subhan

Iran seconds US in VIP automaking

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Tehran, July 06: Iran has showcased an SUV limousine luxury vehicle dubbed Emperatoor (Emperor), to become the second country to make VIP cars.

The luxury vehicle manufactured by the Khodrosazan-e Jonoub Company was introduced in a ceremony on Sunday, IRIB reported.

According to the managing director of the company Siavash Hojjat, 50 percent of the vehicle including the body, chassis and the luxuries are domestically built. However, the SUV runs on an eight-cylinder Toyota motor engine.

Chavez calls Honduras coup leaders coward

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Caracas, July 06: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called Honduras coup leaders ‘coward’ after they did not allow the deposed president’s jet to land in Honduras.

The Venezuelan plane carrying ousted President Manuel Zelaya was kept from landing at Tegucigalpa’s airport by troops who blocked the runway.

At least one person was killed and two others were wounded in clashes with soldiers after thousands of pro-Zelaya supporters rallied at the airport, emergency service officials said on Sunday.

Austin and Tamim shine in draw

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Dhaka, July 06: After a poor first innings, the Bangladeshis got themselves some useful batting practice on the final day against West Indies A at Bridgetown. It was a satisfactory day for the tourists after they were dismissed for 195 on day one, with most of their remaining recognised batsmen spending time at the crease.

Bowlers the key to success – Dhoni

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New Delhi, July 06: India clinched their fifth straight ODI series when rain forced the abandonment of the final match against West Indies in St Lucia, and the captain MS Dhoni believes it is tribute to his core unit.

“I think we really have a very good side,” said Dhoni after India won the series 2-1. “It’s a pleasure to win series out of the country. The bowlers took the initiative, we have a very good bowling attack and the youngsters who came in and got a chance have proved himself.”

‘Hauritz must play’ – Warne

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Melbourne, July 06: Shane Warne believes Australia would be making a serious mistake if they didn’t play Nathan Hauritz in the first Test despite his ugly figures in the two tour matches. There is a strong chance Australia will name a four-man pace attack for the opening Ashes Test, despite the possibility of England taking in two spinners.

15-year-old accuses cop of protecting her rapists

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Lucknow, July 06: A minor girl, who was kidnapped a few months ago, has now accused Sub-Inspector Nafees Ahmed of Nanpara police station of protecting the culprits. She was kept in illegal detention for one-and-a-half months and was repeatedly raped.

The 15-year-old girl, a resident of Nanpara of Bahraich, has accused the officer in a statement recorded before the magistrate of Bahraich. The police, however, claim that her statement differs from what she had told them initially.

Internet data cards, pen drives recovered from Tihar Jail

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New Delhi, July 06: Tihar Jail officials have recovered Internet data cards and pen drives that were being used by prisoners inside the jail premises, raising a question mark on vigilance at the facility. This follows last month’s revelation that mobile phones were also being used inside the jail.

These recoveries were also made last month during a surprise check by authorities.

Mullen optimistic about victory in Afghanistanii

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Washington, July 06: Admiral Michael Mullen expresses his satisfaction over a new wave of extra troops deployed to Afghanistan, saying that they can seize areas currently under Taliban control.

The US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told CBS in an interview that with the new deployments the troops can defeat the insurgents across the war-torn country.

“We have enough forces there now not just to clear an area but to hold it. So we can build after. That’s really the strategy,” Mullen said.

Two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan

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Kabul, July 05: Two British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand, where US forces are carrying out a major offensive against the Taliban.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday that the two were killed in separate attacks which took place during an operation near Gereshk in Helmand Saturday night.

While the first soldier –from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment– was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, the second –from The Light Dragoons– was killed in a roadside bomb explosion.

Iranian opposition rallies hit Brussels

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Tehran, July 05: Hundreds of anti-Iran demonstrators have gathered in the European quarter of Brussels to protest the recent Iranian presidential election and its aftermath.

The protestors — mostly Iranians traveling from neighboring countries such as Germany and the Netherlands– called the recent election as a complete sham and demanded a re-run.

Some wore T-shirts marked “Where Is My Vote?”, others carried banners that read “Stop Death and Terror in Iran” and “Revolution is the Only Solution”, AFP reported

Aussies upbeat after draw with Lions

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Melhourne, July 05: Australia coach Tim Nielsen said his side are in the best possible shape ahead of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff next week.

The tourists drew their final warm-up match after the England Lions were set 445 runs to win from 60 overs before reaching 162 for four by the close of play on the fourth and final day.

Despite it being the tourists’ second successive draw, the match answered many of Australia’s questions before they start their Ashes defence on Wednesday.

Iran ‘to release’ another British Embassy employee

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Tehran, July 05: Britain says Iran is to release one of the two remaining British Embassy employees detained in the aftermath of the post-election unrest in Tehran.

Iran had initially arrested nine local employees of the British Embassy over having a role in fomenting mass public protests following the June 12 vote.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry released seven of the nine detainees following primary investigations keeping two of the staffers for further investigations into their role in the country’s post-election unrest.

Ahmadinejad paid for votes: Mousavi

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Tehran, July 05: The main Iranian Opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi has issued a new 25-page report detailing alleged fraud and irregularities in last month’s presidential election.

The report has been prepared by the Committee for the Protection of Votes, which is run by Mr Mousavi’s campaign office.

