News Archive - 17 March 2012

A number of civilians as well as troops have been killed in two car bomb attacks in Al-Qasaa and Duwar al- Jamarek areas in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Syria’s state TV says. One bomb planted in a car went off outside the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Headquarters and another explosion...

IRI Foreign Ministry Spokesman condemned blasts in Damascus on Saturday and said that Iran considers such acts as a cause for instability and insecurity in the region. Ramin Mihman-parast said that responsibility of such incidents is on the shoulder of those who arm and provoke armed groups. He underlined that...

Iraqi Prime Minister dismisses reports by a US daily on the shipment of Iran's aid cargo to crisis-hit Syria, stressing that all items dispatched to Damascus through Iraq were humanitarian goods. "Iraq does not allow its land or its skies to be a passage for weapons in any direction, and...

More than one hundred Asian peace activists from various organizations and committees have arrived in Tehran as part of the global march to al-Quds ('Jerusalem'). The convoy of pro-Palestinian activists arrived in Tehran on Saturday. They plan to continue their way to al-Quds, where they are expected to be joined...

Saudi Arabia is delivering military equipment to terrorist groups in Syria in an effort to fight against the Syrian government. The Syrian TV reported Saudi military equipment is on its way to Jordan to arm the terrorists inside Syria. The announcement came two days after Saudi Arabia shut down its...

About 19,500 pink slips were issued to public school teachers this week, which was the state’s legal deadline to do so, according to an estimate from the California Teachers Assn. The Los Angeles Unified School district issued 9,500 layoff notices, more than any other district in the state, according to...

A member of Russia’s State Duma said Saturday that cooperation between Iran, Russia and China would serve their strategic interests. Vasily Likhachev told IRNA that the West is trying to hinder Iran-Russia-China trilateral cooperation. The Russian parliamentarian said the West is attempting to isolate both Iran and Russia at the...

Iranian aviation experts have produced a new indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which possesses high capabilities and versatile features to meet its objectives. Reza Danandeh Hakamabad, the aeronautics engineer in charge of the project, said on Friday that the new remote-controlled aircraft, called Shaparak (Butterfly), has a maximum operational radius...

The US soldier who recently shot dead 17 Afghan civilians in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar has been officially identified, a US official says. The investigation into the incident has concluded that the prime suspect is Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity,...

A leading Dutch NATO advisor on Friday acknowledged that the western military pact had lost the war in Afghanistan, according to a report published by the daily Stuttgarter Nachrichten. 'The war has been lost by the western alliance...,' said the head of the Hague-based Center for Strategic Studies, Rob...

The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to export its indigenous military knowledge to friendly states and allies, senior Iranian Commander Brigadier General Hossein Valivand declared. “One of the biggest and most important accomplishments of the Iranian Army’s Command and General Staff College (DAFOS AJA) is the indigenous military and...

>The finance bill, part of the annual budget presented on Friday, said the exemption in the "national interest" would be implemented from April 1.India and Iran in January agreed to settle 45 per cent of oil trade in rupees, which are not freely traded on international markets. Iran planned...

Indian police has linked the bombing attack on the Israeli diplomat's wife in New Delhi last month to a failed bomb attack in Bangkok, allegedly by a group of Iranian men. Israel had blamed Iran of carrying out both the attacks as well as another failed bombing attempt targeting Israeli...

It is astonishing how easier it is to argue that the main actors in this drama would do nothing this year, rather than to argue that they would do something.

Or perhaps, Au Revoir? SUMMIT COUNTY — Not a lot of words, just a few of our our favorite pics from the waning weeks of winter. Be sure to check out our online galleries at RedBubble and Imagekind, where you can buy matted and framed prints, greeting cards and other...

An international network in control of the world's largest financial messaging system announced on Thursday it intends to cut off Iranian banks targeted by European Union sanctions.

Problems like Iran — they are why presidents leave office looking like they have aged 20 years.

Protected areas help from local impacts, but don’t address overriding global threat of climate change; new study shows reefs within reserves are hit just as hard By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — Stating the somewhat obvious, a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina said protected marine areas...

