News Archive - 21 August 2011

>CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's stern rebuke to Israel over the deaths of five Egyptian security personnel is the clearest sign yet of cooling ties as Cairo's military rulers try to appease a newly-assertive public largely antagonistic to the Jewish state. The Arab world's most populous nation is unlikely to scrap...

>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday unrest sweeping the country had become more militant but he was confident it could be controlled and warned that any military action against his nation would backfire. Assad faces Western calls to step down over his harsh crackdown on five...

>GAZA (Reuters) - Iran has cut back or even stopped its funding of Hamas after the Islamist movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, failed to show public support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, diplomats said on Sunday. Hamas has denied that it is in financial crisis but says it faces...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The families of two Americans imprisoned in Iran say the news that the men have been sentenced to eight-year terms has hit them hard. A statement sent Sunday by spokeswoman Samantha Topping says this weekend has been the hardest yet for Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal's families...

>Prosecutor-General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told a news conference that Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal had 20 days to appeal the verdict, ISNA said, confirming news leaked to Iranian state TV on Saturday.There was still no verdict on Sarah Shourd, who was arrested with the others on July 31, 2009...

Iran has sentenced two American citizens to eight years in prison after they were convicted of espionage and illegal entry, prosecutors said on Sunday. Several non-official Iranian media outlets had already reported on Saturday that the two American citizens were sentenced to prison, but the news was not confirmed until...

Serzh Sargsyan wished the Catholicos of All Armenians good health and fruitful work for the glory of Armenia.

Family Voices Media, a leader in the video biography industry, has undertaken its two largest projects to date. Both were in-depth family biographies, each of which presented challenges which required the creative hands at Family Voices Media to produce final products that satisfied both the client and the company. The...

During her years abroad, reminders and truths kept an artist attached to home. Now sheâs back and knitting together the familiar threads. After packing up her suitcase and leaving to see the world .....

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged Muslims and non-Muslims across the world to have a mass turnout in the International Quds Day rallies in support of the Palestinian cause.

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Monday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.

Libya, Syria, Egypt and Israel shook last week with the deep rumble of artillery fire, the sudden explosions of airstrikes and the sharp crack of infantry rifles.

A senior commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) says enemies, and Israel in particular, will never dare to launch an attack on the country.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee touched its weakest level in nearly nine months on Monday, dragged by dollar demand from domestic oil refiners for import payments as well as bunched up outflows following last Friday's local forex and bond markets holiday.

Tehran, Aug 22 : Iran plans to conduct a "cyber security manoeuvre" to increase readiness against possible cyber attacks on the country, state-run Press TV reported.

TEHRAN, Iran - Relatives of two American men arrested more than two years ago in Iran said Sunday the news that they had received eight-year prison sentences for spying hit them hard, but they remain hopeful the men eventually will be released.

Pop Steve Martin once had an album titled Let's Get Small, named after the refrain in a very funny Martin routine. For Zach Condon, main man of the indie band Beirut, "Let's get small" is a way

Pope Benedict XVI urged more than 1.5 million young people to become missionaries for the faith Sunday, giving them words of encouragement as he concluded a glitch-marred church youth festival and announced that the next edition will be in Rio de Janeiro in 2013.

Ken Buffington's travels as a boxing competitor, coach and promoter have taken him to many American cities and to Ireland. Now he can add Baku, Azerbaijan to his list.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi says the two US nationals, who were detained two years ago, had entered the country with prior planning with the purpose of spying.

Iran is in talks with an Indonesian company to export 1.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year to Indonesia, says an Iranian energy official.

CARACAS : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a staunch of ally of embattled strongman Moamer Qadhafi, slammed Western powers Sunday for "destroying Tripoli with their bombs," as rebels surged to seize control of the Libyan capital.

PageBreak -- OPENINGS BRIGHTON ROCK Reviewed below in Now Playing. Opening Aug. 26. (Angelika Film Center and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas.) CHASING MADOFF A documentary, directed by Jeff Prosserman, about Harry Markopolos, a financial executive who sought to expose Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme a . . .

In recent years, Turkey has undergone a process of civilianization in which the long-powerful military — which made a name for itself as the defender of secularism — has lost a great degree of its power.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States is "deeply disappointed" that Iran has sentenced two American hikers to eight years in prison after their conviction on charges of espionage and illegal entry.

