The PLO executive committee issued a statement after a meeting on Saturday, calling on “the Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to discuss settlements.” “We have decided to undertake contacts with all international blocs for the Security Council to adopt a resolution against settlements and for them to be stopped,” the committee statement said. […]
Archive for June, 2012
Annan reads declaration on Syria
The declaration underlines Syrian people’s right to determine fate of their country noting that transition should be implemented in climate of safety. The meeting’s participants also said Syrian crisis must be resolved through peaceful means and dialogue with all involved parties working together to implement what has been agreed. PG/SS Views: 0
Eric Holder not to be prosecuted
The Republican-led House of Representatives approved a resolution on Thursday to hold the attorney General in criminal contempt of Congress. The Republicans accused Holder of refusing to provide certain documents related to the Justice Department’s failed Fast and Furious operation, intended to track weapons sold along the Mexican border. In a letter to House Speaker […]
Storm leaves 2m Americans in dark
People across the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington DC lost power on Friday, as violent storms hit the eastern areas, bringing rain, hail and lightning. The power outage left people without air-conditioning during a record high 104F (40C) heat. The US National weather Service said that the winds reached speeds of 80 […]
Coca Cola, Pepsi contain alcohol: Study
The Paris-based INC said the brand leaders of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola are among the drinks. French magazine 60 Million Consumers published the results of the tests, saying that the alcohol levels are up to 10 mg per liter and this works out at around 0.001 percent alcohol. The tests also showed “the presence […]
Storms leave nine dead in eastern US
Storms killed six people, including an old woman, in Virginia and two young cousins were killed when a tree fell on their tent while camping in New Jersey, Associated Press reported on Saturday. A man was also killed in Maryland when a tree fell onto his car, the police said. More than two million power […]
Iran delivers 90% of NAM invitations
“Based on the planned timeframe, 90 percent of the invitations to the NAM Summit in Tehran have been delivered by some [Iranian] ministers and Foreign Ministry officials.” Ali Saeedlou said in an interview with IRNA published Saturday. Iran is scheduled to host the Non-Aligned leaders at Tehran late in August. Saeedlou described the special motto […]
US, Israel plan fall military drill
“We rescheduled it for October-November time frame,” said General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday. The drill, called Austere Challenge 12, was initially scheduled for April but was apparently postponed due to comments by Israeli officials about an attack on Iran. The aim of the upcoming maneuver is to […]
‘Scientist killings reflect enemy fear’
Speaking in Shiraz on Wednesday, he said the Iranian nation must be proud that it has become a regional leader in science and technology, adding that “such achievements are the cause of enemy jealousy and animosity.” “The success and achievements discernible in all parts of the country have resulted in the enemy feeling envious and […]
Iran calls for emergency OPEC meeting
Rostam Qasemi noted on Saturday that before the latest meeting of the organization on June 14, OPEC’s daily output stood at about 33 million barrels per day (bpd). “During the recent [OPEC] meeting, it was decided that daily production should be reduced to 30 million bpd as it seemed that lowering oil production by OPEC […]
UNESCO registers Isfahan Friday Mosque
The independent, 21-member World Heritage Committee announced the news during their 36th session in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Isfahan’s Friday mosque is the oldest preserved edifice of its type in Iran and a prototype for later mosque designs throughout Central Asia. Also known as Atiq Mosque, the building is the first Islamic structure that adapted the […]
‘Iran respects all divine religions’
“Respecting divine religions is an integral part of the universal teachings of Islam. Taking this issue into consideration, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects all divine religions and is regarded as one of the founders of dialog among divine religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism,” Mehmanparast said Saturday in reaction to remarks attributed to Iran’s […]
KSA commutes Iranian death sentences
“They have verbally informed us and a number of Iranian detainees, who are being held and sentenced to death on charges of drug possession, that the sentences of six of the inmates have been commuted to 15 years in prison,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA on Saturday. “They have also said that they will soon send […]
‘US pawn in Zionist game against Iran’
“The Zionists are behind sanctions [imposed] against Iran, and the US and major powers work as Zionists’ agents,” Rahimi said on Saturday. He added that imposing such severe sanctions against a country is unprecedented, adding that the severity of these measures proves Iran’s greatness, IRNA reported. “They have even imposed sanctions against fuel for passenger […]
Iranian painter Mansoureh Hosseini dies
The renowned artist was hospitalized at the Critical Care Unit of a Tehran hospital and later died in her home. Hosseini graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Tehran in 1949. She continued her studies at the Rome Academy of Fine Arts and made her debut at the 28th (XXVIII) Venice […]
London Olympics torch bearer missing
Nottinghamshire police said an Ethiopian national, 15-year-old Natnael Yemane, disappeared on Friday 29 June as he left his hotel in Nottingham and did not return shortly after his taking part in the Olympic torch relay. The news comes as the security measures taken for London Olympics are heavily criticized for excessively focusing on potential terrorist […]
London 2012: Britons say no to missiles
According to the Guardian, Communities and neighbors are talking to each other as they come together in opposition for a demonstration on Saturday June 30. This comes after the Ministry of Defence decided to site missile bases in six different locations across London without any warning, explanation or consultation. In the area of Blackheath, residents […]
Scale of rape by UK police worrying
According to an investigation conducted by the Guardian, analyzing the data from court cases and misconduct proceedings, in the past four years, there were 56 cases involving police officers and community support officers who were found to have abused their position or were investigated for committing rape crime, sexually assaulting or harassing women. Raising questions […]
UK health service declining inevitable
On Saturday June 30, John Appleby chief economist at The King’s Fund said the impact of the economic crisis will cause services in some hospitals to seriously deteriorate. He also mentioned that the budget of the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain would be unlikely to increase in the near future and the restrictions to […]
TUC calls for bank cheats imprisonment
“Britain’s banking system is out of control. We are now paying a heavy price for the decades when banks and finance persuaded politicians that they were the new engines of growth,” said TUC General secretary Brendan Barber. On June 27, the US and British regulators imposed fines on Barclays Bank for manipulating the key interest […]