News Archive - 6 August 2011

> * Targets range from electricity plants to insulin pumps By Jim Finkle LAS VEGAS, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Evil hackers with state-of-the-art computers gain remote control of a power plant and blow it up, killing many people and threatening more mayhem if a huge ransom is not paid. It's...

Critics' reactions to polling results can sometimes be as interesting and disturbing as the results themselves. During the month of July, we released the findings...

>Qasemi, a Revolutionary Guards commander, was given a vote of confidence in parliament on Wednesday, vowing to prioritize jointly owned fields, notably the giant South Pars gas reservoir in the Gulf where Qatar has leapt ahead of Iran in developing the valuable resource they share."In order to launch the...

>Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal are awaiting a verdict from what was supposed to have been the last day of their trial last Sunday. They pleaded not guilty to spying charges after they were arrested on July 31, 2009 near Iran's border with Iraq."The judicial case of these American...

The recent trial of former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak should serve as a lesson for authoritarian regimes as well as popular movements in the Arab world, an Iranian lawmaker says.

The fourth section of Tehran-North Freeway from Noushahr to Marzanabad will become operational by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2012), said road and urban construction minister.

Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday he hoped that a final court verdict will lead to the release of two American men who have been held for two years in Tehran on espionage charges.

TEHRAN - Iran exported more than 855 million dollars worth of goods to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (began March 21, 2011), up 90 percent compared to the same period last year, an official at...

Venezuela signed a $1 billion deal with Iran to build 10,000 houses in the South American country, according to a statement on the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry's website.

OGDEN -- The United States took gold in all three team events and American archers grabbed gold in four-of-five events during Saturday's Archery World Cup finale at Lindquist Field. Team USA netted 10 medals -- including seven golds -- throughout the final World Cup leading up to the 2012 Olympic...

Iran's ambassador to Baghdad rejects reports about a “very soon” release of the US nationals detained in Iran on charges of espionage and illegal entry, saying their case is still under investigation.

The Standard & Poor's downgrade of the U.S. economy was the great unthinkable just a few months ago. They are now a stark reality.

[Hu's on First | prev] We’ll Never Know Who Killed Robert Wone … if we call this the end. The Washington Post released in its “local” section that the legal nightmare for the Swan St Trio may be over as they settled out of court...

Being dropped into a former Soviet country with minimal knowledge of the language, culture and what might lie in wait would be a scary prospect for many.

The United States continued its dominance on the final day of the third stage of the 2011 Archery World Cup at Lindquist Field.

Airport officials in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Key West and possibly Orlando plan to seek federal permission to establish direct flights to Cuba under new travel rules implemented last month by the Obama administration to reach out to the Cuban people.

ACCORDING to a top secret memorandum of the British chiefs of staff dated July 1947: “The area of [West] Pakistan is strategically the most important in the continent of India and the majority of our [British] strategic requirements could be met by an agreement with Pakistan alone.”

Rostam Ghasemi joins Ahmadinejad cabinet as oil minister, automatically making him head of global oil organisation A senior Iranian revolutionary guards commander targeted by international sanctions has taken over the presidency of Opec after he became Iran's oil minister on Wednesday. Rostam Ghasemi, head of the Khatam al-Anbia military and...

SEVERAL recent incidents indicate that human trafficking remains a major concern for Pakistan.

Nearly two dozen members of the elite Navy SEAL unit that took out Osama bin Laden perished yesterday in a horrific helicopter strike at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan, officials said. The special-forces operatives were reportedly blasted by a rocket-propelled grenade as they rushed to aid other troops...

A week ago Sunday, Iranian courts announced that they would soon formally sentence three American hikers accused of being spies. Seven days later, the world waits to see whether Iran will respond to American calls for leniency.

Featuring books by local authors.

Indonesia have confirmed a friendly against Malaysia in the run up to their third round qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup while Thailand will have about ten days of training.

Canada has become one of the most attractive countries in the world for spies, according to the book

The Dolphin in the Mirror Exploring Dolphin Minds and Saving Dolphin Lives by Diana Reiss Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Dogs are the secret weapons on land, but dolphins are the badasses of the sea. Dolphins, one of the quickest sea animals and easily one of the smartest animals on Earth, have...

