Iran marks anniversary of 1979 revolution
TEHRAN, Iran – President Hassan Rouhani called Tuesday for “fair and constructive” nuclear talks with world powers as Iran marked the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution with massive rallies that featured a new American target for their traditional “death to” slogans.
Besides the usual chants of “Down with the U.S.!” and “Death to Israel!” many demonstrators took aim at Wendy Sherman, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, who has frequently led U.S. delegations in nuclear talks with Tehran.
Iranian hard-liners, state TV and many Iranian lawmakers have been fuming over remarks Sherman made last week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which she noted that the Iranian government had distributed food to the poor after the U.S. released the first $550 million payment as part of an interim agreement struck last year over the country’s nuclear program.
Algerian transport crashes, killing 77
ALGIERS, Algeria – Algeria’s Ministry of Defense says 77 people were killed and one man survived after a military transport plane crashed into a mountain in eastern Algeria.
The statement said Tuesday the C130 Hercules turboprop was carrying 74 passengers and four crew members.
After radio and radar contact with the flight was lost at 11:37 a.m. local time, three helicopters were sent to find the plane. The ministry said it had slammed into Mount Fortas, 30 miles from the flight’s destination city of Constantine.
Initial reports from both Algerian government officials and Algerian media had said the plane was carrying 99 passengers.
Belgium may approve euthanisia for minors
BRUSSELS – Belgium, one of the very few countries where euthanasia is legal, is expected to take the unprecedented step this week of abolishing age restrictions on who can ask to be put to death, extending the right to children for the first time.
The legislation appears to have wide support in the largely liberal country.
The Belgian Senate voted 50-17 on Dec. 12 to amend the country’s 2002 law on euthanasia so that it would apply to minors, but only under certain additional conditions.
Associated Press
