NDS Prevents Suicide Bombing in Laghman

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NDS prevents suicide bombing in Laghman The National Directorate of Secu- NDS has confiscated the rity (NDS) – Afghanistan’s intelli- suicide vest Ihsanullah had gence agency has prevented a sui- with him at the time of the cide bombing in the capital of east- raid in Chehalmati village. ern Laghman province. Meanwhile, six insurgents have been killed in joint security operation conducted by Afghan commandoes and police in Alingar District. Sarha- di Zwak, spokesperson for the governor of Laghman KABUL: Pakistan’s Foreign province said the operation Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz started in Salingar, Haidar has asked Afghan Taliban to 3 cotton stores, 2 vehicles Ghar and Qasaba areas early shun violence ahead of talks on Wednesday morning and with the government in Kabul continued till late evening in to make the peace process a gutted in Nangarhar which five militants have been success. JALALABAD: Some cotton stores, two vehicles and other tools were A statement released by NDS killed and another wounded. Aziz told reporter on destroyed in a blaze in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar prov- on Thursday states that Ihasanul- Zwak added that one of Wednesday senior officials ince, on Thursday, an official said. The fire erupted at Matin Market in lah S/O Zabihullah was assigned the militants killed was a se- from Pakistan, Afghanistan, the 4th municipality district at around 10:00am, said the governor’s by the militant commander Samar- nior commander of the group. the United States and China spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani. Seven shops and two vehicles were qand to carry out attack in a crowd- Governor’s spokesperson would meet in Islamabad in the ed area of Mehtarlam city but he identified the militant com- first half of next month to re- gutted. Khogyani added the fire, caused by a gas cylinder, spread to vive the reconciliation dialogue cotton stores that were reduced ashes. The losses are still being worked was arrested before he could reach mander killed as Mohammad between Kabul and the Tali- out. Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi expressed concerns over the inci- to his target. Nasir alias Abdul Rahman. ban Earlier, Javed Faisal, dep- dent, tasking the emergency response committee to reach the site imme- uty spokesman for the Chief diately and provide necessary help to shopkeepers. Obaidullah, one of Executive Office, told Pajh- the affected shopkeeper, said he had lost three stores of cotton account- 25 DAESH MILITANTS KILLED IN wok Afghan News the quadri- ing for 2.5 million rupees. He had no idea what caused the blaze. lateral meeting would be held NANGARHAR AIR STRIKES in Kabul. Aziz said the Afghan government wanted the recon- At least 25 militants belonging to Nangarhar has become the ciliation process to begin and Pakistan says no option but to extend stay of Afghan refugees the Islamic State (IS) or Daesh hot spot of the militant group violence to cease. Violence in PESHAWAR: The Pakistan gov- of sending back the refugees forcibly. He said Kabul had constantly been pressing Islamabad to let the group have been killed and 31 oth- in eastern part of the country Afghanistan has spiked since ernment, despite having serious refugees live in Pakistan. ers wounded in two air strikes in where it has also established the security forces took full reservations on the issue, says it Nisar praised intelligence agencies for preempting several terrorist attacks through better coordination. A eastern Nangarhar province. prisons. responsibility from Nato af- has no option but to extend the proposed Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) will start functioning by the end of June 2016. According to a statement re- Only in Achin District, the ter their combat mission end- leased by the Ministry of Defense group runs eight captivities ed last December. The advisor stay of Afghan refugees in the country. (MoD) on Thursday, the precise where they possibly keep the expressed deep concerns over strikes were carried out in past 24 around 300 villagers detained the growth of Islamic State (IS) Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the Senate on hours based on the coordinates of in the course of two months. insurgency in Afghanistan and Afghan National Army’s 201st Si- termed its existence a threat Wednesday thedeadline for the re- patriation of Afghan refugees ex- lab Corps. for Pakistan. Representatives The press release further from the four countries who pired Thursday (today). But it was not possible for the states that two gatherings of Daesh met in Islamabad on the side- belonging to the group’s command- line of Heart of Asia- Istanbul government to simply “throw out” Process Conference had agreed the three million people, the min- ers Abdul Khaliq and Sayed Ama- to re-launch the peace pro- ister said while briefing the upper rati were targeted in these attacks cess. Pakistan had also prom- house on the progress made on the in Qala-e-Shikhan area of Deh Bala ised to act against elements National Action Plan (NAP). District leaving 25 killed and 31 refusing to shun violence. The Interior Ministry as well others wounded. The first round of talks as the governments of Khyber Pa- “Sayed Amarti is believed to between the government and khtunkhwa and Balochistan have be among those killed,” the state- the Taliban was held in July. “serious reservations” about ex- ment adds. But the process collapsed af- tending the stay of Afghan refu- Several different types of ter the news of the death of gees. heavy and light weapons of Daesh Taliban's supreme leader Mul- But the Ministry of States and were also destroyed during the air lah Omar was broke. (Pajhwok) Frontier Regions opposes the idea strikes. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. FRIDAY . JANUARY 01, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir

Phone No: +93-772364666 Thierry Vircoulon E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.afghanistantimes.af Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi Advisory editorial board Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal Graphic-Designers: Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari Marketing & Advertising: Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press The constitution says Article 103: The Ministers can participate in the sessions of either House of the National Assembly. Either House of the National Assembly can demand the Regardless of what the inter- is very difficult. Anicet Dologuele, the former islative elections run the risk of participation of the Ministers in its session. national actors say in Bangui, The fifth problem is the lack prime minister and presidential marking the return of the dis- the elections will not be the end of civic education. Because of candidate, the exclusion of credited political establishment of the political transition in the a tight schedule and funding, Bozize from the electoral race with the danger of rapid disen- Central African Republic. Ini- no civic education campaign does not mean the exclusion of chantment - unless these poli- tially planned for December 27, was organised. Nobody ex- his party. ticians learn from their mistakes Editorial the legislative and presidential plained to voters - a consider- Despite these improve- and re-invent themselves. elections are taking place on able number of whom are illit- ments, the management of the The new government will December 30 with a second erate - the meaning of this elec- electoral process is still a soon have to face up to the round planned for January 31, toral process, the rights of the source of concern: the elector- electorate's expectations - as In the clutches of poverty 2016. candidates, the voters, and real cards have not been distrib- the problems after the elections Delayed five times in 2015, sponsibilities of the monitoring uted to all the CAR citizens so will be the same problems as Poverty has taken deep roots in the country while the policy- these elections will end the le- bodies. people have been allowed to before. gal transition that started in Governance challenges vote with a proof of registra- The new government will makers are clueless on how to deal with the challenge. The 2013. But can they bring Two weeks after the consti- tion amid widespread rumours have to improve the security authorities have more statements to deliver than a coherent change in the CAR? tutional referendum, the results about sales of electoral cards. situation by dealing with the The constitutional referen- are still provisional. All we Questions remain in the armed groups, encourage dia- mechanism to cope with the issue. Afghanistan is in the list of dum that was held on Decem- know is that the voter turnout run-up to the elections: How logue and trust between Mus- least developed countries. Tired of poverty, scores of people ber 13 was a test for the elec- was about 30 percent and near- many voting stations will be lim and non-Muslim communi- toral commission. This test ly 90 percent voted yes. operational on December 30? ties, rebuild the state services - turn to drug addiction or crimes. Many see addiction as an easy sheds light on several prob- It is very unclear whether How long will it take to collect especially the security servic- escape from the miseries, though for a brief period. Those who lems that may also affect the the low turnout was due to the and announce the results? es whose past record was ap- coming elections. organisational problems or the How credible will be the con- palling - and enable the resump- are resilient are broken at some point and see fleeing from the The first problem is securi- electorate's lack of interest. stitutional court when dealing tion of economic activities. country as a good option to bid farewell to poverty and make ty. In the strongholds of the Under the present circumstanc- with the electoral disputes? It will have to re-establish main armed groups, the consti- es, an incomplete referendum And how inclusive could these the CAR as a functioning state their future the way they want. Correct and complete statistics tutional vote did not take place. is not such a problem but an elections be under the circum- within its own borders. To sum about those living below the poverty line is yet to be made It was absent in Kaga-Ban- incomplete election will be. That stances? However, the biggest up, the new government will doro, the stronghold of the ex- is why some last-minute efforts challenge will come after. have to assume the same tasks available. Seleka leader Noureddine have been made to improve the A CAR super-government? as the transitional government. Unfortunately, the weak people commit suicide. Those who Adam, and in Bossangoa, the electoral environment. Indeed, after two years of From a legal viewpoint, the tran- stronghold of anti-Balaka The new government will violence and lawlessness, the sition will end with these elec- leave the country on an unaccompanied journey to Europe to group and former president have to improve the security people of CAR are desperate tions but, from a political view- have promising future in the developed countries know the risks. Francois Bozize. situation by dealing with the for change, and are holding the point, it will continue. The second problem is the armed groups, encourage dia- political establishment respon- Reversing the course of They are well-aware of the fact that it could cost their lives. low registration rate of the ref- logue and trust between Mus- sible for this crisis. disintegration of the CAR will The dangerous routes to the European countries had claimed ugees. Only about 30 percent lim and non-Muslim communi- Unfortunately, the list of imply three immediate actions of the 450,000 refugees have ties, rebuild the state services candidates reads like a who's by those who will win the leg- lives of several Afghans but there is no end in sight to the ille- been registered as voters. and enable the resumption of who of the past two regimes: islative and presidential elec- gal immigration. Although, the government requested the young The third problem is logis- economic activities. several former prime ministers, tions: Forming a government tics. The total length of tarred Citing logistical problems, former ministers and two rela- that genuinely embodies na- people to stay and work in the country but there is no decrease roads in the country is only the transitional authorities tives of presidents. But of the tional unity (and not in a cos- in the cases of Afghans seeking asylum abroad. 