News Archive - 25 November 2012

>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Tough regulations aimed at banks have jolted demand for compliance, risk and legal officers, creating one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal job market for the financial industry. Traditionally one of the least glamorous jobs in the sector, these staff are in hot demand...

>* Israelis accelerate missile shield, eyes on Iran and its alliesBy Dan WilliamsJERUSALEM, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A new Israeli air shield against rockets more powerful than those intercepted by Iron Dome in the Gaza conflict passed its first field test last week after being rushed through development, officials said...

>* Second military base on outskirts to fall this month* Diplomat says Assad still has upper handBy Khaled Yacoub OweisAMMAN, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels said on Sunday they had captured a helicopter base east of Damascus after an overnight assault, their latest gain in a costly battle to...

>By Dominic EvansBEIRUT Nov 25 (Reuters) - Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel on Sunday that thousands of rockets would rain down on Tel Aviv and cities across the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon.Speaking four days after the ceasefire which ended a week of conflict between Israel...

>Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept aircraft or missiles, last week after talks about how to shore up security on its 900-km (560-mile) border."The installation of such systems in the region has negative effects and will intensify problems in the region," Iranian parliament speaker Ali...

Today is Monday, Nov. 26, the 331st day of 2012. There are 35 days left in the year.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Eli Manning hurled three touchdown passes -- including the franchise-best 200th of his Giants career -- and New York dominated Green Bay 38-10 Sunday.

Today, after more than seven years of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for peace, we stand faced with increased rocket fire from Hamas, an organization on the United States State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

DENVER, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Andre Iguodala scored 23 points Sunday and the Denver Nuggets stayed hot with a 102-84 win over reeling New Orleans.

Today is Monday, Nov. 26, the 331st day of 2012. There are 35 days left in the year.

>By Clyde RussellLAUNCESTON, Australia, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A little heralded change to China's crude import rules may have a much greater impact on Asia's fuel oil market next year, further depressing margins for the residue.China National Chemical Corp., one of the operators of the small refineries known...

For the first year since the futures were created, Brent crude is poised to overtake West Texas Intermediate oil as the world’s most-traded commodity.

Symantec had spotted another odd piece of malware that appears to be targeting Iran and is designed to meddle with SQL databases. The company discovered the malware, called W32.Narilam, on Nov. 15 but on Friday published a more detailed writeup by Shunichi Imano.

IRVING, Texas, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Notre Dame finished the season atop the final Bowl Championship Series rankings released Sunday, with Alabama and Georgia remaining Nos. 2 and 3.

The NPP and Akuffo Addo have got some of us all confused. This is because the party has an ideology of free enterprise, or capitalism which Kufour Ex President defined as ‘ property ownership” .

Throughout history, the emergence of new and more effective weapons has usually led to war or escalated violence. Each new weapon - the broadsword, lance, longbow, siege machine, heavy cavalry, gunpo .....

ERSTFELD, Switzerland, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- American jazz musician Marcus Miller and members of his band were hurt Sunday when their tour bus crashed in Switzerland, killing the driver, police said.

You are cordially invited to a discussion with:   Carl Bildt Foreign Minister of Sweden on: "Can Europe and the U.S. shape a Credible Global Strategy?" Introduced and Moderated by Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski read more

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Elias Harris poured in 24 points and Kevin Pangos drained five 3-pointers Sunday, leading No. 16 Gonzaga to an 81-67 win over Davidson in Florida.

Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- Foreign media reported revolutionary activities of Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un between November 20 and 22.

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Boston's Rajon Rondo turned in an all-around game with 15 points and 16 assists Sunday and the Celtics prevailed over Orlando 116-110 in overtime.

Responding to violent protests over the last four days, Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi insisted that he assumed control of the judiciary to stabilize the country – not to concentrate power.

The Republicans have thrown down the gauntlet over the possibility that Susan Rice will replace Hillary Clinton. But the winner is already clear.

The 10th semi-annual Munk Debate will table the motion: Be it resolved the world cannot tolerate an Iran with nuclear weapons capability

A slain whistleblower returns to haunt the Kremlin.

The 10th semi-annual Munk Debate will table the motion: Be it resolved the world cannot tolerate an Iran with nuclear weapons capability

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Justin Tucker forced overtime with a late field goal and drilled another kick with 1:07 left in the extra frame Sunday, sending Baltimore past San Diego 16-13.

Hamas' clash with Israel was 'a game-changer,' says Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official. He believes international aid will help Palestinians in Gaza rebuild. GAZA CITY — In the wake of its eight-day clash with Israel, Hamas will seek $1 billion in reconstruction aid from the Arab world and international...

LAST Friday, the biking community was rocked by a fatal accident that resulted in the death of 53-year-old Ishak Jaafar.

How long will the truce last? Even though the triplets - Benjamin Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman and Ehud Barak - appeared together shortly before the cease-fire and praised one another for their cooperation, things are not so quiet on the southern front.

Afghan warlord Ismail Khan has spent much of his life fighting occupiers.

Readers' letters from the July 9 issue of the Observer. The answer to the bus situation is surely quite straightforward.

