘autonomous republic’ status that in the region as many residents a 2.25 million CDN ($1.7 mil- Concordia University and a re- President llham Aliyev for distorting historic facts. Addressing the ry for Ukrainians: Putin is win- Crimea enjoyed before it was an- of the breakaway ‘republics’ lion USD) non-disclosure agree- searcher into disinformation, told sitting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, PM Pashinyan said ning Europe’s only war. ‘Listen nexed by Russia. In return, have Russian passports, and to the Nation! No to Capitula- Ukraine will regain full control of Russia has been frantically issu- ment with a female accuser, who The National Observer the “using this important format to distort history and bring some ten- claims that the Canadian premier Chronicle's accusations were sion to the atmosphere is improper.” Unfortunately, he said “we saw tion!’ shouted an angry crowd its eastern border. While the order ing even more to Donbas resi- outside Mr Zelensky’s presiden- of the steps is still disputed, that’s dents since Zelensky came to had a year-and-a-half-long affair merely the latest in a string of false such attempts in Ilham Aliyev’s speech.” The statement comes after tial office this weekend. Protests the essence of what Zelensky has power. There is also no way of with her while she was a student claims. The Chronicle publisher Aliyev said that Armenia glorifies fascism and the proof of it is the have broken out across the coun- agreed to. It all seems rather dull stopping opportunistic bandits at Vancouver’s West Point Grey Matthew Ricchiazzi pushed back monument to “fascist Garegin Nzhdeh in the downtown Yerevan.” try in response to the president’s and reasonable until you look at that seized businesses and homes Academy, where Trudeau taught on the claim, however, telling the “Hearing his remarks about Garegin Nzhdeh, to be honest, I remem- announcement that Ukraine has the detail. The ‘Steinmeier Formu- from their neighbours from run- French and math from 1999 to Observer that "nearly a dozen" bered the famous Soviet film Kidnapping, Caucasian Style. When agreed to the ‘Steinmeier Formu- la’ may bring peace to Ukraine but ning for office as they are im- 2001. The report claimed that people working in Canadian pol- there is talk of the ruins of an ancient castle and there comes the la’ – a simplified peace process it will be at the cost of the coun- mune from prosecution under the the 18-month affair began in the itics were consulted for the story. question “have I destroyed the church too?” Ilham Aliyev’s words for the Donbas region in Eastern try’s sovereignty for years to Minsk Protocol. Even if Ukraine summer of 2000, ending in the Trudeau, who was first elected in give the impression that Hitler had a secondary role in the war, and Ukraine – which was first sug- come. The assurances needed for gains control of its border before middle of the school year in 2015, faces reelection on October that the leader of the Nazi movement was Garegin Nzhdeh. And the gested in 2016 by the then for- the formula to work in Ukraine’s the elections, as Mr Zelensky eign minister (current President) favour are impossible to achieve: wants, those who gain power in 2001, when the then 29-year-old 21st. Recent opinion polls show reality is that Garegin Nzhdeh fought against the Turkish occupation Trudeau abruptly left the Acad- a tight race between Trudeau’s of Armenia, fought against the Armenian Genocide organized by the of Germany, Frank-Walter Stein- in the separatist-held areas elec- the region will still be closely meier. The steps of this formula tions can never be truly ‘free’ be- linked to Russia. emy’s staff. Trudeau has denied ruling Liberal Party and the Con- Turks, and the fact is that Garegin Nzhdeh, by the way, led many are: all foreign militias, volunteers cause for the past five years being (AP) any wrong-doing, and claimed servatives. important Russian officers in 1918 on a very important front. part during the Armenian-Turkish war,” Pashinyan said. Nikol Pashinyan stressed that “the Armenian government pays special attention to war veterans.” “Just a few months ago we doubled the social benefits In Syria, making to all veterans of the Great Patriotic War. I think it’s a really important decision,” he said. BorisJohnsoncould America ashamed beabout toU-turn Turkmenistan, again —and weaker There are several hundred fewer America’s actual commitment to ontheIrishborder Kurdish men, women and chil- human rights and to its friends and Russia tohold talks The Prime Minister and Leo Varadkar agree that a dren alive today than there were loyal allies around the world. pathway to a potential deal exists – but it almost on Sunday when President It is not the first time there has certainly means jettisoning the DUP. at highest level Trump and Turkish President been a gap between United States Recep Tayyip Erdogan had what rhetoric and world reality: Frank- Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks Oct. 11 with Turk- might be called a “perfect” tele- lin D. Roosevelt and the Jews of Could a Brexit deal be in the off- cussion concentrated on the chal- That the Prime Minister and men President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov before the start of the phone agreement. Trump would Europe. Dwight D. Eisenhower ing after all? After a crisis sum- lenges of customs and consent. the taoiseach’s meeting broke up summit of CIS member states in Ashgabat city, Trend reports refer- pull out the few hundred U.S. and the Hungarian Revolution. mit on the Wirral, Boris Johnson They also discussed the po- with an agreed form of cautiously ring to the Russian media Oct. 11. Assistant to Russia’s President Yuri troops supporting Kurdish forc- John F. Kennedy and Laos, Berlin and Leo Varadkar have put their tential to strengthen bilateral re- optimistic words rather than yet Ushakov said that the heads of state will discuss issues of bilateral es in Northern Syria and acting and Cuba. Lyndon Johnson and names to a conciliatory state- lations, including on Northern more public disagreement is a sign cooperation, as well as a number of topical issues of a regional nature. as a tripwire for U.S. interven- the Prague Spring. Congress's ment talking up the chances of a Ireland. They agreed to reflect that, for now at least, both sides “From January to July 2019, Russia-Turkmenistan trade increased tion. Turkey would invade and 1973 funding cutoff for South Viet- compromise on the Irish border. further on their discussions and are taking a break from what crush the Kurds. The U.S. would nam's defense. Richard Nixon, The Prime Minister and tao- that officials would continue to Donald Tusk described as the by 62.2 percent, to $284.1 million,” Ushakov noted. “At the same do nothing. There will be a lot Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and time, Russian exports grew by 80.7 percent, to $197.2 million, im- iseach have had a detailed and engage intensively on them. Fol- “stupid blame game” ahead of 31 fewer Kurds in existence 24 hours Taiwan. George H.W. Bush and constructive discussion. Both lowing their discussions the tao- October. Even more significant ports - by 31.7 percent, to $86.9 million.” from now and in the days that the Kurds in Iraq, China’s Tianan- continue to believe that a deal is iseach will consult with the Task- than the existence of the words is About 190 companies with Russian capital operate in Turkmenistan. follow, and exponentially more men Square and the Bosnian Mus- in everybody’s interest. They force 50 and the Brexit Secretary their content. That