A broad measure of US equities rallied to an almost four-year high on Friday after news of subdued inflation

The Navy's shifting strategic focus is nowhere more evident than aboard the USS Missouri, the Groton-based submarine that was in the Bahamas recently, firing exercise torpedoes and practicing evading simulated attacks.

Newly minted casino owner Paul Vickers says he wasn’t ready to cash in his chips on Calgary’s lukewarm economy, but he was despairing.

Presidents don’t fundamentally change personalities while in office, but different aspects of

Israel's intelligence service Mossad agrees with US assessments there is no hard evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb, even though Israeli leaders have talked about Tehran's plans to acquire nuclear weapons, The New York Times reported.

Inflation remains tame throughout the U.S. economy, with one big exception: gas prices. Those higher prices haven't derailed a steadily improving economy.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) is reportedly purchasing 43 percent electricity from furnace oil fired plants at Rs 16 per unit which is 6856 percent more expensive than hydel power whose per unit cost is 23 paisa and its share is about 16 percent in total generation of plants...

DURING a trip to Iran about 11 years ago, Iranian activists, academics and lawyers I met who had turned against the Islamic revolution said they overthrew the Shah in order to have a modern, prosperous democratic country like Malaysia.

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Do you ever wonder why --- when encumbered with the enormous decisions related to the economy, immigration, the troubles in Iraq , Iran , Syria , Libya and Afghanistan --- the president would think this the right time to add free contraception to the list?

The cost of gasoline at the pump is likely to continue its upward climb after refineries in the US Northeast have begun to shut down or announce shutdown dates because of lost revenue. While gas prices rose by an additional 6% in February refineries have failed to capitalize on those...

It is not uncommon that Muslims around the world chanting anti-US, anti-Israel, anti-Jews slogans on street, but how often have we seen global Muslim protest against forced child labor, human rights abuses, corruption and crime against humanity? Satan is very happy when the descendants of Ibrahim (Abraham) destroying and killing...

While this new exchange-traded fund — the iShares Human Rights Index fund — has a noble purpose, execution makes it one of the most ridiculous ideas turned into a mutual fund.

While American spy agencies have believed that the Iranians halted efforts to build a nuclear bomb back in 2003, the difficulty in assessing the government’s ambitions was evident two years ago, when what appeared to be alarming new intelligence emerged, according to current and former United States officials.

It’s a strange feeling — teetering atop an economic upswing.

Saudi Arabia is preparing to extend this year's unexpected jump in oil sales to the United States, adding to speculation about the response of the world's top oil exporter to sanctions against Iran and a rally in prices.

Dictatorships like Iran and China censor their news. An American newspaper should not. We want Doonesbury back.

Stocks were up seven straight days, Apple hit $600, and everything is one in the economic universe. Even the Fed expressed optimism, albeit of the guarded variety. In its latest post-meeting statement, the FOMC cited a “notable” decline in unemployment and continued advances in household and business spending that they...

Here’s what the 11 Republicans running in the 9th District say about Afghanistan and Iran .

U.S. gasoline prices jumped 6% in February, and market experts predict they will climb higher because critical refining operations in the Northeast are shutting down.

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Two huge bomb blasts killed at least 27 people in Syria's capital on Saturday, as special envoy Kofi Annan warned of regional fallout from the year-long bloodshed.

Washington, March 18 (IANS) US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey has warned Iranian leaders of suffer the consequences if they make "a gross misjudgement" of American will on preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.

Israeli Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni talks to John Avlon about dealing with Iran and dealing with Syria.

Polls are interesting. Polls have a record of accuracy although some end up off target. This is when the polling season reaches its highest interest level — an election year.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline rose for the eighth straight day on Saturday to $3.835. That is now only about 7% below the record high of $4.11 from July 2008.

Bangalore, Mar 15 (UNI) The national camp for the junior men's hockey team ahead of the seventh Junior Asia Cup in Malaysia kicked off at the SAI Centre here today.

