News Archive - 30 May 2013

>HAVANA (Reuters) - In what has become an annual ritual, the United States on Thursday kept Cuba on its list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and Havana reacted angrily, calling it a "shameful decision" based in politics, not reality. Cuba said in a statement that the U.S. government was...

>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday Moscow was still committed to sending him advanced anti-aircraft weapons, although a source close to the Russian defense ministry said the missiles had yet to arrive. The prospect of the missiles arriving is a serious worry for Western and regional...

>NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Iranian-born used car salesman from Texas was sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to participating in a plot with an Iranian military unit to murder the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. Manssor Arbabsiar, 58, received...

>* South Korea says faced GPS jamming attacks from North KoreaBy Jonathan SaulLONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Ships on the world's busiest waterways face growing threats to their satellite navigation systems, including jamming attacks, prompting Britain and South Korea to deploy back-up devices to avert potential disasters at sea.South...

>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel could overcome advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles if they were deployed in Syria but any strikes on the system would be difficult and risk alienating its supplier, Russia. Israel has pledged to take preventive action, seeing a future Syrian S-300 as a "game-changing" threat to its own...

>BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two months of bombings that have killed more than a thousand Iraqis has not, officials insist, been enough to tip the country back into the all-out communal blood-letting of a few years ago. But such assurances do not impress anxious Baghdadis like Atheer, a delivery driver, who...

Latest VideoMay 30th, 2013     Bashar Asad : Syria have already received S 300 from Russia According Iranian TV Bashar Asad confirmed delivery of first S300 from Russia  , while the Russian defense minister announce intention of Russia to supply more advanced weapon to Syria .

>PALMACHIM AIR BASE, Israel (Reuters) - Israel tracks every heavy missile fired in the Syrian civil war, keen to study Damascus's combat doctrines and deployments and ready to fend off a feared first attack on its turf, a senior Israeli military officer said on Thursday. Colonel Zvika Haimovich of the...

>* U.S. shale means hotter contest for Asia market* No resolution on secretary-general choice expectedBy Amena Bakr and Reem ShamseddineVIENNA, May 30 (Reuters) - OPEC oil exporters on Thursday were in no mood to fight over how much crude to produce and instead weighed the impact of rising supplies...

>* Saudi output rises on higher crude burning* OPEC pumps just 330,000 bpd above targetBy Alex LawlerVIENNA, May 30 (Reuters) - OPEC crude output has fallen in May due to lower exports from Iraq and disruptions in some African producers, a Reuters survey found, improving compliance with an OPEC output...

Washington, May 31 (ANI): A new study has found that the Karo Batak, who mostly live in scattered rural villages in the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, deem women with big feet as more appealing.

United States Takes Action to Facilitate Communications By the Iranian People and Targets Iranian Government Censorship

QUESTION: Thank you very much for agreeing to do this interview with us, DD News, Wendy Sherman.

A U.S. court sentenced on Thursday an Iranian-American man to 25 years in prison over a plot to assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir.

Two Sacramento State graduates have bridged East and West with a new Mediterranean beverage that extends the age-old Silk Road to the Sacramento region.

Maldonado Case / Consular Staff Visits / Contact with Family / Health and Welfare / Legal Process / Contact with Mexican Authorities

HAVANA (Reuters) - Dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez, wearing a brightly coloured dress and a big smile, returned on Thursday to the homeland she both loves and lambastes, after more than three months on a tour through the Americas and Europe. Related Stories Moscow suggests missiles have yet to reach Assad...

AMMAN, Jordan (RNS) The Syrian civil war is increasingly drawing in nations across the Middle East, a regionwide conflict that threatens to pit world powers against each other and Muslim against Muslim.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Authorities intercepted a threatening letter addressed to U.S. President Barack Obama that was similar to ones sent to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Secret Service said on Thursday. Related Stories Moscow suggests missiles have yet to reach Assad Egyptian draft law said to dash hopes...

WITH all eyes on Syria's civil war, the deepening crisis in neighbouring Iraq has all but fallen off the news radar.

       

Easing of sanctions will allow U.S. residents to export communications equipment to individuals but not to the Iranian government. Originally posted at News - Internet & Media

Though no one would say the northern border is stable, the balance of deterrence has held there since 2006. But the S-300 could change that, and restrict the IAF’s freedom of action.

Protecting local shipyards brought U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to town. He got a private tour of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. The media was not allowed on the tour, but he spoke with WAVY.com beforehand.

"This war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises ..." WASHINGTON -- Nice thought. But much as Obama would like to close his eyes, click his heels three times and declare the war on terror over, war is a two-way street.

The US has lifted a ban on sales of communications equipment to Iranians and opened internet access.

For the first time, students from Pakistan and China have been admitted to the post-graduate programme in management at Indian School of Business (ISB), which has concurrent campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali. The 2014 class of Post Graduate Programme (PGP) has five international students, including one each from Pakistan and...