both Dublin dead and maimed, as Turkey’s lims. Bill Clinton and the Bosnian agreed that they could see a path- Stephen Barclay will meet Mich- and Westminster believe there is quasi-genocidal campaign contin- Muslims and Rwanda. George W. way to a possible deal. Their dis- el Barnier tomorrow morning. a “pathway to a possible deal.” Declaration on strategic ues. As the Kurdish forces des- Bush and the Russians in Geor- perately fight to protect their gia. Barack Obama and the Iranian economic co-op of CIS families, they will be distracted Revolution, the Russians in WhyEthiopianPrimeMinister AbiyAhmedwontheNobelPeacePrize from their hitherto successful role Ukraine, 400,000 dead Syrians countriessigned in Ashgabat in defeating ISIS and holding thou- and Russia's return to the Middle Ethiopia’s young Prime Minis- culminating in a truly remarkable breaking out in the Horn of Africa sands of its fighters in captivity. East in a dominant new position. ter Abiy Ahmed Ali has been moment 0n June 26 that year, — and the peace agreement they The Summit of the CIS Heads of State in Ashgabat city has ended President Trump minimized the Donald Trump and China’s geno- awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace when Eritrean leaders flew to the signed has held. This can help ex- with the signing ceremony of the final documents aimed at strength- consequences if they escape or cidal program against the Uighurs, Prize. In conferring the honor, capitol of Ethiopia for peace plain why Ethiopian Prime Min- ening and development of constructive interaction in the CIS format, are released, saying Europe and the concentration camps in the Nobel Prize Committee said talks. This was the first a high ister Abiy Ahmed has won the Trend reports referring to the Turkmenistan State News Agency. would bear the burden of refu- North Korea. Each episode taught the Ethiopian leader was award- level meeting between these erst- Nobel Peace Prize. At the time, I gees. The next day, Erdogan subsequent generations of inter- ed the prize “for his efforts to while foes in nearly twenty spoke with Michael Woldermair- These documents include Declaration on Strategic Economic Cooper- achieve peace and international years. In the late 1990s, the two am, an Assistant Professor of In- ation of the CIS Member States and an appeal to their peoples and the threatened to enable just that re- national outlaws how far they sult if Europeans criticize his could go in pursuing their own in- cooperation, and in particular for countries fought a brutal war and ternational Relations and Politi- world community in connection with the 75th anniversary of the military actions. From President ternal oppression and external ag- his decisive initiative to resolve despite a ceasefire agreement, the cal Science at the Pardee School Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Obama’s unenforced “red line” in gression without Washington act- the border conflict with neigh- two countries remained actively of Global Studies at Boston Uni- The documents were also signed on Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the Syria to Trump’s unapologetic ing to back up its moral outrage boring Eritrea.” These peace ef- hostile to each other. But in June versity who explained how these CIS and on holding the next meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of “green light,” the world’s tyrants and devotion to international law. forts between Ethiopia and Eri- 2018, that suddenly–and swift- two irreconcilable foes so quick- State in Tashkent Oct. 16, 2020. are learning useful lessons about Initially. trea began in earnest in 2018, ly– began to change. Peace was ly came to the peace table. SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES

IMF is coming to Belarus as minsk intensifies dialogue A mission of the International China is pushing forward reforms Monetary Fund (IMF) to review on the fiscal powers of central and the economic situation in Belarus local governments with a high- will start working in Minsk this stake action plan on some of the October. The IMF mission will country's most important taxes. work in Minsk from 29 October The State Council, the cabinet, till 5 November. During this time, has released a guideline to estab- they will meet with Belarusian lish a fiscal relationship between authorities, the National Bank rep- the central and local governments resentatives, and experts. The aim built upon clearly defined pow- of the mission is to review the ers and responsibilities, appropri- current economic situation in the ate financial resource allocation country. The previous mission and greater balance between re- worked in Belarus last November. gions. The document clarified that Then the IMF experts advised the country will maintain the thinking about a backup plan in equal split of value-added tax case negotiations with Moscow to (VAT) revenues between the cen- compensate for the *tax maneu- tral and local governments to sta- ver fail. Earlier, Belarus’ Finance bilize expectations and encourage Minister Maksim Yermolovich local governments to develop said that Belarus plans to consid- competitive industries and expand er a new program on structural tax sources. China's tax revenues reforms with the IMF and World can be divided into three catego- Bank next week. “We have the ba- ries: central tax, local tax and tax sis for the negotiations. We plan shared between the central and to discuss the results of the gov- local governments. VAT accounts ernment’s measures to stabilize for the majority of shared tax rev- the macroeconomic situation and enues. In 2016, the country im- the possibility to launch a pro- plemented a comprehensive re- gram to support the structural form in replacing the business tax, changes,” Yermolovich noted. a mainstay of local tax revenues, Minsk has developed and almost with VAT in a bid to ease the tax reached an agreement with the burden on companies. The reform World Bank on a reform roadmap. also replaced the 75-percent-to- Talks with the IMF on a reform 25-percent split of VAT revenues program and $3 billion loan were tended the equal revenue distri- The VAT a firm must pay is its called excess tax paid. The excess ing are now allowed to get re- Now required to pay 15 per- put on hold in 2017. Recall that with an equal share between the bution scheme and improved the output tax minus the input tax. part can be used by a firm to off- funds to buoy cash flow. cent first and then the remain- central and local governments for last June the Russian government refund sharing mechanism for When the taxpayer's output tax is set taxes in the next taxable peri- Under the previous refund shar- ing 35 percent based on its share approved changes in oil taxes that a transition period of up to three excess VAT paid to alleviate lo- insufficient to cover its input tax, od. Companies in some sectors ing mechanism local governments of the previous year's VAT rev- years. The new guideline has ex- will see oil export duties being grad- cal government's fiscal pressure. the difference between the two is including equipment manufactur- had to pay half of the refund. enue. ually cut over the next six years. Laos, Cambodia imports can threaten Vietnam auto industry Even weaker economies with less From January to September, the ministry reported. As Vietnam developed industries can threat- sales of imported cars rose 150 has scrapped imports tariffs on en Vietnam's auto industry due percent year-on-year to nearly cars made in ASEAN countries to its low localization rate, the 93,600, while that of locally- with a localization