When the presenter of Amoo Pourang (Uncle Pourang), a programme watched by millions of Iranian children three times a week on state TV, asked the name of the toy the boy had been given as a reward for behaving himself, the child replied: "Well, my father calls him Ahmadinejad."
The father's likely unease at his son's honesty was matched by the programme makers after the state broadcaster, IRIB, immediately responded by removing the show from viewing schedules, The Guardian reported.
The popular show has been running for a very successful seven years but is now due to screened for the final time next week, the paper added.
Jahan News, a conservative website, said the decision was sparked by "the high financial and spiritual damage" caused by live broadcasts.
The surest way to demonstrate that someone is a thug is to watch their response when ridiculed.
Eluding to the naming of the monkey, the statement highlighted an incident in which "a child in a live telephone line compared its doll to one of the well-known authorities and managers".
The incident is the latest in a series of embarrassing admissions by children on live Iranian television.
Once, the presenter, Dariush Farziayi, was left speechless after asking a participant to hand the phone to his mother or father, only to be told, "They are in the shower," The Guardian said.
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A shoe was recently hurled at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while he was in the city of Urmia, an Iranian Web site has reported.
The incident in the Iranian city was an apparent imitation of a similar attack on former U.S. president George Bush in Iraq last year.
Urmia News, the Iranian site, reported that Ahmadinejad was in a car en route to an election rally when the shoe was thrown. Ahmadinejad was traveling to a local stadium where he was meant to deliver a speech ahead of upcoming presidential elections.
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According to the report, a hat was also thrown at the Iranian president before his convoy sped away from the scene.
The incident was not reported by Iran's major news outlets. But it has been widely commented upon in the Islamic Republic's blogosphere, which is viewed as one of the most developed in the world. It is one of the key tools for disseminating information that contradicts the position of the regime. The government controls Iran's traditional media.
#5
tu3031 & darrylq hit the nail on the head. I'm irritated hearing about the shoe thrown at this idiot being reported everywhere when hardly anyone took notice of the raping of our country by both houses in DC these past few weeks.
On topic, the real question is 'Did it have his name on it?'. Obviously not. Moot point.
Nothing to see here...move along...
Syria launched its first stock exchange on Tuesday after three years of delay and in the midst of a worldwide financial crisis, in the latest step to liberalize the country's largely state-controlled economy.
Finance Minister Mohammed al-Hussein rang the trading bell at a formal launch ceremony for the Damascus Securities Exchange, which will be open for trading two days a week and currently includes six companies.
Although it began trial operations in late January, its official inauguration Tuesday marked the culmination of a decree issued in October 2006 by president Bashar al-Assad to establish the bourse as part of the government's move to a market economy.
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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Around 100 inmates rioted in one wing of Lebanon's largest prison on Tuesday to demanded reduced sentences, a security official told Agence France Presse (AFP). "A number of inmates at Rumieh prison began rioting this evening, burning mattresses and other items to press their demands for reduced sentences," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said security reinforcements had been sent to the prison eight kilometres (five miles) northeast of the capital Beirut and the rioting died down after about 90 minutes. Five prisoners suffered smoke inhalation, he added.
The same prison was the scene of a mutiny in April last year in which seven warders were held hostage overnight before a peaceful resolution was negotiated. A riot also broke out at the Qubbah prison in the main northern city of Tripoli in January with inmates holding two wardens overnight.
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
I always figured if prisoners burned their mattresses they are asking to sleep on the floor.
Damascus has reportedly told U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman that it wants a national unity government following Lebanese elections. Feltman replied: This is a Lebanese issue.
Pan-Arab daily Al Hayat on Tuesday quoted high-ranking political sources as saying that Damascus "took the initiative" to discuss Lebanon during weekend talks with Feltman and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro.
The sources said Syrian officials conveyed to the U.S. delegation their country's keenness on holding Lebanese parliamentary elections on time. This was okay. But when it came to renewing their call for the establishment of a Lebanese national unity government following the June 7 elections, Feltman allegedly told the Syrian officials: "This is a Lebanese issue."
The sources said the U.S. delegation discussed with Syrian officials the "principles of holding elections without Syrian meddling, not more."
They said Hizbullah and AMAL Movement leaders have recently been emphasizing the formation of a national unity government following Lebanese elections.
On Saturday Feltman and Shapiro held four hours of talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and other officials. "What we did is give the Syrians the opportunity to raise their vision about the bilateral relationship, their concerns, and we were able to do the same," Feltman said following a series of meetings with Lebanese political and religious leaders on Sunday. "Talking to people is not a reward. We talk to people in order to solve a problem," he added.
He also sought to ease Lebanese concerns about a U.S.-Syria rapprochement saying: "There is no contradiction between a strong support to Lebanon and an attempt to solve a problem through dialogue with Syria."
On Saturday, Feltman emerged from the talks with Muallem, saying Syria can be a "constructive" Mideast force. Feltman said he and Shapiro held the "view that Syria can play an important and constructive role in the region," in a conference call with reporters in Washington after with Muallem and other Syrian officials.
"We found a lot of common ground today," Feltman said without elaborating.
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Morons. The Baker precedent clearly establishes the ground-rules for engagement with the Ba'ath Syrians: tacit acknowledgment of the non-existence of a sovereign nation-state between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
03/11/2009 10:09 Comments ||
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MP Michel Aoun on Monday took a jab at Jeffrey Feltman saying he was "not in mourning" for being snubbed by the top U.S. envoy, who visited Lebanon twice last week but did not include the Free Patriotic Movement leader in talks with the political leadership. "Feltman did not visit me. And I am not in morning," Aoun said, after a weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. "I gained an hour of what could have been a waste of my time," he added.
