News Archive - 10 April 2011

Assad loyalists fire at Sunni Muslims in Syria city

>AMMAN (Reuters) - Irregular forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired at a group of people guarding a mosque in Banias on Sunday, two witnesses said, after pro-democracy unrest flared in the conservative coastal city. Once-unthinkable mass protests challenging Assad's 11-year authoritarian rule have spread across Syria despite his...

Azar Nafisi: “Vagabond Nation.”

On December 1, 2008, I became an American, eleven years and five months after I started living here. It was a bright, cold morning, and my son dropped me off at the Immigration and Naturalization office in Fairfax, Virginia, and wished me luck. The office was in a glass-and . .

Reagan returned pride and respect to Americans

Donald Kaul's column “Sarah Palin and the dozen dwarfs” (AC-T, March 31) was comical. However Kaul uses the space to do his usual conservative-bashing, especially of Ronald Reagan.

Resolve conflicts in Iran peacefully

Assault on Libya by the allies is in no way legal or moral without absolute public support in the respective countries. However, there are other complicated questions being raised here at large.

Pentagon: second thoughts on withdrawal

Associated Press WASHINGTON Eight months shy of its deadline for pulling the last American

Claudia Roth Pierpont: Freya Stark’s travels in Arabia.

Although the British had ordered their wives and daughters out of Baghdad, there were nineteen women among the crowds who found shelter in the British Embassy, in late April, 1941, soon after the Iraqi government went over to the Germans. A pro-Nazi coup had occurred a few weeks earlier . .

Sasikiran beats Feldman in Dubai chess opener

from Our Chess CorrespondentDubai, Apr 11 (PTI) Top seeded Grandmaster K Sasikiran warded off some initial resistance from Australian Vladimir Feldman to open with a comfortable win in the 13th Dubai International Open Chess Tournament here.National champion Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly did not have any difficulties in tackling Yann-Michael...

Iran, Uruguay stress enhanced ties

A senior Iranian lawmaker has praised growing relations with Uruguay, stressing the importance of improving ties between Tehran and Montevideo in a variety of fields.

Syrian forces seal off Banias, sectarian tension mounts

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian security forces sealed off the coastal city of Banias overnight following sectarian killings by irregulars loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, witnesses said on Monday.

Iran to mull decreasing ties with UK

Iran's Parliament's (Majlis) Vice Speaker Mohammad Hassan Abou-Torabi says decreasing ties with the UK is on the Iranian lawmakers' agenda.

Franklin Lamb in Beirut on the latest Wilkileaks

Franklin Lamb, a former Assistant Counsel of the US House Judiciary Committee at the US Congress and Professor of International Law at Northwestern College of Law in Oregon, earned his Law Degree at Boston University and his LLM, M.Phil, and PhD degrees at the London School of Economics.

Protester sets herself on fire near the Reichstag in Berlin

BERLIN : A 58-year-old woman suffered serious injuries on Sunday when she set herself on fire near the German parliament building the Reichstag, police said.

Editorial: Iraq question: Should we stay, or should we go?

Iraq question: Should we stay, or should we go?

Raghida Dergham: Beyond the "Arab Spring" and Obama's Options

Obama may want to dedicate his time to domestic affairs in order to secure a second term in the White House, but he must prepared for foreign policy intruding into his reelection campaign, especially Middle Eastern issues.

Japanese reactors can be fixed say Iranian nuclear experts

Iran has offered to help the Japanese solve the nuclear issues that have arisen from the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Clemson’s International Festival brings flavor to Bowman Field

Hundreds of students, faculty and area residents attended the 20th annual International Festival at Clemson University on Sunday.

'Iran can move Lebanese from I. Coast'

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has expressed the Islamic Republic's readiness to transfer Lebanese nationals from Ivory Coast to Beirut.

Cameron's Royal Wedding boost

PM David Cameron slaps down council killjoys and urges Brits to bring out the bunting

Pentagon's second thoughts on Iraq withdrawal

Eight months shy of its deadline for pulling the last American soldier from Iraq and closing the door on an 8-year war, the Pentagon is having second thoughts. read more

Syrian forces fire on crowd, witnesses report

Irregular forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired at a group of people guarding a mosque in Banias on Sunday, two witnesses said, after pro-democracy unrest flared in the conservative coastal city

20 M land mines in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Twenty-five percent of the world's unexploded land mines are buried in Iraq, making it one of the most contaminated countries, the environment ministry said Tuesday. More than 20 million mines are scattered in the war-plagued nation, Deputy Environment Minister Kamal Hussein Latif said. "That has become...

