News Archive - 23 October 2009

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran ignored a U.N. deadline on Friday to respond to an international draft deal for it to cut an atomic stockpile the West fears could be used for weapons, and challenged the basis of the pact.Iranian officials said they would give an answer only...

> It said it was awaiting a "positive and constructive" response from world powers to its proposal on providing nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor producing medical isotopes, state television reported. "Now we are awaiting a positive and constructive response on Iran's proposal from the other party on providing nuclear...

By Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Nigeria Lukman Haruna brought back the 2007 Under-17 World Cup to Nigeria After a nervy wait the Fifa Under-17 World Cup kicks off this weekend in the Nigerian capital Abuja.The grand ceremony to officially open the tournament will precede the match between hosts...

nytimes.com: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia A short midlevel cleric, with a neat white beard and a clergyman's calm bearing, Mehdi Karroubi has watched from his home in Tehran in recent months as his aides have been arrested, his offices raided, his newspaper shut down. He himself has been threatened...

> BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's high-priority Middle East peace drive has run into predictable quicksands, even as other foreign policy challenges in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and beyond clamor for his attention. Israel has rebuffed Obama's request for a complete freeze on settlement construction, while Arab states,...

> CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) - With a fleet of vehicles resembling huge insects, spaceships and solar panels, motoring enthusiasts and manufacturers from around the world have gathered in northern Australia for a car race with a difference. Known as the Global Green Challenge, solar-powered and fuel-efficient cars will set...

> Hours after Tehran ignored a Friday deadline to deliver its formal response to the proposal to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said "our patience is not limitless." "We hope that they will next week provide a positive response," Kelly told a news...

VIENNA - Iran will respond next week to a UN-brokered deal aimed at easing fears about its nuclear programme, rejected a Friday deadline for the agreement on uranium enrichment, the UN atomic watchdog said.

> "Iran is interested in buying fuel for the Tehran research reactor within the framework of a clear proposal ... we are waiting for the other party's constructive and trust-building response," TV quoted a member of Iran's negotiating team as saying. Iran was reacting to a proposal from the U.N.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Friday failed to accept a U.N.-drafted plan that would ship most of the country's uranium abroad for enrichment, saying instead it would prefer to buy the nuclear fuel it needs for a reactor that makes medical isotopes. The response will come as...

The historic face-to-face meeting between Iranian and US diplomats in Geneva earlier this month has opened the possibilities for future dialogue. But it remains to be seen if there is really an opportunity for the de-escalation of Iran's nuclear crisis.

Lahore, Oct. 24 : For the first time in history, Pakistan is facing diplomatic and domestic challenges at the same time, with deteriorating bilateral relations with the US, Iran and India and dismal security situation within the country, a senior Pakistani journalist has said.

Here we go again. In his Oct.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez reaffirmed his support for Israel and made it clear anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment would not be tolerated, in his remarks to the United Jewish Federal of Princeton Mercer Bucks on Sunday night.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are to arrive to Iran on Saturday to visit the country's new uranium enrichment plant southwest of Tehran .

The fight against international terrorism cannot be successful by doing deals with terror groups for short term gains, India has said, as it asked for a comprehensive global movement against the menace.

Two billionaires will do battle in a New York court next week in the culmination of a bitter dispute over the America's Cup.

Celebrating Armenian Independence Day is a little tricky.

Home>>World >> Americas...

President Obama keeps roaring out deadlines like a lion — only later to meow like a little kitty.Remember, for example, how he bellowed to cheering partisan crowds that he would close down the detainment facility at Guantanamo within a year?The clock ticks — and Guantanamo isn’t close to...

Fund will provide between $25m and $150m for projects to boost employment.

A delay in the January parliamentary election could lead to chaos, a top aide to Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader warned...

Iran said on Friday that it will respond next week to the draft agreement presented by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about providing higher-level enriched uranium for Iran, the English-language satellite channel Press TV reported.

Iran on Friday deferred a decision on accepting an international offer to supply fuel to a nuclear research reactor, saying an answer would come next week on a deal that would greatly reduce the Islamic republic's stockpile of low-enriched uranium.