Rick Santorum on Saturday guaranteed that a win in the Illinois primary will result in his nomination as the Republican presidential nominee.

LAHORE, March 17: A state-of-the-art slaughterhouse has started working in Shahpur Kanjaran that will ensure provision of hygienic meat to citizens, Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (Pamco) CEO Dr. Hamid Jalil says.

There's one stinging rebuke in Greg Smith's damning article about his former employer, Goldman Sachs, which could do more damage to the firm's reputation than even he may have anticipated and, indeed, hasten the long-term decline of the robber barons on Wall Street and the City.

On the panel today, Dr Claire Robinson, Bernard Hickey and Keith Locke. So, Syria - it is a festering boil in the Middle East. It is a dismal-looking place when you see the pictures and so forth. Why don’t we care more, Keith?

A year and a half after my book, Ethical Oil, became a bestseller, foreign NGOs have struck back at me.

The third edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition (DIMDEX) 2012, starting at Qatar National Convention Centre on March 26, gains significance with new naval ship and related equipment spending in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) forecast to hover around $49bn over the next two decades.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speak during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 5, 2012. The two leaders go into talks on the Iranian nuclear stand-off, with each publicly seeking to stake out some common ground.

As recent entrants in the gold market watched paralyzed in fear as gold tumbled by over $100 on the last FOMC day, on the idiotic notion that Ben Bernanke will no longer ease (oh we will, only after Iran is glassified, and not before Obama is confident he has the...

Japan, South Korea and international ship insurers are lobbying European Union officials to relax sanctions against Iran that threaten to disrupt the Opec producer’s oil shipments to Asian buyers, government and industry sources said.

US imports of Saudi crude have soared this year, and look set to continue to climb, shipbrokers and analysts have told Dow Jones, surprising many market watchers.

According to the press-service of the first administration of science of Russia, winners of the obninskogo tour will go to the finals in the French city of Limoges, in the meantime, team-competitors of three people during the 12:0 am in non-stop lodge graphical interfaces sites on the given subject.

Justin Glass swung the shotgun from his shoulder and held it to his eye, ready.

New Delhi, March 17: The government admits that if global prices go up, subsidies may rise, but contends that it has made up its mind on “a political commitment” to contain subsidies.

We are still many months away from "November Madness," and the race will not be a slam-dunk for either candidate.

Obama and Cameron stand together in Washington on Argentina and Afghanistan. HDS Greenway LONDON – After a period of feeling somewhat disrespected by Barack Obama, the American president’s charm blitz during the British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit to Washington has reassured many Britons of what the Times of...

The Chancellor will soon discover whether this was a political gamble worth taking, suggests Matthew d'Ancona.

Did you find this article engaging? Challenging? Thought-provoking? Just plain wrong? Leave a comment and let others know what you think Now in its 26th year and still going strong after last year's budgetary cut challenges, the BFI Lesbian and Gay Film Festival has programmed a plethora of exciting films...

Alleged bomber Irani flew to Malaysia hours after the attack, then to Iran

Thank you, Mr. Hertzberg

No sooner has the pressure on markets from the eurozone crisis begun to ease than investors have found something else to worry about - the oil price.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The national average price for a gallon of gasoline rose for the eighth straight day on Saturday to $3.835. That is now only about 7% below the record high of $4.11 from July 2008.

Two explosions have struck the heart of Syria's capital Damascus, killing at least 27 people in an attack on security installations that state television blamed on "terrorists" seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad. read more

BLOOMINGTON, IN – Three Bloomington peace groups are organizing a rally on the Courthouse Square to oppose any attack on Iran. On March 21, the ninth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, activists and citizens will gather on the Square at 5 p.m. to oppose another war,...

A major Indian trade delegation to Iran to explore export opportunities created by US-led sanctions against the Islamic republic was a big success, a leader of the mission has said.The 80-member delegation ...

Ms. Daneshvar was the author of the sprawling family saga “Savushun,” and was a translator of Chekhov, Shaw, Hawthorne and other writers.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said he is confident that there will be a larger number on our side while some of those who should have supported the US-sponsored resolution might abstain. That will work to our advantage.

