IAEA Chief Dismisses Preconditions as Deterrence to N. Talks with Iran (Payvand Iran News)
UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei rejected the US-desired preconditions for nuclear talks with Iran, reiterating that Tehran is ready to provide the world with required assurances that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. -FNA
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Iran junior basketball team in Asian final (Payvand Iran News)
Iran's junior basketball team has advanced to the final match of the FIBA Asian Junior Championship by defeating Syria 80 to 78 in Tehran. -Press TV
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Iran bids to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Payvand Iran News)
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Saturday expressed Iran's interest to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Chinese leader welcomed Iran's interest to join the SCO, saying an expert committee will be formed to consider the proposal. -MNA
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Iran in need of privatization in real sense of word: Rafsanjani (Payvand Iran News)
Head of country's Expediency Council in a meeting with head and members of Tehran Chamber of Commerce and Industries stressed Iran's need for wide scale privatization, "in real sense of the word." -IRNA
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Photos: Mega Pantomime in Tehran's Mellat Park (Payvand Iran News)
Bahram Reihani and a great number of artists performed one of the world's largest pantomimes at Tehran's Mellat Park. Some 1600 artists trained by Reihani gave performances on Thursday and Friday (Aug 28-29) evenings. They also performed several pieces of the world's longest pantomime previously performed by Reihani.
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Iran's Supreme court quashes journalist's death sentence (Payvand Iran News)
Reporters Without Borders today welcomed with great relief the ruling by the Tehran Supreme Court overturning a death sentence against Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour because of a procedural error.
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Iran: CHTHO bans hotel construction project in historic Susa (Payvand Iran News)
Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) banned the construction of the multipurpose hotel complex in the perimeter of the ancient city of Susa in southeastern Iran.
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Three new international flights to pass Iran's air (Payvand Iran News)
The newly appointed managing director of the Iranian Airports Holding Company here on Saturday announced that by March 2009 the country will link three new international air routes.
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Renowned filmmaker Tahmineh Milani withdraws from Iran Cinema Celebration jury (Payvand Iran News)
The withdrawal took place following the removal of some films submitted to the celebration, which is annually held by the House of Cinema that works as trade union of Iranian cineastes.
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Iran objects to Caspian seabed pipelines (Payvand Iran News)
Iran has questioned plans to lay pipelines on the seabed of the Caspian Sea, saying the move would cause environmental pollution.
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