Russia denies involvement in Iran's internal affairs

The Russian Foreign Ministry has voiced concern over the recent anti-government protests in Iran and said Russia is not meddling in Iran's internal affairs.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, after protests in Iran on Sunday during the Shia Muslim ceremonies for Ashura, which is the anniversary of the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (PBUH).

At least eight people were killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators that broke out during the protests, according to the Tehran police headquarters.

The police also said that the police forces neither used violence nor fired a single bullet on Sunday.

“We believe the most important thing in such a situation is to show restraint, and seek a compromise on the basis of the law, and also to take political efforts to prevent a further escalation of the confrontation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement added.

The Russians rejected allegations claiming Moscow was involved “in the internal political processes in Iran.”

Commenting on the allegations, the statement said, “We are convinced that this is the work of those opposed to Russian-Iranian cooperation.”

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114862§ionid=351020101.

Livni accuses Netanyahu of using "gutter politics"

Israel's centrist Kadima party, led by former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, has accused the prime minister of using “gutter politics” in his proposal to give the party cabinet seats.

Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for Kadima to join the broad-based coalition “cynically uses threats,” she said, adding that the offer has not split her party.

In rejecting the proposal, Livni accused Netanyahu of using “gutter politics,” saying he had made his offer after “he failed to split Kadima despite his efforts to do so.”

“The prime minister's proposal as relayed to the Kadima chairman does not express an honest desire for such partnership,” MP Yohanan Plasner told reporters after Kadima's parliamentary faction unanimously rejected the offer.

“A unity government has many advantages, but a national unity should not be an empty expression, but a commitment for a real partnership with a joint vision and principles and an agreed way to materialize these principles,” he said.

Netanyahu met Livni twice over the past few days after inviting her to join his government and form a coalition “to face the national and international challenges facing Israel today.”

Kadima, with 28 MPs, is the largest party in the 120-member Israeli parliament.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114860§ionid=351020202.

Iran to summon UK envoy over Miliband remarks

The Iranian Foreign Ministry says it will summon the British ambassador to Tehran over London's reaction to the unrest in the capital on Sunday.

Tehran will summon British Ambassador Simon Lawrence Gass to formally protest the “meddling” remarks made by British officials, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told Press TV on Monday.

Mehman-Parast said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's comments were hasty and undiplomatic.

On Monday, Miliband hailed the “great courage” of opposition supporters who took part in illegal protests in Tehran one day earlier, during which several people were killed and public property was damaged.

In a statement issued in London, Miliband condemned the crackdown on the protesters, saying it was “particularly disturbing” since it happened during the holiest event for Shia Muslims, Ashura, which is the anniversary of the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (PBUH).

At least eight people were killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators that broke out during the protests, according to the Tehran police headquarters.

The police also said that the police forces neither used violence nor fired a single bullet on Sunday.

However, Miliband blamed the Islamic Republic for the deaths, saying they were “yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest.”

Mehman-Parast said that the British have proven that they believe they will benefit from sowing discord among Iranians.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also advised British officials to rethink their policy toward Iran.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114854§ionid=351020101.

Canadians say Afghan war unwinnable

As new troops pack their bags to go to the war in Afghanistan, a new poll shows that a majority of Canadians say the eight-year conflict is not winnable.

The Ipsos Reid survey said on Tuesday that 66 percent of Canadians disagreed that "the build-up of troops will ultimately create a military victory over the Taliban."

Only 34 percent of Canadians thought the Afghan war was winnable, the poll found.

The opinion survey of 1,038 adults was conducted on behalf of Canwest News Service and Global National.

Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama ordered an increase of 30,000 forces to the war-torn country. With the extra troops pledged by NATO allies, some 150,000 foreign troops will be stationed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Experts have warned that the new surge will lead to more battles and a higher death rate among foreign soldiers as well as Afghan civilians.

Canada currently has about 2,800 soldiers in southern Kandahar province. Since 2002, 134 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114866§ionid=351020701.

Drug seizures in Malaysia almost triple that of 2008

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian customs police have seized a total of 52.1 million ringgit (14.9 million dollars) worth of drugs this year, a whopping 195.6-per-cent increase over 2008, a news report said Tuesday. Most of the drugs were seized at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport during passenger and luggage checks, said customs director- general Ibrahim Jaapar.

Last year, 17.6 million ringgit (5 million dollars) worth of drugs were seized.

"The modus operandi for smuggling drugs has become more sophisticated," Ibrahim was quoted as saying by the Star daily.

He said smugglers would dip clothes into liquid drugs and then dry them in order to "hide" the presence of the drugs, adding that the smugglers would have to dip the fabrics into water again to recover the drugs.

Ibrahim said customs officers would tighten security at all entry points into the country, with special emphasis on passengers from the Middle East and India.

Malaysia's tough drug laws prescribes a mandatory death sentence for those guilty of smuggling or trafficking most types of drugs.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301290,drug-seizures-in-malaysia-almost-triple-that-of-2008.html.

Malaysia considers stopping government welfare for young smokers

Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian minister has proposed that the government stops offering welfare aid for youths and students who are smokers, a news report said Tuesday. "They say they are poor, have nothing. But if they can buy cigarettes, we say you are not qualified to receive any aid," Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

The government recently announced that the price of cigarettes would be raised from January 1 by more than 30 per cent. Cigarettes would cost 32 sen (9 US cents) a piece, from the current price of 24 sen.

The move was to reduce the ability to buy cigarettes, especially among the young and low-income groups.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301293,malaysia-considers-stopping-government-welfare-for-young-smokers.html.

Seoul pardons former Samsung chairman to boost Olympic bid

Seoul- Lee Kun Hee, the former chairman of Samsung Group, was granted a pardon from a tax evasion conviction by the South Korean government Tuesday to help boost the country's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. "The nation's business and sports circles have demanded a special pardon for former chairman Lee, citing the need to boost Pyeongchang's ongoing bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics," Justice Minister Lee Kwi Nam was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.

"I could not ignore the repeated pleas from business and sports communities that Lee is vital for their bid to host the Olympics. I have decided to pardon him from the perspective of national interest," KBS TV quoted President Lee Myung Bak as saying.

The sports community has sought to reinstate Lee, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying that Lee's role was key to Pyeongchang's third bid to host the games.

In 2003, the city lost its bid for the 2010 Olympics to Vancouver, Canada, and in 2007, Pyeongchang was beaten by Russia's Sochi to host the 2014 games.

Lee, 67, said in 2008 that he would not act as an IOC member unless he was free from legal problems.

Civic groups opposed the pardon, criticizing it as favouritism that contradicted the principle of equality before the law.

He resigned as chairman in April 2008 over his alleged involvement in a scandal over an illegal bonds transfer in a move to give his son control of Samsung.

He was later cleared of charges of breach of trust but sentenced to a three-year suspended prison term for tax evasion.

He was also accused of involvement in the scandal surrounding the Samsung slush fund, which was allegedly used to bribe influential figures in South Korea.

Lee, the son of Samsung's founder, helped Samsung group to grow into a major producer of cellphones, digital televisions, flat screens and memory chips during his chairmanship of more than two decades.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301303,seoul-pardons-former-samsung-chairman-to-boost-olympic-bid.html.