Feltman and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro were in Lebanon on Friday and again Sunday to reassure leaders of Washington's continued support despite rapprochement with Syria.
Shifting his focus to Lebanon, Aoun slammed the judiciary for becoming politicized and said he did not want a review of recent judicial appointments rather a revamp of the whole system. A reshuffle Friday of top judicial posts, ending a three-year vacuum, sparked controversy after the parliamentary minority voiced reservations over some nominations and slammed the move as "politicized."
"Judicial independence is missing," Aoun said, lamenting that the judiciary "has become subject to partitioning and to the (political) authority."
The way through which the appointments were handled was reminiscent of "the former troika" system, Aoun said. He was referring to the previous system of governance under President Emile Lahoud, late Premier Rafik Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri, when the three top figures monopolized decision-making.
"As a matter of principle, we reject and oppose the conditions under which the judicial appointments were made," Aoun said.
He explained that the minority's position on the appointments was not a personal attack against the judges. "Regardless of who the judges are, there are ethical standards that must be implemented and this is a matter we will not compromise on."
The judicial appointment that drew the most controversy was that of the Investigative Magistrate into the February 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri, Judge Saqr Saqr, who was named government delegate to the military tribunal. Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources from the opposition as saying Suleiman's appointment of Saqr was a "reward" for his refusal to free the four former security chiefs detained for alleged involvement in the Hariri assassination.
"The judiciary's most important qualities are integrity and competence," Aoun said, disclosing that his bloc was preparing a draft law under which Parliament would ensure judicial independence. Under the bill, the Supreme Judicial Council will become the "highest elected authority and will have command of decision-making." Aoun said what he was proposing was "a new judicial system altogether."
On the much anticipated elections, Aoun warned that "registrars in some provinces, such as the Shouf-Alley, have been falsifying identity cards." He urged Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to put an end to the practice saying "we are ready to help the judiciary uncover the offenders."
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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Hizbullah's official in south Lebanon Sheikh Nabil Qaouq said on Friday that his party is working for partnership in the country while the March 14 forces are giving the Lebanese two choices -- either hegemony or obstruction.
"The resistance does not fear new regional and international conditions... We will not wait for outside interferences ... We call for consensus and national partnership with which to safeguard Lebanon's identity and stability," Qaouq said during a graduation ceremony organized by Jihad al-Binaa construction company. "The program of the pro-government forces in the country is aimed at giving two choices to the Lebanese: Either hegemony or obstruction. In return, the opposition gives two choices to the Lebanese: Either consensus or consensus," Qaouq stressed.
He said no matter who wins the June 7 legislative elections, there should always be national partnership. "No matter who the winner in the parliamentary elections is, Lebanon is bound to be in agreement and national partnership," Qaouq said.
"This is the only solution for a way out of the current political crisis. Any other talk about obstruction, domination and hegemony has no chance" to succeed because "we have already turned the chapter on American and other embassies' guardianship," the Hizbullah official added.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah and Amal Movement leaderships in Mount Lebanon and the North also stressed in a joint statement their commitment to partnership.
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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Iran and Syria have until next week to explain to a United Nations sanctions committee how they were involved with a ship detained off Cyprus in January found to be loaded with explosives believed to be bound for Gaza.
The ambassadors of France and Britain described the episode at a Security Council meeting held Tuesday in New York as a "gross violation" of existing resolutions banning Iranian arms exports. "The United Kingdom looks forward to the committee receiving explanations from Iran and Syria as to why the shipment was permitted by Iran as the reported state of origin and as to the involvement of Syria as the reported state of destination," said British envoy John Sawers.
Both countries are required to respond within ten working days, according to a statement from Japanese ambassador Yukio Takasu, who chairs the Security Council committee set up in 2006 to oversee Iran sanctions. The committee determined February 6 that Iran was in violation of existing sanctions but has not taken any punitive action.
Both French ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert and US envoy Susan Rice invited Iran to use the opportunity to engage in diplomatic negotiations on its nuclear and other arms programs. "The United States will not waver in its determination to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons but the United States also sees an opportunity - a chance for the Iranian government to demonstrate that it is willing to unclench its fist and begin a serious, responsible discussion about a range of issues," Rice said in her formal remarks.
She added that President Obama, who had his first formal meeting Tuesday in Washington with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, was engaged in a comprehensive review of US policy on Iran.
Neither Iran nor Syria sent representatives to speak at Tuesday's meeting. Both have denied allegations from Washington that the munitions were intended for delivery to Hamas.
Syria sent a delegation to Cyprus in late February to pressure officials there into handing over the cargo from the ship, according to an Associated Press report that cited unnamed government officials from an undisclosed Middle Eastern country. The AP said Cypriot officials denied any formal negotiations with the Syrians over the cargo.
Diplomats in New York have told The Jerusalem Post that Cyprus has been eager to cooperate with its European Union allies on the issue, but the island nation has not yet taken any steps to destroy the cargo offloaded from the Cypriot-flagged ship Monchegorsk. The ship docked Jan 29 in Cyprus after being turned away from an Egyptian port.
The British have offered help to dispose of the munitions "in whatever way we can."
Iran has dismissed the remarks of an Iraqi official who said that Baghdad had serious problems with Tehran in the demarcation of their land and maritime borders.
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Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2009 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
