Proud to be an Afghan!

At least 15 people have been killed and 55 wounded in explosions and gunfire as 20 gunmen launched attacks in Kabul


Related links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8464763.stm

Afghanistan The London Conference 28 Jan 2010

Afghanistan tallest man

Abdul Mutalib came to our TV station and asked if someone can took his interview.

As per normal schedule I was getting ready for my TV program “3 questions 3 answers” but all of sudden my producer asked me to conduct an interview.

I was not aware of that whom I am going to take interview when and where. In reply to my question my produce told me that as soon as you will see him you will know what you have to ask.

With great pleasure I saw a very tall man standing in the ground surrounding by all my colleagues who were busy to click his photographs in their mobile phones. I noticed that he was not much comfortable and bit shy among others “Lilliput” people compare to him.

During interviewing him I found out Abdul Mutalib from southern Afghanistan. He was a farmer. And his mother tongue Pashto as I was not fluent in Pashto so we were talking in mixed up with Pashto and Dari languages. He is married and has four children. He was not sure about his exact age but he mention may be 37 years.

He is about 7ft and not facing any trouble regarding clothes and buying shooes, he has a tailor and he is ordering shoes for himself.

“I have no problem in my life and I am proud of my height the only things which I have problem with is transportation I couldn’t get in any kinds of vehicle”. he said.

“But sometime I feel upset because I can’t live like normal people” added he.
Abdul Mutalib has sisters and brothers but they are all having normal height, his children are also having normal high.

Abdul Mutalib came to appear in TV because he wanted to show himself for the people and named himself as tallest man in Afghanistan.


By Sadia Hasanzada

2009 Press Conference "Women for Afghan Women"

December 1, 2009 Press conference hosted by Women for Afghan Women and supported by Feminist Majority Foundation
The main speaker Palwasha Hassan, the nominee for Ministry of Women's Affairs.
After Hussne Bano Ghazanfar has been rejected to proceed her work as Minister of Women Affairs by parliamnet in new Karzai's cabinet.

Taken from this site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG6ysT7KaO8&feature=related

World tallest skyscraper

The world tallest skyscraper in Dubai is now opened for the visitors.

The opening ceremony of the world Burj Khalifa tower happened on 4th of January.

Burj Khalifa in Dubai world highest tower build from a glistening concrete, glass and steel pinnacle rising 828 meters out of desert sand by international designer, engineers and architectures.

Construction began in 21 September 2004. It consist 160 floors, some of the apartment in Burj were selling more than $1,900 per square foot.

Related links:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100104/wl_mideast_afp/uaedubaiarchitecturetowereconomy_20100104102901
Image taken from this site:
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2009/11/in_this_july_13_2009_ap_photo_construction_continu_7414498124.jpg

"Tasty Mantou"

Mantou is a Chinese bread typically eaten northern part of china. People usually eat it in breakfast with tea or soya milk.

Montou made with milled wheat flour, water and some other special seeds. The size is range from 4cm to over 15 cm soft, fluffy and tasty.

Chinese mantou is known in the south but people rarely cook them at home they are often served as street food or in the restaurants.
They are often sold pre-cooked in the frozen section in supermarkets ready for preparation by steaming or heating in the microwave.

Qiujin 32, lives in London and she says that she can’t cook Mantou at home but she can buy it from Chinese stores. “I love mantou, normally we eat it with noodles”. she said.

In Chinese the name Mantou means “barbarian’s head. The legends arise from Zhuge Liang chief minister of the Shu State during the Three Kingdoms Period. He goes to attack the cave- dwelling Southern Man who was attacked his state before .He came to the bank of the Lushui River at the head of a big army. Someone told him that the river was poi­sonous and treacherous and that human lives would be lost in crossing unless the tyrannical River god was appeased. The man said that the way to do this was to offer him mantou (heads of the captured barbarians) as human sacrifices. Zhuge Liang was a kind-hearted man, so he ordered his army to use "heads" (tou) made of dough instead of real human ones, to save lives.

By Sadia Hasanzada

Snow chaos across UK

Weather alerts have been put in place for London, the South East and the South West this evening, as the snow travels south.

A heavy snowfall is expected from 6pm to 8pm, with temperatures falling as low as -5C UK
Authorities from “flash warning” said heavy snowfall is expected increasing from 15-30 cm and excess of 40cm.
More then hundred schools have been closed today in many cities in Britain.
Roads are extremely icy and its create difficulties for transportation. Safety groups are expected to tackle twice as many breakdowns as usual for this period and have advised travellers to prepare for potential delays.
A lorry driver was killed in a crash on the M60 near Bredbury in Greater Manchester.
Some of the flights was delayed and cancelled after heavy snow forced in Manchester and Liverpool airports.