Istanbul, May 31 (IANS) Syria's main opposition group in exile Thursday refused to participate in the Geneva peace talks, aimed at drawing up a blueprint of a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis, Xinhua reported.

Critics say Washington is being played by Russia, which wants to forestall a robust Western intervention in Syria. But US, insisting Russia is a 'partner,' continues planning for peace conference.

The State Department's Country Terrorism report also says that Iran has boosted its support of global terrorism to a level not seen since the 1990s.

Intel scores major win in new Samsung Galaxy tablet: source SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics has chosen an Intel Corp processor to power a new version of one of its top-tier Android tablets, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters, in a major victory for the U.

Pinto was no longer able to commit to the film after delays in production.

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran's sponsorship of terrorism overseas underwent "a marked resurgence" in 2012, reaching levels not seen in 20 years, the U.S. State Department charged on Thursday in its annual report on trends in political violence. The report cited a series of actual and planned attacks in Europe...

Battle-hardened Hezbollah guerrillas from Lebanon may be turning the tide in the government’s favor as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad besiege the rebel-held town of Qusair in western Syria. The Syrian Arab News Agency said government forces had already recaptured the Dabaa air base just north of Qusair and...

The State Department said such sales for personal use would allow Iranians to skirt the government's ‘attempts to silence its people.’ The State Department said such sales for personal use would allow Iranians to skirt the government's ‘attempts to silence its people.’ read more

We here at Hip-Hop Wired have an affinity for thick women. There, we admit it. With that said, we present a girl that reality TV buffs will undoubtedly recognize named Catya "Cat" Washington .

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government has launched three surveillance drones equipped with small cameras as part of an initiative to curb drug trafficking.        

BEIRUT (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raised the prospect of opening a front against Israel on the Golan and said Russia is committed to supplying his regime with advanced missiles, in an interview broadcast Thursday.

OTTAWA - Digital diplomacy is another way to advance Canada's values and interests around the world, Foreign Minister John Baird said Thursday in remarks that for the first time laid out his thoughts on technology as a tool for foreign policy.

Russian missiles in Syria have been denied by United States officials. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the prospect of Russian missiles in Syria has Israel crying foul. The existing weapons embargo in Syria created by the European Union will not expire until August. However, Russian missiles in Syria could...

Latest VideoMay 30th, 2013     Lie & Truth : Bashar Asad interview with Hezbollah TV and claim of delivery of S300 to Syria by Iranian TV Original interview of Syrian president Bashar Asad interview with Hezbollah Al Minar TV and subtitled claim of Iranian TV about delivery of S300 by...

Canada is doubling down on its message that the only solution to the conflict in Syria is a political one.

Syria's Bashar al-Assad dared Israel and the West to take him on, saying he had already taken delivery of an advanced Russian missile system seen as a game-changer in any potential conflict with his external enemies.        

TSX steady as soaring golds offset RBC dip TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index inched higher on Thursday as a surge in gold mining stocks, which followed bullion prices higher, offset a decline in Royal Bank of Canada after the lender reported quarterly results. Investors were also encouraged as...

There is no favorable outcome in Syria—only the least unfavorable—and that will be dictated by Syria's Bashar al-Assad.

The U.S. has issued sanctions against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's deputy chief of staff and over 50 other Iranian government officials for alleged human rights abuses, while making it easier for Americans to export advanced communications equipment to Iranian civilians.

The Russians have invested a lot in Assad - but they know his regime is doomed, believes Ehud Barak        

The United States on Thursday lifted a ban on sales of communications equipment to Iranians and opened access to Internet services and social media, in a bid to help the Iranian people avoid government controls.

SYRACUSE, New York (Reuters) - Seven people, including four children, were killed when a trailer came loose from a truck hauling it and struck their minivan, officials said on Thursday. Related Stories Who's next? Putin critics worry as Russia clampdown spreads U.S. loosens sanctions on Iran for mobile phones,...

We need Israel as an ally Columnist Bruce Ramsey claims that Israel is not a vital ally of America in the Middle East [“The Senate supports an Israeli ‘defensive’ attack against Iran,” seattletimes.com, May 23]. If not, who is? Since the Arab Spring has cooled into the Arab w

>The move, expected later on Thursday, will allow Iranians to get access to the latest Apple phones and newest software that have only been available on Tehran's black market since sanctions were first imposed in 1992.The U.S. has ramped up tough measures against Iran in recent years to...

Latest VideoMay 30th, 2013     Mohsen Rezaei : I will force United States with Allah Akbar to escape ! Part of speech and election campaign  of former commander of Revolutionary Guard in the town of Boushehr -Bushir on Thursday 30 May .

Latest VideoMay 30th, 2013     A report about fathers of candidates of presidency ! A report about fathers of  candidates of presidency !...

Russia has sent Syria promised air defense missiles, President Bashar al-Assad implied in an interview to be aired Thursday, in a move aimed at deterring foreign intervention in the more than two-year conflict.