OGDEN -- Just as the U.S. women's compound team was setting a new world record on the left side of the field, the women's recurve team learned they had missed the gold medal round by a single point. Humid conditions and a grueling sun set the tone for eliminations...

Iran's youth volleyball team has lost to seven-time world champions Russia in the 2011 FIVB Men's Junior World Championship in Brazil.

Officially, there is no Navy Seals Team Six.

ISRAEL has set up a military cyber command to wage a computer war against Iran as senior officers become increasingly concerned that a conventional attack on Tehran’s nuclear sites could end in failure.

The underprivileged people of Kahnouj and Ghaleh Jang villages located in Iran's Kerman province grapple with unemployment and poverty. The living conditions in these villages is very primitive. The villagers suffer from lack of safe drinking water and other basic amenities.

The daughter of a former Kazeroon MP was kidnapped in Tehran last week, and 24 hours later her body was found near Shahr-e Rey, the Aftab news website reports. In the controversial 2009 presidential elections, Mohammadbagher Bagherinajadianfard supported Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader who is now under house arrest.

Iran has plans to screen two films by Abbas Kiarostami, most of whose films have never been allowed to premiere in Iran, in the near future. "Shirin" and "Certified Copy", Kiarostami's two productions that were denied a screening license by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, are due to...

Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran, a top Iranian university, has eliminated 13 branches of the humanities, leaving only six branches of humanities studies for students to pursue in the coming academic year.

A scene from the match between the youth volleyball teams of Iran and the United States at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 5.

MP Fatemeh Alia says it is an "insult" to the people of Iran that jailed Iranian journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouyi is the 2011 recipient of the Hellman-Hammett award. Amouyi was sentenced to five years in prison and is being held under very restrictive conditions, often denied visits from his family.

Turkey's ambassador to the Czech Republic, Cihad Erginay, visited RFE/RL's headquarters in Prague. RFE/RL correspondent Robert Tait spoke to the ambassador about regional issues, domestic affairs, and relations between Turkey and the EU.

Watching the debt-limit debate in Washington these last several weeks reminds me of covering politics in the Middle East. And for Americans, that is an extremely disheartening conclusion. In Iraq not so long ago, I was...

There is a new development in the trial of two U.C. Berkeley hikers currently being held in Iran on espionage charges.

Sovereign debt crises in Europe and the US could tempt African countries to throw fiscal caution to the wind, threatening hard-won economic gains just as commodity prices tilt lower and cheap borrowing becomes scarce.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Saturday he hopes two American nationals imprisoned in Tehran will be released soon.

The Qatar Volleyball Association’s inaugural Communities League began last Friday at the Qatar Sports Club with Nepal defeating Lebanon 25-22, 25-23 in the lung-opener. Sudan beat India 25-22, 23-25, 15-12 and Philippines rallied past Pakistan 25-22, 22-25, 16-14 in the other matches.

Iran and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase the level of co-operation in transportation between the two countries.

IRAN'S foreign minister said yesterday he hoped two Americans jailed for more than a year on spying charges would be freed, the most positive signal yet that their ordeal

On the International Day of the Declaration of Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity (August 3), the Iranian Foreign Ministry's center for monitoring the human rights situation published a report on Islamophobia and the situation of Muslim minorities in the West.

Most of those killed on a helicopter that crashed in eastern Afghanistan early Saturday were a part of the fighting force known as the Navy SEALs, two U.S. military officials said.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is due to leave for Saudi Arabia on Sunday on a two-day visit to discuss with the Saudi leadership bilateral matters particularly economic issues.

Indian immigrant population less than a third of Pakistan numbers in Norway

After an afternoon of contentious wrangling over the numbers, Standard & Poor's, the global bond rating agency, declared Friday for the first time since 1917—when the company issued its very first rating—that U.S. government debt is no longer the good-as-cash investment it has always been. The agency knocked the...

The rupee is expected to weaken on Monday as wary investors move towards safe havens in the wake of the downgrade of US’ credit rating by Standard & Poor’s.

