News Archive - 17 April 2012

[Video] Perspolis Tehran – Al Gharafa Perspolis Tehran 1 – 1 Al Gharafa (ACL, Group D) 86′ [1-0] Ali Karimi Get the Flash Player to see this content. Download 90′ [1-1] Lawrence Quaye Get the Flash Player to see this content. Download...

The majority of Afghan people desire the early withdrawal of US-led forces from their country, a recent German poll indicates. The poll conducted by the Institute for Social Research and Statistical Analysis, Forsa, finds that 60 percent of the 2,000 participants supported the pullout of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Another...

IRI Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Tuesday that the ministry was considering plans to produce a system to replace the S-300 defense system. Vahidi made the point while talking to reporters after the grand military parade held near the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini downtown here...

Denmark demanded a formal Israeli explanation after an Israeli soldier was filmed assaulting an unarmed Danish activist protesting the ongoing Zionist regime occupation in the West Bank. “We don’t yet know the circumstances surrounding the episode. The Danish ambassador has therefore immediately asked the Israeli authorities for a report,” Danish...

The IRI Army and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) are set to stage joint drills in the second half of the Persian calendar year (started March 20), according to commander of the Army’s Ground Forces. The military wargames, in which state-of-the-art equipment will be employed, are slated to be...

Italy's economic prospects are still clouded by uncertainty but its public finances are improving and a rise in foreign orders could help businesses despite the recession, the Bank of Italy said on Tuesday. "The ratio of public debt to gross domestic product (GDP) should go down in 2013" as a...

Patients in the blockaded Gaza Strip are suffering from the worst shortage of medicines since 2006, Press TV quoted Hamas Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra as saying. “We are witnessing an unprecedented deterioration in the health situation in Gaza due to lack of medicines,” Qedra told the news network on...

Saudi Arabia is never in a status by which to replace Iran’s oil supply to the global market in the long run, IRI Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said. Qasemi told Press TV on Monday that though having stated at latest OPEC meeting it was not seeking to take Iran’s share...

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appreciated the IRI Army on Tuesday as an adequate force to defend the nation and capable of giving a paralyzing response to any aggressors that endanger the nation's interests or dignity. Addressing a ceremony to mark the annual National Army Day, the president referred to the nation’s...

Units of the Iranian Army were staging parades Tuesday on the occasion of the National Army Day to display their defensive and military capabilities and achievements. The country's latest indigenous military hardware including surface-to-surface missiles, drones and air defense systems were on display during the parades in Iran's capital, Tehran.

First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi inaugurated Iran's 17th International Oil, Gas, Refining, and Petrochemical Exhibition on Tuesday. Some 940 Iranian and 315 foreign companies form 44 countries are participating in the exhibition which would run for four days. The presence of foreign companies comes despite the Western sanctions on the...

It is not immediately clear why Mr. Ahmadinejad chose to provoke the UAE at a moment about its nuclear program in a bid to weaken international sanctions and reduce the risk of an Israeli and/or U.S. military strike.

>* Energy prices drive up cost of living, rising 8.5 percent* ECB concerned about short-term inflation risksBy Robin EmmottBRUSSELS, April 17 (Reuters) - The EU's statistics agency revised upwards its March inflation reading for the euro zone on Tuesday, adding to the case for the European Central Bank to...

>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's defense minister said on Tuesday that Israeli military action against Iran remains an option even while nuclear negotiations are under way, and voiced strong doubts whether the talks would succeed. Asked whether the negotiations, which began in Turkey on Saturday, could persuade Iran to halt uranium...

The best view of the Haifa refinery is from the top of its refining tower. To reach it, the visitor enters an elevator resembling a floating cage. As it noisily grinds 75 meters skywards, one understands why people at Oil Refineries, known locally as Bazan, admit it's no hotel elevator.

TEHRAN : The Iranian Intelligence Ministry said that it recently foiled several Israeli terrorist plots and arrested 15 Mossad-linked spies and terrorists, Mehr News Agency reported.

U.S., Britain also entangled in tale of murder, corruption

The Tehran giants were prevented from becoming the first team to seal their place in the final 16 of the ACL by Lawrence Quaye's stoppage-time leveller

At least half a dozen countries with offensive cyber-capabilities are probing U.S. corporate and military computer systems, looking for data and a toehold should they one day want to disrupt or destroy the networks, according to the FBI’s former top cyber-sleuth. Read full article >>

The Stuxnet malware was not only designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear programme it was part of a wider campaign directed from Israel that included the assassination of the country's nuclear scientists, it has been claimed.

As gas prices continue to soar around the country, Joe Kennedy III, the Democratic candidate for Rep. Barney Frank’s seat, wrote an online letter to supporters calling for an end to “cheap oil.”

Such is the polarization in Syria that most analysts see the U.N. observer mission as the least worst option before violence sets the agenda again.

Politicians of all stripe regularly fall easy prey to those who know more about commodities than they do when they confuse political ambitions with economic causes.

