At a glance

Iran's WoodstockTEHRAN: Iran's post-Islamic Revolution pop stars will gather next month for an open-air pop concert, considered a milesto...

Iran8217;s Woodstock

TEHRAN: Iran8217;s post-Islamic Revolution pop stars will gather next month for an open-air pop concert, considered a milestone in the country8217;s restricted cultural sphere, the Iran daily reported on Sunday. All music giants of the country, whose music is tolerated by the country8217;s cultural centres, will attend the nine-hour open-air pop concert on July 2 at the International Tehran Fairground, the daily said. The daily said the Islamic Propagation Organisation, the conservative body in charge of global propaganda of Islamic values, has, surprisingly, arranged the concert. Female singers are still not allowed to attend the concert.but permitted in privately-held women-only concerts. Iranian authorities are also reportedly considering an invitation to perform for former British pop star Cat Stevens.

Doomsday paranoia

HONG KONG: A prophecy by the 16th century French astrologer and physician Nostradamus that the world would end next month has gripped Japan, Time magazine said ina statement on Sunday. Despite a culture influenced by Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism, Nostradamus is a household name in Japan and his doomsday scenarios are familiar to everyone, said the magazine. Attention is currently focussed on one doom-laden 18-word sentence in Nostradamus8217; writings. 8220;The great king of terror will fall from the sky in the seventh month of the year 1999,8221; the physician wrote in 1555. Time said news such as the recent Yellow Sea naval battle between the two Koreas, the weakness of the Japanese yen, and even Martina8217;s Hingis8217; loss at Wimbledon had only further convinced many Japanese that the apocalypse was imminent.

Americans under pressure8217;

WASHINGTON: Keeping up with the Joneses has never been harder, according to a Newsweek survey released on Saturday. Six out of 10 Americans said in the weekly US magazine8217;s poll that they had missed out on the benefits of the stock market boom. And 72 percent said the strong economy had brought more social pressure to buy biggerhouses, pricier cars and sundry baubles to keep up with their neighbours. One-quarter of respondents said all that pressure stressed them out. Despite their aspirations, only 28 percent said their current jobs offered a chance of making them wealthy, and 71 percent said they had no chance at all. Even with investments, inheritance and luck factored in, 57 percent said it was unlikely or not likely at all that they would become wealthy. Some 41 percent said they were likely or somewhat likely to find fortune.