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Rhode Island Events

Joe Bonamassa
Theyre caling him the future of blues but theyre wrong - Joe Bonamassa is the present so fresh and of his time that he almost defines it. - Classic Rock Magazine Joe Bonamassa has been lauded as one of the worlds greatest guitarists and he is fast evolving into a full-blown truly charismatic and mesmorizing blues-rock star, as well as a singer-songwriter of stylistic depth and emotional resonance. To support the recent release of his 9th solo studio album Dust Bowl, Bonamassa is heading back to Providence for his first visit since 2007. Download the title song, Dust Bowl for FREE at www.jbonanassa.comdustbowl.

Gaspee Days 5K Road Race
Running in front of a very large, cheering crowd pre-assembled to view the Parade that follows. Go to www.gaspee.com for more information.

Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival
Held on Memorial Weekend, the Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Fesival attracts approximately 50,000 people for three days browsing and purchasing the wares of the 100-150 craft exhibitors along Narragansett Parkway in Warwick. All while this is going on, there is a professional food court, free family music entertainment, and other diversions for the children located in Pawtuxet Park. The proceeds of the annual Arts and Crafts fair benefit the running of the annual Gaspee Days Parade.

Garden City Center Art Festival
Join us for over 125 Contemporary American Artisans, Festive Food, Live Music and Strolling Entertainment to include The Toe Jam Band and The Big Nazo Come out to the Garden City Center Art Festival to celebrate the magic of the arts 10am to 5pm Daily. Sponsored by Webster Bank, Whole Foods Market, Garden City Center, Cardis Furniture and RI Monthly.

The Atlantic Cup
Newport marks the final stop of this 3-part series, known for being the only dedicated Class 40 race in the United States. This is also a Carbon Neutral Event.

Gaspee Days Colonial Encampment
This authentic encampment gives visitors a feel for Colonial military life. Dozens of militia camp out for the weekend in authentic Revolutionary style. Hosted by the Pawtuxet Rangers.

Newport Bermuda Race
The Newport Bermuda Race is a 635 nautical-mile ocean race first sailed in 1906. The race crosses a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean known for challenging weather, especially in the Gulf Stream, where there are strong currents.

Rhode Island Scottish Highland Festival
Competitions Amateur Athletics, Highland Dance, Highland Piping, Pipe Band, Drumming. Celtic Harp Demonstrations. Childrens Games. Clan Village. Scottish Country Dancers. Scottish Food and Merchandise. Scottish Entertainers. Sheep Dog demonstrations.

Annual Gaspee Days Parade
Colonial fife and drum corps, Civil War-era units, modern day drum and bugle corps, and more. The Mummers are the grand finale unit.

Opening Day of Newport Gulls Baseball
Games played at Cardines Field, season runs through August.

Block Islands Find A Float
250 locally made, hand blown, Block Island stamped, glass floats will be placed in select Block Island locations. Come look for your treasure Finders keepers. If you find a float you can register the numbered float on line at blockislandinfo.com.

Opening Day of the International Polo Series
Opening Day of the International Polo Series, played every Saturday thru September.

Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival
This annual festival attracts approximately 50,000 people a day for three days to shop the wares of more than 150 craft exhibitors. All while this is going on, there is a professional food court, free family music entertainment, and other diversions for the children located in Pawtuxet Park. The proceeds of the annual Arts and Crafts fair benefit the running of the annual Gaspee Days Parade.

Kids in the Kitchen
This family health fair features kid-friendly cooking demonstrations, crafts, fitness games, and other activities aimed at making healthy eating and exercise fun and engaging.

The First Annual Esophageal Cancer Walk of RI
Join us Sat June 16th at 9 AM for our 1st annual Esophageal Cancer Walk at Warwick City Park. Bring your family, friends, children and dogs, too Presented by The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation www.salgi.org 20 per person in advance, 25 day of walk. Children and pets walk free Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest growing cancer in the western world and while almost all cases of esophageal cancer are fatal, survivors often suffer a lower quality of life after surgery. We need your help to make our FIRST event a huge success If you are unable to attend and would still like to donate, please visit us at wwww.salgi.orgdonate Like us on Facebook, too www.facebook.comSalgiFoundation

A Race To Grow 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Stroller Walk
A Place To Grow, Inc. is organizing A Race To Grow 5K Road Race and 1 Mile Stroller Walk on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012. Race time is 9 a.m., with registration beginning at 730 a.m. Cash awards to the top 3 male and female finishers in the 5K, medals to the top 3 male and female in age divisions 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70. T-shirts to all 5K entrants pre-registered by June 1st, as available on race day. Ribbons to all Stroller Walk participants. Online registration is available at www.active.com or entry forms can be picked up at A Place To Grow. Raffles and refreshments will follow the race. All proceeds will benefit A Place To Grow. For more information, please contact Melissa Sposato at 401 782-6100.

