News Archive - 29 November 2012

>* U.S. economy improves in Q3; consumer spending stays weak* Political crisis in Egypt supports prices* Coming Up: CFTC commitment of traders data; 1930 GMT (Updates prices)By Luke PachymuthuSINGAPORE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Brent crude slipped towards $110 per barrel on Friday as critical U.S. budget talks to...

>* US decision on sanctions waivers due early December* Iran's oil exports more than halved by sanctionsBy Meeyoung Cho and Nidhi VermaSEOUL/NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Asia's top buyers of Iranian crude are likely to secure U.S. approval to continue imports from the Islamic Republic without incurring sanctions,...

>The proposal could be voted on by the Senate as early as Thursday. It would be included in the annual defense policy bill, which must be approved by the Senate and House of Representatives before it could become law.Here are some of the features of the proposal, developed by...

>In a report to the Security Council, Ban said 3,112 members of the People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran have been transferred to Camp Hurriya, leaving about 100 still at Camp Ashraf - also know as Camp New Iraq - to help close it down.Ashraf residents agreed in February to...

>VIENNA Nov 29 (Reuters) - The United States set a March deadline on Thursday for Iran to start cooperating in substance with a U.N. nuclear agency investigation, saying it would otherwise urge reporting the issue to the U.N. Security Council.Comments by U.S. diplomat Robert Wood to...

>* Sensitive data not stolen, server closed down - Amano* IAEA takes steps to prevent any new hacking attackBy Fredrik DahlVIENNA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. nuclear agency said on Thursday a hacking incident involving one of its servers was "deeply regrettable" but suggested that...

>* Minister says Ankara in talks with Washington* Rise in gold exports destined for IranBy Evrim ErginISTANBUL, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Turkey's energy minister said on Thursday that he sees no conflict between Ankara and Washington over U.S. plans to widen trade sanctions against Iran, including Turkish-Iranian "gold for...

>VIENNA Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear chief said on Thursday that no progress had been made in trying to clarify concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme, despite "intensive efforts" by his agency."No concrete results have been achieved," Yukiya Amano, director general of the...

>* Miners higher; Rio Tinto leads on cost cuts plan* Wood Group depressed by share placementBy Jon HopkinsLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index pushed higher on Thursday, led by risk-sensitive miners and banking stocks, reflecting a swing in sentiment over negotiations for a U.S. budget deal.

>* President Obama optimistic of a deal before Christmas* Coming Up: Q3 US GDP 1330 GMT (Updates prices, adds quotes, changes dateline from SINGAPORE)By Simon FalushLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Crude oil rose on Thursday on optimism that U.S. lawmakers would reach a deal on fiscal policy and as...

Regarding “Bringing Iran around” (Nov. 3 editorial), let me start by defining who we are dealing with when talking about the Iranian leadership. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a fanatic as someone who is “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.”

Highlighting improvements in relations between Iraq and Kuwait, the United Nations top official in Iraq Thursday said that progress will “depend on the restoration of confidence between both sides” and encouraged further momentum from the two countries.

Recent satellite photos show continued activity at a controversial Iranian military site that international weapons inspectors have repeatedly been denied access to, according to a Washington-based think tank.

TOKYO: Japan's crude oil imports from Iran in October fell 40.2 percent from a year earlier, data from the trade ministry showed on Friday, as Western sanctions kept Japanese refiners from shipping from the Middle Eastern country.

For decades, the Middle East has supplied a growing hunger for oil in the United States, Europe and now China. But in more recent years, writes Blake Clayton, the Middle East itself has developed a voracious appetitle for energy.

The drama of Kuwait's parliamentary elections has nothing to do with the ballot count. It's what may come afterward that has the country on edge as a broad coalition of conservative Islamists, liberal reformers and others vow to boycott Saturday's vote.

NEW YORK (CNN)- The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday endorsed an upgraded U.N. status for the Palestinian Authority, despite intense opposition from the United States and Israel. The resolution elevates their status from “non-member observer entity” to “non-member observer …

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice and her husband own modest stakes in companies that have until recently done business with Iran, prompting new questions from those opposed to her possible nomination as secretary of state. Read full article >>

' William Knox D'Arcy is, almost by definition, the most influential Australian who has ever lived. He is a giant figure on the world stage.'

