News Archive - 14 February 2011

TEHRAN, Iran — Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked central Tehran on Monday as security forces beat and fired tear gas at opposition supporters hoping to evoke Egypt's recent popular uprising. The opposition called for a demonstration Monday in solidarity with Egypt's popular revolt...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will unveil a new U.S. push for global Internet freedoms on Tuesday, citing Internet-fired protests in Egypt and Iran as examples of how new technologies can spark political transformation. Clinton, making her second major address on Internet policy amid growing evidence...

>Facing a wave of strikes, the military rulers held talks on Monday with young activists who were at the forefront of the uprising which ousted president Mubarak on Friday.Wael Ghonim, a Google executive who had been detained for his part in the uprising, said members of the military council...

> "There were clashes between security forces and protestors in Isfahan and dozens of people were arrested," the witness told Reuters by telephone. (Tehran newsroom, +98 21 8820 8770) Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints...

>IRAN -- Dozens of opposition supporters were arrested on Monday while taking part in a banned rally in Tehran to support popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, an Iranian opposition website said.-- Security forces fired teargas to scatter thousands of opposition supporters marching toward a Tehran square, a witness...

(AP:BANGKOK) Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday as investors digested news that China's inflation rate remained elevated in January following a jump in food prices.

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, in an abrupt turnaround, has rejected an offer to coach the Iranian national squad, Football Federation of the Islamic Republic (FFIRI) head Ali Kafashian said in an interview Monday night on the popular Iranian TV sports program, "90."

CAIRO — Tens of thousands of protesters faced club-wielding security forces Monday in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran in what experts said may be shaping up as a pro-democracy wave ignited by the revolts that drove Egypt and Tunisia's autocratic rulers from power.

A former BP drilling operations chief resigned just months before last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill amid disagreements over the oil giant's commitment to safety, a class-action lawsuit says. Related Stories Terror-charge boss 'threatened UK' Ecuadorean judge fines Chevron £6bn Arizona in new immigration storm Eurozone finds £421bn crisis...

Tehran, Iran — Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked central Tehran on Monday, killing one person, as opposition supporters tried to evoke the spirit of Egypt's recent uprising.

Carlos Queiroz has decided his next job will be in Saudi Arabia rather than Iran. Former Portugal boss and Manchester Untied assistant Carlos Queiroz has passed up the opportunity to coach Iran despite being in advanced negotiations with the Iran Football Federation (IFF).

Tens of thousands of protesters faced club-wielding security forces Monday in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran in what experts said may be shaping...

SINGAPORE - Oil prices rose to above $85 a barrel Tuesday in Asia as violent street protests in Iran raised fears crude supplies could be disrupted from one of world's biggest producers.

Washington, Feb 15 (PTI) Noting that Tehran, which over last three weeks has constantly hailed what went on in Egypt, is now denying the same rights to its own people, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it as an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will unveil a new U.S. push for global Internet freedoms Tuesday, citing Internet-fired protests in Egypt and Iran as examples of how new technologies can spark political transformation.

Researcher responding to Symantec report speculates that Kalaye Electric in Iran was infected. Compare your salary Use the IT salary benchmark wizard and know the average salary differences between different job functions. Join activeTechPros. http://www.activetechpros.com

Relatives mourn children killed in Christmas Island boat tragedy as politicians bicker over the cost.

Days after India put in place a mechanism to pay for Iranian crude oil, payments to the nation’s second largest oil supplier are yet to begin as the tedious process of certification is still underway.

Tehran was convulsed by protests yesterday as thousands of demonstrators inspired by the success of the uprising in Egypt took to the streets of the Iranian capital for the first time in more than a year. Related Stories Judge rejects Beckham legal action Beckham defiant over libel defeat 46-hour Thai...

Britain is looking to open up a new dialogue on security co-operation with Moscow, four years after breaking off contacts with the Russian security service following the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Related Stories Judge rejects Beckham legal action Beckham defiant over libel defeat 46-hour Thai smooch is longest kiss Death...

The price of benchmark crude fell to its lowest level in 12 weeks yesterday as oil traders weighed growing US oil supplies against unrest in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 77 cents to settle at US$84.81 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

It would be easier to forgive the Obama administration's lackluster handling of the political crisis in Egypt over the last couple of weeks if things were going our way elsewhere in the Middle East. Unfortunately, they're not. Start with Iran. Despite two years of engagement, Tehran is still...

