A amazing tale of human ingenuity and bravery lies behind an exhibition of treasures from Afghanistan that opens with the British Museum this week.
In 17 decades of war after the 1989 Soviet withdrawal, and five decades of Taliban rule, nearly all of the Afghan national museum's riches were looted and a few were deliberately destroyed.
However the most useful items survived, in a very vault deep beneath the presidential palace, due to five males - between them museum director Omar Khan Massoudi.
"He kept his nerve throughout the Taliban's rule of Afghanistan and shown massive courage in not submitting to their demands and threats to reveal its place," says British Afghan expert and member of parliament Rory Stewart.
"It was an act of extraordinary courage and he done a wonderful company to his nation."
The Kabul national museum is located a few kilometres south from the money, in a place that repeatedly changed hands as mujahideen militias vied for impact from the early 1990s.
Every time it absolutely was used, the museum was looted once more. From the believed 100,000 object on exhibit in 1979, some 70% had gone through the mid-1990s.
A rocket destroyed a 4th Century wall painting in 1993. Priceless merchandise, some looted to purchase, changed hands on the international art market. Other individuals were buried in rubble or burned as firewood.
However the legendary Bactrian gold - which authorities feared had been stolen and melted down - had the truth is been packed up, together with several crucial objects from the assortment, and moved to a Central Financial institution vault from the Presidential Palace in 1989.
Mr Massoudi was one of five males who had keys to the vault. All five keys were required to open it - and every from the males risked their lives not to hand them about to the militants.
The holders from the keys kept their locations top secret - if a crucial holder died, it absolutely was agreed, the main element would be passed on to the keeper's eldest kid.
In that way, the priceless artefacts were preserved.
"Mr Massoudi and his staff are undoubtedly unsung heroes," says exhibition undertaking curator Constance Wyndham.
"Without his initiative its hugely unlikely this wonderful assortment would be all around today."
Ms Wyndham says the Soviet-backed President Mohammad Najibullah, whose federal government fell in 1992, also played a position, even though it stays unclear precisely how closely he was involved.
"All that we do know is always that the choice was produced by a committee and President Najibullah ordered the objects to get moved to the presidential palace," she said.
After the ingenuity from the rescue arrived the bravery which was necessary to help keep the hoard protected.
Mr Massoudi and his staff have from the intervening decades remained modest - and somewhat reticent - about their achievement.
But his comments from the museum's guidebook give some thought from the hazards of maintaining the treasure protected from "terror, violence, civil war along with the Taliban".
Regardless of currently being subjected to numerous threats through the Taliban - typically at gunpoint - people who knew from the top secret place gave absolutely nothing away.
It had been not till 2003 the store of 22,000 gold and glass objects were unveiled.
"Today with the grace of Allah Almighty, we've got succeeded in viewing the central treasure of Afghanistan," President Hamid Karzai declared.
01 February 2011
Chelsea's Fernando Torres would like goal against 'pool
Chelsea's new £50m signing Fernando Torres has said it would be "destiny" to score against former club Liverpool when the teams meet on Sunday.
By coincidence, the Spaniard could make his debut for the Blues against the side he left on Monday.
The 26-year-old striker has not asked to be left out of the Premier League clash and stated: "It is like destiny."
He admitted: "It just isn't best but if I have the chance to play, I will do my very best and hopefully I can score."
Torres' departure from Anfield, where he spent the most effective part of four years, was greeted with anger by numerous fans, some of whom burnt replica shirts bearing their former hero's name.
But the player stressed: "I only have excellent words about Liverpool. They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level.
"I will never say anything poor about Liverpool. I have been extremely happy there but now the history is various and I am playing for Chelsea."
Torres, who scored 81 goals throughout his spell on Merseyside, risked further annoying fans of his former club when he told Chelsea TV: "I am joining a team which is at the top level. There's not an additional level after Chelsea.
"I am joining with large names like [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Didier] Drogba and [Nicolas] Anelka and I may be part of this fantastic team."
Torres admitted he had not yet met up with the Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti but said: "I wanted to join due to the fact Chelsea always have shown a large respect for me.
"They genuinely want me and it's important whenever you have the support of the people in the club, as well as the support of the fans who always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield.
"Now I am extremely happy to be a Chelsea player."
