Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Tajikistan, Iran Ease Visa Regulations

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (right) with Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmonov in Tehran this January (epa)

November 28, 2006 -- Tajikistan and Iran have signed an agreement under which each country will truck drivers a six-month, multiple-entry visa and to remain in the country for 15 days before needing to report to immigration authorities.

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November 28, 2006

Both sides also agreed that scientists, scholars, cultural figures, and athletes of each country would be granted free visas.

(Avesta)

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More