Kourosh Ziabari and Ahmadreza Tavassoli: Dr. Saba Valadkhan is a world-renowned biomedical scientist and the Assistant Professor of Case Western Reserve University of USA.

After graduating from the Tehran University of Medial Sciences, Saba Valadkhan moved to New York where she could continue her further studies at the Columbia University upon the fellowship which she had been granted from RNA Research Society.

This young Iranian scientist has won several international awards for her effective, determinant contribution to the field of Molecular Biology such as Peter Sajovic Memorial Award, Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award and James Howard McGregor Prize.

In 2005, she was awarded the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) award of Young Scientist of the Year for her breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of spliceosomes which was something unprecedented and innovative until that time.

By developing a new strategy to prevent the occurrence of some disastrous cancer types, she identified and determined a slight and insignificant deficiency in the functionality of DNA strands and found an effective way of solving it.

Following is the text of exclusive interview with Dr. Saba Valadkhan in which a stack of interesting subjects around the details of her latest discovery, scientific community of Iran and the prospect of research in Iran and has been discussed.

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Read the Interview from “The People’s Voice“, Middle East Youth, Payvand, MediaLeft

Kourosh Ziabari and Ahmadreza Tavassoli: The second anniversary of Anousheh Ansari’s adventurous travel to the spatial station as the first Iranian space explorer passed over with the reticence of global media who have been busy analyzing the very earliest “side effects” of President-elect Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 US Presidential Elections.

In the heat of Ansari’s space voyage, American media broached bunches of controversial issues such as the reluctance of half-blooded astronaut to introduce herself as Iranian or Muslim, but she never found the opportunity to clarify this.Furthermore, most of the newspapers or websites dedicated their conversations to professional and technical matters when interviewing Anousheh Ansari which caused many stories to remain untold.

Following is the text of exclusive interview with the first female private space explorer Anousheh Ansari, the Iranian businesswomen who has perpetuated the name of Iran in the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records Book with her everlasting record.

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You can also read the whole interview here

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.

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The 35th edition of the International Humor Exhibition of Piracicaba in Brazil has awarded Iranian cartoonists in two categories.
Mahmoud Nazari received the first prize of the event’s Cartoon category and Soheil Mohammadi topped the exhibition’s vanguard category.

The 2008 International Humor Exhibition of Piracicaba was held in five categories of Cartoon, Charge, Caricature, Strips and Vanguard.
One of the world’s most important graphic art events, the International Humor Exhibition of Piracicaba aims to encourage new talents and promote the art of drawing cartoons and comics.

Iranian cartoonists are today among the world top comic artists and put the name of their country alongside Brazil, Romania, Italy and Belgium as the world top five cartooning powerhouses.

The website of Brazilian cartoon contest which exhibits the whole collection of selected works could be found at http://www.salaodehumordepiracicaba.com.br/

Press TV

Elnaz Shakerdoost, the famous Iranian actress

It is said that Iran is a cradle of arts and cultural endeavors because of its historical backgrounds and 7500 years of booked civilization; this is almost right because of the outstanding personalities that the country presented to the world. Mevlana, Ferdowsi, Hafez and Rudaki are among them as the greatest Persian poets ever, but the matter of modern arts differs a bit.

The Iranian cinema is a unique one of its type because of its exclusive properties. It is empty from violence, immorality, affronts and insults and discourtesy.

Entertainment and spirituality are mixed in the Iranian cinema and it prevents the families, children or the youth to be offended by watching a 90 minutes movie while helping them to improve their ethics, mental health and happiness.

That is why the Iranian films and movies are very popular in the countries with traditional customs and noble culture like South Korea, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Venezuela and Persian Gulf countries as well.

Today, Iran enjoys some renowned and notable artists in the field of cinema such as the famous female director Niki Karimi, the award winning producer Abbas Kiarostami and Majid Majidi, the international spiritual filmmaker as well.

Furthermore, Golshifte Farahani is the first Iranian actress who ever co-played with Leonardo Dicaperrio for a Hollywood film, being ranked alongside Pegah Agangarani, Tarane Alidoosti and Elnaz Shakerdoost as the most successful Iranian artist girls.

The latest reports show that the Iranian films are slated to be screened in three international film festivals worldwide.

Negar Azarbaijani’s “Virtual Truth” will be displayed at 2008 Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, Asqar Farhadi’s “Fireworks Wednesday” will participate in the Carthage International Film festival in Tunisia and Saman Salour’s “From the Land of Silence” is planned to be screened at Germany’s Around the World in 14 Films Festival.

The last festival which would be held in Berlin called “Around the world in 14 Films” is hosting films from 14 countries including Argentina, Mexico, USA, Burkina Faso, France, UK, Indonesia and Iran and it is a honor for Persian cinema to be among the world top filmmaker countries.

The last achievement for the Iranian cinema in last week was that the World-renowned Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami has received the Glory to the Filmmaker award at the 65th Venice Film Festival.

However, cinema is a means of conveying the peace messages and Iran is using it properly to broadcast its international call for unity, brotherhood and friendship.