News Archive - 29 October 2012

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>* Q1-Q3 income up by high-single digit rate* Costs well controlled, even after NY settlement* Impairment charge cut by tens of millions of dollars* StanChart shares down 1.1 pct in Hong KongBy Kelvin SohHONG KONG, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered said its operating profit grew by...

>TOKYO Oct 30 (Reuters) - Japan is seeking an exemption from proposed new U.S. sanctions against Iran that could effectively freeze Tehran's use of payments for oil, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday, citing sources.Japanese Finance Minister Koriki Jojima asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at...

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has images of sensitive Israeli military bases taken by a drone that was launched by Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and downed by Israel earlier this month, a senior Iranian lawmaker claimed today in the latest boast from Tehran about purported advances in the capabilities of its unmanned...

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the third and final presidential debate of the 2012 campaign was the similarity between the two candidates on many basic foreign policy issues. Part of the reason is that, as he did in the first two debates, GOP candidate Mitt Romney reversed himself...

>* New fire breaks out at plant on Monday* Iran warships carry "message of peace and friendship"KHARTOUM/DUBAI, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Two Iranian warships docked in Sudan on Monday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported, less than a week after Khartoum accused Israel of attacking an arms factory in the...

>ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of secularists protesting at a banned rally in the capital on Monday against what they see as an increasingly authoritarian and Islamist government. The scenes of chanting men and women draped in Turkish flags and carrying...

>DUBAI Oct 29 (Reuters) - Iran holds pictures of Israeli bases and other restricted areas obtained from a drone launched into Israeli airspace earlier this month, an Iranian lawmaker was quoted as saying on Monday.Earlier this month, Israel shot down a drone after it flew 25 miles (55 km)...

Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has warned Syria risks becoming a new Somalia as he voiced pessimism at any quick solution to the bloodshed.

The re-election of Barack Obama would be better, in aggregate, for the US economy, but Mitt Romney's presidency could strongly benefit certain sectors.

BOULDER Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson riled up young supporters Monday night with a message of legalized marijuana, an end to U.S. involvement in wars and massive cuts to the federal government.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies have secured RM86.6million in sales at the GITEX 2012, the Middle East's largest information and communications technology (ICT) trade fair from Oct 14 to 18.

>Operating profit would have risen by at least 10 percent without that $340 million settlement, the bank said in a third quarter trading update posted on the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday.Any profit growth means Standard Chartered is on track for a 10th straight year of record profits. Financials...

NOBEL Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta says the conflict in Syria is becoming a prolonged war involving too many outside interests.

Rear Admiral Bimal Kumar Verma, AVSM, today took over as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command from Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, AVSM.

Esteqlal has blanked rock-bottom Gahar to leapfrog Teraktorsazi and claim the first place of the table in the 14th week of Iran’s Premier League (IPL).

Regulatory schemes set by a centralized government are blocking small business growth in the U.S., Congressman James Lankford said last week at a forum sponsored by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nation & World briefing LONDON -- Breast cancer screening for women older than 50 saves lives, an independent panel in Britain has concluded,

by Michelle Rynbrandt Political zingers and talks of elections. Yeah, but these are actually funny. One would never dream that the Oval Office was like this.But with President Charles Smith desperately seeking reelection and the phone ringing off the hook—committee members telling him to give up, his wife asking...

Let’s be honest. At this point, most of us secretly wish at least one of the debates would have devolved into a “yo mamma” competition. Even for those with a heavy involvement level in presidential politics, debates are excruciating because typically the time is spent less in debating ideas and...

>Japan, the world's third-biggest user of oil, imported 897,822 kilolitres (188,237 barrels per day) of Iranian crude last month, compared with 1,437,989 kl in September last year, according to customs-cleared data from the ministry.Japan's trade ministry is due to release data on Wednesday which is more closely followed by...

Iran has images of sensitive Israeli military bases taken by a drone that was launched by Hezbollah and downed by Israel earlier this month, a senior Iranian lawmaker claimed Monday.

Whoever is president will still have important leverage for his agenda and allied interest groups in shaping any compromises.

Tommy Thompson says he questions Tammy Baldwin's judgment and not her patriotism.

Censorship is not the answer even when the written word can cause hurt and anger, says this bookworm and cultural commentator.

Argo, based on a true story about six Americans spirited out of Iran during the 1979-80 hostage crisis, was the top movie in North America at the weekend with US$12.3 million (HK$95.94 million) in tickets sold, industry estimates showed.

Former top White House official predicts U.S. will launch major diplomatic initiative with Iran.

SINGAPORE, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures slippedto just above $85 a barrel on Tuesday, near the lowest in morethan three months, as Hurricane Sandy shut East Coastrefineries, roads and airports, reducing crude and fuel demandin the world's largest oil consumer. FUNDAMENTALS * U.S. crude for...

Iran’s nuclear program has been at the forefront of challenges faced by four U.S. administrations. The issue has been a major talking point for both major candidates of the 2012 presidential elections. Republican candidate, Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama as being too soft. But, the Obama Administration disputes that...

Last Monday's foreign policy debate was supposed to provide a contrast between two competing visions about America's role in the world, the path forward in the Middle East, and the 21st century threats over the horizon. At the core of the debate was the question of American policy towards...

International oil plays have produced some big wins in the junior energy markets in 2012. This year alone, companies like Mart Resources (MMT-TSXv) and Africa Oil (AOI-TSX) were huge wins for risk-tolerant ...

Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney "super-PAC," has put down about $2 million for a slate of television commercials in Pennsylvania, especially in the Philadelphia area, through next Monday.

