December 2003
Nearly 11 Million Children Die Worldwide Each Year - 2003-12-31
UNICEF has reported that nearly 11 million children die each year before the age of five due to insufficient government attention and investment in children's…
Widespread Destruction in Bam Was Foreseen - 2003-12-30
Qasem Heydari Nejad highlighted that the widespread destruction in Bam due to an earthquake was predicted by experts who recommended adherence to Standard 2800 for…
Approval of Several Constitutional Amendments to Strengthen the Powers of Pervez Musharraf - 2003-12-30
The Pakistani Parliament has passed constitutional amendments that enhance President Pervez Musharraf's powers. The ruling party secured the votes after the opposition walked out, and…
Review of Washington Newspapers, December 28, 2003
On December 28, 2003, Ibrahim Biparva analyzed how Washington newspapers reported on the devastating Bam earthquake. The coverage highlights the international response and implications for…
Aid Ceremony for Earthquake Victims Organized by the Iranian Sports Community to Be Held on Monday
A charity event for earthquake victims in Bam, organized by the Iranian sports community, will take place on December 29 in Tehran, featuring participation from…
Life and Progress in America: Mary Dee, Founder of the Washington Ballet - 2003-12-26
Mary Dee, the 94-year-old founder of the Washington Ballet, continues to collaborate with the school. The Washington Ballet's annual performance of The Nutcracker during Christmas…
Completion of Tests Related to the First Suspected Case of Mad Cow Disease in America
British scientists have confirmed the first suspected case of mad cow disease in the U.S., prompting U.S. officials to trace the infected animal to a…
Overview of Washington Newspapers, December 24, 2003
On December 24, 2003, Ibrahim Biparva reviews the Washington newspapers, highlighting key issues and discussions relevant to U.S.-Iran relations. This analysis provides insight into how…
Alonzo Mourning's Recovery After Kidney Transplant
Alonzo Mourning, a former NBA star, is recovering well after a kidney transplant. The donor was a family member, and Mourning expresses gratitude for the…
Four Thousand Iranian Families on the Brink of Death
Four thousand families in Masjed Soleiman are at risk due to gas leaks intensified by recent earthquakes. Local representative Omidvar Rezaei highlights the urgent need…
Increase in President Bush's Popularity in Late 2003 - 2003-12-23
In late 2003, President Bush's approval ratings rose following Saddam Hussein's capture and positive economic indicators. A poll showed 59% approval for his policies, with…
Russian Companies Plan to Invest Over $4 Billion in Iraq
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian companies are ready to invest over $4 billion in Iraq's reconstruction. This discussion took place during talks with…
Libya Allows UN Inspectors to Enter Without Prior Notice - 2003-12-22
Libya has agreed to permit UN inspectors to enter the country without prior notice as part of its decision to abandon its weapons of mass…
Saddam Hussein Does Not Cooperate in Interrogations - 2003-12-21
Saddam Hussein is reportedly not cooperating during interrogations following his capture. Paul Bremer, the senior American administrator in Iraq, describes Saddam as appearing hopeless. This…
At least 82 people in the Philippines have died in a landslide - 2003-12-21
A landslide in the Philippines has resulted in at least 82 confirmed deaths, with fears that the toll could rise above 200. The Red Cross…
Syria Arrests Six Arabs Allegedly Linked to Al-Qaeda
Syria has arrested six Arabs suspected of having ties to Al-Qaeda while carrying over 23 million dollars. U.S. officials view this arrest as significant in…
The Uncertain Fate of Sadegh Hedayat's Manuscripts
Jahangir Hedayat, the nephew of the famous Iranian author Sadegh Hedayat, has requested the return of his uncle's manuscripts from Amir Kabir Publishing, but the…
Meeting of Abdulaziz Hakim, Head of the Iraqi Governing Council, from Germany, Nasrin Mahdavi - 2003-12-19
Abdulaziz Hakim, the leader of the Iraqi Governing Council, had a meeting in Germany. This meeting is significant as it highlights the international engagements of…
Alonzo Mourning Undergoes Kidney Transplant - 2003-12-19
Alonzo Mourning, a former NBA player, is set to undergo a kidney transplant shortly after retiring from professional basketball. He has been suffering from kidney…
Indonesia Accuses 4 Individuals of Ties to Al-Qaeda Terror Network - 2003-12-18
Indonesia has accused four individuals of having links to Al-Qaeda as part of a broader investigation into terrorism in Southeast Asia. The suspects were previously…
Fourth Asian Club Weightlifting Championships - 2003-12-18
The first day of the fourth Asian Club Weightlifting Championships in Shenyang, China, featured Iranian weightlifters from Saipa winning multiple gold medals. Sadegh Norouzi and…
About 100 Judges and Legal Experts Prepare for the Trial of Members of Saddam Hussein's Former Regime - 2003-12-18
Around 100 Iraqi judges and lawyers have been trained by the U.S.-led coalition to prosecute members of Saddam Hussein's regime for war crimes and crimes…
