News Archive - 11 August 2011

>HAVANA (Reuters) - Revolutionary legend Fidel Castro turns 85 on Saturday, still an important figure in his communist-ruled Cuba, but increasingly a fading presence in the life of the country he ran for 49 years. He gave up his last leadership post this year when he stepped down as head...

>LONDON (Reuters) - "Bloody foreigners..." someone tweeted when word circulated that Turkish and Kurdish people were gathering on the streets of east London to defend their shops and cafes from looters. "...They come to our country and protect our neighborhoods and communities."From a Polish shop assistant photographed...

> * Says targeting street gangs a national priority * Acknowledges police initially caught on hop * Police reinforcements keep London relatively peaceful (Adds details of court appearances) By Mohammed Abbas and Adrian Croft LONDON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron blamed the worst riots in Britain for...

>LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC, source of more than a third of the world's oil, is unlikely to become concerned about a slide in oil prices unless Brent crude falls toward $90 a barrel, OPEC delegates said on Thursday. Brent has fallen to $106 a barrel, down more than $20 from...

> * Says targeting street gangs a national priority * Acknowledges police initially caught on hop * Police reinforcements keep London relatively peaceful (Recasts, adds more Cameron quotes, background) By Matt Falloon LONDON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron vowed on Thursday to hunt down the street gangsters...

>LONDON (Reuters) - From bizarre claims about the use of "mercenaries" to tongue-in-cheek travel advisories, countries long used to Western criticism of their own human rights records are relishing Britain's embarrassment over the riots sweeping its cities. With its long colonial past and its carefully nurtured self-image as the mother...

>Syrian security forces have used tanks, gunfire and mass arrests in efforts to crush a months-old revolt against 41 years of authoritarian rule by the Assad family. Rights groups say more than 1,700 people have been killed.Here are some details of the sanctions imposed so far:* U.S. SANCTIONS:--...

>TEHRAN (Reuters) - Britain told Iran on Thursday it was happy to discuss its handling of street unrest after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused its police of "savage" aggression against demonstrators. Britain helped lead Western condemnation of Iran's crackdown on protests against Ahmadinejad's re-election in June 2009. He was quick on...

artnet Auctions introduces the newest category in online auctions with the first Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale.New York / Berlin / Paris (PRWEB) August 12, 2011 artnet Auctions is proud to announce the first online auction of Contemporary Middle Eastern Art. This seven day sale brings together a unique...

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria have reached an agreement to further develop the level of tourism cooperation between the two Muslim countries.

Iran is set to compete in the 2011 FIVB Boys Youth Volleyball World Championship, which will be held in Argentina from 19 to 28 of August.

Dancing Horse Media LLC - Kitesurfing films rarely reach a mainstream audience, but “bridge of the gods 2010” from Dancing Horse Media LLC breaks new ground at major sports film festivals. Kitesurfing is one of the fastest growing sports on earth, and the bridge of the gods Kite Festival is...

Teraktor Sazi have gone top of the Iran Pro League after Mohammad Ebrahimi's penalty clinched a 1-0 win over Shahin.

Splits are emerging within the Libyan regime after senior members of the government distanced themselves from Gaddafi family plans to forge a settlement to end the civil war.

AUG 12 — It has been a heady few days for those living in Britain, much more so those living in the suburbs of London, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and even Gloucester. Glued to television screens like one would while watching a live soap opera unfold, a myriad of...

Honey is a unique Bergen County offering - a family-run Persian restaurant inside a grocery store.

SOUTHINGTON — Harry Terdjanian’s mission in life is to keep alive the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who died by Turkish hands early in the 20th century. He especially wants the U.S. government to officially recognize their deaths as a genocide.

Most likely, the Assad regime will survive, despite sanctions, diplomatic isolation and economic dislocation

Last night’s Fox News-Washington Examiner debate in Iowa was the most sheerly entertaining political event in decades -- a rapid-fire, no-holds-barred multiplayer smackdown with the toughest set of questions ever posed to presidential candidates. The Republicans were challenged as candidates rarely are challenged, and by two journalistic organizations generally...

KITA is the only political party in the country that will fearlessly defend Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, which safeguards religious freedom. We believe that this freedom belongs to everyone – Muslims and non-Muslims – and is a fundamental right of every human being. We believe it is cruel...

This past March, President Obama ordered the commitment of cruise missiles and U.S. bombers to “finish off� the “floundering� regime of Libyan dictator Muammur Gadhafi.