rate of at least Trade Ministry said. While the assembled vehicles dropped 13 40 percent since last year, the do- Facebook chief executive Mark pact on the Financial Services and Banking Committee and said the cumstances Libra posed a threat domestic auto industry is already percent to 136,800 units, ac- mestic market will have to deal Zuckerberg will testify at the US Housing Sectors.” The move cryptocurrency would not be to the “monetary sovereignty” of facing fierce competition from car cording to the Vietnam Automo- with additional competition from House of Representatives this comes with Facebook’s planned launched without regulatory ap- governments and could not be au- imports, mostly from Thailand bile Manufacturers’ Association Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. month on the social network’s digital coin Libra facing heavy proval. Marcus and other Facebook thorized in Europe. and Indonesia, other ASEAN (VAMA). "Auto imports will Vietnam’s car businesses have plan for a global digital currency, criticism from regulators and executives have claimed the new Last week, digital payments firm economies are emerging threats, continue to rise because of surg- only participated in low-value seg- officials announced Wednesday. lawmakers in the United States digital coin could help lower costs PayPal said it was quitting the the Ministry of Industry and ing domestic demand, severely ment of the supply chain and has The House Financial Services and Europe. Earlier this year, for global money transfers and help alliance of companies and organi- Trade said in a recent report to affecting domestic auto manu- not mastered core technology in Committee said in a statement David Marcus, Facebook’s exec- those without access to the bank- zations promoting Libra, raising the National Assembly. facturing and our trade balance," producing engines. Zuckerberg would be the sole wit- utive heading the digital coin ef- ing system. French economy and questions over Facebook’s abili- ness at the hearing on “An Exam- fort, defended the plan during finance minister Bruno Le Maire ty to launch the coin early next ination of Facebook and Its Im- more than two hours at a Senate has warned that under current cir- year as planned. The IMF wants Singapore retail sales WB: Cambodia's economy to fall for 7th straight massive carbon month in August moderate to 7 percent this year taxesto fight SINGAPORE'S retail sales have Cambodia's economy is project- WB’s senior country economist ucts sold to the EU were garment, fallen for the seventh consecutive ed to moderate to 7 percent in Sodeth Ly said during a press con- footwear, travel goods and rice. month in August, compared to a 2019 after experiencing a better- ference in Phnom Penh on the Bustling construction activity has climate change year ago, on the back of poor than-expected growth rate of 7.5 launch of the bank's Cambodia continued, reflecting sustained motor vehicle sales. Retailers took percent in 2018, the World Bank Economic Update report. Accord- appetite for investment. As a re- The International Monetary ambitious scale." What they fected" by the move to climate- in S$3.6 billion, of which 5.5 per (WB) said in its new report re- ing to the report, garment and foot- sult, import growth of steel sky- Fund is calling on major green- found: IMF analysts measured friendly energy. The big picture: cent came from online sales. This leased on October 10. The coun- wear exports, accounting for about rocketed to 63.5 percent year-on- house gas-emitting countries to the cost-benefit of CO2 taxes in The IMF is calling for carbon pric- is a 4.1 per cent fall compared with try’s growth relies heavily on 70 percent of total merchandise year in volume terms. It said the implement carbon taxes that the $25–$75 range and found es that are far higher than what August 2018, and a 1.3 per cent garment and footwear exports, exports, grew at 17.7 percent in tourism sector remained resilient, reach $75-per-ton by 2030 to carbon pricing would produce has proven politically feasible month-on-month drop from July tourism, construction and real 2018, but eased slightly to 15.3 as international arrival growth ac- bolster today's "inadequate" re- substantial emissions cuts and thus far — something the authors 2019. Excluding motor vehicles, estate, and agriculture, according percent year-on-year in June 2019. celerated to 11.2 percent year-on- sponses to climate change. Why health benefits despite econom- acknowledge. "About 50 countries retail sales still registered a 1 per to the report. While remaining Cambodia’s exports to the Euro- year in June 2019 compared to it matters: Their new report says ic tradeoffs. Taxes could be have a carbon pricing scheme in cent year-on-year drop, but saw strong, export performance eased pean Union (EU) totaled 4.77 bil- 10.7 percent in 2018, with almost the window for keeping temper- structured to mitigate burdens some form. But the global average a 2.2 per cent month-on-month slightly, however, bustling con- lion EUR (5.3 billion USD) last 40 percent of international arriv- ature rise to manageable levels is from higher energy costs, such carbon price is currently only $2 improvement from July. Motor struction activity continues, the year. Most of the Cambodian prod- als coming from China./. "closing rapidly" and that "limit- as redistributing money to poor a ton, far below what the planet vehicles was the worst performer ing global warming to 2°C or less households, and to support needs. The challenge is for more with a 20.3 per cent year-on-year requires policy measures on an workers "disproportionally af- countries to adopt. plunge, followed by furniture and household equipment that saw a Legalthreat against theEconomist shows 9.8 per cent fall. The best per- Africa: Freetrade forming categories were clothing O il pr ices spike and footwear at 4.9 per cent, de- hostilitytopressfreedominLebanon pact tospearhead partment stores (excluding super- after I r an ian tan ker markets) at 4.7 per cent and med- Four lawyers have formally ac- feared currency crisis has begun to Doughan denied that their actions ical goods and toiletries at 4.0 per cused an article by the Econo- bite in Lebanon.” The lawyers — had political motivations and said Africa's economic cent. "The fall in retail sales was mist magazine of harming Leba- Khalil Qabbani, Rami Itani, Mo- the issue was a “national” one. r epor tedly explodes largely concentrated in big-ticket non’s public interest, as concerns hammad Doughan, and Sana al-Ri- “What prompted us as lawyers growth items, suggesting sustained cau- over press freedom in the coun- fai — claim the article damages to take action was the abusive try continue amid fears of a wors- Lebanon’s reputation. According exposure of the Lebanese flag, off J eddah coast Sun City — A technology execu- tious behaviour in consumer ex- ening economic situation. On to another Beirut-based lawyer which offends every Lebanese penditure given the economic tive has forecast the African Con- Tuesday, the lawyers sent a le- who knows the four lawyers and citizen,” Doughan explained to Al tinental Free Trade Area (AfCF- slowdown," Barnabas Gan, econ- Oil prices surged more than two site TankerTrackers.com.inc gal notice to Lebanon’s prosecu- asked to remain anonymous, they Arabiya English. “In addition, we percent Friday after reports of shared images published on TA) to result in massive econom- omist at United Overseas Bank, tor of cassation – the highest civil are members of the “March 14” considered that this article would ic growth and help alleviate