Three victims of December's Christmas Island boat tragedy have been buried at Rockwood Cemetery in western Sydney.

EU finance ministers are to discuss the possible freezing of foreign-held assets of senior figures of the ousted Egyptian regime. Related Stories Judge rejects Beckham legal action Beckham defiant over libel defeat 46-hour Thai smooch is longest kiss Death to dictator, chant Iran rioters UK seeks to rebuild Kremlin link

The Mideast uprisings that overthrew governments in Tunisia and Egypt have been manifesting in other countries as well--namely Algeria, Yemen and Iran. There has been a fourth consecutive day of . . .

Since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned in the face of widespread demonstrations, attention has shifted to what comes next. Fears have been raised that Egypt’s transition may follow the Iranian path, where the Shah’s overthrow led to a repressive Islamic regime that turned away from the West and has been...

Algiers, Feb 14 : As anti-regime protests gain momentum in Algeria, the government Monday rushed to announce that it would end the state of emergency enforced since 1992 in the country, amid fears that Algeria may sink into a similar unrest that ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

At least one person was killed in clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters in Tehran.

Tehran, Feb 14 : Iran's opposition staged protests against the government Monday despite warnings from the Interior Ministry that demonstrators would be confronted by police.

Protesters took to the streets in a fierce showdown with Iranian security forces.

Turkey and Iran aim to boost trade and political ties, the two countries' leaders said Monday during Turkish President Abdullah Gul's visit to Iran.

Iran , Yemen, Bahrain protests an echo of Egypt

Tens of thousands of protesters faced club-wielding security forces Monday in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran in what experts said may be shaping up as a pro-democracy wave ignited by the revolts that drove Egypt and Tunisia's autocratic rulers from power.

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, in an abrupt turnaround, has rejected an offer to coach the Iranian national squad, Football Federation of the Islamic Republic (FFIRI) head Ali Kafashian said in an interview Monday night on the popular Iranian TV sports program, "90." “All of Queiroz's requests had been accepted...

The price of benchmark crude fell to its lowest level in 12 weeks Monday as oil traders weighed growing U.S. oil supplies against unrest in the Middle East. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 77 cents to settle at $84.81 on the New York Mercantile Ex...

CAIRO — Tens of thousands of protesters faced baton-wielding security forces Monday in Bahrain, Yemen and Iran in what experts say may be shaping up as a pro-democracy wave ignited by the revolts that drove Egypt's and Tunisia's aging autocratic rulers from power.

Is this 1989 in the Arab world?

West Texas, global crude no longer marching in lock-step

The fall of dictatorships in Egypt and Tunisia shows that the U.S. can no longer keep the power scheme it set up for over three decades. Powerless to act directly with the military, the U.S. tries to articulate transitions that change the form of domination, but keep its...

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first let me say that I just came out of a very productive meeting and lunch with the Speaker.

For democracy to work, there has to be a media that is free and fair as well as counter-veiling institutions: NGOs and law courts that are objective and above the fray.

New York, NY - Mayhem has spread throughout much of the Middle East, following revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, which, in light of new evidence, could be a result of a United Nations peace and love memorandum that went missing on its way to the region. In keeping with...

Inspired by Egypt's popular revolt which ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power last week, thousands of Iranian pro-democracy advocates took to the streets of Tehran for yet another "Day of Rage" for a nation's cowed opposition. As the Associated Press is reporting, Iranian police used tear gas against the...

Iran’s hostile regime has been one of the chief beneficiaries of the political turmoil that has convulsed Egypt and Tunisia, which distracted the United States and other countries from the ongoing standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

Tel Aviv, Israel (UPI) Feb 14, 2011 Elbit Systems says it has successfully flight-tested its Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles from one ground control station, greatly enhancing the operational flexibility of the long-range drones amid a growing global market for the aircraft. The tests underlined how Israel's...

Jerusalem (AFP) Feb 13, 2011 Israel on Sunday named Major General Benny Gantz as its military chief after months of bitter infighting between top generals, as the country faces a new political landscape in the Middle East. Gantz, 51, replaces Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, whose term as chief of staff...

Hundreds of black-clad riot police officers deployed in key locations to thwart a march in solidarity with the uprising in Egypt.

Stuxnet infected its first target just 12 hours after hackers finished the worm, an indication that the malware scored an almost instant bulls-eye, a researcher said today.