Peter Naghavi is set to retire next week but will still be on board to help find his replacement.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak addressed questions about Afghanistan, the Iron Dome missile defense system protecting Israel, Iran, Syria and Israel’s security at a joint Pentagon press conference on Thursday. Panetta addressed questions on the timing of...

THE Immigration Department has transferred the second group of asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea's remote Manus Island.

WASHINGTON — Senators pressed ahead Thursday on a new set of tough sanctions against Iran's domestic industries as they seek to cripple the Islamic republic's economy and thwart its nuclear ambitions.

Bangkok Bank executive chairman Kosit Panpiemras expects the Thai economy to grow by 4-5 per cent next year on fiscal stimulus and Asean growth, while seeking opportunities from emerging economies els .....

Eric Atkins scored 16 points and Notre Dame beat No. 8 Kentucky 64-50 on Thursday night for its 41st victory in the past 42 home games.

The upswing in global equity markets that started in July is now running out of steam, which comes as no surprise: with no significant improvement in growth prospects in either the advanced or maj

Max Security is now providing a free trial for its real-time Intelligence Reports (http://www.max-security.com/intelligence1). The global security consulting firm is offering qualified individuals from corporations and governments a special opportunity to obtain, for a limited time, detailed reports about threats in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan...

The bitcoin is being used to dodge sanctions and a plummeting rial

The Coast Guard says it has approved plans to investigate another oil sheen spotted near the site of BP's 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Retirement funds bankroll buyout firms that lay off public workers

NEW YORK — Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid who accused him of trying to rape her have reached an agreement to settle her lawsuit, likely ending a legal saga that forced the onetime French presidential contender's resignation and opened a floodgate of accusations against...

New market report package “Light Metal Packaging - Asian Markets Package” elaborated by Global Research & Data Services has been recently published by Market Publishers Ltd. ...

NEW YORK - The British bank Standard Chartered is close to reaching a US$300 million (S$366 million) settlement with US authorities over allegations it violated sanctions on Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.

For nine of the San Antonio Spurs, a six-game, nine-night trip was ending in Miami on Thursday.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attends a meeting on the rights of Palestinians at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday ahead of the General Assembly vote.

>DOHA, Qatar (Reuters) - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said the de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state won by his rival Mahmoud Abbas should be seen alongside Gaza's latest conflict with Israel as a single, bold strategy that could empower all Palestinians. Meshaal said the short war which claimed...

Beirut (AFP) Nov 29, 2012 Syrian troops Thursday evening launched a major offensive in southeastern Damascus along the airport road, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after earlier reporting the route had been closed. The army attacked rebel strongholds in a string of towns along the highway and near...

London (UPI) Nov 28, 2012 Ten years after the Iraq war, the United Nations still has a major mandate and an unfinished business in that country. When the United Nations reviews the situation in Iraq on Thursday, its role, the achievements of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq and...

Zoë Heller Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie Gilles Peress/Magnum Photos Salman Rushdie, Brick Lane, London, 1988 One of the great sorrows of the fatwa years for Rushdie—more personally agitating to him, he has claimed, than the assault on his freedom of speech, or even the threat to his...

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is expected to become one of the fastest developing blocs in the world, a Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday ahead of a meeting bringing together prime ministers of SCO member states.

UNITED NATIONS - For years, the tiny oil sheikdom of Qatar has been a reliable U.S. partner in the Middle East - as a host to the largest American military base in the region and as a diplomatic bulwark against Iran. It has backed the fall of autocratic rulers...

As the Syrian uprising enters into its twentieth month the embattled regime of Bashar al-Assad has begun to show signs of fracture against the weight of an increasingly organized armed opposition. Responding to Western demands and efforts from leading Islamic Sunni powers (Qatar and Saudi Arabia), the disenfranchised organizations...

Foreign Minister John Baird said Canada is "considering all available next steps" is a strongly-worded speech delivering Canada's opposition to a motion for the UN to officially recognize Palestinian statehood.

HAVANA (Reuters) - Colombia's lead negotiator gave a muted assessment on Thursday of progress in talks aimed at ending a five-decade-long war with Marxist-led rebels, as negotiators wrapped up their initial round of meetings in the Cuban capital. Related Stories Argentina's debt holdouts say they're savers, not vultures U.N.