Read more…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8440601.stm

My homeland

Afghanistan is a country with 5 years of historical and cultural background. According to the east, this country is known as the fourth way of connecting largest cultures and traditions between human.
Different cultures such as Widi, Avesta, Western (Bakhtari), Greek, Buddhism, and Islam exist inside Afghanistan which show the historical background of this Asian country.
During the Avesta era, the largest temple of Zoroastrians was located in Afghanistan and by influence of Buddhism the largest statue of Buddha was built in Afghanistan. By the advent of Islam and spreading in Afghanistan, many scientists such as Mawlawi Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi, Nasir Khisraw Balkhi, Saniee Ghaznawi, Abu Naser Farabi and Bu Ali Sinai Balkhi were born in Afghanistan and provided many cultural and scientific services to the world.
By having many historical locations, which are known as famous locations at the present, such as “Qala Tarikhi Bast” in Helmand province, “Takht Rustam” in Samangan province, “Qala Fraidon” in Farah province, Herat’s historical minarets, Ghor province’s “Jam” minarets etc, many tourist were visiting Afghanistan in the past and today some of the mentioned locations are included in the list of the world’s cultural heritages from which we can name “Jam” minarets of Bamyan province which has a historical background of more than 830 years.
Herat province was the capital of Herat’s Temorian people from 1401 to 1506 “B.C” and this city was very developed during this period. These people built many buildings inside this city which are known as the important, historical and cultural heritages of Afghanistan.
Ghazni city is known as the “Capital of Islamic Culture” by Scientific, Cultural and Educational Institution of Islamic countries in the world. This title will be formally dedicated to this city in the year 2013.
One of the other traditions habits, that is left from our ancestors to us, is celebrating some of the days which our people celebrate based on the beliefs they have such as EID days which our people celebrate it by wearing new clothes, going and visiting their friends and relatives, and decorating their homes and dining tables with various dry and fresh fruits and sweets for the guests.
Also the people in different cities of Afghanistan celebrate “Nawroz” (New Year) as a national and religious occasion by going to shrines, sightseeing, and hiking. “Red Rose” (Gul-e-Surkh) and raising the flag in Caliph Ali’s shrine in Mazar-e-Sharif city can be good examples of them.

Every country’s culture identifies its identity and Afghanistan one of those countries with very old history. I proud to be an Afghan and hope one day we can build again previous Afghanistan.

By Sadia Hasanzada

Afghanistan Media

Media is a phenomenon that exists in all free societies. It is meant to inform, educate and entertain people, creating national unity and exposing truth to the public.

Afghan media has a long history. The first ever newspaper in Afghanistan was the "Shamsu nahar" has been published 1290 Hjir Qamari during the King Amir Shir Ali Khan reign.

At a time when people only had very basic means for survival, Afghanistan was showing its value of knowledge and opinion by publishing Shamsu nahar.

Soon after, another newspaper called Sarjul Akhbar Afghaniya was launched during the reign of Amir Habibullah.

In 1307 Hijri Shamsi, under the reign of King Amanullah, Afghanistan created its first ever electronic media, Radio.

Later on, in 1357, under the reign of President Dawood Khan, Afghan TV started to broadcast.
Today, we have more that 90 Radio stations and approximately 40 TV stations.

Additionally Afghanistan has over 500 print media and more than 10 news agencies in the country. The number of media and its growing range of work is the result of the cooperation between the world community and the Afghan government.

This achievement is an outstanding accomplishment in regard to freedom of speech and people‘s civil rights. Freedom of speech is protected in our constitution and is the right of every media organization and individual in Afghanistan.

By Sadia Hasanzada

The Afghan parliament rejected candidate nominees

Afghanistan's parliament Saturday rejected 17 out of 24 cabinet nominees proposed by President Hamid Karzai

The lower house of the Afghan Parliament hold its plenary in presence of 232 MPs and started voting for 24 candidate ministers, who introduced by the President Karzai last month.

The rejected nominees include a powerful former Jihadi leader, Mohammad Ismael Khan and the only female candidate for the Ministry of Women Affairs.

Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and Finance Minister Mohammad Omar Zakhelwal, three key ministers favored by the West, were among the seven approved by the lower house of the parliament.

Mr Khan, who served as minister for water and energy in Karzai's first five-year term, failed to get the approval for the same post.

Other rejected candidates include those for the ministries of justice, commerce, economy, public health and higher education.

Husn Bano Ghazanfar, the only female candidate in the proposed cabinet, had been set to take over the Ministry of Women Affairs before failing to win approval.

