A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Diplomat from Iran leaves post in protest
OSLO – A diplomat from the Iranian embassy in Belgium said yesterday he would seek asylum in Norway, joining a small movement of Iranian foreign service officials who have left their posts in protest over alleged human rights and electoral abuses in Iran.
Farzad Farhangian (47) called for the overthrow of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a news conference, where he was accompanied by a former Iranian consul in Norway who defected in January.
“Given the recent event, yes, I want this government overthrown,” said Mr Farhangian, a deputy consul in Brussels. – (Reuters)
Hague backs BBC's world radio service
LONDON – British foreign secretary William Hague has strongly backed BBC radio’s World Service and said MPs should not believe some of the “wild rumours” about its future.
He was speaking in the House of Commons following reports it may have to pull out of several countries, including Burma and Russia, because of deep funding cuts.
Ministers are in talks with BBC bosses about future funding for the service, which receives an annual grant of £272 million from the Foreign Office. – (PA)
Shots fired on Kashmir protesters
DELHI – Police opened fire yesterday on stone-throwing protesters in northern India’s disputed Kashmir province as hordes of people defied a curfew, a day after 18 demonstrators were killed in street violence across the region, writes Rahul Bedi.
Officials said five people were wounded in the summer capital, Srinagar, and in Baramulla district. Security forces patrolled Srinagar and other towns warning locals to stay indoors. The authorities suspended all flights to Srinagar, halted newspaper distribution and blacked out TV news channels.
Obama to release children's book
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will release a children’s picture book, inspired by his two daughters, that pays tribute to 13 influential Americans, publisher Random House said yesterday.
Called Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters, the book was written by Mr Obama before he took office and will be released on November 16th.
It is illustrated by award- winning author Loren Long. The book will address “groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped” the US. – (Reuters)