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At a closed meeting at the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan, Bill Deblasio, the newly elected Mayor of New York City, met with the American Israeli Political Action Committee. Despite the efforts to keep the meeting secret, the words Deblasio spoke to the Zionist gathering were leaked to the press. An audio recording captures the Mayor of New York City saying: \"Part of my job description is to be a defender of Israel.\" Lamis Deek, a human rights attorney in New York City, says that it is interesting that Deblasio worked so hard to conceal his meeting with this powerful Zionist organization. While Deblasio proclaimed his loyalty to Israel, he did not speak for all New Yorkers. A growing number of people in New York City are highly critical of Israel and its crimes. The fact that the Mayor of New York City would openly proclaim his loyalty to Israel is seen by many as an indication of the power Zionists have over US foreign policy. The fact that it was done in secret also causes many to be suspicious.

[08 Dec 2014] NY mayor backs investigation into death of unarmed black man - English

[03 Sept 2013] Tehran city council starts work, set to choose mayor - English

The mayor of Bethlehem says Israeli tour operators are controlling the influx of travelers into the historical city over the Christmas period. This, the mayor says, is hurting the Palestinian economy.

The Mayor of Jerusalem has authorized the demolition of more Palestinian homes in Eastern Jerusalem that it considers "illegal". He has slated 20,000 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem for demolition on account of them being considered by him as "illegal".

http://pknews.tv - on tripartite summit - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was born in village of Aradan near city of Garmsar, southeast of Tehran in 1956. He is the fourth son of an ironworker who had seven children. Mahmoud and his family migrated to Tehran when he was one-year-old. He went to primary and high school in Tehran and got his diploma and was admitted to the University of Science and Technology (Elm-o-Sanaat) in the field of civil engineering after he ranked 132nd in the nationwide university entrance exams in 1975. He was accepted as an MS student at the same university in 1986 and became a member of the scientific board of the Civil Engineering College of University of Science and Technology. Later on he got his doctorate in 1987 in the field of engineering and traffic transportation planning. He is married with two sons and one daughter. Following the 1979 Islamic revolution he became a member the conservative faction of the Office for Strengthening Unity [OSU] Between Universities and Theological Seminaries. The OSU was established by Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, one of Ayatollah Khomeini's key advisors, to organize Islamic students against the rapidly growing Islamic group of Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK). With invasion of Iraq and start of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980, Ahmadinejad rushed to the western fronts to fight against the enemy and joined the voluntary (basij) forces of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC). He served in different units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Engineering Corps. He served as governor of Maku and Khoy cities in the northwestern West Azerbaijan province, and as an advisor to the governor general of the western province of Kurdistan for two years. While serving as the cultural advisor to then Ministry of Culture and Higher Education in 1993, he was appointed as governor general of the newly established northwestern province of Ardebil from 1993 to 1997. He was elected as the exemplary governor general for three consecutive years. But in 1997 the newly-installed Khatami administration removed Ahmadinejad from his post as Ardebil governor general. He returned to the University of Science and Technology (Elm-o-Sanaat) again to teach in 1997. In April 2003 Ahmadinejad was appointed mayor of Tehran by the capital's municipal council, which is dominated by the hard-line Islamic Iran Developers Coalition (Etelaf-e Abadgaran-e Iran-e Islami). In some of Ahmadinejad's public statements, he has appeared to identify himself as a Developer. He lives a very Spartan lifestyle and that's how he projected himself. As Mayor, he reversed many of the policies of previous moderate and reformist mayors, placing serious religious emphasis on the activities of the cultural centers by turning them into prayer halls during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. He also suggested the burial of the bodies of martyrs of the Iran-Iraq war in major city squares of Tehran. On 24 June 2005 Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected as Iran's sixth president. He swept to the presidential post with a stunning 17,046,441 votes out of a total of 27,536,069 votes cast in the runoff election. In the 2009 presidential election Ahmadinejad was nominated to run for the second term. In the presidential election of 2009, 39,165,191 ballots were cast on 12th June, according to Iran's election headquarters. Ahmadinejad won 24,527,516 votes, (62.63%). In second place, Mir Hossein Mousavi won 13,216,411 (33.75%) of the votes. The election drew unprecedented public interest in Iran. The election results remain in dispute as Mir Hossein Mousavi and his supporters who believe that electoral fraud occurred during the election. This popular belief ignited protests and demonstrations in the large cities with a united slogan of “Where is my vote”, which resulted in the birth of “Green Movement” of Iran. Finally Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei formally endorsed Ahmadinejad as President on 3 August 2009, and Dr. Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term on 5 August 2009 Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to expand socio-economic cooperation and more particularly neutralize foreign interference in this part of the world. At the conclusion of a tripartite summit in Islamabad, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the regional cooperation will lead to an end to foreign interference, a reference to the US-led NATO military presence in Afghanistan. The Iranian President said that the nuclear weapon do not empower any state and must be eliminated from political relations. Howerver, Afghan President Hamid Karazi’s focus was to gain regional support for the Taliban talks, a reference to his demand to include Kabul in the talks between the US and Taliban. Islamabad asserted that it would lend its support to President Karazi in any future Taliban talks. The Taliban have so far refused to negotiate with Kabul describing Karzai administration as the puppet. The three neighboring countries also decided to step up their efforts to combat drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan, a particular source of concern for Pakistan. The summit also decided to enhance trilateral trade through facilitative measures like preferential tariff and free trade arrangements and barter trade. The three countries in their summit declaration sounded determined to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of regional states. This is a clear reference to the frequent US drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal region that have killed large number of civilians since 2004. However, analysts believe more than any thing else, it depends on Islamabad if it is willing to scrap secret deals with Americans that allows them to carry out drone attacks in the tribal areas.