Accor ding to the assessment Minister of Education, Dr. Ghulam Farooq Wardak received the highest votes (155 votes) and Minister of Public Welfare, Mirza Hussain Abullahi received the lowest votes (33 votes) from the MPs.

By Sadia Hasanzada

Related links :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8438412.stm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100102/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

Image taken from this site:

http://gdb.rferl.org/269FAE87-2541-4B6F-871E-E1A7D7C59C62_mw800_mh600.jpg

Karzai's new cabinet

President Hamid Karzai presented his nominees for cabinet posts to parliament for approval.

The Afghan President has kept some key figures in their positions as Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim submitted a list of 23 names to the parliament.

Nominees include the current ministers of defence, interior, finance, health, education, justice, agriculture, telecommunication, energy, counter narcotics and women affairs.

Since his re-election, Mr Karzai has come under intense pressure from the United States and other backers to clean up his government and improve its performance.

Mr Karzai was last month declared the winner of the presidential election after a poll process marred by fraud.

Karzai's ministerial nominees must win the approval of parliamentarians in a process that could take days to complete, with each nominee making a speech to justify their appointment.

So far the list shows that only one women have been included in his new cabinet. Ministry of Women affairs.

List of nominees for cabinet posts
1-Minister of Defence: Mohamamd Rahim Wardak
2-Minister of Interior: Mohamamd Hanif Atmar
3-Minister of Finance: Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal
4-Minister of Public Health: Mohammad Amin Fatimi
5-Minister of Information and Culture: Makhdum Rahin
6-Minister of Energy and Water: Mohammad Ismaiel Khan
7-Minister of Mines: Waheedullah Sharani
8-Minister of Education: Farooq Wadak
9-Minister of Justice: Mohammad Sarwar Danish
10-Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology: Amirzai Sangin
11-Minister of Commerce and Industries: Ghulam Mohammad Aylaqi
12-Minister of Agriculture: Mohammad Asef Rahimi
13-Minister of Women Affairs: Husn Banu Ghazanfar
14-Minister of Returnees and Refugees: Enayatullah Nazari
15-Minister of Islamic Affairs: Enayatullah Baligh
16-Minister of Border and Tribal Affairs: Sayed Hamid Gelani
17-Minister of Counter Narcotics: Gen Khudaidad
18-Minister of Higher Education: Obaidullah Obaid
19-Minister of Public Works: Engineer Mirza Hussain Abdullahi
20-Minister of Economy: Anwar ul Haq Ahadi
21-Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development: Engineer Wais Ahmad Barmak
22-Minister of Labour and Social Affairs: Mohammad Esmail Monshi
23-Minister of Transport: Dr Mohammadullah Batash

By Sadia Hasanzasa

Related links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8422058.stm

Karzai fights with corruption

The Afghan President launched a campaign to show his government is serious about cracking down on corruption,

Opening a three-day anti-corruption conference in Kabul, Karzai said he was well aware of the scale of the problem.

"I know corruption exists in the government and elsewhere. Let's be realistic," he said. I don’t know how my ministers can go for vocation to Dubai and buy latest car model while even from the president salary you cannot buy even bicycle.

He pointed and criticized once again international organization.
Afghan and Western analysts say corruption is fuelling popular support for the Taliban insurgency.
Karzai indicated there were limits to how far he would go in tackling corruption.

The all-out crackdown urged by Western leaders could lead to abuses, he warned.
"As we fight corruption, we must be extremely careful that the fight does not become corrupt itself," Karzai said.
"Every one of our police, every one of our soldiers ... can go to someone's house, knock on the door and drag a man out of the house and terrorize him. In my opinion, this is the main form of corruption."
Karzai highlighted last week's conviction of Abdul Ahad Sayebi, Kabul’s mayor, who was sentenced to jail on corruption charges – the highest ranking official to be prosecuted recently.
Mr Sayebi is currently on liberty pending an appeal.

"One very serious caution I want to say. The mayor of Kabul has been sentenced to four years' jail. I know the mayor. He is a clean person," Karzai said.

Western pressure on Karzai is intense. Last month Brown said he was "not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption."
In his West Point Afghan strategy speech, Obama vowed there would be no more "blank cheques" to the Afghan government.

Related links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8402235.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/afghanistan/2009/12/091215_ram_karzai_corruption.shtml

Suicide attack in capital of Afghanistan

A suicide car bomber struck central Kabul on Tuesday, killing 8 and wounding 40 others.

The mid-morning blast damaged a hotel in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan district, where a number of embassies and foreign offices are located. Most of the victims are civilians.

The hotel, Heetal, is owned by the son of Burhanuddin Rabbani, who served as president of Afghanistan from 1992 until 1996.