Iran has acquired data that was obtained by a Hezbollah drone that flew over Israel earlier this month, an Iranian politician said Monday.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian fighter jets pounded rebel areas across the country on Monday with scores of airstrikes that anti-regime activists called the most widespread bombing in a single day since Syria's troubles started 19 months ago.

Lawmaker says feds ignoring growth of Lebanese terror group, whose leader is shown above, in Mexico US Officials Eyed Al Qaeda Days After Libya Attack GOP Demands to See Drone Info on Libya Strike

"Argo," based on a true story about six Americans spirited out of Iran during the 1979-80 hostage crisis, topped North America's weekend box office takings with $12.1 million, figures showed Monday.

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>* Hezbollah may attack if Israel strikes Iran atomic sitesBy Dan WilliamsTEL AVIV, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Israel would use a lot fewer cluster munitions in any future war with Hezbollah than it did in their 2006 conflict, even though it would go into southern Lebanon earlier and harder, a...

Critics of the Obama administration have been energetically promoting the notion that our adversaries around the globe, especially Iran, aren't afraid of us. My question to anyone who believes this claim is: What, specifically, should they be afraid of? Every government in the world got a detailed look at...

Last Sunday on Fox News, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, once John McCain's sidekick and still for some reason considered a serious foreign policy mind by the media, said that with respect to talking to Iran about its nuclear program (with Iran now agreeing to talks), "the time for talking...

Some musicians say the Iranian national symphony orchestra has been disbanded for lack of funds.

Obama: Supports access to abortion. Health care law requires contraceptives to be available for free for women enrolled in workplace health plans. Romney: Opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or risk to the woman's life. Previously supported abortion access.

Investors remain wary of Europe even as crisis eases by Pan Pylas The Associated Press Published Oct 29, 2012 10:16AM MDT London • The world’s markets may believe that the worst of the financial crisis in Europe is over after three turbulent years, but those people who control the purse...

The markets may believe the worst of Europe's financial crisis is over after three stormy years but those controlling the purse strings of world business aren't breathing easier.An annual survey of 1000 chief financial officers...

Reuters will issue this diary daily at around 0930 GMT and1700 GMT. All times in GMT unless otherwise stated. Items marked ** denote new or amended listings. Media clients will also receive around 0700 GMT a daily REUTERS WORLD NEWS OUTLOOK which highlights key events for the coming week. For...

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Commentary on current economic and financial news.

Daring CIA agent Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, pictured, posed as an Irish sci-fi film production during an audacious mission to spirit six trapped diplomats out of the most dangerous place on Earth.

DERIK, Syria --In the Kurdish areas of Syria, people have wasted little time seizing on the opportunities a tentative retreat by President Bashar Assad's government forces has afforded them. The Kurdish language, which as little as two years ago was forbidden, is now taught in state schools amd community organizations...

In a recent Investment Contrarians article, editor George Leong reports that there has been some dumping of oil stocks out there, as the price of the December West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures contract plummeted to the $85.00 level last Tuesday. (Source: IndexMundi, last accessed October 26, 2012.) With...

The US Energy Department has warned that imposing oil embargoes on Iran would aggravate the dire conditions of the global oil market by widening the gap between supply and demand.

ATHENS (Reuters) - A major Greek newspaper reprinted the names of more than 2,000 wealthy Greeks with Swiss bank accounts on Monday and the editor who first published the list was to go on trial for violating data privacy laws. Related Stories Cyprus police say foil murder bid on island's...

MARTIN WALKER || UPI Editor Emeritus ZURICH, Switzerland, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It should come as no surprise to Americans that most Europeans are hoping that Obama wins re-election. This is not because he has been good for Europe.

There's a running joke in Latin America that the region should be allowed to vote for the U.S. president because the outcome matters so much here. Click to Continue »

>AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian jets bombarded Sunni Muslim regions in Damascus and around the country on Sunday, activists said, as President Bashar al-Assad kept up air strikes against rebels despite a U.N.-brokered truce that now appears to be in tatters. The Local Coordination Committees activists' organization said air...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Acclaimed Iran hostage thriller "Argo" brought home its first box-office win over a quiet weekend, leading movie charts with $12.4 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as would-be moviegoers hunkered down for Hurricane Sandy. The tally for "Argo," directed by and starring Ben...

Obama is haunted by the ghost of 2008, Romney the ghost of Reagan

The real problems with our economy is bipartisan, out-of-control spending

The failure of a truce for a Muslim holiday suggests the civil war will drag on.

In this Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 photo, a doctor examines an x-ray while a Syrian elder sits on a hospital trolley suffering partial loss of memory after was shot in the head by a sniper in Aleppo, Syria. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras).

SHAH ALAM, 29 Okt (Bernama) -- Dua lelaki warga Iran hari ini masing-masingdihukum penjara sembilan tahun dan 10 sebatan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi selepasmengaku bersalah memiliki dadah jenis methampethamine yang dijumpai dalam bagasimereka pada 2010.Hakim Nurchaya Arshad menjatuhkan hukuman itu terhadap Mehdi Bambad TazehKandi Bahman dan Ebrahim Ashghipouukhalilabad Esmael, kedua-duanya...

* US East Coast refineries cut output ahead of hurricane * Investors buy product crack spreads, depress crude * Speculators cut net long US crude futures to lowest in 3mths -CFTC * Coming up: Japan Sept ...

He's been Israel's prime minister, military chief, the country's most decorated soldier and, for the past five years, its defense minister and moderate face to the West.

This is a selection of stories, classified ads and commercial ads from the Celina Record first published Thursday, September 27, 1962.