Republican presidential rivals went on the attack in a nationally televised debate yesterday, shedding the politeness marking previous forums as they squared off in Iowa before a weekend straw poll that could derail some of their campaigns.

The rupee gained on Friday after eight back-to-back sessions of fall in tandem with a rebound in global equities and the euro.

Tokyo - A magnitude-6 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan early Friday, the Meteorological Agency said.One person was injured in Fukushima, public broadcaster NHK said, but no immediate damage was ...

KHQ.COM - The Republican presidential primary debate provided plenty of fireworks Thursday night, a stark contrast to the two more sleepy affairs earlier this year.

About a month ago we penned a post to refute some misconceptions about a material spike in M2, which led such luminaries as Andy Lees and Art Cashin to get confused that this may be an indication that either the government was forcing money into the population with the end...

Thai composite stocks index at midday Wednesday stood at 1,059.97, up 17.43 points, or 1.67 per cent amid Bt 17.78 billion turnover in line with regional bourses. Blue chip SET-50 index was at ...

Thai composite stocks index closed on Thursday at 1,062.07, up 1.86 point, or 0.18 per cent amid Bt 30.36 billion turnover. Blue chip SET-50 index was at 738.08, up 0.73 point, or 0.10 per cent.Top ...

An Iranian man from Switzerland was arraigned yesterday in absentia in Framingham District Court on charges he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and her son.

If the UK government restricts social networking in answer to the riots, what separates it from the Arab tyrannies and China? The government is contemplating tactics against the UK riots that set dangerous precedents. In parliament today, prime minister David Cameron said authorities and the industry were looking at "whether...

For years it was assumed that economic sanctions and diplomacy would produce a pliable negotiating partner in Iran. But Iran's truculence has effectively undermined the once-popular notion, while a degree of confusion and consternation has gripped the international community.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia''s natural rubber (NR) productionin June rose 17.5 per cent to 84,208 tonnes from the previous month andwas up 19 per cent against the same month last year, the Statistics Departmentreported today.Exports during the month under review fell 15.5 per cent...

Michael Barone Senior Political Analyst Follow Him @MichaelBarone Never before has there been a televised presidential candidates' debate so short a time before the Iowa Republicans' Ames straw poll. Last night's debate, co-sponsored by The Washington Examine r and Fox News Channel, provided plenty of spirited conflict and some unscripted...

The PawSox scored three runs in the first inning on Thursday night and that was enough to beat the Knights 3-2. Brett Carroll belted a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to score the first run. Luis Exposito and Jose Iglesias followed with RBI singles to make it 3-0.

Two men and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with a series of takeover robberies at convenience stores in four cities, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

GOP candidates go after Obama - and each other

Social media and legal experts have ridiculed a proposal by British Prime Minister David Cameron to restrict the use of services like Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger to prevent riots.

The debate began with the two most similar candidates -- Minnesotans Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Michele Bachmann -- pulling no punches in disparaging each other's records. It wouldn't take long for the two most different candidates to have at it, and the foreign policy conversation between. Rep. Ron Paul...

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Minnesota rivals Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann sparred bitterly Thursday night during an eight-candidate Republican debate, trying to break out of the GOP presidential pack ahead of an Iowa test vote with huge consequences. Each seeks to become the main challenger to Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.

The frontrunner for a major party's presidential nomination is always happiest when other candidates turn their attacks on each other instead of him.So by that measure, Mitt Romney had to be very pleased indeed because he was left unmolested, by and large, by the seven other Republican candidates contending...

Citing reports that rioters are using Web-based services to communicate, Prime Minister David Cameron contemplates a ban

Minnesota rivals Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann sparred bitterly Thursday night during an eight-candidate Republican debate, seeking to break out of the GOP presidential pack ahead of an Iowa test vote with huge consequences. Each seeks to become the main challenger to Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.

Presumptive front-runner Mitt Romney steers clear of the toughest exchanges as midtier Republican presidential hopefuls like Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty spar ahead of Saturday's straw poll. In the most combative encounter of the 2012 contest, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty and other midtier candidates tangled repeatedly over their records...

The stock market once again proved it can be an incredibly unforgiving and swiftly punishing place, as a two-week long downturn was given new fuel by Standard & Poor's decision last Friday to downgrade the U.S. credit rating. Gold rose Monday, as did Treasury prices, but the equity market...

