News Archive - 15 November 2011

>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent crude slipped below $112 on Wednesday, reversing some of the previous session's gains on worries that new governments in Greece and Italy may fail to muster political clout to impose unpopular reforms and contain the region's debt crisis. Oil markets are looking for clues on demand...

>"Such an act I think would be foolish and to undertake it I think would be tragic," Prince Turki al-Faisal said at a Washington, D.C., appearance."If anything it will only make the Iranians more determined to produce an atomic bomb. It will rally support for the government...

>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's U.N. delegation said on Tuesday it will submit a draft resolution to the General Assembly soon that condemns an alleged plot to assassinate its U.S. envoy and urges Iran to follow the law. The draft resolution, provided to Reuters by the Saudi...

Saudi Arabia's former ambassador to the U.S. says it's inevitable that Syria's president will step down in the face of growing popular opposition.

>* Says IAEA report on Iran nuclear program is a "disgrace"By Louis CharbonneauNEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that Tehran was willing to share its controversial nuclear technology with neighboring countries, suggesting it could help Turkey build an atomic power plant.The United...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta rejected accusations at a heated Senate hearing on Tuesday that U.S. politics helped drive the decision to completely withdraw from Iraq this year without leaving any troops behind as trainers. The October 21 drawdown announcement by President Barack Obama followed failed negotiations...

>Here are some details of the sanctions imposed so far:* EUROPEAN SANCTIONS:-- The EU put 13 Syrian officials on its sanctions list on May 17, including a brother of the president. The measures, including asset freezes and travel bans, are part of a package of sanctions, including an arms embargo.

>Israel has long refused to rule out a military response to Iran's nuclear program, which it believes aims at producing an atomic weapon. Tehran says the program is simply intended to generate nuclear power.Israel attacked a suspected Syrian nuclear site in 2007 and, in 1981, destroyed a nuclear reactor...

>TEL AVIV (Reuters) - The latest report by U.N. inspectors has hardened suspicions that Iran is seeking nuclear arms capability, but Israeli experts have little confidence that international action will deny the Islamic Republic the means to make a bomb. The pessimism sounded by academics, retired generals and statesmen...

>LONDON (Reuters) - Brent crude oil futures rose more than $1 per barrel on Tuesday as hopes for progress in resolving the euro zone's debt crisis helped encourage some consolidation after heavy falls in the previous session. But worries over the ability of politicians in Italy and Greece to push...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UPI) Nov 15, 2011 The Pentagon's reported plan to sell the United Arab Emirates nearly 5,000 bunker-buster bombs to counter Iran is part of a move to strengthen Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf as the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq nears completion. But it's also...

Tel Aviv, Israel (UPI) Nov 14, 2011 Israel is swirling with speculation about a possible war with Iran, a new kind of conflict in which its cities and towns face an unprecedented missile blitz that could last for months. But the Israeli army's training hard to do battle with an...

Shoppers at a ’Made in Pakistan’ trade fair in Chandigarh…The recent meeting between the PMs of India and Pakistan holds out prospects of a change in trade ties.

Shay Given and Damien Duff are looking forward to playing against the continent's best players and teams at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Beirut, Lebanon (UPI) Nov 15, 2011 There's no clear link between a massive explosion at an Iranian ballistic missile base, a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog accusing Tehran of working on nuclear weapons and the mysterious death of a former Revolutionary Guard chief's son in Dubai. But taken...

A common approach is needed among Indian Ocean Rim countries to combat challenges relating to maritime transport safety and security.

WASHINGTON: Republican presidential hopefuls are focusing on Iran as a weak spot in President Barack Obama’s foreign policy record, and they’re reviving many of the arguments that neoconservative proponents of armed intervention against Tehran lost in the latter years of George W. Bush’s presidency.

A social media campaign utilising Facebook has been created in a bid to highlight the discrimination that faces members of the gay and lesbian community in Iran.

With President Obama rehabilitating Herbert Hoover, all the Republican Party has to do to win the next presidential election is nominate someone halfway sane. But most candidates for the Republican nomination seem to be wooing people mad with rage.

The trajectory of 'militant jihadists in India is going down', says an expert.

Three men have been executed in Iran under its sodomy laws, according to the Islamic country's human rights watchers.

The ground-breaking love story of two girls in Iran isn't just spurring conversation in the Islamic country – it's sparking a social movement.

Kozhikode, Nov 15: CPI (M) Kerala State Secretary and politoburo member Pinarayi Vijayan today alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre was implemeting U S agenda in the country.

