News Archive - 22 February 2012

Iran and Russia have denounced foreign efforts to incite civil war and disintegrate Syria, saying they endanger the peace and security of the Middle East. In a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the solution to the crisis in Syria was the...

At least nine anti-US protesters have been shot dead in Afghanistan’s Parwan Province during demonstrations against the desecration of the Holy Qur’an by US-led forces in the country. On Wednesday, the protesters took to the streets in the capital Kabul, the western city of Herat and the eastern city of...

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Tehran is ready to help identify and hand over the perpetrators behind the recent explosions in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Mehmanparast described the claims of Iranian involvement in the bombing attacks as an American and Zionist written scenario that lack any truth. "Iran is...

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei underlined that the Iranian nation has never sought and will never seek nuclear weapons and has the capacity to break the supremacy of powers that rely on nuclear arms. Leader of the Islamic Revolution further emphasized that Iran will prove to...

Iran has harshly denounced the recent sacrilege act of desecration of the Holy Qur'an by US-led forces at a detention center library adjoining NATO's main base in eastern Afghanistan. Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that the sacrilegious move stems from ignorance of the occupying forces about...

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Tuesday said expanding cooperation with Iran is the first priority of his country's foreign policy in Central Asia. He made the remarks in a message to the opening ceremony of Iran's sixth exclusive trade fair in Ashkhabad. Berdimuhamedow said the two brotherly and friendly countries...

Iranian security forces have killed four members of the Pakistan-based Jundullah terrorist group in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan. The four terrorists were shot dead in a surprise operation carried out by Iranian law enforcement officers. A local provincial law enforcement officer also lost his life during the gun battle...

IRI's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic is currently constructing a fuel complex despite efforts by Western powers to undermine Iranian nuclear achievements. Iran is among the few countries that possess the capacity to construct a fuel complex, so Western countries were caught by a surprise discovering...

>* Oil prices rise on fears of confrontation with West* U.S. criticises Iran over talks failure* Iranian leader expresses defianceBy Fredrik Dahl and Parisa HafeziVIENNA/TEHRAN Feb 23 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme,...

LONDON : German government bonds opened higher on Thursday due to worries about global growth driven by a spike in oil prices and doubts that Greece would be able to implement tough austerity measures required under its second bailout deal.

>UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An Iranian research center that has been investigated by U.N. nuclear inspectors appears to have played a key role in Tehran's atomic program, which Western powers fear is aimed at producing weapons, according to a new report released on Wednesday. The study by the Washington-based...

>* Dollar near 7-month high vs yen, euro slumbers* Oil off 9-month highsBy Chikako MogiTOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares and the euro fell on Thursday on concerns over a slowdown in the global economy, including higher oil prices and data showing the euro zone may be sliding toward...

>White House spokesman Jay Carney also said the United States was continuing to evaluate Iran's intentions after it sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton last week, raising hopes for the prospects of renewed talks with world powers."This particular action by Iran suggest that they have...

>* Japan may cut Iranian imports by as much as 20 percent -paper* U.S. lawmakers urge govt to cool fuel prices with oil stocks (Adds details, update prices)By Florence TanSINGAPORE, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Brent crude held steady on Thursday, near a nine-month high of about $123, as supply...

TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (MNA) – On the third day of the Sarallah air defense maneuvers, air defense units of the Armed Forces successfully tracked mock enemy stealth aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles using innovative tactics and advanced radar systems of the country’s integrated network of air defense.

>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be a disastrous and played down the failure of a U.N. nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic programme. "Of course any possible military scenario against...

>* Brent at highest since last May* Asia, Europe cut back on Iranian crude imports* Coming up: API data at 2130 GMT (Recasts, updates prices, changes dateline previously LONDON and by-line)By Gene RamosNEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Brent crude oil rose to a nine-month high above $123 a barrel...

>"Iran will not sell its oil to any company that gives its oil to Britain or France," Qalebani was quoted as saying.Separately, the official IRNA news agency quoted Qalebani as saying Iran would still be willing to deal with French and British companies provided they do not take Iranian...

