News Archive - 9 March 2011

WASHINGTON DC - Saudi Arabia, ahead of planned protests, seems unlikely to catch the contagion of Arab revolutions, US experts said as they stressed the enormous impact unrest there would have on the world economy.

King Mohammed VI pledged to create a committee to review the country’s constitution by June and hold a referendum on the changes shortly after, in a bid to respond to calls for more democracy in the North African nation.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 37.46 points to 5,937.3. The FTSE 250 lost 13.32 points to 11,730.2 points.

TEHRAN, March 10 (Bernama) -- During the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement members on Wednesday, the Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh said the claims that Iran does not cooperate with the IAEA are unfounded, Iran's mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

A senior US envoy yesterday backed UN assessments that Iran may be continuing secret work on developing nuclear weapons, indirectly contradicting American intelligence estimates in the public domain that such activities stopped eight years ago.

Kabul. Mar.10 : British Special Forces in Afghanistan have seized a cache of 48 powerful Iranian rockets in an ambush from Taliban fighters in Afghanistan

During this week that held International Women’s Day, Iran has now started participation on the Commission of the Status of Women. This is sickening. The United Nations has done the females of the . . .

For West Geauga eighth-grader Andrew Todaro, geography simply comes naturally.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA : Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's IAEA envoy, on Wednesday urged all members of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors to stop politically motivated debates.

Iran has criticized the unfounded US-EU allegations questioning the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities without presenting clear evidence.

GENEVA, March 9 — Iranian Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi said today that an Arab-style popular revolt would come soon to her country, driven by poverty and the fierce oppression of critics by its Islamic rulers. But Ebadi, a defence lawyer for Iranian dissidents who has lived outside Iran since...

# watchthis Noam Galai took a few photos of himself in 2006 and uploaded them to his Flickr. A few people liked those photos, but he didn't think of it. Over time, he began to see his photos popping up all over magazines, the internet and as street art. Then...

Two days ahead of a planned "Day of Rage", Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Wednesday that dialogue, not protests, was the best way to deal with "shortcomings" and to achieve aspiration of the Saudi people.

TEHRAN, March 9 — Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani lost his position as head of an important state clerical body yesterday, a move which tightens the hardliners’ grip on power. The defeat for one of the great survivors of Iranian politics since the 1979 Islamic revolution highlighted how even...

Strike could create long-term damage to nation's exporting capacity. 10 Mar 2011 4:11 PM

Corruption is a vicious cycle — and can undermine faith in both the public and private sectors. Indeed, entrenched corruption was a key catalyst of the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

A British soldier has died in southern Afghanistan after his vehicle hit a makeshift bomb.

The regional competition, organized by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, pitted 86 teams from 17 area school districts against one another at the University of Texas at Arlington.

With the Libyan unrest now a full-fledged civil war watched by the entire world, idly standing by is no longer an option. The war between an all-powerful dictator and a ragtag group of rebels, whose motives range from tribal loyalties and religious fervor to dreams of democracy, is fast becoming...

However, he said he does not believe Iran soon plans to attempt a nuclear “breakout” — abandoning its commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and moving full-speed to toward atomic weapons.

For some, dealing with Gadhafi in return for an end to terror funding and nuclear aspirations was worth it: ‘Maybe a couple fewer planes went down’

Defences against attacks on critical infrastructure to be unveiled tonight.

India, Brazil and South Africa have put a spoke in the American wheel, which seemed up until Tuesday inexorably moving, turning and turning in the direction of imposing a "no-fly" zone over Libya.

The World Digest: Christian, Muslim violence worsens in Egypt ; 2010 was deadliest year of war for Afghan civilians.

When Shiite protesters took to the streets of Bahrain three weeks ago, U.S. and Middle Eastern officials watched anxiously to see how Iran, the kingdom’s notoriously meddlesome neighbour, would intervene. What happened — or didn’t happen — surprised them.

SEATTLE -- Years before U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to China, he made the first of a series of official visits to the country of his father's birth, after his election in Washington state as America's first Chinese-American governor.

THE SAS have seized 48 Iranian-made long-range rockets in an ambush on the Taliban

In an attempt to stave off future Tunisia- and Egypt-inspired opposition protests, the government of the West African state of Cameroon has banned mobile Twitter . The opposition had planned protests against the country's longtime president, Paul Biya, last month. But those were put down by security forces . Clearly, President Biya...