Battlefield 3: Aftermath is the next piece of premium downloadable content for fans of the year-old shooter to experience, and we got to play it early.

CAIRO (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition made progress on Thursday toward forming a transitional government at the first meeting of their new coalition in Cairo and the Muslim Brotherhood emerged as an overwhelmingly powerful kingmaker, delegates said. In a sign of its strength within the leadership of the opposition, the...

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Cocaine trafficking through drug hub Guinea Bissau is spreading unabated amid turmoil sparked by an April military coup that has slashed the West African country's key cashew crop and almost halved its economic growth, the United Nations said. Related Stories Argentina's debt holdouts say they're savers,...

Confidence American expert, senior analyst of the American foreign policy Council on Europe and Eurasia Wayne Mery that supposedly It is the most dynamic country in Turkey , and, therefore, the most important factor in the Caucasus, and today no matter regional agenda is not without its participation, is, to...

U.S. and Europe: A Revitalized Global Partnership Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Brookings Institute Washington, DC November 29, 2012 Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. It’s wonderful to be back at Brookings. It’s always a joy to be introduced by such a longtime friend and...

According to the Department of Defense, total spending on military programs through fiscal year 2013 is estimated to exceed $1.6 trillion. Read ahead to see the most expensive U.S. military programs currently under way.

>* Oil exceptions would continue* Natural gas trade allowed only if revenues used for tradeBy Roberta RamptonWASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate is set to consider a broader set of economic sanctions on Iran's energy, port, shipping and shipbuilding sectors, as lawmakers look for new ways to...

This past weekend Middle East watchers almost certainly expressed gratitude for a respite from the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas. For many the recent fighting probably appeared to be another predictable moment in the seemingly intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. While the casual observer shouldn't be faulted...

Sometimes overlooked in the long-running debate over Iran's nuclear program is the deteriorating situation of ordinary people contending with sanctions, other economic pressures and the daily indignities of living in the Islamic Republic. The Iran Chronicles, by a young Iranian Canadian law student, Ali Delforoush, tries to rectify this...

The Internet has been shut off across Syria, monitors and opposition activists reported Thursday as fighting raged between government troops and rebels on the main road between Damascus and its international airport.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Kuwait is deeply divided as its braces for an election that's expected to produce a victory for the ruling family and intensify political turmoil in the region.

A moment of silence: That’s what Jews worldwide were demanding at last summer’s London Olympics in memory of the 11 Israeli Olympians killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush is being treated at a Houston hospital for complications related to bronchitis and is in stable condition, the hospital said on Thursday. Related Stories Qatar, Arab Spring sponsor, jails poet for life Sri Lanka parliament speaker rebuffs Supreme Court...

A Syrian attack against Turkey is unlikely and would be considered “madness”, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Thursday as Ankara asked NATO to deploy surface-to-air missiles along their volatile border.

The Power and Energy Ministry has taken measures to supply electricity to the entire Kahawatte area which witnessed a number of murders during the recent past, Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara said.

Divisions in the Security Council are blocking progress toward ending the violence in Syria, and any eventual cease-fire will require the presence of an international peacekeeping force, the United Nations envoy for the country said Thursday. Lakhdar Brahimi said he has the elements for a

LONDON — President Bashar Assad has been quietly forming a military bastion along the Syrian coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Opposition sources said the Assad regime has been transferring military assets along the Mediterranean coast in what appeared to mark preparations for a separate Alawite-ruled enclave.

Rallies, protests, and flag burnings have broken out in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in response to the anticipated vote at the U.N. Thursday on the status of the Palestinian Territories in the U.N..

Teleos has announced the Winners of the 2012 Global Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) study. Apple has been recognized as this year's Overall Global MAKE Winner.(PRWEB UK) 28 November 2012 Teleos, in association with The KNOW Network, has announced the Winners of the 15th annual Global Most Admired Knowledge...

Nov 29 (Reuters) - CAIRO - The body writing Egypt's newconstitution began asession to vote on a final draft on Thursday, a move PresidentMohamed Mursi's allies in the Muslim Brotherhood hope will helpend a crisis prompted by a decree expanding his powers. - - - - UNITED NATIONS - The...

DOHA (Reuters) - A court in Qatar, which has supported Arab uprisings abroad, jailed a local poet for life on Thursday for criticising the emir and inciting revolt - a sentence that drew outrage and cries of hypocrisy from human rights groups. Related Stories Tunisia says opposition inciting protests, government...

