REAL POWER IS IN NATIONAL WILL, NOT NUCLEAR WEAPONS: LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION OF IRAN

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (R) and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe meet in Tehran on August 30, 2012. 

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the real power of a country lies in the reinforcement of the national resolve and progress in scientific and social spheres, rejecting nuclear arms as a component of a nation’s power.

“We consider real power in strengthening the national will and socio-scientific advances, not in atomic weapons,” Ayatollah Khamenei said Thursday in a meeting with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who is in Tehran to participate in the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). 

Ayatollah Khamenei called on all NAM member states to adopt practical measures through collective cooperation. 

Mugabe, for his part, denounced Western countries’ “big lies about defending human rights, law and democracy,” adding that “The record of the US, England and France and their double-standard behaviors towards the developments in the Middle East show that Westerners are merely after oil resources.

The Zimbabwean president said the approach of the West to Syria is indicative of a tenuous and fragile plot to undermine the Islamic Republic. 

He also denounced as “ridiculous” the Western powers’ allegations that Iran is seeking to acquire military nuclear capability. 

NAM, an international organization with 120 member states, is considered as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It represents nearly two-thirds of the UN members. 

At the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting, Iran assumed the rotating presidency of the movement for three years. Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations Mootaz Khalil formally handed over the presidency to Iran.

Source: presstv

KENYAN MUSLIM CLERIC SHOT DEAD, SPARKS RIOTS IN MOMBASA

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters smashed cars and vandalized at least four churches in the Kenyan city of Mombasa on Monday after unknown gunmen shot dead a Muslim cleric accused by the United States of helping Islamist militants in neighboring Somalia.

Aboud Rogo Mohammed, who the United States accused of advocating the radicalization and recruitment of non-Somali Africans by the al Shabaab militant group, was shot dead on Monday and buried shortly afterwards.

Rogo was facing charges of planning acts of terror and importing illegal weapons.

"He was driving in a personal car with other four other occupants. Unknown gunmen attacked his vehicle ... sprayed it with bullets and killed him on the spot," Robert Kitur, deputy police chief for the region said.

"They must have been targeting him, and must have been trailing him for a while."

Kenyan police fired rubber bullets in the air and teargas to disperse protesters in Mombasa, Kenya's main port city and a popular tourist destination. The city has a high population of Muslims.

Hundreds of protesters stoned cars along the main highway linking Mombasa to Mali, another tourist town, and burnt tires to prevent cars from using the road.

They smashed their windscreens and headlamps, chanting slogans in Arabic before they were dispersed with teargas.

Others vandalized at least four churches on the outskirts of the city, breaking chairs and turning an altar upside down.

Shops in Mombasa were shuttered as armed police patrolled streets usually full of shoppers and foreign tourists as many people barricaded themselves indoors.

The protesters blamed police for the killing of Rogo.

"These are police who have killed our innocent Sheikh. They have shot him dead. They imposed on him terrorism charges, arrested and charged him, now they fear the court will release him, and have decided to end his life," Suleiman Athman, a Muslim youth taking part in the demonstration, said.

"It's an attack on Muslims, and we will not take it lightly."

(Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

SOUTH AFRICA BOYCOTTS PRODUCTS LABELED ‘MADE IN ISRAEL’

A South African worker stacks shelves in Johannesburg. 

The South African government has put the final seal on a measure boycotting goods produced in the illegal Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories.

The government on Wednesday confirmed that it will not import the goods produced in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) with “Made in Israel” labeling. 

Government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said the goods produced would now be labeled as originating from the “Israeli Occupied Territories.”

The measure, which has been under consideration by the South African government since May, is aimed at preventing consumers from being misled into thinking that such goods come from Israel, Manyi said. 

Separately, Canada’s largest Protestant church has also approved a similar measure to boycott goods produced in the occupied West Bank. 

The United Church of Canada made the decision on August 15 and approved a policy paper two days later at its 41st general council meeting in the capital, Ottawa. 

The move aims to show Tel Aviv that the church considers Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds as illegal, and wants the Israeli regime to stop settlement expansion on Palestinian lands. 

The church, however, maintains that its decision to boycott Israeli products is guided by the international legal opinion and the staunch anti-racist belief in the equality of humans. 

Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries, because those Palestinian territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967, and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied lands. 

A number of industries have sprung up in the illegal Israeli settlements, with a range of products, including cosmetics, beverages and plastics.

Source : Presstv

10 WAYS TO REPURPOSE CDS & CD CASES

It's true. Just about everything you see in the photo collage above this sentence was made with either a CD or CD case! You knew you were saving all those old jewel cases, CD-R spindles, and AOL CDs for a reason.

For today's repurposing project, we decided to revamp the traditional vanity or dresser. If you don't already have a zone in your bedroom, bathroom or closet carved out for putting your best face forward, let this be inspiration. 

