Russia yapinga vikali vikwazo vya EU dhidi ya Iran

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Russia Sergei Lavrov

Umoja wa Ulaya EU mapema leo umepitisha vikwazo vipya dhidi ya Jamhuri ya Kiislamu ya Iran. Vikwazo hivyo vimelenga Benki Kuu ya Iran pamoja na sekta ya mafuta. Hata hivyo Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Russia Sergei Lavrov amesema vikwazo hivyo ni vya upande mmoja na visivyofaa. 

Lavrov amekumbusha kuwa vikwazo hivyo vitawaathiri zaidi wanachama wa EU hususan nchi kama Ugiriki, Italia na Uhispania ambazo zinaagiza kwa wingi mafuta kutoka Iran. EU imesema vikwazo vya mafuta vitaanza kufanya kazi kuanzia Julai 1 mwaka huu. Russia imesema hilo linaonyesha wasiwasi wa umoja huo kuhusiana na uamuzi wao huo usio wa busara. 

Punde baada ya EU kutangaza vikwazo hivyo nchi mbalimbali za Afrika na Asia zimetuma maombi kwa Iran zikitaka kuruhusiwa kuagiza mafuta kutoka hapa nchini.

Press TV ban questions free market

The British government's removal of Press TV from the Sky platform is a gross act of state intervention in the private media market even regardless of the fact that it is an obvious clampdown on freedom of the press.

The Office of Communications (Ofcom) ordered the News International, which runs the Sky cable TV to stop broadcasting Press TV and the private company complied. 

Yet the very fact that the platform owned by Rupert Murdoch saw no problem with airing Press TV means the private media firm was interested in continuation of cooperation with the Iranian broadcaster and Ofcom interrupted that process. 

Indeed, it was Ofcom, not Sky that removed the Iranian news channel. 

That is not to say Sky shed tears over the issue, yet it goes against Britain's claims that it allows free flow of information and supports freedom of the press while the state TV watchdog 'orders' a private firm to change its arrangements in line with London's interests. 

The move is very similar to government threats of ordering public networking websites including Facebook to block some of their customers' accounts during and immediately after the August 2011 unrest because a process against the British establishment's lies was underway on the internet. 

Indeed, there is no justification for Ofcom to limit a news channel's access to broadcasting platforms as there is no such justification for the government to ban certain Facebook accounts, or prevent all the books of a certain author from being printed because officials did not like part of one of his books. 

After all, Press TV did have contractual agreements with Sky and the government intervention killed the economic exchange. 

Sky could have ended Press TV contract for lack of financial commitment to their deal or for the sheer fact that Sky officials did not want the Iranian news channel to use their platform but the problem here is that it was a state body, which ordered the removal.

Future smartphones will examine health

South Korean scientists say future touch screen smartphones will be able to examine health status of their owners by doing sophisticated lab and medical exams.

A team of researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science of Technology (KAIST) showed that touch screen technology can be used to detect biomolecular chemicals like what has been done in many modern medical labs. 

While being used, touch screen devices such as smartphones and PDAs can measure electronic charges of biochemical molecules such as proteins and DNA. 

Touch screens can recognize the existence and the concentration of DNA molecules placed on them, Korean experts reported in the German journal Angewandte Chemie. 

“We have confirmed that (touch screens) are able to recognize DNA molecules with nearly 100 per cent accuracy just as large, conventional medical equipment can and we believe equal results are possible for proteins,” said Hyun-gyu Park, who led the study with his colleague Byong-yeon Won. 

“There are proteins known in the medical world like the ones used to diagnose liver cancer, and we would be able to see the liver condition of the patient,” he suggested. 

The KAIST scientists said that they are developing a type of film with reactive materials that can identify specific biochemicals. 

They hope that future proceedings may lead to development of touch screen devices that can also recognize different biomolecular materials and report them to the owner and even their physicians.

Kids' obesity, fathers' weight linked

The chance of becoming obese is higher for the children whose fathers are overweight than those who have an overweight mom but a slim dad.

Previous findings had suggested that parents' weight and dietary habits have a significant influence on their children's risk of obesity. 

The association was showed to be stronger between boys and their fathers and girls and their mom. The kids were predictably more likely to be overweight if both their parents were suffering from the same problem. 