700km and there are no local have delayed the elections from 30 candidate in the presiden- metic way like in the past); re- administrations in a country December 27 to 30. tial elections, only five could building a trustworthy relation- Those who are living below the poverty line do not trust the that is larger than France. In the meantime, under really run an election campaign. ship with the international ac- government because the leaders have failed to deliver on their Therefore, deploying staff and pressure from the Chadian Pres- In other words only a few of tors that have been involved material proves to be quite chal- ident Idress Deby and the Or- them have toured the country in conflict management in the pledges. Their failure to translate words into action on the im- lenging, especially in the coun- ganisation of Islamic Coopera- and organised rallies. CAR (the UN, the EU and provement of people’s livelihood is also a reason that pushed tryside. tion, Noureddine Adam de- They were former prime France); and breaking with the The fourth problem is the clared that the elections can ministers Martin Ziguele, An- corruption habits that led CAR the young Afghans to risk their life for job opportunities in the low literacy rate. In a country take place in the area that he icet Dologuele, Faustin Taoud- on the path of disintegration. industrial countries. Apart from that, the sense of to have more where the education system controls, and Bozize's Kwa Na era, former cabinet ministers Thierry Vircoulon is an as- collapsed a long time ago be- Kwa party (KNK) is now indi- Karim Mekassoua, Desire Kol- sociate researcher at the French had become so intense with passage of times that now the elites fore the present crisis, finding rectly included in the electoral ingba, Armel Doubane and an Institute for International Af- are not concerned about the needy people. people literate enough to orga- race. outsider Constant Gouyomgbia fairs and a professor at the Par- nise the polling stations and Thanks to a last-minute al- Kongba Zeze. is School of International Af- People living in a state of despair have become tired and record the votes in rural areas liance between the KNK and These presidential and leg- fairs. disappointed. The current and previous governments had not paid heed to their desperate conditions. The decision-makers have no strategy to accommodate them in the job market or address their worries through alternative livelihood programs. The needy people seemed exhausted because the relevant authorities lack the capacity and determination to change their economic status. The massive-scale exodus speaks volumes about performance of the concerned authorities and show us the real picture—a picture of futile hopes. The National Unity Government shall devise result-oriented economic programs to change fate of over 74 percent people who live in the rural areas and are fighting for their survival. We cannot put an end to the illegal immigration unless poverty was eliminated. Subscription Rates Categories Fee Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 3600 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 1800 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $200 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. 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Mega ships bring benefits and challenges to ports of LA and Long Beach Asian share markets looked set to mand for U.S. dollars in China's The largest container ship ever to end a rough, volatile year on a sub- foreign exchange market. unload in North America arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Dec. dued note on Thursday as a re- The yuan traded close to the 22. Four days later, an even bigger newed slide in oil prices sapped official mid-point rate one showed up: the CMA CGM sentiment, a baleful trend that CNY=SAEC of 6.4936 per dollar Benjamin Franklin, a ship just shows every sign of lingering into set by the People's Bank of China about as long as the Empire State 2016. on Thursday, the weakest level Building is tall. European markets were also since May 2011 and 0.1 percent The advent of the two mega poised for a sluggish finish to 2015, weaker than the previous fix of ships — capable of carrying twice with financial spreadbetters ex- 6.4895. as much as the largest ships arriv- pecting .FTSE to open down about Some traders forecast the Chi- ing five years ago — is a sign of 0.3 percent and France's CAC40 nese currency could slip as far as the rapid changes underway in the .FCHI to be about 0.1 percent low- 6.80 to the dollar by the end of global shipping industry as ocean er on Thursday. Germany is 2016. carriers seek to cut costs through closed. "China and the United States economies of scale. The pan-European FTSEuro- will continue their monetary poli- Now that revolution has land- first 300 index .FTEU3, which cies' tones in 2016, which would ed on U.S. soil, with the ports of closed down 0.5 percent on boost the dollar and exert down- Los Angeles and Long Beach the Wednesday, is on track for a gain ward pressure on the yuan," said a first to benefit and also to contend of 5.6 percent in 2015. dealer at an Asian bank in Shang- with the challenges such ships The relentless decline in oil hai. bring. prices, which have slumped as Moves between the majors The Benjamin Franklin is ex- much as 35 percent this year, has were limited. pected to call again at the Port of hit currencies of commodity-rich Against a basket of currencies, Long Beach in February and may countries including the Russian the dollar was flat at 98.229 .DXY. also unload at the Port of Seattle, rouble, Canadian dollar, Norwegian It was also steady on the yen at according to officials at both ports. crown, Brazilian real and Mexican 120.43 JPY=D4, while the euro (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) peso. marked time at $1.0931 EUR=D4. The rapid increase in the size While cheaper fuel is a boost Holidays limited the damage of the average ship already has to consumer spending power in in Asian markets on Thursday posed problems for many U.S. much of the developed world, it is with many either closed or shut- ports, where infrastructure im- also a disinflationary force that ting early. Japan was one of the provements such as deeper chan- reinforces bets on loose monetary markets off on Thursday, though nels and larger cranes have come policy in Europe, Japan and Chi- it was also one of the better per- more slowly than in Asia or Eu- na, even as the Federal Reserve formers this year with gains of al- rope. Bigger vessels bring larger proceeds with glacial U.S. tighten- most 10 percent for the TOPIX cargo volumes all at once, stressing. .TOPX. ing each link in the supply chain, Oil prices are ending the year Others have not fared so well. including the dockworkers who how they began - under pressure. MSCI's broadest index of Asia- unload the ships and the truck driv- Brent crude skidded toward 11- Pacific shares outside Japan ers and rail carriers that ferry goods year lows after an unusual build in .MIAPJ0000PUS rose about 0.1 Global stocks mixed Riskiest Bank debt throughout the country. U.S. stockpiles and signs Saudi percent, but was set to end the "Everything has been built Arabia will keep adding to the glo- year 12 percent lower. pays off as safety net around what the status quo is now, bal oil glut. Australia's main index closed after Wall Street falls and you're upping the ante here," "Ever get the feeling that down 0.5 percent, widening loss- said Jim Blaeser, a maritime ana- you've been here before?" won- es for 2015 to 2.1 percent. on cheaper oil erected under lenders lyst at global consulting firm Alix- dered analysts at National Austra- China's Shanghai Composite Partners. Regulators’ efforts to make banks Capital Rules The new mega ships, which lia Bank in a note to clients. index .SSEC and CSI300 .CSI300 BEIJING : Global stocks were tralia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.5 per- safer are paying off for investors The popularity of AT1 notes, can cost more than $150 million "It is the end of another year both slipped about 0.4 percent on mixed in thin trading Thursday af- cent to 5,295.90 and India's Sensex who prefer to live a little danger- which convert into equity or are ter the latest decline in oil prices gained 0.1 percent to 25,980.85. each, have docked at Asian and with oil prices very weak - having Thursday. Despite a savage sum- ously. written off if a lender’s losses European ports for roughly the last fallen by around a third again since mer rout which rocked global mar- pulled Wall Street lower. Markets Benchmarks in New Zealand and in Germany, Japan and South Ko- Thailand also advanced. Singapore Buyers of bank debt that mount, has also climbed amid a five years. But shipping compa- the summer - China fears are at the kets, China had the region's best would be written off first in a cri- slowdown in new issuance. nies are now looking to use them fore and everyone is still talking performing emerging market index- rea were closed for the New Year declined. holiday. ANALYST'S TAKE: "On the sis have earned an average of 8.2 “The direction of travel is firm- more on the transpacific trade about the Fed." es in 2015, with the former set for percent this year, according to ly toward better capitalized U.S. crude futures CLc1 gained a gain of 10 percent and the latter KEEPING SCORE: In early eve of the new year, the fact is trading, France's CAC-40 shed 0.4 that lingering and familiar risks are Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s banks,” said Jakub Lichwa, a cred- 0.2 percent to $36.67 a barrel, af- 6.1 percent. contingent-capital index. The it analyst at Daiwa Capital Mar- ter a drop of 3 percent the previ- While 2016 is expected to be percent to 4,656.27 and Britain's not purged at the stroke of mid- notes were the best-performing kets in London. ous session. They are on track for another volatile year for mainland FTSE 100 was down 0.2 percent night," Mizuho Bank said in a re- a 31 percent loss this year. stocks, with major concerns in- at 6,259.16. On Wednesday, Ger- port. It cited fluctuating oil prices credit assets globally, according to The cost of insuring debt sold Brent crude LCOc1 rebound- cluding when the economy will many's DAX fell 1.1 percent and and uncertainty about the impact Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. by financial companies in Europe ed 0.4 percent to $36.60, after a bottom and a potential equity sup- the CAC-40 lost 0.5 percent. The of monetary policy changes in the Tighter rules forcing banks to dropped below that for invest- 3.5 percent drop in the previous ply glut, market watchers expect FTSE slipped 0.6 percent. On Wall United States, Europe and Japan. hold more capital and curb specu- ment-grade companies, according session. It's set for a slump of 36 less drama than in 2015. Street, the future for the Dow "Instead the risk landscape is a lative activities have boosted con- to credit-derivatives indexes. The percent for 2015. Thailand .SETI and Indonesia Jones industrial average gained continuum that warrants caution." fidence in even the riskiest of lend- relationship was mostly reversed That was bad news for most .JKSE, both of which were closed 0.05 percent and the Standard & ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. ers’ bonds, known as additional since the financial crisis. commodity currencies. The dollar Thursday, were the worst per- Poor's 500 was up 0.06 percent. crude gained 15 cents to $36.75 Tier 1 securities. At the same time, Total returns on AT1 securi- hit a more than one-year high forming Asian emerging markets On Wednesday, both lost 0.7 per- per barrel in electronic trading on quantitative easing in Europe has ties include coupon payments that cent and the Nasdaq composite fell the New York Mercantile Ex- against the Russian rouble RUB=, this year, with losses of 14 per- suppressed yields, luring investors are typically about 6 percent to 8 routes between Asia and the Unit- 0.8 percent. change. The contract plunged to higher-yielding debt. percent a year, helping to cushion and its highest in at least 13 years cent and 12.1 percent, respective- ASIA'S DAY: The Shanghai $1.27 on Wednesday to close at ed States, a bright spot compared against the Norwegian crown ly. “Regulators have crafted the against losses. with European routes despite Composite Index retreated 0.9 $36.60. Brent crude, used to price perfect environment for bank cred- The rewards investors are

