Fatemeh Karroubi condemns attacks against her family

A statement from Fatemeh Karroubi, wife of opposition leader and disputing candidate of Iran's June presidential elections, Mehdi Karroubi, was issued today denouncing the attacks against her family.

Iran: Shirin Ebadi's sister arrested

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian security forces made a wave of new arrests Tuesday, including Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi's sister and a relative of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, pressing forward with a broadening crackdown on the reformist movement in the wake of deadly protests this week.

Iranian Government Preparing Final Assault on NGO’s

In a speech to Iranian provincial governors, the country’s minister of intelligence Heidar Moslehi isolated NGOs as having the largest role in creating the post-election turmoil in the country saying some 80 organizations, institutes and foundations had been identified in this regard. He classified the goals of these organizations in these words, “to change the behavior of government officials and the public, regime change and the disintegration of the regime from within.”

Iran militiamen attack offices of pro-reform cleric

Around 1,000 members of Iran's Basij Islamic militia attacked offices of pro-reform cleric Grand Ayatollah Yusuf Sanei in the central shrine city of Qom, a reformist website reported on Tuesday.

BBC has trouble getting signal out in Iran

The BBC has claimed that its Persian television signal was being jammed following the airing stories on the death of Iran’s top dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.

Iran funeral ends with anti-govt slogans

Opposition supporters chanted anti-govt slogans in Iran’s holy city of Qom after the funeral of top dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a website reported.

Iran: Dissident's father, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, is dead

Iran's most senior dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, has died, his grandson said Sunday. He was 87. Nasser Montazeri said his grandfather, who was seen as the spiritual father of Iran's reform movement, died in his sleep overnight.

Uganda: US Says Anti-Gay Law Would Harm Uganda's Global Image

The U.S. State Department's top Africa diplomat says approval by Uganda's parliament of a bill criminalizing homosexual activity would harm that country's world image and undercut the fight against HIV/AIDS. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson discussed the issue Friday with leaders of U.S. gay and lesbian groups concerned about the legislation pending in Kampala.

Iranian Cyber Army hacked Twitter

The popular microblogging Web site Twitter was hacked overnight, leaving the millions who use the site tweetless.

Iran: imprisoned iranian Journalist Awarded Golden Pen Of Freedom

An imprisoned Iranian journalist has been awarded the prestigious Golden Pen of Freedom award for 2010 by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

Iran's protest movement has entered a new phase

Last week, six months after Iran’s June 12 presidential elections, thousands of students protested against the government in universities across Iran – a strong signal that Iran’s domestic crisis is far from over, and moreover, entering a new phase. Six months ago, the major focus of the hundreds of thousands of protesters who marched the streets of Tehran was to show their anger and dissatisfaction with the election results, which many believed were rigged and resulted in not only Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election, but also beliefs that this pre-planned coup was orchestrated with the support of the Revolutionary Guards, the para-military Basij, and the military intelligence.

Sudan: Agreement between north and south to the law on referendum

Sudan's leaders on Sunday settled their differences over the hotly disputed 2011 referendum on southern independence, the official news agency reported, clearing a main hurdle facing the fragile four year-old north-south peace deal.

Italian company violated the embargo against Iran

Dallas: Federal agents are investigating whether a helicopter they have held for 14 months at an airport in Texas was earmarked for shipment to Iran.

Iran opposition leader puts supporters on red alert

Opposition leader, MirHosein Mousavi expressed concern over the suspect circumstances surrounding the tearing of Ayatollah Khomeini’s picture and cautioned his supporters to be aware of possible government retaliation against them.

Iranian regime conspiring a second coup - Interpretations

Following 16 Azar (7 Dec Students Day) protests in Iran, various news are circulating around iranian websites and media. These news focus around:

Scandalous: Iran's post-election committee report not to be publicized

Iran’s National Security Commission announced today that findings of the parliamentary committee charged with probing the post-election events will not be publicized.