A new study of 3,285 two-parent families in Australia, however, suggests that a father's weight has a more significant effect on the risk of obesity in his children regardless of their gender. 

According to the results which appeared in the International Journal of Obesity, having an overweight father and a healthy-weight mother increased the risk of their child to become obese by 318 percent. 

Furthermore, the odds increased to 1,388 when a father was obese. Having a normal-weight father and an overweight or obese mother had no significant association with the child's risk of obesity. 

The new study also showed that the odds of becoming much obese were greater for kids whose parents were both overweight. 

The new study “provide evidence of the important role that fathers have in the development of children's weight status and this has consequences for their long-term health outcomes,” concluded the researchers. 

The findings provide more evidence that fathers act as an influential role model in shaping up their children's health related habits such as their diet and physical activity.

Nighttime sleep affects appetite

Sweden's Uppsala University researchers say lack of sufficient and good night sleep may sabotage diet and weight loss by increasing hunger and appetite.

The new study showed that a specific brain region that contributes to appetite sensation is more activated in response to food images after one night of sleep loss, says the report in theJournal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 

Researchers used functional MRI scan technology (fMRI) to study the brain activity of 12 normal-weight males when they viewed images of food after being deprived a whole night from sleep. 

The results were compared with the brain scans obtained from the same participants who viewed food images after a sufficient night's sleep. 

“After a night of total sleep loss, these males showed a high level of activation in an area of the brain that is involved in a desire to eat,” said co-author Christian Benedict. 

“Bearing in mind that insufficient sleep is a growing problem in modern society, our results may explain why poor sleep habits can affect people's risk to gain weight in the long run,” he added.

According to their findings, researchers concluded that sleeping about eight hours at night is crucial for maintaining a stable and healthy body weight. 

The study results may also be important for people with sleep disorders who are following a restricted diet to lose their extra weight.

'Iran will make world unsafe for US'

An Iranian lawmaker says in the event of US “military adventurism” in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will respond in the shortest possible time by making the entire world unsafe for Americans.

Mohammad Kowsari said on Monday that Iran will “definitely” close the Strait of Hormuz, if there is a disruption in the sales of the country's crude, stressing that the “US and its allies will not be able to reopen the strategic waterway.” 

Kowsari, who is deputy head of Iran Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, added that the US and UK sanctions against the Islamic Republic will only intensify Iranian hatred of the West. 

The lawmaker added that experience has proven that Western sanctions have mostly resulted in the progress of the Iranian nation. 

Tensions between Tehran and Washington over the Strait of Hormuz escalated after the US and the European Union proposed sanctions against Iran's oil sector. 

Iranian authorities have warned that the imposition of sanctions against the country's energy sector will prompt Tehran to choke the oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway which connects the Persian Gulf on the west to the Sea of Oman. Statistically, the waterway is one of the world's most important shipping lanes, with a daily flow of about 15 million barrels of oil.

Source: www.presstv.ir 

Human Rights Watch: Marekani inakiuka haki za binadamu

Shirika la Kutetea Haki za Binadamu la Human Rights Watch limeikosoa Marekani kutokana na ukiukaji mkubwa wa haki za binadamu inaoufanya.

Taarifa ya Human Rights Watch imeashiria kuweko wafungwa milioni mbili na laki tatu katika jela za Marekani na kuikosoa nchi hiyo kutokana na kuwa na wafungwa wengi zaidi duniani. Shirika la Kutetea Haki za Binadamu limekosoa sheria kali za Marekani kwa wahajiri ambazo limesema zimekuwa chanzo cha mamia kwa maelfu ya watu kutupwa jela.

Mfumo wa kimahakama wa Marekanin pia umekosolewa mno na ripoti ya Shirika la Kutetea Haki za Binadamu la Human Rights Watch huku taarifa hiyo ikiwaonya viongozi wa Washington kuhusiana na kuendelea kuwashikilia watuhumiwa wa vitendo vya ugaidi katika jela ya Guantanamo.