SÃO PAULO: A little-known vi- Brazil are in a panic. The govern- “If she can wait, then she heads are abnormally small. Bra- Those babies who survive may As home births grow rus spread by mosquitoes is caus- ment, under withering criticism for should,” said Claudio Maierovitch, zilian officials have registered at face impaired intellectual developing one of the most alarming health not acting sooner, is urging them director of the department of sur- least 2,782 cases this year, comment for the rest of their lives. in US, a new study crises to hit Brazil in decades, of- to take every precaution to avoid veillance of communicable diseas- pared with just 147 in 2014 and Brazilian researchers say that ficials here warn: thousands of cas- mosquito bites. One official even es at Brazil’s health ministry. 167 the year before. an obscure mosquito-borne virus that made its way to the country examines the risks only recently — Zika — is to With a growing number of Ameri- hospital as planned, including al- blame for the sudden increase in can women choosing to give birth most 2,000 at home; and 601 brain damage among infants. at home or in birthing centers, de- women planned out-of-hospital But other virologists caution bate is intensifying over an impor- births but were transferred to that more testing is needed to prove tant question: How safe is it to hospitals. the dangerous link between the vi- have a baby outside a hospital? Severe complications were rus and brain damage, leaving the A study published Wednesday rare in all locations, but in full extent of the threat to the coun- in The New England Journal of planned out-of-hospital births, try, and the hemisphere, unclear. Medicine provides some of the 3.9 out of 1,000 cases resulted in “Why this may have hap- clearest information on the subject a baby’s death during the birth pened in Brazil and not elsewhere to date. process or within four weeks af- is, at this stage, difficult to an- The study analyzed nearly terward, compared with 1.8 swer,” said Alain Kohl, a virolo- 80,000 pregnancies in Oregon, and deaths out of 1,000 in planned gist at the University of Glasgow found that when women had hospital births. There were 15 who studies Zika. planned out-of-hospital deliveries, deaths among the planned out- “Perhaps it was never prop- the probability of the baby dying of-hospital births and 137 deaths erly registered in other areas, or during the birth process or in the among the planned hospital the situation in Brazil is, indeed, first month after — though slight births. different,” he added, citing the pos- — was 2.4 times as likely as wom- “The question is what is sibility that the link between Zika and microcephaly could be related to particular strains of the virus. The Zika virus has already reached several countries in Latin America, including Mexico, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that it could spread to parts of the Unit- ed States as well. There already have been cases diagnosed in the United States, in travelers who vis- ited affected countries, and the CDC expects these instances to increase. Gleyse Kelly da Silva, 27, a toll road attendant in the city of Recife in northeast Brazil, learned of the problem when an ultrasound en who had planned hospital de- most important to you and what es of brain damage, in which ba- suggested that women living in ar- The alarm stems from a huge At least 40 of the infants have exam detected microcephaly in the liveries. risks are you willing to accept,” bies are born with unusually small eas where mosquitoes are especial- surge in babies with microcephaly recently died, and some Brazilian seventh month of her pregnancy Out-of-hospital births also said Dr. Michael Greene, the chief heads. ly prevalent postpone having chil- (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee), a rare, in- researchers warn that cases could with her daughter, Maria Giovan- carried greater risk of neonatal sei- of obstetrics at Massachusetts Many pregnant women across dren. curable condition in which their multiply in the months ahead. na, born in October. Just a few zures, and increased the chances General Hospital and an associ- months earlier, da Silva had sought that newborn babies would need ate editor of The New England medical attention after experienc- ventilators or mothers would need Journal of Medicine. He added, Childhood asthma rates are leveling off Reducing salt ing some of Zika’s symptoms: fe- blood transfusions. “We’re not going to pat women intake might ver, joint pain and a red rash. British Regulator Urges Home on the head and tell them what except in one group of kids No one knows precisely when Births Over Hospitals for Uncom- to do.” harm heart fail- the Zika virus made the leap to plicated PregnanciesDEC. 3, 2014 Ellen Tilden, a certified nurse Brazil from its place of origin in Gaskin assisting a woman at midwife practicing in a hospital Childhood asthma rates appear to Part of the complexity stems Dr. Avni Joshi of the Mayo Clinic Africa. Some researchers say it have stopped rising among many from variations in rates of asthma in Rochester, Minnesota. ure patients, the Farm, Jane Montanaro, during who was an author of the study, could have arrived during the 2014 a delivery.Ina May Gaskin and the said she hoped the results “will U.S. groups, but not among the based on age, income, region or race “There is a vicious cycle of World Cup, when Brazil welcomed poorest kids or children aged 10 and ethnicity, the study found. poverty and obesity which may study claims Battle for at-Home BirthsMAY 23, be used to think about decreas- travelers from around the globe. 2012 ing risk in all birth settings.” and older, a study suggests. There was no change in asth- also contribute to the risk of de- For decades, doctors have urged Others think the virus may have Overall, asthma prevalence ma prevalence from 2001 to 2013 velopment and persistence of asth- On the other hand, out-of-hos- Erin Dietrich would welcome heart failure patients to slash their come during a canoe race weeks pital births were far less likely to that. Ms. Dietrich, 35, had her among kids under 18 had been ris- for white or Puerto Rican children ma,” Joshi, who wasn’t involved salt intake as a way to preserve later, when paddlers from French ing for decades, until it peaked at or for kids living in the Northeast in the study, said by email. “In involve cesarean sections — 5.3 first child in 2011 at a midwife’s their health. Polynesia, the site of a recent Zika percent compared with 24.7 per- house in isolated Otis, Ore. She 9.7% in 2009. Then it held steady or West. addition, children in poor house- But a new study suggests -- outbreak, arrived in Rio de Janeiro. until 2013, when it dropped to Over the same period, preva- holds experience higher psychoso- cent in a hospital. They also in- said she loved the “hippy kind but doesn't prove -- that that ad- Researchers, alert to the rapid volved fewer interventions to aug- of alternative birth thing,” but 8.3% from 9.3% the previous year, lence rose for kids aged 10 to 17, cial stress, which is another risk vice may be harmful, potentially increase in cases, say that Zika’s researchers reported online De- poor children, and residents of the factor for asthma.” ment labor, and mothers had few- suffered a “pretty bad tear” that increasing a heart failure patient's spread to Brazil reflects how eas- er lacerations. the midwife did not treat. “I was cember 28 in the journal Pediat- South. If there’s a silver lining in the risk of death or hospitalization. ily viruses are jumping from one rics. Disparities in asthma between study results, it’s that a plateau or Erin Dietrich had her first child in a lot of pain for a long time Patients with moderate heart part of the planet to another. at a midwife’s house in Otis, Ore., until I finally saw a regular doc- "International data on asthma white and black children stopped decrease in asthma suggests that failure who stuck to a low-sodium They are particularly worried prevalence over time shows that increasing, and Puerto Rican kids newer medicines and more aggres- and had an untreated tear. She had tor.” diet were 85 percent more likely that the disease is wreaking havoc her second child at a Portland hos- For her second child, she trends appear to be leveling off in continued to have the highest prev- sive management of the disease to die or require hospitalization for in a region where the population many countries, and suggests that alence. may be making a difference, noted pital. Credit Leah Nash for The chose a big Portland hospital heart disease, when compared to has not encountered it before, and New York Times with a bathtub-equipped birth- the trend in the United States For low-income children in Dr. Todd Mahr of Gundersen similarly ill patients who didn't that climate change may be allow- seems to be following a general particular, it’s possible that envi- Health System in La Crosse, Wis- In the often polarized debate ing suite and a nurse midwife. restrict their salt intake, the re- ing viruses like Zika to thrive in over home birth, the study has But when she arrived, she had to pattern,” said lead study author ronmental risk factors like tobac- consin. searchers found. new domains. Dr. Lara Akinbami of the U.S Cen- co exposure, poor housing and “It appears that progress is been embraced by advocates on all wait for a room and received no- "The conventional wisdom has The Brazilian government has sides. tably less individual attention, ter for Disease Control and Pre- poor indoor air quality, and indoor occurring in decreasing the asthma been that salt is bad for you," said stopped short of officially advis- vention’s National Center for dust mite and cockroach exposure epidemic,” Mahr, who wasn’t in- Mary Lawlor, the executive di- she said. lead researcher Dr. Rami Doukky, ing women not to get pregnant, but rector of the National Association Still, when she had a tear, Health Statistics in Hyattsville, may make asthma more likely, said volved in the study, said by email. a cardiologist and associate pro- confusion and fear are spreading Maryland. of Certified Professional Mid- “they stitched me right up and I fessor at Rush University Medi- along with the virus. wives, who has criticized research healed so quickly and I felt Even though the recent decline cal Center in Chicago. "This study “The situation is incredibly is statistically meaningful, it’s too that reached similar conclusions, great,” Ms. Dietrich said. “I was says, not so fast. Maybe we frightening,” said Andreza Mireli called the new study “very well shocked: This is what actual care soon to tell whether the decrease should take that, no pun intended, Silva, 22, a worker in a shoe facto- from 2012 to 2013 might be the done” and said “the overall statis- can do.” with a grain of salt." ry in Sergipe State in northeast tics are pretty darn good. But, of Anna Hope-Melnick, 32, is start of another plateau or the be- However, Doukky and other Brazil who is seven months preg- ginning of a meaningful decline in course, when the lives of babies a labor and delivery nurse at a cardiologists warned that the nant. She said she was trying to are at stake, we need to do every- hospital in Hillsboro, Ore., but asthma cases, Akinbami said by study findings are very prelimi- avoid mosquito bites by wearing email. thing we can to constantly learn wanted a home birth in 2012 be- nary and should not be interpret- long pants despite the heat of the from the data.” cause in the hospital “it’s not just In addition to the scant num- ed by heart failure patients to mean Southern Hemisphere summer and ber of years to assess a shift in Dr. Joseph Wax, the vice chair- about the one-on-one needs of that it's OK to reach for the salt applying insect repellent every man of the American College of Ob- the family; it’s about the whole asthma trends toward the end of shaker. Rigorous clinical trials are three hours. Zika, named for the the study period, it’s also possi- stetricians and Gynecologists’ overarching system.” needed to further test the safety forest in Uganda where scientists committee on obstetric practice, But after her water broke ble that changes in the way U.S. of this hypothesis, the experts discovered it in the 1940s, often researchers collected survey data said the study showed “there’s and she labored for 40 hours at said. goes unnoticed in the people it in- clearly pros and cons to the differ- home and developed a fever, her on childhood asthma might have "The study is meant to be an fects and was not considered es- influenced the results. ent available birth settings, both midwife told her to go to a Port- eye-opener, that we need to inves- pecially life-threatening before with benefits and risks to moms land hospital. That “was abso- “It also doesn’t clearly identi- tigate this matter more. We used spreading to Brazil. But the ad- fy which factors underlie changes and babies.” lutely the right choice,” she said to take it [salt consumption] for vance of the virus here is focusing A tiny fraction of United and she gladly accepted the drug in trends,” Akinbami added. granted, and now it is time to ad- scrutiny on the resilience of a wor- “There is likely a complex story States births occur outside hospi- Pitocin, to jump-start labor, and dress it with more definitive tri- risome pest: Aedes aegypti, the tals, but they have been increas- an epidural to help her relax. Even on why asthma prevalence has als," Doukky said. mosquito that carries Zika and oth- apparently stopped increasing.” ing, partly because some women so, she said hospital staff mem- Physicians have long assumed er diseases, among them yellow want to avoid interventions like bers overreacted to some symp- that salt is bad for heart failure pa- fever and chikungunya.