Tras finalizar las elecciones de hoy 14 de junio, el candidato que obtenga el 50 % de los votos más 1, es el ganador y en caso que no exista mayoría absoluta, la legislación convoca una segunda ronda electoral (21 de junio) entre los dos candidatos que hayan obtenido el mayor número de votos. Después del Líder Supremo de la Revolución Islámica, el presidente cuenta con el más alto cargo del país y tiene la responsabilidad directa de ejecutar la Constitución y la presidencia del poder ejecutivo, excepto los asuntos que se dirigen directamente al Líder Supremo. También ocupa la presidencia del Consejo Supremo de la Seguridad Nacional y el Consejo Supremo de la revolución cultural. Según la Constitución para ser candidato a las presidenciales de Irán se debe tener los siguientes requisitos: Ser de origen iraní y tener la ciudadanía iraní; Tener buena reputación y estar calificado para proteger a la República Islámica; Creer en el Islam y en los principios de la República Islámica; y debe ser una persona con antecedentes de filiación religiosa y política. Según el capítulo 9 de la Constitución de Irán, el presidente tiene amplias responsabilidades, entre ellas destacan las siguientes: -Presenta a los ministros al Parlamento para obtener el voto de confianza; -Puede designar y destituir a los miembros del gobierno; -Tiene la responsabilidad de firmar todo tipo de memorándum, acuerdos y contratos con otros gobiernos, además de firmar acuerdos relacionados con las Uniones internacionales tras la aprobación del Parlamento; -Tras ser aprobado un proyecto de ley por el Parlamento, el Presidente está obligado a ratificarlo, tras lo cual adquiere el rango de ley; -Puede designar representantes especiales con responsabilidades determinadas tas la aprobación del consejo de ministros; -Ratifica a los embajadores tras la propuesta del canciller; -Recibe las cartas credenciales de los embajadores en Irán; -Otorga condecoraciones gubernamentales; -El presidente nombra al secretario del Consejo Superior de Seguridad Nacional. Nombra a los gobernadores de las provincias y ratifica a los embajadores de Irán en otros países, a propuesta del ministro de Exteriores. Una vez que el presidente es elegido por el pueblo debe dedicarse a formar su gabinete y presentar a sus ministros al Parlamento. Una vez que reciben el voto de confianza de los parlamentarios, el gobierno inicia su tarea. http://www.hispantv.com http://www.facebook.com/Hispantv http://plus.google.com/+hispantv http://twitter.com/Hispantv http://hispantv.com/​Frequencies.aspx

La historia de un hombre que está en coma y sus tres hijos vienen a su casa para estar con él en sus últimos días de vida, Hamid, el hijo mayor, que está en la cárcel por asesinato, pedirá permiso para poder estar con su padre. Reza el segundo hijo, viene con su mujer desde lejos. Y la única hija, llamada Simin, también está presente. Reza y Simin no se comportan bien con el hermano mayor por haber matado al marido de Simin hasta que... http://www.hispantv.com http://www.facebook.com/Hispantv http://plus.google.com/+hispantv http://twitter.com/Hispantv http://hispantv.com/​Frequencies.aspx

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \"La Sagrada Defensa\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \\\"La Sagrada Defensa\\\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \\\"La Sagrada Defensa\\\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \"La Sagrada Defensa\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \"La Sagrada Defensa\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \"La Sagrada Defensa\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