The Republican presidential candidates have served comedians a full platter of laughs this year -- a steady diet of gaffes, misstatements, puzzled looks and long, awkward pauses.

Ann Romney, the wife of Mitt Romney, increased her donations to a family foundation by $1.5 million last year, raising its total assets to $10 million, according to a tax return filed on Tuesday.

Although Rainn Wilson plays comedic character Dwight on “The Office,” the actor is also an activist for human rights. Wilson, who addressed about 450 Boston University students and faculty at Morse Auditorium on Tuesday, joined Executive Producer David Hoffman and Director Jeff Kaufman, who presented their documentary about Iran’s persecution...

Lebanon shocked South Korea 2-1 to throw open Group B of AFC World Cup qualifying with one match remaining.

For presidential candidates, attention is normally a good thing. But Mitt Romney thinks President Obama might be showing him a little too much interest. "YOU'RE MY OBSESSION," reads the headline of one recent Romney press release in which the campaign accuses the president of being, well, obsessed with the former...

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Saturday during a GOP primary debate that he would work with insurgent groups opposed to the Iranian regime if he were elected president. But while several such groups of rebels are known to exist, the best-known is a shadowy militant organization that has received...

Team Melli boss Carlos Queiroz has labelled Indonesian fans as "selfish" after meagre crowd attended Tuesday's 2014 World Cup qualifier in Jakarta which Iran won 4-1 with the hosts already eliminated.

VAN, Turkey -- The once busy sidewalks of this city in eastern Turkey have morphed into a desolate maze of partly collapsed buildings, broken glass and windows hanging dangerously askew.

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain would visit India in December 2011 to negotiate the transit fee for planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, Business Recorder has learnt.

A collection of some of the best photos from around the world in the last 24 hours

After two previous attempts, the US President Barack Obama arrives in Canberra later on Wednesday for his first official visit to Australia.

Creator:  Constance Duncombe This paper delves into the emergence of information communication technology products such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and weblogs as part of the growth in social media networks, and the role this has to play in the maintenance of the hegemonic discourse of enlightened West/subordinate non-West. International read...

The broad outline of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement became the leitmotif of the weekend's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Honolulu, Hawaii.

MONTGOMERY — Police arrested 13 protesters in Alabama’s capital Tuesday as they demonstrated against the state’s strict new law clamping down on illegal immigrants.

Turkey is no longer humoring its harshest neighbors, like Syria and Iran. What will that mean for the region?

Syrian mobs-for-rent are attacking embassies of countries that have turned against President Bashar Assad — with one glaring exception: The US embassy in Damascus was largely unmolested this week. Arab League foreign ministers are expected to vote today in Morocco to suspend Assad from their 22-member group. Jordan’s King Abdullah...

The shortlist for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year award has been narrowed down to six after an announcement on Wednesday.

It was a week of price-fixing allegations for Chinese telcos, while PCCW made plans for its IPO and Taiwan accelerated its 4G spectrum timetable.

The US President, Mr Barack Obama, is expected to meet the Australian Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard, today as both sides are likely to discuss measures to strengthen defence ties and prospects of Canberra’s role in Afghanistan after withdrawal of coalition forces in 2014.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Homare Sawa is in line for another football honor after leading Japan to the Women's World Cup title this year. Three Japanese players were shortlisted Wednesday for the Asian Football Confederation 's Women's Player of the Year award including Sawa, who won the Golden Boot...

RABAT : Arab nations are to meet in Morocco Wednesday to tighten the noose around increasingly isolated Syria after Turkey warned its onetime ally against feeding "on the blood of the innocent".

Ann Coulter 's visit to Hannity today was, like many of her appearances, mainly to agree with and expand upon a point made by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie -- this time, that electability was crucial in choosing a Republican candidate to face off against President Obama, and that the...

MINDFUL OF CAIN "I would like to extend a special offer that could help clear the air of the stench created by the 'soap opera' involving, at this point, five women, who after 15 years have had a remarkable, vivid recall of their 'experiences' with Herman Cain," says The Amazing ...

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011 11:12:00 KUALA LUMPUR: An Iranian student turn drug dealer was busted by police with 1.5kg of syabu in his apartment here two weeks ago. The 38-year-old, formerly a lecturer in Tehran, was pursuing his PhD at a local university here. The total drugs seized were...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Many Republican voters are drawn to Herman Cain's forceful campaign style. But an examination of his comments and proposals raises questions about his grasp of issues he would face if elected president.