He was in charge of finding the weapons of mass destruction, and consequently his name in headlines worldwide: Hans Blix. He came to Little Rock to speak to the Clinton School. But first, he sat down with Craig O'Neill to talk about the past and the future.

After years on the run, Gilda Ghanipour stumbled upon a retired immigration judge and his Pepperdine law students, who championed her quest for asylum. She won her case. But she doesn't know it. Gilda Ghanipour has spent the last nine years on the run.

The mention of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in today's political sphere, or even general society seems to elicit no less than vigorous chair-throwing and shouting matches, the likes of which are fit for the Jerry Springer Show. But the real question is, why? To begin with, there is the not-so-discrete...

The Honors Program and Services for Women Students at Weber State University are hosting a series of four "Lunch and Learn" lectures highlighting pioneering women in countries around the world. Spanish professor Alicia Giralt set up the lectures. Giralt originally planned on teaching a class for the Honors Program...

U.S. President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize after less than nine months in office. His critics at home and abroad say the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision came too early since Mr. Obama cannot yet claim any concrete achievement in dealing with challenging global issues.

These are not great times to be an football fan in Iran... Former Iran coach Heshmat Mohajerani believes that current national team boss Afshin Ghotbi has a tall task ahead.

Iran missed its deadline on Friday to declare whether it would accept a nuclear deal that would ship much of its uranium to Russia for processing, but said a decision would be announced next week. In a statement, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran had suggested in discussions...

To the Editor:.

The journalist Maziar Bahari release from an Iranian prison was welcomed news, but it does not mean that Iran has been seized with humanitarian spirit.

A thawing out of frosty relations betwen Iran and the West was evident Friday. The United States, Russia and France endorsed a proposal by the Director-general of the IAEA Mohamed ElBarade tabled on Wednesday, which followed talks over 3 days between Iran and world powers in Vienna, Austria.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran needs more time to decide whether to back a plan that would ship most of the country’s uranium abroad for enrichment.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iran next week adds to concerns that Ankara may be slowly turning its back on its Western allies and seeking to regain its status as a regional power in the Middle East.

Even with all the awards and accolades our president has already received for “talking about” change, hope, diplomacy and peace, President Barack Obama seems to know little about being a change agent, about building hope in anything but getting a government stimulus “bailout” or about seeking “peace” through bipartisan diplomacy...

When the inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival opens next week in Doha, Qatar’s capital, its slate of movies will reflect months of effort to balance the mix of Arab and Western films.

Belgrade - For the Jovanovic family, the Belgrade Book Fair, which opens Monday, is an annual family gathering - food for the soul they call it. The first time I went to the fair I was a student. I can still remember the smell of the new books and...

NEW YORK: The earnings-driven rally of the past few weeks appears to have run out of steam on Wall Street, leaving the market in search of a new catalyst heading into the final stretch of 2009.

We've made it to another Friday night-hope you have a nice weekend and GO YANKEES! NW FLIGHT MYSTERY-So what happened in the cockpit of NW Flight #188? As you recall, the pilots told police “they had become involved in conversation”...

Berkeley blogger Jane Stillwater has settled a lawsuit against the federal government for $1,362, the cost of an airplane ticket to Kuwait and the price of 15 mocha lattes at the airport Starbucks, where she spent two sleepless days because her previously approved embed with the U.

The Obama administration signaled impatience with Iran after the Tehran government ignored a Friday deadline to respond to a U.N.-brokered deal aimed at easing concerns over its nuclear program. Iran has promised a reply by next week.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran put off until next week a formal response to a U.N.-backed plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for enrichment, the country's nuclear envoy said Friday. The West sees the proposal as a way to curb Tehran's alleged efforts to make...

It is human nature to focus on immediate threats and shift our attention to new threats when the first threat does not quickly materialize. In Ventura County, we tend to be aware of firestorms because they are an annual event. Even faced with that certainty, many people do not keep...

