News Archive - 20 May 2012

>VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear supervisor flies to Tehran on Sunday looking for a deal to inspect suspected weapons sites - a potential breakthrough that Iran may hope could persuade the West to start lifting sanctions and deflect threats of war. But though IAEA chief Yukiya Amano scheduled...

IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that relations between Tehran and Islamabad are very profound and deeply rooted and called on the two sides officials to spare no efforts to this effect. President Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Pakistani Minister of Regulations and National Services...

IRI Navy has foiled a pirate attack on a Filipino-owned bulk carrier with 23 crew members on-board off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea. The Norway-flagged MV Rosita came under attack on Sunday when a number of armed people on-board several skiffs approached the ship at high speed.

IRI Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi left Tehran for Kuwait to hold talks with the Kuwaiti officials on bilateral ties as well as the recent developments in the region. Heading a political and parliamentary delegation, Salehi left Tehran on Sunday. The foreign minister will also extend Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s...

Spain's "indignant" protest movement against economic inequality and spending cuts as legacies of Capitalism continues to enjoy widespread support a year after it was launched, a poll published Sunday showed. Overall 68 percent of Spaniards said they had sympathy for the movement, compared to 66 percent who expressed that opinion...

A former agent of the CIA has revealed that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has died of natural causes five years before the US announced his death. In an interview with Russia’s Channel One, Berkan Yashar, who is also a Turkish politician, said the US has not killed the al-Qaeda...

Wahhabi circles in Saudi Arabia had paid around USD 500,000 for the assassination of an Iranian Sunni Alim in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan earlier this year, according to a Press TV report. Two of the individuals recently arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of Molavi...

Islamic Republic will soon launch a Fajr (Dawn) satellite into orbit, Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said. The satellite will be launched in late May, most probably on May 23, the DM said. The indigenous Fajr satellite is a reconnaissance satellite powered by solar energy. It will reportedly be...

>TOKYO (Reuters) - Markets recovered some ground on Monday after heavy losses last week, but investors remained wary about the euro zone despite world leaders calling for Greece to stay in the monetary union and for Europe to balance austerity with growth. G8 leaders meeting at the weekend vowed to...

>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Families of U.S. victims of the 1988 bombing of a PanAm flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, said on Sunday the death of the convicted bomber did not ease their loss and the White House said it would not end the quest for justice. Abdel Basset al-Megrahi,...

>By Gleb BryanskiMOSCOW May 20 (Reuters) - Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Sunday that military action against Iran over its nuclear programme was being considered in some Western countries.Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was speaking to reporters on a plane on his way back from the G8 summit...

>* Arab monarchy says battling Iran-backed "lackeys"* Rights group calls on UN to pressure Bahrain on Monday (Adds Human Rights Watch comments, background)DUBAI, May 20 (Reuters) - A leading Bahraini opposition activist accused of insulting authorities remained in jail on Sunday, despite being granted bail, because he faces a second...

>The European Union is preparing for a total embargo on the purchase of Iranian crude oil in July. The United States has also imposed sanctions targeting Iran's energy and banking sectors.Iran's economy minister, Shamseddin Hosseini, was asked in an interview conducted Thursday and aired Sunday on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria...

Today in History

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency arrived in Tehran on Monday for high-level talks after Iran's finance minister suggested oil prices could rise as high as $160 a barrel because of sanctions over its nuclear program.

TRIPOLI, Libya — He was the embodiment of one of modern Libya's darkest chapters -- a man synonymous with horrifying scenes of wreckage, broken families and a plane that fell out of the sky a generation ago. His name, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, was little known compared to the single word...

At the end of the Summit, the G8 (G8) Summit signed the final Declaration, which addressed the most important global issues. The G8 Summit was held 18-19 June in the American city of Camp David in the United States President’s residence country.

Oil prices recovered from multi-month lows in Asian trade today, as concerns over West Asian supply resurfaced, analysts said.

U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Clark T. Randt, Jr., answers a student's question yesterday afternoon at the Turner Construction/Wachovia Student Forum in Hughes-Trigg.

The newly-crowned Iranian champions play host to the Tehran giants in a last 16 clash which has captured the imagination of the public in the West Asian nation

Tehran, May 19 (KCNA) -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili who is secretary general of the Supreme Council of National Security of Iran clarified his government's stand to protect the rights to nuclear activities for peaceful purposes in the next round of nuclear talks with world powers, when addressing...

