AP: U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power protested the election of repressive regimes including Iran to the U.N. Committee on Non-governmental Organizations which deals with civil society groups accredited to the United Nations.
US protests Iran’s election to UN NGO committee
Iranians deliver Rouhani’s first political defeat
AFP: Eight months after taking office, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has suffered his first major political defeat, with the public overwhelmingly brushing aside appeals to forgo direct government aid.
Iranians face midnight fuel price surge as subsidies cut
Reuters: Iranians have rushed to gas stations to fill their cars before a price surge expected at midnight on Thursday, as President Hassan Rouhani pushes ahead with a policy to cut fuel subsidies.
Iran putting final touches on new energy contracts
UPI: The Iranian government said Wednesday it would revise how it governs oil and natural gas contracts, though sanctions must be lifted for full utilization. An official said Iran will be switching from a buy-back system to one based on joint ventures in the oil and natural gas sector.
Maliki’s plan to manipulate Iraq’s election
The Hill: The events of recent weeks have once again proved that through grasping all the levers of state power, the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is trying to influence and change the outcome of the election in his own favour.
MEP: EU should forcefully condemn attacks on political prisoners Iran
Marietje Schaake: Last week an unprecedented attack was launched on political prisoners in Evin prison Tehran. Labelled ‘Black Thursday’ witnesses speak of the worst attacks in 20 years. High Representative Ashton should condemn these attacks, as well as the many on going human rights abuses in Iran.
Juvenile offender executed in northern Iran
Death Penalty News: A juvenile offender identified as “Ebrahim Hajati” was hanged in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad on Sunday April 20. Ebrahim was convicted of murdering Abdollah (19) under a fight in a village outside Mashhad four years ago. At that time Ebrahim was 16 year old.
India to make May-July oil payments to Iran – sources
Reuters: India is set to pay Iran $1.65 billion over the next three months under an interim nuclear deal that eases sanctions on Tehran and gives it access to $4.2 billion in blocked funds, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
U.S. based Iranian brothers turn to international tribunals over detentions
Pasadena Star-News: Four Iranian brothers who live in the San Fernando Valley are asking two international tribunals to rule that they were unlawfully held on alleged immigration violations for more than 40 months shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.
Iran prison chief replaced after alleged beatings
Reuters: Iran said on Wednesday it had replaced the country’s prisons chief amid an uproar over alleged beating of political prisoners last week in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Families of the dozens of political prisoners held there have been protesting outside parliament.