American Music Series Jazz
The second in the American Music Series at Courthouse Center for the Arts is Jazz on Thurs. June 7 at 7 p.m. Guitarist Gray Sargent and bassist Marshall Wood of the Tony Bennett orchestra bring their own jazz quartet to the Courthouse for a rare area engagement. All seats are 25. The show is sponsored by Gardner Woodwrights. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 401-782-1018 or visit www.courthousearts.org.

Lets Move Dance Party
The Museum is open free of charge from 500 to 800 PM for MetLife Family Friday Free at Five, sponsored by MetLife Foundation. Stay out late and join a dance party to learn a few new steps and show off your moves

Kids in the Kitchen
Family health fair featuring kid-friendly cooking demonstrations, fitness games, and other activities aimed at making healthy eating and exercise fun and engaging.

Jaimoes Jasssz Band on Majestic
Come join us and cruise beautiful Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor for an amazing night with Jaimoes Jasssz Band on board Majestic Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipiant and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee will be rocking it out on Majestic for a 4 hour cruise you wont forget Boarding begins at 700pm, departure is at 730pm and we will return at 1100pm. With two full bars, two grand decks and passed hors doeuvres - you will be in for one rockin evening with Jaimoes Jasssz Band on board Rhode Islands only Luxury Dinner Yacht - Majestic Dont miss out - get your tickets now

An Afternoon Of Mozart Classical Music Concert
A concert will be presented by the Barrington Presbyterian Church music program featuring their phenomenal choir and solo vocalistsinstrumentalists. They will be performing favorite works composed by W.A. Mozart. Free admission, freewill offering collected. Dont miss this fun event

Discover Colonial Newport Walking Tour
Hear stories of revolution, struggles for religious liberty and remarkable entrepreneurship among Newports diverse people.

Full WaterFire Lighting
A Full WaterFire Lighting sponsored in part by Amica Insurance and Welcoming Netroots Nation Conference to Providence, RI To kick off the night, WaterFire will be partnering with Day of Portugal and the Portuguese Heritage in RI, an event that celebrates and preserves the Portuguese community as a part of RIs rich culture. They will be an event at the Bank of America City Center with featured performers Joey Medeiros and Jorge Ferreira. WaterFire will usher in the night and their holiday Dia dePortugal, de Camoes e das Comunidades Portuguesas with a torch procession in Waterplace Park.

OPEN HOUSE
Have you always wondered what goes on at the Steel Yard, but never had a chance to swing by Have you seen our logo on the handmade public furniture and amenities around Providence and wondered about it Have you wanted to learn more about our course offerings Then come to our open house and get to know us a little better Even if youre familiar with the Steel Yard, you should still swing by. Well be offering demos in all media, studio tours, a yard sale, a Yardie art show, and an art and merchandise sale. Refreshments will be served. Youll also get to check out our revamped jewelry studio and our new outdoor foundry studio.

KINGSTON VILLAGE SPRING FAIR
MUSIC 11am-2pm, on the grounds of the Kingston Library. Rain site Potter Hall, 2605 Kingstown Road. ARTSandCRAFTS DEXTER FIDDLES Tavern Hall Antique Sale South County Art Association SCAA Annual Seconds Sale of Pottery BOOKS Kingston Library Book Sale and Childrens Activities Antiquarian books at the Kingston Hill Book Store FOOD Congregational Church Annual Bake Sale Kingston Maple Syrup Stand Candy Stand HISTORY Walking Tours of Kingston Village FARM PRODUCTS Kingston Maple Syrup Stand Reynolds Barn baby goats and goat products HORTICULTURE The Kinney Azalea Gardens and Annual Azalea Tea, 230-5pm.

