News Archive - 8 July 2011

>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vitamin D supplements reduced risk factors for type 2 diabetes by improving the function of insulin-producing cells in pre-diabetic volunteers, a new study has found. "The results...suggest that vitamin D supplementation may help to improve the main defect in type 2 diabetes," co-author Dr.

The U.S. State Department's inclusion of Iran's main opposition group, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), in the list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) has been fiercely criticized by members of Congress and former U.S. government officials over the past several months. The criticism was heightened when on April...

> * Govt holds firm, says Saudi Arabia key to regional peace By Eric Kelsey and Sabine Siebold BERLIN, July 8 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Friday thwarted a parliamentary manoeuvre by the opposition that would have halted a secret multi-billion euro tank deal with Saudi Arabia.

Since early May 2011, charges of sorcery, witchcraft, and using supernatural powers to manipulate people and events for particular political ends have been leveled against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Chief of Staff, Esfandiar Rahim Masha'i. Masha'i is accused of employing witchdoctors, sorcerers and magicians, specializing in invoking...

>"The UK is working closely with its partners to prevent a wide range of individuals connected with Iran's nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs from entering our countries," Foreign Secretary William Hague said."These include scientists, engineers and those procuring components," he added.Hague said the measures were being coordinated with...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran is directly supporting extremist Shi'ite groups that are killing U.S. troops in Iraq and any agreement to keep American forces there beyond the end of the year would have to address the problem, the top U.S. military officer said on Thursday. Admiral Mike Mullen,...

Exclusive: Van Jones on the American Dream, the American Nightmare and What We Can Learn From the Tea Party Amy Dean, Truthout: "In late June, Van Jones - a former 'green jobs' czar in the Obama administration and currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress - officially...

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Following their recent string of disappointing results despite decent performances, the Los Angeles Blues players and coaches responded with a resilient attitude in training this week.

WASHINGTON -- Tensions flared Friday between the United States and Syria after the U.S. ambassador in Damascus appeared in the city that has become the focal point of protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Ambassador Robert Ford's sport-utility vehicle was surrounde...

With all the talk of flotillas, I’m starting to get in the mood to join one myself — but not necessarily to Israel.

A North Vancouver con man who tried to derail a fraud investigation against him by posing as a police officer to foreign banking officials was sent to jail for six months by a B.C. Supreme Court judge Thursday.

Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) -- It's been nearly two years since three American hikers were detained in Iran after unknowingly crossing the boarder from Iraq. A rally is being held in Duluth Saturday, advocating for their freedom.

Tweet Different people have different reasons for packing their bags, getting on a plane, and setting off for distant lands. Some do it to take a quick break from their frenetic life and escape to sun, sea, surf… and shopping. Some do it for work, the trip necessitated by this...

KARACHI: Even as revelations about Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s nuclear trafficking were raising concerns about possible military involvement in proliferation activities, the Musharraf regime appears to have been actively dissuading Iran, one of Dr Khan’s clients, from developing nuclear weapons.

China hopes Poland, which currently holds the rotating European Union (EU) presidency, can play a positive role in promoting China-EU relations, a visiting senior Chinese official said Friday.

Released in 2008, Ameneh Eslami's animated short film titled "Little Tale of Us" is a 5-minute surrealist piece influenced by the book "Recovery of Your Inner Child" by Lucia Cappachione.

Global crude prices have plummeted as weak employment data from the United States hinted at a slower recovery in the world's leading oil consumer.

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Some observers say it was a provocative move, others call it overdue, and then there are those who say it is completely unwelcome. On Thursday, July 7, U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford traveled to the Syrian city of Hama, the scene of a brutal, still resonant 1982 massacre,...

AMERICA:Yesterday’s launch was the end of an era, and possibly the end of US supremacy in space

KOBE: Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan solidified her world championship chances by winning the women’s 100m at the Asian Athletics Champion ships yesterday.

But in this year of the “Arab spring,” people are dying in an effort to gain the kind of freedom America achieved more than 200 years ago, and they’re doing it with the same courage and self-sacrifice we attribute to our 18th Century patriots.