Twenty Republican presidential debates later, the head-scratching claims kept coming. Did Mitt Romney really cut taxes as Massachusetts governor, as he asserted yet again? Or did he raise them by hundreds of millions of dollars, as former Pennsylv ...

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 — As Republican presidential candidates toss barbs at Barack Obama over expensive gasoline, the US president and his team are going on the offensive with a strategy to divert blame and prepare voters for higher costs.In subtle and not so subtle ways, Obama, a Democrat, is...

DENVER - The nation's debt is one of the biggest threats to national security, so states and military facilities won't be spared some spending cuts over the next decade, Sen. Mark Udall said Wednesday before hosting a national security forum and panel discussion in Denver.

(MENAFN - Arab News) Palestinian reconciliation took a major step forward recently following an agreement that included President Mahmoud Abbas taking on the additional position of prime ...

Soaring gas prices — likely headed above $4 this spring — threaten to crimp the rebounding economy and are emerging as a major issue in the presidential campaign.

Crude Holds Above $106 In Asian Session

Indonesian Energy Minister Jero Wacik has stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation with Iran's state and private sectors in various fields of energy and mineral resources.

>"The two countries have agreed to exempt non-oil sectors (from the U.S. sanctions), and negotiations on the remaining issue are going smoothly," Bahk told reporters at a conference in Seoul.South Korea imported $350 million in Iranian petrochemicals in 2010, while exporting $450 million of its petrochemicals to Iran.

Crude-oil futures decline, slipping back from a nine-month closing high to give up some of the strong gains posted recently, even as the U.S. dollar declines.

DENVER - Amid growing tensions over Iran's nuclear program, several national security experts attended a panel in Denver to discuss current threats around the globe.

Australian shares are lower after US and European markets dipped on disappointing economics data.

Iran has no N-bombs, but Israel does (Letters, Feb. 15)

Reversals in markets can be swift, but in the case of stocks this year, they’ve been worth the risk, writes David Callaway.

The Energy Ministry has expressed readiness to comply with the United Nations resolutions on issues involving Iran. Meanwhile, it vows to move ahead with the energy price restructuring and improving the fuel credit card scheme as demanded by taxi operators.

Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency has urged the UN watchdog to “avoid perturbing the climate of cooperation’’, saying talks over Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme would continue.

Submitted by Lance Roberts of StreetTalk Advisors The Straw That Potentially Breaks The Camels Back Back in December I penned an article about the potential for gasoline prices to rise quickly to catch up with surging oil prices.  We said then "If we look at just the nominal price...

>Here are some of their main quotes:MITT ROMNEY, FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNORAttacking rival Rick Santorum:"Let's not forget that four years ago, you not only endorsed me ... and said and this is the guy who is really conservative and we can trust him. Let's not forget you said that ..."Criticizing Santorum on...

>MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich on Wednesday lent their support to the idea of arming the Syrian opposition in its fight to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Speaking at a CNN debate in Mesa, Arizona, Romney said the United States needed to team up...

A U.S. human rights group says it has received troubling reports that Iran may have issued an execution order for an Iranian Christian pastor who refused to return to Islam.

By HawkinvestIn an ominous sign, oil has been surging very early into 2012. Normally, oil will see a...

Goldberg reports extensively on the issues facing Israel today, from the Palestinian conflict, to Iran, to corruption amongst pro-Israel lobbyists in Washington, and he has a rich, conflicted history with that country.

FEARLESS Marie Colvin said to have been deliberately targeted by govt thugs for trying to tell the truth about atrocities

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Primed for a fight, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum traded fiery accusations about health care, spending earmarks and federal bailouts Wednesday night in the 20th and possibly final debate of the roller-coaster race for the Republican presidential nomination.

