News Archive - 31 December 2013

>* Sanctions lifting part of the landmark accord (Adds Iranian official's comments)DUBAI Dec 31 (Reuters) - World powers and Iran have agreed to start implementing in late January an agreement obliging Tehran to suspend its most sensitive nuclear work, an Iranian official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.There was...

>"Importing flour places many burdens on the government. It's not easy to be a flour importer," Wael al-Halqi told parliament on Tuesday.Syria has struggled in recent months to buy essential food staples such as flour, wheat, sugar and rice through tenders, in part due to U.S. and EU...

>* Third meeting ends in "good" progress, Iran says* Implementation of breakthrough accord depends on expert talksDUBAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Six world powers and Iran have made good progress in expert talks in Geneva on how to roll out last month's landmark nuclear deal which obliges Tehran to suspend...

>* U.S. crude trades between $85.61 and $112.24* Spread between the two benchmarks widens to $23.45 in 2013* Libya's Hariga port still shut as oil deadlock drags on (Updates prices)By Manash GoswamiSINGAPORE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Brent futures held above $111 a barrel on Tuesday on...

HARLAN ULLMAN, UPI Outside View Commentator WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- New Year's Day marks the time for making predictions and resolutions. Game-changing events are among the former. So, here are three game changers that you might not have considered.

The United States dismissed a report that an agreement had been reached between Iran and world powers to begin implementing a deal that requires Tehran to limit its nuclear program.

Australian navy divers came close to operating during the Iran-Iraq war, cabinet documents have revealed.        

The Digital Policy Council's latest research observes continued but dramatically slower growth of world leaders utilizing Twitter in 2013. WASHINGTON, Jan. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Digital Policy Council (DPC) released its fourth annual ranking of world leaders' use...

When it comes to foreign policy, 2013 was a great year for autocrats and radical Islamists. For democracies and would-be democrats, the last 12 months were pretty grim.

American intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has declared his 'mission accomplished'.

Thousands of worshippers from around the world have flocked to Jesus's birthplace in Bethlehem.

French President Francois Hollande has met Saudi King Abdullah on a visit aimed at boosting commercial ties.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has replaced nearly half his cabinet in a dramatic reshuffle.

The world's Zoroastrian community will confront a demographic crisis which threatens its very existence.

Saudi Arabia has pledged $A3.38 billion for the Lebanese army to buy equipment from France.

Despite an unsettling close to 2013, with a shattered calm here and the baggage of wars past in North Asia weighing heavy on historical rivals, Singaporeans are seeing in 2014 in reasonably good heart        

Islamabad, Jan. 1 (ANI): Pakistan is considered as the second biggest threat to world peace, a new survey of people round the globe has revealed. The End of Year survey conducted by Worldwide Independent Network/Gallup found that while US topped the list for being the biggest threat to world peace,...

Get Over 40 Email Bulletins on MENA Countries & Sectors. Track the Latest News, Research or Analysis with My Zawya. Access Time-Saving Tools & Productivity Enhancing Services.

A New Zealander accused of child trafficking in Kenya has been released on bail and will face court next month. Baha Ulkes, 38, was arrested in the central town of Meru in November and charged with trafficking underage girls for sexual exploitation after giving their father cows and cash.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (pic) hurtles into 2014 with a trip to the Middle East today, hoping to make this the year Israel and the Palestinians seal a long-elusive peace deal. Waving aside sceptics, the top diplomat will embark on his 10th tour to Israel and the West...

Tehran, Jan 1 (IANS) Iran has condemned the recent deadly bombings in Russia's Volgograd city which killed at least 32 and left 28 injured, Xinhua reported.

FMT LETTER: From Shamil Norshidi, via e-mail The date was April 12, 1964. In a body-heat-drenched-arm-by-arm- packed Detroit hall, the stage was set for one El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz – more commonly known as Malcolm X- to deliver a speech that would forever haunt American foreign policy. 18 minutes in,...

Serves 4 This is a traditional and very popular dish in Iran, served when family members return home after being away. Some people consider it Iran's national dish. It is also traditional on the Ramadan table, when everyone gathers for Eftar (the evening meal that breaks each daylong fast). This...

Watch Video | Listen to the Audio HARI SREENIVASAN: Finally tonight: a reminder that Iran was once the center of the remarkably sophisticated Persian civilization, one that produced some of the most enduring poetry in the world. Jeff Brown talked recently with the man responsible for making much of that...

Gaza, ALRAY - Ministry of Information kicked off the events of the first academic media conference in Palestine “Palestinian Media… Meeting Resistance Challenges” on Tuesday morning at Commodore Hotel in the west of Gaza City.