Congo: Environmentalists Criticize Eni's African Oil Sands Project

Criticism is mounting against Italian energy giant Eni SpA's plans to squeeze oil from the tar sands of the Republic of Congo, which campaigners claim could endanger one of the world's largest tropical rain forests.

Time magazine names Iran’s Neda as one of 2009’s top heroes

Neda Aqa-Soltan, the young Iranian woman who was killed during the post-election protests in Tehran, on Tuesday was named one of the top 10 heroes of 2009 by the US magazine, Time.

Iran: Part of speech for which Majid Tavakoli was arrested

Today 16 Azar (7 December) .. it is OUR day .. STUDENTS day .. the most historic day of resistence by students against tyranny... a day dedicated to freedom seeking .. Today is a day to stand together against and yell on tyranny
(students chanting Death to Dictator ... Death to Dictator...)

Message from Bahareh Hedayat to European Students: My dear friends – friends who live in free countries!

Bahareh is a leading female and student activist in Iran addressing European students in occasion of Students Day (7 Dec) in Iran

Ladies and gentlemen, Hi,

Iran slows Internet access before student protests

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer - Iranian authorities have slowed Internet connections to a crawl or choked them off completely before expected student protests Monday to deny the opposition a vital means of communication.

Iran braces for Students Day protests

Iranian opposition groups are preparing to hold fresh protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, several websites reported, as the nation marks the annual Students Day.

Prominent rights activist arrested in Guinea

Guinea's ruling junta has arrested a prominent human rights activist amid United Nations investigations into the 28 September massacre of more than 150 opposition supporters at a national stadium.

UN continues to ask for money: launches $7.1 billion 2010 humanitarian appeal

The United Nations has appealed for more than $7.1 billion over the coming year to assist 48 million people across 25 countries whose lives have been wrecked by conflict and natural disasters, with the largest amount – over $1 billion – sought for Sudan.

International Criminal Court refuses to release former Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba

By MIKE CORDER (AP) - International Criminal Court appeals judges on Wednesday reversed a decision to release former Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba from custody, ordering him to stay in jail until his trial.

Lebanon: in a book the difficult lives of homosexuals

They remain anonymous, but their voices are out in force and bold print: a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women have braved law and social taboo in Lebanon with a little pink-and-white book.

“I am Atefeh” ; A Campaign

As the news of heavy sentences handed down to political activists in Iran is filling up the pages of sites and weblogs, one news - one sentence - handed down on Tuesday November 24th , was announced and at first lost amid all others.

URGENT ACTION: Stop Execution of ZEYNAB JALALIAN, a 27 years old Kurdish Prisoner!

ZEYNAB JALALIAN' S EXECUTION SENTENCE IS BEEN CONFIRMED:

Ms. Zeinab Jalalian, a 27 years old member of a Kurdish party (PKK), has received the death sentence based on allegations of “Apostasy” and being a member of Kurdish group “PKK”.

Africa: Global warming could cause civil wars in Africa by 2030

With climate change affecting global food production and economic welfare, it is likely to increase the risk of conflict in African countries over the next 20 years, claims a US study.

UN human rights committee votes to censure Iran

A United Nations committee has approved a Canadian-led resolution urging Iran to stop harassing political opponents in the wake of its disputed presidential elections.

URGENT: KILLINGS OF WOMEN IN GOHAR DASHT PRISON IN KARAJ IRAN

Accoding to Activists for Human Rights and Democracy there are evidence from Gohardasht prison reporting on systematic killings of political women prisoners.

West African CSOs plan mass protest against Guinean junta

West African Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on Wednesday initiated moves to galvanise mass social and civil agitation across the region against the military junta in Guinea.

International Comittee Against Execution > Latest on Ehsan Fatahian

They have transferred Ehsan to quaranteen section for the execution of the death sentence. The execution squad has already entered the prison.