Kingston Old Time Jam Sessions
Free and open to the public. Kingston Old Time Jam Sessions Guest Artist Series Featuring Mike Fischman, Bass, Guitar, and Mandolin, and The French Connection Sponsored by the Kingston Library and CDSS

Thursday, June 14, 600 - 800 p.m.
The tour will be led by Kristyn Woodland of T.J. Brown Landscaping. Individual highlights of this exquisite property include a ten acres property gorgeous views of the Sakonnet River, a large apple orchard leading to the house and gardens, an original farmhouse, a waterfall garden, a shade and fern grotto, several perennial borders, and an abundance of specimen trees.

Happy Fathers Day
Admission is free all day for dads and granddads. Families construct marble roller coasters from 1100 AM - 200 PM.

Summer Reading Kick-Off
Start a summer of reading with activities and recommended booklists from childrens librarians.

3rd Annual Chowder and Clam Cakes Event
3rd Annual Chowder and Clam Cakes Event June 3rd 1-5pm Celebrate the beginning of summer and enjoy all you can eat chowder and clam cakes, music, a cash bar, raffles and more for only a 12 donation Children under 12 eat free Proceeds will benefit Childrens Wishes and will help to grant wishes to local children with life-threatening illnesses. Please contact Childrens Wishes at 401-921-1300 or infocwishesri.com to purchase tickets. Thank you for helping us to grant wishes with love

Yoga Mala
Yoga therapist Liz Lindh of FLOW Natural Health has volunteered to lead the session, which will include music by whimsical art-rock band Castle. Participants are asked to donate 10 which will help fund free, family-oriented events like concerts and outdoor movie screening in Ballard Park this summer. The Yoga Mala will be held in Ballard Parks Quarry Meadow, which is best accessed through the Hazard Road entrance. Anyone interested in participating in the session should arrive at Ballard Park 15 minutes prior to the start of class to allow time for parking and to make their way into the Quarry Meadow. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

New Works by Mikel Wintermantel 2012
Isherwood Gallery is exhibiting New Works by Mikel Wintermantel, Copley Master featuring recent landscapes of Newport. The opening reception is Friday, May 18th, from 6 to 8pm. Mikel Wintermantel has had an expeditious rise in the art world with his luminous landscapes. He was accepted into the prestigious Copley Society in 2002 and attained Copley Master status in 2006. He was also awarded the John Singleton Copley Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement. He has been featured in American Artist magazine, Watercolor magazine and others. Meet the artist while enjoying light refreshments. Free and open to the public. This show is open through June 17th.

Night Light
Night Light, a creative arts concert featuring local artists, poets, rappers, dancers, and singers on Friday, May 25th at 730pm at 100 Niantic Avenue, Providence RI 02907. Free Admission. For more information visit www.newdimensionchurch.org or on twitter NightLightNews.

CHANNING and QUINN with Gill Moss
Channing and Quinn are a quirky two piece band based in Nashville, TN. The two originally met and began writing music in The Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, NC. In a live setting the two do the work of several musicians by playing guitar, ukulele, accordion, drums, glockenspiel, banjo and more.

TAPS Home Team Presents An Introduction to the Paranormal
The TAPS The Atlantic Paranormal Society Home Team will be hosting an event at the TAPS Office in Warwick RI on May 19th. The two hour presentation and QandA takes place at 11am, 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are 25 for adults and 15 for those under 18. Advance purchase highly recommended All proceeds to benefit a Groton woman battling cancer. Raffles to be held as well. Please come and delve into the world of the paranormal TAPS style with the members of TAPS that carry out all non production investigations for Jason Hawes. It will help a great cause For info and tickets contact tracithe-atlantic-paranormal-society.com We would love to have you all

Oakland Beach Elementary School presents The Stonecutter and The Addams Fam
Oakland Beach Elementary School is delighted to invite the public to its fantastic 2012 end of year performances devised by students. Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite Addams Family character. Donations accepted. All proceeds benefit the continuation of arts integrated curriculum projects at Oakland Beach Elementary School.

New Exhibitions
Maxwell Mays Gallery On and Off the Island Featuring William Heydt and Johanna McKenzie. Moitie Gallery Place and Form Featuring Paulette Carr. Dodge House Gallery Journeys, Passages, and Other Places Part II Featuring John DeMelim.

