January 2004
Shirin Ebadi: My Bank Accounts in America Are Fake - 2004-01-31
Shirin Ebadi revealed that fraudulent bank accounts in her name have been set up in the U.S. to collect donations for earthquake victims in Bam.…
New NATO Secretary General Calls on Member States to Consider Their Involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan
The new NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, has called for member states to reassess their roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasizing that the…
Microsoft Offers $250,000 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest of My-Doom Virus Creator - 2004-01-30
Microsoft has offered a $250,000 reward for information on the My-Doom virus creator, which is causing significant internet disruption. This virus, spreading via email, is…
President Bush Wants to Be Informed About the Facts Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq - 2004-01-30
President Bush expressed a desire to understand the discrepancies between pre-war intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the findings of American inspectors. This…
European Commission's Annual Report on Airline Safety Inspections to be Released
The European Union is enhancing its airline safety monitoring by requiring member states to review airlines from non-EU countries and will publish an annual report…
Mohammad Khatami Hopes All Representatives Will Be Approved
President Mohammad Khatami expressed hope that all unfairly disqualified candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections will be approved. The Guardian Council has disqualified a significant…
Meeting of a U.S. Congressional Delegation with Muammar Gaddafi, Leader of Libya - 2004-01-26
A U.S. congressional delegation met with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for the first time since he took power in 1969. The meeting was described as…
Ronaldo Scores His Sixteenth Goal in the Current Season of the Spanish Club Championship
Ronaldo scored his sixteenth goal of the season, helping Real Madrid secure a 2-1 victory over Villarreal and maintain their lead in the La Liga…
Brazilian National Football Team Misses Out on 2004 Athens Olympics
The Brazilian national football team failed to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics after losing 0-1 to Paraguay in the qualifying match. This defeat is…
2.5 Billion Dollar Contract for the Construction of Qatar Airport - 2004-01-24
Qatar has signed a $2.5 billion contract with Bechtel for the construction of a new airport in three phases. The first phase is set to…
Iran-Qatar Match to Be Held Without Spectators
The Iranian national football team will play its first official match against Qatar without spectators due to a sanction from the Asian Football Confederation. This…
Competition Among Democratic Candidates Tightens
The competition among Democratic candidates for the 2004 presidential nomination is intensifying, particularly in New Hampshire. Polls show John Kerry closely trailing Howard Dean, with…
India and Kashmir Separatist Leaders Agree to End Violence in the Region - 2004-01-22
The Indian government and moderate separatist leaders from Kashmir have reached an agreement to end violence in the region, marking a significant step in dialogue…
In the country's political crisis, several Iranian government officials have resigned - 2004-01-21
Several Iranian government officials, including the Vice President, have resigned amid a political crisis following the Guardian Council's decision to accept some disqualified candidates for…
German Foreign Minister's Visit to Ankara - 2004-01-21
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer visited Ankara to discuss Turkey's EU membership request. He emphasized the strategic importance of Turkey's entry into the EU and…
Kofi Annan's Hope for Free Elections in Iran - 2004-01-21
Kofi Annan expressed optimism about the possibility of free elections in Iran, urging both conservatives and reformists to overcome their differences. This statement comes in…
Main Kashmiri Separatist Alliance Requests Ceasefire from India
The main Kashmiri separatist alliance is requesting a ceasefire from India during upcoming negotiations. Maulana Abbas Ansari will lead a delegation to meet with Deputy…
Spokesperson of the National Anti-Doping Committee: No Federation Has the Right to Collect Samples
The National Anti-Doping Committee in Iran has announced that no sports federations are allowed to collect doping samples anymore. This decision follows Iran's membership in…
Freddy Adu, the 14-Year-Old Soccer Prodigy, Officially Joins D.C. United
Freddy Adu, a 14-year-old soccer prodigy, has officially joined D.C. United as the first draft pick of the upcoming Major League Soccer season. His talent…
NASA Rover Transmits First Microscopic Images of Mars Surface - 2004-01-17
NASA's rover Spirit has transmitted the first microscopic images of Mars, revealing surprising soil characteristics. Scientists are analyzing these findings to search for signs of…
Asian Boxing Championship: Iranian Athletes Miss Olympic Qualification
The Iranian national boxing team lost all three of their matches at the 22nd Asian Boxing Championship, failing to qualify for the Olympics. This outcome…