Iran: Guards Threaten to Punish Activists Outside Iran

After stressing to identify many protestors inside and outside Iran, Brigadier Masoud Jazaeri, the cultural deputy of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces joint command, promised that they would be confronted “at the appropriate” time.

Global warming: The nine most affected areas

Here are the nine areas most affected by global warming according to a survey released by the greatest experts in the world.

Blood Diamonds: the Kimberley process under review

The viability of an effort endorsed by the United Nations to halt the trading of the so-called blood diamonds that have fueled conflicts across Africa is on the line this week, and the test case is Zimbabwe.

SADC Call for African troops in Zimbabwe

A new regional report calls for the deployment of observers and military personnel from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Zimbabwe to secure the future of the power-sharing agreement, to fight political violence until a new constitution is in place and to assure civil war does not break out.

“Every Iranian is one media” Documentation of Nov.4th

From Mir Houssein Mousavi - Since the media spread of the historic day of November 4, 2009 is our responsibility, on this page in addition to video footages, photos and news of this day, we gather contact information of all major international news agencies so that with your help we deliver all these video footages, photos and news to them enough times that they broadcast!!!

California Women’s conference: Safe Haven

On Tuesday October 27th, 2009, I went to California Women’s conference, hosted by our first lady Maria Shriver.  It was their sixth year and my second time to attend this female driven conference. Both times I very much enjoyed the energy of empowering women to be the “architects of change”.  Thousands of attendees and speakers, men and women, from all walks of life and countries, gather to celebrate the emergence of a new era of practical equality between men and women. This new century brings with itself new hands to gently challenge the millennia old leadership practices and to mold the status quos into new shapes and forms.  This all sounds splendid one may comment, words are glorious, but what about actually doing something to empower women?

Target Russia The end of "Death to America"?

By Pro-Democracy Movement of Iran (PDMI) - Autor R Tousi -  "The Russians are microwaving our brains." The comment of my corner-shopkeeper in Tehran reflects a widely-held view about the state's use of powerful jamming signals to block foreign media. The blocking of key communication links has played a big part in the violent crackdown that followed Iran's election of 12 June 2009. The possible health risks of these newly installed devices have even been raised inside Iran's majlis (parliament); Zohreh Elahian, a member of the national-security and foreign-policy committee, responded to reporters' questions about a possible increase in miscarriages by promising that the figures would be examined.

Health: Africa urged to deal with non-communicable diseases

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing a time bomb in the face of non-communicable diseases that have now become the next affliction for the health sector in emergent societies.

War of the poor: Gabon rejects nearly 300 migrants

A Ghanaian registered ship which was intercepted last week with nearly three hundred would-be migrants from Benin en route Gabon has been escorted out of Gabon’s territorial waters and sent back to Benin.

Uganda, Aid to agriculture: US gives $246 million

The United States has offered Uganda $246 million in new aid to help the east African country improve its health and agricultural systems, the U.S. embassy said on Tuesday.

London 4 November, Solidarity with Iran

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGipO6yCVN8[/youtube]

Here's the Turkey that wants to join the European Union

Turkey is moving increasingly towards extremist Islam - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is determined to cooperate with Iran in diverse areas, the official IRNA news agency reported Sunday.

MDC: Zimbabwe police raid PM party's property

HARARE (AFP) – Armed police raided a house belonging to Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party in a new threat to the country's faltering unity government, a top official said on Saturday.

Uganda must pursue peace and unity - Mwesigwa

Uganda’s political and religious leaders have been urged to promote peace and unity in the east Africa state for stability and socio- economic development.

Arrest of participants of Iran reform group gathering + names of arrested

The majority of participants in a prayers ceremony for the release of an executive member of the reform group, Islamic Iran Participation Front were arrested today.

Report calls for lifting of restrictions on remittances to Africa

A new United Nations report calls for the lifting of restrictions and costly fees imposed on the $40 billion that migrant workers send home to Africa each year, the world body’s agency tasked with eradicating rural poverty said today.