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict; it's something everyone knows about to some degree. On the outside it appears as if there are two groups, the Israelis and the Palestinians, who both believing that they have a claim to the same tiny piece of land, smaller than New Jersey.

Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks give their take on the week's news, including the decision to call an Afghan presidential runoff vote for Nov. 7 and a move by the White House to publicly criticize the FOX cable news network.

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran ignored a U.N. deadline on Friday to respond to an international draft deal for it to cut an atomic stockpile the West fears could be used for weapons, and challenged the basis of the pact.

In the electronic global village, the demise of a famous resident - even if he is just a two-dimensional has-been - gives us an opportunity to express our sense of belonging, writes Bruce Elder.

The authorities raided a prayer ceremony in Tehran, reformist Web sites reported, and a witness said 60 people were taken into custody.

Iran has delayed its response to a United Nations-backed uranium enrichment plan aimed at easing international concerns that Iran's nuclear program is being used to develop weapons.

Recommendations of recent books from the staffs of a rotating list of Bay Area independent bookstores. This week's list is from Towne Center Books, 555 Main St., Pleasanton. (925) 846-8826. www.townecenterbooks.com. Fiction Going Away Shoes, by Jill McCorkle:...

KUANTAN: Two lecturers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) did the country proud by bagging three gold medals and two special awards at the British Invention Show 2009 in London last week. One of t...

G. Willow Wilson covers some of the same mind-bending topical terrain as Lost in her Eisner-nominated series. The globe-trotting writer has also been known to whip up a mean essay on hyperpraxis when she's not revivifying Amelia Earhart.

Vienna, Oct 23 (AFP) Pressure mounted on Iran to agree a UN-brokered nuclear deal today after Russia approved a proposal under which it would enrich uranium for the Islamic Republic.

Washington, Oct 23 (AFP) The United States gave its backing today to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposals that aim to break the deadlock over Iran's nuclear efforts, the White House said.

Iran 's government said tonight that it saw a UN-brokered deal to export much of its enriched uranium "in a favourable light", but asked for a few days' extension of a UN deadline to make up its mind.

The Past Two Week's Top Stories in International Affairs: The Real Deal with Iran The 5+1 (UN Permanent Security Council Members plus Germany) were able...

Iran has ignored a deadline to respond to a proposed deal from the UN nuclear watchdog, saying it would give its verdict next week. Tehran's playing for time, coupled with reports of a counter-proposal that would keep its enriched uranium in-country, cast fresh doubts on the success of the diplomatic...

The US responded on Friday to Iran’s failure to meet a deadline for a high-profile nuclear deal by saying it was willing to wait a few more days but that its patience was limited.

La Mirada Republican Tim Escobar has been named chairman of the Southeast chapter of the Los Angeles County Lincoln Clubs.

Iran says it will respond to UN draft plan on uranium enrichment next week

Iran put off a formal response to a U.N. backed plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for enrichment.

WASHINGTON : The United States on Friday said the defence bill authorisation of $700 million in counterinsurgency assistance for Pakistan is absolutely unconditional with its top official for the region Richard Holbrooke stressing that the legislation o ....

Iran put off until next week a formal response to a U.N.-backed plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for enrichment, the country's nuclear envoy said Friday. The West sees the proposal as a way to curb Tehran's alleged efforts to make nuclear weapons.

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WASHINGTON -- Iran hedged Friday on accepting a deal that would transfer most of its low-enriched uranium out of the country to be converted for peaceful uses, saying it wants more time to study the deal and suggesting that it prefers a different approach.

Vice President Joe Biden makes significant strides during a trip to Central Europe this week in relieving anxieties the Obama administration stirred up when it scrapped a Bush-era plan for missile defense.

Crossroads Film Society presents "Those Three" (Iran) and "What a Wonderful World" (Morocco). PLEASE NOTE: Entry errors sometimes occur. Always use the provided contact information to verify event times and locations.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cyclists and people who spend long periods of time in a squatting position may be at greater risk of developing arthritis in their knees, new research shows.

