News Archive - 19 March 2012

More than one hundred Asian peace activists from various organizations and committees have arrived in Tehran as part of the global march to al-Quds ('Jerusalem'). The convoy of pro-Palestinian activists arrived in Tehran on Saturday. They plan to continue their way to al-Quds, where they are expected to be joined...

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has congratulated the nation on the occasion of Nowruz and named the new year as the year of “National Production, Supporting Iranian Capital and Labor.” Ayatollah Khamenei lauded the country's great accomplishments during the previous year, saying that the past...

Nowruz is the traditional Iranian new year holiday celebrated by Iranian people and initiated in Ancient Iran. Apart from Iran, the celebration has spread in many other parts of the world including parts of West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, Kurds of Turkey, the Crimea, and...

Organization Data Initiative (JODI) shows that Iranian crude export increased in January despite sanctions imposed against the country’s oil sector. Iran, the second-biggest producer of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), exported 2.265 million barrels a day in January, its highest monthly figure since December 2008, Bloomberg reported...

Bolivian President Evo Morales said he will shut down the American embassy in La Paz if Washington continues to interfere in Bolivia’s internal affairs. "If the US embassy continues bothering Bolivia, as it is doing now, then it is best we close the United States embassy in Bolivia because we...

US protesters called for solidarity rallies in a show of support for the dozens of 99-percenters detained during the rallies on the six-month anniversary of the anti-Capitalism movement. The 99-percenters urged further protest rallies and vigils at local police stations across America to express discontent with the US police brutality...

IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the occupation of Palestine is a historical problem and the existence of the Zionist regime is an insult to freedom, justice and all independent nations. “The Europe and the US spend tens of billions of their wealth on the Zionists each year to help a...

A car bomb attack targeted a neighborhood in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo, killing two people and injuring several others, state media said. Syrian state media said two people were killed and 30 others wounded when terrorists carried out the car bombing between two residential buildings in Aleppo on...

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama set the goal of eventually ridding the world of nuclear weapons as a central theme of his presidency and pledged dramatic steps to lead the way. But after lofty rhetoric and a few steps forward, Obama is facing...

> Basic Materials Cyclical Consumer Goods Energy Financials Industrials Technology Utilities Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News...

>* China fuel increase biggest in 33 months* Coming Up: U.S. API weekly crude stocks; 2030 GMT (Adds details, updates prices)By Francis KanSINGAPORE, March 20 (Reuters) - Brent crude fell towards $125 a barrel on Tuesday as global supply concerns eased and a hike in Chinese fuel prices sparked...

>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a second straight session on Monday as a weak dollar provided an inflationary boost to a number of commodities. Wheat bucked the trend, tumbling on weather concerns. Crude oil prices in New York rose as the dollar dropped against the euro for...

What is the plan? For how long do we insist that the goal is a worthwhile one? And for the most difficult part, how do we convince the American public and the international community we are doing the right thing?

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices opened the week at more than $107 in New York Monday per barrel as tensions in the Middle East are still riling up the market.

>NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian traders have struck deals to export 60,000 tons of raw sugar to Iran for March-April delivery, three trade sources said on Monday, marking their first sales of the sweetener to Tehran since western sanctions were tightened at the start of 2012. The exports are within...

Sentiment towards benchmark oil prices is evenly balanced this week, with some in the markets saying higher U.S. gasoline prices are causing 'demand destruction' while others say supply risks focused on Iran will continue to keep prices well-supported, CNBC's weekly survey of market sentiment showed.

If you understood Nowruz, you would understand the people of Iran. And you would understand what the economic sanctions, covert operations, and the words -- yes, the words -- of war are doing to a people on the brink of renewal.

BANGKOK, March 19 — Southeast Asian stocks ended mostly lower today as worries about the impact of high oil prices on profit margins prompted investors to cash in on recent gains. Singapore’s Straits Times Index ended down 0.7 per cent, after Friday’s climb to a seven-month high amid upbeat...

