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  • Iran allows eight candidates for presidential race Iran allows eight candidates for presidential race

    TEHRAN - Iran has approved eight candidates for the presidential election due next month, rejecting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top aide in a major setback to the hawkish leader of the Islamic republic. Ahmadinejad criticised the decision to remove Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from the final candidate list and said it was an act of "oppression". He announced plans to take up the case with ...

  • Work starts on creation of new Dubai island Work starts on creation of new Dubai island

    Work began on Monday on the development of a man-made island in Dubai, 500 metres directly opposite the Jumeirah Beach Residence complex. To be known as Bluewaters Island, the new development will house five star hotels and resorts, al fresco dining and entertainment zones, and residential apartments and villas. The focal point of the island city, which will cost $1.6 billion, will be a 688 ...

  • Indian passport problem in Saudi Arabia resolved

    The problem of Saudi Arabian immigration authorities not accepting newly designed Indian passports has been resolved, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh. India's Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao raised the issue during a meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister of Interior Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Salem Tuesday and the matter was clarified, local media reported Wednesday "Some cases were reported in ...

  • Saudi Arabia nabs 10 over spying for Iran

    Saudi Arabia has arrested 10 people on suspicion of espionage for Iran, the interior ministry announced Tuesday. "Following an initial investigation, the security forces arrested 10 more suspects over involvement in the espionage acts for an Iranian espionage cell, reported Xinhua citing a spokesperson for the ministry. The arrestees, comprising eight Saudis, a Lebanese and a Turk, are linked ...

  • Syria asserts right to respond to Israeli violations

    They Syrian government has said that it holds the right to respond to any Israeli violation against its sovereignty. The Syrian foreign ministry, in a letter to the UN, Tuesday complained against the latest Israeli violation which took place earlier, Xinhua reported. The complaint was made in the wake of an Israeli military vehicle violating the cease-fire being observed between Israel and ...

Movie Review

Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin) [DVD]

Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin) [DVD]

Wings of Desire, which marked director Wim Wenders return to his native Germany after more than a decade making films in other countries, is dedicated to all the old angels, especially Yasujiro [Ozu], Franois [Truffaut], and Andrei [Tarkovsky]--all of whom are cinematic mast ... ...

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  • Iran Bars Candidacies of Rafsanjani Ahmadinejad Aide

    IA conservative body in Iran has barred two prominent figures from competing in next month's presidential election: moderate former president Hashemi Rafsanjani and a leading conservative allied to current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian interior ministry said Tuesday the Guardian Council of clerics and jurists excluded the two politicians from a final list of eight candidates ...

  • Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran

    STATE DEPARTMENT U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Middle East this week for talks to promote an international peace conference on Syria. Russia wants Iran to be part of the process. In this fight for control of Syria, Iran is one of the biggest backers of embattled President Bashar al-Assad. So Russia says Iran should be part of the peace process. "Iran has ...

  • UN concerned by new reports of chemical weapons in Syria

    UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N.'s top Mideast envoy says there are mounting reports of chemical weapons use in Syria.In response, Robert Serry said the United Nations is again urging the Syrian government to allow chemical weapons experts into the country without further delay to investigate the allegations.Syria asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to investigate an alleged chemical ...

  • Exclusive - Glencore Trafigura Iran deals may have skirted sanctions - U.N.

    Reuters © The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in the Swiss town of Baar November 20, 2012. REUTERS/Arnd ...

  • IAEA report Iran expands nuclear technology

    Herman Nackaerts, left, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, shakes hands with Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, after their talks at the permanent mission of Iran in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. U.N. nuclear agency officials are meeting with Iranian counterparts in a renewed attempt ...

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