SUPERMARKET giant's record price slash puts pressure on rivals like Tesco to follow suit

>PEUGEOT AND GM IN ALLIANCE TALKSThe future of Vauxhall manufacturing in England is under a cloud once more after American parent General Motors revealed it was negotiating with PSA Peugeot Citroen to create the world's largest carmaking alliance.RBS SET TO ANNOUNCE BONUS CUTSRoyal Bank of Scotland is expected to...

What’s going on with the NYPD? They should mind their own business. This is Connecticut.

Well, it’s official: The Oscars will now be 100 percent not funny at all this Sunday! (Not including Billy Crystal’s 45 minute silent ode parody song to The Artist of course.) That’s because organizers have pulled Sacha Baron Cohen’s tickets upon learning that he was planning to show up...

No one likes to see those prices jump but ready or not, here it comes and experts are fearing the worst could be ahead of us putting a strain on resources from the store shelves to patrol cars.

TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Key TOCOM rubber futureseased after touching a five-month high on Thursday, while a weakyen and high oil prices supported sentiment. FUNDAMENTALS * The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange ...

KUALA LUMPUR : The capital expenditure (capex) in the oil and gas industry worldwide is expected reach a record level at half a trillion US dollars this year.

The Oscars

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 -- The U.S. stock market closed lower on Wednesday as poor economic data raised concerns about global economic slowdown.

>FUNDAMENTALS* Spot gold inched down $1.60 to $1,774.19 an ounce by 0013 GMT, off a three-month high of $1,781.40. It pierced through a key resistance level at $1,765 on Wednesday.* U.S. gold gained 0.3 percent to $1,776, retracing from a three-month high of $1,783.

> Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News...

>U.S. crude oil inventories rose more than forecast as imports increased, and oil product stocks also rose unexpectedly, weekly data from the American Petroleum Institute showed.FUNDAMENTALS* On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for April delivery fell 35 cents to $105.93 a barrel by 0015 GMT. The...

>* Three Japan megabanks to win waivers-Nikkei* Paper says cuts could be higher-than-expected 20 pct* Indirect price rise impact could hurt Japan economyBy Osamu Tsukimori and Yuko InoueTOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Japan may cut Iranian crude oil imports by a more-than-expected 20 percent as it seeks a waiver from...

BEIRUT: Syrian troops have killed at least 100 people, mainly in the provinces of Homs and Idlib, opposition activists say.

Dr. Epperson explains the association between migraines and depression in women.

Foreign correspondent of immense courage and charm who wrote about the rebels, underdogs and ordinary people caught up in war

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has to return to Cuba for treatment as his cancer is likely back, shaking his people and supporters around the world.

We can't help but to be skeptical about what the Iranian leader's got up his sleeve. After the UN nuclear watchdog agency, The International Atomic Energy Agency, was denied all access to the Parchin military base for the second time in two months. The IAEA wants Iran to clarify whether...

Dr. Kevin Kim says vemurafenib showed a high percentage of tumor shrinkage.

* Short-covering in euro crosses seen supporting singlecurrency * BoE minutes spark expectations for more easing, sterlinghit * Yen continues to stay under pressure SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The yen nursed ...

Overnight, US and European equities continued their post-Greek bailout lull, trading down marginally in a relatively lacklustre session. Equity markets globally now seem to have reached an interesting inflection point, having gotten off to a great start ...

>(Reuters) - U.S. and European officials are downplaying allegations that Iran and al Qaeda have recently stepped up cooperation in preparation for possible attacks on U.S. and other Western targets. The officials, who are familiar with security issues, and private experts, discounted recent news reports about a possible...

Moscow (dpa) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Wednesday for a speedy resolution of the crisis in Syria "without external interference."During a phone call, the two leaders emphasized the need to end the violence in Syria and called for a constructive dialogue between the...

Oil prices rose Wednesday on the expectation that world supplies could be squeezed further because of ongoing tensions with Iran.

The opposition Syrian National Council said it was coming to the conclusion that outside military intervention was the "only solution" to the crisis in Syria.