“Brazil of- induced labor or cesarean sections. toms. tients because the mineral causes fers the ideal conditions for Zika In 2012, according to federal data, “They kind of assumed that US justice department probes Blue Bell the body to retain water and pull to spread so quickly,” said Ana births at home and birth centers we were idiots, and why would additional fluid into the blood ves- Maria Bispo de Filippis, a leader amounted to 1.28 percent of all you stay home for 40 hours?” over listeria contamination: WSJ sels, Doukky explained. of the research team that has linked American births, up from 0.79 she said. When her daughter was Physiologically, the assump- Zika to microcephaly. The coun- Blue Bell Creameries is being percent in 2004. born, “she was showing no signs tion makes sense, said Dr. Clyde try, she added, has “a susceptible That growth has drawn atten- of distress, but they went full- probed by the U.S. Department of Yancy, chief of cardiology at population in which the majority Justice over listeria contamination tion to issues of safety, midwife court press with breathing tubes, Northwestern University's Fein- of people never had contact with training and licensing, coordination suctioning” and neonatal inten- of its ice cream that was linked to berg School of Medicine in Chica- the disease.” three deaths, the Wall Street Journal between midwives and doctors, sive care, she said. go. Before Zika’s arrival, Brazil and arrangements for transferring For the second child, Ms. reported on Thursday. Government Heart failure patients struggle was already grappling with a much lawyers are trying to find out what women to hospitals if problems Hope-Melnick, who said she with fluid retention because their deadlier epidemic of dengue, an- arise. hoped to become a midwife, de- company executives knew about heart beats too weakly to fight the other virus transmitted by Aedes listeria in its plants and potentially The study was strengthened livered at home without much force of gravity, allowing blood and mosquitoes. Brazil had nearly 1.6 by key information recently add- difficulty. its products, and what they did in water to build up in their lungs, million cases of dengue in 2015, response, the newspaper said, cited to Oregon birth certificates: Dr. Aaron Caughey, a co-au- feet, ankles and legs, according to according to estimates from the where women planned to give thor who heads the university’s ing a source. The company volun- the U.S. National Institutes of health ministry, up from 569,000 birth, not just where they ended obstetrics department, said the tarily recalled all products in April Health. in 2014. At least 839 people have up delivering. That disclosure al- researchers consciously adopted after 10 reported cases of listeria Salt also increases blood pres- died from dengue in Brazil this lowed researchers to separate out a nonjudgmental tone so critics were linked to Blue Bell frozen sure by drawing water into the ar- year, an 80 percent increase from births that started at home or birth- would not say that the in-hospi- treats. Three of those sickened later teries and veins, according to the the previous year. Some health of- ing centers but had to be trans- tal providers were demonizing died. The 108-year-old ice cream American Heart Association, and ficials say that changes in weather ferred to hospitals. out-of-hospital births. maker shut its operations around the high blood pressure is a long-known and rainfall may be behind the The study team, based at Ore- “We’re never going to make same time, in its largest plant in Bren- risk factor for heart disease. surge. Brazil waged war on the gon Health and Science Universi- it equally safe, because there’s ham, Texas, after the FDA started However, a handful of recent Aedes aegypti mosquito for de- ty and including two obstetricians, always emergencies that can oc- investigating the company over list- studies have called those long-held cades during the 20th century be- a nurse, an epidemiologist and a cur,” he said. “The biggest thing eria contamination, in relation to re- assumptions into question, sug- fore a vaccine was developed for certified nurse midwife, also ad- is going to be improving the trust ports of three deaths in a Kansas gesting that a low-sodium diet yellow fever. Health agents de- justed for women’s race, age, and between hospital providers and hospital. Blue Bell, however, re- might actually be harmful to heart ployed across the country to de- pregnancy risks like diabetes or out-of-hospital providers.” sumed operations at its Texas plant failure patients, Doukky said. stroy habitats like water barrels hypertension, so those factors Melissa Cheyney, a certified in November. Details of the DOJ To put it to the test, Doukky and other open water sources could be ruled out as explanations professional midwife in Oregon investigation could not be learned, and his colleagues gained access to where the mosquitoes thrive. Au- for delivery problems. who also heads the Midwives the Wall Street Journal said. The data from a clinical trial that fol- thorities even declared victory Jonathan Snowden, an epide- Alliance of North America’s re- news about the DOJ investigation lowed heart failure patients an av- against the pest in 1955. But the miologist who was the lead author, search division, said she appre- was first reported by CBS news on erage of three years and tracked mosquito re-emerged in B razil in and his colleagues analyzed 79,727 ciated the study’s results and its Tuesday. CBS said, citing sources, their salt intake using a food ques- the late 1960s, outpacing eradica- births in 2012 and 2013 in Ore- tone. that DOJ is looking at what Blue tionnaire. tion campaigns. Now, at a time gon, which, with Vermont, has the “As long as we have divisive Bell's management knew about po- The researchers examined 833 when President Dilma Rousseff’s country’s highest home birthrate. debate, I’m not sure how much tentially deadly hazards in their patients from the study, including beleaguered government is under They excluded births involving progress we’re going to make in plants. The Department of Justice 130 patients who followed a sodi- fire over corruption, an economic twins, birth defects, breech or pre- making it possible for women and Blue Bell could not be reached um-restricted diet. They were crisis and its handling of the surge mature delivery. Of those, 75,923 who are going to choose home immediately for comment outside matched against 130 patients who in dengue cases, the spread of Zika women delivered in a hospital as birth anyway to have a safe out- regular business hours. had no restrictions on salt intake. is unleashing even more criticism. planned; 3,203 delivered outside a come,” she said. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. FRIDAY .JANUARY 01, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

Scientists still can’t explain the ‘Grand Hiatus’ in global warming SACRAMENTO: While much of the country is dealing with rain and in the forest. The red areas show foliage itself," said Asner. "It's like termined that 58 million more are The hope is that El Niño fu- Scientists are not only having trou- 1900,” Curry writes. “Clearly, snow, California is still dry. severely drought-stressed trees. getting a blood test. It's really one on the brink. eled storms will bring much need- ble explaining why global surface human emissions of greenhouse One hundred percent of the Blue areas are healthier. of the key indicators of the health "We don't know whether a ed rain. In the meantime, the new temperatures did not warm for 15 gases played little role in causing state is in some form of drought, The equipment reads how of a tree." stressed tree is going to absolutely maps will help the forest service years in the 21st century, they still this early warming.” and a new study just released by much moisture is in each individu- The U.S. Forest Service says succumb and be gone or if it's go- know which areas are most vul- have not adequately explained why “If the warming since 1950 the Carnegie Institution for Science al tree. "The measurement is fo- more than 29 million trees have ing to bounce back over time," nerable, and wildfire officials know there was an even longer 30-year was caused by humans, what has now put a number on what the cused on how much water is in the already died. Asner's team has de- Asner explained. where the greatest risks are. “grand hiatus” in global warming caused the warming during the drought has done to California's during the mid-20th century. period 1910-1945?” Curry asks. iconic forests. “The climate models making Curry also notes there’s evi- Epic drought stressing Califor- dire predictions of warming in the dence the Earth has been warm- nia's Giant Sequoias 21st century are the same models ing for the past 200 years — a A high-tech flying laboratory that predicted too much warming period that began before human has been soaring over California, in the early 21st century, and can’t carbon dioxide emissions would measuring the impact of four years explain the warming from 1910- have been a factor. of drought. 1945 or the mid-century grand hi- Like today’s 15-year “hia- "There's a lot of red on this atus,” Dr. Judith Curry writes in a tus,” (the “hiatus” grows to 21 screen, which is a sign that we're Wednesday op-ed published in years when looking at satellite over an area that's in trouble," sci- The Financial Post. temperature data for the lower entist Greg Asner told CBS News. The so-called “grand hiatus” atmosphere) scientists have tried Asner says his team has made was a period from 1945 to 1975 to explain the “grand hiatus” a startling discovery: 888 million where the world stopped warm- away by adjusting it out of the trees in California's forests have ing, and even cooled slightly, de- data to correct for “biases” in seen measurable water loss since spite carbon dioxide emissions rap- thermometers that may have the drought began. idly rising. Scientists have thus far caused the world to appear warm- Basically, the drought has im- been unable to explain why there er than it was. pacted nearly one billion trees in was no warming even though glo- The highly-controversial Cli- California. bal warming theory predicts there mategate emails leaked to the They can be this precise be- would have been warming. public in 2009 include a conver- cause their plane is equipped with “The mid-century period of sation between a U.S. and U.K. state-of-the-art lasers that scan 15 slight cooling from 1945 to 1975 – scientist on “correcting [sea sur- acres of forest every second. It's referred to as the “grand hiatus” – face temperatures] to partly ex- like having X-ray vision that pro- also has not been satisfactorily plain the 1940s warming blip.” duces first-of-their-kind 3D imag- explained,” Curry writes. Curry is Ironically, U.S. government es of the health of every single tree a climatologist at Georgia Tech scientists claimed to eliminate the University. She has published 15-year “hiatus” during the 21st more than 130 peer-reviewed pa- century by adjusting sea surface Astronomers predict pers on the climate. temperatures upwards — a move Marines put LS3 robot mule on shelf Climate scientists claim carbon that doubled the warming trend dioxide emissions are driving the during that time. bright auroras lightening global warming trend since 1950, What’s unclear, however, is but they have trouble explaining if these thermometer data “ad- up the sky on New Year warming that occurred early in the justments” will stand the test of 20th century. Nearly half of the time and continue to be validated New Year is going to be special for in several hours or may take even 20th century warming trend oc- by the scientific community. It’s one more reason as potentially a few days depending upon the curred from 1910 to 1945, but especially unclear given the huge there would be some natural fire- ferocity of the eruption. CO2 emissions didn’t increase uncertainties looming over cli- works in the upper atmosphere "It's certainly possible," Ter- enough to explain most of the mate models and the accuracy of just in