News Archive - 17 November 2012

>* Signs of preparations for possible Israeli invasion of Gaza* Egypt pursues efforts to secure ceasefireBy Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey HellerGAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza, and the "Iron Dome" defence system shot down a Tel Aviv-bound rocket on Saturday as Israel geared...

>TEL AVIV/GAZA (Reuters) - Gaza's Hamas movement wanted a showdown with Israel because its leaders are high on something called the Arab Spring and competing to become martyrs to the Palestinian cause. Or, from another perspective, cynical Israeli politicians think a Gaza offensive will be a walkover that will assure...

>The Iranian judiciary's Human Rights Headquarters said in a statement that the United States denied visas to members of an Iranian delegation that planned to travel to a meeting of the United Nations' Third Committee, which focuses on social issues and human rights, state news agency IRNA said."The U.

>Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel, recalled its envoy on Wednesday hours after Israel launched an air campaign on Gaza. Turkey withdrew its ambassador over a separate incident with Israel in 2010."Israel is using disproportionate force. (Israeli Prime Minister...

>* Hamas spokesman defiant in televised statement* Egypt moves to broker ceasefire; Israel threatens invasionBy Nidal al-Mughrabi and Allyn Fisher-IlanGAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes struck Gaza militants for a fifth straight day on Sunday and its military prepared for a possible ground invasion, though Egypt saw "some indications"...

>JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Defence Minister Ehud Barak will seek cabinet approval for funds that could provide Israel with three new Iron Dome rocket interceptors, officials said on Friday as cross-border fighting surged in Gaza. Israel's military air defence corps has four Iron Dome batteries deployed and will receive a fifth...

>* Tehran says Arak is solely a research facility* But this kind of plant could also yield bomb material (Adds analyst comments)By Fredrik DahlVIENNA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Iran has postponed until 2014 the planned start-up of a research reactor which Western experts say could potentially offer the Islamic Republic...

TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) – In an article published on Saturday, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry discussed the strategies adopted by the Islamic Republic to counter the impact of sanctions imposed on the country by the West.

As the conflict between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip intensifies, Arab governments are throwing their weight behind the territory's long-isolated Islamist leaders in a reflection of the region's shifting political dynamics after nearly two years of upheaval.

It’s a world away, or at least it seems like it.

WASHINGTON - President Obama had a rare "bring-it-on moment" when ABC News' J ...

The office building of Iran's English-language Press TV news network in Gaza has been hit twice in airstrikes by the Israeli regime.

Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has been nominated for the AFC Player of the Year award, while Mark Schwarzer is also up for an honour.

Malaysiakini - PAS ready to rule M'sia with Pakatan, declares Hadi reported: “PAS conducts tahaluf siyasi with an understanding that Pakatan Rakyat upholds the concept of commonality and not focus on differences,” he said. “This tahaluf siyasi should not make us lose sight of PAS members’ understanding towards the concept...

Israel said it would keep schools in its southern region shut on Sunday as a precaution to avoid casualties from rocket strikes reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the past few days.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military says soldiers shot at Syrian fighters after gunfire from the Syrian civil war spilled over to the Israel-controlled Golan Heights.

Myanmar has taken "positive steps" to reduce its military relationship with North Korea, the White House said ahead of a historic visit by President Barack Obama to Yangon.

As Israel and Hamas continue to launch rockets and air strikes, Egypt tries to broker a truce between Gaza and Tel Aviv.

Statement comes a day after Iranian parliament announces investigation into circumstances of blogger's death Iran's state prosecutor has said that a jailed blogger died in police custody last week and that wounds were found on his body, the first official confirmation of his death while being held. The prosecutor's statement...

I have no idea how you did it but you managed to give your man another term. All polls, campaign attendance numbers, the people who get paid to watch these things pointed to a Romney victory, but you pulled it off. No small victory there, I say, I’m impressed.

THE cross-border tunnels from Egypt had been a lifeline for Palestinians — supplying food and fuel as well as weapons

(Adds UAE factor) DUBAI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Here are factors that may affectMiddle East stock markets on Sunday. Reuters has not verifiedthe press reports and does not vouch for their accuracy. INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL * GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks gain on fiscal hope; yen down for3rd day STOCKS NEWS MIDEAST- Saudi shares close...