pov- said in a report, noting that in- an Iranian tanker exploding 60 Twitter which appeared to show court reserved for issues deemed political alliance, a label which re- undermine investor confidence in miles from Saudi Arabia’s port the “Sabiti” with little damage. erty in the continent. Carel Coet- elastic consumer items continued to harm public interest – regard- fers to the anti-Syrian regime po- Lebanon at a time when we need zee, the Chief Executive Officer to cushion the overall decline in ing an article in the Economist litical coalition led by Prime Min- them. It also undermines the city of Jeddah, sparking fresh Iranian media had previously of NEC XON, highlighted the retail sales. titled “Broke in Beirut: A long- ister Sathe Future Movement. state's economic standing.” supply concerns with tensions said that the explosions were the prominent role that technology already high after last month’s result of missiles. A spokesman would play in the impact of the attacks on two Saudi crude facil- for the company initially sug- trade agreement endorsed by a ities. The news sent Brent surg- gested that the missiles may majority of African countries. ing 2.3 percent to $60.46, while have come from the direction of In an interview with CAJ News Russia's Central Bank savagely dismisses West Texas Intermediate jumped Saudi Arabia. However, the Africa at the company's annual 2.1 percent to $54.69. Prices had company later withdrew that Pan-African summit in Sun City, already been rising on growing claim in a formal statement. The North West province, Coetzee said 'obvious' national Cryptocurrency hopes for a breakthrough in the company also denied the Irani- the resultant growth in intra-Afri- China-US trade talks. an foreign ministry's statement can trade would save African econ- The Russian Central Bank has never been a fan of cryptocurrencies. Unnamed sources had reported- that the alleged missiles had omies vast financial resources on imports. "AfCFTA will by 2050 Central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina has adopted a hardline stance ly told ISNA that the explosion come from Saudi Arabia. caused heavy damages and oil is The oil company denied reports be the highest contributor to against cryptocurrencies in Russia, so her latest statement regarding growth and poverty alleviation in the fate of a national cryptocurrency in the country doesn’t come spilling in the Red Sea. Howev- of the missiles and said that the er, footage from Iranian Press TV situation was under control, and Africa," the executive projected. across as a surprise. "With AfCFTA, there will be low- Russian central bank head disses cryptocurrencies, again showed that the tanker was not that there were no casualties damaged. The ship tracking web- caused by the incident. er tariffs on goods produced among Russian news outlet Tass reports that Nabiullina doesn’t think that those 54 Africa countries." Russia needs a national cryptocurrency. The agency quoted the cen- tral bank’s head, who was speaking at a fintech forum, as saying: “As Russia’s Central Bank, we have been studying this topic and the need to issue a national cryptocurrency is not obvious for us. Not only for India Inc's revenues declines by 3 per cent in technological reasons, but also because it is (difficult) to really esti- mate what advantages will the national digital currency give, for exam- Q2 FY20, first time in 14 quarters: CRISIL ple, in comparison with existing electronic non-cash payments. There are many risks, and the advantages may not be obvious enough.” In The protracted slowdown in half years -- that revenues have consumption segments - exclud- May this year, Russia’s largest bank – Sberbank – had decided to call consumption in the economy has fallen in a quarter. The estimate ing that of banking, financial ser- off its plans to develop a cryptocurrency in light of the unfavorable begun to take a toll on the bal- is based on an analysis of 430 vices, insurance and oil companies. regulatory scenario. This was despite the fact that the bank’s CEO, ance sheets of corporates with companies, which account for In the previous four quarters, i.e. Herman Gref, is known to be a proponent of bitcoin. revenues estimated to have fall- naarly 65 per cent of the market between Q2FY19 and Q1FY20, Uncertain Future en by 3 per cent in the second capitalisation (excluding finan- aggregate revenue had grown 11- Nabiullina has raised concerns over Russia’s plans to legalize crypto quarter of the current financial cial services and oil companies) 12 per cent on an average. "Auto- in the past, even though other government machinery in the country year, a report by CRISIL Re- of the National Stock Exchange mobiles, one of the key sectors have tried to take a positive approach. search has shown. This is the first (NSE). It is largely on the back driven by consumption spending, (BBC) time in 14 quarters -- three and a of a sharp drop in demand across continues to reel under a demand. SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES Brie Larson confirms she and other Avengers Kevin Hart breaks silence after horrific talked to Kevin Feige about all-female movie car crash, won’t After being honored at Variety’s Power of Women recently, she spoke up about it. Larson revealed there’s been some discus- sion about doing an all-female Marvel project. As she insinuated, speaking up may be the only way to make anything a reality. resume work until 2020 Actor Kevin Hart has released a statement after the Black Widow in the coming year. horrific car crash which left him injured in September. What happens after that, though, is anyone’s guess. After being honored at Variety’s Power of Women recently, she spoke up about it. Larson revealed there’s been some discussion about do- ing an all-female Marvel project. As she insinuated, speaking up may be the only way to make anything a reality. During the above Variety interview, Larson confirmed she and her fellow women cast talked considerably with Kevin Feige about creating a Marvel movie with just wom- en. When using the words “tru- ly discussed,” Larson paused to note it’s only a discussion. Feige reportedly has given full support toward doing such a film. He’s been championing more gender diversity anyway, though he has to butt heads with others in power at Marvel. One major roadblock might be little heard about. With Ike Perlmutter still heading Marvel, it seems there’s been some inner turmoil on bringing more diversity to the MCU. A major workaround in the last four years has been the Actor Kevin Hart has broken his but love for Jared and wish him silence over the car crash inci- and Rebecca a speedy recovery," The push for diversity in the Marvel has, at least, succeeded in LGBTQ representation and it has plays Captain Marvel in the fran- splitting of Marvel’s Entertain- ment and Studios divisions to dent that caused him a serious Hart said. Brettler told Entertain- MCU is continuously well-mean- bringing more gender and ethnic yet to create an all-female Mar- chise, has led the way in bringing back injury. Hartm was hospit- ment Weekly that Hart will not ing, even if some of it is just “talk” diversity. But the Marvel Cinemat- vel movie. But all that may more women superheroes: some- help give more autonomy to movie productions. alised last month after the vin- be fully back to work until early across a corporate board table. ic Universe (MCU) still lacks change soon. Brie Larson, who thing we’re going to see extend to tage car he was a passenger in 2020. "While he’s doing a little veered into an embankment in work here and there