News Archive - 23 June 2013

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     Iran defeated Serbia 3-2 and qualified to compete in Volleyball World Cup In a exciting game in Azadi stadium , the  Iranian national volleyball team defeated European champion Serbia 3 -  and qualified as 26 othere teams to compete in Volleyball World Cup .

Iran's prestigious Golestan Palace has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the UN cultural body says. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization made the decision on Sunday during its World Heritage Committee's 37th annual session held in Phnom Penh.

Opinion: The implications of the situation there are not being discussed.

>* Retirement of an emir would be rarity in Gulf Arab politics* Little major change seen in policy (Adds details, background)By William Maclean and Sami AboudiDUBAI, June 23 (Reuters) - Qatar appeared on Monday to be readying its population of nearly 2 million for new leadership that could see the...

>* Senator predicts consequences for U.S.-Russian relations* Ecuador says Snowden seeks asylum there (Updates with U.S. Justice Dept comments)By James Pomfret and Lidia KellyHONG KONG/MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden sought asylum in Ecuador on Sunday after Hong Kong...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Since his first day in office, President Barack Obama's foreign policy has rested on outreach: resetting ties with Russia, building a partnership with China and offering a fresh start with antagonistic leaders from Iran to Venezuela. But the global travels on Sunday of former National Security Agency...

>Residents of the town of Zawiyat Abu Muslim in Giza province on the outskirts of Cairo surrounded the home of a prominent Shi'ite after learning he was hosting a religious gathering, witnesses and security sources told Reuters.The residents beat the guests and threw petrol bombs at the house, setting...

London—Iranian president-elect Hassan Rouhani met with leading moderates and reformists on Saturday, in an attempt to shore-up the political alliances that swept him into office.Rouhani met with former presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami, and a former reformist presidential candidate, Mohammad Reza Aref, in a series of well-publicized...

TEHRAN, Iran - Traders in Iran say the country's currency has briefly reached its strongest level in nearly 10 months, reflecting hopes that Iran's newly elected president might ease tensions with the West.

>NEW DELHI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged fast-growing India to work with Washington to tackle climate change and develop green technologies, on the eve of talks on trade and regional security. Emerging economies like India have resisted pressure in global climate talks to commit to...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official news agency says a criminal court has summoned outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over a lawsuit filed by the country's parliament speaker and others.

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     Perspolis TV and Sardar Rouyanian talk about Perspolis plane and his departure Footage of Persepolis satellite TV and sayings  Revolutionary Guard managing director of Persepolis Sardar Rouyanian about his departure from the club and purchase of a plane for Persepolis sport Club !...

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     American spy escaped from Hong Kong to Moscow to request political asylum from Ecuador The whistle blower CIA agent Edward Snowden who embarrassed American administration with his revelation about espionage of CIA inside the United States , flew from Hong Kong to Moscow to request...

>* Ecuadorean ambassador says he will meet Snowden in Moscow* Hong Kong says extradition request did not comply with the law* WikiLeaks says it is helping Snowden find "political asylum"By James Pomfret and Lidia KellyHONG KONG/MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - Fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden is...

>Guns and rocket fire rattled the port city 40 km (28 miles) south of Beirut that has been on edge since violence erupted there last week between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim fighters, at odds over the Syrian conflict.Lebanese authorities have been trying to quell the fighting and Sunday's clashes...

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     Interview with football coach Firooz Karimi known for racist gesture against black Dutch player Interview with controversial football coach Firooz Karimi who is famous for his racist  gesture in football field against black Dutch player Sendley Bito . Watch related video and his behavior in football...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Traders in Iran say the country's currency has briefly reached its strongest level in nearly 10 months, reflecting hopes that Iran's newly elected president might ease tensions with the West.

>DOHA (Reuters) - Syrian rebels need to wrest back control of territory held by Islamist militants whose involvement in the conflict gives Bashar al-Assad a pretext for more violence, French President Francois Hollande said on Sunday. Radical Islamist groups such as the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front have joined in fighting...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president-elect believes it's possible to strike a deal that would allow the Islamic Republic to keep enriching uranium while assuring the West it will not produce a nuclear weapon.

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Sunday said former national security contractor Edward Snowden's reported flight to Russia with a plan to flee onward to Cuba or Venezuela undermined his whistle blower claims and they slammed Moscow for helping a fugitive. An aircraft thought to be carrying Snowden landed...

>WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Charles Schumer charged on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely knew and approved of fugitive Edward Snowden's flight from Hong Kong to Russia and that it will "have serious consequences" in the U.S.- Russian relationship."Putin always seems...

Bush and Blair saw Iran in terms of black and white. We need a different engagement The election of Hassan Rouhani , a 64-year-old cleric, to the presidency of the Islamic republic of Iran leaves many people around the world with more questions than answers. Many of those questions stem...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has met his newly elected successor Hasan Rowhani.

>DOHA (Reuters) - International opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed on Saturday to give urgent military support to Western-backed rebels, aiming to stem a counter-offensive by Assad's forces and offset the growing power of jihadist fighters. Assad's recapture of the strategic border town of Qusair, spearheaded by Lebanese Hezbollah...

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     Head of judiciary Sadegh Larijani comment about summon of Ahmadiinejad to court Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani , head of judiciary comment on Saturday 22 June , about summon of  Ahmadinejad to court  following complain of his brother Ali Larijani , speaker of Majlis . Watch related video...

Latest VideoJune 23rd, 2013     Ayatollah Alamolhoda criticize music used for honoring Imam Zaman The speaker of Friday Prayer Ayatollah Alamolhoda criticized music and lyrics used to honor disappeared Imam Zaman .

>INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL* Oil falls, notches biggest 2-day drop since September* GLOBAL MARKETS-Bond yields eye biggest weekly rise in 10 years* MIDEAST-STOCKS-Saudi stocks reverse losses, close up* "Friends of Syria" agree to give urgent rebel aid* Lebanese army seals parliament after protests, Syria-linked tension* Iraq says proxy war over Syria threatens its...