Fans of the Stamford Bridge outfit will probably be relieved not to have Torres lining up against them for once, after he proved to be a thorn in their side with seven goals against them even though playing for Liverpool.
The striker added: "I have excellent memories and poor memories of games against Chelsea. All the goals are excellent memories due to the fact all of them are unique.
"If they're happy also due to the fact I am not going to score any more against them then it's excellent."
Jenny
By coincidence, the Spaniard could make his debut for the Blues against the side he left on Monday.
The 26-year-old striker has not asked to be left out of the Premier League clash and stated: "It is like destiny."
He admitted: "It just isn't best but if I have the chance to play, I will do my very best and hopefully I can score."
Torres' departure from Anfield, where he spent the most effective part of four years, was greeted with anger by numerous fans, some of whom burnt replica shirts bearing their former hero's name.
But the player stressed: "I only have excellent words about Liverpool. They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level.
"I will never say anything poor about Liverpool. I have been extremely happy there but now the history is various and I am playing for Chelsea."
Torres, who scored 81 goals throughout his spell on Merseyside, risked further annoying fans of his former club when he told Chelsea TV: "I am joining a team which is at the top level. There's not an additional level after Chelsea.
"I am joining with large names like [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Didier] Drogba and [Nicolas] Anelka and I may be part of this fantastic team."
Torres admitted he had not yet met up with the Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti but said: "I wanted to join due to the fact Chelsea always have shown a large respect for me.
"They genuinely want me and it's important whenever you have the support of the people in the club, as well as the support of the fans who always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield.
"Now I am extremely happy to be a Chelsea player."
Fans of the Stamford Bridge outfit will probably be relieved not to have Torres lining up against them for once, after he proved to be a thorn in their side with seven goals against them even though playing for Liverpool.
The striker added: "I have excellent memories and poor memories of games against Chelsea. All the goals are excellent memories due to the fact all of them are unique.
"If they're happy also due to the fact I am not going to score any more against them then it's excellent."
Jenny
15 January 2011
US President Barack Obama has stated he'll ease polices on US citizens travelling to Cuba.
The president mentioned he had instructed the appropriate government departments to permit religious groups and college students to travel to the communist-run island.
President Obama mentioned he believed the new, far more relaxed, rules which also allow it to be easier to deliver remittances to Cuba will assistance civil society there.
The changes will not finish the decades-old US trade embargo.
The rules will likely be modified to, among other objects:
* Enable religious organisation to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a typical licence
* Enable accredited institutions of better schooling to sponsor travel to Cuba
* Enable any US individual to deliver remittances (as a lot as $500 per quarter) to non-family members in Cuba to assistance private economic activity
* Enable remittances to become sent to religious institutions in Cuba in assistance of religious activities
* Enable US airports to use to supply solutions to licensed charters
'Improved contact'
In a assertion, President Obama mentioned the changes were aimed at creating "people-to-people" contacts through far more academic, cultural and religious exchanges.
The moves follows an easing with all the trade embargo in April 2009, once the president ordered curbs on remittances and travel by Cuban-Americans going to family members on the island to become relaxed.
But Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen mentioned the changes wouldn't help enhance the situation in Cuba.
"They will not make the Castro regime show respect for human rights, plus they certainly won't help the Cuban people completely free on their own in the despotic tyranny which oppresses them," she mentioned. see also
The changes are expected to come into force in roughly 3 weeks.
President Obama mentioned he believed the new, far more relaxed, rules which also allow it to be easier to deliver remittances to Cuba will assistance civil society there.
The changes will not finish the decades-old US trade embargo.
The rules will likely be modified to, among other objects:
* Enable religious organisation to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a typical licence
* Enable accredited institutions of better schooling to sponsor travel to Cuba
* Enable any US individual to deliver remittances (as a lot as $500 per quarter) to non-family members in Cuba to assistance private economic activity
* Enable remittances to become sent to religious institutions in Cuba in assistance of religious activities
* Enable US airports to use to supply solutions to licensed charters
'Improved contact'
In a assertion, President Obama mentioned the changes were aimed at creating "people-to-people" contacts through far more academic, cultural and religious exchanges.
The moves follows an easing with all the trade embargo in April 2009, once the president ordered curbs on remittances and travel by Cuban-Americans going to family members on the island to become relaxed.
But Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen mentioned the changes wouldn't help enhance the situation in Cuba.
"They will not make the Castro regime show respect for human rights, plus they certainly won't help the Cuban people completely free on their own in the despotic tyranny which oppresses them," she mentioned. see also
The changes are expected to come into force in roughly 3 weeks.
13 January 2011
Room tourism jet perform carries on
The European challenge to produce a area jet for fare-paying passengers continues to be very much alive, says EADS Astrium.
article kadorregea
The airplane, which would make brief hops over the environment, was introduced in 2007 after which nearly immediately put on hold because of the worldwide downturn.
But Astrium, Europe's biggest area business, says internal advancement function continues and it's going to invest a further 10m euros (£9m) on the principle in 2011.
"We keep the investment going," stated Astrium CEO François Auque.
"We continue to mature the principle, keeping the minimum team, in order that when we discover the related partnership we're all set and also have progressed sufficiently," he told reporters on Wednesday on the company's rocket production facility at Les Mureaux just north of Paris.
The Astrium car will be about the dimension of a company jet and would get off from a regular runway, using standard aircraft engines to climb to about 12km. It would then ignite a liquid oxygen-methane rocket to push the car to about 100km.
At this altitude, the five passengers onboard could encounter a few minutes of weightlessness ahead of strapping themselves again within their seats for the return flight to the ground.
Astrium has carried out considerable function previously on the Romeo rocket engine that might power the climb to area, and wind tunnel screening has established the aerodynamic form.
What exactly is currently lacking may be the investment of a spouse that might transfer the challenge from principle to production.
"As you recognize, we had discussions in the Gulf ahead of there was a alter in the economic scenario. Now we've other discussions in other parts of the world and I'm quite optimistic," stated Mr Auque.
Much more innovative is British billionaire Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic challenge. This will likely use an American rocket airplane produced by California's Scaled Composites business to deliver fare-paying passengers on sub-orbital trips.
Enterprise, as this rocket airplane is known, is previously developed and conducting glide tests. It really is anticipated Enterprise will fire its rocket motor and make demonstration flights over the environment later this year.
Mr Auque was talking on the annual New Yr press conference of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) group. Additionally to owning the Astrium satellite and rocket problem, EADS also owns the airline producer Airbus.
article kadorregea
The airplane, which would make brief hops over the environment, was introduced in 2007 after which nearly immediately put on hold because of the worldwide downturn.
But Astrium, Europe's biggest area business, says internal advancement function continues and it's going to invest a further 10m euros (£9m) on the principle in 2011.
"We keep the investment going," stated Astrium CEO François Auque.
"We continue to mature the principle, keeping the minimum team, in order that when we discover the related partnership we're all set and also have progressed sufficiently," he told reporters on Wednesday on the company's rocket production facility at Les Mureaux just north of Paris.
The Astrium car will be about the dimension of a company jet and would get off from a regular runway, using standard aircraft engines to climb to about 12km. It would then ignite a liquid oxygen-methane rocket to push the car to about 100km.
At this altitude, the five passengers onboard could encounter a few minutes of weightlessness ahead of strapping themselves again within their seats for the return flight to the ground.
Astrium has carried out considerable function previously on the Romeo rocket engine that might power the climb to area, and wind tunnel screening has established the aerodynamic form.
What exactly is currently lacking may be the investment of a spouse that might transfer the challenge from principle to production.
"As you recognize, we had discussions in the Gulf ahead of there was a alter in the economic scenario. Now we've other discussions in other parts of the world and I'm quite optimistic," stated Mr Auque.
Much more innovative is British billionaire Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic challenge. This will likely use an American rocket airplane produced by California's Scaled Composites business to deliver fare-paying passengers on sub-orbital trips.
Enterprise, as this rocket airplane is known, is previously developed and conducting glide tests. It really is anticipated Enterprise will fire its rocket motor and make demonstration flights over the environment later this year.
Mr Auque was talking on the annual New Yr press conference of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) group. Additionally to owning the Astrium satellite and rocket problem, EADS also owns the airline producer Airbus.
10 January 2011
Arizona firing suspect charged
US authorities have charged a 22-year-old man above Saturday's Arizona shooting in which a congresswoman was significantly wounded and 6 individuals died.