Tucson AZ (SPX) Feb 14, 2011 Raytheon's Missile Systems' site in Tucson, Ariz., received a superior rating in an annual audit by the U.S. Defense Security Service. DSS completed a two-week review at RMS headquarters and rated the site's security practices. Supporting national security and the warfighter, DSS...

Via Cliff May, this gem of analysis from Time Magazine in 1979. I only post this to make the point…

Hmm, this is interesting! Last week , the U.S. Department of State launched an Arabic Twitter feed, @USAbilAraby . This account features declarations of assent and support for various democratic movements in the Arabic world, and appears to more or less mirror the contents of the State Department's official feed...

The US Secretary of State has said America stands by opposition supporters in Iran who sought to protest on Monday.

In the Persian Gulf, protesters inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia take part in street marches. Thousands of demonstrators in Iran are met by thousands of riot police. Smaller groups rally in Bahrain and Yemen. Street clashes broke out across the Persian Gulf region on Monday as demonstrators...

Carlos Zambrano wants to leave his troubled past behind him — if that's possible — and be the pitcher he was at...

Strong winter storms that battered the U.S. in December and January forced FedEx to lower its third quarter earnings guidance.  The announcement was made after the bell on Monday, and came ahead of third quarter results, which will be announced on March 16

Voters may be getting ready to slap a best-before date on Premier Dalton McGuinty, a new poll suggests.[...]

Washington - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday said the United States stood behind anti-government protesters in Iran and praised the Egyptian military for its initial steps since taking control of Egypt last week.

Plus: Obama budget proposes massive deficit

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Thousands of Iranian opposition activists rallied in support of popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia on Monday and a semi-official news agency said one person was shot dead and several wounded by protesters.

Dr Abolhassan Banisadr was one of the leading lights of the Islamic revolution in Iran and was close to the Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1980, a year after the revolution, he was elected the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Some people are having a debate about whether social media are playing an important role in political unrest in the Middle East.

Sudbury Regional Hospital's Memorial Transitional Care Unit is experiencing an influenza outbreak with 22 patients infected with the flu. There have been no new cases of influenza since Thursday.[...]

The Iranian regime has outlawed Valentine's Day : "Symbols of hearts, half-hearts, red roses, and any activities promoting this day are banned," announced state media last month.

TEHRAN: Iranian riot police fired tear gas and paintballs at protesters holding anti-government demonstrations in Tehran on Monday, websites and witnesses said, while an Iranian news agency reported that a gunshot killed a bystander.

The crowd holds one minute and a half of silence. Then, someone shouts: “If not now, when?” The famous Plaza del Popolo, full of people - mainly women, but also men - answers in one voice: “Now!”

> "One person was shot dead and several were wounded by seditionists (opposition supporters) who staged a rally in Tehran," Fars said, without giving further details. (Tehran newsroom, +98 21 8820 8770) Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints...

Like so many from the Middle East, I've followed recent events in Tunisia and Egypt with intense interest. Witnessing the Tunisian and Egyptian people topple long-standing, brutal dictators within weeks has filled me with joy and awe. But it has also filled me with another, less tender emotion: envy.

Some people are having a debate about whether social media are playing an important role in political unrest in the Middle East. Two of the people involved in the debate share the goal of being important public thinkers, so the issue is getting more attention than it should. But if...

When the revolution began in Egypt, many in Israel expected it to fail. What is more telling, though, is that so many in Israel quietly wanted it to.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The possible heirs of Egypt's uprising took to the streets Monday in different corners of the Middle East: Iran's beleaguered opposition stormed back to central Tehran and came under a tear gas attack by police. Demonstrators faced rubber bullets and birdshot to demand more...

Demonstrators took to the streets in Iran, Yemen and Bahrain on Monday, inspired by the anti-government revolts that toppled the regimes in Tunisia and Egypt over the last month.

Al Jazeera's senior political analyst evaluates the speed and efficacy of the transition to democracy.

The NBA's brightest stars will shine in Los Angeles, Feb. 18 - 20 during All Star weekend. More>>

The US State Department has begun sending Twitter messages to Iranians in Farsi, alluding to the "historic role" social media have played in mass protests against Iran's 2009 disputed presidential polls.

IRAN: Iran’s Interior Minister says the Government has devised a new comprehensive plan for enhancing control and security along the country’s borders.

