News Archive - 14 December 2012

1st Half – Highlights   2nd Half – Highlights

>VIENNA (Reuters) - The United Nations nuclear agency expects to reach a deal with Iran next month enabling it to investigate whether the Islamic state has carried out atomic bomb research, the chief U.N. inspector said after returning from Tehran on Friday. Even though the International Atomic Energy Agency...

BEIRUT: NATO accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces of firing Scud missiles that landed near to the Turkish border, in explaining why it was sending anti-missile batteries and troops to the bloc's frontier. Read more...

>NEW DELHI Dec 14 (Reuters) - A member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team said talks between Iran and big Western powers were unlikely to yield results and it doesn't make sense for Tehran to stop enriching uranium to 20 percent fissile purity. "Personally speaking, I am not optimistic," Mostafa Dolatyar...

>VIENNA Dec 14 (Reuters) - Some progress is believed to have been made in Thursday's talks between the U.N. nuclear agency and Iran in Tehran, a diplomatic source said on Friday.The source, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the talks, said a new meeting...

Bolivian film Pacha directed by Héctor Ferreiro, which was widely acclaimed at the Berlin Film Festival, will be the inaugural film at the Kochi International Film Festival set to get underway here...

TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (MNA) – Former Iranian diplomat Nosratollah Tajik, who has recently won a High Court battle to avoid extradition to the United States, has said that he intends to take legal action against British Home Secretary Theresa May, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Friday.

Having received a waiver from the illegal US sanctions on Iran, Taiwan has ended a seven-month moratorium and resumed importing Iran’s crude oil.

With the United States running a huge deficit, the incomes of the “99 per cent” stalled, the fiscal cliff approaching fast, the nation’s dependence on external financing from China acute, and Washington gridlock a recurrent political condition, this may seem like an odd moment to be bullish on America. But...

TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (MNA) – Ambassadors of Russia, China, Syria and Iran met at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut on Friday at the invitation of the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon and discussed ways to find a feasible solution to the Syrian crisis.

The current clash between Turkey and Iran has promoted instability in the region as both use historical and political claims in Iraq as a means to wield influence.

MASHHAD, KHorassan Razavi Prov., Dec. 15 (MNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accompanied by a number of his advisors, deputies, and cabinet members arrived in Mashhad, Khorassan Razavi Province, on Friday and attended the inauguration ceremony of several construction projects.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is drawing no “red line” for North Korea after a successful long-range rocket test, tempering the public condemnation to avoid raising tensions or possibly rewarding the reclusive communist nation with too much time in the global spotlight.

THIRTY-ONE would-be illegal immigrants have been stopped from entering the country after Border Force officers found them...

Small bowls of mixed crunchy nuts in the living rooms of Emirati homes make visitors think where all these nuts come from.

South Korea’s imports of oil from Iran increased 2.9 percent in November from October, when it resumed shipments from the Persian Gulf nation.

US Civil War-era drama "Lincoln" led the Golden Globe nominations yesterday with seven nods including best drama, best director for Steven Spielberg, and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.

tehran: The UN atomic agency failed to gain access to a military site in the Iranian capital this week, but expects to reach a deal in January to resume a stalled nuclear probe, the chief inspector said.

WORCESTER - An estimated 450 area business people today were assured Worcesterand#8217;s future is bright and#8212; as is Americaand#8217;s and#8212; at the 137th annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce at Mechanics Hall.

The West stepped up its intervention in the Syrian civil war this week, with the United States formally recognising the rebel coalition as "the legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.

The mother of Nigeria's finance minister has been released after being abducted by kidnappers, an official said. Related Stories 22 children hurt in China knife attack UN hails Tehran nuclear probe talks Opponents rally before Egypt vote UBS faces huge fine over Libor Quakes strike off California coast

Following the death of Kim Jong-il, North Korea has entered a period of profound transformation laden with uncertainty. This authoritative book brings together the world's leading North Korea experts to analyze both the challenges and prospects the country is facing.

A North Vancouver axe murderer has been sent to jail for life with no possibility of parole for 25 years.

Envoys in Dubai signed a new U.N. telecommunications treaty Friday that a U.S.-led delegation says endorses greater government control of the Internet. The U.S. and more than 20 other countries refused to ratify the accord by the 193-nation International Telecommunications Union.

Two large earthquakes have struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California and Mexico. Related Stories 22 children hurt in China knife attack UN hails Tehran nuclear probe talks Opponents rally before Egypt vote UBS faces huge fine over Libor Kidnappers free minister's mother

Cenk Uygur is done with people saying today is not the day to talk about gun control. "When should we talk about?" he asks. "Name the date." - READ BLOG

The donors Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN Directed by Majid Majidi Starring Amir Farrokh, Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi Speedy Video Distributors

Forget the Mayans. Forget fire and brimstone. This is how our world ends, by our own doing. Umapagan Ampikaipakan takes a look at two wonderful novels about the end of the world

According to a new survey, more than a third of Israelis would leave the country if they could, citing economic opportunities as the main reason. Should this be written off as fantasizing, or a genuinely worrying phenomenon? Is the problem an acutely Israeli one, or part of a global trend?...

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government reacted with fury on Friday to U.S. President Barack Obama's criticism of ailing Hugo Chavez's "authoritarian" government at a time of national anxiety over his battle to recover from cancer surgery. Related Stories U.N. agency sees deal soon to check Iran nuclear work...