>* Goldman says recent sell-off "unwarranted"; supply to tightenBy Florence TanSINGAPORE, May 21 (Reuters) - Brent crude recovered towards $108 on Monday on hopes that China could take new steps to stimulate growth and lift fuel demand at the world's second largest oil user, although concerns about the euro zone...

Oil workers are seen at West Qurna Phase 2, one of Iraq's biggest and most promising oil fields, near Basra in April. / By Nabil al-Jurani,, AP BAGHDAD - The United States has agreed to sell unarmed surveillance drones to Iraq's navy as part of an effort to help protect...

If we wanted any further evidence why the Arctic really matters for Russia, we just got it. After a six year stint as the world’s largest oil producer, Moscow’s crown has finally slipped back to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is ‘officially’ pumping just above Russia output at 10mb/d. No doubt...

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Sunday announced the “first step” of a European missile defense system at a NATO summit in Chicago.

TOKYO, May 21 (Reuters) - Key TOCOM rubber futures rose onMonday as investors covered short positions on news Thailandplans to import rubber due to tight domestic supplies, thoughgains were limited by ...

France's new president said Sunday that Russia and other countries should not feel threatened by the planned NATO missile defense system.

>FUNDAMENTALS* NYMEX crude for June had slipped 7 cents to $91.41 a barrel by 0103 GMT. On Friday, crude settled at $91.48 a barrel in New York, down 12.82 percent in the three preceding weeks, its biggest three-week loss since the week to Aug. 14, 2011.*...

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — He was the embodiment of one of modern Libya's darkest chapters — a man synonymous with horrifying scenes of wreckage, broken families and a plane that fell out of the sky a g...

Dubai’s stocks declined for the second time in three days after oil slumped to a six-month low on concern Greece will have to exit the euro system.

New Delhi: A resurgent Yuki Bhambri won the first ever ATP Challenger singles title of his career after scoring a facile straight-set win over Israeli fourth seed Amir Weintraub in Fergana, Uzbekistan on Sunday.

LA PORTE — Tom Rosshirt, La Lumiere class of 1977, will present the keynote address at the 45th Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 25 at the Marsch Gymnasium on La Lumiere’s campus.

The head of the U.N. nuclear agency flew to Tehran on Sunday on a delicate mission that — if successful — could finally lift the veil on whether Iran is seeking atomic arms while strengthening the Islamic Republic's negotiating hand in crucial nuclear talks with six world powers later...

The plight of Christians persecuted for their faith was the focus of prayer, song and reflection at the first-ever Night of Witness held at Westminster Cathedral.  Bishops from the UK and overseas, led the event on 18 May, at which Christians from countries marked by persecution played central roles...

His death was a long time coming. Few men facing their end have been asked as insistently as Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi why they did not die more quickly.

NATO leaders launched Sunday the first phase of a US-led missile shield for Europe, risking the wrath of Russia which has threatened to deploy rockets to EU borders in response.

With Pakistan so far unwilling to reopen supply routes to Afghanistan, NATO faces a potential logistical nightmare as it prepares for a costly withdrawal of military hardware over the next two years.

The Group of Eight nations are advocating growth rather than austerity in Europe after spending two days of meetings at storied Camp David aimed at containing an escalating fiscal crisis overseas.

Army troops shot dead a Sunni cleric on Sunday when his convoy failed to stop at a checkpoint in north Lebanon, the scene of deadly clashes linked to the uprising in Syria, a security official said.

PARIS (Reuters) - Air France-KLM plans to cut 5,000 jobs by 2015 through a voluntary redundancy plan, the website of French daily Le Figaro said on Sunday. Related Stories Weaker euro zone nations need more support from bloc's core - UK Birth of new Greek drachma would be pained, rushed...

The two presidents portray a united front.

Presenting the best weekly self-contrarian segment from everyone's favorite Gluskin Sheff -based skeptic - David Rosenberg: DESPAIR BEGETS HOPE ... Over half of the 2012 price advance has been reversed in barely over a month as the broad market drifts down to its lowest level since February 2nd. The Financial Times...