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ISRAEL - Shamar

Senior Arab MP: Neither Hamas nor Fatah Recognize Israel
Leaders of the Hamas terrorist group made it clear last week they would never recognize the existence of the nation of Israel. In an interview with the Arab news agency Ma'an, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said that while Hamas would be willing to accept an Arab state within the "1967 borders", Hamas would never recognize Israel since such a move would counter the group's aim to "liberate" all of "Palestine". The Hamas leader said that recognizing Israel would jeopardize the right of return for Arab 'refugees' who have been "exiled" from the land since 1948 when Israel was recognized by the United Nations. If only Arabs in Judea and Samaria and Gaza are considered citizens of an Arab state, he continued, "what will be the fate of the five million Palestinians [sic] in the Diaspora?" At the same time, the Hamas leader confirmed the decision reached with Fatah to maintain the truce with Israel, calling the move "part of the resistance, not a cancellation," and noting that "truce is not peace." The Hamas leader, however, reiterated that the truce was "part of the resistance not its rejection," adding that a "truce is not peace." Speaking in an interview with the Iranian news service FNA, a senior Arab legislator and member of the Fatah terrorist group underlined on Monday that Fatah and Hamas share the same view on Israel as neither one recognizes the Israeli regime as a state. "No one in Fatah and Hamas movements recognizes Israel," Abdullah Abdullah told FNA when asked if the so-called Fatah-Israel peace talks would continue, given Hamas's opposition to the process. [This is in direct opposition to what the United States, Britain and others proclaim regarding Fatah's stance on recognizing Israel.--ed] The comments came as Arabs and the international community await details of a unity agreement signed by Hamas and its former rival Fatah. The deal, signed in Cairo on May 4, paved the way for the creation of a unity government that will see the Hamas-led government in Gaza and the Fatah-led cabinet in Judea and Samaria dissolved and replaced by a single cabinet of independent technocrats. The new body will set a path to elections within the year, as committees established by the deal work to unify the Arab security forces in the two Arab-occupied territories and set a government platform which will include the reconstruction of Gaza. Already, officials announced that a deal had been made which will see the release of political prisoners from both areas within the week.

Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al this week warned Israel that it has one more year to recognize an independent Arab state. If Israel fails to do so, Hamas will "add new cards to the resistance," Masha'al told a group of young Egyptians who took part in the recent overthrow of dictator Hosni Mubarak. Ma'an further quoted Masha'al as saying the Arab state Israel recognizes must include 100 percent of Judea, Samaria, and the entire eastern half of Jerusalem. Israeli leaders say the reconciliation agreement and the possible formation of unity government including Hamas and Abbas's Fatah group has effectively killed all chances of a bilateral peace agreement. Israelis also argue that the deal is further evidence of the true goals of Abbas and his allegedly "moderate" leadership.

Representatives of Arab groups will meet in Cairo next week, where committees of delegates will be appointed to see through the implementation of a unity deal signed in the Egyptian capital the previous week. Head of the coalition of independent figures Abdul-Aziz Shiqaqi said in a statement Monday that the first committee to be appointed would be charged with the construction of a new PA/PLO cabinet, including prime minister and cabinet posts. Four other committees will also be appointed, Shiqaqi's statement said, to lay down rules and guidelines for elections, to restructure the PA/PLO, to reformulate a national security force and a fourth to create and maintain an atmosphere of unity, likely to include a commission on the release of political prisoners. "The new cabinet, according to the agreement signed in Cairo, will prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections, resolve internal conflicts resulting from long years of rivalry, rebuild the Gaza Strip, and re-unite the institutions of the Palestinian Authority," Shiqaqi said. Following the appointment of the committees and the launch of their work, Shiqaqi said an Egyptian delegation would visit the Gaza Strip and supervise the implementation of the agreement, and oversee any "obstacles that come up."