More asylum seekers have arrived at the makeshift detention centre on PNG's Manus Island, now there's 101.

Envoys from nearly 90 nations yesterday agreed the first new United Nations’ telecommunications treaty in the internet age, but the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain refused to sign up after claiming it endorses greater state control of cyberspace.

TEHRAN — Proposed changes in Iran’s election laws are proving contentious, sparking a debate over who should decide which candidates can compete in June’s contest to succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Read full article >>

VIENNA: The UN nuclear agency expressed confidence yesterday that it will clinch a deal with Iran next month under which Tehran will at last answer “credible” evidence of atomic weapons research, but analysts and Western diplomats were skeptical.

"Argo" — Directing just his third feature, Ben Affleck has come up with a seamless blend of detailed international drama and breathtaking suspense, with just the right amount of dry humor to provide context and levity. He shows a deft handling of tone, especially in making difficult transitions between scenes...

Russia backtracked Friday on comments about Syria made by a key official only a day earlier. On Thursday, Russia's state-run RIA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying that an opposition victory over the Assad regime could not be “ruled out." Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman...

Statement of the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC December 14, 2012 The following is a joint declaration by participants in the G8 BMENA Initiative at the 9 th Forum for the Future: Begin text: 1. The 9 th...

The Obama administration on Thursday revved up the pressure on Iran over its controversial nuclear program by imposing sanctions on seven more entities and five individuals.

Updated at 7:20 a.m. ET: INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed an order Friday to send two Patriot missile batteries to Turkey to protect it from rounds crossing the border from Syria.

Not that Indo-US relations are in any danger. There are no worries of any setbacks in Obama's second term, at least not for now. But it would have smoothened things to have someone at Foggy Bottom, the seat of the state department, who had a feel for India like what...

Crewest Gallery, which helped graffiti gain a foothold in the Los Angeles art mainstream, will close Dec. 31, ending a 10½-year run that began in Alhambra and migrated in 2006 to downtown L.A.

The UN nuclear agency expressed confidence Friday that it will clinch a deal with Iran next month under which Tehran will at last answer "credible" evidence that it has conducted atomic weapons research.

Editor: Michael Perry + 612 9373 1804 Global Picture Desk: + 65 6870 3775 Global Graphics Desk: + 65 6870 3595 (All times GMT) TOP STORIES Twenty schoolchildren, 8 others dead in Connecticut massacre NEWTOWN, Conn. - Twenty schoolchildren are slaughtered by aheavily armed gunman who opens fire at a...

Iran's football powerhouse, Esteqlal, has routed 10-man Saipa squad 4-0 to preserve the second spot in the 18th week of Iran’s Premier League (IPL).

They were among a group of 20 nations which walked away from negotiations in Dubai after an ideological split over the nature of the Internet and who is responsible for it.

Behind the scenes, Iran says it’s willing to offer more assurances that it really isn’t building a nuclear bomb, but Israel and many of its U.S. congressional allies keep pushing for a nasty showdown.

Sagas, feel-good hits and indie gems aplenty in 2012

The United States and 80 key allies didn’t sign a draft United Nations treaty on Friday that proposed that individual nations can potentially censor the Internet.

Former Iranian diplomat Nosratollah Tajik, who recently won a UK High Court ruling blocking his extradition to the US, has said he will take legal action against British Home Secretary Theresa May for the lengthy delay on his case.

GAZA CITY — The Hamas regime has approved a plan to reconstruct the Gaza Strip in wake of its latest war with Israel. Officials said the reconstruction effort would cost close to $1 billion and funded by such allies as Iran, Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council states.

WASHINGTON — The Iranian Air Force has surprised the U.S. military with the interception of a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, a report said. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy asserted that the interception of the U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator demonstrated the effectiveness of Iranian combat pilots.

Erdogan's attempted crackdown against the popular show bodes poorly for free expression.

Susan Rice, the embattled U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, abruptly withdrew from consideration to be the next secretary of state on Thursday after a standoff with Republicans. Here is the text of the letter she submitted to President Barack Obama:

TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant that blew up after a tsunami last year said on Friday its lack of safety and bad habits were behind the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years, its most forthright admission of culpability. Related Stories U.N. agency...

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's most powerful ally and protector, Russia, began positioning itself Thursday for the fall of President Bashar Assad, saying for the first time that rebels might overthrow him and preparing to evacuate thousands of Russian

By United Press International UPI Almanac for Friday, Dec. 14, 2012.

Before the Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning, British hopes rested on the forthcoming film adaptation of Les Miserables, directed by Tom Hooper, who won an Oscar in 2011 for The King’s Speech.

(Replaces ninth paragraph to give detail on sum set aside for litigation, regulatory and similar matters, replacing detail on a broader measure of reserves.) LONDON (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS is expected to pay about $1 billion to settle charges of rigging the Libor interest rate benchmark, according to...

Thanks to a new voting procedure, this year's list might not be perfect, but it's provocative. read more

>BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's rebel leadership and the United States seized on Russian pessimism over President Bashar al-Assad's future to urge Moscow to help push its ally into ceding power and end the battles closing in around his capital. "We want to commend the Russian government for finally waking up...

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