Victoria Nuland Spokesperson Daily Press Briefing Washington, DC July 8, 2011 Index for Today's Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Clinton's Travel to Turkey / Contact Group Meeting on Libya / Meetings with Turkish Officials / Turkey - Israeli Relations Secretary Clinton's Travel to Greece / Meetings with Greece Officials Secretary Clinton's Travel...

Have you been getting confused by all of the hacker groups and hacker group spinoff groups and side projects of hacker groups and their spinoffs? Are you a little tangled up in the web of connections between Anonymous, LulzSec, AntiSec and others? Don't feel bad. It's really confusing. Thankfully, a...

Abstract: In September 2011, the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution recognizing Palestinian statehood. This resolution is linked to Palestinian efforts to obtain U.N. membership as a state and to delegitimize Israel.

Knights have much more upside than Bulls Running off at the typewriter ... You still hear constant rumblings that the University of South Florida is trying to block UCF's possible entrance into the Big East.

Turkmenistan town rocked by mysterious huge 'arms depot' blasts. At least 200 killed and hundreds wounded lie scattered all around the streets

Qatar Abubaker Ali Kamal won the 3,000m men’s steeplechase at the Asian Athletics Championships here yesterday with a timing of 8:30.23. Finishing second was Artem Kossinov of Kazakhstan, who clocked 8:35.1, while Tareq Mubarak Salem Tahe of Bahrain with 8:45.47 came third.

Thankfully, all of my experiences with jails and prisons have been professional in nature. In other words, I visit people who are inmates. While making such a visit at a local jail I struck up a conversation with the jail’s chaplain. I should have restricted the conversation to small talk.

The House speaker, John Boehner, suggests that the Republican threat of letting the United States default on its debts is driven by concern for jobs for ordinary Americans.

When congressional Republicans claim concern for the welfare of ordinary Americans, look more closely, writes Nicholas D. Kristof. Do we really want to close down the U.S. government and risk another global financial crisis to protect the tax bills of billionaires?

As revelations and speculations concerning the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, continue to play out...

Iran has reportedly executed at least 183 people during the first six months of 2011, with reports of all an additional 130 executions that have gone unacknowledged.

New Delhi, July 8: An external affairs ministry statement issued today on a forthcoming meeting with Hillary Clinton did not mention S.M. Krishna by name, fuelling speculation over his continuance as foreign minister ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle.

Kobe: Discus thrower Harwant Kaur, middle distance runner . P. Jaisha and decathlete Bharat Inder Singh bagged a bronze each as India continued their medal hunt on the second day of the 19th Asian Athletics here on Friday.

The Damascus regime has accused Robert Ford of meddling in its internal affairs and being part of what it whispers as a foreign plot to destabilize Syria

Leafing through an old family photo album, 74-year-old Molook Amini wished she could afford to buy a gold coin as a wedding gift for her youngest grandchild as did for others.

Here are letters to the editor from recent editions of the Daily News

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians poured into the streets of the opposition stronghold Hama Friday...

An ancient bead necklace, terra cotta tablets from ancient Babylonia depicting Ishtar...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Christians in Iran have challenged news reports that the death penalty for pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been annulled, saying that in reality the country's supreme court appears to have added a precondition requiring him to renounce his faith or face execution.

Baptist Press Stories for Jul. 8 2011 --------------------------------------- South Sudan to celebrate independence amid concerns http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35717 Deepwater Horizon saga: a 'backdoor blessing' to coastal churches in La. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35718 In Israel, group targets Messianics http ...

Here at The Atlantic Wire, we respect and value the social media editors who share the links that make our jobs easier. Sometimes, though, we have no idea what they're talking about. So after a day of staring at Twitter, we're sharing our favorite head-scratchers.Related: Cucumber Outrage, DNA, and...

A group of Montreal women gathered Thursday to protest a Quebec soccer association's decision to sack a referee because she wears a hijab.

WASHINGTON: The emergence of a single-page letter, supposedly written by a senior North Korean official 13 years ago, has become the strongest evidence yet suggesting that Pakistan's top military officials were involved in the secret sale of equipment to North Korea that enabled it, years later, to begin enriching uranium.