Indian immigrant population less than a third of Pakistan numbers in Norway

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia (AP) — Philippe Coutinho has fully embraced his role as Brazil’s leader at the Under-20 World Cup, taking advantage of his club experience to keep his team on track for a fifth world title.

The Australian government is to post on YouTube images of the first group of boat people being sent to Malaysia, in an effort to deter asylum seekers.

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian forces arrested Saturday a veteran opposition leader who had called for a national conference to seek a peaceful transition of power after a five-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule, a rights group said.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's top energy official said the government is making progress on long-term plans to dramatically boost oil output and is also aiming to diversify an economy that remains heavily reliant on oil wealth. Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said Friday night that the country aim

IAN JAMES Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuela's top energy official said the government is making progress on long-term plans to dramatically boost oil output and is also aiming to diversify an economy that remains heavily reliant on oil wealth. Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said Friday night that the country aims...

Most of those killed on the helicopter that crashed in eastern Afghanistan overnight were a part of the fighting force known as the Navy SEALs, two U.S. government officials said.

IRAN’S Foreign Minister hopes the trial of two US citizens held on espionage charges will lead to their freedom.

by Palo Alto Online Sports The volleyball scene The United States women's national volleyball team dealt more than a dozen aces and beat Kazakhstan, 25-15, 25-21, 25-12, Saturday in the FIVB World Grand Prix first preliminary weekend held at Luohe, China.

Airlines would benefit from the decline in crude oil prices, but an impending recession in the US could affect international travel, especially in the business segment, according to airline officials and analysts.

2011 Melbourne Conference on China on Saturday kicked off in Australia's University of Melbourne.

Iran's foreign minister says the country advocates the realization of legitimate popular demands and is opposed to foreign intervention anywhere across the globe.

For the second time in a week, a joint Iraqi-American raid aiming at insurgents resulted in the killing of civilians.

The following are some snippets from the most recent issue of the International Forecaster. For the full 33 page issue, please see subscription information below.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- The governor general of West Azarbaijan Province, Vahid Jalalzadeh, has described as rumors the news reports claiming that Iranian armed forces have entered the Iraqi Kurdistan to launch attacks against the terrorist group PJAK (the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan).

Philippe Coutinho has fully embraced his role as Brazil's leader at the Under-20 World Cup, taking advantage of his club experience to keep his team on track for a fifth world title. The Inter Milan midfielder is a veteran in the Brazilian squad, and his goals and assists have proved...

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Saturday that the Western countries which made a military intervention in Libya have reached an impasse there.

LONDON (AP) -- Results Saturday from the Aviva London Grand Prix, a Diamond League athletics event at Crystal Palace (distances in meters): Men 200-- 1, Walter Dix, United States, 20.16. 2, Warren Weir, Jamaica, 20.43. 3, Alonso Edward, Panama, 20.55. 4, Marvin Anderson, Jamaica, 20.60. 5,...

CONMEBOL qualifying has reached the semi-finals, with Brazil to meet Colombia and Argentina taking on Venezuela, and with three teams set to travel to Ravenna 2011, at least one debutant will be among them.

Tinalo ng Smart Gilas Pilipinas ang defending back-to-back cham­pion Iran, 73-59, sa pagsisimula ng William Jones Cup kagabi dito sa Hsinchuang Stadium sa New Taipei City.

Helen Jenkins, winning the World Championship Triathlon Image Credit: AP UK’s No. 1 Helen Jenkins won the World Championship Triathlon series in Hyde Park despite of having colds for a week, according to international reports on Saturday, August 06, 2011. Apparently, Jenkins made a dominant performance over Gwen Jorgensen of...

A NATO helicopter was shot down in the eastern province of Afghanistan last night, killing 31 U.S. special forces and seven Afghan soldiers.

A new report by the Congressional Research Service has revealed that the military pact between the United States and Bahrain has been extended until 2016.

They were just looking to cool off and have a little fun in the middle of Tehran's scorching-hot summer. Instead, a group of young Iranians got all tangled up with authorities in the Islamic Republic and paraded on Iranian state...