US Secretary of State John Kerry hurtles into 2014 with a trip to the Middle East Wednesday, hoping to make this the year Israel and the Palestinians seal a long-elusive peace deal. Waving aside skeptics, the top diplomat will embark on his 10th tour to Israel and the West Bank...

Despite an unsettling close to 2013, with a shattered calm here and the baggage of wars past in North Asia weighing heavy on historical rivals, Singaporeans are seeing in 2014 in reasonably good heart.

Gaza, ALRAY - Ministry of Information kicked off the events of the first Gaza, ALRAY - "The Egyptian authorities’ conduct at the Rafah crossing will remain as it is,” said Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Yasser Othman, pointing to the limited traffic of Palestinian passengers at the border.

TOPSY-TURVY 2013: After going through natural disasters, simmering conflicts and wars, most of us would welcome a quieter new year

WATERS RECEDING: Number of evacuees in relief centres dwindles

Humidity and skin sensitivity posed a challenge to R. Gowri in finding effective skincare. Until now.

WASHINGTON -- Looking back on his first year in the U.S. Senate , freshman Chris Murphy said the high point and the low point were the same event: the national debate about tougher gun-control laws.

Lebanese security forces have reportedly arrested Majed al-Majed, the Saudi commander of the al-Qaeda affiliated group Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which claimed responsibility for an attack on Iran’s Embassy in Beirut in November.

For all the talk of Pak-Afghan brotherly relations touted by Pakistani businessmen and policymakers, actual trade relations somehow did not exactly reflect the same warmth in recent years.

WASHINGTON – Iranian and European officials said Tuesday that technical talks required to implement a preliminary nuclear deal have made progress, and they suggested that an agreement may be close.

Rob Ford, CitiBike, Bay Area tech woes, China's crippling smog: You've seen all the big headlines for cities this year. But here are a few of the urbanism stories that might have flown under your radar. Read more...        

Last time we closed with Wyatt’s statement at the end of “Easy Rider,” saying, “We blew it.” When my wife Sandy and I met, it was in Peace Corps Iran training in the summer of 1966 in the shadow of the tower on the University of Texas Austin campus.

Latest VideoDecember 31st, 2013     72 Tonnes of traditional soup cooked in Shiraz ! The inhabitant of the town of Shiraz cooked 72 tonnes of traditional soup ( Aaash) on Tuesday 31 December  in occasion of anniversary of death of the prophet of Islam .

2013 wasn't a good year. It was an incredible year. But this conservative forecasting was understandable as we entered the year with a "fiscal cliff," continued with the threat of massive federal budget cuts, and entered Q4 with a government shutdown.

Malware hidden in BIOS.

In a territory dominated by cold conditions and the snowy tundra, it is fitting that winter sports dominated the headlines in 2013.

Wherein we recognize outstanding achievements — and spectacular disasters — in policy wonkery over the past year.

The local director of a Christian school program and international development agency is keeping a close eye on news from South Sudan.

Lights for the holidays illuminate the New York Stock Exchange. / (Photo: John Moore, Getty Images) NEW YORK — The stock market wrapped up its best year since 1997, showering investors with an almost 30% gain in a record-breaking run that might finally have convinced investors scared off by the...

As the new year approached, residents across the globe were picking up the pieces after a series of earthquakes and giving thanks that relatively little damage were done.

The administration squeaked by with a solid C average.

Syria will miss a December 31 deadline for the removal of part of its chemical weapons arsenal for destruction, but international inspectors insisted the overall mission is still on track. The delay came as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 130,000 people had been killed since the...

Americans will die on American soil in large numbers. So predicted the Hart-Rudman Commission seven months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. No commissioner felt good about it getting it right.

From 'Scandal' to 'Homeland,' some in politics stick to what they know on TV.        

The Syrian government is on course to score major diplomatic "victories" thanks to the unfailing support of its allies, including Russia, Iran and China, its prime minister said on Tuesday. "Relations between Syria and Iran are strong and tough, as well as ties with other friendly countries including Russia and...

The United States dismissed a report that an agreement had been reached between Iran and world powers to begin implementing a deal that requires Tehran to limit its nuclear program. The announcement followed a report in state-run Iranian media that a ...

The final ex estate auction for the year (Sale No: 51) comprising of 0.94 Mkgs of tea commenced at last sale levels and firmed up as the sale progressed.

Iran’s technical talks with the six global powers have ended on a positive note, raising hopes that an agreement on implementing the Geneva nuclear accord could be reached shortly during political...

Exclusive: Last summer, Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar reportedly offered Russian President Putin a deal: if Russia abandons Syria, Saudi Arabia would protect the Sochi Olympics from Islamic terrorists. Putin is said to have angrily rebuffed the offer.

Drivers fueled up for the lowest price in three years during 2013, according to AAA, and even lower prices are expected in 2014. The motorist group reports that the national average price for a gallon ...