Thousands of Thai 'red shirts' commemorate Bangkok unrest

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of red-shirted, anti-government protesters gathered on Sunday in Bangkok's old quarter to mark the one-year anniversary of violent clashes with the military in ...

Iran expels 3 Kuwait diplomats in spy row-state TV

TEHERAN - IRAN has expelled 'several' Kuwaiti diplomats in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of its envoys accused of spying in the emirate, in a fresh blow to already tense relations in the Gulf. 'Iran has expelled several Kuwaiti diplomats in retaliation to the expulsion of three of its...

'Egypt keen on relations with Iran'

Head of Egypt's ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, says Iran is not an enemy of Egypt, calling for better ties with the Islamic Republic.

Al-Sadr warns US of armed resistance

A Shi'ite leader has warned of armed opposition if US forces stay in Iraq beyond their scheduled departure.

Assad loyalists kill three in coastal Syrian city: activist

AMMAN (Reuters) - Irregular forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday killed three people in Banias, a local human rights activist said, after pro-democracy protests flared in the mostly Sunni city on the Mediterranean.

Gilas begs off from Gov Cup

source: Joaquin Henson | philstar.com Arriving at a consensus ahead of schedule, Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman said yesterday the national team management has decided to forgo playing in the PBA Governors Cup for the players to take a respite before plunging into battle for an Olympic ticket in...

The lasting legacy of Persian poetry with Susan Scollay

The medieval poets Rumi, Omar Khayyam and Hafiz were the rock stars of their era and their poetry is still recited in Iran today

Iran expels 3 Kuwaiti diplomats: Press TV

The Islamic Republic of Iran has expelled three Kuwaiti diplomats, the local satellite Press TV reported on Sunday. The move by Iran has been adopted in retaliation for the earlier Persian Gulf emirate's decision to expel three Iranian diplomats, said the report without further elaboration.

Turkey condemns IDF Gaza attacks as 'excessive and disproportionate'

Turkey expressed displeasure on Sunday at Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip over the weekend, calling the strikes "excessive and disproportionate", Agence France-Presse reported.

Iran: West unfair on nuclear energy

A top Iranian diplomat says the Western thought is "discriminatory" in principle when it comes to the inalienable right of all nations to nuclear energy.

Join the movement for democracy with Fight for Freedom iPhone app

TASTY: Get engaged with the world. BUMMER: Doesn't include any background information about various countries.

Kuwaiti diplomats expelled from Iran

AFP/Tehran Iran has expelled “several” Kuwaiti diplomats in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the expulsion of its envoys accused of spying in the emirate, in a fresh blow to already tense relations in the Gulf.

Ailene Voisin: Tide began turning against Kings at end of 2010

November and December 2010. That was when the mood changed, when the momentum swung, when Anaheim's protracted pursuit of the Kings began percolating as an appealing, viable and imminent possibility.

Profile: Hosni Mubarak

The former Egyptian president had ruled over the country since 1981, but resigned in February 2011 after mass uprising.

New Israeli system alters war against Gaza rockets

JERUSALEM - A new Israeli-made missile defence system has gotten off to an encouraging start, shooting down at least eight rockets in a test run that could potentially change the long-running war between Israel and Palestinian rocket squads in Gaza.

Did Israel Rule Out a Strike on Iran?

According to a Wikileaks document, Israel ruled out in 2005 attacking the Iranian nuclear program.…

State Department's First Persian-Language Spokesperson Could Appear In Iranian State Media

The State Department has appointed a Persian-language spokesperson for the first time, and he could appear on Iran's state-owned media. The move seems to be part of an increased effort by the Obama administration to reach out to Iranians directly.