One Billion Dollar Contract for Oil Field Restoration in Southern Iraq - 2004-01-17
The U.S. military has awarded a significant contract to Halliburton's subsidiary K-B-R for oil field restoration in Iraq, amidst allegations of overcharging. Investigations are underway…
American Rover on the Red Planet Searching for Signs of Water - 2004-01-16
The American rover Spirit has successfully landed on Mars and is now exploring the surface for signs of water. This mission is significant as it…
Beginning of Heavy Artillery Withdrawal from Kabul - 2004-01-15
Militant fighters have started withdrawing heavy artillery from Kabul over two years after an international agreement on disarmament. The Northern Alliance, which helped oust the…
Incident Involving Iranian Boeing
An Iranian Boeing 747 heading to Japan made an emergency landing in Beijing due to engine issues and landing gear malfunctions. Fortunately, all passengers and…
Guardian Council: We Will Not Surrender to Pressure
The Guardian Council of Iran has refused to reconsider its disqualification of thousands of reformist candidates for the parliamentary elections, asserting its legal and religious…
Hamburg's Final Opportunity for Mahdavi Kia
Mehdi Mahdavi Kia has until January 16 to decide on his future with Hamburg. The club's sports director has stated that he cannot extend this…
Crash of Uzbek Passenger Plane in Tashkent - 2004-01-14
An Uzbek passenger plane crashed in Tashkent, resulting in the deaths of all 37 people on board, including a senior UN official. The cause of…
Theft of Muhammad Ali's Sports Memorabilia from a Gallery in England - 2004-01-14
Muhammad Ali's sports memorabilia was stolen from a gallery in Southampton, England, including signed boxing shorts and photographs. The police believe the thieves targeted only…
Protests by Parliament Representatives as a Clear Example of Election Boycott and Demand for Referendum - 2004-01-13
Islamic Parliament representatives protested against the disqualification of some members by the Guardian Council, leading to calls for an election boycott and a referendum. This…
Spanish Prime Minister: Trade Restrictions Between the U.S. and the EU Should Be Lifted - 2004-01-13
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar urged the removal of trade barriers between the U.S. and the EU during his visit to Washington. This initiative…
Documenting the Bam Citadel Using Modern Technologies - 2004-01-13
The documentation of the Bam Citadel will commence next week using modern laser and photogrammetry technologies to aid in its revival after significant earthquake damage.…
Khamenei Does Not Intervene in Guardian Council's Decision to Disqualify Candidates - 2004-01-12
Ayatollah Khamenei has refused to intervene in the Guardian Council's decision to disqualify reformist candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections, stating that legal procedures must…
Syria Rejects Israel's Invitation to Bashar al-Assad
Syria has turned down an invitation from Israel for President Bashar al-Assad to discuss peace in Jerusalem. This comes after Assad expressed readiness to resume…
Bayern Munich's One-Week Training Camp in the United Arab Emirates - 2004-01-12
Bayern Munich has begun a one-week training camp in the UAE to prepare for the Bundesliga's resumption. Michael Ballack emphasized the team's need to perform…
Investigation into the Crash of a U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter Near Fallujah - 2004-01-10
A U.S. Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Fallujah, likely due to ground fire, killing all nine soldiers aboard. Danish troops found suspicious mortar shells leaking…
French Foreign Minister: We Will Leave No Stone Unturned in Discovering the Cause of the Plane Crash
The French Foreign Minister announced that France will take all necessary actions to determine the cause of a recent plane crash in the Red Sea…
Coalition Forces Pursue Those Responsible for Yesterday's Kandahar Explosion - 2004-01-08
A bomb explosion in Kandahar killed 15 people, prompting coalition forces to search for suspects. The Taliban claimed responsibility, stating the target was American soldiers,…
Announcement of Final Voting Results in Georgia Delayed Until Friday
The final results of the Georgian elections may be delayed until Friday, with Mikheil Saakashvili poised for a significant victory. President Bush has congratulated Saakashvili…
Crash of a U.S. Military Helicopter Near Fallujah - 2004-01-08
A U.S. military helicopter crashed near Fallujah, killing all 9 crew members during a medical evacuation mission. The cause of the crash is still unknown,…
Sudan Government and Main Rebel Group Agree on National Wealth Sharing - 2004-01-07
The Sudanese government and the main rebel group have agreed on a wealth-sharing deal, marking a significant step towards peace after two decades of civil…
A State Company Will Be Established to Manage Iraq's Oil Facilities - 2004-01-07
U.S. officials in Iraq plan to establish a state-owned company to manage the country's oil facilities, aiming to attract foreign investment and boost production while…
Start of India-Pakistan Negotiations on Kashmir - 2004-01-06
India and Pakistan have agreed to restart negotiations on Kashmir and other bilateral issues after a two-year hiatus. The agreement follows a meeting between the…