the time for 2016. What else ry Onsager, a NOAA physicist, warming. the global temperature record. one could wish for that sky is join- told SFGATE. "It depends entire- Is Global Warming A Serious “The politically driven push ing us in the New Year’s celebra- ly on the strength of the storm. If Threat To Humanity? to manufacture a premature con- tions. it turns out to be stronger than that, Completing this poll entitles sensus on human-caused climate On Monday, December 28, a it could be seen." you to Daily Caller news updates change has resulted in the rela- sunspot cluster erupted that lead If it lasts long enough and free of charge. You may opt out at tive neglect of natural climate vari- to an M-class flare directly at earth. stays strong enough, that could anytime. You also agree to our Pri- ability,” Curry writes. “Until we The extreme-ultraviolet radiation mean a New Year's Eve light show vacy Policy and Terms of Use. have a better understanding and initiated an ionization event caus- for viewers at the right latitudes. “In fact, the period 1910-1945 predictive capability of natural ing a radio blackout over South Auroras are produced when comprises over 40 per cent of the climate variability, we don’t have America, Africa and the South At- the magnetosphere is sufficiently warming since 1900, but is associ- a strong basis for predicting cli- lantic Ocean. disturbed by the solar wind that ated with only 10 per cent of the mate change in the decades or The event triggered a signifi- the trajectories of charged parti- carbon dioxide increase since century to come.” cant coronal mass ejection (CME) cles in both solar wind and mag- that is currently moving towards netospheric plasma, mainly in the the direction of earth. NASA's form of electrons and protons, pre- Solar Dynamics Observatory has cipitate them into the upper at- also recorded a major solar flare mosphere (thermosphere/exo- that created the coronal mass ejec- sphere), where their energy is lost. tion. Owing to which, space The resulting ionization and exci- weather forecasters have predict- tation of atmospheric constituents ed about some natural fireworks. emits light of varying colour and For most people, the only impact complexity. The form of the auro- Marines put LS3 robot mule on day without resting on a 20-mile “They took it as it was: a loud of the CME would be the poten- ra, occurring within bands around shelfNot too long ago, Boston mission. The robot was capable of robot that’s going to give away tial light show that it would cre- both polar regions, is also depen- Dynamics created the LS3 robotic moving via gesture and voice com- their position.” ate. dent on the amount of acceleration mule, a machine designed to carry mands, with no need for a remote Although LS3 appears to be NASA’s Tony Phillips said, imparted to the precipitating par- soldiers’ cargo in the battlefield. control to tell it what to do. All done, another spokesman from the “Sunspot AR2374 has an unsta- ticles. But all that appears to have gone told, this was quite an advanced Warfighting Lab said that the ro- ble ‘beta-gamma’ magnetic field Auroras result from emissions to naught, as the U.S. Marine machine, but the Marine Corps bot was “a waypoint along a path that could explode again in the hours of photons in the Earth's upper Corps is officially putting the ro- nixed it, according to reports, be- of discovery and development,” as ahead. NOAA forecasters estimate atmosphere, above 80 km (50 mi), bot out to pasture. cause it was way too loud for their the Marines look to be developing a 55 percent chance of additional from ionized nitrogen atoms regain- LS3, or Legged Squad Support liking. their own autonomous systems to M-class flares and a 10 percent ing an electron, and oxygen atoms Systems, was funded by the De- “As Marines were using it, help soldiers on the field. The chance of X-flares on Dec. 28th”. and nitrogen based molecules re- fense Advanced Research Projects there was the challenge of seeing spokesman told NBC that there is Latest flare and CME have turning from an excited state to Agency (DARPA), and was creat- the potential possibility because a need for “autonomous, un- been generated by the same sun- ground state. They are ionized or ed by Alphabet-owned Boston of the limitations of the robot it- manned, and robotic” machines in spot that was earth-directed, excited by the collision of parti- Dynamics as a robot that could self,” explained Marines Warfight- the military industry, so as to al- which has significantly increased cles precipitated into the atmo- carry up to 400 pounds of soldiers’ ing Lab spokesman Kyle Olson in low the U.S. to “gain a tactical edge the chances of having a geomag- sphere. Both incoming electrons equipment and run for one whole an interview with Military.com. through technological overmatch.” netic storm right in time for New and protons may be involved. Year’s. Therefore, those who live NOAA's Space Weather Pre- in high latitudes and keen to watch diction Center reported an M1 Singapore scientists develop Nadine, an emotionally intelligent humanoid robot the magic then you may be lucky solar flare and associated coronal enough for a New Year treat as mass ejection. The resulting geo- Researchers in Singapore have de- what is happening.” With knowl- project your physical presence at one or more locations simultaneously. Gerald Seet of the NTU said robots high-energy solar particles impact- magnetic storm hit Earth Wednes- veloped a humanoid social robot edge of the language, etiquette, and like EDGAR could prove useful in business, education, and tourism industries because geography would no ing atmospheric gases would gen- day morning. with brunette hair and soft skin. emotions, these social robots longer be an obstacle. erate bright auroras. The center's forecast, pub- The emotionally intelligent robot, could be like C-3PO, the iconic Flares and CMEs are differ- lished Tuesday, predicted a stron- Nadine, can remember your name droid from Star Wars. In future, ent, but triggered by the same mag- ger G3 storm to last through and face if she has met you before, robots like Nadine could serve as netic phenomenon. CMEs are bub- Wednesday and a lesser G1 storm and recall what you talked to her companions, office assistants, and bles of magnetized high-energy to persist through Thursday. The during previous conversations. caretakers for the elderly and the plasma that are ejected into space storming may result in the appear- Nadine looks like her creator Pro- children. at high speed. CME can reach earth ance of an aurora. fessor Nadia Thalmann of Nanyang Meet EDGAR, a new tele- Technological University (NTU). presence robot Scientists have currently em- NTU scientists have also deployed the robot as a receptionist veloped a tele-presence robot at the NTU to test her skills. Fea- called EDGAR that can be con- turing an intelligent software sim- trolled remotely. Using a special ilar to Apple’s Siri, the robot acts webcam, you can control EDGAR like a human. She has her own per- from anywhere in the world. Since sonality, autonomously expressing it can replicate your movements emotions and gestures. Nadine is in real-time, you can interact at a also capable of changing her mood conference even without physical- depending on the topic and tone ly being there. Your face and ex- of the conversation. It smiles when pressions are displayed on greeting you and looks you in the EDGAR’s face in real-time, while eye when talking. the robot mimics your upper body Nadia Thalmann said in a state- movements. ment that the humanoid robot is Researchers at NTU said tele- like a “real companion that is al- presence gives an additional dimen- ways with you and conscious of sion to mobility. It allows you to iPhone 7 release date, specs rumors: Chinese report 'confirms' next iPhone is waterproof Rumors regarding the upcoming upcoming flagship phone, the iP- ing their products which the de- flagship phone from Apple have hone 7, which is rumored to also vice will be able to withstand some been circulating recently. Majori- be coming next year. degree of water exposure and spill- ty of them have some very wild The latest reports comes from age, but it will not be fully water claims regarding the technologies information provided by Commer- proof or fully submersible per se; that the company will be using in cial Times, which had done some so no diving or extended water ex- their upcoming product. One thing research on a company named posure. The report also states that is for sure, Apple will be having a Catcher Technology. The compa- a new compound material is being very busy year next year, as it will ny apparently provides a big por- developed that will be hiding the be launching a slew of new prod- tion of the chassis parts that will phone's previously exposed anten- ucts to satisfy its growing consum- be used in Apple's upcoming iP- na. The compound might also be er base. hone 7 smartphone. The reports used to further streamline the de- In regards to its new products, indicate that the upcoming new sign, so consumers may be seeing Apple is expected to launch a new smartphone will indeed be "water- a slightly different look for the line of iPads this spring. There are proof" as previously speculated upcoming new smartphones. also talks that it will be launching by other reports. Tech Facts to For now, majority of the re- a brand new 4-inch smartphone Help Keep You Plugged incitire- port seems to be speculation and sometime next year, probably be cruitment The water proofing, rumors, so it is a good idea to take named the iPhone 7C. The latest however, will be somewhat simi- the information with a solid dose news, however, is more about the lar to the way Sony has been mak- of salt. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. FRIDAY . JANUARY 01, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

The Ho Mann Jahaan pre-release screening held in Lahore this Thursday was to build hype around the film. But with a lack- lustre red carpet, it simmered down the razzmatazz surrounding the film. But that was up until the star cast of the film, especially the lead- ing ladies, made their way to the event. Where the male leads Adeel Hussain and Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui looked debonair in their tuxedos, the radiant Mahira Khan and Sonya Jehan were sights for sore eyes that night. The Bollywood megastar always Jehan hit the ball out of the lands himself in legal trouble some- park in this gorgeous hot pink num- way or another, and this time it ber by Mina Hasan. She let her has to do with his gift to fans on dress shine through and opted for his 50th. a long dress that was cinched at When he announced news of the waist, accentuating her figure his website launch on Twitter, fans in a dress that’s otherwise not form- went into a frenzy. fitting. Channeling old Hollywood However, Khan Market Trad- glamour, she kept it simple in terms ers Association didn’t share the of accessories and wore small ear- same enthusiasm as they filed for rings, rings and a delicate necklace. a lawsuit against Salman Khan, re- She tied her hair in a low bun and ports IBN Live. They’re suing the wore a sparkly black clutch that actor for trademark infringement, uplifted her overall look. She claiming that the name of his new played with smoky eyes and a light online shopping platform is simi- pink lip and let her skin shine as lar to the 65-year-old famous Khan the paparazzi endlessly clicked Market in Delhi. “Khan Market is away. a global brand, people from world The natural beauty wore a Sa- over know Khan Market in Delhi. nia Maskatiya plain black full- Salman Khan should have taken us length dress with spaghetti straps, into confidence before using the accessorising it with a baby pink portal of Khan market,” Member fur jacket and hot pink heels. The of Khan Market shopkeeper as- Damas necklace added drama and sociation Sanjeev Mehra said. dazzle to the ensemble, which her Although the website has yet stylist Amar Faiz put together for to begin operations, registrations her. But this was one of Mahira’s have opened for fans. less impactful looks as different Legal experts suggest that there elements of the outfit did not add is no trademark infringement in- up. While the fur jacket is chic on volved in the case, but Confedera- its own, the LBD doesn’t do it jus- tion of All India Traders have tice. In the hair and make-up de- backed Khan Market Traders stat- partment, Mahira nailed old Hol- ing that though the online portal lywood curls but her minimal has no connection with the mar- make-up fails to hit the mark. We ket, Salman ”cannot steal the good- wish she had opted for a darker lip will Khan Market has earned in to pull the entire look together. the past 65 years”.