Israel believes that within 2-3 years Iran will have intercontinental missiles able to hit the US, an Israeli minister said in remarks aimed at raising awareness of the threat it believes a nuclear Iran would pose to the world.

Lately, saying "The Artist" will win best picture is like predicting that Obama will be the Democratic presidential nominee. A safe bet. But is there upset potential? We gathered our expert crew to chime in. For our final Yahoo!

U.S. motorists have bought less gasoline every week for the past 48 weeks, according to a survey published Wednesday by MasterCard SpendingPulse. At the same time, prices have risen. Those trends should continue, say industry analysts.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood.

As the U.S. and Europe place sanctions on Iran for the nuclear program suspected of having a military aim, Iran continues to insist its work is for peaceful purposes only. That claim will likely suffer a setback by an interview published Tuesday in the semi-official Fars News Agency. ...

NEW YORK, Feb 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude edged up onWednesday, extending gains to a fifth straight day, on worriesthat Iran's confrontation with the West would escalate aftertalks with U.N. nuclear inspectors ...

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., (LA-4) held a general town hall meeting in south Bossier Tuesday night to discuss three specific topics – cuts to defense spending, the national budget crisis and healthcare. Fleming first noted Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta’s visit to Barksdale AFB last week. He...

Prices at the pump rising at about two cents a day, motorists in San Diego paying over $4 dollars a gallon and it's only February. What can we expect as we near summer?

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC called Iran's refusal to cooperate with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation another ominous sign of its nuclear plans. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO) "The doomed IAEA...

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures ended marginally higher Wednesday, buoyed by lingering fears of a supply disruption after meetings in Tehran to assess Iran's nuclear program ended in disappointment for the officials with a watchdog nuclear agency. Crude traded in the red in early trading, only to seesaw as...

War. Wars. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The drumbeat for war in Iran.

Economists worry that rising gas prices could put the brakes on the economic recovery.

A packed train slammed into the end of the line in Buenos Aires' busy Once station Wednesday, killing 49 people and injuring hundreds of morning commuters in Argentina's worst train accident in decade... Related Stories Mother visits American condemned to die in Iran New York mayor defends monitoring of Muslim...

Gasoline prices have skyrocketed recently, and although prices at some locations are under the $4 per gallon mark (such as this Mobil station in Fontana), the statewide average has surpassed $4.

Jewish groups praised the Obama administration and Congress for $10 million in new homeland security grants while noting that the allocation was nearly halved from last year.

Israel is the eighth most-favored country by Americans, a Gallup poll found. Some 71 percent of Americans view Israel favorably, a three-point increase over last year’s results, according to the poll conducted Feb. 2-5.

At least seven of the Obama campaign’s 35 co-chairs are Jewish, including Alan Solow, a leading figure in the organized community.

Tehran, Feb 22: An alleged Iranian hit squad used 27 dollar portable radios to hide at least five bombs that Israeli and American authorities said they intended to target Israelis in Bangkok.

A four-day rise in oil prices has stalled following a weak report on Chinese manufacturing and lingering concerns about Greece's bailout.

Israel's foreign minister says the Jewish state will not bow to foreign pressure in deciding whether to attack Iran.

Since the rise of the ayatollah regime in Iran in 1979 and its role in the establishment of Hizbollah in Lebanon in 1982, the two – in the context of their patron-protégé relationship – have used...

>Analysts now estimate the longest range of an Iranian missile to be about 2,400 km (1,500 miles), capable of reaching Tehran's arch-enemy Israel as well as Europe.But Israel has also been keen to persuade any allies who do not share their view of the risk posed by Iran that...

VIENNA/TEHRAN (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog ended its latest mission to Iran after talks on Tehran's suspected secret atomic weapons research failed, a setback likely to increase the risk of confrontation with the West.

Doubts about the Greek bailout plan weighed on markets, which were lower in Europe. In Asia, stocks were mostly higher.

Two days of talks in Iran went nowhere and the frustration of the global nuclear watchdog agency was palpable in the terse statement it issued afterward.