Last week, 27 US Senators sent a letter to US President Barack Obama demanding that US financial aid to the PA/PLO be halted if Hamas is brought back into the government. "It is imperative for you to make clear to Abbas that Palestinian Authority participation in a unity government with an unreformed Hamas will jeopardize its relationship with the United States, including its receipt of US aid," wrote the senators. All Republican senators and about half of Democratic senators support cutting aid to a PA/PLO that includes Hamas. The lawmakers reminded Obama that it is actually illegal to give US aid to those listed as terrorists by the US State Department, which Hamas is [although it does give aid to Fatah, whose sub-group, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, is designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department-ed]. [FNA, Ma'an, Ha'aretz]

Defense News Around the Middle East
Due to the recent political upheaval in the region, the US State Department and the US Department of Defense are reviewing its defense trade relationships with countries in the Middle East and even putting some of them on hold. The United States has put "on pause" some of its planned transactions with countries in the region, James Miller, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, told the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs during a May 12 hearing. As to the long term, the Obama administration is looking at the implications for defense trade on a country-by-country basis, as well as assessing the region as a whole, he said. The majority of US military aid to the region goes to Israel. [It is important to note that the bulk of this aid must be spent in the United States with US military contractors. In addition. many times Israel makes advanced technological improvements to US-made military equipment which it then provides to the US at no cost. This was the case, for instance, with the Patriot missile system the US provided to Israel during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf war. Many times the US also works in conjunction with Israel on military equipment projects.--ed] The United States also provides military financing to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen. During his speech to the Defense Trade Advisory Group at the State Department, Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, emphasized that arms transfers are used as tools to advance US foreign policy goals. However, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee expressed concern that arms sales to certain countries may no longer advance US foreign policy interests. Committee Chair Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), wanted assurance that all sales to the region comply with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy. Each sale goes through review before any deal is made, responded Ellen Tauscher, undersecretary for arms control and international security at the State Department.

Although Israel has been the Middle East's predominant military power, recent wars have exposed its main weakness: the vulnerability of its population centers to missile attacks. Since 2001 there have been more than 9,000 rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from terrorists in Gaza. These groups include Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Resistance Committees, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, and the Western-backed Fatah. These attacks have spurred the development of missile defense as a critical part of the Israeli arsenal. Israel has put together a multilayered shield designed to intercept rockets and missiles capable of striking it from as close as the Gaza Strip and as far away as Iran, reflecting concern that future conflicts will target Israel's civilian population centers. At Palmachim air base in central Israel, soldiers in a fortified control room are training to activate a cornerstone of this shield -- the Arrow missile defense system, meant to protect Israel from its enemy Iran's expanding array of missiles. The Arrow, produced jointly by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. and Chicago-based Boeing Co. at a cost of more than $1 billion, is being deployed in Israel after successful tests in both Israel and the US It has not been tested in combat, but the system is already in its third generation, having been fine-tuned to deal with increasingly complicated threats. The Arrow was designed to counter Iran's Shahab ballistic missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and whose range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), puts Israel well within striking distance. Despite Iranian denials, Israel is convinced Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

In order to demonstrate Israel's capabilities, the military took foreign journalists Thursday to the Palmachim air force base for a rare look at its latest air defense weapons. A highlight was the Iron Dome system, which in its first operational deployment last month successfully intercepted rockets fired at southern Israeli cities by Arab terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Designed to defend against short-range rockets that can travel up to 45 miles, the Iron Dome is the bottom tier of Israel's multi-layered missile defense system, which also includes the Arrow for long-range ballistic threats and a system under development known as David's Sling, designed to intercept medium-range rockets and missiles. During terrorist attacks from Gaza in April, two newly deployed Iron Dome batteries downed eight of nine rockets fired at the southern cities of Ashkelon and Beersheba. The system had a 100 percent interception rate when it was test-fired, according to a Defense Ministry spokesman, who added that it could be considered "a game changer" in Israel's confrontation with Gaza terrorists. Defense Ministry director general Maj. Gen. (res.) Udi Shani says that Israel plans to invest nearly $1 billion in the coming years for the development and production of Iron Dome rocket interception batteries. Israeli critics have cautioned that a full deployment of the system may prove too costly, as well as inadequate to protect large metropolitan areas. They have also described the system's reaction time as too slow at very short ranges, including distances of less than 2.5 miles near the Gaza border. Shani told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz this week that five countries have expressed an interest in Iron Dome, spurred by its success on the Gaza front, but he did not elaborate.

In addition to the Iron Dome there are plans to invest, over the coming five years, another $1 billion in the continued development of Magic Wand, a medium-level missile interception system developed by Rafael, the maker of the Iron Dome system. "Along with the third system, Arrow Mark III, whose development is done with the Americans," Shani added, "it will be the largest technological development project in the field of missile interception in the world. The success of Iron Dome has increased interest. Five countries have issued requests for information about the system."