In your years of spring cleaning, no doubt you've unearthed a strange something or two from the depths of your pantry or fridge.

Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, said Wednesday that he will run for president only if a real democratic system is in place, not the reforms Egypt's military leaders are proposing.

The Israel Air Force is considering whether to delay the delivery date of the F-35 fighter jet, fearing that first-batch production units will lack the advanced features it requires, local daily Ha'aretz reported Wednesday.

Listen to the Audio JEFFREY BROWN: So, should the West, should the U.S. intervene in Libya? We join that debate with two people who have wrestled with similar questions as director of policy planning at the State Department. Richard Haass held that position in the George W. Bush administration.

It appears that years of unflagging effort, dire warnings and sanctions may all have been for naught. Hollywood insiders are warning that the Islamic Republic of Iran has acquired both the materials and technological wherewithal to launch a motion picture guaranteed to bomb catastrophically worldwide.

Iran's first vice president says the promotion of relations between the Islamic Republic and Syria is beneficial for the two nations as well as other countries in the region.

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/926791/Iran's_petrochemical) has announced the addition of the "Iran's Petrochemicals Report Q2 2011" report to their offering. The Iran's Petrochemicals Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, petrochemical associations, government departments ...

Petroleum ministry says Saudi Arabia produced 1 million barrels a day more than its OPEC quota as part of an effort to calm prices that rose sharply after exports from Libya plummeted. Saudi Arabia produced 9.1 million barrels of oil a day in February, 1 million barrels more than...

Muammar Qaddafi’s forces carried out air and artillery strikes on oil facilities midway along Libya’s coastline as fighting flared across a desert area that is now the east-west dividing line in the nation’s civil war.

UFC 128 is LIVE on PPV March 19! The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is pleased to announce the remaining bouts for its return trip to Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on March 19. The UFC® again brings a star-studded lineup to New Jersey featuring must-see matchups in every division.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht will make a key visit to Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between 13 and 21 March 2011. In Australia and New Zealand the Commissioner will discuss issues of common concern such as trade rules ...

CAIRO - Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, said Wednesday that he will run for president only if a real democratic system is in place, not the reforms Egypt's military leaders are proposing.

Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), lashed out on Wednesday at the United States and the European Union (EU) for questioning the nature of his country's nuclear activities.

DAMASCUS, March. 9 -- Syrian Prime minister Mohammad Naji Otri on Wednesday warned against foreign intervention in Arab countries' affairs, local media websites reported.

A longtime American diplomat to the Middle East provided some reassuring words to the oil industry Wednesday: The situation in Libya and Egypt may remain tumultuous for some time, but the major oil producing countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Iraq will likely stay stable.

WASHINGTON -- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday endorsed the U.S. strategy in the ongoing war in Afghanistan and promised her countrys cooperation on the increasingly critical Asia-Pacific region, trade and job promotion. "You ha...

The evacuation of Chinese workers in Libya highlights Beijing's vulnerabilities as it partners with oil-rich regimes. Upheaval in Africa and the Middle East could force China to weigh political risks more carefully. The Chinese construction workers and their families huddled inside their company's living compound in northeastern Libya, hiding from...

Six major countries on Wednesday called for Iran to engage in future dialogues and negotiations over its nuclear program, despite difficulties encountered in recent talks.

A senior U.S. government official says Iran is moving toward the threshold of being able to build a nuclear weapon, but Tehran's leaders may be divided over whether to take the final step and actually make one.

Nearly 200 Shi'ites chanting "We want freedom!" protested in Saudi Arabia, even as the government warned it would act strongly against activists.

LONDON: Precious ivory artifacts that crime author Agatha Christie cleaned using her face cream after her husband excavated them have been bought by the British Museum, it was reported Tuesday. The prolific author was present at excavations directed by her second husband, Max Mallowan, in the former Assyrian capital of...

NAJAF, Iraq: Known across the region for its fine texture, the Najafi abaya is worn by all manner of VIPs from officials to oil-rich sheiks. But the men who produce the handmade cloth, inheritors of a generations-old trade, are increasingly going out of business. "Let me tell you something," said...

BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON President Barack Obama intends to nominate Daniel Shapiro, a trusted adviser on the Middle East, as U.S. ambassador to Israel. Shapiro is senior director for the Middle East and North Africa on the White House national security staff. If approved by the Senate,...

By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service Washington DC (AFPS) Mar 04, 2011 The U.S. plan to defend Europe from a rapidly increasing ballistic missile threat will reach a milestone next week with the first deployment of missile defense technology, a senior Defense Department official said yesterday.