Tehran (AFP) April 17, 2012 Iran will respond with force to any threats to its territorial integrity, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday, adding that it would prefer to cooperate with its Arab neighbours to maintain security in the Gulf. "The armed forces and the army will inflict heavy regret...

May tells 150 students and citizens how Prime Minister Stephen Harper's majority Conservative government is a threat to the country.

Stockholm (AFP) April 17, 2012 Global military spending levelled last year at 1.740 trillion dollars due to the economic crisis, almost unchanged in real terms since 2010, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Tuesday. "The small rise of just 0.3 percent in 2011 (compared to 2010) marks...

Iran does not like Turkey supporting Syrian rebels but does little beyond complain about Turkey and Iran disagreeing about what is happening in Syria. Iran is intent on maintaining good relations with the Turks, who have been a formidable (and usually a victorious) foe for centuries.

The Canadian government's urgent appeal to stop Iran from executing a Canadian citizen imprisoned there may be blunted by its "grudging" support for another condemned Canadian — Montana death-row inmate Ronald Smith — says the former top federal bureaucrat responsible for protecting Canadian citizens abroad.

Tel Aviv, Israel (UPI) Apr 17, 2012 Amid a flurry of warnings that Lebanon and Hezbollah will be hammered in any new conflict, the Israeli military unveiled a new 120mm tank shell said to be able to penetrate reinforced targets, including in populated areas. "Such a capability - to accurately...

Warsaw (AFP) April 17, 2012 Poland and the Baltic states voiced concern Tuesday over Russia's missile defence plans in the Kaliningrad enclave bordering EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania. "We have to follow closely the changes in regional security because we are witnessing the deployment or announced deployment of...

Washington (UPI) Apr 17, 2012 North Korea's rocket test last week was a technological dud and political embarrassment for Pyongyang's enigmatic leadership but hold the applause. The so-called Hermit Kingdom may have another shoe or two to drop in its unending quest for worldwide fear, respect and economic aid, including...

London (UPI) Apr 17, 2012 Back in January as the heat went up in the confrontation of the world and Iranian regime over its clandestine nuclear program we heard the Iranian regime's repeated threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. This reminded me of a provocative incident between the Iranian...

Bashir al-Assad's Syrian dictatorship is fighting a "creeping war of repression" hideously similar to the "creeping war of aggression" Slobodan Milosevic's Serbian dictatorship pursued, first in Croatia and then Bosnia, precisely two decades ago.

>FUNDAMENTALS* NYMEX crude for May edged up 8 cents to $104.28 a barrel by 2320 GMT, adding to gains of more than a dollar the previous session.* Brent's premium to its U.S. counterpart narrowed to below $14 a barrel intraday after Monday's news that the Seaway pipeline's...

Iran nuclear talks to go to a 2nd round in Baghdad Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 12:57 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012 The very fact that there will be another round adds to a...

The six Gulf monarchies condemned as provocative a visit by President Ahmadinejad to an island claimed by both Abu Dhabi and Tehran.

Alareer: To Stop Acting as a Bully, Israel Must Eat Grass By Yousef M. Aljamal, CPDS The Center for Political Development Studies [CPDS], a Gaza based organization, held a lecture by Refaat R Alareer on Monday, April 16, 2012 on 'What must be said ...

Bahrain's Shias will not welcome Formula 1

A crystal-embellished conductor’s baton made with beautiful SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS for The Miami Symphony Orchestra fittingly illustrates classical music's brilliance. For the f

Long-term opium use, even in relatively low doses, is associated with almost double the risk of death from many causes, particularly circulatory diseases, respiratory conditions and cancer, concludes a study published on bmj.com today.

Despite the massive summer unrest that roiled the Valley from 2008 to 2010, the site attracted teams from Canada, Taiwan, Italy and London. "We expect a Swiss team next month and it will be a great embarrassment if they witness this wanton destruction of such an important site," Bhat said.

Nobel laureate Günter Grass is expected to be released from a Hamburg hospital within days, after undergoing what his secretary called a routine test.

>WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate aides were slated to meet on Tuesday to discuss the next steps for a new package of proposed oil- and banking-related sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran to abandon its nuclear program, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters. Last month, Reid had...

LONDON — Oil prices rose to just over $104 a barrel Tuesday after a successful Spanish debt sale eased fears over Europe's debt crisis and investors look to U.S. earnings for signs of health in consumer spending.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — FC Tokyo is on the verge of reaching the last 16 of the Asian Champions League after beating Beijing Guoan 3-0 on Tuesday, and South Korean champion Jeonbuk Motors kept its hopes alive with a 3-2 comeback win over Buriram United of Thailand.

Following a decade of explosive growth, the super-secret Communications Security Establishment Canada has emerged from the Defence Department to become a stand-alone federal agency, a change that will force it, for the first time, to inform Canadians of at least some of its activities.

UAE-Iran Island Dispute Press Statement Mark C. Toner Deputy Spokesperson , Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 17, 2012 The United States reiterates its support for a peaceful resolution between the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb...

The United States on Tuesday urged Iran to enter talks with the United Arab Emirates over Gulf territorial disputes as it criticized President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for visiting a contested island.