Meanwhile there are delays in the production of the new Air Force fighter the F-35, and these will affect its effective entry into the IAF. The delay may be as long as three years, with the first aircraft arriving in 2018. "During the last visit by [US] Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to Israel a month ago, we were told that the delay may be shorter than they originally thought. In any case, I am not nervous about it," Shani said. "This [delay] may actually serve our interests. I favor an aircraft with as many Israeli-made systems as possible," he added. "We will see how they try to meet our requests over this time. In the original timetable, it was argued that there was no time [to incorporate Israeli systems into the Israeli F-35s]. We will hear their conclusions and I expect a dialogue with the Americans over the new timetable and the changes." The idea that the Air Force will, in the meantime, acquire another squadron of F-15s in order to meet the gap that will be created "is not relevant." The delay may mean that in the future there will be more aircraft coming to Israel in a shorter period of time, and the numbers procured may rise from 20 to 30.

The Defense Ministry is also set to invest millions to upgrade Israel's space communication capabilities, to enable reconnaissance and surveillance satellites used by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to provide real-time intelligence. As things stand, Israeli satellites can only download their data when they fly directly over Israel which can mean a delay of up to 90 minutes, a critical handicap in times of conflict. Israel currently operates the Ofek 9, Ofek 7, and the Ofek 5 satellites, as well as the advanced TecSar satellite which is one of only a handful in the world that uses advanced radar technology instead of a camera. The IDF also receives services from two commercially owned satellites known as Eros A and B. Sources in the IDFs C4I Directorate said on Tuesday, however, that one of the current drawbacks for Israel was its inability to download footage taken by a satellite before it completes its 90-minute orbit across the Earth when it can link up to one of Israel's satellite ground stations. Currently, Israel's satellite coverage is considered fairly comprehensive due to the relatively high number of satellites it operates in space. With at least four military-designated satellites, the IDF can continuously track targets or areas of interest by having satellites fly over them at short intervals. To facilitate the data transfer back to Israel, the Defense Ministry is considering launching a communications satellite that will be solely used for military purposes. Such a project is considered ambitious and extremely expensive. In the meantime, the country is moving forward with plans to launch the Amos-4 communications satellite, which will augment two communications satellites currently in space, in early 2013. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries, the 4.2-ton Amos is said to be more capable that its three predecessors. The satellite has 10 antennas which will provide coverage over Africa, Asia and Europe. One of the 10 antennas is a multi-beam antenna, and two of the others are dual band and wideband antennas, which can transmit and receive on two different frequencies.

Iran has largely defeated United Nations' sanctions and continues to develop ballistic missiles, enrich uranium, and test rocket-delivery systems, according to a UN report. The report, leaked to the Associated Press, said the sanctions had made it "costlier and riskier" for Iran to acquire the technology and equipment it needed for its nuclear and missile activities. But, the investigation asserted, Iran was able to circumvent the sanctions by using front companies to conceal shipments, financial transactions, and the transfer of conventional arms and related materiel from abroad. Syria, its neighbor and closest ally, was fingered as its biggest facilitator in exporting conventional weapons. The final report was to be officially released on Thursday.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced on Sunday that Iran plans to produce long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, but meantime dismissed the speculations that Tehran is working on plans to develop an Iranian version of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile shield. Speaking to reporters here in Tehran, Vahidi announced that Tehran has no plan to produce S-300 or S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, but at the same time stressed Iran's resolve to produce other indigenous long-range air defense systems. An Iranian top military commander had announced several months ago that Tehran is able to replace the Russian-made anti-aircraft S-300 missiles with other air defense systems. Code named 'the SA-20 Gargoyle' by NATO, the S-300 system is a mobile land-based system designed to detect and shoot down aircraft within a 120 kilometer (75 mile) distance. The advanced version of the S-300 missile system, called S-300PMU1 (SA-20 Gargoyle), has a range of over 150 kilometers (over 100 miles) and can intercept ballistic missiles and aircraft at low and high altitudes, making the system an effective tool for warding off possible air strikes.