COMMENTARY | Hot Air writer Allahpundit, among many other people, is reporting that the guns involved in Operation Fast and Furious were bought with funds provided by the stimulus package. In short, the scandal is widening and deepening.

The US and Iraq are negotiating a possible new security deal that would keep US forces in the country beyond a December 31 deadline for withdrawal, the top US military officer said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON - Weapons flowing from Iran into Iraq are becoming more lethal and sophisticated, the top U.S. military officer said Thursday, as Washington and Baghdad negotiate over whether American troops will remain in the country beyond the end of the year.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Sometimes, the best place to look is up.

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- Rumor mills are buzzing and speculation abounds in Venezuela over the health and future President Hugo Chavez and his socialist revolution.

Britain, the U.S. and Canada have approved a new round of travel restrictions targeting the Iranian regime, including members of the judiciary and prison officials.

Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Wijekoon put up a splendid performance to win the bronze medal in the men’s 400 metres event on the second day of the 19th Asian Athletic Championships continued at the Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Japan yesterday.

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- The United States and Britain imposed visa restrictions on Iranian leaders and others supporting human rights abuses in Iran, the State Department said.

The Obama administration sent two distinct messages by dispatching the U.S. ambassador to Syria to meet anti-regime protesters in a besieged city. To Syrian President Bashar Assad: Reform now. To domestic critics of its engagement policy: Stop complaining. 

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration sent two distinct messages by dispatching the U.S. ambassador to Syria to meet anti-regime protesters in a besieged city. To Syrian President Bashar Assad: Reform now. To critics in the U.S. of its engagement policy: Stop complaining.

Each year on July 9, members of the Baha'i Faith commemorate the Martyrdom of the Báb, an event which -- according to Baha'is -- witnessed the execution of one of God's divine messengers to humanity. Irrespective of one's own beliefs, the drama surrounding the emergence of the Báb on...

Weapons flowing from Iran into Iraq are becoming more lethal and sophisticated, the top U.S. military officer said Thursday as Washington and Baghdad negotiate over whether American troops will remain in the country beyond the end of the year.

ALEXANDER VERSHININ Associated Press ABADAN, Turkmenistan Police guarded a smoldering blast site near the capital of Turkmenistan on Friday, a day after a series of mysterious blasts severely damaged hundreds of houses in the town. An Associated Press reporter who came within 1 kilometer (half a mile) of the blast...

Written by John DalyJapan's 11 March catastrophe at its six-reactor Daichi Fukushima nuclear power c...

The United States' most senior military officer has accused Iran of pouring arms into anti-American militias in Iraq as the two powers battle for influence in the country.

Contact: Kenneth Bandler, +1-212-891-6771

As the summer heats up, energy shortages are striking around the world -- including the oil-rich Middle East.

The founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program claims that in the late 1990s North Korean officials paid kickbacks to senior Pakistani military figures in exchange for critical weapons technology.

Nowhere is the debate over the Casey Anthony verdict more visceral than on Facebook. Comments range from thoughtful analysis to blatant and obscene threats.

This post is in partnership with CITGO “Girl Power” might sound cliché, but Cool Girls feels that empowerment is exactly what a girl needs to carry her from age 7 through high school without engaging in risky behavior. “Everything is ramped up these days, so kids are dealing with what...

Stage review: USF’s ‘Noises Off!’ delivers farce three ways By ben fulton The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jul 8, 2011 12:01PM MDT If you love pinball machines, Russian Matryoshka dolls, synchronized sports and farce, then “Noises Off!” is your kind of play. It also helps if you like...

Tens of thousands of Syrians carrying olive branches and shouting for the downfall of President Bashar Assad's regime streamed Friday into the flashpoint city of Hama.

Access to the Internet should be seen as a fundamental human right and respected as much as freedom of expression, the transatlantic security body OSCE said in a report Friday.

TEHRAN, Iran – National Iranian Offshore Oil Co. (NIOC) has started work on a new 3D seismic survey in the Persian Gulf. The 1,350-sq km (521-sq mi) program will cover four Iranian fields and three overlapping into the waters of neighboring states.

The successful launch of Iran's supersonic missiles marks the countdown for the exit of floating foreign targets from Persian Gulf waters, an Iranian military commander says.