As if the administration did not have enough to deal with domestically, what with persistently high unemployment, threats of a double-dip recession and a dysfunctional relationship with Republicans

The family of a Minnesota native imprisioned in Iran said they've been hit hard, following the 8 year sentence the men recieved.

DAMASCUS, Aug. 21-- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday that he expected to have parliamentary elections conducted in February of 2012 in an interview broadcast by state TV.

WHAT makes a revolution? Resentments and grievances against the existing state of affairs, sure.

LADSON, S.C. — Dale Richardson who for the past year had served as pastor at Freedom Free Will Baptist Church has been charged with kidnapping and raping three women at gunpoint and kidnapping a fourth who was not sexually assaulted. According to an incident report, last month Richardson picked...

Iranian taekwondo fighter Mehran Asgari has won the first gold medal for the Iranian athletic mission at the 26th multi-sport event for the international students in China.

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.

MS. NULAND: Please. QUESTION: Ambassador Ford – is he still in Syria? MS. NULAND: He is. QUESTION: And the obvious follow-up question is: Will he stay?

BEIRUT, Aug 22 — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned the West his nation would not tolerate any outside interference, saying that anti-government unrest sweeping the country had become more militant. Assad faces growing Western calls to step down over his harsh crackdown on more than five months of pro-democracy protests...

Release Time:  For Immediate Release Location:  Chengdu, China REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS FOLLOWED BY Q & A WITH STUDENTS Sichuan University Chengdu, China  10:40 A.M. (Local) THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, all, very much.  (Applause.)  Mr. President, thank you for...

. True, the U.S. clarified that the requirement that Washington makes Tehran’s nuclear activities, “not changed”.

President Obama is following developments as they come in.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says there is room for cooperation between the county and Turkey towards helping the regional states create peace and democracy.

• (http://twitter.com/share) Vague agendas, US weakness on display

Head of the Future bloc Fouad Siniora said Sunday that the TIME interview with one of the men indicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon indicated that the men were being protected...

Iran has cut back or even stopped its funding of Hamas after the Islamist movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, failed to show public support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, diplomats said Sunday.

A teenager who was arrested after being mistakenly identified as an arsonist by police during riots in Manchester has been released after nine days of “hell” in custody. Dane Williamson of Salford, was held after £319,000 worth of stock was damaged at Miss Selfridge in the city.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The horn echoed off the hillsides of Pittsburgh's South Side from the fields of the Steelers' facility, signifying the end of a 2 1/2-hour practice. More than 30 minutes later Sunday, wide receiver Antonio Brown finally emerged in the Steelers' emptying locker room. Several veterans were showered,...

CHENGDU: US Vice-President Joe Biden on Sunday rejected claims that American power is on the wane and told a Chinese audience that his government would never default, near the end of a trip that has stressed interdependence between the world’s two biggest economies.

International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) has sold its Al Yusr Islamic banking retail operations to the new-generation Barwa Bank, seven months after the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) directed the commercial lenders to scale down their Shariah-principled businesses.

HATTIESBURG, MISS. (AP) - Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay posted on his Twitter account that he is in Brett Favre's hometown, but the quarterback's agent says he has not heard of any interest from the Colts. The 41-year-old Favre retired in the offseason after a 20-year career and lives in...

CAIRO — A relaxed, defiant Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday repeated promises of reforms and warned of "repercussions" should the West opt for military intervention in the uprising that's threatened the survival of his family's four-decade rule.

TWO American hikers arrested in 2009 on the Iran–Iraq border have been jailed for eight years in Iran on charges including spying.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Amnesty International. To mark this, Amnesty, in association with The Irish Times, is profiling a prisoner each month . . .

THE LAWYER for two US citizens convicted of spying in Iran said yesterday he would appeal their eight-year sentence, which shocked their families who had hoped to see them freed after more than two years already spent in Tehran’s most notorious jail.

A number of computer applications have raised my bile levels recently.I'm particularly grumpy with a "business networking" site, which ensnared me into unintentionally offering everybody in my address book the opportunity to join...

Hindsight suggests former President's actions did more to help Iran than the United States In spy talk, a "sleeper" is somebody who lives his life in the target country, keeping his nose clean and climbing up the ranks of the local...

