[IRAN]
Female Ninjas Sue over ‘Assassins’ Label
The Reuters news agency has been reportedly banned in Iran after it described a group of female martial artists as “assassins” in a news report. One woman said the report could damage their chances of participating in international tournaments because of the credibility of the news source.
The video on the news site showed a group of Iranian women in the city of Karaj training in ninjutsu, a Japanese martial art form. The initial headline spoke of “Iran’s assassins”, but was quickly corrected.
Some of the women reportedly threatened to sue Reuters for libel.
Iran’s culture ministry said it had suspended the news agency’s permit to operate in Iran.
[UNITED STATES] 13th Day of The New Year
Iranian-Americans took to the parks to celebrate SizdehBedar, the 13th day of the Persian New Year, on Sunday with sprouted seeds in plates and bowls in hands. 
SizdehBedar is an ancient festival that goes back thousands of years to the time when Zoroastrianism was the predominant religion of Persia. The festival falls on the thirteenth day of Nowruz, Sizdeh means 13 and Bedar means “passing” in Farsi.
Families and friends gathered with blankets, rugs, food, drinks, games, sometimes hookahs and music to socialize and stay outdoors, as it is believed to be bad luck to stay indoors for the holiday.
Other than America, Iran and Canada, Nowruz is also celebrated parts of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.
Got photos of your SizdehBedar celebration? Submit to [email protected].
[ISRAEL]The Unintentional Peace Campaign
Israeli graphic designer and father, RonyEdry, 41, posted a Facebook photo of himself standing in a white shirt, holding his 4 year-old daughter with an Israeli flag in her hand. Written below them in big print is the message: “Iranians. We will
never bomb your country. We love you.”
He didn’t intend for a huge campaign. He just wanted to share his message with the world, with Iranians.
The craziest thing happened, Edry said. Iranians responded by saying things like, “we don’t want to do it either.”
Edry said, if you had asked a week ago whether an online anti-war campaign could prevent a war, he would have had his doubts. “But now,” he said. “It’s so refreshing, you know, just to say, ‘I love you. I don’t want war with you.'”
Israeli campaign organizers published website stats showing that some 33,000 Iranian web users visited the campaign page on Facebook over the past week. In addition, a total of 50,000 Facebook members have already ‘liked’ the page.
[UNITED STATES]
‘Game of Thrones’ Kick Ass Theme
Television program GAME OF THRONES started its second season last weekend and gets to boasts one of the best television thanks to Iranian-German Ramin Djawadi, also the genius behind film score for IRON MAN and TV’s PERSON OF INTEREST.
He was born in Duisburg, Germany to an Iranian father and German mother. After graduating summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 1998, moved to Los Angeles and worked on writing music for several projects including PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL.Djawadi also composed the Emmy-nominated main title theme music for PRISON BREAK and the title theme for the related show BREAKOUT KINGS.
EVENTS
[VERMONT]
Multimedia Gallery Persian Visions
at the Fleming Museum
The exhibit, Persian Visions introduces nearly 60 works of photography and video by 20 of Iran’s most celebrated photographers. The perspective of these artists contradicts that of many foreign photographers use of the medium – which is to represent Iran and its people as purely exotic. In expressing different
visions of their world; the artists offer a glimpse into both private and public realms. This exhibition builds a visual bridge between Iran and the United States as it leads viewers to become aware of other ways of being and seeing.
Currently on display at the Fleming Museum.For info www.flemingmuseum.org or 656-0750.
[LOS ANGELES]
Art Gallery
Traditional Iranian Art Exhibit: RaziehMehdizadeh
RAZIEH MEHDIZADEH debuts her work at the Levantine Cultural Center this month in her first gallery exhibition. From Mashad, Iran, Raziehcompiled her own collection of poems from her favorite poets such as HAFEZ, SHAHRIYAR, PARVIN ETESAMI and EMAD
KHORASANI and original drawings inspired by the meaning and beauty of the poems from her perspective which she called Razieh’sGolchin (Razieh’s hand-picked collection).
Fast forward to present day when Razieh moved to California, and after 30 years of yearning to take art classes began intensive training with Mr. Peyman, refining her oil painting techniques. Her love of Persian history drew her to the Qajar period paintings by Mr. Shakiba, where she found more inspiration. Her art saved her during dark hours of her life, and now she wishes to share it with the world.
RaziehMehdizadehArt Exhibition at Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles April 14 at 6pm. For info 310-657-551or visit www.levantinecenter.org.