for the film, Malibu Hills, California. He was he doesn’t expect to be fully back Shraddha Kapoor accompanied by Jared Black and to work until the new year," Bret- Saif Ali Khan calls Sacred Games season 2 Rebecca Broxterman at the time tler said. Though the actor has not proves her box of accident. After spending 10 fully recovered, he recently re- office draw once days at the hospital, Hart was sumed work and shot promotional ‘disappointing’: I don’t know if the ending worked discharged following which he material for his upcoming film Ju- again with back- underwent physical therapy at a manji: The Next Level. Actor Saif Ali Khan has said that rehabilitation facility. The actor Meanwhile, a California High- to-back 150 he agrees with fan consensus that released a statement through his way Patrol report has found that crore smash hits! the second season of Netflix’s Sa- attorney Andrew Brettler and Black was "recklessly" driving the cred Games was ‘a bit of a let wished the two speedy recov- car which led to the accident, ac- down’. Saif, who was promoting ery. Black, who was driving the cording to USA Today. Investiga- his upcoming film Laal Kaptaan, vehicle, had also sustained seri- tors also say that no one in the told the Quint in an interview that ous back injury. "I have nothing car was wearing a seat belt. despite the inconsistent reception, he still feels like ‘overall it was great’. He said, “The first season was outstanding. It was like some Ayushmann Khurrana’s Bala of the best things we ever had. It’s got nominated for an Emmy. It’s a in trouble, may face a third proper show.” But, he added, “The second season was a bit of a let copyright violation case down. I was wondering why it’s called Sacred Games. And it’s be- from Ujda Chaman makers cause there’s that guru in! Now I know.” In the second season of the After Kamal Kant and Praveen Mochale, popular Netflix series, Saif’s char- acter, Sartaj Singh tries his best to Abhishek Mangat may soon take legal action save Mumbai from a possible nu- against makers of Ayushmann Khurrana’s Bala. clear attack. Meanwhile, the de- ceased gangster Ganesh Gaitonde’s story is told in flashbacks. A third been criticised for changing its ambiguous ending has also left a know if it worked. And certain important character, a spiritual tone in the second season, and few fans scratching their heads. things weren’t tied up. So it was guru played by Pankaj Tripathi, for not satisfyingly concluding Saif concurred, “It kind of mean- a little disappointing in that is also introduced. The show has its multiple plot threads. The dered off. And the climax, I don’t sense.” Shraddha Kapoor is one of Bol- lywood's most bankable stars at Closet launched! the box-office today, and the ac- Up close and personal: tress again set the cash registers Deepika Padukone hits ringing recently, with not one, but two massive hits. First, the Rashid Irani reviews opens her closet to Hindi version of Saaho surprised the world to spread many in the trade and media as Diego Maradona the audience thronged theaters to awareness on the the tune of 150 cr net. Then it occasion of World was the turn of some content-fla- vored charm as the masses again Mental Health Day returned in large numbers for Chhichhore, resulting in both Deepika Padukone is one actress Actor Ayushmann Khurrana is ers shifting their Ayushmann films hitting a century and a half who always makes a statement with getting wide appreciation for his Khurrana’s Bala as both films her fashion picks, each time and is act in the first trailer of his up- have their lead actors grappling at ticket windows. Shraddha undoubtedly, one of the most beau- Kapoor is currently on top of her tiful leading actresses in the indus- coming film, Bala. However, the with premature balding. “We are game. The actress has received try. The actress always comes up producers of the movie are strug- discussing it with our legal team immense love from the audience with her unique sartorial choices gling with legal battles and more and will take action in a few days. for both of her movies Saaho and which sets her apart. And today, to - another film titled Ujda Cha- This is a clear case of copyright Chhichhore which were box of- the delight of her fans- the actress man will also hit theatres soon violation. I can understand two has launched her CLOSET which is and seems to have a similar sto- films around a bald character re- fice hits as they have received open to one and all on the occasion ryline as well protagonist etched leasing within a short span of positive responses from fans, of World Mental Health day. Recent- on similar lines. time, but in this case, there are critics, & celebrities as well. The Acclaimed British filmmaker Asif his cocaine addiction, his dealings ly, she announced her Closet Initia- A Mumbai Mirror report striking similarities with my film characters she played were total- Kapadia’s follow-up to his previ- with the Neapolitan mafia and It- tive and today, she launched her clos- said Sunny Singh-starrer Ujda and the original whose rights are ly different from each other, and ous two award-winning documen- aly’s 1990 World Cup defeat to et on her website. Every month, the Chaman was the reason behind with me,” producer Abhishek it shows that she is one of the taries (Senna, 2010; Amy, 2015) Argentina under the captaincy of actress will be sharing some of her Dinesh Vijan and his co-produc- Mangat told the tabloid. most versatile actors in Bolly- is another compelling non-fiction their former hero. Over the course favorite pieces from her closet. wood. Shraddha Kapoor has kick- portrait, this time of soccer super- of the two-hour film, the camera started shooting for her upcom- star Diego Maradona. Incorporat- rarely strays from its subject. We ing never-seen-before footage are made privy, albeit only brief- ing film Baaghi 3 as she posted sourced from the footballer’s per- ly, to Maradona’s impoverished some pictures from the sets on sonal archive, Kapadia primarily childhood in a favela and his con- South Park ban by China highlights her social media handles which concentrates on the rise-and-fall troversial ‘Hand of God’ goal in have just increased the excitement career arc between 1984 and 1992, the 1986 quarter final World Cup levels of the fans. Meanwhile, when Maradona was in the glare encounter against Britain (wide- US entertainment stu- Shraddha will be next seen in of international spotlight. Leading ly considered symbolic revenge Hollywood tightrope act Remo D'Souza's 'Street Dancer an unfancied Naples club team to for his country’s defeat four dios try to avoid irking 3D' co-starring Varun Dhawan. two national-league titles and the years earlier in the Falklands China's removal of animated com- Beijing censors without edy South Park from online sites The film will release in January coveted UEFA Cup, Maradona’s War). It also looks at his stead- suppressing artistic fall from grace was hastened by fast refusal to acknowledge. just as it dropped United States 2020. basketball broadcasts highlights a freedom for content pro- tension familiar to Hollywood ducers. studios: the need to please Chi- Newsmaker: With The Irishman, Martin nese authorities in order to reach the country's vast audience. Me- money as possible by having ac- Scorsese return to the gangster genre, dia companies count on ticket cess to the China market, but not sales in China - projected to be- become so embarrassed by the come the world's largest movie backlash at home," said Stanley but with a Marvel movie budget market next year - to bolster their Rosen, a political