WAS it wrong for Evan Davis to ask Rabbi Jonathan Sacks what he thought of the situation in Israel?

The International Day to End Impunity is a campaign to highlight the necessity of protecting press freedom around the world On 23 November 2011, Azerbaijani writer Rafiq Tagi died. Tagi had been a consistent critic of conservative Islam and of the regime in neighbouring Iran. His opinions had earned him...

The Russian leader is using a dull-sounding telecoms conference in Dubai to strike a 'devastating blow' to the net, campaigners fear There are not many reasons for going to Dubai in December. In fact, there are not many reasons for going to Dubai full stop, but here's one possible exception.

Israel’s top general has warned that the army will continue to disrupt any attempt by Hamas to rearm.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (21), representing Iran, won the title of Ms Ethnic Ireland 2013 last night.

GLENDALE, Ariz., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Janoris Jenkins scored two touchdowns on interception returns Sunday and the St. Louis Rams dealt Arizona a seventh straight loss, 31-17.

Middle East's 'Cern' bridges regional divides

New Zealand is facing more international embarrassment over the ease with which fake entities from around the world can register as companies here.

CINCINNATI, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton fired three touchdown passes Sunday, besting predecessor Carson Palmer in the Bengals' 34-10 spanking of Oakland.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Peyton Manning overcame a slow start to hurl two touchdown passes Sunday and the Denver Broncos won a sixth straight game, 17-9 over Kansas City.

NEW YORK, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Joe Johnson's 21 points led a parade of five Brooklyn players scoring in double figures Sunday and the Nets pulled away for a 98-85 victory over Portland.

The newspaper is on the right track by pointing out how proponents of the bullet train from Southern California to San Francisco are out of touch with reality.

A feature report by Michael Petrou on the dynamics at play in the streets of Cairo

Rocker Andrew W.K. has been named an American Cultural Ambassador to the Middle East.The Party Hard hitmaker will travel to Bahrain, an island...

The army invading the United States in "Red Dawn," an ill-advised remake of the campy 1984 original, was changed in post-production from Chinese to North Korean, fearful of offending China and its increasingly important movie-going market.

An Iranian film about a teenage girl who falls pregnant and insists on having the baby could be seen as a feminist victory. `She may win a legal victory, but she will suffer later on,' says director Rasoul Sadr Ameli

ANALYSIS/OPINION: Watching the escalation of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza last week, I was reminded of the words of God as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth as my witnesses against you right now: I have set life and death, blessing and curse before you. ...

A celluloid festival is back to thrill the movie buffs of Jamshedpur after a gap of two years.The Celluloid Chapter Art Foundation, in association with the Federation of Film Societies in India and the French embassy, is celebrating international cinema by screening over 32 feature and 38 short foreign...

In case you don't know, the Grey Cup -- Canada's version of the Super Bowl -- is tonight. It is really, really old. You may have seen someone tweet about it, very politely, some time this afternoon. Oddly enough, the game is being shown on American television, so in case...

A worldwide research effort in collaboration with BBC Panorama and the ICIJ reveals the people behind these anonymous companies The existence of an extraordinary global network of sham company directors, most of them British, can be revealed. The UK government claims such abuses were stamped out long ago, but a...

Syrian rebels said on Sunday they had captured a helicopter base east of Damascus after an overnight assault, their latest gain in a costly battle to unseat President Bashar al-Assad that is drawing nearer to his seat of power.

As a former British Army commander observing the Gaza conflict, I found Foreign Secretary William Hague's words condemning Hamas' rocket attacks and asserting Israel's right to defend itself welcome, as did politicians, military leaders and others in Israel where Britain’s voice remains important.

NORTHWOOD, England, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- British actress Dinah Sheridan, who appeared in classic British films including "The Railway Children" and "Genevieve," died Sunday at the age of 92.

ISRAEL says it has successfully tested the David's Sling missile defence system that is being developed by Israeli and US companies.

After eight days of fighting and over 150 killed, Israel and Hamas brokered a fragile ceasefire last Wednesday, but how long can it last? And...

Syrian troops bombarded the outskirts of Damascus, where monitors said almost 50 people died in a battle for a military airport, as the country's 20-month conflict homes in on the capital.

Below are some of the notable comments made by the Powerhouse Roundtable Sunday on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” Roundtable guests included ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd, TIME Magazine’s Joe Klein, Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, and The...

The world conference of Communist and Workers Parties drew to a close today in Beirut. The decision to hold the meeting in Lebanon reflects the reality that the Middle East is still a crucial battleground for imperialist forces.

Ruben Safrastyan. Source: Photolur The escalation of tensions in the Gaza Strip between Israelis and the Palestinian movement HAMAS have skewed the political spotlight on the Middle East. Although 21 November between the conflicting parties signed the truce, that Israel and the Islamist movement must cease all military actions in...

Thailand's Monkey Buffet Festival is an annual event organized to promote tourism. 4,000 kg of fruits are brought in for the event, so the monkeys like it ...

During the month of Muharram, various mourning ceremonies are held across Iran where each region has developed their own traditions and rituals, many of them carnival style. These photos show one of the Ashura rituals held in the holly city of Qom in central Iran.