Federal prosecutors charged Jared Loughner with wanting to assassinate Gabrielle Giffords, 40, and killing two other government officials.
Mr Loughner, who is due to appear in court, could deal with the death penalty.
Ms Giffords is in a very crucial problem soon after being shot while in the head at a public meeting in Tucson.
She had been holding an open-invitation meeting with constituents outside a supermarket when a man holding a gun approached and opened fire.
She was shot from shut vary by the gunman, who then commenced shooting in to the crowd.
Amongst the dead were a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge. A total of 14 individuals were injured, on top of that to the 6 who were killed.
Community Sheriff Clarence Dupnik explained a girl tackled the gunman as he tried to reload, snatching a magazine of bullets.
Patricia Maisch, who was waiting to possess her photograph taken together with the congresswoman, grabbed the bottom of the suspect's weapon to stop him from reloading.
He managed to reload with another magazine, however the gun malfunctioned and two guys then restrained him.
"Somebody explained 'Get the magazine!' so I obtained the magazine, and I was capable to secure that," Ms Maisch explained. "That's what essential to be done."
The sheriff explained they had prevented a considerably larger tragedy.
Police looking Mr Loughner's Tucson home explained they had observed an envelope with messages stating "I planned ahead", "my assassination", and the name Giffords.
So far, Mr Loughner may be charged only with offences relating to the attack on government staff, that is the responsibility of federal prosecutors.
They charged him with two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Federal Judge John Roll and Gabe Zimmerman, an aide of Ms Giffords.
He was also charged with tried assassination above the shooting of Ms Giffords, and two counts of attempting to murder two other aides.
The justice division explained he would appear in court in Phoenix on Monday.
State authorities are expected to bring fees against him later for attacking non-government staff.
An unidentified man, whose picture was captured on a safety digital camera shortly just before the attack and who had been suspected of acting as an accomplice, was cleared on Sunday of any involvement while in the attack, Mr Dupnik explained.
The man was a cab driver who walked in to the supermarket with Mr Loughner because he didn't have alter for a $20 note. The shooting occurred just soon after the two exchanged dollars, Mr Dupnik additional.
Federal prosecutors charged Jared Loughner with wanting to assassinate Gabrielle Giffords, 40, and killing two other government officials.
Mr Loughner, who is due to appear in court, could deal with the death penalty.
Ms Giffords is in a very crucial problem soon after being shot while in the head at a public meeting in Tucson.
She had been holding an open-invitation meeting with constituents outside a supermarket when a man holding a gun approached and opened fire.
She was shot from shut vary by the gunman, who then commenced shooting in to the crowd.
Amongst the dead were a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge. A total of 14 individuals were injured, on top of that to the 6 who were killed.
Community Sheriff Clarence Dupnik explained a girl tackled the gunman as he tried to reload, snatching a magazine of bullets.
Patricia Maisch, who was waiting to possess her photograph taken together with the congresswoman, grabbed the bottom of the suspect's weapon to stop him from reloading.
He managed to reload with another magazine, however the gun malfunctioned and two guys then restrained him.
"Somebody explained 'Get the magazine!' so I obtained the magazine, and I was capable to secure that," Ms Maisch explained. "That's what essential to be done."
The sheriff explained they had prevented a considerably larger tragedy.
Police looking Mr Loughner's Tucson home explained they had observed an envelope with messages stating "I planned ahead", "my assassination", and the name Giffords.
So far, Mr Loughner may be charged only with offences relating to the attack on government staff, that is the responsibility of federal prosecutors.
They charged him with two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Federal Judge John Roll and Gabe Zimmerman, an aide of Ms Giffords.
He was also charged with tried assassination above the shooting of Ms Giffords, and two counts of attempting to murder two other aides.
The justice division explained he would appear in court in Phoenix on Monday.
State authorities are expected to bring fees against him later for attacking non-government staff.
An unidentified man, whose picture was captured on a safety digital camera shortly just before the attack and who had been suspected of acting as an accomplice, was cleared on Sunday of any involvement while in the attack, Mr Dupnik explained.
The man was a cab driver who walked in to the supermarket with Mr Loughner because he didn't have alter for a $20 note. The shooting occurred just soon after the two exchanged dollars, Mr Dupnik additional.
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