Iran begins mass-producing missile-launching assault boats

Now saw this Iran begins mass-producing missile-launching assault boats


TEHRAN: Iran began mass-producing two high-speed variants of missile-launching assault boats on Monday, warning its enemies not to “play with fire” as it boosts security along its coastline.

The inauguration of the production lines for the Seraj and Zolfaqar speedboats comes a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled Iran’s home-built bomber drone, which he said would deliver “death” to Iran’s enemies.

State news agency IRNA reported that the Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali’s sword) boats would be manufactured at the marine industries complex of the Defense Ministry of .

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi opened the assembly lines, saying the vessels would help to strengthen Iran’s defenses, IRNA said.

“Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is relying on a great defense industry and the powerful forces of Sepah [Revolutionary Guards] and the army, with their utmost strength, can provide security to the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and Strait of Hormuz,” Vahidi said.

The minister issued a stern warning to Iran’s foes.

“The enemy must be careful of its adventurous behavior and not play with fire because the Islamic Republic’s response would be unpredictable,” IRNA quoted him as saying.

“If enemies attack Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s reaction will not be restricted to one area. The truth of our defense doctrine is that we will not attack any country and that we extend our hand to all legitimate countries.”

Iran’s arch-foes, the US and Israel, have not ruled out taking military action over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.

Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, choking off some 40 percent of tanker-shipped oil worldwide, in the event of a military attack.

IRNA said Zolfaqar was a new generation missile-launching vessel which can be used for patrolling as well as for offensive attack operations.



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We saw this First Guantanamo trial under Obama begins

Canadian defendant Omar Khadr sits with his defense team as FBI Special Agent Robert Fuller testifies during a pre-trial hearing at the Camp Justice compound on Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, April 29, 2010.
now watches this First Guantanamo trial under Obama begins
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Thirteen hundred miles from Washington, on a sun-drenched corner of this iguana-dotted island, the U.S. military is gearing up for the trial of the youngest and last Western detainee at Guantanamo Bay.

The trial of Omar Khadr, 23, opened here Monday. Khadr was detained in Afghanistan in 2002, and is accused of murdering a U.S. soldier, conspiracy, spying and other charges.

The son of an Egyptian who became a Canadian citizen, Khadr moved between homes in Canada, Pakistan and Afghanistan for years. Other Western countries have secured the release of their citizens from Guantanamo, but successive Canadian governments have refused to even ask for Khadr’s return.

A successful trial and conviction for Khadr would mark a significant success for U.S. efforts to move beyond the legal limbo that has plagued Guantanamo for years. But Khadr was 15 when he was detained and human rights advocates criticize the administration for starting the tribunals with a case against a child soldier.

Khadr’s trial is the first military commission to take place under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Nearly 800 prisoners have passed through the facility since the United States began using it as a detention center in 2002. Six have been charged and three have been convicted.
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World Cup 2010 begins in South Africa

Ceremony kicks-off 2010 World Cup
Watches this enjoy World Cup 2010 begins in South Africa
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa got under way with a spectacular and vibrant opening ceremony at the 94,000-capacity Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The ceremony was followed by the first game of the tournament between the hosts and Mexico, which ended 1-1.
Africa is staging the World Cup for the first time, with 32 nations competing in 64 games until the final on 11 July.
Nelson Mandela was due to attend the opening ceremony but withdrew following the death of his great-granddaughter.
Zenani Mandela, 13, died in a car crash when travelling home from the pre-World Cup concert in Johannesburg on Thursday.

PAUL FLETCHER'S BLOG
There is a feeling that this World Cup can have a profound impact on how the continent of Africa is perceived by the millions watching from abroad
She was one of the 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon's nine great-grandchildren.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation released a statement saying it would be "inappropriate" for Mandela, a former South African president, to be at the opening ceremony.
"We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy," added the statement.
"We continue to believe that the World Cup is a momentous and historic occasion for South Africa and the continent and we are certain it will be a huge success."
The 40-minute ceremony began with a five-plane military flypast over the stadium, which resembles a huge African cooking pot.
A group of drummers and dancers performed a 'Welcome to Africa' song that included an introduction to all 10 tournament's venues.
The next sequence saw a gigantic beetle show off its football skills with the Jabulani - the official football of the finals - before large pieces of cloth were used to show a map of the continent.
Musicians and artists from the other African finalists - Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria - also had their chance to perform in a joint sequence.