Persepolis has suffered its second defeat in the 11th round of Iran's Premier League (IPL) against Shahrdari in third week of the games.

The United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland and South Africa all refuse to extradite individuals to the U.S. without assurances that the death penalty will not be sought. Rhode Island is trying to join them.

The Associated Press The Associated Press AMES, Iowa Congressman Ron Paul says rival White House hopeful Rick Santorum has his history wrong on Iran, arguing that the United States has been at war with Iran since it helped orchestrate regime change in the 1950s. Paul and Santorum clashed during Thursday's...

Has the Obama administration abandoned its illusions about Bashar Assad? A senior source in the administration answers with “an emphatic yes.” “We have concluded that, far from being a force for reform in Syria, President Assad is an obstacle to peaceful change,” the source tells me on condition of...

BAGHDAD: Iraq is treading carefully in its response to Syria's deadly crackdown on protesters, balancing its ties to Iran, which backs Damascus, and international condemnation of Syria, officials and analysts say.

EDITORIAL: Careful what you wish for While it may be the hottest news story across South Australia this week, Mike Rann's impending resignation lacks much meaning for the Riverland.

TEHRAN, Aug. 12 -- An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted northern Iran early Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake, which occurred at 2:02 a.m. local time (2232 GMT Thursday)was centered 30 km northwest of Shahrud with a depth of 10.3 km,...

Tehran, August 10 (KCNA) -- The Iranian minister of Culture in a diplomatic appearance on August 6 condemned the West for spreading the sentiment of hatred for Muslim.

Russia cautioned the US and its NATO allies Monday against plans to extend an anti-missile shield into northern European seas.

Tehran, August 10 (KCNA) -- Iranian police successfully combated drug trafficking, confiscating some 8 685 kg of opium in Kerman Province.

A Eugene federal judge has denied an Ashland Islamic charity founder’s request for acquittal or a new trial on what the government called terrorism-related money-smuggling and money-laundering charges. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan also set a Sept. 27 sentencing date for Pete Seda, also known as Pirouz Sedaghaty,...

By Washington’s Blog   Politico reports : The U.S. has dramatically ratcheted up the pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad, slapping new sanctions on key companies Wednesday as White House press secretary Jay Carney said the leader is guilty of “heinous actions” and the country would be better off...

A “chilling” briefing by a top UN envoy confirmed nearly 2,000 civilians had been killed in the ongoing crackdown in Syria since March.

Iran's second humanitarian aid shipment has reached the Somali capital via air amid the famine-stricken Horn of African nation's dire need for relief supplies.

WILDGEESE: EMIGRANT BUSINESS LEADERS ON OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD: David O'Halloran, Founder of BusinessMinds, Africa

Cyber Styletto written as fact-based fiction

SOMETHING’S brewing hot on Asian Heritage Row and it’s not just curries for breakfast at the mamak stalls. There’s also Bangsar to look at.

The work ethic that would help coach Tom Lamar win dozens of high-school state swimming championships was formed decades ago in the South Florida town of Lake Worth. His early years were shaped by the Great Depression and a constant search for a job.

NET RESULTS:Technologies are neither good nor bad. They don’t have political opinions, they don’t take sides

Syria's recent Ramadan offensive, in which 300 protesters died, appears not to have deterred Syrian democrats, who are still taking to the streets in their hundreds of thousands. But it has severely affected the attitude of neighbouring states which until recently thought there was no obvious alternative to a cohesive...

SALT LAKE CITY — Even with the United States making major strides in the global war on terror, the world is still "very dangerous," according to one of the nation's top intelligence experts.

It MAY come as a surprise to the worthy men and women of Strathclyde Police sent to assist in the towns of northern England, but they are "mercenaries".

New York, Aug. 11: India has been thrust into the centre of efforts to prevent a fourth western-led war in the Muslim world, this time for a regime change in Damascus.

In a recent interview with Newroz TV, the leader of PJAK Abdul Rahman Haji Ahmadi alleged that Iran is plotting to expand its regional power by attempting to capture the Qandil mountains along the Iran-Iraq border.

The family of the alleged international arms trafficker Viktor Bout is hoping that the Thai judicial authorities will rule the decision to extradite him to the United States illegal, his wife Alla ...

Iranian automakers have produced more than half a million vehicles over a four-month period, which started in late March.