Madonna's sad message to estranged son After numerous delays caused by Pakistan would find what I did Singer Madonna is hoping she and casting and copyright issues, worthy of being put onscreen. I her currently estranged son Rocco Shaan’s Arth 2 hit the floors in am certain that your passion and Ritchie can somehow mend their Lahore earlier this month. The first new interpretation of this melody relationship and have a happy press conference for the film was will take it to greater heights,” he New Year. The "Material girl" hit- held Tuesday with the cast and said. Shaan shared the film dis- maker took to Instagram to prove crew sharing snippets about the plays a streak of pain that runs to Rocco, her 15-year-old son with project. Their energy was evident through all four characters and how her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, just as the cast, which includes both they cross each other’s path. He how much she loves him, reports veteran and newbie actors, talked described the film as “one with the radaronline.com. about their synergy on the sets. essence of an art movie that is be- `Merry X-mas to the Sun- The film features Shaan Sha- ing presented in a commercial shine of my Life!` Madonna wrote hid, with over 550 films to his way.” Having been part of the Indian film Following her appearance in industry’s art house and main- Delhi 6, Aditi went onto act in to Rocco in the caption of an Ins- name, and Uzma Hassan, who is When Shaan had disclosed the tagram photograph of the two in set to make her cinematic debut. cast of Arth 2 earlier last year, it stream scene for over 5 years, ac- notable movies like Rockstar, Yeh tor Aditi Rao Hydari believes her Saali Zindagi, Boss and Murder 3 happier times. In a move to show Also starring in the movie are Hu- featured Humayun Saeed opposite Rocco what he was missing out maima Malick, who was last seen Humaima, but he was later re- full potential is yet to be utilised, and share screen space with pop- reports Bollywood.com. ular actors such as Amitabh, Abh- on, she also posted photographs in Dekh Magar Pyaar Say, and placed with Mohib. Shaan shared of Rocco's brother, David Banda, Mohib Mirza of Seedlings and how this change was a creative “There is so much more to do ishek Bachchan and Ranbir and I am told by many people that Kapoor. 10, and sisters Lourdes, 19, and Dukhtar fame. choice. “I had to focus on the char- Mercy James, 9, enjoying them- Arth 2, which is the remake of acters because they are pivotal and I am under-utilised and I have so Here’s why Farhan Akhtar much more potential,” remarks opted out of Raees selves on Christmas. An insider Mahesh Bhatt’s 1982-film Arth, Humayun wasn’t suiting the char- had revealed the 57-year-old sing- is one the Bollywood filmmaker acter. Mohib was always my first Aditi, who would soon be appear- “The bottom line is that I have holds close to his heart. “When I choice.” Shaan remains positive ing in Wazir alongside Amitabh not had the privilege of snapping told Mahesh sahib I want to make about cinema in Pakistan and holds Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar. my fingers and saying, ‘I want to the film, he told me people have that a good film can’t be measured “I don’t look at it as some- work with you, you and you’, but asked him for rights of other films by the business it generates. thing to be sad about. I think of it I have been lucky that good films but never Arth,” Shaan shared. “I “What carries you through the film as a very positive thing because if were offered to me and I have had offered him money to buy the and what do you bring back from people think I have more poten- the chance to work on some really tial then I think I have a long way amazing roles.” rights but he said he doesn’t want it? That’s what’s important.” Ex- er and her eldest boy's fighting came it.” According to Shan, Bhatt said plaining how everything that to go and more challenges to take Even though she acknowledg- up.” es that the road ahead is not an to a head in mid-November when to him, “If you’ve felt the pain I makes money isn’t necessarily Rocco `ran away in Stockholm", felt, go ahead with it. Just give me good, he cited most films being an Time for Wazir’s move easy one, Aditi finds solace in the Aditi who came in to the spot- fact that he career trajectory is during a stop on his mother's Rebel credit and make it a symbol of Indo- extension of television as one of Heart Tour. `M and Rocco were Pak friendship.” the reasons behind their mediocri- light with her performance in the moving upwards now. “It’s been Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film, tough. Every day is an uphill strug- having bad shouting matches,` the Known to have made conten- ty. The distribution channels insider explained. `She'd be crying tious comments about the Indian Shaan is working with were facing Delhi 6, says that contrary to pop- gle but I like to look at the positive ular belief things have never been side. I think if I am going uphill and yelling at him.` A judge has film industry in the past, it was trouble releasing the film in India since ordered Rocco, who holed up surprising for many that Shan but after Indian premier Modi’s easy for her and she has had to then I am taking a step up. That is struggle to reach the point where what is important for me,” she in Guy Ritchie's London home, to chose to remake a Bollywood cult visit to Pakistan, they are more face his mother here. classic. “This is a Pakistani film positive. The music, helmed by she is today. concludes. and the proper way to be a part of Sahir Ali Bagga, will play a pivotal Indian cinema is to make a film like role in developing the story as 2015 Recap: Bollywood 'couples' who kept rumour mills buzzing this and make them believe we can Shaan plays a rock musician in the do this kind of work,” he said. “I’m movie. “I was worried because 2015 saw a number of Bollywood Pulkit, but he and Yami don't seem for Shakun Batra's 'Kapoor & Sons' not anti-India, I’m pro-Pakistan.” everyone remembers the music stars being linked up, but they kept ready yet to talk about their rela- earlier this year. A long schedule in Mahesh had prerecorded a vid- from the original film, but Shaan us guessing all year long. Wonder tionship. When they debuted to- Coonoor and Ooty apparently ig- eo endorsement for Arth 2. “Salam, told me to make something that if they will continue to play coy gether in 'Student of the Year' nited the spark. Alia has been Pakistan … Little did I know that, people will now remember the Secret dinners, hush hush hol- clicked visiting Sid's home in Ban- so many years later, someone in movie by,” said Sahir. idays, sweet exchanges on social dra though the two evade being media and more, but they will not spotted together in public. When admit to being a twosome. This asked about their relationship, they year, a few Bollywood actors kept prefer to just smile. If the grape- rumour mills buzzing for their off- vine is to be believed, the two are screen chemistry with co-stars or going strong. Bips took everyone industry outsiders, but they have by surprise when she agreed to star still not confirmed their relation- opposite the television actor in the ship status. A look at such 'cou- horror flick, 'Alone'. During the ples': The two started seeing each shoot, both were going through other while working for Divya personal upheavals - the actress Khosla Kumar's upcoming film (2012), they were just as friendly had parted ways with beau Har- 'Sanam Re'. By the time the Simla as co-stars are expected to be. But man Baweja while Karan's marriage schedule began, they had become somewhere down the line, the two with actress Jennifer Winget had inseparable, claim sources. The seemed to have gotten serious ended. Initially, it appeared that link up buzz followed with cracks about each other. Ever since they their love story was a publicity in Pulkit's marriage (to longtime returned from their 2015 New Year stunt for their film. But long after sweetheart Shweta Rohira, Salman holiday, they are speculated to be the film released, Bips and Karan Khan's rakhi sister). The wife has a couple. The buzz reached a cre- continue to paint the town red with confirmed that she is splitting from scendo when they began shooting their romance. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. FRIDAY . JANUARY 01, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Carlos Condit has been a professional for a long time and has done many great things in mixed martial At 40, does arts. He's held championships and scored victories over some of the finest fighters of his generation. Tiger Woods The hardcore fight fans, those dedicated souls who pay for ev- have one more ery pay-per-view, who subscribe to Fight Pass and can tell you the major run in reigning welterweight champion in virtually every regional promotion, him? flat out love him. In his 16 fights under Zuffa's On his 40th birthday, Dec. 30, banner – five in the now-defunct 2015, Woods is ranked 416th in World Extreme Cagefighting and 11 the year-end Official World Golf in the UFC – Condit has racked Ranking. up five Fight of the Night awards, The arithmetic is simple to compute, but Woods' fall from his and two Knockout of the Nights. perch as best golfer in the world He was 5-0 in the WEC, is 7-4 has been deeper and more shock- in the UFC and has gone a coming than even the stark contrast of bined 5-1 in title fights. numbers suggest. In 2015, Woods His nickname is "The Natural posted his two worst PGA Tour Born Killer," which seems appro- scores of his career: first, a sec- priate on so many levels. He faces ond-round 82 that sent him pack- Robbie Lawler on Saturday for the ing from the Waste Management welterweight title in the main event Phoenix Open in February, topped of UFC 195 at the MGM Grand in May by a third-round 85 at the Garden in a fight which seems to Memorial Tournament, an event be a can't-miss brawl. he has won five times. If he's going to win the title, He had one top-10 finish in and erase the only black mark on his worst year as a pro, coming in the Wyndham Championship, an an otherwise marvelous career, he emergency start meant to be a Hail may have to do everything but kill Mary attempt to get into the PGA Lawler. Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs. It The champion is a powerful, turned out to be his last start of dangerous man who is coming off the year when his T-10 effort arguably the greatest fight in the wasn't good enough to get to the sport's history, a fifth-round fin- postseason. ish of Rory MacDonald in a bru- Woods missed four cuts this tally bloody battle at UFC 189. year, two more than any other sea- That many long-time observ- son in his career. Unfortunately, ers believe Lawler-Condit could be he missed two cuts the year prior, nearly as good as that fight says too. He missed consecutive cuts something about the respect Con- for the first time in his career, too. dit has garnered in his 14 years in In the grand scheme, his penchant for making the money is still in- the business. credible, but the two-year trend is And he recognizes he's about a clear sign that the game's ulti- to embark upon something that mate grinder has lost something -- could be quite special. skill, health, will power or all of "It's a fight, and they're going the above -- that used to at least to lock us in a cage and me and get him to the weekend. Robbie Lawler are going to try to Three of those four missed kill each other," Condit says mat- French tennis player Monfils cuts came in majors. Woods has ter-of-factly. "I think we're two of Revived Sri Lanka turn still never been sent packing early the most skilled guys in the divi- withdraws from Hopman Cup from the Masters, where he is a four-time winner, but he wasn't sion for sure, if not the sport. I Frenchman Gael Monfils has time and teaming up with Caroline think we're going to go in there and around for the final two rounds of pulled out of the Hopman Cup in Garcia," 29-year-old Monfils said tables on New Zealand the last three majors of 2015. put on a display of violence and Western Australia with a leg inju- in a statement about the mixed team aggression that people won't soon And, to top it all off, Woods ry. Monfils, the