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's Islamist prime minister said on Thursday he would not resign following violent protests this week over economic hardship, and he accused opposition parties of sowing disorder. Related Stories Tunisia says opposition inciting protests, government won't resign U.S. gives Iran until March to cooperate with IAEA...

America just witnessed the most expensive federal election in our history. An estimated $6 billion was spent on the political circus. Now that partisan tempers have cooled, it's time to face the fact that lax disclosure requirements, antiquated Federal Election Commission, or FEC, laws and aggressive online campaign fundraising have...

(MENAFN - AFP) The International Monetary Fund said Thursday it was awaiting the results of Greece's sovereign debt buyback before it would approve a revised rescue program.Greece announced ...

Oil Prices Rise, Topping $88 a Barrel

Pumping around one-third of the world's oil, the Middle East is the 800-pound gorilla of oil suppliers. Its enormous crude exports are crucial in slaking the thirst of a world hungry for more.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam announced the first seven films selected for its Hivos Tiger Awards Competition. The complete line up of the fifteen first or second feature length films will be presented by January 8. The festival runs January 23-February 3, 2013. “The films in last year’s Hivos Tiger...

In a gala ceremony held on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, both the Asian Champions League MVP and Manchester United star were recognized as the continent's best players.

Heritage's Ted Bromund, Ph.D., and Luke Coffey discuss the constitutional mandate for government to provide for the common defense and what that means for today’s security landscape.

- TMZ reports that former WWE Tough Enough winner Maven Huffman recently had his trophy from the show auctioned off on eBay. A wrestling fan won the trophy for $600 after it was put up for auction when it was found in Maven’s unpaid storage unit in Virginia.

Thick, handsome mustaches have long been prized by men throughout the Middle East as symbols of masculine virility, wisdom and maturity. read more

The head of the United Nations' nuclear agency is questioning Iran's nuclear intentions. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano met with the IAEA's governing board Thursday in Vienna. He said Iran has failed to provide the agency with any credible assurances that its nuclear activities are peaceful. And he...

For an organization that’s had plenty of low moments -- including providing an annual forum for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to spew his anti-semitic vile to the world -- this week’s General Assembly gathering may represent its most embarrassing moment yet. And that says something. Today, the General Assembly is...

TEHRAN, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A report from a Western embassy in Tehran said the Iranian government may be hedging its bets regarding the Syrian government of Bashar Assad.

As the temperatures continue to cool down, it’s officially time to start looking at which movies stand a shot at winning the Academy Awards come January.

Chevron Chairman and CEO John Watson shares his views on how U.S.-based multinational corporations can help expand American influence abroad and be a positive force for progress. Watson also discusses recent global energy trends, including the rise in production of shale gas and other unconventional energy sources, that...

Recognition of Syrian Opposition by France & Arab League culminating to nuclear war Prof. Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party and Chairman of Indo-Arab Solidarity Council has condemned EU and Arab League decision to recognize terrorist groups in Syria as its representative which can not be accepted by...

Today is Thursday, Nov. 29, the 334th day of 2012. There are 32 days left in the year.

Oil Spikes on IAEA's Iran Comment

FOR anyone - let alone a middle-aged aircraft mechanic from Texas - the plan to smuggle seven jetliners into Iran was audacious and risky.

The mysterious death of an Iranian blogger while in police custody has reportedly generated a rash of criticism from officials dismayed by the case that has drawn international condemnation once again on the nation’s poor human rights record.

Good morning, it’s Thursday November 29 and we’ll warm up a bit today.

BEIJING (AP) — The online version of China's Communist Party newspaper has hailed a report by The Onion naming North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as the "Sexiest Man Alive"... Read more »

Outgoing Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, is set to receive the highest award he could be given by a US secretary of defense when he visits the Pentagon on Thursday, according to reports.

That's the world according to global investors who are piling back into stocks as they see a rebound on the horizon

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over Iran's nuclear activities need to be pursued with "urgency," the head of the UN atomic agency said Thursday.

The Syrian regime was the only government in the world to lay new landmines this year, campaigners said Thursday.

ISFAHAN, Iran, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A Jewish woman was stabbed to death in Isfahan, Iran, in what her family said was a religiously motivated crime.