Iranian Bozorg Mahmoody, whose American ex-wife portrayed him as abusive in a controversial bestseller after escaping Iran with their daughter, died yesterday, official IRNA news agency reported.
Mahmoody, a US-educated doctor, "died in a Tehran hospital this morning because of kidney problems and other complications," his nephew Majid Ghodsi told IRNA. He was 70. His ex-wife Betty Mahmoody portrayed him as abusive and domineering in the controversial bestseller Not Without My Daughter, which she penned after fleeing Iran with the couple's daughter Mahtob in 1984.
"He thought of his daughter till the end and passed away without seeing Mahtob," Ghodsi told IRNA.
Ahmadinejad aide banned from office
Iran's audit court has banned a controversial aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from public office for two months over a breach of administrative rules, newspapers reported yesterday.
"The Supreme Audit Court has sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie to a two-month suspension from service for continuing to grant illegal financial authority to an employee," leading economic daily Sarmayeh said.
It said the offence was committed when Mashaie was a vice-president in charge of the tourism and cultural heritage organisation during the first term of Ahmadinejad. He is currently Ahmadinejad's chief of staff.
Ahmadinejad named his confidant and relative Mashaie as first vice-president soon after his disputed June 12 re-election but was forced to terminate the appointment after strong opposition to the man who has infuriated hardliners by saying Iran is a friend of Israeli people.
Taliban appoint Mehsud's 'successor'
The Pakistan Taliban have appointed a successor to their feared leader, believed to have been killed in a US missile strike, a militant commander said yesterday.
American and Pakistani officials believe Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed earlier this month in a missile attack by US drone air-craft in the lawless South Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan.
Taliban commanders say Mehsud survived but is seriously ill.
TTP deputy and battle-hardened former teacher Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, who last Wednesday said he had taken over as acting chief of the group, said a Taliban shura, or council, had made the appointment.
Russia arrests nine in opposition march
Russian security forces yesterday arrested nine opposition activists who were taking part in a march in the centre of Moscow, police said.
The nine were among those marking the day of the Russian flag which was commemorated throughout the country yesterday, Moscow police spokesman Anatoly Lastovetsky told the Interfax news agency.
He said the march had broken the rules by exceeding the previously announced number of participants and raising two banners rather than one.
The march was organised by the bitterly anti-Kremlin Solidarity movement, which brings together opposition figures including the liberal ex-minister Boris Nemstov and former world chess champion Gary Kasparov.
Airlines could face Europe ban
The European Union yesterday published a list of nearly 4,000 airlines that it says should reduce their impact on the environment from 2012 or face being banned from European airports.
Pollution from aircraft emissions currently represent three per cent of European emissions.
The EU adopted the policy in January despite opposition from the majority of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) member countries and companies belonging to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). A new European law is due to come into force soon.
Under the new law, from January 1, 2012, all airlines - both European and non-European - operating within Europe would have to limit CO2 emissions or face penalties.
Airlines will have to start monitoring their emissions from January 2010, in line with plans submitted this year.
Carbon dioxide is widely considered a major greenhouse gas which is seen as contributing to climate change.