In addition to the hotel, several homes were damaged and windows shattered in other buildings in the neighborhood.

Related links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8413163.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8413579.stm

WHAT IS HUMAN RIGHTS? DO YOU HAVE ANSWER?

Article 1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

http://www.rawa.org/ai-women.htm

US still worry about corruption in Afghanistan

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has vowed in after his re-election to prevent corruption his new cabinet.

But the United States and the United Nations fear that still corruption will continue, and the US announced they would organize anti- corruption workshops for Afghan officials.

The US embassy in Kabul expressed concern over the illegal smuggling of money from airports and borders saying annually three billion US dollars are illegally leaving the country through Kabul airport. Antoni Vineg American finance controller to Afghanistan is also concerned about corruption.

Antoni Vineg said “Daily ten million US dollars illegally transfers from Afghanistan to Dubai, an investigation shows in last 18 days more then $190m illegally transferred from Afghanistan to outside. Afghan government has to be aware where the money goes like many other countries”.

The Kabul International airport workers are agree and say that the finance ministry and private banks help the illegal transfer of money by powerful people. And nobody can stop them.

As part of the fight against corruption Kabul Mayor Abdul Ahad Sahabi was found guilty of giving a contract for a city project without competition. An Afghan court sentenced him to four years in jail and ordered him to repay more than sixteen thousand US dollars involved in the contract.
He was the first senior Afghan official to be prosecuted since President Hamid Karzai came under pressure from the United Nations to deal seriously with corruption after his re-election.

By Sadia Hasanzada

Barak Obama urged to send more troops to Afghanistan

US President Barak Obama has said on Tuesday in his speech to the nation the deployment of 30,000 additional US troops to Afghanistan.

He said that his decision will help to fight terrorism and maintain security worldwide. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said other NATO countries will provide at least 7,000 extra troops. Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Rassa vowed to send 1,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.
But it doesn’t mean that Taliban will stop fighting they will continue with Jihad until all foreign troops leave Afghanistan said the Taliban commander who did not give his name in his exclusive interview with the BBC:

Follow this link : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8391912.stm

Mr. Hamid Karzai wants once again to talk with Taliban Leader Mullah Omar if they willing to join his cabinet. This decision comes after two days Mr. Obama Wednesdays’ speech that he begins sending the additional troops in early 2010 with a goal of starting to withdraw forces from the country in July 2011.

Withdrawing troops and To transfer security responsibility to the Afghans in early 2011 means once again giving fate of Afghanistan to the hand of Pakistan. Written in front page of 8morning afghan newspaper. Obama’s decision sharply criticized by mane newspapers in Afghanistan.

By Sadia Hasanzada,

Read more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8389916.stm

Print Media in Afghanistan

Print media in Afghanistan has a long history. Along the history and despite dictator and puppet regimes in Afghanistan.

Printed media has played constructive role to inform and motive people to stand against invaders and to fight for freedom.

The first Afghan printed media is Shams Ul Nahar which came into existence using very primary tools during the reign of Amir Shir Ali Khan in 1290 and soon after that another printed media (Saraj Ul Akbar Afghania) started to work during the reign of Amir Habibullah Khan .
In 2001 after the fall of the Taliban, new political environment and when a democrat government has come into existence in Afghanistan the printed media has started to grow very quickly.

Currently there are 22 Daily newspaper and around 200 publications are being printed all around the country. Most of media are being studied by educated people in Afghanistan and it is a common fact that only educated people would read it. But we should also mention another fact that all of the educated people do not read the newspapers.

In most part of the world middle class of the society are studying the newspapers but unfortunately unbalanced growth and lack of an economic system in Afghanistan caused us not to have an active class of the society who may read it. On the other hand aimlessness in publications and lack of their knowledge about the readers are causing that a small number of educated people to trust them.

There is a global debate about it to examine that the electronic media especially TV has discredited printed media. Generally we can say that reading printed media in Afghanistan can not be happen through a habit to people but sometimes the readers would read it by chance.

The publications like, Nokhust , Mandagar , Kabul weekly , Arman-e- Milli , Rah-e- Nejat , Hasht Sobh , and the Killid and Mursal magazines have most of their readers in the country .
As most countries we can also categorize publications in Afghanistan into two classes:

1- Special printed media: like publication for women, sport, literature, technology, education, medical and other subjects which has its own readers .
2 – General publications: In such publications, columns and pages are being reserved for each type of subjects . The readers of the general publications can be every classes of the society.

By Sadia Hasanzada


Image taken from http://www.8am.af/images/stories/issue742/2.jpg

"The US has had no reliable information on the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in years, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has admitted."



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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8397684.stm