>* Oil holds gains made on Iran worries* Euro steady against dollarBy Richard HubbardLONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - World share markets edged back from near eight-month highs on Monday with European banking stocks under pressure ahead of an auction to determine the payout on Greek credit default swaps, while a...

> Stocks European Markets Markets Energy Financials Industrials Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News...

The Islamic Republic of Iran will develop its air defense potential in proportion to the enemy’s capabilities, Brigadier General Abbas Ameri, Commander at the IRI's Army’s Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base said. Brigadier General Ameri, who was speaking in a joint gathering of the commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards...

>* IMF says global economy has stabilised* Coming up: U.S. NAHB housing market index Mar; 1400 GMT (Updates prices, adds analyst comments)By Francis KanSINGAPORE, March 19 (Reuters) - Brent crude was steady near $126 a barrel on Monday, extending previous session's gains, as prices were supported by continued concerns...

3/14/2012 - Louisiana Plant Turns Animal Fat Into Fuel A high-fat diet might not be good for humans, but it could be great for trucks, trains, planes and cars. ...

The president predicts that if we would reduce our use of gasoline, the price would come down. I would like to believe him since we are indeed using less due to the economic situation; people are driving smaller cars and driving less.

Iran ushered in its Persian New Year on Tuesday with a symbolic cannon blast from its flagship destroyer, and speeches from leaders vowing to fix the country's economy which is suffering under Western sanctions.

Mubadala confirms floating LNG storage unit will start operating in 2 to 3 years

Could this story have happened anywhere but in Eugene? I don’t think so. To begin with, no other place would have had a “flying people” mural — technically called “Flight Patterns,” by artist David Joyce — at its airport. But, of course, Eugene does and when the piece of art...

IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed in an exclusive interview with German public broadcaster ZDF on Monday that pressure won't resolve the nuclear question. "The nuclear issue can't be resolved by pressure. Iran's right has to be respected and recognized and you have to talk to Iran," reiterated Iran's chief executive.

Despite the bevy of news outlets today, some stories that should be known by all go untold. On a sunny Monday afternoon, The Epoch Times asked New Yorkers about what the media [...]

As the price of gas inches toward an average of $4 a gallon in Michigan, analysts debate the effect it is having on the economy.

The best teams in the UAE are preparing to make strong runs in the Asian Champions League.

The jury in the Urewera trial has returned. The jury has been unable to reach a verdict on the first charge of participation in an organised criminal group.

The man who attached a bomb to the car of the Israeli diplomat on February 13 reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport a little over an hour after the explosion and waited six hours for a flight to Kuala Lumpur, officials said on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Like everyone, Iranians need diapers. Fred Harrington has built a business by selling Iran the raw materials to make them.

>Frits Van Paasschen said the current increase in oil prices reflects a U.S. and global economy that is gaining speed, a factor that bodes well overall for hotels.Starwood caters to higher-end customers with brands that include Sheraton, W and Westin.Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude...

It is not possible to dial an Iranian number from an Israeli telephone. It will simply not go through. That lack of communication stems from the government level, where there is no dialogue between the two countries aside from public speeches meant to carry weighty threats of war to each...

Oil prices are high and interest rates are surging. Meanwhile, gold prices have been volatile, Iran is unstable, and China is slowing. And amid all of these concerns, stocks are sitting at 4-year highs.

The latest success—I suppose you could call it that, at least for those involved on the financial end—was the Kiekert deal last week. The company was founded in 1857 near Düsseldorf, Germany, and became the largest manufacturer of automotive door-lock systems. Its customers are GM, Ford, VW, BMW, and other...

Boushra Daghestani of Meadville hopes both international aid and international pressure will put an end to violence in her native Syria.

HONG KONG: Asian markets slipped in early trade on Tuesday as dealers looked for a foothold to spur buying despite a positive lead from Wall Street.

SINGAPORE: Saudi Arabia has pledged to ensure there will be sufficient crude oil to meet demand, even as the international community ramps up sanctions on Iran in an effort to halt its nuclear activities.