Sixteen people - including two police officers - were injured at a stampede ahead of a World Cup warm-up match on Sunday between Nigeria and North Korea outside Makhulong Stadium in the township of Tembisa near Johannesburg.
And journalists from China, Spain and Portugal were targeted in two separate armed robberies in and around Johannesburg on Monday and Wednesday.
However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter insists the World Cup will be a success.
"Everywhere, one can feel, I hope, that this World Cup is very special, the first on African soil," he said. "We find ourselves in a position of indescribable anticipation.
"More importantly, this competition will prove that South Africa, and the African continent in general, is capable of organising an event of this magnitude."
Some of the world's best players will be on display in South Africa, among them Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
But some big names will be missing because of injury, such as England duo Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham, Germany skipper Michael Ballack and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien.
Didier Drogba - an icon in African sport - fractured his elbow in a recent friendly against Japan, but is hopeful of playing a part in the Ivory Coast's campaign.
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Watches this Russia ban on grain export begins

Enjoy Russia ban on grain export begins
Russia has imposed a ban on grain exports until the end of the year, after a severe drought and a spate of wildfires devastated crops.

Russia is one of the world's biggest producers of wheat, barley and rye, and the ban is likely to see bread prices rise in places like the Middle East.

The measures are designed to keep domestic food prices under control.

But Agriculture Ministry data has revealed that this year's crop is unlikely to meet even domestic demand.

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The fertile fields of southern Russia, which normally help to feed the world, have been left parched by months of no rain. The grain harvest is down by at least a third compared with last year.

The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says that it comes as no surprise that Russia is temporarily banning exports as it seeks to stop prices sky-rocketing at home.

There are already reports of steep hikes in the price of flour around the country, and in Moscow the price of bread has jumped by 20%.

Correspondents say the temporary ban is being motivated by more than just economics - Russians eat bread with practically everything and rising bread prices is an issue which has traditionally had the power to stoke popular unrest.

Shortfall
The country's leadership has so far been unable to say when the ban might end.

President Dmitry Medvedev predicted that the measures could be lifted before the end of the year.

Shortfall
The country's leadership has so far been unable to say when the ban might end.

President Dmitry Medvedev predicted that the measures could be lifted before the end of the year.

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But Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested the ban could remain in place until well into 2011.

Mr Putin said that this year's crop could be as low as 60m tonnes, well below last year's 97m, and Russia needs almost 80m tonnes to cover domestic consumption, so even with this ban, there might be a shortfall of nearly 20m tonnes for the Russian consumer.

The Kremlin says talks on the issue will be held in October.

Last year, Russia exported a quarter of its 2009 grain output.

Russia produces a soft type of wheat that is suited to making unleavened bread, so much of its wheat is exported to the Middle East.

Egypt is its largest market, followed by Turkey, Syria, Iran and Libya.

Analysts say there is likely to be a small increase in bread prices in the short term.

But they say wheat prices should soon fall back down again because the US - the world's biggest exporter - is predicting a bumper harvest of its current crop.

This week economists predicted that the heatwave and wildfires would cut $15bn (£9bn) from Russian economic output.

The figure, which does not include the cost of rebuilding hundreds of destroyed homes, is predicted to slow down the country's recovery from the recent global crisis.

Nuclear facility
Hundreds of wildfires have been burning across central Russia in the last three weeks.


The fires have killed more than 50 people so far
More than 50 people have died in the fires and many more are thought to have been adversely affected by smog which has enveloped Moscow and other areas.

Moscow's daily death rate is twice what it would be normally for the current time of year. While officials have been careful not to link this to the heat and smog, doctors have been doing so off the record.

On Saturday, heavy rain cooled the capital, providing respite from the record-breaking temperatures and the smog for the first time in weeks.

However, dozens of wildfires are still burning around Moscow, and according to the Emergency Situations Ministry more than 500 wildfires are continuing to burn across the country.

These include a new blaze to the east of the major nuclear research facility in Sarov, about 400km (250 miles) east of Moscow.

Earlier this month, as fires raged near the site, all nuclear and explosive materials were removed as a precaution.

When those fires were brought under control, the materials were returned to Sarov.

However, Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for the Rosatom state atomic corporation, told the Associated Press that there was no immediate need to move them out again.
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