Sobre los muros de todas las ciudades de Irán, se han dibujado las imágenes de grandes hombres a los que aquí, se denominan mártires. La mayoría de las callejuelas, calles y autopistas han sido bautizadas con nombres de los mártires. En el Islam el término “mártir” posee cierta connotación sagrada; este adjetivo se le atribuye a alguien que no ha muerto como cualquier otra persona, sino que ha sacrificado su vida por fines patrióticos y religiosos. En septiembre de 1980, Irak atacó a Irán. Todas las superpotencias y la mayoría de los países de la región apoyaban al exdictador iraquí, Saddam Husein, quien falló, en última instancia, en lograr todas sus metas. La guerra duró 8 largos años, hasta que, finalmente los valientes combatientes iraníes triunfaron en defender y liberar a su país. A estos años, los llamamos los 8 años de \"La Sagrada Defensa\". La Sagrada Defensa revela el auge de la resistencia y firmeza de los mártires del territorio iraní. Muestra el apogeo del altruismo y la fe de una nación que resistió durante 8 años para poder proteger las fronteras de su tierra, y recuerda la devastadora invasión de la República Islámica de Irán en 1980 por las hordas baasistas de Saddam en las órdenes de Estados Unidos que llevaron a los no deseados ocho años de guerra. En esta serie, con la ayuda de rostros conocidos en diferentes ámbitos de Irán, les contaremos los puntos de inflexión y las diferentes etapas de la guerra Irán-Irak, desde el principio hasta el final. Conmemoramos a los mártires de Irán, deseando paz, amistad y días llenos de tranquilidad para todo el mundo.

la gente se seguía uniendo al Islam. En la actualidad acontecelo mismo y el Islam es la religión de mayor crecimiento en el mundo.

An clip extracted from the famous Press Tv program Comment of British MP George Galloway. This episode was hosted by another British politician in fact ex mayor of London in the absence of Mr. Galloway who is on a tour of North America.

BBC News Channel and Zionist Federation attack simultaneously on Press Tv program Epilogue hosted by Ken Livingstone.

An analysis of the largest demonstration in London in several years with former Mayor of the city Ken Livingstone, Journalist Phil Rees, Professor Ian Williams and Professor Sheldon Foote.

OFL Pres Sid Ryan, Municipal Woker Brian Demareski, and York Federation of Students Krisna Saravanamuttu talk about the Rally for Respect On Saturday, April 9, 2011, thousands came out and rallied at Dundas Square then marched down Yonge Street and across Queen Street to rally at Toronto City Hall. People came out to help defend good jobs, public services and greener cities throughout Ontario. Together, we are challenging the conservative agenda that is threatening our jobs, our livelihoods and our neighbourhoods.

Head-Roc -- hip-hop artist and social justice activist Head-Roc, called the \"Mayor of DC hip-hop\" has been on the scene for more than 20 years. His artistic work and activism is well respected across the US, especially within progressive and social justice communities --- often being invited to participate and appear at important rallies and gatherings alongside the most prominent iconic names in The Movement of our time.

Head-Roc -- hip-hop artist and social justice activist Head-Roc, called the \"Mayor of DC hip-hop\" has been on the scene for more than 20 years. His artistic work and activism is well respected across the US, especially within progressive and social justice communities --- often being invited to participate and appear at important rallies and gatherings alongside the most prominent iconic names in The Movement of our time.

Iranian presidential candidate Ali Akbar Velayati says it is possible to fix the Islamic Republic\'s economic problems by reforming the country\'s foreign policy. The Iranian former foreign minister made the remarks in a televised interview in Tehran on Monday. \"The issue of foreign affairs... and the domestic economy have close ties to one another,\" he said. Velayati, who is currently serving as an advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, stated that he would pursue Iran\'s nuclear rights if elected in the upcoming presidential election. \"I would like to assure our dear people that we will solve the nuclear issue by preserving the nuclear rights and we will boost international relations without relinquishing an iota of Iran\'s rights.\" The Principlist candidate added that Iran has \"billions of dollars in foreign countries,\" and that \"we need an active diplomacy,\" to return it. He also emphasized boosting the country\'s economy by privatizing state-run sectors, increasing production, and fully implementing the state subsidy program. Velayati will be contending against lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. Iranians will go to the polls in the nation\'s 11th presidential election on June 14. The 4th city and rural council elections are also scheduled to be held on the same day. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates. Press TV reports on the latest news headlines from around the world.