science profes- sor at the University of Southern Martin Scorsese has said that if bottom lines. And some films, such as recent Oscar winner Green California's USC US-China Insti- he hadn’t become a filmmaker, tute. The creators of irreverent he’d have been a priest. Directing Book, rely on Chinese investment to make it to the big screen. That, comedy South Park took aim at movies, for him, is an act of de- that approach - as well as China's votion; of honouring traditions; along with China's limit of 34 im- shape programming in a way that dom of producers and writers. ported movies per year, has forced satisfies Chinese censors with- "They have tried to do it in such policies on free speech - in an of faith in his own abilities and in episode released. others’. One of the most endur- movie and television studios to out suppressing the creative free- a way that they can make as much ing Hollywood stories about Scorsese (popularised by Quen- tin Tarantino, never one to let the Here's when Yo Yo Honey Singh said when asked if awards are important to him truth get in the way of a good Yo Yo Honey Singh, the nation's musical sensation has always taken over the story) is about how, after being hearts of the audience with his amazing albums. The iconic rapper has re- told to recut his classic Taxi Driver ceived applause from the fans for his amazing recent releases. Recently, in an to avoid the dreaded ‘X’ rating, interview, when he was asked if awards are important for you? He shared, Scorsese stayed up all night drink- "Some people say unhe award se farak nahi padhta. But for an artist, it ing, with a loaded gun in his lap. matters. The inspiration gets doubled, that 'I've got this one this time, it The next day, Tarantino said gid- who’d ruined his movie. Fans of events of the film, in which a lone should get even better' Families get ecstatic when they see you receiving an dily, Scorsese intended on going Taxi Driver would no doubt have anarchist attempts to assassinate award. Mine claps, makes noise and hugs me, when I come home. My mom to the offices of Columbia Pic- realised by now how close this a presidential candidate. is my inspiration, but my father is an even bigger support now. There was a tures and murdering the executive incident came to resembling the (BBC) time when he wasn't able to support me in my music dreams. SATURDAY.OCTOBER 12, 2019 AFGHANISTANTIMES EnglandEuro2020qualifiers:GarethSouthgatetorefine Virat Kohli scores seventh Test first choiceXIagainst CzechRepublicandBulgaria double ton, the Best centre-back partnership? Who joins Harry Kane and Raheem most by an Indian Sterling up front? Selection dilemmas for Southgate across the pitch

Virat Kohli became the first In- Elgar (6) before Mohammed dia batsman to hit seven Test Shami had Temba Bavuma (8) double hundreds as his side de- caught behind on review as the clared on 601-5 before reducing Proteas closed 565 runs in arrears. South Africa to 36-3 on day two Nightwatchman Anrich Nortje of the second Test in Pune. (2no off 22) is at the crease along- Kohli struck a career-best 254 side Theunis de Bruyn (20no) hav- not out, building on Mayank ing successfully overturned a Agarwal's century on day one, caught-behind dismissal off Shami as he overtook the six Test dou- on nought and then been dropped ble tons achieved by country- off the same bowler by Agarwal men Sachin Tendulkar and Viren- at fourth slip. Kohli enjoyed a life der Sehwag. The 30-year-old on 208 when he cut to Faf du joins ex-England batsman Wal- Plessis at slip, with Proteas spin- ly Hammond and Sri Lanka's ner Senuran Muthusamy shown Mahela Jayawardene on seven to have overstepped and subse- Test double hundreds, with only quently called for a no-ball. The Sir Don Bradman (12), Kumar India captain earlier extended his Sangakkara (11) and Brian Lara fourth-wicket partnership with (9) managing more. Ajinkya Rahane (59) to 178 - the England should seal an impres- tional break, Southgate will only gate to put huge importance on the Joe Gomez against Spain and Lewis Dunk, and Maguire along- Kohli reached 200 from 295 pair's ninth stand of over 150 runs sively straight forward qualifica- have two qualifiers in Novem- upcoming contests. What is En- then Kyle Walker, James side one of Gomez, Stones or, on balls, having completed his first batting together in Tests - after tion for Euro 2020 on Friday night ber, a couple of friendlies in gland's best centre-back partner- Tarkowski and Maguire against four occasions, Keane. The lat- hundred of the calendar year and India resumed on 273-3. Rahane when they face Czech Republic - March and then potentially just ship? It is a question Southgate has Switzerland in the two interna- ter pairing have started all four the 26th of his career from 173 was unable to turn a 20th Test fif- but the fixture, along with Mon- two warm-up games at the end clearly pondered at great length tionals after Russia 2018, he has Euro 2020 qualifiers so far but deliveries, before calling time in ty into an 11th ton after snicking day's trip to Bulgaria, also offers of the season before Euro 2020 since the World Cup, having tried reverted to a four-man defence. after a mistake-filled 5-3 thriller the final session following the Keshav Maharaj behind to Quin- Gareth Southgate a rare opportu- gets under way. That is precious seven different combinations at the Five centre-back partnerships with Kosovo last time out, dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja ton de Kock to hand the left-arm nity to refine his team selection little time to try out different heart of his defence. have since been trialled in the sub- Southgate could be looking for (91). Seamer Umesh Yadav then spinner his 100th Test wicket in with next summer's champion- players, drill passages of play or After going with the trios of sequent 10 internationals: Gomez more security. ousted South Africa openers his 27th match. ships in mind. After this interna- tweak systems, so expect South- John Stones, Harry Maguire and and Stones, Michael Keane and (BBC) Aiden Markram (0) and Dean (BBC) Nike Oregon Project RuizJr vsJoshua:'Topclasssparring' boosting shut down following AnthonyJoshua'sbidtowinrematch Alberto Salazar's Anthony Joshua has revamped his sparring with new and im- proved partners ahead of his re- four-year doping ban match with Andy Ruiz Jr, says Justin Rose promoter Eddie Hearn. Joshua "struggled" to identify appropri- ate sparring partners before his enjoys late defeat to Ruiz Jr, who replaced original opponent Jarrell Miller, Italian Open according to Hearn. But it has been a key area of focus before birdie blitz to the second fight with Ruiz Jr on December 7, live on Sky Sports get within Box Office, with the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on the line. "We've got that under two of lead control," Hearn told Sky Sports Justin Rose picked up five shots about recruiting sparring partners over the last eight holes to propel for Joshua. "Sparring is some- himself into contention after the thing we've been working at. First opening round of the Italian Open time around we only had four The Nike Oregon Project has been "This situation, along with on- in Rome. Rose was level par for weeks, and three weeks of spar- shut down less than two weeks going unsubstantiated assertions, the day and seven off the lead until ring. We found guys but proba- after Alberto Salazar received a is a distraction for many of the he reeled off four birdies in five bly not the guys we really want- four-year ban for doping offenc- athletes and is compromising holes from the 11th and added