, 25, 26, on July 27 this year), based on numerous archival documents, I tried as objectively as possible to recreate real events in the first years of Soviet power in Transcaucasia, which preceded the appearance of the borders of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Book sales have plunged to a new low this summer where the hot days and the month of Ramadan have been the major reasons.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Iran’s International Arts Festival of Resistance will hold workshops at the Mleeta Resistance Landmark, Hezbollah’s museum in southern Lebanon, from August 16 to 19.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Over the past few weeks, the Egyptian people have realized that the goals of the revolution have not been realized at all and certain elements are trying to hijack their popular uprising.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem al-Kharafi says his country is keen to have strong ties with Iran as a powerful country in the Middle East.

POLDOKHTAR, Lorestan Province, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- A forest fire which broke out in the western city of Poldokhtar, Lorestan Province, on Wednesday was contained after 52 hours, according to Fereydoun Rashidi, a local official.

US authorities ignore the American people's objection to the country's continued military presence in Iraq despite the growth in the domestic protests. They are even trying to extend the deployment through a number of concessions.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Egyptian presidential hopeful Abdullah al-Ashaal says promoting ties between Tehran and Cairo is a top priority.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Three top Iranian clerics have declared that watching the sacrilegious TV series “Al Hassan and Al Hussein” is “haraam” (forbidden and sinful).

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Iranian ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaiifar has rejected an AP report which quoted him as saying that the two Americans charged with espionage in Iran will be released very soon.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Iran has plans to screen two films by Abbas Kiarostami, most of whose films have never been allowed to premiere in Iran, in the near future.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Reformist MP Dariush Qanbari, spokesman of the Majlis minority faction, has said that reformists have been monitoring country’s political developments over the past four months, but have observed no change to be encouraged to contest the March parliamentary election.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- The Iranian ensemble Khonya is scheduled perform at the Buskers Bern Street Music Festival, which will open in Switzerland on August 11.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee set off for Qatar and Egypt, ISNA reported on Saturday.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Now all members of the unity committee of the principlist faction are complete as the Islamic Revolution Resistance Front named former health minister Kamran Baqeri-Lankarani and MP Ali Asqar Zarei to the committee.

source: Joey Villar | philstar.com CHINESE Taipei– Smart Gilas Pilipinas finally cracked the mystery cloaking defending back-to-back champion Iran as it hammered out a convincing 73-59 victory last night to jumpstart its ambitious title campaign in William Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang Stadium in New Taipei City here. Naturalized...

source: June Navarro | inquirer.net HSINCHUANG, Taiwan—Fiba Asia king Iran is not invincible after all. After countless setbacks on different fronts, Smart Gilas Pilipinas finally found a chink in the Iranian armor and carved out a stunning 73-59 win over the Hamed Haddadi-led squad at the start of the...

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expresses hope that the trial of the three US nationals detained on charges of espionage and illegal entry will result in their freedom.

This month, our Afghan dead will be honoured for the last time in the Wiltshire town indelibly identified with their sacrifice.

In a year where their online gaming network was hacked, the credit card numbers of customers were compromised, and their popular video game console was forced offline for a considerable amount of time, Sony was presented with a dubious award for the "Most Epic Fail" of the year. The award,...

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Iran exported more than 855 million dollars worth of goods to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (began March 21, 2011), up 90 percent compared to the same period last year,...

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) – Iran and Russia inked a memorandum of understanding at the end of the fifth meeting of their joint transportation working group aiming to boost bilateral cooperation in the transportation sector.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Iran exported 91,358 tons of nuts and dried fruits, worth some $297.8 million, in the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (ended June 21, 2011), the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported.

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (MNA) -- Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Director General Sergei Kirienko will attend the inauguration ceremony of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow Reza Sajjadi announced on Saturday.

TEHRAN - Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi hopes that the trial of two US citizens detained in the Islamic republic on espionage charges will lead to their freedom, reports said on Saturday.

Prominent Iranian filmmaker Masoud Kimiai's feature length movie Crime has hit two movie theaters in the Canadian largest city of Toronto.

Religion and politics could collide Saturday at Houston's Reliant Stadium, as Gov. Rick Perry's evangelical vision “The Response” gets underway. The mega-prayer event will host around 8,000 participants and a string of what critics see as very controversial speakers.