Dikteta Saleh aikimbia Yemen; yuko Oman akiwa njiani kuelekea Marekani

Viongozi wa Yemen wametangaza kuwa, Ali Abdallah Saleh dikteta wa nchi hiyo ameondoka katika uwanja wa ndege wa San'aa akielekea Marekani. Baadhi ya duru za Yemen zimetangaza kwamba, dikteta Ali Abdallah Saleh atakuwa nchini Oman kwa siku kadhaa kabla ya kuelekea Marekani. 

Taarifa zaidi zinadai kwamba, dikteta huyo anakwenda Marekani kwa ajili ya matibabu na kwamba, atarejea Yemen baada ya kumaliza matibabu kwa ajili ya kukiongoza chama chake. Ali Abdallah Saleh aliondoka Yemen jana huku maandamano ya kupinga kupewa kinga ya kutoshtakiwa yeye na viongozi wenzake yakishadidi. 

Maelefu ya wananchi wa Yemen waliandamana jana katika miji mbalimbali ya nchi hiyo wakitaka kunyongwa dikteta huyo. Wananchi hao walisikika wakipiga nara na kutoa wito wa kunyongwa Ali Abdallah Saleh waliyemtaja kuwa mchinjaji na muuaji.

Rais Ahmadinejad: Iran itajibu vikali hujuma na vitisho vya adui

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Kiislamu ya Iran amesema taifa la Iran litajibu vikali hujuma na vitisho vyovyote dhidi yake.

Akizungumza Jumamosi katika mahojiano na Kanali ya Televisheni ya Mexico, Rais Ahmadinejad amesisitiza kuwa vikwazo vya nchi za Magharibi havijakuwa na athari katika mkondo wa ustawi wa taifa la Iran.

Kuhusu vitisho vya utawala wa Marekani dhidi ya Iran kutokana na shughuli zake za nyuklia zenye malengo ya amani, amsema kadhia ya nyuklia imebadilishwa kuwa ya kisiasa. Amesema ni wazi kuwa Marekani na waitifaki wake wanatumia kisingizio cha kadhia ya nyuklia ili kuzuia ustawi wa taifa la Iran. Rais wa Iran amesisitiza kuwa taifa lililostaarabika la Iran halihitajii bomu la atomiki na kuongeza kuwa wanaomiliki silaha za atomiki ni wale wasio na ustaarabu. 

Rais Ahmadinejad amesema hadi sasa Iran ndio nchi iliyoshirikiana kwa karibu zaidi na Wakala wa Kimataifa wa Nishati ya Atomiki IAEA. Kuhusu utawala wa Kizayuni wa Israel, Rais Ahmadinejad amesema Iran kamwe haitautambua utawala huo ghasibu kwani hata Umoja wa Mataifa umeshautangaza utawala wa Kizayuni kuwa ni mvamizi.

Waholanzi: Netanyahu, mvunjaji mkubwa wa sheria za kimataifa

Dries Van Agt, Waziri Mkuu wa zamani wa Uholanzi amesema Waziri Mkuu wa utawala haramu wa Israel, Benjamin Netantahu ni mvunjaji mkubwa wa sheria za kimataifa. Katika barua yake kwa Uri Rosenthal, Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Uholanzi kuhusiana na safari inayotazamiwa karibuni hivi ya Benjamin Netanyahu nchini humo, Waziri Mkuu huyo wa zamani wa Udachi amesema kuwa, Netanyahu amehusika mara kadhaa na ukiukaji wa sheria za kimataifa, hivyo, haoni faida yoyote kwa Waziri Mkuu huyo wa Israel kuruhusiwa nchi humo. 

Van Agt ameashiria kuwa, Israel chini ya Netanyahu imekuwa ikikiuka mikataba iliyosaini yenyewe na kutoa mfano hai wa kipengee kimoja katika Mkataba wa Geneva, kinachosisitiza kulindwa kwa raia wakati wa vita na pia kingine katika Mkataba wa Umoja wa Mataifa dhidi ya ukandamizaji. Waziri Mkuu huyo wa zamani wa Uholanzi aidha ameita serikali ya nchi hiyo ilaani hatua ya Netanyahu kuendelea kuunga mkono ujenzi wa vitongoji vya walowezi wa kizayuni katika ardhi za Wapalestina zinazokaliwa kwa mabavu.