an- ed. "Now the sparring is top class. biggest heavyweight events of all Speaking about previous spar- a good fighter. "You can't even en- es. The American sportswear their ability to focus on their other at 17 as he fired an excellent He is focused and looking great. time." Joshua denied rumours ring partners Joshua said: "I feel joy your training and work on brand had initially backed Salaz- training and competition needs. five-under 66 on the tournament's Eight weeks to go. "We're not in- that he had been knocked down like people are more interested things without someone trying to ar, who coached Sir Mo Farah to "I have therefore made the deci- return to Olgiata Golf Club for the terested in looking at Tyson Fury, in sparring before the first Ruiz in their five minutes of fame. make up false allegations, and try- four Olympic gold medals, after sion to wind down the Oregon first time since 2002. Tapio Pulk- Deontay Wilder or anything else. Jr fight, and told AJ: The Untold "Even in sparring, everyone ing to get five minutes of fame. the US Anti-Doping Agency (US- Project." Oregon Project athlete kanen will sleep on the outright It's just about winning one of the Truth about his frustrations. wants to be famous, rather than (Sky Sport) ADA) findings. The decision was Galen Rupp, who won silver be- lead after his bogey-free 64, with announced ahead of Sunday's hind Farah in the 10,000m at the Rory Sabbatini emerging as his near- Chicago Marathon, where Farah, London Olympics in 2012, is in est challenger, with Rose among a who was at the Nike Oregon the field for the Chicago Mara- group of five players in a share of Project from 2011 to 2017, will thon along with former Salazar third place. But home favourite be defending his title. A memo athlete Jordan Hasay, who is the NovakDjokovic Francesco Molinari has some from Nike CEO Mark Parker, second quickest US female mar- ground to make up after he re- seen by Runners World, read: athon runner in history. turned a 71. knockedout of RugbyWorldCup:Scotlandseek ShanghaiMastersby legal adviceonJapangame StefanosTsitsipas Chief executive Mark Dodson has confirmed the Scottish Rugby Union has sought legal advice re- Novak Djokovic's hopes of fin- over Djokovic. Djokovic sits at ond and third sets. I started well in the rally. I didn't make him de- garding their potentially-cancelled ishing the year as world No 1 the top of the rankings at the in the first set, but I wasn't sharp fend enough. I just gave him enough game against Japan. World Rug- suffered a blow with a quarter- moment but trails Rafa Nadal in enough. "[Stefanos] had the time to really dictate the play from by has been forced to call off two final defeat by Stefanos Tsitsi- the yearly standings and, with the high-quality tennis and he the back of the court and he de- games on Saturday as Super Ty- pas at the Rolex Shanghai Mas- Spaniard absent from Shanghai, played very well after his served to win." Until Friday's phoon Hagibis prepares to wreak ters. Tsitsipas has struggled in re- had hoped to make up significant serve," the Serb added on the match, Djokovic had won 24 havoc across Japan's eastern cent months but found his form ground in China. "He deserved ATP Tour website. "He was straight sets in Asia, a run that in- coast. A decision on whether the to produce a superb 3-6 7-5 6-3 the victory," Djokovic said. "He backing up his serve with really cluded last year's Shanghai Mas- Scots' win-or-bust final Pool A victory - his second career win was the better player in the sec- good and aggressive first shots ters. game with the hosts goes ahead will be made on the morning of the game but Dodson told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the showdown should either be NBA 2019-20: Eleven players who could moved to an alternative venue or that the game has to be cancelled by seem to be determined to stick delayed until after the storm pass- goes against the whole sporting to its plan that the match is either become All-Stars for the first time this season es. Dodson said: "The first is and integrity of the tournament. played on Sunday or indeed it is most important is that we look "We've had consistent dialogue cancelled, and to have it cancelled After a summer of huge trade and free agency moves and with new- after the safety of the general since the last three or four days and have our ability to progress look rosters throughout the NBA, Mark Deeks examines 11 players public. The second thing is for around this with senior people from this group put at peril, we who could ascend to All-Star status for the first time in their careers. World Rugby to just simply state at World Rugby, but World Rug- believe is absolutely unacceptable. With every NBA offseason comes great roster upheaval, and rarely has that ever been more true than it has been this past summer. More teams had salary cap space than did not, meaning a lot of World Grand Prix: Michael van signings taking place; lots new players joining, lots of former players leaving. When combined with the season-long trade market and the Gerwen, Glen Durrant, Dave talent infusion that is the annual NBA Draft, almost half of the league's active playing roster spots have been turned over from where Chisnall and Chris Dobey chase title they ended the 2017/18 season. And these are not just nibbles around Michael van Gerwen is the red-hot favourite to win the World Grand the edges, either; certain big moves, such as the transformation of the Prix but in a tournament that has seen seeds scattered, Wayne Mardle LA Clippers, have changed the balance of power in the NBA. With and Rod Studd ponder the semi-finals. Friday's semi-final line-up is that comes greater opportunities for specific players, particularly in not one that was predicted, but the four men left standing have per- the Eastern Conference, which now looks more open than it did last haps been responsible for the best darts in the tournament. Van Ger- season. Aided by injuries to players such as Kevin Durant and Klay wen is the four-time champion but he has never defended the title, he Thompson, spots have now opened up on All-Star rosters as well. t is also the only seed remaining after the rest of the world's top eight is very early to be looking ahead to the All-Star Game, but with the were scattered by the conclusion of the quarter-finals. new season around the corner, here are some players who were not (BBc) All-Stars last year that may be this time around. SATURDAY . OCTOBER 12. 2019 -Mizan 20, 1398 H.S Vol:XIV Issue No:75 Price: Afs.20

'Evergreen': 5000 cops, Navy Black terror: The Will elections China “cracks Up close and England Euro 2020 warships secure personal: qualifiers: Gareth Afghan Elvis's real threat to settle any of hard nut” with Rashid Irani Southgate to refine legacy endures, Mamallapuram freedom in Hong Afghanistan’s new tax reform reviews first choice XI against decades for PM Modi, Xi Kong problems? Diego Czech Republic and after death Jinping summit Maradona Bulgaria

AT News Report

