Iranian and Portuguese experts mull over the restoration of a fort built by Portuguese navigators on the south Iranian Persian Gulf island of Hormoz.

Portugal’s Ambassador to Tehran, Jose Fernando Moreira da Cunha, at a meeting with directing manager of Iran’s Fund for the Restoration and Utilization of Historical Sites, Ali Asghar Parhizkar, agreed to assemble a joint team to work on the project.

Moreira da Cunha said he was eager to expand cultural ties between Tehran and Lisbon, adding that he was prepared to cooperate in rehabilitation of the fort. The Portuguese diplomat touched upon the threats which endanger the historic sites and said Portugal would extend full swing assistance to prevent possible damage by rising sea level.

Iran and Portugal had agreed to revive the site in 2006, but the project was delayed.
Portugal’s Afonso de Albuquerque landed on the south Persian Gulf littoral island of Hormoz in 1507, during the rule of the Safavids (1501-1736 CE).
Studies indicate that the region is also home to 12 Achaemenid cities.

Press TV

Kourosh Ziabari - Etemaad Newspaper: Hudalfa Tastekin is a young Turkish child actor who attracted a wide range of global audiences by role-playing in the spiritual TV serial “Yusuf Yuzlu” produced by the Turkey national Television in 45 chapters.
This serial told the story of a lost child who searches everywhere in the large urban areas and cities for his mother, but unfortunately his mother got a mental disease and forget everything…
Despite of the continous complexities to find his mother, the lost child donates the poor, devotes all of his money and belongings to the charities and exposes the real personality of a pure, innocent Muslim boy who faces with dramatic happenings that impress every viewer.
The painful and tragic situation of “Yusuf” who always commited his praying and seeked refuge from the almighty God in fight against difficultires is really considerable in the serial which has been broadcasted from the TV channels of 10 countries worldwide.
Hudalfa also played the role of Mevlana’s childhood times in the TV series “Kucuk Semazen” which narrates the lifetime stories of Persian poet, Mevlana Jalaleddin Rumi.
This film was screened by the Iran Channel 1 TV during the nights of Holy Month Ramadan and gained a lot of popularity among the Iranian viewers.
I hold a short interview with Hudalfa and talked to him on various issues specially his interest in the ancient land, Iran.

Dear Hudalfa, at first, accept my warmest thanksgivings because of your time. For the first question, let’s request you to introduce yourself completely. In which city and which year did you born?

Firstly I wish to thank to you and all lovely people of Iran, I am very glad so I have learnt that my film has been seen by Iranians. My complete name is Hudalfa Tastekin. I use just Hudalfa. I was born in Istanbul, Turkey biggest city, in 24 February 1997. I have studied in Primary School called Yesilyuva (Green Home Primary School) in Istanbul. I am in fifth class now.

Tell us about your education and artistic experience. How did you get involved in TV series of Turkey and how many films did you role-played in?

While I was out of school in my five, I acquainted with the scene. Till that time I hadn’t have any artistic experience. Accidentally I was involved the set. So my elder sister Akanda, also she my best friend, one day went to Samanyolu Channel (STV) with my aunt who was presenting psychology STV’s radio. By chance someone, who we realized he was the producer, had seen Akanda while she talk to others and play herself some childish games.

With her coquettish and affectionate she affected the producer and had said: “If only you should be male because we are seeking a child like you but not girl.” So Akanda replied: “I have a brother, he is very beautiful more than me.” Then producer called may family and invited me.

When I went to meet them they said: “Yes this is our child that we are searching for weeks.” They said your face was so fitted to the role. But family warned that I don’t have any experience.

They said, give us a chance and let us try for an hour. They filmed me such and I took and gave soufflé during the shot. I didn’t any mistake saying soufflé. “This was so excellent talent” they said.