TUCSON-Each cyclist at El Tour de Tucson had a different reason for competing in the race. Some focused on charity while others came from all over the world just to compete.

Via Stratfor Global Intelligence , Update On The Israel-Gaza Conflict New intelligence indicates forces in Gaza may be manufacturing long-range rockets locally . If this is the case, a significant ground force offers the Israelis the best chance of finding and neutralizing the factories making these weapons. Meanwhile, Israel continues its...

LONDON (Reuters) - BP Plc plans to spend up to 3.7 billion pounds buying back its shares after agreeing last week to pay record criminal penalties over the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Britain's Sunday Times said in an unsourced report. Related Stories White House says didn't heavily edit Benghazi talking...

Israeli warplanes struck Gaza militants for a fifth straight day on Sunday and its military prepared for a possible ground invasion, though Egypt saw "some indications" of a truce ahead.

BAGHDAD – Iraq freed a jailed Hezbollah commander wanted by the United States on Friday, his lawyer said, returning him to Lebanon in a move that underscores Washington’s waning influence ...

TUCSON-Each cyclist at El Tour de Tucson had a different reason for competing in the race.

MEDICS say that two people have been killed and 10 injured in an Israeli strike on northern Gaza homes, AFP reports. Pictures: Israeli air strikes

SUPPORTERS of Israel have rallied near the Israeli embassy in Canberra, in a show of support for the nation's actions against Hamas.

Jerusalem (AFP) Nov 16, 2012 The Israeli army destroyed a military drone production workshop in the Gaza Strip belonging to the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on Friday, a military spokesman said. "Our intelligence services discovered the Hamas drone programme, and all these devices have been destroyed," he told AFP. Images...

AS THIS newspaper went to press last night the omens for the people of Gaza did not look good. Israel had mobilised tank units and called up an additional 70,000 reservists, in addition to the 16,000 already sent their call-up papers.

Brussels (AFP) Nov 15, 2012 Top negotiators from six world powers will meet in Brussels next week to discuss diplomatic efforts to defuse the Iran nuclear crisis, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said Thursday. The meeting to be hosted by Ashton on Wednesday will be the first on...

LAST Wednesday night (Nov. 14) a meeting was held between the GCC and Russian foreign ministers at the GCC Secretariat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There was one item on the agenda: Syria. It was the second meeting on the subject between the two sides in as many months.

Washington (AFP) Nov 15, 2012 The United States voiced hope Thursday that China would play a greater role solving global problems as it said it expected a "constructive" relationship with Beijing's new leaders. Hours after China unveiled a new leadership team headed by Xi Jinping, US national security adviser Tom...

SYRIA now has a new government-in-exile that allegedly unites all the groups seeking the overthrow of President Bashar Assad’s murderous regime. But if this is the best that they can do, Assad will still be in power next year, and perhaps for a long time afterward.

Saddle up and strap in for a Clint Eastwood mega-marathon – all three Man With No Name films back-to-back. The spaghetti westerns to end all spaghetti westerns. A Fistful of Dollars 12pm, For a Few Dollars More, 2pm, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 4:30pm. Palace Centro 1.

Tel Aviv, Israel (UPI) Nov 16, 2012 While Israeli forces battle a growing Palestinian missile onslaught from the Gaza Strip, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is getting ready to field test its newest anti-missile weapon, David's Sling and its Stunner interceptor. Once David's Sling, also known as Magic Wand, becomes operational...

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says a one-day meeting between the Syrian government and opposition groups will be held on Sunday in the Iranian capital Tehran.

The blossoming Gaza war is even more than most wars about image and propaganda. Israel wants to set an image of implacable resolve to confront and destroy Hamas "terror." Hamas wants to set an image of implacable resolve to confront Israeli "terror" and "occupation." Both are trying to...

The Oswego Film Group presents a free screening of the 2012 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, A Separation, on November 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Oswego Public Library, 120 E. Second St. Continue reading →

Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo are expected to demand that Israel halt its campaign in Gaza.