Photos: Iran unveils new solar-powered car

A new domestically manufactured solar-powered car named the Ghazal 2 was unveiled at the University of Tehran on Sunday. The new car is an enhanced model of the Ghazal 1, which was previously designed by students of the University of Tehran. -Fatemeh Behboudi, MNA_URL

Pentagon’s second thoughts on Iraq withdrawal

WASHINGTON — Eight months shy of its deadline for pulling the last American soldier from Iraq and closing the door on an 8-year war, the Pentagon is having second thoughts.

Persepolis stuns Zob Ahan, Sepahan loses to Mes

MNA- Persepolis trounced Zob Ahan in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Sunday while pacesetter Sepahan was defeated in an away game against Mes of Kerman.

Iranian political prisoner pressured "to make false confession"

Vahid Talayi, a member of Mir Hossein Mousavi's election campaign, is reportedly being pressured by his interrogators to confess that he has ties to the People's Mojahedin Organization, the dissident exile group that the Islamic Republic views as a terrorist group and an archenemy. -Zamaneh

Obama dispatches top aide to Saudi, UAE

US President Barack Obama is sending a foreign policy aide to key Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week amid concern over the turmoil sweeping the Middle East.

Iran to unveil hybrid Bus, vessel

Iranian Fuel Conservation Company (IFCO) has announced plans to unveil a newly-designed hybrid bus and vessel at Tehran's 16th international oil and gas exposition.

From The Archives:

Editor’s Note: President Barack Obama faces another tough choice on Afghanistan – whether to begin a meaningful withdrawal in July as promised or acquiesce to Pentagon/neocon pressure to make only a token gesture toward winding down the near-decade-old war.

Measuring the revolution wave

NEW YORK — A prediction three months ago that popular protests would soon topple a dictatorship in Tunisia, sweep Hosni Mubarak from power in Egypt, provoke civil war in Moammar Gadhafi's Libya, and rattle regimes from Morocco to Yemen would have drawn serious skepticism. We knew the tinder was dry,...

Palestinians, Israelis step up fighting

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian militants fired more than 30 rockets at southern Israel Saturday and Israeli warplanes killed five militants in the Gaza Strip in the most intense fighting since Israel’s 2008-2009 offensive in the Hamas-ruled territory.

Mortars, rocket hit Israel; Barak says Israel will cease fire if Gaza militants do

JERUSALEM - Palestinian militants in Gaza fired mortar rounds and a rocket at southern Israel early Sunday, the military said, prompting Israel to threaten a harsh response while holding out the inducement of an end to escalating violence.

Mission confusion reigns in Libya GEORGE WILL COLUMN

Several weeks ago, when President Obama reportedly assured congressional leaders that America's intervention in Libya would involve 'days, not weeks,' skeptics mistakenly worried about mission creep. They should have feared mission gallop.

Israel ruled out Iran strike in 2005: Wikileaks

JERUSALEM, Apr 10, 2011 (AFP) - Israeli defence officials ruled out a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities as early as 2005, US diplomatic cables leaked to whistleblower site WikiLeaks show, an Israeli newspaper said Sunday.

Iran to invest $16bn in SP gas field

Iran's Oil Ministry plans to invest more than $16 billion in South Pars gas field to develop its remaining phases in the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), says a senior Iranian oil official.

Quakes will never hit Kuwait: expert

'No panic over Iran nuke' KUWAIT CITY, April 9: Professor of Geological Studies in Kuwait University Kuwait University Arafat Al-Shuaibi said the country is far from the earthquake epicenters in Iran, and added the country shouldn't panic over the Iranian nuclear plant, reports Al-Shahed daily.

Iraq denied assistance to Iran exiles: US military

BAGHDAD, Apr 10, 2011 (AFP) - Baghdad denied a US military request to provide humanitarian medical assistance to Iranian exiles wounded in deadly clashes with the Iraqi army, a spokesman for American forces said on Sunday.

News Briefs

Iran over the weekend deported three Kuwaiti diplomats, accusing them of spying on Iran. The move comes after Kuwait deported three Iranian diplomats on similar charges.

PRINCETON: Summit sees good future for economy

Local, national and global economies are recovering with job gains and consumers returning. Problems still exist, but are working themselves out.

Engineers off to US for secret cyber school

AUSTRALIA's top civilian cyber unit is sending hundreds of engineers to be trained at a US government facility implicated in creating the world's most potent cyber weapon, Stuxnet.