>Talks on Iran's nuclear programme between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain ended without progress last month."Given Iran's refusal to engage in genuine negotiations over its nuclear programme at the recent talks in Istanbul, we are now in talks with international partners about steps...

Newsweek’s Niall Ferguson joins Morning Joe from London to talk about the Obama administration’s handling of the events in Egypt and what his foreign policy strategy should be going forward. (Morning Joe)

The foreign secretary has said events in Egypt should encourage the international community to push harder for a deal between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Starting with your morning cup of coffee. He's also been spotted at Apple's HQ a few times. In the middle of a global food crisis!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrive in Washington, DC on Sunday.

TEHRAN, Iran — Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked central Tehran today with security forces beating and firing tear gas at opposition supporters looking to evoke Egypt’s recent popular uprising. The opposition called for today’s demonstration in solidarity with Egypt’s popular revolt that a few...

Egypt's military government on Monday urged a halt to widespread strikes inspired by a popular uprising that threatened to paralyse the country following Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.

Iran's National Library and Archives (INLA) has mounted an exhibition of rare Persian manuscripts and exquisite books in the capital city of Tehran.

Hugh Hefner, Betty White, Crystal Harris, Hosni Mubarak, Black-Eyed Peas, Keith Olbermann, Christina Aguilera and Green Bay.

(7.1.2011) Gegen den zunächst von der Regierung Bush geplanten Raketenschild in Europa leistete Norwegen innerhalb der NATO Widerstand, was bedeutete, Druck seitens der USA ausgesetzt zu sein.

>"Iranians have a right to gather to peacefully express their support for the people of Egypt and Tunisia," said Hassiba Hadj-Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa deputy director."While the authorities have a responsibility to maintain public order, this should be no excuse to ban and disperse protests...

The fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt calls for a rethink of American strategy in the Middle East. Egypt has been the keystone of a set of interlocking policies on Palestine, on the suppression of Islamist movements, and on resisting the spread of Iranian influence. The American organized and...

Egypt's new military rulers have signalled their intention to share power with civilians and amend the constitution rapidly by popular referendum, opposition activists and British Foreign Secretary William Hague said overnight (NZ time).

The sale of The Huffington Post to America Online for $315 million has prompted another flurry of journalist hand wringing about people who write for no pay. Journalists need to step outside their fear that their steady, white collar paychecks are disappearing, get practical about what volunteers can and cannot...

The head of the Afghan National Army (ANA) has given a cautiously optimistic assessment of when international forces will be able to hand over security. Related Stories Egypt public sector staff on strike Iran stamps out street protests Liz Taylor 'staying in hospital' Obama budget draws up battle lines Expelled...

Oil pumps in operation at an oilfield near central Los Angeles on February 2. Brent crude oil prices surged beyond $104 per barrel on Monday, hitting the highest levels for more than two years on growing ...

Thousands of Egyptian state employees, from ambulance drivers to policemen and transport workers, protested Monday in Cairo, demanding better pay and conditions in a wave of frustration unleashed by the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. read more

Iran reached a deal with the Armenian government to deliver nearly 400,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each day, a deputy oil official said.

The number of tourists using registered travel companies dropped 8.2 per cent in January compared with the same month last year. The Association of Thai Travel Agents reported that 243,971 international tourists used ATTA members last month, down from 252,234 in January 2010.

(AP:LONDON) Britain's foreign secretary said Monday that the European Union will discuss a request from Egypt's military rulers to freeze assets held by members of ex-President Hosni Mubarak's ousted regime.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) -- Iran’s ambassador to Japan says that the economic sanctions imposed on Iran will have a greater effect on the sanctioning countries than on the Islamic Republic.

The Foreign Secretary calls events in the Middle East and North Africa "historic"

> "Witnesses say in some parts of Tehran security forces arrested dozens of protesters," opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi's Kaleme website reported. (Tehran newsroom, +98 21 8820 8770) Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints...

( Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair ) When researchers transplanted autologous renal progenitor cells into rat models with kidney damage from pyelonephritis -- a type of urinary infection that has reached the kidney and is characterized by severe inflammation, renal function impairment and eventual scarring...

Video clips uploaded to the Internet are said to show crowds of protesters out in streets of the Iranian capital on the day the political opposition had called for a rally. The video clip above purportedly depicts crowds of students...