Renamed Dorval Airport for Pierre Trudeau!
Despite opposition from hard-line separatists in Quebec, the government on Tuesday renamed Montreal's Dorval Airport for former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Trudeau's legacy remains contentious in Quebec nearly three years after his death from cancer on Sept. 28, 2000. Separatists blame him for thwarting their independence aspirations, while federalists who support a unified Canada believe he helped instill a role for Quebec and its Francophone culture.
Trudeau was a federalist who opposed the movement in his home province for independence from the rest of Canada.
His two sons took part in the ceremony officiated by Transport Minister David Collenette, who said dedicating the "Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport" would have pleased the longtime Canadian leader.
"Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a proud Canadian who loved his country and shaped its history," Collenette said. "He was a tireless promoter of Canadian values at home and abroad. It is only appropriate then that his hometown's international airport be named in his honor."

Canadians Pan Government-Backed Marijuana
Some of the first patients to smoke Canada's government-approved marijuana say it is "disgusting" and they want their money back.
Health Canada, the federal health department, started selling marijuana in July to bring relief to patients suffering from AIDS , cancer and other diseases. The move followed a court order that patients should not be forced to get their marijuana from drug dealers on the streets. But some of the first to buy the government's marijuana say it is no good.

Chronology of developments in the Iran nuclear stand-off !
France-Presse (via ClariNet): Iran toughened its stance against snap inspections of its atomic energy program, warning it may reconsider its cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog as Western countries turn up the heat.
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi denounced the "arrogance" and "extremist posture" of certain countries, as the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors met in Vienna to consider a draft resolution on the issue.
Here is a list of major developments in the diplomatic crisis over Iran's nuclear programme:

2002
December 13 -- The United States accuses Iran of launching a secret nuclear weapons programme, publishing satellite images of two nuclear sites under construction in the towns of Natanz and Arak. Iran denies any military purpose behind its nuclear activities and agrees to IAEA inspections.

2003
February 21 -- IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei arrives in Iran to carry out inspections at Iran's nuclear sites.

February-May -- The UN watchdog carries out a series of inspections in Iran, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear sites are designed purely to provide nuclear fuel for future power plants.

June 16 -- EU foreign ministers and Mohammed ElBaradei call on Iran to allow tougher nuclear inspections, as a report by the IAEA chief says Tehran failed to report nuclear activities including the purchase of uranium.

June 19 -- The IAEA calls on Iran to allow stricter, unconditional inspections of its nuclear facilities, but senior Iranian officials reject the demand.

July 9 -- ElBaradei fails to obtain agreement on an immediate start to inspections during talks in Tehran, but Iranian authorities agree to further talks on the issue.

July 19 -- An IAEA team begins a fresh round of inspections in Iran as the Washington Post newspaper reveals that UN nuclear experts had discovered traces of enriched uranium -- which can be used to make weapons -- at a plant
in Natanz during earlier checks.

July 21 -- The European Union warns it may review its relations and economic ties with Iran unless Tehran cooperates fully with the IAEA.

August 4 -- IAEA experts began fresh talks with Iran on snap inspections

August 6 -- Iranian President Mohammed Khatami says nuclear weapons have no place in his country's political or military strategy.

August 26 -- IAEA chief ElBaradei confirms that UN inspectors at the Natanz facility had found traces of highly enriched uranium -- whose usefulness for non-military purposes is questioned by the agency. Iran agrees to negotiate on a draft protocol allowing surprise inspections but says inspectors will not be given complete freedom of movement.

August 30 -- European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana holds talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, warning Tehran: "If you don't sign the protocol it will be a bad news for you."

September 8 -- Mohamed ElBaradei issues a fresh call on Tehran to "clarify all isues" relevant to its nuclear programme and agree to snap inspections, as the IAEA opens a high-level meeting on Iran.

September 9 -- Washington says Iran was in "non-compliance" with international non-proliferation accords, but agrees to support a proposal by Britain, Germany and France to give Tehran until October 31 to fully disclose its nuclear activities and allow surprise inspections of all sites by UN inspectors.

September 10 -- Iran threatens to end cooperation with the IAEA, as South Africa introduces a rival proposal urging Iran to meet its nuclear obligations but setting no deadline for compliance.

Iranian first lady meets Mandela!
France-Presse: Iranian first lady Zohreh Sadeghi arrived in Johannesburg Wednesday for a four-day visit focussed on discussing ways to empower women.
Sadeghi, the wife of Iran's Mohammad Khatami, was invited by her South African counterpart, Zanele Mbeki.
Shortly after her arrival, she met with former president Nelson Mandela at his offices in Johannesburg.
"The official visit, taking place in the context of the existing good relations between our two countries, is the first of its kind under the new South African democratic government," a statement from President Thabo Mbeki's
office said.
Zanele Mbeki visited Iran in 2000, the statement said.

Kazakhstan to export oil via Iran
Iran is to upgrade its port facilities to help its northern neighbor, Kazakhstan, export as many as 120,000 to 360,000 barrels of crude oil per day to other countries as of next year. Iran`s Minister of Roads and Transportation Ahmad Khorram told on the sidelines of the seventh session of Tehran-Almaty Joint Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Commission here on Saturday that Iran`s route as well as Amirabad and Neka ports in northern part of the country would reduce the cost of oil, gas and cargo transfer to other countries by Kazakhstan. Moreover, said Khorram, Kazakhstan can increase the volume of its exports using Iran`s transportation facilities, including railway, ground and maritime facilities

600-year-old Iranian Village in China
Iranians’ village outside Yungju town in Jiangsu province is more than 600 years old with its residents living by Iranian traditions, while even some of them look like Iranians. At the entrance of the village, the people have built a monument paying tribute to the Iranians who lived there. The name of the village "the Parsian Village” is engraved in Persian and Chinese on a slab of rock. It is commonly believed that some 600 years ago, an Iranian businessman who had traveled to the region by the Silk Road settled in the village. His good Iranian manners made him popular among the villagers and earned him a special spiritual status. As time passed, his children and grandchildren established the great Iranian community in the region and Iranian traditions prevailed in the village. Despite the fact that the villagers are not Muslims, they still follow Iranian traditions in many ceremonies such as weddings and funerals after so long a time. The village has a population of over 27000. Its main street is called Fars, and its large river Fars River, after the province located in southern Iran. It has an Iranian restaurant, shop, and most of its agricultural products such as different vegetables are of Iranian kind, called Iranian vegetables by people. The consul general of Iran in China was the first Iranian official to visit the village in 1998.