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Iranian security forces have clashed violently with opposition supporters in central Tehran, witnesses say. Police used batons and tear gas, according to the witnesses. There were also unconfirmed reports of security forces using live rounds. State media confirmed there had been clashes, though a foreign media ban means details cannot be verified. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times is monitoring events from Beirut, Lebanon. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The United Nations nuclear agency, the IAEA, voted today to censure Iran over its nuclear progam. The IAEA condemned Iran for developing a secret uranium enrichment site at Qom (satellite photo). 25 nations – including the US, Russia and China – backed the move. The World’s Katy Clark has our story. Download MP3
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Iran’s authorities recently confiscated Shirin Ebadi’s Nobel Peace prize medal. Activists say the move exemplifies Tehran’s hostility toward women. Mahnaz Afkhami was the Minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran before the 1979 revolution. She wrote the foreword to a new book called Iranian Women’s One Million Signatures Campaign for Equality. Anchor Marco Werman talks with Afkhami about the women’s movement in Iran. Download MP3
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The man in charge of the official British inquiry examining events surrounding the Iraq war has said his committee will not produce a report that is a “whitewash.” John Chilcot has promised to produce a “full and insightful” account. Evidence from senior government figures will start on Tuesday and politicians, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair will be expected to testify in due time. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3
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Tons of fun in this week’s podcast. The highlight is the return of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Eoin Colfer, who you may know as author of the Artemis Fowl series, has taken on the task of writing Book Six of Three in the H2G2 universe. It’s called And Another Thing… and we’ve got an interview with Colfer on this week’s podcast! We also hear about expert windmill builder, William Kamkwamba.
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The centerpiece of this week’s podcast is a look at the strange case of Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan. He was jailed a little more than a year ago after returning to Iran. We hear about the twists and turns his life has taken in recent years. We also hear about some new research on Persian blogs, and about the world’s smallest FM transmitter! Oh, and a guy who has most of his life recorded digitally…and loves it.
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Today is the 30th anniversary of the Iranian hostage crisis: on Nov 4th, 1979 Iranian militants seized the US embassy in Tehran. Today, an official rally in Teheran marked the anniversary, but opposition supporters staged a demonstration of their own. Anchor Marco Werman talks with Robin Wright, author of “Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East.” Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
US Army General Keith Dayton has been assisting with training Palestinian security forces since 2005. The ongoing effort has been credited with helping to restore law and order in the West Bank. But the US role is a politically precarious one. Some Palestinians are questioning who their security forces are working for. The World’s Matthew Bell reports from the West Bank. Download MP3
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One of Israel’s most popular weathermen retired last month after delivering weather updates on Hebrew-language radio for 39 years. Israelis loved listening to Robert Olinsky (pictured) for his most distinguishing feature: his thick American accent. Daniel Estrin has the story. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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Egypt’s highest Muslim authority has said he will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women’s veils, known as the niqab. The practice is widely associated with more radical trends of Islam. Reporter Aya Batrawy has the story. Download MP3
The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. The United States and Israel opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.