Iran: Interview with student leader

Interview with Parisa Nasrabadi, conducted by Kristofer Lundberg (CWI in Sweden)

“After the presidential elections, the Iranian regime met with a mass movement that they did not expect. In this movement, the anger which has been bubbling for the last thirty years in Iran suddenly surfaced. The “reformist” wing of the regime, which ‘lost’ the election, were also taken by surprise by the emergence of this movement. They found themselves, unintentionally, as figureheads of a movement which they could not control.”

Record 1 billion go hungry, says UN

(AP 15 october) NAIROBI: Parents in some of Africa's poorest countries are cutting back on school, clothes and basic medical care just to give their children a meal once a day, experts say. Still, it is not enough.

Scientists to Investigate Reports of Ebola Outbreak in South Sudan

The government of South Sudan and international scientists say they are trying to reach a remote village in the under-developed Western Bahr al-Ghazal region to investigate reports of a possible Ebola outbreak. There are reports at least four people have died and several others are showing symptoms of some type of viral hemorrhagic fever.

Liberia: Truth and Reconciliation Commission is too controversial

A Liberian journalist, Stephen Siaka Binda has predicted doom for his country if government goes ahead with the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.

Iran: the "green movement" is alive says Khatami

From Radio Zamaneh - Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran spoke today concerning the "Green Movement" which has become the symbolic name of the people's recent protests and demands for reform, saying: "Be certain that there is no going back in this movement. We are still standing by our main statements."

South Sudan: the wildlife returns

He grew up here, became a rebel here, and one day recently he was flying low across this vast, grassy savannah in southeastern Sudan, now a park warden pointing out big-tusked elephants traipsing across the landscape.

Kenya Warned of Future Poll Violence

By Alan Boswell - Former U.N. chief Kofi Annan warned late Wednesday of a "crisis of confidence" in Kenya's leadership and told the nation that it risks returning to violent ethnic clashes if key reforms are not quickly implemented. A recent report suggests that the next round of violence would not be fought chiefly with spears and machetes, but with firearms.

'Istanbul Decisions' to Guide IMF as Countries Shape Post-Crisis World

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told policymakers from 186 countries gathered in Istanbul that global cooperation had saved the world from a far worse crisis and leaders should now seize the opportunity to shape a post-crisis world.

Iran Urgent: Iran regim to excute post election detainees

News have been received from a reliable source on a secret meeting at the iranian leaderships headquarters (Beit-e-Rahbari) with the presence of the coupe leaders on saturday 3 october.

Iran: Several members of Teachers Union Arrested

Security forces arrested 12 members of the teachers union today (Tuesday). The teachers had planned to gather at the house of Ali Akbar Baghbani, the secretary general of the teachers union, on the occasion of World Teachers Day but were all arrested before the meeting took place.

Iran is still spinning the shots

ANALYSIS: Bronwen Maddox - The Times

OUT of all the dust and drama of the past fortnight's struggle with Iran, I'd say the score is one point for diplomacy and two points for Iran, which has bought yet more time to advance its half-secret nuclear work.

U. K. Tories oppose Blair as EU head

Former British prime minister Tony Blair could become Europe's first president within weeks. Mr. Blair has already received public endorsements from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But while some see Mr. Blair as a British champion of the European Union, the possibility of his becoming Europe's first president has plunged British politics into a storm of controversy.

Mugabe calls for friendly relations with the West and urges lifting of sanctions

Zimbabwe wants new and friendly relations with Western countries who have been critical of it in the past, President Robert Mugabe announced today.