Senior Iranian military officials announced on Monday that the country's latest home-made missile system, Sayyad 2, has been deployed in all air-defense units across the country. Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli told FNA that the new air-defense system would boost the capabilities of Iran's air-defense units to a large degree. As regards the capabilities of the new missile system, Esmayeeli stated that the system will "increase the range, altitude and tracking and interception power of the country's missile shield". Iran had earlier unveiled Sayyad 1 surface-to-air missile which is a two-staged air defense missile that is capable of destroying targets with low Radar Cross Section (RCS) at low and medium altitudes. The system enjoys the capability to defuse jamming and electronic warfare attacks. Sayyad 2 is an upgraded version and enjoys higher precision, range and destruction power compared with its previous version. In April, Iran successfully test-fired two mid-range Hawk missiles named "Shahin" capable of tracing and targeting aggressive aircraft at low and medium altitudes. The two Shahin missiles were launched from a home-made air defense system named "Mersad". The Mersad air defense shield is a completely indigenized system developed by the Iranian experts and technicians to promote the country's combat power. The system was deployed in all Army air-defense units on Sunday to boost the country's air-defense power. The Mersad system equipped with Shahin missiles is capable of tracing and targeting any enemy aircraft at 70 to 150 kilometers (43.5 to 93 miles) altitude and is considered as a mid-altitude system among the country's missile defense shields.

Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army Brigadier General Abdul-Rahim Mousavi announced that the Army plans to test its ground forces' mobility in massive military exercises in the next few days. Mousavi said that the joint drills, dubbed as "Jafar Tayyar (AS)" will be held in Iran's Southeastern regions from Shabbat and will last for a week. The commander announced that multi-purpose ground units, offensive choppers, airborne logistics and transportation units, Air Force bombers and fighter jets and air defense units will participate in the drills. As regards the objectives of the military drills, Mousavi stated, "Tactics for rapid deployment and redeployment, consecutive rearrangement and reformation and engagement in multiple-front confrontations will be exercised in the drills." He further said that Army will also assess the efficiency and mobility of its forces as well as the flexibility and dynamicity of the structure of its forces in the drills. [Defense News, The Washington Post, Haaretz, FNA, The Media Line, Jerusalem Post, AP]

PA/PLO TV Presents Female Terrorist as Role Model for Women
Last week PA/PLO TV rebroadcast a clip from a 2010 Arab world TV campaign which among others presents terrorist Dalal Mughrabi as a role model to women. Mughrabi was a PLO terrorist who was involved in the 1978 Coastal Road massacre which killed 38 civilians, including 13 children. In the Arab campaign she is venerated as a role model for "martyrdom" and "victory over enmity". Another role model presented was Al Khansa, a 7th century Arab poet who celebrated her four sons's martyrdom deaths in battle. She is praised as an example of "resolve" and "martyrdom and giving". As reported by PMW, a TV clip presenting several "model women" was broadcast on more than 50 Arab TV stations in November and December 2010, including PA/PLO TV, as part of a TV campaign to "support women's issues" in the Arab world. The clip is part of the "White Hands Campaign -- the largest media campaign to support women's issues," which is organized by "the Arab Producers Union for TV (APUTV)", according to the campaign's English Web site. When PMW first reported on this campaign, the Web site listed the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as part of the campaign's organizers and carried the organization's logo. Following PMW's exposure of the UN's stated involvement in the campaign, UNFPA issued a press release "disavowing" its involvement in the campaign. The campaign has since removed the UNFPA logo from its Web site. The Web site explains that "women are essential partners and important actors for the development of society," and mentions that one of the campaign's objectives is "to bring about distinguished women samples that have offered great services to society." It further states that "societies signal distinguished samples of personalities with pride, and reflect the spotlights on them in order for them [Arab women] to take an inspirational course for generations to come. Arabic societies, like other societies, highly appreciate figures where great virtues of giving transcend in different fields, and there is nothing greater than distinguished women in our societies, as they are great models to be followed by the old or the young, these women can be the working farmers, the teachers, the doctors, the engineers, the scientists, the lawyers, the activists in all fields whether social or political, they are the ones to sacrifice, and in all of their cases, they are the mothers!" The campaign's English Web site also states that "APUTV works under the umbrella of the Arab League, and through the Arab Ministers Information Council." APUTV's official headquarters are in Cairo, Egypt. [PMW]