A Maple Valley man is the American who suffered a heart attack on a flight to Seattle last week and was taken to Iran for treatment, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.   James Eisenhart, 52, became ill on a flight from Dubai to Seattle.  The plane was diverted to...

Newborn Mayor Roger Sheridan's civilian and military service have spanned the globe.

EU envoy: Iran nuclear talks constructive, Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:34 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012 ISTANBUL (AP) — The EU foreign policy chief says the latest nuclear talks between Iran and six...

>* Venezuela routinely calls for higher oil pricesCARACAS, April 17 (Reuters) - Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said on Tuesday that the South American OPEC nation was very concerned about global oil market stability and that OPEC should aim for a minimum price of $100 per barrel.Ramirez said Venezuela...

Washington, Apr 17 : A US physicist came up with a rather calculative method to prove his innocence and get himself out of a traffic ticket.

President Obama's proposal to limit speculation in oil markets depends on Congress giving the CFTC more power and a bigger budget.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says his country has never promised the United States it would hold off from attacking Iran while nuclear talks were taking place.

North Korea will not let inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency examine its nuclear programme, Japanese media said Tuesday, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

UK Prime minister David Cameron is pushing China for a proper investigation of the death of British expatriate, Neil Heywood, which is at the center of a political scandal in China involving disgraced party boss Bo Xilai and his wife Gu Kailai.

(WASHINGTON ) - Turkey's economics minister lamented the inability of Europe's leaders to get their arms around the continent's debt crisis Tuesday, as spillovers leave Ankara facing a precipitous drop in growth.

Manama, Apr 17: The circuit chairman of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Zayed Al Zayani, has guaranteed safety concerns during the race will be taken care of.

President Obama announced a set of rules aimed at curbing market speculation in crude oil, which he blamed for higher gas prices. Obama is asking for a larger budget to increase staff and improve technology at the CFTC.

Fereidoun Abbasi, Iran's nuclear chief, is shown in this June 21, 2011, file photo. / By Ronald Zak, AP TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official news agency is reporting the country has established headquarters for managing nuclear crises.

> Industrials...

>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Market history may be repeating itself. Through Monday, the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index was up 9.0 percent for the year to date, thanks in large part to signs that the U.S. jobs market and retail sales were improving. It's a performance nearly...

But politicians have little immediate sway over what's paid at the pump. For Naomi Winch, $4 gasoline means she's had to scale back her grocery buys and try to schedule trips to her son's autism therapy alongside other household errands to save trips.

Oil climbed in New York as Spain raised more than its maximum target at a debt auction, easing concern that Europe’s credit crisis will spread and slow economic growth.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday raised its projection of growth in the U.S. gross domestic product to 2.1 percent this year and 2.4 percent next year, from 1.7 percent in 2011.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials have said that Taliban attack on a prison in the country’s northwest was a total intelligence failure, Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi says the country is one of the safest and most independent countries in the world for those who are interested in investing in oil and gas industries.

TEHRAN, April 17 (MNA) - Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has said that the sanctions imposed on the country have not closed down or even halted any oil project, and that crude exports are flowing unimpeded.

Artistes stand next to the Red Ribbon Express, an Indian railways train that spreads H.I.V./AIDS awareness across India.

wrote at RaceForIran.com. In the run-up to this past weekend’s P5+1 negotiations with the Islamic Republic, two of America’s leading newspapers published stories reflecting deep-seated myths about the Islamic Republic rather than reporting on real facts.

>The Indian refiner, which had almost doubled its Saudi deal from January to 42,000 barrels per day (bpd) will now get an average 49,000 bpd this year, said the sources.MRPL, Iran's biggest Indian oil client, plans to cut its imports from Iran to 80,000-100,000 bpd in 2012/13 (March-April) from...

> Energy...

TEHRAN, April 17 (MNA) – In addition to English the Iranian Education Ministry plans to include the teaching of German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and French languages in schools, a ministry official says.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the long-term partnership agreement being negotiated with the United States should specify exactly how much money the U.S. will give to Afghan forces in coming years.

Solid yet understated, these new Men's Macrame bracelets are handsome and designed to be worn until time or salt water wears them away. Hand Woven and crafted in the USA.NY,NY (PRWEB) April 17, 2012 No longer just for rock stars and surfer dudes, men of all stripes are experiencing...

Iran is ready to resolve all of its nuclear disputes "quickly and easily" in a second round of talks with world powers planned for next month in Baghdad, the country's foreign minister said Monday.

Issuing the technology in Iran, Syria and China will allow opposition groups the freedom to talk to one another.

TEHRAN, April 17 (Bernama) -- The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Saeed Jalili said that the sanctions on the Islamic Republic are affecting European countries, Iran's Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

The I.M. Skaugen Group (IMSK) today announces the result for the first quarter of 2012 The pre-tax result for 1Q12 was small profit of USD0.1 mill compared to losses of USD4.4 mill for 1Q11 and USD4.2 mill in 4Q11. The result of the 1Q12 on …

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