NEW YORK, May 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC called today's Iranian vow to annihilate Israel another unmistakable signal that, despite international pressure to date, the regime in Tehran has not changed its genocidal aims.

Here is a look at the main issues for the NATO alliance at the summit meeting for heads of government in Chicago.

>Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, expressed hope that he would be able to secure an agreement with Iran on addressing the IAEA's concerns about possible military dimensions to the country's nuclear work."I really think this is the right time to try to reach agreement,"...

Tens of thousands of mainly Shi'a have joined a march in Bahrain to denounce proposals for closer unity between the Sunni-ruled kingdom and neighboring Saudi Arabia. Protesters chanted "Bahrain is not for sale," as they marched outside the capital, Manama.

Ahvaz is a city in and the capital of Khuzestan Province, Iran with a population of over 1.5 million. A metro urban railway system is being built by the Ahvaz urban railway. It will be a 23 km underground line with 24 stations.

The first Iranian art gallery dubbed "RIRA" Gallery was inaugurated in Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) showing works of Iranian artists in 3 generations.

Six members of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority are due to go on trial in Iran on 20 May. The men were detained without charge for almost a year and all were arrested in connection with their activities on behalf of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority.

Iranian news websites report that the former deputy head of the Central Bank, who is accused of playing a part in Iran's $3-billion bank fraud and is currently out on bail, is attending important meetings of the Ahmadinejad administration.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says relations between Iran and Pakistan are rapidly developing in all fields and there is no obstacle in the way of stronger relations between the two neighboring countries.

Ali Motahari, a conservative Iranian MP, has accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of direct involvement in the ninth parliamentary elections, declaring that the "interference" was a "scourge" for both the Revolutionary Guards and the Islamic regime.

U.S. President Barack Obama says the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) remain committed to using a combined approach of sanctions and diplomacy to push Iran to show its nuclear program is peaceful.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and U.S. Sen. Scott Brown publicly support each other and even share key advisers. But on many topics, from foreign policy to social issues, the Massachusetts Republicans take very different positions.

World leaders emerged from the isolation of Camp David on Saturday confident the Eurozone financial crisis can, and will, be solved.

Medvedev said the first meeting of the pair since he became prime minister was friendly and informal, "not only without ties, but even without jackets," Vedomosti reported Sunday.

World leaders attend the first working session of the G-8 Summit at Camp David, Md, Saturday, May 19. From left are French President Francois Hollande, U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev.

President Barack Obama and G8 leaders were upbeat about their summit meetings at Camp David saying they were encouraged by their talks on Iran, Syria and particularly, Europe [...]

A hardline Iranian MP on Saturday took a jibe at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for failing to support an Islamic dress code for women, suggesting the president should now move to open "nightclubs" in the Islamic republic.

>VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog are making headway towards a framework deal on how to tackle concerns about its atomic activity, diplomats say, a potential bargaining chip for Tehran in next week's negotiations with world powers. Iran says such an agreement is needed before it...

Jordan Mintzer Massoud Bakhshi's Iran-set drama explores the corrupt dealings of a clan from the early years of the Revolution up through the present day. read more

Despite ongoing pressure from the United States for China to join its sanctions against Iran due to concerns over the Islamic country’s nuclear program, an Iranian diplomat recently revealed that new energy trades between Iran and China will be settled in China’s official currency the yuan.

Gathering at Camp David for their annual summit, President Obama and other G-8 leaders have been struggling to find a united approach to solving Europe's debt crisis and winning concessions from Iran at talks on its nuclear program.

With a bank run in near full force in Greece and the country on the verge of exiting the Euro while still searching for a leader the world markets are reeling but gold and silver are finally catching a bid.

In an interview to Die Presse daily, Norbert Darabos says Israel directing attention at enemies such as Iran, Palestinians in order to avoid internal social issues.

Confronting an economic crisis that threatens them all, U.S. President Barack Obama and leaders of other world powers on Saturday declared that their governments must both spark growth and cut the debt that has crippled the European continent and put investors worldwide on edge.

US President Barack Obama has said there is an "emerging consensus" that European countries must now focus on jobs and growth.

Iran has discovered its first oilfield in the Caspian Sea for more than a century, the state-run Fars news agency reported today.