KABUL: Former President, Hamid Karzai, strongly condemned the continuing of night raids in the Alingar district of Laghman province, in which several civilians were killed and transferring from biometric injured. Karzai called on the war devices to main server. He also parties to abandon fighting and confirmed cyber-attacks on IEC accelerate efforts to gain a main server. “Our server is the nationwide peace through intra- main thing in elections. We have Afghan talks. He wished paradise taken special measures to avoid for the dead of the incident, any possible threats. Even there patience for their loved ones and was such attempts but experts swift recovery for the wounded. have arrived. We want to make sure that the security of our server is not decreasing again,” Mr. Danishyar said. In addition, officials said that AT Monitoring Desk Sayed Mujtaba Hashemi, head of around 23,000 result sheets and Traders Union in Sher Khan a complete data of voters from KABUL: Traders in northern Bandar, told Pajhwok Afghan 5,000 biometric devices have Kunduz province have said a News that insecurity, extortions been transferred to the IEC main number of commercial server in Kabul. However, the and lack of customary facilities AT Monitoring Desk companies at the Sher Khan had forced traders to reduce their operational and technical chief of port have been declined from investment in Kunduz province. IEC secretariat rejected report of 145 to only eight due to bad “Two years ago, 145 companies any cyber-attack on IEC main KABUL: Economic relations security situation. They warned server. “There is no evidence of between Afghanistan and were active at the port now but AT News Report Azerbaijan are developing that all companies may halt its there are only eight, if the situation said that the cyber-security of member of the IEC told Ariana cyber-attacks on our systems,” activities at the port if the does not improve, the rest of the IEC’s data center has been News that two German experts said Habib-ul-Rahman Nang, the dynamically, Azerbaijani security situation not improved. KABUL: A member of enhanced in order to counter any from Dermalog, a German chief of IEC secretariat. Earlier, Economy Minister Shahin companies... Afghanistan’s Independent threat of cyber-attacks. company, have arrived in Kabul to the IEC says experts from the Mustafayev said at the opening Election Commission (IEC) has Mohammad Hanif Danishyar, a resolve the problem of low data German... of a trade exhibition promoting Afghan products, Trend has reported. According to the minister, Afghanistan - Azerbaijan trade turnover increased by 30 percent in 2018, and by 23 percent in the first eight months of 2019. Studies conducted in this direction A group of four Taliban fighters Hairan, Mohammad Shafi and indicate that the lion share of the who have blown up a power Agha Sherin. turnover is accounted for pylon in Salang district was “The group has confessed that Azerbaijani exports. “Afghan arrested, National Directorate of based on the instructions they companies, taking advantage of Security (NDS) said in a received from their leadership, AT Monitoring Desk statement. they called head of Breshna asking the favorable conditions created According to the statement, for 1 hundred thousand dollars and in Azerbaijan, present their these Taliban members were threatened to explode the pylons KABUL: The World Bank Group products here. This is the first arrested in Ahangaran village of if they do not receive the money,” has approved a $98.8m financing exhibition in which Afghan Parwan’s Salang district. The read the statement. NDS also package, comprising a mix of products are presented in four individuals are identified as added that the four have committed Afghanistan Football Federation guarantees, a loan, and swaps, for Azerbaijan,” Mustafayev said. Del Agha-also known as such action three more times in (AFF), "was aware of this abuse two gas-to-power energy The exhibition... Mamati, Feda Mohammad the past. and had the duty to report and projects in Afghanistan. The prevent it." Aghazada was the AFF financing is aimed at increasing general secretary during the tenure domestically generated electricity of former president Keramuudin through the gas-to-power energy Karim, who earlier this year was projects, whilst leveraging given a lifetime ban by FIFA private financing for the energy TIRINKOT: Only three percent Salarzai, while addressing a he called as alarming. He said a following allegations he sexually sector in the country. World Bank of girls in central Uruzgan gathering marking the Day of total of 64,000 students, including abused female players on the Afghanistan country director province have access to Girls, said This year’s theme of 12 percent girls, were getting Afghanistan national team. Karim Henry Kerali said: education, an official said on the International Day of the education in the province. was "guilty of having abused his “Afghanistan’s energy needs are Thursday on the eve of Girld Child was “girls’ access Addressing the gathering, Deputy position and sexually abused enormous, and the new package International Day of the Girl to education. “ Salarzai said only Governor Syed Sadat Naseri asked various female players," according will support a great step forward Child. Uruzgan Education three percent of girls in Uruzgan families to send their girls to to FIFA. It also fined him 1 million for the country’s development. Director Mirza Mohammad had access to education, which schools. (Pajhwok) Swiss francs ($1 million). Investing in the energy sector is Aghazada is an executive key for the country to achieve its FIFA has banned an Afghan sexual abuse scandal. World committee member of the Asian full growth potential. football official from all football- football's governing body said Football Confederation (AFC) -- “Diversifying sources of related activity for five years for Sayed Aghazada, the former the region's governing body -- electricity supply can help more failing to act over the country's general secretary of the having only... Afghans benefit...

AT News Report

AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad said Friday that wo people have been killed they closed consulate in the during an attack on border city of Peshawar to Taliban’s co-founder protest the lowering of Afghan TMullah Abdul Ghani Bardar’s national flag by Pakistani police. house in Pakistan, Pajhwok The embassy said in a Afghan News quoted an statement that Pakistani police intelligence source as saying. stormed the Afghan Market in Hafez Mullah, the brother of Peshawar Thursday night and Mullah Baradar, was among the lowered the Afghan flag without two persons killed in the attack informing the Afghan embassy. which took place at around Afghan diplomatic agency in 7:30am in Pakistan, the source in Islamabad has denounced the flag the National Directorate of lowering as “against diplomatic Security (NDS) said. The source principles and good neighboring”. foreign affairs said that hundreds Afghan Market overnight believed the... Separately, the ministry of of Pakistani police besieged the without...

CHARIKAR: Unidentified in Gulghundi area of Parwan. He gunmen have shot dead an said it was yet to be ascertained employee of the National that what caused the incident Some districts that were under fragile security situation, whereas Directorate of Security (NDS) in while police have launched threat of attack during the election another Helmand district, Nad- central Parwan province, an investigation. Separately, NDS received improbably high vote e-Ali--which is relatively calm official said on Friday. Deputy personnel recovered 13 rockets, counts, while ballot boxes in secure compared to Garmsir--only Police Chief Abdul Wasai Rahimi three bags of machine guns bullets districts received unlikely low received 6000 votes. Local told Pajhwok Afghan News and one machine gun during a raid counts. Garmsir, a district in the officials in Helmand have unknown gunmen shot dead NDS in the Khawaja Sayaran locality southern province of Helmand, estimated the total number of personnel on Thursday evening of Chaharikar. registered 8,000 votes, despite its votes to be 113,000.