Nation

Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi-KABUL: In a bid to deter smokers, the Wolesi Jirga raised the import duty on cigarettes by 100 percent. The lawmakers on Monday voted to amend tobacco control law and increase cigarette duty from 50 percent to 100 percent. Only 12 of the 125 lawmakers present in the …

KABUL: Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, chief of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), expressed concern over Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s statement against Pakistan and asked the federal government to address reservations of the neighbouring country, Pakistani media reports. Speaking at a meeting on Sunday, Sherpao said such statements would undermine bilateral relations …

KABUL:  A six member Afghan delegation will hold face-to-face meeting with Taliban in Oslo, the capital of Norway, a source privy to the development revealed on Monday. A government official wishing not to be named told Pajhwok Afghan News that deputy foreign minister for political affairs Hikmat Khalil Karzai led …

By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday observed “the World Blood Donor Day” to raise public awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products. The theme of the 2015 World Blood Donor Day was “Thank for saving my …

AT-KABUL: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) seeks international cooperation in war against terrorism in Afghanistan. The Minister of Interior, Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi, in a meeting with some members of blind people’s association said that uprooting the menace of terrorism requires cooperation from regional and world countries. “The war against terrorism is …

AT-KABUL: Anisa Rasouli has been nominated to become the first female member of the High Council of Supreme Court, said a source in the Presidential Palace. President Ghani had pledged during his election campaigns to appoint a woman as a member of the High Council of Supreme Court. According to …

AT-KABUL: Afghanistan’s minerals and petroleum resources management advisory council held its first session on Sunday. The council is expected to cooperate with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) in better management of natural riches. The council is comprised of representatives of state organizations, civil society, media, members of the …

AT-KABUL: Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) on Sunday said that reforms in the university entrance test had been outlined as top priority in the 100-day action plan. Kankor exam or the university entrance test had been marred by accusations of interference of government officials and warlords in the past. Minster …

AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: Seventh round of anti-polio vaccination drive kicked off in secure areas of southern Helmand province on Sunday. Dr. Abdul Ahad Hazem, a provincial health official, said that 800,000 children up to five years of age will get the drops against the crippling disease. He said that 5,000 …

It’s 20 years ahead of the West – and it WON’T blow up ‘like its predecessor’: Brains behind Russia’s new robotic tank reveals secrets of machine at centre of $500BILLION military upgrade New Armata T-14 tank was unveiled at Victory Day parade in Russia last month as part of muscle-flexing …