In late afternoon the court went into Chambers for a few minutes. The jury then came back just before 4.30 and their questions were answered.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insists air shipments from Iran to Syria are "only carrying humanitarian goods, not weapons."

Lower utility bills and discounting from struggling retailers are set to pull the rate of inflation down to a 15-month low.

KARACHI, March 19: A massive dust storm struck many parts of Sindh and Balochistan, particularly the coastal areas, on Monday, bringing down the visibility level to as low as 200 metres and disrupting domestic and international flight operations at various airports in the country’s southern region.

Bin Laden was once a worldly man, trying to run a global terror network. But now he was hidden in a compound, watching TV, almost paranoid about covert surveillance.

The year 2011 will go down in history as the year when the two-state solution went into deep freeze. Yet even during this hibernation there is much that can, and indeed must, be done to prevent an even graver crisis.

Trading turnovers in Tel Aviv have been shrinking like snowballs in hell. We have some ideas how to solve this terrible problem. First: Clearly the economy isn't concentrated enough.

In January 2009, flushed with the success of Barack Obama’s election to the presidency, many on the left assumed that the new left-wing lobby J Street would soon be a major force in Washington.

Rabbi Jean-Paul Amoyelle, head of the Ozar Hatorah network of Jewish schools in France, was woken at 4 a.m. during a visit to New York with chilling news.

Fuel prices increased on Tuesday, with almost all oil firms implementing the new rates at 6 a.m., News5 reported.

The good breaks keep coming for Lakeland Electric customers. City commissioners voted 7-0 Monday to decrease the fuel rate by 13 percent, from $44.20 to $38.60 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours. Don Eckert, finance director at Lakeland Electric, said the mild winter led to low natural gas prices that haven't...

David Shearer today called for an inquiry into the matter of Nick Smith writing a personal refrerence for the ACC on ACC headed paper. He called Nick Smith's actions a clear conflict of interest and said that he expected that the Prime Minister would provide a full inquiry.

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Julian Schreibman came out swinging Monday, promising not to let a “tea party Republican” take over the district of retiring U.S. Rep Maurice Hinchey.

A classified war game held this month forecast that such an attack would lead to a wider regional war, which could draw in the United States, officials said.

Rants and Raves

Behnam Rugs Welcomes Spring with Age-old Celebration (PRWeb March 19, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9304110.htm

The departure of the last American combat troops in December left an awkward vacuum in Iraqi politics: The government and the opposition no longer have the U.S. to blame for Iraq 's many problems.

Amman - Rebels battled government forces in Damascus on Monday, in the most violent clashes Syria's capital has seen since the start of the year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

A compromising video has appeared on the Internet of an investigative journalist who has been extensively reporting on government corruption in Azerbaijan.

Persian New Year or Norooz - “New Day” - marks the first day of spring, the Vernal Equinox, and has been celebrated by the people of Iran for at least 3,000 years. This year it's taking place tonight (March 19th) at exactly 10:14 pm PST. (PRWeb March 19, 2012) Read...

A compromising video has appeared on the Internet of an investigative journalist who has been focusing her efforts on government corruption in Azerbaijan.

Arizonans, including Yumans, are continuing to shop, according to new figures from the state Department of Revenue that show retail sales in January of $3.71 billion.That is a nearly 5.4 percent increase over the same month a year earlier - and more than 16 percent higher...

Apple lifted US stocks on Monday after it announced regular dividends and share buy-backs, while benchmark US Treasury yields hit a near five-month high as investors sold safe-haven government bonds.    

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is heading to the Middle East Tuesday to talk security and commerce.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the first time in six months on Monday to discuss the long-stalled Middle East peace process, the White House said. White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement that Obama called Abbas and told...

U.S. stocks drifted higher Monday but lost the momentum from their biggest week of the year. A dividend from Apple, a deal for UPS and the promise of greater demand for U.S. Steel drove those stocks t

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would add Israel to the list of countries eligible for non-immigrant investor visas in the United States.