HOUSTON (AP) - The San Francisco Giants placed closer Brian Wilson on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with inflammation in his right elbow and recalled RHP Steve Edlefsen from Triple-A Fresno. Wilson's DL stay is retroactive to Tuesday. The closer has not pitched since a blown save at Atlanta on...

In addition to director Reza Badiyi's long list of work, he is credited with creating the memorable title sequences for 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.' Reza Badiyi, a prolific television director whose credits included "Get Smart" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and who set a...

WHITE HOUSE Obama hits beach,links after briefing EDGARTOWN, Mass. — President Obama played golf and enjoyed some beach time with his family Sunday at Martha's Vineyard, though not before getting briefed on developments in Libya. Under sunny skies, Mr. Obama, wife Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha spent the morning ...

Police are looking for two possible suspects responsible for damaging over 100 vehicles in south Minneapolis overnight.

Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup and Curtis Granderson hit an inside-the-park home run to help the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's president said Sunday he was "not worried" about security in his country and warned against any foreign military intervention in a speech designed to portray confidence as the regime comes under blistering international condemnation for its crackdown on dissent.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ruled Sunday, Aug. 21, that his government's first priority is to let Egypt's military rulers have the kudos of brokering a ceasefire in the four-day Palestinian missile war against Israel from Gaza – and deal some time in the future with the Palestinian Jihad Islami...

Tyson Hinz led his university team to the Canadian national championship last spring. On Sunday, he pushed Canada to within a victory of its first world university title in 28 years.

AFP/Tehran Russia has put forward “proposals” to build new nuclear power plants in Iran after the completion of the Bushehr project, local media reported yesterday quoting the Islamic Republic’s atomic chief.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken say they're disappointed about the reported convictions of two U.S. hikers in Iran, and they're asking the Iranian government to reconsider.

Syrian authorities are directing a massive cleanup at the Ramel camp ahead of a visit by U.N. inspectors, sources say. The camp was hit by gunfire and rockets during a crackdown on protesters. Syrian authorities preparing for a United Nations inspection are covering up damage in a Palestinian refugee...

Changes in Syria and elsewhere in the region may have emboldened Kurdish militants to renew attacks on the Turkish state

Internews/Peshawar After facing delays and threats of cuts in assistance from the US, Pakistan has decided to add Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the list of allies from whom it will seek funding for development projects in the tribal areas as well as money to help...

The Exelon Byron Nuclear Generating Stations in Byron, Illinois. US conglomerate General Electric is seeking permission to build a $1 billion plant for uranium enrichment by laser, a process which has ...

Minnesota U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken say they're disappointed about the reported convictions of two U.S. hikers in Iran, and they're asking the Iranian government to reconsider.  Talk about this topic

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Akhbar and his family fled a perilous existence in Afghanistan for an uncertain life in Malaysia and now dream of a better future in Australia under a controversial refugee swap deal.

Iran's decision to sentence two American hikers to eight years in prison for espionage and entering the country illegally has "deeply disappointed" U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. News Desk Member Content:  Normal Content Iran's decision to sentence two American hikers to eight years in prison for espionage and...

DUBAI - Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the executive council of the emirate, attended the concluding ceremony of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award on Saturday night.

CUBA: The Cuban government on Saturday rejected a US decision to keep Cuba on its blacklist of countries that allegedly support terrorism and accused Washington of sheltering the “real terrorists.”

Boris Gryzlov, said that if Tajikistan refuses to return to the Russian border guards on their borders, then Russia may introduce a visa regime. “Asia Plus” asks the question: “what is it – pre-election” out to the public, “a gesture of warning before meeting the two heads of states or...

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for about one year does not participate in Friday prayers.

The Iran Policy Committee, an organization dedicated to gaining U.S. support for the Mujahedin-e Khalq, organized an event on Thursday with former U.S. officials calling for the MEK to be removed from the U.S. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. -NIAC

TEHRAN - Indian refiners will settle all oil debts to Iran by the end of this month, a business daily reported on Sunday, quoting a senior oil official as saying the sanctions-related problem that held up billions of dollars of oil income was over.

Iranian women wushu players showed excellence performance at Asian Wushu Championship in Shanghai on Saturday. Tahereh Ghasemi and Sepideh Shakerian claimed two gold medals in taolu. Iran's number of medals reached to eight in this tournament.