Shrapnel littered the streets in a town near the capital of Turkmenistan on Friday after several powerful explosions allegedly destroyed a major arms depot.

The Islamic political group meets investors and praises markets

FORT PIERCE — A Vero Beach rug dealer charged with smuggling drugs agreed Friday to remain behind bars while his attorney and the government work on a possible plea deal.

The last space shuttle mission, like the first, ascends in troubled times.

Team Iran and Pacific Oceania competes in this year's Davis Cup held at the Hilton Resort in Tumon. Representing team Iran from left to right: Seyed Akbar Taheri Rahaghi, Rouzbeh Kamran, Shahin Khaledan and Ashkan Shokoofi.

China's Su Bingtian became the Asian sprinter to beat when he defeated Japan's Masashi Eriguchi to win the men's 100 metres at the Asian Athletics Championships on Friday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) pumped an average 29.57 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in June, an increase of 530,000 barrels per day as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) boosted production, a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry...

A range of SCADA systems are open to abuse

Les responsables iraniens sont soupçonnés d'être liés au programme nucléaire ou d'avoir commis des violations des droits de l'Homme. (AFP)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman describes the wave of Islamic Awakening in the Arab world as the fruit of Iran's Islamic Revolution and a nightmare for Israel and the US.

BEIRUT - Hundreds of thousands of Syrians poured into the streets of the opposition stronghold Hama on Friday, bolstered by a gesture of support from the American and French ambassadors who visited the city where a massacre nearly 30 years ago came to symbolize the ruthlessness of the Assad dynasty.

This summer's Women's World Cup in Germany has caused quite the buzz, with one of the biggest stories being the gigantic television ratings. As well as selling out stadiums for all of its own games (and several others), Germany can boast average TV audiences close to those that watched the...

The Iranian weightlifters clinched the championship with a total of eight gold, 6 silvers and one bronze medals, scoring 577 points. China ended up the second with 538 points seizing seven gold medals, one silver and two bronzes.

Sullivan represented Oliver North in the 1980s and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens against bribery allegations.

Tehran: Iran plans to prosecute 26 current and former American officials, an Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday, potentially escalating a tit-for-tat dispute between the two countries.

The Obama administration has imposed new sanctions on Iran by announcing visa restrictions of Iranian government officials, military leaders and law enforcement officers.

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, 1:05 p.m.

Naples resident and Windham Weaponry founder Dick Dyke has had an up and down last five years. After selling Bushmaster Firearms in 2006, he spent much of 2008 battling lung cancer. The 77-year-old often sat overlooking Brandy Pond and Naples Marina, seen in background.

Tens of thousands of Syrians shouting for the downfall of the Ba'athist regime streamed into the flashpoint city of Hama today, where the US ambassador had travelled to show his solidarity with protesters.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford's trip drew strong condemnation from the Syrian government, which said the visit was unauthorized and a clear sign that Washington was inciting unrest in the Arab nation.

Lotsa luck Kate. Enjoy those bandage dresses while you can.

"Not even in 300 years" said Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as he appeared on Lebanese television a few days ago bluntly declining to adhere to an indictment and arrest warrants issued by the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) against four of his party's members. Mr. Nasrallah also...

LONDON, July 8 (UPI) -- Western allies are imposing sanctions on members of the Iranian government for human rights abuses and involvement in the nuclear sector, London said.

Businesses are using social media without taking adequate measures to monitor staff activity, which could open them up to security attacks and create compliance risks.

President Goodluck Jonathan is to declare open the 6th Developing Eight Countries (D8) business forum and exhibition taking place in Abuja next week.

Crumbing Economy May be Insurmountable in Re-Election President Pleads with Pelosi EPA Escalates Coal War Iran Ascendant IRS Loses Interest in Political Supergroups

Contact: Audrey Mullen, +1-703-548-1160, Audrey@advocacyink.com, for Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran

An Iranian cleric says the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is “ceremonial,” adding that the US-funded court cannot make up for Israel's defeat from Hezbollah in the 33-day war.

Native Tulsan is not shy at mentioning his Oklahoma sports ties on the air

By Richard Engel, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent NEW YORK – I haven’t spent much time in the United States during the last decade.