Worried that too many tweets are mere pointless babble ? So is Australia’s Griffith University, who recently made Twitter education part of the mandatory courseload for journalism students. According to a senior lecturer at the University, “Some students’ tweets are not as in depth as you might like.” The solution?...

The New York Review blog has two new posts up today, from Haleh Esfandiari, who writes about her tenure in Evin Prison in Tehran, and Ahmed Rashid, who delves into how exactly the U.S convinced Hamid Karzai to hold a run-off election. The Huffington Post has excerpts below.

When it comes to Iran, the U.S. may be facing a cataclysm.

The White House Friday highlighted a new multi-million-dollar technology fund for Muslim nations, following a pledge made by President Barack Obama in his landmark speech to the Islamic world.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited campus Tuesday, sparking protests outside McAlister Auditorium Tulane University Campus Programming brought Olmert to campus despite his recent indictment in Israel. He discussed both national issues — such as Israel’s educational system — and international issues, including Iran’s nuclear facilities. He also spoke about the...

A senior Obama adviser says White House staffers realized they'd never get a fair shake from Fox.

Iran put off until next week a formal response to a U.N.-backed plan to ship much of its uranium to Russia for enrichment, the country's nuclear envoy said Friday. The West sees the proposal as a way to curb Tehran's alleged efforts to make nuclear weapons.

Afghan president accepts runoff President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has agreed to a runoff after the country’s election commission confirmed that he received less than 50 percent of the vote. Karzai continues to dismiss allegations of election fraud. Though a runoff with his main competitor Abdullah Abdullah is seen as a...

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics,...

The United Arab Emirates has no basis to lay claim to three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, the Iranian foreign minister said.

WASHINGTON : The United States froze Friday the assets of a North Korean bank after the Treasury designated it a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, officials said.

Iran is being accused by Iraq of stealing its water. Baghdad says that Tehran is diverting rivers that connect to the Shat-el-Arab waterway, which flows into the Gulf.

While negotiations with Iran are hitting snags at every turn, the U.S. has quietly inked a massive nuclear deal with Iran's neighbor, the United Arab Emirates.

As negotiations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency stutter on, tit for tat accusations between Tehran and the West become ever more intense.

> The other parties -- the United States, Russia and France -- have already approved the deal drafted by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA). Iran faced a Friday deadline to endorse the agreement. Its response appeared designed to buy time to avert any tightening...

Brussels - The European Union's executive is to propose new laws capping greenhouse gas emissions from light commercial vehicles, or vans, despite fierce lobbying from manufacturers, officials in Brussels said Friday. Environmental groups say that th...

Tel Aviv - As the world awaited Iran's formal reply Friday to a proposal under which it would send most of its low-enriched uranium abroad for processing, voices in Israel against the compromise were growing. The latest was Israeli opposition leader ...

Berlin - Thousands of cheering fans greeted British singer Robbie Williams at the start of a surprise mini-concert in Berlin on Friday. The 35-year-old star launched into the free performance with his current hit single Bodies. ...

Paris - Jean Todt will succeed Max Mosley as president of motorsport's ruling body the FIA on a four-year term until 2013 after winning Friday's vote by the organization's member clubs. The ex-Ferrari team boss claimed a comfortable victory over his ...

Rome - Italy and France want the European Union to clinch a deal with Libya aimed at helping the North African nation control its borders and stem the flown of illegal immigrants across the Mediterranean to Europe, the Italian government said Friday....

After France, Russia and US accepted the IAEA director's compromise plan for Iran to export three-quarters of its low-enriched uranium overseas for reprocessing as fuel Friday Oct. 23, Iranian state TV announced Tehran had opted to purchase enriched uranium overseas and not send it out for further enrichment.

> Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar arrived in neighboring Pakistan Friday for talks on efforts to combat the Sunni group after the Sunday attack in mainly Shi'ite Iran. "We have documents that show (Abdolmalik) Rigi travels readily to Pakistan ... we are here to ask Pakistan to hand over Rigi to...