OAKWOOD, Ill. — On the surface, an 11-year-old Illinois boy who likes Legos and zombies would seem to have little in common with a U.S. senator focused on Iran sanctions and immigration reform.

The Iranian Embassy in Moscow has censured as “inhumane” the deadly bomb attacks in the southern Russian city of Volgograd.

(MENAFN) The Inflation rate in Iran dropped by 0.4 percent in the twelve months ended on December 21, reaching 35.5 percent, according to Tehran Times. Meanwhile, the point-to-p...

Bernadette Alvarez from Nanaimo’s Shima Karate School became Canada’s first IKGA world karate champion.

Both were mold-breaking former heads of state who reshaped their own countries and the world. Nelson Mandela, revered for his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, and Margaret Thatcher,...

(MENAFN) Pakistan and Iran plan to sign an initial deal to supply Pakistan with 1,000 megawatts of electricity to cover the country's growing demand, according to Tehran Times. ...

Earlier this week, in " Why The Turkish Government May Be The Casualty Of A $119 Billion PetroDollar Loophole " we said "dare to mess with the Petrodollar and the wrath of the US government will hunt you down... sooner or later." Sure enough, after resulting in a Turkish...

MANILA, Philippines – It was, perhaps, not the best year for world transportation. In 2013, accidents and crashes seemed to happen often enough to warrant a globe-spanning run-through of transporation mishaps – untimely events where human engineering wasn't enough to keep people, property, and natural resources safe. This is Rappler's...

*Thanks to the First Amendment, rapper Rick Ross has shot down a lawsuit from a former drug kingpin who ruled Los Angeles during the 1980s, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Freeway” Ricky Ross, who once sold as much as $3 million worth of cocaine a day, had ties with the...

— Egypt's military issues a "last chance" ultimatum to President Mohammed Morsi, giving him 48 hours to meet the demands of millions of protesters in the streets seeking the ouster of the Islamic leader or the generals will intervene and impose their own plan for the country. — Egypt's first...

Latest VideoDecember 31st, 2013     Araghchi explain situation of nuclear talks with 5+1 before flying to Geneva The nuclear negotiation between technical teams of 5+1 and Islamic terminated on Tuesday 31 December and the deputy of foreign ministry and Iranian senior negotiator Abbas  Araghchi will fly again to Geneva to...

It has become conventional wisdom to say that President Barack Obama has suffered through a terrible year in 2013 – and if his slumping poll numbers are the only gauge, then these pundits may have a point.

A former nuclear negotiator close to President Hassan Rouhani who was sentenced to two years in prison in 2008 for actions against "national security" has returned to Iran, media reported Tuesday. "I have returned to Iran to stay," Hossein Moussavian told reporters Monday at the funeral for the mother of...

The UK stripped of its prized 'Aaa' rating, the ever-presiding threat of a eurozone break-up and thr Syrian conflict kept you clicking in 2013, as our 11 most-read stories show.

Re-live 2013 through the best photos of the year.

The invitations were supposed to be sent out by December 28

>Global Picture Desk: + 65 6870 3775Global Graphics Desk: + 65 6870 3595(All times GMT / ET)Receive this schedule by email:mediaexpress.reuters.comTOP STORIESWorld shares enjoy vintage year, seen gaining more in 2014LONDON - World stocks kept close to six-year peaks, while benchmark bond yields were set for their first...

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's teary-eyed farewell to the game left a nation overwhelmed, while chess wizard Viswanathan Anand broke many a heart by surrendering the world title on home turf even as the brazen chicanery of administrators embarrassed the country in more ways than one in a roller-coaster year for...

A senior Iranian diplomat says the expert-level talks between Iran and six world powers in Geneva have concluded, adding that certain issues remain to be resolved at the “political level.”

Iran's chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi. — File photo TEHRAN: Iran's chief negotiator said Tuesday talks in Geneva with world powers late into the night on implementing a landmark nuclear deal had made “good progress”, according to state TV.

APRIL: SYLVIA Stops, from Twyford, jumps out of an aeroplane for charity — at the age of 88 — in aid of Parkinson’s UK. Miss Stops was a founder member of the Winchester branch of Parkinson’s UK which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The movement has been functioning within the grey areas of politics.

Has Lebanon lost its final chance for peace? Political implications behind Chatah's letter and the Saudi arms agreement

ANKARA, Turkey - A popular game show that was punished for its subtle support of last summer's anti-government protests appears once again to have become the victim of Turkish media censorship as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government scrambles to contain a corruption scandal. In an...

>BEIJING (Reuters) - China may buy more Iranian oil next year as a state trader is negotiating a new light crude contract that could raise imports from Tehran to levels not seen since tough Western sanctions were imposed in 2012, running the risk of upsetting Washington. An increase would go...