Rescue and Relief Operations in Bam Should Not Have Been Handed Over to the Military
Dr. Nourbala, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, criticized the decision to hand over rescue operations in Bam to the military, arguing it undermined…
Tickets for Bam Citadel to Be Sold
To support the reconstruction of the Bam Citadel, symbolic tickets for visits will be sold in museums across Iran. Ahmad Mohit Tabatabai announced this initiative…
Iranian Artists Visiting Bam: No One Cares About the Earthquake Victims
A group of Iranian artists visiting Bam after a devastating earthquake express their concern over the inadequate assistance provided to the victims. They highlight the…
UNICEF Warns About the Situation of Children in Bam - 2004-01-06
UNICEF has raised alarms about the dire situation of children in Bam following a devastating earthquake, highlighting their lack of clothing, exposure to cold, and…
Iran National Football Team to Face Australia
The Iran national football team is set to play two friendly matches against Australia in May 2004 as preparation for the Asian Cup in China.…
Location of the Black Box of the Crashed Egyptian Airplane Found - 2004-01-06
The black box of an Egyptian airplane that crashed in the Red Sea has been located by a French naval team. Experts aim to determine…
Wimbledon Central Stadium to Get a Roof
Wimbledon organizers plan to start building a movable roof over the Central Stadium in two years to prevent rain delays in matches. The project aims…
New Border Security Plan for the United States to Be Implemented
U.S. officials are rolling out a new border security plan that mandates fingerprinting and photography for most foreign entrants. This plan aims to enhance security…
Meeting of Indian and Pakistani Leaders on the Sidelines of the South Asian Summit
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf met for the first time in over two years during the South Asian Summit…
New Audio Tape Attributed to Osama bin Laden - 2004-01-05
A new audio tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden has been released, calling for jihad against the U.S. and its allies while framing the Iraq…
Deployment of a French Robotic Submarine to the Red Sea - 2004-01-05
A French robotic submarine is being sent to the Red Sea to search for a crashed aircraft off the coast of Egypt, where all 147…
Photography and Fingerprinting of Most Foreign Travelers at U.S. Borders - 2004-01-05
The U.S. has initiated a new border security program requiring photography and fingerprinting of most foreign travelers, excluding citizens from 28 countries. This measure aims…
Failure to Reach a Public Agreement on the Official Language in Afghanistan - 2004-01-04
The Loya Jirga in Afghanistan has failed to agree on an official language, delaying constitutional consensus necessary for elections. The head of the Loya Jirga…
It Seems Bam Was an Abandoned City, But How Many Kilometers Is It from Kerman to Bam?
A report highlights the lack of immediate rescue efforts in Bam after a disaster, questioning the responsiveness of officials given the proximity to Kerman. The…
Afghans, American Officials, and UN Representatives Hold Closed-Door Talks
Afghan leaders, after a deadlock in constitutional negotiations, held closed-door talks with American and UN officials to resolve their differences. Interim President Hamid Karzai advocates…
Crash of an Egyptian Passenger Plane in the Red Sea - 2004-01-03
An Egyptian passenger plane crashed in the Red Sea, killing all 148 on board, mostly French tourists. The cause is believed to be a technical…
Agreement on New Afghan Constitution Delayed Again - 2004-01-03
The approval of a new constitution in Afghanistan has been postponed again due to disagreements over the recognition of Uzbek as an official language. The…
Request from the US, Japan, and South Korea in the Second Round of Negotiations - 2004-01-03
The US, Japan, and South Korea are set to demand that North Korea cease all nuclear programs in upcoming negotiations aimed at curbing its nuclear…
500 Million Rial Proposal and Construction of 50 Apartments in Bam - 2004-01-02
Hadi Saei, a renowned Iranian Taekwondo champion, is auctioning his medals to raise funds for earthquake victims in Bam, with a notable proposal of 500…
Secret Meeting of Afghan Leaders with US and UN Officials - 2004-01-02
Afghan leaders met secretly with US and UN officials to resolve a deadlock over a new constitution draft. Hamid Karzai supports a strong presidential system,…
Mehraneh Ghaeemi Travels to Paris for Lung Disease Treatment
Mehraneh Ghaeemi, a young girl with cystic fibrosis, has successfully traveled to Paris for treatment after raising significant funds through community efforts. Her case highlights…
Life Has Wings with the Vastness of Death; Dedicated to the Mourners of Bam - 2004-01-02
This article reflects on the themes of life and death, particularly in the context of the city of Bam and its people. It uses poetic…
Do Dictators Even Care About Human Lives? - Pouya Arjomand
The article questions whether dictators value human lives, particularly in the context of Iran's vulnerability to earthquakes. It argues that the government prioritizes censorship and…