Immigration: the European Court of Human Rights opens proceedings against Italy

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has informed us (Secondo Protocollo Italy) today that it has opened the proceedings No 47645/09 against the Government of the Italian Republic granting our complaint on refusal of asylum seekers. You can read the press release here

Kurdistan world: opposition participation and significance of election; a view on the last Kurdistan elections

By Aso Ali - According to literature of democracy and pluralism, the importance of people participation in political arena generally and election especially is not just to make a good government which is some time not the case at all. It is true that when people have a say in putting those who rule them in power, the government has more legitimacy in form of a political capital on which the ruling group depends in its rule. But more that, in the modern world election is seen as an effective channel through which the resentment and discontent of the public with the incumbents can be expressed peacefully. It is this demobilization of mass dissatisfaction with a certain ruling group which periodic elections are intended to perform. Here, we can repeat what founders of modern democracy have said: democracy replaces bullet with ballot.

Woman's Case Reflects Prisoners' Treatment In Iran

(From AP)-The interrogator politely apologized for grilling the prisoner about her role in the mass protests over Iran's disputed presidential election.

The Guardian: Ministers under fire for locking up immigrant children

Ministers were facing accusations today that hundreds of children are being held unnecessarily in immigration detention centres as official figures revealed, for the first time, that 470 minors were being detained with their families.

Great Britain - Islam: frustrated love and forced marriage

The story of my friend Amina highlights the need for a modern Islamic marriage contract. But the Muslim Council of Britain has chickened out. By Ed Husain

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission outraged by more Senegalese arrests

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has expressed outrage at reports that a 17 year-old Senegalese man will stand trial on 24 August for sexual acts "against nature" and that two other men were convicted on identical charges during the week of 10 August, 2009.

Meeting Southern Sudan's former child soldiers

This post is written by Pernille Ironside, a child protection specialist for UNICEF, who serves as the organisation's global focal point on the use and recruitment of children by armed forces and groups. She is currently based at UNICEF Headquarters in New York.

Refugee story: the house of despair

A filthy squat in Calais is home to 50 Eritreans who daily try to cross the Channel seeking asylum in Britain. Here are their stories

Iran: Updates from 8 Mordad (30 July)

From Tehran Bureau correspondent Saya Ovaisy:

Eyewitness account as told to Saya Ovaisy

University student, female, 23:

I arrived at Behesht Zahra cemetery at 3:30 pm. A crowd of two or three thousand people had gathered at section 257, where the post-election martyrs are buried. Most were dressed in black and many carried flowers (but no placards) and everyone prayed Quran suras aloud in unison.

Prominent Iranian Journalist Implicates Nokia In His Arrest

Issa Saharkhiz, a prominent journalist and former senior Culture Ministry official, has told his family in a short phone call from prison that several of his ribs were broken during his arrest in northern Iran on July 4 in the postelection crackdown.

Iran activists work to elude crackdown on Internet

By REBECCA SANTANA

The tweets still fly and the videos hit YouTube whenever protesters take to the streets in Iran — even as the Internet battle there turns more grueling.

Ayatollah Watch

By BENDIX ANDERSON - TEHERAN BOREAU

Since protests erupted in Iran after its disputed Presidential election, a growing number of influential Shia clerics have made statements in favor of the protesters.

The Dynamics for Peace in the Middle East

By RAMI G. KHOURI in Beirut

One of the most important political dynamics in the Middle East these days is the escalating war of words between the United States and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the international demand to freeze Jewish settlements and colonies in Arab lands occupied in 1967. It is surprising yet heartening that the Obama team has come out strongly demanding that Israel freeze the expansion of all settlements and colonies, with no exceptions for natural growth, pre-approved projects or anything else.

The Ultimate Unveiling of Iranian Women

By FARZANEH MILANI

Have you considered the gender makeup of the two opposing camps in Iran today?

African Union leaders refuse to extradite Sudan's president, denounce international court

By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU , Associated Press
SIRTE, Libya - After bitter wrangling, Africa's leaders agreed Friday to denounce the International Criminal Court and refuse to extradite Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Iranians Demonstrate in Front of their Embassy in Brussels

Iranian London protest on 16/06/2008

Ahmadinejad slams presence of foreign forces in region

Daily Star 25 May 2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked the presence of foreign forces in the region at a summit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday aimed at tackling terrorism and other security problems. The three neighbors' first such meeting, which ended with pledges of cooperation but without any specific measures being announced, took place as Pakistan and Afghanistan are battling the spread of Taliban insurgencies in their countries.