BEIRUT: The commander of the Lebanese Army says countries that expressed a readiness to equip the military have yet to translate their promises into action, while reiterating support for Lebanon's defense strategy of "army-resistance-people," describing it as "very effective." "Some countries have expressed a desire to arm the military...

DONNA CASSATA Associated Press WASHINGTON Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday endorsed the U.S. strategy in the ongoing war in Afghanistan and promised her country's cooperation on the increasingly critical Asia-Pacific region, trade and job promotion. "You have a true friend down under," Gillard told a joint meeting...

If you were a magazine editor or writer, what kind of story would you write if you got access to the attractive, stylish first lady of a dictator?

New York, Mar 9 2011 5:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is seeking a 3 per cent cut in the next United Nations budget below the current two-year figure of $5.16 billion, in line with the sluggish global economy as the world struggles to emerge from the worst recession since the...

Ten Designers who could be chosen to make Kate Middleton's wedding dress. There has been an enormous amount of speculation around the world as to which designer will make Kate Middleton’s dress for h

Filed under: News , Politics "Women are now the majority of graduates at colleges and universities. We make up nearly half of America's workforce. We got to get paid more for it. But we do. Women are thriving in every sector of our society. We are leading businesses. We're serving...

Oil fell for a second day in New York after supplies surged at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark grade.

An Iranian demographer, Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi, and an African research institution, L’Institut de Formation et de Recherche Démographique (IFORD), were announced today as winners of the 2011 United Nations Population Award. The Award is given annually to individuals and institutions for outstanding work in population and in improving the health...

In the past Iran has used its oil wealth to fund its nuclear weapons program. However, the Islamic Republic’s dependence on foreign investment and technology needed to shore up declining energy production, has weakened the regime’s economic base. The latest rounds of U.N. sanctions as well as unilateral sanctions...

TWO high-rolling property tycoons synonymous with Britain's property boom have been arrested by the Serious Fraud Office.

A FULL transcript of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's speech to the joint sitting of Congress in the US House of Representatives overnight.

HOUSTON - Energy leaders from around the world meeting in Houston this week have a consistent message about high oil prices: Don't panic. Oil markets may have heard the message — prices fell Wednesday for a second straight day to near $104 per barrel.

Three BBC journalists have been arrested and beaten while reporting in Libya. Related Stories Hague slams Iran over Taliban arms Illinois abolishes death penalty Shocks as Taoiseach shuffles pack Teenager held over hamster's death Soldier killed by roadside bomb

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seems to have a tough time grasping what kids on the streets of Cairo and Manama understand with ease. Politicians -- elected and otherwise -- have no place to hide. Their every turn of phrase, their every move, is digested in real-time across...

A New York City teenager has been arrested following the death of a younger sibling's hamster. Related Stories Boy dies after snowplough accident Hague slams Iran over Taliban arms Illinois abolishes death penalty Shocks as Taoiseach shuffles pack Soldier killed by roadside bomb

Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar has wrapped up his two-day visit to Afghanistan as the neighbors vow to further their "already strong" bilateral ties.

Two-time Tony Award nominee Patrick Wilson ( Oklahoma! , "Angels in America") and Wilson Cruz ( Rent ) will be presenters at the March 19 GLAAD Media Awards, which will be held at the Marriot Marquis.

The 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) crude oil production output jumped to an average 29.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in February, as Saudi Arabia continued to boost production, according to a just-released Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials and analysts.

When Molly Easo Smith delivered her inaugural address as president of Manhattanville College last spring, she opened with an unusual line: "Welcome, namaste, vannakkam, namaskaaram, bienvenidos and welcome."

By Babs Verblackt - CNS Diabetes control in Thailand is improving, but better awareness and patients? treatment compliance is needed to fully tackle the health issues. So says Professor Wannee ...

A British soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb, the Ministry of Defence has said. Related Stories Boy dies after snowplough accident Hague slams Iran over Taliban arms Illinois abolishes death penalty Shocks as Taoiseach shuffles pack Teenager held over hamster's death

Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

So is it Gaddafi, Qaddafi, or Kadafi, or none of those—Qadhafi perhaps? Usually this is something you could ignore, but with the Libyan dictator—we write "Gaddafi" around these parts—currently going to war with rebel forces in his country, it's become downright confusing to read several versions of the name of...