Presidential candidate Hassan Rohani says the US-engineered sanctions against Iran are illegal, because the West acknowledged the peaceful nature of Iran\\\'s nuclear energy program almost nine years ago. In a televised speech on Monday, Rohani said \\\"the Board of Governors [of the International Atomic Energy Agency] unanimously confirmed the peaceful nature of Iran\\\'s nuclear energy program in November 2004.\\\" \\\"We did not allow the nuclear dossier to be referred to the Security Council. In the course of one year, we proved the peaceful nature of our nuclear energy program,\\\" the presidential candidate stated. Rohani said that from October 2003 to August 2005 -- his term as Iran\\\'s top nuclear negotiator -- the country\\\'s policy, under the supervision of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was to repel threats and \\\"to convert them to opportunities\\\" in order to disprove Western allegations that Iran is pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program, and to foil Washington\\\'s plots against the Islamic Republic. \\\"The US wanted to say that Iran is after a [nuclear] bomb. We wanted to prove that the US was lying. Iran was not pursuing a bomb, nor is it today or will it be tomorrow, because the Leader has said it is a grave sin,\\\" the director of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council said. The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program and have used the unfounded accusation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran\\\'s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran\\\'s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production. In Iran\\\'s June 14 presidential election, Rohani will be competing against Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election, and the Guardian Council vets the candidates.

Iran\'s reformist presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref has stressed the need for facilitating both domestic and foreign investment in the country, vowing to slash unemployment. In his televised speech on Wednesday night, Aref said, if elected, his administration would give assurances to Iranian investors and redirect people\'s money away from brokers and gold and foreign currency exchange markets to the country\'s industries. He also pledged measures to encourage foreign investment. \"Unfortunately the rate of foreign investment growth in Iran is below the international average and we are having an unfavorable situation,\" he said. Aref criticized the \"unacceptable\" rate of unemployment, especially among the country\'s university graduates, and promised to create over one million jobs annually. He said he would try to achieve the figure by boosting tourism, which he said would provide an annual 200,000 job opportunities, besides expanding the information and communications technology industry as well as the country\'s lucrative energy sector. \"We are planning to keep the added-value of energy products at home. We should try not to sell crude oil or natural gas,\" he stated. Aref also highlighted Iran\'s unique geopolitical situation and thus the opportunity for the country to become a regional hub in various fields, such as commerce, communications and goods transit. This will improve the country\'s economy and help the country\'s national security, the presidential candidate pointed out. Aref is vying against Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election and this year\'s election is scheduled for June 14.

Presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says provincial development will be high on his list of priorities if he receives enough votes to win the election. Addressing a group of his supporters in Lorestan Province\'s capital city of Khorramabad on Tuesday, the principlist candidate said Lorestan Province is among the least developed regions in Iran, and its infrastructural development will be a top priority for his future administration. Tehran Mayor blamed mismanagement for the province\'s economic issues and promised to fix them as soon as possible. Qalibaf, President of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are the eight candidates running for president.

14th June 2013 - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has cast his ballots in Iran\\\'s 11th presidential and 4th city and rural council elections as the polls officially opened across the country. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote minutes after the opening of the polls early Friday, the Leader stressed the importance of the Iranian nation\\\'s \\\"effective, timely, massive and enthusiastic\\\" participation in the elections. \\\"The dear Iranian people should enter the scene of elections with fervour and motivation, and [they should] know that the destiny of the country and prosperity of the nation depend on their presence and the choice they make,\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei stated. The Leader said the Iranian people play a key role in determining their fate, and that is the reason behind enemies\\\' propaganda campaigns against the nation. The enemies have made every effort to create voter apathy in Iran by trying to incite \\\"cynicism and despair\\\" among Iranians, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined. They have not stopped with media propaganda to achieve their goal, said the Leader, adding that Western politicians and figures affiliated with the enemies are now overtly trying to discourage people from taking part. Pointing to US officials\\\' dismissive remarks about the elections in Iran, the Leader stated, \\\"The views of enemies have never had any significance for the Iranian people, and the [Iranian] nation itself has always made decisions about what it needs and what is in the interest of the country, and has made and will make its choice on that basis.\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei recommended that Iranians cast their ballots at the earliest opportunity, adding that no one, not even those close to him, is privy to his vote. The Leader further expressed hope that the election results would benefit the country and people, and bring prosperity as well as material and spiritual welfare to the nation. Officials in charge of running the elections should know that the \\\"people\\\'s votes are left in their trust,\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei underscored. The Iranians began casting their ballots at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) on Friday with the polls scheduled to remain open for ten hours. The time can be extended if necessary. Six candidates, namely President of the Expediency Council\\\'s Center for Strategic Research Hassan Rohani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi are running in the presidential election. Over 200,000 candidates are also running for city and rural council elections.

Russia\'s Leading opposition leader is sentenced to five years in prison - a punishment that is set to turn Aleksei Navalny who recently declared his candidacy for mayor of Moscow, from an opposition activist to a political dissident and prisoner. Navalny denies the charges, saying the case is politically motivated. After the guilty verdict many took to the streets. In Moscow, even before the sentence was announced, supporters and the police began to gather at Manezh Square near the Kremlin where backers of Navalny had planned to hold an unsanctioned rally.