MUMBAI – Pasokan minyak Iran ke negara-negara besar di Asia semakin banyak meskipun negara-negara Barat memperberat sanksi terhadap Iran pada Juli lalu. China merupakan importir minyak terbesar dari Iran sejak Juli lalu.

KUWAIT CITY (AP) — The message from Kuwait's emir is blunt heading into this week's parliamentary elections: Opposition factions should express dissent in the legislature, and not in the streets. The response from the opposition is equally uncompromising: We're not satisfied with what we can accomplish through parliament, so we're...

The global economy may be ready to turn the corner, according to recent economic reports coming out from China, Germany, and the US.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine’s Hamas government in Gaza renews international hopes for a peaceful coexistence in the region, says a University of Alberta professor.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. military said it would issue replacement body armor plates to troops in the field after the manufacturer issued a recall.

MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A small Russian plane caught fire Sunday during a crash landing in West Siberia, injuring eight people, authorities said.

SANFORD, Fla., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Lawyers say they're trying to obtain information from the phone carried by Florida teenager Treyvon Martin when he was shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

JUAREZ, Mexico, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Mexican authorities said they have found the remains of several people in a desert area in Chihuahua near the Juarez-El Porvenir road.

Shias mark Ashura - the climax of the holy month of Muharram

Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Dick Durbin and Ben Affleck are interviewed on 'This Week.'

A top Hamas official has said the Gaza Strip truce won't stop Islamic militants from maintaining their arms arsenal in the wake of an eight-day conflict with Israel.

Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Sunday: “A battle with Lebanon will reach the whole of Israel.” He added: “Anyone in the Arab world presenting Israel as a friend and Iran as an enemy is serving Israel.

Iran Air increased the expense of tickets for travel outside the country by as much as 90 percent after a government decision to stop subsidizing jet-fuel prices sent costs at the state-owned carrier soaring.

A senior Iranian energy official says the country plans to surpass Qatar in gas production from the massive offshore South Pars gas field, which is shared by the two countries.

STORRS, Conn. — A year ago, Richard Parnas had never heard of brown grease: sticky, stinky, remnants of sludge sucked from grease traps at restaurants, bars and commercial kitchens. The glop for years has been considered useless, a common clog-inducer at sewage treatment plants, often burned as costly waste.

[Sudan Tribune]Khartoum -The governor of Khartoum State, Abdel Rahman Al-Khidir, has announced the commencement of an operation to relocate arms-manufacturing units of Al-Yarmook military factory away from populated areas in the capital Khartoum, one month after the facility was hit in an airstrike Sudan accuses Israel of conducting.

Beirut (dpa) - The head of the pro-Iran Lebanese movement Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said Sunday that "thousands of rockets" would be fired on Israel‘s central cities if it attacked Lebanon."While Israel was shaken and confounded by a handful of the Fajr- 5 rockets fired during eight days, how will...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—A bomb blast in northwest Pakistan killed five people and injured 70 others Sunday, provincial and local authorities said, the latest in a wave of attacks that have struck the country’s minority Shia Muslim community despite a host of stringent security measures, including wide-scale cell phone service bans and...

Four miners remain trapped after a coal gas explosion killed 19 miners in a mine in southwestern China.

Although the Islamists' firepower was hard hit during its eight-day confrontation with Israel, Hamas has valuable technical knowledge at its fingertips which could be used to rebuild its arsenal.

FITCHBURG -- During two tours in Iraq, U.S. Army Sgt. Tom Bernard dodged bullets and improvised explosive devices, leaving with a single, small scar he obtained from getting caught on a nail and escaping the horrors of post-traumatic stress disorder

Good morning, it’s Sunday November 25

Recognition of Syrian Opposition by France & Arab League culminating to nuclear war Prof. Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party and Chairman of Indo-Arab Solidarity Council has condemned EU and Arab League decision to recognize terrorist groups in Syria as its representative which can not be accepted by...

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said Turkey's plans to deploy Patriot defensive missiles near its border with Syria would add to the region's problems, as fears grow of the Syrian civil war spilling across frontiers. Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept aircraft or missiles, last week after...

Hangama Amiri fled Afghanistan with her family when the Taliban seized power in 1996. The NSCAD graduate is in an artistic residency at the college’s Lunenburg studio.

Hamas militants of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades attend the funer al of Hamas member Joudeh Shamallah in Gaza City on Saturday. (AP)

WASHINGTON — In Egypt we trust. In frantic diplomacy, the Obama administration helped seal a cease-fire that puts heavy responsibility on Egypt’s young Islamist government to ensure the end of Hamas rockets from the Gaza Strip.

Residents and militias in Derik have removed almost all the ubiquitous presidential portraits from official buildings since the regime made its exit from the Kurdish town in northeast Syria.

Islamabad, Nov. 25 (ANI): Iran has assured of extending a 500 million-dollar loan to Pakistan for the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project on the condition that Islamabad will not turn its back on the project.

KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) - Millions of Shiites flooded the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala on Sunday for the peak of Ashura rituals, which have been largely spared the attacks that struck pilgrims in past years.