All things new / Lynn Austin Better than chocolate / Sheila Roberts Blackberry winter / Sarah Jio Bone bed / Patricia Cornwell Bridge / Karen Kingsbury Cimarron blood / William Luckey Corpse at St.

NICOSIA [MENL] -- Iran has unveiled a hovercraft that could fire missiles at targets throught the Gulf. Copyrights 2008, Middle East Newsline. All rights reserved.

Israel prepares new missile defense system Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:28 a.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2012 CARMIEL, Israel (AP) — Israel's newest missile defense system, designed to provide another layer of protection against...

Submitted by Adam Taggart of Peak Prosperity , This week, Chris talks with Jeff Clark, Senior Precious Metals Analyst at Casey Research, where he serves as editor of their Big Gold newsletter . They tackle head-on many of the questions weary precious metals investors are wondering after enduing the volatile yet...

Susan E. Rice, a blunt diplomat said to be a favored candidate for secretary of state, finds herself a bystander caught in the middle of a firestorm over the Benghazi attack.

Egypt's intelligence chief is spearheading talks with Hamas and Israel to forge a stop to the three days of warring that has engulfed Gaza and the Jewish state and head off an Israeli ground offensive into the besieged Palestinian territory. Mohammed ...

ROME - A film by "Kids" director Larry Clark set in a small Texan town and to be released online only has taken the top award at Rome's film festival.

Israel hammered the headquarters of the Hamas-run government in Gaza and rockets soared from Gaza toward Israel, including one that was blocked by a missile defense system as it headed straight to Tel Aviv.

A senior Iranian official has denied his country supplied the Fajr 5 missiles which Palestinian groups have been firing at Tel Aviv, Iran's Al-Alam television reports.

Q. If Japan has a financial collapse, what will happen to its government bonds? A. Please do not worry. Source: Japan Ministry of Finance

A Palestinian woman runs during clashes with Israeli security forces in Gaza Strip near the West Bank city of Nablus on Saturday. / Nasser Ishtayeh, AP

Two men were detained with 45 kilograms of heroin near the Iranian border in Afghanistan's southwestern province of Nimroz, the Pajhwok news agency reported on Saturday.

Remember when Kristen Stewart was “desperate” for work after the conclusion of The Twilight Saga? The actress made have landed her first post-Bella gig with director Ben Affleck. The scandal-encumbered actress was reportedly worried about her job prospects following the conclusion of The Twilight Saga. With the guaranteed gig wrapping...

Houston police are investigating if there is a link between the killing of an Iranian activist nearly a year ago and the more recent shooting death of her boyfriend's twin brother.

>The attack took place a few days into the holy month of Ashura, which is of special significance to Shi'ite Muslims, who are targeted by al Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate and other Sunni Islamist insurgents.Police said a parked car blew up near a restaurant on the outskirts of Balad, 80...

While the concerned global audience absorbs the conflict between Hamas and Israel with Turkey, Egypt, and Iran in the periphery, the purpose of the News is still to Sell the News not provide it, argues Eric Harbor, in his latest post for CaesarTrade FX-CFD. The real truth lay in the...

TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) – Hundreds of Basij members (volunteer forces) visited the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic on Saturday morning to renew their commitment to the ideals of Imam Khomeini.

Iran’s Majlis Defense Committee is scheduled to convene a meeting to discuss the latest developments in the Israeli aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip.

Myanmar authorities have arrested 1, 081 local people in western Rakhine state under state of emergency declaration for breaking law and basic human rights, official media reported Saturday.

(CNN) -- Iran has made a significant advancement in its nuclear program with the completion of its underground uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom, according to a report released Friday by a United Nations watchdog group.

Come, let us all be friends for once. Let us make life easy on us. Let us be lovers and loved ones. The earth shall be left to no one On Saturday 3 November at the Cairo Opera House and on Sunday 4 November at the Alexandria Opera House, the...

Editor: Mark Heinrich + 44 207 542 7918 Picture Desk: Singapore + 65 6870 3775 Graphics queries: + 65 6870 3595 (All times GMT) TOP STORIES Israel authorises more reservists, rockets target cities GAZA/JERUSALEM - Israeli aircraft pound Hamas governmentbuildings in Gaza, including the prime minister's office, afterIsrael's cabinet authorises...