1. Jewel Case Planter

First off, let's get a little extra oxygen in the air by way of some greenery. Find a potted plant that looks good, smells good, or both, and it will surely refresh you each morning. 

To create the planter, we used a similar method to our DIY Floppy Disk Planters. Glue the edges (with a multi-purpose adhesive like E-6000), press together, and let dry overnight. Add extra glue from the inside of the box planter to seal up any holes. Un-pot your plant, repot it, and you're done. We added stones at the bottom for a bit of extra weight. 

2. Desk Organizer

Now, let's get those documents in order! Gather up some of your most prized CD cases (read: best looking or most nostalgic covers), and get ready to glue.

We glued two cases together at the bottom to act as the base. Then add 3-5 standing up using the same multi-purpose adhesive. Let set overnight and voila! And if you don't have your old cases or don't like the covers, grab a magazine and customize in a way that works for you. 

3. CD Clock

What time is it? It's time for… a Hitch Clock, of course! Maybe our obsession with Will Smith is a bit over the top but you've gotta admit this is a sweet little clock.

The clock kit we used is the same style as our Book Clock. To make the stand for the CD, we used washers, bolts and a two screws as pictured above.

4. Custom Makeup Palette

Make a mini one in a jewel case so you've got all the colors you need in a small, sleek case. 

5. Dangly Earring Holder

That old fabric jewelry box just isn't cutting it for your super long dangly earrings these days. This caddy is just the thing to add to your jewelry zone. We placed ours on a cupcake pedestal for a little extra height.

Simply take the clear round top of a CD-R spindle and get to work with your spray paint. And spray paint that spindle while you're at it.

6. Spindle Bracelet Caddy

Were you wondering why we had you spray paint that spindle? Ta dah! An easy peasy bracelet caddy perfect for Cozy Winter Cuffs, Wrap Bracelets, and any other chunky cuffs you've got kicking around your vanity area. 

7. Mosaic Mirror

Love the mosaic style but aren't jazzed on the idea of breaking a mirror? CDs to the rescue!

To break CDs, boil a pot of water and then place in a mixing bowl. Place the CD in for about 5 minutes so that it softens. Then you can use scissors to cut any shape you like or simply break it up with your hands. And yes, good ventilation is necessary for this one (though we didn't actually smell any fumes).

8. Prism Pendant

It's still pretty awesome that the backs of CDs have a prism-like quality. The combination of shininess and metal can't resist but turn into a rainbow.

You'll use the same boiled water method. Take out the CD and use scissors to cut out a shape or two that you like. To make sure the edges of the CD pieces don't flake off or scratch, seal each side using Stained Glass Foiling Tape. Once you have your pendants, you'll need to make holes to attach your chain. Heat up a large needle and you should be able to simply poke however many holes you need in each pendant piece. Attach a chain with needle nose pliers, add a clasp, and you're done.

9. Changeable Picture Frames

True. All picture frames are changeable, but you don't even have to take these off the wall to change them! Simply print your favorite photos, cut to size, and slide into old jewel cases.

We used double stick mounting tape to attach to the wall.

10. Easy Circular Bunting

We like our garlands and buntings as easy as pie, but cutting out perfect circles is nearly impossible, especially out of a heavy fabric or paper. Again, old CDs to the rescue!

Simply glue decorative paper or fabric to CDs using spray adhesive. Use an Xacto knife or sharp scissors to cut around the CD so you get a perfect circle. Add letters if you like. Then use curtain clip rings to attach to string or fabric. 

What are other ways you might reuse old pieces of tech? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

WATCHING TV IN CHILDHOOD AFFECTS WAIST SIZE, FITNESS: STUDY

Watching too much television can increase waist size in children and reduce their muscular fitness, study says.

A recent study finds that children who watch more TV between the ages of two and four may increase the risk of having a larger waist size and weaker muscular fitness as they approach their teens.

The new study, issued in the BioMed Central journal on Monday, suggested that every extra weekly hour of television watched could add half a millimeter to the waist size of children and diminish their physical fitness. 

Researchers from the University of Montreal studied the parental reports of TV habits of 1,314 children at 29 and 53 months of age. 

The children watched TV for about 8.8 hours a week at the beginning of the study. The habit was then boosted on average by six hours over the next two years, reaching to 14.8 hours a week by the age of 4.5, the Canadian researchers said. 

Some 15 percent of the children were watching over 18 hours a week by that age, the study also said. 

The researchers concluded that watching 18 hours of television at the age of 4.5 would result in an extra 7.6mm of waist by the age of 10.

Dr Linda Pagani, from the research team, said that the study was a warning about the factors that lead to obesity in kids. Saying, "Across the occidental world, there have been dramatic increases in unhealthy weight for both children and adults in recent decades.” 

"Watching more television not only displaces other forms of educational and active leisurely pursuits but also places them at risk of learning inaccurate information about proper eating," Pagani added.

Source : Presstv