World No.24, will tournament, according to the Aus- A cracking 91 by Tillakaratne Dils- on in the sixth over to arrest the When New Zealand looked to had not one, but two back proce- forget." be replaced by fellow Frenchman tralian Associated Press. han set Sri Lanka up for an eight- onslaught only to have Gunathila- be lining themselves up for a big dures in the fall -- first, a second Lawler, of course, is the reign- Kenny de Schepper in the tourna- World number one Serena Wil- wicket victory over New Zealand ka smack his first ball for six to score on a wicket that suggested microdiscectomy procedure to fol- ing champion and a throwback to ment from January 3-9 ahead of liams, the Australian Open defend- in Nelson on Thursday to keep bring up Sri Lanka's 50. an innings of 300-plus, Vandersay low on a March 2014 surgery, the UFC's early days. He's the the first Grand Slam of the year, ing champion, and world number their one-day series alive. It was the introduction of New removed Tom Latham for 42 and then, followed a month later in closest thing there is today to a the Australian Open in Melbourne. two Andy Murray, the Open Sri Lanka knocked off their Zealand's fourth quick, Mitchell Ross Taylor without scoring in October by a "follow-up proce- prime Chuck Liddell, the Hall of "I was really looking forward men's runner-up, start their 2016 277-run target with 22 balls to McClenaghan, that snapped the three deliveries. dure" to deal with further nerve Famer who became one of Zuffa's to travelling to Perth for the first seasons at the Hopman Cup. spare in a remarkable turnaround opening stand when Gunathilaka They were the first ODI wick- damage and pain in the same spot first big stars with a crushing after being outplayed in the first was caught by Ross Taylor at first ets for the 25-year-old leg-spinner on his back. punch and a kill-or-be-killed atti- two matches. slip for 65. playing in his second internation- Woods probably couldn't wait tude. In addition to Dilshan's hero- Dilshan was run out when al. to blow out the candles on Lawler and Condit are similar ics, Lahiru Thirimanne cracked an turned back by Thirimanne when Bracewell's career best 30 off Wednesday and end this miserable in that they're classy, affable, no- unbeaten 87 and Danushka Gu- attempting a difficult single. 34 and Southee's 18 off four balls year. b.s. guys who have worked in the nathilaka made 65. In contrast to Sri Lanka's rol- in the final over gave the New Yet, we, and presumably shadows of other big names. Woods, wonder: Can he ever get Dinesh Chandimal was not out licking performance, the New Zealand innings a late boost. back to what he was? Lawler came up under Pat 27 at the end as the match followed Zealand innings showed signs of Even the Woods haters, hap- Miletich, the first UFC welter- the same formula as the first two rust after so few batsmen had a py to stick sewing pins into the weight champion and a member of where the team that lost the toss chance to get in the middle in the back of their Tiger voodoo dolls, its Hall of Fame. His teammate was batted second and dominated. first two games. are curious if he has one last run in Matt Hughes, another Hall of Fam- New Zealand now lead the se- Kane Williamson's 59 was the him. The answer to that question er and the man that UFC presi- ries 2-1 with two matches remain- only score to better a half-centu- is unclear, and if you asked most dent Dana White will tell you to ing. ry. anyone in golf during the low this day was the company's best Batting first in the opening Williamson, deputising as cap- points of the year, they might have welterweight ever. matches on faster wickets in tain in place of the injured Bren- told you unequivocally that he's For all his prodigious skills, Christchurch, Dilshan, Thirimanne don McCullum, was dropped on done. But now, looking back at all Lawler has never been embraced and Gunathilaka posted a total of 30 and added a further 29 runs be- he has accomplished -- 79 PGA by the public the way that say, 43 runs from their combined six fore meekly yielding his wicket Tour wins, 14 majors, some 25 Tito Ortiz and Liddell were in the innings. when he slapped a full toss from scoring and money titles -- it makes early days or how Conor McGre- it hard to count the guy out so But they were more at home Milinda Siriwardana to Dushman- quickly. In those moments where gor and Ronda Rousey have been on the accommodating Saxton Oval tha Chameera at mid-on. Woods hit chip shots that would today. where Dilshan took 92 balls for Chameera had an impressive embarrass his own kids if they Even now, after beating Johny his 91 and stood in partnerships game, as did the other Sri Lankan were hitting them, it was easy to Hendricks to win the title and suc- of 98 with Gunathilaka and 111 novice Jeffrey Vandersay. flippantly pen his obit. By now, cessfully defending it in the Fight with Thirimanne. In addition to the valuable however, we've read that obit too of a Lifetime against MacDonald New Zealand strike bowlers catch to remove Williamson, the many times to not remember just in July, Lawler exists in the shad- Tim Southee and Adam Milne 23-year-old Chameera claimed the how impressive Woods was at his ow of long-time champion Georg- were belted out of the attack in wickets of Martin Guptill (30) and best and consider that he could still es St-Pierre. five overs. Henry Nicholls (20) and ran out win again, even at a fraction of his St-Pierre left the sport follow- Doug Bracewell was brought Mitchell Santner (38). former self. ing a controversial win over Hen- dricks at UFC 167, and surren- dered the belt. He was never beat- Howard Davis, most outstanding boxer at 1976 Olympics, dead at 59 en for it, and rumors of a potential comeback are always big news. Howard Davis Jr., who was voted Davis, who had a 125-5 ama- a year to live. Davis, who never I never ask why I got [cancer]. sion, was close with Davis for his mile at 4:20. I am sure if he put his Condit was the WEC champi- the most outstanding fighter at the teur record, told Putnam in Mont- smoked or drank alcohol, told the I just started fighting. If you are a entire adult life. He said he'll re- mind to it, he could have ap- on and later won the UFC's inter- 1976 Olympics in Montreal in a real that he didn't see the sense of SunSentinel that once he learned champion, champions don't quit. member Davis as an elite athlete proached the world record. He told im welterweight belt by edging year in which the U.S. may have getting into slugfests. that, he stopped chemotherapy He dropped from 195 pounds but moreso as one of boxing's true me a few years ago that he enjoyed Nick Diaz at UFC 143. Diaz dom- fielded its greatest team ever, died I'm no brawler. The Europe- and tried non-conventional meth- to 138, according to Sherdog, but good guys. "He was a loyal friend training fighters, promoting MMA inated that promotion and the Wednesday at 59 after a short bat- ans take a lot of punches. They ods to save his life. But Davis was continued to seek a cure. He got and devoted husband, father and and playing music – he played gui- post-fight talk, with many fans tle with cancer. get cut up, and looking ugly is just known for a sunny disposition and off chemotherapy when the doc- brother," Gordon told Yahoo tar – more than he enjoyed fight- believing Diaz had been jobbed by His brother, Kenny Davis, part of the day's work. But I don't a willingness to fight to overcome tor estimated he had less than a Sports. " ... He had the fastest pair ing. I believe he was Florida's busi- the judges. confirmed the news. want to be ugly. I'm not crazy. any obstacle. He reacted with year to live and tried to find alter- of hands I ever saw. He was a very est MMA promoter. To know He, like Lawler, has played Davis won the lightweight gold Davis had a solid, though not grace when he learned the bad news native treatment methods. Randy hard worker in the gym. On the Howard Davis was to love him. second fiddle to bigger names for medal at the 1976 Games, just five spectacular, career as a pro. He and vowed to battle to remain Gordon, the former chairman of the road, he ran like no fighter I ever Heaven is gaining one very special much of his career. Condit lives and years after he had taken up box- went 36-6-1 with 14 knockouts as alive. New York State Athletic Commis- saw. In 1979, I clocked him in the angel." trains in Albuquerque, N.M. For a ing. He was an inspirational figure a pro, but failed to win a world while, he toiled in the shadow of as he fought for his 37-year-old title. He lost WBC lightweight ti- St-Pierre, who in a way put Jack- mother, who had died of a heart tle bouts to Jim Watt in 1980 and son's Mixed Martial Arts on the attack two days before the Games Edwin Rosario in 1984. He map, and later of Jon Jones. began. dropped an IBF junior welter- When Condit finally got the The 1976 Olympic boxing weight title match to Buddy Mc- chance to face St-Pierre for the belt, tournament featured some of the Girt in 1988. it turns out he wasn't ready for the greatest fighters to have ever lived, After his fight career ended, moment. including Americans Sugar Ray Davis stayed in the sport and be- "In the GSP fight [at UFC 154 Leonard and Michael Spinks and gan training fighters. He eventual- in 2012], I was very hyped up," Cuban heavyweight Teofilo ly began to train MMA fighters as Condit said. "That was four years Stevenson, but it was Davis who well as boxers and became the strik- ago. I've grown quite a bit since won the Val Barker Award as the ing coach for the American Top then. I lost my composure a little Games' most outstanding boxer. Team in Florida. Among his MMA bit in the lead-up and during the He used his fast hands and pupils was UFC Hall of Famer and fight and this time around, I'm en- precise punches to take the gold, former light heavyweight champi- joying the process, staying defeating Simion Cutov of Roma- on Chuck Liddell. He also promot- poised." nia in the final match. He'd also ed MMA fights, and his compa- He understands the Herculean beaten the likes of Aaron Pryor and ny, Fight Time Promotions, got a task ahead of him. Though St-Pierre Thomas Hearns in the amateurs. contract with the CBS Sports Net- is one of a handful of the greatest Writing in Sports Illustrated work to do shows. In 1976, Davis fighters to have ever lived, he didn't after the Olympics, the legendary was signed to a deal with CBS, the have the sheer punching power Pat Putnam said, "Howard Davis first among his teammates to land that Lawler possesses. is even more skilled as a fighter a network television deal. St-Pierre won his fights with than Leonard. A remarkably clever Davis was diagnosed with great wrestling skill and an uncan- boxer, he thinks people who can Stage 4 lung cancer in the summer ny ability to pinpoint and then take a punch to deliver one are fool- and given a grim prognosis. Doc- exploit an opponent's weaknesses ish." tors told him he likely had less than This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. FRIDAY . JANUARY 01. 2016 -Jadi 11, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:153 Price: Afs.15