Paris, May 30 : Bilal Habib from India was Thursday named as one of the six winners of the Young Scientist Awards instituted by the Unesco.

KHARTOUM, May 30 (Reuters) - Sudan will produce at least 50tonnes of gold and 40,000 tonnes of chromium this year, theAfrican country's mining minister told state news agency SUNA onThursday. Gold has become Sudan's biggest export, partially replacingoil revenues that made up more than 50 percent of state incomeuntil 2011,...

Given Iran and Russia's strong support of the Syrian government, there are indications that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad may be prevailing in the country's civil war, says Michael Young, longtime observer of the Middle East. As for the imperiled peace conference that had been tentatively scheduled for mid-June,...

The UK and France's activism to end the EU arms embargo may have backfired as Assad announces receipt of S-300 missiles The history of conflicts suggests they are easier to escalate than to de-escalate – something events in Syria have demonstrated in abundance over the last few days. Moves by...

einlassen. “Widerstand in Sachen Atomprogramm ist für mich wie Widerstand, wenn es um die Existenz des Landes geht”, sagte Dschalili am Donnerstag in einer Wahlrede in Arak, Mitteliran.

>PARIS (Reuters) - The colorful boss of Total (TOTF.PA) is unlikely to be felled by demands he stand trial over alleged bribes to Iran as Christophe de Margerie enters a crucial phase of his high-stakes turnaround plan for the oil firm, with no clear successors. De Margerie, nicknamed "Big...

Once the symbol of oil dominance, OPEC faces new challenges as its members gather for a ministerial meeting this week on how much crude to pump.

Senior Israeli intelligence sources emphasized Thursday May 30 that Syria had still not received the first consignment of Russian S-300 anti-missile batteries – contrary to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s claim.

Syria's main opposition group has asid it will not take part in proposed US-Russia peace talks while key allies of President Bashar al-Assad's regime are waging war alongside government forces.        

Iran has reportedly amended its internationally condemned law on stoning convicted adulterers to death to allow judges to impose a different form of execution.        

With two weeks until Iran’s presidential election and with an announcement last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran has accelerated the installation of critical nuclear infrastructure, allowing Tehran to greatly increase the pace of its uranium enrichment, the U.S. Senate and House have passed legislation...

VIENNA, May 30 (Reuters) - Baghdad has turned to France'sTotal and Japan's Toyota for gasoline afterWashington blacklisted an Iranian company that had beendelivering product, industry sources said on Thursday. Sima General Trading Company, based in the United ArabEmirates (UAE), had been supplying Iraq with up to three cargoesof gasoline per...

>Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi said on Thursday Baghdad is lowering plateau production rates at core southern oilfields in line with a more realistic target of 9 million barrels per day (bpd), versus an original 12 million to be reached by 2017."Eni agreed a new plateau for that...

>* Ashgabat keen to ease dependence on MoscowBy Marat GurtASHGABAT, May 30 (Reuters) - Turkey is ready to deliver Turkmenistan's natural gas to consumers in Europe, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Thursday, supporting the Central Asian nation's plans to build alternative pipelines and ease dependence on exports to Russia.

>* U.S. shale means hotter contest for Asia market* No resolution on secretary-general choice expected (Adds Iraqi oil minister comments, further details)By Amena Bakr and Reem ShamseddineVIENNA, May 30 (Reuters) - OPEC oil exporters on Thursday, set to leave output policy unchanged, were weighing the impact of rising supplies...

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad said the regime has received its first shipment of a sophisticated Russian anti-aircraft missile system, and the main Western-backed opposition group announced Thursday that it will not participate in peace talks — a double blow to international efforts to end the country's devastating...

Most of the historic imbroglios have involved sexual affairs or money. The Nixon-era transgressions, however, took a more sinister turn, that of attempting to manipulate government agencies to silence opponents, and chilling the press in its attempts to investigate and report. Now it seems the unfolding of the reportedly scandalous...

St Petersburg, Russia (dpa) - Provisionally dropped wrestling, squash and a joint baseball/softball bid made the shortlist for inclusion into the 2020 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Wednesday.Karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu lost out in a vote by the IOC executive board after all...

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned against attempts to foment sectarian and religious strife in the Middle East, urging closer cooperation to thwart such plots.

In the operations center on board the USS Stethem, sailors keep watch on a dizzying array of maps, graphics, sensors and radar data _ all focused on North Korea.

Canada has announced more illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran, including bans on nearly all exports to and imports from the Islamic Republic, in a move to ramp up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear energy program.

>By Michel Rose and Muriel BoselliPARIS May 29 (Reuters) - Total SA's Christophe de Margerie, who faces a possible trial over alleged bribes in Iran, has been dogged by legal investigations and market scepticism during his six years at the top of Europe's third-largest oil group.The 61-year-old, whose mandate...