Sudan 'launches attack on Chad'

Chad's government has accused Sudan of launching a military attack, two days after the neighbours signed a reconciliation agreement in Qatar.

Darfur: Sudan rejects Darfur international conference

Sudan will not attend an international conference on Darfur attended by Britain, France and the United States, state minister for foreign affairs Ali Karti said on Saturday.

Lra: Congo town mounts own force against rebels

Rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army sent torture victims — including a man whose back was sliced with a machete — to warn the people of Bangadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) they would be next.

Sudan to release 24 Darfur detainees before talks

The Sudanese government will release 24 detainees involved in the Darfur conflict as a goodwill gesture before planned peace talks with rebels, the country's justice minister said Saturday.

Darfur: former Sudanese child warrior speaks up

Written by Meaghan McAvoy

Dinner and a movie is so cliché.

On Feb. 14, an audience gathered at Miami University's Hall Auditorium for a nontraditional Valentine's Day evening.

Reformist blasts Iran's president over international isolation amid warnings of economic woes

The top reformist candidate in Iran's presidential race blamed incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the country's isolation, while a leading global energy watchdog warned Thursday that the hard-line leader's policies are worsening Iranian economic woes.

Zimbabwe 'unity' cash appeal poses dilemma for West

Morgan Tsvangirai will use his inauguration as Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister this week to appeal to the West to fund the rebuilding of his shattered country even though Robert Mugabe remains the President.

Darfur's main rebel group to meet Sudanese government officials in Qatar

A spokesman for Darfur's chief mediator says a major rebel group and Sudanese government officials will meet in Qatar.

Pakistan frees nuclear smuggler and disgraced scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan

DISGRACED Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan has been freed after spending five years under house arrest for selling atomic secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya in the world's biggest nuclear proliferation scandal.

Zimbabwe - the Cholera death toll is set to double, but Mugabe insists: it is under control

THE toll from Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic will almost double in the next few months as up to 55,000 more people contract the disease, the World Health Organisation predicts.

Sudan accuses Chad of supplying Darfur rebels

Chad accused of sending troops across their border to deliver supplies to Darfur rebel group

Statement by MorganTsvangirai on the Resolutions made by the National Council

“Therefore, in accordance with the party’s constitution, the political agreement we signed on September 15th 2008, and in the best interests of the welfare of all Zimbabweans, the MDC has resolved to form an inclusive government with Zanu PF and MDC-M” - Morgan Tsvangirai

Khartoum optimistic about Obama

KHARTOUM - Sudan is optimistic about relations with US President Barack Obama but has bad memories of the administration of ex-president Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary is the new US secretary of state.

1,500 Rwandan troops enter Congo to help battle Hutus

More than 1,500 Rwandan troops crossed the border into eastern Congo on Tuesday to join Congolese forces in an effort to oust Hutu rebels who participated in Rwanda's genocide and have long been at the heart of the region's conflict, officials said.

European Parliament call to end persecution of Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi in Iran

European Parliament, in a resolution adopted by a large majority, strongly condemns the "repression, persecution and threats" against the Iranian lawyer and 2003 Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and expresses its grave concern at the intensified persecution of human rights defenders in Iran.

Israeli tank fire kills 42 at U.N. school -medics

GAZA, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Israeli tank shells killed more than 40 Palestinians on Tuesday at a U.N. school where civilians had taken shelter, medical officials said, in carnage likely to boost international pressure on Israel to halt a Gaza offensive.

UNHCR visits Congolese towns attacked by Lord's Resistance Army

Reuters 6 Jan 2009 - BUNIA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, January 6 (UNHCR) – UNHCR staff have taken part in a joint assessment mission to an area of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo) hit by deadly attacks in recent weeks by a rebel Ugandan group.