NEW YORK, March 19 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices opened the week at more than $107 per barrel in New York Monday with Middle East tensions still roiling the market.

Iranian film A Separation was the standout picture at the Asian Film Awards, winning top prizes including best film and best director.

Dozens of unmarked speedboats pulled into Oman's Khasab port, breaking the dawn silence and marking the start of a wet and treacherous work-day for Iranian smugglers on the Straits of Hormuz.

A diplomatic dispute over whether Iran is using Iraqi airspace to ship arms to the besieged regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has highlighted differences between the Iraqi and American… Click to Continue »

Goldfish swim in bowls at a market in Tehran. Iranians are preparing to celebrate Noruz, an ancient Zoroastrian feast, by buying flowers, green plants and goldfish.

U.S. troops recently finished up a two week-long war game designed to measure what would happen should we get involved in an Israeli attack on Iran. Unsurprisingly, the outcome was not positive. Some American officials spoke to The New York Times about the classified exercise  in a dire tone:...

In a sign that domestic politics continues to influence foreign policy, PM Manmohan Singh on Monday indicated India was "inclined" to vote in favour of a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Geneva, later this week.

The Energy Report - Still Bubbling Under the Surface

Albert Einstein’s postcard to his sick mother joyfully reporting proof of the bending of light and a letter suggesting a solution to the Jewish-Arab conflict have been put online.

WASHINGTON - A classified war simulation exercise held this month to assess the U.S. military's capabilities to respond to an Israeli attack on Iran forecast that the strike would lead to a wider regional war, which could draw in the United States and leave hundreds of Americans dead, according...

Secularist of the Year 2012 - Peter Tatchell Irwin Prize for defending the separation of religion and the state London, UK - 19 March 2012 Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has won this year's award for Secularist of the Year. He was presented with ...

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel views the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran with greater urgency than the rest of the world, Israel's defense minister said Monday.

The Middle East has unknowingly been living for ten days under threat of a regional war, which debka file ’s military sources disclose was delivered by Syrian president Bashar Assad to UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan when they first met Saturday, March 10. Assad warned him in no uncertain...

Opposition is resorting to insurgent tactics against regime

Wind and solar installations will continue to outpace nuclear, only other major source of non-fossil, carbon-free electricity, in 2012

The use of a little used programming language to create part of the the Duqu trojan, an espionage tool that last year attracted lots of attention for its many Stuxnet-like features, indicates that it may have been written by experienced, old school programmers, a security researcher at Kaspersky Labs said...

Basra, Iraq (AFP) March 19, 2012 Around a million loyalists of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied in south Iraq Monday decrying poor services and rampant graft on the ninth anniversary of the US-led invasion against Saddam Hussein. Protesters flooded the centre of the southern port city of Basra for the rally,...

TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar jumped to more than a two-week high against the U.S. currency on Monday, helped by a rally in commodity prices and the prospect of more takeovers of Canadian companies by foreign buyers. U.S. crude oil futures rose on persistent worries about supply...

It was a meeting of a gothic genius and a political magus.

Taylor Woods Capital Management, the commodity hedge fund founded by former Credit Suisse natural gas trader George "Beau" Taylor, will close to new investment this month with more than $1 billion, ...

>NYMEX crude for April delivery settled at $108.09 a barrel, gaining $1.03, or 0.96 percent, after trading between $106.55 to $108.24. (Reporting By Gene Ramos; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Energy Industrials...

>* Senate has not set date to consider new Iran sanctionsWASHINGTON, March 19 (Reuters) - A key U.S. senator is close to unveiling legislation that would further isolate Iran by penalizing foreign companies that do any kind of business with an Iranian energy company, including providing services such as...

Stopping terrorist attacks on the world's nuclear stockpile will be a key focus of a special summit of world leaders in South Korea.

ABU DHABI - Windy and dusty conditions sweeping the region also inconvenienced residents in the UAE for the second day on Monday, especially motorists who had to negotiate low visibility and people with respiratory problems.