Timelapse video of an aircraft carrier transforming into a basketball arena. No audio. More>>

Congressmen overlooked in recent debate; issues, ideas not heard South Carolina and CBS News played host to the most recent Republican presidential candidate debate. The debate focused solely on foreign policy issues America is facing today, such as Iran’s nuclear facilities, foreign aid to other nations — especially Israel —...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military will continue limited counterterrorism training with Iraqi forces at up to 10 camps beyond the end of the year, U.S. defense officials told senators Tuesday, amid sharp exchanges over the future American role there.

Security researchers find that some Duqu Trojan components date back to 2007 and Iran may have seen an early variant months ago, but didn't share the information with the global security research community.

The Falls Church Police Association is once again supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's annual Toys for Tots program. The goal of this program is to provide toys to needy children this Christmas. Read more...

The mainstream U.S. press corps is again pounding the propaganda war drums, this time over dubious accusations of Iran’s secret work on a nuclear bomb. It is a pattern of bias that Robert Parry calls the U.S. media’s worst — and most dangerous – ethical violation.

ANAMOSA, Iowa — Rick Santorum says he’s working harder in Iowa than any other candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Despite bottom rung standing in polls of likely caucusgoers, the former Pennsylvania senator thinks he’s making progress.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Police arrested 13 protesters in Alabama's capital Tuesday as they demonstrated against the state's strict new law clamping down on illegal immigrants.

Falls Church Arts will open its Functional Arts Sale and Show Thursday. Read more...

BANGKOK : Australia reached the final stage of Asia’s 2014 World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 win in Bangkok on Tuesday but they were made to work for their victory by a gutsy Thailand.

In reply to Will 'Dig It Up Fergo' Get His Way? : Good article that reflects my own concerns. The Evans quote is particularly powerful. The worry that other NPT signatories might use the Australian example to justify selling uranium to ‘rogue states’ like Iran or North Korea (i actually...

In honor of Veteran's Day week ceremonies throughout the Washington area, four members of the Combat Infantrymen's Association experienced a rare and distinct privilege on Thursday, Nov. 10, when they placed a wreath at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Read more...

The cyber-security of the North American power grid is "in a state of near chaos," according to a report by a respected U.S. energy consultancy monitoring the industry's transition to wireless digital technologies.

Education chiefs in the chess-obsessed former Soviet nation have made the game part of the national curriculum for children between the ages of seven and nine.

The City of Falls Church will host a Civil War Thanksgiving Reenactment at Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 26. Visitors are welcome to stop by any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to see what an 1863 Civil War Thanksgiving was like...

With Capitol Hill budget battles, a report on Iran’s nuclear capability and Veterans Day all occurring last week, Congressman Robert Dold (R-10th) had plenty of material to talk about Sunday as he addressed both Temple Chai and, later, the Military Officers Association of America. The Kenilworth Republican was in Long...

Amnesty International urges the world to act over what it says are continuing human rights violations and crackdown on dissent in Azerbaijan.

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Iran is taking seriously the reported threat of a military strike against its nuclear facilities, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday while insisting that any such action would be 'very silly.' With tensions again rising over Iran's nuclear programme, Mohammad Javad Larijani, a senior...

IT IS difficult for Republican presidential hopefuls to fault US president Barack Obama on foreign and security policy, because he succeeded where his predecessors failed in eliminating Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gadafy.

DAMASCUS IS a city of cafes. There are cafes for every level of society. Glitzy cafes for the rich, grimy cafes for the poor, cafes with long histories and cafes that spring up overnight like mushrooms and disappear with the dawn.

Massachusetts' Mitt Romney, ever adaptable and politically malleable, has adopted a Texas-style swagger in trying to out-tough-guy the GOP pack by promising there will never be a nuclear Iran during his presidency.

Two American hikers who were imprisoned in Iran after they were accused of spying are planning to get married.

Michele Bachmann is out with a tough new web ad that takes on her Republican presidential rivals for flip-flopping and straying from the conservative line on some hot-button issues.

• Syria o Violence In Syria o Arab League Meeting Tomorrow In Rabat o Attacks On Embassies In Syria / Vienna Convention Responsibilities o Syria National Council / Syrian Opposition o Growing Frustration By Syria's Neighbors o Human Rights Monitors ...