Iran’s government is basking in rare IMF praise as the first major oil exporter to axe energy and food subsidies, but gains for the sanctions-hit economy could be jeopardized by costly cash handouts and the risk of runaway inflation.

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THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc), which begins its meetings this weekend ahead of its annual summit in Luanda, Angola, should revamp its conflict resolution mechanisms to effectively and emphatically deal with the political crises in Zimbabwe and other hotspots in the region.

WASHINGTON (BP)--Social hostilities relating to religion or government restrictions on religion rose substantially for more than 2.2 billion people -- nearly a third of the world's total population -- between 2006 and 2009, according to a new study released by Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Britain is considering disrupting online social networking such as Blackberry Messenger and Twitter during civil unrest, Prime Minister David Cameron said early today (NZ time), a move widely condemned as repressive when used by other countries.

MIAMI: Rick Perry, George W. Bush’s successor as Texas governor, was expected to make his 2012 White House run official on Saturday by touting his state’s robust job growth as a model for the struggling US economy.

Qatar Airways yesterday announced plans to extend its presence in China with the launch of flights to a fifth gateway – the western city of Chongqing from November 28.

Six-time winner of AFC Futsal Championship and former Iran captain Babak Masoumi died from blood cancer on Wednesday.

London - Prime Minister David Cameron blamed the worst riots in Britain for decades on street gang members and opportunistic looters and denied government austerity measures or poverty caused the violence in London and other major English cities.

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The fall of 2011, Kyrgyz filmmakers present on the big screen kinoalmanah “Kyrgyzstan, I love you.” On this day, June 29, at a press conference announced the production center director “Oymo” Erke Dzhumahmatova, correspondent BakuToday .

Qatar’s newly appointed coach Brazilian Sebastiao Lazoroni (C) talks to players during a team training session at the Al Sadd stadium on Wednesday night.

By Susan Thurston, Times Staff Writer Wednesday, August 3, 2011 L ast month, Prince William and Kate Middleton paddled dragon boats for fun during a visit to Canada's Prince Edward Island. • This weekend in Tampa, 2,000 athletes from 17 countries will compete for the sport's top title. • The...

The latest Boeing and aerospace news, including updates about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 747-8 and 737, Airbus A380 and A350, the anticipated Boeing 797 and Boeing jobs and ...

Bahrain has detained a former bodybuilding champion as part of a crackdown on mainly Shiite Muslim pro-democracy protesters in the Sunni-led Gulf Arab kingdom, the opposition said Sunday.

POLITICS and publishing make good bedfellows. So it is only natural that Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand's new prime minister, is already the subject of several books rushed out since her Pheu ...

Urologic issues in men and women will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

The demise of the Assad regime could be welcome news for the Middle East, says Con Coughlin.

Detectives investigating the deaths of three men who were hit by a car in Birmingham while protecting shops from looters have arrested two youths and a man on suspicion of murder.

Book Passage in Corte Madera offers free author readings and other free events open to the public.

If you know when and where to look, this year's Perseid meteor shower can still be a crowd pleaser despite glare from the full moon.

Navid Khonsari was the cinematic director on well-known Rockstar projects like GTA: San Andreas, Max Payne, and Bully. His newest project is a game dealing with the turbulent events of the year 1979 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Khonsari is no longer with Rockstar, but his production company, Inkstories,...

The front- page headline in The New York Times last Sunday w read more

VARIETY is a goal of her Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music programming, claims artistic director Marin Alsop. Plenty of that was heard in the festival's two full orchestra programs last weekend.

The debt crisis, chronic high unemployment, the tumbling stock market, the credit downgrade — these are, fairly obviously, symptoms of an economy in distress. We might disagree about the best policy responses. But perhaps we can agree on the worst: borrow massive amounts of money from the communists who want...

Prime Minister David Cameron has told Parliament he will hunt down the gang members and opportunistic looters he blamed for the violence in Britain.

A political analyst says the British government should accept Iran's offer to send a group of rapporteurs to investigate human rights violations in Britain.

Tehran pays tribute to US activist crushed to death by bulldozer while trying stop the demolition of Palestinian homes Tehran city council has named a street after an American activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli military bulldozer in the Gaza Strip in 2003, a local newspaper has...

Iran's armed forces joint chief of staff General Hassan Firouzabadi said Azerbaijan might face a "people's awakening" for suppressing Muslims and maintaining ties with Israel, the state-run Fars news agency reported.