ISIS claims deadly shooting in Russia’s Caucasus The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Chancellor Angela Merkel in her (ISIS) has claimed responsibility New Year’s address Thursday for a shooting at an ancient citadel asked Germans to see a record ref- in Russia’s volatile North Cauca- ugee influx as “an opportunity for sus region of Dagestan that killed tomorrow” and urged doubters not one and injured 11, the SITE Intel- to follow racist hate-mongers. ligence Group said. The past year - when the top “With the help of Allah, the EU economy took in over one mil- warriors of the Khalifate were able lion asylum seekers - had been to attack a group of Russian spe- unusually challenging, she said in cial service officers in the city of a pre-released text of the speech, Derbent in southern Dagestan, kill- also bracing Germans for more ing one officer and injuring the oth- hardships ahead. ers,” the monitoring organization But she stressed that in the end SITE quoted ISIS as saying sever- it would all be worth it because al hours after Wednesday’s deadly “countries have always benefitted attack. from successful immigration, both economically and socially”. With a view to right-wing pop- Israel approves ulists and xenophobic street rallies, she said “it’s important we economic plan don’t allow ourselves to be divid- for Arab minority ed”. “It is crucial not to follow The Israeli government on those who, with coldness or even Wednesday approved a plan worth hatred in their hearts, lay a sole several billion dollars to improve claim to what it means to be Ger- the economic situation of the Arab man and seek to exclude others.” minority, officials said. Merkel has earned both praise Details on how the money will and criticism at home and abroad be spent were not immediately for her decision to open Germany available. to a record wave of refugees, about But a statement from Prime half from war-torn Syria. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Germany took in almost 1.1 office said the program would ap- million asylum seekers this year, ply to areas including education, five times last year’s total, the transportation, employment, in- Saechsische Zeitung regional daily frastructures, culture and sports. reported Wednesday citing unpub- “The plan ensures that minor- lished official figures. ities in Israel - Muslims, Druze, Merkel, faced with opposition Christians, Circassians - will get in her conservative camp and pop- fitting budgets to implement vari- ular concerns about the influx, has ous development plans in their vowed steps to reduce numbers sectors,” Netanyahu said. next year. A government official told AFP Her plan involves convincing on condition of anonymity that the other EU members to take in more five-year plan would cost 10-15 refugees, so far with little success, billion shekels ($2.56-3.84 billion, and an EU deal with gateway coun- 2.35-3.52 billion euros). try Turkey to better protect its Ayman Odeh, who heads the borders. Nigeria ready to Joint List that groups the main Merkel said that “there has talk to Boko Haram Arab parties in parliament, cau- rarely been a year in which we were tiously welcomed the plan, which challenged so much to follow up about missing girls he called “the result of a long pub- our words with deeds”. lic struggle, yet to have ended.” She thanked volunteers and Nigerian President Muhammadu U.S. President Barack Obama’s Buhari on Wednesday said he had “The plan was constructed in police, soldiers and administrators administration is preparing new close coordination between the for their “outstanding” accom- no new intelligence on some 200 sanctions on international compa- schoolgirls kidnapped almost two Joint List and the Arab heads of plishments and “doing far, far more nies and individuals over Iran’s local authorities,” he said in a state- than their duty”. years ago, and that his government ballistic missile program, sources would negotiate with any “credi- ment. Looking to 2016, she said familiar with the situation said. “The fact that the plan in- “there is no question that the in- ble” Boko Haram leadership for The Wall Street Journal re- their release. cludes a significant budget addi- flux of so many people will keep ported earlier that the potential tion, alongside a change in the fund- demanding much of us. It will take A total of 276 girls were taken sanctions would target about 12 from their school in the northeast- allocating mechanisms of the min- time, effort and money.” companies and individuals for istries, could be a first step to re- But Merkel recalled that Ger- ern town of Chibok in April 2014 their suspected role in developing by Boko Haram fighters, in a case ducing the economic and social many had mastered past challeng- Iran’s ballistic-missile program. gaps of the state’s Arab citizens,” es such as reunification a quarter- that made global headlines. U.S. officials have said the Several dozen girls managed to Odeh said. century ago and benefitted from a Treasury Department retains a According to Amir Levy, head “robust and innovative” economy. escape soon afterwards, but noth- right under July’s landmark nucle- ing has been seen or heard from of budgets at the finance ministry, “I am convinced,” she said, ar agreement between Iran and six the plan entails “fundamental cor- “that, handled properly, today’s around 200 of them since a video world powers, including Washing- released in May 2014. rections in the governmental allo- great task presented by the influx ton, to blacklist Iranian entities cation mechanisms” which will and the integration of so many “We are prepared to negotiate suspected of involvement in mis- including the October 10th launch,” an Obama administration official said. with them (Boko Haram’s leader- “help realize the Arab sector’s eco- people is an opportunity for to- sile development, the Journal said. “We are considering various aspects related to additional designations, as well as evolving diplomatic nomic potential.” morrow.” ship) without precondition,” Bu- Iranian officials have said the work that is consistent with our national security interests,” the official said, on condition of anonymity. hari said in his inaugural media chat Social Equality Minister Gila She urged Germans to be “self- country’s supreme leader would A team of U.N. sanctions monitors said in a confidential report seen by Reuters on Dec. 15 that a medium- Gamliel described it as “an impor- confident and free, humanitarian broadcast on radio and television. view such penalties as violating the range Emad rocket that Iran tested on Oct. 10 was a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, “We wanted to make contact tant and historic step on the way and open to the world”. nuclear accord. making it a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. to reducing gaps and advancing Amid the world’s greatest ref- but we insist on identifying the “We’ve been looking for some Diplomats have said it was possible for the sanctions committee to blacklist additional Iranian individuals bonafide so-called Boko Haram social equality in Israel.” ugee wave since World War II, she time? at options for additional ac- or entities over the missile launch. But they said Russia and China, which have opposed the sanctions on said, “it goes without saying that leadership,” he said. tions related to Iran’s ballistic mis- Iran’s missile program, might block any such actions. The president said he had no we help and accommodate people sile program based on our contin- Tehran has disputed the Western assessment that the Emad missile was capable of delivering a nuclear Syria releases who seek safe haven with us”. firm intelligence on where the girls ued concerns about its activities, warhead. were or the state of their health, adding: “That is the honest truth.” prominent Before any negotiations can Pak army chief, Saudi TURKEY NOT RESPECTING DEAL begin “we are looking for a credi- opposition ble Boko Haram leadership that will confirm that the girls are alive,” figures defence official discuss ON RETREATING TROOPS: IRAQ Buhari added. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al- it will withdraw from Iraqi territo- in a bid to soothe a bitter row with “We want to be sure that they Syrian authorities have released regional security Abadi said on Wednesday that ry.” Baghdad and following a call from (the girls) are complete, safe” be- two prominent members of the Turkey had not respected a com- However, Reuters quoted U.S. President Barack Obama. fore holding any talks, he added. domestic opposition who were mitment to withdraw its troops Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet “Taking into account the sen- Over 17,000 people have been arrested on Wednesday as they from northern Iraq. Davutoglu as saying “if Baghdad sitivities on the Iraqi side... Tur- killed in Boko Haram’s six-year travelled to Riyadh to meet other He reaffirmed, during a call to wants to use force, it should be key will continue the process it quest to create an independent Is- regime opponents, their party the Turkish prime ministers, that against ISIS after his Iraqi coun- has already begun to withdraw its lamic state in Nigeria. said. he refuses any military Turkish terpart threatened possible mili- troops stationed” near Mosul, the Last week Buhari said the mil- Ahmad al-Asrawi and Munir presence in Iraq without the tary action over Turkish troops Turkish foreign ministry said. itant group had been “technically” al-Bitar, members of the National knowledge and consent of Bagh- deployed in northern Iraq. Earlier this month, Turkey defeated, but a 48-wave of Boko Coordination Committee for Dem- dad. Speaking during an interview deployed troops to a base in Nin- ocratic Change (NCCDC), were Abadi said in a statement that on NTV, Davutoglu acknowledged eveh province where it has a long- stopped at Syria’s border with a Turkish delegation to Iraq had there had been "miscommunica- running training program for forc- Lebanon, said the body’s secretary promised to announce upon re- tion" over the troop deployment. es battling the ISIS group. general, Yahya Aziz. Both Asrawi turning to Ankara that Turkey He said that Ankara respected Ira- Ankara insisted the deploy- and Bitar were headed to Saudi Arabia to join fellow members of would withdraw its troops, “but qi sovereignty but added that Bagh- ment was routine and necessary the opposition’s “supreme com- the Turkish government has not dad is not in control one third of to protect the trainers, while Bagh- mittee for negotiations,” Aziz told respected the agreement and we its own territory. dad said it was unauthorized and AFP. The “supreme committee” request that the Turkish govern- Turkey announced earlier that protested to the U.N. Security is a 33-member group formed in ment announce immediately that it had begun withdrawing troops Council. December at a landmark meeting of Syria’s armed and political opposition in Riyadh. The committee is set to choose at least part of an opposition delegation for peace Army chief General Raheel Sharif heel reiterated Pakistan’s commit- talks with Syrian President Bashar met assistant defence minister for ment to the safety and protection al-Assad’s government next month. military affairs of Saudi Arabia of Haramain Sharifain, and the ter- Aziz said Asrawi and Bitar Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Ay- ritorial integrity of the kingdom. were taken “to an unknown loca- tion,” adding: “Those who want a ish called at the GHQ in Rawal- Reciprocating, Saudi King political solution would not do pindi on Thursday and discussed Prince Salman had assured the Haram attacks in northeastern Ni- this.” The NCCDC later on its Fa- regional security besides other is- army chief that any threat to Paki- geria that killed more than 50 peo- cebook page announced “the re- sues. stan’s integrity would be unac- ple since then has undermined his lease of our colleagues Ahmad al- “During the meeting, matters ceptable. claim. Asrawi and Munir al-Bitar”, call- related to regional security and bi- Any threat to Saudi Arabia will During two-hour chat with ing for “freedom for all prisoners lateral defence collaboration in- evoke strong response from Paki- journalists on Wednesday, he hint- and detainees.” Earlier the group cluding training exchanges came stan: army chief ed that he could ban the wearing of said their arrest contradicted “in- under discussion,” according to General Raheel held the same hijabs or other headwear by Mus- ternational efforts to reach a just Inter Services Public Relations stance on October 30 during a vis- lim women if insurgents continue political solution” to the conflict (ISPR). it to a joint exercise of the two forc- to use veiled women to carry out in Syria. A statement from the su- On November 4, in a meeting es in Jhelum, saying any threat to suicide attacks. preme committee said the pair had with Chief of General Staff, A Re- the sovereignty and territorial in- “Hijab will have to be banned been due to meet other opposition ham Bin Saleh during a two-day tegrity of Saudi Arabia will evoke if this continues,” said Buhari, him- figures on January 1 to finalise a visit to Saudi Arabia, General Ra- a strong response from Pakistan. self a Muslim. delegation to negotiate with the government. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.