Vladimir Putin to Run for Second Term in Presidential Elections
Vladimir Putin has officially announced his candidacy for a second presidential term in the upcoming March 2004 elections. This decision was expected, and he is…
Saddam Hussein is imprisoned in the Baghdad area - 2003-12-17
Saddam Hussein is reported to be imprisoned in the Baghdad area and is expected to be tried publicly by an Iraqi court. President Bush believes…
On This Day, December 14: George Washington Passed Away
On December 14, 1799, George Washington, the first President of the United States, died. This event is significant as it marks the end of the…
Meeting of Sri Lankan President's Representative with Prime Minister
Sri Lankan leaders have extended the deadline for resolving a power struggle, with President Kumaratunga's representative meeting Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Tensions escalated after the President…
A Five-Member FIFA Delegation Visits Tunisia
A FIFA delegation is in Tunisia to evaluate its readiness to host the 2010 World Cup. Led by Jean Peters, the group is assessing stadiums…
Cyber Oscars Awards for ICT Activists
The inaugural Cyber Oscars will be awarded to 23 global winners for their innovative use of ICTs to address community issues during the WSIS in…
Two More American Soldiers Killed by Iraqi Insurgents - 2003-12-10
Two American soldiers were killed in Mosul by Iraqi insurgents, with four others injured in separate incidents. This highlights the ongoing violence and instability in…
Ariel Sharon May Evacuate Some Jewish Settlements in the West Bank - 2003-12-09
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is considering the evacuation of some Jewish settlements in the West Bank to improve security and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.…
Members of the Mojahedin Organization Will Be Expelled from Iraq by the End of This Month - 2003-12-09
The Iraqi Governing Council has unanimously decided to expel members of the People's Mujahedin Organization from Iraq by the end of the month, aiming to…
Dozens of Missiles Equipped with Radioactive Warheads Have Gone Missing
Dozens of missiles with radioactive warheads have gone missing in Moldova, raising concerns about their potential use as 'dirty bombs' by terrorists. The Washington Post…
Chinese Prime Minister Arrives in the U.S. on Sunday
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is set to visit the U.S. for discussions with President Bush on key issues including Taiwan and North Korea. This…
Confession of Jamal Akal, a Member of Hamas, for Planning Attacks on America - 2003-12-05
Jamal Akal, a Canadian citizen and member of Hamas, has allegedly confessed to planning attacks on North America while in Israeli custody. His lawyer claims…
Meeting of Palestinian Factions Representatives in Egypt - 2003-12-04
Palestinian factions are meeting in Egypt to discuss a potential ceasefire with Israel, seen as a first step towards peace talks. An Israeli official indicated…
UN: 50 People Die Daily Due to Landmine Incidents
The UN highlights the ongoing threat of landmines, reporting that 50 people die daily from landmine incidents despite an international ban. The organization is seeking…
President Bush to Meet King Abdullah of Jordan on Thursday - 2003-12-03
President Bush is set to meet King Abdullah of Jordan to discuss key issues including Iraq and the Middle East peace process. This meeting highlights…
Hosein Tavakoli Banned from International Competitions for 3 Months
Hosein Tavakoli, an Iranian weightlifter, has been banned from international competitions for three months after refusing to attend a federation meeting and withdrawing from the…
U.S. Officials' Decision to Form Militia Units in Iraq - 2003-12-03
U.S. officials have decided to establish a militia unit in Iraq made up of members from five major political parties to combat insurgents and loyalists…
The Sacrifice
The article discusses Andrei Tarkovsky's film 'The Sacrifice,' created while he faced his own mortality. The film explores themes of love, humanity, and the lack…
Colin Powell Dismisses Possibility of Delay in New Round of Six-Party Talks
Colin Powell has rejected claims of a delay in the upcoming six-party talks about North Korea's nuclear program, stating that he expects negotiations to start…
U.S. State Department Emphasizes Power Transfer to Iraqi Interim Government by Next June - 2003-12-02
The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its commitment to transferring power to an interim Iraqi government by June 2004, despite Iraqi concerns over insufficient participation in…
India's Navy to Purchase a 29-Year-Old Russian Aircraft Carrier for $650 Million - 2003-12-02
India's Navy is set to purchase a 29-year-old Russian aircraft carrier for over $650 million, which will be equipped with MiG-29 fighter jets. The deal…
Overview of Washington Newspapers, December 1, 2003
On December 1, 2003, a journalist from the Persian section of Voice of America reviews the coverage of Washington newspapers. This report highlights the media…