The head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Russia has proposed cooperating with the Islamic Republic on building new nuclear power plants in the country. Fereydoun Abbasi said that Iran and Russia have negotiated the suggestion proposed by Moscow.

The grim stories of two women who endured long-stretches of solitary confinement in Iran's most notorious prison are chilling omens for the two jailed U.S. hikers who each reportedly received eight-year prison sentences on Saturday.

The recent finding that the seriously endangered Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) has been hybridizing in the wild with the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) offers a sobering lesson. It shows that there is no real antagonism between Cuban and American crocodiles, something that policymakers on both sides should learn, and lead...

Pitt Meadows resident and 2008 Olympic alternate Yvette Yong nabbed a bronze medal at the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark last week.

Iran is a significant trade partner for the UAE, with trade volume between Iran and the emirate of Dubai alone estimated at about $10 billion a year.

Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said Sunday perpetrator behind the assassination of Iranian scientist would be on trial Tuesday. He also said the case of 15 suspects linked to Zionist spying network would be sent to the court within next ten days.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she is "deeply disappointed" that Iran has sentenced two American hikers to eight years in prison on charges of illegal entry and spying.

It's one special relationship that has been looking increasingly rocky in recent months. US and UK oil prices have historically traded hand-in-hand, but the benchmark contracts now seem to be living almost totally separate lives.

MINNEAPOLIS  — The families of two Americans imprisoned in Iran say the news that the men have been sentenced to eight-year terms has hit them hard. A statement sent Sunday by spokeswoman Samantha Topping says this weekend has been the hardest yet for Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal's families after...

There is a startling statistic that remains unchanged over the last 12 years. According to the FBI 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

A federal indictment charges eight southern Minnesota residents with passing phony $100 bills that they created using $5 bills.

"The Help" continues to clean up at the box office, taking over the No. 1 spot with $20.5 million in its second weekend.

Head of Iran's Rescue and Relief Organization Mahmoud Mozaffar says the Islamic Republic will soon dispatch another humanitarian aid cargo to famine-hit Somalia.

A senior Iranian official says the case of Sarah Emily Shourd, the American national facing charges of illegal entry into Iran and espionage, is still open.

Family members of two U.S. hikers detained in Iran for the past two years say the sentencing handed down this weekend has made the last few days the hardest yet, but they remain hopeful.

The recent visit by Dmitry Rogozin, the Kremlin's special envoy for missile defense cooperation with NATO, to the U.S. State Department highlights one of the many obstacles to U.S.-Russian cooperation on ballistic missile defense. Russia's diplomats have generally, but not always, adopted a harder line, while Rogozin...

The lawyer for two American men arrested more than two years ago in Iran and convicted on charges that include espionage said Sunday he will appeal the verdict and his clients' eight-year prison sentences.

Two Americans received eight year prison sentences from Iranian authorities, who accused them of espionage when they illegally entered Iran in 2009 while hiking, according to reports citing Iran’s state TV.

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian authorities imposed a harsh, eight-year sentence on two Americans arrested along the border with Iraq in 2009, state television cited an unnamed judicial source as saying Saturday, in a stunning verdict that could further strain relations between the U.S. and Iran. Shane Bauer and Joshua...

The following listings are not casting notices but instead reflect the best general information available about current casting assignments. Do your homework and use them wisely. Do not phone or visit casting directors' offices.

Two Americans received eight-year prison sentences from Iranian authorities, who accused them of espionage when they illegally entered Iran in 2009 while hiking, according to reports on Saturday citing Iran’s state TV.

21 August 2011 Two US citizens accused of "espionage" and "illegal entry" have been sentenced to eight years in prison by a Tehran court. The Iranian authorities must release two US citizens following a deeply flawed trial, Amnesty International said today, after the men were sentenced to eight years in...

On fifth day of his hunger strike, 74-year-old Anna Hazare continues his vow of no food until India enacts new laws against corruption. As Tony Guida reports, Hazare's non-violent movement is gaining strength, despite government efforts to contain it.

Tehran, Aug 21 : Two US citizens sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of spying were given 20 days to appeal by the Iranian prosecutors, the state media reported Sunday.