KABUL, Afghanistan — NATO forces in Afghanistan have seized 48 Iranian-made rockets intended to aid the Taliban’s spring battle campaign, the most powerful illicit weapons ever intercepted en route from the neighboring state, officials said Wednesday.

To no one's surprise, the regime ruling Iran is watching the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, searching for a way to exploit the outcomes to its advantage. At the same time, Tehran is, and should be, worried about the images of falling dictators impacting on Iran's...

I would like to add my congratulations, to the many he has already received, to David Suissa for again having written an excellent, incisive and rational article, “J Street Needs Another Lane” (March 4) to complement his “Israel Never Looked So Good,” which generated a significant response.

A BBC World Service Country Rating Poll of 27 countries conducted with the University of Maryland shows India rated a 42% "mainly positive" view of its influence in 2010-2011, a 6% improvement over the previous year.

A senior U.S. envoy on Wednesday backed U.N. assessments that Iran may be continuing secret work on developing nuclear weapons, indirectly contradicting American intelligence estimates in the public domain that such...

British Special Forces in Afghanistan have seized a convoy of powerful Iranian rockets destined for Taliban fighters.

The price at the pump in the Greenville-Anderson-Spartanburg metro area averaged $3.389 today, up from $3.361 on Tuesday.

Ed itor’s Note: President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top U.S. officials lecture world leaders on the need to respect the free flow of information as vital to democracy.

The governor of Illinois has abolished the state's death penalty. Related Stories Kenny formally elected as Taoiseach Iranian arms for Taliban seized Man who beheaded wife jailed in US Boy dies after snowplough accident Hague slams Iran over Taliban arms

JEFFERSON CITY — After three days of debate, the Missouri House today voted to require that the state conduct driving tests only in English. Each time the bill was brought to the floor, Republicans voted as a bloc to prevent any change in one of Speaker Steve Tilley’s priority bills.

NATO forces in Afghanistan have seized 48 Iranian-made rockets intended to aid the Taliban's spring battle campaign, the most powerful illicit weapons ever intercepted en route from the neighboring state, officials said Wednesday.

World powers urged Iran to cooperate with the UN atomic watchdog's investigation into its nuclear drive.

> * White House wants ties to stay strong * Talks on Libya, Arab world feature on agenda (Recasts with quotes) By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden backed Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday during a visit aimed...

>VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States warned Syria Wednesday it "can't be allowed" to stonewall a U.N. watchdog investigation into a desert site where covert atomic activity may have taken place before it was destroyed by Israel in 2007. For more than two years Syria has refused the International...

>LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Iran's biggest crude oil tanker operator NITC will need to review whether to send its vessels to Libya if it receives a new order, a senior NITC official said on Wednesday. An NITC tanker left the eastern Libyan port of Tobruk on Tuesday with around...

> "We believe Iran is moving to the threshhold of a nuclear weapons capability," Robert Einhorn said in response to a question at a Washington think-tank event. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; editing by Doina Chiacu) Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints...

>VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States said military aspects to Iran's nuclear work were "increasingly apparent," as the big six world powers urged Tehran Wednesday to cooperate with the U.N. atomic watchdog to help resolve such concerns. The major powers said "the door remains open" for dialogue with Iran,...

For the past three weeks, tens of thousands of protestors have taken to the streets in Iran once again, demanding democracy and an end to the regime. Popular protests continue to haunt the fundamentalist rulers at a critical time in the region's history. But without offering support to the...

If the U.S. is to intervene against Qaddafi, the time is now

Srikanth Kondapalli says that while China had scuttled popular outpouring a number of times before, a prairie fire is raging across the country.

By PABLO GORONDI Associated Press Oil prices remained near $105 a barrel Wednesday amid mixed signs about U.S. demand and as fighting continued in Libya between rebels and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi.

>In a joint statement issued at a board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the six powers made clear they remained ready for talks with Iran to find a diplomatic solution to the row over its nuclear work."The door remains open," the statement said.The statement was...

There's timing - and there's timing. This week of all weeks was supposed to be the high point of the Tchenguiz year.

Eni SpA’s four-decade relationship with Muammar Qaddafi’s regime in Libya has exacerbated its position as the cheapest stock with the highest credit risk among the world’s largest oil companies.

> * White House wants ties to stay strong after New START deal * Talks on Libya, Arab world a big feature of trip's agenda By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met business leaders in Russia on Wednesday on a visit aimed...