KABUL — Many of the hundreds of tribal elders convening here for an annual loya jirga conference say they have grown weary of foreign troops on their soil but are worried the troops will withdraw too soon and leave them at the mercy of the Taliban.

If you had looked closely enough, you would have seen the beginnings of the Arab Spring all the way back in 2004. That’s according to Jared Cohen, Director of Google Ideas, a global solutions think tank, who spoke today at the Techonomy conference in Tuscon, Ariz., on “A History...

Many claims have been made concerning this Republic of Ireland team and the giant step into the future they took in Estonia on Friday night; claims that stretch the significance of what Robbie Keane and Co did in Tallinn well beyond the white lines of a football pitch.

Hundreds of Iranian students have held a demonstration outside a uranium conversion facility in the central province of Isfahan.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick wants the drawdown of U.S. military troops in Afghanistan to begin now, and not in 2014 as planned by the Obama administration.

Scientists from Northwestern University in the U.S. have discovered how to charge laptops and cellphones 10 times faster and 10 times larger. According reports, Dr. Harold Kung’s team was able to do this by increasing the density and movement of lithium ions in the battery.

President Barack Obama will visit Australia on November 16–17 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty and reestablish U.S. leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. His arrival in Canberra will mark his first visit to Australia as president and the first U.S.

No matter how much oil? Are you serious? More oil produced in the U.S. including Colorado and North Dakota, will keep AMERICAN DOLLARS IN AMERICA, Who cares about world oil prices?? Even if gas prices stay at the same levels and they will be REGARDLESS of who is in...

COMMENTARY | The news this past week that Iran's nuclear development program is conducting tests that only pertain to bombs should not come as a surprise to anyone. Despite repeated claims by the Iranian regime that its program is for peaceful purposes only, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency...

Contact: CONTACT: Hamid Azimi, +1-415-652-1525

No cruel hand of fate was going to deny the Irish this time. Knocked out of World Cup qualifying two years ago by France with the help of Thierry Henry's hand ball, Ireland clinched a berth in next year's European Championship on Tuesday night, the first major tournament for the...

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt was peppered with a wide range of questions from economic issues to education to congressional redistricting by a standing-room-only crowd at a town hall-style forum at the Lawrence Township Municipal Building Monday night.

Baptist Press Stories for Nov. 15 2011 --------------------------------------- Tom Elliff inaugurated as IMB president & 'bondservant' http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36577 Ethnic church plants arise in Philadelphia http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36574 HCSB team says translation found ideal balance http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36572 HCSB philosophy impacts Chinese ...

Baltic minnows salvage some pride but Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland are going to next year's European Championships.

TURKEY (BP) -- The mistreatment of a pastor in Iran awaiting a decision on his death sentence for refusing to recant his faith amounts to physical and psychological torture, a source close to the pastor's family said.

Interview Tamara C. Wittes Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Washington, DC MS. JENSEN: Good afternoon. Welcome to State Department Live, the State Department’s interactive online video platform for engaging international media.

Qatar will have to wait until their next match for a place in the final stage of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup after they were held to a scoreless draw by visiting Bahrain at the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium here yesterday.

AFTERNOON EDITION Ramsey County OKs stadium site purchase, if state pays By Brian Lambert | Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 OK! Champagne all around. The Ramsey County board voted … unanimously … to buy the Arden Hills site for a Vikings stadium if ... and it's a small if ... the state comes...

By Atia Abawi, NBC News Correspondent KABUL – This week over 2,000 Afghans representing all walks of life - from far-flung villages and the country's big city - will congregate in the capital Kabul.

Australia, Iran and Iraq are through to the final round of Asian qualifying for soccer's 2014 World Cup after all winning away matches.

Breaking: Police Begin Clearing Zuccotti Park of Occupy Wall Street Protesters --Protesters rallied near middle of park and began building barricades with tables and pieces of scrap wood 15 Nov 2011 Hundreds of New York City police officers began clearing Zuccotti Park of the Occupy Wall Street protesters early Tuesday,...

Santorum pointed to danger from Iran because, he said, it is a radical Islamist theocracy bent on taking over the world for Islam.

Hundreds of Iranian students yesterday formed a human chain around one of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites, vowing to strongly respond to any strike by arch-foe Israel, Fars news agency reported.

> There are more prominent film festivals in South America, but none can boast a venue like the city’s old opera house built in 1896 and featured in the Werner Herzog classic, “Fitzcarraldo.” Opening night drew hundred of fans to the red carpet where luminaries like Alfonso Herrera, a...