And from that time I was at scene. This film was TV series Yusuf Yuzlu. I was Yusuf. At fifth part of series Akanda involved in. She acted as Ayse role at Yusuf Yuzlu. She was granddaughter of poor man at film. After Yusuf Yuzlu I starred of a lot of TV series and films like Subat Sogugu (Chilly of February), Ispinozlar (Finches), Buyuk Bulusma (Judgment Day), Sirlar Dunyasý (World of Mysteries), Affet Beni (Forgive Me). Now I am acting at Kucuk Semazen (Little Semazen). This film is dedicated to Mevlana.

Do you know yourself the English language or any other languages?

I am very new at English school. So my English not enough to write a conversation. My father, he is also journalist, helps me. Actually I tell my story and he translates into English.

Your great and doubtless role-playing in the “Yusuf Yuzlu” series could impress each viewer and addressee. You act as a trustworthy, honest and veracious boy is really pure and memorable. Also your playmate Mrs. Melda Beckan is so great and impressive and when she acts as your mother, we can learn many moral lessons from you. What is your idea about that?

I have seen that influence every addressee. Especially children and mums love me. While I was at street a lot of people kissed my cheek. Of course Yusuf role is still alive. And its influence continues, I can see it. A lot of family accepted Yusuf as model for their children. This is beyond of an imaginary role; people took lessons for their life. And a lot of newspapers interested in this realty.

Continues here

Kavita magazine - Kourosh Ziabari: It all started when blogger.com administrators announced that they would like to establish a communal bog to increase 2-way communication and interchange with consumers and readers. This way they could also reach their users and customers without any mediator or middleman.

This broke many taboos and encouraged the media giants and advertising cartels of the world to not fear a direct connection with bloggers.

Today blogging has become an effective tool for the Media giants in responding to issues that a common man may face. For example the BBC has started its blog in response to issues raised by bloggers who are listeners and readers of BBC, and through the blog made it easier than before to interact with all of its supporters.

As a result, with most global media following suit, two way communication becomes easy as does the interaction between the media and its users. It also ensures that comments, ideas and suggestions will be received directly by the specific media team, in the other world, and response given directly as well.

In launching a weblog BBC too is following the popular trend of interacting with its consumers, which in turn will make it easier for it to know the concerns and the positive feedback the consumers may have.

Continues here

The national volleyball team of Islamic Republic of Iran has honorably won the first Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men’s Championship, narrowly defeating South Korea in the final match.
In a close game, the Iranian squad lost the first and fourth sets 25-13 and 25-15, but won the second, third and fifth sets 25-15, 26-24 and 15-7 to claim victory.

The win was particularly sweet as South Korea had beaten Iran 3-1 in the preliminaries on Saturday, Iran’s only loss of the tournament.
Iran had defeated China, Taiwan and Japan in its last three matches to reach the final held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

China and Japan took third and fourth place in the tournament respectively, and Iran’s Hamzeh Zarini was named Most Valuable Player.
The Japanese and Chinese audiences attending the exciting match in Thailand Venue all applaused the Iranian team loudly after defeating the traditional rival and gaining the historic triumph.

Iran is looking forward to win a berth for the volleyball world league at 2009 which is highest level of international volleyball tournaments.

Adapted from: Press TV

The Czech Foreign Ministry has announced that it seeks to promote its diplomatic presence in Tehran to the ambassadorial level but said it depends on Iran whether the increase will occur.

Iran’s Embassy in Prague welcomed the announcement as a ‘positive signal’ in bilateral relations. Tehran-Prague relations are at the level of Charge d’Affairs, signifying the bitter diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“Iran-Czech relations are moving towards a more pleasant atmosphere, it is necessary to wait,” Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, the Charge d’Affairs and head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Prague, told Czech News Agency on Wednesday.

He added that a more serious dialogue would benefit the Czech presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic will hold the EU presidency in 2009.

“We are seeking to have the same diplomatic presence in Iran as other EU countries at the time of our EU presidency already. However, it does not only depend on us how quickly the process will proceed,” Czech Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova was quoted as saying.

Last November, Iran lifted restrictions on Czech exports - which had been introduced in 2003 amid a propaganda campaign by Prague-based Radio Free Europe.

Adapted from: Press TV