DAMASCUS, Syria — Two suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in near-simultaneous attacks on heavily guarded intelligence and security buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, killing at least 27 people.

Discerning the intentions of Iran’s leaders on the crucial steps to building a nuclear bomb is the most covert aspect of one of the world’s most difficult intelligence collection targets.

TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday formally protested against an accusation by Azerbaijan that it ordered "terrorist acts" in the neighbouring republic against Western and Israeli targets.

Two British journalists working for an Iranian broadcaster who were detained by a militia are still being held and investigated about their conduct in Libya, a government official said on Saturday.

This is a clever chart from Morgan Stanley's Hussein Allidina, CFA comparing the price of Brent Crude since December against the odds on InTrade ( this contract ) of an airstrike on Iran by the end of 2012.

Authorities issue arrest warrant for Sedaghatzadeh Masoud in connection with bombing that injured wife of an Israeli embassy official

A former Iranian intelligence minister says if Iranian banks are cut off from the global electronic money transfer system, Tehran will use every possible means to respond in kind.

DAMASCUS, Syria - Two suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in near-simultaneous attacks on heavily guarded intelligence and security buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus Saturday, killing at least 27 people.

Canadian journalist Dorothy Parvaz’s life was placed in clear and present danger late on Sunday afternoon, May 1 last year.

Indian police say a bomb attack that wounded an Israeli diplomat's wife in New Delhi last month is connected to a suspected plot to attack Israeli targets in Bangkok that was blamed on a group of Iranians.

Anyone who loves rugby finds it hard not to smile at the sight of laughing boys running through a schoolyard passing a soccer ball to each other in their hands, even if they are stopped in their tracks by a teacher's bark.This is...

I was watching The Kardashians when I first decided to run for US president. Tired of reality TV dross, I lay on my couch and switched instead to a channel with rich makeup-daubed Americans bickering with one another.There were...

A diplomat in Dubai told AFP that Saudi Arabia was making large arms deliveries to Syrian rebel forces for the first time through Jordan. DEBKAfile: The rift between the Saudi-led anti-Iran Gulf block and the Iran-led alliance of Syria, Hizballah and Hamas is widening.

Beijing says it is taking steps to prevent European sanctions from disrupting Iranian oil shipments to China, by nominating an insurance company to cover those shipments.

There are two key influences that impact global economic outlook this year.

Americans' profuse welcome and hospitality, and the obvious mutual friendliness and warmth, might at least encourage some in Britain to press the reset button on their cynicism, writes political historian Andrew Roberts.

Iran's parliamentary speaker has called Israel a "barking dog" that won't dare attack the Islamic republic over its controversial nuclear program.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A senior Iranian military commander has urged Afghans to use force to kick American troops out of their country.Gen. Masoud Jazayeri of the powerful Revolutionary Guard said there are indications that Afghans will "soon open new fronts" against "the obsolete, worn-out American empire."The comments...

At least 27 dead in Damascus bombings. Russians man Syrian air defenses DEBKA file Exclusive Report March 17, 2012, 2:58 PM (GMT+02:00)

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – In a suburb just outside Chicago, Rick Santorum urged a crowd of over a thousand voters to take Tuesday’s Illinois primary seriously, arguing that he is the only candidate who is capable of beating Barack Obama and that Illinois holds the...

The Jewish community in Canada has denounced Israel crimes against the Palestinians as well as its warmongering against Iran by organizing rallies to protest Tel Aviv policies, Press TV reports .

It’s clear the Air Force wants to destroy enemy air forces, neutralize enemy air defenses and project global power, but right now the enemy would rather fight an asymmetric conflict that has multimillion-dollar fighters providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for ground convoys.

BAGHDAD - Iraq has informed Iran that it will not permit arms shipments to Syria to pass through or over its territory, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Saturday.

Iranian Guard commander urges Afghans to expel Americans by force

The third trial session of 32 defendants charged with involvement in the biggest embezzlement case in Iranian history has been held in Tehran’s Islamic Revolution Court.