World Gone Crazy

Story highlights from today's news headlines:

• Suicide bomb in northwestern Pakistan kills 25- Christian Science Monitor
• 21 killed in suicide attack on African Union base in Somalia- CNN International
• Iranian President once again claims Holocaust a myth- Voice of America

Sometimes (frequently) reading the news makes me very sad.

Day 353

Iran's Nuclear Dreams

From the Voice of America....

Iran's foreign minister has turned in his country's new nuclear program proposal to the U.N. Security Council's leading nations. Details of the proposal have yet to be released, but the U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is getting closer to making a nuclear bomb. 

It was a picture-perfect moment. In an attempt to spur nuclear talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki presented a package to the ambassadors of leading world powers in Tehran. But, one heavyweight world power was missing.

The United States, which does not have official diplomatic relations with Iran. But U.S. President Barack Obama has called for Iran to discuss its disputed nuclear program with world powers by the end of September.

Iran's ambassador to the U.N. nuclear agency, Aliasghar Soltanieh, says the proposal contains compromises on security, economic and nuclear issues. He says Iran would like to hold a new round of talks within the framework of the presented proposal.

Day 318

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  was sworn in as President of Iran today.  Opposition leaders boycotted the swearing in ceremony and street protests continue.  

Day 309

More Nuclear News

Yesterday India launches its first Nuclear Powered Submarine.  Today, Iran criticizes the United States' disapproval of Tehran's suspected nuclear program development. Hopefully this MADness is just a war of words.

From the Al Jazeera article:

The comments came after Hillary Clinton last week said the US would arm its allies in the Gulf region if Iran built a nuclear weapon.

"There is no need for the US to provide a defence umbrella for the neighbouring countries," Hassan Qashqavi, a foreign ministry spokesman, said on Monday.

"It is enough to tell its ally, the Zionist regime and convince it for the issue of disarmament and dismantle its own 200 nuclear warheads from the occupied territories.

"It automatically will bring security to the region and all countries of the region will feel secure. The solution for defence umbrella is removing nuclear warheads of the Zionist regime and has no other way."

Day 306

Aria Airlines Flight 1525

Iran based Aria Airlines Flight 1525 crashed today on the runway of an airport in Mashad, Iran's second largest city.  It was making an emergency landing, skidded off the runway, and hit a wall. 17 people were killed, 20 injured.  This incident was the 2nd crash of an Iranian airplane in 10 days.  

Day 291

Mahamoud Ahmadinejad

"Death to the Dictator"

Unrest erupts in Iran again.  This time protesters take to the streets, wearing surgical masks to conceal their identity, shouting "Death to the Dictator" and "God is Great" in opposition to contested President Mahamoud Ahmadinejad.  Today's protest also marks the 10th anniversary of a clash between students and security forces.  

Day 285

British Embassy, Tehran

British Embassy Employees

According to a senior Iranian cleric,  the employees of the British Embassy in Tehran who were arrested after the election protests will be tried for acting against Iran's national security.  

Eight or nine employees of the embassy's political section were arrested last weekend. All but three have been released, according to Iranian state media.

European Union nations summoned Iranian ambassadors today to complain about the arrests in a coordinated response, news agencies reported.

EU nations are weighing the possibility of pulling all 27 member nations' ambassadors from Tehran and imposing a travel ban on Iranian officials to protest the arrests, but want to wait for Iran's next move regarding the embassy employees, European news media reported. 

Day 275

Neda Agha-Soltan

The protests in Iran has put social networking sites and "citizen journalism" to the forefront. Listening to NPR as I write this post, it seems like the broadcast mentions Facebook and Twitter at every program break- something I have not noticed in the past. 

The tragic shooting of Neda Agha-Soltan is a prime example of our increasing reliance on social networking sites and with Iran's restrictions on foreign media, updates on these sites are the only information we are getting.  I have a funny feeling this is going to play out in a very considerable manner- how, remains to be seen.   

Day 272

First Day of Summer

I guess it is appropriate that I am returning to Boston on the first day of Summer and even more appropriate that there is rain in the forecast.  In the context of world news, when it rains it pours. Iran election protests continue with increased violence, 19 reported dead at press time.  Pakistani forces are stepping up their fight against Taliban forces and are sending aircraft closer to the Afghan boarder. Suicide bombers near Kirkuk, Iraq destroys 50 buildings, kill 80 and wound another 211, the deadliest single attack this year.  

More Protests in Iran

I'm a little surprised that there is only one story on the Google News RSS Feed about the protests in Iran.  Thousands of people have defied the Ayatollah's decree to restrain from protesting. The supreme leader has stated that challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi will "be held responsible for the consequences if any illegal gatherings".  

Driving in Montreal last night I saw a group of protesters in a park off Rue de Saint Catherine. The world awaits the outcome.  

Day 267

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran orders a probe into suspected fraud of last week's presidential election.  This comes after he gave his blessings to reported winner by 62 %, Mahamoud Ahmadinedjad.