Gazeti la Marekani laitaka Mossad kumuua Obama

Gazeti moja la Mayahudi wa Marekani limeliomba Shirika la Ujasusi la Israel Mossad kumuua Barack Obama likidai kuwa, Rais huyo wa Marekani amekuwa na mielekeo ya kiadui kwa Israel. Gazeti hilo liitwalo Atlanta Jewish Times limeandika kuwa, kuendelea kuwa uongozini Rais Obama kunahatarisha mustakabali wa utawala huo haramu. 

Katika makala ya hivi karibuni iliyoandikwa na Andrew Adler, mwasisi wa gazeti hilo la Kiyahudi la Marekani, amemtaka Waziri Mkuu wa Israel Benjamin Netanyahu aiamrishe Mossad kumuua Obama ili kuhifadhi na kulinda uwepo wa utawala huo wa kizayuni.

Palestina yaendelea kutambuliwa duniani, Thailand nayo yaitambua

Thailand imekuwa taifa la kwanza kuitambua rasmi nchi huru ya Palestina mwaka huu wa 2012. Ujumbe wa Palestina katika Umoja wa Mataifa umesema umepokea barua kutoka kwa serikali ya Thailand inayosema kuwa, nchi hiyo ya kusini mashariki mwa bara Asia imeitambua rasmi nchi ya Palestina kwa mujibu wa mipaka ya mwaka 1967.

 

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje wa Mamlaka ya Ndani ya Palestina ameipongeza Thailand kwa hatua hiyo aliyoitaja kuwa ya kutia moyo na yenye nafasi ya kipekee katika udiplomasia wa Palestina. Riyad al Maliki ameongeza kuwa, Thailand imekuwa nchi ya 131 kutambua rasmi nchi huru ya Palestina kwa mujibu wa mipaka ya mwaka 1967.

 

Ni vizuri kuashiria hapa kuwa, Oktoba mwaka uliopita wa 2011, Shirika la Elimu, Sayansi na Utamaduni la Umoja wa Mataifa UNESCO liliipatia Palestina uanachama kamili.

'Iran oil ban more difficult than it seems'

A Russian energy expert maintains that Washington is finding a ban on Iran oil imports more difficult as European and Asian countries show increasing resistance to US-proposed sanctions on the Iranian oil sector.

In an article published by analytical website, Eurasiareview, Konstantin Garibov says certain members of the European Union as well as Turkey, Japan, China, South Korea and India have already asked to be exempted from Iran's oil sanctions. 

“Last week India and Turkey refused to sign up to a proposed embargo on the import of Iranian crude, just days after the same had been announced by China,” he added. 

The analyst further noted that as EU is expected to finalize a decision on halting Iranian oil imports on January 23, a number of Western companies are hastily extending their contracts with Iranian partners to avoid being hit by the proposed sanctions. 

“In an affront to Washington, India and Turkey have said although they would comply with the standing UN sanctions against Tehran, they would ignore oil embargo introduced by individual countries. Iranian oil accounts for about 10 percent of India's needs and a hefty 30 percent of Turkish imports,” he added. 

Garibov stated that South Korea, which is buying about as much Iranian oil as India, is still undecided on whether or not to stand by Washington on this matter. 

“Despite siding with the US on the matter, Japan and South Korea are still facing growing domestic discontent over their role as 'junior partners' to the American Big Brother. Even if they join in the sanctions, the sanctions are unlikely to succeed. As for China and India, they will keep importing Iranian oil, which means that America is losing its sway in Asia,” he noted. 

He quoted another Russian expert, Lyudmila Kulagina, as saying that although EU members may decide to stop buying Iran's oil during their planned meeting on January 23 it “is going to be a hard call for many of them." 

“The US-proposed embargo will certainly add to Europeans' economic woes, forcing them to look for new sources of much-needed oil supply which won't be easy…,” the expert added. 

According to Garibov, some energy experts have even noted that imposing sanctions is an attempt by Washington to play the Iranian oil card to economically undermine the EU which, unlike America, imports up to 40 percent of its crude oil from Iran. 

“In any event, if the US succeeds in pulling the plug on Iranian oil imports, even incrementally, Tehran will apparently try offering additional supplies to either China or India whose economies remain the main drivers of global economic growth. Turkey too could jack up its oil imports with an eye to partially reselling them to European buyers,” Garibov concluded.