It accuses President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of abusing state machinery during the campaign and handing out cash to secure the votes of working-class Iranians.

Yousuf, Misbah fight for Pakistan

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Karachi, July 05: Mohammad Yousuf hit an unbeaten 82 on his return to big-time cricket after 18 months to lead Pakistan’s fightback in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Misbah-ul-Haq chipped in with 56 as Pakistan, replying to Sri Lanka’s 292, recovered from 80-4 to post 225-5 by tea on the second day at the Galle International Stadium.

Yousuf and Misbah put on 139 for the fifth wicket after batting through a major part of the post-lunch session which was extended by half-an-hour to make up for the 36-minute interruption due to rain.

I’m happy to be the most expensive player: Cristiano Ronaldo

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London, July 05: Cristiano Ronaldo insists that the $130 million (80 million pounds) Real Madrid paid for him is a “fair price” and he is delighted to be the “most expensive” player in the world.

Ronaldo will put the finishing touches on his move from Manchester United Monday night when he is officially unveiled as the Spanish giants’ latest signing.

Australia squad selection ridiculous – Chappell

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Melbourne, July 05: Ian Chappell believes Australia have picked a “ridiculous” Ashes squad and it would be “nonsense” to rely on part-time spinners during the series.

Chappell, who captained the 1972 and 1975 touring squads, has tipped England to prevail in the five-match contest, a prediction backed by the former England captain Tony Greig.

“If you’re looking for clues as to who might win, I always look at the bowling attacks,” Chappell told Cricinfo. “Generally you can go with the team with the best attack. At the moment England certainly have got it.

Larijani congratulates Ahmadinejad over re-election

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Tehran, July 05: Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani has met with President Ahmadinejad on Saturday to congratulate his re-election as the country’s president.

Parliament members congratulated Ahmadinejad’s re-election and renewed their support for him in an earlier meeting with the president on June 22.

Larijani did not participate in the meeting.

Onions pips Harmison for final slot

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London, July 05: Graham Onions will compete with Monty Panesar for England’s final bowling spot in the first Test at Cardiff on Wednesday, after he and Ian Bell were named in a 13-man squad that includes all 11 of the players who took part in England’s three-day warm-up against Warwickshire last week.

More Iran sanctions would backfire: Russia

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Moscow, July 05: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says imposing additional sanctions on Iran would only increase tensions between Tehran and the West.

In an interview with Italy’s Rai television, Medvedev explained that Moscow supports what he called the new US administration’s policy to pursue reconciliation with Tehran.

“If I understand correctly, the United States would like to establish more open and more direct relations with Iran,” Medvedev said during the interview, which was aired on Saturday.

Iran slams Iraq for failure to free Iranian hostages

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Tehran, July 05: Iran takes a swipe at the Baghdad government, saying it has failed to secure the release of the Iranian diplomats taken hostage by US forces in Iraq two years ago.

Iranian Foreign Ministry, Manouchehr Mottaki, said Sunday that Iraqi government is not doing nearly enough to fulfill its promises regarding the fate of the abducted Iranian diplomats.

“We are seriously disappointed with Iraq’s failure in freeing the Iranian diplomats and facilitating their immediate return to their country,” said Mottaki.

Iran opens 23 new Special Economic Zones

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Tehran, July 05: An advisor to Iran’s president says twenty three new Special Economic Zones (SEZ) will be inaugurated across the country this week.

“The plan to establish the Special Economic Zones was presented to the parliament last year and it was approved by lawmakers last month,” Mahmoud Salahi, who advises President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on SEZ affairs, said.

“Most of these zones are located in the less privileged areas of Iran such as Mehran in the Western province of Ilam and Namin in Ardebil Province,” IRIB quoted Salahi as saying.

Iran hails unity government in Lebanon

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Tehran, July 05: Iran has hailed the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon, expressing its full support for improving relations between all Lebanese rival parties.

In a meeting with Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri on Saturday, the Iranian envoy to Beirut Mohammad Reza Sheibani said Tehran has always supported the establishment of a national unity government in Lebanon.

During the one-hour meeting in Qoraytem, the two sides discussed Lebanon’s internal political developments along with a whole range of regional and international issues.

Kremlin links nukes reduction to US missile plan

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Moscow, July 05: The Kremlin says a new agreement with the US over reducing nuclear warheads requires Washington to reconsider its plans for a missile defense system in Europe.

President Dmitry Medvedev clarified Russia’s stance ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit on Monday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) before it expires in December.

Rafsanjani praises nation’s huge turnout

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Tehran, July 05: Head of Iran’s Council of Experts Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has praised the high turn-out in Iran presidential election but criticized later events.

“People from across the country created a very positive and epic scene by showing up at the polls, but unfortunately the events that followed and the problems that were created for some turned bitter,” Hashemi-Rafsanjani said.

“I do not believe that any alert conscience to be content about the circumstances that have unfolded,” he added.

India Ends Without Increasing Medal Tally

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Singapore, July 05: India Ends Without Increasing Medal TallyThe fifth day was disappointing for India as they failed to add another medal to their tally and slipped to fourth place in the inaugural Asian Youth Games in Singapore on Saturday.

India players put their challenge in three events on day five including swimming, shooting and table tennis.